I wanted to dedicate this chapter to two special reviews, who have been supporting me through this story. Jessifer89 and Coaly19, thank you so much for both of your reviews, your encouragement means the world to me! I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations and once again, so much appreciation for you both!
A special shout out to Fairytaillover89 for your review as well! I really appreciate your kind words, honestly made me grin like a Cheshire Cat! I really hope you enjoy this chapter as well, and the rest of this book!
Now, onwards!
"Happy is down in that cave!" Natsu announced, sniffing the air to double check.
"Well what are we waiting for, let's show them the power of Fairy Tail!" Gray cheered, an icy aura swathing his form.
Natsu was about to reply, when he found himself flying through the air, only to land hard on the ground and get the wind knocked out of him. Gray wasn't much better, he rolled a few times before his side slammed hard against a tree, making him wince. That'll leave a bruise, he thought, staggering to his feet.
"Oh looky here, some second rate Mages. Sorry boys but this is as far as you go!" Racer sneered, getting ready to make another pass.
"Ice-Make: Floor!" Gray called, covering the ground in a thick sheet of ice and making Racer slip and slam hard against it.
"Great job Gray, let's get him!" Natsu billeted, "I'm all fired up!"
"No you numskull go check on Happy, I'll even give you a ride!" He called, using his magic to create a sheet of vertical ice for Natsu to slide down.
"Thanks buddy!" He called making a mad dash for the slide.
"Oh no you don't!" Racer called, only to slam into a newly erected ice wall.
He stumbled and turned back to the Ice Mage. Gray was slightly crouched, his mouth moulded into a firm line. Cold fire burned in his eyes, practically glowing in the frosty aura shrouding his form. "You aren't going anywhere, speedster," Gray snarled, eyes lasered onto his pray.
"You know, you are the first person to stop me not just once but twice, ice boy. This might actually be fun." Racer said, an arrogant grin taking over his face.
"Let's dance," he said, speeding to Gray like a bullet.
Gray dodged, sending a spray of ice at him. Get Wendy, Natsu, Lucy needs us.
Despite his attempted indifference the Celestial King couldn't stop the sadness overtaking his heart. He could see his favourite Celestial Mage struggling to breath, a sheen of cold sweat coating her face. Beside her, his Zodiac Leader frowned, his movements shaky as he tried to hold back his grief. He knew how much the Lion cared about the girl, more than he should in all honesty. He knew he should stop the feelings but as long as Leo rode the lines he had no problem. Love just made Leo fight harder, becoming even more fierce.
Around the throne room the girls other spirits roamed, each wearing matching expressions of panic and despair. Even Aquarius was frowning, her magic holding back her tears. Scorpio held her, whispering in her ears. She tried to keep her face stoic, but she loved the blonde, despite her attempts to make her think otherwise.
"My King, please send us to Lucy's side, she needs us!" Cancer said, snipping his scissors and dropping his usual term of endearment.
"Moshi Moshi, she needs us by her side my King, so does our leader," Sagittarius added, standing up next to the Crab spirit.
"Friends, I cannot do that. It breaks the laws of our Realm," The King said, bending his head is sadness.
"Can she come here then?" Plue managed to ask, his mouth quivering. To anyone else they wouldn't be able to understand him, but the spirits understood him easily.
"It warms an old king's heart how much you care about your key holder. If I could help her I would, she is destined for great things in her life. Unfortunately that would be interfering with the natural order of thing, we just have to hope that she can look after herself sufficiently." He said, ignoring the voice in his mind that sounded suspiciously like his queen, telling him to make an exception.
"Moooo but Luuuuuucy needs us!" Taurus talked, slashing his axe in his frustration.
"You have to trust in Leo and Virgo, they will protect your keyholder, not to mention her earthling friends," he said, sending them a stern glance to let them know that was the end of the conversation.
The spirits all sighed, leaving the room. The other zodiacs, minus Capricorn and Gemini who were absent, looked up at interest. Their fellow spirits body language showed how much they cared, even Aquarius was dropping in Scorpio's arms. Aries looked on, Pisces beside her. Pisces loved their master, Yukino was amazing to them yet even they were astounded by the sheer love that these spirits displayed for Lucy. Aries just watched them walk off, a small frown and nagging feeling pulling on her chest. If that was Angel she wouldn't be that upset, a small part of her might even rejoice at her imminent freedom. It wasn't nice of her but it was true, the white haired Mage never treating her kindly.
