[ Sub-Zero Emperor Lyon Arc {1} ]
-L-H-
Lucy's eyes narrowed in immediate suspicion as she felt a powerful magic presence make their way towards the entrance of the guild hall, even frowning visibly as she looked towards the doors. Levy was in the middle of recalling her favorite scene of a book they both enjoyed when she caught the look on Lucy's face and she looked at her blonde friend worriedly,
"Lu-chan? What's wrong…" Levy speech suddenly slurred as her eyes began to roll to the back of her head and she slowly fell into what seemed to be a deep sleep, and that had startled Lucy who let out a cry of alarm at the sight. To her continuous disbelief, Lucy realized that within mere moments, everyone that was in the the hall currently was asleep and she was quick to hold her breath as her own body felt drowsy. Makarov was quick to place his drink down as he hopped down from his seat in order to help stay awake, but he looked curiously at Lucy as he did so when he realized that she was the only other person that was relatively awake.
Blinking heavily, Lucy tensed when she heard the doors open and a figure with a massive ethernano pool inside of them entered the room. He wore a dark cloak that even covered his face as he remained masked from head to toe. From the briefest hint of his eyes, they looked down towards Lucy curiously as he paused for a moment as Lucy stared at him with shock as she blinked slowly, trying not to fall asleep just in case something bad happened.
Who the hell was this guy?
And why did he seem so secretive, putting everyone to sleep?
The masked man stood before Lucy for a moment, before pulsing out even more of that weird sleepy magical aura that made Lucy's mind shriek in alarm as she tried her best to fight it. It was enough for her to trigger Rushii, who's been inside of her barrier for days now as she mediated to prepare for what's to come. With a feeling of alarm that was so strong, it had initially surprised Rushii as her eyes snapped out and narrowed immediately, taking down the barrier inside of Lucy's mind as she stepped out to see what was going on.
The mental barrier had previously prevented Rushii's presence from effecting Lucy as she did her own thing, but the combined effort of their souls was enough to help Lucy withstand the extra force of the masked man as Rushii crossed her arms for a moment before she decided to take control.
Rushii took control of Lucy's body and stared at the masked man with curiosity in her eyes but there was newfound edgeness that surprised him, because it suddenly felt as if he was looking at a completely different person. With a small hum of interest and acknowledgment, he relented, opting to move on to take some S-Class missions that Makarov had prepared the moment he had stepped into the guild's halls.
"Here, Mystogan," Makarov said a bit sleepily as he handed over some quests as Lucy watched quietly from the sidelines as she struggled to stay awake herself. Rushii had already retreated silently back into her barrier without another word, noting who it was and that Lucy wasn't in any harm currently. She was surprised that Lucy was able to withstand his sleeping spell however, and she wondered if her presence had anything to do with that as she closed her eyes to mediate once more, isolating her presence from Lucy's mind.
Mystogan merely took a small glance at the available quest, grabbed one, and left without a moments hesitation as Fairytail slowly came back to life as his presence retreated further and further.
"It's not every day that someone is able withstand his presence," Makarov commented with a curious lull in his voice as he looked towards Lucy, who stayed silent. She didn't know how to answer the unspoken question. A groan captured her attention as Mirajane was the first to get back up from Mystogan's presence, cracking her neck as she let out a small yawn. She briefly looked around the room to see everyone in a similar state as her, and she was quick to chat with Makarov.
"Mystogan?"
"Indeed."
"I see," Mirajane said with a nod as she yawned once more before looking towards a wide-eyed Lucy who was still in the dark about the entire thing. Who was Mystogan? And why did he put everyone to sleep, if he seemed to be a member of Fairytail? Mirajane chuckled at the questions was heavily apparent on her face as Gray shot up with a dark scowl on his face at the realization that he was forcibly put to sleep.
His jaw clenched at the thought while Lucy turned to him with a eyebrow raised,
"You don't like Mystogan?"
