CHAPTER 6:

ERZA AND LULLABY

Not long afterwards, Lucy was peering at the jobs board at Fairy Tail. She had made a contract with Virgo, who had reverted to a pretty, demure, pink-haired maid, having changed shape to suit Everlue's perverted desires. Virgo, oddly enough, seemed to have BDSM tendencies, of the submissive kind.

In any case, she was looking at the jobs. Search for a magic bracelet, removing the curse from a staff…is that a request for an astrological forecast? Volcanic devils?! Out loud, she remarked to Mirajane and Loke, "Pretty varied missions."

"If you want to accept any, let me know," Mirajane said. "Master Makarov is away at the scheduled Regional League of Guild Masters meeting."

"The League's directly under the Magic Council, right?" Lucy asked. "The Council is both an administrative body and a judicial one. They can stand trial over wizards who've committed crimes."

Loke whistled. "You did your homework, Lucy. Not many newcomers know that."

Mirajane nodded. "Of course, you've got the bad apples."

"And they will come for you…" hissed a malevolent voice behind her. Yelping, Lucy instantly used a Blizzard spell on the offender.

Lucy wheeled to find Natsu encased in ice. "Don't scare me like that, Natsu!"

As Natsu broke free of the ice, scowling that his prank had backfired, Mirajane said, "Well, pranks aside, the bad apples are called the Dark Guilds."

"Outlaw guilds," Lucy recited. "They disregard the laws of the land, particularly those to human life. Murder, rape, human experimentation…"

Mirajane nodded. "Impressive. But yes, that pretty much sums them up. Mad, bad, and dangerous to know…"

Loke and Lucy decided to go off into a corner near a window, while Natsu and Gray began bickering again. "So, do you feel up to making a contract with me yet?" Lucy asked.

"Still thinking about it," Loke confessed. "Karen, she…she left a few scars. But I'm leaning towards accepting it. But only if we're partners."

"You've got it," Lucy said. "I'm not going to rush you. I now have four Golden Gate Keys, thanks to Everlue being arrested. I'm in no hurry to add to my stable."

"Yeah, Natsu was bragging about you getting Virgo. She turned into a gorilla thanks to Everlue. Ugh. Just thinking about that makes me cringe." He looked over at the brawling Natsu and Gray. "And speaking of things that make me cringe, I wish those two would give it a rest." When he looked outside the guild, though, he froze. "Shit. EVERYONE, CALM DOWN! AND STOP FIGHTING, NATSU AND GRAY! ERZA'S HERE!"

Lucy looked out where Loke was staring, and saw a woman in armour striding down the street, carrying a massive horn with just one hand. That's Erza Scarlet? Lucy thought.

As she walked in, Lucy noted the details. The red hair framed a beautiful, but somewhat stern and hardened face that reminded Lucy a little of Celes. Her armour was Heart Kreuz brand. Despite the fact that she was probably about Lucy's age, she walked with a gravitas of someone far older.

She put the horn down, shaking the guild as it hit the floor. "I only just got back. Is the Master here?"

"Welcome back, Erza!" Mirajane said. "And no, he's at the League meeting."

"I see."

"Erza…what is that thing?" Loke asked, shivering.

Erza glanced at the Celestial Spirit. "It used to belong to a monster, before I took care of it. The villagers were kind enough to decorate it for me, and I thought it looked interesting, so I accepted their gift. It's not in the way?"

As the others denied that hurriedly, Lucy watched on. Erza obviously commanded a lot of fear and respect, and if she could vanquish a monster that huge, it was understandable. "Incidentally," she said, "I've heard you have been causing more trouble. The Master may tolerate your antics, but I won't. Cana, cut down on your drinking, and get some decent clothes on. Visitar, dance outside so you don't traumatise us. Wakaba, use an ashtray, not the table, if you must smoke indoors. Nab, either take a job, or don't malinger near the board. Seriously, do I have to do everything? Well, for today, I'll let you be with fewer lectures."

"That was less?" Lucy asked, sotto voce. "Is she like the disciplinary committee for this guild?"

"Sort of. I got a little too persistent with her. She beat the crap out of me. Natsu challenged her some time ago and got the same treatment, and she took issue with Gray walking around naked," Loke said quietly.

Looking at Natsu and Gray pretending to be friends while Erza looked at them sternly, Lucy said, "Given how scared they look, I can believe that."

Loke chuckled. "Erza is one of our S-ranked wizards. Her cognomen is 'Titania', or Queen of the Fairies."

Erza was saying, "Well, it's good that you two are friends, because I have need of your assistance. While I was out on that last job, I heard disturbing rumours. As I cannot ask Master Makarov his opinion, I feel this situation needs to be addressed as soon as possible. I want you two to come with me on the morrow."

As Natsu and Gray stared in astonishment, Loke gaped. "Whoa. I don't think Erza's ever asked someone to come with her on a job before."

