"Anything, Uncle?"
After running for about ten minutes, searching for the fat man of Eisenwald and finding no trace of him, Lucy had decided to have Cancer user his antennaes to sense through the vibration of the ground to locate their target and determine where Erigor could be located.
...If he was anywhere within the train station, that is.
It's still possible that he isn't in the building, anymore, but she knew it was better to be safe than sorry and end up being ambushed by the Reaper, himself.
On the ground, sitting on his knees on the ground and his hands stretched out, Cancer focused on his sense of smell and feeling through his cornrows for the vibrations to help him on his search. He's been focusing on the vibration and smells going on for a few minutes.
And while he can pick up Natsu, Gray, Erza and the males they left unconscious at the station... For some reason, recognizing the fat member's scent during the fight... He couldn't smell his scent within the hallway.
He turned to Lucy and Happy, who stopped using Aera to conserve his energy when they stopped running.
He let out a disappointing groan.
"He's not anywhere near here. In fact, his lack of scent tells me that he never came through here. Baby." He informed his summoner. "What's more unfashionable, is the few odd tremors I've been feeling through the ground. It doesn't suit me well. Baby."
Hearing his discovery, also, didn't suit Lucy well.
'If Uncle doesn't smell his scent, that could mean he used his magic to either teleport or travel, without having to be detected.'
Happy looked up at the blonde. Concern can be seen on his face, as he came to her and gently pawed on her leg.
"What do we do now, Lushi?" He asked, hoping she has an idea on what to do.
Lucy pondered on her options.
'Running all over the stations floors won't do us any good; time's of the essence, so we can't waste any more time. I could go regroup with Natsu, Gray or Erza, where I'd have a better chance on possibility running in on that guild member. Which, the best choice, would have to be Erza, should Natsu and/or Gray end up dealing with those other two guild members that went after them... However...'
She turned to Cancer, who got back to his feet and awaited to hear what she may need of him for.
"Those tremors you've felt, Uncle, are they the work of abnormal interference that could be caused by magic?" She questioned, as she started to hear, even feel and noticed, tremors going on around them.
The Giant Crab Spirit folded his arms over his chest.
"The first tremor I felt did feel as if it's being caused by magic. Sort of like how fat-man we fought a few days ago would travel through the concrete and earth. Baby." He explained, looking up at the ceiling and noticing a few debris dropping and coming down near and around them. "However, this tremor is growing. And while I can feel it's the work of magic, it seems to be coming from outside the building, not inside the walls or ground. Baby."
Lucy and Happy were stunned by Cancer's analysis... With Lucy, hands clenching into tight fists, being worried.
'If there's something going on outside, that could probably mean-...'
"WHOA!" Happy cried out, taken back when he saw a giant vortex of wind circling in front of them.
And it wasn't just in front of them. From the way the massive wind was blowing, it seems to be traveling all around the train station, trapping the building and those within it in its wrath.
Lucy glared at the wind.
'Damn it! It was a trap!' She yelled in her thoughts. "This has to be Erigor's handy work."
"Aye..." Happy replied, wondering how they were going to get out.
Cancer sneered at the massive wind.
"My power won't be able to make a difference to the wind. Baby." He pointed out the obvious problem. "I doubt even Taurus would be strong enough to power through it. Horologium might have a better chance than either me or Taurus, but the wind could end up overwhelming his magic and could risk breaking his barrier and his body in the process. Baby."
The seventeen year-old thought the same thing, and she wasn't going to have her Celestial Family get hurt, just to test out if they could get out, even if they do end up healing back at the Celestial Spirit World.
"Basically, this is some form of barrier. Or, as it's playing out to being, it's a Wind Wall." She broke down, glaring at the wall. "Even if today wasn't Thursday and I could summon them, I would end up using too much of my magic for bringing them out to force through a barrier-like spell and will be unable to help fight Erigor. -She turned to Happy.- Happy, I know you might be scared to tell her this, but Erza and the others need to be here and we need to figure out how to dispel it."
The blue-cat, clearly, didn't want to anger the scarlet mage that they hadn't found the Eisenwald member they were supposed to capture. But, he knew she was right and they're in a serious situation that needs the whole group to figure out how to get through.
Immediately, he responded with a firm "Aye!"
He summoned his Aera Spell and took off flying.
Lucy then turned to Cancer.
"It's probably best for you to go back to the Celestial World, Uncle."
"Hmm..." Cancer hummed, folding his arms over his chest and glaring up at the Wind Wall in front of them, before staring back at her. "While I wouldn't mind trying to take a crack at breaking through the barrier, me being here any longer than I have to won't help you and leave you weak, if you and your group do end up fighting a serious threat. Baby."
Lucy beamed up at her uncle/godfather.
"Thanks, for helping me deal with those crooks." She thanked.
Cancer smirked down at the girl. Then, he slightly leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her, giving her a hug.
"Anytime. Baby." He replied, as his body started to glow a bit. "Call on me, again, when you need something with style to lighten your way. Baby. Also, -He leaned back a bit, to stare into her eyes... The same eyes, that are the exact same of his previous summoner, Layla Heartfilia.- That cat hasn't given you what he was supposed to give you. Either he's forgotten, or is very easily to distract, he needs to give you what was entrusted of him to do. Baby."
Lucy was confused by her Spirit's final words and before she could ask what it was, he vanished.
'Happy has something for me? What could it be? Did Uncle, Brother or Mom gave him something to give to me?'
"Luce!"
Turning her head to the right, she sees Natsu, Erza and Happy heading her way.
She turned to Erza, who had a look of frustration... With some blood on both of her armored hands.
"Erza." Lucy started, after nodding to Natsu to acknowledge his presence. "Cancer and I were unable to find the Eisenwald membe-"
"It's fine, Lucy." Erza cut off, giving her a nod of understanding. "We found him. But-..."
As she turned and turned her attention behind her, Lucy saw Gray... Hauling beside him, the Shadow Mage that left the Eisenwald Guild to go after Natsu, unconscious and, with strips of his white-jacket to act as gauze, bleeding and injured.
The seventeen year-old glared at the member, before turning to the scarlet mage.
"What happened?"
Before Erza could answer her question...
Natsu, enraged and pissed off by what he witnessed and learned on what Erigor was going to do, let out a ferocious yell and attacked the Wind Wall with his Fire Dragon's Iron Fist.
Not only did his attack proved to not be strong enough to destroy the Wind Wall, but the barrier had deflected his attack and sent him flying backwards.
"Natsu!" Lucy yelled, running over to check on his injuries. Also, to scold him for acting reckless. "What the hell are you thinking?!"
"Idiot. That's what you get for trying to force yourself through a barrier, when even somebody stupid as yourself know that you can't break through." Gray growled out, more pissed that they're trapped.
The Fire Dragon Slayer snarled out "Damn it!", before getting to his feet and, summoning out more fire to his fists, charged for the barrier to break free.
"WE GOTTA BREAK THROUGH!" He screamed, slamming his fists and trying to force through the barrier, even as electricity sparked and shocked him. "WE HAVE TO SAVE MAKAROV!"
The Celestial Mage didn't like the desperation in his attack, which showed the same results the first time he attacked the Wind Wall and was sent flying backwards. But, was horrorstruck when she heard that they need to save their Guild master.
She turned to Gray.
"Is Erigor going to use Lullaby, to kill our guild master?!"
The eighteen year-old glared down at the unconscious Kageyama. His hands clenched tightly into his hands.
"It's not just our guild master, Lucy. -He looked back at the blonde.- ...He's going to use Lullaby, to kill all the guild masters, in Clover Town."
Her face had a look of terror, and an equal amount of rage as Natsu is feeling.
Getting back to his feet, Natsu charged at the Wind Wall and slammed his head against the barrier, releasing a mouth full of fire.
"Natsu, stop it!" Lucy yelled, knowing he was only wasting his magic and energy if he keeps pushing himself.
"Haven't you've gotten it into your head, Flamebrain?!" Gray sneered, just as irritated of his guild-mate still going at the barrier. "It's obvious that brute force, alone, isn't going to work!"
"Damn it! Kageyama, don't you dare die on us!" Erza pleaded with the injured Eisenwald member, sounding desperate and frustrated on not knowing what to do.
When Natsu was forced back a third time, knowing he'll try to attack the barrier, again, Lucy ran to him and grabbed him from behind.
"Enough, Natsu!" She yelled, grabbing him in a partial full nelson.
The nineteen year-old did try to break free from her hold, only for the girl to her right-hand to jab part of his neck, through his scarf, underneath his right-jawline. He flinched at the pressure and the temporary paralysis from the pressure point.
He let out a low growl... Then, he stopped, when he felt the slight trembling from Lucy's arms.
