***(((Authors Note: We have not reached the turning point of the story yet, so if you're wondering why I put the summary as "Lucy doesn't understand why Natsu has become so distant to her and closer to Lisanna..." I'm getting there okay? Haha… By the way thank you for the reviews again :D (Including ShiningStellar)))***
CHAPTER 5 – Father of mine…
My fists clenched, making my anger level from 10 to 100. My heart rate went from the average
'Angry Lucy' rate of 77 to 200 and getting even higher.
"What did you do?" I nearly growled.
It flew out of my mouth uncontrollably. He MUST be the one behind all of this. The hand scanner of mystery, and the disappearance of Erza. What does he want? I glare at my two team mates who are in steel chairs, heads hanging low and bodies stationary.
"Lucy! You have finally made it up here. I have VERY good news." My father said almost happily, as he clasped his hands.
My finger nails scratched at palms of my hands, as my anger was shut inside of me.
I ignored the irregular kindness that my father spoke to me with and retorted. "What'd you do to them?" I yelled, as I grabbed onto my keys.
His next pieces of words were muted in my head as I thought of who I should pull out. My fathers a human, but something of his must've been extremely strong to take down Lisanna, especially Natsu. What was so powerful to take down eve-
I gasped in surprise at the burning that came from my feet all the way to my calves. I looked down at my legs and saw a block of ice… Grey? I turned my back to face where I last saw my teammates. Happy was unconscious on the ground and Grey was looking at me like a crazy man. The glint in his eyes showed anxiousness. His stance looked more slumped than usual, and the worst ever, his clothes were actuallyon.
Questions were still in my mind. My concentration was off and I didn't know what to focus on. My father's words then started to soak in... At the end of his sentence
"… then we can be a family again" he ended with a small smile
Anger, compassion, confusion, and pain clashed inside of my body. My eyes filled with tears from the ending of my father's sentence. My arm and mouth however, acted otherwise.
"The gate of 'the golden bull', I open thee"
Taurus appeared as happy as ever
"Oh Lu-"
"Cut it I need you help" I replied as quickly as possible nearly panicking.
I pulled out a second key. I would've laughed at how dusty it was but I couldn't right now.
"The gate of 'the lion', I open thee"
The magic inside of me turned as Lucy summoned another one of her stellar spirits.
"I need you to keep Grey busy" I told him. Grey wasn't himself right now, I don't know why but I'm going to find out.
Loke replied with a nod and he lured Grey over to where Natsu and Lisanna were sitting. My father was gone for now. The only exits were a door and the two stair cases that led up here. I was betting he was inside of the mysterious door.
"Okay, I need you to cut the ice." I said as I spread my knees apart.
"Okay" He answered as his two sided axe was raised. My eyes shut and my legs shuttered with fear. When I heard the sound of his blade hit the steel ground, it made my teeth shutter. I opened my eyes and the pain in my legs went away, though they were still numb. I stumbled forward.
"Thanks, Taurus"
"Anything to protect you perfect bbboddyy" He purred as he disappeared with the arid wind.
I looked over to where everyone was and saw Loke and imposter Grey sparring, along with unconscious Lisanna, and Natsu. I looked over to the door that filled my mind with questions. I went to it and opened it. I walked in and tripped and fell. I stood up and looked behind me, I gasped before I even registered what to say..
"ERZA!" I exclaimed happily. I haven't felt this Happy since… Natsu and I-
"L-lucy?" Erza croaked as her eyes opened slowly. "Aagh" She groaned as she sat up.
"Are you okay?" I asked, at the same moment my feet didn't feel numb anymore.
"I don't remember… right now" Erza replied
"Well… I'm just happy someone's okay!" I spoke with a louder tone
Her expression mixed as she looked at something behind me. I peeked behind me and saw a very weird sight, an old man with his legs crossed and his eyes closed. Erza stood up, and offered me a hand. I grabbed it and let Erza pull me up. I turned around to see the whole room. There was another door and the old man. That was pretty much it.
"Where's everyone else?" Erza asked
"Outside, but we need a key… And we need to find my Father" I answered, mixed emotions settling in my body.
Erza nodded and started to rip apart every drawer in the room. I checked around the old man. 'Is he sleeping?' I wondered. I shook my head and looked around more. I looked up the bed he was on and saw a little box. I reached under and grabbed the box.
"I think I found it" I told Erza as I sat up and opened the box.
