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...Before you guys get on me for not updating this... Understand: Work had been dragging us through the bone, I had Breast Reduction Surgery, since October 30th, to help with my back, shoulder and neck pain (Along with my posture, for standing in one spot, while as a checker) and, while on medication, slowly started getting back to writing.
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...Plus, I played the PlayStation 4 Fairy Tail game... Took me two weeks, since I bought it, to finish it and get all the trophies... Which, slowly, got me back to writing Fairy Tail FanFic.
I still wanna focus on my My Hero Academia story, and still hung on with my Final Fantasy XV story... But, I'm still clinging to working on this story.
I promise, I'm not going to abandon it.
"Erza! You need to slow down!" Gray called out, riding the top of the Magical Vehicle, nearly falling off when she had the vehicle drive off road and going over rocks. "You're using too much of your power! You need to conserve your energy!"
"There's no other choice! We have to press onwards!" Erza replied, keeping her eyes focused ahead of her. "We're running out of time! Should Erigor gets his hand on Lullaby, then many lives will be lost!"
From inside, Natsu was leaning against the seat, grasping at his vest... Again, his motion sickness was getting to him.
Happy had his paws out, letting his claws out to hang on to the seat behind him for dear life from how fast and bumpy they were driving.
Like Erza, Lucy focused on what was ahead of them.
'If we don't get Lullaby from Eisenwald, hundreds-... No... Thousands... Even millions of lives, will end up lost!'
"...Oh, God... I think my stomach liquified into muss." Natsu groaned, having a hand to over his mouth, feeling the urge to vomit building up.
Seeing him in that state, hit her like a ton of bricks.
"Oh no! I completely forgot!" She cried, pulling her mini-red saddle bag in front of her. "I'm sorry, Natsu. I meant to give you this, earlier, but Erza decided to knock you out on the train, before I could even give it to you."
She pulled out a small-white bottle, opening the cap and forced out two pills out. While putting that away, she reached in her bag and pulled out one of the five bags of beef jerky from within and a water bottle*.
"Natsu, take these."
He stared down at the white-pills in her hands, confused to what she was offering to them.
"What is it?" He asked, reaching a hand out to hold them in his palms.
"Motion sickness medicine. I was going to give it to you, earlier, but Erza knocked you out before I could do so. I don't know if it'll completely cure you of your illness, but it may help you, somewhat. -She handed over the water bottle, then lifted up the pack of beef jerky.- Best take them with water, after getting some food in your stomach. Do let me know, if you feel funny, because there's a chance that you'll end up-"
Not bothering to hear what she was going to warn him about, Natsu shoved the two pills into his mouth and chugged down the water bottle she gave him, before ripping the bag open with his teeth and shoving down the beef jerky down his throat.
...
...
...Then, the instant they went into his stomach... His body dropped forward, sprawled on the ground.
Lucy stared at him, stunned at what she just witnessed... Before grumbling out what she needed to tell him.
"...Getting drowsy..." 'I think I just made it worse and, because I gave him medicine that's supposed to help his motion sickness, I'm afraid on making it worse if I gave him medicine for his drowsiness and dizziness he could be experiencing right now.'
Seeing this go on before him, Happy gave her his traditional smile.
"Don't worry, Lucy." He reassured, patting her on the arm with his paw. "He'll be fine. In fact, I'd say that you, actually, made him better."
...She didn't believe what he was telling her.
'"Better"?! How is this any better?! At least he was a bit responsive, before he took those pills! How am I suppose to know, if having him being disoriented and drowsy is better than him being awake, when we'll end up being in a serious battle?!'
"Lucy, is everything okay back there?!" Erza called out, her eyes set on following the trail of black-smoke rising into the air.
The seventeen year-old didn't want to inform the scarlet Mage that she may have messed up... But, she knew that she has to tell the nineteen year-old of the condition of their Guild member.
"...I think I made Natsu's condition worse," she answered. "I gave him some motion sickness medication, and he's going through the side effects of the medication, since he didn't bother heeding my warning on taking the medication after he ate something, first. He appears to be drowsy, probably sleeping it off, and, somewhat, dizzy."
...Erza went silent, much to Lucy's increased worry, fearing that she was going to get a serious lecture from the older-woman.
On top of the car, Gray snickered at the news.
"I was wondering why he got quiet," he called out. "Nice going, Luce!"
She didn't take the compliment from the eighteen year-old as a good thing.
"...Does he look ill, or show any sign of being uncomfortable?" Erza asked, driving through the trees.
Kneeling beside the pink-haired teen, she still sees his skin somewhat clammy and sweat beading down his face... However, despite all that, he didn't look as if he was going to hurl and didn't responding negatively at the bumps they're driving through.
"...He still looks a bit pale, but other than that... I think he's a bit more at ease from the moving."
Again, there was a moment of pause... Then, a response.
"Good! We can't have his motion sickness hinder him, when it'll be time for battle. Continue to watch over his condition, you two!"
She didn't expected to be praised for making their Dragon Slayer be forced under the side effect of medication... But, so long as he isn't ill by his motion sickness, then it should no longer be a problem.
"Of course he'll be ready to fight, Erza!" Happy replied, looking down at his friend... And, somewhat, father-figure, for raising him and taking care of him since he was still in his egg. "He just needs to sleep it off and, after a moment on being out of the vehicle, he'll be good as news! -He looked to Lucy, smiling at her.- You should make sure to bring those pills with us, for our future missions, Lucy!"
Lucy didn't know if he was being serious, or was teasing her on how she basically screwed up on knocking out Natsu... Though, seeing it made him somewhat more bearable to endure riding the Magical Vehicle, she considered keeping the pills.
After driving through the forest, they ended up parking beside a ledge... Below them, they see Kunugi Station.
...
...Passengers stand outside of the train they were on... Well, the boxcars that was connected to the train... Standing outside of the station, the Fiore Royal Military stood outside, preventing anybody from entering the station.
"Some guy with a scary looking scythe and his crew, just took over the train!" A passenger yelled.
