Everyone was in pretty bad shape after the fight. It went without saying that the room was destroyed, as was much of the city going down. It was a miracle that the entire city hadn't sunk under the lake again. Lucy was cringing at the sight of this sacred city being tarnished like this. She silently prayed that the dragons and Celestial Spirits wouldn't take their displeasure out of any of their hides.
Lucy didn't know who to help first. Yukino had slipped into unconsciousness after having been partially drained, along with the additional injuries she had suffered because of the Binary Link. Glancing all around the only people she saw uninjured or conscious were Carla and Frosch. The two Exceeds had managed to make it through the battle without being scathed to badly. "Frosch scared! Where is the scary lady?"
"She gone for now. We should attended to the wounded. Lucy, do you need any help?" Carla asked brushing the dirt off her skirt. Seeing Wendy on the ground, she started to run over to her, then stopped turning towards Lucy. The teen nodded at the two Exceeds, who immediately went over to check on their Dragonslayers. Setting Yukino gently on the remaining stone floor, Lucy grabbed two keys from her key ring. Calling out their names she summoned both Jai and Cheng to appear before her. Needless to say it was not a good meeting between the two.
"Jai, again? Come on, why are summoning us together when it's not an emergency. She's always on her high horse, literally," Cheng whined, pointing accusingly at his companion. Jai was greatly offended raising her hoofs to stomp the rat when they both her a sharp voice snap at them, "ENOUGH!" Looking behind them they cringed as Lucy had her hands on her hips with a scowl on her face. She narrowed her eyes, puckered her lips, and tapped her right foot impatiently. Despite her disheveled look she was scaring them. "Yes, mistress?" both spirits said, quietly as they cringed under her fury.
"I don't have the time or patience to deal with your incompatibility at this time. If you two can't put your difference aside now and help me out, I'm going to never summon you again!" she called them out. She waved her arms around her causing them to look at the destruction around them. Seeing all the people hurt or missing both Jai and Cheng looked at each other ashamed. Noticing their expressions, Lucy's eyes softened. She placed a hand on each of them stroking them gently. "I know you have problems, but you're part of the same family. That means putting rivalry aside so you can work together. Cheng, you did it before, please do it again. Jai, you're a healer, you don't get to choose who your patients are, understand?"
"Yes Lucy, we promise."
"We'll do what you ask. Who should we help first?"
Biting her lip she thought about that for a minute, then came to a decision. "Cheng, I need you bring to life some of the statues to help you find Natsu and the others with him. Help in the search, if you find them, but can't help them as a rat, then change to human. Keep an eye out for Erza; I'm not sure where she is. Jai, I need you to help me treat everyone here. I'm really worried for Yukino. Hoshi took some of her magic."
"Oh dear, I'll look over her first. Be a dear, and get that boy off the wall. I'll look over him after I'm done treating her," Jai neighed. She used her big nose to gently push Lucy towards Gray. She looked back a little hesitant only to see Jai shook her head indicating she needed to go. Leaving Yukino in the capable hooves/hands of her Celestial Spirit she hurried over to Gray.
Gray, who had regained his senses, was already attempting to free himself. These crescent moons were completely solid and heavy. He attempted to freeze the one on his right wrist. He saw the ice slowly creep and crawl over the moon. It got colder and heavier, his wrist felt like it was going to snap at any second, but it didn't break off. Getting nowhere with that he kicked and pushed against his leg shackle, but there was no give. The moon rocks were dense and durable. Frowning, he started twisting around only to scrape his backside against the wall.
I'm never getting free from this wall am I? How could I forget moons are usually covered in ice? I'm never getting off this wall! He thought, his eyes closed. Suddenly he felt something brush past his abdomen, then a sudden warmth. Opening his eyes he twisted his head the best he could, (both his neck and the top of his head were caught), seeing Lucy grasping the crescent shape shackle around it and pulling with all her might to get the moon off of him. Her hands were glowing just like Yukino's had earlier. To his astonishment she tore it off completely. "How in the world, are you able to do that? Summoning, is a holder magic, not a casters!"
"I'm not sure myself. Something inside me, a voice that reminded me of my mother, said I could do caster magic, if I tried hard enough. I think that the magical energy can be manipulated into different forms, like the spell Urano Metria or using the standard to help empower the spirits. If Space Magic is part of Celestial Magic, then I wonder about the potential if I did become the True Star Maiden," she told him softly as she pulled off more of the moons off him until he was free.
