Damn these last few chapters have been longer than my usual cut off mark. You guys enjoying that?
Also heads up, I've already written 339. It is, I think, one of the best chapters to date. So you guys better look out for that!
Enjoy!
"Gah!" Steph shouted, sitting bolt right up. Looking around wildly, her mind raced to find an explanation for what the hell was happening. Where was she? What was happening? Where were the others? Where they okay?
Slowly she began to calm down as she realised she was in no immediate danger, seeing her other friends sitting around in varying states of disarray. Some walked around with minor injuries, others talked in small groups, and others were clearly waiting to receive some kind of help. Where was she? What had happened?
"Steph?" Looking to her left, Steph saw Ultear standing there. The girl looked relatively okay compared to some, but she still sported some battle wounds.
"Ultear?" She asked. "Where are we? What happened?"
"We're in the ruins," Ultear replied, Steph looking around. Now that she got a better look at things, she saw that she was right. The ruins of her former home were scattered all about, varying from barely standing buildings to complete rubble.
"What happened?" She asked. "Did we win?" Ultear's jaw tightened at this, kneeling down in front of her.
"First things first," she said, holding her hands together. Steph looked to see her creating a mirror made of ice. "I need to ask you something. Hold your hand up to your face. Line your middle finger up with your nose." Steph made a face at this, unsure as to what the hell that meant. Despite being confused, she did as she was told and lined her hand up.
"Now what?" She demanded.
"Can...Can you see your fingers to the left?" Steph frowned at this, before her stomach plummeted. She couldn't. Her depth perception was off.
"N-No," she said weakly. "I can't." Ultear audibly gulped.
"I was worried about that," she said, holding up the piece of ice. "You got hurt." Taking the ice from her friend, Steph looked up to see what she meant.
Stretching across her left eye was a vicious looking scar. It hadn't healed very much, but it was clear someone had tried to aid her.
"I-I can't see out of it..." Steph said weakly, holding a hand up in front of it. "I-I..."
"Yeah, it's useless now." Ultear replied weakly. "Don't worry though, once we get you back to Wendy she can fix you better than Winter can. After all, Wendy knows all sorts of alchemical solutions. She learned from Porlyusica after all."
"Am..." Steph asked weakly. "Am I the only one?" Ultear frowned and cast her gaze to the ground.
"No," she answered simply. "Actually you're one of the luckier ones. Come with me, I may need you." Getting up, Steph followed quickly after Ultear as she walked through their makeshift camp. Looking around, Steph's eyes widened in horror as she looked at her friends. Keita had a hole in his upper body. A blonde man she didn't recognise was lying on his back, a big bruise on his back. A purple haired woman was sitting in between him and a black haired man, who had a makeshift cast around his neck. So many others lay about with wounds big and small.
"Did we even win?" She asked weakly as they continued on.
"Do I need to answer you?" Ultear asked weakly. Steph's stomach plummeted. They'd lost. After all of that and trying as hard as they did, they'd lost. Luna was gone, taken by The Olympians.
"What do we do?" She asked weakly.
"Right now?" Ultear asked. "We help our friends. So many of us are injured, and Winter is about to collapse." Steph hadn't even thought of that. The large group only had one healer with them, and that was Winter. The poor girl must have been working herself to death trying to make sure no one died.
Walking into a destroyed building, Steph saw this assumption was accurate.
Winter was kneeling next to Nami, who had Mami lying by her side. The girl was a ghostly white and pale as her hair, hands shakily over Nami as she healed her. Nami looked very concerned, but Steph couldn't tell if that face was for the exhausted wizard or herself.
"Winter, maybe you should rest..." Nami said weakly.
"N-Not yet..." Winter hissed as the two girls approached. "I still need to check on everyone else..."
"She's right, Winter." Ultear said. "You need to take a break." Winter turned to look, and Steph immediately wanted her to rest as well. The poor girl had bags under her eyes, and her entire face was nearly translucent she was so white.
"I'm fine," she said. "I'm the healer. I need to make sure everyone's okay. Watch, I'm fine." Doing as instructed, Steph watched as Winter began to inhale and exhale deeply. She did this for about thirty seconds before she opened her eyes again. Steph noted there was a bit more life to her than before.
"She's been doing that for hours," Nami said. "Inhaling a mass amount of air to keep her magic levels up to treat everyone."
