Warning: This chapter contains graphic depictions of violence.
Lucy collapsed onto the dirty dungeon floor. The heavy chains pulled at her arms uncomfortably. She gulped for air, trying to clear her vision. Pain raced through her body. Her stomach felt like it had been ripped open. She felt something warm coating her stomach, making her nightgown stick to her. She blinked until her vision was clear. Slowly, she pushed herself up so she was sitting on her knees. She looked down at her stomach.
Blood.
Her silk lavender gown was covered in the deep red liquid, a long rip tore through the fabric, and her skin. He had cut her. Racer had dragged his knife straight across her stomach and there was blood, so much blood.
Lucy was panting, she wanted to vomit. Her vision was in and out of focus, her own heartbeat was loud in her ears. She looked up at her torturers.
They were smiling.
"Wow, take it easy Racer, we wouldn't want her to die before we got the info." Angel's voice dripped with sarcasm.
Lucy hadn't even seen it coming. It had been so quick. A second ago, Racer was standing a foot away from her, then all of a sudden she was on the ground bleeding. How was she going to get herself out of this one?
"So tell us pretty princess…" Angel cooed, "where'd you hide those shiny keys?"
Angel cracked her whip towards Lucy menacingly, and Lucy did her best to hide her fear.
"No." Lucy croaked, she would fight this. She would keep her keys safe even if it cost her life. She would keep Natsu safe.
"Aww, come on," Angel took a step towards Lucy, who was still huddled on the floor. "spill, blondie."
Lucy shook her head.
Angel's sadistic smile vanished. Her face contorted with anger. She let out a furious cry and she brought the whip down hard on Lucy. Lucy put her arms up in defence. The whip made a loud snap. Lucy couldn't help but cry out as she was once again knocked to the ground. A sharp stinging pain raced through both arms. She felt the skin split and more blood rush from the fresh cuts.
This was too much blood loss, at this rate…
Angel's whip hit her again. In the side this time. It came quick and Lucy hadn't been expecting it. It made contact with Lucy's ribs and she was sure it broke a few.
She felt the air leave her lungs. She couldn't move. Every part of her ached. She wanted to scream, but she knew it would be pointless. No one was around to hear.
No one was around to help.
"Im giving you one last chance!" Angel screeched. "Tell me where those damn keys are or you'll regret it!"
Lucy refused. She felt feeble and broken, but she wouldn't let them have the satisfaction of seeing her give in. Using the little strength she had left, she slowly rose to her feet.
Even Angel couldn't hide her shock as Lucy got as close to the white haired woman as the chains would let her. When she was inches away from Angels face, Lucy smiled.
"Beat me all you want. The keys still won't be yours." Lucy whispered.
Angel screamed a string of curse words, raising her whip again, but Cobra's cool voice stopped her from following through.
"Let me handle this, Angel." He hummed.
Though there was still fury in Angels eyes, she backed away.
"I'm impressed you still have the strength to stand." Cobra said mockingly. He approached Lucy calmly, he grabbed her right hand, and brought it up to his face, examining her guild mark. "Ah, yes, a Fairy Tail wizard, I have heard they're quite the fighters." He placed a light kiss on the pink mark.
"Let go of me." Lucy said, pulling her hand away in disgust.
Cobra shrugged the action off. "I apologize for my partners brutal ways." His voice was far too calm. He brought the syringe he was holding up to his face, turning it around in his hands, examining it. "My ways of getting information are much more…humane."
"Tch, quit chatting Cobra, just get it over with already." Racer whined.
Cobra cleared his throat. "Right, yes, so, if you could kindly tell me the location of your keys," he pointed to the syringe. "I won't have to use this, and we can all go home happy."
Lucy ignored his request. "What is it?" She nodded to the syringe.
"This? This is poison."
"You can't use that on me, it'll kill me." Lucy sneered. "If i'm dead you won't get your precious information."
Cobra let out a laugh that echoed through the dungeons, Lucy felt fear flutter in her stomach again.
"Oh, Lucy? Was it? This poison won't kill you." Cobra explained. "But by the time i'm done with you, you'll wish it did."
Lucy's heart dropped.
"Now, where are the keys?" Cobra demanded.
"That's none of your business." Lucy responded.
"If you insist." Cobra shrugged.
He plunged the syringe into her neck mercilessly. Immediately, Lucy felt as if her insides were on fire. Stars exploded in her vision. He body hit the floor and convulsed violently. She screamed until her throat was horse. The pain was unbearable. It spread through her body as if it were the very blood in her veins. And through it all, Lucy had a thought.
'I am going to die.'
But, she didn't. After what felt like an eternity, the pain disappeared as fast as it had come. Lucy's body seemed to melt into the floor. She stopped shaking and twisting, and the stars cleared from her vision. Soon after, Lucy lost consciousness.
She opened her eyes to see nothing but blackness. She was standing in a lightless void. Though the chains still gripped her wrists and ankles, they were no longer attached to any wall. Blood still stained her ripped nightgown, stomach and arms, but she felt no pain.
'A dream.' Lucy thought to herself.
