Chapter Eighteen: Blast From The Past

Lucy POV:

I couldn't understand what I was doing here. Sure I was passing through but that didn't mean I had to stop and help fight the local monster. I knew that it had nothing to do with either of my missions but once I heard the word fairy tail I had to check it out. Slowly making my way through the dense forest, I kept trying to hear anything that might lead me in the right direction. It was too bad Pyxis wasn't any use without a fixed location and Reticulum could only see truth not signs of movements. I really needed to see if I could locate a tracker spirit, Canes Venatici or Lupus would be idle. Even Canis Maj… I stopped walking as an intriguing thought popped into my head. Reaching down I grabbed my most well used silver key and sent a burst of power into it. With a ding dong my favourite spirit made an appearance shaking and dancing about. Looking down at Plue I couldn't help smiling at him.

"Hi Plue, How's your day going so far?"

"Pun pun."

"That bad huh. O.k. Plue, I need a favour if you're up to it. There's supposed to be a darkness monster around here somewhere and one of my guild members took the job of getting rid of it. Do you think you can maybe search them out?"

"Pun pun?"

"Please just give it a try, you may be a companion spirit but that doesn't mean you're not a true celestial spirit Canis Minor the little dog and I believe in you."

"Pun pun!"

Smiling at his enthusiasm, I watched as Plue started to wobble slowly along the dirt path. Veering off it after a few minutes, Plue seemed to have found something as the two of us walked in silence further into the woods. Suddenly Plue got excited and started bouncing around.

"Pun pun. Pun pun."

Leaning down so I could reach out and touch him, I patted his head to show it was alright. Before I was all the way to my feet, Plue took off wobble running. Catching up easily I made sure I stayed close, considering the darkness monster wasn't the only beast living in these woods. Something that proved correct when not five minutes later we ran into a pack of dire wolves that wanted Plue for lunch. It seemed I had really grown up lately as before I would have screamed and run for cover now I didn't even flinch as I quickly sent Plue home for safety. Taking my Fleuve d'etoiles I separated the pack then focused on the Alpha quickly tying him up in knots. Giving him a fling into the air, I danced out of the way of the next one and Lucy kicked him as he passed by. I wanted to save as much magic as I could in case I ran into the darkness monster later on so I needed to take them out fast. Virgo appeared as my fingers brushed her key, she was in the ground opening up holes underneath all the wolves as I grabbed the nearest heavy branch with my whip swinging to safety. Once all the wolves were down and out I dropped to a safe spot then started running putting distance between myself and the pack; I just needed to get them out of my way so I could keep moving, which is exactly what I did. After a few minutes of dodging bushes and jumping over tree roots I finally stopped and looked around. Quickly re-summoning Plue I gestured ahead.

"Alright Plue want to give it another shot. Think you can still pick up their trail?"

Plue seemed to look around as if searching for something I couldn't see; wobbling this way and that before he starting walking further into the woods continuing on in the same direction as before. Hopping it wasn't a false lead the two of us walked for what must have been an hour before Plue let out a cry of surprise. It seemed we had reached a section of mountainside and the most likely location for a monster lair.

"Thanks Plue you better head back it could be dangerous from here on out."

Waving goodbye he vanished in a cloud of sparkles leaving me to scout out the rock face looking for a possible cave entrance. Lucky for me it didn't take me long to find what I was looking for as a few minutes into my search I came across an opening partially obscured by foliage. Slowly creeping inside I barely made it a few steps in before realising two things: one this was definitely the right place as the malevolent energy was so thick I could see it and two is was so dark inside going in like this wouldn't work. As I thought what to do the overwhelming feeling of loss hit me: Natsu.

Trying not to cry I forced myself to push forward even as the images flashed through my mind. I could see him as clear as day standing there setting himself on fire so we could see in the darkness. Joking and laughing how he is more useful than 'Ice Princess'. Gray calling him a human torch, Erza breaking up the inevitable fight, Happy insulting and cheering him on. Suddenly I missed my team more than I could stand; by that point there was no stopping the tears from running down my face. I'd been doing well pushing the loneliness to the back of my mind but I guess what with hearing the name FairyTail and being that I was surely bound to run into someone from the guild, homesickness just had to kick in. Before I could do anything a light appeared in the darkness and I knew even before it faded who would be standing there.