Mirajane came over. "No, it's unprecedented. It must be something bad to have worried Erza. Lucy, will you go with them? Those two tend to fight, and they need a gentler mediator than Erza."

Story of her life, Lucy thought. Back in her old life, she had played peacekeeper between the others. There was that one time when Cyan and Celes nearly came to blows when Cyan's hatred for the Gestahl Empire boiled over, despite Celes' defection, or Edgar flirting with the wrong person. Actually, Loke reminded her quite a bit of Edgar, that mix of handsomeness, nobility (when he wasn't flirting), and lecherousness. And the empathy. Edgar, after all, was one of the first people to show her kindness after her Slave Crown was removed.

But yes, she saw her point. And if Erza was one of the best mages here, then maybe Lucy could really show off her skills. Though if Erza was concerned enough to need Natsu and Gray's help, they might need Lucy's help as well…

It was later that night that Lucy, oddly enough, was approached by Erza, the stern knight sitting down next to Lucy as the part-Esper finished off her meal. "You are Lucy, aren't you?" Erza asked after Lucy finished. "I am Erza Scarlet. Good to meet you. I've already heard stories about you."

"All good, I hope?" Lucy asked.

Erza smiled slightly. "You stopped a melee in here with unusual magic. Given that they tend to get more rowdy when I am absent, I'm grateful. Plus, Natsu was telling me about your exploits, though he does mangle the story, somewhat. Is it true that you transformed to take down a Vulcan?"

"Yes."

"And you managed to figure out a secret behind the last novel of Zekua Melon, as well as take down Everlue. That's good. Natsu is not stupid, but he's rather direct, and doesn't think the same way as most people. Plus, he and Gray are hotheaded, to say the least. We could do with someone like you. Mirajane told me that she wants you to come with us. Keep in mind, it will be dangerous. Do you know who Erigor is?"

Lucy, when she heard the name, shivered. "Please tell me that's not who I'm thinking of."

"Who are you thinking of?"

"Erigor, the Reaper. The strongest member of Eisenwald after its Master was arrested, and its de facto leader now. They were ordered to disband, but Eisenwald became a rogue Dark Guild," Lucy said quietly.

Erza nodded. "Sadly, I think we will be going up against Eisenwald, and with them, Erigor. Are you still willing to come along with us?"

"Yes. If they really are with Eisenwald, a Dark Guild, then we need to stop them."

Erza smiled. "Then your resolve is admirable, Lucy. I'll brief you three in the morning while we're on our way…"

Lucy was up bright and early the next morning, though having to deal with Gray and Natsu bickering was irritating as they went to Magnolia Station. They soon met Erza, who brought a lot of luggage with her. Natsu demanded that, in exchange for helping Erza out, they have a rematch of their earlier battle, to which an amused Erza accepted.

They soon boarded the train. While Natsu groaned from his motion sickness, and was knocked out by Erza, Lucy mused. "So, I'm told you're a master of Requip magic, Erza. That means switching out weapons and armour on the fly via magic, right?"

The redhead nodded. "Of course, if you want pretty magic, Gray has you covered. Gray?"

Gray nodded, forming a Fairy Tail emblem out of ice. "Nice," Lucy mused. "That's Ice Maker magic, isn't it? Actually, you're ice, Natsu's fire, that'd explain a lot about why you two are at odds."

Gray snorted, while Erza just shook her head. "Well, it's time I briefed you. On my way back from dealing with that monster, I stopped by Onibas, and at a bar where wizards gather. I noticed a bunch of shady types discussing something. Something about a seal on something called Lullaby."

"Lullaby?" Lucy murmured. The name stirred some recollection in her mind, but when Erza looked up sharply, Lucy indicated for her to continue.

"Anyway, some guy called Kage seemed confident that he could break the seal and return within a few days with Lullaby. I didn't hear about Erigor until later, otherwise, I would have cut them down where they stood," Erza said, gritting her teeth.

They pulled into a station at Onibas, and as they walked out of the station, their luggage in tow, Erza said to them, "Remember, Erigor the Reaper is not someone to be trifled with. Neither is Eisenwald. They were expelled from the League and ordered to disband six years ago, and have resisted attempts to stamp them out."

"What are we going to do?" Gray asked.

"March on Eisenwald," Erza said, her tone brooking no argument. "We're here because this is closest to their last known whereabouts."

And that was when Lucy remembered. "Oh no," she murmured.

"What?"

"Lullaby…I remembered. I thought it a story, but…Lullaby is a flute, a magic flute. Those who hear its song falls under a death curse. What's worse…it can be used to kill multiple people at once," Lucy said. "It used to be just a tool for death curses, but legend has it that the Black Wizard Zeref boosted its power. It takes the form of a flute with a skull-like ornament with three eyes."

"This is serious…" Erza muttered. "An instrument of mass-murder, quite literally, not to mention a relic of Zeref. And Eisenwald has its eyes on it."

It was then that Lucy noticed that they were lacking a comrade. "Natsu's not here!" she yelped.