"Hours?' Steph asked weakly. "How long have we been about?"
"Four hours?" Ultear asked. "Maybe more? I'm not sure. I just know we've been out."
"It doesn't matter," Winter said as she rubbed at her eyes. "I can keep this up. I need to make sure everyone is okay. Nami, how does it feel?"
"Okay I suppose," Nami replied. It was only then Steph noted that the girl was missing a hand. What the hell? "You said something about Wendy being able to help me, right?"
"Yeah, with the stuff Porlyusica taught her." Winter replied as she struggled to her feet. "Steph, how's your face feel?"
"I-I mean, as good as it can feel." Steph replied. "I'm fine though."
"Nonsense, come here." Steph tried weakly to fight the girl off, but Winter was having none of it. She fought Steph back and got in close, putting her hands over her eye. Magic poured out of her hands, and Steph could feel the vague sense of pain fading away slightly. "T-There, that's a bit better."
"Winter, lie down." Ultear scolded. "You're going to overwork yourself. Don't be an idiot."
"No time," Winter replied as she made for the exit. "Katsuchi's back needs more work, and so does Simon's ribs...I-I'll rest when I have time." The trio of girls watched the healer leave the building, none of them happy she did.
"She's going to collapse," Nami said flatly.
"Yep," Ultear said. "And she's not going to take no for an answer."
"What happened to your face, Steph?" Nami asked, making Steph turn to her. "It looks pretty bad." Steph frowned and raised a hand to the scar, her mind flashing back to Hades. That horrific monster of a man. A chill went down her spine just thinking about him. He'd done this to her without a second thought.
"One of them slashed me," she replied "What about you? I-I mean you're missing a hand."
"Same excuse," Nami replied, lifting her arm up and glaring at the blackened stub. "Ares got me good. Disarmed me figuratively and literally. Simon had no choice but to close the wound with that fire sword of his."
"Ouch," Steph said.
"Yeah," Nami agreed. "It doesn't matter though. If Winter's been working on everyone for hours, than that means we may be able to move out. Can you guys look into that?"
"Move out?" Steph asked. Nami nodded.
"This ain't over," she said. "Those assholes aren't just going to get away from us like that."
"I agree," Ultear said. "We didn't come this far just to lose. I can guarantee there's enough of their magic left in the air to track them to wherever they went."
"Exactly," Nami said. "So see if we can muster the able-bodied to go. I'm not going down like that." Ultear nodded, and swiftly turned to leave the room. Steph figured she should follow, lagging behind the woman as she walked through the ruins. Soon the duo came upon Simon, who was sitting with Elise and Damien.
"Hey," he greeted as the girls approached. "Steph, how's your eye?"
"It's okay," she said, self-consciously raising a hand to cover her wound. "There's worse off than me here."
"Ain't that the truth," he said as he looked down at Elise, who was resting quietly at his feet. "Elise had some fractured ribs and her skull was cracked. Thankfully her iron managed to take most of the impact, but it was still pretty rough looking for a bit there."
"I-Is she okay?" Steph asked weakly. Simon nodded.
"She'll be fine," he replied. "Winter made sure of it. After all, she'd spent hours treating the worse offenders."
"We're looking for those willing to fight," Ultear said, making Simon perk up. "Are you able? Willing?"
There was a surprising amount of silence from Simon at this question. Even after what had happened, Steph was expecting him to readily agree to throw himself into battle again.
"Simon?" Ultear asked. "Are you okay?" Simon pressed his mouth into a thin line at this, eyes on the ground.
"I-I don't know," he said. "I don't know if we can."
"Huh?" Ultear asked.
"I can across Hades," Simon said as he looked up at her. "Steph did too. The power that man had...It makes me sick just thinking about it. I don't think it's a good idea, but..."
"I didn't ask whether or not you thought it was a good idea," Ultear replied. Steph frowned and looked over at the girl, seeing her face hardened and unemotional. "I asked if you could fight."
"Well sure I can, but-"
"Than there's nothing more to say," Ultear said, cutting him off. "You can fight, so you fight. C'mon Steph, let's go ask the others." Without warning the ice wizard walked off, leaving Steph and Simon with each other, dumbfounded.
"Is she okay?" Simon asked.
"I...Don't know," Steph replied. "That was uncharacteristically cold and uncaring for Ultear."