"My love, your Prince has come."

He had me in his arms before I could even ask. He may be a shameless flirt but that cat knows how to give good hugs. Calming down as Loke rubbed my back and shushed me I got it together enough to continue my search. Smiling as Loke called forth his power and cast a small calming light ahead of us, we slowly made our way further forward looking for any signs of trouble.

"Loke do you have any idea on who could be here?"

Glancing back at me Loke frowned as he answered.

"I don't know Princess, last time you checked in with Master he said no one was down this way. In fact wasn't that the reason you went to Monecious Village to take care of their Vulcan problem was because no Fairy Tail mage could get there quick enough."

Thinking back on the conversation almost over a month ago now I remembered Master telling me that the Thunder God Tribe was on vacation in Seven, that Gray had gone to visit a cousin he'd found in Iceberg, and that Erza was off on a Truco hunt near Waas forest. I suppose any of them could have finished and headed this way in the time between but something was telling me it wasn't any of them. As I walked further into the cave about half way down the corridor there was a feeling of condensed darkness. Asking Loke to stay back I scouted it out and found a darkness barrier hidden deep against one of the walls. Quickly investigating the rest of the cave which dead ended soon after I could find no trace of any other wizard let alone the creature that was terrorising the town. Knowing it had to be somewhere, I made my way back to patch of darkness to find Leo frowning at it poking it with his lit hand. I watched as Leo's light did nothing to it.

"What do you think?"

Glaring at the wall Leo huffed as he crossed his arms.

"I know it doesn't like my light, but whatever that is isn't fading when I get near it. Some kind of spell maybe, definitely a trap of some kind."

Contemplating the best course of action I ignored Leo's advice to leave well enough alone and elope with him to Minstrel as I started poking the wall to test the darkness' consistency. It felt solid but not. Having no other choice as I could feel something waiting on the other side I shut Leo up and called out his star dress. Knowing what to do the two of us stood back to back as we call forth our power. Linking hands our magic combined and headed straight at the wall of darkness.

"Unison Raid: Lions Luminous Light!"

Only the fact I was still in Leo's star dress and the light magic acted as a barrier saved my ass from the resulting blast of evil magic that came from taking the wall down. The darkness punched the both of us half way back to the cave entrance. Picking myself off the floor and calling out to Leo, I was happy to see he was alright shaken but alright. Dusting myself down, we slowly made our way back to the hole where the barrier was, now able to see a chamber that had been hidden behind it. Moving inside I couldn't see more than a couple a feet in front of me. Turning to Leo I nodded and turned away as he lit up once more. With more light now I could barely make out what appeared to be two bodies towards the back of the massive chamber, quickly hurrying over I was shocked to discover Gajeel Redfox and Pantherlily sprawled out badly beaten and bleeding. Devastated at the damaged I could see I didn't waste any time sending Leo back and quickly calling out Ara.

"Ara I need an overall scan of both mages and a list of major damage and a recommended course of treatment."

Hearing her hum in my head as she got to work I grabbed my travel bag and dragged out the light lacrimas I'd bought and set them up around the two giving myself a clear view of their injuries. Feeling Ara finish I asked her to wait as I dismissed Leo's star dress and changed into Gemini's as I called them out.

"Piri Piri, Miss Lucy?

Getting straight to it I asked them to change into Wendy and then let Ara's voice float through the both of us. Once we knew what need healing the most I had Ara focus on Pantherlily as he was only slightly hurt while it appeared as if Gajeel had taken on the worst of the damage. Joining Gemini/Wendy in my version of the little healer I focused on dealing with the outside injures mainly the massive cut running over most of his back. I could feel Gemini healing the internal damage to his lungs and what felt like several broken ribs.

"My Lady, I can do no more though the Warrior will live respite is what I recommend."

