Lucy fiddled with some earrings Axel brought home earlier that day, some strands of hair dangling just low enough to get in the way. She hurriedly brushed them away and checked the time. Still good. She let out a little sigh and almost nicked her finger with the earring. Her hair fell again. Gah.
Normally, she could get Cancer to help with her hair or Virgo to help with her jewelry. Neither was accessible, locked away somewhere in Axel's home high above the rest of Crocus's. Lucy sat on a cushioned seat before a fine wooden vanity, light pouring in from the lacrima above.
Her dress was laid out on the bed, one that Axel had apparently picked for her, too. It was short and low-cut, of course. High heels were on the floor, and a lone headband was atop the dress. It wore a small lapel on the left breast signifying her new loyalty to the Twilight Empire, with a tiny dragon emblem clipped to one of the straps of the dress, almost like a corsage.
In any other situation, Lucy would be blushing with anticipation. To wear such a beautiful dress with this exquisite jewelry was what she dreamed of as a kid, and was certainly the life her father anticipated for her as she grew up.
She checked the clock again and heard growingly impatient footsteps just outside her door. Axel's shadow caught in the slit beneath the door. Lucy rolled her eyes and finally got the last earring. She slipped out of her shift and snuggled into the dress. She smoothed it out as it fit her like a glove. Lucy eased her feet into the uncomfortable heels and at last slid the headband into place.
In the mirror stood a woman who was a crowning beauty of the Twilight Empire, devoid of the life that she'd once known. There was no smile, hardly a hint of warmth. White gloves covered her hands…her guild mark. Her dress showed off exactly what it was meant to, her headband kept any hair from obscuring her face.
The doll of Lucy Heartfilia stepped out of the room with a gentle closing of the door. Axel was in a full suit. He flung his coat over his shoulders, revealing his various demarcations and ranks. He fitted a hat atop his head, too, and gleamed a grin at her.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yes," Lucy said.
He offered his arm, flexing. Lucy gingerly placed her fingers on it and he led them out of the house into the corridor toward the elevator. They had a decent walk across all of Castle Mercurius to get to the Twilight Division's tower.
After all, they were to be honored guests at one of their dinners. Invel, the Winter General, had personally invited Axel, as all members of the Twilight Division were eager to have the opportunity to meet and dine with Lucy, a Fairy Tail traitor. It was the sort of invitation Axel could not pass down—though Invel and he were of similar rank, the Twilight Division held a different kind of influence over the Empire altogether. As Lucy was coming to understand it, the other four divisions paled, combined, in comparison to the Twilight Division, especially their captain—August, the Wizard King.
She didn't let any of her fear show in her face while she walked. Soldiers saluted Axel and he gave them valiant nods back, as if he were a hero returning from some great battle. They had to know his situation, about his recent demotion from active duty to patrol. Lucy was his prize from the complete mess that Clover Town was for the Empire, and he was all too proud to show her off: a fine diamond in his collection.
Dozens of soldiers made sure to salute Axel and then watch Lucy walk. She'd wished she was naked—at least then people, some people, would be too embarrassed to look at her. The dress revealed just enough to poke at their curiosities. For Axel, it showed that he could dress Lucy up with some sick hope that he'd one day get to see what was underneath, just barely hidden away.
He placed his hand on her lower back as he let her into the elevator, standing just six inches from her even as they rode it down.
"Nervous?" he asked.
"Should I be?" Lucy asked.
"No," Axel said. He sneered. "Just making sure."
He once more guided her by keeping his hand just above her butt as they moved out of the elevator, then into another corridor. This one looped them around the entire castle, taking them away from its monotony. Few guards were posted, save for the heavily armored ones that were posted just in front of entrances to the castle itself. They had weapons made of some impressive, and absolutely stunning, crystal.
"Stellanium," Axel said as Lucy gawked. He tugged her a little closer. She almost tripped. "Beautiful, isn't it? We'll take a trip to see the Stellanium mines one day soon, once the Grand Magic Games are finally over and I can take some leave."
Lucy said nothing but returned her focus to the next elevator. They rode it to what felt like the top—of the whole world. When they exited, Lucy had to focus to not lose her balance. The air was so thin this high up, and the building seemed to sway. Axel wasn't bothered by it, but his expression hardened as they were met by guards in pure steel armor.
"General," they said together and nodded to Axel. "You're expected in the dining hall. Come with us."