"I don't even know what he looks like properly, much less know him. He's just an incredibly strong S-Class mage that is capable of God-knows-what. Nothing more, nothing less."
"So why do you look so pissed off?"
Gray didn't answer as he stared at his tense fists and Lucy decided that it was best to leave that alone as she turned towards Levy and Mirajane. A powerful voice from the second floor started to shout that he's seen Mystogan's face before, which prompts Natsu to yell at him back trying to instigate a fight. Lucy didn't pay them any mind as she looks back at Levy, asking her about S-Class mages.
"S-Class mages? They are the strongest in their respective guilds, and tend to be representatives of them in a way." Levy answered thoughtfully as she pointed up towards a bulky, blonde man with an arrogant smirk and a diagonal scar with the shape of a lightning bolt on his face as he antagonized Natsu. "Up there is the S-Class mages lounge, where they are able to take S-Rank missions because they are deemed strong enough to take on such requests. If you're not called by Makarov, or an S-Class mage, then you're not allowed up there."
"Are S-Rank missions that dangerous?" Lucy asked a bit anxious as Levy nodded.
"They can result in death if you aren't careful."
So those are the types of missions Erza partakes in, Lucy thought briefly as she looked idly back towards the lightning man at the top of the floor. She gestured towards him,
"So is he a S-Class mage too?"
It was Cana who answer her question this time as she waltzed in before taking a seat next to the girls, propping her feet up as she immediately reached for a flask. Not before sneering in annoyance at who Lucy was pointing at as she scoffed.
" That sorry excuse of a man is Laxus Dreyar." Cana snorted as she took a shot. Lucy blinked in surprise at the hostility of her voice but at the last name of the man as well, because wasn't that the same last name as Maka-
"Yes, Lu-chan. Laxus is related to our guildmaster, his grandson in fact." Levy giggled at her friend's face as her eyes widened in surprise as she looked back at Laxus. They didn't look similar at all, but it is seemed like the Dreyar family was known for being powerful then. But wait, are there other S-Class mages then? Who are they?
"Who are the other S-Class mages? How many of them are there?"
"There are four. Gildarts Clive, Erza Scarlet, Laxus Dreyar, and Mystogan." Mirajane answered happily as she walked by with drinks in her hand as she handed them out like the excellent bartender she was. Lucy flashed her a grateful smile as she grabbed a drink but Cana had avoided eye-contact at Mirajane's words, opting to sip on her drink instead. Even Levy grew a little quiet after Mirajane walked by, and Lucy was quick to realize that the mood turned a little somber.
Oh no…was one of them dead? Was that a sore topic? Fuck, she's really got to be more aware with her questions, Lucy mentally cursed as she hesitantly asked what was wrong. Levy didn't say anything at first as she took a look at Cana, who caught her eye as she let out a soft sigh before speaking lowly.
"There are actually five S-Class mages that Fairytail recognizes," Cana muttered, keeping an eye out for Mirajane who was on the other side of the guild looking content and happy with her role as she talked around. A flash of sadness seeped through Cana's typically mischievous eyes as she looked at her girlfriend and how fast she had answered the question for Lucy without hesitation.
She still doesn't think of herself as a strong mage anymore, Cana thought as she sighed into her flask, tsking when she realized that she had drank her anxiety away earlier at the small turn of events with the thought of Laxus and Mirajane. What a can of worms, she thought bitterly.
"Five?" Lucy asked softly, noticing the reluctance.
"Gildarts Clive," Cana began, although Lucy wouldn't help but notice that she had stumbled over his name a bit, "Erza Scarlet, Mystogan, Laxus, and…Mirajane."
Lucy's gasp was so loud that it had drawn the attention of many people, including Mirajane but Cana didn't make eye-contact with her girlfriend as she quietly hissed, "Can it, Heartfilia! We're speaking lowly for a reason for fuck's sake!"
