Chapter 22

"Of course, Erza-san, Natsu-san and Love Rival are amazing too but not as much as GRAY-SAMA!" Juvia practically yelled the last word. Taking a glance at their guild mate, the four searched for Mato. It was just a while ago that they haven't heard any comments from him. Sure, the writer purposefully didn't give him enough appearance in this story since they sure as hell didn't need any of that pumpkin-head's remarks because they focus on the heat of the battle and putting him in was interruption. Hello, if you were playing a game of basketball, who would you mind? The commentators or the opponent? The opponent of course!

But this time, it was different. They soon found out that he was sleeping soundly beside Chapati in a corner. Nope, not quite right. It's either he passed out or knocked out. And Juvia being Juvia, it would have been the latter. Poor, old men.

"Okay, considering the numbers we have defeated, I'm guessing that there will be four S-Class monsters and one SS." Erza was right as after she uttered those words, four large, black, demonic monsters towered over them. 'And they didn't even bother to take that small one-eyed form…' The redhead thought. The king must have been very eager to kill them. 'Thanks, Juvia. Thanks.' She internally thanked the girl for knocking that Mato out.

"Then it's a one-on-one." Natsu snickered. He quickly activated his Fire Body Spell, flying as wings of flame protruded from the sphere. "I'll go now, see 'ya!" He snickered. He really enjoyed this.

"Lucy, Gray, I'll take the others." Erza requipped into her most familiar clothing. Lucy could already recognize it. That outfit was the one the redhead always wore when she's going to fight some weirdly overpowered opponent. The high ponytail, the sarashi carefully wrapped in her ample bosom, the red, fire-designed hakama, and the tattered katana she carried only pointed to one thing. Benisakura.

"Lucy, I can't lose to these two. Are you going to be alright alone?" Gray smirked. He won't let himself be outdone and outshine even by his own team mates.

"I will." Lucy responded with much enthusiasm. And as for her, she will prove to Laxus that she's a capable fighter without a whip.

"Then let's go!" Both ran towards their respective opponents, eager to get this show on the road.

"LOKE! SAGITTARIUS! CAPRICORN!" She put both of her hands in front of her, crossing it in the process. Three keys soon followed and floated beside her hands as they were basked in golden light. Three figures appeared in front of her.

"ARROW OF REGULUS!" Lucy ordered. Sagittarius prepared several of his arrows in the air, aiming it towards the black monster.

"REGULUS BEAM!" Loke fired a beam of light at Sagittarius' arrows, enchanting it with Light Magic.

"Take them down, Sagittarius!" Lucy turned to the horse-man.

"Moshi! Moshi!" The Centaur released the arrows, golden light emanating from the arrow tip; leaving trails as it homed towards the towering creature. The rubble cleared but no visible damage can be seen, not even a scratch.

The monster lunged towards her, its palm threatening to smack her into the ground. Lucy quickly closed The Centaur's gate, knowing full well that his abilities didn't lie in speed but accuracy. Her other two Spirits stood in both of her sides.

"What are we going to do, Princess?" Loke asked. It has been a long while since he was summoned by his mistress and this time, he'll do better to be of greater help.

"Lucy-sama?" Capricorn cut in, noticing that their master has been quiet for a while. She must be contemplating what course of action should be done next. 'Layla-sama's daughter indeed!' He internally praised her, heart swelling in pride for the princess. But just as the blonde could respond to any of their questions, a fist came flying towards their direction. Lucy rolled to the side to avoid being squashed by the gigantic appendage. Both Spirits jumped into the air and prepared an attack of their own.

"DENEB ALGEDI BREAKDOWN HOOF!" That attack was inspired by Laxus's Breakdown Fist but seeing as The Goat's most prominent trait was his hooves, Lucy opted to use it. Capricorn jumped into the air, higher than the head of the colossal being and propelled himself towards the brow of the creature, dodging its horns and with the momentum he has gained from gravity, he brought down his legs. With tremendous power, the monster was forced to be brought down to his knees.

