A/N: WARNING! Graphic scenes ahead (ok, bloody and slightly violent visions of death)--so beware and don't say I didn't warn you!
**
Life's taking over, so my updates are slower. Annnnd, the manga is stealin' my idea! Dang it! I wanted to quickly state that I'm choosing to not necessarily name my spirits after constellations--instead favoring the spirit's respective power/role as a means to creating a name. I took that as the more important aspect in the manga's naming of the spirits. Yes, they are constellations, but I would prefer to avoid any overlap with my characters and that of the manga--just in case they add more spirits any time soon :)
**
Anyhow, thank you to all of you who are reading this! I appreciate your kind words, enthusiasm, and just plain ol' time you take to read it. Readers = awesome! Have a good weekend and Happy Reading!
**
Disclaimer: I do not known Fairy Tail, only the OC's I have created for plot purposes.
*****
"Natsu, put me dowwwn!" Lucy screeched as her fists repeatedly pummeled the dragon slayer's back as they ran. "And move your hand!"
"Sorry, Luce," Natsu grunted--not moving his hand in the slightest--as he headed in the direction Veleda had indicated, "but I had very specific orders."
"Those orders included holding here there?" Happy smugly queried as his short legs carried him.
"I don't have to answer that," Natsu retorted. "Besides, we need to keep going, and it's the easiest place to hold her."
"Aye!" Happy exclaimed, leaving the conversation at that.
Lucy felt her face redden more as Gray snorted in reply. They were finally slowing down, reaching another long underground corridor. They could barely make it through side-by-side, so Gray fell behind with the seer.
"I can walk, dammit! This is ridiculous you idi—oof!"
She felt the wind being knocked from her lungs as her abdomen was harshly pressed upon by Natsu's shoulder. She could hear the faint murmur of....water. She glanced upward, noticing that they were now in a much larger cavern. The air was damp, chilling her to the bone. The nausea overwhelmed her, bringing her back to her current state-of-mind. She thought she heard Gray curse from somewhere to her right.
"Hey! What was that for? That hurt!" she whined.
She tried to catch the air that had been quickly expelled from her lungs. She felt Natsu's muscles grow tense, and she immediately knew that something was terribly wrong. One glance at Gray's face confirmed her silent theory. She quickly raised her head, craning her neck in an attempt to peer in the direction everyone but her was staring. Lucy could see the cave floor gently sloping down into an underwater river.
That would explain why I thought I heard water, but why would they be concerned about that ? she silently wondered. The slight movement from the top of the water caught her eye. Whatever it was, it was standing on the water. She tried to get a better look, quickly recognizing the hooded figure. He was standing on the water!
"Faux," she whispered, her body growing cold.
It was the same person as before, though this time, something was....different. He felt different. As she continued in her attempt get a better look, Lucy hadn't realized Natsu's grip had lessened. Her arms frantically waved in the air as she slid, head-first, off of Natsu's shoulder.
"Natsu!" she wailed as she collided with the granite floor. She landed with a loud thud and a wail. She pouted, rubbing her throbbing wrist as she angrily scrambled to her feet.
"Sorry, Lucy," Natsu whispered after a long delay, his dark eyes still glued on Faux.
Lucy said nothing as she pushed herself off of the ground, glancing at Veleda. The blind prophet's eyes were closed, a strained smile was upon her face. What could she be so happy about? Especially right now? Lucy gloomily thought to herself.
The sound of splashing water brought Lucy back to the matter-at-hand. She turned to see Faux slowly breezing across the liquid's surface, his boots barely touching the water.
The man chuckled, the patch over his eye sliding slightly. "So you thought I'd let you escape. Just like that, hmm?" he mused.
"You!" Lucy hissed.
Natsu's mouth was slightly ajar as he watched the spirit approach them. "He smells more...real this time," he growled.
"Oh, I'm real," Faux replied coolly. "I'm going to show you that much."
His wide mouth stretched into a ghoulish smile as his uncovered eye wandered over Lucy, who returned his intrigued look with a vehement one of her own. She didn't like this spirit and his threats. Natsu quickly regained his composure, stepping in front of Lucy and Veleda—his arm outstretched as he warily glared at the spirit.
His face suddenly lit up as he toothily grinned, "She kept her promise! I'll be damned!"
"What?" Lucy barked, confused by Natsu's sudden change in demeanor. How could he be happy in a time like this? The more she thought about it, the more she realized it really wasn't that unreasonable for Natsu to be excited by fighting prospect.
