[ Phantom Lord Arc {1} ]
-L-H-
It was an empty space, the barrier that she had created in order to block out her soul and conscience from Lucy's as she stored power for what's to come.
At least that's what Rushii tells herself; the true reason for it all.
A deeper reflection would highlight the fact that she was in fact lost . She needed time to regain her mission and not lose focus of what could happen to Lucy's world if she doesn't remain vigilant. What had happened to her universe, where the Eclipse Gate was opened and the dragons rampaged all through Fiore, killing those she had loved.
But was there ever a plan in the first place?
Rushii swallowed as she looked in the simmering reflection of herself, within the barrier. Her tired chocolate eyes stared back at her, never changing from her appearance. If she had the ability to age, she'd be well onto hitting thirty. With age comes wisdom, for the most part. That's due to the fact of gaining experiences as one ages, turning the lessons learned into mantras that are ingrained into one's skin.
After touching fire once, you learn at once to avoid the blisters of the burn.
After touching something sharp, you learn at once to avoid skin being cut thus blood drips and pain flickers to life.
Maybe she doesn't get the opportunity to go out and learn hands on for herself all of the time. There's been times where she's had to do so in order to save both of their sakes, but for the most part she's taken the mentor position between the two of them. Considering her circumstances, being blasted so far into the past, it's the safest route that she could have taken.
Let it be known that she does not regret her decision.
She's so proud of what her little sister as become.
It is funny though, because it was a bit weird at first, having Lucy call her Nee-san in the beginning. They were both the daughter of Jude and Layla Heartfilia. They both were celestial mages that had the same spirits, or was starting to collect them all the same. They both were blonde, had brown eyes, and a nice figure to others.
But…they weren't the same person .
They both might be named Lucy Heartfilia, but they acted differently. It was subtle before, but as Rushii watched on occasion from her barrier, whispering small guidings whenever her imouto was loss, it was clear that Lucy had a different kind of strength that was alien to her. It's an odd concept, because technically Rushii had all the capabilities inside of her since Lucy is making her leadership, her natural ability to empathize, her creativity in battle work for her. It shows in how attentive she reacts with her friends, noticing the things that Rushii hadn't before in every one of them.
Sometimes, Rushii used to wonder if she was envious or supportive of her sister's development as she watched and advised her as she grew up.
It was conflicting emotions such as these that had inspired her to take time away just to think . The barrier had served multiple purposes, indeed. It wasn't a lie to Lucy all of those weeks ago, that she couldn't depend on her all of the time to save her. She had to be strong enough on her own, in order to prepare for more diabolical times in their lives to come.
Tower of Heaven.
Oracion Seis.
Or what's more relevant to the near-future, Phantom Lord.
It was time to make her appearance once more, Rushi surmised as she hummed at the thought of seeing friends that were formerly foes. It was also a time where she had been one of the root causes of the attack as well, thanks to her blasted father. It was a pity that Lucy never managed to successfully rekindle a relationship with him, despite her efforts. In another universe, maybe the Heartfilia family would be happy.
'But not this one,' Rushii thinks as she steps out into the main "room", where she normally spoke with Lucy. Looking over in the pool of gray, she noticed that her apartment was still there. A piece of the past that she was still clinging onto, she thinks softly as she waves a hand for it to disappear. Instead, a small area of trees replaces it, with a comfortable looking hammock taking form as Rushii blinked in surprise before walking over to take a rest on it.
She is still lost as to how she could accomplish saving the world, and a new comfortable change of scenery won't change that fact.
Honestly, there wasn't ever really a plan to begin with, just a bunch of hopes and prayers as she wished for the Eclipse Gate to give her the power to make things better.
A fist clench and a furrowed brow takes over at the thought of Future Rogue, and the treachery actions he took once he killed Natsu before following her into the abyss. What the hell was that bastard planning, anyways? Was he inside of Rogue now? Where was Rogue?
She couldn't really tell Lucy to go and search for the Shadow Dragon Slayer, was Sabertooth even a guild right now? So many unknowns, so many questions, paired with seemingly infinite choices as for what to do. If she thinks too long, it gets quite depressing at the thought of what must be done.
Rushii wonders if doing the bare minimum is the coward's way of making a difference. If her Natsu was in her shoes, would he have made the same choice? She hasn't really tried to change too much of Lucy's present as she grows as a person, in fear of making too many changes to the future. Because if it doesn't go how she remembers, then what if something major changes? All of her efforts would be rendered useless.
She would be useless.
With a sigh, Rushii decides to take note of the storm of black that resides behind her, rumbling in place as it doesn't dare move. It was a recent develop that started when Lucy reached about fifteen. It doesn't do much, only rumbles and pulse out waves of ominous intentions and whispers of punishment. Rushii is the only one who can see it, as Lucy has never made a mention at the storm behind her whenever they speak face to face in the main area.
Deep down, she knows that it must be the product of the Eclipse Gate.
The admonishment system that is put in place in order to keep her in check. It makes sense logically, and it's acted before in the past. What started as the feeling quick sand, falling into a deep state of nothingness or a flash of pain and bleeding from the holes on her face, has morphed into something more drastic and dangerous as Rushii eyes the storm behind her from the hammock. Something inside of her knows that the punishments will only get worse as she approaches the fated doomsday.