Shaking his limbs out, he felt some pain in his shoulder. Seeing that Jai was busy working on Rogue at the moment, he plucked the travel bag off the floor near Wendy and started using the med kit to heal himself. About that time Wendy woke up, eating up the fresh air coming in from the destroyed ceiling. She choked a bit when it mixed with the dust in the air, but finally got it under control. Carla began mothering her as Frosch stood by anxiously as Jai lifted her mane off of Rogue's body. "Frosch is worried. Will Rouge be okay? Why is he still asleep?"
Jai nuzzled the little frog/cat assuring him everything was okay. "Rogue is a strong mage. He's just exhausted after using so much high magic spells in one day. He needs to rest for a few days and he'll be okay." Frosch started to cry tears of joy when he heard that. The all cocked their ears, as they heard something or someone, coming up from the hole in the floor. As it got closer they could make out several voices.
"You didn't have to interfere! I could have flown all the way back up and give that dragon a serious beat down!" Natsu's voiced echoed. Something was off about it, it sound brittle. Next they heard a dismiss sound followed by a loud bonk. They strained to hear a deep solemn voice tinged with sarcasm reply.
"You're even more delusional after getting hit in the head a few dozen times. I'd be surprised if you didn't have ten concussions." There was a silence for a bit, then they heard Natsu's voice responding so fast they couldn't make out what he was saying. The say a bit of a flash then it was quiet again, save for a smug voice going, "I can't use my legs, but I can still punch pretty hard."
"Sting-sama is so cool!"
"You're companion is mean! I could have flown Natsu out if I wanted to!"
"That's a pretty puppy dog lie. Neither of us can use magic now. Ow, do you have to hold us that tightly?"
Suddenly Erza voice rang out demanding to be let go. She was not a possession only for to be silenced by a French man telling her to be quiet or he dump her down the hole again. Just then two dragons' statues burst through the hole spiraling around until they hovered over the non-fractured floor. Natsu and Sting were riding a dragon statue missing part of its tail and horn from its head. The statue lowered its head having them slide off. The second dragon carrying a human Cheng with a grumpy Erza in his arms, hopped off the statue. He gave an order in French causing the two statues to dive back down the hall hopefully not to be seen again.
Skating over to Lucy, he unceremoniously dumped Erza at her feet. "Never again, send me to find either Natsu or her," Cheng growled, wringing his chef's hat with such anger he nearly tore it in half. "It wasn't too bad was it?" Lucy asked nervously only for the hat to be thrown at her head. The human/rat started doing figure eight around her picking up speed.
"Too bad? Too bad? It was worse than that by ten folds. Mercee help me, I had to come across another fight between Natsu, whose yelling so loudly, my ears nearly fell off. If that wasn't bad enough, those two cats tried to eat me! Eat me; a Zodiac Spirit! I could handle that, maybe even Sting destroying two of my animated statues, but no, they had to keep fighting, destroying more of the building making it harder to get out. I almost got crushed just as I spotted the unconscious madmosel. I do the gentlemanly thing keeping her safe in my arms. How does she repay me in kind? She tries to beat the life out of me while calling me a pervert! I've never been so insulted!" He ranted as he returned to his natural form. He snarled and bit the toes of everyone who offended them. He crawled up Lucy's body before whispering in her right ear to not summon him anytime soon before vanishing.
"Hey, what was the mouse's problem? We couldn't have been that bad. All we did is try to help out," Natsu said, adjusting his scarf as he started kicking debris making the pyramid shake more. Lucy used her weapon to tie him up and stick the hat in his mouth. He let out muffled shouts, but was ignored. She gave her famous Lucy Kick, to Sting's back causing him to fall over Natsu in a painful heap.
"Jai, can you heal everyone here?" The horse shook her head, her energies were too low. Nodding Lucy dismissed her before telling the group to pick themselves up. They would have to get to the nearest hospital to get further treatment. Hopefully the fight had weakened Hoshi and she wasn't causing trouble.