"I think I know who those guys are! I think they're from that Dark Guild, Eisenwald!" Another replied.
"Those punks, they've been hanging around this part of town for the past few weeks!" A third added in, earning a few gasps from the other passengers.
Their words troubled Erza, and the others.
Lucy, sticking her head out through the window, stared down at the people below her... Her eyes glistened in sadness, when she sees one of the conductors, sprawled on the ground, surrounded by his coworkers... Lifeless.
'Their choice for a getaway, doesn't seem very wise.' She thought, focusing on deducting what could posses Eisenwald to take a train. 'It would make more sense for them to take a car, since it can go off road. Or even a boat, which would give them plenty of room to hide. But a train, a public use for transportation...?'
"It doesn't seem they're very smart, since a train can only follow the tracks it's on." Happy commented, also sticking his head out the window.
"That's very true, Happy, but a train can be quite fast." Erza pointed out.
Gray, finally able to get into the Magical Vehicle, sat at the other-side of the vehicle... Wearing nothing but his boxers, with his clothes scattered on the ground.
"Guess it's going to be up to us to figure out where they're going, and why, in such a big hurry." He muttered.
Lucy, seeing him not noticing his lack of clothes, glared at him.
"Gray, your clothes are off!" She growled, slightly blushing at having to see him almost nude.
"What?" He replied, looking down and, finally, noticing that his clothes are on the ground. He, too, blushed, and immediately grabbed his clothing. "I'm so sorry, Lucy!"
While Gray is in the process on putting his clothes back on, Lucy stuck her head back out from the window.
"It's a good thing that somebody was able to call in the military, so that the passengers will be safe and checked over for injuries... However, -Her eyes narrowed at the tracks.- Even if they do end up catching up to Eisenwald... With Lullaby in their possession, I fear they won't be able to stand a chance against a Curse Magic tool, that brings death."
Erza, also, thought the same thing.
"I, too, shutter at the thought, Lucy." She replied, before pushing the vehicle to go forward and head for the same direction the engine of the train is heading.
Gray, having his clothes back on, opened his door and started to climb back on to the vehicle.
Lucy didn't protested his disregard for his safety, knowing that he was going to stay on top of the vehicle to stay on a lookout for anybody that could be from Eisenwald and try to ambush them. So, she scooted over and kept the door open with her right-hand, while keeping her left on her whip in case he slips and she can catch him with her whip before he falls, until he secured himself on the top of the vehicle and she closed the door.
She then went to take his spot, glaring ahead.
'There's no telling on how many members of Eisenwald we'll be facing. But, if we can get at least one of them to tell us what their plan is, then we'll have a chance to a stop to their scheme... I just hope that we'll be ready to take them on.'
Half an Hour Later: In Oshibana Town...
*Screeeeech!*
Erza nearly slammed into the building, along with almost hitting some people, but had timed her breaks and turns exactly to avoid any casualties from making a sharp turn and pushed the Magical Vehicle to go forward.
Gray was barely able to keep his grip on the hood of the car.
"Slow down, Erza!" He yelled, getting nervous from the older-teen's reckless driving and concern at how fast she's making the vehicle going. "You're gonna overload the SE-plug!"
"I can't slow down!" She replied, her eyes locked on to the Oshibana Station... There, she and Gray saw black-smoke rising from station. "There's no telling on how many innocent people will die, if Lullaby is to play! We have to stop Eisenwald, before it's too late!"
"But at this rate, you're gonna use up all of your magic! You won't be able to use it, when we go into battle!" Gray argued.
"Well, then it's a good thing that I'm, also, skilled in hand-to-hand combat!" She pointed out, smiling. "Besides, I have you, Natsu and Lucy to assist me!"
From within the Magical Vehicle, Lucy kept watch over Natsu. Since the seat are a bit small, she decided to let him lay on the ground.
...However, not wanting to risk any possibility of his mind being effected by the shaking of the uneven ground, she sat down on the ground... And, gently pulling him to his back, laid his head to rest on her lap.
A low groan of protest left his lips from being moved, unconsciously coiling an arm over his stomach... In the process, he turned his head towards her stomach, burying his nose into her shirt.
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...
...Lucy blushed at the sudden contact he's making on her... Yet, for some reason, even when blushing in embarrassment and uncertainty, she couldn't find the strength to pull him off her.
Instead, she laid her left-hand on top of his spiky-hair, which was surprisingly soft, and gently carded her fingers through his pink-locks in slow, soothing motion.
The feeling of petting his hair was very different, than her time petting Happy. While she did pet the blue-cat to make him feel comfortable around her, it was to, also, make him feel relax and calm for whatever that could get him stressed, whether it be on a mission and/or a brawl that would go on at the Guild.
...With Natsu, as she's trying to get him comfortable... She felt it was something more than just to soothe him for his motion sickness. She didn't know what, but it made her feel...
...
...Happy...
On the seat, Happy had his arms crossed over his chest, looking lost in thought.
"You know, Lucy, I feel like there's something important that I'm supposed to tell you. But, for some reason, I can't remember what it was?" The cat said, his tail slowly swishing from side-to-side. "Now, what was it that? Let's see... Um... Your hair? No... Your... Weird...? Hungry...? Fishy? I like fish...! Wait, no, I just had fishy... Maybe it is fishy... I can't remember..."
Below the cat, Lucy simply stared at him. At first, she thought he was trying to say something random that pops in his head. But, seeing him trying to think really hard on what he wanted to tell her, told her that he was serious and needed to inform her about whatever it was he needed to tell her about.
She gave him a small-smile, as she continues to stroke Natsu's hair.
"Take your time on remembering," she told him. "It'll probably come to you, when you least expect it to pop up."
The blue-cat simply nodded his head, as he continued to ponder on what he needed to tell her.
Unfortunately, for the cat, he didn't have enough time to think, when Erza, without giving them much of a warning, made the Magical Vehicle skid into a complete stop.
Lucy barely had enough time to secure herself on her spot, using her right-hand to prevent her and Natsu from slamming into the seat in front of them.
