Hello! Give it up for the second update of the year AND the longest chapter update ever! I hope you guys will forgive me for not updating very often. I've had SO much to do, really. Also, I've been wanting to start these new fanfictions, so I decided, why don't I just not write ANYTHING? Smart, right?
Sorry...but I hope the length of this chapter makes up for my incompetence. I'm thinking of starting a new Fairy Tail Drabble series...so be on the lookout for that!
Enjoy! ~Hiraethe
"Where the hell are we?" a voice piped up, but the commander, in his regular fashion, chose to ignore all conversation. The clamor of a hundred boots on the damp forest floor echoed like gunshots through the trees. Hack paused in his march, and the noise stopped.
"Silence, Lieutenant Douglas. We'll keep marching until nightfall," he said, giving the soldier a glare of condescending amusement. "And I would advise you to keep your mouth shut. We wouldn't want one of those damned fairies noticing us, would we?" An uncomfortable quiet followed his words, and Douglas clenched his jaw.
A carriage rolled passed them, and a brown haired girl looked. The soldiers looked down at their shoes, and Hack felt himself soften.
"Don't hesitate," he said. "Let us all go to Mercury-dono." In unison, the lines of soldiers raised their hands to their heads, and their expressions, at first tired and hungry, were filled with blank seals of conviction. Hack felt his breath tighten, as they began to speak.
"Yes, Hack-san!"
"So Roseward really did send a backup plan, didn't they?" Cana mumbled, gulping down the remnants of her drink. "Wimps." Gajeel awoke from his slumber, a wide grin spreading on his face.
"Guess it's time to take out the trash."
"Juvia is interested in testing their strength."
"They'll pay for disturbing my drink."
"And my reading."
"LET'S BE MEN!"
"Patience, children."
The group turned around to look at Mirajane. Her usual smile was still in place, yet, her eyes were the reincarnation of the devil. Elfman shuddered inwardly.
"Patience is manly too...," he tried, but Mirajane ignored him completely. Her smile grew, to everyone's utmost horror, and her eyes glowed.
"We'll ignore them for now. We'll forget this ever happened, and we will go around our business happily. Yet, in due time, our fun shall begin."
No one had to ask what she meant by this statement. Laxus scratched the back of his head, for the first time feeling fear of his fellow S-Class mage. Lisanna gave the blonde haired man a small smile, glancing over at her sister with affection.
"I almost feel sorry for them," she said to him. "For having to face Mirajane." Laxus scoffed at her words, yet the truth in them was evident.
For, when angry, Mirajane was the scariest of all.
"How can you expect to beat someone who can just think something, and it will come true?" Amber asked, a small giggle escaping her mouth. Five soldiers blinked into existence, each holding a weapon of their choice. Before Lucy could pull out her keys, one of threw a shirakin in her direction. She felt its sharp blades slice through her skin,and blood spurt out of her mouth. Another soldier leapt into action, swinging a battle hammer in her direction. She dodged it easily, kicking the man onto the floor.
"Too late."
Before she could react, a large sword was rammed through her chest. She opened her mouth to release a hoarse moan, her form crumpling onto the floor. Amber swung another sword in her fingers, licking her lips greedily.
"I am to weak," Lucy mumbled. Her eyes, while tired, still shone with a determination brighter than ever. "However, I will not go quietly. Save me...,"
Her eyes started to fill with tears, and it was all she could do to finish her sentence. Her wounds were dulling her mind, and she felt consciousness ebb away from her. A gold key was twirling in between her fingers.
"Loke!"
"Too late, Lucy!" Amber said, the sword swinging down at the celestial mage's abdomen. She felt her breath tighten, until, suddenly, the blow was stopped.
A sword, crafted out of Regulus magic, had saved her. The spiky haired figure looked down at her, and gave her a crooked grin.
"You look like you've seen better days, Lucy," he said, winking at her. Amber's visage twisted in surprise. The celestial mage gave Loke a weak smile, finally relaxing in his arms.
"Rest now, princess. You fought well. I'll finish her off for you-"
"Give me ten minutes."
Loke turned to her, a questioning gaze in his eyes. Never once had Lucy asked for such a request, and, in all frankness, the proposition scared him.
"Give me ten minutes to recover," she clarified. Loke's confusion melted into a smile of understanding, and he squeezed her hand tightly.
"Yes, princess."
Amber looked at the celestial spirit. She put out her hand, and a new illusion formed. Loke's eyes widened.
It was Lucy.
"That's dirty," the real Lucy whispered, furious. Amber glanced at her.
"What? I don't think there were any rules of what types of illusions we could make, right?" Amber asked. "Like I said, we're not saints." She turned to Loke with a new boost of confidence, and he looked back uneasily.
"Will you be able to attack your own master, Loke?" she asked. "Or will you crack from the pressure? Only time will tell."
Erza closed her eyes, thinking hard.
Had Ultear never visited the guild at all, everything would be going perfectly.
She and Gray were talking at one of the tables, their mouths curled into bright smiles. She could not help but feel the slightest bit of jealousy. Her older-sister instincts kicked in, and she approached the two with an unhappy scowl on her face.
"I hope you two are having fun," she said, the sourness thick in her voice. While Ultear had picked up on her unease, Gray (in the regular Gray fashion) was completely oblivious to her change in mood. He flashed her a smile, motioning for her to join them.
"Erza, perfect timing! I want you to meet my friend, Ultear. I haven't seen her for 7 years!" Gray said, throwing an arm around both of their shoulders. Erza did not share his good humor.
"Ultear? Wasn't she the one who prompted all of our troubles on Tenrou Island?" Erza asked. "Oh, but she is the daughter of Ur, isn't she." It wasn't a question. It was an accusation, and both Gray and Ultear knew it.
