Lucy walked side-by-side in an awkward step with Axel down the corridor connecting the Dragon Tower to Mercurius. They were alone. Axel's arms were rigid at his side while Lucy let her arms swing a little free, catching occasional glimpses of her bracelets. They were charcoal black, warm to the touch on her wrist, but in what was meant to be a soothing way. They weren't. They were heavy, overly ornate, and didn't match her dress. Axel had no sense of style yet had a sense of demanding Lucy wear what he wanted.
He wanted it to be something she could be all dolled up in for their upcoming meeting. Lucy had a few butterflies about it. They were headed to meet her father, who had recently returned to Crocus and requested an audience with Lucy and Axel once his business was well underway and he could find a few minutes. In all likelihood, he wanted to see what was going on with the wedding.
Suffice to say, it wasn't much.
"I spoke with a few representatives of your father's company," Axel said. His voice filled the corridor. "They're looking to make a seasonal branch in the city. Probably so Jude has more reason to come see you."
"That'd be nice."
"Perhaps you can visit from time to time if you can spare a moment."
It was a poorly veiled jab. Lucy was hardly ever home. She took the brief moment of freedom he used to allow her and expanded it. She spent most of her days in the same routine of training, studying Celestial Spirit magic, and generally socializing. If she was to become someone entrenched in society to the point where nobody blinked twice at her presence, then she would dedicate herself to it.
She couldn't really speak to any of the people she was getting to know, though. All of them were vain, false princesses from big old-world families that had just as much crass as they didn't class. Levy would occasionally be reprieved of her work with August to join Lucy, which only made things a little better. Sorano was supposed to be around, too, but given their history, Lucy was okay with avoiding her.
None of it left time for Axel, save for their evening meals which he was often in a rush to get to anyway because of his position in the city watch. Lucy feigned pride in him for being so dutiful and suspected it was the reason he kept to the job.
"Yeah, I think I will," Lucy said. The double doors into the castle opened for them.
An ornate hallway of fine marble and pristine mirrors and paintings awaited them. Unlike the last time they saw Jude Heartfilia, this would be a more formal, business-oriented meeting, Lucy suspected. No dinner, no dancing about the point.
They wove through the underbelly of Mercurius, passing guards and servants and politicians alike, before arriving at a circular conference room with a shooting ceiling and round table planted in the middle of it. Lucy's father waited in the middle of the room, looking over some paperwork. He almost jumped at their appearance.
Guards shut the doors behind them. He stood with a smile.
"So wonderful to see you both," he said.
"It's good to see you, too, dad," Lucy said.
She embraced her father. There was still something off about it, but not on his end. To hug her father was once a dream, and that it was under such malevolent circumstances as being roped in together by the Twilight Empire added a pinch of the nightmarish. Particularly given who hovered over them, waiting to shake Jude's hand.
They sat—Lucy next to her father and Axel across the table from them.
"Jude," Axel said, resting his hands on the table. "I'd like to make a proposal. You can say no, or whatever you wish, but I'm beginning, to, I must admit, get antsy about this."
"The wedding?"
"Yes. And it isn't Lucy's fault. We're both busy, incredibly so. Your daughter is rising up the ranks faster than anyone anticipated and this is flooding her schedule. I imagine you both haven't had time to discuss much yet?"
Absolutely not, Lucy thought. The correspondence Lucy sent her father regarding the engagement specifically ordered him to stand down on any action for the wedding. He was to move at the pace she set, which was about as slow as possible to delay things. A small part of Lucy hoped Axel would get bored and try to toss her aside.
Then, she'd think of Hisui, of the mission. She had to stay on this course, even if she was running out of room to do so.
"As such, I want to contribute. I can coordinate certain parts of the wedding and, to make it all simpler, pay for it myself."
"Oh, Axel, that's entirely unnecessary," Jude said. "Trust me, we can figure things out! I'll have that new building in the city, I'll be around more. This is my daughter's wedding, I want to take care of her."
"Begging pardon, sir, but soon, your daughter will be my responsibility," Axel said.
"Axel," Jude said. He swallowed a lump in his throat. "Lucy isn't a doll to be exchanged."
"No," Axel said. "You're right. But, Lucy, and Jude, the best season for the wedding is coming up, and we haven't booked a venue, nor chefs, entertainment, we haven't informed guests. By my memory, Lucy, all you've done is ask Levy to be your Maiden of Honor?"
"Yes," Lucy said.
"No dress, even, and we know how long that can take," Axel said, mumbling that last bit. Lucy wanted to shake her head at him but held off on doing so. "Jude?"
