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Dedicated to nalulover4eternity, a silent reader whose votes make my day~♥
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"Wait! Hold up Wendy! Don't go near them!"

The rushing sky maiden looked back in confusion, slowing down but still not stopping.

"What are you talking abouaaahhhhhhh!"

A sudden gust of powerful wind knocked Wendy to the side, and she collided with the sharp cave wall, sliding down painfully.

"Wendy!"

Another attack like that and before Carla could even approach the girl, she was knocked sideways too. Luckily, she was saved by Lucy who shielded her from the sharp cave walls.

"That..that.." Wendy looked ahead, shaking in fear.

"Nobody said anything about it being that big!" Happy cried out, shaking with fear himself.

Lucy's protective hold on Carla tightened as well while she stared, shocked, in the shadows. The Ayakashi stood tall in front of them, towering over them all at an intimidating height. It's huge body blended in with the shadows, the only thing visible were it's menacing, gleaming eyes.

"Wait for my signal." Lucy whispered to Carla. "After that, grab everybody and run."

"What are you going to do?" Carla asked her, with a hint of desperation in her voice.

"Don't worry." Lucy smiled. "Not anything overly dangerous. Just a little bit of diversion."

She looked like she wanted to protest, however decided against it. After all, they really couldn't put up a good fight in the cave.

"I-okay.."

"Good." Lucy smiled. "Now.."

She took small, calculated steps towards the monster, testing the waters. Then quick as a flash, she charged forwards, pulling out her fleuve d'etoile.

"Now!" she shouted, attacking the monster with all her might. From her peripheral vision, she saw Carla, Wendy, Happy and the girls escape, and let out a sigh a relief.

Oh what mistake it was!

The Ayakashi let out a loud roar, and took full advantage of Lucy's distraction. It knocked her to the side, before turning towards the escaping party.

"Lucy!"

"I'm fine! I'm fine! Don't you dare stop!" she shouted back to Wendy, who had already stopped behind, and was taking small steps towards her.

"But-"

"Seriously Wendy! Get going! I'll be with you in a moment!"

"I-okay.."

The Ayakashi obviously did not like her retreating figure, so it roared once more, ready to attack. However, Lucy had other plans.

"Not today you big lug!" she shouted, moving forwards to attack it again. The whip changed form to a sword before long, and Lucy attacked it with full force. She wasn't as good of a swords woman as Erza, but still her attacks did inflict some damage.

One final push and the stone wall broke, the monster tumbling outside. Lucy followed just after, breathing heavily but still ready to put up a fight.

"Lucy!" Wendy came hurrying towards her "Is it-"

"No. Not even in the slightest."

As if on cue, an ear splitting roar echoed through, and the monster got up, even more menacing than before.

"It seems as if it's immune to attacks like that of mine. Which use less magic power."

"So we've got to hit it with more. Leave it to me!" Wendy said, determined.

"I'll help you take it out too! You attack from the skies and I'll attack it from down here. Also, we need to take Emi and Elyse to safety."

"Leave that to me." Carla announced. "I can transform and take both of them at once. Happy can assist Wendy here."

A subtle nod from all put their plan in action. While Carla flew with the sisters towards the town square, Happy, Lucy and Wendy got ready for a fight.

"You ready?"

"You bet I am."

"Now!"

In one swift motion, Wendy was up in the sky with Happy, ready to attack while Lucy charged towards the monster herself with her whip.

The strategy was simple. Confuse the creature. While Wendy fired deadly attacks from the sky, Lucy tried to inflict an equal damage from the ground.

'Not good!' Lucy thought. 'My attacks are barely fazing it. No matter what I do! Wendy's are stronger.'

'Oh wow!' Wendy thought. 'Her reflexes are so good. She looks really experienced.'

Meanwhile, Lucy hit the monster hard with her whip, dodging it's attacks simultaneously.

'Dammit! If only I could summon Tauras. This problem would be solved in moments!' She then stole a glance up towards the duo, letting out a sigh. 'But I can't take any risks. What if it triggers their memory. That won't end well.'

"Do you think it's working?" the sky maiden asked Happy.

"I think s-OH NO!"

Happy made a sharp turn to the left, barely managing to dodge the incoming attack.

"Happy! Wendy! Are you okay?"

"I think saaaahhhhhhhh!"

The Ayakashi, for some reason, now directed all of it's attacks towards Happy and Wendy.

