Here is chapter 8! This is where it gets good! Also, just to forewarn you, I'm introducing 4 OCs in this chapter. They wont be key characters mainly, just something that will help the story along. Hope you enjoy! (Additional information at bottom of chapter)
Answers
Chapter 8
Cobra kept his senses sharp as they trekked through the woods, heading to the direction of the village that had asked for their help. He still wasn't so sure about this mission, but knew that something had to be done least someone else got hurt if it turned out to be a setup.
Which he was starting to think was more likely, if the four souls that had been following them since leaving Crocus was anything to go by. All four of them were mages, and their souls each told him about their magic. The one in front and to the left was a Dream Mage, he would be able to alter what they saw as real or fake. Not much unlike Midnight's magic, but in this case, it would be easier to break through so long as they kept their wits about them. The in front and to the right was a Summoning Mage, able to summon demons much like Lucy summoned her Spirits. However, she only seemed to be able to call upon the lesser demons, not much of a threat to Lucy or him. The ones tailing them from behind though, their magic seemed on sync with one another. They would be the most troublesome.
From the looks of it, they were Support Mages, one with amazing healing properties and the other aiding in power and defense increases. While both abilities weren't all that powerful alone, add that with the two other mages and it might be problematic, he wasn't worried that they would be overpowered, but that they would slowly eat away at their stamina. Meaning that he would have to be one step ahead of them if he was to keep both of them safe, or at the least make sure that Lucy didn't get hurt.
"Hey Cobra, about this mission. I've been thinking, it's obviously a trap. The village we're heading to deals with it's own problems, merely because it's a village that chooses to depend on Dark Guilds, I'm sure you already know all this, but I thought I'd go ahead and point it out. Since we're obviously walking into a trap, and the mages surrounding us don't think we even know it." Lucy stated, causing Cobra to blink in surprise before stopping beside her and giving a laugh.
"Damn Bright Eyes, way to ruin someone else's fun." He chuckled out, watching as the mages surrounding them stepped out, looking none to pleased to find out that they had known all along. Cobra faced the two behind them, and decided to let Lucy take care of the two in front.
"How'd you know?" He heard the woman ask, and listened as Lucy gave a hum.
"None of you hid your magic very well. Not to mention, I can practically hear the spirit key that you hold crying out. While I can't say anything bad about another summoner, I don't like to hear any spirits in pain." She stated, and Cobra took a risk to glance over his shoulder. Blinking in surprise to see that the woman was indeed holding a key meant for a spirit, whereas all he had been able to sense before was demons.
"Impressive, guess you are called the 'Light of Fairy Tail' for a reason. As well as being known as an excellent Celestial Mage. However, I want to see that power for myself, and take your keys afterwards." The woman purred, and he felt Lucy stiffen at his back.
"Over my dead body." She hissed, and he chanced a look at her. Giving a smirk at the look of determination in her gaze, and how her jaw was clenched. That woman had just signed her death warrant for threatening to take away Lucy's spirits. Oh yes, this was going to be over quick.
"Careful Azelea. Heartfilia is not to be underestimated. Remember the information, she is the daughter of Layla, and is considered to surpass her in power. Even going as far as being able to summon the Spirit King, perform Urano Metria, and Star Dress forms." The healing support mage stated, causing Cobra to glare at him, not liking how he had so much information on her. Nor liking the hazel eyes that seemed to bear no emotions within them, or how ragged the man seemed to be. Dressed in nothing but large, baggy clothing, making his already thin and bony frame appear more so, and his unkempt light green hair looked as if it hadn't been washed for days.
"Not to mention, her teammate now is Erik, aka Cobra. Once a member of the feared Oracion Seis, later Crime Sorciere, and now one of the newest members of Fairy Tail. Having a history from the Tower of Heaven, his skills are remarkable, not to mention enhanced even more since he has become a second generation Dragon Slayer. Between his Dragon Slayer abilities, and Sound Magic, he will be quite formidable. We mustn't think lightly of them." The one with defense and power increase magic stated, causing him to still as he looked her over. Trying to figure out how she knew so much about him, and if he had ever seen her before. However, the dull red eyes, too thin frame, torn and ragged brown dress, and white hair didn't ring any bells.
