Natsu, along with the rest of Fairy Tail and a number of other mages from other guilds, sprinted out of the stadium, shoving their way through the screaming crowd as they ran out to the dragon. From where they stood, just outside the stadium, the flap of its massive wings could be heard like thunder, especially loud to the dragon slayer.
Natsu charged forwards, sprinting with all his power. He should have been out there, he needed to help his nakama. He took twists and turns as he followed his nose, catching the scent of Gray's icy scent and Erza's metallic smell.
When Natsu turned the final corner, the rest of the mages far behind him, he saw a sight he had not been expecting.
His eyes caught sight of the blowing gold of Wonderland magic, he saw out of the corner of his eye as Erza shouted out Alice's name as the Wonderland mage went flying backwards, having shield them from Acnologia's roar, showing just how powerful she really was, defending her friends from an attack that all of Fairy Tail couldn't stop.
With his enhanced senses, Natsu saw Alice's pale face twisted in something that must have been pain as she went flying backwards, crashing into a building behind her, and slumping down, into seemingly unconsciousness.
"Erza!" Natsu shouted as he ran over to his nakama and stood in front of her, seeing the scratches and cuts that marred her body, to protect her.
"Is Alice okay?" Erza questioned him as she feebly tried to push him to the side, to tell him she would fight, but he stood strong in front of her.
"I think she's unconscious," Natsu answered, "How on Earthland did Acnologia get here?!"
"He must have followed us," Erza responded, and she looked like she was about to faint, her magic running low as her tired body sagged slightly.
"You can't fight it Erza," Natsu stated.
"Neither can you," Erza pointed out, "If the whole of Fairy Tail couldn't beat this thing, I doubt you alone could."
"Then we need the most powerful mages here right now," Natsu instructed as he watched Acnologia, whose head had tilted to the side, as if he was considering something.
"Well the most powerful mage seems to be unconscious having saved the rest of us," Erza answered, "And seeing how Sabertooth would be less than willing to help, it means it's down to the rest of us. Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, Mermaid Heel. But the strongest mages from each team competed, so they would have used up their magic power. There's no way we can beat this thing."
"I will not let it beat us again!" Natsu roared, and his fist erupted into flames as he charged forward, aiming for the dragon.
"Fire Dragon's-" Natsu started to use magic, but Acnologia struck first, without using any magic, relying only on his sheer strength, the mighty dragon hit Natsu square in the chest, and sent the Dragon Slayer flying backwards.
Erza stared fearfully at the mighty dragon, scared of what it would do, what she could not protect her nakama from. But she did what Fairy Tail did, she stood strong, even though she had her doubts, even though she was scared, she stood strong. She looked to Natsu, she would do this for her nakama.
She looked to Alice's unconscious form, she would do this for her little sister.
"You will not pass," Erza hissed to the dragon, using the little magical power running through her vein to reequip into another armour, but Acnologia did not seem to be watching her.
The dragon started to move, dragging his feet forwards to get closer, seeming to move towards Alice's unconscious body.
"Stay away from her!" Erza screamed, sprinting forwards, her teeth digging into her bottom lip as pain throbbed through her body, her leg swollen and bloody, but she pained it no mind as she charged.
Acnologia swung his tail, its sharp limb crashing into Erza, and with a pained shriek Erza went flying backwards. She expected to feel a painful thump, to receive some heavy bruising on her back as she slammed against one of the many building walls that surrounded them.
But instead she was met by a soft mattress like substance that cushioned her fall. Her tired eyes opened a fraction to see the White Rabbit, who she had known as Aries, had saved her, and the previously pink haired, now white, celestial spirit gave her a smile before she turned to Acnologia. Erza saw Aries as not alone, and with awestruck eyes she saw that all of Team Wonderland, all of Lucy's Spirits, were there, and Loke, or the Mad Hatter, was helping a now awake Lucy, up.
"How dare you hurt my nakama!" Lucy shouted, and Erza felt tears well up in her eyes as she remembered how strong Lucy had always been. Now, as she watched her blonde haired sister stand strong, even though her body was covered in cuts and her left arm definitely dislocated, Lucy did not flinch as she moved it, casting a spell as her team attacked to.
"Wonderland Fusion!" Lucy shouted, and moving her arms in a complex series of movement, all her spirits pushed their arms forward, and out of their palms flowed glowing golden energy, all of it floating upwards, fusing together and joining in one massive, powerful attack. The ball of energy shot towards Acnologia, and as its heavily defended body was thrown backwards, Team Wonderland charged, each of them preparing an attack of their own.
