Coldridge Valley
The night prior had been filled with a commotion similar to that of Elwynn, A gaping maw tearing the sky apart, sending two visitors careening down into the snow-covered Valley Below. Now one of these visitors, a curvaceous redhead, was starting to stir.
Unlike her friend in the south, Erza Scarlet wasn't greeted by a bright, well lit room upon her awakening. Rather, her eyes opened to a cold, dark, stone room lit by candles. The battle hardened warrioress jolted up, her chocolate eyes wide and alert for a moment, before she realized there was nothing in the room that was going to harm her. She relaxed and pushed the covers off of the lower half of her body. Where am I? she wondered, eyes scanning the room.
There were no rooms like this in Fairy Tail, and her constant check-ups on the other girls told her she wasn't in Fairy Hills. Did another guild come and save us from Acnologia? If so why don't I remember? she quarried, pushing herself out of the bed. She squeaked in the next moment as her feet touched the stone, it was freezing! She quickly let her eyes dart around the room, and it seemed like whoever put her in there, left her a pair of boots as well! She slid the flexible leather over her feet, cooing in delight. It was a supple doeskin, and came up to her knee.
With her feet covered, she looked around and found a robe hanging from a hook on the door, she grabbed it and slid it over her body, keeping her cloth top and loose fitting leggings on underneath before walking to the door and opening it and being greeting by her nightmare.
She was surrounded by people that were stocky and barely came up to her waist and were incredibly stocky. Most of them wore beards, but the ones that didn't had extremely well defined faces, just like… him. Just when her panic was about to make her squeal, one of them noticed her and make a noise of happy joy. "Oh good, yer awake!" he said with a thick accent, and a voice like gravel. "Stay 'ere lass, I'll go get Branstock." He told her, holding his hand to urge her to wait, then waddled quickly away before Erza had a chance to say anything.
She sighed and leaned against the doorframe, watching the small people go about their day. They didn't seem to notice her overmuch, so she assumed these people were used to seeing fully grown humans. A few of the short people she saw were even shorter. They stood a head smaller than their brethren, and lacked the stockiness. If it wasn't for the fact the women had small breasts and the men, beards, Erza would have mistaken them for children!
It wasn't long until the man who had darted away returned, a man wearing a blue kilt and a white shirt waddling beside him. The new man stared up at her, smiling lightly. "Oh good, yer awake. Your entrance scared a good number o' people last night with yer' entrance." he said gravely.
Erza blinked in confusion, "My entrance?"
"Don't ye remember?" he questioned, at Erza shaking her head, the man sighed. "You and your friend fell from the sky."
Erza fell over in shock. "W-What… how! Last I remember me and my friends were on Tenrou a-and Acnologia was getting read-"
"Lass, there's no place called Tenrou." The man told her, cocking a bushy eyebrow.
Erza gulped, taking a moment to let her situation in. Was she in a different continent? Maybe but… how did she get there without remembering? A different world? That would make sense, with the events of Edolas but… how did she get there? Did it have something to do with Acnologia? Tenrou itself? The thoughts were overwhelming her.
"Lass, are you okay?" Branstock questioned her, a concerned glimmer in his eye.
"Y-Yes I'm fine just… shocked." Erza responded, gathering herself. For now, finding the others was her main concern. If she was alive, there was a chance they were as well. "You said me and friend… how are they? Did you happen to find anyone else?"
"No, you two were the only ones we managed to find." Branstock responded. "But the other one is fine as well. Last I checked the lass was still asleep."
"Could you take me to her?"
"O'course." He grunted, motioning Erza to follow him. They walked down the hall to another room with a closed door. "She's in there. Both of you were scraped up, but nothing we weren't able to handle." He explained, opening the door for Erza.
"Thank you." She cooed, stepping into the room. She could see Lucy's blonde hair poking out from under the blankets, making Erza sigh and smile. At least she's safe. She thought.
"Lass?" Branstock's voice was questioning, making Erza turn around with a cocked eyebrow.
"Hmm?"
The priests eyes closed and his hands started to glow with a golden light. Erza watched transfixed, having never seen magic like his before. "May the Light Bless you and Keep you in its radiance." the short man said in a gentle tone. Erza felt energy rush into her, a warm, comforting embrace of protection that made her coo in soft warmth and bring her lips up into a smile. Before she could thank the man, the door was closed, leaving her alone with Lucy.
"He must be a support wizard." she said to no one in particular, rubbing her arms for a moment before remembering her own power. "I suppose I should change." She cooed, trying to focus her magic energy, planning on requiping back into her normal clothing.
The power didn't come though. She blinked. D-does my magic not work here? She thought with a twinge of fear. But… thanks to Natsu, she realized she was powerful without her armor, and her magic. She was a strong, independent wizard…. Even though she didn't have magic. Which would make armor really useful. she mused, realizing the quandary she was in.
