OmeletAnnisaXD: Aww thank you! Glad you enjoyed. Aku barusan ke profilemu… senang rasanya ketemu orang Indonesia juga.

DeadlySereneGrace, Alexmommy, PINKhairedBADDAS (do you mind if I just call you Pink?) and Footster26, thank you for reviewing and I'll uhh… try… to update faster… *squirms uncomfortably*

wingedmercury, I'm smiling like a retard at my computer screen and my mom's asking me why. She thinks I'm mad. Your reviews do that to me. CURSES.

Anyway. Moving on!

Chapter Six.

Lucy trailed her finger through the water as their boat sped towards Galuna Island quickly. Levy chattered away to Erza and Wendy played with Happy's ears, repeatedly turning them inside out. Gray slumped moodily beside Lucy, dark eyes glowering at the water; he was obviously thinking about the last time they went to Galuna Island and found out Gray's childhood friend was planning to revive Deliora. Keiko had decided to come along — Erza figured her affirmation was enough and didn't bother asking her why, so Lucy decided it wasn't important. In front of her, Natsu was acting as a lookout at the boat's mast. Just a few minutes ago, he was puking his guts out over the side of their boat — Lucy had finally asked Wendy to cast Troia on him.

It was because — Lucy tried convincing herself — she didn't want Natsu to pollute the ocean with his half-digested chicken and whatnot.

It was definitely not because she genuinely felt bad for him. Nope.

She sighed as she flopped dejectedly in her seat, willing the unimportant thoughts away and trying to focus on their mission.

Lucy wished the boat would hurry up and get to Galuna Island already. She was starting to get just a teeny bit seasick and the ocean water that was spraying over her smelled like fish.

That aside, she was extremely grateful that Erza had managed to learn how to operate a motorboat with a three-minute-long lesson from a sailor.

"We're here!" Natsu cheered happily, and promptly dried everyone's wet clothes.

Jumping off the boat, they all surveyed their surroundings. Lucy hoped she wouldn't encounter another giant, rabid rat named Angelica.

"Keiko-chan, do you know where the former base is?" Lucy asked, to get her mind off the rat.

Keiko, who had been looking nervous ever since they arrived, jumped when Lucy said her name. "Ah! No, I don't. I'm sorry."

"Then we will split up and look," Erza said, eyeing Keiko curiously at the same time. "Wendy and Gray, you'll go left. Lucy, Natsu, and Happy, the right side. Keiko-san, you're coming with Levy and I."

Erza probably wants to keep an eye on her, Lucy thought. After all, Keiko had been acting jumpy.

"We meet back here in a few hours. Behave, you two." Erza glared icily at Gray and Natsu.

"Yes ma'am!" They chorused, followed by an "Aye!" from Happy.

Lucy wondered when she would get to Erza's level of intimidation so she could silence them both.

"Natsuuuuuu, we haven't found anything," Lucy whined. "We've been walking for hoouuuuurss."

"Why don't you call that clock thing?"

"That clock thing is a spirit, and Horologium isn't just a mode of transportation I can use anytime."

"You used it when we went to subdue that Vulcan that took over Macao."

"Aye!"

"You shut up, cat. You've got wings. And Natsu, that was a long time ago!"

"Yeah, yeah, have it your way, Luce."

"We still haven't found the base yet. Can we go back now?"

"But Erza said split up and look! If we don't . . . she'll claw our eyes out!" Happy wailed.

"Fine." Lucy pouted.

They walked on in silence for several minutes, eyes straining through the trees to see anything that resembled a Grimoire Heart base.

Lucy's eyes drooped shut slowly. It was hot and she was tired and there was nothing to do but walk —

— and suddenly something feather-light slithered across the back of Lucy's neck. She shrieked and hid behind Natsu.

"Oi, what is it, Luce?"

"Happy! I swear, if you do that again, I'll convince Mira to restrict your fish rations!"

"Do what?"

Happy was sitting on Natsu's right shoulder.

"You mean, that wasn't . . .?"

"What's going on?" Natsu butted in.

"I felt something . . ."

Natsu stiffened and sniffed, his hands igniting in twin balls of flame instantly. "Someone's here."

Lucy tensed and readied her keys, ready to fight or else jump aside at the slightest movement. Happy hid in Natsu's hair.

Suddenly Natsu's fire sputtered out. "Funny. I don't smell anything now."

Lucy gawked at him. "Wha—?"

"Must have run away or something," Natsu grinned. "I mean, I am pretty awesome."

"Idiot." Lucy smacked him. "You scared me. Can we go back now?"

"Aw, but Luce —"

"Now."

Lucy, Natsu, and Happy returned to their meeting point to find Erza, Levy, and Keiko there.

"Find anything?" Erza asked.

"Nope." Lucy shook her head.

"Then I guess we have to wait for Gray and Wendy," Levy said.

As if on cue, Wendy came running excitedly. Gray followed behind her, looking extremely pleased at himself.

"Everyone! We found the base! Come on!" Wendy beamed.

Gray shot a smug I-win-you-suck look in his rival's face.

