[ Phantom Lord Arc {2} ]
-L-H-
She's not sure how to feel about being put on the backlines at the basement, Fairytail's temporary base as the rest of the guild heads over to the Phantom Lord base for the payback.
It's still an important job, she had to protect the injured; including her dear friend Levy-chan. Still, Lucy frowns to herself a little bit as she crosses her arms while sitting across from Levy's sleeping form, quietly talking to Rushii in her mind about what to expected and what to do.
The soft lulls of Team Shadow Gear's breath helps the anxiety that's been pooling inside of her, she barely was able to get some sleep last night. It still hurts to look at their bodies for too long. It's a small cycle of irritation that builds inside of Lucy as she frowns heavier. What was worse right now: looking at Team Shadow Gear's current state or the fact she felt as if she was left behind when she wanted to be there in the fight too.
"There was some logic for leaving you behind, Lucy" Rushii tried to diffuse. She remembered when it was her time, that she had been rather frightened about the turn of events but was determined as the rest of them to protect and revenge her nakama. She had even left them in order to wander around, which was a bit selfish leaving the injured team behind now that she thought about it.
But as always, going through things a second time gave her the opportunity for a second look, but she still understood her omouto's feelings nonetheless.
"You've been making a small word of yourself as being quite the capable celestial mage, based off the missions reports and witnesses. Even being a rarer magic type, it still shocking to hear one of us being able summon multiple golden spirits at once, let alone own Zodiac keys. Add on to the other secrets that you're hiding, with a magical aura sensing that has been relatively trained and the ability to do Forced Gate Closure, you're on your way to being quite the formidable opponent."
"I guess also having a Nee-san from the future is a secret bonus, right?" Lucy chuckled while Rushii smiled but shrugged. She honestly feels a bit as if she should be able to do more, to guide Lucy more about the events that are coming, but the Eclipse Gate is not something to be reckoned with.
Rushii lays back on her hammock, her black cloak covering her body as she lets out a long, harrowing sigh that catches Lucy's attention. Throwing an arm over her eyes, Rushii closing her eyes as she thinks about how to best phrase what happens during this arc, despite the differences in this world.
From what she's gathered so far, despite some character differences and out of order sequences, it seems as if the outcome still comes out the same. So if she's willing to be a little more daring, maybe she'll play a more active role as long as the fate of the battles stays the same right? It's a working theory, one she's determined to seriously give thought.
For now, the only conclusion that she knows with a good amound of certainty, is that the reasonings for Phantom Lord's attack does still revolve around her and the deal that Jose Porla had made with her father. Of course, Rushii no longer thinks that the purpose of the gruesome attacks Phantom Lord had issued was solely because of her. She has a sharper mind now, she's more analytical as she has infinite time to think.
Jose Porla was just a fucked up man, and her father's greed at just so happened to coincide with his ideals. If Lucy had not been the front for the war between the two guilds, it would've been something else to trigger it. Jose wanted violence, and Lucy just so happened to be a good enough catalyst to trigger the chaos.
Rushii clenched a fist as the two sat in silence for a moment, before Lucy speaks up.
And really, Rushii should've expected this coming. She's only a bit surprised that she hadn't said anything sooner about it.
"What is it that you're not telling me, Nee-san?" Lucy asked despite her fears. Rushii has been a bit different ever since she came back from the barrier. She seems to be a bit colder, and bit more resigned. Like there was something on the tip of her tongue that she wanted to say, but something was holding her back.
Lucy just didn't know if that was figuratively or literally.
Rushii stays silent, before telling Lucy softly, "This entire ordeal…it will test you especially, Lucy."
"Test me..?"
"It gets personal," Rushii ominously warned and Lucy's heart dropped. She knows she should ask her for more information, to know exactly who was next in Lucy's new populated life that'll be next on the chopping block.
But she doesn't, not yet.
She's scared to find out, and to remain ignorant still meant that at least she could keep some happy thoughts before knowing the full-extent of the truth.
"It's not your fault," Rushii murmurs quietly, but too low for Lucy to hear. The memories of the shock, of the hurt that rushed through her at the revelation of her father's deeds. She had been a reason why Levy, Droy, and Jet had been tortured so badly, although it didn't compare to this world's portray. It had been a stamp in her time, but the burn on Levy's stomach, spirits it was unbelievable.
Is it because of her and Rogue's presence? It was too easy for them to just go back and steam-roll through the past events, right? Just had to make everything more bleak, more torturous for her loved ones?
She bit back a sudden dark chuckle, because whoever created that fucking gate was a true scary bastard.
"When does it go back to the fun adventures from the beginning?"
Rushii turns to look at Lucy with a firmness in her eyes that honestly answers the question alone, "It doesn't. We just get better at spending time in the few moments of peace we get in between."
"Isn't it tiring? Feeling like you're saving your world all of the time?"
"It does," Rushii said after a moment, thoughtfully. God, how many times had tears ran down her face at the frontlines of the violence? How many times has she had to pick moral up in order to keep fighting, in order to encourage her nakama to go on till the last breath? How many times had they done all of those things for her? They have fallen many times and they've gotten back up, believing in themselves and their own abilities.
And…she was lucky, Rushii realizes.