"...I know," she said. "It's frustrating, and you don't know what else to do. But, pushing through and getting yourself torn to shreds won't help Master Makarov and the other guild masters. -She gave him a hard glare, which, also, showed her own concern and sadness to the pink-haired Dragon Slayer.- ...Do you want our master to hear that you gotten yourself killed, for forcing yourself through a barrier, when trying to go save them from Eisenwald? For your friends, in Fairy Tail, to lose their Dragon Slayer, by being reckless...? Do you want to be there, to help save the guild masters?"
Her words did seem to get through to him, that he forced his body to relax. Though, he snarled out a low "Fuck...", as he glared at the barrier.
...Then, a thought popped into his head... And, turning to stare at a now confused Lucy, noticing his sudden change of behavior, a big smile spread on his face.
"That's it!" He cried out, grabbing for her right-hand with both of his and, freeing himself from her arms, faced her. "We can use your Spirits!"
Gray and Erza were a bit taken back by his exclamation, while Lucy was a bit at a loss.
"Back at Evanloope, I was pulled from one place to the next through the Spirit World! -He pulled her Key Pouch from her belt and held it out in-between their faces.- You can summon that Crab Man or Plue and, after we hold on to them, you can summon them on the other side of the barrier!"
...
...The response he gotten, was a disappointed look on her face and swiping her keys into her hand, after she freed it from his own.
"That's not going to work, Natsu." She informed, putting the key pouch back on her belt. "First off, normal people can't breathe in the Celestial Spirit World; it's hard to breathe, and their air isn't like ours. If I send anybody there with my spirits, they'll suffocate to death. And second, I can only summon one of my spirits to wherever I'm standing, not to wherever I want them to be summoned to."
Her explanation on why she can't follow with his idea seemed to only confuse Natsu. She let out an irritated groan.
"What I'm saying, Natsu, is that I can't do that. Even if I wanted to do so, we will need another Celestial Wizard to summon that specific spirit from their world to our world."
Somehow, Natsu was somewhat getting what the problem to his plan has and was stunned to be hearing that his mate wouldn't be able to get them out of the Celestial Spirit World, really had him worried.
"What? You saying that you can't summon any of your spirits, if you're in their world?!" He questioned.
Lucy nodded her head, as she pulled out one of her Zodiac Keys, it being Cancer.
"To the Celestial Spirits, the keys are basically a gate, sort of like their variation of a train station, that permits them to come into our world. However, the only way they can come to our world, is if their key within this world and not in their own." She explained. "Not only that, but for a human, especially a Celestial Mage and Wizard to enter their domain, is a serious violation to the contract. -She put away his key back on her keychain and into the key pouch.- The only reason I didn't care that you crossed over to the Celestial World, before, was because Everlue had Virgo's Key and summoned her to his side, without realizing you grabbed on to her. But, in a situation like this, even I'm not going to dare violate one of the Celestial World's sacred law, when it'll only lead us to our deaths."
Natsu, folding his arms over his chest, let out a grumble of confusion.
"Your magic is so confusing." Was all he could said, which Lucy face palmed herself in the face.
While the two were having a discussion, Happy seemed to be lost in thought.
"Hold on..." He whispered to himself, pondering to Lucy bringing up the incident with Everlue. "Everlue...? Key...?"
...
...
...
...Then, like a switch, the light in his head flipped on... Then, he made a response to what popped up in his head.
"WAIT!"
Natsu, Lucy and Gray, being the closest to the blue-cat, jumped to his yelling, as the feline frantically ran over to the blonde.
"Lucy! I finally remembered!" He cried, waving both his arms in the air.
"'Remembered'?" The seventeen year-old repeated, curious as to what gotten Happy so excited.
"Yes! I remembered! What I was supposed to tell you, while on the way here!" He exclaimed, as he reached into his pack for something.
...To Lucy's complete shock, he pulled out a golden-key... A Zodiac Key.
...
...Virgo's Zodiac Key.
"...What?" She whispered, as Happy handed the key over to the blonde, beaming happily at the stunned girl. "Virgo's Key? -She stared down at the happy cat.- How did-?"
"Before we left, one of Everlue's servants came to me and requested to give Virgo's key to you*." Happy explained. "When Everlue was arrested, his contract with her had been broken and, before she vanished, requested for one of the maids to give you her key! They told me that Virgo wants to form a contract with you, Lushi!"
The seventeen year-old stared down at the key she held in both of her hands. Then, she stared over at the Wind Wall, and then back at the beaming cat.
...
...
...
...She gave him a smile of hope.
"Happy, you're a lifesaver!" She cried, pulling him into a gentle hug. "When we get back to Magnolia, I promise I'll buy you the best fish, as an award!"
To hear he'd be getting fish, Happy cheered alongside the girl.
"Yay! Lushi is the best!" He replied, wrapping his arms around her neck.
The entire time, Natsu, Gray and Erza were at a loss to why the two are celebrating.
"Not to ruin your parade, but what does this spirit have anything to do with getting us through the barrier?" Gray asked.
Happy, jumping out of her hold, puffed out his chest at the Ice Mage*.
"Because, Gray, Virgo can get us past the barrier by digging a hole through the ground, and have us escape from underground!"
To Happy's explanation, all three of the older teens were in shock.
"She can get us out of here?!" Erza cried out, hoping she heard right.
"Are you serious?!" Gray exclaimed.
Natsu, his spirit replenished by this news, turned to Lucy, who held up Virgo's Key and was concentrating on her magic to the key.
...Then, her eyes snapped open.
"I call upon thee, in the world of the Celestial Spirits! I beckon you to my side, at once! Pass through the gate! -As she had done with Plue's Key, her magic shot up from beneath her feet. She then brought down her key.- Open! Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!"
A blue-insignia symbol came up and, beneath the mark, the earth shattered and out popped out a figure... Which, totally, caught Lucy, Natsu and Happy by surprise:
A maid with shackles around her wrists, short, pink-hair and blue eyes. She wears a typical maid outfit, consisting of a black under coat and a white, frilled-trim apron and white knee-length socks with black Mary Jane shoes.
When this maid landed, she folded her left-hand behind her back and had her right-hand over her chest, bowing to the blonde.
"You've summoned me, Mistress?" The maid responded, lifting her head to the speechless blonde. "How may I be of service?"
Lucy didn't know if she was seeing things, but recognizing the pink-hair and the clothing, she's given proof that this is her new spirit: The Maiden, Virgo.
"V-... Virgo?"
Natsu, who didn't seem to be in shock, casually went up to the maid and beamed down at the girl.
"Hey, Verger! How you've been?! Man, you lost weight!" He greeted, flashing her his smile.
Politely, with a smile of her own, Virgo greeted him back.
"It's pronounced as 'Virgo'. And, let me just say, that I apologized for any problems I caused to you, in the past." She said, slowly lowering her head.
Happy, just as stunned by her new appearance, had his jaw dropped.
Lucy couldn't help but ask.
"How are you so different from before, in just three days?"
Gray was intrigued by her claims.
"She was really that different?"
Virgo turned to her new summoner.
"I'm a very loyal spirit, who will do anything to please her owner." She stated. "As such, I will take on any form my master would find most appropriate."
Natsu shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know," he honestly said. "I, actually, like you being all big and buff. It made you look super tough."
Virgo seemed a bit surprised by his honesty.
"Really?" She replied, before turning to Lucy. "Do you prefer me in my current form, -...Then, with her own magic, grew to the same giant, buff maid Natsu, Lucy and Happy had encountered at Everlue.- or this?"
Gray, completely, freaked out at how quick she changed forms.
Lucy, just as shocked on how her new spirit could change forms and not pleased she listened to Natsu's request, didn't approved her choice to change herself.
"Virgo, don't listen to him! I want you to revert back to the form you came as! Don't change from your original form, when I want you to be just the way you are!"
Immediately, Virgo tapped into her magic and reverted back to her small-form.
"As you wish, Mistress."
While she's pleased that her spirit turned back to her original form, she wasn't really thrilled by the name Virgo chooses to call her by.
"You don't have to call me 'Mistress', you know." She assured. "You can call me 'Lucy'."
To that, Virgo shook her head.
"Forgive me, Mistress, but as a loyal spirit, it is a habit that I"m accustomed to refer to my summoner with a title. And, since you are Aquarius' daughter, that does give you a title that is to be addressed, as such." Virgo pointed out, while taking notice of the whip next to her summoner's hip. "Though, if you wish for a different title, how about princess?"
...Lucy slightly shivered at the title... As she glared at the Wind Wall. Disgust can be seen in her chocolate-brown eyes.
"...I would rather die than to ever be referred to such a disgusting title, that's a shackle to force an innocent soul to a life they can't have for themselves."
Her dark response to the title, really caught the group by surprised.