She sighed and watched them walk off, finding herself praying that her master wouldn't be the one to kill her and despite her contract, hoping that the blonde would somehow pull through and by some miracle, even get her key.
"Thank you, Virgo," Loke said when his fellow spirit appeared, holding a bag of items in her arms.
"I got the tourniquet as requested by big brother," she said, passing the golden cloth to her brother like spirit. "I also brought a comfortable mattress for her to lay on, hoping it'll be more comfortable than the ground," she said, taking a sparkling mattress that grew in size when she lay it on the ground.
"Thank you Virgo, could you lift her please?" Like asked, once he finished typing the tourniquet to her arm. At least that'll stop the spread, the purity magic in it will help, he thought, moving so Virgo could lift her onto the mattress made of woven clouds
Hibiki watched in silence, trying to focus on his magic. He never thought too much about Celestial Magic, the information scarce and protected by the Celestial Realm. However he had to admit watching the spirits care for Lucy that it was a beautiful magic, based on bonds and confections rather than brute force. She was Lucky to have such great friends, he thought, the two spirits taking their position on either side of her.
Hibiki was talking to the others, coordinating their teams movements. He had lost contact with Natsu so assumed he was out of range. He focused his magic on Gray, managing to focus on his mind.
"Gray, Lyon and Sherry are to your east, make your way there." He projected into his friends mind, momentarily amused at his reaction to his message.
When he got a mental nod back, he directed his magic to the rest of the Trimens. They conversed quickly. Used to each other's magic. He couldn't reach Erza but assumed her mind was protected or something. When everyone was sorted he turned back to look at his friends.
"How's she holding up? Everyone is heading in the right direction to get help," He said, walking over and crouching in front of Lucy.
"She's stable, the Celestial cloth will stop it getting any further," Loke said, eyes never leaving Lucy.
"Princess will be fine, we will look after her until she returns to her superior strength," Virgo added, still gazing at Lucy.
He was about to reply when a voice called out, making them all look up. "How is Lucy feeling? Is her situation stable?" Erza asked, striding into focus, clad in her Flight armour.
"Oh hi Erza, I couldn't reach you with my magic, does your armour prevent mental telepathy?" Hibiki asked, turning over to look at her.
Erza glances at him with a serious expression on her face. "Not this one but another I wore does," she said, still striding over.
Erza walked over, her arms crossed. Loke raised an eyebrow at her, his eyes betraying his confusion. Hibiki stood up, glancing at Loke and then at Erza, confusion clear on his face.
"Err Erza, why are you just standing there?" Hibiki asks, trying to puzzle out what is going on.
"Are you questioning me?" She yelled, towering over Hibiki and glaring at him with all the fury of a warrior.
"Err no ma'am never," He hastily got out, trying to placate her.
"Loke, Virgo. Return to the Spirit world at once, you'll be draining Lucy's power and making her weaker." Erza demanded, making both spirits glare at her.
"We are not leaving Princess," Virgo said, standing up to defend her master.
"Do as I say, you are hurting her." Erza hissed, expression scathing.
Loke's only reply was to stand up in front of his mistress again, frowning at Erza. The Reqip Mage frowned, crossing her arms across her ample chest. "That is not what I wanted to hear, Loke. And you are aware of what happens when people defy me, aren't you?" She said, her voice sounding Icier than one of Grays spells.
"Bring it on. We are not leaving our mistress, especially when a fake Erza tells us too." Loke said, making Hibiki look up.
"She's not Erza?" He asked, his brows knitting together.
"No. Erza would have stood down by now, understanding our importance." Loke said, his eyes trained on non Erza. "So tell me, you are you truly?" He continued, glaring.
"Or is either Gemini or Vulpecula I believe, brother," Virgo added, her face still impassive.
"Very astute, though you have always been perceptive. Tequila, Heaven's Wheel Armour!" She said, her voice carrying as the full skirted armour flashed onto her form. "Dance my swords!" She called, materialising them and sending them flying towards the group.
"Protect!" Hibiki called, creating a shield out of glowing golden yellow screens that stopped the swords from hitting them.
"Virgo, take Princess underground." Like instructed, readying a glowing fist.