The Redhead put her hand on Lucy's shoulder and tried to gently shake her. "Lucy, Lucy wake up, its me." she said gently, the blonde yawning and cracking her eyes open. There was a moment of silence before Lucy shot up.
"ACNOLOGI-"
"Lucy calm down!" Erza barked, the blonde deflating like a scared puppy, "I… I don't know where we are, but we're safe." she cooed, giving the blonde a comforting smile.
Lucy sighed, "Okay…" she muttered, rolling her shoulders to relieved the tension between them. "What about Natsu and the others?" Lucy cooed, a slightly hopeful tone in her voice.
Erza shrugged, "The man who brought me to you didn't find anyone besides you and me," when Lucy looked worried, she continued, "But it's Natsu, if we survived, I know he did." She cooed, smiling at the thought of him. Nothing would keep him from getting back to us. she thought, comforted by that thought.
"Yeah, that's true." Lucy cooed, agreeing in a relaxed tone as she reached for her waist. In the next moment she dashed out of bed in panic. "My Keys are gone!" she cried out. Lucy was less adjustable then Erza, and she had a much deeper personal connection to her magic, since her spirits were her friends. Lucy was nearly hysterical before she felt Erza grab her shoulders.
"Listen!" Erza growled, staring into the blonds eyes, unblinkingly. "I don't have my magic either… I know you're worried about your spirits, but I'm sure they're fine, and worried about you as well." she released Lucy, "The important thing right now, is figuring out where we are, and finding the others, okay?"
It took Lucy a moment to calm down, and when she did, she blinked her tears away, whimpering lightly, "Okay." she managed to whimper in a soft voice. "I just… I don't know what to do without my magic." she muttered, blushing softly.
Erza smiled lightly, "How do you think I feel? I haven't changed my clothes myself in ten years." she chuckled, Lucy offering a light giggle a moment later. As Lucy recovered, Erza's belly would rumble, making her blush. Lucy grinned, "Breakfast?" she asked.
"Sure."
The two of them walked out, and Lucy sweat dropped immediately. "What's wrong with you?" Erza stared down at Lucy with a cocked eyebrow.
"What's wrong with me?!" Lucy demanded. "What's wrong with them?! They're all so short!" she squeaked, pointing at the crowd in general.
"Oh yeah I noticed that." Erza said nonchalantly, walking through the crowd to a table.
"AND THAT'S THE END OF IT?!" Lucy squealed, unable to believed Erza's lack of interest in the fact they were surrounded by waist high midgets! With a sigh, she chalked it up to another case of Erza just being Erza and strode through the crowd, clutching her skirt tight to her body, since the shortest of the crowd could see right under! She carefully managed to make it to a seat and plop down, sighing lightly and lowering her head.
It was a few moments later when one of the short men, with a long black pony tail and matching beard waddled up and plopped down next to Erza. "Oi! Jona!" he called, waving his stubby little hand at the barmaid. "Bring my friends something to eat will ye?" he shouted, the woman nodding and sweeping back to the kitchens. The man's attention then shifting to Lucy and Erza. "So, yer the two young lasses who caused all that commotion last night." it wasn't a question.
"I… Yes we are, from what I've heard." Lucy responded with a sigh. They didn't mean to cause any trouble!
"We're very sorry for any panic our arrival may have caused." Erza continued, her voice gentle and polite.
The shorter man responded with a booming laugh, slapping her on the back. "There's no need to apologize!" he leaned back in his chair. "Me name's Bromos Grummner by the way." he grunted in his thick accent.
The barmaid came back, putting a plate of thick sausage and eggs in front of Lucy and Erza, "Erza Scarlet." the redhead bowed her head, reaching for a knife to cut into her sausage, starting to eat while Lucy shot her a look, then looked back at the dwarf.
"And I'm Lucy Heartfilia." She said, looking around for a moment. "Sir, I'm not trying to be rude but can you tell me why everyone here is so short?"
Bromos looked taken aback. "You ne'er seen a dwarf before lass?"
Lucy shook her head as Erza cocked an eyebrow in interest, still listening to the conversation.
"Well, I guess it would take too long to explain our history, so I guess I'll start with were we are." He said while pulling a map from his pouch, he unfurled it and poked his thumb at a location on the eastern continent. "This is Anvilmar. You landed in the surrounded valley, nearly scared all o'us half to death."
"Again, sorry!" Lucy piqued up.
The corners of the dwarfs lips curled up, but he continued on, "Over're you have Ironforge, home o'the Council of Three Hammers, and our capital." Both girls nodded in understanding. "Now down 'ere…" he slid his finger down to the southern bit of the map, tapping his finger at a star, "Is the Kingdom O'Stormwind. This is where most o' your kind are from."
"Our kind?" Erza said after a mouthful of food.
