So I've gotten a lot of follows for this story, and I feel like you guys at least seem interested!
These first few chapters (probably up until chapter 4 or 5) will be a little slow going, but if you stick with it I swear you won't be disappointed!
Anyway, sorry for the confusion in last chapter, this one will help clear it up a little, but not completely. Natsu is indeed still OOC (out of character), but he won't be the whole story I swear!
Warning: There is strong language in this chapter, and minor violence
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.
Chapter 2 - Archive
Our eyes made contact and almost immediately her eyes glazed over as if she were about to cry.
"You weren't supposed to wake up yet… I didn't want you take wake up here… With these monsters."
Lucy
Furrowing my eyebrows I tried to make sense of this situation. For one, I had no idea where I was, not only that but there were a group of unknown people, an intruder, and my best friend. What exactly was going on?
Before I really had to chance to truly think it through my watery eyed friend tackled me in a hug. "You shouldn't be here. This world wasn't meant for you."
This world? What did that even mean? Without even noticing I had embraced her hug and lightly tapped her back in support. All eyes were on me now, and god did it feel uncomfortable.
Barely finding my voice, I managed to squeak out an, "And what world would that be?"
Levy opened her mouth to say something but quickly shut it as a voice snapped at her.
"Levy." The voice was harsh and beyond threatening. "Not. A. Word." She visibly tensed and a new found anger took me over.
"You." My words came out like venom as everything seemed to sink in. I may be confused as hell but whoever this pink haired asshole thought he was he was threatening my friend and if my ears didn't lie he also had the balls to slap her. I stood up, ignoring the sharp pain that suddenly shot through my neck and strode over to him, pushing my finger aggressively against his chest. "Cut out that egocentric control bullshit right now."
I risked a look up and saw his golden eyes piercing through me, a scowl greater than mine on his face. For just a second I faltered, feeling slightly week to my stomach. Ignoring the threatening glare and unnerving feeling in my gut I continued.
"I don't know where you got this ego of yours, but your dick belongs in your pants not your personality so maybe you should be the one not saying a word." There was snickering behind him from the so called intruder, which only seemed to displease the man in front of my father. Swallowing hard I continued, "That just so happens to be my best friend and you slapped her. You. Fucking. Slapped. Her." I threw my hands into the air as if it would become a larger deal if I did.
"Not to mention your little stripper back there broke into my house and kidnapped me so-" My antics were abruptly stopped as the pinkette roughly grabbed my arm and shoved me back onto the couch I was sitting on.
"Look buttercup, I don't have time for your hormones - and I really don't have time to explain – but considering you mouth doesn't seem to know how to shut up I'll briefly sum it up." The pinkette glanced down at his watch as to show reiterate the fact he was short on time, and normally I would have been quick to respond, but I desperately wanted to know what was going on so I decided to shut up and listen.
"For one, you have no right to speak to me, much less in the manner that you were. I'm overlooking it this once since you're nothing more than a spoiled daughter of a rich man, but do it again and I'll punish you as I punished your friend, if not worse." I quickly glanced at Levy who had her head downcast with shame. Feeling my eye twitch, I tried to remain calm as he continued.
"Now, let me get this through your head. You have no power here, in this business your daddy's money won't get you anywhere. This, however," he dug around in his vest for a second before pulling out an all too familiar gold key, "is this only reason you aren't dead."
I shivered at the seriousness in his voice and Levy's head snapped up but she didn't dare say anything. "I never even considered bringing that basterd's daughter with us but considering you had this key I figure your life could be worth something." I felt a vein begin to pulse in my head, not only was I only seen as a girl who's dad had money, but he was talking about my life as if it were nothing more than an insect.
Twirling the key around his finger he began, "Tell me what you know about this key and the bracelet." I shook my head for a second, trying to process what he meant. For one, what bracelet? He seemed to notice my confusion as he impatiently stalked over to a counter, bringing over a semi-thin, metallic bracelet.
"Come on buttercup, I don't have time for the cat to have your tongue, just answer my question." He extended the bracelet so that I could have a better view of it. It was a silver color with a gold pattern swirling around it, and at the very center was a key hole.
"Buttercup." The voice snapped, seeming to draw me out of the trance the bracelet put me in.
"Not my name." I spat back, still not answering his question. Though I actually knew nothing about the bracelet he was holding in front of me, I wasn't about to lose my upper hand with him thinking I did.
Suddenly, I was lifted from my sitting position, roughly held by my collar, and I came face to face with the pinkette.
