Chapter 5

"I'm sure Loki is there to save her. I hate that bastard but I have no choice but to rely on him." Gray comforted himself a little bit.

As the train stopped at Harageon, Natsu became alive again. "It stopped!"

The sky is cloudy. It seemed that the situation suited this day. While on the train all Gray can think about is Lucy being tortured and bludgeoned. They went up a mountain with a carriage controlled by Erza's power. Finally they're inside the Heartfilia garden which is a vast valley owned by the Kozern. It started raining a little bit. The carriage passed every road and one could hear and tell they're in a hurry. Stones were unforgivably crashed by the carriage's wheels. The wet ground could be heard clearly. The rain began to pour heavily and Erza didn't even mind it. Natsu after being relieved from the first motion sickness he had with the train was now back again curling himself and Happy couldn't help it but to scold him and tell him he's pathetic.

"We're here!" Erza told them.

Gray can sense that there's someone waiting for them inside. No, not Lucy, but someone. Its presence reminded him of a certain someone back in Galuna Island. They opened the huge front door. Certainly maids should be there to attend to them but all are quiet saved the creaky sounds of the door. Their shadows accumulated the wide hall of the mansion. Erza's armor clanged and their footsteps invaded the silence.

"Lucy?" Gray called out.

"LUCY!" Natsu impatiently shouted.

"Hush! There's someone!" Erza said. "Who's there?"

An old little man came out. He was wearing a robe. He stopped right in front of them. Suddenly one of the pillars crumbled and almost hit the three but they quickly got away from it.

"I see." The man mockingly said. "It's the fairies..again."

"Wha…it's the old geezer from Galuna!" Natsu said.

The old man laughed hard. Zalty was so amused by Natsu's expression. He could tell that he's fired up already.

"I'll take it from here. You both find Lucy! We have still an unfinished battle."

"Are you sure Natsu?"

"Yes Erza! Go!"

Gray and Erza hurried inside and Zalty tried to stop them but Natsu was just in time to prevent him from doing so. They passed the wide visitor's hall and were now inside the dining room. Candles suddenly lit and the room was bright. They both looked around and Jared came out.

"Let's see what you can do for Lucy." Jared smiled. He controlled the huge dining table and threw it at them but Erza blocked it using her Giant's armor.

"Titania! As expected!"

Erza have her five swords attack Jared but he stopped it reflecting the attack towards Erza. Gray used his Ice Make Lance and froze Jared's hands but he broke free and used the ice shards to attack Gray.

"Poor Lucy! My darling! What was she thinking! These guys are so weak! What a shame!"

"You-you're Lucy's fiancée?" Gray's eyes widened.

Jared grinned. "Yes. I'm her future husband." He chuckled.

"I'm not going to hand Lucy to you!"

"Oh I already have Lucy you fairy butts. To tell you the truth, she wants me to be his husband."

Gray attacked him using his Ice Make hammer but Lucy appeared in front of him and shielded Jared. Gray stopped and he was shocked. Erza looked at Lucy hard.

"Lucy!"

"You see, she's in love with me. " he hugged her from the back.

Gray looked at Lucy. Her eyes showed no emotion. Just like an effigy who lost its strings. She is protecting the guy. Jared must have done something to her.

"Luce! What's wrong! Why are you doing it?"

She did not reply him. Her eyes pierced his heart. Is this the real Lucy?

(Lucy's POV)

Gray! I'm so sorry..I don't want the guild to be disbanded! I'm so sorry! It's all my fault! I hope there will come a time that I could face you and all the people in fairytail again. I'm so sorry Gray! I don't like it but I can't do anything! I don't want to burden you guys!

Jared prepared to attack him once more. Gray did not care. What's painful is that Lucy became a different person. He stood there waiting for Jared to kill him and Lucy to break free from her nightmare. He stood still biting his lip.

Gray you idiot! Don't just stand there!

Erza blocked the attack and was thrown against the wall.

"You idiot! Why are you just standing there! If you believe in Lucy don't you just stand there! She's at your front you idiot! Don't show her you're weak!"

Gray's body did not move. Let the attack hit me! I want to feel pain. He stood still.

"Gray! Hang yourself together!" "GRAYYY! YOU BASTARD! MOVE!" Erza is now in rage and tried to get up but her knees were badly hurt.

I have to do something.

Jared was about to punch him when Lucy grabbed his arm. Gray got his senses back and looked at Lucy. Is she awake now? ..No

"Stop. We don't have the time to fight these idiots. We have a wedding to plan." She pulled out her Spirit Keys and tossed it in front of Gray. "And I really don't need these pieces of junk."

Tears came out from Gray's eyes. Erza punched the floor and stood up. This is not Lucy!

"As you wish my dear." Suddenly she and Jared disappeared leaving Gray on his knees and the keys in front of him.

The wall crumbled and broke and Natsu was lying on the ground.

"This bastard!" Natsu said as he wiped the blood oozing from his mouth.

"I'm sorry but we'll settle this battle later. My master is already gone. Perhaps you should leave them be now. You heard Miss Lucy." The old man vanished too.

"Oi! Come back here you disgusting old man!"

"Stop it Natsu! We can't do anything as of now! Lucy's in a difficult situation right now! She has no choice!"

Gray looked at Erza. "What do you mean she has no choice?"

"I trust her Gray. I can see through her eyes that she's still the same Lucy. She dropped the keys on purpose."

"How can you say that?"

"Loki. We need to talk to Loki, Gray. He knows why."

There was a glow of light and Loki appeared. He's panting and he looked exhausted.

"What happened Loki! Why did you not protect her!"Gray asked.

"I'm sorry, but I can't pass the gates when she was inside her room. It must've been the cause of a barrier that nullifies the use of magic. I tried to save her but the gates won't open." "I'm so useless. Forgive me!"

Erza shook her head, "No, it's not. No one's at fault. We all know Lucy. She loves Fairytail. There must be a reasonable explanation as to why she acted like that. She dropped her keys so that Loki can come out." "We need to believe in her."

(Jurener's Family Mansion)

"Good work Zalty!"

"Thanks Master!" Zalty replied Jared.

"Now those silly insects can't come any closer to my Lucy." He said as he looked at Lucy who was sitting beside the window lost deep in her thoughts.

I'm so sorry Erza! Natsu! Happy! Loki!...Gray..and everyone!