Spirits, bless her weary soul, Rushii sighs in a silent prayer, because the pain will be unavoidable and it will probably hurt .
She won't allow Lucy to walk into fire all alone though, and she'll shoulder her blisters from the burn when they inevitably come. So what if she doesn't have a definite plan for the long term, it'll be pointless if Lucy doesn't get the chance to get there in the first place.
So Rushii gathers her lost and depressing thoughts about the different realities she faces, and shoves them in a box locked in her mind. She didn't create and step into the barrier and meditate the entire time for nothing, she did so to gather strength for the fight against the storm and the real world.
Because when she succombs to the pain, she doesn't know how long it'll be until she can wake up again.
A careful eye notifies her that Lucy is with her team, walking into the gates of Magnolia as they headed back from the events of Galuna Island. Rushii gives them a small smile at the sight, feeling the aged nostalgia and happiness fill her. She misses her Team Natsu, as she watches them laugh and banter as they walked together.
Her found family, Fairytail.
Rushii suddenly sat up as her eyes widened, taking a trip back to memory lane that the thought of Fairytail and Phatom Lord. They were currently walking towards the guild, where they would see the aftermath of Gajeel's iron bars, if her memory serves her correctly. Staring at the trees before her, her heart sinks at the next thought, and the Eclipse Gate be damned -
She had to save them as quickly as possible.
This world was noticeably crueler too, Rushii closed her eyes as her feelings of sadness and worry spread throughout the space.
Ah…she had forgot how bad things were for some, before they eventually became friends.
-L-H-
It always feels as if happy moments are too good to be true sometimes, Lucy thinks as she feels a concern fill her nerves that wasn't hers. Pausing in the middle of her walk, the others didn't notice as Lucy's heart dropped in slight fear as she focused on the feeling. Thoughts raced through her mind as she thought about what could happen next, they just had defeated a demon a couple days ago, could things die down for a moment so that she could breathe ?
But remembers Rushii's last warning to her, back when she had first joined Fairytail.
Laced with kind words and enthusiasm for Lucy to enjoy her present life, she was not blind to the message hidden underneath.
The next time Rushii comes out of the barrier, it means that something big is coming.
Lucy could only hope that she was prepared.
As she stood frozen, the rest of the team was walking forwards as they chattered. It goes on for a while before Natsu notices a lack of Lucy's words, and he turns around to take a look at her in order to see if something was wrong. He pauses, immediately tensing when he doesn't the blonde behind him, before noticing that she had stopped a long time ago. This caused the rest of them to stop as well, as Natsu narrowed his eyes at Lucy, wondering what was going on.
"Lucy?!" Natsu shouted, but she didn't seem to hear him as she appeared lost in thought. The thought put a frown on Natsu's face, as he wondered what she was thinking about so deeply.
Gray frowned. "What's up with her? Is she good?"
No.
Things were not good, at all.
"Lucy." Rushii said softly, with a heaviness in her voice that made Lucy tense with worry. Lucy subconsciously looked around her surroundings, wondering if the enemy would jump out in any moment. Later on, she'll truly be happy at the fact that her Nee-san had returned to her, and she'll be able to talk with someone about her deepest feelings without too much difficulty. Perks of having another person inside your body, that can also feel the truth of your emotions.
But for now, she's scared.
"Rushii," Lucy greeted with a small smile, but that quickly went away once Rushii stood up from a hammock-oh that's new, what happened to her apartment?- before making her way over to massive tree in the distance. Unbeknownst to Lucy, Rushii eyed the storm before carefully choosing her next words.
"I won't start off our reunion with the bad news, I am not that cruel. How are you, Lucy?" Rushii said with a warm tone suddenly full of love and care that Lucy made want to cry. She wasn't even sad right now, but so much has happened in such a short time span, and she's just really missed her sister's comfort. Nee-san always seemed to know all of the answers, know all of the right things to say.
She had missed her a lot.
"I'm…I'm good, Nee-san. So much has happened, and I'm learning so much about-about everything, really." Lucy confessed with a hint of a watery smile. Pride and contentness fills her body like a warm hug.
"That's good, I'm glad you finally decided to take heed of my advice. There are many things for you to learn and explore more, as you progress in life," Rushii stated before her happier emotions turned into something more unsettling. Immediately, Lucy's smile dropped from her face as she stood at attention, ready for the next set of news in order to be laid upon her. To her surprise however, Rushii just looks and touches the massive tree with a sad look on her face.
"Rushii…?"
"The tree, Lucy," Rushii whispered out, watching as the storm crept just a bit closer. Lucy frowned as her mind raced, thinking about all of the trees she has come into contact with so far in her life. Too many to count and quickly tiring out, Lucy just decides to try and get more information from her sister.
"A tree? What about a tree?"
Rushii sucked in a tiny breath, feeling the tell-tale signs of the Gate's reprimandment, a dull fire burning into her soul. "M-"
'Fuck.' Rushii thought as she clenched her fists at the increase of pain, breathing harshly through her mouth. They won't allow her to say the Magnolia Tree, fine.She'll just have to get creative with her word choice then, and hope that Lucy's training in the art of aristocrat subtleness was enough for her to read between the lines.
"Upon the tree, is the aftermath of dark shadowsand pain, for there are deep wounds not just in the mind, but especially the flesh," Rushii hissed out before leaning against the tree, panting slightly. Lucy's mind reeled as she realized this familiar situation and quickly scrambled together cohesive thoughts about her statement. She had to speak in ambiguous riddles sometimes, because the future- fate keepers won't let her interfere too heavily.