Virgo didn't seemed to be shocked by her summoner's hatred towards the title; Aquarius, Taurus and Cancer had given her the rundown of her past, and the lifestyle she lived underneath her tyrant father's thumb.
She bowed to Lucy.
"Forgive me, for suggesting a title that angers you so." She said, as she pulled herself back up. "If a royal title doesn't suit you well, will you permit me to call you by an honorary title? How about Lalla?"
Lucy very much want Virgo to call her by her name. Now that she's one of her spirits, that makes her a new member of her Celestial Family and wants the celestial spirit to know she views each other as equals, not master and slave.
...But, because it's obvious that the Maiden Spirit is very clear that she won't call her by anything else, other than a title, she has to give in to the spirit's request.
"Very well, Virgo." She sighed out in defeat. "You may call me 'Lalla', but I do ask that you, at least, try to make an effort on calling me 'Lucy'; you're my equal, like the rest of the Celestial Spirits I'm contracted to. My new family member. So, please, at least promise me that you'll to call me by my birth name."
It may be futile to ask, but Virgo nodded her head to her request.
"I only promise to try, Lalla." She answered.
It was enough for the seventeen year-old, before she quickly got straight to the point.
"I'm afraid we don't have time to work out the contract, Virgo. There's a life-threatening emergency we have to deal with, so will it be possible to hold off on working on the contract and help by digging us a tunnel to get past the Wind Wall? Depending, if you can do so, since I don't know if you can be summoned on Thursday or not."
To her request, Virgo bowed in polite to her.
"No problem, Lalla." Virgo answered. "Since this is an actual emergency that prevents us from forming a contract and don't know that I can, in fact, be summoned on Thursday, I'll be able to help you and your acquaintances get through the barrier."
A brownish-golden yellow insignia appeared on her feet and, instantly, she sank straight down through the concrete, leaving a large hole in the ground, as she proceeds to dig.
"Oh, wow! She can really dig through that rubble!" Gray commented, excited that they, finally, have a way to get past the Wind Wall.
Appearing behind her left, stood Erza.
"Well done, Lucy!" The scarlet mage praised, which she decided to pat Lucy on the back... Which, left the blonde coughing out her air, as if Erza just punched the air out of her from behind instead of getting a simple pat on the back.
"Don't mention it," she coughed out.
"All right, let's blow this joint." Gray suggested, kneeling over the hole to go through, first.
...Only to stop in his track, when he heard Natsu grunting and, turning his head to see what the Fire Dragon Slayer was doing, saw that the nineteen year-old had Kageyama laying over his back.
That was a bit surprising.
"What do you think you're doing?" He questioned, glaring at the injured man. "We don't need him, anymore."
Natsu gave him a smirk.
"I know, but we can't leave him here to die." He stated. "We'd be no better than the Eisenwald Guild, if we just abandoned him. Even if he is one of our enemies."
Lucy was very much touched by Natsu's kindness towards his injured enemy and wanting to help him, despite them being on opposite sides. She and Erza turned to each other, both having the same thought coming to mind, before looking back at him and smiling gently at him.
Knowing he would have some difficulties carrying him on his own, after receiving some recoil damages from the Wind Wall, the seventeen year-old came forward and gently pulled Kageyama off his back so he could be in-between them and loop his arm over her shoulders.
"If his injuries are serious, we need to avoid worsening them from jostling." She told the surprised pink-haired male. "You're gonna need help to get him down the hole, without the risk of aggravating the wounds or falling off your back."
Natsu stared at the blonde, as she pulled at his right-arm to loop over Kageyama's shoulders and having her left to lay over his to keep a grip on his shoulder... Having the two touching arms, as they helped keep him up.
He gave her a smile, nodding his head to her reasoning and the two proceeded towards the hole, where Gray had already entered to follow Virgo out.
As she and Happy waited for their turn, Erza saw the look of clear devotion and admiration the nineteen year-old has for the seventeen year-old Celestial Mage.
Of course, Natsu always been loyal and devoted to every guild member of Fairy Tail... But, the way he was staring at Lucy, as if she was his whole world to him, besides Happy and Igneel.
...She didn't know what to think... Except, how much he was showing signs of finally maturing and, when she isn't around, Lucy will keep him in line when she isn't around.
The moment Virgo dug them a tunnel back to the surface, the group found themselves standing outside of the Wind Wall, seeing its glory of covering the entire train station.
The wind was very strong, that it was amazing that none of the buildings a few blocks away from the station or even the pavements sitting behind the Wind Wall wasn't being sucked in by the vortex.
Lucy, being the third last person to crawl out of the hole, had a hand over the right-side of her face, pinning part of her hair to prevent it from blowing into her eyes. She wasn't too concerned about her skirt lifting up; her black-shorts underneath her skirt were worn for this exact possibility.
Plus, right now, Kageyama needed her undivided attention, not her flailing skirt.
Standing behind her, Virgo was at her side.
"Would you like me to keep your skirt down, Lalla?" She asked, not in the least concern that her own skirt is being lifted up and showing off her own underwear.
The seventeen year-old didn't look away from Kageyama, as she gently rolled him on his side and slowly unwrapped his bandages to see the condition his stab wound on his back is*. Luckily, the wound didn't seem to open and no sign of dirt entering to cause infection. But, if they leave it open and don't force the wound to close up, the bleeding will get worse and could bleed to death.
"Virgo. Do you have some thread, something thick and closely resembled to horsehair, and needle on you?" She asked, lifting her right-hand towards the pink-haired spirit. "I need something for sutures to help sew the wound shut, or he'll bleed out."
Immediately, pulling out what her summoner requested, Virgo pulled out a neatly bundled up thread that is, surprisingly, actual horsehair and needle that can have the horsehair go through the small loop, and handed them to her new master.
"Would you acquire assistance, Lalla?" The pink-haired spirit asked, slightly leaning over to watch Lucy getting the horsehair through the loop and, rolling Kageyama on his stomach, began to start stitching the stab wound closed.
Lucy shook her head.
"I'm good, Virgo." She answered, her chocolate-brown eyes focused on her task, as she leaned her left-arm over the man's back to keep him pinned. "You can return to the Celestial Spirit World, Virgo. Thank you for helping us out and, I promise, the next time I call for you, we'll go over the contract."
Virgo stared down at her new master, fascinated that she was helping a person who is her enemy. Even intrigued that the teenager knew, from how well the stitches are being sewed, how to close the wound.
She does hope her new master will summon her, very soon, and form their contract.
"As you wish, Lalla." Virgo replied, bowing to the blonde. "Do summon me, to establish the contract... And good luck, Lalla."
The spirit vanished, leaving the girl to focus on closing Kageyama's stab wound.
Beneath her, the male let out a grunt of a chuckle.
"...It's pointless," he winced.
She glared down at the injured, but smiling, man.
"You'll never catch up to Erigor. He'll, already, be in Clover Town and by the time you guys get there, it'll all ready be too late... We've already won."
...
...Lucy, in her response, continued to sew up his injury.
Kageyama did grunted and yelped at the feeling of the needle piercing into his skin and muscle, being pulled together.
"You think you and your guild had won, Kageyama. But, in truth, you don't really know if the outcome is in your favor." She replied, gently pushing some of her hair out of the way before continuing her task. "And now that we're out, we'll do whatever it takes to get to Erigor and stop him from playing Lullaby, before he reaches the Guild masters. Besides, my main concern right now, is to capture Erigor and lock him up, so he and the rest of Eisenwald can pay for their crimes and avenge innocent civilians he and your guild had killed. -She glared down at the now quiet man.- And, honestly, I don't really care if you want to throw your life away, but what I can't stand is for you to think you want to turn into a life of crime and kill people who aren't at fault for all of you becoming a Dark Guild. Let alone, continue to stand by the very people who tried to kill you, who are supposed to be your friends. Family."
Kageyama didn't make any comment, or even try to come up with an excuse to the last part she said.
A few sewing later, and Lucy finished stitching up his wound and went to re-wrap his back. Just as she started, Gray came running.
"Lucy, we have a problem!" The eighteen year-old informed, pulling the girl's attention. "It's Natsu and Happy! They're gone!"
Her chocolate-brown eyes glared up at the Ice Mage.
"That idiot," she grunted. "He must've had Happy carry him, to go after Erigor! -She tightened the bandages around Kageyama, forcing out a yelp.- Those morons don't know what kind of trouble they're in!"
The raven-haired teen/adult grunted out his disproval as well.
"That Flamebrain never learns when to wait," he growled. "Erza's getting the Magical Vehicle."
As soon as he said it, screeching wheels stopped behind the boy. Erza, riding at the front, turned to her guild-mates.
"Get in!" She ordered. "We're going after Natsu, and Erigor!"
As soon as they left Oshibana Town, the group, plus Kageyama, found themselves driving on train tracks... Only, instead of Erza driving, it was Lucy taking control of the Magical Vehicle.
