Another delay in updating. I'm so sorry! I've had some stuff to deal with lately including getting an essay in for uni and dealing with funeral arrangements. Updates will probably be slow leading up to Christmas so please bear with me.
I can't believe over 100 people have followed this story! I'm so grateful and I'll do my best to make sure you continue to enjoy it. Thank you, fairies!
Laxus growled as he tried to ignore whoever was shaking him awake, trying to bury deeper into the soft warmth that caressed his cheek. He breathed in deeply, inhaling the sweet smell of vanilla and strawberries. He purred at the scent and a giggle next to him finally roused him from his slumber.
"Morning, Laxus." Evergreen smiled gently down at her friend. It was nearing noon and Master Makarov had asked her to wake him. Lucy was stable so now it was time to plan. She had walked in to find him curled over the edge of the Celestial mage's bed, cupping her hand to his cheek in sleep. As much as she wanted to tease him for such a romantic gesture, now really wasn't the time.
"Ever?" Laxus slowly lifted his head and blinked a few times to adjust to the light in the room, "What's going on?"
"Gramps wants to get a plan of action together. We need to find out who did this to Lucy." At the name, Laxus let out a small whimper, memories from the night before flooding his head. He looked down at the hand still clutched in his and traced her arm, noting small cuts and a crap tonne of bruising, lifting his eyes until he reached her face. At some point in the night someone must have come in to remove her ventilator as in its place was a cannula. Though it was a hell of a lot better to see then a huge mask over her face, it still hurt, knowing she was injured enough to need help breathing. Now that he wasn't focused on begging her to live, Laxus took the time to further examine her injuries. Her once porcelain clear skin was marred and mottled all over, small gashes interlaced with blacks, blues, purples and so many other colours. Her arm had been casted and strapped into a sling for her shoulder. He could see where both her legs had been casted under her blanket and thick bandages wrapped around most of her skin, a heavy one of the cut on her throat.
"Laxus?" He hadn't realised Ever had been trying to get his attention, nor did he notice the tear that spilled its way down his cheek. He quickly rubbed his face and looked back up to her.
"Is it still limited to two visitors in here?" she shook her head, "Right, can you get everyone in here?" Ever left briefly and returned with the rest of the Raijinshuu, Gramps and the little Sky Dragon. Before any could say a word, Laxus left his chair and lifted Wendy into a crushing hug. Freed stood shocked as Bickslow helped Makarov lift his jaw off the floor. Evergreen just watched with a small smile as Laxus whispered "Thank you."
Wendy simply beamed up at him tiredly before moving to Lucy's side and lifted her hands over the girl to check her status. Laxus quickly returned to her side and grasped her hand again.
Makarov coughed slightly before he moved to stand at the edge of the bed, careful to avoid jostling to the sleeping girl, "Now that we know Lucy is no longer in danger of succumbing to her wounds, we need to assess the situation and find out who did this to her. Porlyusica stopped by early this morning and apparently, Lucy's magic containers were empty almost to the point of depletion. What I want to know is why they were so low. Does anyone know where her keys are?" Laxus blinked for a moment before reaching into his pocket and bringing them out. Everyone in the room gasped at the sight of them. Each key was crusted with blood but that wasn't the main concern. Small chain-like patterns wrapped around both the handles and the blades, thin black veins leaching from the chain loops into the metal of all fifteen keys on Lucy's ring. Laxus stared dumbfounded. How the hell had he not noticed when he picked them off the floor of her apartment?
"Asshole." Every head swung towards Freed.
"Did…did he just…?" Bicks glanced at everyone else to make sure he hadn't been the only one to hear the world's most polite and respectful man curse. No one had ever heard the Rune Mage swear before.
"Yes, Bickslow, I did say 'asshole' and I'm about to do it again." He reached over and took the keys from Laxus's grip, "Whoever attacked Miss Lucy is a villain of the highest order, not just for the wounds inflicted upon her body. This spell is a crude version of an ancient binding spell. Not only did they injure her, they made sure she was defenceless when they did, and this spell, this bastardized version, it is not just a sealing spell." Everyone cocked their heads in confusion. "You see these veins attached to the chains? They ensure that any magic used on the object inflicts pain on the user. If Miss Lucy had tried to use her keys in the fight-"
"Cosplayer would have been hurt from using her own magic."
Freed nodded at Bickslow's deduction, "A spell like this would have caused excruciating pain, not only to the caster but also to any of her spirits that tried to open their gates." A malevolent aura filled the room at his explanation.