"Yes, big brother," she said walking over to Lucy and picking her up bridal style. "I hope this does not pain you, Princess," she whispered, calling on her magic that allowed her to burrow into the earth like butter.
She went as deep as she could, making a small cavern with her magic. She placed the blanket back on the earth and placed her mistress on it, tucking her in. She reinforced the walls, imbuing them with her spica magic so it wouldn't crumble on Lucy. Glancing at her one more time, Virgo climbed back up her burrow, ready to defend the best master she had ever had.
"Happy!" Natsu called out, listening to the way his voice echoed through the mountains.
"You imbecile, we do not want them to hear ya!" Carla reprimanded, using her Aera magic to hover.
Natsu just sighed, choosing to ignore the stuck up cat. Closing his eye, he focused on Happy's scent, letting it cost his nostrils. Finding its trail, Natsu surged forward, not even bothering to wait for an irate Carla. He stormed forward, using his strength to bust down the cave wall.
"Happy? You here?" Natsu called, his sensitive ears catching a small whimper.
He tore forward, spreading towards the sound. Catching a glimpse of blue, he saw his friend in a crumpled heap, his breath barely audible. "Happy," Natsu whispered, racing forward to find his friend.
He cradled his in his arms, catologuing the Criss crossed scratches that dotted his body, the deep congealing cut on his forehead and the wound in his stomach, clotting his fur and staining it white. "Happy!" Natsu screamed, a lump forming in his throat.
"We need to get him help!" Natsu panicked, trying to calm the raging angry that sloshed through his veins seeing his friend is such a sorry state.
"We need to find Wendy, she can heal him." Carla insisted. Her fear rising as she prayed to all the superior beings that existed that her friend, her Wendy , would be okay.
Pushing back his tumultuous emotions, Natsu glanced around, scanning the cavern for anyone else. All he saw was dark shadows, melding together like a tapestry. The scent of mildew tainted the air, along with a metallic undercurrent that he dared not think about. He groaned before he caught sight of a piece of parchment rolled up in Happy's paws. Slowly with as much care as he could, Natsu pulled it out of his paws. Whispering sorry when Happy winced from pain.
Natsu opened it, his temper scorching his sense of mental clarity as he looked at the words.
If you had been here sooner, you'd have found us. Unfortunately for you, you are too little and too late. If you had more power you might have saved the girl.
Let's hope the cat and the Blondie make it, otherwise, you truly are a weak failure.
Brain.
Natsu let out an anguished filled scream, pouring every shred of emotion, both good and bad into that one action. He let the tears flow, no longer having the strength to hold them back. He was a failure, a shame to the dragons. He couldn't even stop his father from leaving him, so it wasn't a surprise he couldn't save his friends. These thoughts kept slamming his mind with the force of the ocean, corroding any sense of self belief he had. He held Happy against his chest, whispering "I'm so sorry," over and over, his fur stained with Natsu's tears.
Carla didn't know what to do. She only had experience with Wendy, never others. She could protect Wendy but this man was breaking, and she had no idea what to say. For a woman who prided herself in her mind she was drawing a blank, and it terrified her to her very core. Sighing, she walked in front if Natsu, clearing her throat to make him look up.
"We cannot change our past, but we can change the future. We can still get the Tomcat help and save the others, including Wendy. But we have to leave now." She said, forcing Natsu to look her in the eye.
Whimpering, Natsu wiped his cheeks clean and stared at her. His legs had given way, leaving him a crumpled heap. He didn't think it mattered, didn't think he could even change his future. He failed Igneel, he must've to make him leave. He failed Lisanna and now failed both Happy snd Lucy, two beings he adored. Though staring at Carla in the eye rekindled a spark of his determination, so with a stilted nod he forced himself to his feet, ready to push on and not let down anyone else.
Afterall, he still had these people, they believe in him. He refused to let their belief go to waste. Afterall, he wasn't just Natsu. He was a Fairy Tail wizard, and Fairy Tail wizards never, ever give up.
I was going to add another section of Cobra but thought this was a good ending place. I really hope you enjoyed this chapter, I wanted to capture how much Lucy is loved in the spirit world while still showing that they have laws they must follow. Poor Happy, I hated doing that to the poor guy. And to Lucy too. Next chapter will be a fun one, with battles galore!
Until next time!
TBP