Natsu positively smoldered. "Come on, Luce," he muttered, and dragged her along.

Ten minutes later the eight of them stood in front of the rusty Grimoire Heart base. It was cylindrical-shaped and made entirely out of metal (enough to make Gajeel proud), and all in all it seemed to radiate a haunted aura.

Lucy would have dug her heels in the dirt and stayed the hell out, but Natsu practically shoved her inside and Erza was — well, Erza was Erza. And Erza was scary.

Inside the base was dark, gloomy, and there was the occasional drip, drip, drip of water leaking. The interior was fashioned like a science laboratory, Lucy realized. Somehow, Grimoire Heart never struck her as the scientific type. Several tables and metal chairs were wedged in the room they were in. Three corridors branched off in different directions. Lucy fervently hoped she wouldn't have to go through the left corridor because she swore she saw a black thing scuttling across the floor —!

Erza, however, seemed to have other opinions. "Lucy, Natsu, Happy; left. Gray, Wendy; middle. Levy, Keiko; the right with me."

"Erza, can we please switch to another corridor —" Lucy started.

The Look promptly silenced Lucy.

"Eep! Yes ma'am! Let's go, Natsu!" She pulled the Dragonslayer along.

"What's the big idea? You were the one who wanted —"

"Never mind! Let's just go!"

As their voices slowly faded away, Gray shook his head. "Idiots."

"They're cute together; don't you think so too, Levy-san?" Wendy asked innocently.

"Now that you mention it . . ." the beginnings of an evil grin lit up Levy's face, and Keiko giggled.

"However fascinating their love life may seem, we are on an important mission here," Erza broke the mood. "Let's go, Levy, Keiko-san."

Fifteen minutes and several rooms later, Lucy was bored.

"Hey, Natsu. We still haven't found anything. What does Erza want us to look for, anyway?"

"Dunno. I'm bored."

"Aye!"

"You're no help," she muttered. They were exploring the fifth room in the left corridor, and so far Lucy decided all the rooms were identical. Absently trailing her finger through the dust that accumulated on a chair, she cast her eyes around the room once again, hoping to find something important. Three worn posters were peeling off on the wall and there was some sort of bulletin board on the far right corner.

"Nothing here," Natsu reported.

"Figures. Let's move on . . . hey, wait, what's that?"

On a table, stashed behind a lump of cobwebs, a glimmer of blue caught Lucy's eye. As Happy flew over and dropped it in Lucy's hand, she realized it was a necklace with an oval gemstone pendant.

"This might be important," Lucy decided.

"Yes! Now Erza won't kill us!" Natsu cheered.

"Aye!"

As they headed back, a pair of eyes flashed in the darkness.

Everyone else was already waiting when Lucy and Natsu returned.

"Lu-chan, find anything? None of us did," Levy said.

Lucy held up the blue necklace. "This is all we found, but I don't think it can point us in the right direction . . ."

Erza held it up thoughtfully. "On the contrary, if this belongs to our culprit, it should contain a trace of his or her magic. Now, if only we could track it . . . Natsu, Wendy, see if you can scent something."

The two Dragonslayers sniffed at the necklace.

"I'm getting something, Erza-san!"

"Good. Now try to trace the magic to its owner, or at least point us in the right direction."

"This scent . . . it's pointing me somewhere . . ." Natsu closed his eyes and scrunched his face in concentration. Suddenly he stiffened and his eyes sprang open in surprise. "It's right here in this room!"

Mock applause drifted to the group of eight as a figure stepped out of the shadows. A pair of icy green eyes surveyed the group, framed by locks of white hair.

"I sincerely congratulate you for figuring out where our base is," she said. The woman's voice was melodious, but Lucy did not allow it to cloud her judgment; she knew that honeyed voice could change to a sadistic one in a matter of seconds. "Now, that necklace contains information that shouldn't fall into your hands, so you will hand it over and no one will get hurt."

"Get hurt? Lady, look at this situation! You're one against eight!" Gray burst out. Then he looked at Happy. "Well. Maybe seven."

"Hey, Happy's a part of the team, too!" Natsu objected.

"A flying cat won't do much good, ash-hole."

"Are you insulting — MMPH!"

"You two . . ." Erza bashed their heads together violently. "I will say this one last time. Behave."

"Yes ma'am!"

Lucy smacked her forehead against the wall. "They made us look like idiots . . . in front of an enemy, no less!"

"Um . . . Lucy-san, are they always like this?" Keiko ventured nervously.

"You have no idea," Levy and Wendy chirped cheerfully.

The woman watched the scene with amusement clearly written all over her face.

"I'VE HAD ENOUGH! YOU'RE GOING DOWN!" Natsu pointed a flaming finger and tried to tackle her, promptly followed by Erza and Gray. Lucy, Levy, and Wendy swiftly readied their attacks. Happy burrowed in Keiko's hair and the poor girl stood watching the battle, looking a little lost.

"I don't suppose you have any magic, do you Keiko-chan?" Lucy asked, grabbing her whip.