"I know," Simon said, frowning. "Could you talk to her? Seems you two are paling around right now anyway." Nodding, Steph ran in the direction Ultear had wandered off in, looking for the woman. She soon found her talking to the members of Sabertooth around Keita, also giving them the same no nonsense look.
"Ul?" She asked as she approached. "Can I talk to you for a sec?"
"No time to talk," Ultear replied as she walked off again, this time for the group of Mermaid Heel girls. "We need to gather those who can fight."
"Ul, I'm serious." Steph replied, grabbing her shoulder. "What was that, back there? You didn't seem to give a damn about Simon's concern at all."
"I do."
"Then why did you shrug him off like that?" Ultear stopped, so Steph did as well. She was quiet at first, but then balled her hands into fists.
"It's not about our concerns," she said. "This is about saving Luna. This is about defeating the enemy that hurt us. We don't have time to be concerned about being scared right now."
"That's just plain unlike you," Steph replied flatly, garnering no response. "You always care about what people think. What's worrying them. At least, you used to be." Ultear didn't reply right away, and Steph squeezed her shoulder in an attempt at comfort. "Voice your mind. We're friends." Ultear remained quiet for a moment, but soon she sighed and turned to Steph.
"I don't mean to burden you, Steph." She said, tone somewhat distant and cold. "But all of that care and looking after the others kinda comes from a lack of interest in my own well being. It's unhealthy, but it's the way it is. Way I've always been. You guys, the guild, it means more to me than myself." The girls gaze hardened and she looked down at the ground. "In that battle, I...I was trounced. Completely taken out as a factor. I didn't have the chance to fight to save Luna. My friend got taken away, and what was I doing? I was out cold."
"Ul..." Steph started weakly.
"I need to fight for what I care about to keep myself going," Ultear said, her gaze hardening again. "And right now, all I care about is getting Luna back and doing whatever it takes to make my family whole again...To make myself feel whole again. And I...I can't do that if we lose her now."
"So you're ignoring the concerns of the others to do that?"
"Do you think I'm not scared or worried we'll die?" Ultear asked. "I am. I'm horrified that someone loses their life either from current injuries, or from something that they do to us once we find them. But that doesn't change what we have to do. We have to fight. If we don't fight, we don't win. I have to keep fighting, or I may as well of died on that mountain."
Was she talking about Cryc?
Steph stood by, dumbfounded, as Ultear turned and walked away. The girl didn't turn back to anything more, leaving Steph to herself.
And for once, for as long as Steph could remember, the ice wizard came off cold and uncaring.
It didn't take long for everyone who was hurt to gather and hold a talk about what it was they were going to do. From people Steph recognised like Michael or Bella, to those she didn't like Katsuchi or Tetsu (as she'd been told their names were). All stood by talking lowly to themselves, no one speaking up yet.
The silence slowly returned as Ultear stood up on a boulder in the middle of the group. Steph and her others friends from Fairy Tail stood around the boulder, like some sort of guard. This was excluding Drake, as no one knew where to find him.
"Listen up," she said in a loud tone. "As I'm sure you all are aware, we're going to chase after The Olympians. If we let them get away, then everything we've gone through in the last two years was for nothing. If we let them win, who knows what will happen. Any objections so far?"
Silence.
"Good," Ultear continued. "Now, The Christina has the ability to track a persons magical signature over a vast distance. If we use this on someone who fought them directly, like Damien or Drake, we may be able to find where they're holding up as they move on to the next phase in their plan. So, we follow them and defeat them. We do whatever it takes to take these guys done. Anyone not able to fight?"
Silence again.
"Excellent," At this, a smile crossed Ultear's face. "You all have my eternal respect for this. To want to fight after such an unbelievable loss is inspiring."
"They're not taking her away," Michael said as the glared at the ground. "Not after everything they've done do they get to get away with this."
"What the kid said," Neptu said from his little group with The Cross and Gin. "Letting monsters like them roam free with the type of power that girl has is just asking for trouble.
"That kind of power, nyah?" Kumi asked from the Mermaid Heel circle. "What power?"
"We believe that Luna, or Nashi I suppose, was able to tap into some sort of power." Ultear said from the boulder. "The Olympians want it. For what, who knows. It can't be good though So we follow after them and take her back before-"
"There's no point."