A beam of red shot out of Aquarius's hands, and Erza knew it was water, the same attack she had witnessed so many times, only different in colour.
Erza recognised all the attacks sent out by the spirits, seeing the slight differences as she watched them all be fired in unison at Acnologia.
In a burst of magical power the Dragon was pulled of its feet and sent flying backwards, but it managed to stop itself from crashing through buildings, and instead as soon as the attacks had been fired, creating a crater underneath the mighty beast, it charged.
It was too fast, sprinting towards Alice at unbelievable speed.
But even more unbelievable was how Alice managed to dodge the head-butts it sent her way, jumping and spinning to avoid the swift attacks, even a handstand to get out of the way, which Erza could tell was painful due to the Wonderland mage's dislocated arm.
Acnologia opened his mouth and Erza's eyes widened in fear as she recognised the move she had seen so many times before.
Acnologia was going to roar.
And Alice wouldn't be able to defend them form it again, Erza could tell from the look of shock and fear that was plastered on her features.
But then Acnologia shut its jaw, closing its mouth, its head tilted for a second as everyone stared at in shock, before it pushed off the ground, flapping its massive wings as it pushed off the ground and flew into the sky, disappearing into the distance.
Alice was staring at the sky where Acnologia had flown off, Erza was lying down on a mattress of white fluff, and Team Wonderland were all looking at their leader. After Alice gave them a small nod of her head, all of them with the exception of Loke disappeared into glimmers of golden, returning to the celestial world, or Wonderland as they called it now.
"Acnologia is gone," Alice stated, and she turned around, lifting her arms, to use her magic and lift the unconscious Fairies off the ground.
Alice took in a choked breath, and shakily her arms fell to her sides.
A cough erupted from her mouth, and the Hatter was by side in a second, Erza noted, and as the Knight Mage pushed herself up, she watched a trail of thick blood drip down from Alice's mouth, splattering on the floor as she hacked up more of the sticky substance.
"Lucy!" Erza cried, as she moved towards the Wonderland mage, only to see she couldn't move, and as she was going to fall to the floor, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist, keeping her up.
"I was so worried," the voice she knew to belong to Jellal whispered, and Erza shut her eyes momentarily, and she felt his hand tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear, and they stared into one another's eyes.
"Alice!" Meredy screamed, and she, along with Ultear, ran over to the Wonderland mage, while Jellal, who was holding Erza, only moved his head, and watched with wide, shocked eyes as the blonde coughed spitting out masses of blood.
"What's wrong with her?" Erza questioned as she tried to move, hopping as she avoided using her foot, and Jellal kept his arm around her waist as he helped her hobble over to Alice who was by now on the floor, a pool of blood in front of her as Loke held her close, Meredy and Ultear panicky fretting above her head.
"Hatter what's going on?!" Ultear demanded.
"Is Alice okay?!" Meredy squeaked.
"I-I'm f-f-fine," Alice choked out, taking in a shaky breath as she leant back against Loke, and it was then that Erza realised she was all but on his lap, but the Knight Mage filed that away for later. The Hatter stroked her hair as she shuddered and shivered, hissing as she took in shaky breaths.
"You don't look it," Ultear retorted, "You're as white as a sheet, just hacked up a bath full of blood, scared a dragon away, and you're telling me you're fine?"
"I didn't scare Acnologia away," Alice answered, looking to the Hatter as if for confirmation, "He was instructed to go away, just how he was instructed to go after me."
"Acnologia is after you?!" Meredy screamed.
"Why is the most powerful dragon hunting you down?" Ultear demanded.
"It doesn't matter," Alice brushed it off, and the Hatter stood up, before he helped her to her feet.
"Yes it does," Ultear argued, "You can't just pretend you weren't attack by a dragon. And if you're right, and you didn't scare it away, then it'll come back, and then you'll need our help, so you better start explaining."
"You need to go," Alice stated.
"You can't think we'll just leave-" Ultear was protesting, but Alice cut her off.
"The rest of the mages are coming," Alice countered, "Wendy has smelt us, so she knows where to come, and as much as I trust her, I don't trust all the mages form the other guilds who are following her, including Fairy Tail, who some of which, won't be the happiest to see you."
"We're going to sort this out later," Ultear pointed at Alice as she took Meredy's hand and pulled her away, as well as nodding to Jellal, who looked to Erza with an emotion Alice knew to be love in his eyes, and she watched as he debated about hugging her, and then the redhead wrapped her arms around his neck pressing a soft kiss on his check, before she smiled at him. The now heavily blushing Jellal gave her a small smile before she ran and caught up with his guild mates.
