Chapter 13- Determination and Honor

As they reached the top of the mountain-like hill, they began to see some signs from their most previous visit. Craters here and there, a long jagged line from Kur-um, Lucy's- Sonic Electrical Shock.

The death line was visible now. No more happy meadow. Seeing this place gave Lucy a sad and trump feeling. So much had happened on this very mountain-hill. She knew the others who had accompanied her here had felt the same way.

Wendy, Carla, Gajeel, and Lily marveled at the fight seen. Wendy reached down to touch the scorched, once-perfect grass. The grass crumpled to ash upon her touch. Jagged crack lines could be seen in a bare spot of rock, the place where a certain friend had visited to bring Lucy some favorable news.

"What are we looking for exactly?" Carla asked. The others continued to walk on as the scanned their surroundings.

"Anything," Erza said. "Something that might have given Malus a reason to stay and guard here."

The group nodded as the split up to look for things.

Wendy and Erza left to search west, Gajeel and Natsu took East, Lily, Happy, and Carla took South, and Gray and Lucy took north.

Gray and Lucy walked forward. Gray continued to inspect the ruins of the old church while Lucy had other means of research.

"Open, gate of the cross! Croxus!" She brought down her silver key, turning it as if she were unlocking an invisible door, and a cloud of steam shrouded her visibility. She coughed slightly, fanning her face for some breathing room. When the steam had disappeared, her celestial spirit was floating in front of her.

"Whose that?" Gray asked, coming up from behind her. She turned slightly and he walked next to her, examining the cross-like person with a white mustache.

"One of my spirits, he knows everything." She informed him.

"Oh, Lucy, it's been a while," he croaked softly, eyes half open.

"Could you do me a favor and search up on the City of Lost Voices?" She asked. She got no replies, just the sound of loud snores.

"I don't think he heard you. . ." Gray said hesitantly.

"Oh, he did, he's just conducting a search."

"Um, ok." Gray said unsure. They watched for a while and Gray was becoming less and less sure that he was searching, and leaning toward the possibility of the Croxus sleeping.

Just as he was about to turn and continue searching, Croxus awoke (in a very violent way) scaring Gray to death.

"So, what did you learn?" Lucy asked.

"The church that once stood here was mainly a tourist attraction, but had once been a temple sanctuary for monks and priests hundreds of years ago. The building was conducted for philosophy structures and research on religion. Many say that the information that this church once had was hidden or stolen many hundreds of years ago."

"When did the church burn down?" Lucy asked.

"67 years ago in 3.8742 months."

"Then maybe Malus was guarding the research."

"But why guard it?" Gray asked. "They could have just taken the information away."

"That is if they had discovered it, maybe they were still searching." Lucy said as they both began to brain-storm.

"That may explain the reason for the barrier," Gray said, but he still felt something uneasy. Lucy thought hard; if they were already changing the course of time, then it shouldn't be just for the fun of it. Perhaps they already found the research, what if they were altering time based on their findings?

"Maybe he was sent here, not to only to protect it from anyone, but permantly. If we were to add it all together, protecting it with the barrier and stationing someone here to both protect and collect. If Malus was done collectilng. . ."

"Destroy it?" Gray said catching on.

"Maybe but we won't know until we find it." Lucy said. "But where do we begin looking?" She thought aloud.

"The barrier would have an extent of amazing magical energy, but not everyone can keep it up that long with a wide range." Gray said.

"So not only will there be two death lines, but the research would have been hidden inbetween."

"Yea, and it went 'missing' before it burnt down, so maybe it could be hidden somewhere not in the church-"

"Below it." Lucy concluded, Gray nodding. "So it must have not burned." He nodded.

"I also have a theory but it's not 100% sure." Gray said. Lucy nodded, signaling him to continue. "Why send one person? The barrier, being as large as it is already, wouldn't be as trust worthy as a small one that was stronger."

"So you're saying that there's two people? Malus in the first barrier, and someone else in a smaller barrier?" Lucy asked.

"Perhaps, but we have no way of telling where the grass dead line begins or ends. This is like finding a needle in a stack of needles."

"We can't use our eyes, can't hear it, can't smell, but we can feel it!" Lucy said with a smile. Gray frowned at her, confused.