"Gramps, I know Fairies don't kill, but the bastard that did this to Blondie ain't gonna stay breathing when I find him." Everyone expected a rebuttal of Laxus's claim but Makarov stayed silent, nodding slightly as he struggled to reign in his titan form. Sparks had already started flying off the Lightning Slayer, the last thing they needed was a giant hole in the roof of the hospital from Gramps.
"We need a plan. Laxus, your thoughts?"
Laxus ran his free hand through his hair, the other still tangled with Lucy's. A small smile fell upon Wendy's face as she realised his lightning had done no damage to the blonde in the bed, further cementing Gajeel's claim.
"I need everyone except Wendy to head back to the Guild. Gramps, keep this quiet for now but I need Team Natsu, Metal Face and Book Worm. Tell them what we know and let them come see her if they want to. Freed, you'll need to set runes around the office when they hear. Keep sound from leaving and don't let them rampage or leave until they've calmed down." Laxus kept his eyes on Lucy's soft hand as he gave orders, gently stroking her palm with his thumb, "Freed, take her keys and try and find a way to reverse the spell with Levy as soon as you can. They should probably come here first. I need Metal Head and Flame Brain to try and scent out her attacker from her apartment. If they go there first, they won't believe she's alive. There was so much blood…"
Laxus trailed off and Evergreen nudged his shoulder to bring him out of his thoughts, "Laxus, don't lose it on us now."
"Right, thanks." He gave her a small grateful smile before taking a deep breath and getting back to the plan, "Bickslow, whilst they're doing that, scout from above for any clues. Titania and Ice Prick will look for clues inside. Ever, I need you to pick up some things for her. Clothes, hairbrush, that sort of stuff. Also, I know she keeps a box of letters to her mum somewhere. She'll probably want that when she wakes up." Everyone gave him a weird look at that one. "What?"
"How do you know she writes letters to her mother?" Master asked, shoving aside the brief giddiness that erupted at the thought of his grandson and Lucy.
Laxus rolled his eyes, "She told Book Worm, she told me by extension. Dragon Slayer, remember?" The group glanced at Wendy who blushed and nodded a confirmation.
"Is nothing sacred anymore?" Ever huffed, flashing her fan in front of her blushing face at the thought of what the Slayer's must have heard concerning her and a certain manly man.
"I think that's…oh, her book as well! Her team can help you find it." Everyone nodded at the tasks they'd been given, "Wendy should stay here to make sure Blondie is…wait. Gramps, what did the Old Hag say about her magic?"
Makarov shifted uncomfortably under the hardened glare of his grandson, "She said her magic was drained almost to the point of Magical Depletion Syndrome."
"But if Lucy couldn't use her keys then how-"
Laxus's growl cut off Wendy's question, "They took it. The bastard stole her magic."
Natsu had been sitting at his usual table at the Guild, his arm wrapped around his girlfriend as Gray and Erza were debating whether or not to go check up on their resident Celestial Mage. It was close to two in the afternoon and Lucy was normally in before any of them arrived.
"I still think we should go. It is unlike Lucy to be this late."
"Erza, chill. Lucy can handle herself, okay? She's probably just found a shoe sale or something and got held up."
"Yeah, Erza, the Ice Princess is right. Luce is a badass. She's fine." Erza scowled at the boys before conceding.
"Fine, but if she's not here in the next half hour, I'm going to-"
The doors of the Guild slammed open, cutting off all noise in the hall. Master Makarov stormed through the entrance, closely followed by the Raijinshuu. Natsu suddenly felt sick. Laxus was missing from the group. All first-generation Dragon Slayers had quickly recognised Laxus as Lucy's mate, whether either of them knew it themselves or not. Master looking murderous; the Raijinshuu without their leader; no Lucy. Natsu was not considered smart by any means but this he could figure out.
"Luce," Natsu whispered, standing abruptly and knocking Lisanna from her spot beside him.
"Brats, listen up! I need Gajeel, Levy and Team Natsu to join me in my office immediately!"
It took exactly five minutes after Master had broken the news and given his instruction before all hell broke loose. Natsu went supernova, boiling one side of the room as Gray's ice dangerously lowered the temperature of the other. Erza had requipped all her swords at once and they were spinning in the air as Gajeel's skin turned to iron. Levy sobbed loudly as Evergreen tried to comfort her. Only Freed, Bickslow and the Master stayed still, anger lacing each expression. After a few more minutes, Freed's runes stopping the destruction of the room, Makarov slammed his enlarged hand down on the rampaging mages in his office.
