The first thing Elfman could feel was a sharp pain at his wrists where he was too tightly tied. He then felt a shooting pain where he had been hit in his skull to make him lose consciousness. Then he opened his eyes, finding out where he was. He obviously didn't expect to be in a pleasant place, but the sentiment of horror he felt after he analyzed the room he was in was even worse than his physical suffering. The chamber was an exact replica of the one Evergreen almost died in. Only the four intact wall indicated him he was somewhere else.
To his left was Gajeel, staring at the wall in front of him, his hands also tied in his back. Their aggressors didn't even bother to place them in a proper cell. They were probably going to take care of them so quickly it wasn't worth it. Anyways, he thought with regret, their respective ties where chained to the ground and impossible to break.
Without seeing it coming, tears started to fall. He was relieved he could at least save the others, but the idea of not ever seeing Mira or Evergreen again terrified him.
"Tch. Are you not the one that keeps babbling about being a man ?" Commented Gajeel with annoyance seeing him crying.
"Real men are not afraid of tears" he stated with conviction.
To that, Gajeel couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in surprise, clearly questioning the legitimacy of the affirmation but didn't say more.
"Are you not sad to be here?" Asked Elfman to the black-haired young man's lack of reaction.
"With those bastards constantly looking for us, I always knew my end would be here, one way or another" he soberly stated, as if he wasn't surprised of the turn of events in the slightest. "I would only have liked to spend a little more time with her" he added almost inaudibly.
Due to their proximity and the profound silence present in the room, Elfman didn't have any problem to hear.
"You never imagined living like a man with Levy and a family?" He asked surprised that even someone like Gajeel didn't picture a more glorious future with the woman he loved.
Gajeel frowned at the obsessive habit to place the word "man" everywhere but the sadness surpassed the annoyance. Yes, he had learned what love was because of Levy and, yes, he wished he could found a family with her, but that had always been for him an unattainable future. The DFA stole that option for him even before he had considered it.
"If you really think we could have had a family within all this shit caused by the DFA you're even dumber than I first thought, grumbled Gajeel without however denying wanting such a thing. Tch, if only they had not used chains strong enough to contain those muscles of yours, we could at least kick a couple of asses while we're here.
"Yeah, would have been good if I had the same chains as you" agreed Elfman weary.
To that comment, Gajeel turned to his companion in misfortune with a stupefied look.
"You're telling me mine are not as strong as yours?"
The young Strauss agreed with a nod.
"They're still hard to break, but it would not be imposs..."
"You got muscle instead of brains?" Exclaimed the strong-willed man. "Break mine, what are you waiting for? You can reach them for sure!"
Elfman's eyes widened at Gajeel suggestion as if it was simply unthinkable.
"If I pull on them, your hand would tear off before breaking the chains" said the horrified young man.
However, instead of the disappointment or the disgust he was expecting, a smile drew itself on Gajeel's lips.
"Gihi ! That would be the case for someone with normal skin... Good thing mine can become as solid as steel".
The white-haired young man still wasn't convinced it was a great idea, his newly acquired strength already having increased too ofter his natural clumsiness. This time, it wasn't the integrity of a simple glass of water that was at stake but the integrity of the actual limbs, and quite possibly life, of a comrade. However, he knew Gajeel was right. After all, he couldn't really worsen their overall situation no matter what the income.
He stretched his fingers so he could reach the chains circling Gajeel's wrists. Pulling with only the tip of his fingers, his strength may have been a little diminished but he could probably pull it off.
"Ready?" He asked.
"Come on, Strauss" simply answered Gajeel.
So he pulled with all he got, slowly feeling the chain twist until they broke.
"Gihi! You weren't exaggerating when you said you could pull my arms off!" Said Gajeel, massaging his bruised wrists.
But if he felt any pain, he didn't show, more satisfied to be finally free than annoyed by such simple bruises.
"Now, let's find the keys to those handcuffs of yours" knowing very well he had no chance of removing them by force.
"Where do you think they hid it?"
"If noting changed since I left, every guard should have a copy of the keys, especially with worthless prisoners like us. We only have to..."