"Come now. Don't go telling them things that will get them suspicious about us. Jase. Talli." The final mage stated, and he felt Lucy shift slightly. No doubt reaching for her keys as she prepared for the fight. Cobra was starting to have his doubt. These mages knew an awful lot about them, were as they were clueless as to who any of them were save for their names. Well, three of their names anyway.
"So, anyone gonna say his name? Or are you going to be impolite and not introduce yourself." Lucy stated, causing Cobra to glance back at her in confusion. Her soul was perfectly calm, as was she. It was like this was nothing more than a friendly chat between friends for her. Was she thinking that this was going to be a walk in the park? Or did the little Vixen already have something planned out?
"I guess it is kind of rude. Everyone else already has their name out there, no harm in telling you mine since you'll be dead in a bit. The names Fang, to bad I wont be able to make you scream it, babe." He stated, and Cobra froze for a moment. His blood nearly freezing in his veins, before rage shot through him.
Latching onto Lucy's arm, he spun her around while just as easily taking her spot and glared at the man who dared call her that. He glared at the man, who was much more healthier than the two support mages. He had golden eyes, a toned build, wore tight leather clothing, and had black and red spiked hair. From the way he carried himself, Cobra knew automatically that this guy was the leader out of the four.
"Uh-oh. Looks like you made him mad, Fang." Azelea giggled, and Cobra looked over at the woman. Whose emerald eyes shined in crazed malice, her white skin tight clothes looked like they were dyed in blood, and her jet black hair was tied back with what looked like wire.
"So it seems. Makes me wonder if he's tapping that nice piece of ass behind him." Fang laughed out, and Cobra saw red. Giving a growl, he launched forward, gathering as much magic as he could in his hand and prepared to slam it into the man's chest. He knew that he was acting without thinking, but he would be damned if he allowed anyone to talk about Lucy in such a way. No one would talk of his mate like that. Those were the thoughts going through his head as he thrust his hand forward, ready to kill the bastard and end this.
Only to blink in shock as, instead of a flat chest, his hand pierced between two breasts, and looked up with a wide eye as he saw Lucy staring down at him in shock as his sound palm entered her body. He could only watch as she coughed up a bit of blood, her eyes dulled as life drained from her, then collapsed and remained still. He froze, not seeing the smirks of the enemy as he stared at the dead blonde at his feet, and then roared out in pain.
Lucy gave a curse and quickly summoned Leo and Taurus to her side. Knowing that she was going to have one hell of a fight on her hands now that Cobra seemed to be locked in some form of a nightmare. Which seemed to be frightening if his roar and tears were anything to say about it.
"What did you do to him!?" She shouted at Fang, who merely smirked and crossed his hands behind his head.
"Wouldn't you like to know. Now. It's time for us to have a little chat. You see, we only care about you and your ability, Lucy Heartfilia. So, if you come along with us, nice and quiet, we'll let your friend here go." He stated, causing her to grit her teeth and chance a look at Cobra. Who was now kneeling on his knees and digging into the dirt, looking like he was suffering.
"Or, we could just eliminate you right here and now." Loki growled, gathering magic to his hand and causing it to glow lightly as he crouched slightly. Lucy quickly looked around her, and couldn't help but stop her gaze on the two mages behind her. They looked terrible, and for some reason she suspected that Fang and Azelea were the cause of it. Those two were clearly the ones in control at the moment, and she wouldn't put it past them to have done something to the two to make sure that they listened.
"Star Dress; Virgo." She stated, allowing the magic of the spirit she had said to flow through her. Feeling the change of her attire as said spirit also appeared beside her.
"Oh, so you plan to fight? Talli, power us up." Azelea stated, and Lucy glanced over her shoulder in time to see the woman step forward.
"Loki! Taurus! Keep those two occupied." She stated, looking back to the other two as they both blinked. Now that their support was busy with protecting themselves from attacks, there was no way...
"Impossible!" Loki shouted, causing her to look over her shoulder and felt her eyes widen in horror. Loki had his fist in the girl's stomach, looking absolutely sick with himself, and Taurus had barely stopped his ax from coming down on the boy. Loud laughing caused her to look back at the other two, and felt her body go numb at the look of triumph on their faces.
