Author's Note: Alright everyone, welcome back! Let's get rolling with the story. Please let me know in the reviews where you think this story is going to lead, and what you think of it so far… because I just took an unexpected turn with the last chapter. That idea dawned on me as I was writing it, and I figured it's a good start to get the mystery back in the story.

Anyway, on with the story!

The amazing story of Fairy Tail is owned by the one and only Hiro Mashima.

Chapter Fifteen:

A Night in Uruk – Part Two

"Dan was wrong. This has happened before." Concluded Lucy as she took in the large painting in front of her, trying to decipher what has happened in the past to help her and Cobra in the present.

Just like any other picture, all it gave was a fraction of the story. It didn't give her the whole story, and she sighed as she inspected how the sky and ground was painted. She inspected the king more and more, and saw more relation to Dan Straight then she would have liked. Everything makes sense and doesn't make sense to her at the same time.

"Don't overthink things." A voice pipped up next to her, and Lucy turned to look at Cobra. He was looking at her from the corner of his eye with his head tilted towards her. "Remember what Dan said about Uruk? A long time ago this place was once a fertile landscape before ruin fell upon it. Whenever this battle happened it was when Uruk was a normal valley, and not a desert wasteland."

Lucy nodded her head towards him and hummed as she thought about what Cobra said. She wouldn't admit it out loud for the Poison Dragon Slayer to hear, but he was right. Dan did say the land was once fertile and beautiful, but then at some point it turned into the desert they see in the present time. Whenever and however it happened might remain a mystery; landscapes change as temperature and climates fluctuate.

"You're also forgetting the fact that armies have gone through this land multiple times." Cobra spoke up again, causing her to jump. He smirked a little. "They could have easily planted salt in the soil and ruined the land that way. It's one way of weakening a country and its people. Deplete them of their resources, like food, and your opponent will be weakened. An army cannot fight without food."

Lucy blinked a couple of times as she realized she has never seen Cobra that analytical, but then again, he lives and breathes battle. If someone were to know about war, it would be him.

"You have a point, but when is the question that should be asked." She challenged as she brought a hand to her chin to think. "For obvious reasons this is depicting a battle between Set, one of Dan's ancestors, and the Gods and Goddesses of this world. Did the battle cause the land to become barren, or was it like you said before?"

Cobra hummed as he thought about the two questions Lucy just asked. "Well, it had to happen sometime after the final battle. The painting pictures green, which is grass, covered with red – also known as blood. Uruk was thriving at this time."

Lucy nodded her head as she thought more deeply about what he asked, agreeing with him as she looked more closely at the painting. "Another question we need to ask is if this is the only one, or are there more?"

Cobra shrugged his shoulders, unable to answer that question for her. "I think you and I both know we have no idea. The only way to find a painting like this in this world is stumbling upon it, like we just did. For all we know, Dan's ancestor could have just wanted this painting to be made since the battle took place here. Uruk is probably the battlefield where he won, and that is why this painting is located here. It's almost like a memorial."

Lucy nodded her head for what felt like the millionth time. Cobra was right on both accounts. There is only one way to find more paintings, and that is to stumble upon them. They also do not know why the painting was specifically painted in this tunnel. It could be that Dan's ancestor did not want anyone to find it; the tunnel was too far out of reach, and the painting can only be seen when the tunnel is lit up. There are too many questions and no way of answering them.

"Would Dan know this painting exists?" Cobra asked as he tried to remember what was discussed in the past. If there was someone who would know, it would be Lucy.

"I don't think so. If he knew he would have said something to us." Answered the Celestial Spirit Mage.

Cobra nodded. "Looks like we are going to have to bring it up to Dan once we arrive at Heliopolis, and see if he knows anything."

"Yeah, but right now the trick is just getting there…alive." She almost laughed, but she knew it was the truth.

Cobra snorted when her words sunk in, followed by a low sounding chuckle. "Isn't that the truth, but right now we need to keep moving. Who knows if that giant eye has spotted us already and has alerted Set. As much as I am sick of tunnels, this is going to have to be our safe haven for the night."