There was a bit of an argument between Erza and Lucy on who was going to drive, which made Gray shiver from the sight of the two girls fighting and deathly scared for Lucy for fighting with Erza with such a simple matter.
It wasn't after the seventeen year-old pointed out the clear obvious that Erza used up too much of her magic that she could end up blacking out and make them crash, and made a reasonable argument that she and Gray would be able to keep Kageyama under control, should he make an attempt to escape and/or fight them, Erza finally relented and allowed Lucy to take control on driving the Magical Vehicle.
The blonde never driven a Magical Vehicle outside of the Heartfilia Konzern, but after watching how Erza controls the vehicle and having a few of her servants to teach her how to drive different kind of vehicles, some of which being very similar to the Magical Vehicle, it wasn't too difficult of her to figure out how to drive. Though, she isn't really a big fan of driving and would prefer riding by wagon or even by horse, Lucy isn't going to complain about their choice of transportation right now.
Since she knows the fastest way on getting to Clover Town is the route the trains would go to, she drove towards the direction the trains would go when heading for Clover Town and, the moment they're away from Oshibana, she forced the vehicle onto the tracks and now drove on the tracks.
All around them, nothing but rocks, mountain terrains and massive fog below the tracks surrounded them. Lucy stayed focused on pushing the Magical Vehicle to follow the tracks, but from how much magic Erza forced into the SE-plug, she only had the vehicle to go fast enough to go at around fifty miles per hour to avoid damaging the engine or overloaded the SE-plug.
"Lucy! Do you see any sign of Natsu, or Erigor?!" Erza from inside the vehicle called out.
The seventeen year-old had been keeping watch at the sky and tracks, along with hearing any changes in the wind. But, so far, she sees nor hear anything to tell her that they're close.
"Not yet." She called out, keeping the Magical Vehicle steady. "Just be patient, Erza, and have hope for Natsu. He'll stop Erigor. For now, focus on resting to recuperate the magic you used up. Gray, in my saddle bag, there are some beef jerkies and a couple of bottled waters. You guys have some... Kageyama, you can have some, too, but you can't have too much and have to take your time to slowly eat. You'll risk irritating your wound, and need to put as little strain on your heart as possible."
Her stomach growled at the mentioning of food, but she ignored her stomach's request for food.
'I can't stop right now. This is our chance to catch Erigor!' She thought to herself, slightly pushing the car to speed up a bit.
Both of her hands clenched tightly at the the lever in front of her, feeling slightly drained from her magic being sucked away from the SE-plug.
'At this rate, I'll probably be able to only summon one of my spirits, should Natsu be unable to take him down. Though, I'll only have enough for them to be out at around ten to fifteen minutes at best.'
BOOOM!
Lucy jumped from hearing the loud sound... And, when she looked up, saw a streak of red... Fire, shooting straight up.
She knew, instantly, that it was their teammate.
"I see him!" She called out, pushing the Vehicle to drive a bit faster.
Five minutes later, and Lucy finally saw Natsu, without his shirt on, Happy... And, on the ground, an unconscious Erigor is sprawled out.
The seventeen year-old was at a loss for words.
'He... He beat him.' She thought, slowing down and putting the vehicle on cart, removing the SE-plug from off her arm. 'Erigor's Wind Wall was too strong for him to break through force, so he must've used it to overpower him. However, Natsu must've been able to turn his defense against him in order to get the upper-hand.'
"Excellent work, Natsu! We're so proud of you!" Erza, getting out of the vehicle, praised, as she went over to Lucy to check out on her. "Lucy, how are you doing?"
The younger-girl gave the scarlet mage a small-smile.
"A little drained, but I'll live." She replied, slowly getting out of the seat and standing on slightly shaky legs. "I'll probably need a moment to rest up, before I can summon any of my spirits, again."
To that, Erza pulled the now stunned girl towards her, pulling her right-arm over her neck to have her lean against her.
"...Thank you, Lucy, for driving us." Erza said. "...And... I'm sorry, for arguing."
The blonde stared at the older-girl for a moment, then gave her a kind smile.
"It's all right," she said. "The important part, is that we're here. And now that Erigor had been stopped, we can finally turn him over to the proper authorities and have him be held accounted for all the innocent lives he killed."
Erza felt happy for the blonde when she saw the relief in Lucy's chocolate-brown eyes, as tears of joy sat at the edge of her eyes on finally completing her task on avenging those innocent victims and their family on catching the Grim Reaper of Eisenwald Guild.
She then turned to Natsu and Gray, both not having their shirts on.
"You must've had trouble taking on this guy, since it took you so long." The Ice Mage commented, purposely getting the Dragon Slayer riled up.
"I didn't have trouble beating this guy up! I took him down! Ain't that right, Happy?!" Natsu declared, puffing his chest out.
Happy didn't sound so sure, but wasn't going to argue.
"I did got worried for a while, but he handled it."
Gray simply shrugged his shoulders.
"Whatever makes you feel better about yourself. Though, you still look ridiculous on wearing just your scarf, while you're half-naked." He said, not realizing he's in the same situation as his guild mate.
"You're one to talk, Stripper!" The nineteen year-old growled out, before turning to the girl... Then, seeing her slightly tired state and leaning on Erza, he immediately went over to them. "Hey, you okay, Luce? Do you need me to carry you?"
Lucy sweat-dropped at his concern towards her, along with the fact that he's half-naked and doesn't want to feel awkward on being carried by her half-naked teammate.
"I'm good, Natsu. I think Erza can handle that task, but thanks for the offer."
Erza can see the disappointment in Natsu's Onyx-black eyes of her refusal to let him carry her... Which, while she thinks he needs to be proper and either go find his shirt or find alternative clothes to cover up, found to being more proof that he truly cares about Lucy.
...She's going to have a serious talk with him, on what his relationship with their new guild mate is.
"Anyways, you've done great, Natsu." She commented. "Thanks to you, all of the Guild Masters are safe now."
Hearing the report, the group all nodded their heads to her claim. Pleased that they've succeeded on their task on stopping Erigor, and saving Master Makarov and the rest of the Guild Masters.
"While that we're here, we should go over to the Guild Master Conference and informed them on what just happened. We'll, also, need their expert opinion on how to properly dispose of Lullaby."
"Aye!" Happy agreed.
Lucy beamed at Erza, then glared down in disgust at Erigor's unconscious body.
"We should, also, contact the Magic Council, to report that we've captured Erigor, the Grim Reaper, and properly apprehended the rest of the Eisenwald members, back at the Oshibana Station." She suggested. "Through them, they'll be able to inform the families of the victims they'd killed, that the murderer of their loved ones had finally been brought down and will be held responsible for his actions." '...Finally, after ten months of searching and trying to get information out of some of Eisenwald's members... He's finally brought down. And that, my promise had been fulfilled and the death of those Erigor killed has been avenged.'
She was so focused on feeling the weight of her search for Erigor, that she didn't noticed Kageyama using his Shadow Magic to grab Lullaby and steal their Magical Vehicle, until it was too late.
"Kage!" Erza cried out, disbelieved on what just happened.
"What are you doing?!" Gray called out.
"Lullaby is mine, now!" The Shadow Mage called out, a clear sign of evil and power hungry written on his face. "You shouldn't had dropped your guard, even if your enemy is injured, you idiotic flies!"
Even when injured, he still has a lot of magic to force the vehicle to drive really fast and speed up on the tracks. His evil laughter could be heard, as he sped away.
The group was completely dumbfounded... Though, Lucy felt angry with herself.
'I should've known he would pull a stunt like that!' She yelled in her head. 'Even when he helped him, he still wants to hurt innocent civilians and kill the Guild Masters, when it wasn't even their fault for their Guild Status to change!'
"That jerk!" Natsu yelled.
"After him!" Erza yelled, started running.
"We won't be able to catch up to him on time, Erza! He stolen our only transportation!" Gray pointed out, but also running with his team.
Lucy knew they're many hours away from reaching Clover and knew by the time they would reach the end of the tracks, it'll be nighttime, since the sun was already setting, and the Guild Masters would most certainly be killed.
Then, an idea struck her. She turned to Gray.
"Gray!" She called out. "Your magic. You can make whatever you want with ice. Right?"
The raven-haired boy was very confused by her bringing up his magic, but nodded his head.
"Yeah? I use both Ice Magic, and Ice-Make Magic. Why?"
The seventeen year-old didn't have time to explain her question. She went straight to the point.
"Can you make something that can hold all of us?"
Gray was a bit taken back by the question.
"If you're asking me to make an ice-version of the Magical Vehicle, I'm afraid not, Lucy." He informed.
Lucy glared at the Ice Mage for not getting what she's asking.
"I know that, Gray! I'm just asking, is if you can make something that can hold all of us, that you can also add wheels to!"
