Honestly, I'm surprised you guys managed to stick with me, being the unreliable updater that I am. You guys are . . . the best, I swear.
In other news, I am now an official beta reader! I beta for RoseCallisto, and she specializes in DeiSaku shipping. DeiSaku fans, she's the person to go to.
Also, I had a haircut. I used to experience that awesome feeling when you flip your long hair to be like, "I win. Suck it up." Now I have considerably less hair to flip. Female readers, you know that feeling, right? . . . No? Well then . . .
What are your New Year's resolutions, everybody?
Chapter Fourteen.
The tiles shot back to their original position, effectively concealing the tunnel entrance. It went dark.
"Hey, there are pillows here!"
"Natsu, that's Wendy."
"Natsu-san . . . can't . . . breathe . . ."
"Oh, sorry Wendy!"
"Gray, shove over –"
"I can't, Lucy, it's cramped!"
"QUIET!" Erza hissed venomously.
Faint footsteps were heard from the other side, stopping just by the closed tunnel entrance.
"Did you hear that?" Org.
"Hear what, Org-san?"
Erza, Lucy, Levy, Natsu, Gray, Wendy and Happy collectively froze.
". . . Nothing. I must have imagined it." Org sounded clearly bemused.
"It might be the mice, Org-san, the Rune Knights have reportedly seen mice from the underground sewers –"
"Yes, yes, mice and rats and cats, kill the pests," Org said irritably.
"Of course, Org-san. Now, about that paperwork. . ."
Footsteps receding.
When at last they faded away, Happy let out an indignant mewl. "Natsu, is the big fat meanie going to feed me to the dogs?"
"'Course not, Happy, we won't let him. Right, Luce?"
"Hmph. Maybe I should, considering the number of times you've hidden Happy in my closet . . ."
"Later. We should get going," Erza said.
"I can't see where I'm going," Lucy complained.
"I'll make a light," Levy said, and glowing blue letters came into existence a second later.
"There," Erza said, indicating a narrow tunnel. "That's the only way. One at a time."
They squeezed through the tunnel, single file, with Erza leading and Gray bringing up the rear. Levy's Solid Script magic followed them, lighting up the way.
"Erza," Levy said, some time later, "do you smell that?"
"Now that you mention it, Levy, it does smell bad here," Erza answered.
"Like the fire-breathing moron."
"Shut up, you stripper –"
Erza grabbed their heads and bashed them against the low tunnel wall.
"Lesson learned," Gray said woozily.
"But, Erza, it smells like . . . something . . . I can't remember," Levy frowned.
"The underground smells bad from time to time," Wendy said.
"Wendy may be right," Erza said. "In any case, we do not have time to find out what is causing this smell."
They crept – crawled, now, as the tunnel grew smaller – along at a snail's pace, apparently not reaching the end of it yet. Two minutes later, Lucy grew distinctly bored, and she could tell by Wendy's fidgeting and Levy changing the colors of her light at one-minute intervals and Happy's constant mutterings of fish that they were growing bored too. Natsu and Gray, however, wisely remained quiet for fear of Erza, even though Lucy felt their growing irritation.
It had gotten to the point where Lucy started counting the number of cracks on the walls, just to see if they weren't trapped in an illusion and going in circles all this time. Long crack, short crack, long crack, hole . . .
Just as Lucy was contemplating a crack that branched off in all directions known to man, she heard Erza straighten up.
"We're here," the scarlet-haired mage said.
"Where is here?" Lucy said, as the tunnel gradually widened and she scrambled to her feet.
They were in an enormous underground cave, illuminated by the blue light of Levy's magic letters. And in the center of the cave – Ultear, Meredy, and Jellal.
Lucy saw Erza stiffen, ever so slightly, at the sight of Jellal.
"We knew you'd be here, Fairy Tail," Ultear said.
The group froze, instantly wary.
"We mean you no harm," Jellal said, directing his words in particular to Erza.
"What are you doing here?" Erza shot back.
"What a spitfire," Meredy beamed. "You weren't lying, Jellal."
"We've formed our own guild, the Crime Sorcière," Jellal said. "Meredy and Ultear managed to break me out of prison after I was sentenced to be executed. Now we are fugitives, and our guild aims to destroy all the Dark Guilds in Fiore." To atone for our past sins was left unsaid, but the Fairy Tail members knew, and those six words hung heavily in the air.
"The Grimoire Heart base that you seek is truly here," Ultear said. She gestured behind her, indicating another large tunnel that travelled into the darkness. "You are on the right path. Keep going."
"We just came to tell you that," Meredy said.
"I . . . see," Lucy said doubtfully.
"We don't know what you came here for," Jellal said. "Rest assured of the secrecy of your mission, whatever it is. We only know that you need to find the Grimoire Heart base, and Ultear here knows the way. Go carefully, Fairy Tail . . . Erza."
"Thank you for the information, Jellal, Ultear, Meredy." Erza's gaze lingered on Jellal.
"Glad you're not dead," Natsu grinned at Jellal, as the Fairy Tail members made their way past the Crime Sorcière members and to the tunnel.
"Grand Chariot."
"Ice Make: Bloom."
"Maguilty Sodom."
Light, ice, and blades assaulted the Fairy Tail members.