At the moment, Hoshi was about two miles away thanks to her stardust spell. She stumbled a few steps until she had to sit down. She found a log, sitting down just in time. Her injuries were worse than she had first suspected. Binary Link was a double edge spell indeed. Even with the borrowed magic from Yukino, she wasn't regaining her magic as fast as before. Shakily, she pulled out the med kit, coughing a bit. "Ugh, Erza really deserves her title of the strongest female mage in Fairy Tail. Ahhhh, I think she nearly broke my shoulders. Alright, I hope this kit has something that can help me." She dug through the kit looking assessing each item. There were bandages, potions, medicine, but nothing to really treat her injured shoulder. With great deal of difficulty, she started to treat herself.
First, she used her teeth and her damaged left hand to open the potion bottles. She bit down hard on a piece cloth, as she unsteadily used her right hand to apply some of the paste based potions to treat her cuts and open wounds on her body. It was a pain to lift up her legs to apply the paste on her leg wounds. Erza had caught her a few seconds before she could make the switch with her clone which explained her leg wounds. Next, she twisted about slowly as she put on the bandages. It was nearly next to impossible to get her shoulder set so it wouldn't ache so much before swallowing the pain meds. By the time she was finished, the sun was setting casting pink and purple shadows across the road.
"There's no reason to be traversing in the night, with my magic depleted. I'm starting to regret not taking Yukino with me. Between the two of us, we could get this camping gear set up," Hoshi mumbled to herself as she tipped the bag over spilling her miniaturized camping on the ground. Slowly she knelt on the ground before letting out a scream.
The pain pills hadn't taken effect yet, causing each movement to feel like a thousand shards of glass were piercing her body. Weakly, she touched the gear feeding it her magic so it grew. It was an ordeal to pitch the tent with half her limbs not working properly. Maybe I should summon one of the spirits to help me? No, I don't have the magic for that and I need to hold on to what I do have, if I'm to enforce the spell to suspend Yukino's contracts until the promise is completed. Grunting, Hoshi got back to work.
Night had fallen for about an hour, maybe two, by the time she had finished setting up camp. Easing into her tent, she lay on her makeshift bed before opening her bento box. At least, some of her food had survived the fight. Her rice was okay and so was some of her pickled vegetables, but her fish had to be thrown out because it rotting thanks to that water attack. "I swear… I'm going to make….Erza pay for what she did to me!" Shoving the rice in her mouth, she ate quickly with her body heating up in anger. In record time she was finished.
Laying the bento to the side, she took out the map looking over it. Team Fairy Tail, had returned to the town, most likely for treatment. Guilt about what she had done started creeping in her head before she pushed it back down. There was time for making amends later. She needed to concentrate on getting the last two keys. She started to trace the route to the next key, Sheep, when her map went blank. "What? Is something the matter with this thing? Better check the guide book." She pulled that out opening to the pages on the sheep only for them to go blank and the book forcefully closing it. "In Kami's name, what is happening? Why do you refuse to give me any information on the Sheep Key?"
"Because, you already have six keys child," a disembodied voice whispered. Startled, the girl watched in disbelief as the moonlight passed through the tent walls and started to materialize into a petite woman with red locks framing her heart shape face, as her beautiful green eyes shone, offsetting her snow-white dress that hugged her frame, with delicate silver adornments. The woman started to solidify. Once she was fully formed, with a silvery aura covering her, she bowed slightly towards Hoshi. "Greeting Celestial Spirit Priestess Hoshi. It's an honor to be in the presence of one of the questers, the first one to ever complete the first step in the quest."
Eyes widening at the woman before her, it felt as if a candle lit in her head. "You're…you're…you're Star Maiden Estrella. The seer who set up this quest nearly a millennium ago!" It was taking all her willpower not to faint. She tried to katoh, but before she could, the lady gently pushed her into a seating position. "But Estrella-sama, I must show you the proper respect!"
"Please, I need no such reverence. I'm merely here to explain to you why your map and guide book have ceased to work. You have already collected six platinum keys child," Estrella informed her, she touched each platinum key one by one having them glow. "These Zodiacs represent the bond you've forged with the platinum keys. They will be your allies to help you in the final battle. In fairness you must let Lucy-san gather six keys as well."
Hoshi started to protest. Why must they be equal, surely she had proved herself dedicated enough to earn more keys, but a stern look from Star Maiden Estrella halted the protest. "Child, this quest isn't just to prove how skilled, smart, and powerful you are. This quest is a way of determining the two truest candidates are. Only those of worth would be able to bond with the platinum keys, through a trial by fire, exhibit the qualities of a Star Maiden. Yet, the final battle will reveal your inner self, allowing us to judge who the True Star Maiden really is."