Okay, first the tree. That seems to be really important, since Rushii made sure to mention it twice. The only thing that she could think of off the top of her head that she'd remember relatively well was the Magnolia Tree. "You want me to go to the Magnolia Tree, Nee-san?" Lucy asked cautiously.
Rushii nodded and waved her hand to continue.
Magnolia Tree, got it. Rushii had said "upon the tree", so was there something on it or was it figurative? Lucy's not sure, but there were other things about the way that she had said certain words.
Shadow, pain, wounds, flesh.
Is…someone hurt by the Magnolia Tree?
That shadow part doesn't make much sense if so though, but she'll ask regardless.
"Someone is hurt, and they making their way towards the Magnolia Tree?" Lucy guessed hesitantly. Rushii paused, not sure how to answer her question. She was wrong about the latter half, considering that Team Shadow Gear had no choice but to be chained up on the tree, but in the end, if saying yes gets Lucy to make her way towards the pavilion, then does it truly matter?
She'd understand anyways, once she saw the terrible sight.
"Yes," Rushii whispers out.
"Who?" Lucy asked worriedly.
Well she probably couldn't say Team Shadow Gear, Rushii huffed out annoyed. She flicked off the storm that crept a tiny bit closer before she quickly racked her brain with a good hint, something that'll help speed things along. Who knows how long they've been strung up by now?
In order to ease their suffering as fast as possible, they really had to-
Oh!
"You'll really have to shift gearsonce you get there, moving fast with your decision making."
Gears. It was gears that had an extra emphasis this time, but what was so special about gears? And it didn't make sense before, what did shadow have to do with people being hurt by the Magnolia tree-
Shadow.
Shadow Gears.
Shit.
" You must make haste, Lucy."
"Lucy?!" Natsu calls out again, about to walk over there to see why the girl had stopped, before he froze at the look on her face. Whatever she had been thinking about made her deathly pale as she made eye-contact with Natsu, making him feel on edge. His mouth snapped shut as he just watched her with attentive eyes, noticing her gaze flicker towards the otherside of town. His senses are honed in to her every move, feeling his insides panic at the weirdness of her actions. What happened? What was she thinking about?
And when she takes off in a weird direction, he's quick to follow her without a second thought.
There's an urgency in her movements, which causes him to quickly pick up speed as he runs after her, towards a familiar area. Cries of shock and surprise are sounded behind him as they take off running without any words exchanged, but Natsu doesn't care too much, they'll probably just follow them out of pure curiosity.
All he could focus on was Lucy.
Lucy, who had made eye-contact with him and started running like hell with a severe expression on her face. Was it him that she was running from? Did he do something? Natsu knows deep down it probably wasn't anything of the sorts, but there was a small dose of insecurity that rises inside of him just in spite. It was annoying, so he was quick to push his thoughts away as he almost catches up to her.
Damn, does he hate looking at her back, watching her move away from him in a distance.
He wants to be by her side, always .
And yeah, they definitely got to talk about this bad habit of running off without a word, because why does she keep going off on her own like that?! They were a team, for fuck's sake! She has to understand that she can't run off and not expect them to follow her, especially without any explanation.
And if it isn't a "them" that follows, than it will always be him .
After whatever the hell happens once they reaches their destination, he'll make sure that she knows that.
He's snapped out of his thoughts when Lucy finally thoughts, and almost collides with her back due to how abrupt it was. Her body feels tense, her hands were shaking, and that's when Natsu also realized that they reached the familiar area of the Magnolia Pavillion, with the Magnolia Tree in the center. He doesn't look look around though, eyes honed onto Lucy's face as he feels his heart drop.
"N-Natsu-" Lucy lets out a strangled gasp as she shakingly points at something in the distance. Natsu's a bit nervous as he follows her gaze, eyes narrowing to see what was making Lucy so freaked out, before his eyes widen himself as a burst of rage overcomes him and all he could see was red.
Lucy had to scramble away from Natsu as he caught on fire due to the extreme range of emotions that ran through his face. His eyes were blown wide in disbelief, his mouth was morphed into a sharp scowl, and his pupils turned completely dark as he saw the crucifixion of Team Shadow Gear, beaten and tortured. The tears were flowing freely on Lucy's face as she yells at Natsu to get moving, to help them as fast as they could, racing towards the tree were other on-lookers were beginning to crowd at the ugly sight.
Being face to face with their grotesque injuries up front made Lucy want to vomit. Oh god, Levy-chan, her bruises, her body, her burn . It was placed right on her stomach, branded for the world to see. It was a symbol of some sorts, one that Lucy wasn't familiar with, but that was the least of her worries as she summoned Taurus to help her removed the iron bindings from Levy, Droy, and Jet's wrists.
Or at least she tried too, but he wasn't coming through the gate.
"Taurus..?" Lucy asked questioningly at the key, feeling hurt at the refusal to come. She didn't have time to delay though, and she quickly moved onto the next key that she knew was capable of immense physical strength when it calls for it.
"Open the gate of the Maiden, Virgo !"
Virgo steps out of the gate with a golden flash, already bowing before Lucy but she calmly sits up. "Hello Princess, what can I do for you?"