"I don't have the leisure to learn such insignificant things. I don't have any time to waste, so tell me now buttercup, do you know anything?!" Though his voice still came off as harsh, there was a bit of urgency hidden deep within. Like something or someone was threatening him.
All the anger and spite I had just felt seemed to go as quickly as it came. Staring straight in his eyes sapped any fight I had and I realized that if his arms were not holding me up I would have undoubtedly fallen.
I tried to keep up my steady voice and cursed myself for faltering at the very beginning. "N-no… I've never seen it before in my life."
He let out an agitated grunt as he dropped my back onto the couch, running an irritated hand through his hair.
Hastily, he snapped the bracelet onto his wrist. "Guess I have to go in blind then." The girl with blue pigtails gasped, mumbling something along the lines of "what if something goes wrong?"
Shrugging it off, he took my precious key and placed it in the key hole, twisting it ever so slowly.
Natsu
Buttercup here didn't seem to have any of the information I was hoping she would, but as I've repeated many times to others and myself – I couldn't afford to come back empty handed again.
I placed the key in the keyhole and waited for the machine to power up. I waited a second, then a minute, and next thing you know I was angrily letting out stream of curses.
"Nice going flame ass, you broke it already," Grey snickered, and it seemed that comment was just enough to push me over the edge.
"What was that ice dick?!" I stalked over to him, shoving him on the floor. For a moment he looked surprised before he quickly jumped back up banging his head into mine.
"Earlier you couldn't shut up about everyone else's fuck ups but look at who's fault it is this time squinty eyes."
"I'm not the one who brought a fake key droopy eyes. Now I have a machine that doesn't work and spoiled princess." In between each interaction we would throw a punch or kick.
"Look here fire bre-"
"Both of you, SHUT UP!" I stiffened, knowing that tone of voice all too well. Sure enough, a scarlet warrior stood between us, easily defusing our fight.
Grabbing my hair I pulled it, screaming in frustration. "LEVY!"
The petit girl squeaked in surprise as she looked in my direction. I made my way over to her, not missing Gajeel's threating glare. "Explain. Now." I held up my wrist, shaking the bracelet in front of her, willing her to have the answers buttercup didn't.
"Well…" Her eyes narrowed as she examined both the bracelet and the key. "I wasn't sure of this theory until just now, but I think the bracelet only responds to blood relatives."
"What?" My voice was barely above a whisper.
"It won't work unless you're related to the person who created it." This time she spoke with more confidence.
"Look, I don't care what you need with the bracelet, but give me the key… It's mine." I turned my head in buttercup's direction, scowling in the process.
"What was that?" I furrowed my eyebrows, I need a blood relative huh?
When we made eye contact she sucked in a deep breath and speaking with new found courage.
"I SAID, give me my key back!" She spat. Grinning darkly, I stalked over to her, slapping the machine onto her wrist.
"Sure thing buttercup." With that, I shoved the key into the lock, praying that it would work. Everyone was silent, other than a small gasp from Levy.
Lucy
For a moment, nothing happened. Everyone just stared at me wide-eyed like some big event was about to take place. And then there was a voice.
"Opening… Archive of the Water Barer, Aquarius." I frantically looked around, hoping to find the source of the voice but when I found none I realized it must have been in my own head.
"Wh-who are you?" I stumbled over my words, quite confused as to what was going on.
"Damn it girl, you hold my key for so long and then you don't even know what I am." The voice snapped at me as if I was the most annoying thing on the planet. Before I got anything other than "ehhh?" out, Aquarius continued.
"I'll make it quick idiot. I am an AI – artificial intelligence – created by your father for your mother. I am a combat specialist, focusing on taking out large groups rather than fighting one on one."
I looked around the room, still confused, "how could you possibly help me fight if you aren't real?" There was a "tch" sound in my head and I worried I had only annoyed her more.
"Just watch." There was a pause for a moment, where nothing happened and I began to wonder if I had completely imagined the whole conversation. But as I was doubting myself, my vision received a blue tint, almost like water.
"Oi, buttercup, is it working?" I looked over at the pinkette, and to my surprise, now there were words of information surrounding him.
"Natsu Dragneel," Aquarius began to speak again, "17, serves under Zeref, accedes at hand to hand, weakness: unknown, threat: avoid confrontation." Her words spilled out as she began to list off everything she knew about him, and I found that she could do that for anyone in the room.
"This is so weird…" I mumbled to myself, ignoring the pinkette who was getting closer with each step.
"Go for the shoulder Lucy." Aquarius snapped me out of my thoughts and I confusedly looked up to see Natsu storming my way, my vision indication a small red section on his shoulder. Was I supposed to hit it?