Somehow they had always managed to get through the thick of things okay in the nick of time, back to smiles and happiness once more. Like sweet and hopeful ignorance, they wished for the whole world to grow and learn to choose good, especially their enemies that they defeated with their power but also another power.
Their abundant kindness.
It's not like that here in this universe.
It wasn't just as simple as forgiving your enemies and cheered to hoping that they do better after being defeated once. She's learned that from her Gray, who had originally forgiven Lyon and guided him to find a guild with hope within him. This Gray, she had watched from afar, had struggled to forgive Lyon for his traitorous actions to their shared past and yet still wished the best for him. She could tell on his face that he didn't know what was to come from his estranged brother, but he'd either help him when it counts or stop him once more if it came to it.
The pain, it hurt them.
The scars, they were deep and they didn't heal as quickly.
There is a realism to this world, and Rushii was going to have to adapt as they get closer and closer. "God, I was a real crier too, always sobbing on the battlefield. My Fairytail were yellers, battle criers, just like yours seemed to be. But it was a bit different for us, because we had a never-ending hope within our hearts that once people see the truth, that they'd change their ways."
"Did they..?" Lucy said a bit hopefully.
"The truth of the matter is that I don't know about all of them. But for those that I do remember, they did come around eventually." Lyon, Gajeel, Laxus, Jellal, Ultear-
That made Lucy smile. So there was a hope for a change, for things to be a bit calmer. She did notice that Rushii made sure to point out that it was different for her timeline though. "Do you think it'll be the same for my universe as well?"
"That is a hard question to answer. Things are more intense than they were in my life," Rushii confessed quietly. "But I have faith in you and your Team Haluna. Things might be harsher and crueler, but that just means that you are more hopeful and vigilant to make things right. There's always a balance."
That's right! She hasn't been learning and practicing with her Nee-san for all of these years for nothing, there isn't anything to be overly wary of. Self-confidence in your abilities is half the battle alone, and she knows that she's got faith in herself and her spirits to do good. And if right now, that meant that she was on guard duty to protect Team Shadow Gear as they rested, then that's what she'll do.
There is no shame in being put on defense.
Rushii smiled at the determined look on her omouto's face. Good, she needed that resilience back. It wasn't as exciting as attacking the base with the rest of her team, but Makarov had made a good decision with leaving her behind. Above all else, Lucy was a whole unit by herself with the versatility of her spirits and the fact that she was capable of summoning more than one at once for a decent amount of time.
It made the likelihood of being attacked by more than one person, which was high, easier to deal with for Lucy was never truly alone.
Speaking of spirits however, Rushii hardened her eyes as she got up, remembering what had happened at the Magnolia Tree. Lucy had attempted to call Taurus, and to her astonishment, the spirit hadn't stepped out of the gate. What the hell was that? That has never happened to Rushii before, and despite the spirit being her family, she was upset.
What if Lucy had seriously needed his help with combat?
That was something that couldn't happen in the future, and whatever is wrong with Taurus, they needed to settle this right now, while they still had time left before things become hectic.
Lucy blinks in surprise as Rushii stands before Lucy with her arms crossed with a serious expression on her face. "Rushii?"
"Summon Taurus, immediately. I'll be taking over from there for a moment."
Lucy swallowed at the reminder of Taurus's failure to show for help, and felt a bit conflicted. She didn't want to treat them as if they were always supposed to come to her beck and call when she summons them with their key, even thought they technically are supposed to, but it was a respect type of thing! No one wants a reminder that they were bounded to their masters and had to obey their every word at the end of the day, it was not the relationship that Lucy had ever wanted from her spirits.
They…were friends.
"I know what you're thinking, and I get it. They were my spirits too, my family." Rushii sighs, but she doesn't lose her strict air. "But at the end of the day, he didn't come, and what if you truly needed him the most in order to fight a powerful opponent? It wasn't the case this time, but it is now a possibility based off of his previous actions of disappearance, and that can'thappen."
She has truly changed as a person.
Was this the protectiveness of being an older sister? This determination that no one is safe from the threatening words that come from a place of fear and love for Lucy, as she should never be placed in that situation again. These were not her spirits, these were Lucy's which helps a bit in isolating her emotions as she prepares to speak with Taurus.
It still felt a bit off to do so though, because she's never…scolded her spirits seriously before.
But she also hasn't travelled back in time either.
There's a first for everything, Rushii wills herself to focus as Taurus steps out of his gate once Lucy quietly summons him in the real world, shrinking back at the narrowed look in his master's eyes. Rushii took over the main body as Lucy looked away, suddenly feeling like a small child hiding behind her older sister as she didn't want to see what happened next.
She understands where Rushii is coming from, but spirits, she didn't want to see her spirits's feelings hurt.
It felt as if it physically hurt her, and she continues to look away as she lets Rushii take over.
"Do you understand the severity of what could have happened due to your incompliance to be summoned out of your gate?" Rushii stated coldly at Taurus who's muscles tensed as he looked down from the other spirit inside of Young Lucy's mind.
They don't interact with the Rushii character often, but they all know of her. Shame fills his body as he sags after another moment, while Rushii stood there unwavering as she awaited an answer.
"Well?"