"S-Sorry," Lucy stammered out but was took stunned to morph her expression. Mirajane Strauss? One of the hottest women in Magnolia according to Sorceror Magazine, who always was bartending and managing Fairytail's rowdiness with a sweet but firm iron grip? She was an S-Class mage?
"It's true," Levy said quietly as she looked down at the table, and immediately Lucy knew that there was more to the story as for why Mirajane wasn't mentioned anymore. Why she didn't even mention herself she had answered Lucy's original question. Cana and Levy didn't speak about it after that, with the former getting up to excuse herself despite just getting there.
"It's nothing wrong to ask, Lucy. But it's a sore topic among some people, about what happened." Levy smiled a bit ruefully at Lucy who nodded, understanding. It must be an old and deep wound then, if they didn't want to talk about it. They quickly moved on after that, picking up their conversation before Mystogan interrupted it.
Meanwhile, Cana was casually making her way over to Mirajane when she felt a familiar pair of eyes linger on her. Without even breaking a sweat or making eye-contact, she held her hand up to throw a lovely finger at Laxus who scoffed at the sight.
"I didn't even say anything, you witch," Laxus grunted as Cana just threw him a hard look from over her shoulder as she continued to walk with a complementary "Piss off, Thunderfuck." before she made her way towards Mirajane who was already glancing at her with a certain look on her face, enough to make Cana swallow a bit before making her way.
She tried to kiss her cheek for a greeting as a way to soften the blow, but Mirajane wasn't deterred as she merely hummed as she didn't reciprocate it. Cana followed Mira as they quietly made their way towards the back of the bar, the warehouse portion that wasn't visible to those on the other side of the guild. Cana felt a little bit anxious as she followed her, because they didn't really go back there unless they were feeling freaky or they were about to have a private conversation.
Considering Mirajane's calm, but neutral expression, Cana knew for sure that it was going to be the latter.
"So you told her," Mirajane stated airly as she began to take inventory of the supplies that they had. Cana knew that it was just a ploy to avoid eye-contact with her though, as she stood off towards the side with her arms crossed as she thought about what to say.
"...I did."
"I'm not a S-Class mage anymore, Cana. I didn't lie to Lucy."
"You're an S-Class mage for life , Mira. Even if you don't want to be anymore."
Mirajane bristled a little bit, hurt piercing in her eyes as she snapped towards Cana who looked at her with a neutral expression. She gets like this sometimes, Mirajane thinks bitterly as she swallowed down a wave of irritation. This was a common theme whenever they fight. Cana just wants Mira to begin the pieces of picking herself back together, but it's-she just can't .
"It's been two years," Cana murmurs softly. Two years since the death of Lisanna, and two years since Mirajane became a persona of happiness and never-ending optimism. Two years since Mirajane lost the will to fight, and two years since she began to become haunted from the demons that inhibit her.
"And what exactly are you trying to say? It's time to move on? My sister is dead. " Mirajane hissed.
"I will never move on."
Cana just stayed quiet as she clenched her jaw, stopping herself from saying something that she'll regret. It's not that she wants Mirajane to move on from Lisanna and forget about her, of course not. She's not a psychopath. But until how long will she watch Mira from the sidelines push herself to be someone she's not? Maybe she's changed a bit, and maybe she won't go back to the she-demon she was when they were younger. Cana isn't asking for that.
She just wants Mirajane to find the will to live and change for herself , not in spirit of Lisanna.
Because sometimes Cana thinks that her girlfriend has decided to carry the role of Lisanna in an effort to attempt to make peace. The youngest Strauss sibling was always able to make friends easily and radiated a kindness that drew people in naturally. Is this her way of coping?
By becoming Lisanna?
"The world doesn't end if you acknowledge what you are, baby." Cana sighed as she suddenly craved a heavy drink right then and there. She doesn't like getting into arguments with Mirajane, because the topics they always talk about were always deep wounds. If it wasn't Mirajane and her family, it was about Cana and her father, whom she hasn't told anything to yet. "You are Mirajane Strauss, and you are a S-Class mage of Fairytail. Those are indisputable facts and you cannot change that."