Happy, forced forward, was able to snag her shirt with his claws... Unintentionally, he left some cuts on her right-shoulder, in the process. The cuts were deep enough to have blood slowly seeping from the wound, but are only minor and didn't bleed heavily.
...Still, Happy did feel bad that he hurt one of his friends.
When they felt the vehicle wasn't going to move and it was safe for them to move, Lucy looked up... She sees them being parked with other vehicles, in front of the Oshibana Station.
"We've arrived." Erza announced, detaching SE-plug from her wrist.
Lucy took that as the signal to get them out of the car. However, Natsu still hadn't gotten over his drowsiness.
So, as Happy opened the door to get out and holding it open for her, the seventeen year-old dragged him out of the Magical Vehicle and, with ease, wrapped his right-arm over her neck and pulled him against her smaller-form.
He was solid muscles, while she only had a few muscles on her and is underweight. So, for her, having Natsu lean on her was a bit of a challenge.
'When we get back, I'm gonna have to start getting in shape. If this is going to be a regular thing on every mission, that involves us riding a form of transportation, I need to be physically capable on carrying Natsu when he's temporally out of commission. Looks like I'm gonna have to talk to Taurus on helping me with certain workouts, that involves some muscle building.'
"Ladies and gentlemen! Please, you must all stand back!" A worker of the station ordered, speaking through a microphone. "The station is closed, due to some technical difficulties with some of the trains!"
As the team came to the crowd, all around them, they heard people talking all at once.
"'Technical difficulties'?"
"Are they being serious, if they're closing the station because a few of their trains aren't working?"
"Well, I heard that a train got hijacked at the Kunugi Station, by some group of thugs!"
"Same here! Does that mean they've taken over the station?!"
Lucy glared at the station.
'I hope everyone had gotten out of the station, before Eisenwald came. I hate to think of anyone losing a loved one, from hearing Lullaby.'
"Excuse me. What's going on?" Erza asked the worker, who still tries to gain order from the crowd.
He gave her an anxious look.
"Why should I tell you, lady?"
...It was the wrong answer to tell Erza, which earned a powerful punch, square in the face.
Irritated that the first worker didn't tell her what happened, she immediately went to the next worker.
"What's going on?!" She yelled.
Her voice startled the second worker, who quivered in fear on what she was going to do to him... Which ended up having him being headbutted, by the scarlet mage.
"What's going on?!" She asked the third worker, who didn't tell her anything and got kicked in the back of his head*.
...Lucy was a hundred percent certain, without a doubt, that while Erza may appear to be calm and thinks before she acts... In truth, she really is the definition of a battle axe, that doesn't wait for answers and uses actions to get her way.
"...And now, we'll probably get a complaint from the Magic Council, for attacking workers of the Oshibana Station that were only doing their jobs to prevent civilians from entering the station."
"That's Erza for you. She has a certain way, on getting things done." Gray replied, not noticing that he's, once again, in nothing but his boxers.
The blonde glared at him.
"Clothes, Gray!"
"The Eisenwald Guild is inside! Let's go!" Erza informed her team, not seeming to care that she beat three conductors for not quickly answering her question.
"Right." Gray responded.
Lucy nodded her head, as she readjusted her hold on Natsu when he was starting to shift in an awkward position. Now, while she had to use all of her strength to not fall to her knees, she was carrying the nineteen year-old, piggyback-style.
'If he were any more heavier, I would surely end up being crushed by his weight.' She thought, before pushing herself to run with the rest of her team. 'Still, he's still heavy enough to pull me back.'
Just as she thought that she would end up dragging the rest of the team down... She suddenly felt Natsu being somewhat lighter.
...
...
...Only, when she turned to stare at the drowsy Dragon Slayer, found that Happy, using his Aera Magic to fly, was pulling at the back of Natsu's vest to remove some of his weight off of Lucy's back.
"I got your back, Lushi." He replied, keeping his eyes at the front.
She smiled up at the blue-cat.
"Thanks, Happy." She replied, focusing back to running with Erza and Gray.
"A small army unit stormed in earlier, but they'd yet to return." Erza informed her team, taking the lead. "There's a possibility, that they've been caught up in battle with the Eisenwald Guild."
A pit of dread stabbed into Lucy's stomach.
'I really hope that's the case, Erza... Otherwise... I fear we're far too late to assist them.'
...
...
...The team stopped in their tracks, at a gruesome sight.
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...Bodies laid scattered on the ground. Broken weaponry of spears and swords, scattered...
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...Blood, decorated the marble floor... All over the guards of the army force, no doubt being the ones Erza had heard to take on the Eisenwald Guild.
Some of the soldiers appeared to had bled out, before succumbing to death... Others had ended up being impaled by their own weapons*.
...And yet, they all shown the clear sign that they'd fought to the bitter end, to protect the citizens of Oshibana and their loved ones... And still, that did very little to ease Lucy's sadness for the loss of great men, who fell into the hand of a Dark Guild.
"...T-T-They're all-..." Happy, who had seen some moments of disturbance in certain missions, couldn't bring himself to say what they were all thinking, lowering his gaze in solemn. He now sees the urgency of their mission, and how greatly evil their foes are going to be.
"They were up against an entire Guild full of Wizards and Mages." Erza reminded, her voice low and serious. She, too, was sadden that these noble men ended up losing their lives. "A small squadron, such as this, wouldn't be able to stand a chance against a powerful group."
With the exception of Happy and Natsu, the team walked passed the fallen squadron military of Fiore. They needed to conserve as much of their stamina as they could, each having a gut feeling that the Eisenwald Guild are close by.
...And, when they neared the ticket counter... They all heard a sinister chuckle from above them...
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...
...Then, coming out from the shadows, a whole guild full of wizards appeared before them. All having sinister smiles and evil smirks on their faces.
...
...They knew, without a doubt, this was the guild they've been looking for... The Eisenwald Guild.
"Welcome!" The voice above them greeted, none too friendly. "Step into our parlor, Fairy Tail flies!"
Lucy glared at the many members of Eisenwald Guild.
