Iron in the Stars

AN: Story is my idea, but I do not own anything Fairy Tail.

Chapter 23: Heartfilia

I was beyond restless. The only time I could leave this room was if I wanted to have dinner with these crazy assholes. That wasn't going to happen. I'd rather be stuck here. However these walls have blended together in the past week and a half and I was ready to take a page out of Natsu's book and burn them all down. I haven't had any other visitors besides Sebastian since Marcone came by in the beginning. Plus we've gone through so many books and found nothing on these crystals. I put my head on the desk to take a much-needed break.

"Lyra, can you play a song for me, please?" I needed a little bit of comfort. I missed my guild so much. My family meant the world to me and I was torn to pieces that I didn't know what was going on with them.

"Of course Princess." Lyra's soft music allowed me to instantly relax. I took a deep breath as I felt my eyes become heavy.

"Lady Lucy, I think I may have found something. Please call Leo out so we can discuss this together. Gemini you may need to go back." Capricorn put his book on the table in front of me as I did what he asked of me.

"What did you find Capricorn?" Leo grabbed the book and leaned against the desk next to my chair.

"Well, I was actually reading about the history of the Dragon Slayers where I stumbled across the history of the power given to them. It started with lacrimas made with star dust and the power of celestial magic." Capricorn pointed to the part in the book where it showed this.

"I think I remember this, it was, what, three hundred years or so now?" Leo glanced down at the book reading the passage on how the lacrimas were made. "The lacrimas are what made the seed, right?" He looked at Capricorn expecting the answer.

"Yes, the seeds were developed with the lacrimas, but they were still available to use for future use to power up the dragon slayers if they ever lost their seed or if they gave birth to offspring that were powerful enough to handle the magical lacrimas. This is not the most important part that I need to point out however." He paused and looked at me as I heard Leo curse.

"I think he did make you a target. I don't think he wanted anyone to stumble across this, but the individual who created the lacrimas and gave the slayer's the ability to become slayers was none other than your ancestor, Lady Lucy. It was Anna Heartfilia." I looked at him like he was insane. If one of my ancestors did this, my mother would have told me about it. Right? I grabbed the book away from Leo and read the passage over and over again trying to comprehend. I knew nothing of this, but it had to mean I was actually a target? There was no way this guy just got lucky.

"If this is true, then why hasn't he done anything about it? Why am I just being locked in here? Why would he give me resources to become str-." I stopped midsentence and froze. "Leo, the stone didn't call to me."

"As far as we know, it didn't call to you, but that is nothing more than a hunch. I wouldn't put too much weight on that theory Lucy. You are a very stubborn woman, it could just be that you have a stronger will when it comes to power." No, I don't think that was true, I would love to be more powerful. I want to be able to always protect my Nakama so if I was able to put my hands on the power I'm sure I would take it.

"I don't know Leo, but remember what he said?" He prompted me to continue trying to understand what I was talking about. "He said that no matter what I was going to be on his side. I think he is going to try and force his will on me. I just don't know why. I mean, why else would he want me to get stronger? He expects me to fight with him in his war on magic." I watched their eyebrows scrunch with thought.

"What are you thinking Lady Lucy?" Capricorn walked over to me and took the book away to glance over more.

"I think I should basically let him. I mean I know you disagree Leo, but I don't think they affect me. I have a gut feeling that this is our only way in. I have to give him one he wants if we want to over power him and when this. The guys clearly don't know where we are or they would have been here by now which means they have been able to cover their tracks very well." I was going to continue talking about Leo covered my mouth with his hand to silence me.

"I don't like this idea one bit. There is no way I am going to let you do this. You are not going to use yourself as bait. That is absurd. He can kill you darling." I rolled my eyes. All the men in my life were so over protective.

"I'm not the same person I was months ago Leo. Besides, I won't be alone. I will have you guys with me all the time. I will still keep one of you out just incase I need you and we can watch each other's back. What do we have to lose? Would you rather sit in this room any longer?" I watched him sigh and push his glasses up and I knew I had him. Now we just had to be patient until Sebastian came to inform us of dinner like he did every night. "I guess we can read until its time to act."