Regain yourself piece by piece, Cana screamed wordlessly.
"Stop," Mirajane said softly as she felt tears in her eyes at the heaviness. She was Mirajane Strauss, the The Demon of Fairytail. The powerful Take-Over mage that was feared and infamous across the lands for her power and fierceness. She was an S-Class mage that rivaled Erza and Laxus, making them an infamous trio.
She's just Mira now, Mira of Fairytail.
And she's been stuck powerless for two years.
She's no S-Class mage anymore. Hell, she's barely even a mage. And the souls that inhabit her; whisper things, harping on her internalized self-hatred and pity as she lives on. Deep down, she knows Cana is speaking some truth to her words.
But what good is being an S-Class mage and being powerful, if she couldn't even save her own flesh and blood.
She was a failure , Mirajane internally choked as she sniffed on the outside, walking away from Cana without a second thought.
-L-H-
"Please Luce? We can do it, I know we can!" Natsu pouted as he shoved the S-Class mission he stole from the second floor secretly after trying to pick a fight with Laxus. Lucy didn't even want to look at it though, because what was with Natsu and always trying to break the rules?
"We are not S-Class mages, Natsu! We could seriously get hurt! Or even die. " Lucy threw her arms in the arm, what part of that was he not understanding? This is serious! It's not like the adventures they've been on before.
"But we're strong Lucy, Team Haluna is unbeatable, I just know it!"
"Even the mightiest can fall if they aren't careful, Natsu. The answer is no."
Natsu huffed out a breath as he took a look at the quest again, before his eyes widened excitedly as he finally figured out a way to get Lucy to come along. The reward for this quest was money, but also a golden celestial spirit key! It was just asking for Natsu to grab, it must be fate, he concluded.
"Oh Luuucy~"
"Nope."
"But-"
"Nuh uh."
"Not even for a golden Zodiac key?"
The refusal was on the tip of Lucy's tongue for the third time before she paused, eyes widening as she looked at Natsu who had a filthy smug grin on his face. Her eyes narrowed as he hauntily gave her the quest with childish arrogance on his face. There was no way, Lucy thought as she skimmed through the quest, before her eyes widened at the list of the reward.
Natsu let out an evil chuckle at the hesitance that was forming on Lucy's face as she debated with her morals before she let out the longest sigh in existence as she reluctantly noddedly which caused Happy and Natsu to cheer. They successfully convinced her, rejoice!
"Woohoo!" Natsu and Happy danced together as Lucy pinched the bridge of her nose, cursing herself for being so lenient when it comes to Natsu. After their victory dance, Natsu walked over to Lucy and picked her up as they spun around, although Lucy didn't react much this time around as she bit her lip anxiously.
Natsu caught her lack of yelling and quickly sat her down, looking into her eyes as he held her close. Black met brown and for a moment, Natsu got serious as he whispered softly to her,
"You know I won't let anything happen to you, right? Nothing ."
"I believe you, but what about you? We shouldn't take this mission lightly Natsu," Lucy said just as softly back as she took a step back to give herself some space but Natsu mitigated that instantly as he stepped forwards. His eyes were unflinching as he stared at her, understanding her worries and fears.
"I believe in us, Luce. We're going to be just fine."
"And if we aren't?"
"Then I'll do everything in my power to get you back here safely."
'Even if it costs me.'
-L-H-
Mirajane's heart dropped when she went upstairs to speak with Makarov on the balcony, only to notice that one of the S-Class missions were missing. She knew that Mystogan had one, and Gildrats as been gone for years. Erza was already coming back from a mission, and she had just seen Laxus. Which meant that either it got lost, or someone stole it.
"Master," Mirajane called out to him, eyeing the quest board in the meantime.
