Chapter Five: Infra

"NATSU!" I shouted, "Would you just WAIT?"

"OK, you know what," said Erza, her magic circle appearing, "NATSU!"

About 20 swords flew toward Natsu and Happy.

Natsu immediately stopped once he saw Erza's dark face which was scarier than the devil.

"Thank you," said Erza, as the swords disappeared. We were able to catch up as Natsu slowed down, Happy following suit.

"Nani?" said Natsu, looking impatient, "We said the sooner we save the princess, the better, right?"

"Yeah and the sooner you rush in there like a mad bull, the sooner the trigger is pulled," said Gray.

Natsu still looked like he had ants in his pants, "Fine," he said, pouting.

"Is it fine?" I asked, "Or are you going to spiral out of control again?" As soon as I saw Natsu's expression, I softened my tone, "We're sorry, we're just worried. We know it's your personality to care so much about people, you're willing to fight for them but the princess might be killed. Promise, OK?" I held out my hand with my little finger raised. Sure it was the most clichéd thing to ever live but it would be a definite promise if we did it this way.

"OK," said Natsu reluctantly, hooking my little finger with his.

"I have no little finger but I promise!" said Happy.

"Good," I smiled, "Now let's go."

Natsu, surprisingly, walked in time with us as we went to the north-west coast. The sun was high, probably about 12 0' clock noon. The coast was very pretty with golden sand and crystal clear water. Pink and white shells dotted the sand and smooth and rough and brown rocks covered one side. The back of the beach had cliffs so there was pretty much no one to be in danger of our fights with the possible mages. There was no beach house or boardwalk or anything which anyone would visit.

"This is it," said Erza, pointing to the rocks, "You think maybe they have guards?"

"I thought there were only three members," said Gray.

"Maybe that doesn't include the guards," said Erza.

"Maybe we should plan, just to be safe," Happy suggested.

"Right," I agreed.

"Fine," shrugged Erza.

We walked back to the other side of the beach, shielded from view with more rocks. Natsu picked up a stick and started doodling in the sand, "So, if there are any guards, we beat the crap out of them and then we each break off separately to look for the princess. Good plan, right?"

"There are two mages left," said Erza, "If Ladin comes back, there will be three. I'm pretty sure a little knock on the head won't keep him out of action. There are four of us so three of us with take on the three mages and the one left will find the princess."

"I want to fight!" volunteered Natsu obviously.

"I expected that," said Erza, "I personally want to fight as well so…"

"Lucy, you're good at communicating with people, making them feel better," said Gray, "You're probably better off finding the princess.

"If you want to fight, just say it," I said jokingly.

"I just don't want you to be in danger," said Gray quietly.

"He llllikes you!" said Happy, rolling his l's.

"Anyway," said Natsu, taking the stick off Erza, "I think we should go in different ways. I want to sneak in the back!"

Erza sighed, "All right. Maybe that is a good idea. I'll go in through the side. We'll have to find our own way around. That leaves you two," she gestured to Gray and me, "To go in through the front. All right?"

"Sure," I said, not minding in the least. Although I'd already used two spirits, I was pretty sure I'd have enough magic power to last through the mission.

"OK, now that we know our plan," said Gray, "Let's go!"

We went over the rocks and Natsu jumped up the rock cliff-face to the back of the base, "Come on, Happy!"

"Aye!" said Happy.

"Good luck," said Erza before she went, too.

"All right," I said, walking towards the rocks where the base was. I considered asking Gray about the Gemini issue now but I figured I'd do it later when we were alone again and weren't on an important mission. As I climbed up the rock, Gray following, trying to be as silent as we could, I saw a sparkle of a crimson magic circle and then a blast of fire just as I reached the top of the rock. It was going straight at me!

"Lucy, watch out!" shouted Gray knocking me forward so the fire missed me by a bit. I felt some hair singe as some fire connected but not enough to set my hair on fire. We hit the ground at the same time and I looked at Gray behind me, "Gray? Are you OK?"

"Oh… a smart one," said the mage, unexpectedly, a female, "Not the usual type who come charging in here." She laughed a normal, slightly deep sound. I looked up at her.

She had blood-red hair cascading down her down and resting at her waist, stick straight. She wore a black headband with three black roses at one end and had bright, jet black eyes. Her mouth and nose was normal, her neck slim, leading down to her top. Her top had a red base and two red dragons crossing over each other, their heads dipped to form a heart, also showing off her chest. She wore a short plain black mini-skirt, showing off her black stiletto boots. She was actually quite pretty in a way.

As soon as she saw my face, her black eyes widened, "Lucy!"

"You know me too?" I cried.

She opened her mouth but quickly shut it, "Once but not now. You don't remember me anymore."

I looked at her, confused. Her appearance was pretty memorable. If I'd seen her before, I'd definitely had remembered her. I tried to remember the name Gemini had mentioned… The fire mage…

"Infra," I said, "The fire mage, Infra."

"You…" she stammered, "You know my name?"

"This chick's crazy," said Gray, looking at her, "You know her?"

"I… don't…" I said, not sure what I knew anymore.

"We got the name of the Celestial spirit, Gemini," Gray answered for me, "Lucy's a Celestial mage."

Infra ignored that, "Lucy… You… You're helping the King…" Her eyes were on the ground.

"Of course I am!" I blurted out, "You kidnapped the princess."

"No," she said, looking at me in the eye again, "You don't remember us at all; otherwise you'd know our reasons. Sorry, but… I have to kill you."

!

The crimson magic circle appeared and a dragon made of fire burst out straight at me.

"Shield!"

Gray was suddenly standing in front of me, making a really thick shield to hold back the fire as much as possible. Although some of it was already disintegrating. I could tell he was using up much magic power.

"Gray!" I cried, reaching to my belt. I fished around for the key I wanted. Aquarius who would be the best bet to beat Infra. As I was about to summon her, Gray shouted at me, "Lucy, run!"

"Are you crazy?" I yelled at him, "You're at disadvantage here! I have to help you!"

"Run!" Gray repeated, "One of us has to find the princess and one of us has to fight this mage and better me than you."

"Gray, I can handle her!" I said, "What happened to helping your friends? Isn't that what it means to be in a guild?"

"I can't let you go again!" shouted Gray, as if he had been dying to say this all along, "When I let you go back home, the place you hate so much… I can't do that again… I can't let you leave me… And this time you might not be able to come back…"

I was shocked. I had never heard Gray say anything with that amount of impact. I knew what he was implying, that I might die if I fought one-on-one with Infra. I swallowed hard, hoping this wouldn't be the last time I saw him, "OK."

I ran away, leaving Gray to Infra. It was hard, but it was obvious it would hurt Gray more if I stayed. I ran into the base, fighting tears the whole way. The base was practically a maze with a lot of corridors and passages to go through. I ran through each corridor based on my first instinct and hoped I wouldn't get too lost.

Gray… I thought, crying, please survive.