"Enough!" he released them once he felt Natsu's flames disperse. "I know you are all angered by this news but Lucy needs your help. You may visit her first or go straight to your tasks, but our priority is to find this person and bring them to justice, not be overcome by anger."
"Let's find the bastard before we go see Bunny Girl. Tracks ain't gonna last much longer." Gajeel turned to leave the room, closely followed by everyone minus Freed, Levy and Master.
"Brats, just remember my warning. According to Laxus, her apartment is not a pretty sight right now. Don't let yourselves lose control." A sharp nod from the exiting mages was all he received before they stormed from the building.
"Master, we shall take our leave as well. We will be in the library if you need us." Freed bowed before he offered Levy a hand and gently led her from the room.
Makarov sighed. He was getting too old for this. "Laxus, from what I've seen, you must love her. Please hold onto that, now more than ever."
"Fuck!" Natsu growled out, a reciprocating growl coming from the Iron Slayer beside him. They hadn't even reached the apartment before he started smelling her blood. Bickslow had taken off on his totems as soon as they left the Guild, leaving the rest to head towards Strawberry Street. As they came to a stop outside Lucy's home, Natsu had to fight down the urge to vomit, the stench of blood staining his nose. Next to him, Gajeel didn't look like he was fairing any better. Erza finally took point and led them up the stairs, requipping a small blade just in case. Everyone could smell the blood now. Evergreen was trying to fan the smell away and Gray was breathing heavily through his mouth.
One good push to the partly closed door was all it took before both dragon slayers lost the fight along with Evergreen. Gajeel had rushed to the sink as Ever ran passed the scene to the bathroom. Natsu being Natsu ran to the window, vomiting his stomach contents into the street below. Erza and Gray merely stood still in the doorway, pale faced and beginning to hyperventilate.
Everything was red. The floor; the walls; parts of the ceiling; everything. Gajeel was the first to gain back control and wiped his mouth on a discarded dish towel as he turned back to face the room. It wasn't necessarily the sight that had caused him to lose his lunch, more the smell of so much drying blood and the fact it had come from the girl he saw as his sister.
"How the fuck is Bunny alive right now?" he asked, slowly making his way to the epicentre of what looked like, and almost was, a homicide scene.
"Laxus found her pretty quickly. Wendy did a lot of work just to get Lucy stable." Ever answered as she made her way over to the pair frozen in the doorway. With a quick whack on the head, both snapped out of their trances. Gray moved to help his rival, not being able to look at the room right now. Erza walked over to Gajeel.
"Evergreen, you should start gathering some of Lucy's belongings. Her novel is in the bottom drawer of the desk, by the way." She moved to the overturned sofa and ran her hand over a large gash mark in the fabric. "Gajeel, can you smell anything?" She watched as the Iron Dragon Slayer took a deep breath and began sorting through the different scents in the room. Natsu soon walked over and began to help as Gray went to help Evergreen pack up some of Lucy's things.
"There!" Natsu shouted, scaring the occupants of the room. He immediately turned heel and began to run back through the open door. Gajeel rolled his eyes but then stiffened as he found what Salamander had. With a quick gesture to Erza, he ran after him.
The citizens of Magnolia quickly parted as the two Fairy Tail mages ran through the streets as if the hounds of hell were baying at their feet. The scent of Lucy's blood and what Gajeel described as horse shit in human form led them to the edge of the town where they abruptly stopped.
"I don't get it," Natsu said, scratching the back of his head, "One scent becomes three in a single spot then they all vanish?"
"Hey! Found anything?" Bickslow's totems began floating around their heads as he stepped off them and joined the Slayers.
"Yeah, whoever this asshole was, he wasn't alone." Gajeel explained, to both Bickslow and a slow Natsu, "Met two others out here. One must've been a teleportation mage. They just fucking disappeared."
"Shit, anyone you recognise?" Bickslow sent his babies to scan the area, looking for any small clue.
"Not anyone I know." Natsu answered. Both turned to Gajeel who looked extremely pale and scared, "Oi, Iron Dildo, what's up with your face?" Gajeel didn't even respond to the insult.
"Natsu, remember when we fought Sparky during Fantasia?" Noticing the use of his actual name, Natsu just nodded. "This is one shit storm I want to be far away from when Laxus finds this guy."
"Who the hell is it?" Bickslow asked, knowing that it would take a fucking lot for Laxus to go that far off the deep end again.
"Ivan."