'I knew there were many members of the guild, but even I can't believe they would be so many of them, on account that most wizards nowadays don't cherish the thrill to slaughter.' She thought, as she slowly sat Natsu down, forcing hims to sit up.
"You fiend!" Erza accused, glaring up at what she and others believe to being the leader, having to sit on top of the train. "I take it that you're the one the call Erigor?"
The white-haired male, who wore a black-scarf around his neck, torn light-purple Hakama and a white-sash belt. Resting against his right-shoulder, is a large scythe.
The male chuckled out a snicker at the scarlet-mage's question.
Lucy glared at the leader, before turning back to Natsu.
'Hang on, Natsu.' She thought, keeping him still, as she went behind his back... Then, positioning both her hands, she pressed into the pressure points at the top back of his neck on both sides.
...Almost immediately, Natsu's eyes snapped wide open.
He quickly went to his feet, trying to figure out where he is, before he felt dizzy from pushing his tired body to stand up.
Luckily, Lucy expected this and, grabbing his head, dug her thumbs into both sides of the spine at the base of the skull, to help rid away the dizziness.
One of the Eisenwald Member, wearing a white-coat and short-black hair tied in a ponytail, glared at the Dragon Slayer.
"You punk," he growled. "It's your fault that I got in trouble with Erigor. And now that you're here, I can get some payback. Now, get up."
Hearing the voice of a familiar person and having the dizzy effect being drained away from Lucy's pressure points, Natsu was able to gather some of his senses.
"I know that voice..." He growled lowly, turning his head to glare back at the man he encountered on the train... The one who dared to insult his Guild.
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...
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...The one, who was carrying the very thing he and his team were searching for and are tasked to take away what they possess, before they use it to do something very evil.
Erza stomped her foot onto the ground she stood on, not backing down to.
"None of us are threatened by you, or your Guild, Erigor!" She exclaimed, showing no sign of fear on her face or in her tone of voice. "Now, tell me! What are you planning to do, with Lullaby?!"
Erigor beamed down at the scarlet-mage.
"Oh? You don't know?" He replied... Then, with a chuckle, he shot straight into the air, flying above them. "Tell me: What do all train stations have?!"
Lucy, no longer needing to use pressure point to wake up Natsu and leaving him to remain sitting to catch his breathe, got to her feet. She glares up at Erigor.
'That's how he's able to slip away from Law Enforcement, so easily.' She thought, reaching for her handle of her whip with her right-hand. 'With Wind Magic, he can easily leave a crime scene and be long gone, even before anybody were to discover his killed targets.'
The Scythe Wielder stood on top of a loud speaker, giving the group the obvious hint to his question.
"That's your plan?! You're going to broadcast Lullaby's Song?!"
Erza earned herself an evil, carefree laughter from Erigor.
"Thousands of nosy, onlookers had come flocking to the train station to see what's been going on." He pointed out, literally, by pointing his weapon towards the direction Fairy Tail come from, where they knew many civilians are waiting outside. "If I crank the volume to its highest level, I can probably kill off the entire town with my Melody of Death!"
The team knew that he was right... And knowing that, made their bloods boil and their stomachs full of disgust and hate.
"What reason do you have, on killing off the innocent Residence of Oshibana?!" Erza questioned, not finding any reason to why they Eisenwald wanted to target this specific city.
"We don't need a reason, my dear." Erigor answered, crouching low. "This is a cleansing. A time of judgement for all those fools out there, who never appreciated the rights they hold so dear. And so, they remained ignorant and disregarded to show any compassion to those who had their rights to be stripped away from them. And that is a great sin, for turning a blind eye to the injustice of others. So therefore, -His eyes widened, his voice low and dark.- The Reaper has come to deliver the punishment they deserve!"
Lucy uncoiled her whip, snapping it in front of her, before straightening it out in front of her in both of her hands.
"And you think killing innocent people is going to give you and your Guild your rights back?!" She yelled, glaring up at Erigor. "It's only going to make your status even worse! Why else were you guys kicked out of the Wizard's Leagues, in the first place?!"
He wasn't in the least fazed by her words, nor was he deterred by her bringing up to the fact that their status would worsen.
"We've given up on regaining our rights," he informed Lucy. "All that matters to us, is power. And wants we obtain that, will we be able to wash away the sins of the past and take control on what the future lies before us!"
The blonde had to fight off the shiver when she saw the wild look in Erigor's eyes. And, seeing all the men having similar gazes in their eyes, she knew that any word of warning she and her Team will tell them, will only fall on deaf ears.
"You're all mad," she growled out.
"It doesn't matter what you view us as. We're ruling in a new age, of darkness!" Kageyama declared, hunching over to the ground, summoning his magic to awaken. "Of course, by the time we get there, you'll all be long gone!"
Three streams of shadows shots straight towards the group... Then, rising from the ground, becoming solid, came down to strike at a surprised Lucy, who only held out her whip as her choice for a shield, barely starting to coat her weapon in her Celestial Magic.
...
...
...Then, with quick speed, Natsu shot up and, with fire coating his fists, leaving a stream of his own in the air, cancelled out the Shadow that tried to attack one of his friends... His mate.
Kageyama was very much surprised on how quick the Dragon Slayer was. Though, more to the fact that he hold his own against his attack and was, actually, stronger than he thought. Unlike the first time they crossed paths on the train.
"I thought I'd recognized that voice!" Natsu boasted out, flashing Kageyama and his guild mates his dragon-like smile, before slamming his fist against his palm. "And looks to me, we have ourselves a party to crash."
Gathering her bearings, Lucy snapped her whip, forcing out a strong snap.
"This is the strongest team Fairy Tail has to offer! You better be ready!" She announced, more than ready to take down the men she swore to catch and avenge the deaths of innocent civilians, for over ten months.
Erigor, with his snickering smile, hovered into the air.
"I'll leave them to you, men!" He called out to his guild mates. "Show them the true terror of the Dark Guild, Eisenwald!"
And with that, he vanished in a gust of wind.