We continued reading about the Dragon Slayers and the more I read the more I missed Gajeel. I read about the mating ritual and the whole time I blushed fervently. If I survived this then maybe we can have a nice long conversation about that particular topic. There was a knock on the door after a few hours and I smiled at the door when Sebastian walked in.

"Good evening my Lady. Dinner will be served within the next ten minutes, would you like to join us tonight or shall I bring you and your friends dinner?" I think he expected the same answer I've given him the last week and a half, because once I responded I noticed his eyes widened for a moment.

"I would like to join tonight, with an escort as well." I nodded over to Leo to confirm whom I was talking about. Sebastian smiled softly.

"Of course my Lady, will you be ready to go now or shall I come back in a few minutes to bring you two down?"

"I'm ready now. Capricorn, thank you for all of your help. I will see you later, I am sure, and please inform the others that I wish them a good evening." I nodded slightly knowing that he would inform the others of what we found out.

"Have a lovely evening Lady Lucy." He bowed down before disappearing. We followed Sebastian down noticing that the outside of the bedroom looked similar to the bedroom when it came for style. There was no doubt in my mind that we were in a very old mansion that symbolized wealth and power. This was a man of influence. Most likely bad influence and we had to tread carefully if we intended to survive. Dinner would be nothing but pleasantries and trying to make a doorway into getting more information and showing some sort of allegiance. I had to be bold however in order to get the information I needed. So being careful and being bold would make an interesting combination to say the least.

"Good evening my darling, I was pleasantly surprised that you have agreed to grace us with your presence. What do we owe the honor?" It was Marcone who spoke. There were three other men sitting there but they said absolutely nothing and looked as if they were in a complete trance. One of them men was Mizu. I made a face of disgust that I could not hide. "Does his presence make you unhappy dear?" He looked over at Mizu for a moment before his eyes flashed purple and then he got up from his chair and walked out of the room. "Now we will be able to have a comfortable dining experience. Sebastian please make sure he eats in his room, thank you."

I took my seat with Leo sitting next to me and I had to admit after watching the slayer have absolutely no will to do or say anything that he wanted to scared me. Maybe my idea was a stupid one. I also took note that the purple stone that he usually had resting on his chest was not in sight. It was most likely hidden in his cloak. "Good evening." I stuttered a little and wanted to kick myself in the ass. I needed to remain strong and show dominance if I was going to come out ahead.

He smiled softly and laughed as he grabbed a roll. "Must have been bored in that room of yours, if you promise me that you will not run away I can give you free reign of the property. I mean you are a woman of your word, isn't that right Leo?" Leo smiled over to me with agreement.

"That is true Sir." He grabbed my hand and squeezed it. "Her word is her bond. She is the reason we are as strong as we are." His conviction was reassuring to me. I smiled softly knowing that his words were truth and spoken with love and respect.

"I would enjoy being out of my room, thank you." I hoped that he did not realize that I didn't exactly agree to his deal. I took a sip out of the wine in front of me relishing in the rich taste. "Tell me though, why are you being so lenient with me? After all, I am a prisoner." I looked him in the eye trying not to show any fear. I watched him place his cup on the table and put his hands together as if he was thinking about his response before saying it.

"You're valuable to me. Keeping you happy will benefit me in the long run. I am under no false denial that the slayers will not eventually find me. You are important to them, correct? I would like to know more of that, how valuable to them are you? No worries, I won't make you bait. I will let them come, it will be you that take them down." He was so sure of himself. I couldn't understand his confidence, he was certain that I would be on his side and that just wasn't the case.

Before responding I looked over at Leo to see if I should tell the truth or outright lie, which I wasn't good at. Plus, like previously stated, my word was my bond so lying wouldn't be right. "I am important to the slayers, you are right with that. I am Kin to two of them and soon to be mated to another. The slayers will come, eventually, that I am certain of. However, I must tell you that you are completely incorrect in the fact that I will be the one to bring them down. I will never turn on them, they are family." Apparently, my answer made him happy because he sat back relaxing into his chair while grabbing his glass and taking a large sip.

"Yes, they are. They are a reason you have been trying to be stronger. You want to be able to protect your family. I will give you that strength. I will give you the power to be stronger than the slayers. You have seen my crystals my Lady, but there is one that I have specifically for you. I believe this crystal was made specifically for you even if it was made hundreds of years ago. It will give you the power of the stars." I noticed Leo tense.