"She practically gift wrapped him for me!" the dragon slayer cooed more excitedly. Lucy recognized the faint hint of lust in his eyes—she had seen it often, mostly before the throes of battle.
"Oh...no," Lucy moaned, understanding her friend. He had asked Adie to promise that he could fight Faux—a promise, which of course, Adie apparently kept.
If he's here, then that means-- Lucy's thoughts suddenly turned dark. Erza! Adie!
"Where is Erza and Adie?" Gray spoke slowly, as if reading Lucy's silent thoughts. Natsu cracked his knuckles, his eyes widening slightly at the realization that the two women were supposed to be fighting Faux.
"They are fine," Veleda interrupted, her voice raspy with concentration. Lucy studied her carefully: Veleda was definitely up to something....
"Good," Natsu nodded, his eyes never leaving Faux's face. His hands and feet suddenly burst into flames.
"Someone's excited to see me," the dark-haired spirit's amusement was evident on his pale, sunken face. "This'll be thrilling," he murmured, effortlessly gliding across the water's surface. He pushed his cloak from his body.
Up close, Lucy could trulysee the signs of weariness. He looked both overly-fatigued and sickly. The skin around the choker was red and oozing with blood—a sign that it was definitely not something the spirit wore on his own accord.
"That...thing around his neck," Lucy whispered for Gray and Natsu to hear.
"How does it feel?" Gray asked, his eyes narrowed. He, too, had seen the blaring sign of imprisonment.
"Eh?" Faux raised an eyebrow. "How does what feel?"
"To be someone's lapdog?" the ice mage replied coldly, nodding his head toward Faux's choker.
The spirit stopped mid-step, his eyelid slightly twitching. There was a barely-detectable tremor as his long, slender fingers found the shiny, black accessory. Lucy thought she could see the Stellar Spirit winced as his fingers traced along the cool metal object that encircled his neck. Suddenly, Faux threw his head back and laughed. Natsu, Gray and Lucy shot one another confused glances.
"That's an interesting way to put it," the dark-haired spirit purred. "I'm no lapdog, as you say. I'm merely a spirit following his master's orders."
"Really? Is that why you wear your collar, dog?" Gray hissed, his own ire showing in his eyes.
"Hey, don't try to interfere with my fight, you ass," Natsu spat, glaring angrily at Gray as he waved a fiery fist.
"Who said it's your fight?" Gray retorted, his eyes carefully studying Faux.
"Now, now, gentlemen—we can settle this peacefully," the spirit waved his hand in the air as his eye slid over Lucy's face. They slowly descended along her body, and she could see the slight widening of his eye as it reached her waist. Lucy felt a sudden air of panic as her hands instinctively went to her keys. Faux said nothing as his dark, hate-filled eye met her own. His gaze suddenly flitted to the demi-spirit behind her.
"You're not getting her," Lucy interrupted, her posture suddenly defensive. "She's not leaving with you. Tell your master that!"
"Is that so?" Faux asked as he glared at her. "Do tell me exactly how you will prevent that, Spirit Mage. You shouldn't play pretend warrior, you know."
Lucy's eyes flashed their anger, as his words stung her. She would never admit her feelings of weakness to anyone. Especially not him!
"I will do whatever I have to in order to protect any spirit," Lucy's face became dark. "No one, spirit or human, should be used like a puppet, having no thought or concept of his or her own worth. You are nothing but a--" the rest of her retort was rolling off of her tongue as Natsu interrupted her venomous reply.
"Um, Lucy?" His voice was soft.
"What?" she snapped, as she stared icily at the Stellar Spirit before her. When he did not answer, she afforded him a glance. He was warily staring at her hand.
"Since when did you have that?" he asked, pointing at the blade she was wielding in her right hand.
Confusion washed over her as she looked down to find the ivory-hilted dagger in her hands. She was confidently holding it in front of her body, as if could expertly wield it. She hadn't even realized she brandished it....
"I-I..." her face began to turn red as her hands suddenly became unsure in her grip. "I don't know!"
"My, you don't even know how to use your own weapons?" Faux goaded her as he took another step, his fingers outstretched toward Lucy.
She was frozen in her spot as he approached, his dark eye boring into her. Was this the power Veleda had warned her of? Lucy felt her teeth chatter from the cool air that was slowly sinking into her skin. He was inches away from her when, suddenly, a blast pushed them apart. An arm wrapped around her waist, providing stability as the spirit was thrust backward. Faux slid across the water's surface from the impact.