"Are you capable of the same strength in your current form, compared to the form you took with Duke Everlue?" Lucy asked and Virgo nodded.
"My strength stays consistently the same, it's merely a change of appearance after all."
Lucy nodded once before pointing at Team Shadow Gear on the Magnolia Tree, "Get them down as quickly as possible, please."
It makes sense now, Rushii's words. They were quite literally upon the tree.
"At once, Princess." Virgo bowed once more before she quickly set to work. Lucy watched silently as an anger overtakens her at the sight of the limp team, feeling lost as for what this all meant as she feels familiar magical signatures behind her. A calm, cool breeze and a molten, liquid metal that can take on any form.
Erza and Gray have arrived.
"Oh my god…" Gray sucks out a breath at the sight of Team Shadow Gear, while Erza's face immediately darkens considerably as she stomps over to inspect the symbols upon Levy's skin. Squatting down at their resting figures on the ground thanks to Virgo's efforts, she gently brushed the matted blue-hair of Levy, guilt heavy in her heart at the sight of the positive girl. What had she done to deserve such a fate, Erza silently asks to the gods.
It was illogical, but she feels guilty, because she should've been there to protect them. That's what she has sworn to do for Fairytail, being the shield for all it's members. Instead, Erza is left crouched down and looking at the aftermath of what she thought to be one of her failures. All because of a certain guild that was considered to be rivals to Fairytail. But to be rivals meant that there was a healthy dose of competitiveness and banter, but there were lines that weren't crossed.
Phantom Lord, the guild that had done this, were no longer considered rivals in Erza's eyes.
They were now enemies.
"It was Phantom Lord, that did this." Erza announced after she thoroughly inspected the brand on Levy with gentle care. She stood up and turned around at the devastated looks at the rest of their faces, swallowing her anger as she took the lead. Natsu's body was flickering between being on fire and not, Lucy had her hand covering her mouth as she couldn't take her eyes away from her friend, and Gray had his teeth clenched as he looked at Jet and Droy, wondering how many hits they took for them to look so terrible. Wondered how many hits they took while they were still conscious .
"I'm going to go find those bastards," Natsu hissed out, taking a step back as his fists clenched. He was ready to hunt down every last Phantom Lord member and repay the same energy that they did to his friends. They won't get away with this. Gray was silent but the two rivals exchanged a look of understandment, noting that they'll do whatever it takes for justice.
It had pissed of Erza even more though, to his quiet surprise. "You idiot ! You're not going anywhere. We're going to take Team Shadow Gear back to the guild, and we'll wait for further instructions after analyzing the entirety of the situation, end of discussion."
" No, " Natsu snarled, getting into Erza's face who stared him down with eyes and spirit of steel. "You guys can do that. It will be faster and more effective if we split up, tackling more things at once. Obviously we need to get them some help, but what about the sons of bitches that are getting away with this? What about them, huh?"
"Are you implying that I don't want justice as well, Natsu? I'd advise you state your next words very carefully," Erza said dangerously, chest to chest with the dragon slayer. His impulsiveness wasn't unwarranted, of course she always wants to enact revenge immediately. But there will be a time for that in the near future. They don't know enough information to be acting without thinking, especially in a situation that was proving to be delicate.
"We don't have time for this shit, we got to get them help now," Gray scowled as he picked Jet up from the ground. He was fuming, he wants revenge just as much as Natsu does, but unfortunately he was cursed to have a more analytical mind and knew that regrouping was the better decision. Even if he hated it.
The darkness that was in Natsu was pulsing strongly, as Natsu gritted his teeth at the unwaveringness of Titania. How could they not take advantage of the situation? If he tried hard enough, he could probably trace their scents from here to wherever they lurked. His muscles ached for battle, his fists ached for blood. The darkness licked it's lips and smirked for war . Surely, they don't expect him to hold back against Phantom Lord, after all of this?
Because he won't.
It was Lucy who diffuses the tense situation a bit, realizing that the unexpectedness and surrealness of it all was just making things worse. Everyone had the right intentions, they all wanted payback for the unfair violence against Team Shadow Gear. No one was in the wrong with their hearts, but Gray was right, it does no good arguing when the people they wanted to fight for needed medical attention immediately.
She doesn't look Natsu in the eye when she states, "We're-We're going back to Fairytail first, we need to regroup and see if there are similar situations like this. There's too much that we don't know, and as what Team Shadow Gear has reluctantly proven, that lack of knowledge can be dangerous . It's our best course of action."
'But you can just charge in whenever you want to, right?' Natsu thinks as he sucks his teeth, wordlessly picking up Levy at Lucy's unspoken request. He's the first to set off, careful of his friend's state. It takes a special kind of focus to keep moving forward and not look at the blistering burn on her stomach, else he risks raging once more.
Asking Virgo to pick up Droy, they began the trip back towards the Fairytail Guild, moving as fast as possible without jostling and creating further injuries. Erza's gaze was heavy as people moved out of the way with fear on their faces. It told no nonsense as she continuously surveyed the area, watching for enemies as they make their way. If their hidden enemies were smart, they would know to remain hidden.
For Erza's blade will strike deep.
