Been a while team! I'm sorry about that. I'm in the middle of exams and I got another story idea! I hope you enjoy this chapter, I just love Lucy's relationship with the spirits so I wanted to include that. Laxus and Cobra will appear in the next chapter, but for now It's just Lucy being a boss.
On that note, I hope you enjoy and stick around for next time!
TBP
Virgo had a split second to assess the situation when she sprouted from the earth like a maid clad flower. She looked around, watching as Leo dodged Erza's swords with the grace of a top predator, a glower affixed to his features. The other man, who looked slightly like her brother, was at his control panel, sparing a few glances at the battle as he furiously types away.
"Lion's Brilliance!" Leo shouted, the sheer light forcing Virgo to look away. She could feel the air undulating with his power, and she made sure to focus her own magic on her Princess, ensuring she was safe.
Once the light faded, she looked up to see a smirking 'Erza', seeing that she had requipped into her heaven's wheel armour. Virgo and Leo only had a second to collect themselves before she summoned swords, sending them flying towards them, slicing through the air and refracting the residual light particles from Leo's spell.
"Guys, I have to get going, I'm needed elsewhere. Can you both take care of Lucy?" Hibiki asked, getting two curt nods. He hesitated, but ultimately vanished into the undergrowth, allowing the two to focus on the task at hand.
The two spirits managed to dodge, Virgo's expression still fixed in that impassive mask. She checked on Lucy using her link, internally wincing as she felt the angry poison storming her bloodstream. We will save you, Princess, Virgo thought, focusing her Spica magic on her feet, and forcing the earth to help her spring up. "Chain Magic," she called, focusing the magic in her shackles and forcing her hands forward, directing her magic through them so they curled around Erza like two metallic snakes.
With a firm pull, Virgo pulled the woman down, spitting her concentration so she could will the earth split and hold the woman in a vice-like grip. Content with the firmness of the earth, she kept her chains on the woman and gave an inconspicuous nod to Leo, which the other spirit took no time in listening to.
"Regulus Gatling Impact!" he shouted, pouring his anger and heartbreak into the words. Punch after punch, stroke after strike he launched his fists at her, revelling in the sound of her bones shift and the slight hiss of the heated light as it touched her.
Eventually the light dimmed and he stood back, lighting his fists in case she made another move. Instead, Erza smirked as the transformation faded away, as if she was a rocky shore being eroded by the elements.
"I knew it," Leo cursed, glaring at the giggling twins as they used their small size to escape their prison.
"Aw, you managed to hurt my little dearies," A faux sad voice called out, making Leo and Virgo look up as Angel stepped out of the light. "I'll make sure they suffer for that,"
Lucy moaned as she felt the poison eat away at her sanity. God it hurt, it felt like liquid fire or molten metal was poured in an open wound, which was quickly sewn up to prevent her from having any sort of relief. Her vision was fading as the agony ate at her consciousness, and all she wanted to do was tear off her own arm so she would have respite.
Above her, she could hear the sounds of battle. She was vaguely aware through her bonds that it was Virgo and Leo, though any other information she could gather was made murky by the pain. The small hole that Virgo had made for her was almost cozy, the walls cradling her and stopping her from thrashing. In the depths of her mind, it almost felt like her mothers embrace. She knew that it wasn't, her mother was resting with the Celestial Spirits now, but it gave her a type of cushion to help her relax against as she braved wave after wave of pain, so she'd take what comfort she could.
I wish I was with my Spirits, she thought, sluggishly searching her soul from the strings she imagined connected her to her friends. A beautiful wooden brown for Horogium, reminiscent of his body. A burnt orange for Cancer, with the subtle finish of a Crab's leg, closely matching the dark red of Pyxis. The dark green of Sagittarius's vest. A stunning strawberry blonde, shaped like woven harp strings to signify Lyra. The pure white of Plue's body, the chord shivering in time with his body close to the dull silver of Crux. Taurus's ones made her giggle deliriously, the colour a mottled mix of black and white like his hide. Virgo's was close to Leo's, a soft candy pink like her hair, while Leo's glowed a yellowish gold as if lit internally by his regulu's magic.