"Guess you understand now. Those two are merely puppets. My nightmares have completely broken them. Their soul purpose is to power us up, and to heal us. They don't care about themselves, so by all means, if you want to wipe them out. Go ahead, we have plenty more." Fang stated, and Lucy felt anger course through her veins. Those two behind her, they weren't even thought of as humans by these two. Well then, she was going to change that!
"New plan. Get those two somewhere safe. Virgo, I'm gonna need you to stay out here. Star Dress: Cancer." She growled, feeling the gated of Loki and Taurus close and Cancer's opened. Shifting her weight, she brought up the twin blades and glared at the two before her. She was taking these two down, they had done enough damage. And she wasn't going to let them do anymore!
"So, you really plan on fight us? Just with your pesky little spirits. That's a laugh." Azelea cooed, grabbing the spirit key and a dark scroll at her hip.
"Let me show you how a real summon is." She growled, swinging the key up high as she unrolled the scroll. Lucy watched as dark smoke flowed out of the scroll, taking the form of a large, black wolf with ruby colored eyes and dark purple flames around its paws and tail. While flames burst forth from a gate, before a spirit with yellow and red hair, copper eyes, and tanned body clothed in a pair of ripped jeans appeared. Flames circled his body for a moment, before dispersing, and she had to think for a moment before realizing what spirit she was looking at.
"Never thought you'd see an elemental key, would ya. Especially the Phoenix. I came up lucky in finding this hunky spirit. Not to mention, he's crazy powerful as well." She laughed out, but Lucy could only stare at the spirit with sadness. His eyes were dull, and filled with nothing but pain and sorrow. He was in a life he didn't want, and with a master that only used him. He was the nothing more but a caged Phoenix.
"Get ready for the fight of your life, babe. Cause you're gonna be fighting us both. So prepared to get burned, and live your worst nightmare." Fang growled, crouching low. Lucy took one last look at the spirit, giving him a small reassuring smile as he met her gaze and then brought her swords up. She was getting them all out of this mess.
Hehe! Hope you enjoyed chapter 8! Now just a little background information on my OCs and the reason I'm giving this information.
First, I'll start with Jase and Talli. They are merely Support Mages, that's it. Both of them are orphaned and were in the Tower, but never seen by any of the others from the tower. They are under Fang and Azelea's control for now, after having been broken mentally by Fang. Out of fear of re-living their nightmares, they do as Fang and Azelea say. Even if it means not defending themselves. Basically, they have both given up on life, so don't even care if they are attacked. At this point, it will just mean their freedom of the hell that they are in.
Next is Azelea. She is a demon summoner with the ability to call some spirits, so long as she binds them to her in some way (More on that later in the story). She is a complete sadist who was corrupted by multiple dark guilds, and has long since become crazed and only cares about causing pain to others. She is abusive to her demons and spirit (obviously). The reason it is mentioned that she only summons 'lesser demons' is because she knows that if she summons stronger ones, they would turn on her because of her abuse. She's crazy, but not stupid, not someone to be underestimated.
Finally, Fang. Nightmare Mage, just as it sounds, he makes your worst nightmares come true. However, not in a physical sense. How his magic works is by trapping you inside your mind, basically allowing him to break you mentally so he can eventually control you physically. His ability allows him to look at you and automatically knows what makes you tick, what will make you kneel, break, bend, or do anything to his whim. Only way to beat him is to face your fears and come out victorious. If you crack at all, then there is no way for you to escape the nightmare until someone does defeat him. He is the one who has control over Jase and Talli at the moment.
The reason I am telling all of this is because I plan to add more onto this story in other character's perspective. Along with other pairings. I'm still working it out right now, but these four characters will be giving some answers throughout the other series. I plan on 2 more fanfics to go with this one. It does mean that this story will be ending on a cliffhanger, but by no means do you have to read the others if you don't want to. It's me merely branching out on my writing style and trying to improve. Either way, I still hope you enjoy! Chapter 9 of Answers will be posted in a few days! Thanks you!
SVamp13