Lucy sneered out a curse, angered that the killer of the family she swore to track and subdue just gave her the slip.
"Natsu! Gray! Go!" Erza yelled, staring up at the air where Erigor was last seen, before turning to the men before them. "I need you two to stop him!"
Both boys turned to her, both seemed to be confused to why she would ask them both to go after him.
"Erigor the Reaper is strong, but not even he should be able to defeat you both, if you two work together! Lucy and I are leaving him to you two."
...
...Both males weren't in the least pleased on having to work together, as they glared at each other, their foreheads pressed against each other, growling low.
Hearing their dissatisfaction on having to work together, Lucy brought down the cracker onto the floor, giving them an evil look.
"Get going, already!" She yelled, as both she and Erza glared heated eyes at the two boys.
...Like a switch, they both became cheery, crying out a happy "Aye!" and immediately took off to find Erigor.
"They ran off!" One of the man cried out.
Lucy turned back to the whole Eisenwald Guild, feeling her heart picking up speed.
'This is going to be a challenge,' she thought. 'Even with Erza and I working together, I don't know what kind of Magic she uses. And even if I do know what she does, it'll still be hard for the both of us to take a whole Guild, on our own.'
"They're going after Erigor!" Another member of Eisenwald replied, starting to run towards their direction, before Lucy forced her whip to shot straight for one of his legs and forcing him to fall.
Seeing that neither of the girls are going to back down, one of the members decided to take action.
"I got this! -From the tips of his fingers, black wrappings shot straight up and coiled around the railings to the second floor. With their grip strong and secured, he shot straight up to the second floor.- I, the great Rayule, will take them down!"
"I'm going with you!" Kageyama announced, kneeling to the ground and surrounded by his magical seal. "I need payback from that pink-haired punk!"
When the seal vanished, a pool of shadow encircled him... And, as if he was in quicksand, he sank into the shadow.
Lucy ran to the closest railing to catch up to the first male, only for Erza to thrust an arm out to stop her.
"We'll catch up to them, after we've dealt with the rest of the Eisenwald Guild, Lucy." The scarlet-mage informed the girl.
The seventeen year-old glared up at where Rayule was once at, grunting out a curse, before staring at the men in front of them.
"Are you sure that you can take them on, with how low your magic must be from using the Magical Vehicle?" She asked, reaching for one of her Zodiac Keys from the Key Pouch.
"Don't worry about me." Erza replied, smirking. "I have more than enough energy to use my magic."
Thinking the two girls are insane on staying, the men all chuckled and laughed at their stupidity on thinking they can take them all down, on their own.
"You girls can't be serious, thinking you can take an entire Guild on your own!" One mocked.
"Sorry, ladies. This isn't personal, but we can't let anybody stand in our way." A second man said, cracking his knuckles.
Lucy pulled out one of her keys with her right-hand, it being the key to Cancer.
"Don't underestimate us!" She replied, forcing her whip back with her left.
Erza extended her right-hand out.
"Let's do this, Lucy!"
A red-insignia appeared when she opened her hand... And, out of thin air, a magic sword came before Erza.
Lucy gasped at the sight of the weapon.
'She summoned it, with just her magic?' She awed.
"I won't have you insult the Guild of Fairy Tail, any longer. Continue to do so, and I'll make certain none of you will live to see tomorrow!" Erza announced.
None of the men were impressed and, bringing out swords of their own, they charged for Erza.
"Big deal, lady! We all got magic swords of our own!" One yelled out, as they came for the scarlet-mage.
...With great speed, Erza's sword cut through many of their own swords, forcing the men backwards from the force of strength she put into her swings.
Then, she charged for the next group, cutting through their weapons and sweeping them off their feet.
While this was going on, Lucy decided it was time to summon her uncle.
"Open: Gate of the Giant Crab! Cancer!"
Through the insignia and a golden-light, Cancer appeared by her side.
"Hey there, Baby." He greeted his goddaughter/niece, who beamed up at him.
"What the hell is that thing?" One of the men questioned, very much surprised of Cancer's appearance.
"I don't know, but it's certainly looks weird."
Cancer, hearing their comment and, seeing them armed to the teeth with their weapons and glaring at his summoner, he was able to figure to his reason for being summoned.
"You want me to take care of these creeps? Baby?"
Lucy smirked up at him.
"Exactly." She answered, putting away his key in the Key Pouch and having her whip back in her hand, coating it in her Celestial Magic. "Make sure you give them a haircut that suits their nasty attitude. -She turned to Happy, who remained at her side.- Happy, stay in the air. Keep an eye for anybody who tries to escape, and alert us if you see somebody going towards the direction Natsu and Gray went."
Happy triggered her Aera, sprouting wings from his back.
"Aye, Sir!" He replied, and shot straight into the air.
When she turned to see how Erza was doing, she noticed three men activating their own magic.
A yellow-ball of light gathered in their hand and, when extending their hand out, each aimed a beam of light towards Erza.
Without much time to think, Lucy swiftly ran and, when she leap, brought down her whip.
With three quick flicks, she sent all three of those beams back to their user. All three of them were stunned that their attacks were forced back at them and, unable to think about blocking or making an attempt to escape, they took the full blunt of their attacks.
Erza was very impressed by her new Guild mate's quick thinking and assistance to aid and protect her team member.
"Thanks, Lucy." She thanked the blonde, who landed in front of the nineteen year-old.
The seventeen year-old didn't look back to see the smirk of a smile on Erza's face, keeping her eyes completely on the battlefield.
"Don't mention it," she replied. "You focus on taking out your group. I'm gonna take down those who aren't using weapons. Just in case they plan to use magic to throw us off."
Erza nodded her head to Lucy's orders.
"Right. -She leapt into the air, her insignia appearing to both sides, holding out her magic sword that vanished from her grasp... In its place, a long-spear.- I'll leave them to you, Lucy!"
Thrusting herself to her feet, Lucy ran towards a group of boys that charged for her... All bald from Cancer cutting off their hairs, with tears streaming down their faces.