A part of Lucy, the sane part, wondering if these were pain induced illusions. Nothing but a figment of her imagination. It most likely was, afterall, who the hell had strings inside them… well except for heart strings of course. It ultimately didn't really matter, they were there whether they were real or not, and made her feel closer to her family. The guild was her Nakama and she'd lay down her life for them, but the owners of these strings? They were her everything and sweater she lived only for a few more hours or days ahead, she would cherish them. With that in mind she sculpted the strogs around herself, making her inner self seem wrapped in a rainbow. The strings barricaded the pain, and for the first time since she got bitten, she felt like she could breathe.
The Spirit King looked with sad eyes down at Earthland. While he knew he had to remain impartial, he could feel the cracks in his heart widening as he saw her suffer. Her soul was so bright, like a beacon guiding his Spirits home. She was selfless and forgiving, and ultimately, when she passed on, he hoped that she would join them amongst the stars. She was the very embodiment of the galaxy; if he was the sun shining proudly and powerfully, she was the moon, shining above and guiding everyone so they remained true. He was the force, she was the protector. She was sweet, motherly but would fight with every part of her, oozing love and affection. Even if he wasn't able to see that for himself, the way her spirits were crowding around the viewing platform, their expressions gouged with worry, he would know. She was the best master any of them had had, and it killed him to prevent them going to her. But sadly, the role of a king is an unenviable one, and he had already changed one law for the girl, he couldn't change more.
"Please your majesty, we beg of you, let us go to her," Lyra beseeched, her eyes filled with pure, unfettered heart break. "She needs us, and she has always been there for us, please let us return the favour."
"Eeeeven Horogium, he'd be able to proooootect Luucy," Taurus added, his hand wrapped around the pole of his axe with enough force that it'd crack if it was any other weapon.
The Great King sighed, stroking his beard. He could completely empathise with them, and their sheer devotion to the girl warmed his heart. Though he shouldn't have been surprised, the Heartfilia woman had always inspired love and loyalty from their spirits; though this was above and beyond the norm. Despite his desire to give in, to just let them do what they wanted, he knew it wouldn't be fair to other spirits who had asked this in the past.
"My friends, I cannot do that. I can, however, direct Star Energy into you so you can speak with her mentally, but I'm afraid that is all," The king said, his tone heavy with his own sadness.
Sighing, the Spirits all nodded, accepting that this is all that they could get and were thankful enough for it. "Though if too many of you speak to her, it will overwhelm her mind," the king cautioned, and they looked at each other with unease.
All eyes drifted to Aquarius who had constructed a careful facade of boredom. She was looking at her nails without a care in the world, though they could all see how tightly she was clutched to Scorpio's arm, and see how her tail flickered in rhythm with Lucy's murmurs of pain. None of them understood her, she loved the girl immensely, but she acted like they didn't. It was bizarre and they knew it hurt Lucy. They could feel her sadness through the bond they all shared, a learned feeling with gut wrenching sadness coating it.
She must have noticed they were all looking, as she sent them all a frigid glare, her annoyance rolling off ehr in aggressive waves. "What are you all looking at? Just keep staring at your pathetic brat," she snapped, curling up closer to Scorpio, who squeezed her hand when he could feel her tense.
Taurus was about to snap at her, when they all noticed Scorpio start to shimmer. Sighing, he placed a chaste kiss on Aquarius's head, whispered something that made her face soften and let himself fade to Earthland answering his own mistress's call.
"Aah, there you are Scorpio. These pathetic Spirits are stopping me from getting to that pathetic image of there. Pretty stupid of them, because when they are in my possession, they will pay." he voice grew colder towards the end of her sentence, he r eyes narrowing into slits as she practically spat out the last word.
"Now Gemini, come here," Angel snapped, making the little spirits fly over and touch her, downloading the information they needed to transform into her.
