Chapter Forty-Three
"Bob…why am I getting a report from Gray that your envoy is on Earth-land, and trying to trap Lucy?"
"Trap her? I never said to do that." Bob shook his head and Makarov took a pull of his drink as he glowered at his fellow general. The other started to sweat then finally broke down. "I didn't. But the other Generals pressured them into trying in order to run tests on her. I advocated against it; but I was threatened. That's when my boys stepped up, offering to do it."
"I will deal with the other generals later. For now call your boys back, or I can't promise what Natsu will do. As I've heard from Gray; one of Lucy's Guards is already ready to hurt them."
"Oh dear…" Bob signed off and Makarov drained his drink. He sighed heavily and shook his head. When the team from Blue Pegasus hadn't arrived in a timely fashion he had been suspicious but this was going too far. He needed to alert the others on the Station as well as return a message to Gray and Lucy. He shook his head and jumped down from his desk and headed out to the mess hall. As he walked in, people called out greetings which he tried to return but he was focused on getting another drink.
"Everything okay?" Cana asked and looked at him as he refilled his mug. He sighed and held the mug out to her. She poured some rum into it and he stirred his drink and sighed.
"The reason Blue Pegasus isn't here yet; is because they landed on Earth-land in an attempt to capture Lucy to perform tests on her."
"Oh that is not going to end well." Cana chuckled dryly.
"Lucy and Virgo have already captured them. Gray is overseeing them." He smirked into his mug.
"Team Fairy Tail one, Everyone else zero."
"We shouldn't keep score." Makarov smiled softly. "I need to send a message to Gray to release them and see them off world. Before Natsu finds out; because he will probably try to kill them and they are only there to try and protect their general."
"Lose-lose situation." Cana agreed. She sighed. "They're supposed to be helping run tests on Erza but she's already left because of they were late. So short of running a test of Levy on Earth, they're here for nothing. And if they go back without anything; they and their general or their whole station could be in trouble."
"There is nothing but messes to be had." Makarov shook his head.
"Messes make life worth living. You could find treasure in the mess or possibly grow through it." She set her glass down and looked over at him. "You do realize if they try to touch Levy, then Gajeel will try to kill them."
"Oh Mavis…" He swore and looked at the ceiling. Cana shifted and rested a hand on the bar.
"Did you just say Mavis?" She asked and he nodded. "Who is your Mavis?"
"You have a Mavis?"
"Yeah. Mavis was the founder of Magnolia. Our university had a hall named after her."
"Huh. Mavis was the founder of Fairy Tail. The very first Guild Station leader. She wanted a place where all of her friends could be together; where she could look after everyone the best she could."
"Mavis founded Magnolia for much the same reason. Story goes that she uh…slayed a giant and in doing so gave her life for the town. But they swore that they saw her ghost wandering around the town for up to a hundred years after; until the last of the original settlers passed away."
"Most interesting." Makarov smiles. "I am glad we both have something to tie us together even more."
"It is nice. Even if they're different people." Cana said and looked around the mess hall. "Do you think we should send someone down to make sure Natsu and Gajeel don't kill them?"
"You want to return to the planet?" He asked and she shook her head no with a sad smile. "You don't?"
"I do and I don't." She sighed. "But I feel like I need to be here. I've read my own future and the cards tell me to stay put. But there are others we could send down."
"Send down?" Lisanna appeared and looked at them. "Down to Earth?"
"Lisanna, don't interject yourself into private conversations." Mirajean scolded and wrapped an arm around her. "I'm sorry sir."
"It's fine dear." Makarov dismissed her apology. "And yes Lisanna, there is a chance of sending some down as a buffer between Natsu and Gajeel and the members of Blue Pegasus."
"Why do they need a buffer against the boys?" Mira asked and Elfman walked up with a tray of food.
"They tried to catch Lucy in a trap and run tests on her without her consent because their general was being threatened." Cana said and pulled a plate of food off of the tray and started to eat.
"Ohhh…I don't think anyone on this station can stop them from getting to the Blue Pegasus people." Lisanna shook her head and took a bowl of soup from the tray. "Well from Natsu. Why do they need protection from Gajeel?"
"They may try to get to Levy too." Makarov mentioned and took some food off of the tray.
"Yeah, that would be a blood bath." Elfman shook his head. "Want me to go down and help get them off safely?"
"Elfman!" Mirajean shook her head and fear was in her eyes. Elfman sighed and put a hand on his sister's shoulder.
"Mira…we can't hide from the problems by hiding up here. You know that."
"And we could all go." Lisanna offered and smiled at her sister. "Then we wouldn't have to worry about one another. And once we get them away safely, we come back up here. Together."
"I guess we could." Mira bit her lip and Makarov felt compassion fill him. The siblings meant so much to one another but they all felt an obligation to help as much as possible. Even if it was difficult or dangerous to themselves.
"Such a mission isn't one that I would feel safe putting on your shoulders. You are non-magical and the dangers down there are extensive."