There was a thunder of footsteps, and a mass of mages sprinted round the corner, having been led by Wendy.
"They're alive!" someone shouted as they saw the mages were still standing, albeit a little injured, but still alive.
"How did they do it?!" another yelled.
"The whole of Fairy Tail couldn't defeat that beast!" a voice screamed.
"Are you okay Lucy?" Erza whispered her question to the Wonderland mage, who gave her a genuine, real smile in return.
"I'm fine," Lucy responded, "But… In public, can you call me Alice? I… I don't want everyone knowing."
"Alright," Erza accepted, "But what happened? Why were you coughing up blood?"
"You know when I died?" Alice questioned the redhead, who nodded in response, "My body is a fusion, part celestial part human. Although I won't deny it's the best thing that I've ever done, it comes with consequences. There are times where my body rejects my celestial part, if that makes any sense. I have a beating heart, but because of this fusion part of me, the celestial part, starts to disintegrate when it's out of the celestial world for too long. Seeing how this celestial part of me is vital now, the left side of my heart is celestial and the right human. If one side fails, I start to die, choking on my own blood like that. It's painful, but I don't actually die."
Erza looked away.
"You say that so casually," Erza remarked, "So simply, as if it is an everyday thing."
"We all die Erza," Alice countered, and their gazes met, staring into one another's eyes for a moment.
"You've changed," Erza stated.
"I told you I had," Alice pointed out.
"You thought you'd only changed in power, that you couldn't come back because you were strong," Erza corrected, "But you've changed so much you're not the Lucy we knew, not the Lucy I knew. The Lucy I loved wouldn't hide away from this she wouldn't be okay with making her nakama worry about her, she would do anything to lessen her nakama's suffering. I see now why you want me to keep your secret why you want me to call you Alice, not because you can't come back, because you're ashamed of who you have become."
Alice stared at Erza, and the redhead only turned around and walked to her nakama, the fallen Natsu, stroking his forehead as she tried to get him to wake up, beckoning Wendy over to heal him. Alice was frozen, staring into the distance.
Because Erza's words were true, the truth that Alice had never wanted to acknowledge, never wanted to reveal.
But Erza had read her like a book.
Because that was what Erza did.
Alice looked away, turning to Juvia's limp form, and her hands glowed gold, shaking ever so slightly as the cuts and bruises faded, Juvia's pale complexion returning, and her blue eyes blinking open, but Alice had already moved on. Levy was sobbing over Gajeel's limp form, and Alice gently took her hands and placed them on Levy's lap, turning and healing Gajeel. As soon as the Iron Dragon Slayer opened his eyes, Levy flung herself into his arms, sobbing as a startled Gajeel held her, uncertain as he tried to comfort her. But Alice had moved to Laxus, moving round a sobbing Freed to heal the Lightening Dragon Slayer.
When Alice was done, and seeing that Wendy had healed Natsu and Gray, the Wonderland mage walked through the crowd of mages who shouted questions at her, answering none as she walked through them, the Hatter just behind her, his head bowed as he followed her steps.
~Down the Rabbit Hole~
Erza drained her mug, placing it down on the table of the inn's bar as she stared ahead. Natsu was at her side, as was Gray, all three of them covered in bandages from their earlier fight, the physical injuries gone but their muscles strained and tired. The two rivals shared a look, the redhead had been staring ahead for the last half hour, and both the males were worried.
No one knew what exactly the two powerful mages had shared while they faced death itself, and neither of them was willing to share why they had not looked one another in the eye.
"Erza…" Gray called to the redhead who seemed to be a million miles away, and he reached out and placed his arm on her shoulder, attracting her attention, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Erza snapped, "The answer won't change not matter how many people ask."
"We're only asking because we're worried," Natsu defended.
"Well you don't need to be!" Erza exclaimed, and she took in a deep breath.
"Come on Erza," Gray pushed, "We've known each other for years, since we were kids. We can help."
Erza was silent for a moment, pushing her mug across the bar to the bartender who took it and moved away to serve another customer.
"I stepped over the line," Erza whispered, "I said something to Alice, something that hurt her, but… I think it's the truth."
"So?" Natsu questioned.
"We knew her," Erza murmured, "We knew Alice before we left to Tenrou."
"What?!" Gray cried.
"But… She isn't who she was," Erza continued, "She's changed so much we can hardly recognise her… And she doesn't want to come back. She's too ashamed… To embarrassed of what she did and what she's become to return to her nakama."
"But if I knew her I'd recognise her scent," Natsu declared, "We can't have forgotten about anybody! I never forget anyone!"