To her explanation, Gray stopped in his tracks. Now understanding what she wants of him to do.
"I can do that," he answered. "The only issue, is having something to steer it with."
The blonde smirked at him.
"Already got that covered." She replied, turning to Natsu, Erza and Happy, also stopping in their tracks. "Just hurry. We don't have much time."
To that, Gray turned his back to them, summoning his ice.
"Stand back, you guys!" He cried, as his insignia magic popped up. "Ice-Make: Kite!"
He thrusted his hands forward and, out from his magic insignia, a car-shaped ice-made kite appeared.
Lucy then turned to Natsu and Erza.
"Natsu, Erza, lift the kite off the tracks for Gray to add the wheels underneath." She instructed her two stunned teammates.
Erza beamed at the blonde.
"Lucy, you're a genius!" The scarlet mage complimented, as she and Natsu came over to do their task.
"That's Lucy for you! She can think up a great plan!" Happy commented, standing beside the blonde.
When Natsu holding the back of the kite and Erza holding at the front, Gray kneeled underneath of the ice-made kite and summoned his magic, again.
"Ice-Make: Wheel!"
As quickly as the kite, ice-version of wheels came forth from both of his hands and glued themselves to the bottom of the large-kite.
Natsu grimaced at their new form of transportation, as he and Erza sat down the ice-made kite with wheels back on the tracks.
"Everyone, get on!" Erza ordered, sitting at the front.
Everyone did as they were told, with the nineteen year-old Dragon Slayer being a bit hesitate on doing so.
Then, Lucy gave him an order that makes him want to puke.
"Natsu, use your fire to get us moving."
To that, the pink-haired male immediately declined, jumping right off of the ice-made kite.
"You can't be serious, Luce!" He whined. "You know how much I can't stand being in moving transportation! I'd rather have Happy carry me there!"
Lucy glared at him.
"You'll be fine, Natsu!" She argued. "Those pills you had, they should still be active! Your motion sickness will be under controlled. And besides, Happy used up too much of his magic to get you to Erigor! He can't use Aera, again, for another couple hours!"
"She's right, Natsu." The blue-cat confirmed. "I'm still too tired to use Aera."
He still wanted to refuse, But Erza beat him to it.
"Natsu!" She barked. "If Lucy tells you that you won't get sick, because of the medication she gave you, earlier, then you won't get sick! Right now, we don't have time to argue! We need to catch up to Kage, and save the Guild Masters!"
"Seriously, Hot Head!" Gray groaned. "Lucy is trying to help us save Makarov, and you wanna act like a big baby and give Kage the chance to kill the old man?!"
...To the insult and, as if he was putting the blame on him for their delay, got Natsu wiled up.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"
Gray smirked at the angry Dragon Slayer, who got right back on the kite and, turning his back to them, summoned his fire.
"FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!"
A massive burst of fire thrusted the group forward, pushing the kite-made ice to drive on the tracks. Erza, drawing out one of her swords, was quick enough to thrust into the ice to keep her, Lucy and Gray on their new transportation, while Natsu kept a firm grip on the end of the kite. Happy clung to Lucy, who wrapped an arm around his small-body to keep him close.
"That's it, Natsu!" The seventeen year-old encouraged, looking over at the pink-haired dragon. "Try to keep it up, as long as you can! Whatever you do, don't increase the heat, or you'll melt the ice and Gray won't be able to apply more ice if your fire quickly burns his ice away! Also, when we get to the turns, aim your fire to the opposite direction we need to turn! We'll tell you which way to aim your fire!"
Natsu stopped to catch his breath for a moment, as he turned and gave the blonde a thumbs up.
"You got it, Luce!" He replied, and released another Fire Dragon's Roar.
"Nice going, Lushi!" Happy praised, burying his face against her orange-shirt.
"Yeah, way to come up with a great idea for a new way of transportation*!" Gray commented, shielding his face with his left so the wind wouldn't get into his eyes too badly.
Lucy stared on ahead.
"Best hold on to your gratitude, until after we prevent Kage from playing Lullaby, Gray!" She replied, keeping a firm grip around Erza's hip. "At this speed, we may not be able to get to Kage, but it'll allow us catch up to him and get us out of the ravine!"
The scarlet mage held tightly at her sword.
"Let's hope so, Lucy!" She said. 'Please, Mavis, let us get there on time!'
Hours Later...
"Man! *Gasp!* So tired! *Gasp!* Need food! *Gasp*!" Natsu panted, falling behind the group from breathing out fire for so long.
"Don't give up now, Natsu!" Erza urged, taking the lead, as they ran through the trees. "We're almost there!"
Running beside her, Lucy glared up at the moon.
'I knew we would be behind, but I didn't expect it to be this late before we reach Clover Town!' She thought, pushing herself to keep running. 'Since he left in a hurry, there's a very high chance that his injuries may have slowed him down if he hadn't been being careful of his stitches! Kage, I don't really care if you live or die... Still, you better not have opened your stab wound!'
"There he is!" Gray called out, stopping over a ledge seeing their master... Accompanied by Kageyama, himself, with Lullaby in his hands.
"Gramps!"
"Master!"
Before any of them could spring into action...
"Shhh!" Behind the team, somebody shushed them.
...
...When they turned, they saw a large, bald male, wearing lipstick and blushes on his cheeks on his face, wings behind his back, a purple spaghetti-strap shirt accessorized by a gold and fuchsia hoop necklace, and a vertical-striped pink and purple shorts.
Natsu, Gray and Happy were taken back by his appearance, while Lucy was confused by who he was. Erza didn't seem fazed by the adult's appearance.
"We're about to get to the good part." The person whispered, crossed between a polite male and (Somewhat) lovely female, before he took notice of Natsu and Gray and acting a bit embarrassed that he didn't notice them. "Why, aren't you two boys yummy? So adorable."
He gave them the creeps so much, Natsu and Gray were horrified and leaned against each other in total awkwardness and being completely uncomfortable of a male trying to hit on them.
Lucy turned to Erza.
"Who is that?" She asked, as the adult, on the tips of his toes, tried to scooch in close to the two boys but ended up having them move away from them.
"Master Bob, of Blue Pegasus." Erza plainly answered.
Hearing her voice and taking notice, Bob turned his attention to the older-girl.
"Erza, Honey, you really filled out!" He commented, beaming at the nineteen year-old, before finally taking notice of the seventeen year-old blonde. "And who's this adorable little munchkin you have there, Erza?"
The scarlet mage gently pushed Lucy a bit in front of her.
"This is our newest member of Fairy Tail: Lucy." She introduced.
While he may seem very strange and creepy, Lucy has enough manners to be polite and slightly bowed to the leader of Blue Pegasus.
"It's nice to meet you, Sir."
In response, Bob giggled.
"My, aren't you polite?" He commented.
She blushed at his compliment, then immediately turned back to see their Guild Master and Kage still in place... As Kageyama raised the flute to his lips.
"No, Kage!" Erza cried out.
"Will you keep it down? We're about to get to the good part." Another male-adult, leaning against the tree near the ledge, said.
While Bob grabbed both Natsu and Gray in headlocks and covering their mouths, Lucy immediately recognized who the second person is.
"He's from Quatro Cerberus."
With the spikes around his witch-like hat and spike-collar around his neck, she knew exactly which guild he's from.
"That's their master, Goldmine." Erza informed her.
The seventeen year-old wanted to ask why they wanted them to stay quiet, when a member of a Dark Guild wanted to kill them with one of histories most dangerous Curse Magic to ever exist. Then, as if he could read her mind, he silently gestured her to keep watching.
Even from afar, Lucy can see Kageyama hesitating, sweating bullets and getting nervous... And, when he looked up and looked at her, he truly seem at a loss on what he should do.
Yes, he wants vengeance for the injustice of his Guild. That part is clear... Yet, he seems to be frozen on if he should play it or not... After all, Fairy Tail had helped kept him alive, helped him, asking for his help. While a member of his own Guild, his friend, stabbed him in the back.
Lucy hoped that he still has a conscious, and is seeing on how wrong this path is.
'...Please, Kageyama. Don't do this.'
"...Nothing's going to change." Makarov said out of the blue, though made the Shadow Mage taken back from his words. "You cannot change the fact that those who remain weak, will forever remain weak. It's possible that it's just me, but I don't think that's a bad thing. By nature, we humans are weak creatures. And yet, it's because of our insecurity that Guilds are made, are given a purpose to exist. And why we have friends."
The group remained quiet, still in where they stood.
Kageyama lowered the flute, away from his lips. Hearing Makarov's words reaching to his slightly racing heart.