"Hmm?" Makarov was chatting with Gray and Loke, whom on the floor below, as he looked over towards Mirajane.
"We seem to be missing an S-Class request," Mirajane said worriedly as Makarov quickly spat out his drink off to the side as he looked over at Mira with wide eyes. "E-Eh?!"
Laxus snorted as he stood off to the side like a loser, as Cana would've said, dryly mentioning, "A blue cat was flying around here before it snatched it."
"Why didn't you stop Happy?!" Loke said in surprise as Laxus shrugged, not really giving a damn.
"I'm not pest control."
"Well if Happy is the culprit, then we're going to need someone to hunt down Team Haluna in the meantime. Laxus, bring them back."
"Nah, I'm good."
"It was an order."
"Fuck that."
Makarov and Laxus glared at each other for a moment, tension in the air as the bystanders looked away a bit awkwardly. It was growing clear that Laxus wasn't budging, and Gray let out a sigh as he got up and nodded at Makarov.
" Fine. I'll be the one to bring them back, don't worry about that asshat, Master."
Makarov and Mirajane shot Gray a grateful smile as he walked off, after Mirajane gave him more information about the mission and their whereabouts. After Gray left, Makarov went downstairs fully without another look at Laxus as Laxus crossed his arms with a bored expression on his face.
It was only Mirajane and Laxus left as she regarded him for a moment before shaking her head in disappointment. Laxus caught it and immediately flared with annoyance as he got up to look at her,
"Something you want to say, Mira?"
"I've got nothing to say to you, Dreyar."
Laxus just smirked as he chuckled dryly, "You've got nothing to do these days in general. It's like watching a dragon shrivel down to a pathetic lizard."
"I could say the same for you. What happened to the boy that used care for those 'pathetic' lizards, who cared for others without hesitation? All I see is an arrogant man who thinks he's the greatest, strolling around here as if he's the shit."
"I am the best. I'm the strongest in Fairytail, in fact. Something that many people fail to see in this goddamn hall."
It was Mira's turn to chuckle sadly as she made her way downstairs, wanting to get farther and farther away from the boy that used to be hers. It's so hard to watch the people that she had loved fall into ruin. Laxus used to be so kind, so sweet and loving.
Laxus, Cana, and Mira. They were one hell of a trio at the time. On the outside, they were the oldest children in the guild that made sure that the younger ones, Natsu's generation were taken care of from the best of their abilities. Cana and Mira were around more than Laxus, who was often with his father, but during the times that they had been together, it was amazing.
On the outside, they were a group of best friends that seemed to even each other out perfectly. Laxus's compassion and kindness, Cana's mischievous but seriousness, and Mirajane's aggressiveness and loyalty. Yet to them, there was always something that ran a little deeper than that.
There was never a label, but it was there.
Until it wasn't.
There was a point in her life where she had loved Laxus just as she loves Cana. But the Laxus she had loved died too, and they'll probably never be the same again. She know Cana hurts sometimes whenever she engages in spats with Laxus, missing how they were in the past. She also knows that Cana wouldn't ever forgive Laxus either, the girl could hold grudges like a champion.
Mirajane let out a small sigh as she returned back to the bar.
Some things aren't meant to be, she thinks quietly.
Sometimes she thinks about the past and there's a sense of melancholy that overcomes her, because it's a reminder that there was a time in her life where everyone was relatively happy with all they had, which was each other.
-L-H-
"Boo."
Lucy let out a shout in surprise which caused Natsu to let out a rather unnatural high-pitched scream as he whipped his body around with a flamed fist ready to fight. Instead his eyes widened comically at the sight of an unamused Gray with his arms crossed, before Natsu pointed at him,
"Ice Prick?!"
"Gray?!" Lucy said in surprise as Gray merely raised an eyebrow.
"Now I expected this from Natsu, but you, Lucy? Don't let this guy's idiot juice rub onto you."
"Hey!"