"I was meeting with the Celestial Spirit King with Aquarius," Taurus said back as he recalled being warned intensely of what could happen if a celestial spirit harms their master. It wasn't on purpose, they were being controlled by that puppeteer woman who had the ability to control them. And yet the shame never went away at the thought of crossing blades with his master, someone who has done nothing but care for them in such a kind way. They were slaves to the contracts that they agree to make with their celestial summoners, that was the truth of their lives.
Lucy never made them feel that way though, and he had almost killed her thanks to that pink-haired doll-mage.
It was disgraceful.
"I don't give a fuck about the King, it doesn't fucking mean anything if Lucy dies ." Rushii feels rather emotional about that line, because it was true. If Lucy dies, that meant she dies, and that meant that nothing will change. Everyone would be doomed to die by the Eclipse Gate once more, and- fuck this. "You come whenever Lucy calls. That is what celestial spirits do . Is Lucy the type to call you for stupid reasons?"
"No."
"Then don't ever ignore one of her summons again," Rushii states calmly but deadly. Taurus shivers a bit at her tone and he doesn't dare move to look at her once. Truthfully, he felt even worse after disregarding the call from Lucy.
He hadn't lied when he said that he was on his knees to the celestial king about what potentially could have happened, but it was just so much. Remorse, for almost hurting her badly. He couldn't do anything as he screamed in his mind to stop moving, to not take another step forwards, and his body would not listen.
Holding back a small shudder at the thought, a hand is placed upon his arm, and he flinches a little bit before looking up to see a sad, doe-eyed Lucy that was looking at him with pure concern on his face. Spirits, he could've hurt a face like that.
He could've killed someone who had almost met their fate by his unwilling hands, and yet looks as if she did him wrong and was immensely sorry for it.
He was truly lucky to have a master like Lucy Heartfilia, and even if the other soul inside of her's words were harsh, they did rang true.
"I'm sorry if she was a bit mean, Taurus," Lucy whispers but Taurus shook his head quickly as he collected himself before steeling his resolve. He took a step back from Lucy and knelt to the ground as he placed a fist into the floor,
"Lucy Heartfilia, I apologize with all of my dignity as one of the Twelve Golden Zodiac Keys for not answering your call when it came. There are no excuses and it will never happen again, you have my absolute word."
Lucy squats down immediately, and a part of her wants to tell the spirit to get up immediately, but this was a delicate situation. Taurus's pride as a spirit was quaking at the turn of events that's happened in the last week or so, it wouldn't be kind of Lucy to disregard his apology just because she felt a bit uncomfortable at the formality. "I forgive you, and I forgive Aquarius as well if she feels some type of way about it too. Please don't let that moment overtake your thoughts too much, it was beyond your control."
"It shouldn't have been," Taurus breathed out heavily, feeling guilty.
"But it happened nonetheless," Lucy addressed back with a tone full of conviction. "We can't change that ordeal, but we can reach an understanding moving forwards at least. It'll take more than the opponent's magic possessing you in order for you all to lose my love and trust. You are one of my spirits, Taurus, my special family. Despite what you may think currently, none of you have failed me yet."
Lucy stood back up and motioned for Taurus to do so as well, which the tall, beefy spirit did without hesitation. She looks him directly in the eyes when she says this next part, "You just told me that it won't happen ever again, and I believe you. Just as I believe that you all care for me as much as I care for you. Don't beat yourself up, Taurus, and know that I still trust you with my life."
Spirits feel emotions just as humans do, but maybe not to the severity as humans.
Taurus can't remember the last time a master has made him feel this passionate about using his magic to make their wishes come true, to almost tearing up at the awe and gratitude that fills his heart at the compassion. It won't ever happen again, because he truly feels as if he'd sacrifice himself first before even remotely thinking about harm to Lucy.
"You're going to be one of the greatest Celestial Mages of all-time, we're going to make it happen, my wonderful master." Taurus praised gently.
'You already feel like it.'
Lucy just blushed as she giggled, ever so humble, "That just makes you guys just as great as me. We're a team, through thick and thin."
And Taurus just smiles warmly at her, because she was correct. They were a team indeed.
Rushii isn't sure what Taurus will say about her once he inevitably returns to the spirit world. Was she too harsh with her words? Lucy never said it outright but she felt as though she was, and while that hurt Rushii to feel, it wasn't enough to stop her from following through.
It may be seen as cruel but if that is what Rushii has to be seen as in order to keep Lucy safe, then that's what she'll be. She just hopes Lucy doesn't avoid her, when things die down—
…
Hm, something's coming.
"Lucy."
"Yeah, I feel it." Lucy said, narrowing her eyes towards the direction of the entrance to the basement. She stepped out of Levy's room as walked towards the open area with Taurus right behind her as she awaited for them to arrive.
Two unidentified magical signatures were making their way towards Fairytail at a rapid pace. One felt diabolical, a cruel signature that had wickedness attached to its core. The other felt like they were drowning, choking on water as they barely tread above sea level. It was a stronger feeling that Lucy had expected, and she quickly stops her sensoring as she lets out a deep breath. Why did it feel as if she had been sucked into that?
She never has time to think more on it, as her opponents have made their way into the room to begin the intense stand-off. Taurus glowered at the blue-haired, raining mage and the oily, sneaky posh-man that looked at Lucy with a disgusting gleam in his eyes. Lucy noticed it as well and cringed internally, but she didn't move from in front of the doors to the infirmary with a hand on her cocked hip.