Knowing Ara had returned home I felt the drastic drop in my magic. Knowing I was going to need more help I opened up my second origin and called out Virgo. Ignoring her opening line like usual I looked around the chamber and realised we couldn't stay there.

"Gemini please stop for a second, Virgo grab Gajeel but be extra careful of his chest. We're moving outside near the entrance and setting up camp there. Virgo I want the usual precautions and we'll need any healing salves and remedies you have."

Moving over to Lily I saw that Ara's healing had allowed him to shift back to his Exceed size. Picking him up gently I followed after Gemini and Virgo arriving to see Virgo already had my tent out and a camp fire set up. Walking into the tent I saw Gemini back to work. Placing Lily down on one of Aries made beds I quickly got back to helping Gemini. With my second origin now open I figured I should have enough magic to get most of his injuries on the road to recover though he would still need to rest and recuperate. Once Gemini was finished I sent them back with my grateful thanks and then made my way outside. Seeing a bowl of stew waiting for me I sent a heartfelt feeling of gratitude to Virgo for all her care as I sat down and ate.

As I waited for either of them to regain consciousness, my mind started to wander as I tried to stop myself from reacting. Now that I wasn't in reaction mode seeing Gajeel so badly injured was starting to bring up too many memories especially from just after the War ended. They were so happy together before that finally battle, before Achnologia, before Zeref. The tears wouldn't stop as memories of that final fight pushed themselves through. I could taste the blood, hear her voice, 'Lucy promise me…'. It was only when I heard Pantherlily's voice from in the tent that I managed to pull myself from the past. Getting up quickly I made in time to hear him call out in his worry.

"Gajeel?"

Rushing to his side I held him down knowing he would be disorientated and still slightly hurt. Finally recognising me, he calms down enough for me to ask him what happened. Getting settled now that he could see Gajeel sleeping peacefully next to him he explained how the two of them tracked the monster to its lair but got trapped behind the barrier at the start of the fight. They avoided part of the cave collapse when a stray attack took out a wall but he ran out of energy and the last thing he remembered was Gajeel protecting him from one of the monsters attacks. As they settled in waiting for Gajeel to wake up I couldn't hold my tongue and asked Pantherlily how he was doing. Lily could tell by the look on my face that I meant Levy. Lily's face is all the answer I need. After a few minutes he starts talking.

"He isn't living anymore Lucy, he's only going through the motions. He is slowly trying to kill himself and I don't know how to help him. Gajeel has been taking multiple monster extermination missions without any leeway. One of these days he won't be coming back."

I could feel the tears in my eyes as looked at Lily, he looked broken his best friend was drowning in grief and there was nothing he could do. Before I could say anything I heard a groan from behind me and turned to see Gajeel starting to wake up. Though it will kill me I realised Gajeel needed to hear a few things, things I'd been putting off because thinking of her broke something inside of me. Once I saw his eyes come into focus and look around I dropped myself down and stared up at the night sky I never been so happy Virgo had enchanted the tent roof to be see-through as I proceeded to rip my own heart out.

"Did you know that you were the last thing on her mind when she died? You were all she could think about. She knew that going would break you and she begged me to make sure you were o.k. She said that it was alright because she had gotten to have you by her side. That she had known love and been loved in return and that that was what she was holding onto. Levy explained to me once how you promised her you would make her big; and how she felt that way whenever she stood by your side. Levy was proud of the man you had become Gajeel and loved you with her whole heart. Levy asked me to keep an eye on you Gajeel and to make sure that you lived. I'm so sorry for not doing my job.

Though I found it hard to even look at Gajeel, I turned looking at Gajeel in the eyes for the first time as I spoke.

"Would Levy have wanted you to do this? Your killing yourself, I know this you know this, this is not the man that Levy loved. Go home Gajeel and honour Levy wishes, watch out for Fairy Tail. They are a family and will be there for you if you would just give them the chance.

The whole time Gajeel hadn't said a word, he just stared straight ahead not looking at anything. Having said my piece I told the both of them to get some rest. Exiting the tent before the tears could fall I wished them both good night.