Chapter Eight
Acnologia cupped her head in his strong, calloused hands. His long fingers cradled her skull. Staring into hooded eyes of a dragon, she found herself oddly not feeling frightened by him. Instead, she waited for him to pass judgement.
Being a predator, he bent over her until the greenness from his eyes surrounded her world. "You trespassed on my territory," he said. "And for that you will serve me."
What? Why would he want to keep her alive? She searched his face, looking for any signs of being deceived. His good-looking face remained unusually calm. Her shoulders sagged and she exhaled a long breath. "You're not going to kill me?"
One large hand moved to her cheek. "Killing is too easy."
Lucy bit her lip.
"You will serve me until I deem it fit."
"And," she paused, inhaling a deep breath. "What about after?"
He shook his head. His thumb gently tipped back her chin. "When the time comes we will see."
Her body shuddered. She didn't want to think about the time when she outgrew her usefulness, although she couldn't comprehend his reason for keeping her alive. It wasn't like she wanted to die, she just knew her worth compared to his was like a limestone to a diamond.
"So this serving, what does it entail?" she asked him, hoping he would give her some kind of hint of what to expect in the future.
"Don't worry about it," he said.
"What if I don't want to?" Her eyelashes lowered. "If you're going to ask me to kill or steal or hurt someone I care for," her eyes lifted to his. "I won't do it."
The tough act surprised her but she wasn't one to coward so easily, at least not anymore. Not after she faced three demons and was forced to lose one of her spirits in the process.
"If you're so concerned, I can tell you this. I do not endanger my treasures."
"Treasures?"
He slightly shook his head and removed his hand from her face. The warmth still lingered on her skin.
"You are to serve me and that's all."
She paused, mulling over his deal. It didn't sound like a bad one. It was definitely better than dying. Besides, it wouldn't take too long before he got tired of her and if he did, he would probably let her go so she could return to Fairy Tail.
"Okay," she conceded.
He lifted an eyebrow.
She smiled as she stepped away from the warmth of his muscled body. A breath she didn't know she was holding escaped her. He was no longer hovering over her, making her feel small and fragile.
Just then, something happened that Lucy couldn't describe in words. It was a disturbance of some kind, like a violent magical ripple that caused her to wrap her arms around herself. She wasn't the only one to feel the affect. The creature in front of her raised his head in the air. His eyes seemed to glow, his nostrils flared.
She casted a wary look over her shoulder. "What's happening?"
"Someone uninvited has come across my land," was his response. His dark baritone made her tremble.
"Can you ignore it by any chance?"
"No." He brushed past her, his long legs taking him to the other side of the cave room they occupied.
"There has to be another way." She had to try and distract him. "If you go out there, whoever is trespassing on your land will know about your existence."
"That's the point." Why did he make her feel stupid?
"If you show yourself, you'll be exposing who you are," she tried again.
"They won't live long enough."
"I really think..." Lucy didn't get enough time to convince him otherwise. One moment he was in front of her. The next, he vanished.
She had freely offered herself to him. Clearly, the move wasn't something a filthy human would do if he/she was in her place. No, that revolting person would have tried all types of dirty tricks to survive. Even offer someone else in their place.
The blond just accepted the consequence to being his with a... smile. What kind of being was she to be happy? The more he observed her traits, the more he was learning she was adverse from his beliefs to such filth.
He was beginning to wonder if she was one of them?
No. The blood that ran in her veins was evidently human. The frail body of the celestial mage he held in his arms belong to the trash he abhorred. But her spirit was a different matter.
Her spirit or soul or whatever creatures like him or differed from him called it, felt different. He understood she was a Magical Source but being one usually meant that she couldn't harness the powers. No one with her magic lived long so no one knew how to control it. Yet the longer she was with him, the more it felt like her magic expanded and thrived.
He frowned. She really was anomaly. One that was his. A hard-edged smile crept up on the corner of his lips.
He had all the time in the world to figure her out. For now, he was going to deal with the scumbags who entered his land without his permission.
He could feel the muscles shifting under his human skin. Bones cracks and moved, making his form grow large. Teeth elongated into sharpness. Blood, freshly split, was calling to him. He had the urge to slay everything living within his grasp.