Turning, Steph watched in surprise as the only person missing from the meeting, Drake, wandered up the everyone. His expression was horrifically tired and upset, the bags under his eyes only selling this further.
"What do you mean, Drake?" Elise asked as she massaged the scar on her right temple. "No point in what?"
"Fighting," he replied, making Steph's eyes widen. "We shouldn't bother."
Nobody answered him for a long time. No one had any words to say. For Drake of all people to say that? What was he talking about?
"Who are you and what did you do to Drake?" Damien demanded as he turned fully to face their friend. "How could you of all people say that?" Drake's eyes fell to the ground.
"It was your idea to save her in the first place," Simon said. "What are you doing?"
There was still no response.
"Don't be stupid," Elise said. "We're going. You can't stop us."
"Don't you guys get it?" It was Drake who spoke this time. Watching him, Steph noted he had balled up his hands into fists. "They've had us in the palm of their hand this whole time. Playing with us. Everything since Phantom Dove...It happened because they willed it. They wanted it to happen. We thought we were winning. Fighting them off, even. We never stood a chance. They were ahead of us this whole time."
"Drake?" Ultear asked weakly. Drake gritted his teeth, looking up at everyone. He had tears rimming his eyes, and he looked devastated.
"Don't you understand?!" He cried, voice hoarse and cracking. "We can't beat them! They're ready no mater what we do! They've been ready! And if we follow them, they'll be ready again! This whole time, they've been making sure everything played out the way they wanted! They moved us like chess pieces! Who's to say they won't again?!"
Steph began to walk towards Drake.
"We shouldn't go," he continued. "All of us are so injured, we'd just be dead weight. No one is in the right shape to fight right now, especially not against the best they have.
Steph broke out of the pack, striding towards Drake as he stared at the ground.
"I don't want anyone else to die, not because or me of any other reason." Drake said. "We can't follow them, if we do we'll just-"
It was as though thunder resounded through the ruins of Magnolia as Steph reared back, slapping Drake across the face as hard as she could. As he reared away from the blow, she grabbed his jacket and pulled him up.
"What the fuck are you saying?!" She demanded angrily, mind spiralling out of anger. "You can't seriously believe those things!"
"Steph!" Simon shouted worriedly from behind her, but she ignored him.
"You don't get to do that!" Steph shouted as she looked up at him, tears now rimming her eyes as well. "You don't get to rally us like this! Give us hope! Give us a reason to fight! You don't get to do that and then give up! That's not how this works!"
"I-I-"
"Look around you!" Steph screamed as tears fell from her eyes. "Look at what you've accomplished! You brought us all home! Our friends, they rallied behind you! All of our allies here did! Because they believed we were right and The Olympians were wrong! Who are you to spit on their beliefs?!"
"S-Steph-"
"I believed you too!" She cried. "I believed in you since I came home, don't you get that?! I stayed with you after Nashi died! I spent so many nights by your side as you cried! I've been fighting for you since! And now, after all of this, after you restored my hope in our family returning to normal, you say we can't keep fighting?! Who are you to decide?!"
Ultear's words came back to Steph. How she had to fight for what she cared about to keep going.
"Everybody wants to stop the fighting, Drake." She hissed weakly as her voice died down. "I don't want anyone else to die either. But the only ones who should decide that are us! Not you, or The Olympians! We came here ready to die for her! For each other! Didn't we?!"
At this, Steph turned to everyone else, who had been watching the argument.
"Of course," it was Ultear who spoke. "I didn't come here looking to argue with them. I came to defeat them."
"Stop being so melodramatic, Cyanide Breath." Elise said as she crossed her arms. "My skull was cracked and I'm ready for round two. Don't be a pussy."
"I understand your concern," Simon said. "But frankly, I don't agree with inaction."
"We're going with or without you," Damien said flatly. "Are you gonna be there when we save Luna? Or do we have to finish the fight without the guy who brought us all back in it?"
"What was it you told me, Drake?" Michael asked, all of Sabertooth backing him. "You gotta find something to fight for? How could you lose faith so easily?"
"Agreed," Keita said as he gripped his wounds. "We fought because we wanted her back. Because you're are friends."
"Damn right," Juno said. Rina and Kyoko just gave reaffirming smiles.
"We came to strengthen the perfume of our family!" Mami shouted, being over-dramatic as Blue Pegasus backed her. "Luna will return to us, or we will die trying!"