Happy came back with a sailor in tow who was wearing a cloak that covered his body. Happy flashed a cute smile at Gray, before pointing at the sailor who had nodded at the mages as they turned their attention onto him. Natsu, used the brief moment of surprise to quick chop the back of Gray's neck as it knocked him out instantly, causing Lucy to gasp in disbelief at the turn of events.
She slapped Natsu on the arm as the latter threw Gray's unconscious form over his shoulder.
"What the hell, Natsu?!"
Natsu let out a whine at the slap, looking at Lucy, "He was just going to get in the way! Happy found someone to take us aboard finally , I wasn't going to let Ice Fucker ruin it!"
It was true that they had been unsuccessful at getting a sailor to guide them to their mission site, which happened to be Galuna Island. Activating her magic sensoring, Lucy narrowed her eyes a bit at the sailor that Happy had found, noticing a lingering magic aura that seemed to be possessing him. He didn't seem to have ill-intent however, and that's the only reason why Lucy didn't make any sudden moves to Natsu to alert him.
She was a bit curious about the guy now, as she excused her team from the casual display of violence in front of him.
"It's quite alright, but I heard you were looking for a way to Galuna Island?"
"That's right."
"I can take you, follow me if you would please."
After following him to his boat, and Natsu's suffering, they eventually made their way towards the island as they drifted off to sea. Gray was flopped against the side of the deck as he remained unconscious, roped up thanks to Natsu and Happy. Lucy could only let out a sigh as she sat down towards the front of the boat, looking out into the blue sea.
She couldn't help but smile at the sight of being on the water, she quite enjoyed it to be honest. The open, crystal blue waters. The saltiness in the air as she closed her eyes and relaxed in the sun. She just might even let Aquarius out to do some small recon as they head towards their destination.
After another gargle from Natsu, and a small groan from Gray had re-captured Lucy's attention from her daze as she gave an apologetic smile to Gray who looked down at the ropes that had bounded him and let out a sigh of annoyance.
"Would it help that it wasn't my idea?"
"An accomplice is still an accomplice," Gray snorted as Lucy chuckled before walking over towards a sea-sick Natsu. She sat down next to him as she laid against the boat, rubbing his back in slow circles as they began to whisper to each other. Gray doesn't know what to think of their dynamic.
On one hand, they looked like close friends who did stupid shit together (like this mission).
On the other, Gray has caught a few times where Natsu's eyesight would be naturally drawn towards the blonde and vice versa. He loved to touch her, Gray noted as he watched them. They probably didn't even realize that they were pressed up against each other as Lucy soothed Natsu, who looked at her as if she was a miracle.
Considering the sound of Natsu's dry heave however, she probably was a miracle right now, Gray thought with a small chuckle as the sailor came from below deck, heading towards the center of the boat where everyone was. There was something off about his demeanor though, enough for Lucy and Gray to snap their heads at him before looking at each other in unison as they quietly observed.
"My name is Bobo," Bobo started as he looked at the island that was in the distant.
"It's nice to meet you, Bobo," Lucy said quietly as she observed him, "I do have a question for you though."
"Of course."
"Why did you agree to sail us to Galuna Island? Many sailors told us that it was cursed and that they refused to go. Aren't you worried as well?"
Bobo sadly chuckled as he turned around towards them, "I am worried, but not for the reasons you think."
Before they had a chance to ask for a follow-up question, Bobo lifted up his cloak which caused everyone to gasp at the sight. His arm was sharp with black and red symbols all over it as well as sharp claws. It looked demonic, if Lucy was being honest, and that suddenly makes sense of the weird presence that she had felt in Bobo's aura.
Gray swallowed, "Are…you possessed or something?"
Bobo just shrugged as he looked down in shame, "I don't know. I don't know what is wrong with my homeland, Galuna Island. It is why I sent a request to guilds begging for help, asking for those with strong resolve to help me and my people. Because the sky is dark, the moon is purple, and we have turned into-into demons. "