Story name; The Fairy's Jinchuriki.
Summary: "The boy who eats fire." She murmured. Eventual Lucy/Erza paring. Lucy is the nine tails Jinchuriki.
Disclaimer; I own nothing. This is a nonprofit work of FanFiction
A/N: So to all you Dragon Ball Z fans, this chapter should be a real treat. Especially those of you who liked the Frieza saga. Please enjoy and tell me what you think!
There was just something about the mindless act of shopping that took away stress.
Quietly rummaging up and down the aisles of a certain wizard store in Hargion, Lucy was mentally counting off items as she put them within her basket. "...Matches, tinder, first aid kit."
Some of the items came across as slightly unneeded considering a certain Dragon Slayer was basically a human torch but Lucy was nothing if not prepared. She didn't like the idea of not being ready, and relying so much on someone else, even Natsu just wasn't in her character. Lucy also grabbed several different items the trio might need on their journey such as food rations and the sort. It wasn't cheap, she thought grimly. While this store was full of just about anything a traveling wizard might need, the shops owner practically had a monopoly on the port town. Basically meaning he could charge whatever overpriced nonsense he wished. Plus Lucy was buying enough to sustain both herself and the infinite bottomless pits of her boy's stomachs.
In the end, Lucy had went through majority of the money she'd earned from her last mission. She might have gotten off a little better if not for the little silver key she'd bought at the last minute. Cana would probably appreciate the gesture.
Rounding a corner, Lucy looked out for any signs of pink or blue. They must have already left the shop, considering the much quieter mood of the store. She wasn't surprised, Natsu had very little patience for anything that didn't involve fighting. The teen had quite clearly, and loudly made his feelings for shopping known.
Exiting the small shop, Lucy noticed Natsu's comically large mission pack from across the street. Lucy was actually impressed at just how much Natsu had managed to strap to his back. On their last mission the blonde had gotten to see that he really did have just about everything in there. It actually resembled more of a survival kit then compared to the small mission pack strapped over her own shoulder.
Expertly avoiding the few citizens up at this ungodly hour Lucy made her way over to Natsu just catching the tail end of a conversation. The words 'Galuna island' heard.
"I'm afraid no one is going to take you there."
"And why is that?" She asked, suddenly appearing by Natsu's side. The boy flinched in surprise. 'Oh, that's right.' Lucy still had a tendency to sneak around. Sending him a small apologetic smile Lucy turned her attention back to the man. She hand't even realized she was doing it.
The man before her was tall, draped in a large cloak similar to Natsu's 'Ninja' outfit. Though, she suspected the man's was for rain rather than sneaking about. A rugged sea fairing face eyed her for a moment before answering.
"As I was telling you're friend here, no one is going to take you to Luna island."
"If it's a question of money . . ."
The fisherman shook his head. "It's cursed. There's not a fisher around her that hasn't heard the stories."
Quirking a brow in question Lucy caught Natsu's eye. "Care to share those stories?"
Their fish smelling friend scoffed rudely. "You lot must not be from around here."
"We're mages," Natsu spoke up. "We don't care about some stupid curse. We're on a mission to break it."
Despite Natsu's less than truthful statement (they weren't technically hired, not officially anyway), his proud words had the desired effect. It was only there for a second but Lucy saw the small glimmer of hope flash over his hard eyes. "You're wizards?"
"Members of the Fairy Tail guild!" Natsu exclaimed proudly. Showing off his guild mark, Happy followed suit by twisting around. Lucy calmly flashed the back of her hand.
"So," She said. "You think you can help us out?"
The Fairy's Jinchuriki.
"So . . . " Lucy spoke carefully. "This is it?"
"Man! What a piece of junk!" Natsu blurted out, causing Lucy to face palm. 'Way to be delicate.'
'Well,' Lucy thought. 'He's not wrong.' Despite his bluntness, Lucy couldn't help but agree herself at the rude but accurate description of the . . . boat. Having followed Bobo to his, um boat, the group of Fairy Tail mages were standing at the port eyes warily staring at the thing.