"Stay back, Lucy!" Natsu growled, as the spirit clutched his abdomen in pain. He glared angrily at the dragon slayer.
"You'll pay for that!" Faux warned.
"I look forward to it! Natsu scoffed. He glanced at Lucy, his voice low, "Adie didn't say anything about not bein' able to use magic on this one, right?" His comforting arm dropped from around Lucy's waist.
Lucy was speechless, unsure of what had just occurred. "Luce?" Natsu whispered more fervently, snapping his fingers in front of her face.
She blinked, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. "N-no, I don't think so," she glanced past him, her gaze on Faux.
"This is about to get interesting," Gray smirked as he removed his jacket. Followed by his pants.
"Dammit, Gray, can't you just keep your clothes on?" Lucy wailed.
"What?" Gray shrugged. "I can move more freely like this."
"Gross!" she hissed.
"Lucy. Happy. You two protect Veleda," Natsu commanded, suddenly authoritative as his the fire engulfed his fists. "We'll take care of this mutt."
"Aye!" Happy nodded, his brow creased in affirmation.
Lucy reached out a hand, placing it on Natsu's arm in warning. "Wait! I know he's not on our side, Natsu.....but don't kill him. Hurt him if you must, but please promise me that you won't do that," she pleaded.
Natsu turned to look at her, his eyes studying her face carefully. He knew that she cared deeply about Stellar Spirits, even those that were pitted against her. "I'll do what I can, Luce."
Lucy nodded, taking a few steps back, her hand trembling as she sheathed the dark gray blade, that she had somehow managed to wield with both poise and confidence—a feat that was still lost on her. She suddenly felt weak and helpless once again. "A-and Natsu?"
"Eh?" he replied as he took a step toward the underground river.
"Don't cause a lot of damage, we're inside a cave, you know," she warned him, pointing to the fragile stone canopy.
"I know that!" he shot back, before settling himself next to Gray. "Ready?" Natsu asked the ice mage as he pushed his two fists together. A flame burst into the air in front of him.
Gray shoved his own hands together, nodding as he glared at Faux. "Ready."
"Then let's go!" Natsu bellowed as the two charged at the spirit. The fire Natsu had summoned quickly dissipated as he landed in waist-high water. He looked around, suddenly confused, before realizing that the water would prove problematic for his fire magic.
Gray quickly realized the disadvantage, "Get out of the water, idiot! It won't do!"
Natsu grumbled a few profanities as he leaped onto the stony river bank. Gray clapped his hands together in concentration, "Freeze!" he commanded.
Ice rippled from where his hands connected with the hard rock, the crystals engulfing the lazily-flowing water. In moments, the river was completely iced over. Faux watched the change with mild amusement.
"Thanks!" Natsu grinned, as he quickly ran onto the solid sheet. He immediately slid across the ice, his arms flailing from the loss of balance. Gray shook his head as Natsu fell onto his back.
"Gray!" Natsu howled, suddenly becoming angry. He pushed himself to his feet, wary of the slick surface.
Taking advantage of the momentary distraction,Faux immediately pulled something from his waist, quickly flipping it between his fingers as it unfolded into a crescent-shaped blade. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the metallic instrument flying through the air. It shrilly screamed as it sliced through the chilled atmosphere around them, picking up speed as it did so.
"Natsu!" Happy and Lucy screamed in unison.
"What the--" Natsu raised an eyebrow in confusion as he studied the rapidly spinning weapon as it flew toward him. Gray slid across the ice, throwing Natsu to the ground as the weapon whizzed past their heads.
"Pay attention!" Gray hissed. "This guy's not gonna be easy."
"Says who?" Natsu shot him an angry look.
"Have you ever fought a Celestial Spirit before?" Gray asked. Natsu's silence was enough of an answer for the ice mage. "Then we do not know what to expect. Remember Veleda's warning?"
Natsu glanced at Lucy and Veleda, nodding slightly. "I do."
"Then we should be more careful," Gray warned.
"Got it," Natsu ground his fist into an open palm, quickly igniting a flame. "Your ice better stand up to my flames, Gray."
He turned toward the Spirit. "That's it? That's all you got?" Faux said nothing, as he crouched down, preparing for the counterattack.
Natsu smirked his anticipation for the upcoming battle. "Let's go!" he bellowed as he slid across the ice, toward the spirit. Gray followed close behind, a new ice-based weapon in hand.