She smirked at their appearances, clenching tightly to her whip that trail itself in the air, preparing to use some of her moves.
Skidding to a halt, she forced her whip forward towards the first two men that were closest to her. With a swift thrust and then a pull back on the holder, she had her whip coil around one of the men's raised arm and pulled him to the side to ram into his guild mate.
Then, not bothering to look at her side, using the sound of their stomping feet as her guild, she twisted her on just the ball of one of her feet. Her whip coiled around her body, until she flicked her wrist over her head and slammed the direction of her cracker down.
One man got slapped very strongly by her whip on his chest. Then, redirecting the whip to go backwards, Lucy shot another strong smack to another member that thought he would be quick enough to grab and subdue her, only to be cut across his face.
A tall, large male decided to use magic to attack her from a long enough distance, only for Cancer to come in and, with quick snippets of his scissors, he delivered massive kicks and massive cuts on his arms, his head completely shaved off and his shirt sliced into ribbons, leaving him in nothing but his pants and unconscious on the floor.
Five males tried to attack at the same time, thinking she wouldn't be able to strike them all at the same time, only for Erza, switching her spear for twin swords, to come down and defend her Guild mate, who forced herself to drop and thrust her whip down to make her new opponent fall on his back.
Lucy glanced up at the older-girl, a smirk of a smile back on her face.
"Thanks, Erza!" She said, before pulling her whip to force her opponent to her and, with harsh jabs of her fingers and a a swift punch to the left-temple, forced her victim into unconsciousness.
"'Erza'?!" One of the men, Karacka, cried out, his face gone pale when realizing who they were up against.
Lucy glared up at the many men that still continued to fight them, pulling her whip from her unconscious opponent.
"I told you idiot buffoons, earlier, that Fairy Tail's strongest team had come to take you down! -She stood up to her feet, snapping her whip, re-coating her weapon with her magic.- And because you chose to underestimate Erza and I, thinking we would be easy pickings for being heavily outnumbered, along with your idiotic stereotypical brains atomically assuming we would be helpless, feeble girls, your poor judgement had been your ultimate downfall!"
They all glared at the blonde.
"Oh yeah, Girlie?!" One yelled, running at her in great speed. "And what makes you think you two bitches can take us down?!"
While Erza used her Requip to switch her weapons for a War Axe and went right back into the fight, Lucy charged for the male that dare to challenge her.
...When the two passed by, both standing still for a few seconds, the male that attacked ended up falling to his knees, wincing and holding at a massive cut that sliced through his shirt and being soaked in his blood.
...Lucy looked over her shoulder, glaring at her new opponent, as she wiped at the small droplet of blood that stained her left-cheek.
"...Because, unlike you men, we have our own belief that guides us to push on." She answered, her voice low and somewhat dark.
Then, slowly walking towards her opponent, she twirled her whip over her right-shoulder.
When the man struggled to grab for his sword, the heart-shaped cracker came down on his right-hand, making it cramp up in pain and him to curl in on himself. Even when he's sweating bullets and being in pain, he glared up at his enemy.
Lucy glared back at him.
"You're all so blinded by your selfish desire, which involves killing innocent people who had nothing to do with your Guild's injustice, that you don't see what the consequences shall await for you all, in the end. -She laid her left-foot on his right-shoulder, stepping hard for him to feel her anger.- My guild mates and I may not know the pain you all are going through, but we refuse to stand by and harm every living thing that was not at fault for your misfortune, with a Magic Tool that only brings chaos and destruction."
He let out a snarl of pain.
"And what's it to you, you Bitch?!" He grunted out, which earned him a kick to the jaw... By Cancer, who immediately went to his goddaughter and, hearing him calling her a degrading name, chose to deliver a punishment for calling such an insult to his summoner/goddaughter.
Lucy nodded her head to her Celestial Spirit, thanking him for his assistance and permitting him to return to the Spirit World, which he chose to stay around a bit longer. He doesn't want to leave his niece/goddaughter, when there are still so many enemies that can harm her.
He sneered down at the injured male, his scissors snipping at the air, before cutting his entire hair off and leaving him bald.
"My Baby isn't one to stand by and let others be cursed by the wrong doing of others. -Ebi." He told the now whimpering man, crying at the loss of his hair. "And before you even call her anything degrading or imply any form of profanity on her, I'd be careful on what I would say about my Baby. -Ebi... After all, -He flashed them a smirk of a smile, purposely staring at the many males that still continue to fight Erza and Lucy.- she has a score to settle with all of you unfashionable brutes, for the injustice of others you inflicted upon. -Ebi... Like how she brought down some of your members, in the past. -Ebi."
Many eyes turned their attention on the blonde, curious as to what the Celestial Spirit just announced.
Feeling it was time to reveal the truth, Lucy stood up tall and proud, staring at the many men with a confident smile on her face.
"Not every single one of you know about this, but some of your members, in the timespan of ten months ago, were apprehended by an 'unknown' assailant and taken to the Magic Council... Where, after each going through an entire month of silence and refusal to cooperate, their lives were forfeited. -She laid a finger on her chin, putting on a confused look on her face, as she stared up at the ceiling.- Now, what were their names, again...? Oh, yeah, now I remember! -She stared back at the men, smirking darkly at them.- ...Skull. -Some men gasped.- ...Tombstone... -A few went pale.- Padfoot... -A couple of them dropped their weapons.- Dando... And let's not forget... Shinigami."
...
...
...It didn't take long, before they come to realize to her reasoning for bringing up five of their great men into the conversation... And for her to name them in order... The same, exact order, on who was first taken to the last to being captured, before they went missing.
...
...
...
...
...They all knew why Lucy would bring them into the conversation.
Byard was the first to speak up.
"...It was you... Wasn't it?"
Erza was confused by Lucy's method on bringing up the topic of a few people that she, herself, doesn't know are members to Eisenwald... Though, even she was stunned when the blonde beamed up at the now scowling and angered men in front of them.