Then, a small light appeared in the middle of the darkness. It grew, getting brighter and brighter, until Lucy seemed to be standing in the very heart of the brilliant star. All previous darkness had vanished, now there was only light.
"Heaven." Lucy thought aloud. "This is it, i've died and gone to heaven." She let out a harsh laugh of disbelief. And she suddenly felt sadness wash over her. She was dead. She would never see the guild again. She would never fight with her spirits by her side.
She would never see Natsu again.
"I didn't even get to say goodbye…" She mumbled.
"Why does that bother me so much though? He's loud and annoying, and I barely even know the guy." Lucy blabbered. She'd been thinking about Natsu a lot, when realistically they hadn't known each other for very long. She remembered her fathers words.
"If you were to harbour any…lingering feelings for the boy…"
Did she have feelings for Natsu? It was the first time she had really even considered it. He was her best friend, but was he also something more? Then again, it didn't really matter, there was nothing she could do about it now.
A voice in the light snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Princess…" The voice whispered.
Lucy recognized the voice immediately, looking around for the source of the voice.
"Virgo! Virgo, where are you?" Lucy yelled, her voice a mixture of confusion and relief of hearing a friend. However, no matter where she looked, Virgo was no where to be found.
"Princess, you're badly hurt. Please listen closely."
"Why can't I see you? Am I dying?" Lucy's voice trembled.
In an instance, particles of light came together until a version of Virgo composed entirely of golden light stood in front of Lucy.
"Is this better?"
Lucy nodded, still very confused.
"Good." Virgo sighed. "Please calm down, you are not dead."
Lucy breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then, where am I, why do you look so different?"
"Please, allow me to explain. You lost consciousness due to Cobra's poison, and I took the chance to bring your spirit here." Virgo gestured to the whiteness around them. "You are currently in the area between the human world and celestial world, making it impossible for me to completely appear before you."
Lucy nodded, trying to keep up.
"Okay, so, why bring me here?" Lucy asked.
Virgo's face was serious.
"You are very close to death. You will not survive much more torture. That is fact."
Lucy felt a cold sweat drip down her back.
"Due to your current state, you are in no shape for a fight, either. You need help, Princess."
"Yeah, I know." Lucy choked. "But, what do I do Virgo? The guild isn't here to help me, I have no way of calling out to them, and I don't have my keys, so I can't summon you!"
"Not so fast, there may be a way." Virgo examined Lucy's disheveled, bloody form. "but, it is very dangerous. That being said, you are a very strong celestial wizard, Princess, I believe you may be able to open my gate without actually holding the key."
Lucy's eyes went wide. "I'll do it! I don't want to die here!"
Virgo nodded.
"It will most likely completely drain you of magic power, but I'm afraid it may be the only way." Virgo mumbled to herself.
"What do I do?" Lucy tried to keep her voice steady.
"You must channel all your celestial magic into my key, visualize the gate opening. Call out your usual chant. Our bond is strong, I will hear your call and latch onto your well of power to pull myself into the human world for a short time."
"How long can I keep it open?"
"I estimate two minutes, any longer would have dire consequences on your health."
Lucy frowned, "Thats not very long."
"I'm aware, however it is plenty of time for me to unlock your restraints." Virgo looked at the chains bounding her ankles and wrists. "After that, you're just going to have to run."
It wouldn't work, Lucy wouldn't be able to run fast enough while bleeding out. The blonde stared at her feet.
"It won't be enough Virgo, I can't outrun them."
"It's all we have." Virgo admitted sadly.
"Unless…." Lucy muttered, trying to think of something else, someone who could help. Lucy's head shot up, making eye contact with Virgo.
"Natsu!" Lucy yelled.
"How will that pink-haired boy help you, Princess?" Virgo questioned.
"He has my keys right now! If you use my power and the link to your key, you can open your gate wherever he is and tell him I need help!" Lucy could almost laugh, Natsu would never let anyone hurt her. She smiled at the thought of it. But Virgo seemed unsure.
"Princess, opening my gate, informing Prince Natsu, then traveling back through the celestial world, reopening the gate, and undoing your bonds will take more than two minutes. It is very dangerous."
"We have to risk it Virgo!" Lucy was adamant this was the only choice.
Virgo was silent for a minute, clearly thinking to herself. After a minute, she gave in.
"Fine, if you truly believe it is best."
Lucy gave a determined nod, before smiling at her spirit.
"Thank you, Virgo."
Virgo gave a warm smile and a polite bow.
"Summon me when you feel ready, Princess, I am at your service."
And with that, the light vanished, and darkness swam back in.
Lucy's awoke to find herself lying on the cold, dirty floor of the dungeons. Slowly, she pushed herself onto her knees, keeping her palms on the floor to stabilize herself. She looked up at her torturers, they were all still there, with sadistic smiles staining their faces.
"I was worried you'd killed her, Cobra. I'm so relieved that miss princess is okay." Angel taunted sarcastically.
"Bet you regret not telling us about your precious keys now, Miss." Racer laughed. Cobra had gone back to standing silently in the corner.