"C'mon man." Terra said as she stretched her back. "Did you really think that would scare us off?"
"Not likely," Winter agreed as she stood. "We've been hanging out with you guys too much to just give up when the going gets tough."
"Did ya need a drink?" Reyna asked, raising her flask.
"Honestly, what a self-centred way of thinking," Nami said, Mermaid Heel behind her. "I lost a hand kid. I'll lose the other one for any of the morons here."
"If you didn't give up in the face of Taisho, why now?" Katsuchi asked as he sat on the ground. "I believed in you then. Believe in us now."
"We can handle this, Drakey." Tetsu agreed. "Leave it to us!"
"We're here for you, Drake-sama!" Azzie agreed, cheeks red.
"If I gave up whenever I felt worried, I wouldn't even be here." Neptu said, The Cross nodding along like sidemen. "Don't get lost in the dark kid."
"If you managed to give me hope when I had none," Gin said with a soft smile. "The least I can do is return the favour."
Steph smiled as everyone stood to back her up, telling Drake exactly who ready they were. Turning back to the Dragon Slayer, his eyes were wide is disbelief.
"You still don't get it," he said. "They know we're coming. They've been ready this whole time. Terra, Winter and I even got to fight them and got destroyed! There's no way we win!"
"Maybe you didn't hear them," Steph said. "They're not backing down. No one else wanted to believe you when you said Nashi was alive Drake, but you didn't give up on that. So, maybe you can give us the benefit of the doubt?"
Drake didn't say anything for a good long while. His eyes just darted in between everyone present, not sure how to react.
"Drake," she said, speaking up. As he looked at her, he noticed that she still looked lost. She just smiled at him. "I know that sometimes things can feel hopeless. Like you're lost in a dark cave and can't get out. I know you remember how that feels too. We all do, after this last year. But we found the light. We found her. Don't let it get away again."
After staring at her for a moment, Drake raised an arm to his eyes, wiping them. He sniffled a few times, and Steph decided to let go of his coat.
"...Forgive me, everyone." He said as he gathered himself. "I just...I forgot I wasn't alone anymore. That I had my family backing me up again."
"Drama Queen," Elise said, seemingly ignorant of the tears in her own eyes. Drake sniffled again and composed himself, turning to Mami.
"Mami," he said. "The Christina can track magical signatures, right?"
"You know it can, pretty boy." She replied. "Don't you remember that's how we destroyed Silverridge?" Drake laughed.
"Right," he said. "I'm sure there's enough residual magic from their fighting around here to pinpoint their location."
"I'm on it!" Mami shouted, sprinting off in the direction of The Christina. Everyone else quickly moved about their own business, either returning to Winter for more healing or getting ready to leave.
"Steph," Drake said. Steph looked back at him to find him watching her, a warm smile on his face.
"What?" She asked.
"Thank you," he said. "I felt myself falling back into that hole - the one I've been in since Nashi died. Zeus really scared me when he told me all of those things they've done...I really did think it was hopeless. Thank you for slapping me back to reality."
"Don't make me slap so hard next time," she said, feeling slightly guilty as the glowing red hand mark on his face began to form. "It hurt my hand." He just chuckled softly, before pulling her into a hug. It was one of the warmest, most meaningful hugs Steph had ever felt, and she smiled as she buried her face in between his neck and shoulder.
"I promise I won't ever do that again," he said. "I won't lose hope in my friends. My family."
"I hope not," She said, gripping him tightly. "And make sure you do the same for any of us if we need it." Drake just grunted in agreement, and Steph heard Elise laugh.
"And you two aren't together. Oo-kay." She said mockingly. Frowning, Steph turned and sent a zap at the small girl, who jumped out of it's path.
"Done crying?" Damien asked as the others approached them. "We'll need you back."
"I am," Drake replied. "Thank you for that, all of you."
"You'd do the same for us," Simon said. "You did do the same. You pulled us all back to our home. Made us feel somewhat whole again. Let's find the final piece." Drake nodded, walking forwards.
"Yeah," he said. "Let's go and raise hell. Luna's waiting for us."
Gah I don't know man, I feel like this wasn't good. Be honest with me lads, was it good? Maybe too rushed? Honest opinions are welcome! I do this to learn after all! I hope you enjoyed, leave a review! Let's try and get five!
Chapter 339: Give Her Back