An odd sound rang in Lucy's ear and she turned to find the source The unfamiliar whistle from moments earlier began to grow louder--more shrill. "No way!" Lucy breathed, realizing that Faux's oddly-curved projectile was returning.
"What is it, Lucy?" Happy asked. He, too, could hear the fearful cry.
"That weapon..." she trailed off, suddenly realizing that it was headed straight toward them.
As if she had already predicted its path, Veleda took a step to the side--her arms outstretched as she faced the oncoming weapon. Lucy suddenly realized the demi-spirit's intent.
"Veleda, NO!" she screamed as she quickly tackled the seer, forcing Veleda to the ground. The spirit's anguished cry tore through the cavern as Lucy hindered her suicidal actions--the air above them was quickly sliced through by the heavy weapon as it missed her face by inches.
Lucy rolled over, her eyes frantically searching out Nastu and Gray, who were oblivious to the return of the lethal weapon as it hurtled toward them at a deadly speed. She knew that it was no ordinary weapon, and the two knuckle-headed mages were too engrossed in their own actions to consider the possibility of a counterattack.
"Natsu! Gray! It's coming back!" she bellowed.
Natsu swung around to see what Lucy was screaming about, his eyes catching the quick movement of Faux's weapon. He ducked under the blade, his eyes widening as a clump of pink hair silently floated to the icy ground beneath him. His hand flew to his head as he growled indecencies.
"That was close," Natsu hissed as they heard the weapon connect with the gloved palm of Faux's hand. The Celestial Spirit quickly swung his arm upward to alleviate the force of impact on his hand as he wrapped his fingers around the alien throwing weapon.
"Like I said, too hot headed," Faux sneered as he prepared to throw the weapon again. This time, he unleashed another metal crescent, using both hands to launch the deadly weapons into the air as Natsu and Gray prepared an attack of their own.
"Ice Make: Shield!" Gray commanded, slamming his hands together. A large barrier grew skyward in front of them, a protection against Faux's attacks. Gray's eyes flew open in shock as the two weapons effortlessly burst through the thick, icy shield. It quickly shattered, and Gray leaped aside. Natsu took advantage of the time they had until the weapons returned.
"It's my turn!" Natsu roared as he flew at Faux with anger-fueled speed. Lucy watched in wide-eyed horror as the fight began to pick up pace.
"Why did you do that?" the voice interrupted Lucy's observations.
"I was alleviating you and your friends from having to kill me," Veleda hissed, as she pushed herself from the ground.
"You aren't going to die!" Lucy promised, turning toward her.
"I have to! Did you not hear a thing I said, child? There is no other way!"
"There is always another way," Lucy replied optimistically, as she tried to see what was happening between the two mages and Stellar Spirit. She heard ice shattering....
"Perhaps I should forgive your naivety," Veleda murmured. "But I cannot afford to allow you to make a grave error." She shook her head sadly as she brought herself to her knees.
"What..." Lucy looked at the woman, her brow furrowed in confusion, "What does that mean?"
"I have no other choice, Lucy," Veleda answered cryptically, her eyes downcast. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" Lucy was still confused by Veleda's lack of explanation. She never received an answer as the woman stretched her cold fingers toward Lucy's chest.
*****
"W-where am I?" Lucy whispered to herself as she examined at her unfamiliar surroundings
She looked to the sky, hoping it would give her an indication of where she was. It was dark, with heavy clouds glaring angrily back at her—not telling her anything she wanted to hear. She felt something catch on her foot. She looked down, realizing she had kicked something heaped up in front of her as she stood in a puddle, looking at her reflection. The air around her was deathly silent, yet it was deafening.
She reached down to tie her boot, noticing something sticky and wet stuck to the strings. She studied her hands as the palms were open before her, inspecting the delicate creases and folds of the skin, even bringing them closer to her face. It was through narrowed eyes that she realized what the warm, sticky fluid was that soaked her fingers and caked in the creases. It was blood--brightly crimson in the dank, gray surroundings. It was the only color, besides blacks and whites, that she could discern. Blood! She gasped, turning her hands over so she could see the backs of them. The familiar fingernails were lined with the thick liquid.
"W-what is happening?" she asked herself aloud. As if in answer, the world around her exploded with color and sound. Screams rang out, their force enough to knock her to her knees. She clamped her blood-soaked hands over her ears, trying to block out the roaring sounds of terror and anguish.
