Erza's P.O.V.
She had made it back with Gildarts not long before Gray and Natsu returned. He was beaten and bloody, but alive. Erza sighed quietly in relief and watched as Gray sat down next to her. He was in the middle of both her and Juvia. She was able to get Gildarts away from that other man before they destroyed the whole town, but Gildarts was particularly upset with her because of it.
She knew they all needed to be here. They needed to sort things out and plan out what their next move was. She glanced around and noticed the grin that appeared on Natsu's face briefly. It was like he was back to normal, he rushed out the guild hall and she saw him tackle someone to the ground.
Lucy, Erza thought with a smile. Of course he would, that's Natsu for you. Gajeel had also stepped out for a moment before everyone else came back in a couple seconds later. Lucy looked disappointed, nothing in her hands but the air around her. Erza frowned, where was that gear? Lucy sat down at a table while Natsu seated himself right next to her. She whispered something to him and he nodded solemnly and pat her back as if to comfort her.
"Everyone...The clock piece was stolen from me." Everyone had went quiet at her words. Mira then ran up to her and embraced her, making the blonde look away in guilt.
"Oh Lucy, it's not your fault. They had us all played for fools. We just need to put our heads together and figure out how to it back or at least find out their objective." Mira frowned in thought. Erza silently agreed with her. What are they going to do without the clock piece? And who are these people and why did they want it? Things just weren't adding up.
Lucy suddenly gasped and stood up, her skirt hiking up to her upper thigh with the motion. "I have it!" Erza noticed a pained grunt come from Gray and turned to him. He either hadn't noticed her worried gaze or just chose to ignore it.
"What is it Lucy?" He asked her as he shifted his body from the floor. Erza didn't notice how painful the floor actually was with the pain from her arm reminding her.
"I remember a, a book in my mansion. It had something to do with pieces...six pieces of the starry heavens or something to that affect. I read that book so many times, but it's been so long that I completely forgot about it. Maybe this is what Jude is telling me, to read the book and figure out what to do with the pieces." Everyone suddenly smiled, glad they found a lead.
"Lucy, you're a genius. We must head to your house at once!" Erza chanted and stood. "...If it's alright with you master?" Makarov took a sip of his beer and formed his lips into a straight line. It only took him a moment, but he found an answer.
"Well, it is the only lead we can follow so far. I'll allow it. But not the whole guild, Lucy, Michelle, Erza, Gray, Natsu, Happy, Wendy, Carla, and Marie, go to the Mansion and find that book. Everyone else will stay here and either keep guard for any enemy or try and find out more about this group that stole our gear." The member he had named stood at once and head towards the door. They waved goodbye to their other friends and made their way on the road.
The sun was starting to show through the valleys, it was around 5 am, no one had slept a wink during the night. They had called for a wagon to drive them to the abandoned mansion so it was almost impossible to sleep when Natsu and Lucy were busy puking all night. Erza felt her eyes start to drop but the abrupt stop had her rolling forward.
"This is as far as I can take ya." The man who had drove them said. Erza thanked him quickly and gave him the right amount of jewels for the ride. He grunted and took the money, driving off when everyone jumped out. They all had to climb a steep hill before reaching their destination. Lucy was a bit hesitant, Erza couldn't blame her.
"It's been so long, I guess I want paying attention when I was here telling Jude off but now that...now that he's gone, this place just feels...depressing." Lucy admitted to both Michelle and Erza. Michelle frowned and rubbed Lucy's neck as a form of comfort and Erza just stepped closer to make her feel safer.
"The longer you stayed away, the less it felt like home. I know it's hard but you might come to like this place once you step inside. Your father- I mean Jude...he would want you to feel like home in a place you were born in." Lucy smiled at Erza's words and nodded. She jogged up to the building and ran in, then waved for everyone to come in. Michelle giggled quietly and followed behind Marie as she flew to Lucy. Lucy grabbed Marie and held her in her arms securely.
Happy perched himself on Lucy's head as he swooped in after Natsu. The room they stepped in was huge and was surrounded by two staircases.
"Wow, this place is huge." Gray said, his mouth wide open. Erza could stop the giggle that escaped as she looked at Gray's shocked face. It was even funnier when she knew how true it was and how shocked she was too. Erza stepped in front everyone and cleared her throat so everyone turned their wandering eyes to her.
"Okay, we all split up to cover some ground. We are searching anywhere for the book. Gray, you and I will take those staircase and Michelle, Lucy, and Marie will take the other. Wendy and Carla will go left down stairs and Natsu and Hapy will go right downstairs. Do I make myself clear?" Everyone nodded as if they were soldiers and split up into their groups. Happy reluctantly got off Lucy's head and allowed himself to fly to Natsu's side.