"Yes, she is."
Gray's love for Ur had never ceased to amaze her. Perhaps Ultear was his lifeline, the only living thing left of Ur that he had left. Erza knew all too well that while love was blind, love was also blinding.
"Stop, Gray. I have no time for your nonsense...,"
"I know you don't. But please, if you guys could be friends...,"
Erza opened her eyes, sighing.
30 seconds left.
Loke slammed into a wall, blood flying out of his teeth. The Lucy-illusion still hovered him like an inescapable threat, and Amber, who had been standing back at the sidelines, was watching the two with interest.
"What are you doing?" Lucy asked, anger shaking in her voice. "Destroy her!"
"I can't Lucy...you saved me, when I needed saving..."
"That person isn't me!"
"I know...I know," Loke said, with a defeated sigh. "I know this, so why...,"
"Why can't you just defeat her?" Lucy said, her patience running thin. However, her voice had kind undertones that Loke did not fail to catch, and he looked at the Lucy-illusion in the eyes.
They were devoid of the tiny sparkles they had in the daytime, and the speckles of kindness that melted into them at night. They did not shine like diamonds in the evening sky, they did not smile at him with chocolate irises. They did not hold a promise in them, yet stared at him blankly.
This was not Lucy.
"Regulus Sword!" Loke said, slicing her. The Lucy-illusion disappeared and Loke breathed a sigh of relief. He felt his wounds sting a little, and he winced in pain.
"Are you alright, Loke?" Lucy asked, and he nodded. Before he disappeared, he smiled at her.
"It's your turn, I guess," he said tiredly. "Don't die on me." Lucy nodded, her expression turned serious. She got onto her feet.
"I'm going to show you something that you're never going to forget," Lucy said.
"And what would that be?"
"I'm gonna show you the magic of the stars."
"I fail to see how a petty celestial-"
Survey the Heavens, Open the Heavens...All the stars, far and wide...Show me thy appearance...With such shine..."
"What is she muttering?" Amber asked, stepping back hesitantly.
"Oh Tetrabiblos... I am the ruler of the stars...Aspect become complete...Open thy malevolent gate."
"Oh 88 Stars of the heaven... Shine! Urano Metria!"
"W-wait just a minute!" Amber said. "Illusions come forth! Illusions...,"
The area surrounding her had been utterly demolished. Amber lay unconscious on the floor. Lucy felt her breath hitch, and she turned towards Natsu. He, too, was severely wounded. He glanced at her worriedly.
"Lucy!" he called out. "Oi, hang in there!" He gave her a bright smile. Lucy had not the strength to return it.
"Natsu...," she said, before everything went black.
"Lucy...," Natsu said, before turning to Zeroth. "Oi! You're gonna pay for your little friend's actions! She better not have hurt Lucy badly!"
"I'm afraid I'm not the one to assuage your fears, Natsu-san," Zeroth responded, with an air of indifference.
"Fine, then I'll make sure to do you ten times over," Natsu said, crouching down on the ground. "This is something Igneel, the Fire King, taught me how to do."
"It's not going to work anyway, Zeroth said, digging his nose. "My snot is flammable, remember. It'll blow you up."
"To hell with you and your boogers!" Natsu said, "I'm serious right now." His body became clothed in fire, and he raced towards Zeroth. "What are you-" Zeroth asked, before being pushed back by the immense wind that followed the dragon slayer's attacks. "Stop this now! Fire will never beat the power of explosion!"
"Are you sure about that?" Natsu asked. "Well, the power of darkness can never beat the power of love!"
"Secret Dragon Art...,"
"No, Stop this!"
"Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!"
Zeroth let out a pain scream, falling onto his back. Natsu sank to his knees. His form trembled, and it was all he could do to keep conscious. Happy joined him, rubbing the dragon slayer's back soothingly.
"Are you okay Happy?"
"Natsu...," Happy said, tears forming in his eyes. "Natsu, don't die on me..." The dragon slayer let out a small chuckle, feeling consciousness ebb away from him.
"You know I don't die, Happy,"
They were silent for a while, before Natsu spoke up again.
"Hey, umm...Happy?"
"What is Natsu?"
"Can you turn off that magic bomb for me please?"
Oh, right. Happy mentally facepalmed. Even though Natsu and Lucy had defeated their opponents, if they didn't turn off the magic bomb, then all of their hard work would have been ford naught.
"Okay!" Happy said, flying over to the magic bomb. The switch was inlined with a rich silver lining. With a great effort, he pulled the switch down. The lights surrounding the bomb flickered shut. Happy breathed a sigh of relief.
"We did it Natsu," Happy said, but got no response. The dragon slayer had fallen unconscious. Happy stared at the magic bomb, feeling sleepy himself.
"Gray, Erza, Wendy, Carla...it's all up to you now."
"Damn those bastards," Mercury said, running a hand through his hair in annoyance. "DAMN IT! How did this happen?" Erza raised an eyebrow, and the two fairies shared a questioning glance.
"What happened?" Gray asked, turning to Seraphim.
"Your two friends have deactivated one of the magic bombs."
"Natsu and Lucy did it!" Erza said triumphantly. Gray smiled inwardly, shaking his head with a sigh.
"I guess that means we'll have to step up our game, right, Erza?" he said, giving her a sideways glance. She returned his smile, another sword forming into her hands.
"Yes. We'll go back, Gray...together."
Yay. Now you all have to wait another month (just kidding. Expect something on Wednesdays). Anyway, part of the reason that this was so late was because I just couldn't figure out how to write the Hack scene as well as the Loke-Lucy scene. And how to make it an acceptable length.
See you soon :) ... I might have a little surprise for you later on. ~Hiraethe