The disgusting bugs couldn't leave him alone. Well, he was going to put an end to their existence, starting with those who decided to come into his sanctuary.
"I have this bad feeling," Lucy talked to the air. It seemed that her lonely nature caused her to become crazy. From her younger years, when she didn't have anyone to play with, she built a bad habit of talking to herself. Especially when her father punished her by taking away her keys. She had thought befriending Natsu and the others at Fairy Tail, the habit would vanish but it didn't.
"I don't know how to shake it off." That was another added bad habit. The times she went keyless, she began to slightly tremble, her hands rubbing at her arms and legs. There was always a slight tingling sensation as though bugs were crawling all over her skin. She would simply shake it off or take a hot shower.
But she did have her keys, an action that astonished her as Acnologia left her with them.
"Why am I feeling this way?"
She was up on her feet. The pressure was off her bad ankle. She looked around her, briefly heeding her captive's warning. She was not to wander around.
However, such a warning didn't settle well on her conscience. Something out there was strong enough to make her bristle. She couldn't rest until she found out the cause.
"I need help," she said out loud. "Please."
As if someone heard her, a ripple passed along her skin causing her breath to hitch and her body glowed. Her keys flashed brightly, temporarily blinding her.
"Lucy, are you crazy?" she heard the familiar voice of her lion spirit. He was the last person the celestial mage wanted to see.
Strong hands gripped her shoulders, holding her in place. "Loke, step back. I need to do this."
"And put yourself in more danger. For once I agree with that weird creature. Stay here." His tone sounded forceful.
"Like a chicken," she said with vehemence. Despite being in Loke's grip, she stood strong with her hands clenched into fists.
"You're not one, Lucy."
"But that's how I feel if I allow myself to stay here while Acnologia is hurting others."
He let out a breath, as if to calm himself down. He lowered his head until his forehead touched hers. "Lucy, please think this over."
She closed her eyes and tried to relax her body. The sensation numbed and she found herself breathing normally. "I can't," she said after a while. She opened her eyes and stared up at him through his spectacles. "Do you remember when we disappeared from this world? Can you do that again?"
"Lucy, that would mean transporting you to the celestial world," he admonished.
She brought her hands to his shoulders. "Please."
Loke bowed his head, his hands falling to his sides. "Thank you," she replied before she hugged him in gratitude.
"I hope you know what you're doing."
"I'll play it by ear," she reassured him. "Besides, with you and the others at my side, there is nothing we can't do."
The orange head had no other choice but to smile. "Hold on," was her only warning before she felt strong arms wrapped around her form. The world tilted and darkened for them.
Natsu and the others had been traveling for sometime through the forest. As the sun was beginning to set behind the foliage of trees, he sensed their best bet was to rest for the evening. The malevolent vibe had his draconic senses reeling. With every sound of their feet stepping on twigs, the sway from branches, or the cry of animals from the distance made him jump. His reactions caused Erza and Gray to make note of his anxiety.
If they had over heightened senses like him, they wouldn't be cracking jokes or staying easy under pressure. They were walking into something big. Much bigger than their fight with Geer.
The power he felt sizzling in the air was mysterious and ancient. The power was familiar, close to the type of magic he wielded but on a far advanced level.
What did Lucy get herself into?
Happy, who stayed by his side, was awkwardly silent. His unusual behavior left him to assume that he too must be aware of the danger they were going to face.
However, Lucy was a comrade; a nakama. She was family and an important member of Team Natsu. Where he, Erza, and Gray were all about brute force, she remained composed and rational. She was the brains behind their operation. At times he observed that Team Natsu left her on the sidelines or shielded her from oncoming danger. They did it with good intentions. Lucy's kindness and trusting nature inspired others to protect her. A person like her was hard to come across, which was why he took on to himself to protect her. Besides, she was also his partner, his best friend.
Who would he spend all his free time hanging out with?
Who would cook him delicious food?
Who would he bother to go on missions with him and Happy?
Lucy had become a big deal, which was why he was going to save her from whatever trouble she found herself in. With renewed vigor, he speeded up his pace.
"Wow, whatever flame brain must be thinking, I like it. Now he's moving faster," Gray commented.
"Unlike the speed you're moving at, ice princess," Natsu retorted.
Erza smiled, not bothering to hush them.