Only to find something… that nearly took my breathe away.
I reached in and grabbed my mother brush. A memory so far back in my mind that warmed my heart. A memory that made my eyes tear up, a memory that also made a sharp pain fill my heart. A memory… that was pushed far far back so I could never feel the same feeling again. I put the brush on the side and sighed slowly. Then dug through the box again. Nothing but pictures were in here. I ignored the pictures and focused on the main goal for now.
"It looks like it's not in there… " Erza said
"Mm" I answered
"Let's look in the other door" Erza suggested
She entered the door first. Her sword was now pulled out. She peeked in, stopped, looked at me, and then motioned me to go inside first. I entered and the first thing I saw was my Father. His back was turned and he was reading a very large book. I pondered on what kind, but then remembered the goal. The keys were dangling to his pants. I then noticed how different he looked. He wore the suit that always seemed so boring to me. He shaved his beard, yet he had a relaxed and chill notion to his face that I saw earlier. I motioned to Erza where the keys were.
"You should go check on everyone I'll get the keys" She whispered extremely soft, even I could barely hear her.
I followed her instructions and went out of the two rooms. Only to find Grey on the floor and Loke breathing hard.
"I'm done Lucy…" Pant "I think he's " pant "done"
"Thank you Loke" I smiled at him
"No problem, " He returned the smile, as he faded away.
I turned to Happy who was still unconscious on the first step of the stairs. I sighed and walked over to him.
"Happy?" I spoke as I shook him
"Mmyyeehh"
"Happy!" I hissed
"Mmyyuuhh"
"Wow! Happy! Look, fish!"
"AYE?" Happy sat up, alert.
"Get up!" I told him
"HM!" He pouted "You didn't have to- NATSU!"
His wings shot out and he flew to Natsu in pursuit He started to shake Natsu in the same style I shook him, but more urgent.
"NATSU! ARE YOU OKAY?" He questioned loudly.
The door opened and Erza came out with the keys in her hands. I eyed her sword and found no trace of blood. I moved toward Lisanna and Natsu. I looked over to Grey and saw minor bruises Loke planted all over him.
"How did you do it?" I asked Erza
"I knocked him out and took it, sorry"
I scratched my head nervously "heh, heh. I just wanted to know what's happening here. It looks like we'll have to wait until he wakes"
"Oh yeah… Sorry Luce" Erza apologized
"ah… It's okay." I replied
"NATSU! You're okay!" Happy cried.
Erza unlocked both Lisanna and Natsu.
"What the hell happened?" Natsu asked, outraged
"Yeah, first thing we see is some blond guy then… I don't remember anything" Lisanna explained as she scanned the room. "ERZA! You're alive Thank god!"
Erza nodded and I walked over to where Grey laid. I shook him a bit… then he sat up in a flash. I flinched at the fast movement. He held his head for a minute…
"What happened?" Grey asked confused.
"Lucy saved the day" Erza smiled at me
I had a modest smile on my face.
"The man, wasn't he your Father?" Natsu asked
Feelings turned in me "Y-yeah"
"He was your Dad?" Lisanna questioned, in horror "Did you plan this?"
"O-of course I didn't!" I replied, surprised at the accusation
"Well he is YOUR Father, why would he capture Erza and technically lure us here. It sound like you-"
"Lucy would never do that" Erza ringed in, and I was thankful to her for shutting her up. Lisanna didn't fight the awesome authority in Erza's voice.
"Sorry you guys I didn't know any of this would happen" I explained as my head hung low.
"It's okay Luce, it's not like you called him or anything" Grey comforted
I heard a little thump in the room that was about 20 feet away from all of us. I looked up at the room in synch with Natsu, Erza, and Grey. However Erza and Natsu were first to get up.
"We'll go and check it out" Natsu claimed
They both entered the room as Grey, Happy, Lisanna and I stayed outside. I was happy to finally have some time to breathe. Not to think… Just breathe. I closed my eyes and held my knees to my chest. The door slammed open and I heard dragging sounds along with footsteps.
"Explain yourself" Erza nearly yelled, yet it echoed in the spacious room.
My eyes were still closed.
"I needed… the Dragon slayer" My Fathers deep voice spoke
Natsu laughed "For what?"
"So I could bring back Layla…"
That was it… I couldn't breathe anymore.
***(((Authors Note: for those who have no idea who Layla is, or have forgotten. She is Lucy's Mother who died on 777.))***