Axel grimaced and followed. He let go of Lucy, thank goodness, to adjust his clothes and make sure he looked in tip-top shape. Lucy almost laughed and questioned asking if he was nervous, but held her tongue. A deepening pit opened in her stomach as she sensed a magic power that was only becoming more palpable and powerful the closer she got.
They arrived before a tall set of stone doors. The guards shoved them open and light from bright lacrima spilled out of the room. Lucy covered her eyes, and let herself adjust while Axel took her arm and stepped into the room. One chair creaked as someone stood to join them.
The room wasn't massive, but it was incredibly well-lit. A long table replete with ten chairs—six of them occupied—stood in the middle of the room. Each seat probably cost as much as all of the furniture in the Fairy Tail guild hall combined. The occupants were dressed formally, with flowing black and gray dresses that reached down to the floor. All of the women wore white gloves and the men had black gloves on. One guard was posted at the back of the room.
Chefs scurried in and out of the room to plate the massive table. Wine appeared magically, filling each glass. Most of the Twilight Division Generals and and members set about getting into their meals quietly while Invel, whom Lucy recognized after meeting him briefly upon her arrival at the city, remained standing.
"Join us," Invel said. "The meal was prepared especially for you, Lucy Heartfilia. The finest Fiore delicacies."
Lucy recognized quite a few from meals her father had prepared for esteemed guests, and these looked and smelled even better. She kept her watering mouth shut while walking to the table.
She sat next to Axel, who was next to a man with a wicked expression and purple hair, but at the end of their row sat an older man, a mask set aside for him to be able to eat. The head of the table was occupied by Invel, but across from Lucy were a muscular blonde woman, another with white hair, and a dreadfully familiar place.
Angel leaned forward over her food, not letting her hair spill out.
"Hey, Lucy," she said. "Good to see you again."
Lucy set her napkin on her lap, finally allowed to cover her legs a bit, and was unsure of what to say. The woman next to her, who bore a striking resemblance, glowered at Lucy as if awaiting a response. The blonde woman eased back in her seat.
"You two know each other?" She unleashed a wicked snarl. Her muscles were taut, and her magic power was through the roof. "Cute."
"Lucy defeated Sorano years ago when the Seis attempted to activate Nirvana," Yukino said.
Sorano's expression dropped momentarily. "Sis, you really didn't have to—"
"I believe it's how Lucy acquired several of her Celestial Spirit keys," Yukino said.
Lucy grasped her fork and spoon. The steam from her soup rose up to her nostrils, inviting her, but her stomach was roiling.
"It is," Lucy said at last.
"So she can speak," the man next to Axel muttered. "Thought you had yet another of your quiet bimbos, Axel."
"Sure looks better than the rest of them," the blonde woman said, "it's why I thought this was one of Sorano's old squeezes."
"Not my type," Angel said through gritted teeth.
Lucy pursed her lips and led Axel in to try the soup. It was the best soup she'd ever tasted. Axel dove in giddily while Lucy took her time. She figured that Angel must've been an old codename, one assumed by the Seis members either during or after their time in the Tower of Heaven. And that one was Sorano's sister.
"You get her keys yet, Yukino?" the blonde woman asked. "Finally have all thirteen?"
Lucy slowly set down her spoon, trying not to gawk at Yukino, who nonchalantly dabbed her lips and shook her head.
"No," Yukino said. "Merely stealing her keys wouldn't be enough. I could possibly force contracts but then I would face the scorn of the Celestial Spirit King, and render my abilities null. I'd have to coax them."
"Try brainwashing," the man next to Axel said. "I'm sure it'd work. Maybe Invel can whip something up."
"It'd likely wear off with their departure back to the Celestial Spirit World," Invel said, waving his hand for the servants to whirl into the room and relieve everyone of their soup.
Solid food eased onto their plates, magically appearing already diced up and cut into proper portions from the display on the table. Axel wasted no time once more diving in.
The door eased open, letting in one other woman.
"Sorry for my lateness," she said and slowed as she noticed Lucy.
Lucy tightened her grip around her fork and knife as the woman approached the table, eyes boring into her. Her green bangs couldn't hide the terrifying glare she held on Lucy.
"Not a problem, Brandish," Invel said. "The dinner proper may begin."
Brandish eased into the seat next to Sorano at the end of the table, food appearing before her in a blink. She still hadn't taken her eyes off Lucy.
"You know her too, Brandish?" Angel asked, leaning over.
"No, Sorano," Brandish said. "She just looks…familiar."
"How ominous," the blonde woman said.