"REGULUS TWISTER!" Combining his human guise's signature attack, Twister and his Spirit form's abilities, Loke generated a large storm of swirling mass of light, enveloping the creature in its destructive wake. The monster might have received damage but it was only in minimal amount. Lucy cursed under her breath. No wonder Erza almost passed out fighting these monsters alone.

The monster, in retaliation, swiped its arms sideways, catching Lucy and slamming her in the wall. The force caused her back to slam in a concrete. Blood trickled from her brow. Lucy looked at her friends. They were handling their battles quite well. They were powerful and looking at them made her envy her team mates' progress. They haven't even received a single scratch. Not that she wants them to be harmed; it's just that she's just jealous. Here, she thought that she's powerful enough to stand beside them only to be slapped in the face that she's not. What a total wimp.

From time to time she could see that they shot her worried glances and now that she was currently pinned here, they lost their focus on their opponent. Erza was almost hit by the feet; Gray was almost impaled by the horn and Natsu was almost crushed by palm. Almost. Almost but it was close. That almost could and would be a bull's-eye. Their eyes screamed pity. Pity for her.

'Please don't look at me with those eyes.' She begged to herself. She knew all too well what those glances mean. Shame and disgust for herself gnawed at her. They might never say that it out loud or dismiss it as concern but no matter what, those glances meant one thing and that was weakness. Her weakness. It was repeating again. The very same routine. She will be the damsel-in-distress again, the helpless little dumb blonde who needs constant saving. And she can't accept that. She promised to be an S-Class mage, took on quests to qualify in the examination, forgot her memories, almost died and trained hard to achieve what she has now. Even Laxus helped her, so why can't she do a single damn thing to win this thing? Was it that the monster was too powerful for her? Or was she just too weak? Was Celestial Spirit Magic the wrong choice of Magic?

She took a wary glance at Laxus. Worry etched firmly on his features. Even if he never said a word, she knew, she knew that behind that intimidating and scary façade, he too was shattered by that incident that almost claimed her life. She doesn't know how to repair that anymore. Her gaze landed on his eyes, they were staring directly at her and then he smirked and gave a thumbs-up. Huh? Was he worried a while ago, so why was he grinning of all times? Then he took something from his coat. It was cylindrical. It was her whip! Huh? Will he threw that all the way from his post? Nah, that's absurd. Knowing Laxus, he bordered on might or might not. Silly bastard.

'Wait, that's it!' She finally got it. The man held the whip in his hand, the thing that he said she always depended on but unneeded for her to live. Suddenly, she had an epiphany. Laxus believed in her strength, in her own strength. It's not that she doesn't need others; it's that she should be strong on her own for others to depend on her.

Laxus might have been shaken to the core but he doesn't let that stop him from pushing forward, from continuing the fight. She always depended on him even though she knew he has his own fears and traumas not because he can fry a fish with ten-thousand volt of electricity but because he was no quitter. And his wife should not also be a quitter. His wife should be worthy of the Dreyar name. And his wife's name wasn't Chico-frigging-C-Hammitt, it's Lucy Heartfilia. She now knew what those hand-to-hand combat trainings were for. It's being strong and independent. Thanks, Laxus but that doesn't mean you're still excused for waking me up so goddamn three in the morning.

"LUCY!" Erza screamed on top of her lungs. Snapping back to reality, Lucy saw a fist almost coming into contact with her. Its speed denoting how powerful it could be.

"CANCER!" Low on Magic Power from summoning her Spirits in succession, she still managed to open another Gate. The Giant Crab jumped from his place and performed quick, precise cutting movements on the monster's arm. It was finished in a matter of seconds as the arm dissipated into nothingness. The monster was puzzled by it and took a step back, examining the missing piece and along with it, loosening its hold on the blonde. There's no blood, Lucy noticed then came up with an answer. These monsters weren't real. She quickly closed Cancer's Gate to conserve her energy.

"Are you alright Lucy-sama?" Capricorm approached her, worry making his face despite the sunglasses. Lucy put on her determined face, hardening her resolve as she spoke the next words,

"I'm alright. Loke, let me borrow one of your rings?"