Even on the best of situations Natsu didn't like any mode of travel, so he certainly wasn't finding this thing enjoyable. Hell, Lucy didn't particularly trust the aged wooden structure gently swaying to the oceans current.
Bobo shrugged. Then he gestured out around them. "You think anyone else in this town is crazy enough to help you? Like it or not, this is your only option."
Well, that was odd. Picking up on that Lucy filled it away for later. There was something their good samaritan wasn't telling them. If no one in their right mind would travel to this place why would he? Somehow Lucy didn't think it was out of the kindness of his heart. He was invested in this curse somehow. It didn't look to be heinous yet but he was definitely hiding something.
Watching the man climb abroad his rickety little drift wood he called a boat, Lucy decided not to question him on it just yet. Presently he was the only chance they had. If he was hiding anything dangerous then she'd deal with it herself. Until then, she would just have to watch fisherman reeks of fish carefully.
Right on cue, Natsu started to moan loudly. The teen even turning an unsightly shade of blue and purple. "You're not even on the boat yet." She sighed, hand patting him awkwardly across the back.
"I'm getting sick just thinking about it."
Landing across her shoulder, Happy laughed at his partners expense. "Don't worry Lucy. Natsu always gets like this. When we hit land he'll be good as new!"
"If you say so." She said worried. Helping the reluctant boy to the boat, Lucy pointedly ignored his request to 'fill Erza's shoes.' She was not going to knock him out.
"Yeah, yeah." Bobo muttered impatiently. Tugging at his anchor the man was pilling up rope, getting ready to cast off. "Let's get on with it then. I haven't got all day."
Lucy knelt down, beginning to pick up Natsu when a shadow cast over the two of them."
"About damn time I caught up to you knuckle heads."
Lucy froze at the voice. Happy doing the same over her shoulder. With as much care as she could, the blonde dropped Natsu back onto the ground giving him a little shake. He was still out of it. This was bad.
"Gray." Lucy said evenly. "What brings you out here? Sightseeing?"
The sound of boots hitting the wood of docks rung out in the air as the Ice Wizard walked toward her. "Hardly." He scoffed. "Gramps sent me."
"Oh," She feigned innocence. "What for?"
Turning slightly to face the dark haired teen, Lucy gave Natsu a slightly harder shake. 'Come on, wake up!'
"Don't give me that." He snapped harshly. A firm line was edged over the Ice Make mages lips but then again, Gray usually looked rather sour. At least as long as she'd known him. Openly looking over his form, he didn't come across as aggressive, Lucy mentally cataloged. Just slightly irritated, no doubt annoyed having to come all the way out for them.
"How is he by the way?" Lucy asked desperate to stall for time. Her tone was curious. Trying to gage how tense the situation back at Fairy Tail really was. The fact Gray was here couldn't mean anything good.
"Pissed." Gray answered gravely. Foreboding. Hands firmly imbedded into his pants he leaned back against a wooden pillar on the dock. Tilting his head up, Lucy could see his dark eyes looking at her under that mess of hair.
"You know you surprised me, Lucy. Thought you had enough sense to not get dragged into Natsu's braindead schemes."
Ignoring the tense air, Lucy gave a smile, her eyes casting for a second to her fallen teammate. "I'd follow him anywhere." She answered honestly.
She didn't say it out loud but Lucy would do the same for the brooding boy in front of her. Even if only for a short period of time, Gray had been apart of her team. He'd trusted her more than most ever had. Even if she didn't say it, she valued her newly formed friendship to him. Yet, she would always protect Natsu. This was her first real friend. Nothing was going to stop him from completing his dream.
Gray sighed. A hand loosely combing through his hair. "That's what I was afraid of. Stupid bastard doesn't even know what he's doing." Before Lucy could ask, Gray turned serious. "So you gonna come quietly? Or am I gonna have to drag you idiots back?"
"Sorry." Standing up, Lucy eyed Gray just as serious. "Natsu is dead set on completing this mission. I'm going to see this through to the end."