Lucy looks hesitantly at the side profile of Natsu, who's body language gave off the fact that he was upset. She didn't want him to be upset with her, and hoped that he wasn't, but she doesn't regret her decision. She had to think about all current parties involved, and Erza's words spoke truth. It would be wiser and safer for them to come together to come with a plan. She was the leader of Team Haluna, and that gave her the ability to make the executive decision in the end.
Considering how much Natsu was worked up, she was a bit surprised to see how easily he had complied to her words. Did that show how much that he trusted her? He didn't even fight against her words, unlike Erza.
Being a leader comes with a lot of power and hope placed upon you. If she's not careful, the weight can bring her down as it can be heavy.
Upon the arrival to Fairytail, comes the second intense shock of the day as they observed the massive metal rods that were impaled into the guild. Debris is scattered around as the remains of the guild stands shakingly intact. Erza sucks in a breath, barely faltering in her exterior as she pushed onwards. Natsu had paused, staring at the destruction with barely concealed anger as his body shook. He had to calm himself quickly, he didn't want to accidentally hurt Levy. That's was races through his mind as he picks up speed after Erza, following Gray who had a similar reaction to Natsu at the sight.
Why? Lucy thinks as she follows them without a word, heart heavy. Why did they do this?
What was the need for all of this destruction?
What was the…point?
-L-H-
"We're back, Master." Erza announced as they entered the basement of Fairytail. She knew that in the event of an emergency, the basement becomes the new base of operations for Fairytail until further notice. Everyone greeted her happily, until the rest of the Galuna Island team entered the room. That's when the happy smiles turned into looks of disbelief and shock, the optimistic mood despite the wreckage outside dies, and the gasps sound into the room mingle with cries of outrage.
Mirajane shakes as she's given a look of Levy in Natsu's arms, unconscious with her body beaten and bloodied something serious. The burn on her abdomen makes her gag as she quickly looks off to the side, feeling sick to her stomach at the sight of the bookworm. They had just had a conversation earlier that day, talking about books for them to read together some time.
How did it come to this?
Despite the look of disgust on Cana's face that the implication that someone had done this to her friends, she took charge quickly as she sat Mirajane down for her to collect herself. Yelling for people to clear space, they quickly made their way to the back in the makeshift infirmary. Everyone moved in a frenzy as they collaborated together in order to help their nakama, whether it was going out to buy more medical supplies, to wiping the dried blood and grime on their bodies.
There was an urgency in their movements, but as the tasks dwindled down, so did they. Eventually the worry that was heavy in their hearts turned into an intense anger, looking at the aftermath of torture placed upon Team Shadow Gear.
Elfman was the first to crack with anger in his voice, "Whoever had done this…they were not the definition of a real man."
Sounds of agreement rang through the room as Mirajane bit her lip, crossing her arms as she ignored the state of her body. Once she was able to collect herself from the shock, she had been the main person in the room to help with the medical attention for all three of them. She was no healer, but they looked considerably better thanks to her and everyone else's efforts. Still, the one thing that rings in her mind, was the symbol that was placed upon Levy.
She knew what that symbol was, and there were a couple of others in the room who knew where it came from too.
This was a serious development.
Makarov Dreyar walked back into the room, after personally going to speak with Polyursica herself in order to receive her help as swiftly as possible. With confirmation of her being on her way, he returned to the guild with an expression of such seriousness that no one dare says a word as they awaited for the next course of action.
Well no one, except Natsu, who gets off of the wall he's leaning on in order to yell at Makarov.
"What the hell, jii-san? We come back from a mission to see the guild in ruins, and you've clearly done nothing about it! You didn't even bother to clean it up."
"Be quiet, Natsu. You went on an S-Class mission without my permission, you should be grateful that the only reason I'm not punishing you and your accomplices right now, is that there are bigger things to worry about at the moment."
Natsu doesn't like his words, though. He'd gladly take any punishments in every other life, if it didn't cost Team Shadow Gear their fate. God, remembering the sinking feeling when he had first say them, the question of whether or not they were still alive had rang through his head. What a horrible feeling. He wasn't grateful at all at the circumstances.
"It doesn't change the fact that you pretty much ignored what happened," Natsu stated hesitantly back, still feeling strong about the destruction at the place he frequently called home. Makarov just let out a tired sigh,
"The guild can always be re-built. Fairytail's essence isn't laced within the walls of this building, it's within its member's hearts. Was it rather annoying to find the guild in this state? Yes, it was. But no one was injured, and that's all that I can ask for as a guild master. That's what kept me in decent spirits, because my family was safe. But now…" Makarov's mana was unleashed for a brief moment as he lost control of his emotions. Lucy felt like she was choking on the sheer magic power alone that came from him, such killing and dangerous intent. The staff that Makarov liked to carry around every now and then shattered completely, turned into dust that sprinkled around Makarov who had a tense expression on his face and he leveled his gaze to everyone individually.
"Phantom Lord will not get away with this madness," Makarov all but roared. Everyone roared back with a vigor that can only come from within, from the bonds that they had created with one another. "We will be unified as we seek revenge, but we will not be careless to dive into the fray without at least a plan. For now, I ask all of you to group up and head home. It's been a long day, and it may only get longer as this war persists. I want to make sure everyone at least has some back-up with them in event of another disgusting attack. Get some rest, my children, and be ready tomorrow for a new day."
He clapped at once and made his way towards the infirmary, since the pink-haired Polyursica had finally arrived after his speech. On the way over, Polyursica wasn't blind to the tension in the air and gave a good look at Makarov, noticing his seriousness.