"I was hoping you dunderheads would, actually, have a brain in those thick heads of yours." She answered, as she reached with her both her hands to pull up part of her shirt. "And just so you don't think that I'm bluffing or making up a story to throw you off guard, I have a souvenir that Padfoot was kind enough to leave me with, before I hauled his ass to prison, five months ago. I even got a special mark from Shinigami, as well, three months ago, while trying to gain your Guild's attention."
There, from the midsection of her ribcage to her left-hip, everyone saw deep-scars that looks to be claw-marks from an animal...
Underneath the last claw-mark, was a curved-scratch... At the end of the scratch, appears to be a cross, that's been angled to resemble an x.
...
...
...
...They all knew their guild mates handy work... And they know, from the cross-mark on her body, that the scar she carries, is indeed from Shinigami.
...
...
...Byard recognized the size and the jagged edge at the tip of the claw-marks, knowing, without a doubt, that they belonged to Padfoot. His face went paled.
"...I-It's true." One male stuttered, unable to look away from the scars the girl was showing to them.
"There's no doubt about it... That's Padfoot and Shinigami's work." Another confirmed, quivering when realizing that they've been facing a strong mage that took down some of their best guild mates.
"How the hell can somebody like her be able to take them down?!" A third cried out, his fist trembling over his destroyed sword.
...In response, Erza allowed her magic to circle underneath her feet.
"Because, Lucy is a strong, kind individual, who does all that she can to do the right thing and cares for the safety of others!" The scarlet mage replied, as her armor glowed yellow. "And I won't allow any of you to give her any more scars than she has to carry from your Guild!"
Then, as her armor seemed to scatter into pieces of light, her body glowed a bright-yellow.
Right before the males... They got very excited when they saw her armor was gone, which peeked their sexual excitement. Lust of hearts in their eyes, as their own hearts threatening to jump right out of their chests. Some even had steams to gush out from their nose... As some started to have blood to leak down their nostrils.
Cancer, while he was just as intrigued and in awe at what he sees as an elegant dance, didn't fall or feel any kind of sexual arousal as the human-males did... Having to not find the right Celestial female and focusing his time raising Lucy with his Celestial Sister, really helped him be immune from any possible chance to fall for female's display of sexuality.
Lucy was just as hypnotized by the beautiful magic Erza was displaying, as she watches extra appendages growing behind the scarlet mage.
'What kind of Caster and Spatial Magic is this?'
"Most Magic Swordsmen are only able to swap out their weapons." Beside her, Happy, seeming to tell of her curiosity of Erza's magic, gave her the rundown on what was going on, as Erza's magic slowly started to finish. "But Erza is able to use her magic to change her armor for special magical armors, to help enhance her abilities. It's a talent that only she possesses. -He looked up at Lucy, beaming up at her.- That's what makes her magic special... Just like yours, Lushi."
When the light died down, Erza's appearance took Lucy's breath away from seeing its beauty.
Almost every part of this armor is seemingly made of silver-metal. The upper part of this armor only consists of a small, revealing breastplate that extends along her hips, composed of feather-shaped plates pointing upwards with a large metal flower on the front, leaving the tops of her breasts exposed, as well as her stomach. Her biceps are covered by metal straps and her very large plated gauntlets sport feather-shaped plates at the edges. Her waist is circled by large, decorated plates reminiscent of feathers that lie on a long skirt. She wears a pair of plated boots which is partially hidden under her skirt, each sporting metal ornaments shaped like wings. The scarlet mage, also, wears a neck guard made of feather-like plates, and a tiara with prominent metal wings. The armor, also, sports two pairs of large metal wings which adorn Erza's back, composed of metal feathers which get longer and larger at the edges.
...To Lucy, she looks like a winged-angel... Armed and ready to fight and kill all evil-doers... Including, an entire army of armed villains.
"And this magic, it's a technique known as, 'The Knight'."
Of course, seeing the top-half of her chest exposed, got most of the Eisenwald Guild cheering and whistling. Byard and Karacka, being the few to focus and ready themselves to fight, despite, also, feeling aroused by Erza's elegant beauty, weren't going ballistic as the rest of their Guild mates.
Cancer was amazed by the armor, as he gently pulled Lucy off of the male and had them take a few steps backwards from the scarlet mage.
"And now... Taste my swords!" Erza bellowed out, summoning multiple swords to circling all around her and to start spinning.
"I knew it!" Karacka cried out, sweating bullets. "It has to be her!"
Glaring down at the males, she directed her spinning swords down at her enemies.
"Circle Sword!" She cried out.
...In just a single swipe, most of the males ended up flying all around her, Lucy, Happy and Cancer. Some ended up flying to the walls, as most were left unconscious, sprawled on the ground... A few having some cuts from the swords.
Lucy was beyond speechless by what she just witnessed.
'By god.' She thought, coiling her whip in whip, but not putting it away. '...I had heard of a mage, who can wield multiple weapons and take down a whole army, on their own... I never thought I would be in the presence and see that the rumors of that individuals, to being true.'
"All right!"
Angered by his Guild being taken down and defeated by a girl, Byard charged up beams of light into his hands and leaped into action.
"You're dealing with me, now!"
Worried for his guild mate's safety, Karacka called out to his friend.
"Wait! Don't do it, Byard! You don't know who you're up against!"
"Shut up, coward! This wannabe bitch is mine!" Byard yelled out, bringing his attack down to strike... Only to be brought down by a single swipe of her sword by an unimpressed Erza, falling to the ground and stunned by the force of impact he dealt.
Karacka, still taken back by her strength, remained in his spot.
"S-S-She's the Queen of the Fairies... T-Titania Erza!"
Seeing no more surprises to come up on them, Erza's Heaven's Wheel Armor glowed a bright-yellow color and had been replaced with the exact armor and clothing she wore, earlier.
Cancer, snapping his scissors, slowly approached Karacka.
"Are you ready for a new hair-style? -Ebi?" He threatened, slowly standing over the trembling, fat man... Who, not wanting to stick around any longer... And, knowing he has a job to do, took off running.
"No way! I'm outta here!"
...The instant he started running, Lucy felt something wasn't right.
