Meilin: Konnichiwa! –Sigh- So I didn't get to update over my one week vacation like I wanted to, but I was called into work and just couldn't find the time to write this. Plus school is eating away at me and my teacher is a douche. Boo…
Natsu: Who needs school anyways?
Meilin: I know! Half the stuff you learn in college is totally useless, but it's important because you need all those pointless classes to get a degree. Blah. Oh well, I'm just going to have to suck it up and deal. Natsu! If there was someone like you going to school with me, I wouldn't mind going to class.
Natsu: Yosh! I'm coming to school with you!
Meilin: I really wish you could, Natsu. I honestly wish you could -.-
BROKEN BIRTHDAY BONDS: Episode 6
"Before we continue any further to our destination, I need you all to put on these blindfolds," the hooded woman spoke. Minerva took it without hesitation and covered her eyes, the same with Sting, Rogue, Lector, and Frosch. The five of them continued to walk as if they could see through the black cloth.
"Um, I'm not sure how you guys are doing it, but how am I supposed to walk without bumping into anything?" I asked. These people were nuts! There is no way we can all travel the rest of the way without being able to see!
"You will just have to make due. I cannot allow outsiders to witness my other home. It is critical," she explained underneath the hood.
I reluctantly put on the blindfolds and took little steps with my arms out in front of me. One step at a time, Lucy. One at a time. I could hear everyone's footsteps distancing themselves from me. I'm going to get left behind at this rate! I quickened my steps in hopes to catch up, unfortunately my foot got stuck in a crack on the ground. An arm wrapped around me before I had a chance to fall. I clung onto it with my life as the person helped me to my feet.
"Take it easy, Lucy. I won't leave you behind."
"Sting?" I asked clearly surprised.
He took ahold of my hand and squeezed it lightly. I could hear him smile through his words. "Come on, I'll help you."
Even though he couldn't see me, I nodded and gripped onto his hand. My face rose in temperature a bit too, but thankfully he couldn't see that.
x.x.x.x.x
"Here we are," the hooded woman stated. As we pulled the blind folds from our eyes, the light temporarily shrunk our pupils. She walked up to the castle doors and had the guards open them up. Looking back at us for a split second the girl said, "Follow me. There is something I need your help with." She turned back around and led us to the end of the hallway.
"It's a dead end," Lector pointed out. He was right. There were no doors or passageways.
The girl crouched down to the floor and peeled back the rug to reveal a trap door beneath our feet. Inserting a rose shaped key, a latch from the floor popped up. Beneath the door was a secret stairway that we took to get to an underground room.
The room looked rather large, but there were many boulders stacked up against the walls making it appear smaller than its actual size. There was nothing in this room, nothing but rocks.
"This is where I will require your assistance," she said. "Celestial wizard, summon forth the Lion and the Bull."
"Huh, me?" At first I was confused but did as I was told. "Open the gate of the Lion: Leo! Open the gate of the Bull: Taurus!" Loke and Taurus appeared before me and greeted me.
"Dragon slayers and spirits, as you can see this room is filled with nothing but large boulders. Do whatever you can to break through them. I, myself, have tried many times to get passed, but I failed every time. These are no ordinary rocks that you can simply break. There is some sort of barrier surrounding the area."
"Heh, no barrier is going to stop me from getting through," announced the Light Dragon Slayer as he punched his fists together. "All right, Rogue!"
"Hai."
The two Dragon Slayers inhales as much as their lungs could fill and exhaled it all in one powerful breath.
"I-impossible," I stuttered. Not even a scratch had appeared on the boulders.
"Have I not told you before? These are no ordinary rocks. You will need much more power than that to get through the barrier." The cloaked woman issued sternly.
"Then leave it up to us! Taurus, Loke, help out Sting and Rogue and break down that wall of rocks!"
"Anything for Lucy's nice body, moo!"
"Of course, Princess."
With a swing from the bull's sharp axe, the impact of the lion's mighty punch, and the light and shadow breath of the dragon slayers, four powerful attacks swirled into one and collided against the barrier. A huge cloud of smoke blocked everyone's vision, so we waited for it to die down.
x.x.x.x.x
"When is Lucy coming back? I'm bored!" whined Natsu.
"Why don't you go on a mission?" Mira suggested.
"But Gray and Erza are already on one and Lisanna went with them. I can't believe they left on a job without telling me!"
"Isn't it because you break everything, Natsu…Aye," the neko confirmed, answering his own question.
"Happy, who's side are you on?!"
The pink haired slayer marched over to the wall and took a torch off the wall and stuffed his face with the delicious flames of the guild.
"He's sulking," Mira pointed out.
"Aye."
x.x.x.x.x
Finally the clouds of smoke dispersed in the air and everyone stood in shock.
"At least we made a crack," I added to lift the spirits.
"Don't be so sure of yourself," the veiled lady stated. She pointed at the crack in the wall and we all watched it patch itself up.
"A regeneration spell, huh?" The shadow dragon confirmed.
"This will be fun," Sting said as he cracked his knuckles.
"Fro thinks so, too!"
"You can do it, Sting! I believe in you!" Lector cheered.
Everyone's positive attitude perked up my magic and I was ready to fight alongside of them.
x.x.x.x.x
"Gray, we only have a few days to get this mission done. Let's accomplish this with accuracy and precision. No lollygagging around. Let's go!" Erza shouted.