"Phantom Lord, I presume?" Lucy asked firstly.
Rain girl didn't say anything, but the other guy just smiled eerily at her words as she readied herself for the confrontation.
-N-D-
"This is too easy," Ice Freak grumbled as he slammed his foot onto the ground, freezing the Phantom Lord grunt in place as he continued to walk through the base. Natsu had just finished knocking out one on the otherside, but he let out a small grumble at the ease of it. Where were the strong opponents? Where was the dragon slayer that they had?
His fists ached for blood.
"I agree," Erza stated with a frown as she calmly walked over a fallen body. The plan was to retaliate as fast as possible since Phantom Lord had attack their base first. Walking through the rather vacant base however as lead Erza to suspect that they knew that they were coming and planned accordingly. It made her frustrated at being duped, but she pushes that anger to the side as she storms through the base.
"Any word on the sightings of the Element 4?" Erza spoke with Cana who shook her head as she split off to another direction. With a grumble, Erza walked ahead with Gray as Natsu stopped walking for a second, noticing a different scent in the air. It smelt like rust, but it also smelt familiar, like he was smelling someone of his own kind.
"He's here." Natsu told them, narrowing his eyes as he tried to locate the other dragon slayer. Erza nodded swiftly while Gray raised an eyebrow, "Any others?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
"Damn," Gray groaned in slight boredom before walking off with Erza. "Guess I'll let you take care of him then."
Natsu blinks a bit in surprise from his words. He expected him to try and fight who gets to fight the dragon slayer, but Gray gave up rather quickly. Gray rolled his eyes at the look on Natsu's face and grunted, "You let me fight Lyon. I'm respecting your fight against another one of your kind or whatever, but don't get used to it."
"Wouldn't imagine that," Natsu grinned before running off in another direction that smelt closest to the source. After Erza told him good luck, he dashed off with a salute and his scarf flowing as he ran. It left Erza and Gray alone as the former looked at him, knowing that Gray was capable of some serious strategizing when he gets serious.
"What do you think about this?"
Gray sucked his teeth as he crossed his arms, "It can be a number of things which is why it's pissing me off. This is either a set-up for a sneak attack, or we were never the target to begin with."
"You think we were baited here? For what?" Erza asked curiously.
"Who knows, this whole thing is just a shit show right now." Gray scuffed the ground in annoyance before hearing a loud crash and the tell-tale sounds of fighting. He heard Natsu's Dragon Roar and let out a sigh.
Damn, when will it be his turn to fight?
"Who did we leave back at the guild again?" Erza asked and Gray answered that it was just Lucy protecting Team Shadow Gear. He was a little bit worried for his team leader, but he's also seen the celestial spirit mage in action. She was strong willed and her spirits were formidable, surely she'd be okay right?
Natsu had a harder time separating from the blonde but Makarov didn't give him much of a say on the matter in the end. They had broken the rules earlier after all, going on that S-Class mission to stop Deliora. It wasn't wise to piss the old man off even more.
"It would be real fucking shitty if they attacked the base just to cripple Team Shadow Gear," Gray said darkly while Erza looked at him in shock before quickly bashing him for even suggesting that idea. It didn't matter to Gray, his paranoia was already racing from the state that he remembered finding the team in. The rest of the guild will never know the true extent of the sight, watching their bodies hanging from the tree covered in wounds.
It made him sick to his stomach, and he couldn't put anything past them in their wickedness after that.
Fuck, he was going to go back for Lucy.
His insomnia might be getting a little bit easier to manage thanks to settling his past, but the everlasting years of being paranoid at the event of something happening to his family had already been trained into his skin. He had to be sure, just in case.
"Ugh, I'm going to go back. There's nothing left here anyways," Gray scoffed. Erza was ready to argue but she also realized that the people placed at the base were relatively easy to deal with, and they should probably begin stretching their forces for the hunt for Phantom Lord. She nodded at once and Gray turned around to walk away, but not before throwing a look over his shoulder and throwing a lax hand in the air as a lazy wave of goodbye.
Erza just rolled her eyes as she let out a small smile, "Goodbye, Gray. Stay safe."
She refocused herself once more as she locked eyes with a still conscious grunt on the floor, hardening her stare as she began to walk over as they shivered in fear as they tried to crawl away. A sword implanted to the side of their head caused them to freeze as Erza squatted down, eyes narrowing.
"What can you tell me about your guild?
-N-D-
He had been fighting Elfman, when he had finally found Black Steel Gajeel.
Upon first glance, it could've been seen that they had a relatively even fight against each other as they exchanged blows. A closer look on Gajeel's face was enough to know the truth of the matter, he was merely entertaining Elfman as he waited for someone strong to come and cure his boredom. Natsu cocked his head as his eyes narrowed at the thought.
So he used Elfman as bait to draw him out?
Gajeel paused for a moment at the new scent that entered the room as his Iron Dragon's Club was caught by the take-over mage. He first looked at his current opponent with mild surprise on his face, he hadn't expected him to be able to grab his hit that easily and stop him. He quickly looked over towards the pink-haired man that was staring at him with a fire behind his eyes, and smirked.
He smelt like a dragon .