Before Lucy could even respond Cobra started to move away from the painting, but right before she followed him she looked at it one last time. She memorized it from the colors that were used to the people depicted, and the location. Everything needed to be memorized if they needed to bring back information to Dan once they met up with him once more.

She then turned away from the painting, feeling a little worried about what her, Cobra's, and Dan's future might hold. History has a way of rhyming with itself, not exactly repeating. Would we have to participate in a battle at some point? She asked herself as she caught up to Cobra, who was focused on listening and sensing everything around them. Lucy knew he was right now focused on making sure they get out of the tunnel safely, but that barely eased her as she thought about a possible fight to come.

Lucy lifted her right hand up to where her heart is and balled her hand into a fist as she thought deeply. She was starting to feel a little lightheaded from how much she was thinking. Her? In a battle? Yes, she has fought before between all of these different dark guilds, but they reminded her of guerrilla warfare. She hasn't met an army out in the field… except for when her and the allied guilds took down the Oracion Seis a couple of times. The Magic Council's army showed up after they finished taking down the Dark Guild to arrest them, not to fight them.

"You're overthinking again, Heartfilia." Cobra stated as he stopped walking to look into her eyes with his one eye. "The whole reason why we are here working with Dan is to help put a stop to Set, and possibly avoid a major battle taking place. Time and time again Dan said he doesn't want to endanger his people. He didn't outright say it, but it almost seems as if he is trying to avoid war, especially after seeing what the skeletons can do. He's doing what a ruler should do."

Lucy just stared at Cobra as he stared down at her, his eye locking with hers in a gaze she could not pull away from. She could see in his eye how serious he was. It's almost as if he were trying to avoid an outright battle himself.

She ended up nodding her head as his words sunk into her mind, her eyes breaking away from his gaze as she looked at the ground below them. She noticed the shadows from the flames on the torchers were flickering with their movements, and her and Cobra's shadows were almost intertwined with each other's. They, too, moved as the flames flickered. She pursed her lips as her mind started to make sense of everything, and things start to become clearer.

Lucy almost jumped when she felt a strong hand gently touch under her chin, and move her head up to look into one eye. Cobra was staring at her stern, yet it looked like he was concerned. She stared at him as he gently lifted his hand from her chin, and gently placed it on top of her head. She could tell that these acts of kindness were not normal for him; he was fumbling and trying to figure out a way to get his message across without words. A tad of frustration was also in his eye as he tried his best to calculate his movements.

It was in that moment when she wanted to giggle as his eyebrows started to scrunch together. She thought she saw one twitch, and a small grin started to form on her lips as the worries and fears from a few moments ago started to fade. Instead of numb she felt normal, almost warm.

"Having trouble Cobra?" Lucy teased, but deep down she was grateful for his little efforts.

He grunted as he quickly took his hand back from the top of her head, his face turning a little red from embarrassment, and he quickly turned his body away from her as he started to stubbornly walk away. "Shut up!"

That was when Lucy started to laugh as she started to walk forward to catch up with him again, and she looked up at his back with a little pink dusting her cheeks. Thank you, Cobra. The effort means a lot, and I know you were trying to tell me everything will be okay. She thought so he could hear, and she smiled when she saw him look over his shoulder at her for a second, his face no longer red and now serious, and gave her a quick thumbs up in return. He received her message.

"Also, do you want your coat back?" Lucy asked as she started to untie it from her waist.

Cobra stopped walking again and held out his hand to her. "Yes, thank you. It provides me comfort wearing that thing."

Without hesitation Lucy handed Cobra's long coat to him, and he quickly shrugged it on. He moved it around a couple of times until it was in a place he liked, and he started to walk down the tunnel again, but this time with Lucy walking by his side with her shoulders back and head held high. There was also a spring to her step as she walked, meaning that she was back to normal. Right beside her Cobra grinned slightly as he stuffed his hands into his pockets, his stride long and confident.