"I have to think about it," Jude said, and Axel visibly tensed. Jude relented. Fair enough, Lucy thought, as her father said, "Give me the afternoon. How's that?"
Axel strummed his fingers. "I'll go to the restroom. Then you tell me."
Jude remained stoic. "Sure."
The Diamond Dragon Slayer stood with the attempted presence of a king but with all the actual weight of a man without much power to flaunt. He could bully and taunt Lucy all she wanted, but without at least a venue or officiant—who would have to be someone of equal or higher rank than Axel—there was no way to move forward with the wedding, anyway.
When he left, Lucy eased back in her seat.
"Seems a difficult one to live with," Jude said.
"You have no idea."
Jude smiled. "It seems your training is paying off. You've far more discipline than before. A lot less anxiety."
"I have a better understanding of how this whole place works," Lucy said. "I wouldn't say my anxiety is much better. There's only so long we can dodge this."
Jude nodded. He stared at the table. "Lucy, I hate the arrangement we have. I understand its importance, but…"
He looked around. Lucy did the same. The walls had ears of all kinds. Whatever Jude said would be heard around the castle. They had to be careful.
"I am happy to see you," Jude said.
"I agree," Lucy said.
"But," he began with a sigh that was less relaxing and more a way of trying to calm his nerves, "I wanted to bring you something. Not a wedding gift, just something I found while rummaging through some things recently."
He retrieved a doll from his bag, one Lucy immediately recognized. She used to play with it along with her first doll, Michelle. She couldn't quite recall this one's name but knew its face immediately. It had a purse around its little wrist, but in the purse was a tiny piece of paper.
The note was written in her father's script. She read it quickly.
There is a weapon in the city supercharged with the power to defeat August. It is called Lullaby. We must find it and get it out of the city so we may find a safe way of using it against the Empire.
Lucy's heart almost stopped. Lullaby, the weapon that almost singlehandedly wiped out the Magic Council.
Hadn't it been destroyed by Natsu and the others? Or contained, at least? What was it doing in the hands of the Empire?
She closed her hands around the note, crushing it beyond legibility. She felt her father's heavy gaze fall on her.
"Thank you," she said, realizing her silence was stretched too long. "I'm happy to have it back."
"Are you sure?" he asked, speaking beyond words.
Lucy held the doll. It had a stitched smile, one fixed permanently to its face. It would never naturally frown, never show a sad face.
"Yes," Lucy said. She caught a glimpse of the guild mark on her hand. "I'm sure."
Jude grasped her hand. "Good. And remember, if you ever need anything else, I can help you."
"I know, Dad. I know."
The doors swung open. Lucy's heart almost leaped out of her mouth. Jude was also startled.
Axel laid eyes on the doll.
"Cute," he said. "A gift?"
"Something I found," Jude said.
"Hmm. So. Any further thought on my proposition?"
Jude nodded. Lucy hadn't even thought to ask him. How long had she just been sitting with the thoughts of Lullaby, of the totality of what she had to do?
Finding a demon of Zeref's, in his own capital…
She couldn't do it alone and prayed she wouldn't have to.
"Yes," Jude said, "and I think it's best to continue waiting. This is Lucy's special day, after all. Why should we rush it?"
"So we can become a formal family," Axel said.
Jude shrugged. "Trust me, son, Lucy has always been something of an indecisive girl. Plus, I'll be able to help far more in a few weeks."
"Weeks?" Axel said as if surprised the timeline wasn't months or longer.
"Yes. We've struck a new deal with a few small towns nearby. Not only will we have established a business office here in the city, but our work locally around here will increase profits exponentially. Whatever food, venue, or entertainment you've dreamed of is assuredly a reality once that kicks off. So, why rush?"
"Why rush indeed," Axel muttered. "To be honest, I wasn't all too excited about throwing my coin at this. It'd be so much. I'm sure Lucy would only run the price up, given her tastes."
No, Lucy thought. She just enjoyed seeing him sweat the bill he refused to deny her, so long as he got to continue looking at her boobs over dinner.
Jude feigned a laugh. "Surely."
They idled in small talk for some time, both men talking about their ventures. Jude had to pretend Lucy didn't exist. It was a haunting reminder of how her father used to be, but there were clear signs of discomfort. He lacked the straight-backed stance, and the tight-fisted hands of the old days and seemed bored.
Axel dominated the conversation, speaking mostly of himself or the other members of the Dragon Division and their goings-on, though all they'd done was a great deal of nothing, lately.