Hoshi frowned, clutching Quing's key tightly. "Are you saying I could win the final battle, but lose the title of Star Maiden?" Her breathing hitched as she painfully recalled a similar situation that happened seven years ago.
Star Maiden Estrella shrugged, "I can't say yes or no. Some mysterious in life even I can't foresee happening. I can be certain of one thing. No matter what happens at the end, both you and Lucy shall be changed child. Now that you have collected your keys, it's time for you to return home to prepare for the final fight."
Hoshi raised a single eyebrow in confusion. "You want me to go back to my house and prep it for a duel?" Estrella shook her head and repeated her words emphasizing home. Hoshi paled, figuring out where she had to go. Gripping her bedding she looked down as she promised the ancient Star Maiden she would head for home starting tomorrow. With her mission done, the ancient lady kissed the girl on her forehead before returning to the Celestial Spirit World. Tucking in for the night, Hoshi tried to ignore the beating of her heart. It was time to return to the place where this all began nineteen years ago.
Lucy was sitting in chair in Yukino's hospital room, waiting for the doctor to make a prognosis. Upon arriving at the hospital they had nearly given the ER staff a stroke. Probably the sight of a bloody half-naked woman in armor dragging two men, one with a broken leg and the other trying not to puke, was a bit much. It might have even been the ice mage stripped to his underwear, with a frozen ice cast around his right forearm with multiple bandages on his back, pulling a sled with four cats and coughing little girl. Most likely it was seeing a walking clock with an unconscious black hair boy inside him following a blond hair girl clutching a blue haired girl in her arms. Either way, they were being treated first, above all emergencies.
Stretching her limbs a bit, Lucy tried to relax in the uncomfortable plastic chair. Since she and Gray had been the most stable, the doctors let them sit in the waiting room after their injuries were checked over and treated. All of Lucy's injuries were superficial so they just gave her a mild pain pill. Gray sat next to her, in scrubs examining his cast. It turned out he had a Grade 1 sprain. He had already done a few of the right things, icing it and compressing a bandage around it. The doctors had placed it in a cast, lecturing him about keeping it elevated and resting it for 48 hours. He was to check back in about a week so they could exam the wrist and take the cast off.
The others hadn't been so lucky, the doctors had to restrain Natsu, Sting, and Erza while giving them a sedative so they wouldn't cause any more harm to themselves or others. Erza had cracked three ribs, tore a tendon in her right leg, along with sever bruising to her internal organs. She had of course wanted to ignore advice and get on, but one heavy duty sedative turned her into a loopy dreamer who snored loudly. Sting had indeed had a major break in his left leg and an injury to his right knee. He would need an air cast for the knee and a series of casts in a tight frame for at least six weeks. Natsu had such a severe concussion the doctors were surprised he could talk, let alone trying use his magic. He need to rest for at least day or more while being observed to see if any complications.
Rogue was still exhausted and his systems weren't a hundred percent. He need rest and IVs to pump in medicine and water. Wendy had minor lung damage and was on a special inhaler. All the Exceeds were healthy, but told to not use their magic for a few days because it could strain them, at the moment they were sleeping with their friends. Only Yukino's condition hadn't been revealed. Lucy kept twisting her hands about. "I've always hated hospitals. The smell makes me want to vomit sometime. I always wondered why my father didn't put my mother in one when she got sick, now I do. He wanted her to have some dignity."
Gray nodded, understanding that kind of feeling. He looked towards the curtained areas where their friends were waiting to be transferred. Whether they liked it or not, they be spending at least two nights here before moving on. He removed the map from the bag unfurling it. He noticed something odd on the map. He tapped Lucy's shoulder, showing her the map. Hoshi's marks had all been filled in and her marker was moving away from the key paths, instead she was going a bit of a distance to a place on the edge of the map.
"Hmm, looks like she completed her half of the quest and is journeying to the place the final battle shall commence. That means, the last two keys will be mine," she replied softly. She was about to pounder some more when she saw the doctor approaching. Her and Gray straightened up waiting for any updates. "Yes Dr. Hekla, can you give us anything?"