"When we're surrounded by allies, family, it makes us see the positive side on a future we all desire to see and experience. Think of it this way: If we're clumsy, we'll stumble and fall. But, so long as we have hope and faith, we'll continue to get back up and continue to move forward. Our inner strength emerges on its own. -He turned to face Kageyama, who seemed to be greatly effective by his words.- But we have to choose that path, and pledge our lives to live at the fullest. -He flashed him a kind, sincere smile.- Don't let that flute get in the way, on what you want to see and obtain in the future you desire."
Tears formed in his eyes... And, when they trailed down his face, his grip on Lullaby fell to the ground and was then bowing to the old-man.
"...I surrender." He weeped, sounding very sorry and defeated.
Lucy let out a sigh of relief, happy that Kage finally saw reasoning and gave up his guild's murderous plot.
Erza, Gray and natsu, beaming happily, ran towards their master.
"Master!"
"You stopped him!"
"Way to go, Gramps!"
Taken back by their cry, Makarov turned to face them.
"What the-? How on Earth did you kids end up in Clover?" He questioned, a little bit irritated but more shocked.
"Master Makarov!" Erza cried, grabbing the now startled small-man and pulling him into a tight hug, slamming him against her armor. "Your words were so moving, that I almost burst into tears!"
The seventeen year-old giggled at Erza's hugging their Guild Master, then finally found the perfect time to come down to join her team, with Master Bob and Master Goldmine accompanying her. Though, instead of greeting her master, she went to a still kneeling Kageyama.
She needed to be certain that he's okay.
She crouched down, being eye-level with him.
"You okay?" She asked. "Your stab wound didn't open up, did it?"
Kageyama raised his head to look at the blonde-teenager, very much surprised that she showed great concern for him, after taking their vehicle and driving off to murder the Guild Masters.
He winced when he slightly moved his left-shoulder, but shook his head when he can sense the stitches still holding his wound in place.
He shook his head.
"It's fine," he answered. "...Thank you... And, here. -Digging into his pocket, he presented Lucy her saddle bag.- ...Sorry, for taking this."
Lucy stared at her bag, then back at a slightly wincing Kage... Then, gently taking her bag back, looping it over her left-shoulder and resting it on her right-hip, she smiled gently at him.
"You've learned your mistake," she informed him. "You tried to continue to go along with Eisenwald's plan, and you stopped. That showed you truly are a man of reasoning, and aren't corrupted as Erigor or other member of Eisenwald. -She grabbed for his right-hand.- You know you'll end up taken to prison, for being involved with Eisenwald's plot."
Kageyama sweat-dropped at the information, but did gave her a nervous laugh.
"Yeah, I pretty much knew that was going to happen." He chuckled a bit.
Lucy laughed with him, then patted the hand she held.
"I promise, when they hear that you were going to assist us to bring down Erigor's Wind Wall, had been nearly killed by our own guild mate and had chosen to not go along with the plan, we'll make certain your sentence won't be severe."
Kage was taken back by her word, disbelief that she would do that for him.
She shrugged her shoulders at his questioning look.
"I may have a great grudge towards your Guild, especially towards Erigor, for murdering innocent victims, but that doesn't mean I don't see reason to believe that all member of Eisenwald are as cold-hearted murderers. After all, we ran in to some of your run away members, when they wanted to not get involved with the plan. -She stared down at their joint hand, slightly clenching her hand.- ...Even your friend, Karacka, despite what he did to you, what Erza, Gray and Natsu told me, he truly didn't wanted to kill you... And that's why, from how he made certain the blade didn't reach your heart and didn't cause any damage to your spine when he stabbed you, that he still values your life, as his friend, over Erigor's plot on wanting your guild to being restored."
From hearing that his friend, who stabbed him and tried to kill him, didn't try to do what he was tasked to do, while it did still hurt him that his own member would want him killed in order to prevent their enemies from getting to Erigor... It still had tears to form, once again, and feel relieved that Karacka didn't go along with killing him and gave him the chance to see what an actual Guild is meant to be.
He laid his other-hand over Lucy's, lifting them up... Resting his forehead on their grasped hands, smiling.
"...Thank you... Lucy."
Lucy beamed at the Shadow Mage.
'We saved the Guild Masters, captured Erigor and his men... And, in the process, changed a man from committing murder and help him see a different path to take. -She, too, slightly leaned forward and rested her forehead on her right-hand, on top of her Guild Mark.- ...We did, Mom.'
...
...
...Then, all of a sudden, a voice called out. Laughing.
"Fools! I have returned!"
Everybody jumped to the voice... Then, turning to where the flute was, they saw three glowing eyes coming from its three-sockets.
...Then, to the sky, a large purple-insignia appeared, followed by purple-lightning.
"I can no longer hold back! I shall come forth, with the power my master blessed me with!"
The insignia glowed bright... Then, a figure came out... A large, giant figure.
An extremely tall beast, as big as a mountain, that has three eyes, two legs, two arms and one head. There are many cutouts in its body. It looks to be made of wood, but doesn't seem simple to take down with matches or an axe to bring it down.
Its eye-sockets glowed purple, staring down at the stunned, frozen people on the ground.
"I shall feast upon your pitiful souls!"
Lucy trembled at the sight of the giant before her.
'The book never said anything about it being able to turn into a giant!' She thought, grabbing for her whip.
"What is that thing?!" Kageyama cried out, paling and shaking at the sight on what the flute turned into. "Erigor never said the flute could turn into a monster!"
"My, we're in a pickle." Bob stated, sweating a bit, laying a hand over his lips.
"It's a Demon Flute... No doubt, from the Book of Zeref." Goldmine calculated, getting anxious that something from Zeref, himself, actually existed through the Lullaby.
Other wizards from within their building saw the monster, and immediately took off running.
Lucy freed her whip from her belt.
"How is it possible for a flute, known for being a Curse Magic Tool, to turn into a monster?" Lucy sneered, glaring up at the giant.
"No doubt, that this is Lullaby's true form, when it's alive." Goldmine speculated, getting tensed. "It's Forbidden Magic. Living Magic. Which was Zeref's speciality."
The blonde turned to the Leader of the Quatro Cerberus Guild, not believing her ears.
"Zeref, himself, made that thing?!"
Natsu, Gray and Erza turned to Goldmine and Lucy.
"'Living Magic'?" Erza questioned, never hearing a magic like that, before.
"'Zeref'? wasn't he some ancient wizard?" Gray asked, slowly getting into his stance.
"He was one of the most evil wizards the world has ever known." Bob revealed. "He was very powerful, back in the day. But never, in my wildest dreams, would I ever come to see his dark legacy pop back up."
The giant, with its big evil grin, crouched low to where the group stood.
"Now, then. Which one of you delectable souls shall I dine on, first?" The monster pondered, snickering at their nervous expression.
As Natsu and Gray talked about their thoughts on how souls would be tasty, Lucy heard voices far to their right. And, seeing the flags waving the Fiore Royal Army, she knew that they were in a heap of trouble.
'This is bad,' she thought. 'Even if we warn them to back off, Lullaby will kill them before they even attempt to escape. -Her hands tightened, her right over her key-holder and her left.- Meaning, only one of us has to keep that thing busy, while the three of us get the Guild Masters and army to safety. -She looked over her group, knowing that they're still tired from chasing Kage. Plus, Natsu needs to eat to get fuel for his magic, from having to use his magic to get them moving.- I'm no better off to take that thing on, but Natsu, Gray and Erza are the strongest in Fairy Tail and need to recuperate their strength to take that thing down.'
She stared down at her key-holder in her right, slightly paling.
'None of my spirits are anywhere near strong enough to hold a sliver of a chance to destroy Lullaby, and I already promised Virgo that I would summon her, again, when to form the contract. And after helping me at Oshibana, Uncle must be tired to help me distract that thi-'
A questioning thought brought her attention, as one of her Zodiac Keys gleamed underneath the moon's light.
'...Wait a second...'
Slowly, she raced her head, fighting the shiver when staring at the sinister smile of Lullaby.
...
...That's when she saw the moon... And her heart thumped with anticipation, realizing something that she neglected to take notice.
'...It's no longer Thursday... It's Friday*.'
...Her mind instantly went into overdrive... And, before she even realizes, she took off running, passing her four stunned guild mates.
"LUCE?!" Natsu called out, couldn't believing his eyes.
"What are you doing?!" Gray yelled, starting to run after her.
Lucy stopped at the ledge, cracking her whip in the air to grab Lullaby's attention on her.
"HEY!" She yelled, quickly grabbing Taurus' Key. "YOU HUNGRY?! THEN COME AND GET IT! -She leap off the ledge, as she aimed her key to the lower ground.- Open: Gate of the Golden Bull! Taurus!"
A golden-light shined down when the key thrusted into the ground and, as the ground rumbled, Taurus popped right out, bellowing loudly as an angry bull.
He stared down at his summoner, pulling out his axe from behind.