"Don't you think that you have way too much luggage there, Erza?" Lisanna sweat dropped.
"Of course not! I only carry around the essentials."
Putting his hands on the waistband of his boxers, Gray commented, "Alright, let's get this show on the road so we can get back to the guild. I'm sure Fairy Tail will look like charcoal if we don't get back soon."
"That is true. Natsu can be very impatient sometimes. Maybe we should have brought him along with us," she said flicking back her scarlet hair.
"No!" Lisanna yelled. "I mean, uh, I'm sure Natsu is fine. He can watch himself."
"…" Her words were too unconvincing.
"I, uh, Gray where are your pants?" She pointed out the lack of the ice mage's pants to change the subject.
The midnight haired wizard looked down and yelled. "Gah!" After rushing around to locate his missing garments, Gray felt a strange presence from behind. "Does anyone else feel that?"
The two girls looked behind at him and stared at him with blank expressions. "Do you feel anything weird?" the two asked one another. "No. Are you feeling unwell, Gray? Perhaps you need medical attention?" Titania questioned.
"Uh, no, I'm fine." He turned around and continued walking.
In the bushes, two glistening black orbs watched intimately as the three Fairy Tail mages walked away. Gray-Sama! How could you leave on a mission and forget to tell Juvia! She cried in her heart.
x.x.x.x.x
"Sorry, Lucy, moo! I can't go on." And then he disappeared back into the Celestial world.
"Thanks Taurus, you deserve a rest," I said as I collapsed to my knees.
"Lucy Sama, shall I return as well? Your magic power is draining."
"No, Loke. I'll be okay. Just give me a second." So I said, but I fainted backwards and Loke's gate was forced close due to my lack of magic.
"Lucy!" I heard Frosch call out. The little foggy neko pitter pattered his way over to me and hovered over my face.
"Frosch," I smiled at him and his teary eyes. "I'm fine. Don't cry."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the blonde man walking towards me. He had a look of worry on his face, not that arrogant smirk everyone seems to adore. Picking me up gently, Sting brought me to the far corner and laid me down, a safe distance from the explosions and rocks. "Just rest easy." I nodded.
"It looks like it's time for me to step in. Let's see what can be done," Minerva said standing from her leaning position on the wall.
I watched from the sidelines as Minerva raised her glove covered hands. Her fingers widely spread out as a spectrum of light swirled around them. She did some strange motion with her hand and the rock wall began to crack and crumble.
"S-such power," the hooded woman stuttered, amazed at her power. Exactly what type of power did Sabertooth's Queen possess? Lost magic? I've never seen anything like it.
I sat up after having regained some of my strength and supported myself on the wall. "Amazing."
Rogue who was standing only a few feet away from me heard what I had said and replied, "As expected from the daughter of Sabertooth's master. She truly has exceptional power."
"Then why was it that we had to come along if she could handle it on her own?" I asked. She was powerful enough to take on the world. Why did they go on missions in groups?
"Even though Minerva can take care of herself, Master has at least two men act as her body guards. She is his precious daughter, after all."
"I see."
"It seems our job is done here." Minerva stated. "Let us return to our guild, shall we?"
"But Minerva," Lector interjected. "Lucy still hasn't fully recovered. I think we should wait a little bit more."
"Fro thinks so, too!"
"No, I'm okay. I don't want to drag any of you down. You guys head on back first. I will catch up." Even though I said I would catch up my body wouldn't move from its spot. Summoning two golden keys at once really took a toll on my body.
Minerva walked out, Sting walked towards me, Rogue nodded and followed Minerva, and Frosch and Lector trailed behind them as well. "Let's go, Blondie. I'll carry you back until you can walk again." He did as he said and lifted me onto his back. I had no reason to fight and in return I laid my head against his shoulder blades.
Our client gave us the blindfolds once again before we departed and then disappeared behind the large wooden doors that were hidden behind that rock wall. We never did get her name. I wonder why.
…
We were gone for a total of five days and boy did I hate to say it but it was nice being back at Sabertooth's guild.
"Well Blondie it looks like you have two more days before I have to send you back to the Fairy Pound."
"Hey! They are not dogs!" I snapped.
He only chuckled. "Anyway, I will let you off the hook today since you still haven't fully recovered. Enjoy your break before you become my errand slave tomorrow." He left me in his room as he trotted off to do some other work. He said relax so I suppose I should have taken him up on that offer. Lugging my stiff body to the bed, I plopped down without a second thought and fell into a slumber immediately upon pulling the sheets over my head.
Meilin: Alright! We're back at the Sabertooth guild and Lucy has one day left to spend with Sting before heading back to the beloved Fairy Tail guild!
Natsu: Lucy's coming back!
Happy: Aye!
Meilin: Again, I am uber sorry for updating so late. School is getting super intense and I can hardly keep up. But be sure to drop a review and comment. What do YOU guys think is going to happen? And who is your FAVORITE PAIRING? STICY OR NALU?
Lucy: Who's that lady and why don't we know her name.
Hooded Woman: You will learn in due time, Lucy. Please leave Meilin a review if you wish to know my identity.
Natsu: Yosh! I'm all fired up! If I leave a review will I get to know who you are!?
Meilin: Uh, Natsu, I don't think that it works that way. –Sweat drop- ^.^" Thank you for everyone who reviewed the last chapter! I have a challenge for all of you: Can we make it to 100 reviews?!