"Enough, Dimaria," a voice said. It didn't sound like any of the others in the room, and it snagged everyone's attention at once.
A figure fizzled into place at the end of the table near the door as it looked. Even Axel shuddered at the clicking sound, but nobody else was bothered. They continued to eat as if it were normal.
"Much like Brandish, I must apologize for my lateness."
It was the image of an old man, almost in perfect form. He wore long robes befitting an ancient wizard, a staff held in hand. His long hair was matched by an ashy beard.
"It is good to make your acquaintance at last, Lucy Heartfilia," the man said. "I am August, Captain of the Twilight Division. I hope we may soon meet in person. I had business near Cedar to take care of."
"You'll return tomorrow, yes?" Invel asked, not even bothering to look up at August.
"Yes," August said. "My mission is complete, I'm simply enjoying an evening beneath the stars tonight."
Axel was almost done with his meal. "Thank you for inviting us. I speak on behalf of Lucy when I say it is a great honor to be in your audience—"
"Silence, dragon."
The voice came from Dimaria, who continued to calmly eat her food.
"You're a means to end here," the man next to Axel said. "Good on you for catching a fairy, but we're well aware of how you treat women, Axel."
Axel balled his fist, having to maintain his stolid expression, and nodded.
"You'd do well not to damage this one," the furthest wizard said.
"Now tell us, Lucy," Invel said, folding his hands. "What you think of our new world. Truly."
The rest of the room fell silent. Axel sullenly munched on his food. Lucy could hardly stare at it while words mixed and tumbled together in her mind.
She was meant to be the woman who left Fairy Tail to save their lives in exchange for joining the Twilight Empire. Until a few days ago, she'd been staged against Axel, yet had also, in his eyes, been happily courting him, until she tried to get her keys back and save Lector. They had to know that she was willing to fight against them.
That wasn't in question. What did she think of the new world?
"What you've done with our technology is impressive," Lucy said, letting the words practically lead her. "The high-speed trains are incredible, I can hardly believe how easy it was for us to get halfway across the country in a day. And the Grand Magic Games were a spectacle. To be honest, that's all I've really seen of the world." She said the next part carefully, fully aware that Brandish was back to glowering at her, "The rest was just the open countryside as I remember it."
"It's true you haven't seen much of the Empire and it's my understanding that you've been mostly relegated to your home the last few days," Invel said, practically shrugging off her words. "You'll see more of it soon, as you continue your integration into the Empire.
"I'm sure," Lucy said with a smile.
"And your Spirits?" August asked. "Have they anything to say?"
"No," Lucy said. "I—I'm afraid I haven't really had the chance to talk with them. Some I haven't even seen since we returned from Tenrou Island."
She bit the inside of her lip to try and stem the tears. Several she hadn't spoken with or seen since that fateful day. They'd all been so busy plotting and fighting.
The Twilight Division members then went around and introduced themselves; not in an effort to take the heat off of Lucy, but to each ask her a question, as if they'd prepared an interview for her.
"Tell me," Neinhart said, "do you know how it was that your mother died?"
Lucy's heart sank. "P—pardon?"
"It was a tragedy," August said, cutting in. "Do not sicken the young woman, Neinhart."
Neinhart shrugged and eased back. "I simply wanted to know if Lucy wished to see her again anytime soon."
"Y—you could bring back my mother?"
"Only as a pale imitation," Brandish said.
"And it would sully her legacy," August said. "Keep your forked tongue out of this conversation, Neinhart."
Neinhart giggled and eased back.
"D—did you know my mom?" Lucy asked the projection of August, who shook his head.
"I make it a point to know all the great wizards and she was the greatest Celestial Spirit Wizard of her age," August said. "Her death was, indeed, a tragedy. Magic Deficiency Disease strikes even the greatest."
"Mom had MDD?" Lucy muttered. She so desperately wished Aquarius was with her. She had to know more.
"Have you met the Celestial Spirit King?" Alok asked after some more time went by. Everyone calmly sipped on their wine.
"I have," Lucy said. "I bargained for my friend's life."
"A friend?" Alok asked. "One of your spirits?"
"Yes," Angel said. "She considers them her friends. It's annoying."
Invel spoke only after everyone was well into their second course and Lucy finally had the gumption to speak once more.
"Do you know where your keys are right now?" Invel asked.
"And did you hand them over willingly, or are you waiting to spring a trap again?" Yukino joined.
Angel smiled at Lucy, hoping that Lucy would have to lie right through her teeth. She was ready to pounce.