"Damn! We were so engrossed in the briefing, Natsu was left on the train!" Erza snarled. "It must have already departed! I should have kept a closer eye on him!"

"I'll go and fetch him!" Lucy said, transforming into her Trance form. Erza and Gray looked startled at the change in appearance, as did the people in the street. "I can fly in this form! If you can get the train to stop, all the better!"

"Got it!" Erza said, nodding.

And with that, Lucy flew into the sky, before heading for the train line. Of course, landing on the train while it was moving was going to be tricky, hence her order to Erza. She knew a lot of people would be staring at her, but she needed to get Natsu before he got into trouble.

The train was already a good chunk of the way to Kunugi when Lucy caught up with it. She managed to get onto the rear of the train, and opened it, charging down the train cars, looking for Natsu, the passengers staring at her as she stormed through.

And when she found him, he was in trouble. A dark-haired man was sneering at him. "You wanna know what we call you idiots at Fairy Tail? Flies. Lookie here, I'm swatting you." He laughed jeeringly as he lightly but condescendingly slapped Natsu's head. Natsu made to attack, only to gag on his bile. The man laughed. "Wow, great magic. You want to see some?"

"Yes, I do," Lucy growled, her transformed voice adding a bestial reverb to it.

"What the…?" the man began to yelp, only for Lucy to slam him in the face with a Thundara spell.

"Who are you? Are you with Eisenwald?" Lucy growled.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" the man sneered, before his shadow lunged forward and smashed her in the chin, sending her flying.

Damn, I underestimated him! Lucy snarled in her mind as she shook her head, trying to clear it. But if I use the wrong spells here, I risk destroying the train. And I can't use my Trance form for too much longer. Getting to the train quickly used most of my reserves.

Suddenly, the train lurched, and then, the man's bag fell onto the floor, revealing a flute adorned with a skull with three eye-sockets. Lucy looked up at the man. "So you are with Eisenwald," she snarled.

The man snatched it up. "Dammit, you saw it, but…" Suddenly, he was smashed away by Natsu, who was in a rage.

"That was for beating the crap out of me!" Natsu yelled. "Right back at ya! That's what happens when a fly swats back."

The man bounced away through the carriages, smashing through a connecting door, before skidding to a halt. But as he struggled to his feet, the PA for the train announced that the stop signal was a false alarm, and that the train was about to pull away. "Okay, better get going!" Natsu said, dragging his luggage from the rack.

"Oh no, you don't!" the man snarled. "You attacked a member of Eisenwald! I will swat you, you stupid fly!"

"Not if I do it first," Lucy said, before she felt her transformation fade, and with it, much of her power.

"Let's go, Lucy!" Natsu yelled, grabbing her despite her protests, before glaring at the Eisenwald member. "And I'll bury you for insulting me and Fairy Tail!" With that, he pulled Lucy out of the window of the train just as it began moving away…only to nearly get run over by an Onibas Motors driven by Erza, her magic powering the vehicle from a wrist strap connected to the vehicle.

As they rolled to a stop on the ground, Lucy hit Natsu on the head. "You MORON!" she snapped, angry at him. As the car skidded to a stop nearby, Lucy yelled, "That was one of the people we were supposed to find!"

"…What? Why didn't you say so?" Natsu demanded petulantly.

"Because you didn't give me a chance to say so!" Lucy yelled. As Erza, Gray and Happy approached, Lucy looked at them. "There was an Eisenwald goon on the train, with Lullaby. Flame Brain here took me off the train before we could catch him!"

"Natsu, you imbecile!" Erza said, slapping Natsu so hard, he skidded down the road several metres. "I told you we needed to look out for Eisenwald."

"He was out cold at the time. I tried to explain it to him, but…" Lucy shook her head. "We need to catch up."

"Can't you fly again?" Gray demanded.

"Flying drains my Trance ability more than my magic, especially flying at speed," Lucy explained. "I can reuse it soon, but we'll have to save it for when we get into battle."

Erza nodded, gesturing for them to come back to the car. "We'll have to follow them, and hope we can find them before they can use Lullaby…"

CHAPTER 6 ANNOTATIONS:

So yeah. Oh, don't worry, Lucy/Terra will get her chance to shine. But she can't be invincible, so I've put this in that flying at high speed drains her Trance quickly.

Review-answering time! A fan: Natsu is an idiot, though he finds it useful. Makarov and Mirajane have already had the reaction offscreen. As for the sword thing, well, Lucy will eventually use a sword, but she is more content to use her magic and her whip. That being said, Erza will get her to do a spar in a later chapter. As for a Trance being overkill, well, there is no such thing as overkill, just 'open fire!' and 'I need to reload!'

Akuma-Heika: Gravija is canon to the re-releases of Final Fantasy VI (Diablos teaches it), and the name is used alongside the Demi spell name in other games (Final Fantasy X, for example), so there. It reduces HP to 1/8th of the current level.

No numbered annotations this time.