A/N: Okay, first off, sorry, I was planning on updating yesterday, but I had a realllyyyy shitty day, so deal with it. I might update again today, but my back is still in a bit of pain, and I'm visiting the Dr's to see what the hell is wrong with it. (Thank you, cannn for asking how I am! ;) should be fine.)
Also, in response to guest reviewer cannn, no I didn't get Xavier's magic from Ito Ito No Mi, it all came from my creepy ass mind! ;) And I have no idea how much longer this is going to go on for. Hopefully, only a maximum of another ten chapters, but I have no clue at all. XD And I will look forward to your awesome-sauce reviews when you get back from your trip! ;) (P.S. Really hope you get an account so we can PM each other! You sound fun! xx)
IMPORTANT THING FOR EVERYONE ABOUT POLL:
The evil ending will end nicely, but it'll make you all scream before than.
ALSO THE POLL WILL COME DOWN TONIGHT OR THIS AFTERNOON, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY VOTED, VOTE NOW, I WANNA START WRITING THE ENDING! ;)
On another note, I apologise to any and all readers who feel they can no longer read my story just because it isn't a LaLu, but I WILL write a LaLu at some point in the future, so keep an eye open if you want. Or not. :P
Anyway, ENJOY!
Lucy's POV
The magic circle was almost complete... they would be here soon... I could feel it.
That old man had been sitting in the stone throne in front of me for the past ten minutes, grinning from beneath the hood he refused to remove.
I'd decided to ignore him, and instead focused on the plan I'd managed to come up with, focusing my entire mind power into the completion of my scheme; knitting away within my mind rather than listen to his pathetic, gloating drivel.
It was of course because of his gloating and complete confidence that he had already won that I knew his plans, and could then figure out my own plan in order to destroy him.
It wouldn't be long now. I was almost finished... but so were they.
Ever's POV
I shoved myself away from Freed, more angry than upset now.
'What do you mean? What are they going to use Lucy for?' I glared at First, unable to hold back my anger towards her. She was just sitting there, casually talking about Lucy and her possible death!
'Ever, calm down.' Freed whispered, trying to put his arm around me, but I was angry now, and shoved him off.
'No! Lucy's in trouble and she's just sitting there talking about a murderous, pure evil guild that has got her in their clutches! I am NOT going to calm down Freed!' I screamed, hysterical with worry and anger. I knew I wouldn't be acting like this, but Lucy was one of the few people I'd thought of as a true friend. Just the thought of her suffering made me feel sick.
'Evergreen, calm down now.' I turned to glare at Gildarts, and forced myself to take a calming breath when I met his emotionless gaze.
'You don't know her well enough to tell me that.' I whispered, shaking my head as I looked away from him.
'Evergreen, please. I know how you feel, but we need to think about how we're going to find Lucy; and how we shall punish those who harmed her.' Erza's voice grew cold, and I couldn't help but smile at her as I nodded my agreement.
Sure, I resented her for her title as the Fairy of Fairy Tail, but she was Lucy's friend, and I had gotten to know her slightly better. In this, we could agree.
'Blondie's spirits gave us a direction. They said to head north towards the mountains. Apparently they're blocking off her magic, so we don't have a concrete location just yet.' Laxus's voice interrupted my thoughts of how to castrate the men who'd harmed her, in such a way they would cry and beg for mercy at my feet, and I turned to look at First as she giggled slightly.
'I can help you there.'
'Master Mavis, how can you help us find Lucy?' Erza asked, leaning forwards on the bed and staring into Firsts face with desperation. I could tell the rest of us surrounding the bed were thinking the same thing, and mirrored her expression. Except for Gildarts, who looked slightly confused, but determined.
Master Mavis looked between me, Freed, Bix and Laxus before talking to us.
'You may want to explain to them all about Lucy's powers now.' I was bursting to scream at her, to yell and demand that she tell me what she knew about where Lucy was, but I caught Laxus's stony gaze, and forced myself to calm down.
'What powers?' Gray asked, his voice filled with confusion. Laxus sighed, running a hand through his hair before looking in to everyone's faces.
'You know how blondie disappeared on you all a few months ago, with us to go train? Well, we had to go to Tenrou. Lucy had absorbed a lot of the magic from Tenrou, which was what made it possible for her to cast that spell to find Phoenicis. We took her there in hopes that the magic would be re-absorbed into the island; it was too much for her body to handle. But instead, she just carried on absorbing more. She's managing to hold back the magic through sheer willpower, and her spirits gave her a limiter that absorbs the overflowing magic. Without it, she could die from magic overflow, or the magic will just explode and destroy everything around her. If she loses focus and can't hold back her magic, well, you get the picture.' I could feel the tears building up in my eyes, but forced them back. I looked around to see Erza had sunk to the ground, and Mira was rocking back and forth on the floor, her hands covering her eyes. Gray's fists were clenched tightly and he looked pale and seemed to shiver, while Natsu just sat in the bed in shock, his face blank and devoid of emotion though I could see the turmoil and fear in his eyes.