The vipers hadn't just surrounded Lucy, they lay in wait while she pranced about in their nest with nowhere to go. Each time a question was raised, they inched closer to her.
Lucy was, at worst for the Empire, an example to be set for all other members of Fairy Tail. If she wasn't going to be killed she'd be forcibly married and assaulted by Axel, tortured for his amusement. It was just as the Twilight Empire had done to the rest of Fiore.
At best, she was a different kind of symbol for Fairy Tail: submission. If she willingly turned herself into the Empire and accepted their doctrine and way of life, she could be simply the first of many. Her, Lucy realized, and whoever else was trapped in the city with her.
"I don't know where my keys are," Lucy said, and, though it pained her, she rested a hand on Axel's arm. "Because I want to gain his trust back. I wouldn't use my spirits against any of you."
Angel eased back. "How hard is it to amend Celestial Spirit contracts again?"
"It doesn't work like that," Yukino said. "It's an honor system at that point."
Angel shrugged. "Figured I'd ask."
"We'll hold you to that," Invel said. He clapped his hands. Servants appeared, taking plates as people gestured whether or not they were done. Lucy nodded along with everyone else even though her stomach let out a little growl.
The food vanished from the table entirely. Wet washcloths were distributed to clean everyone's hands, then, the room was emptied entirely, including the guard standing by the door to the kitchens. Invel leaned forward.
"Then our discussion may finally commence," August said, catching Lucy off-guard as she'd anticipated Invel to speak first.
Axel sat up straighter, prompting her to do the same.
"Lucy," August said. "It would behoove you to begin your initiation into the Empire as fast as possible. Not only could a Division such as ours truly use your expertise in strength but intelligence."
"Fairy Tail is a known entity at the moment," Invel said. "Insofar as your good friends are concerned. The likes of Natsu and Erza are accounted for, but there's the bigger issue to deal with."
"If getting Lessios is a problem, let me at 'em already," Dimaria said. "I'll wipe them all out."
"That isn't the issue," Invel said. "Fairy Tail itself isn't the issue. What I'd like to discuss is how we may better use them."
"They're a wildfire right now," Dimaria said.
Invel shook his head. "On the contrary, I see them as a spark of hope, one that will be stamped out. But how can we muster our troops in order to snuff them out?"
The room fell silent. Some eyes moved to Lucy as if looking for her to say something, but she didn't. She couldn't. The snakes could close in all around her if they wanted, but, truly, she had no further information than them. If they knew what Natsu and the others were up to, then they knew as much as Lucy.
Her heart continued to thunder in her chest at the sensation of everyone's overwhelming power. She could sense more than one person's magic scraping the surface of her mind.
"Incentives," Brandish said. "Sure, we already have the Hunters division who has that system, but they're in shambles. We could get some of the lower tier soldiers to get involved with it, set up promotional tiers, and all that."
"It's basic but would be a good start," Invel said. "August?"
August agreed, and the conversation batted back and forth between all of the Imperials. Axel and Lucy remained silent, as this was Twilight Division business, and though she was invited to partake in dinner, she wasn't inclined to speak, and Axel was with the Dragon Division, not assigned to their jobs. He'd already been shut down, too.
Lucy maintained her strong position, never letting herself slouch or lose interest. There was valuable information dirtied up by language that the Imperials tried to keep to themselves. Even bulky-brained Dimaria knew better than to spit plans and history out in front of Lucy.
Not that she'd be able to do anything about it, but any castle could fall with the slightest fault. If Lucy had a means of getting information out, they had to ensure she couldn't, especially if she was going to be out and about the city more and more.
She listened for keywords or names, but any names they did bring up were foreign to Lucy. There was mention of a Dragon Mother, of a Missing Saint. The Emperor was rarely brought up and never by name. Neinhart spoke about some Prisoner whom August shut down with such fervor that Lucy swore she sensed his magic from as far away as he was.
But mostly, what Lucy observed, was a group of puppet masters. Though the soft-spoken Yukino did anything toward contributing to the conversation, she would nod her head in occasional agreement to some plans and speak up when spoken to directly.
Her assessment earlier was right: the Twilight Division stood head and shoulders above other divisions. They were there to fill out the Empire's militaristic ranks, but if they were all blown aside, so long as the Twilight Division lived, the Empire would be fine.
There, at that fine table, Lucy realized she was speaking to the very blood of the Empire. Were she able to kill all of them the Empire would crumble.