"Sending the siblings down?" Bixlow asked as he walked over and pulled food off of the tray. Makarov shook his head.
"He says it too dangerous to send us alone." Lisanna sulked and started eating the soup. Bixlow frowned and looked at his leader.
"I'll go with 'em. Between me and big sis here, the younger two will stay safe."
"Hey!" Elfman and Lisanna scoffed and Mirajean giggled as Bixlow shrugged nonchalantly.
"But it's fine with me. Freed, Ever and I aren't on a mission currently. And I found another book I think Levy might be interested by." He said and held it up. Makarov nodded but he noticed Lisanna eyeing Bixlow as she sucked on the spoon in her mouth.
"I appreciate the offer. I'll consider it." Bixlow nodded and turned and walked away, the book in one hand and the food he had grabbed in another.
"We are willing to go down and help." Mirajean agreed with her siblings. "We are more familiar with parts of Magnolia. So it might help some."
"I'll consider it. Go on, enjoy a meal or company with friends." Makarov said and the three siblings nodded and walked away. He took a deep breath and looked around. Bixlow was sitting at a table alone, which wasn't unusual, but he was reading through the book that he said Levy would be interested in. He thought about Bob, his boys and all of the chaos that the other generals would have created if Natsu had been present when they'd tried to trap Lucy.
But he also understood to a slight extent their concern about the ability of Erza and Levy to use magic; and the fact that Lucy was so strong considering that she was only half Zodiacrian. He looked over and saw Cana staring right at him.
"Yes?"
"We need to send them down." Cana held up a card. She'd explained the deck to him before and he found it so interesting that they used cards to predict the future on Earth-land. "This is the Eight of Wands. It means swift travel. I think they should go down quickly."
"You hold that much faith in your cards?"
"Yes…I do." Cana said and shuffled her deck. Pulled another card and held it up to him.
"A tower?"
"The Tower. It represents chaos and upheaval. Every time I have thought about immediate future; this card comes up."
"I see…" He furrowed his brow and consider everything. He looked at her; considering what she had said and what was happening. He nodded his head and patted her hand. "Thank you for your concern and I will do as you advise."
"That's all it takes?"
"Erza and Lucy both reminded me that you are someone to be listened to. The third in command. I will respect you; as they did. Thank you for your insight."
"Thank you." She smiled at him and then headed back to the table she'd been at before he came in. She sat down and crossed her arms. The feeling in her gut eating at her.
Makarov walked over to the Strausses and spoke with them before turning and walking over to Bixlow and speaking with him. Bixlow nodded and got up, book in hand and walked out of the mess hall.
"You got everything Mira-sis?" Elfman asked as he set his bag down in the transportation chamber. Mirajean nodded; she had a backpack strapped to her back. Elfman's duffle was the same that he'd ben carrying since the start of the invasion; but her pack was new. Well new to her. It had been one of the items on board of the station. Lisanna skipped in; a new-to-her pack on her back as well.
"Why are we here so early?" Evergreen growled as she walked into the room following Freed and Bixlow; both of whom appeared much more alert and energetic.
"Because you all need to get down to the planet before Natsu catches up to Lucy." Makarov said as he walked into the room. They all stood at attention. He looked at them. "If he gets to Lucy first; he may injure the members of Blue Pegasus and we cannot afford to lose any more members of the Alliance; especially to infighting."
"And what have the members done exactly?" Freed asked as he pulled on the cuffs of his shirt.
"Tried to trap Lucy and possibly remove her from the planet or run tests on her on planet."
"Dumbasses." Bixlow shook his head and he rolled shoulders forward. "Okay. We'll go down and protect them from Natsu."
"And possibly Gajeel too." Lisanna said and they looked at her. "If they grabbed Lucy they'd probably want Levy too. She also performs magic so…."
"Right…protect them from two of the more temperamental Dragis we have. Got it." Freed rolled his eyes and pulled his hair back. "Mira can ride with me in my Magi-Hover."
"I'll take Lisanna…can't afford for her to lose her cool and throttle Ever again." Bixlow said and wrapped an arm around Lisanna and headed to the farthest corner of the room.
"Guess that leaves you and me big-boy." Evergreen said looking at Elfman. "Don't get any ideas."
"Wouldn't dream of it." He said and she glared at him. "I mean… you are a nice looking female but…"
"But?"
"We need to focus on saving people from Dragis." He said and walked to the other corner of the room. Mirajean joined Freed in the center and they looked at Makarov as he pushed buttons on the panels beside the entrance. Lisanna waved as him smiling and he smiled as well. His eyes crinkled as he stepped out of the room while lifting his arm up.
"What is that he's doing with his hand and arm?" Mirajean asked Freed.
"It's the Fairy Tail signal. You raise your arm up high; turn your hand to face you, curl your three outer most fingers to your palm, raise your forefinger and thumb up and out. It's a show of solidarity; and hope. So you can always show support for our Guild Station."