They were prepared to face any challenges the tunnel, Uruk, and what the mission presented them.

Lucy quietly walked beside Cobra as the tunnel started to slightly turn to the left, meaning they will end up nowhere… again. She can easily say that this tunnel was the longest one they have ventured down thus far, and she isn't sure where it will take them. All she can hope for is that they will still be in Uruk where they started, and not back at Dan's castle. That would be their luck, and Lucy knows it.

Cobra chuckled beside her as he heard her last thought, and shook his head as he started to listen to the sounds coming from around him once more. He has not heard a single thought or from a single soul as they traveled through the tunnel. All he hears around him is the wind, the souls of tiny animals making their way through the tunnel, and ever-changing moods and thoughts of the Fairy Tail mage right beside him. It was actually starting to become quite lonely without having the constant different buzzing thoughts and souls all around him, but he is grateful for these few moments of peace since he doesn't know how long it will last.

It was in that moment with his own thoughts when he heard squeaking up ahead. It was not the squeaking from a mouse or any type of rodent, but from something that was made out of metal. His senses started to go wild as he tried to pin down exactly where the sound was coming from, and he slowed his walking to get a better sense of what was going on.

Cobra heard nothing too dangerous or concerning, and there were no souls besides his, Lucy's, and rodents and reptiles. It was all too strange for him, and he was not liking it one bit. He looked up ahead to see Lucy lost in her own thoughts and not aware of her surroundings, but he is the one who noticed the tunnel coming to an end. It split off into two directions. From what he could see they didn't last long after that, and they would be outdoors soon enough.

That didn't stop the sound of metal squeaking, though, and without hesitation he quietly leaped forward to grad ahold of Lucy's arm. He quickly pulled her up against his chest and put a hand on her mouth to silence the scream he heard coming up her throat. He felt her whole body and soul panic as she didn't realize what was happening, but once she saw his coat and arm, she visibly relaxed and her soul relaxed. He heard and felt that she was still jumpy, but he didn't blame her. He should have said something, but he doesn't know what is up ahead.

"Listen." Was all Cobra said to her as she then stopped her own thoughts to connect with her surroundings.

Lucy's eyes wandered over to the tunnel splitting into two paths, and then she drew a deep breath once she realized that she needed to not just hear the sounds around her, she needed to listen. Just like what Cobra instructed her to do. She purposefully slowed her breathing as the Poison Dragon slayer slowly let go of her, and leaned against the wall to watch her and their surroundings.

Not far from them, coming from the tunnel heading left, was a squeaking sound. Lucy figured that is why Cobra grabbed her in the first place, and she feels embarrassed for not reacting or telling him. She listened to the squeaking sound more as it became more apparent to her ears, and noticed that it had a constant rhythm. It was almost soothing to listen to, but the creaking that also followed it was less than desirable. It sounded like it was constantly looking around for something… or someone.

Her eyes widened as she quickly – and quietly – turned to look at Cobra. She controlled her thoughts to try and help her partner get what she was picturing, and when she felt like her mind was coherent enough, she thought one word: eye.

Cobra slowly nodded his head towards her, his silent way of agreeing with her. He thought it was weird that they remained quiet around an eye, but they do not know what other gadgets are attached to the giant eye they saw when they first entered the tunnel.

They both silently crept around the corner to see if they were right, and not to their surprise, the giant eye was looking all around in all directions as it examined the tunnel and Uruk. It took everything in with a single glance, not missing one thing as it moved all around. It didn't blink, didn't stutter; it kept going and going. It truly was silver, too, and even taller than Lucy. The eye itself was a little larger than Cobra's broad shoulders. It was blocking an open passageway into the tunnel, making it seem more strategically placed than originally thought. To Lucy it was a creepy and odd thing, but smart if a ruler or God was having trouble watching over all corners of his or her territory. Well played, Set. Well played. She thought to herself, and Cobra smirked slightly behind her.