"Jose is going to be a problem, Makarov." Polyursica hummed.
"He is a Ten Wizard Saint," Makarov acknowledged, "But so am I. I'm not afraid of that scoundrel."
"He is a man with a considerable ambition.", was all Polyurisca said as a response. It was a small warning, Makarov knew, but he couldn't be afraid in this situation. He believed in his abilities and he believes in Fairytail. The rest is up to the fates, but he'll go down trying.
"Thank you again, for coming. I know you aren't the biggest fan of people, old hag." Makarov said teasingly as Polyurisca scowled, reminding her of their younger days as a former team of Fairytail. Even in the midst of chaos, the mischievousness of Makarov never seems to disappear.
'…good.'
"Just take me to my clients, little man." Polyurisca grunted while Makarov chuckled, leading her to Team Shadow Gear in the back.
-L-H-
It was quiet in Lucy's apartment, throwing her keys onto the table before she walked promptly into her room, feeling drained. A rustled behind her made her aware that someone had followed her home, but a quick magic detection was enough to alert her that it was someone familiar and safe. Somehow, it doesn't make the tension leave her shoulders.
She doesn't know how long she sits on her bed as she's lost in her own thoughts.
It wasn't until a throat clear from her door that she snapped out of it, as she glances at Natsu Dragneel, who had his arms crossed as he looked at her for a moment. It's quiet, it's too quiet, and suddenly Lucy feels as if she's being scrutinized, but scrutinized for what ? It makes her unsure, it makes her uneasy, what was this lingering pressure that seemed to suddenly appear in between them?
She looks away, chocolate eyes closing shut as she calms herself down a little bit.
Natsu just exhales softly from his nose and closes the door gently, moving to lean against the edge of her desk in the corner. Lucy was just counting the distance between them, wondering how long it's been since they've been so far apart from each other within the same vicinity. She finds that she doesn't like the feeling one bit.
She doesn't dare to say anything though, as she waits for Natsu to make the first move. Clearly, there's something that he wants to say, considering he hasn't made the effort to step closer to her yet.
"Luce." Natsu begins softly, quietly. It's gentle and yet Lucy tenses anyways.
"You're upset." Lucy jumps the gun, blurting it out without a moment of hesitation. Natsu grows quiet as he runs a hand through his hair, trying to collect his thoughts. He was upset, but he wasn't angry. It's just-He feels really complicated about Lucy right now. There was something inside of him that was sad that she had just whiskered off without letting him know, again . Had they not been through enough for her to know that he'd always follow her without hesitation? That she just had to say a word? Let him know anything?
"Just let me in, Lucy." Natsu quietly pleaded as he looked at her. Just a little.
She was always quick to take off on her own and god , what if-
What if their enemies had still been there? If Natsu hadn't been so focused on making sure he caught up to her with her headstart, what if he'd came upon the sight of Lucy beaten as badly as Team Shadow Gear.
"I-I'm not mad , you just.." Natsu falters, and fuck , he's not very good with words. With saying exactly what he felt when it really counted.
"Are you mad at the fact that we went to the base first?" Lucy frowned slightly, "I told you why, it was the better decision for all of us."
"I don't care about that anymore, Luce. That's not why I'm..upset." Natsu eventually states and Lucy is at a loss once more. Was it something that she hadn't seen develop inside of Natsu? She likes to think that she's observe for those she cares about, especially with her best friend. She was so confused.
Natsu takes a deep breath before letting it go, standing up right fully as he stares at her.
"Do you not trust me, Lucy?"
Lucy is shell-shocked.
"I-I don't understand? Of course I do."
"Yeah?" Natsu said a bit sadly, "Then why do you like to run off without letting one of us know? Without letting me know. So quick to throw yourself out there for others, to let them know that they have a support pillar within you. But what about yourself? You say that you know that I've got your back, and you have mine, but sometimes…it-it doesn't feel like it."
Sometimes she whispers to herself, when she thinks nobody is watching or hearing what she has to say. Natsu doesn't always hone in onto Lucy, but when he does, he always makes sure to take in everything, because that's how much he cares for her. Even if she's rambling about what to make for dinner or what to get from the bookstore next for a reading session with Levy, he simply loves the sound her voice.
Sometimes she whispers to herself and it makes Natsu feel helpless, because when she does she looks like she has the weight on her shoulders. All he wants to do is share the burden, and it's overwhelming because she was just so special to him and why doesn't it feel like she understands that?
What is a Rushii, and why does it make Lucy feel so happy yet scared?
"What do you mean," Lucy asks hesitantly, standing up to look at him as they stared at one another. In the back of her mind, she laughs or maybe Rushii does quietly. Despite the anxious setting, even that won't stop them from drifting towards one another, it seemed.
"The only time I've seen you open up to me has been when we've spoken about our families, and how you were unsure about how to be a good friend. I'm not here to judge you about keeping your other feelings to yourself. I don't mind that you make me feel more feelings and I share some of the deeper ones with you, I love the fact that you're so ready to empthazie with other's issues and so willing to help them," Natsu passionately starts and Lucy's eyes widens when she realizes that they had found themselves within arms reach. His eyes seemed so open, they always have been to her, and she's silent the entire time as Natsu pours his true feelings out.