Lisanna looked up at Bixlow as he answered her sister's question. The panel started to close and she lifted her hand up and smiled. As the panel closed; she thought she saw tears welling up in his eyes. She turned to ask Bixlow if he saw them too; and saw that everyone was also raising the signal up. She turned back and took a deep breath as the lights shifted in the room.
"Here we go!" Bixlow crowed as the hum started up.
"What do we do with them?" Lucy asked Gray as they stared at the three members of a fellow Guild; per Gray. Virgo had tied them up with celestial rope and gagged them with celestial cloth so that they couldn't try to magic out of the bonds. Then she had left; because she had used her own magic to get to Earth-land and was feeling drained.
"Gramps said we keep them here until backup arrives; and if worst comes to worst; we keep Natsu from killing them."
Their eyes widened at that and Lucy looked up at Gray. "Why would Natsu kill them?"
"Because they tried to trap his growlkin? Do Boreas knows what to you after trapping you?"
"Boreas? The Greek god of the Cold North Wind?" Lucy asked scrunching her nose up at him.
"No?" Gray curled his lip and shook his head. "Boreas is the Ice Dragon who my clan revered before he went off to fight against Acnologia."
"Huh…small world." Lucy shook her head and looked at the three captives. "And yeah…Natsu would probably want to kill them if he found out why they were here."
The three shivered in unison and Lucy had to struggle not to laugh. She turned her back on them and looked around. They had moved everyone into a building for cover. Gray had also headed out after Virgo had tied them up; and gone to the other nests. He'd come back quickly; apparently all of the nests had been eradicated already. He said it looked like they'd all been hit at the same time; as the remains all looked the same. Like they'd been burnt and almost liquified.
"Have any idea what caused the culling?" She asked and he shook his head.
"I've been looking into the records on my Magi-Hover and there is no record of a race or attack like that."
"So interesting." She said and sighed. "At least we get a small reprieve."
"For the moment." Gray admitted. His comms beeped and he pulled it out of his pocket and answered.
"Yeah?"
"Where are you Fullibuster?" Bixlow's voice came across the comms.
"Bixlow? Why do you need to know where I am?"
"Because you ain't at your Magi-Hover. And I'm here to make sure Natsu ain't gonna postal on the dorks from Blue Pegasus."
"Gramps sent you down here to prevent that?" Gray chuckled and Bixlow chuckled on the other end of the comms too.
"I ain't alone Snow Bug. So where are ya?"
"Whose with you?"
"It's me!" A voice came across and he looked at Lucy who was grinning.
"Hey Lisanna!" She greeted the other girl.
"Heya Lucy! Mira-sis and Elf-nii are also down here. But Evergreen and Freed's Magi-Hovers ran into nests. So we beat them here."
"Ooh, a small army of helpers." Gray murmured and looked at the three who were leaning together looking scared. "I'll send out our location. Hang on."
"Kinda surprised Natsu didn't get here before someone from the Guild Station." Lucy murmured and Gray shrugged. He was thinking the same thing but kept that to himself. He was also surprised that Gramps would send the Thunder Legion down here. The three prisoners shrank back and he looked over his shoulder. Bixlow appeared followed quickly by Lisanna. He nodded his head and Bixlow returned the greeting. Lisanna hugged Lucy and waved at Gray even as her arms were wrapped around her friend.
"Are you good Lucy?"
"Yeah I'm fine."
"And have you heard from Levy recently?"
"Levy? Why are you asking about Levy?" Lucy asked and Lisanna jutted her chin out at the three guys trying to burrow into the concrete wall behind them.
"We all worried that they might have tried to catch her too; since she's using magic."
"Ooohhh…Gajeel would kill them." Lucy sang and Lisanna nodded and crossed her arms over her chest.
"And General Makarov was worried that two angry Dragis could cause an inter-guild issue. So we came to get these guys and remove them to safety."
"Smart." Gray said and yawned. "Well since you two are here; you can either take them onto your Magi-Hover or take over as watch. I'm tired and think I'm gonna go to sleep in my bed."
"Night Gray." Lucy and Lisanna waved him off as Bixlow stood there; staring at him incredulously. He spun on his heel and looked at Lucy.
"Ya just gonna let him walk away?"
"He's been down here wiping out draconics. Yeah…I'mma let him sleep when he can and when he wants." Lucy said and Lisanna giggled when Bixlow sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. They watched as he walked over to the prisoners; inspected their bindings and looked back at the blonde.
"What's this tying them up?"
"Celestial rope and cloth. Virgo did it."
"I ain't touching it."
"Scared of a little celestial material?" Lisanna asked and he shook his head.
"It's light magic. My people lived in darkness; thus spirit magic."
"Thank you for explaining that. It actually makes sense." Lucy shrugged and sat down, stretching her arms and legs out in front of her. She yawned and leaned against the wall. "Wake me up if something happens."
"Sleep well Lucy." Lisanna smiled as the girl drifted off quickly.