Watching Gray settle back into a stance the boy cupped his hands behind his back. Guess there really was no choice then. Taking up a stance of her own Lucy was deciding on how to end things quickly. She didn't want to hurt Gray. Maybe she could surprise him with a quick burst of speed. If she was lucky she might be able to knock him out early-
"Fight me, bastard!"
The thoughts Lucy was having trailed off. Looking down in surprise she saw the previously sea sick teen springing forward, smacking a fist across Gray's jaw. Lucy felt her eye twitch seeing Gray crumble at the cheap shot.
"D-did he wake up just to fight!?"
A light paw patted consolingly over Lucy's forehead. "That's Natsu." Happy shrugged. 'That was effectively less than useful,' she thought deadpanned.
Tossing the unconscious wizard across his shoulder Natsu turned cheekily back to her. "You got some rope in there?" He asked before none too gently tossing Gray into the boat.
"Your bringing him with us?" She asked even as she started to rummage through her pack.
"Don't really see any other option." Natsu said. "If we leave him, he might go back to the guild."
Lucy nodded throwing the rope around Gray. That was actually pretty smart of Natsu there. They couldn't exactly let Gray go free and at least with him them there they could keep an eye on him. And Lucy was starting to have a sneaking suspicion concerning Gray anyway.
Subtly checking the unconscious teen for any real damage, Lucy chidded Natsu lightly. "You didn't have to be so rough you know. He's still our teammate." In truth, Lucy was glad it was Natsu who'd acted. For a moment, Lucy wasn't sure she could have done it. Then again, despite Gray's stance Lucy hadn't felt any magic built up. She felt guilty Natsu had taken advantage like that though. She actually liked Gray.
Natsu made a crude noise between his lips and tongue. "That pop sickle can take more than that, trust me. He'll be fine."
Lucy did note that Natsu had defended his supposed 'rival.' Even if he did wrap it in a insult. He might not admit it, but he acknowledged Gray as strong.
Turning back to the boat Lucy was slightly shocked to see Bobo eyeing them evenly, waiting. It was very strange that he had waited so long, quietly in his seat while the Fairy Tail mages fought amongst themselves. He even made room for the tied up Gray, moving different items about in silence. That was odd. He didn't even bat an eye to their basically kidnapping.
It wasn't even that he was afraid. Maybe your average citizen would bow over to a potentially dangerous group of mages but he didn't seem the type to be cowed. He must have really wanted them to break the curse. In the end, Lucy's curiosity got the better of her.
"Bobo," She said after a length of time. Lucy was careful to keep her voice light and not confrontational. "Can you tell us more about this curse now?"
Bobo sat back down toward the back of the boat keeping the ore in both hands. "I suppose I can. What do you want to know?"
Lucy considered what she was going to say and how. She didn't want to sound too confrontational.
"Whatever you can tell us. Why is nobody willing to travel there?"
The fisherman sighed loudly, allowing the question to hang in the air for a moment. "It's cursed." He answered simply as he adjusted their direction. "This island, Galuna. I used to live here. I was forced to flee."
"Why?" She asked serious.
"I just couldn't take it anymore. I should warn you. Disaster will fall upon you if you go there unless your able to lift the curse." Before Lucy could ask the man threw back his arm revealing a dark green and pink colored arm. "This is a vile demonic curse..."
"Your arm!" Happy gasped beside her.
"We're almost there." He ignored the cat. Lucy herself was staring in shock at the appendage, what she had just been told sheering into her brain. A Demonic curse . . .
Looking out toward the island Lucy could feel a spike in anger coursing through her veins. Of all things, why did it have to be this?
"I'm afraid this is were I must leave you. I'm sorry . . ."
By the time Lucy turned back though, Bobo was gone. Then, her eyes scanned around them in surprise.
The Crystal clear and cloudless skies that had just moments ago shined across the horizon was a thing of the past. Dark ominous black skies roared to life with cackling thunder and terrifying streaks of lightning. The shift in weather was so absolute and sudden Lucy had to believe it was magic.
The group was nearly capsized by a stray wave. The small boat rocking back and forth violently.. Being nothing more than a simple row boat, the Fairy Tail mages were basically at the mercy of the sea. Given the sudden change, Lucy didn't have time to worry about their lost captain. Not that it mattered, the girl's blue eyes widening in shock at what she was seeing.