"Humans." He explained. Sighing and leaning backing, "So… do either of you lasses have any powers? Abilities with magic or sword or healing?"
Lucy and Erza looked at one another before Erza spoke first. "Well… I like to think I'm good with a sword." She cooed, making Lucy fall over. She's the best fighter in the guild. The blonde thought. "But," Erza continued, "Ever since we arrived the magic I use to summon my weapons and armor hasn't been working."
The dwarf nodded, "After you're done eating come with me, I'll 'ave Grundel cobble you something together." He grunted.
"T-Thank you!" Erza gasped, bowing deeply from where she sat to show her respect. She has a good heart. The dwarf thought, She'd make a fine Paladin.
Bromos turned his attention to Lucy, "Wha'bout you Lass?"
Lucy swallowed down the mouthful of eggs she had, "Well… I used to be able to summon spirits to help me fight but… I lost my keys." she sighed, her heart twinging as she thought about the friends she had lost.
The dwarf frowned, "Well, I don't know what you mean by keys, but if ye walk over to Saripal over there, and are very polite," he put extra emphasis on very, "she might be able to help ye." He mumbled. Lucy looked at Erza, who shrugged, mouthing "it's worth a try."
Lucy sighed and stood up, deciding to ask the ashen skinned dwarf woman she had been pointed to. Meanwhile, Bromos turned to Erza. "Lass, I don't know what kind o'magic you used to use, but if yer going to stay around 'ere, you might need to reevaluate your powers." he advised.
"What do you mean?" Erza asked.
"You seem to be a very driven person, at least from what I can tell… You always believe what you are doing is right, correct?"
Erza opened her mouth, but the words stuck in her throat, it felt… arrogant to admit that outright.
"Well, if ye do, you might be able to use the holy light, as any paladin does." He grunted, holding his hand out. A soft, golden glow encased his hand, and as it did, Erza felt the same security she had earlier with that priest she had met.
Erza smiled. "It feels… safe… secure… like it's protecting me."
The dwarf smiled back. "Aye, that is the power of the Holy Light, and Paladins fight with its glory. The light is always at our call, whether smiting our foes, healing our allies, and protecting our friends." He grunted, reaching into his pack and pulling out a large, leather bound tome. On its fine leather cover was an ornate carving of a Silver Hand. "Ere 'lass." He muttered, giving her the book. "If you're interested, read this. I'll start your journey." he advised, before standing up, patting her on the shoulder. "Now, let's go get yer armor, aye?"
Meanwhile
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO?!" Lucy Heartfilia demanded, her voice an annoyed squeal.
The dark skinned dwarf only snarled, her glowing red eyes glaring into Lucy's. "I said No! What do I care if you weren't strong enough to control your own demons?"
Lucy's anger flared, not only did this woman insult her own strength, but she called her friends, her spirits, demons! For a moment, whatever new magic was filling her flared, and she took on an angry, dark shadow.
As the dwarf watched, she smirked, mistaking the human's shadowy appearance for dark energy, and chuckling. She was mildly impressed. "If you insist on learning though, go look over those books." She grunted, waving Lucy over to a pile of dark tomes.
Lucy's anger drained away. "Wait really? Thank you!" She said happily.
The dwarf smirked, "The more you learn about the darker arts, the less you may be thankful."
Lucy picked up the tomes and frowned, No matter what, I'll find a way to reach Loke and the others… no matter what. she thought with determination, looking for Erza. She gasped as the found the redhead and rushed over. She hardly expected what she had seen.
Erza was standing radiant in a full set of Golden Armor. Her long, red hair tumbled down her back under a crested helm. Erza's narrow shoulders were protected with a mantle that seemed to glow from within, one side being decorated with an open libram, and the other with a hammer. The plate top she wore was rather revealing, but it would allow mobility, basically only covering her ample breasts and nothing more. Her legs were covered by a full length plated skirt, meaning all of her well-toned midriff was hidden beneath. In her left hand was gripped a large kite shield, and her right, a sword, the cross guard shaped like golden wings. "Y-You look amazing!" Lucy gushed, staring at the powerful knight.
Erza grinned and spun her sword. "Thank you, I'm impressed he had all of this sitting around."
The dwarf grunted, "Bah! It's just something I cobbled together." He chuckled, but was clearly proud as well. Meanwhile, Bromos pulled on Lucy's skirt.
"Lass?" he grunted, holding a robe over his arm. "Here, this is for you. It'll be a bit warmer than what you have on." He grunted, walking away. Lucy unfurled the robe. It was a rich indigo, the front opening in a deep v, well past the bottom of her bust, probably to her navel. She stared at it before smiling and turning to Erza.
"What now?" she asked.
Erza's eyes narrowed into decisive slits. "Well. Bromos told me that the best choice would be to go to Ironforge. So… I think that's our best choice." she said with determination.
Lucy nodded, determined to go to Ironforge and find out what happened to the others!