Chapter 12: This Is War
~Somewhere in Bosco, 2 days later~
"You're just a stupid bitch! Can't you understand that the more you deny me, the more your precious little fairy of a husband gets hurt? If you were smart, then you would just give yourself the me and I would let him go."
Lucy scoffs, her voice dangerously low and hostile as she speaks.
"No, you are the stupid one if you really think that will make me unfaithful in my marriage. I took a vow on my wedding day to be faithful, and then when we woke up here I made a promise to my husband that I would not give in. If I were to go back on those and just give in and be unfaithful, then I would be no better than a whore you can pick up off the streets. Not only that, but I am a Celestial Wizard and I never break my promises…EVER. Plus, I love my husband very much and would not do anything to jeopardize my marriage."
The Duke laughed as if she has said something funny, the sound making Lucy's blood run cold.
"Promise or no promise, one day you will break. That will be the day I win, and you my lovely Lucy will be mine."
The Duke then left the room with a smirk, as if he had won some great victory, locking the door behind him. Lucy had no doubt that he was going to torture Freed for her refusal to sleep with him, but she had to stay strong not only for herself but for Freed as well. Lucy looked down at her wrists where the chainless magic canceling cuffs sat, wishing she could use just a small portion of her magic. With a sigh she looked out the window of her room, a smile slowly forming on her face as she spoke to no one.
"I won't break, nor will I give in because I am a Fairytail mage. And a Fairytail Mage never gives up, gives in, loses hope, or leaves a person in need. Fairytail will come for us, and when they do this Duke will know what it means to be on Fairytail's bad side. When they come their rage will be their weapon and their fury will be their shield, and this Duke will know fear. Because if you think about it…This Is War."
Unbeknownst to Lucy a small servant girl was right outside her door and heard her powerful words. They sparked something in the girl, and she decided to help the mages escape the cruel man she called a master and the lands she called home. And maybe...just maybe she could be like the brave woman in the room too.
~1 mile from the Fiore/Bosco border, raid camp~
Makarov, Princess Hisui, Jura, and the army general stood on a makeshift stage in the center of the camp. Surrounding the makeshift stage was everyone that would be invading Bosco. On the right of the stage was the Rune Knights, on the left was the Fiorian Army, and in the center were the mages from all the guilds. Makarov took the microphone, the other three leaders standing behind him as he spoke.
"Everyone is here today because of a fool disguised as a man. This fool thought himself smart to challenge our strength as a country, our passion as individuals, and our rage at the unjust. He thought himself mighty for a coward's trick and thought himself wise for playing a game where he did not know the rules. We are here today because our grand land has grown weary of playing child's games where this fool has touched things he has no knowledge."
Makarov turned to the Fiorian Army and spoke directly to them.
"You are the Fiorian Army. Your very existence being that of a protector. You protect the freedom of the people, the beauty of the land, the justice of the government, and the rights of all that touches this great land. You are the saving grace of both children and adults, weak and strong, rich and poor. Tell me, do you accept the fool that has defiled the beauty of the land, striped the freedom of two of her people, laughed at the justice you are sworn to uphold, and revoked the rights of two of the people you are sworn to protect?"
The entire army yelled at the top of their lungs, raising their fists in protest.
"NO!"
Makarov then turned to the Rune mages and spoke with the same amount of authority and enthusiasm.
"You are the Rune Knights. Your very existence demands order. You keep order on the unruliest thing in this world, you enforce rules for the safety of those who dare travel into the abyss called magic, you punish those who use magic in a way that would endanger both the many and the few. You are a beacon of order and justice for both mages and non-mages alike. Tell me, do you accept the fool who defies the order you have worked so hard to achieve, that laughs in the face of justice, and spits in the face of the rules? Do you accept the fool who uses the unruly best as a toy, hurting many in the process? Do you accept the fool who unjustly imprisons a master of the unruly for a reason that has no just cause?"
The Rune Knights all started to get agitated at the crimes committed against their order. Their unified answer even greater than that of the army.
"NO!"
Makarov then turned to the mages.
"And then there is you, the mages. A group united under a single mantra. A mantra of comrade, Nakama, family, friends, passions, strength, love. A group made of Fairies, Tigers, Mermaids, Pegusi, Ogres, and Dogs. A group that embraces magic at its core. Your very existence is that beyond this world. Do you, a group that defies the possible, pushes beyond your limits, and surpasses logic accept the fool that spits in the face of your accomplishments. Do you accept the fool that calls you weak? That laughs at your abilities? That hurts your friends, your comrades, you family? Do you allow the fool who cannot even surpass his own foolish limits to break the will of those who have gone further than reason allows?"
All the mages let out a roar, their magical pressure exploding around them. Once the pressure dies down Makarov continued.