A monstrous tidal wave was baring down on them, fast.
"Happy!" She barked.
"I-I can't! There's too many."
"Shit," She cursed loudly. Eyes scanning the sea sick Natsu an the unconscious/tied up Gray, Lucy made a decision. "Hope you've got a strong head Natsu." Before the poor boy had any idea what was happening, Lucy tossed him as far as she could toward the mainland. He was just a blip in her vision the time she turned toward Happy.
"Up!" The cat didn't hesitate. Quickly grabbing a hold of her shoulders and yanking up with all his strength. It wasn't fast enough though. With the weight of both her and Gray, Happy only made it up about half the necessary height needed to clear the massive wall of water.
She knew it wasn't enough. With all her strength Lucy pulled Gray up against her chest with one arm and Happy the other. Lucy's heart thumped loudly in her chest, the few seconds until the wave finally crashed against her, ripping their small boat into pieces.
Again and again waves struck against her. Throwing the girl about, the gulp of air she was holding bursting free floating up. Twisting and turning in the endless depths she had no way of knowing which was up and what was down.
Under the unrelenting torrent, it was all Lucy could do just to hold on to her friends. It took far more effort than should be necessary to correct herself as she saw light. Ignoring her urning need for air, and reddening eyes, Lucy kicked with all her might following the light.
Her head burst the surface with a loud gasp. Angling herself Lucy made sure to keep both her friends head above water. Blonde locks stuck stubbornly to her face. Attempts at removing the offending hair proved difficult. Without the use of her hands simply blowing at the we hair proved less than effective.
Eventually settling for craning her head, the Jinjuriki whipped wildly with her forearm. That in the end proved more trouble than it was worth. The awful liquid would just grind tiny pieces of salt against her strained eyes. Then a pawed hand moved it for her.
"Happy, are you alright?"
Nodding his fury little head, the cat pointed outward. "Lucy look! Land!"
When land was finally within reach, the blonde pushed forward with all she had, throwing Gray's form onto the beach jostling him awake.
"What the hell!" Gray cried. Coughing up sea water he was rapidly blinking, trying to get his bearings but Lucy ignored him.
Searching across the beach, Lucy eyes were frantic in their search. "Natsu!" She shouted, not caring in the slightest how cracked her voiced sounded. The shrill shout echoed across the vast area, countless numbers of birds flying about in start.
Worry began to set like a stone in Lucy's gut. She was even starting to shake with nervousness when she picked up a muffled voice. It was like listening to someone in another room.
Never had Lucy been so thankful for her enhanced senses. Quickly following the sound, Lucy tracked it to a large ball of sand, two feet sticking awkwardly in the air.
A wave of flames erupting from the ground signaled Natsu's freedom but Lucy didn't slow her pace in the least. Just as the Dragon Slayer managed to free himself, he had the wind knocked from his lungs. Lucy barreling into his side.
With an audible 'whoosh' of air leaving his lungs and a puff of sand being thrown up at their landing. Having two vice like arms wrapped around his waste, the Dragon Slayer blinked warily before a bright shade of blonde came into view.
"Natsu," She murmured her face pressed up against his scarf. "I thought you'd drowned." The pink haired teen just laughed. Scratching absently at the back of his head. "Why would you think something crazy like that, Lucy?"
Lucy didn't answer. Shaking her head, the blonde just buried herself even deeper into the crook of his neck. "Idiot." She said without any real malice.
Hopping to her feet, Lucy dragged Natsu over to Gray. Now wasn't the time for being sentimental.
"Lucy what are you doing?"
With sharpened nails Lucy cut away Gray's bondages, the ropes falling lightly around the mans feet. She turned to Natsu with a shrug.
"It's not like he can drag us all back now. With the boat gone and all, chances of escape kinda went out the window. Besides, you never really wanted to go back did you Gray?"
This earned a shrug. "I can't have you clowns completing S-class before me now can I?" He smirked. Rubbing at his wrists his head tilted, dark eyes casting out curious. "How'd you figure that anyways?"