Cobra looked past the giant eye to see where the right tunnel would lead them, and it appeared to lead them right back outside on a platform that overlooked something. Now that he knew they were still in Uruk and where the eye was located, it appeared the tunnel that ventured right would be the way to go. First, however, he knew they had to deal with the giant eye that constantly looked around.

He and Lucy knew there was no way they could get around it without being seen. It would pick up on them the second they stepped forward; it misses nothing. For all they knew, it could have already seen them when they first entered Uruk, and that is why the dark red ray was fired in the first place. They more than likely got lucky when the skeleton warrior was near them, and the ray's energy was focused on the deceased warrior and not them.

Cobra and Lucy realized just how lucky they were to get this far in Uruk, and the Celestial Spirit mage started to panic a little more when the realization of how easily she could be killed started to settle in. Beside her Cobra wanted to sigh, but knew better than to do that.

He knew that anything could alert Set to their whereabouts. That is why he knew he had to dispose of the eye lurking at the end of the tunnel turning left. It was a threat not only to them, but to any other living creature wandering around Uruk.

Cobra gently placed a hand on Lucy's shoulder, and gave her a silent nod as he tore his eye of her's and focused on the moving eye in front of them. He heard Lucy gently take a few steps back when she saw Cobra start to silently take off his jacket, and gently hand it out to her. Without hesitation she grabbed his jacket once more and draped it over her left arm. She secured it, and nodded at him determined as poison started to seep out of him once his dragon scales appeared.

Cobra knew that attacking the eyes would possibly alert Set and Kek to their whereabouts, there was no doubt about that, but he knew that they could not get past that eye unless something destroyed it. It was too quick with its movements as it took everything in around it; it truly was the perfect device to keep an eye on an area closest to their castle. As more poison seeped out of Cobra as he readied his attack, he knew what he had to do in order to keep Lucy, himself, and everyone else safe.

He didn't mutter a word, and he didn't make a sound as he practically glided over behind the eye once its 'back' was turned towards him. Lucy would've described how he moved as slithering, and she felt the hairs on her back stand up as she thought about how Cobra's movements resembled those of a snake, but she also felt impressed at how easily he was able to move his body. Go Cobra! She cheered in her mind as his arms started to rise as he got ready to attack.

Before the eye could turn around and look behind him – before the eye could alert Set or Kek – Cobra's poison engulfed it and destroyed it. The sound of metal breaking filled both Lucy and Cobra's ears as its pieces scattered around the area where it once stood. Pieces of the eye itself splattered onto the wall and the ground, making Lucy put a hand over her mouth as she watched blood and other fluids flow on the ground by Cobra. She hoped that nothing got on Cobra since she would not offer to help him clean himself, especially since the stench of rot quickly entered her nose and she took some steps back to try and get away from the smell of everything.

Cobra grinned as he quickly lowered his arms, and took in the mess in front of him. Metal that once held the eye was scattered around with some pieces stuck in the wall, and blood and other fluids splattered onto the wall and ground around him. It almost looked like a murder scene, but he knew better than that. A 'spy' was defeated, and he and Lucy could move forward with getting out of Uruk. The smell and sight weren't pleasant to Cobra in the slightest, but he knew that it had to be done.

He quickly turned around before something else was possibly alerted of what happened, and almost laughed as he watched Lucy squirm a few feet away from him at the slight. Instead he chose to grin at her as he walked towards her, his canines poking out from behind his lips as he humored her with his one eye.

"Loving the sight, Fairy?" Cobra teased as he took his jacket back from her, and quickly put it on before Lucy walked away from him.

Lucy glared up at him as he started to chuckle beside her, and she just huffed and looked away from him. "That was gross." Was all she said before walking towards the right tunnel with Cobra following closely behind her more amused than ever.

