A/N: Hey everyone! Another cliff hanger here! Sorry, but I couldn't help it! I swear I'll update tomorrow as soon as possible! :) You're going to LOVE what I've got in store for you all! Thank you for all of the continued support, and once again, enjoy! :) ;) xx

Laxus's POV

'Wait- this guy's supposed to be a neutral judge? How the hell did he get there if he hates blondies Mum so much? I'm pretty sure that goes against neutrality.' I scowled at the goat, whose arms had folded across his chest.

'He's an extremely deceitful man. He's patient, cunning and now he seems to have turned to evil means in order to exact his own pitiful idea of vengeance. We call spirits like him The Fallen; they've lost faith in goodness of mankind, and embrace the darkness each of us holds inside our hearts.'

'Okay, I get that. Now what do we do? Lucy's in danger with that psycho freak trying to get her thrown in prison!' Bix stood, staggering slightly from the amount of alcohol that flooded his body. I grabbed him, stopping him from falling to the floor and turned to face the three spirits in front of me.

'Is there anything we can do?' Mira asked before I could, her small hands clenched into fists as her aura darkened, signalling she was only just holding back her Satan Soul.

'We can't bring people to the spirit world without a direct invitation from the spirit king. When Lucy's friends visited before the Grand Magic Games, they were invited on a one time only basis by the spirit king to a part of the spirit world he'd separated from the rest specifically for them. Lucy is in the centre of our world. You can't even come close without his say so, and he's... unavailable.' Loke was clenching and unclenching his fists in an attempt to release his stress, and Nick was leaning against the bar, his arms crossed and his eyes closed; he muttered to himself as flames began to emerge from his body, obviously trying to calm himself before he started a fire in the guild.

'Loke. You know what Fairy Tail is about, more than anyone. You're a member. You know, we physically can't leave a member to deal with something by themselves. We need to go to her.' I enunciated every syllable carefully and calmly, though anyone and everyone could see my anger resonating through my trembling body.

'This guy, whoever the hell he is, is threatening the happiness of one of us. There is no way we can allow her to handle this alone.' Loke stared straight into my eyes, and blinked, before slowly smiling.

'You know, you really have changed a lot Laxus.' I stared at him, not moving an inch. He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

'Hey, lion-boy.' I turned to face the ginger, who had managed to rein in his flames and was now grinning at Loke with a smug smirk.

'Didn't the big guy appoint you as his stand in during the course of time he was out of it?' Loke nodded his head slowly, slightly puzzled with flame head the seconds reasoning.

'Well, I believe that would indicate the powers and responsibilities of the spirit king have been temporarily transferred over to you, right?' He said, his hands opening up and gesturing forwards, palms upwards.

'Of course! Nick, you're a fucking genius!' Loke grinned and with an elaborate flick of his wrist, and a flash of gold light, his sunglasses appeared in his hands. He flicked them open and slid them onto his face with a practiced and defined manoeuvre.

'Course I am. I've been spending my time these past few centuries away from you idiots.' The ginger spirit said, grinning as he crossed his arms once more. The goat man grinned before leaving in a bright white light.

'Laxus, gather Fairy Tail. We're going for a little trip to the celestial world.' I smiled slowly, nodding at Loke, before dumping Bix on a bar stool.

'Sober him up Freed, and Mira, give him a freaking coffee. He looks like a damned zombie.' We were all smiling as I ran up to Gramps office and pulled out the master communication lacrima.

Everyone was now assigned with one, so that if any information about Lucy was found, we could report it in immediately.

'Laxus, what's going on?' Gramps asked, looking up from a piece of paperwork.

I turned to face the old man, and felt my heart sink. Lucy's absence had affected everyone; including Gramps hadn't smiled or laughed since her disappearance, and had willingly shut himself away to go through the barrows of paperwork he'd always avoided like the plague.

I smirked at him.

'Fairy Tail's going to go get back one of your brats Gramps.' I watched as he frowned slightly, before realisation dawned on his face, making it split into a blinding grin as tears tracked down his wrinkled cheeks.

Erza's POV

We silently walked outside the train station, me dragging my wagon filled with luggage, and Natsu carrying Happy on his head with Lisanna walking beside him. Gray lagged behind, picking up the shirt we didn't have to tell him he'd stripped out of.