Following what Aquarius said, I threw my hand out, jabbing him in the shoulder whilst simultaneously blocking the hand he reached outto grab me with.
Grunting, Natsu furrowed his eyebrows, getting progressively more annoyed. "Deactivate it. Now buttercup."
I didn't listen, I smirked at him finally feeling like I had the upper hand, when Aquarius butted in. "He's right Lucy. Even with my intelligence we can't take him, you're an idiot if you think we should fight."
I didn't want to stop, this new found power was so weird. It was like I was myself but I wasn't. I could see things now, I could see weaknesses and prepare counter attacks. It seemed surreal.
"Lucy, deactivate now." Aquarius' voice seemed almost threatening, and I wondered why she turned harsh all of a sudden.
"Lucy!" She snapped again, making me jump slightly, "Look, every minute you have me open you uses up your own energy. Since you've never used this technology before, keeping me open much longer could do serious damage. I'll say it again, deactivate me now." I finally began to process what she was trying to say. If I didn't turn off this machine, then I could pass out… or worse.
Nodding my head I reached for the device on my hand, turning the key and pulling it out.
As my vision began to turn back to normal Aquarius spoke one last time, "Let a stranger take my key again and I'll kill you."
"Closing… Archive of the Water Barer, Aquarius."
Once everything began to return to normal I felt a little light headed. Natsu walked over with a smirk on his face, "Well done buttercup, well done." And with that my world went dark.
Natsu
"So what now? Are you going to hand her over to Zeref?!" Levy glared at me as I was holding buttercup in my arms, since she had just passed out from use of the Celestial Technology. I scoffed.
"You got so attached to buttercup here didn't you?" She took a step forward, her eyes shooting daggers. "I gave you one job Levy, befriend the girl and find out if she knew anything about the technology. I didn't ask for all this sentimental crap."
Levy began to fume, my words only seeming to fuel the fire, "Yeah, so maybe I befriended her with the wrong intentions, but that doesn't mean I agreed to let you use her." I glanced at the girl in my hands and then back at Levy. "She's my friend Natsu. You can't just let Zeref take her. I did my job. I found out her father had a safe and I found out about the portrait. So please, leave Lucy out of this."
Truthfully, I wish I could. It didn't take a genius to see that I was a cold-hearted bastard, but Zeref was far worse. Even I knew that if buttercup was given to Zeref he'd force her to use the technology until she died. No person deserved to be thrown in this situation, and yet I couldn't just let her walk out of this, for all I knew she and that old man were the only people who could use this technology. "Levy, look-"
I stopped abruptly as the said girl looked at me with tears in her eyes. "Please."
Sighing, I nodded my head at her, "We're not going to give her to Zeref." She perked up at my words, and I gently put buttercup back on the couch.
I walked over to the counter, beckoning everyone to join me.
Once they all surrounded I began, "So now we have the working technology. All we need now is to overthrow Zeref." Everyone seemed surprised by my words, as Zeref had always been someone I closely followed. I never disobeyed him so even the mention of this betrayal seemed unheard of.
I took a deep breath, mustering up the courage. "I've spent 10 years of my life following that bastard, letting him shape who I am and the choices I've made. Well, I'm sick of it." I looked at each of my comrades individually.
God I hope I don't come to regret this…
"I know I'm not the best alternative, but now that we have the bracelet and someone to use it," I gestured to buttercup, "will you all stand with me?"
And there we have it, chapter two. I can't wait to be done with all these introduction chapters. I have so much planned but I have to set up the whole story first and ughhh I don't wanna bore you all. I promise it will get better!
Anywho, just wanted to clear two things up.
1.) The Artificial Intelligence (Aquarius and the other spirits – you just haven't met them all yet) is sort of like JARVIS from Iron Man. All of the spirits can tell information of their targets and also indicate weak points, but then each spirit has something unique to help in battle. Ex: Aquarius' ability is a combat specialist and she can give tactical strategy to take on large groups of people (since in the anime/manga she used her water to take out people)
2.) Ok, so in this story Zeref is sort of like the head of a gang called END, and Natsu is basically his right hand man, so Natsu has a group of advisors (Gray, Erza, Gajeel, Wend, Juvia, and Levy) but other than them there aren't any other characters from Fairy Tail in the gang (they'll be in it just not on the anti-hero / villain side)
I know those two explanations didn't make a whole lot of sense, and I plan to explain it more in depth in the actual story, but I wanted to clarify at least a little so that you guys didn't think there was no thought put into it lol.
Anywho, follow/favorite/review
-Smoltres