She felt a slight tug at her ankle as a weak voice called out her name. "Lucy?"
It was low, but she was sure she heard her name. She quickly scanned her surroundings, nauseated at the sudden force of noise. It was the only thing she could feel: overwhelming pressure. She peeked at the heap next to her: blue matted with blood.
"Lu...cy?" came the same whisper as before. Her eyes flew open as she realized that it was Happy's blue fur that was caked in drying blood. She barely recognized him—even less as he was curled up on the ground.
"Happy? Happy! What happened?" she cried as she knelt down and reached out to touch him.
He winced at her touch, and she immediately drew back. His one eye was swollen shut, and blood was caked around his mouth and oozing from his ear. Part of his left ear was missing—looking as if it were unwillingly ripped off. Lucy knew she should have felt terrified, but the emotion was missing from her persona. What was wrong with her? This was a friend! She should feel something!
"No good," he shook his head weakly, his face caked with the now-brown life fluid. "I couldn't...save him...." he breathed as his eyes became distant, the light fading from them. He didn't utter another word.
"H-Happy? HAPPY!" she screamed as she touched his face. He said nothing more, his chest no longer moving. "NO!"
She leaped up, frantically scanning the unfamiliar world around her. Bodies! The field was scattered with bodies! There were hundreds—no, thousands--of them. As if due to her realization, each body suddenly became recognizable as a person. Faces came into view—some familiar, some not. Lucy stumbled backward, her eyes wide with panic as she muffled a scream with a bloodied fist.
She felt the heel of her foot connect with something hard. She turned to see what she walked into, only to stifle another scream.
It was Mirajane! And Elfman. Mirajane and Elfman. Their bodies almost unrecognizable from whatever fate they had suffered. Their eyes were cloudy and lifeless, just as Happy's had become.
She ran, jumping over the motinless bodies, hoping to awaken from this horrible nightmare. She saw the familiar faces as she endlessly ran to a destination she didn't know existed. Bodies of her friends surrounded her, some mutilated, some looking as if they had accepted their fate.
Cana!
Juvia and Gazille!
Droy, Bisca, Macao, Levy, and Wendy! There were more, but she had stopped looking.
Red hair!
Erza!
Lucy slid to a halt, staring down at her friend. Erza's armor was scattered around her, her pale flesh vulnerable to the outside environment. Her neck was sliced open, the pool of caked blood a sign that her blood had long left her body. Her face was not twisted in pain—it was calm, as if she were going to a much better place.
"Erza," she whispered, her dry eyes looking down at one of the greatest mages she had ever known.
"Why?" Why couldn't she shed any tears? Why did she feel nothing? Why were the colors so muted and the noise so muffled? Where was she?
Gray was lying a few yards away. He, too, was motionless as his lifeless eyes stared at the sky. His legs were bent at awkward angles, and she was sure he suffered the same fate as the others.
She stood, stumbling over the bodies of her comrades and people she had never met. How did this happen? What was the meaning of this? She froze when she saw the familiar pink hair. The body was laying face-down, his back bent in an abnormal fashion.
"Nononono," she whispered, her body still numb from all hysteria. "Not him!"
"Natsu?" she whispered as she quickly knelt at his side, pushing him with gentle fingers. When he did not move, she forcefully pushed him over—screaming as she saw his face. An eyeless socket stared back at her, half of his face melted away. His chest was covered in caked, long-dried blood, as the gaping hole glared angrily at her.
"Not you too, you idiot!" she emotionlessly murmured as she cupped the unharmed half of his face with her blood-stained hands. Her body shook with feelings she couldn't summon. Why was she so damned calm when she was looking in the mutilated faces of her comrades--the people she loved? Why was she so numb? How was she unable to call upon tears for Natsu?
She saw something in his hand, it was crumpled into tight ball. She reached out and pried the wad from his hand, carefully unfolding the paper. She gasped as she read the writing on it—it was the first mission she had taken with him after she had joined the guild. Did he hold onto this? The entire time? How did she never know that he carried this reminder with him? Something else fell onto her lap. It was a tiny chain with two tiny keys: one gold and one silver. There was only one person the gift was for.....
As if the dam had finally broken, Lucy's tears flowed freely as she pulled Natsu's head into her lap, stroking his face. She ran her hands through his pink hair, as she rocked back and forth, her tears splashing his soiled face.
