Hi guys! Who else is disappointed, cause I am. Yeah, I spent all Sunday and today writing this. And it only ended up having 2,111 words T^T Sorry if it's too short, but I wanted to update after being giving myself a holiday XD Anyways thank you guys again for all of the support, there are literally no words I can describe it, which is why I'll make up one right now. Thanks for all Rogue-alicious support! (Nope still sucked) And enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 15 (Hold My Hand and Sky Labyrinth)
Normal pov,
Minutes before,
Erza Scarlet paced around the hotel room she was sharing with her five other teammates, sneaking a glance at the clock that hung on one of the far walls every so often.
It was already nearing midnight in Crocus and none of the five people that had gone out sightseeing that morning, had come back. Erza couldn't help but stare at the hotel room door as it stayed firmly closed on the other side of the room.
Erza sighed as she sat back down on one of the beds. This situation couldn't get any worse, first the master puts them up against another team from their own guild and now the team that she belonged to was going to be disqualified.
Great, just amazing.
She could already see it now, the multiple things she'll be forced into if the other team won, especially what Mira-
Suddenly the door slammed open loudly, and in walked Natsu, Lisanna, Happy, Gray, Juvia, Wendy and Carla. All a little sweaty and out of breath. Erza immediately stood up and glared at them menacingly. Her eyes sharp as knives.
"Where have you all been?!" She bellowed, her voice so furious that it seemed to be amplified ten time louder than it usually is. Most people would be terrified by now, but the six months Natsu had spent guilty about what he did to Lucy had somewhat toughen up a bit.
Not by much though.
"W-we... Saw... Her... Out... Side..." He gasped as he tried his best to straighten up after being bent over for about five minutes, trying to get his breath back. "Her?" Erza asked slightly annoyed at the ominous answer. "L-lucy." Natsu answered back finally able to stand up.
All the colour in Erza face drained away at the sound of the Celestial Mage's name. "Lucy's here?" Natsu nodded but didn't say anything. The others stared at the two's exchange, too out of breath themselves to say much. "But what is she doing here?" Erza asked as she slowly straightened from her threatening pose over the five.
"She's participating with Sabertooth in the Grand Magic Games." Erza face darkened as she absorbed the news, she looked away from her comrades towards the already darkened sky. "She's with.. Sabertooth?" Natsu didn't answer and stared at the ground.
Erza couldn't believe what Natsu had just said. Lucy, their Lucy was with Sabertooth? Out of all the guilds she could have joined she went with Sabertooth?! Why?
Why did Lucy join the guild that was number one guild in Fiore at the moment? Was she trying to make a point? Erza couldn't help but feel like the news was itself a slap in her face. In Fairy Tail's face.
It wasn't like we didn't deserve it. Erza reminded herself as she realised that her hands, on either side of her body were curled into fists.
And after all this time they had spent worrying about her. Whether she was in another guild, whether she had enough money to get another place and food everyday, whether she was even alive. And this is how she repays them, with a slap in the face.
The very thought of it made Erza's blood boil. "We're still going to beat them, whether Lucy is in their team or not." Erza turned around to gaze at the owner of the voice. Natsu.
"We're going to beat Sabertooth and make Lucy realise how stupid she's been." Erza's gaze softened at the fiery teenager as he stood behind her, his eyes intense as crackling fire. Erza couldn't help but smile. The Fire Dragon Slayer had grown up so much in such a short time, it made her proud and sad at the same time.
There was something about the way he could make everything sound easier than they really were, that was charming. Maybe that's what she loved about the kid, his simplicity.
The others in seeing that Erza had calmed down, quickly spoke up again, "We did as Jellal had asked, there's been no Dark Energy anywhere." Gray said changing the topic almost instantly, his voice grave.
The mood in the room darkened as they remember their encounter with Crime Sorciere. The independent guild made up of only three members, Jellal Fernandes, Ultear Mikovich and Meredy Mikovich both of which were former members of Grimoire Heart.
"There's been a suspicious magic energy that's been popping up around the Domus Flau for the past few years."
"The magic, we believe, is connected to Zeref but there's been no signs of Zeref anywhere I'm Crocus. "
"That's why I have a favour to ask of you Fairy Tail."
"Help us find out what it is and alert us as soon as you can."
The words seem to echo in the room as they thought back to that day. Suddenly Erza stood up, "We'll keep looking tomorrow, but for now rest. We will need it for tomorrow." They all nodded at the Re-equip mage's words and started fighting over who would get the bathroom first when a booming voice alerted them from their bickering.
"Hello guilds of Fiore, welcome to this year's Grand Magic Games."
Present moment,
Lucy's pov,
I felt my heart galloping in my chest as I stared at the thick chains that extended all the way from the glass maze in the sky over to our, suddenly small, balcony. Both Rogue and Yukino had already gone up on the chains and were waiting to meet us half way up. So that left Rufus, Sting and me.
I gulped as Rufus got on, the chain although stuck firmly into the brick wall shook slightly, making Rufus shake, himself but he didn't seemed phased by it and started running upwards, leaving me alone with Sting.
I couldn't help but stare at the chains, thinking about how dangerous this was. For some reason all I could think about was falling to the hard cement below. The fact that even if I did fall I would still have Wings to save me, didn't register in my head at all.