They shimmered as they took her form, before brandishing her keyrings. "Open, Gate of the Eagle, Aquila!" "Angel' called out, making another spirit materialise.
He was humanoid in shape, his legs the large talons of an eagle and coloured a golden brown. The upper parts of his form was covered in downy feathers, covering his front and dissipating, leaving his muscular chest free of any feathers. He had muscular arms, with barely there feathers dotting them instead of hair. On his back, were large eagle wings, large enough to help him sore. His face was chiselled with golden eagle eyes, with a slightly hooked nose. His hair was golden brown and was straight and shaggy, with a natural windswept look. "Oh yea, let's do this shit!"
"Open, Gate of the Ram, Aries!" "Angel' called again, making the shy female spirit appear.
"H-how can I h-help, ma'am?" she called softly, hiding her face.
"Aries?" Leo breathed, scarcely believing that she was there.
"L-Leo?" She called, despite knowing he had already gone to his master's side.
"Brother, it appears we have a 3 on 2 battle," Virgo said emotionlessly.
"Yes it appears so. I don't care who you are, I- we, won't let you get near our princess!" Leo warned, his face morphing to one of a predator.
"Uha, I'm sure. Now what are you idiots waiting for? Go get them!" The real Angel called, making them spring into action.
It was chaos. Aquila had ascended into the air and was sending lightning infused air blades from his wings. Scorpio mixed his sand with the air, turning them into sharp abrasive slashes that bit into your skin and tore Leo's suit apart. "Chain Magic," Virgo called, managing to dodge and spit the air attack, only for the electric current to dance impishly up the chains and make her release a howl of pain.
"Virgo!" Leo called, flipping out of the way of Aries's wool.
He managed to get his balance and was focusing his power, only for a condensed whirlwind of sand to slam into him, making the back of his suit become shredded as he slid across the earth. He winced as he went to pull himself up, only to glimpse Aquila taking hold of Virgo's own chains and sending her flying into him, knocking the air out of his lungs.
I'm so sorry Lucy, we failed you, He thought, trying to get his body to cooperate.
Still in her little Bunker, the fog lifted briefly as she felt intense guilt slam into her with the force of a monster truck. She internally looked around, only to see Leo's thread flickering, and Virog's becoming duller, turning into a paler pink. Fear sliced her heart and she forcefully pushed away the fog, straining her senses. She could hear the battle outside her hide away, and could hear the goading of Angel. white - hot fury evaporated her pain and her protectiveness flared, her well known temper giving her the much needed adrenaline.
"No one hurts my spirits," she muttered, glaring angrily at the hole of her cave as if it was the cause of her pain.
With her limited movement, she managed to move her good arm to pull out her whip. She had never used it in such a close quarter before, but desperate times call for desperate measures. She could feel the poison scorching her nerves but pushed it out of her mind, focusing on the thread representing Virgo. Pushing all her magic into that thread she tentatively called out, praying that this would work.
Virgo, It's Lucy, can you hear me? It took a few moments, and Lucy waited with bated breath before she felt the other end of the chord be tugged.
Princess? You should be resting Virgo reprimanded, and Lucy internally rolled her eyes, knowing that despite that being true, had had more important things to manage at the moment.
Virgo, now is not the time. I need you to either lift the earth so I can get out of here, or create me a little rock so I can wrap my whip around it and pull myself out. I don't care which you choose, but please, do one of them. I need to be out there with you.
Lucy poured all her emotion and determination into that and slowly she felt the earth raise her up, the sides widening so she didn't scrape herself. She sent a wave of thanks to Virgo, who still wasn't sure if this was the right thing. Lucy ignored the doubt and clung to the adrenaline, knowing it was the only thing keeping the pain at bay.
"So she finally appears. You know, I'm a bit pissed that you aren't dead yet. Seems Cobra needs to work on his attacks," Angel sneered, with the second Angel mimicking her motions.
Lucy had no time to try and figure out if that was a pain- induced illusion, she just bit her tongue as she moved her hands to her key ting, swallowing the scream that tore at her throat as the venom slid through the veins in her arm, turning her appendage into a glowing purple colour- almost like a galaxy.