This was the eighth mission we'd been on this week, and there was still no clue as to how we'd help Lucy.

Suddenly, the communication lacrima in Lisanna's bag rang urgently. We all exchanged glances before we scrambled to answer.

'What is it? Have you found any info for Luce?' Natsu shouted as Laxus's face appeared grinning at us.

'You guys must be closest. Get your asses here quickly. We're going to go get blondie back, right now.' I drew in a deep breath and Natsu whooped, jumping into the air, his fist pumping.

'Wait, Laxus, what's going on?' I asked, wary as to whether this was true or not. I know that Laxus has changed immensely since the Thunder Palace incident, but since Lucy had gone... he seemed to have become an emotionless, walking and breathing corpse.

'Loke and that ginger spirit turned up, and we talked some stuff through and figure it out. Blondie's innocent, the charges against her are exaggerated. The guy at the head of the council has a grudge against blondies Mum, and is trying to take it out on her.' Laxus grinned evilly through the lacrima.

'I figured we could go show them Fairy Tail's opinion on their treatment of one of our family.' As Laxus explained, we'd all become more and more angered at how this person dared treat one of ours that way.

'I'm all fired up!' Natsu growled out, smirking as his eyes glittered with more life than I'd seen for weeks.

'We shall be at the guild within two minutes.' I said, nodding at Laxus in thanks as he smirked once more.

'I'm going to be communicating the rest of the guild, they're too far away to get back quick enough. I want her back as soon as possible, so we're leaving as soon as you get back. We need the rest to defend the guild while we're gone.' I nodded my approval and agreement.' She's been gone for too long to spare another second away. Thank you Laxus.' The other three had run on ahead of me as I stormed through the streets, my carriage of belongings bouncing precariously along the narrow streets, only just avoiding all the pedestrians.

Before the communication was broken, I could have sworn I heard Laxus mutter:

'I didn't do it for you.'

Lucy's POV

I was suddenly woken up and dragged out of the cell, cuffs slammed onto my wrists before I could dully awaken.

'What-' I squealed as a gag was shoved over my mouth, and I felt my eyes widen as the guards dragged me roughly down the long corridor.

I stumbled along, my feet dragging along the uneven stone surface.

I desperately looked around, trying to find a way out, only to see nothing of any help.

I tried to access my magic and call out to one of my spirits, but I found myself blocked from my magic.

Crap! I thought as I looked down at the magic restraining handcuffs that looked more like 18th century shackles.

I was quickly dragged along dark hallways and corridors, before I was shoved into a well lit room.

I winced and shut my eyes, slowly opening them as I adjusted to the brightness.

The gag was removed from my mouth, but I remained silent as I looked around.

I stood in the centre of a hug circular room. I seemed to be in an arena of sorts, and surrounding me were high walls, yet seated at the top, rather than an audience, were twelve men, their faces covered by a white veil, and they wore huge white cloaks that dwarfed their figures.

A thirteenth man sat in a type of throne, set higher than the rest.

I looked up at him, as he was the only one with an uncovered face.

'Lucy Heartfilia, you are accused of revealing secrets of the celestial realm to outsiders, without permission or knowledge of any of the higher powers of our realm. Do you deny the charges?'

I stared into his dark, cold eyes, and saw deep within their seemingly emotionless pits, an engrained and malevolent hatred. I took in a deep breath and steadied my nerves, raising my head and straightening my back, looking up at him with disdain, trying to mimic the haughty look Ever reserved for people she didn't know.

'I do.' I said, my voice cutting through the silence like a knife.

The twelve other men began to mutter between themselves as I stared straight up at the guy in the throne, who's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

I narrowed my eyes at him, and felt an intense dislike for the person overshadow any of my nervousness and fear.

'Why is my trial held now? I had been told it would be held in the morning, however I haven't been asleep for more than a few minutes before I was rudely dragged before all of you.' The mutterings became outraged cries at my audacity to question them, but I ignored it and retained my calm demeanour.

The man held up a hand for silence, and he stared straight into my eyes.