"I have zero interest in taking power from a crystal. I am powerful enough to [protect me family." When Leo growled in warning I became alert to my surroundings. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary and wasn't sure why he was growling. "Leo?" I looked over to him and was startled to see that his eyes had become purple. When did that happen? "Leo?" I repeated myself, but jumped out of my seat when I saw his fists light up to attack me. Shit. "What did you do to him?" I tried closing his gate, but it would work. He ignored my command over and over. I thought back to when we fought previously after the eclipse gate. I tried calling out to Gemini, but it was no use. Leo must have blocked the passages.

I took a breath to calm myself. I might hurt Leo, but I had to force his gate closed and beating him was my only chance. I'm just hoping that he was still somewhere in there so he wouldn't make it so hard. "I'm sorry." With that I began to fight back. I allowed Leo's magic to flow through me and swung as allowing my body to make contact with my lion. I felt the impact hit him in the stomach and watched as he flew back, but just as fast as he went down, he stood back up. He had a smirk on his face that sent a chill down my back. "Leo, please, snap out of this." I was desperate. He came at me again going straight for my throat. I noticed Marcone sitting at the table still holding his drink just watching.

"Let him out of this daze!" I blocked Leo's hit, but was pushed into the wall in the process. I felt cornered.

"Sorry my Lady, I can't do that. Like I said you are important to me and I need you for my plans to work. I was about to respond, but Leo was too fast for me to block and I felt my breath leave my body when he punched me in the stomach. I fell to my knees for a moment while he went to punch me in the face. I moved my arms and blocked them needed a miracle. One however didn't come. His fists kept raining down on me and I felt them connect here and there. I felt the blood come up of my throat and coughed as I wheezed. I swung my leg trying to get Leo away from me and he jumped back to block my attack. That at least gave me a moment to attack back. I pushed my body up and sent my fist into Leo's face. I felt the Lion's Brilliance's power take affect and watched as his nose started to bleed.

He covered his face to block the blood and I took the opportunity to punch again. This time I went for his chest hoping to knock the breath out of him so his gate would close. I lifted my right leg ready to launch the weight of my body into the attack. I lit my fists up and swung my body dropping my foot down onto the ground. My fist connected, but not how I wanted it to. His hands intercepted my fist and he twisted my arm forcing me to fall to my knee and yelp in pain. There was one attack that would work, but it would also leave me very vulnerable. I didn't know if I wanted to take the risk. If I left myself vulnerable to Marcone than he would be able to do what he pleased with me. I couldn't allow that.

Leo grabbed me by the throat and threw me against the wall knocking the air out of me a second time. I couldn't let this continue. I was on the floor again coughing blood knowing that either Marcone was going to step in and finish me, Leo was going to finish me, or I was going to use up my magic and finish the fight myself. Shit, I know I am going to regret this decision, but maybe once I force his gate closed another spirit may be able to make their way out and protect me. I could only hope. "I'm sorry Leo, I love you." I took a deep breathe before chanting. "Survey the heavens, open the heavens all the stars, far and wide show me thy appearance with such shine. Oh Tetrabiblos I am the ruler of the stars aspect become complete open thy malevolent gate. Oh eighty-eight stars of the heavens Shine! Urano Metria!"

My attack hit Leo and his gate closed. I felt his silent apology and guilt through our bond and hoped he didn't take it too hard on himself.

"Bravo my Lady. This is what I wanted to see. I wanted to see you make a hard decision. I wanted to see you go up against someone you love and beat them because you knew you had to. That is the lesson I wanted to have with you." Like before I felt the calling power of something. I didn't know if it was the crystal or something else, but it was whispering to me. Telling me that I would be fine. I couldn't move and I felt like I had the weight of a mountain on my chest pressing down on me. It felt as if my very existence was being ripped away from me. I felt something sharp against my temple and screamed in pain as I felt my head being ripped in half. I saw spots and felt my voice crack with my screams. I've never felt pain like this and it made me forget about the slayers. It made me forget about my family, my Nakame. All I could feel was pain and I wanted it to stop. I didn't care how. Bring death if you had to, but I wanted it to end.

A/N: I will see you guys next week.