"But I do have a problem, when you take off without another word with a fearful expression on your face and I don't know why . I do have a problem when you go off into potentially dangerous situations, without letting me know."
Lucy's eyes narrowed a bit as she took a step back. "That's not fair. That's not fair at all, Natsu. You've gone off on your own plenty of times during the missions. Hell, we didn't even know where you were at one point on Galuna Island! And I wasn't super worried, because I had trusted you and your capabilities in fighting, so is this all just to say that you don't trust me at handling my own battles?"
"Would you have said that to Erza?" Lucy stated blankly, and Natsu felt frustration course through his veins. She's not getting the point! What wasn't she understanding that he just wants her to know that she could tell him anything, that if she thinks there's danger, to at least take him with her?
"No!"
"Then what's the real point of this."
It's hard, trying explain to others how you felt about a situation when you barely understand yourself. Figuring it out as you talk it out. It can really go so horribly, especially for someone who's not as good with words. Like Natsu right now, feeling as if what he had originally intended to say had suddenly spiraled out of control.
She made a great point, he does go off on his own to fight others without warning. He's a hypocrite for saying that.
That uncomfortable feeling of Lucy doing the same as him, acting the same as him whenever he runs off into danger, never goes away though. Despite fully understanding that he was being a hypocrite. Now he was being a mega-hypocrite, for knowing that he feels the same way despite knowing that he's a hypocrit-
Argh .
Natsu's burrows furrow at the complicated thoughts. This is why he didn't like thinking too hard, it made everything make sense and not make sense at the same time.
What the hell was wrong with him?
He takes a deep breath, and tries to start over.
"The point of what I'm trying to say is that when I saw Team Shadow Gear's limp body hanging from the Magnolia Tree, all I could imagine after the shock was what if the enemy still had been there. What if I hadn't full sprinted after you, without a second thought. What if I had found you bruised and bloodied, before I could get there? Fuck, I don't think-" Natsu began to grit his teeth as a wave of irrational disgust and fury came over him at the thought of Lucy being beaten so horribly. It had pained him to see Team Shadow Gear like that. It would've destroyed him had it been Lucy, that is what he knows .
Suddenly, in the midst of the dark thoughts, hands reach to cup his cheeks, to get him out of his head and the shadows that lurk underneath. A flash of understanding is on Lucy's face, and in the back of his mind he can only thank God, because he was able to pull it off. She seemed to start to become on the save wavelength as him.
And she did, to a certain extent.
"It was reckless, knowing everything we know now." Lucy holds Natsu's face gently between her hands as she whispers. Their proximity, their closeness. How did they get there? She didn't know nor did she care. It just felt right. "You make a good point, I'm sorry to have worried you so badly."
"It's okay," Natsu breathes out, closing his eyes as his breath danced across her finger tips. "I'm sorry for being a hypocrite earlier, but I…think I still feel that way regardless. Do you trust me, Lucy?"
" Yes ."
" Then always take me with you ." His eyes open for the seriousness of his words. He meant it in the past, when she had ran off. He meant it in the present, as they await anxiously for the next words of war from their guildmaster or for Phantom Lord to reach them first. He meant it for the future, for when danger comes their way inevitably. "Or give me a warning, a heads up. You scared me, Lucy."
"I will," Lucy whispers out. That's right, she has a team now. Just because she was the leader of Team Haluna, doesn't give her the right to go off on her own without explanation. She's been independent all of her life, but old habits are hard to die she supposed. "But you need to do the same. Communication, is what we should probably work on now as a team, I think."
"Communication," Natsu agrees as he pulls Lucy into his arms, holding her tightly. She melts into his embrace as they hold each other for a moment, feeling vulnerable and raw at the turn of events today. It started off with the fear of their friends and themselves in danger and it morphs into underlying issues, highlighting the fears underneath the surface. Trauma tends to have a funny way of bringing things to light, whether deliberate or not.
"You should've been the leader of Team Haluna, not me, Natsu," Lucy whispered into his vest. Natsu chuckles at her words, shaking his head before he placed his chin on top of hers.
"No way, I don't have the brains for it. Sure, I'm a good hugger when it comes to it, and I can fire someone up when it calls for it, but it takes more than that to be a leader, Luce!"
'I'm a bit too unpredictable. What good is a leader that only sets the example of destruction and chaos?'
"Besides, we work well when we fight together and when things get serious, it doesn't take much in order to create an effective plan. We're a great team, Lucy, please don't doubt our capabilities."
"I'm sorry-I've never been on a team before. It's only been Team Lucy, just me." Lucy confesses and Natsu squeezes her tighter. He knew that, and yet he made her leader anyways. Maybe that was on him, maybe he really had overwhelmed her despite her saying otherwise back then. Maybe she didn't know either. He was just so excited.
"It's okay, there's nothing to apologize for. We just have to learn things about each other, yeah? It's the little things that matter."
The little things that truly do matter, like how Lucy knew that Team Shadow Gear was going to be at Magnolia Tree, face full of panic as if she knew what kind of cruelty she was going to see. Not even Natsu knew, and he was the one with advance sense capabilities.
Did she know what was going to happen, Natsu briefly thought as he held her. Or was she, like, Rushii'd? Whatever that word meant.
One day, he'll ask her. Something tells him that now was not the time, though, which was fine with him because he was this close to getting a headache from all of the emotions he had forced himself through in order to reach that understanding between the two of them.