"Oh good, you are giving me your keys. That'll make this easier," Angel snorted in amusement, a smirk still clear on her face.
"Not even over my dead body would I allow you to take my keys, you bitch," Lucy hissed, pouring as much toxin into her words as she could.
The other girl just rolled her eyes amused at Lucy, but Lucy didn't care. She took a quick head count and saw that the others were outnumbered and quickly shut her eyes. She took a few studying breaths and focused on the fluxing core of power in her chest. It was beautiful, a brilliant cold with threads of silver, deep royal purple and blue, making it look almost like a miniature galaxy. She pulled gently on the power, guiding it to her eyes. She felt the magic fight, determined to stay inside her and keep her alive but she ignored it, taking control of it like it was her whip. She poured it into the first two keys she could find, dimly recognising they were gold. She didn;t care who was there, she just poured all her energy into it. Not having the energy to do the enchantment, she just visited the gates and mentally forced it open, making the forms of Taurus and Sagatarrius materialise before her.
"Miss Lucy!" Sagittarius called, the same time the Taursu called her name. They sprinted over to the exhausted mage, who just smiled at them depicted the blinding pain making her vision fuzz at the edges.
"Get- get to Loke and V-Virgo. Help them- them get the o-thers," she managed to get out, as another wave of nausea flooded her body. "G-Gemini is there," she added, weakly pointing at the second Angel.
She opened her eyes and looked at them, the silent thanks in her eyes was louder than any words. Seeing the pain she was in, the two ran over to the fading others, forcing them to wake up.
"W-what?" Leo asked, blinking up at the two above them.
"Luuucy called us, we are going to make this quick," Taurus said, uncharacteristic seriousness in his time.
Leo wanted to explode at the girl for injuring himself but forced himself to stay calm. The sooner they defeated this bitch, the sooner they could take care of their master. With a sigh and curt nod, he managed to get up, with Virgo mimicking him. They looked over at Angel's teams and got into positions. Determination rolled off them in waves and for the first time in the fight, ANgel felt a flicker of worry. This girl, this pathetic girl with sallow skin and clamminess sticking to every part of her form, managed to summon two Zodiacs despite being on death's door.
Just what else was she capable of?
As soon as he got himself back together, Natsu gently cradled Happy in his arms and raced out of the cavern. His little friend was barely breathing and it made molten fury erupt in his veins. Thankfully for him, Carla's brain was still functioning so she picked him up in her paws and flew into the air, hoping they could scout out by air better than on the ground.
"Hey, Look out!" Natsu heard the distinct voice of Gray, making him wake up just in time for his face to scrape against the earth and send him rolling.
"Carla, you okay?" Natsu yellow, still clutching Happy to his chest.
Gray ran over, his frosty magic leaving a cloud around his heated form. "Did you find them- fuck, Happy! Is he okay?" Gray asked, finally catching sight of the small blue Cat cradled in his friend's arms.
"Ish, we couldn't find Wendy though." Natsu said, managing to get himself onto his feet.
"Okay, you get Happy to Hibiki and Lucy, and I'll take care of this." Gray said, getting into his ice-Making Stance.
"Are you sure, I can tell you burnt up a lot of magic power," Natsu said, growing at his friend's condition.
"Just go, I got this," Gray said, summoning an ice wall between them right as Racer began charging, making the man run face first into the ice wall.
Not one to miss his chances. Gray cast a spell over the guy's feet, freezing them solid. He knelt down onto the grass and froze the ground solid, knowing that even if the man managed to get out of the ice, his own balance on ice was far superior. Natsu looked back one more time before he charged a head, knowing that despite everything, Gray could handle this. He was a mage of Fairy tail, and as much as he oathed to admit it, he was the closest male human friend he had. And if he didn't win, he'd beat his ass for losing.
With that thought in mind, Natsu ran off, leaving his buddy to take care of the speedster.