"Not yet. You can't leave me....I have so much to tell you...Natsu," she sobbed.
All around her was destruction and death. She could smell the charred bodies of her friends. Something horrible had happened here, and she didn't know where to begin.
She stared longingly at Natsu, waiting for him to come to life and all of this to disappear, but it did not. "I never told you," her body shook as she rocked back and forth. "That I lo--"
"I warned you," came the whisper. "I warned you about all of this, child."
Lucy's head shot up, as her questioning gaze falling upon the robed figure with the empty eyes.
"What is this place? Is it real?" Lucy hissed as anger lashed at her insides. She continued to stroke Natsu's face as the tears dripped off of her chin.
Veleda looked around, though her eyes saw nothing. "Even without sight, I can feel the vividness—the surety—of this vision. I can smell, hear, and taste it. I feel the dampness of death on my skin. When my Sight is this strong, I know that it is inevitable."
"This...is what you predicted....what you warned us about?" Lucy whimpered, a sob escaping her lips. Her vision couldn't truly be...this? Could it? This vision would be enough for Lucy to want to sacrifice her own life!
"It is," Veleda nodded, her eyes downcast.
"How are you here?" Lucy cried.
"Because I am showing you all of this," she waved to the bloodied field around them. "You needed to see this, my child. It's for your own good."
"It is inevitable?" Lucy pleaded. "You said I could change it!" She suddenly felt a ray of hope, though it was faint. She was still somewhat numb—her grief was fresh.
"No," the woman shook her head. "Not inevitable. At least not....not if..."
"If what?" Lucy's tears streaked her grimy, blood-stained face. She felt her heart rip apart at the thought of her comrades' deaths.
"My other vision is just as vivid," Veleda shared. "But only one of these can occur, Lucy."
"I can prevent this?" Lucy choked back another sob as she gazed at Natsu's mutilated face. She couldn't fathom a world without her friends. She couldn't fathom such death and destruction. What kind of evil was this?
"You know how," Veleda confirmed. "It can be prevented. I see it," she promised.
"I can't do it!" Lucy sniffled. "I-I can't!"
"Maybe if I remove the rest of the protection I have wrapped around you," the woman murmured.
"The what? What does that me--" Lucy was never given the chance to finish her words. The sudden, blinding pain and anguish wracked her body, the deafening silence gave way to agony as her senses return. She could smell death. She could taste it. With whatever restriction Veleda had put upon her, it hit her one hundred fold with its removal. The full effect of her friends' death hit her like a train-- the sorrow was so painful she could barely take it. She felt as if she could take her own life in that moment.
Her eyes were wild as she looked into Natsu's blank eye, his face ravaged by a war that they may be able to prevent. She looked around for Veleda, her fury irked by the sudden revelation. Instead, she was met with the lifeless eyes of her friends and family—casualties of this evil war.
Zeref! Urtear! Lilith! Her head screamed as she stood, running toward the nothingness. She saw the ground around her change, giving way to an empty field marked with craters. There had been fighting here, as well. She continued to run, the tears running down her face.
Suddenly, she felt it. The ultimate darkness. Her heart felt as if were being ripped from her; her soul turning toward evil. She could see them in front of her: the spirits that were stolen—their eyes lifeless and bodies decayed from their inability to escape the human world. They were huddled around, their shiny black collars keeping them in place. Two forms approached the cluster of spirits, and Lucy gasped. Despite their different hair colors, it was obvious that they were related, as their faces were exactly alike.
Adassandra and Lilith!
"Adie!" she screamed, though none of those in front of her acknowledged her presence. Adie was shrunken and weak—her frame bony and malnourished. Her sister was not much better, her black hair long and stringy.
A woman followed behind the sisters, her wild dark hair pulled away from her face as a shrewd grin spread across her features. Above, the clouds were swirling: a darkness was descending. The spirits—Stellar Spirits—were pleading with the sisters, but were met with blank stares from Adie and Lilith. Suddenly, the dark-haired woman brought the two intricate keys together—and an explosion tore through the field.
Lucy could feel massive pain as the light took over her vision, blinding her. She turned, stumbling a few feet in retreat. When she opened her eyes she was back where she began—with Veleda and Natsu. She felt as if her heart were going to shatter into a million tiny pieces from the intense emotions that were tearing through her.
"This...this...it can' t happen!" she hiccuped. Panic! "This can't happen! Not Fairy Tail! Not my friends! Not the person—the people I love!"