"So you're Salamander," Gajeel said nonchalantly as he smacked Elfman away from him, focusing his attention at the fire dragon slayer. Natsu frowned at the treatment of his friend, but he couldn't hide the intrigue that ran through his veins at the prospect of a worthy challenger. Gajeel seemed like he was cracked with power, and Natsu felt the build up of the loving warmth that is violence.
His natural element.
"Black Steel Gajeel," Natsu said back as they faced each other. He shoots a glance at Elfman, "I can take care of this guy, go run off with the others!"
"You sure? It's not manly to leave a comra-" Elfman spoke but paused at the sharp look that Natsu was giving Gajeel while he had spoken to him. The predatory gaze that the dragon slayers were giving each other as they eyed one another. Mana crackled in the room as the hostile tension rose with every second, and Elfman decided that maybe it was best for him to get the fuck out of there.
It seems like he'd only be a nuisance if he tried to help Natsu.
So with that, the take-over mage nods and leaves where Natsu came from, allowing the fire dragon slayer to focus fully on his opponent in hand. Gajeel just crossed his arms for a moment as he tried to egg Natsu on,
"Surely, I hope you're stronger than the rest of Fairytail that I've already met."
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Natsu frowned, before tensing at the confession that was laced with Gajeel's words. Was he the one responsible for Team Shadow Gear's state? His fangs bared in the air as he growled at Gajeel who just hissed back with a dark gleam in his eyes.
"Did you like the present? It was a welcome gift to you all, after all."
" Fight me!" Natsu roared as he launched himself at Gajeel, casting a Fire Dragon Slayer's Iron Fist at the man. Gajeel twisted his body as he dodged, eyes widening a bit at the explosive power that Natsu had packed at the end of the contact. A massive column of flames had erupted from his fist beside him as Gajeel let out a rather bright chuckle at sight of it.
Yes, yes!
Finally, someone strong! The rumors of Salamander were true .
Spinning, Natsu twisted his body rapidly as Gajeel let out massive beams of steel from different parts of his body that came to puncture through him. He then blasted himself forwards by propelling his fast, hair flapping in the wind as he prepared to release a massive Fire Dragon's Roar in the same breath. "Fire Dragon Slayer's Roar !"
But suddenly, he was sent flying across the room due to the shockwave effects of Gajeel's deflective method, which he has now seen was the effect of hardening his body with steel scales that seemed to have improved his defense greatly. He hadn't be uneffective by the shockwave, but he removed himself from the wall with more grace than Natsu had as the latter shrugged off rocks and dry wall debris.
It doesn't take long for him to attack Gajeel once more however, feeling anger course through his veins as he roars at his opponent. Gajeel answers his call with a roar of his own, and it's a bit interesting because it's as if they have the ability to communicate through their draconic instincts as well.
Those roars were roars of war , very similar to their dragon parents when they used to take to the skies. It was something that only dragon slayers could relate to on a spiritual level.
It felt…good to let that side of him out, both dragon slayers think as they clashed once more.
Gajeel bent backwards at a fiery claw that was aimed his way before he flipped his body and spun half-way, with a steel leg that catches Natsu by surprise. Natsu lets out a groan at the impact as he puts him off balance, before Gajeel elbows him sharply in the middle of his abdomen, crashing him into the ground.
On top of him, Gajeel grins as his arm turns into a chainsaw, hissing, "Iron Dragon Slayer's Sword."
The rapidly moving chainsaw is launched at Natsu who is pinned the ground, but it was stopped just barely from his face as an extra pair of flamed arms catches it for him. It's a maddening noise of the contact, both of the dragon slayer's ears are ringing from such close proximity, but they are relentless. Natsu uses his normal arms as he continues punches Gajeel in efforts to get from underneath as Gajeel grunts from the impacts but manages to hold on.
Quick, calulative eyes show that Gajeel hasn't hardened his entire body with scales yet, and Natsu manages to bring a sharp pain to Gajeel as the iron dragon slayer lets out a shout before jumping back from Natsu with a glare on his face. Natsu immediately removed himself from the ground as he huffed, watching as Gajeel winces at the burn on the side of his body.
Natsu isn't unscathed either however, there was a large bruise on his leg from Gajeel's attack from earlier, and his stomach hurt every time he took a breath.
"Feels good, doesn't it Salamander? Fighting someone equal in level?"
Natsu grits his teeth but doesn't say anything in the matter. It makes him feel like a traitor, the thought of having fun the enemy in the middle of battle. How could he even think to be enjoying himself in the middle of fighting another person like him, when he did such heinous actions to his nakama?
And yet, when they both instinctively decide to use their version of their respective dragon's roars against each other to kickstart round three,
Natsu grins.
He grins and he secretly hates himself even more for loving the chaos and destruction of it.
-L-H-
"If I had known that Jude Heartfilia's daughter was this… appetizing , I would have grabbed her a long time ago instead of that worthless team." Sol murmured with a disgusting look on his face, that even made Juvia Lockser give him a miniscule look before turning back towards the blonde. Juvia stared at their target with a blankness, letting out a small sigh as she readied herself to complete her orders from Jose.
It was never personal, she never took pleasure for accomplishing such actions like Sol or Gajeel, but it wasn't as if she was in pain whenever they hurt others. It was nothing, everything felt numb to her. All she knows is the feeling of a never ending sense of drowning, which is incredibly amusing to some considering she could manipulate her body into the form of water itself.