'Oh no! It realized that they were a bigger threat!' Lucy thought, panicking now. She charged forwards yet again, using a sword now, in a fruitless attempt to deviate it's attention.

"It's getting to us!" Happy panicked.

"Hang in there Happy! You can do it!" Wendy tried to assure the blue cat, in a helpless attempt to encourage.

"Aye!"

However the fire attack got to them. It hit Happy's wings, bringing Wendy and him crashing down. They both tumbled down through the branches, lost somewhere ahead in the forest.

"Wendy! Happy!"

The monster roared, aware of its achievement. It now finally, rested its gaze on the blonde mage, ready to strike her out next.

"Oh no you don't." Lucy growled. "You're not going to get away just like that, after hurting my family. Not in a million years!"

The grip of her on her whip tightened, the other one hovering above her keys. Lucy closed her eyes, taking deep breaths, concentrating every core of her being on the magic. Her magic.

A small smirk slowly made way up to her lips, her expression darkening. The atmosphere around shifted as she felt the incredible magic power surging through her being. In one swift motion she grabbed her keys, relishing the connection that formed between her and her spirits. The monster just roared, unaware of the doom that awaited it.

"Now!" she bellowed, standing strong, unflinching. "I open thee! Gate of the golden bull! Tauras!"

•••

"C'mon! How much longer are we going to wander already?"

"Quit your whining ice prick!"

"What'd you say flamebrain?! You looking to start a fight?"

"Well I'm never to shy away from one!"

"Enough!" Erza's booming voice made both the mages shiver in fear.

"But we've been walking around for hours!"

"It's only been about 20 minutes you numskull!"

"Oh yeah? Well with you it's been hell already!"

"I said enough!" Erza deadpanned, smashing both of their faces together in a attempt to make them stop. "Gray, could you be a bit more cooperative? And Natsu, how much longer?"

"I'd be faster if he wasn't interrupting every now and then!" Natsu mumbled darkly but after seeing Erza's scary aura, gulped and continued. "I'm trying to pick up their scents but it's harder here since the surroundings are all new to me."

"We have to hurry though." Erza sighed.

"Yeah. That roar was something. It's prudent we regroup as soon as possible."

"Yes." Erza agreed. "For all we know, they might already be confronting it. We need to go help immediately."

Natsu, Erza and Gray had been on a search of their own separately when a loud roar echoed through the forest. Quick as a flash, they all had sprinted in that direction, meeting halfway.

"Hold on!" Natsu mumbled. "Im picking up familiar scents. It's...Wendy! And Happy!"

He dashed forwards, Erza and Gray sprinting close behind. About after five minutes of this mad dash, the three mages found Wendy and Happy, collapsed on the ground.

"Wendy! Happy!"

Natsu held his buddy in his arms while Erza and Gray inspected an unconscious Wendy.

"Was it really that powerful?" Erza voiced out in disbelief.

"Where is Lucy?"

Gray and Erza's eyes widened, when they realised that she wasn't there.

"Maybe she's around here somewhere."

"No. I don't sense her." Natsu snapped.

"Then-"

Erza stopped abruptly, staring away into nothingness.

"Erza?" Gray questioned, hesitantly approaching her. "Are you al-"

"Can you sense it?" she cut him off, staring directly into his eyes. "Do you sense it at all?"

"Sense wh-oh."

"It's faint but it's there." Natsu agreed. "And it's strong too."

"Magic power. There is a wizard nearby."

"Not just that. It's really familiar. Like I've encountered it before. But I can't seem to recall when..or where."

Before either of them could react, it was gone. Not even a faint trace of it left behind.

"What happened? It vanished so suddenly!"

"I don't know, but we've got to find out. Cause I have a feeling Luce will be there."

And so the trio dashed forward, supporting an unconscious Wendy and Happy, towards the place where they believed they'll find their answers.

The place where Natsu believed Lucy was.

And soon enough, they reached the clearing where the destroyed cave was, broken stones scattered all around.

And sure enough, amongst that mess of broken stones and a defeated monster, panting , stood their Lucy.

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I updated! Yassssssss!

Lol my exams are starting so yeah..might be a while for the next update..btw how'd you like it?
Please comment, share and vote if you liked it!

Now excuse me while I go try to get out of the writer's block lol

Until then!
Belle🌸
🔥♥🔑