"Feel it, how?"

"Remember when we first passed through the barrier? It felt strange, one side felt normal, the death side made us feel weak. Passing through had like a jelly feeling, cool and enveloped our body."

"Yea, but the moment we pass through we're alerting the caster of our presence."

"We don't have much of a choice." Lucy said solemnly. She looked back at Croxus, who had fallen asleep. "Thanks, you can return now." She said, waving his key in front of him, returning him to the celestial world.

"Should we get the others?" Gray asked.

"The minuet we pass through a battle is insured, so we should have a signal. The signal means the barrier is found but it might not be visible unless someone is in the barrier too. . ." Lucy kept thinking. Having her friends would widen the search party, but at the same time, it would be harder to tell who found which barrier. Not to mention it's a theory so the research could be anywhere else. Yet no one else really knows what to look for.

"No, there's a possibility were wrong, maybe Malus came here cause he knew the celestial spirits would go after him." Gray nodded.

"I'll take the left flank, you get the right. Maybe we don't have to enter the barrier ourselves; my ice will disappear if it hits something."

"Maybe, but if it does proceed with caution and scope it out." He nodded as they split up.

"Open! Gate of the Virgin! Virgo!" Lucy summoned Virgo in a similar fashion to that of Croxus.

Virgo came out. Virgo was also a celestial spirit in a maid outfit that had short chin-length pink hair.

"Punishment time, Princess?" She asked Lucy. Lucy shuddered both disturbed and annoyed.

"No!" She said. "Could you help me search for a barrier? It should be from this area to that area." Lucy said, indicating toward the grass death lines. "Gray is already looking left of here, so we'll take the right. You search near the south and i'll search more towards the north."

"Okay, how do i find this barrier, Princess?" Virgo asked, cocking her head.

"You can't see it, but you should be able to feel it. Kinda of like sinking through a cold jell wall. If you find it, notify me immediatly."

Virgo nodded and then disappeared underground. Lucy especially needed Virgo. If the place where the research is hidden is underground, Virgo would be able to find it faster than if the were searching for it above ground. Lucy had a sinking feeling that the barrier would extend deep underground and most likely the atmosphere, too.

With Virgo's mission set, Lucy began searching north. She wasn't sure how exactly she was to find it. She had her whip, but no really special powers that allowed her to pinpoint it directly. Natsu could blast fire in one section, determining where the fire would disappear from Happy's flying view. Gray could ice the floor. With so much available for Erza, she could both distribute weapons or use special armor. All the others had so many special powers, Lucy felt sorta weak. Sure she could summon some bad-ass spirits to fight for her but if she were attacked it would be over, right? The weakness for a summoner is their body.

Lucy had felt some satisfaction of having her Kurai Lightning power. And she missed beig able to make a diffrence. But if giving that up meant saving both her celestial and Fairy Tails friends, she would do it again in a heartbeat. She didn't want her friends to view her as weak, or feel the need to protect her. This time, she was determined to put her brain to use, locate the research, and save Levy. She just had to. Not to prove anything to anyone else, but to for her honor and self-confidence.

With her goal set in mind, Lucy began to search. It was hard, she walked back and forth in her area in lines, moving only slightly north every time she had covered a left-to-right bases. She was determined to find the research, even if she had to walk back and fourth across the entire mountain.

"I will be strong," Lucy told herself. "For Levy's sake. . . And for my honor as a Fairy Tail wizard."

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When Virgo had reported no information on her south side of the right, Lucy was feeling a little less fired up. Lucy was tempted to ask Virgo to help on her side, but Virgo was already tired and had done her part.

"Thank-you, Virgo. You may go." Virgo nodded and disappeared in a cloud smoke. When she was gone, Lucy let out a exhausted sign and began walked again. She wanted to find it but with half her side already cover (and with her luck), she had a feeling that Gray might be the one to discover the research. If there was any. What if she and Gray were wrong? What if they were searching for one specific thing and totally missed something? Maybe the others could have found it, but what is "it"?

Lucy was feeling a lot more hopeless than this morning, she was already tired but she didn't dare summon another spirit. If she was right (and for her it wasn't looking like it) she would need her energy to fight the castor. They could be just as powerful as Malus, or even stronger. And now that Lucy had lost her trump card of power, things were not looking good for her in a fight.