The middle aged woman with short black hair and green nodded. She looked over her notes one more time. "Your friends should make a full recovery, but it will take some time. Ms. Marvell needs to stay on her inhaler for at least another day to fully heal the damage to her lungs. Ms. Scarlet was most difficult to persuade, threatening us with weapons, but I stood up to her scolding her for acting like a child. She agreed to rest for at least two days before I would consider letting her leave against medical advice. Same with Mr. Dragneel. Members of security with fire training are guarding him. He's already been foamed up twice. Can either of you help us with that?" Gray nodded, promising to get Natsu to behave was a tough job, but he was up for the challenge. Dr. Heka smiled, pleased to have some support. Flipping a few pages she found the charts for Sabertooth. "The members of Sabertooth, will need rest and long term care. Mr. Lector, informed me that the guild will take care of it and would be here in two days to take them home and pay the bills."
Both mages nodded happily, but Lucy pressed forward. "Doctor, can I ask about Yukino's condition? She's a friend of mine and as far as we know she doesn't have any other family." Lucy was anxious to know what had happened to her friend and if she would be okay. She really needed to see her.
Dr. Heka gave her an understanding look. "Ms. Aguria, is in a private room resting. The spell she was under put her body in extreme stress, causing her systems to overwork themselves. The loss of half her magic is causing her core to strain itself, but the latest test results show that it's subsiding quickly. She's going in and out of consciousness, but will be fine. She's asking for you. I can allow a fifteen minute visit, but no more." Looking at them both she told them there were cots set up in a room for family or friends to sleep on as they waited for their friends to get better. After confirming that Markov would pay the bills, both Lucy and Gray went to check on their friends.
Standing outside Yukino's door, Lucy was hesitant to enter the room. The smell of the hospital room along with the blank white walls were staring to get to her. She really didn't want to be here at this moment, but she needed to talk to Yukino. Clutched in her hands was the small folder that Hoshi left with the girl. After looking at what the contents were, she was even more determined to share the information with her. Bracing herself she knocked on the door and heard a voice to tell her to come in.
Yukino was lying in a hospital gown, her clothes stored in a bag under the bed. She had two IV lines, one for medicine, the other giving stored magic, a recent transplant invention, to help restore her core. There were a lot of instruments attached to her as well causing the machines to beep. The teen turned her head, her eyes squinting to see who was at the door. She gave a sleepy smile happy to see her. "I didn't think the doctor would allow visitors," she whispered hoarsely.
"Dr. Heka gave me permission for a fifteen minute visit. I'm glad that you're awake," she replied taking a seat in the chair next to the bed. She slipped her hand into her friend's giving it a small squeeze to reassure her. Next, she showed her the folder. "This is what Hoshi left for you. I've had a chance to look at it. Do you want me to read it to you, or, look at it yourself?"
She coughed a few times before she spoke, "I'm too tired and my eyes are fuzzy. You go ahead." The blond nodded opening the folder placing a photo in Yukino's hand. Through her blurry vision she was able to make out a lovely young woman with long bluish white hair, wearing a blue outfit with white wings decorating her. Peering closely she could see the face of her sister looking back at her. A tear slid down her face. "That's Sorano, she looks so much like our mother."
Lucy slightly grimaced, upon confirmation. "Yeah that's your sister, I met her once years ago. She calls herself Angel now, she's a member of Oracion Seis." Hearing that Yukino gasped causing the machines to beep loudly. Lucy told her to breathe helping her with the coughing fit. "Better?" After getting a positive response she continued. "I'm sorry to say your sister isn't the person you remember. She's cruel, enjoys hurting others and slaying Celestial Spirit Mages for their keys, and has developed an obsession about angels."
The last bit wasn't a surprise to the sick teen. Even as a little girl Sorano had loved drawing pictures of angels. She blinked back tears wondering what cruelties her sister endured to change her so drastically. She listened as Lucy explained in the folder where records from the Council detailing her capture, magic, and life in prison. The last piece of paper was a hand written note by Hoshi. Even though her heart was breaking she encouraged Lucy to read the letter out loud.
"It was almost four years ago, I stumbled across the hidden prison for the members of Oracion Seis. Initially, I had bribed an employer of the Council for the location of some of my village's books. They were being kept in high security vault in a prison facility. I feared the Council would move them again, so acted quickly.
It wasn't that hard actually to get inside the prison. It was designed to keep things in, not out. After a few days of observation, I had Quing enter invisibly opening the door before I summoned Lacerta to disable the vault door granting me access. After that it was easy to use my magic to slip inside and get what I wanted.