Happy continued to remain quiet as he matched his flying pace beside the fire dragon slayer.
They wheezed through time and space. The air was knocked out of Lucy as they collided into the ground. Fortunately, Loke cushioned most of the fall, decreasing the chance of her injuring herself further.
"Are you okay?" he mumbled by the crook of her neck. Putting her weight on her hands and knees, she created a little distance between them. She nodded her head while taking his disgruntled appearance. His glasses were haphazard on his face. His clothes a wrinkled mess and orange hair askewer.
She nodded her head.
"Good."
Stumbling to her feet, she hissed in pain by putting too much weight on her bad ankle. "Damn it."
"Having second thoughts?" her spirit asked nonchalantly as if discussing the weather.
"You wish," she grumbled. She readjusted her weight and began limping to the location of the strong magical auras. The clashes sent her sprawling on her backside as a tremor rumbled throughout the forest.
"Oh gosh!" She knew that sound. It was the same one she tried to get away from. The irony of her situation. Now, she was heading for it.
She rose to her feet, not caring for the discomfort in her body. She limped and only stalled when the earth quaked beneath her feet. At times she held onto Loke's firm arms to steady herself.
"It's not too late," Loke tried to warn her again.
"I'm good," she replied with more determination.
Another blast caused trees to fall over and strong winds to blow in their direction. Loke's arms were like bands of steel around her as he pulled her against him. She buried her face into his chest and shut her eyes.
There were shouts in the distance, making her open her eyes. Flames torched the fallen trees and plants around them.
"Loke?" the celestial mage questioned.
He let her go and lowered himself in front of her. "Get on my back. This is a faster way to get to them."
"Thank you."
"No need." She didn't know what caused his change of heart but she took him on his offer before he decided to warp them back into the cave.
Adjusting her legs at his sides and encircling his neck with her arms, she felt when his strong hands clutched hard at her thighs, repositioning them at his waist. Then he stood up and dashed into the distance, jumping over fallen trees and rocks. The flames made the air hot and unbreathable. The fires burned her exposed skin. Lucy pushed her face against his shoulder, closing her eyes and focusing on what little oxygen her lungs could inhale.
By the time they made it to the big commotion, Loke's whoosh breath was audible in her ears. She raised her head and blinked her eyes several times. Then she shook her head to clear the disorientation. If Loke wasn't holding her up, she might have fallen to the ground.
As everything became clear, her eyes widened. Four figures she recognized were fighting Acnologia. "But how... why are they here?"
"I have no clue," Loke answered her. He appeared astounded as her.
"Natsu, Erza, Gray and Happy are suppose to be in Fairy Tail. Not here," she said.
"They must've come looking for you," Loke assumed. He was right. Knowing her teammates, they wouldn't rest until she returned to their magical guild.
"We have to stop them," Lucy ordered. She wiggled in his grasp.
Still keeping hold of her, he replied, "Umm... Lucy, in case you haven't noticed, they're in a middle of a fight."
"Put me down so I can figure out something."
"Seriously?"
"You shouldn't be asking me. I came out here knowing full well what I'm getting myself into," she responded. Reluctantly, he put her down on the ground.
Touching her keys, she mentally summoned a couple of her spirits. The moment they flashed into sight, she began telling them her plan. She might not be strong like her teammates, but what she lacked, she made it up another way. As a tactician.
"Let's hope this work," she said as she crossed her fingers. Then she signaled to her spirits to make their move.
"Fire dragon roar!" Natsu's voice boomed over the others. A rush of fire collided into a shield. Acnologia didn't bother to transform back into his dragon form.
"Heavenly swords!" another feminine voice called out, alerting the celestial mage that she had gone in top form to take out the dark dragon slayer in human form.
"Ice make arrows!" Gray shouted before large shards of his ice hit a shield. Lucy's eyes widened in fright when the barrier around Acnologia darkened and expanded toward the mages. Within seconds, three mages were sailing into the air to fall far away.
"Now," she whispered. She felt when Loke's arms enclosed her form. Shutting her eyes, the cold wind hit her face. She clutched onto Loke with all her might, the rush of warping through the celestial world momentarily dizzied her. When she felt the air stilled around her, she was standing in front of Acnologia, blinking as the magnificent male stared at her with an expressionless face. But somehow, she could tell that he was astonished that she escaped from the place he left her.