She sighed and looked down at the ground, her hands hanging limp beside her. She stopped for a moment and looked up at the sky. It had started turning orange. How long had they been searching? Surely someone must have found something.

Maybe I should go back and see if the others found something, Lucy thought. Yeah, that's what I'll do and maybe we can gather clues.

Feeling a little down for not finding the barrier (if there was one) and having second-guessing herself, Lucy turned. Just as she turned, she felt a cold tingling feeling in her hand, right in the tips of her fingers. Her eyes widened as she put her left hand in front of her. She felt nothing. Had she imagined it?

Frowning, she stepped forward and the cool feeling engulfed her hand. Gasping slightly, excitement bursting through her; she put her entire arm through. It was as if it wasn't there. She couldn't feel it but the tingling feeling was there.

She smiled, she had found it! She and Gray were right, there was a barrier! But how was she going to tell the others? It might take hours to find it again if she left it.

She knew she shouldn't be carelessly wasting magical energy but this was a good reason. She pulled out a key; Loki's to be specific, and summoned him.

"Open!" She yelled then quickly stopped. "Oh yeah."

"Open!" She whispered in a barley audible voice. "Gate of the lion! Loki!" Turning her key, the sound of a doorbell made her wince.Was there a mute button? She didn't want to alert the castor of her presence as much as she has already done.

"Hello, Lu-" Loki began before Lucy cut him off with her shushing. "Lucy?" He whispered.

"Loki, find Gray. He's west of here, tell him I found it. He'll know what i mean." She said. "Tell him to find Natsu and the others and to hurry. Please hurry." He nodded and dashed off toward the west. Lucy didn't know if keeping her arm inside was setting alarms off in the castor's head, but she wanted to keep track of it. She was scared that if she removed it; it would disappear and the others would find her empty-handed. This was her chance to prove she can do stuff on important missons. She wasn't accusing her friends of doubting her, she just wanted to do this both for Levy and herself.

She waited patiently, trying to ignore the feeling that the barrier might cut off her arm. She gulped as the tingling began to affect her; as if it were slowly draining her energy. Of course, the re-grouping would take some time but she did wish her friends would hurry. Keeping her hand inside without being able to see it was like put her arm through a dark snake hole, she didn't know what could snap it off.

Feeling insecure, Lucy drew her arm out a little. It seemed find, but for some reason it was paler than what it had started off at. Was it slowly draining her? But her skin began to sink back to the color of her body.

Once, she thought she had felt something brush up against her fingers, causing her to shudder. It took all of her will not to draw back and bolt for her life. She was getting seriously creeped out.

She took steady breaths to help her, she set a determined face. "What happens, happens. This is for Levy." And no more did she get feelings that would normally make her shriek.

When she saw the dark figures of people against the setting sun, she let a sigh of relief out. They rushed toward her, and soon they were close enough for her to be able to make out the distinguished features. Natsu's spiky hair, Erza's armor, Wendy's small body, and three flying cats.

"Gray filled us in, is this the barrier?" Erza asked in assertive tone. Lucy nodded, and they glanced at her missing arm.

"Lucy!" Happy shuddered. "What happened to your arm?" She smiled a little at him, pulling out her arm until only her wrist down was gone. Her arm was very pale in compasion. Coming back from the death death made her feel weak. Her knees buckled and she felt fatigue take it's affect on her body.

Her friends notice the diffrence.

"What's wrong?" Natsu asked with a concerned look. Lucy put on a brave face. She didn't want them to worry about her.

"Nothing." She waved it off. "Anyway, the barrier is similar to Malus'. I haven't seen it yet, but it feels very different from each side. Going in isn't so bad, but coming out feels like your energy was sucked out with a demon vaccum.

"I'm not exactly sure what is on the other side," she told them. "All though i've had some very creepy feelings," she murmured the last part so no one heard. Well, perhaps three dragon slayers might have heard. "But we should go in at the same time. If we're lucky, the castor might only suspect one person, not all 9 of us."

"What's the circumference of the circle?" Erza asked. Lucy stared at her blank-face. She didn't know Erza knew math. . .

"Um, i'm not sure. I guess we'll just have to feel around it." Erza nodded.

