Chapter 13: A Nightmare of Reality

RECAP: The lights returned back to the way they were during performances, and the Wolf's Howl team started singing again. Enjoying being able to perform again. Enjoying that their able to do one of the things they love.

Lucy woke up early that morning. The blond and the rest of the Wolf's Howl team had gone to bed early the night before. All five of them were exhausted from their concert the day before. But now Lucy felt refreshed, ready for another day in the Great Magic Tournament.

The young teen eagerly hopped out of bed. Thinking about the challenge's to come. She walked to her hotel's bathroom and took a long relaxing bath. After she was done, she quickly dressed into her new attire. Thanks to the fact that she was stuck in a stingy, underground training facility with no way to change outfits and how she had grown to tall for most of her old clothes, the day they had arrived at the tournament, she had gone on a shopping spree with Isabella.

Lucy now wore a small black shirt that went just above her bellybutton. Her left sleeve was black as well, but was entirely adorned with black feathers, the feathers at the end of the sleeve were white, though. Thanks to the feathers, it went past her hand. She had no right sleeve to mach her left, so the girl's right arm was bare from the shoulder down. The celestial mage wore tight black jeans, topped with a small white belt that hung loosely from Lucy's left side. For shoes, Lucy wore tall black combat boots with a white shoe lace.

The blond really liked the outfit, but did not enjoy, however, that it was almost entirely black. The teen had hoped to get an outfit with a bit brighter colors. She did not think black was bad, but she could only handle so much at a time. Lucy was only able to deal with the outfit because of the small amounts of white that decorated the assortment of clothes. That, and the feathers; oh how she loved the feathers. When the blond had purchased the clothes, she had enough money left over to also get a single silver earring. She wore it on her left side as well. It was a feather as well.

Lucy had finally finished examining her self in the mirror. She walked over to her bed side table and gathered her weapons. She hung her Fleuve d'étoiles from her belt along with her new key pouch. Sadly, this one was black as well. It had come for free when when bought the earring. And since her brown pouch would clash with her new outfit, she swapped it for this one.

Lastly, the young blond attached her new dual-handed knives into sheathes on the bottom of her back. While the group had been training, Theodora had Lucy train with knives similar to these, for her master thought the the blond would need a way to fight in close-combat. Isabella was instructed similarly, but in martial arts instead of knives.

Finally done preparing, Lucy walked down to the lobby of the hotel she was staying at. When she arrived, the blond was met by Styxx and Isabella. As soon as Lucy saw the two talking to each other, her face went red with jealousy, but that quickly faded. Isabella knew that Styxx and Lucy had started going out during training, so the brunette was smart enough not to flirt with the shapshifter.

Styxx and Isabella both saw Lucy walk up to them. Once she was close enough, they greeted her.

Styxx spoke up first, "Hey Lucy! You look great!" The whit haired teen admired his girlfriend. She looked amazing in her new clothes. It was a little too much black for his tastes, but if Lucy liked it, he liked it.

Isabella now spoke, "Styxx is right, you look amazing! I told you it would!" Isabella giggled and smiled at the blond. The time mage had always liked black and white, so she thought the clothes looked perfect.

Lucy giggled as well, flattered by the compliments, "Thanks guys. I love it so much! A little to much black for me, but the feathers! Oh, the feathers, they make it so worth it!"

The trio of mages chuckled, then Isabella spoke up again, "The rest of the team is in the dining hall eating breakfast, we should go join them." Styxx and Lucy nodded in agreement. The three mages took off for the dining hall, but they were interrupted on the way.

"Lu-chan? Lu-chan is that you?" The blond turned around just in time to see Levy hug her happily. Lucy eagerly hugged her back. Levy was one of the few people in Fairy Tail that she missed still. I fact, their relationship had only grown with Lucy's leaving.

As the best friends separated, Lucy talked with her blue-haired friend. "Levy! I missed you so much!"

Just then, Styxx coughed into his hand, getting everyone's attention. "Lucy, you stay and chat with your friend. Isabella and I will just meet you at the dining hall."