When he finally relieved them of conversation, Jude excused himself so he could continue his busy meetings, and Lucy had to head out to training with Levy. She was relieved to step out of the room, giving her father a quick hug.
"You can do this," he said in her ear. "I'd trust it to you over anyone else."
The words weren't affirming. They gave Lucy a new wind, one that carried her to the training grounds. She slipped into her training gear, tying her hair back. Kip wouldn't be able to join them, as he was out on patrol, so Levy would take control of things. Their training was no less intense—if anything, Levy held Lucy to the standard of Fairy Tail, which was higher than Kip could ever anticipate.
Lucy waited until they were well into the workout to deliver the news, doing her best to find a way of skirting directly around it until she asked Levy,
"Whatever happened to some of Zeref's stuff? Like his books."
"That's just Tartaros," Levy said. "You know that."
She actually didn't. "Oh. But, like, there are others, right? Wasn't Deliora one? And that uh…what was it, that flute?"
"Lullaby?" Levy asked.
"Yeah. Whatever happened to that?"
"I'm not sure."
Lucy grimaced. She sat on the dirt and patted the ground next to Levy. Lucy covered her mouth and Levy quickly cast a spell of silence around them that would hold for only a few seconds.
"Hisui wants us to find it so we can use it against August," Lucy said. "Can you help me?"
The spell dropped. Levy stared Lucy dead in the eyes, then rested a hand on Lucy's shoulder.
"Come on. Let's get to it. There's a lot of work we have to do."
"Ah, Minerva, I'm glad to have found you."
Minerva stood at the entrance of the castle, about to head out for lunch. Invel stood behind her, his arms folded behind his back, two guards flanking him on either side. Both had their hands on their weapon hilts. Quite the greeting.
"Indeed," Minerva said. Her heart thundered in her chest. What did this one want?
"I've just read the report that was given about what happened at the train station," Invel said. He pushed his glasses to a more comfortable position. "It seems you failed."
Minerva balled her fists.
She knew it. She knew they were waiting to get her when she wasn't expecting it. When they returned, pushed back by that wizard that came right the hell out of nowhere, there was nothing. Nobody asked what happened, nobody was even curious to know what Yukino was up to with Fairy Tail. All of the Hunters were sent along their way.
And it drove Minervamad. She couldn't think, could hardly train. Every moment she finally got a reprieve from reflecting on their failure, she was aware of the lack of action the Empire was taking.
Until Invel arrived.
"We were ambushed."
"By a lone wizard."
"A wildcard. It won't happen again. Fairy Tail is headed south, and we'll intercept them."
Invel nodded. "We're beginning to consider dropping you from that mission. Zash Caine has his little vendetta but his purpose may be better suited to wiping out Erza, Natsu, Yukino, and the others. You and the Hunters can stay here."
"That goes against our purpose. We are Hunters."
"Show me your prey."
The guards remained tense. Invel showed no signs of fear, though he should. A flick of her wrist would rip his head off.
But the castle loomed over her. August's presence permeated the very air around it. He was watching them. Waiting to see how Minerva would respond.
"Understood," Minerva said. "But I would reconsider that notion. Now that we understand the power of that wildcard, I will have it handled."
"You? You don't lead the Hunter's Division, Minerva. A powerful member, yes, but no leader."
Orga, then.Orgawas the leader? He was an oaf.
But he was willing to listen and do whatever the Empire said, right? A perfect leader.
"However I will take that into consideration," Invel said, "should this wildcard reappear. You'll hear from us, Minerva."
Invel waved and the guards followed him back into the castle. The gates sealed behind her. Minerva watched it close up, locked to any visitors without approval.
They may as well have tossed her aside and told her to sit and wait. That wasn't what she'd been promised when she joined. She had Kyil, she had political standing. But where was the power? Where was her victory?
In the evening, she went for her training. It was brief. Normally, she trained against four high-power wizards meant to counter her magic. They were aware of her occasional brutality and were meant to respond against it.
Five entered the training room. One exited alive. Blood remained splattered everywhere. It didn't matter. The Empire would find more people to fill their spot.
They were the playthings, the dolls, not Minerva. And it felt damn good to remember that.
Bickslow sent his babies out to scout the village that was not far from the ridge of the hill they'd been set upon. Ivan, surprisingly, remained silent. Evergreen had her eyes away from him but stood behind him, ready to lock her gaze on him and set him to stone. Freed leaned against the hill alongside Laxus while Makarov stood with Bickslow.