And maybe that spoke volumes of her, having the ability to morph into any shape her guildmaster asks of her because of her condition.
It wasn't personal, Juvia thinks mindlessly as she holds up a hand towards Lucy Heartfilia, one of the true targets of Phantom Lord.
"Water Slicer." She calmly states as blades of water that resemble scythes launches themselves at the blonde. Taurus immediately placed himself in front of the celestial spirit mage as she lets out a surprise shout. He grunts as his skin develops cuts, before picking up one of the chairs beside him and throwing it at the two.
Juvia blinks as she quickly transforms into a puddle, while Sol lets out a yelp as he quickly jumps off to the side.
Lucy's mind raced as she looked at Taurus, "Are you alright?"
"She has fantastic control over water, that woman is dangerous." Taurus replied immediately as Lucy nodded before ducking at another onslaught of water blades. She heard a crack and whipped her back at the aftermath of the attack, seeing the dark inflictions that was in the walls. Taurus hadn't been lying, if all else, those water blades were real trouble.
But that doesn't deter Lucy, whipping out her next key as she tried to do something rather risky in the middle of the fight. Rushii looks curiously at what she plans to do with that specific key, as Lucy suddenly began running towards the two enemy mages.
"Cover me, Taurus!"
Taurus summons his axe and leaps into the air towards Sol, slamming it down in front of him as the latter screams. He uses his earth magic to push himself away from the celestial spirit in the nick of time, but Taurus had done his job as a great distraction as Lucy charges towards Juvia. Juvia stares at her in a mixture of slight alarm and confusion as Lucy throws something at her extremely fast.
It shines, and Juvia is left wondering if it was a small weapon of some sorts as she turns her body into water in order to avoid the attack. But to her surprise as she looks down in the middle of transform, it wasn't a weapon persay, but a… key ?
Because unbeknowst to Juvia, Lucy took note of the fact that she had the ability to turn herself into water. That's why with quick thinking, she threw Aquarius's key with a flick of her wrist as it spun in the air, laced with some of her mana. Spinning, as if turning a key inside of a locked door, which was the perfect rotation for the default summoning process.
The moment it makes contact with Juvia, Lucy prays with all her might and shouts, "Open the Gate of the Water Bearer, Aquarius! "
Juvia's eyes widened as the strong emotion of shock overcomes her as her water-body state was suddenly sucked into what felt like a powerful suction and suppression. A loud laugh coming from what she felt to be "outside", told her of a newcomer that had made their appearance, using Juvia…as a weapon?
…interesting.
It seemed they have severely underestimated Lucy Heartfilia.
Aquarius throws a smirk at Lucy at her innovative approach, before twisting her body with the momentum of her summon in order to release Juvia, who was trapped inside of her urn thanks to the spirit's ability to manipulate water, and launches her at her comrade. "Get out of the way, beef stew! It's my turn to shine."
Sol's blasted by Juvia, and his wet body is flung into the wall of the basement as he sputters in shock at the sight before him. A beefy cow that had a trench coat and a terrifying massive axe. A blue mermaid with a massive urn next to her, giving him a glare so devious, he shivered. And lastly, the blonde mage behind them as she stared at him defiantly.
Sol gritted his teeth, he thought this was supposed to be easy! They didn't realize how competent the girl was, fuck . He isn't sure if he'll be able to keep her in good condition, despite Jose's warnings. It was either the two Element 4 members go all-out, or they maximize time and efficiency in order to trap the mage.
"Juvia wants to know what the next plan is," Juvia materializes next to Sol, looking rather bruised. She stared at Aquarius warily, who looked over at her with a smirk and curled a finger as if beconing her to come over and play. Sol just scoffed that the "uselessness" of his partner and slapped his hands together.
"Sand Magic: Sable Dance!"
A sandstorm appeared in the middle of the room as everyone's eyesight had decrease in accuracy and perception.
"We need to knock the girl out. If the spirits were summoned by her, then they will be forced to leave as their connection with their mage depends on them being conscious and being able to maintain their mana to continuously open their gates."
Juvia nodded at once as she runs into the sandstorm, taking out Taurus fist with a luckily timed Water Lock spell as she dodged his wild axe swing. She let out a startled breath as she used up a lot of mana for that attack, before turning towards Aquarius who summoned a wave of water at her. It quickly became stagnant due to both opponents being able to wield water with great proficiency, although Juvia was on the losing end as she contained Taurus and fought Aquarius at the same time, but she wasn't there to beat them anyways.
Just to buy time for Sol to get to Lucy.
Lucy's eyes blinked warily as she stumbled through the sandstorm, hearing the tell-tale signs of battle nearby. As she staggered however, she found herself incased in rocks and she froze as her stomach dropped. Rushii quickly placed her hands down in the mental "ground" in order to try and protect Lucy's mental state as she felt someone try to rudely enter her mind.
For underneath Lucy's physical body, was Sol inside of the ground as he attempted to reach into her memories and use them against her. He had decided that he wanted to torment her to his liking before taking her to Jose, and he decided to do so with his special spell, the cruel Merci la Vie.
