Ch. One
It's been eight months since Fairy Tail disbanded. For one, it's heartbreaking to see that everyone so easily left each other without looking back. What happened to being a family? It's as though everything we went through with each other meant nothing. I couldn't handle it. All the memories we shared haunted me. I left Magnolia. I went to the countryside and found myself in a small cottage where I not only train my magic and body but I also quietly write stories without any disturbance.
Being the stubborn person that I am, I tracked down every Fairy Tail remember I could find and just kept an eye on how they are: Levy and Gajeel and working together at the Magic Council with Pantherlily and they're even dating; Erza tracked down Jellal and his group of reformed criminals and joined him; Grey and Juvia are living together with Grey as a fitness trainer and Juvia as a teacher for children; Master and the Thunder Legion are up to something I can't seem to figure out but I have a feeling it's the reason he disbanded the guild. I wrote each of them a letter but Master is the only one who answers. It's nice all the same to hear from someone.
I glance over at Natsu's note. I want to make something clear: I'm not mad at him and Happy. I completely understand why he left. He was powerless as he watched his father, the dragon he has spent years searching for, die right before him. He needs to get stronger and get his confidence back before he feels like he can protect his loved ones again. I'm not going to lie, I'm disappointed and hurt that he didn't bring me with him or said goodbye to me himself but I understand why so I don't hate him for leaving. Simply heartbroken that he left me alone.
Today is simply another peaceful day in my new life. I just had another day of training and looking for new keys and now I'm hiking up the hill to my cottage. My legs are about ready to give out. A bright light suddenly shines and the lion spirit, Loke, took its place. "Princess! I can carry you in my arms!"
I couldn't help but laugh. "Nice try Loke but no thanks." Loke just laughs and walks with me the rest of the way. He opens the door to the cottage and I just collapse on my couch. Virgo pops in and starts making me tea and snacks in the kitchen. The rest of the evening is spent with me reading a book. I just change into my pajamas when the floor suddenly creaks. Someone is in here. I grab my whip, preparing to defend myself, when I'm hit hard in the back of the head.
I groan from the pain pulsing throughout my head. What happened? I look around and instantly jump to my feet. I'm in a jail cell with a chain around my ankle that keeps me to the center of the room and to top it all off I have no memory of how I got here. Wait! The intruder! I've been kidnapped! AGAIN!
My hand instantly goes to my hip, where my keys should be, only to find that they aren't there. That's right. I placed them safely on my bedside table before I took my bath. I instantly look down and find that I'm not wearing the pajamas I was wearing before. Instead of those comfortably soft clothes, I'm wearing tight black clothes that leave nothing on my body to the imagination. Oh. My. God. They changed my clothes. THEY SAW ME NAKED! Oh I am so going to Lucy Kick whoever did this!
Suddenly, the door swings open which made me jump and shriek. Natsu and Happy would've laughed at me if they heard that. I take a deep breath and prepare for a fight. Two large men in masks and robes storm in. I instantly reach for my keys again only to remember that they aren't there. Damn it! I try to back away but the chain would only allow me to go so far. One of the men moves behind me and wraps his arms around my arms and middle in a tight hold while the other unlocks the chain from my ankle. Man One pushes me into the even stronger hold of Man Two and he carries me out as I kick and scream and struggle as hard as I can. I am not going to make this easy on them!
I'm not really paying attention to where they're leading me – too busy trying to get away – but my body freezes when we enter a grand room with four others in masks and robes surrounding this grand magic circle. Shit! I may not know what that magic circle is for but if this cult – how is this not a cult? I mean seriously – need an outsider for whatever they intend to do then it can only spell trouble. Why is it always me?!
The two men drop me in the center of the circle. I instantly jump to my feet and try to run but I don't get far before I collapse on the ground hard. I glance behind me and see that one of the men is standing on my chain before he grabs it and forcefully drags me back to the center where he attaches the chain to the floor. They retreat from the circle and join the others as they gaze upon me.
"Are you sure?" One of them asked.
"Yes. We've watched her for a month. She's perfect for this." one of the men holding me answers. What? Watching me? For a month!
"Who are you?! What do you want?! What's going on?!" I shout question after question, hoping that they'll tell me something. They don't answer me. In fact they're pretending as though I'm not even there.
Simultaneously, they all reach their hands out and pour their magic into the circle. They begin to chant in a language I don't recognize. The circle begins to glow crimson red. I watch as the chalk the magic circle was drawn in morphs into oozing blood that flows around me, following the path of the symbols, moving faster and faster. Okay, now is feeling like a good time to panic. I tug and pull on the chain, doing everything I can to get away, but unfortunately I don't have my Erza like strength in my arms.
Darker than black serpents pull themselves out of the blood and slither across the floor towards me. I'm screaming at them to stop but since I'm unable to get away I have no choice but to watch as the large snakes close in on me. Then they explode into darkness that encases me in an orb that I can't escape from.
I open my eyes and slowly uncurl myself from the ball I didn't even realize my body had morphed into. At first all I see is darkness. But then I suddenly saw swirls of red and blue and other different colors that I didn't expect to see start swimming around like fish. I could feel such strong power coming from all around me. I've never felt strong power like this before. Is there a creature here? Does something live in this darkness? I should be afraid. I know I should. The strength pulsing in the air should be turning me into a hysterical ball of panic. But, I'm not. I can't explain it but something inside me is telling me that whatever lives in this darkness isn't going to hurt me. If anything, it is happy that I'm here with it. It must have been lonely for so long. I know what it's like to be alone. I'm glad I could take away some of that pain just by being here. Maybe I am a weirdo just like Natsu and Happy always say I am.
Then this great big pair of eerie yellow eyes snap open in front of me. We simply stare at each other as I read the different emotions that pass through its eyes. Confusion. Rage. Shock. Awe. Joy. Peace. The power of its gaze makes me believe it's staring into my very soul and from those emotions, I think – or at least I hope – that it likes what it sees.
I feel something brush against my check. It sends a shiver through me. So cold yet so gentle.
You are perfect. This one could not ask for anyone better. This booming deep voice echoes. I feel something sharp press itself gently in my chest. Then, suddenly, I'm screaming.
Be sure to create many many children. This one wants a big family. Make sure you teach them to be good.
I don't remember what happened after that. The pain must've been too much for me to handle. When I opened my eyes again, I was out of that darkness and back in that room but instead of those people standing around me there are corpses. Blood covered bodies torn limb from limb by these huge wolves who snarl as they pull at the flesh. Dark fur that shimmer purple in the light, four eyes the color of blood, fangs and claws like daggers. Those aren't wolves. They're demons! But, how did they get here? Is it because of what these people did? Did they come from that darkness?
The demon wolves suddenly snap their heads in my direction. The tenseness that filled their bodies relax and they casually stroll towards me. I can't help but shake in fear. I'm alone. I'm powerless.
Am I going to die?
Mother! You're awake! A cheery child's voice suddenly sounds. I glance over to my left and discover what looks like a demon version of an exceed. His fur is black with blue highlights. His eyes are a crimson red but instead of blood they remind me of rubies. He has horns on the top of his head and bat wings on his back. He smiles, revealing his fangs, and announces, We're the first of your children! Please take care of us!