I woke up today in such a good mood, so I'm going to share my happiness with everyone.

I LOVE YOU ALL.

I really, really do. You have no idea how much.

I'm feeling bubbly and sentimental. I shall channel that bubbliness (that's not a word, I think. There's a squiggly red line underneath it in Microsoft Word) into this chapter.

Check out the wonderful trailer Forbidden-Hanyou made right here:

http: / www. youtube. com/ watch?v= Sd6nfefqfOI

Take out the spaces, I guess, but I don't really get how the links work around here. Or just go to my profile / account / thing. And Forbidden-Hanyou deserves a round of applause, don't you think?

Review and I'll love you even more than I already do.

Chapter Twelve.

"But . . . but how? The Council has enchantments, and guards, and advanced runes to keep us out!" Lucy said.

"I daresay our Script Mage is skilled enough to dispel the runes," Erza said. "Levy is an extremely bright mage, aren't you?" The last two words were directed to said blue-haired girl.

"Ye . . . yes, Erza, I can!" Stars glittered in Levy's eyes as she drooled at Erza's praise.

Lucy hit her forehead with her hand. "Levy-chan . . . you're supposed to be on my side . . ."

Erza smirked slightly at Lucy.

"Come on, Luce! It'll be fun!" Natsu grinned.

"No. It's against the rules."

"The world is ending and you're worried about Council rules?" Gray remarked.

"But . . . but . . ."

"Pleaaaaase, Luce?"

"No!"

"Pleeeeeaaaase?"

"No!"

". . . Or else I'll hide Happy in your bathroom when we get back."

"You wouldn't —"

"Yep."

Happy squealed excitedly while Wendy, Erza, Gray, and Levy watched the scene unfold in front of them like a tennis match.

"Don't you dare—"

"Yep."

". . . Fine."

Which was why the group of seven now found themselves on top of the tall mound of rock that housed the Magic Council.

"Alright, let's go —" Natsu started.

Gray grabbed him by the scarf and hauled him back. "You idiot, do you think we can just walk into the Council like that? There's bound to be rune enchantments to keep unwanted visitors out already."

As if to reinforce his words, orange and red runes glowed around the Council building.

"Levy," Erza motioned to the Solid Script mage.

"Yes!" Levy stepped up close to the runes and held up her trusty pen, frowning hard in concentration. "These runes are written in Latin . . . they're very advanced . . ."

"Can you dispel them?" Erza urged.

"I think so," Levy answered. "If you step on these runes, you will die a very . . . grisly death. But if I erase this, and use this to negate that . . . and rewrite this section . . ." Her pen darted back and forth, trailing a string of Levy's orange runes.

Lucy and Wendy watched in fascination.

". . . And fix ignis . . . there!" Levy flourished her pen triumphantly.

The runes grew fainter and fainter until they disappeared at last.

"That's it?" Natsu and Gray said in unison.

"Hurry," Levy said. "Before someone finds out."

"I thought it would be something more than that," Wendy whispered to Lucy.

"Me too," Lucy whispered back. "Why was it that easy? I mean, Levy-chan said the runes were advanced, but still . . . if Era had Solid Script mages like her, they would be able to infiltrate the Magic Council in no time."

"True," Erza, who had apparently overheard, said. "But it runs deeper than mere rune enchantments. The people of Era do not infiltrate the Council simply because they are afraid. The Council portray themselves are more powerful, more intimidating than they actually are. When they set the rules, the people follow. That's all there is to it."

"Hm," Lucy said thoughtfully.

"It makes one wonder if the Council is as good as they say."

The Council's interior was impressive, to say the least.

They were in a large room with pristine, white walls. Tapestries and pictures of mages, old and young, hung from frames on the walls. There were tables decked with white cloth and chairs. The floors were made of marble that clacked noisily against the group's shoes. At the end of the room, three carpeted corridors branched off in different directions, guarded by massive pillars.

All in all, Lucy thought, the Council looked like a very elegant yet stern place.

Erza held up the necklace, which glowed a bright blue color. "Michelle-san was right. The Grimoire Heart base is in the Magic Council. Levy, Gray, Wendy, Happy — right, left, or middle?"

"Left," said Gray.

"Right?" Wendy said.

"Middle," Levy said.

Happy looked confused.

Erza glowered. "Make up your minds."

"Alright, middle!" Gray yelped.

"Um . . . left then!" Wendy said.

"Eep! Okay, right!" Levy squeaked.

This obviously did not improve Erza's mood. "Natsu, Lucy —"

The sound of boots clacking on the floor drifted over from the right corridor.

Silent panic.

Levy, Gray, Wendy and Happy sprinted towards the left corridor in unison.

Lucy met Erza and Natsu's eyes, chose straight ahead, and they ran.

It was quite hard trying to run fast while making no noise against the marble floor, as Lucy found out later.

Sprinting as quickly and noiselessly as they could, Erza, Lucy, and Natsu grabbed the nearest door open and slid inside, closing it with a click.

All was quiet.

Lucy almost let out a breath of relief when she heard footsteps again, walking by near their door. Clamping her mouth shut, she fought to regain her breathing under control.

Erza dove behind a conveniently-placed sofa, Lucy tumbled gracelessly behind a cabinet, and Natsu hid behind a tea table.

The door swung open and someone strode in. The person — it was a he, Lucy saw, as she peeked out ever so carefully from her hiding place — walked to a drawer and withdrew some papers, rustling them as he went.

"Rune Knight," Erza mouthed to Lucy.

She held her breath and shuffled carefully to conceal herself better. Erza's hiding place behind the sofa was very fortunate, for she was blocked from the Rune Knight's point of view completely. Lucy had to shuffle a bit so he wouldn't see her, but Natsu . . .

Well, the tea table wasn't a very big one, and the Rune Knight only had to squint to see Natsu's head of pink hair.

Lucy fervently crossed her fingers and prayed. Go, go, get out, don't see us . . .

The Rune Knight walked briskly back to the door, eyes intent on scanning the papers.

That's it . . . almost there . . .

And that was when she noticed Natsu's nose twitching violently.

Lucy knew what was coming, and from the look on Erza's face, so did she.

"Natsu . . ." Erza mouthed dangerously.

Natsu looked like he was in pain.

"Don't you dare!" Lucy whispered savagely.

"Resist it!" Erza mouthed.

"I . . . I . . . how?" Natsu managed, before natural instincts took over and he sneezed.

Dudududududu. 'Kay bye.

-TheAliensDidIt