"If none of you accept this…If none of you allow this…Then allow yourself to go beyond your own limits and fight! Fight in the name of Fiore, fight in the name of your guilds, fight in your own name. Fight will your very soul. For all of the mages here listen carefully to what I have to say: You all have trained your bodies, your minds, your very souls. You understand that all things that surpass reason must still come from reason. You understand that nothing is impossible with friends and family and hope. These are things you have come to accept as fact. As mages you understand that there is no limit to what you are capable of. When we get into that battle field we are not fighting reason, but something that surpasses reason. We are not fighting the fool who has insulted us, our beliefs, and our home, but rather the unquenchable thirst he has for what he cannot understand. You may be put in positions where you are faced with the choice to kill. I ask you to remember who you really are when making that choice; I ask you to remember what a mage stands for.
"And all of you non-mages I want you to listen carefully as well: You have come from a world of mages without receiving the gift of magic, if anything that makes you stronger. To survive you had to become cunning and strong. When you are out there never doubt yourself. You are just as strong and capable as the mages. Do not get intimidated by what you cannot reason, because in the end it still stems from reason. Do not think yourself lesser because you do not have a specific ability, because in the end you too can push past the limit you think you have. Because you too can be a force to be reckoned with. You too have trained your bodies, minds, and souls. You too are strong. So, have faith in your abilities and act without hesitation. When you're out there, remember who you are and what you stand for."
Makarov pauses for a second letting his words sink in, waiting to speak until he sees that he has everyone's undivided attention. When he does his voice is low and solemn.
"When we get out there don't back down, don't give up, and don't lose hope. Let your rage be your weapon, let your fury be your shield, and let your heart be your guide. At the same time never forget…This Is War."
When Makarov was done speaking he looked around along with the other leaders and they all saw one thing: Determination.
~With the Duke~
He had just gotten back from a wonderful torture session with that green haired cunt and pure unaltered glee was radiating off him when the servant came up to him shivering.
"Master… theres news from your spies."
"Hand it to me."
The servant handed him the report then very quickly, almost too quickly, scurried off. The Duke opened the report and scowled. He went from glee to outrage. Fiore was brining war. He didn't know when or how, but they were bringing it. His spy was unable to get the specifics because they mobilized too fast, but the fact they mobilized at all only could mean one thing. They knew, they knew he had them. He was seething, his extractors had made an error. They would pay. But before that he had to deal with this…War.
~ One Month Later, Somewhere in Bosco~
Freed was chained to a wall waiting for a kind servant to let him down and tend his wounds, just like he was every time Lucy denied the Duke. Every time he was chained up on that wall relief flooded him. Freed knew that every time that whip hit his skin that it meant the Duke was furious, and he knew that meant Lucy had remained loyal. He looked up when the bars of his cell were opened expecting to see the kind servant that had always unchained him and cleaned his wounds, what he saw instead surprised him. And indeed, she was, however next to her was a grinning Natsu. Natsu continued to smile as the servant grabbed the key to his cuffs out of her apron and unlocked his shackles.
"Yo! Bet your glad those things are coming off ya. I got a change of clothes that Laxus sent for ya and your sword thingy too."
Freed nodded, his throat dry as he tried to speak, hoarse from lack of food and water.
"L-Lu..."
Natsu smiled and walked over to the now free rune mage, helping him up and handing him the bag that had his belongings.
"Don't worry about Luce. Gramps, Gajeel, Levy, Cana, Gildarts, and a few dozen rune knights are storming the upper levels to rescue her. I'm down here with Rouge, Sting, and Yukino. Everyone else is either surrounding the place with the Fiorian army or back in Fiore guarding the Princess and towns."
Freed had finished changing by the time Natsu was done with his explanation and was bringing a bottle of water to his lips. He looked directly at Natsu his tone serious.
"Why are the Rune Knights and Army here for a simple rescue?"
"I don't really know. All I know is that Gramps said something about the Princess ordering some sort of war against the Duke guy and the people who run Bosco allowing it cause their scared of Rat tails or somethin'."
"Rat tails? You probably mean retaliation."
"YEAH! That's the word!"
"I understand the situation."
Freed looked at the servant who had always helped him. For the first time he took a careful look at the girl. She stood about six inches shorter than Natsu and her body was well proportioned. She had naturally wavy, shoulder length, lavender hair and silver eyes. She was wearing a traditional maid's uniform and had red marks around her wrists and her hands were calloused from hard labor.
"What's your name?"
The girl bowed deeply, looking at the ground.
"Natalie, sir."
Freed laid a hand on the girl's shoulder and smiled.
"Please don't bow and call me Freed. I was wondering why you assisted me Miss Natalie."
"The head maid, Jessica, overheard Miss Heartfilia and the Master talking about how every time she went against him someone was hurt. So she sent me down here to see if there was someone here, that's when I found you chained to the wall. I knew my master was cruel, but I didn't think he would go this far. It's wrong."
"I see. Thank you very much. May I ask why you work for an employer that is so cruel to the staff?"
The girl started to tear up as she spoke.
"I-I don't have a choice, none of us do. We're not servants, we're slaves."
She started to cry full-fledged, and Natsu did something unexpected. He grabbed the lavender haired girl and held her tightly in his arms, his voice low and comforting as she cried into his shirt.