The little dolls floated back to Bickslow, who quickly cocked his head at their little report.
"Dead. Dead. Dead," they said, their typically happy, carefree voices riddled with dread. Makarov glowered at Ivan.
"Let me check it out, then," Laxus said.
"I'll come with you," Freed said. "Let me cast a protective spell on us."
"Good thinking."
The dolls couldn't clarify what they meant. Dead could be deadpeople, or perhaps a deadly spell that'd been set on the village. Freed muttered a spell, then placed a layer of runes over Laxus and himself that would protect them from a death curse—so long as it wasn't more powerful than Freed.
Laxus clasped Freed's arm. The man shivered at the touch. Laxus turned them into a bolt of lightning, leaping them over the hill and landing at the entrance of the town.
Freed stepped aside, flustered. Laxus let him go and almost folded his arms but stopped.
"Get over here!" Laxus shouted.
His voice carried across the open space. Nobody was going to hear them. Perhaps there was a death spell, but that was certainly not what the dolls were talking about.
Makarov and the others followed quickly, stopping short alongside Laxus and Freed.
"What on earth?" Evergreen muttered and gasped at what lay at the fountain in the middle of the small town.
"This…this is…" Freed muttered.
"Inhumane doesn't even begin to describe it," Makarov muttered.
Laxus did not let his eyes fall from what he saw, but he was still able to take in the desolation. The town may have once been a beautiful place. Trees, burned to damn near their stumps, lined the streets that were no more than ashen brick. Houses were gone, crumpled under the weight of flame and destruction.
Skeletons lay everywhere. More than a few were huddled together in death. Laxus stepped over a particularly small one.
"We should clean this place up," Evergreen said. She rubbed her arms. "This place is horrible."
"I agree," Makarov said. "Starting with this."
They stopped a few feet short of the display. A thin wire hung across two buildings that were hardly standing. From the wire were several more strings, all attached to swinging corpses reddened with, no doubt, their own blood. The sight alone would be horrible, save for the recognition that came with their clothes.
That of Natsu. Gray. Lucy. Erza. Mirajane. Levy. Wendy. Elfman.
Silent wind billowed through the town, pushing the corpses around. They thudded loosely against one another, unable to resist the push of the breeze.
"Get them down," Makarov said. "This is sickening."
"There's a note," Bickslow said, pointing underneath the dress-up of Mirajane.
Laxus flicked his wrist. A bolt of lightning struck the wires and the corpses all fell freely to the ground. Arms and legs floundered when they hit the ground. Heads rolled.
The clothes were a poor imitation of their friends, but the resemblance remained, regardless. Makarov knelt by the corpses, muttering a prayer of forgiveness for them while Laxus stepped over them.
He stopped in front of the note, glowering back at them. They had no idea about this town, not even that it existed. None of those people had anything to do with Fairy Tail.
But someone thought it was fun to do this. To taunt them, to burn away this entire civilization just for the sake of provoking Fairy Tail.
The note was brief.
Thank you, Ivan. Your correspondence is appreciated.
- Dimaria
Laxus crushed the note in his grasp. It ignited at the sparks of lightning in his fist.
In a flash, much quicker than anyone could see, Laxus dashed back and slammed his elbow into his father's chest, slamming him into the ground.
Ivan coughed and could hardly breathe while Laxus bore down on him. Makarov was the only one who dared bravely stop Laxus.
"Get off the man!" Makarov shouted.
"He did this! He told them where we were! These people are dead because of him!"
"And they won't come back to life by killing him!" Makarov shouted.
"Get it through your skull, gramps, this guy is better off dead than alive."
"That's him talking through you!"
Laxus pulsed his aura, maintaining his power. Ivan didn't even squirm. He just waited for that long-awaited stroke of death.
"We gain and lose nothing from this," Makarov said. "And only serve to leave this place with far more death."
Three hands fell on his back. Laxus breathed hard through his nose, his chest rising and falling heavily before his power dissipated and he stepped back. Ivan remained implanted in the rubble.
"Sorry," he muttered, not to anyone in particular. "I'm sorry."
"Let's burn the bodies," Makarov said. "Erase any signs of this."
But there was no complete erasure they could bring. To do so would require bringing the town back to life, to what it'd been. Because of Ivan, because of this Dimaria, that was impossible.
Laxus stood before the bodies meant to resemble his friends. Their scarlet horror stained his memory, and he made sure it stayed there as he opened his palm and released enough lightning to plunge the corpses into a silent fire.
Smoke rose from their bodies, indistinguishable from that which already burned with the rest of the town.