"Ready little buddy?"
"Aye sir!" They ran off to where Erza said to head, giving everyone else the cue to do so too. Gray followed her as she ran up the left staircase and turned another left. They both came up hallway filled with multiple bed rooms.
"Maybe the book would be in her bedroom?" Gray suggested.
"That's what I was thinking." Erza said as she peered into a couple room. She opened a door wider when she figured out Lucy's bedroom. It was also large, with a big bed that had a canopy hovering over it. The room was decorated In everything either white or pink. Gray chuckled and looked at the stuffed animals sitting at the foot of her bed, gathering dust.
He blew on one and held it up for Erza. It was a small red dragon, yellow and orange flames decorating the sides of him. Erza snorted.
"Who does this remind you of?" He asked her. Erza only laughed loudly and look around her room. She noticed a beautiful music box sitting on an old dusty dresser. She opened it up and watched a small ballerina pop out. Erza turned the box and cranked the stick on the back. She set the box back down and watched the small ballerina start to turn in a slow circle as a quiet melody filled the quiet room.
"Lucy was a whole other girl from what she is now. Coming here might prove to be a good thing." Erza said quietly. Lucy was so private, you could hardly get her talk about anything. She doesn't talk much of her family there or her dragon father. Marie would never spill either, not wanting to upset Lucy.
"I agree. Alright, I've checked everything, nothing is here." Gray sighed.
"Let's go meet with the others and see how they're doing."
Lucy's P.O.V.
Lucy panted, Marie still dug in her arms. Michelle was close behind her, but was practically begging her to stop. She gulped in some air before turning back to Michelle. "Alright, I found the attic. We can head up there and look for the book."
"Okay big sister!" They climbed the stairs and looked around at the covered furniture. Lucy's attention was caught at the half covered painting. It was torn, but she was able to see part of her, her mother, and Jude. She walked up to it slowly and felt tears burn at the back of her eyes. She kept them in. Marie gave her a worried gaze, but Lucy ignored it.
"This painting. I remember it, I could stop squirming." She laughed quietly. Michelle smiled happily.
"You looked so cute." Lucy turned to her with a bright grin.
"Thanks...and I think you've just helped me decided something." This had Michelle quirk her head slightly. Lucy giggled internally at this but looked back at the painting with sudden determination.
"What do you mean, big sister?"
"I've decided to buy this mansion back. I don't know when I'll be able too because I'm totally broke," She sweat dropped. "But maybe when I'm older and have some kind of family of my own. I'll save up and buy this place back and restore it to it's former glory!" This had Michelle jump up in joy and hug Lucy's arm.
"Do you really mean it, Lucy-san?! Oh I'm so happy!" Lucy felt those same tears build back up, but this time, they were from immense joy. Yes...she would buy this place back and have her children grow up here. Except this place would be full of joy instead of sadness. It would be like when her mother was alive and well. Marie giggled silently.
"Are you really going to Lucy? You know that's a lot of commitment and I'm not sure you'd be up for the challenge." Lucy glared at her white cat and scoffed.
"I'm not afraid of anything, let alone commitment. I believe with all my being that I'll buy this place back!"
"Yeah I know, your determination can be deadly when it wants to be." They all laughed and went to searched for the book. They came up with nothing and sighed sadly.
"Man...nothing. We better just head back to the others, maybe they found something." Both Marie and Michelle nodded and followed Lucy out slowly. On their way back, they bumped into Natsu and Happy.
"Hey Luce, did you guys find anything?" Lucy just shook her head, making Happy and Natsu frown. That's when they heard Wendy yelled out Lucy's name. Everyone immediately followed and reached two tall doors. Wendy and Carla were inside and waved them over.
"We found the library. It should be in here if nowhere else." Lucy thanked Wendy while everyone else started to search. Erza and Gray came along not soon after and joined the search. Lucy searched through the alphabetical ordered books and felt herself smile when she found the book.
"Guys! I found it!" That's when she noticed another book. It read 'To My Daughter', she furrowed her brows and grabbed it, she opened it but bit her lip when the whole book was blank. Everyone else had reached her, and Erza took the book.
"What is it Lucy?" Lucy just shook her head and showed the book to everyone.
"Jude must of put it together, but its completely blank," Thats when an idea crossed her mind. She called out her silver spirit, Crux and asked him to try and see a hidden message in 'To My Daughter'. He fell into a sleep like state before waking up loudly.
"Maybe it's a hidden message, try rearranging the words."