"Ya have a choice now Natalie. If you want to be free, then do it."
She hiccupped lightly as she cried, her words fighting to be heard.
"I have n-no one. N-no w-where to g-go."
Natsu smiled and looked pushed her away lightly so he could look her in the eyes.
"Come with us back to Fiore, and to Fairytail! There's a lot of nice people and everyone helps each other out. We're comrades, and Nakama."
Freed smiled seeing Nastu interact with the girl. "Maybe, just maybe, Natsu has gotten over Lucy and is growing up a little." The girl looked at the ground again.
"But Fairytail is a mages guild…I'm not a mage."
Natsu tilted her chin up and wiped away her tears with a soft smile.
"It doesn't matter if you're a mage or not. If you want to come, then come. Gramps wouldn't turn ya away. You can even stay with me until you get a place of your own, and I know Mirajane would love to have someone else help her at the bar. You'd get paid for it too."
The girl smiled lightly and nodded. Natsu gave her a thumb up and then looked at Freed.
"Come on Freed, let's get outta here so we can all go home after Gramps stomps on the Duke and brings Luce back."
Freed nodded and the group left the cell meeting up with Sting, Rogue, and Yukino on the way out. When the group finally made it outside Freed looked back at the mansion, worry filling his eyes. "They'll get her out, they have to." Natsu watched Freed from a distance as he unconsciously held Natalie close.
~Upper levels, raid team~
Makarov, Gajeel, Levy, Cana, and Gildarts were rushing through the halls; no one, not even the mansion security, getting in their way or attempting to stop them. The rune knights had stopped to question the staff, so only the mages were continuing further in. Gajeel was leading the group, his heightened senses being their guide. Suddenly Gajeel stopped in his tracks, his voice no higher than a whisper.
"Bunny girl…"
He then took off at a full sprint, slamming open the door at the end of the hall. When everyone else caught up Gajeel had Duke Whinningham pinned to the wall, his hand tightly around the man's throat and a feral growl emanating from his throat.
"YOU SICK BASTARD!"
Everyone's focus immediately turned to the whimpering figure curled into a ball on the ground, shreds of clothing around her. Levy and Cana immediately realized that it was Lucy and ran to her, Levy embracing her in a tight and comforting hug while Cana wrapped the nearby bedsheet around her. Makarov and Gildarts helped 'escort' the Duke out of the room. Once the males were out of the room Cana and Levy helped Lucy get cleaned up and changed, not saying a word to the shaken-up girl. Eventually the girls left the room and walked down the halls and out of the mansion. When the sunlight hit Lucy's face she looked up and saw Freed. Tears were streaming down his face, a soft smile on his lips. Lucy took a slow step away from Cana and Levy, her own tears streaming down her face as her right hand raised slightly from its position. "Is…Is this a dream?" Freed opened his arms, beckoning her to him. Seeing Freed like that switched something in Lucy's head and she ran to him, wrapping her arms tightly around him as soon as she was within reach. Freed held her close to him as they both collapsed on the ground, their silent tears staining each other's skin and clothes. Everyone smiled seeing the reunion, even Natsu.
Duke Whinningham snarled at the sight from where he was sitting, magic canceling cuffs shackled to his wrists. Makarov walked away as Gajeel beat the perverted Duke to a pulp, pretending he didn't know what was going on. He was about to go up to Freed and Lucy when Natsu motioned him over. Deciding it better to leave the couple to reunite, Makarov walked over to Natsu and the lavender haired girl he was holding.
"Natsu my boy, what do you need?"
"Hey Gramps. I want you to meet Natalie. She's going to come back to Fiore with us."
"Oh? How wonderful. It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Natalie. My name is Makarov Dreyar. I'm the master of the Fairytail guild. So, Miss Natalie, will you be joining Fairytail?"
Natalie shook her head.
"I-I'm not a mage sir…"
"I see. Well, would you like to be an employee of the guild then? It can get a little hectic, but it's well paying."
Natalie smiled and nodded.
"Sure!"
After a few more minutes of everyone getting reunited everyone began the trip back to Fiore. Everyone was happy and excited to go back home.
~Fiore, Foudre Estate~
Lazare put down the communication lacrima with a smile. Freed and Lucy had called quite late and asked him not to wake Mika up. He tapped his chin and smiled. "Mika needs to hear that her parents are safe." Lazare stood from his desk and made his way to his granddaughter's room, knocking lightly when he got there.
"Mika, I have some news about your parents."
Mika opened the door, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"Grandpa, did you say you heard something about Mommy and Daddy?"
"Better than that my child, I heard directly from Freed and Lucy. Makarov and the others had just gotten them out of Bosco."
Mika smiled, happy tears stinging her eye.
"Mommy and Daddy are coming home."
Lazare nodded and hugged the girl, his own joyful tears falling down his cheeks.
"Yes, because no matter what, love and family will always prevail over evil. They're coming home Princess."