Erza's reflexes saved her as she pushed Levy aside, Natsu grabbed Lucy and Happy and leaped away, Gray countered with a hasty Ice Make: Shield to cover him and Wendy.
"What the hell –" Natsu shouted.
"– do you think you're doing?" Gray finished.
"Jellal!" Erza shifted to battle armor, sword at the ready. "What is the meaning of this?"
In answer, large chunks of rock fell from the cave's ceiling and hurtled towards the group. Dust fell, obscuring their vision.
"Ice Make: Shield!" Gray gritted his teeth as the rocks pounded against his ice shield. It trembled, but held.
"Maguilty Rays!" Yellow blades flew towards the shield. This time, it crumbled, and the Fairy Tail members threw themselves aside.
The dust cleared. The three Crime Sorcière members stood, magic at the ready.
"Oi, you!" Natsu yelled angrily. "Don't make me burn you all! What's going on?"
"Wait!" Wendy shouted. "Their eyes . . ."
Lucy looked. Instead of Meredy's green and Ultear and Jellal's brown eye colors, their pupils had disappeared, leaving blank white orbs.
"They're possessed . . ." Levy gasped. "They're possessed! Erza!"
"Jellal!" Erza cried. "Snap out of it!"
"Heavenly Arrows." Jellal intoned, aiming for Erza.
Eyes widening, Erza shifted to her Adamantine Armor and crouched defensively. As the arrows hit her, she was pushed back several steps but otherwise appeared unharmed.
"We have to get out of here, Erza!" Lucy shouted.
"Aye!" Happy readily agreed.
Eyes darting between the three Crime Sorcière members, Erza nodded. "To the tunnels. Fast as you can. Now."
"But –" Natsu gazed longingly at Jellal, Ultear, and Meredy, obviously anticipating the battle that was about to come. It took the combined efforts of Gray, Lucy, and Happy to drag him away. The seven of them sprinted for the tunnel.
"Meteor."
Lucy heard Wendy squeak in surprise as Jellal flew through the air at an impossible speed and land in front of the tunnel, blocking their way.
The Fairy Tail members screeched to a halt, Jellal in front and Ultear and Meredy behind them.
Erza growled in frustration.
"Erza? What do we do?" Lucy dared to ask.
The scarlet-haired mage shifted to her Black Wing Armor. "No choice. Now we fight."
Flames burst into existence in Natsu's fists as the Dragonslayer grinned in anticipation. "Now you're talking."
"I knew coming here was a bad idea," Lucy whimpered, but summoned Taurus.
"You're looking good today, Lucy-chan –"
"Can it, Taurus!"
Happy fluttered away to a safe place, Gray and Levy readied themselves, and Wendy hung back to provide support, should they need it.
Ultear raised a hand. Stalactites from the cave's ceiling trembled and fell, then hurtled towards the Fairy Tail members, followed by Meredy's magic blades.
Once again, Gray reconstructed his ice shield. Under the combined onslaughts of stalactites and blades, the shield fell.
But now they were ready.
Lucy and Natsu, on an unspoken consent, teamed up and launched themselves at Meredy. Erza and Wendy locked on Jellal, while Gray and Levy attacked Ultear.
"Natsu," Lucy warned, "we don't want to kill her, just knock her out or something."
"Yeah, I know, Luce," he answered.
"Taurus," Lucy pointed at the young pink-haired girl, "we're taking her down."
Rumbling in agreement, Taurus jumped into the air and swung his axe, bringing it down on Meredy. She leaped away a moment before the bull touched down. Lucy followed up with her whip, which she managed to wrap around Meredy. Natsu, fists flaming with angry fire, charged up to Meredy.
In the split second before he punched her –
"Three Spread Sensory Link!"
The fiery punch hit home.
Meredy reeled back, but so did Natsu and Lucy, linked by her magic.
"Ugh!"
"Ow," Natsu moaned. "Now I know what it feels like being hit by me."
Recovering quickly, Meredy released the link and shouted, "Maguilty Sodom!"
Lucy and Natsu managed to evade, but Taurus wasn't so lucky – his size and weight slowed him down, and the majority of the blades pierced Lucy's spirit.
Taurus groaned and collapsed.
"Return, Taurus!"
Panting, Lucy and Natsu surveyed the pink-haired girl before them, trying to think of a strategy.
"I've had it!" Natsu shouted. "I'll burn you all!"
He sucked in air to prepare for an attack –
"Everyone!" Levy yelled, while avoiding Ultear's ice magic. "I just remembered what the smell is!"
"Now's not the time, Levy!" Erza interrupted grimly, slashing on Jellal. Lucy could see the torment in her eyes, see how much it physically pained Erza to be fighting Jellal once again.
"No! Stop! Wait! This tunnel is full of –" Levy tried again, but was cut off by Natsu.
"Fire Dragon's . . ." Natsu started.
"– propane!"
Propane? "Natsu, STOP!" Lucy screamed.
Too late.
". . . ROAR!"
Right after Natsu blew his fireball, the cave exploded.
I'm fond of cliffhangers for some reason.
On a side note, propane is a combustible gas and it smells bad. Try a skunk's fart or something – at least that's what my research told me . . .
Who noticed the Spongebob reference?
-TheAliensDidIt