"You haven't!" Erza shrieked, tears streaming down her face, "That's the thing! No one has been forgotten! She's… She's just so different you can't possibly think they're one! That Alice is L-"
Erza stopped herself, looking away, but Gray stared at her, thinking in his mind of all the people with L in their name that he knew before the seven year time skip. Lisanna, Laki, Levy, but all of them were still here, Lyra, but she was one of Lucy's celestial spirits. Then there was Lucy.
But it couldn't be her.
Gray thought back, Alice and Lucy both shared blonde hair, and they had found out Alice was a celestial spirit mage, and Gray counted the number of 'teammates' Alice had, the exact same number of celestial spirits Lucy had. They both had the same face shape, and although they had different colour eyes, Gray knew contacts easily changed that.
Then when Alice had left the training, the next day the newspapers announced that Jude Heartfilia has passed away.
Was Alice…?
Could Lucy be…?
Gray stared at Erza with wide eyes. Natsu, as dense as always, hadn't picked up on half the points Gray had, and was looking down as Erza pushed off her chair and stormed out of the bar. Natsu let out a sigh, not realising Gray was rooted to the spot.
"Why does she have to be so difficult?" Natsu whined as he moved over to go and talk with Lisanna.
Gray sprung off his chair, determined to find out if his suspicion was true, as much as he already knew it was. The pushed his way through the crowd of his drunken guild mates, and pushed through the doors. Erza was long gone, and he cursed under his breath, he was too slow to catch up with her. So instead the ice mage ran to the first path, thinking Erza would have had a mind too clouded to formulate a route, and would have gone for the first option available.
Soon enough Gray was lost, having followed path after path and come up blank, no sign of Erza. He found himself in a park of sorts, and letting out a deep sigh as he kicked a nearby tree. Gray returned to the path, and went to walk on, when someone bumped into him, and he turned around to shout at them in his bad mood.
"Sorry," the familiar voice of the Mad Hatter apologised, and Gray noticed the celestial spirit looked rather pale. Gray froze for a second as the puzzle pieces fell into place, and the familiar ginger haired spirit's identity came to him.
"Loke?!" Gray exclaimed, and the Mad Hatter froze, staring at Gray for a second, before he blinked and all his expression turned blank.
"My name's the Mad Hatter, not Loke," the Hatter, or Loke, stated, before he used his signature maddened grin, "I see I'm not the only mad one."
"You really think I wouldn't recognise you Loke?" Gray questioned, "I've known you for years, and we ever shared an apartment together. But really? Another identity? Did you tire of Loke? Or was it Leo?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," the Hatter, or Loke, denied.
"I know you're Loke," Gray shouted, "That Alice is Lucy! All of Team Wonderland are her spirits!"
"Erza told?" the Hatter cried in surprise.
"That confirms it then," Gray taunted.
"You don't understand," the Hatter argued.
"Yeah, I don't," Gray agreed, "Why did Lucy leave Fairy Tail? Why did you let her? Why did she join Blue Pegasus? Since when was she this powerful?"
"I'm not going to answer any of your questions!" the Hatter declared.
"Loke," Gray whispered, "She's like my little sister…"
"You've always known how to persuade me," Loke sighed, "Though normally it was just to clean up after myself."
"I knew it!" Gray cried, "I knew it was you!"
"I haven't changed that much," Loke rolled his eyes, "But Gray, I'm not going to say anymore, but you're right, Alice is Lucy, and the team are her spirits."
"Okay, I get it," Gray accepted, "You're not going to tell me anything more. But please, just one thing, is Lucy happy?"
"I don't know how to answer that one," Loke murmured, "Sometimes, she looks so happy I'm so glad she moved on, that she gave up on Fairy Tail. But then, you guys coming back, it's tearing her apart. But she doesn't show it, she suppresses everything, keeps her emotions hidden, and I barely even see them now."
"But you're still there for her," Gray point out, putting his hand on her shoulder, "I'm glad she's got you, and even as her older brother, I am pretty pleased about this match."
"Match?" Loke clarified, and then his face heated up, "No! Why does everything think we're together?"
"Because you like her?" Gray teased, "And she likes you?"
"No she doesn't," Loke whispered, "I bet she hasn't even thought about it. She's my master, I'm her servant, nothing more."
"And yet Lucy sees you as a friend," Gray countered, and then a wistful look came over his eyes, "Or she used too…"
"Sorry Gray, I've got to go," Loke apologised, "Al-Lucy needs me."