'We felt it appropriate to sentence you now, before your spirits decide to intervene in their masters sins.' I glared at him, stepping forwards, only to be pushed back by a magical barrier.

'I am not their master. I am their friend, and I look at them as my family. I find your insinuation that I control them to be insulting to my beliefs.' His eyes narrowed into a glare that rivalled Erza's, and I couldn't help but respond in kind.

This guy somehow managed to push all my buttons with very little effort.

'You dare insult the High Councillor?' The man who'd arrested me stepped from some shadows in behind the councillor's chair. I broke my gaze with the creepy throne guy, and looked at the man. He was enraged and stared at me dangerously, his hand on the hilt of a sword that had been enclosed within his cloak.

'Aramus was it? I hope you realise, that Loke was right. You're making a mistake by trusting this man.' I gestured up to the creepy guy with both my hands, the handcuffs chains rattling with my movement.

'Silence. You shall face your charges and shall be punished according to your sins!' The creepy guy said, his voice rising slightly.

I scowled up at him, my arms dangling uselessly in front of me.

Well, might as well go out with a bang! I'm not letting them get me that easily. I thought, gritting my teeth and raising my head once more.

' Never show them weakness Lucy; they're like wolves, waiting for the first sign of doubt in your posture, voice, eyes. Once they see that, you've already lost. Never show them what you're truly thinking. That's how you survive.' My Father's voice echoed within my mind as I made my stand.

'I believe I have the right to make my defence known.' I called out, my voice not shaking in the slightest, despite the amount of eyes I felt boring into my body as they assessed me and judged me.

'I have already decided you are guilty of the crime; we only have to go through this charade in tradition.' I took a deep breath before staring at him, my anger boiling over.

'You're lying! I have a right to defend myself against these false charges!' The volume of my voice had risen, and I glanced at Arums, noting the confused look he sent towards the creepy guy.

I was right. I can defend myself; he's trying to stop me.

'Why do you wish to imprison me so much?' I asked, glaring at the guy in front of me.

He smirked slightly, before recovering his emotionless mask.

'I only wish to sentence the traitor accordingly. By the decree of the High Councillor, you, Lucy Heartfilia, are sentenced to-'

Suddenly, the doors behind me burst open, cutting off whatever the guy was saying. I spun around to see Loke and Nick charging forward, only to be thrown back by a second magical barrier beyond the one that enclosed me.

My eyes widened in shock, and I smiled in surprise as the Raijinshuu and Team Natsu appeared along with Laxus and Mira, who was in full Satan Soul form and glaring at the men around me.

No-one's POV

Lucy stared as they tried to break through the barrier; even Freed's runes were unable to penetrate it.

'LUCY! He's trying to get back at you for something to do with your Mother!' Lucy's face turned to one of confusion as she listened to what Loke was shouting out.

'GET RID OF THEM!' The High Councillor screamed, his face contorted into an ugly picture of fury and hatred. Shocked, the guards immediately sprang into action, following orders despite their own minds wondering what had happened to the High Councillor, who was known for his impartiality and emotionless demeanour.

'LUCY! Layla rejected him years ago! He's been plotting his revenge for years, but the Spirit King stood in his way! He's still resting, so has no idea what's going on! THAT GUY'S TRYING TO KILL YOU FOR HIS OWN FEELINGS OF REVENGE!' Nick screamed out the last words as he fought off some guards who'd come forth with swords drawn.

Lucy watched in shock as she processed the information.

Nick suddenly burst into flames, his body changing slightly into another of his forms; red and golden feathers stretched from around his forehead and followed the direction of his flaming hair. His nails had transformed into sharp talons, and he flew into the air as flames shot from his feet.

Slowly, Lucy took in what he had said, and felt her body turn ice cold as she turned to face the High Councillor.

Her dark aura seemed to explode, causing everyone present to falter as she glared evilly up at the man before her, before muttering quietly, yet somehow everyone could hear her.

'What did you do... to my MOTHER!?' She ended up screaming, her eyes wide open in soul consuming fury as her magic power surged and flexed, breaking the handcuffs off of her slim wrists, and breaking through the barrier that surrounded her.

Slowly, she stepped forwards, cracking her knuckles loudly as she advanced towards the man her terrifying gaze had locked onto as a target.