I had just finished obtaining the books, when I heard security coming down for a routine patrol. There wasn't enough time to get back to the entrance so I ran down the hall and slipped inside a room. I should have realized at the time I used my magic to form a key because the door had been locked, but I didn't. After the guards passed I was going to leave when a voice behind me asked if I would stay. Whirling around, I came face to face with Angel aka Sorano. I knew of her from my studies on Lucy, and who doesn't know about evil Celestial Mage?
The point is we got to talking, she tried to convince me to let her out, but I refused. Eventually she opened up about a few things, especially when I questioned her about Lucy. In anger she accidentally revealed her real name and you. I kept silent about her mistake knowing it could help me later on. After a time I left safely, but not before securing her file from a record room. That's all I know and I hope helps."
Yukino was sad, but at least she had a lead on her sister. She thanked Lucy, whose fifteen minutes were over. Before she left Yukino made Lucy promise to help Hoshi. She didn't want the mage to be killed or seriously injured, she wanted her to heal from whatever had damaged her like her sister. Lucy promised to do so, she also thought that something had damaged Hoshi so badly, it resulted in her current personality.
A few hours later Lucy, was in Wendy and Erza's room, discussing their next action. Gray was a few doors down keeping Natsu under control. For once Happy was glad to help. They could hear the loud yelling and the security guards in the room keeping the patient under control. Lucy and Wendy sweat dropped. Carla frowned closing the door even tighter so they didn't have to listen to him. "He's a very bad patient, I hope that you Ms. Scarlett won't be such a problem?"
Erza shook her head, though she wished she could leave, she listened to her body for once telling her to rest. "It's unfortunate that our enemy will be getting a two-day head start on us. Are you certain that she's not searching for anymore keys?" Lucy nodded her head, explaining what she and Gray had summarized. "So for the moment we're safe. Still, there are two keys left. You'll need to get them."
Coughing a bit, Wendy added her input, "Shouldn't we be worried about this finale battle? I've reviewed the prophecy lines. Something seems off a bit, a test of will, power and love? I don't understand how that helps or why a self-sacrifice is needed. Do you even understand the part about the blessing of the stars?"
Lucy shook her head, she didn't have time to worry about that. She felt something warm in the travel bag. She pulled out a lacremeia flower. The petals unfurled as the girls of Fairy Tail came into view. The held out a get well sign they had just finished if the paint dripping was any indication. Laughing they got to business. "It's good to see you. We all were very frightened hearing you're in the hospital. I think Master Markov is most sad. He's been crying for a couple of hours now," Mirajane commented.
"Sis, I think he's more upset about spending our winnings in covering medical bills. At least your team hasn't destroyed anything important," Lisanna replied shaking her head slightly.
"The extinction of old worships isn't destruction?" Laki asked in her usual manner causing everyone to look at her oddly.
"Is there something specific you needed at the moment?" Levy asked politely. "Because we just discovered some wonderful. There hidden words in all the artwork and even along the edge of the pages!"
Lucy's eyes popped hearing that. She had to have looked over those books dozens of times, and never figured it out. "Have you translated it all?" Levy shook her head. She was still working on it, but with the help of her team mates and friends, they would. Bisca asked if Lucy needed any help at the moment.
"No, I remember the stories about the sheep. The mighty ram crosses the night sky, using his fluff to comfort anyone whose dreams are scary. During the day he feasts away on prairie of delicious grass in his humble abode," Lucy replied tapping her chin. Look past the girls she saw all the books on the table and Levy's attempts at translating. "You can help me by uncovering the hidden words and maybe finding a connection between all the places of the keys. It might have something to do with the final battle." The others agreed as they broke the connection. In two days they be back on the road to finish this part of the quest quickly.
Two days later everyone was ready to leave the hospital. Sabertooth members, Orga and Rufus, had arrived with a magical vehicle to transport their members' home. Rogue was doing better, almost completely recovered, but Sting and Yukino, would need a bit more time. Sting would need a bit of help getting strength back into his legs so he could walk properly. After saying goodbye the members of Fairy Tail resumed their quest.
"I'm so over hospitals! Does nurses didn't know how to care for a patient at all! They refused to feed me fire and kept foaming me with extinguishers! I was ready to give them a beat down, but Gray keep freezing me to the bed!" Natsu wailed unhappily.