Yet, she couldn't hold a candle to a single other person in that room. She wasn't just a small fish in a large pond—she was a guppy in the ocean.
Sometimes, their words skirted close to Lucy, prodding her to speak out. They mentioned some of her old associates and friends. Brought up Magnolia and the Fairy Tail guild hall.
Lucy didn't speak but found that she'd broken the skin in her palms from squeezing her palms so tightly in trying not to speak.
The meeting at last adjourned and everyone stood first, then Lucy and Axel, who didn't bother to grab Lucy's arm.
"Dinner was lovely," Axel said.
Lucy said likewise. Brandish gave her one last scowl before being the first to exit after August vanished. Angel tapped Lucy on the shoulder and leaned in close,
"You wanna live, princess? Give him what he wants, and give it to him good."
She winked at Lucy, who couldn't hide the horror-stricken on her face. Angel kissed Lucy on the cheek then swayed out of the room, chasing after her sister. Alok placed his mask on his face and vanished into a cloud of smoke. Dimaria hollered for the chefs to bring more food while Neinhart and Invel continued a discussion from before to leave the room.
Dimaria chowed down, the last one to stay as Lucy and Axel headed out of the room. She hoped he didn't hear what Angel said, as if something similar probably hadn't been said to him before. He remained quiet as they made their way back.
Lucy was unsure what to make of it all, wanting to ask Axel if he'd met with the Twilight Empire before and what it was like. Clearly, he had many girlfriends or women with him before, but had any of them truly been brought before the backbone of the Division like that? Or was Lucy simply receiving special Fairy Tail treatment?
He locked the door of his house as they entered. He hung his coat on the rack and then rubbed his hands across his face. Lucy slipped out of her heels.
"Hey."
She glanced over his shoulder. He had his hand out toward her, in it a glistening ring. She hoped that the fear in her heart didn't show on her face as she did her best to show an impressed smile.
"What's this?"
"I planned on giving it to you after dinner," Axel said. "However it went, which, may have not been too great."
"We survived," Lucy said, trying to make a joke. Please, she thought, don't get down on one knee.
"Look this isn't anything—like that," Axel said.
Lucy nodded and hid her exhalation.
"But you deserve only the finest. Will you accept it?"
She couldn't say no. It was too large, at first, to fit around her right ring finger, but Axel, with a snap, let it on just right. It was quite striking and matched her outfit well.
"Thank you," she said. "I really don't think dinner went so bad."
Axel shrugged.
"But I—I did forget to ask something," Lucy said. She rested a hand with the new ring on Axel's shoulder. It was a genuine question that'd been sitting on her mind, but to ask it to any of those people would ignite any amount of reaction. From Axel? She didn't have much to fear. Not from the man who so thoroughly desired her, to please her. "I wanted to know who the other Fairy Tail prisoner is here in the city."
Axel opened his mouth as if to say something, even smiled, but caught Lucy's eyes. Her grin was too sweet, and she was…touching him?
The Diamond Dragon Slayer reached up and squeezed Lucy's hand, then moved it down to hold it in both of his.
"That's classified," he said, and the diamond vanished in Lucy's hand.
She didn't even realize that he smacked her until he spilled against the wall with a crash and felt something warm coming out of her mouth. Her hair tumbled down around her, the headband she'd worn having gone flying somewhere else.
"Don't ask me anything like that ever again," Axel said. He squatted in front of her and pressed her against the wall, hand between her neck and breasts. "You know your place. For now? You're not even an Imperial. You're my guest. Earn your way to that information, understood?"
His expression boiled with pure rage, and he didn't move until Lucy finally nodded. Axel stood, then, at once.
"Now get to bed."
Axel gestured at Lucy's room, then strode across the way to his own room, slamming the door shut as he ripped his tie off. Lucy's hands instinctively moved for where her keys would be. She lifted her hand to swipe away the blood, which had mixed with a sliding tear.
One almost dripped and hit the ground but she caught it. The blood that dribbled down did hit the floor. She closed her fist around her tears.
Get up.
Lucy rose to her feet, moving her hair out of her way. She strode into her room, staring at the doll in the mirror that bore a bruise on her face and a dress made for perverts to ogle clutching her every curve. With pulsing muscles she ripped the dress off of her, letting it fall to tatters on the ground.
Do not let them get to you. Do not let them see your weakness or your strength. Lucy simply had to be. Because then they couldn't find an advantage of her.
Then, they couldn't truly beat her.