He's on his way into accessing her mind, entering the room of the subconsciousness when a dark storm suddenly overtook his vision on the way into Lucy's mind. It takes the form of a door, a door that Sol is so close to reaching, but to his surprise, it opens and someone comes out of it before closing.
It was turning incredibly dark fast as the person began to calmly walk over towards him, and the storm clouds began to rapidly spin around Sol as he reached out for help, for something to pull him out of this powerful mana that seemed to have been sucking out his soul , the person grabs it.
'Yes.' Sol internally thinks as he's pulled slightly out of the engulfing storm.
"What?" He's left saying as he feels as if he's looking at an older, war-torned Lucy Heartfilia that was staring at him with cold eyes as she held his grasp. They had the same exact features as the person outside, but there was a ruthlessness that was present in this version of Lucy.
It felt as if he was looking at surviour.
Rushii didn't remember fighting this guy during her time against Phantom Lord, but to think he had dirty tricks like this. She takes one look at the storm that had been lurking around her for years now, silently shocked that it had seemed to have taken form and almost protected her and Lucy from psychological intruders.
Interesting.
But first, Rushii looked back at Sol and fisted his ugly red suit jacket, bringing his face closer to hers. With darkened irises and a dead-flat gaze, she whispered to him,
"̷Ɠҽէ օմէ"
Rushii shoves Sol back into the dark storm that is the reminiscent of the Eclipse Gate and heads back towards the door of the main subconscious. She's surprised to have been given the ability to do so, and will spend some time reflecting at what it means.
For now, she's done her job in protecting Lucy.
On the outside, Lucy has a pounding headache as she pants, trying to free herself from the rocks that had been placed against her. It doesn't her hurt if she doesn't move too much, but she has to move, because this was in the middle of battle! There's a signature of magic that pops up behind her, and she pauses her efforts as she cranks her head towards Sol who had suddenly appeared behind her, looking rather shakened and bewildered as his heart races at the sight of Lucy.
Lucy feels disgusted at the sight, mistaking his fear for arousal, and begins to redouble her efforts. That was until Sol stomped over towards her and promptly chopped the back of her neck harshly, immediately causing her to lose conscious as she slumps forwards into her rock prison.
To his internal gratitude, Sol's prediction was correct as the spirits immediately began to dissolve into golden light much to their horror and confusion. Juvia blinked at the adruptness, especially when Sol waved a hand to cancel the sandstorm, showcasing the destruction in the room.
Juvia tiredly took a knee to the ground as she panted from mana exertion and relief. She had been on the edge of losing to Aquarius while trying to keep Taurus contained, who had struggled and fought against her magic relentlessly.
She looked to see that Sol had an irritated and slightly fearful expression on his face as he stared at the unconscious form of Lucy, and briefly wondered if something had happened.
After a moment to settle their selves at the unexpected difficulty of the fight for Lucy Heartfilia, they recovered and promptly decided to send the girl at once to Jose. Juvia had casted an bubble of water to transport Lucy in, with a special bubble around her head so that she didn't drown underwater.
With torn clothes, some contusions, and a small limp in Juvia's step, they made their way back to Jose with Lucy in tow.
-E-S-
Standing next to Makarov as they both head towards the second floor where Jose Porla should be, gives Erza a sense of unease as she slammed open the door without a moment of hesitation. Makarov quickly flanks inside with a sense of urgency, followed by Cana and Elfman, who had caught up with them after informing them that Natsu was engaged with Gajeel right now.
And in the center of the room, there Jose Porla stood with a raised eyebrow as he leaned against his desk, as if he had been waiting for them.
Without any thinking, Erza immediately summoned a sword from her spatial armory and threw it at Jose, eyes widening in surprise as it went right through the man as he chuckled at the action. Rage courses through Erza at the mockery, but it was clear that he wasn't currently here, so they were forced to swallow their anger and listen to the man.
Makarov placed a hand up to stop anymore unnecessary assaults to Jose's thought projection, when he had known had been in place since the moment he made eye-contact with the Wizard Saint.
It still made his blood boil at the sight of him however, and he let it known as such in the rawness of his voice, "What is the meaning of this, Jose. "
He couldn't help control of his body due to the weight of his anger, growing in size with every second it took for Jose to answer. Soon it was a giant staring down darkly at the other guild master, who's looking ready for a good laugh.
As if he's already won .
"What do you mean, Makarov? This is a rational victory, for Phantom Lord. I believe that puts us at 2-0, with Phantom Lord's lead of course."
Everyone bristles at the reminder of Team Shadow Gear's crucifixion but are left puzzled. What was the second "win"? Were they baited here, in order to be attacked all at once? Erza equipped her armor just in case.
"If I really was there, our fight would've caused far too much damage, Makarov." Jose shrugged, before grinning maniacly as he brought up another thought projection beside him. In it was Lucy Heartfilia's unconscious body being strapped to a pillar, as Jose crouched down to caress her cheek softly. Gasps sounded in the room at the thought project, as raw fury pulse through the members.
"That's why I've taken other measures to secure victory, with dearest Lucy Heartfilia here being one of the keys."
Makarov's heart dropped and he gritted his teeth.
Not another one.
Not another one of his children in Jose's wicked grasp.