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. And with a few thousands people walking towards the damn thing, wouldn't it shake like crazy as I got higher?! Oh god. Oh god. Oh god.
Sting must have seen my expression cause he paused as he began to get on the chains. "Blondie?" He asked before he extended his hand towards me. I glanced at it uncertainly. "What?" I answered quickly, too quickly. A mixture of emotions flashed through his face before he shook his hand.
"Hold my hand, I promise I won't let you go." My breath caught in my throat at his words, a soft blush creeping up my cheeks. Thank god it's nighttime. I crossed my arms and huffed. "What made you think I'm scared?" I hissed. He smirked. "Hmm. Maybe the look on your face?" I sighed.
"That obvious?" He chuckled. "Fine Blondie, I'll give you points for trying, now let's go. We're already late." He held out his hand again. I glanced at it one more time before grabbing onto it, feeling his smooth palm against mine as he tightened his grip comfortingly and started walking onto the chains.
I followed after him, miming his movements best I can, regardless the chain still shook. I screamed as it swayed gently against the breeze. My legs almost giving out from under me. Sting laughed. "I never pegged you for the fear-of-heights person." I glared at him. "Haha, funny. Can we just hurry up?" I snapped.
He raised an eyebrow at me, the moon shinning behind him like a giant spotlight, highlighting his high cheekbones and blue eyes. I gritted my teeth, trying my best not to think about him. I should not even be doing this, friends do not hold each other's hands.
Your just scared he's going to end up like Natsu. Aren't you?
I scowled, I wasn't afraid to like someone like I liked Natsu right?
Hell who are you even kidding? You haven't even gotten over Natsu yet.
I sighed and concentrated back on my footing before I got too carried away with my thoughts.
The journey up the chains was shorter than I had thought it was going to be because we arrived at a small white platform in under five minutes, where the others were waiting for us looking a little impatient.
Both Rogue and Rufus were leaning against the doorframe that stood at the end of the platform that lead into the brightly lit maze. I felt my eyes widened as I scanned the place. The maze must have been huge to fit all 113 guilds and even then it looked like it had room to spare.
"Don't look so surprised now, the deeper we go into it, the worse it is." Rogue muttered, glancing at the inside of the maze. "Libra also alerted me that the maze has a gravity charm on it." "She means that the maze has the ability to tip over any time." Sting added behind me, his face suddenly all business.
I blanched. Tip. Over?! "It sounds a little hard, but you guys know what to do right?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. The others opened their mouths, as if about to say an amazing idea when suddenly they all dropped their heads. "Actually... We don't." They all mumbled.
I couldn't help slam my head into the doorframe. "You.. Don't know?" I muttered. They didn't answer. I sighed, feeling a little defeated. Great now we won't even get past the Preliminaries.
But just as defeat began to sneak up on me, an idea appeared in my head. "Rufus, you have photographic memory right?" Rufus looked up and nodded. "I remember so." I grinned. "Then you can remember the maze right? You'll know where we've been and where we haven't?"
He looked a little surprised at the idea, almost like it was either the dumbest idea ever or the smartest. He laughed and tipped his hat to me. "Yes, you are right, Lucy." I smiled. "Well then let's go." I said as I walked through the doorway but before I could even so much as walk a foot away from the rest of the group, I had walked straight onto a ledge.
The others hearing me scream came running, only to be surprised by the ledge themselves.
I frowned. This was going to take longer than I thought.
Ten minutes later,
Normal pov,
"I could have sworn I had memorised this place." Rufus muttered as he looked around with his arms crossed across his chest. It had only been a few minutes since Team Sabertooth had gotten off their tiny platform and ventured into the main part of the maze.
The only problem was that, they were terribly, hopelessly lost.
Rufus looked around dejectedly. He had always been able to figure out the difference between two things. Always. Even a tiny scratch to the different shades of their colour. But these platforms were featureless, no bumps or scratches, no paint mishaps or anything to be noted of. They were all white, all smooth, all floating around.
And there was next to no way to make a map of this place, not only were the platforms not connected, the entire maze was suppose to be turning over any moment now.
The other members of Team Sabertooth looked around themselves. They weren't entirely sure if they were in the same place but everywhere looked the same now. They were in the heart of the maze, of course everything was going to be harder.
"Where did we last turn?" Lucy muttered as she read the tiny map she had drawn in the notebook she had accidentally bought along. The others groaned. "I don't know.. Five minutes ago?" Sting said irritated.
"Wasn't it ten minutes ago?" Yukino asked, her eyes narrowed as she stared around the maze. "It was five minutes ago, now shut up." Sting snapped. Everyone glared at him but didn't say anything. They could understand themselves how frustrating it was, but at least they weren't putting their anger on their comrades.
Suddenly a rumbling the echoed from the top of the maze, making bits and pieces of platform rain down. None of the people maze got enough reaction time as the sound became larger until it was the only thing that anyone could hear for miles.
It was then the entire thing tipped over upside down, sending people flying from where they were standing and falling to what looked like their deaths.
Uh cliffhanger? No, don't kill me! Please, I'll give you my cookies XD So uh yeah, I decided to make this chapter somewhat funnier than my other chapters, the reason for that? Absolutely no reason at all. Ok, maybe. I just can't remember it, anyways i hope you liked it please read and review.