"Then you see that there is no other way," Veleda nodded solemnly as she met Lucy's eyes. As if she could see, the prophetess smiled sadly. "The decision is yours."
With one final, mournful gaze at the scene bestowed to her, Lucy leaned her head back and opened her mouth, shrilly piercing the atmosphere with her regret.
*****
"NOOO!" Lucy screamed, her eyes tightly closed. It can't happen. It can't!
She felt something warm and sticky running over her hands. She realized that the smell of death had left her, as did the screams of terror. Her skin was once again damp, the cave's chill soaking her clothes. She could hear Natsu whooping and Gray calling forth his Ice Magic in the distance.
She opened her eyes, meeting the cloudy blank stare from Veleda. The seer smiled, blood slowly trickling from her mouth as it dripped off of her chin and onto the cave floor. Lucy's eyes widened in terror as she looked down at her hand, realizing the warm, sticky fluid was blood. Veleda's blood.
"N-n-no," she whispered, her eyes wide with panic.
Had she done that? How could she have done something like that? Veleda's vision was still sharp in her memory—she could remember the faces of her friends as they suffered an inevitable fate. A fate she could prevent! Lucy stepped away from the demi-spirit, leaving her weapon embedded in Veleda's chest. The ivory hilt was testimony to Lucy's actions. She felt her hands tremble as she neared hysteria. It was too much. It was all too much!
"Veleda...no.." she whimpered the tears overflowing and silently falling to the ground. Tears and blood mingled with one another like regret and hope.
Veleda's smile grew, as the clouds left her eyes. She blinked a few times, the irises being replaced by a dark, burnt orange color. She looked around, slowly, before glancing at the blade in her chest. She wrapped a pale, shaky hand around the hilt. Her fingers trembled as she pulled the blade from her heart, holding it away from her body as if deciding whether or not the pain was real.
"Veleda!" Lucy hoarsely cried. As if recognizing that Lucy was there, she looked at the girl in confusion as she licked her lips. Her teeth and lips were stained with bright red blood. Lucy could smell the metallic odor, her stomach suddenly turning.
"L-Lucy?" Veleda rasped. She blinked a few more times. "I...can see....I can see...you..."
She took a step, stumbling at the effort. Lucy filled the gap as Veleda fell into her arms as the two women collapsed to their knees—each for their own reason. The spirit raised her slender hand to touch Lucy's cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered as the tears fell from Lucy's eyes.
"W-what did I d-do?" Lucy whimpered, realizing that she had been the one to deal the final blow to Veleda. She had killed a spirit—something she had vowed to never do! "I-I didn't mean to hurt you!"
"Hurt me? You....did what you..had..to," Veleda smiled, her lids growing heavy. "This..is..not the end for..me, Lucy. You have...given me..life!"
"It's not fair...this...it isn't how it's supposed to be..." Lucy trailed off, the pain too great. She had done the unspeakable. She would never forgive herself. Never!
"I..know...your face," Veleda smiled as her fingers traced Lucy's cheekbones. Lucy's eyes widened, unsure of what to make of the demi-spirit's words.
"It....it is you..." Veleda cryptically whispered as the hole in her chest bubbled and sputtered a mixture of blood and air. "Thank...you...Lucy Heartphilia."
Lucy was at a loss for words, her body utterly cold at the realization of what she had done. When Veleda did not speak again, she shook the woman's body. "Veleda!" she moaned in a hopeless prayer.
The spirit did not answer, her eyes growing dark as the life left her body. "VELEDA!" Lucy screamed, hoping to bring her back. She was met with silence.
A tiny, sparkling fleck shimmered on Veleda's cheek, softly floating away in an invisible breeze. Soon, others followed the first, slowly drifting into nothingness. Lucy watched in horror as Veleda's body disintegrated in front of her eyes. She grasped at the meandering flecks, hoping to stop whatever was happening.
"Nononono!" she cried, as her hands reached for the tiny pieces—tiny snowflakes of life. As if she were a fragile china doll, Veleda's body broke into thousands of minute shards, cracking and floating into the air before disappearing for eternity.
Lucy watched in horror as the silent breeze swept Veleda's body away, leaving no trace of the demi-spirit's existence behind.
*****
Sorry for the graphic violence--I wanted to have something that would really force Lucy to go against her better judgment and do something as drastic as this. And, this was how I chose to do it!
Please let me know what you think! Thanks for reviewin' and readin' as always!