'Okay, now we know. How can you get us to Lucy First?' Gildarts asked, his voice strained. I turned to look at him, and saw worry in his eyes, and wondered why he cared so much about Lucy.
'Well, Lucy has a large amount of Tenrou's magic within her body. I can sense the location, and can teleport you there almost immediately. We have to hurry, she's not very well, and I can only sense a trickle of the magic, so they've probably sealed it away.' I felt my heart beat faster as panic and hope set in.
'Well what are we waiting for? We have to go get Luce now!' Natsu shouted out, throwing himself off the bed, only to be shoved back down by Wendy.
'SIT DOWN! I need to heal you or Lucy-san will be sad!' We stared in shock at the young dragon slayer as she glared at Natsu with tears trailing down her cheeks.
'All I can do is heal, I can't fight. So I need to heal you so Lucy-san doesn't get upset that you're hurt.' She whispered, the turquoise healing light emanating from her palms slowly spreading across Natsu's body.
Master Mavis smiled kindly at her, and reached out to rest her hand on her head.
'Don't worry Wendy. Lucy shall be fine.' Wendy looked into Master's emerald green eyes, and smiled hesitantly before nodding and focusing on healing a fidgeting Natsu, who froze after receiving another glare from her.
'Master. We have to leave soon, Nick came earlier and-' Bix was cut off by a pained scream and the flash of a golden light behind us.
Gray's POV
I turned around, ready to fight, only to see Lucy's newest spirit kneeling on the floor. I ran forwards and caught him as he fell back, his eyes wide as he panted heavily.
His skin was fiery to the touch, and he shook in my arms as he groaned from pain.
'Nick! What's wrong!? How is she? TELL ME NOW!' Laxus had appeared in front of us, and had grabbed the spirit by his shoulders and was now shaking him, his eyes feverish with panic.
Erza grabbed one of his arms and Freed grabbed the other, pulling him back as he released Nick from his grasp.
'She's... hurt... feverish... infected here...' Nick placed a shaking hand on the side of his stomach, pressing into his unmarked skin and flinching.
'Cold... so cold... frostbite... hurry, she's... hurting bad.' Nick suddenly cried out and clutched his head, curling into a ball and rolling on the ground.
'LAXUS! What is he talking about?' Ever shouted out, her horror clear on her face as the spirit cried out in agony.
'He feels her pain.' Bix spat out, stepping forward and lifting Nick from the ground before placing him on the other bed in the room. His jaw was clenched tightly, and his eyes behind his mask were a fluorescent green.
I turned and stalked across to First, who sat on the bed in shock.
'We need to go. Now.' I said, somehow managing to restrain myself from reaching out and grabbing her by the shoulders and forcing her to teleport us to Lucy.
'Calm down Gray. We need a plan.' Erza said from behind me, resting her hand on my shoulder. I turned to glare at her and shook her hand off of me.
'Aren't you worried? Didn't you hear him?' I asked, gesturing to Nick who lay on the bed shaking as he tried to restrain her pain.
'She could by DYING RIGHT NOW AND YOU WANT TO PLAN? Since when do you "plan" anything Erza?' I yelled, unable to hold back my anger and worry for Lucy. I watched as Erza stared at me, her face unmoving, and when I finally finished she turned away from me so I stared at her back, before she walked away and into the bathroom.
'Gray! You bastard! Of course she's worried you freaking stripper! If these guys are all as strong as that Xavier guy, we have a problem. Erza's right, we gotta plan this one out, cause Luce isn't here to do it for us!' Natsu glared at me as he yelled, Wendy also glaring daggers at me before she continued healing him.
I felt my anger fall away as I realised they spoke the truth. Erza was worried. I'd seen the tears in her eyes, and the pain that crossed her face when Nick lay on the ground screaming.
I groaned as I ran a hand through my hair, before walking across to the bathroom door to apologise.
Bickslow's POV
I watched Gray walk over to the door, and knock. Suddenly, it was jerked open and an armoured fist flew through the door and smacked into his face, making him fly across the room to be caught by Gildarts, before being dropped to the ground in a heap.
'NEVER SAY THAT TO ME AGAIN!' Erza screeched, her eyes practically on fire before she stalked into the room towards Nick.