She saw his question and raised him one of her own. "Why are you here Gray?"
"Gramps sent me. Why else?"
"Yeah but why would he send you? And why just you? I get that the other S-class members were busy," (or just didn't bother) "but if that were the case he would have just come himself. If he truly wanted us off this mission then it doesn't make sense to send only you after us."
"Don't look at me, the old man needed someone strong enough to drag fire crotch and you back."
"Hey!" They ignored Natsu's indigent shout.
"While that's true you are every bit as strong as Natsu," (ignoring another shout) "and I'll admit stronger than me, It's just an odd choice."
That got him thinking.
"Honestly." She empathized. "Given your histroy it stands to reason that you would be more likely to join us then stop us."
"So what? Are you saying Gramps wanted us to take this mission?"
"Not exactly." She shook her head. "I think he made a judgment call. With only a hand full of mages that could forcible drag Natsu back," (She purposely didn't mention herself) "and most of them gone or unable/unwilling to. He knew we wouldn't come back willingly so he did the only other option."
Gray sighed. "Reinforcements."
"Whoo hoo!" Natsu cheered. "Master sent us on S-class! We'll be S-class in no time!"
"Aye!"
"Would you two be quiet." Lucy hissed. Pulling the two down by their ears there was a wail of pain. "This is still going to be dangerous. The master probably only sent Gray as help because he knew how very dangerous this could turn. We'll need us all to complete this job." There was a very good chance that if he sent someone less prepared they might die.
"Don't forget," Gray added looking grim. "Just because the master allowed us to contiune doesn't mean there won't be punishment. And who do you think he's going to send after us when I don't come back?"
Natsu and Happy became very pale all of a sudden. "Oh man. You don't think he'll send her do you? Crap! I didn't think this through."
"Erza's going to chop me up into cat stew!" Happy cried.
While Natsu was running about flames leaking like water Lucy turned her sharp stare to the Ice wizard. She glanced back a tick forming when she heard Happy plea an imaginary Erza's 'forgiveness' because Lucy had conned him into the mission. 'Traitor.'
"Gray. Where was Erza exactly when you left the guild?"
"I'm not sure." Raising a hand though his hair the Ice wizard sighed out again. 'Was that just a nervous tick with him? Well it was an obvious improvement to his stripping problem.' "She was out on a mission. Expected back anytime."
"That doesn't give us much." She mused. "It'll have to do though. We've got a day on her at least."
"Guess we'll just have to finish this mission in a day then." Natsu declared. Flames poured from the dragon slayers fists his determination influencing both wizards. Lucy smiled while Gray smirked, because just like that, Natsu's undying confidence proved they would do this.
The Fairy's Jinchuriki.
Plowing through the jungled cursed island she was reminded this was only her fourth mission, S-class at that. At the time moved by Natsu's fiery declaration of victory she hardly questioned her own inexperience. She had jumped at the chance to join the two of them believing in her mind they would win. Now she wasn't so sure.
As their crusades and different missions slowly descended into chaos she had found herself at the forefront of the cause. All it took was a few answers and wild hunches for them to look at her.
She shouldn't be on this mission. It was so painfully obvious now she cursed her naivety. The three boys followed her without question, they took her words as truth, they trusted her. They knew nothing about her.
She was a ticking time bomb.
Two out of three of her missions already she had felt her control slip. Even worse was how little she did to stop it. Against the anamorph she had reasoned it was a cold monster that stole away fathers deserving death. And the other three deaths . . .
They were in the wrong place wrong time. Then again, so many seemed to fall into that category for Lucy. Even now her emotional walls were slipping. Years of insecurities and self doubt were rising to the surface. She could hardly keep a handle on her emotions anymore. The shift between fine and crazed was such a thin line.
"Don't fly to high happy." She instructed in a monotone voice. The rough sound of her voice gaining two sets of curious eyes on her, the cat floating gently to shoulder level. When she spoke again she tried to make her voice lighter. "Don't wont anyone taking pot shots at you." She failed.