Gray just rolled his eyes and before saying, "Did you really believe they were going to bring fire into a hospital, with hundreds of injured patients and flammable items? Honestly, maybe you haven't completely recovered from your concussion yet." From on Natsu's shoulder, Happy agreed with Gray while waving a fish around and lecturing Natsu. The Fire Dragonslayer want to yell back, except that everyone had their eyes narrowed, arms crossed, and a stiff stance indicating how displeased they be if he got them into more trouble. Seceding to defeat the quieted down.
They walked a bit further as Lucy studied the map trying to figure out which way to go. As they waited, Wendy was doing breathing exercises under Carla's watch to help get her strength up. The purifier had cleansed her lungs, now she needed to restore her power. Gray scratched his cast in attempt to get to an itch, but was unable to. Erza, was adjusting her armor to accommodate the extra tight bandages around her chest, but it was her tendon causing the most problem. She had torn it really bad during the fight. The doctors gave her two options when she tried to leave. She could either have a cast made to protect it for a few weeks followed up by hours of physical therapy, or she could have a padded brace around her leg for a while then check in to see how it was healing. They warned her though to not put a lot of weight on it. She had gone with the brace and was trying to work on finding an armor that would keep the weight off her foot.
"I don't know if I have any armor for this. My armor is designed to protect and enhance me. It's not designed to work around an injury," Erza told Lucy after trying to reequip another outfit. "Surely your horse friend can heal us fully?"
Lucy furled up her map looking over her shoulder at her friends. She fingered Jai's key, but didn't use it. "Jai's magic is been overused recently. She needs time to fully recover. Besides, your injuries are healing on their own now, so you're stuck with it." Putting the map in her travel back she smiled. "So I know where we're going next."
"So where are we going next? A castle, or maybe a mansion? Are we going someplace with lots of fire?"
Lucy shook her head. "No, were going to an old dairy farm about three miles from here." Everyone looked at her wondering if she was playing them. After the shrine, the fort, and underground city and the lost parathion, they were going to a farm?! How was that possible? "I know you're disappointed, but the farms in Fiore are just as important as the other places the keys have been kept." She was about to turn around to lead, when she pulled out the Tiger Key. She summoned Hu in both his forms. "Yes my mistress, what is it that you need of us?"
"Tiger Hu, can you let Erza ride you please? She needs to stay off her injured leg for a while. Human Hu, can you help her when she needs it? Don't you dare protest Erza! You need the help. Now we need to get to the farm before nightfall. Trust me, it will make this a lot easier."
Surprisingly Erza didn't protest as they made their way through the paths heading to a farm. Looking around they could see dozens of rice paddies fields. This farming area was different then what Lucy had seen before. Besides the rice paddies, looking around she saw and heard live stock. The occasional falling of a tree indicated some forestry might be happening. The paths were winding and twisting leaving them very confused.
"We're just going around in circles. How do we find the homestead?" Gray asked after some time. He was getting tired and his wrist was starting to hurt more. "Happy, Carla? Could she fly up and give us directions?"
The Exceeds nodded flying up high. They leveled out and scanned the surroundings. The farm land stretched out further then they imagined. Even from high above they could see a lot of fenced off areas for the beef and milk cattle. There were some pigs as well, but what caught their attention was a small abode next to the house. That had to be where they need to go. "Let's go tell the others, we're not that far from the path upward."
"Um Happy, could you remind me of something?" Carla asked nervously. "Isn't there a superstitions about crows?"
"Yeah, if a crow locks eyes on you then bad things are about to happen. Why?" Pointing behind him he looked over letting out a scream. A flow of crows were dive bombing towards them, claws opened to rip their eyes out. Without hesitation the two of them scrambled out of there.
The crowing of the birds followed by them covering the sky so much that the sun couldn't shine through, was the first clue that something was seriously wrong. Looking up they watched as the column of swirling black twisted together then dropped from the sky.
"Everyone take cover now!" Gray shouted, resisting his instincts to use both hands, he molded his magic with one hand unsteadily. "Ice Make, Igloo Shelter!" A dome of ice started to encase them quickly. The two Exceeds used Max Speed to zip in right before the dome closed over them. Seconds behind them they heard the birds slam into it, some dying of broken necks. But the majority kept fighting using their feet and beaks to break down the ice.
Inside the dome the walls were shaking and starting to crack. They were all huddled together wondering what their next move should be. As the intensity of the attack grew, they needed to come up with something fast. "I'll stay here and fight those annoying pests. You guys go ahead and ahhhhhhhh," Erza grunted, her leg nearly buckling under her wait. Human Hu caught her and placed her own his counterparts back. "I wouldn't recommend that Ms. Scarlett. As much as you want to, you're risking never being able to fight again, if you push yourself now."