"Look after her," Gray whispered, and Loke nodded before he disappeared into a series of golden sparkles, leaving the Ice mage alone.
It was one of those rare occasions where Lucy was not Alice, the blonde had walked out of the inn, choosing rather to be one with nature. Wearing a pair of skinny jeans and a camisole with a fur lined hoodie over the top, the blonde had walked out with her blonde hair tied up in a loose ponytail.
"Loke?" Lucy whispered, and immediately he appeared by her side, lying down next to her on the grass, staring up at the sky with her, watching as the stars twinkled and glimmered in the night sky. It was instinct that made her call for him, and it was instinct that he knew she needed him. The lion spirit was not the Hatter, wearing his black suit as he lay down next to her.
Loke didn't need to say a word, only taking her hand in his, and joining her in admiring the night sky.
"You're up there," Lucy pointed out, using her finger to trace his constellation from where she sat, before turning to face her best friend, "Is Erza right? Can I not go back, because I'm ashamed of who I've become?"
"Do you think that?" Loke questioned in a volume no louder than a whisper as he looked into her startling blue eyes, the contacts she wore that told him she was not his Lucy, but Alice.
"I don't know anymore," Lucy all but sobbed, "I don't know who I am anymore, yet alone what I'm feeling."
Loke squeezed her hand in response, and used their joined hands to point up the sky, tracing another constellation.
"That's Leo Minor," Loke explained, "My little brother. We used to have the same owner, hundreds of years ago. I watched him grow up, and my old owner used to summon him more often than me summoning only him for nearly everything. Then one day he returns, and I don't even recognise him. There was a mission gone wrong, our old owner died. From that day on he changed, solemn, sad, guilty, he's been like that since. I hardly even recognise him anymore."
Loke turned to look at the blonde haired beauty.
"It's your decision," Loke whispered, "No one can make it for you, but I'll support you either way. You have to choose, because this is tearing you apart. Do you want to let the world change you, or are you going to change the world?"
"You think I should go back to Fairy Tail…" Lucy pointed out.
"I'm bias," Loke smiled at her softly as he spoke.
"But Blue Pegasus," Lucy looked to Loke with saddened eyes, "They accepted me when I couldn't accept myself. I can't just leave them."
"You have two hands," Loke stated.
"I'm not following," Lucy admitted, and Loke released her hand from his grip, sitting up and taking her other hand, making her sit up too. He held both her hands in his own, stroking the back of her palms.
"You had your Blue Pegasus Guild mark put on your left hand," Loke explained, "And your Fairy Tail mark was on your right. You have two hands. You have two guild. Two families."
"Still lost," Lucy sadly giggled, and Loke pulled her to her feet.
"At a wedding," Loke continued, and he bent down on one knee, taking Lucy's hand in his own and miming putting a ring on her finger, before he stood up and smiled at her, "The marriage of the husband and wife join two families. Those two now have two families."
"So you mean…" Lucy whispered, wide eyes filled with awe as Loke nodded.
"You don't even have to choose," Loke finished for her, "Why can't you have two families?"
"But then who will I be?" Lucy questioned, "Am I Lucy or Alice? S-Class mage who's arguably a Wizard Saint, or Lucy of Fairy Tail who stands on the side-lines and watches as her nakama are hurt?"
"That is your choice," Loke answered.
"But what do I choose?" Lucy asked.
"That's up to you, but no matter what you decide I will always-" Loke spoke but stopped when he realised what he had been about to say, I will always love you, and instead changed it, a light blush covering his cheeks, "I will always be faithful to my master."
Lucy moved forward, closing the small gap between then, and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest as his arms wrapped out her waist by instinct. His eyes fluttered shut as he felt her warmth so close to him, she was in his arms.
But that nagging thought in his head told him it was not romantic, it was only because she saw him as a friend.
"Thank you," Lucy murmured into his chest.
They stayed there, like that, in one another's embrace. As the night sky shone behind them, Lucy had never felt better.
~Down the Rabbit Hole~
A/N HEY GUYS! Sorry for the wait!
Guest (1): :D I'm proud of that cliffhanger! It stirred so many different emotions! Oh yeah! It does! Sorry it took a while for the update… :)
Amanda: I'm glad! What did you think of this chapter?
xxchatonxx: Sorry about the wait! I'm glad you loved it. Well, nobody died, so that's the good thing!
Guest (2): I'm flattered, but it's not that good. I make so many typos… But that is because I'm dyslexic… Thank you! Your comment made me smile! Sorry there was a big wait!
HOPEFULLY THE WAIT WON'T BE TOO LONG! THANKS EVERYONE!
Becney :P