"You sure this is the right way?" Natsu questioned eyeing their surroundings. "This place smells weird."
Curious. She hadn't smelt anything out of place. In fact to her own enhanced smell the odor around felt oddly familiar, soothing even. There was a smell, something in the air that seemed to call to her.
"I caught a glimpse of the town from the boat." She explained. It wasn't a complete lie. She did see a glimpse of the village and given the well traveled nature and general direction of the trail they were on her guess was as good as any. It was like she just knew what they were looking for was this direction. Feet moving toward the call.
"So what exactly is our mission goal here?" Gray asked resting both arms firmly on the back of his neck.
"Didn't you read the file?" Natsu complained.
"It's not like I had much time to spare."
"The curse of the moon." She spoke up.
"It's a strange spell that somehow effects the moon as you can see." She added gesturing to the dark red blot in the sky. Looking at it gave her a cold shiver. It was just...so familiar.
"That fisherman seemed to think that whatever happened to the moon is effecting the inhabitants of the island as well. Though, he wouldn't go into detail. He speculated it's because of a demon..." The three boys looked between one another.
She continued, "The mission has been out for a few years. Anyone who has taken it, well. . . didn't come back. We can only assume enemy mages are the cause given the sightings. Nothings been conclusive. Random sightings here and there."
"I can see why its S-class. Thats some pretty vague Intel."
"Yeah," she agreed with a nod. "We can assume they are strong too. If no one ever made it back to say anything . . ." She trailed off.
Just coming to a clearing in forest was a village. What was left of it anyway.
"Guess knocking is out of the question." Gray muttered.
Lucy didn't respond instead staring up in shock at the nearly obliterated gate guarding the Islanders.
There was hardly a log standing to the northern structure of the massive wall surrounding the village. Edged into the dirt was an impact mark going several feet deep and roughly ten yards wide. It stretched as far as the eye could see, presumably the entire length of the village. It went through whatever was unlucky enough to be in it's way: houses, roads, everything.
"These are recent." She told them quietly. "Whoever did this couldn't have gone far. They might still be in the village." She stopped, her ears picking up something. "There's someone there. In the village. There are screams . . ."
Natsu didn't need to hear anymore. Marching past the destruction the Dragon Slayer was burning with intensity she had yet to see. Gray was quick to follow. Lucy decided to stay back for a second.
They could handle whoever was still attacking the town. Her hands trembled with barely contained rage. Already she could feel herself slipping. The dark energy seeping through her veins begging her to lash out.
She refused to give in.
Taking several long greedy breathes, in and out, in and out, in and out, the shaking subsided. Her natrual blue eyes returned replacing feral red. A solid couple minutes had past, the two boys long gone to investigate the village. That was for the best, they didn't need to see what was coming.
"Happy, stay close to me."
Eyes still closed, head downcast she could feel the tiny worried heart beating against the side of her neck. Happy for whatever reason had stayed behind with her. Shuffling forward the blue cat hopped across her neck wordlessly complying with her orders.
"You can come out. I know you're there."
There was a low rumble of laughter coming from the trees. It was dark, biting, holding a snide arrogance that nearly returned her anger.
"Would you look at that. A little girl and her cat found me after all." The voice mocked.
"I wonder how it is that you sensed me?" Coming closer a short fat little man dawning an oddly designed armored approached her.
He was bold, a green eye piece covering his right eye the device stretching to his ear. The armor was white, form fitting, moving with ease along with his hefty body. He wasn't very tall either, she mentally sized up. Though he certainly walked with the confidence of a very dangerous man.
"I smelt your stench earlier."
It wasn't meant as an insult, just a fact; she had smelt this man's horrid odor, but scrunching up his chubby face the man took it as one. Calmly raising a hand to his ear piece he pressed a small button on the side illuminating a number of different lights to flash across the green screen. There were two separate sets of numbers that appeared. He snorted.
"Just as I thought, your nothing special. Your power level is next to nothing."
'Power level?'
"Allow me to do you a favor little girl. Since you were somehow able to detect me I'll do you the honor of giving you my name. Dodoria. One of my lords finest soldiers."