'Now you listen to me, spirit of Lucy's. I need you to heal that blue Exceed beside you, and help Wendy heal Natsu, so we can save our friend, do you understand?' Erza had grabbed him by his shirt and lifted him so his face was inches from hers. He took a deep breath and nodded, before turning to heal Happy, who still hadn't woken up, and was peacefully mumbling about fish while drooling in his sleep.
I smirked as Erza stalked across to the bed where First was sitting, her demonic aura spreading like a fog across the room.
'First, as soon as Natsu is healed, we will go and get Lucy. I trust that you will be taking us to her location?' I watched First giggle, and nod her agreement to Erza's plan, before the scarlet haired mage turned to face Natsu, who seemed to cower in the bed sheets.
'Heal quickly Natsu.' She glared at him as he squeaked and nodded.
I sat down, my leg bouncing up and down in impatience.
My heart had dropped to my feet when Nick appeared like that. She must be in so much pain...
I swore to myself once again that the men who had hurt her would regret breathing. I would kill them, I don't care if Fairy Tail had a no kill policy. They would die.
Laxus slumped down on the ground beside me as we twiddled our thumbs, waiting for Wendy and Nick to finish healing Natsu. Happy had been fully healed after a few minutes of Nick throwing some gold light at him, and now we were just waiting for them to complete Natsu's healing. By the way he was complaining, he sounded fully healed, yet every time he raised his voice, Erza raised the sword she'd bee sharpening and glared at him, quieting him immediately.
Freed was searching through a book Master Mavis had given him which was about ancient magics, and he was speeding through it, searching for a spell that matched Natsu's description. Ever sat beside Erza, not talking, just staring off into the distance; the light reflecting on her glasses making it impossible to see her eyes or the emotions that they held.
Gildarts surprisingly was just as worried as everyone else, and was pacing across the room, his black cloak billowing out behind him.
After watching him pace for another five minutes, Laxus glared at him and called out.
'Hey, why are you acting so worried? You don't even know Lucy.' There was silence; even Erza had stopped sharpening her blade, and looked up with interest in Gildart's response.
He ran a hand through his red hair as he stood still and stared out the window, refusing to look at anyone as he answered.
'She's Cana's friend. I know her a little, I've heard of her, and she's a guild mate. What other reason do I need to worry? Besides, she's cute from what I've seen of her.' He turned to shoot a smirk towards Laxus and me, and his grin widened as we both scowled at him, Laxus growling low in his throat as he turned his head to look at the ground.
It was only after another five minutes of silence, Gildarts having grown bored of pacing and now sat on the sofa, staring up at the ceiling, that Natsu was finally healed.
'Please... save her.' Nick whispered, before disappearing in a splutter of golden light.
'It's time to leave brats. I can take you to outside the mountain where the dark guild has made their base. They dug inside the mountain, so expect an earth mage, as well as an illusionist maybe. Are you all ready?'
'Of course we are! We're gonna go save Luce!' Natsu shouted out, his fists clenched tightly and Happy sitting on his shoulder, wiping his eyes blearily.
'Ready when you are First.' Ever said, standing and joining the circle of people we'd begun to form with Mavis.
I exchanged a glance with Laxus, and we nodded at each other as we stood beside one another in the circle, my babies hiding under my coat getting ready to be teleported.
'Let's go. We have a friend in danger.' Gildarts muttered, grinning coldly as he anticipated the fight we would be having.
Hold on Lucy... we're coming for you... I thought, as Mavis smirked and we were blinded by a bright white light, before we were dropped into a foot of snow and a howling storm at the base of a mountain.
Lucy's POV
My breath came out ragged. My fever had set in a while ago, and my body shook uncontrollably as the wind howled down the gap in the ceiling, swirling the snow so it slashed against my body like shards of ice. It felt like the snow was cutting into my skin with its freezing blades, and the wind was laughing at my pain.
However, I ignored this and focused solely on my plan... knitting away at the strands of magic I'd managed to sneak out of my magical container. I could sense Master Mavis's magic close by, and knew I didn't have much time.
I only hoped my plan would work, and my magic would protect both myself, and my friends.
The creepy old guy with my letters ashes was already beginning to recite the spell in an ancient, forgotten language, shouting and yelling as the other mages stood at their appointed spots on the magic circle surrounding me.
I ignored all of that though. I ignored the magical pressure change, and ignored the psycho freak in front of me laughing and screaming out in his own version of happiness.
'THEY'RE HERE! NOW THEY CAN SEE YOU DIE!' I rolled my eyes, before bringing my focus back to my plan. I had to hurry...
If I wanted to beat this bastard, I had to knit away at my plan as quickly as possible... I needed to complete it... without it, we were doomed.