"Ah . . . I don't think so . . . I'm not a mage . . ."

"Then please stay back, Keiko-chan," Levy said, and promptly tried to drop a hammer over their enemy's head.

The woman did not look fazed at being severely outnumbered. "So that's your answer, then . . ."

And suddenly a ball of lead settled in Lucy's stomach, and she got the feeling that this woman was a lot more powerful than she seemed.

A millisecond before Gray's ice lance impaled her, darkness enveloped Lucy and plunged her into an illusion.

There is the sensation of falling.

Falling.

Falling.

Panic.

She is suffocating in the darkness, the blackness, she can't see, she can't breathe, make it go away —

— and suddenly the blackness clears and she can see again, but what greets her eyes isn't a welcome sight.

It is her mama.

Her mama, lying on her deathbed. Her skin is impossibly pale, her eyes weary, her lips bloodless. And a mere heartbeat later a sharp piece of glass impales her mother, pierces through her heart, the wound is spurting blood and spraying Lucy with the red liquid and Lucy is screaming, screaming for it to stop, make it stop make it stop makeitSTOP —

— then her mother melts away and she is replaced with her father. His eyes are cold and his mouth is turned up in a condescending sneer. "Not now, Lucy. I don't have time for you. I will never have time for you."

The words echo in her head.

Never.

Never.

Never.

"No," Lucy whispers painfully, curling up into a ball. "Just a dream . . . a nightmare . . . an illusion, not true . . ." but she can't stop the tears from leaking. She rocks back and forth and buries her head in her arms to shut out the sight of her father.

It's better now, because she can't see him. She thinks it's over, but she's wrong.

Now she hears screams.

Dozens of screams.

She jolts her head up, eyes wide with panic, and in front of her, she sees . . .

. . . she sees Mira, howling in pain and clutching her bleeding stomach.

"Mira! Mira-chan!"

But it's no use. Mira drops down, convulses once, then stills.

"No more . . . please . . ." salty tears drip down Lucy's cheeks. She knows it's an illusion, it's a nightmare, but she can't shake the feeling of horror off.

The illusion doesn't listen. It goes on.

Mira's motionless body disappears and a bloody Elfman takes her place. After Elfman, it's Macao — then Levy — then Cana — then Gajeel —

Lucy pushes herself to her feet and starts to run. She doesn't know where she's going. The only coherent thought in her mind is to get away.

There's no escape, however.

A dismembered Erza blocks Lucy's way. Proud, dangerous Erza — defeated.

Then Wendy. Gray. Natsu.

Lucy sobs convulsively. Her heart shatters at the sight of her comrades, bleeding and broken and dead.

A voice resounds through her mind. "It's your fault."

"No . . ."

"Your fault they're dead."

"No!"

"It's because you're weak."

"I . . ."

"You can never compare to them."

"But I . . . I tried . . ."

"You're pathetic."

Lucy looks up to see Sagittarius in front of her. An arrow is pointed straight between her eyes.

"Sagittarius!"

"Sayonara, Lucy." Sagittarius cackles madly, his hand releases the arrow —

And then the illusion lifted.

Lucy blinked her wet eyes open in surprise. The rest of her friends were writhing on the ground with their eyes tightly shut, and Keiko — Keiko stood in front of the woman, arms raised high. Her entire body radiated a pale blue light, and it took Lucy about half a second to figure out that Keiko had canceled out the illusion.

A mere heartbeat later, however, the woman shot towards Keiko and caught her throat in a choking grip.

"You . . ." the woman hissed dangerously, fingers tightening their hold. However, in doing so, she let her illusion down for a second —

— a second was all Lucy needed.

Her whip sang through the air and five other attacks, coming from her friends, collided with the woman. Her grip on Keiko was released and she went flying back and hit the wall, creating a large crater.

Wendy was the first to find her voice. "Did we do it?"

"I . . . I believe so." Erza rasped.

"Did you all see . . .?" Lucy wiped the rest of her tears away.

"Yeah," Gray and Natsu muttered. Erza, Levy, and Wendy gave shaky nods of affirmation.

Lucy looked at her friends. Natsu had suspiciously wet eyes, Gray was sweating bullets, poor Wendy was trembling, Levy was sobbing openly, and even Erza was shaken.

Suddenly remembering Keiko, Wendy got to work healing the older girl.

"Are you OK, Keiko-chan?" Levy asked worriedly.

"You really saved us back there," Lucy sighed.

Keiko smiled shakily.

"That was pretty cool, what did you back there," Gray grinned. Everyone's mood instantly lightened.

Only Erza seemed stiff. "I believe you owe us an explanation. Who are you, Keiko?"

"Erza, what —" Natsu started.

Keiko looked up resignedly at Erza. "I knew you'd get suspicious soon enough, Erza-san . . . very well. You deserve to know."

She took a deep breath before continuing.

"I am Michelle."

Cliffy! Yay! I am exceptionally proud of this long chapter. If you're confused, all will be explained in the next chapter.

Now review, pretty please.

-- TheAliensDidIt