He looked as if his name was supposed to mean something. Maybe scare her, tell her some unknown fact about this man, maybe if she had more than three missions to her name as a legal mage she might reconigize it. Perhaps he was apart of a dark guild. Lucy had experience with several shady organizations but those types were always different. They had their own agenda, often protected, (or owned) by bigger dark guilds working for odd things. Lucy didn't know much about this guy. Now though, she didn't really care.
"Well Dodoria. You wouldn't happen to know who attacked the village would you?"
A smug smile spread across fat lips. His demur not at all bothered by the hostile, potentially threatening tone used. "Thats not going to matter."
"And why is that?" She asked her voice turning sharp, cutting.
"Because," he drawled out. "You'll be dead!"
Changing forms a pink magic circle came to life bringing to life as pink spiked skin spreading across his body. In an instant, gone was the once fat harmless looking man. In its place was a monstrous looking thing, with jagged spike protrusions ripping out of armored skin.
"Do you like it? It's my transformation. While I don't have the range Zarbon does I more than make up for it in brute strength. In this form I'm even immune to the elements."
"Immune to the elements huh?" Lucy asked eyeing his pink plated skin. Already she could see gaps between the spiked protrusions leaving open tiny unprotected spots. "It's really unlucky you chose to fight me."
"What was that?" Dadoria asked his face twisting up.
"It doesn't really matter." Lucy waved him off. No need to actually tell him the advantage he would've had. "Come on if you want to fight."
Even under a helm of pink armor Lucy could detect the tick forming. He was an arrogant man then, easily angered, easily pushed. Way to easy.
"L-lucy…"
"Don't worry Happy. Just do as I say." The cat gulped but he didn't argue. She felt his tiny furred head nod against her back. "We'll finish this quick. I promise."
"Now Happy!" Just as she thought the cat's magic sprang to life, two massive wings lifting them both into the air. Passing harmlessly underneath the pink monster didn't have time to react as Lucy's hands smashed into the back of his head.
Slamming into the ground Dadoria mouth filled with dirt as he skidded back. Flying forward Lucy barely had time to voice her a warning as Happy pulled up abruptly to avoid the incoming spikes.
Blood splattered onto the ground with an audible winch from the blonde.
"Lucy! Your hurt."
"I'm fine." She grunted. Floating down until her feet touched the ground Happy's voice was filled with worry.
"It's nothing I can't handle." Even now the gushing wound was slowly sealing shut. The blood had stopped pumping already resorting to a slow trickle.
"How do like that. I almost had you." He chuckled. "A second later and you would have been a flying pin cushion."
"That's not funny." Happy mumbled.
"Relax." Lucy told him. "Let him be confidant. We almost had him there, you're doing great."
Truth was, both were right. In her confidence Lucy hadn't taken in to account Dodoria's armor might have a second ability. Going in for the easy kill she had put both herself and Happy into a very dangerous situation.
'Is this what an S-class quest was like?' She had been so close to striking the unprotected part of the pink man's neck but at the same time he had nearly killed the both of them in return. Well, Lucy would have been fine, but the losing Happy would have been far worse. The slightest of miscues were amplified, even a small mistake could prove to be fatal.
She realized at that moment how underprepared she really was. She didn't worry about Gray or Natsu, the two of them being able to take care of themselves but her inexperience was starting to show.
Rubbing at his head the pink man laughed loud into the air. "Oh my, I would hate to see what your hand looks like right about now. The armor protecting my skin is indestructible, harder than steel itself. You must be in quite a bit of pain-"
With a light slow of flexing her hands in front of him, Lucy quietly enjoyed the look on her opponents face. His mouth slacked in obvious disbelief that not only was her hand completely unmarred, she wasn't even bothered by the wound he had just struck.
"Impossible." He breathed.
The small chuckles on her back was only making her bolder. "Guess my skin must be pretty hard too."
"We'll see about that. Let's see how you like this! Spiked thorns!"
And just as expected, the fool took the bait. Crystal clear eyes watched in rapt attention at the multiple magic circles springing to life at the end of the man's hands. Not a second later several dozen of his armored pikes launched themselves in their direction. Her eyes captured it all. The speed, density, even feel of his magic.