"He's right Erza, I know you don't like feeling weak, but now you can't help," Lucy told her friend. They let out a shriek as the walls of the igloo started to collapse around them. Both versions of Hu covered the girls up. "Mistress if I may suggest, it would be easier to shake off the birds if some of us stay here, a small group could make it to the house."
"He's right," whispered Carla holding her ears down. "Natsu could cover you Lucy along with Happy. Gray and Wendy will stay behind to keep the crows away from Erza." They agreed with the plan as the human Hu would accompanied them. Just at the moment the ice shattered all over them as the birds started to mob them.
"Sky Dragon's: Roar!"
"Ice Make: Lance!"
"Growwwwll!" Tiger Hu roared swiping his large front paws swatting down several birds and Erza managed to stab them with her sword while on his back. Carla was protecting the young woman's backside and the others started running in the direction that Happy had seen the farm house.
The birds continued to pursue them as they made their way through the twisting paths. They slipped on the mud and tore their clothes as they made their way up the dirt. Soon enough they made it to open ground. "Look! The farmhouse!" Natsu shouted as two of the crows tried to steal his scarf. "Get your beaks off that scarf! Fire Dragon's: Iron Fist!" With his burning hands he started to claw and kill the birds with Happy's help. "Get going! We'll handle things here, just go! Hu protect Lucy with your life!"
The spirit nodded as they made their way towards the farmhouse. As soon as they were halfway across the farmland the traps went off. Lucy let out a shriek as barbed wire fences started popping up blocking there way shoving them into stalls of angry bulls. Hu grasped the bull by the horns pulling it clear off the ground and tossing it two hundred feet. Snatching Lucy by the arm he stood on the fence grabbing a hanging rope and swung her through the air before landing next to the home. A small animal abode, just the right size for a sheep, stood adjoining to it.
"We made it, the final test has to be insssssssssssssssiii….." Lucy stopped speaking as slumped to the ground, curling up in the dirt, her hair soaking in a water drain. Her breathing even out. A light glow covered her body as Hu stood over her wondering what was gone. Unseen to his eyes her spirit flew out of her body entering the abode. It was covered in soft hay with clean water in a trough. There was a bale rack holding food. Slumbering in a warm sun patch was a big white ram that was the size of three lambs stuck together. He had a large leather brown collar with a simple pink stone with his picture on it. His body was also glowing as his spirit appeared before her. He acknowledge her. "So you are the quester for the Sheep Key."
"Yes, I'm Lucy Heartfillia, daughter of Star Maiden Layla: The Keeper of Celestial Spirit History. Are you the Ram Spirit?"
Bleating a bit, he took a bite out of the hay before answering. "In a way, my power of astral projection allows me to visit the earthly plane while my body is still in our world. I can also enter a person's dreams like this. The body lying her is my tether to this plane," He finished explaining. "You're hear for your final test aren't you?"
Lucy nodded her ghostly hands clasped together as she hovered over the ground. Her host covered himself all in wool. When it feel off he was in his human form; a cowboy with a felt hat, yellow and red checkered vest and shiny gold spur brown boots. His voice took on a slightly artificial tone as he got ready for her test. "This test is a bit simpler then others, but you can fail rather quickly. I'm going to enter your spirit to evaluate your heart's dreams, some you might not be aware of. If there pure and true you pass, if not, you remain a wandering spirit."
That part scared Lucy the most. Leaving her empty body for her friends to find would kill her, but she couldn't be afraid. Standing tall she opened her arms wide letting the Celestial Spirit pass through her body. She shivered and shook, the sensation was unlike anything she hadn't experienced before. Images appeared in her mind's eye and her spiritual heart was all a flutter. Finally exited her body."
"I'll eat my hat, you're the purest soul I ever did come across. Your honest desires and heartfelt dreams makes you perfect to handle my key. The name's Fain. I'll serve you every day on this quest, but afterwards you can only call up me every other weak and leap day. Understood? Then here's my key."
Lucy came to holding the key in her hands surrounded by her friends, save Hu who had to return home. Instead Erza sat in an old farm cart being pulled by Gray. Upon seeing the key, they knew what it meant. Eleven down, one to go.