"That's the point! There will be days where you're going to hate me, you'll get irritated, you'll laugh, you'll cry. What I am trying to… convey is that I will still be there. As your best friend. As a forever friend. Is it crazy to say that? Uh, actually forget that last part-"
It wasn't crazy then, and it wasn't crazy now, as Lucy reflects upon the memory. She was truly beginning to understand what he meant back then.
Today was just establishing a new branch of trust in their bond, which will strengthen Team Haluna in the long run. It's a bit naive to think that just because you get along extremely well, that there weren't be any misunderstands or quarrels that come up. At least Natsu knew that with Lucy, some how some way, it'll always come from a place in the heart.
Plus- "I must have placed some burdens on you, huh? Fresh out of that prison you call home, and got swept up in the freedom, eh? My bad!" Natsu said teasingly, testing the waters to see if their previous moment had left on a good note. It seemed to have been the right choice as Lucy snorts and slaps him on the arm at the sound of her manor being called a prison. Wasn't too far from the truth, she mentally chuckled.
"I guess in retrospect, it probably was a lot for me to handle. We had so many missions back to back, gosh I'm so tired."
"In retro-what?"
"...nevermind. I'm tired, let's get a snack and think about heading to bed. Are you staying here today or going back on home?"
They detangled and the deadpanned look that Natsu had gave her made her realize that it had been a really stupid question, they had to stick together by Makarov's orders! Secretly, she thinks that Natsu would've stayed regardless of the orders or not, and the flush that brightens on her cheeks makes her scowl out of flusteredness and embarrassment as she yanks her bedroom door open and stomps out.
Only to let out a surprised shout, at the sight of a whistling Gray and an awkward smiling Erza sitting on her couch. Oh Spirits, had they heard everything that Lucy and Natsu talked about?! Oh gosh, that's so embarrassing, she doesn't look them in the eye as she robotically makes her way to her fridge.
Natsu follows out soon after, looking at the others with a nod as he scratched his stomach calmly. "Ice Prick, Erza."
"Why are you so surprised, Lucy? You gave me a key back when you said I could crash here every once in a while, remember?"
"That doesn't mean I expected you to be here today!" Lucy huffs out childishly, and the entire room chuckles as she began to pass out little snacks that she had stored. She doesn't think that she could eat dinner tonight, not with her nerves.
"So you all are crashing here?"
A chorus of "Yes's" answers her, and she lets out an exasperated sigh as she mentally calculated how many blankets and pillows she had stored around the apartment. For now, she poured herself some juice and listened in as Erza talked about what she knew of Phantom Lord and how she could see things progressing. Erza is actually really strategic and smart when it counts, no doubt proving the S-Class moniker that she holds.
Lucy quietly hopes to be a strong leader like Erza seems to naturally be, as she sat next to the woman.
"It was a good move by Makarov to group everyone together, Phantom Lord probably know where some of us live if they had good espionage members, those godforsaken assholes" Erza cursed venemously. The other two boys agreed as Lucy sweatdropped at the harsh tone but understood their anger. She was upset too.
"You seem to know a lot about Phantom Lord, Erza." Lucy noted while the requip mage nodded as she leaned back and crossed her arms.
"We have a long-term rivalry with them, or we did before the attack. They will be formidable opponents, rumor has it, though I haven't interacted with many Phantom Lord members myself. Their Master, along with ours, belong to one of the Ten Wizard Saints which are a group of people widely regarding as some of the strongest known wizards in all of Ishgar."
"I know a little bit of 'em too," Gray grunted as he took over. "They got a group called the 'Element 4' on their team, probably all consisting around the four basic element based off of their name alone. Fire, water, air, and earth. They also-" Gray glances at Natsu while he continues, "-got themselves a dragon slayer as well. Black Steel Gajeel Redfox, the Iron Dragon Slayer."
"Didn't think you'd be a gossiper, Ice Face." Natsu looked at him in small surprise, while the latter flushed and scratched the back of his head.
"Look, before the whole Deliora stuff, I used to get really paranoid, alright? When I couldn't sleep, I'd go on some walks, or head to some open restaurants and I'd hear somethings."
"What other things have you heard, Gray?" Erza asked, curiously. Gray just waved them all of dismissively.
"Not important right now. That's all I know about Phantom Lord, at least."
Team Haluna sat in silence for a moment, before Erza asks Natsu the question that's been burning on everyone's minds the moment Gajeel Redfox was mentioned.
"What do you plan to do about Gajeel? Do you know him?"
"Nah," Natsu said thoughtfully before frowning, "As for what I plan to do, well I plan to kick his ass if he gets in my way. Whether we're both dragon slayers or not doesn't mean shit right now."
He's lying, Lucy thinks briefly, but she doesn't speak up. It does make sense for him to be curious of someone with the same magic as him, especially knowing about who had trained him. Was Gajeel trained by a dragon as well? If so, does he know where his dragon was? Did that dragon know Igneel?
If Lucy had those thoughts racing through her, she could only imagine what was going through Natsu's at the revelation.
Maybe after all of this was over, she'll get Natsu to indulge in his curiosity if he doesn't do so himself but for now, he was right.
All Phantom Lord members were now the enemy, and there was no time for personal matters to get in the way of retribution that Fairytail will hand them.
Of this, Lucy has no doubt.