"Happy!" She shouted only to get an affirmative 'AYE'.
Launching into the air Lucy was surprised by the speed the two of them gained. Easily dodging the pink spikes she had hardly blinked before they were clear over Dodoria's head. Driven by their near miss Happy seemed to be giving it everything he had to help Lucy, the little cat pouring all of his magic into his wings.
While impressed she was also worried. Happy didn't have the massive stores of Magic that Lucy had. Or even what a normal Mage would be at. At most, the Cat had been able to hold his transformation for a few minutes. They wouldn't have much time left.
"Roll left." She told him over the torrents of wind Happy compiling just in time to avoid another shot of pink.
Launching herself forward Dodoria didn't even try to dodge, a smirk forming the man planting his feet squarely across the dirt. In a blink the two smashed into one another, Lucy deftly avoiding a spiked fist as her own smashed into his armored cheek.
She had known going in that she couldn't harm his armor straight up but that hadn't been her intension. She only needed to get in close. Even though her attack did nothing in terms of damage the pink man swayed slightly off balance at the speed and sheer force she had collided against him.
Kicking off with both feet Dodoria fell back another step as Lucy landed just a few feet away. Quickly dodgeing another round of spikes lundging to the left Lucy rounding on him.
Punching the pink armor in the stomach the man tried to grab hold only to be met with nothing but air, Lucy already ducking under his giant arms.
Dodoira could only look back in horror to find the blonde girl on his shoulders. Trying in vain to shake her off the criminal reached back to forcibly remove her. That was exactly what she wanted him to do.
Taking hold of his wrists Lucy yancked with all her strength firmly wedging both arms behind his back. Placing the heel of her boots to his skull, she forced his face into the dirt.
"It's over." She told him.
"Says you!" He screamed at her all the while struggling against her hold. Spikes sprang to life shooting aimlessly from his arms firing wildly into the air. Quickly switch her hold, she was holding at his elbow. Lucy was very careful to keep the pink mans arms pointed away from her, the display doing nothing but waste energy.
"You think this will stop me? You still can't get to me thanks to my armor. You'll tire eventually and then you'll be miiiii- aghhhhhhh!"
Increasing the pressure on his arms she pulled her hands together earning a screech of pain from the man. The tinder muscles underneath his armor stretched and waned under the immense pressure. With her sensitive ears she heard the tiny tendrils of muscles popping then ripping apart completely. His shoulder had been separated.
"Your armor doesn't do much good if all your muscles are ripped apart. Change back or I might just tear your arms off." To explicate her point she pulled a little harder.
"Fine. FINE! I'll change back. Here."
Rearing back her foot she slammed it into his now bare skull. The action while not at full strength bashed his face into the dirt easily knocking him unconscious. With a thud Dodoria fell to the ground. For a brief moment Lucy's thoughts drifted to some very dark ideas.
She wanted too. Oh, how she wanted to kill this insect. It would be so easy too. Just a slight twitch of the foot resting across his skull and then, crunch. She pulled back, her foot hovering over the man for a tense moment before she put it back to the ground.
He wasn't worth it. In the past Lucy wouldn't have hesitated like this. Dodoria would already be a stain on her boots. She was trying to be better though. A real Fairy Tail mage wouldn't kill a helpless foe. She had to be different.
Instead of the easy way, Lucy began to tie the man up. She was mindful of his powers, purposefully fixing his arms to point inwards at himself. She wouldn't kill him but if he decided to be stupid, well, he was to blame for what would come after.
Finished with Dodoria, Lucy turned back to Happy.
The little blue cat was exhausted. He had come a long way from when they first met. Happy had managed to increase the amount of time he could use his magic nearly doubling his output. She was so proud of him.
Pulling him into her arms Lucy smiled down at him.
"Rest up. You did amazing Happy." She told him
The goofy smile she received only making her smile even more. "Yeah, I guess I did."
Cradling him into her arms she set off to find the others none to nicely dragging her captive along.