She glared at the fat man, as she coiled her whip back to her hip.
Cancer, seeing the concern and unease on his goddaughter's face, also had his suspicions that something was off.
"I'd reckoned he'd be going after Erigor." Erza suspected, calmly. "You should follow him."
...Lucy knew that that fact, while is the most logical assumption, wasn't really spot on.
'From how quickly he made an escape, there's no telling he'd be able to know where their leader is... Unless, he's just playing a game of Cat and Mouse, to hide and stall us of time.' She thought, as she nodded her head to Erza's orders.
"I'll do what I can to track him down," she told the older-girl. "In the meantime, Erza, we need to have everybody outside of the train station to leave."
The scarlet mage nodded her head in agreement.
"I'll handle that task." She declared. "For now, go find Erigor's follower."
Lucy nodded her head. She then turned to Cancer.
"Uncle, I'm gonna need your help on this. Think you can stick around a little longer?"
Cancer, with his shades shining, lifted his head up high. His scissor snapping rapidly.
"Of course. Baby." He answered.
...
...
...Erza gave the two a raised eyebrow.
"...I must say, Lucy, while your spirit proves to being a strong companion, even to think you labeling him as your uncle proves how strong your bond is with him... I must say, that I find him referring to you as 'baby', is inappropriate." She stated, glaring at the Celestial Spirit.
...Cancer, while a bit taken back that somebody would tell him his choice on what he calls Lucy by was unacceptable, simply sneered at the woman.
Lucy, while, with a slight blush on her face, quickly got to explaining the title.
"The reason he calls me 'baby', is because he helped raised me alongside my other Celestial Spirit, Aquarius... Who took up the role on raising, since my mother died when I was six and, then, adopted me when I turned seven. And, because my Birth Zodiac is Cancer and one of the few spirits I possessed to being close to Aquarius as her brother, he became my godfather and had loved me as his own when I first bonded with him."
As if to prove how much he cares and loves his summoner as his niece/goddaughter, Cancer laid a hand on the back of her head and pulled her into a gentle hug, curling both his human-arms and six crab-legs in a protective hold.
To Erza, he looks as if he's shielding her from any threat that tries to come for her.
She started to see what the seventeen year-old was telling her.
"...So, when he calls you 'baby'..."
"Is his way on saying he still sees me as that little girl, and being his and Aquarius' baby... As their child." Lucy finished, gently patting Cancer on the back, as she returned the embrace for a few seconds, before the two separated.
Feeling a bit awkward for bringing up the subject, and sending a calm, but apologetic look towards the Giant Crab Spirit, coughed into a fist.
"In that case, so long as it's both of you to display your close-family bond, then I won't forbid you two on continuing to show your bond for each other."
To that, Cancer nodded his head in thanks to the scarlet mage.
"Mighty kind of you. -Ebi." He thanked, earning another raised eyebrow from the woman.
Lucy, knowing they're wasting time, grabbed for her uncle's right-wrist.
"We'll be off," she told Erza. She then turned to Happy. "You coming, Happy?"
Without needing to ask, Happy sprouted wings, triggering his Aera Spell and floated over her head.
"Aye, Sir!"
Without any further hesitation, Lucy, Cancer and Happy took off in search for the fat man of Eisenwald.
As they ran down the hall, Happy couldn't help but giggle.
Lucy and Cancer stared up at the flying cat.
"What's so funny, Happy?" She asked, curious as to know what was funny.
The blue-cat beamed down at the blonde.
"You," he answered.
Lucy and her uncle were confused to his answer.
The cat giggled at their confusion, before he started to explain.
"You've learned and seen how terrifyingly Erza is. Yet, you'd pointed out her mistake on leaving Natsu unconscious on the train, which could've had you be beaten for pointing out her flaw. -He snickered at her raised eyebrow.- You even made her blushed, after pointing out your yummy spirit's reason for calling you 'baby'... Though, she'll probably want to pummel him, for calling her a shrimp."
...
...
...Lucy, in response, smirked back at the cat.
"Keep this up, Happy, and I'll have Cancer give you a quick trip... Starting with your tail, to help you become a short-tailed cat."
As if to show he would do it, Cancer held up both his scissors and made quick snipping sounds in the air, as he ran backwards alongside his summoner.
Her threat did have the cat tremble from the thought of his tail being cut off, his eyes closed and quivering in shaky lines.
"...Yep. It's official. Erza's starting to grow on you and are going to go from Mini Erza, to Erza Two."
As they continued on, Lucy had a gut feeling that Erigor's disappearance was a sign that his target wasn't the train station... As if they've just walked into a trap.
TBC
*: In the story, there are special kinds of bags that, while appearing small, can actually hold a lot of items inside of it... So long that it isn't a lot and/or large items that can't, obviously, fit inside of it.
Example: A special suitcase, probably powered by a Lacrima, can hold the same amount that a dresser would hold, than just a few sets of clothing (This is my best thought on how Lucy, who only brought in a wheeled duffel bag in the show, had all of her clothes with her when she moved into the rent house in Magnolia... Plus, how she, somehow, brought out a baseball bat to whack Gray away from her.).
So, for this, a mini saddle bag, powered by a Lacrima, can hold normal-sized items that you would normally put in it... Plus, some snack-sized food and a couple of medical supplies, and still have room for other small items... Remember, many items are infused with Lacrima and can basically do what our items can't do.
*:...There was no way, that I wasn't going to add this moment into the story... IT ALWAYS CRACKS ME UP! XD
*:...Yeah, if you guys had obviously noticed, one of the guards has a spear sticking out from his-... Well... Behind... Not sure if that was intentional, as if to point out that some of the soldiers had died from fighting Eisenwald, or was a common error/mistake in the drawing and was supposed to be next to his body.
It did make me think of this deer my mom and I saw, when I was eleven, that had an arrow up his-... Same area as the guard. We were able to call the ranger and tell him about the issue (From what we learned, the next day, they found the deer and helped get the arrow out of the Buck... He was okay... But, still, to me, that must've been very painful for the animal.).
R&R