"Got some problem that needs to be taken cared of, Sis?" He greeted. "Judging from how tired you are and it being midnight, it must be serious."
Then, as if to point out why he was summoned, a hiss above them drew his attention to turn and look up, staring at the gleaming Lullaby.
"A Celestial Wizard?" It said, licking its chops. "I can't recall the last time I dined on one, but to also get the chance to devour a Celestial Spirit, too? I'd say, I'll be in for a delicious feast!"
Taurus sneered up at the monster, as Lucy came to stand beside him.
"Sis, while I'm flattered you think so highly of my strength, even I'm both cow enough and man enough to admit that I'm not strong enough to take care of that."
She grabbed at his right-wrist. A serious look told him that she needs him.
"I'll explain the details," she said. "For now, follow my lead."
"Lucy!" Erza called out, as she, Grey, Happy and Natsu stared at her. Concern and worry written on her face.
Lucy turned to them.
"The Fiore Royal Army have arrived!" She called out. "We need to get them, and the Guild Masters to safety! Taurus and I will stall, however long it takes, and lead Lullaby away! You guys get them to safety and come up with a plan, in the meantime! -She turned to her big brother.- Let's do this, Taurus!"
"Right!"
Immediately, Taurus wrapped an arm around her waist and, slightly shifting his body, tossed her up towards Lullaby. Then, as Lullaby started to open its mouth, Lucy coated her whip with her Celestial Magic and aimed the cracker at the closest teeth it could reach... It made a serious crack at the tooth, causing it to screech. And, as it went to extend a hand to cover its mouth, she used it to run down the limb and launch back to the ground, as Taurus ran towards where she would land and caught her in his strong arms.
"Thanks, Big Bro." She commented, as he sat her down. "Let's get moving!"
Lullaby, now angered that its meal just attacked him and caused a serious, deep crack towards one of its teeth, focused its attention on finding the girl and her Celestial Spirit.
"Little brat, I'll get you for this!" It yelled, swiping at the trees to try and grab her.
Luckily, they were able to outrun its hand and hide in the trees, leaving it to confused as to figure out where its prey went.
Taurus turned to Lucy, a serious look on his face, as he pushed aside his half-black/half-white man of hair to his right.
"Well, you got its attention, Lucy. Now what?"
The seventeen year-old placed a thumb over her chin, figuring out the best way to help take it down.
'Even though it's no longer a flute, it must still have its Curse and Sound Magic. Meaning, in its original form, it won't need a caster in order to use its magic. However...'
Looking very carefully, as Lullaby slammed its fist into the ground, she noticed a couple of holes its body possesses... As if it was still a flute.
She gasped in shock, as an idea came into mind.
She turned to the Zodiac.
"Taurus, I got an idea!"
As if he read her mind, he beamed down at the blonde, tightening his hold on his axe.
"Ready whenever you are, Sis."
Together the two charged, yelling at the top of their lungs to draw Lullaby's attention on them.
It smiled big.
"There you are!" It cheered, as three lights shined within its eye-sockets. "Now, get over here and let me feast!"
It launched one of its hands down for them, but the two parted to run around the limb and continued to run to get to its middle.
Lucy turned to the Golden Bull.
"Ready, Taurus?" She asked, coating her whip in her magic, again.
Taurus reached for her, wrapping his left-arm around her back.
"Ready, as always!" He replied, then, like before, launched Lucy straight towards Lullaby. This time, she shot through the hole of its stomach and, twisting herself, coiled her whip around part of the hole of its back to pull herself down.
Meanwhile, Taurus charged for Lullaby's left-foot and, with a big leap and a big swipe, sliced at its thigh.
Lullaby roared at the attack, falling to its left-knee.
On its back, Lucy gained her baring to run up its spine and, with quick flick of her wrists, brought down the cracker to cause some holes to form.
Lullaby grunted at the feeling of its back and ribcage getting slapped and damaged.
"What are you doing?!" It yelled, trying to reach around its back to grab Lucy, but she shifted herself to slip through the gap. Then, thrusting the cracker forward and coiling around another part of its body, swung herself through a different hole at its chest and slashed it bigger with her weapon.
When the monster saw her flying out of its chest, it tried to make another grab for her, only for an axe to shoot past them and land against the right-side of its neck. Taurus, once again, caught her.
As he sat her down, Lullaby finally had enough enough.
"I'm done with this!"
It raised its head to the sky and yelled, still crouched from the damage to its thigh and making it hard to stand up. A giant purple-insignia appeared.
The yelling was so loud, it made their Lucy's ears hurt. While it irritated Taurus' hearing to no end, since his hearing is much more heightened than a human's, he is able to fight off the sound and turned to a wincing Lucy.
"Lucy!" He yelled, shaking his head from the high-pitch sound. "It's preparing to attack! Those friends of yours better be on their way, ASAP, or you're toast!"
She sneered at that fact, flipping her whip to grab in both hand and holding it out in front of her.
"I know," she responded. "That's why we need to keep stalling Lullaby, Taurus. No matter what!"
In response, Taurus slammed his hands together, popping his knuckles from his right-hand.
"...Well, then it's good thing that I can still fight with my bare fists." He said, grinning at their opponent. "Think your plan will work?"
The teen glared up at their opponent.
"It has to work," she said. "If not to bring it down, then to at least destroy its chance at killing innocent people with its melody of death."
The Golden Bull smirked down at her, then they both charged.
This time, as they ran, Lucy slowed down to jump on his back and hang on, as Taurus launched the both of them up its bent left-leg and delivered a powerful punch to its knee.
Lullaby roared from the impact and tried to grab them, but Taurus is much faster than the giant and pulled the both of them over its knee and ran across its thigh. Then, as Lullaby reached with his left, he reached for Lucy.
"Give it all you got, Sis!" He roared, tossing her on the extended limb and folding his legs to dodge the hand.
Lucy, while in midair, brought down her cracker and left a few more hole marks on its limb before landing and running up the arm to reach its neck. She sees the holes, recognizing them as the holes it had on its body when as a flute.
She quickly go to work, and slammed her cracker at its neck.
Taurus, after avoiding the hand, charged and slammed his shoulders against its stomach.
Lullaby screamed.
"Cut it out!" It yelled, wincing from the whipping against its neck and went to grab for Lucy, only to miss when she ran around the back of its neck and went to slap her whip on the other-side, trying to free Taurus' axe. "You cannot defeat me!"
"We'll see about that, Pinocchio!" Taurus taunt, taking a few step back and ramming his shoulder against its side, again.
This time, when Lullaby went to make a grab for him, he succeeded at grabbing the Celestial Spirit.
"Taurus!" Lucy yelled, stopping her attempt at whipping at the neck to free his axe, before aiming the cracker to its cheek.
The slap angered the monster, then reached with its left and grabbed the blonde.
She grunted at the tightening of its hand.
Taurus, fighting to break free, called out to his summoner/sister.
"Lucy! -He glared up at the Demon Flute.- Let my sister go!"
Lullaby snickered at the two victims in its grasp.
"Since you two made me go through a workout, I'll devour you, first!" It declared, slowly bringing Lucy to its open mouth.
Lucy continued to struggle within its grasp. Taurus tried to use his strength to break free. Neither of the two were able to free themselves.
The seventeen year-old turned to Taurus... She gave him a sad-smile.
"...It's been fun, Big Brother." She said, as a tear ran down her cheek. "Tell Mom, 'I'm sorry, but I'll be living within the stars with Mama'."
The Golden Bull didn't want to believe it.
"No!" He yelled, able to free one of his hand and reached out to her. "Little Sister!"
Lucy faced the darkness of Lullaby's mouth, closing her eyes, waiting for the Demon Flute to devour her.
...
...Then.
"LUCY!"
A blast of fire slammed against Lullaby's left-cheek, shoving it to the right and stunning it to release its hold on the Celestial Wizard and Celestial Spirit.
She fell for a moment, but was soon caught by Erza, wearing 'The Knight' Armor.
"I got you, Lucy!" She confirmed, keeping a firm grip on the smaller-girl and gliding them to the ground.
Lucy, seeing Taurus falling, laid a hand on her Key-Holder.
"Force Gate Closure: Gate of the Golden Bull!"
Hearing her words and knowing she's in safe hands, Taurus allowed himself to be summoned away. Before he vanished, he gave her a thumbs up.
"Summoning me, again, or Plue, to let us know you lived!" He called out, then vanished in a golden-light.
"Lucy!" Gray, on the ground, ran to the two girls. "You okay?"
She turned to the raven-haired teen, nodding her head.
"I am now," she answered. "A few seconds later, and I would've been Demon Food."
Erza folded her arms over her chest, giving her a serious glare.
"What you did, was reckless!" She scolded, making Lucy flinch from her yelling. "Don't you ever go and make an attempt to throw your life away like that, ever again!"