"H-how long was I out?" Lucy croaked.
"Couple hours. Don't know why you care though." Angel shrugged.
"You took quite the power nap, the sun just rose a couple minutes ago." Racer informed her. Angel gave him a firm whack on the arm.
"She didn't need to know that much, you might have just helped her with something!" Angel scolded.
"What? No way! How could that possibly help her?" Racer barked back.
'Sunrise, Natsu should be awake. I have to do it now.' Lucy thought.
While Angel and Racer continued to bicker, Lucy pushed herself to her feet. She straightened her arms, putting her hands palms-out in line with her hips. She ignored the wave of dizziness that came with the movements and shut her eyes tight.
"Your precious cargo is doing something." Cobra informed the other two, who stopped fighting immediately.
Lucy activated all the magic power she could muster, feeling an explosion of power surge inside her.
"What the hell? Stop her!" She heard Angel yell.
She heard Racer cry out. "I can't get close to her!"
"She's…glowing." Cobra stated in awe.
"Open, gate of the maiden…"
"Boys, hurry, go get Jude! Tell him whats happening!" She heard the door creak open and feet pounding away.
"Virgo!"
Lucy felt a wave of power burst from her body. She heard Angel screech and the sound of a body crashing into the prisons metal bars.
Lucy felt the familiar sensation of a gate opening. After what felt like an eternity, she felt her magic dwindle, but she shut her eyes tighter and grit her teeth, bringing her magic back full swing. She felt Virgo's gate close, only to feel it reopen a second later.
She was here. Lucy felt Virgo's magic presence right behind her. She heard the quiet click of the chains and felt the weight fall from her wrists and ankles. The metal clattered to the ground.
Lucy was free.
"Be safe, princess." Virgo whispered in her ear. Then the gate closed for good.
Lucy crumpled from the lack of magic power. She was completely drained. At this point, Lucy should have been dead. But she wasn't. And now, she had something else keeping her going.
Pure adrenaline.
Angel sat on the ground, her back against the metal bars of the cell. The cell door next to her was open. Lucy approached Angel, and to Lucy's delight, Angel looked scared.
"What are you?" Angel asked Lucy, in pure shock. Lucy smiled.
"I'm a Fairy Tail wizard."
Lucy punched Angel in the face.
Natsu awoke to someone violently shaking him.
"Prince, Prince, wake up!"
"Go away Happy." Natsu tried to get comfortable again, but was quickly thrown off the couch.
"What the hell?" He opened his eyes, and shot to his feet when he saw a pink haired maid standing above him.
"Maid girl! You're one of Lucy's spirits!" He gaped.
"Indeed I am, and I come with important information for the prince concerning-"
"I ain't no prince, I'm a dragon!" Natsu puffed out his chest proudly.
"Well, if that's what you prefer, I'm here because of the princess."
Natsu's goofy demeanour vanished. Panic exploded in his chest.
"Lucy? Is something wrong?" His voice rose to almost a shout.
"Please listen closely, I have little time. She has been captured. She is currently being kept in the dungeon under the Heartfilia estate, where she is being brutally tortured by a dangerous dark guild."
Natsu felt like he was going to be sick.
"Tortured?" Dark images flooded Natsu's mind. Lucy, bloody and bruised, lying mangled on the dirt in a dark basement. Completely alone, screaming for help. Her eyes, slowly shutting as she gave up…
"No, no no no she can't… I was just there, I… she could die!" He grabbed at his hair, almost ripping some out.
"Please, you must go to her, Dragon. She cannot fight them alone. She needs you."
Natsu clenched his fist. "I'm going right now." He growled.
For a second, Virgo seemed to flicker. As if she was struggling to stay in the human world. The maids eyes widened with worry. She glanced at the key ring on the table, and looked back at Natsu.
"Hurry Dragon, I fear the Princess does not have much time left." With that, Virgo vanished.
Natsu threw a flame covered fist at the wall. Six holes. This was his fault. He had known it wasn't safe for her there, but he left her there alone and now she was hurt. Natsu quickly grabbed Lucy's keys and woke Happy.
"You need to fly me to the Heartfilia Estate, now."
"That's a long way Natsu! Can't we take the train?" Happy whined.
"I know its far Happy, but we have to go now! Lucy's in trouble, we don't have time for a damn train."
Happy stiffened at Natsu's dark tone. Happy agreed to fly him, he spread his wings and grabbed Natsu's collar.
He flew him out the door and up into the sky.
"We'll save Lucy, Natsu, don't worry. She's a Fairy Tail wizard!"
Natsu nodded and grit his teeth.
Happy used his magic to fly them towards the Heartfilia mansion at full speed.
I'm a big fan of the 'Lucy is a strong badass queen and she will punch you' trope, as you have probably noticed. I just love her so much.
I hope the lack of Natsu in this chapter wasn't too much of a let down for anyone, I promise you'll get a lot more pink-haired-fire-boy next chapter!
Thank you to anyone and everyone who has, followed, favourited or left a lovely review, on this story! :)
Check out my Tumblr for info and updates on this fic: a-fairy-tail44