Cana's eyes widened as she slapped a hand over her mouth at the sight of Lucy, feeling terror streak through her at the situation. Quickly, she looked over at Elfman and hissed at him,
"You came from Natsu's direction, right?"
"Yes," Elfman nodded in slight shock while Cana's eyes darkened, "Then you need to tell him that they got Lucy, ASAP. Run like your life fucking depends on it, Elfman."
And this is just a gut feeling on her part, but it feels like it did . Natsu can be violate for those he cares about, and that energy only increases the closer he is with the person. Lucy Heartfilia, the girl who he's been conjoined at the hip ever since she stepped into Fairytail, was certainly grounds for a meltdown.
Cana was performing was she thought of as damage control. She didn't want to imagine the event of Natsu finding out after the effect of everything that Lucy had been kidnapped, especially when he had tried to stay behind with her, back at Fairytail's base.
Elfman runs off without a second word, as the door suddenly slams shut. Cana and Erza exchange glances before jumping away as a massive man crashes through the ceiling in the middle of chanting something. Makarov and the others look at him in surprise and shock as the ground crumbled from the weight of the mana of the mysterious man, the area surrounding them being shone in hues of purple and gold.
"What the-?" Makarov cursed before his eyes widened as the newcomer looked him dead in the eye and said,
"Mestu Mestu!"
Surrounding Makarov before anyone could blink was an Airspace Spell that had captured his entire gigantic body, and he falls to his knees with a loud shout as his magic was forcibly drained from him at a rapid rate. Blood rushes from his nose and his ears as he groans at the feeling, the agony of his mana core being sucked dry at a alarming rate.
A massive giga-card had launched at the man who was doing this to Makarov by Cana, who was charging towards him with Erza side by side. The card had interrupted him as it cut through his mana shield and cut into his hands, as Erza launched herself with her Black Wing Armor equipped, preparing for a devastating Moon Flash slash.
The newcomer had seen the fast reaction times of the two mages however, and was quick to chant out a teleportation spell while cradling his bloodied hands just as Erza had reached him. Erza let out a cry of outrage as she looked around for the man, while Cana ran over to Makarov who was ridiculously pale and bleeding on the floor.
His face was gaunt and hollow as he seemed to have been deprived of his life force it looked like, and Cana quickly called Erza over in sheer panic.
Jose just chuckled and dissipated the Through Projection, proud about what his Element 4 Aria had accomplished.
"What can we do?!" Erza said in worry as she picked up Makarov's frail body, running out of the room at Cana's command. Cana just bit her lip as she thought about everyone who had come with them to attacking the base. Who had the capability to send out a mass message of retreat?
Warren Rocko could.
"I'm going to look for Warren, but you need to get to Fairytail and find Polyurisca as fast as possible. Whatever that massive fucker did to our guildmaster had heavily injured him, and we need Makarov."
Erza nodded at once as she picked up the pace, equipping into a new pair of armor that allowed her to increase her speed as she rush for help. Jose Porla, Erza thought darkly at the man who has turned Fairytail upside down in the blink of an eye. He had beaten her comrades, kidnapped one of her friends, and almost took out their guildmaster permanently.
Who know what would've happened if Cana's attack hadn't touch that man, and he had kept going with the magic spell?
Phantom Lord will know her wrath.
-N-D-
Nothing could've prepared Natsu for the next words that came out of Elfman's mouth as he entered the room.
"Lucy's been kidnapped by Jose and Phantom Lord."
Gajeel didn't pay too much attention at Elfman's words, already knowing the plan. She was one of the target's of Phantom Lord, and he was confident in their abilities. It was inevitable, but why did it matter that they got the rich kid? That was none of his business, really.
He was just here to draw out and fight strong people, just like Salamander-
Who was right in front of him? What the hell?
"Grip Strike" Natsu flatly stated as he held Gajeel by the neck, eyes hidden beneath his pink bangs as his entire body clenched in the effort. Natsu's eyes were blazed and his body began to flicker with dark marks as he placed his other hand on his throat, lifting him up into the air.
Nails dug sharply into the iron scales as Gajeel's eyes widened at the sudden murderous intent that was radiating from the other dragon slayer, who had let out an ear-piercing roar that echoed through his mind. It made Gajeel instinctively want to back up, to surrender as Natsu squeezed harder before blasting him with his strongest wave of fire at point black range.
And not even Gajeel's scales could defend him from the sheer heat and pain as he was burned by Natsu's flames of rage.
What the fuck does that chick mean to him, Gajeel's mind raced as he tried to engage in combat once more if only to protect himself. That roar had unsettled Gajeel, it felt as if he had been intruding onto someone else's territory, messing around with another dragon's property.
It was a possessive roar, and it was an angry one.
Natsu's ruthlessness increased exponentially before he knee'd Gajeel in the face, and threw a massive one handed fire-ball at him once his body hit the ground. He turned to give Elfman a stiff nod as he tried to control the rest of his raging emotions, the ones that threatened to take him.
It was as if the vile darkness was fighting to take-over, and Natsu stumbled for a moment as he physically tried to get a hold of himself. He punched the wall and it shattered immediately into a hole large for him to walk through as he forced his way towards the base in order to make his way towards his m-
His Lucy .
And he felt so strongly about it that it felt as if he'd cripple anyone who'd got in his way as he blasted his ways onwards.