The walk through the new tunnel was short when they exited it, and saw that they were on a platform overlooking a large valley. Below them was a barren field with an old wooden barn shed missing it's door, looking like it was about fall over. Not far from the field was a palace. The palace was not as grand as Dan Straight's, but it was still large and made from limestone. From their side of the field they could see the outside hallway leading to what appeared to be a chest, or possibly a door. There were blue paintings on the wall that resembled the Gods and Goddesses painted on the walls at Dan's palace, but from where Cobra and Lucy stood the paintings looked worn down. It was still impressive, however, and the two mages understood that at one time it was a glorious palace or vacation spot for the royal family.

Lucy and Cobra knew that was the castle Dan was telling them about – the castle that held the amulet and portal to get them out of Uruk, and take them to Abydos in order to get to Heliopolis. Lucy almost sighed in relief when she realized their journey in Uruk is almost at an end, and a comforting feeling flowed through her veins as she thought about getting somewhere safe. She almost skipped off the sandstone balcony, and over to the palace across the barren field if Cobra didn't give her a stern look.

Yet as Cobra looked up at the dark sky filled with dark purple and red clouds that were covering the glowing stars, he knew that they needed to rest for the night. It was dangerous enough to be wandering around Uruk during the daytime, but he knew it would become even more dangerous once nighttime came around. Not only was the threat of more skeleton warriors scouting the land there, but whatever creatures wandered the valleys and fields at night were sure to come out as well. It was too much of a risk, yet Cobra knew that Lucy would more than likely understand.

"We'll have to camp here for the night," Cobra said as he turned to look at her, and she just nodded her head up at him before moving back in the tunnel a few feet and slowly sat down. "We need the rest, and we have to stay safe." He quickly mentioned as he walked over to where she sat down, and leaned his back on the wall across from her.

Cobra crossed his arms and leaned his head against the tan stone as he breathed in and out, listening to the world around him as small creatures and insects started to slowly come to life. He did not hear anything dangerous, and that put him a little at ease. Even the thoughts and soul of the Celestial Spirit Mage in front of him made him feel relaxed. He would never admit it out loud, but he has been growing fond of her company over the past couple of weeks.

Seeing Cobra at ease made Lucy relax a little as she rested against the wall, her legs feeling heavy and sore from all the walking she has been doing. She didn't even want to think what they would do about food. It all just seemed too complicated for her to think as her mind started to feel hazy and uncollected. She wasn't even bothering to control her thoughts around Cobra, for she felt too tired to really think anything. She quickly looked up towards her partner when she heard him chuckle, and she looked at him a little confused.

"Everyone has thoughts when they're tired, Heartfilia," Cobra chuckled. "Minds never stop. They only change their thought process."

Lucy didn't have the energy to think of a comeback as she nodded to agree with him, too tired to really say anything sarcastic back.

"You look tired, though. Those bags under your eyes suit you." Was all it took for Cobra to say to make Lucy pick up a small rock, and throw it at him.

Cobra laughed some more as he leaned down the wall to sit down with Lucy glaring at him, her eyes never leaving his figure.

"You sure know how to compliment people…" Lucy huffed as she closed her eyes before opening them back up, and looking at him with a curious and thoughtful expression. "Want me to take first watch?" She quickly asked, remembering their situation.

Cobra's smirk fell and Lucy swore she saw a gentleness in his eye before it was replaced with the look of a fierce, former criminal mage. He shook his head, his maroon hair gently swaying with his head. "No, I'll take first watch. You need to get some rest, and I'm not all that tired at the moment. I'll wake you up when it comes time for us to switch, though. Does that sound good?"

Lucy just nodded her head as she smiled at him as she visibly relaxed. "That sounds good to me." She yawned before laying down on the ground on her side, too tired to miss a bed. And pillows. And blankets.

She laid her head down on her arms, and slowly started to feel herself start to drift off. It surprised her how tired she was since she did not feel all that tired earlier, but she figured it was the excitement from the day. She knew she needed the rest, but she also felt uneasy sleeping out in the open. It didn't leave a good feeling in her stomach since she was not used to doing that, but she figured she might as well start to get used to it…

Cobra sat across from Lucy amused as her thoughts and soul slowly drifted off, and her breathing became a little more shallow, relaxed, and even. He knew she fell asleep as soon as she closed her brown eyes, and all he could do was slightly smile at her from the other side of the wall.