They were interrupted by footsteps, closely followed by the sound of the doorknob someone was unlocking.
"Just in time" whispered Gajeel, raising his chair above his head, ready to crush the head of the next guard to pass the door.
Evergreen had dark rings under her eyes as her legs were killing her from all this walk, but for once, she didn't care about those things. That had nothing to do with what she felt when a dozen DFA soldiers pinned Elfman on the ground, handcuffing him as she helplessly watched. Once more, he had been the one to save her, sacrificing himself so she could escape while she had practically done nothing in return for him. However, the young woman knew very well that culpability wasn't the only reason of her determination. The simple thought of him being in danger, not even knowing if he was simply alive, was torture to her. And as if Elfman being taken away from her wasn't enough, she had learned that her brother had suffered the same faith.
Anger boiled into her veins. Not the one she usually felt when something was getting on her nerves, no, this exceeded what she ever felt. She was ready to give everything to get them back.
When she finally saw the wall in front of her, Evergreen didn't even felt the fear she was expecting.
"Ready?" Asked Erza's voice once they were there.
Without any surprises, every one of them nodded in agreement.
"We don't know in which section they were taken. So I suggest we form two groups. I'll cover the West side" Continued Erza. "Natsu, you were detained in the East wing at your passage here, didn't you?"
Natsu nodded with a seriousness Evergreen never saw on the one she considered as slightly crazy until then. If she was told a couple of hours earlier that he would be in charge of a rescue group, she wouldn't have believed it. But at this instant, she has no doubts he was trustworthy.
And so, Erza announced the groups' formation. Levy, Lucy and herself would be with Natsu. As for Mira, Lisanna and that guy who always took off his shirt, Gray if she recalled, would go on Erza's side.
"What about us?" Asked Wendy.
Erza gave a soft look to the one who, despite being the youngest, was ready to courageously follow them to save their friends.
"Invading the wall with too many people would diminish our chances at discretion" explained Erza. "For now, it would be better if you and the others stay here, ready for backup in case things go bad."
Then she took out of her bag two flares.
"If you see a blue flare by the window, it means we require your aid in battle" she said handing a similar kit to Natsu's group.
"What about the red one?" Asked the blue haired girl who noticed the second color.
Erza's face darkened a little.
"If you see a red light, that means that the enemy is too strong and that you must retreat and hide."
"Can I see those red flares?" Asked Cana who had now taken place next to Wendy.
"Of course" she said, intrigued about her unusual interest.
When Cana had recuperated both of the red flares, she spilled most of her wine bottle on them, making them unusable.
"What a shame to waste such good wine" she sighed as if nothing happened, contemplating her half-emptied bottle.
"Cana! What's wrong with you?" Yelled Erza.
"Did you really think we would be willing to let you die out there, you don't know Fairy Tail. Besides, I have a better plan! If we see a blue light, we come to the rescue. If you still haven't come back at sunset, we'll meet up with you, no matter what."
To that, the rest of Fairy Tail cheered, none of them willing to let any of their friends behind. Erza looked at them a little out of guard, not expecting to see her decisions denied, but after all, knowing them, she should have seen this coming.
"Very well" she said after a moment of hesitation, smiling at the enthusiasm of this bunch of rebels she held so dear.
Then the scarlet-haired young woman turned to the two departing groups. Everyone seemed ready to go.
Just before getting separated, Evergreen and Mirajane's looks crossed. Each of them could see the same determination: they would get Laxus and Elfman back no matter the cost. Then they respectively brought their attention back to their own group, walking towards a secret passage once pointed out by Gajeel.
They who could have done anything to get away from this horrible place forever were once again back to the wall.
Hihi, I couldn't help myself to write a small scene about Fairy Tail's amazing complicity. Looking forward to share with you the next chapter. Also, I may have mentioned this before but I want to specify it once more: I absolutely HATE when people don't finish a fanfic so, despite my slow updates, you can be sure that I will translate this to the end :) Love you guys!
Have a nice day and don't forget to comment ;)
Lily xxx