The seventeen year-old lowered her head to the nineteen year-old.
"I'm sorry, Erza, but we had to act fast and protect those who are at risk on being devoured by Lullaby." She brought up. "It's always been my first priority: Get others out from harms way, drive the threat's attention away from getting the chance at using victims and hold them off, until help arrives and/or I find an opening and take them down. And it's because of that method, I was given an idea to prevent Lullaby from playing its song."
Erza and Gray were taken back by her announcement.
"You do?" Gray asked, as he watched Natsu slam his burning fist against Lullaby's throat.
Lucy pointed a finger up at Lullaby. "It still has its hole mark, from when it was in its Flute Form. That means, it can still play its notes. So, if we enlarge those holes and/or make new holes near or around its natural holes..."
Suddenly catching on to what she was implying that they do, Erza and Gray got into action.
"Gray, stay with Lucy!" The scarlet mage ordered, then shot straight towards Lullaby and delivered two strong swipe of her sword to its side.
The eighteen year-old Ice Mage began to summon his ice.
"Ice-Make: Lance!" He cried, aiming both his palms towards Lullaby and several lance shot straight to its chest and stomach.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu roared, punching into Lullaby's left-shoulder.
"You're making me angry!" Lullaby yelled, trying to attack Natsu and Erza with a swipe of its hand, but missed when the two jumped away.
Lucy glared at the Demon Flute, as Gray formed an Ice Make: Bow.
"Gray, aim for its right-shin." She instructed. "Taurus cause some damage to its knee and thigh, we need to prevent it from being able to move."
Nodding his head, Gray summoned Ice Make: Arrows and aimed the multiple ice-arrows at the right-shin.
Lullaby was brought down and is now kneeling on both knees.
Natsu summoned his fire, and thrusted forward, as streams of fire followed.
"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" He yelled, and delivered the massive amount down on Lullaby's back.
The Demon Flute finally reached its peak.
Again, it raised its head to the sky, using both its arms to keep steady, and the insignia over its head grew for a moment, then shrunk and became a small light.
Then, the air all around them rose. And that's when they noticed that the trees and plants all around them are dying.
"It's sucking the life out of them!" Lucy exclaimed. 'He's preparing to attack!'
"Just a single note, and your worthless souls will be mine!" Lullaby boasted.
Then, it took a deep inhaling of air... And gentle, whispering, out of tune whistling sounds came out of its body.
The monster was taken back that it wasn't playing any of its notes.
Lucy smirked up at the Demon Flute's confusion.
"You didn't bother to take notice, when we were attacking you?" She questioned, folding her arms over her chest. "Taurus and I weren't trying to defeat you, on our own. We were trying to prevent you from playing your Melody of Death, so Natsu, Gray and Erza can bring you down and not have their souls taken."
Lullaby glared down at the blonde.
"How dare you do this to me?!" It roared, its three eyes shining.
Lucy knew it's going to attack.
Gray quickly summoned his magic.
"Ice-Make: -Fire shot straight for them.- Shield!"
While Ice normally melts when fire comes in contact, the shield-made ice is strong enough to endure and shield the both of them from the fire.
Seeing that its prey hadn't been incinerated, angered the Demon Flute even more.
"I will kill you all!"
Then, it watches as the fire it made became streams and being pulled towards Natsu, who inhaled the whole fire and swallowed it down with ease.
When he finished, he smiled smugly at the Demon Flute... His eyes, Ruby-red, since he started attacking it... When he watched his mate almost getting eaten.
"Now I got a fire in my belly." He purred, licking his chops from the taste of fire and ready to take down his opponent.
"You're not human!" Lullaby declared, sending a fist down. "You're a monster!"
Natsu dodged the attack and ran up the limb.
"You're one to talk! You eat innocent souls, without a second thought!" He yelled, running up the arm and jumping in the air to avoid its other hand to grab it.
In the air, Erza used her Equip magic to change from her 'The Knight' Armor to another armor: The Black Wing Armor.
"Ice-Make: Saucer!" Gray cried, forming a saucer out of ice and shooting it at Lullaby's left-side, taking a massive chunk of its body.
At the same time, Erza sliced at its right cheek, with enough impact to force Lullaby to pull back.
"NATSU!"
"NOW!"
Natsu, getting his cue and slowly coming down over Lullaby's head, summoned his magic when he slammed both his fists together.
"The flames in my right-hand." He whispered, conjuring fire to ignite both his right and left-hand. "And the flames in my left-hand. Put them together, and then you get... -He raised both his burning hands together, forming a ball of fire over his head.- Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!"
He launched the massive ball of flame down at the Demon Flute, hitting it square in the face.
...All it did was scream in pain... And then, it vanished with the flames.
...
...In its place, a brilliant light of white shot straight up to the sky, reaching the clouds and letting out a pulsing sensation of energy.
When it finally died down, Lucy removed her arm from the bright light and, in awe, no longer sees the Demon Flute, anymore. Instead, on the ground, she sees Lullaby on the ground, in its Flute Form.
Small-sparkle of light-blue energy came down, and the trees and plants that had their energy taken returned to their green, healthy state.
She beamed up at the energy all around her.
'...They did it,' she thought. 'Lullaby is gone.'
"Amazing!" Bob commented, gushing at the young wizards.
"You kids took it down, like it was no problem." Goldmine complimented.
"Excellent job, you brats." Makarov praised.
As Natsu, Gray and Erza stood and gained their praises by the wizards, Lucy went down to the Lullaby Flute... To her surprise, she watches as the skull-face cracked, broken.
She bend down and grabbed the flute.
'With it cracked, it should never be able to be played, again.' She thought, sighing out in relief... Then, a sudden thought made her nervous. 'If something that the wizard, Zeref, made and just revealed itself... Are there other Magical Tools, Magic or even demons still out there, waiting to be unleashed?'
"Hey, Lucy!" Natsu called out, running over to her. "What are you doing over here?!"
The blonde pushed her worry to the side and turned to her teammate, giving him a small-smile.
"Best to grab this and get this to the Magic Council, as soon as we can." She explained to him, holding out the flute. "It may be damaged and shouldn't be possible to repair, but it best to be safe than sorry."
The pink-haired male stared down at the flute, then back at her... Then, beamed at her.
"You sure worry too much," he responded. "Come on! -He grabbed for her right-hand.- Gramps and the others want to thank you! After all, you helped us defeat the monster!"
As he pulled her to rejoin the group, Lucy could only stare up at him... In her eyes, he seems to outshine anything and/or anybody. Even the sun, itself.
And, as she sees the proud gazes of her guild mates, it made her truly feel like she made the right decision on joining the Fairy Tail Guild.
TBC
*:...Wasn't Virgo not supposed to be able to cross over, on her own, until later in the show? I thought she could only do so, when Lucy's magic continued to grow or from how strong Virgo's bond is with her summoner. Plus, her contract with Everlue was destroyed, which left her without a summoner to even tap into their own power to cross over. That's why I had one of the servants give the key to Happy, in the story.
*: Before you correct me about his magic, again, a quick FYI: According to the wiki, Ice-Make is a Caster Magic, a type of Molding Magic and variation of Ice Magic that involves the creation of objects using ice. And the wiki has stated that Gray can use Ice-Make AND Ice Magic. Plus, if you think about it, he has to be able to use Ice Magic in order to perform Ice-Make Magic. So, in that case, he can be labeled as either an Ice Mage or Ice-Make Mage. So, please, don't correct me on how I label him as in the story.
*: In my the manga, Karacka stabbed Kageyama in the back with a knife... That, to me, made more sense to him nearing dying than having him thrust his hand through his chest... Which, if you know your anatomy, is where his heart would be at. So, unless Karacka used his magic to, also, go through his heart, that attack to replace what happened in the manga doesn't make any sense to be replaced with. Especially, if that sort of attack should require signs of bleeding.
*:...Honestly, we don't know if they even thought about making their own transportation to catch up to Kageyama, or they just focused on running. And, from where they were, within the ravine and how long the tracks are, they would've been too tired to keep running (Even if Erza was to "encourage" them to keep moving.) and should've been way behind to keep up with Kageyama, who drove in a fast vehicle (Even if he were injured, and/or the SE-plug finally overloaded and left him to run/travel through his shadow the rest of the way to Clover, he still has a large gap to reaching the Guild Masters before Natsu and his team got to him). While Natsu would be a bit tired and have to use up a bit more magic, at least this prevented them from being physically exhausted... Something tells me they didn't think to make their own vehicle, from how much in a hurry they were in.
*: Honestly, Lucy could've tried to use one of her Spirits to help out, or to offer some form of support to protect the Guild Masters. Plus, because it was nighttime, there's a possibility that it could've been the next day to summon Taurus.
R&R