It was crazy to him that he was actually working with the Celestial Spirit Mage that he tried to kill on a couple of occasions. Never in his wildest dreams did he think it would happen, or that he would be where he is in life following Jellal. He hopes, in some small way, what he is doing in this world and his world will redeem him from all the crimes he committed in the past. He sighed as he looked up towards the large moon in the sky, seeing its craters from all the way to where he was.

The moon looked grey, but with the sky looking a dark purple it appeared to have a purple tint to it. Despite the darkness slowly taking over the world and causing it to go chaotic, there was still something comforting about looking up at the moon.

Cobra just shook his head as he started his lookout, hoping that the night would go by with no problems.

Cobra quickly, yet quietly, stood up as the sound of hissing and clicking entered his ears. Thumping could be heard from the ground below as well as a type of chattering, yet weirdly enough it was mixed in with the sound of metal. His eye grew wide as he focused in on the area around him, trying his best to locate the sound.

Once he was able to narrow where the sound was coming from, he became relieved that it wasn't coming from the tunnels. It was coming down from the field below him, and his eye narrowed as he moved to lay on his stomach and crawl near the edge of the tunnel he and Lucy were located on.

The sound grew stronger and stronger as he heard more and more hissing and clicking. No thoughts or souls accompanied the sound, and he inwardly groaned with frustration as he realized what might be down on the barren field below them. He hoped with all of his being that he could be wrong, but he was also real with himself and prepared for the sight to unfold before him as he peered across at the field.

Making their way towards the field with red eyes were none other than more skeleton warriors, weapons in their boney hands as they approached the field while hissing and clicking. From what Cobra could tell they were scouts, and it was obvious that they were looking for something or someone. They didn't bother to look up at any ledges, but kept their red eyes in front of them as they scouted the land with their lances, axes, swords, and knives.

Cobra quickly and quietly backed away from the wall, and moved over to where Lucy was sleeping soundly. Her breathing was even and undisturbed, unaware of the danger approaching them at the field below. For a moment Cobra was unsure if he should wake her up; her screaming or yelling at him would surely alert the scouts below, but it would also defeat the purpose of them being a team – he had to alert her and wake her up to make sure they are prepared for any threat.

He cursed under his breath as he quickly and gently placed a hand over her mouth, and started to shake her shoulder.

Lucy's eyes shot right open, and she almost screamed until she saw it was Cobra's hand over her mouth. Her brown eyes immediately turned and looked over towards him, and she saw that he was signaling for her to be quiet and to listen.

As she calmed herself and moved herself into an upright position, she then heard the terrifying noises of hissing, clicking, and more as the memories came flooding back from what happened at Dan's palace. She didn't have to look to know what was down there, and suddenly she got the urge to either cry, run, or wait where she was until something happened.

Lucy looked towards Cobra as the sound became closer, and she gently placed one of her hands on top of his hand on her shoulder. The two of them looked at each other as the skeletons wandered around the field below them, each of them making sounds that echoed around them.

It was then the two mages knew that they were going to be in for a long night.

Well, this chapter was long coming… it took a little over two years, but it finally got posted, right? I'm sorry about that, though – my laptop decided to stop working for a while again, and then life happened, and it has just been hard to keep updating. I'm still planning on finishing this story one way or another, so don't worry about that! I still love Fairy Tail and its characters, and they are all such a joy to write. I just hope I'm still getting their personalities down.

I hope you enjoyed the long-awaited chapter, and please do leave reviews to let me know how this story is going. We have got to keep the Fairy Tail love alive on here! It is such a great show and manga!

I'm sorry about any spelling and grammar mistakes that I missed, and I hope everyone has a great day or night wherever they are. See you next time!

Up Next on The Cursed World:

Chapter Sixteen: The Ray