"So we'll make a arm chain around the barrier and step in at once which may decrease the information the castor has of our numbers." Lucy nodded.

"Basically yes." The other nodded and began to feel their way around the barrier, soon making a circle. Natsu took Lucy's hand, and then took Gajeel's hand. They both blushed and looked away. Wendy took Gajeel in one hand, Erza in the other. Erza took Gray's hand. And to complete the circle, Lucy took out her arm from the barrier, trying not to wince at the sudden fatigue in her arm. It felt extremely cold, but when Gray took her hand, he didn't seem to notice. Benefits of an ice mage, huh?

"On the count of three, we'll all step through." Erza said. They all nodded in agreement as the exceed's clung to the dragon slayer's shoulders.

"One." Everyone tensed. Natsu's grip tightened around Lucy's handy

"Two." No going back. We're coming Levy!

"Three." They all stepped forward, plunging through the chilly wall and soon met one another on the other side. They looked around.

They all let go of each other's hands, all except Natsu who seemed to cling to Lucy a bit longer. Glancing down, he blushed, and quickly released her.

The grass wasn't dead. There was no grass. It seemed to have eroded away long ago. The ground was dirty, stone hard, and black as ash. They looked around. The barrier wasn't very large. Enough they all had breathing room, but it gave Lucy a claustrophobic feeling.

She wished for some's hand, Natsu's the most. He had a warming feeling that felt like summer and it made Lucy feel more secure.

They looked around. While the searching area had shrunk considerably, what were they looking for now? Something caught Lucy's eye.

It was black, like the ground, except it seemed to pop up from it. Lucy bent down and examined it. It was an iron ring. It was rusted but was also burnt, probably from the fire which had burned down the church.

Lucy grabbed it and tugged. The ground seemed to wobble. Perhaps it opened something.

"Guys, help me." She said. Natsu tapped her shoulder and she let go, allowing him to pull it up.

Natsu pulled and pulled, and a rectangular shape began to outline itself in the ground.

"It's a door." Lucy concluded.

"In the ground?" Wendy asked with a slight frown. Lucy looked at Gray.

"It wouldn't have been reachable for the fire, also well hidden. Maybe we were right."

"Yeah, but-" Natu grunted as he pulled harder. Slowly but surely the door was becoming loose. "This doesn't seem to have been opened in a while." With one last tug, the door came loose. Gajeel and Gray grabbed the edge of the newly pried door and help pull it back.

When it was finally open, Lucy peered inside.

"It's kinda like a cellar door." She said, tracing the door's frame. "Natsu, could you?" She asked. He nodded and let a burst of fire drop past the dark frame. Lucy examined the surroundings in the small fraction of a second she had before gravity took the fire away beyond her veiw.

"There's a staircase leading down." She informed the team.

"Great, let's check it out." Lucy wanted to stop Natsu from the second he said check.

"There is no way i'm going down there." She told them, and they stared at her wildly.

"Huh?" Natsu asked unintelligently.

"There could be spider's and stuff down there."

"Don't tell me you're wussing out. After we got this far?" Gajeel asked.

"Wussing out is such an ugly term, how about we say that the fatigue in my arm, which by the way still hasn't been relieve of it tiredness from being back and fourth between barrier dimensions, hasn't healed. Look, it's all floppy." She insisted, letting her arm flop. It wasn't a lie, kinda. Her arm was tired but she was exaggerating. Only a little.

"So you don't want to save Levy?" Natsu asked. Lucy's ears perked up. Levy was relying on her. She was pretty positive she was the only one who could some what be able to transfer the research. Natsu was right, she shouldn't be calling it quiets now. Levy needed her more than every, and Levy had gotten her out of some pretty bad situations. She might still have been stuck in Gray's body if it weren't for her.

She sighed, but then stopped, realizing it was selfish to feel this way. Who knows what Levy is going through right now.

She swallowed, stood up straight, and with a determined expression; nodded. "Alright, I'll go. Lead the way." Natsu smiled at her, either satisfied of her coming, or amused she was won over so easily.

The latter annoyed Lucy so she choose to believe that it was the first one. Natsu ignited his hand and began to descend down the stairs.

I'm coming Levy, just you wait.