Lucy nodded in agreement, "Alright. Thanks Styxx. I'll see you two in a few." With that, Isabella and Styxx walked off.

The blond turned back to Levy, who was watching the two walk away. Levy's attention was snapped back to her best friend when Lucy said, "That was Styxx and Isabella. Their on the Wolf's Howl team as well. And Styxx is... well..."

Levy's interest peaked at that last part and questioned the blond, " He's cute. Is he your boyfriend? I always thought you had something for Natsu, really."

Lucy giggled at Levy's remark, "Yes, he is my boyfriend. Yes, he is cute. And yes, I did have a thing for Natsu, but that fantasy ended a long time ago."

"Yeah, I kinda figured with that song last night." Levy then held a fist to her mouth, as if a holding a micro phone, and acted as if a doing a dance move, "I'll have you beggin' on your knees for me!"

Lucy giggled again, then said, "Yeah, that and that stupid background I gave. That was terrible of me to do, even if he did deserve it."

The two mages laughed, for what seemed like eternity. The girls started walking towards the dining hall, chatting more on the way. "So you guys are staying here, too? That'll only make it more awkward between the guilds." The blue haired girl said, nervous about the recent future.

"I won't say that it's Fairy Tail's fault, but I think they're most of the problem. Yesterday, before the contest, I could see they were uncomfortable around me." Lucy responded, aggravated by her old guild mates reaction.

It was Levy's turn to speak, "I know what you mean. The members of Wolf's Howl didn't seem too thrilled either, but I think they were being protective of you."

The blond nodded, agreeing with what her best friend said, "Yeah, they were." The teen then moved on to another topic, "So I bet you have tons of questions about my new appearance."

Levy turned to face her best friend, then responded, "I'd really like to know about the new hairdo... and all the black."

Lucy chuckled, then faced her best-friend as well, "During training, my clothes became destroyed, so I got a new outfit when we got here. I'm not ecstatic about all the black either, but the feathers are totally worth it." The blond explained, the dual mages laughed again.

When she could finally speak again, Levy asked again, "They are totally worth it! They are so cute! But what about the hair? And the change in height?"

Lucy chuckled, wishing she could answer her best friend. But the celestial mage knew that if she did that, Isabella would be at a disadvantage when she was fighting. "Sorry, Levy, but that's something I can't tell you. You'll just have to wait until the tournament."

Levy gave up and sighed, "Fine, just leave me with suspense." The blue haired girl crossed her arms.

The two walked on silently for a few moments, in peace. But that peace was broken when the two heard a shout from behind them. "Levy! I can't believe you've been with this wimp!"

The two friends turned around to see a certain black haired mage standing behind them. Grey was glaring at Lucy, pure hatred in his eyes. The blond took a step back, the look in his eyes terrified her. Those of eyes of his were filled with hatred, but also something much darker. Lust. A dark yearning that ran down to his soul.

When he spoke again, the venom was easily detected in his voice. "You! Lucy! You're coming with me!" Before she could act, the ice mage picked the blond up and hung over his shoulder.

Lucy screamed and kicked, trying to free herself, but all attempts failed because of her position. Levy ran up and started to attempt to free her best friend, but was only pushed aside by Grey.

"Out of my way!" The black haired teen shouted whenever Levy or anyone else came close.

This continued on till the two reached Grey's hotel room. The teen threw Lucy onto the bed. He then cast a spell over the room, the walls, ceiling, and floor becoming covered in ice. "Heh, now no one will hear us."

Lucy, petrified by Grey, laid on the bed still. Her body filled with fear. The black haired mage got on top of the blond one. He menacingly threatened the terrified girl with his next few words. "Now, the true punishment begins."

Lucy screamed in fear as Grey in front of her unclothed the blond. She couldn't believe what was going on. Grey, one of her closest friends while at fairy tail, was committing sins so grave he would never be able to condone. As the sin continued, she would fight back, but only be punished some way by her attacker.

This torture carried on for what seemed like hours, a never ending nightmare with no waking point