Behind her, the ground began to tremble. Three battered forms pushed themselves to stand. The dark dragon slayer eyes shifted from her to them. His eyes sweeping across their beatened bodies. He took a step toward her and them. "Wait," she said as she put out a hand to stop him.
On cue, chains erupted from the ground and wrapped around the three battered mages. A pink-haired maid popped out from a hole on the ground. Then wool surrounded the mages to keep them in place as another gentle spirit flashed next to the maid. She bowed before the battered forms of Lucy's friends, her short curls falling at the sides of her face. The celestial mage was aware that Aries was apologizing to them. It was an apology that Lucy herself couldn't tell them in person at the moment.
Acnologia's eyes moved back to her. His eyebrows lifting. It was the only response she was going to get from him.
"Lucy," she heard Natsu from behind her.
There was a moment of silence when Lucy took a stumbling step toward the dark dragon slayer.
"Lucy!" Natsu called out for her but this time in desperation. "Don't go to that bastard!"
"What are you doing?" the requip mage yelled at her, breaking out of her shock.
The other rest of their shouts went unheeded as the blond girl stopped before the calm creature. However, Lucy knew better. However relaxed he appeared, he could become ruthless.
She closed her eyes, hoping he remained true to his words. He wasn't going to hurt her. She inhaled a deep breath before opening her eyes. "Please don't hurt them."
She glanced down at her feet as she felt his sharp eyes studying her. Biting her lip, she waited for his decision.
"Who are they to you?" he asked. His tone rumbled, causing her body to shiver slightly.
"They're my friends," she answered him honestly. Even if she tried to lie, he would sense her deceit.
"Friends?" She glanced up to the blue sky, blinking to stay in control. Seeing the sky, a clear blue, she wished the scene around her was also as serene.
"They're part of the guild, Fairy Tail-."
"How are they still alive?" he interrupted her.
His question caught her off guard. She found herself looking at him with fear, her body freezing.
"Their magic, especially the filth wielding the fire died some years back."
She started breathing harshly, panic arising in her. So he was the one that attacked Tenrou Island? She shouldn't be astounded. She had a hunch he was the same creature who attacked Fairy Tail's private island when his huge dragon form pursued her from the sky a couple of days ago.
"I can explain everything," she told him but he didn't look like he was listening. Instead his hand shot out, faster than her eyes could follow. He grabbed a lock of her golden hair, his fingers curling around it.
"You were on the island too," he growled lowly in his throat. Again, she froze. Her eyes watering at his calculating stare. "What else are you hiding from me?"
"I..." Her words faltered.
"Lucy!" her partner roared from behind her. She felt his magic rising from in back of her. She had to do something before everything turned worse.
She moved her body into the direction of his call when she felt a sudden yank on her hair. Crying out, she turned back to Acnologia. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and wrapped the tresses around his fist.
Lucy shut her eyes and she forced herself to take deep breaths,. She tried to ignore the pain spiraling up her leg from her injured ankle. When she felt her heart beating normally, her eyes opened and she attempted to talk to the dark male in front of her in a soothing tone. "I can stop them and then I'll go back with you."
"Let her go!" the fire dragon slayer bellowed behind her. With a sudden burst of strength, Natsu broke free from the chains and wool binding him. But before he could sprint to them, Virgo's chains latched onto him.
"She is mine," Acnologia bared his teeth, green eyes flaring to life. His growl shivered through the ground at her feet, and his fist pulled at her hair. His tall body tensed.
"She's not yours," Erza yelled as she struggled in her binds.
Lucy flung one hand at them. "Stop!"
In her gentling voice, she tried to reason with the dangerous dragon shape shifter. "Acnologia," she whispered, aware that he would hear her with his draconic hearing. "Please, look at me." She kept her words terse. "Not at them, but me please."
Those flaring eyes turned to her, causing her breath to hitch. It was then Lucy acknowledged that the dark male was immersed in the dragon.
"Thank you," she breathed. Shifting closer to him, she rested a hand lightly on his hard-muscled chest. "I know you're very angry but this is not worth fighting over. I'm to serve only you, that means I'll be going with you, not them." Then she added, "I promise."
His dangerous face lost composure but before the others could visualize it, he closed the distance between them. He bent down, his forehead touching hers. "You're mine," he told her.
Lucy swallowed, being rendered speechless. She just nodded her head. When he retreated, giving her space to think, an idea popped into her mind. "Letting me go won't change a thing." Her hand still remained on his chest and she moved that hand to his shoulder. She a took a step toward him and whispered, "Please."
His fingers loosened from her hair and he let her pull away. Pivoting on her feet but standing within catching range, she faced her friends. "Natsu, Erza, Gray, and Happy. Thank you for searching for me but I have a debt to pay. I'll be fine, so please don't worry about me and don't come looking for me again. I'll come back to you when this is all over. Now, if you're really my friends you will respect my decision." She prayed that Natsu's sensitive hearing picked up all her words. From the rage, to sadness, to surprise that flickered across his face she could tell that he heard her clearly.
Her neck craned over her shoulder, a small smile was on her pretty face. "And I'll pay their debts as well."
"No, Luce!" The fire dragon slayer shouted.
"This train wreck is my doing." The celestial mage used an analogy to describe her situation. "And I'm the only one who can fix it." She would deal with her problems without involving those important to her.
Acnologia moved closer to her, a heavy arm wrapping around her waist. With ease, he swept her off her feet and in a blur Lucy found herself being taken farther away from her friends, her name ringing in the air.
Now, the last part of her plan had to be executed. Loke was to make an appearance to her guild and explain the situation she got herself in and warn them not to come for her. She prayed with all her heart that they would have enough sense to listen to him.
A/N: Hi everyone. It's been awhile and I apologize. Life has a way of slowing down my inspiration and well, I'm struggling to finish writing ten different stories. This is why my updating process is very slow. Please understand this as a writer to readers out there. But I kindly appreciate all the support you have shown me through following and adding this story as a favorite in your reading list. And I really appreciate those of you who take the time to review my stories.
I just wanted to quickly answer some questions left by reviewers because I thought by answering them in my story, I was answering those questions. I guess they weren't clear. The setting of the story takes place after Tartaros Arc. Natsu and Happy don't leave to go on their journey. Lucy leaves before them to train with her spirits canceling their trip. After losing Aquarius, Lucy realizes that she has to become stronger to a point that she never has to make another sacrifice. As for the star dress, she can use it but she's not fully aware of the mechanics behind it since she used it only once. Lucy talks with Loke and realizes that within a short frame of time, she can only focus on strengthening one aspect of her magic, which is lengthening her time when she summons her spirits. She wants to be able to call on more than two spirits since what happened to Aquarius. Summoning three spirits at once puts a magical strain on her. Also, she carries around the guilt for sacrificing her closest spirit to save her friends.
Something important to note is the fight (in Tartaros Arc) between Igneel and Acnologia doesn't happen. Again, it's for this story's purpose.
The theory of the one magic (for this story's sake) is that all beings are born with a certain amount of magic in them. Those who can use the magic are mages. Those who possess a large amount of magic but can't use it are called Magical Sources. It is believed that in the beginning of time there were more Magical Sources than mages. However, Magical Sources cannot live pass a certain age due to their physical body not being able to support the magic within them. Within time, the numbers of Magical Sources decreased whereas mages increased. Also, another importance of the one magic is that magic always balances itself, like a yin/yang thing. Dark and light. In this sense Acnologia's power is being balance by Lucy's power, which explains her power awakening when he makes contact with her (or at least on a magical level). More on this theory will be explained in later chapters.
Also, I received an interesting comment which I will like to address. I wrote this story in June 2015. That was over two years ago. At the time I solely used Wikia as my research base since I didn't have access to the manga. The anime (Tartaros Arc) didn't come out by then so I left everything to my imagination. By the time the anime came out, I couldn't change this story to fit the canon. So I'm sorry if Lucy comes out as a weak character or she should be portrayed like Erza (a kick-ass chick). Personally, there are different types of strengths. I was hoping that through Lucy's growth, that it shows that a female shouldn't have to physically beat up someone to be considered strong. That's all.
If you have anymore questions, feel free to PM me. I will be glad to answer them. However, I cannot give away what will happen in this story. Please don't forget to leave a review too.