Chapter 14- Endless Stairs Lead to Stubborn Doors

The stairwell was dark, and the air was stale and musty. The stone stairs looked as though they could collapse at the second of a misstep. The walls were stone, and the stairs seemed to continue endlessly downward, curving round and round like a curl.

Lucy looked up, a small hole opened in the ceiling, a hole for which allowed light to shine in. She was walking behind Natsu, who lead the way, his hand becoming a torch.

The fire seemed to cast long shadows on the wall, ones that seemed to haunt the wizards. The fire in Natsu's palm danced, and Lucy was sure that she saw it smile evilly at her once or twice, like it was happy to be leading them to their death. Yet, one glance at Natsu and his set brave face, and Lucy was comforted. She really wanted to cling to him, back to back, just to make sure nothing attacked her.

She glanced up at the door again it seemed to fade as they got deeper and deeper. Lucy wondered how long it would take for it to disappear completely. As she stared up, the door suddenly closed. All the wizards looked up. The sound of the door settling back into place echoed through the stairway. Now that the only source of outside life had just shut them off, Lucy began feeling scared. She felt like perhaps the staircase was haunted. She shuddered.

She was glad she wasn't tailing as the last person, which was Gajeel. And she was also glad she wasn't leading like Natsu. She was behind Natsu, and in front of Erza. Behind Erza was Gray, then Wendy. Exeeds weren't to far behind their Dragon Slayers.

Happy began to shake with a terrified expression. He was flying near Lucy, but had then snuggled toward her. She felt just as creeped out so she hugged him close. Whenever they got scared, she would squeeze him so tight he couldn't breath. This soon resulted of following Natsu with their back against the wall. However one glance at the spiders and bugs that crept on the wall made Lucy walk along the edge.

Natsu, sensing their fear said; "Careful Luce, don't fall." She smiled glad for his concern. Just as she was gonna say thank-you, he ruined it. "Who knows what's down there, dead people, burnt bodies, bugs," and with the creepiest smile, he turned toward Lucy and Happy who began to shake. "Not to mention ghost."

Lucy took her fist and bashed it in Natsu's head. "The only dead body were gonna find is your's!"

"Ouch." He whimpered. With angry eyes and a aura that of a monster, Lucy almost began yelling.

Then a low growl echoed the chamber. Lucy, fearing she had angered Erza, turned around to apologize (and to give Natsu the pounding of a life-time). Yet, when she looked at Erza, the mage was frowning looking around.

"Dang Lucy, don't get too mad." Gray said. Lucy felt goosebumps crawl up her arms.

"That wasn't me." Natsu got up from the ground. He looked around but the growling had subsided and was beginning to fade away.

"Sounded like it was coming from. . ." he gulped staring into the dark abyss that seemed to drop into hell.

"Down there?" Erza asked. That was all it took for Lucy to turn around and begin ascending the stairs.

"Lucy, where are you going?" Wendy asked, concerned.

"Nope, no. No. I'm gone. See you at the guild. Good-luck, hope you're safe. Bye." She said.

She began walking up the stairs.

"Lucy." She stopped when Natsu called her name. "We gotta save Levy and we can't save her without you. We need you." She thought about Levy.

"Well, when you put in that way-" another low growl sounded from below, turning Lucy white.

"Like I said, good-bye, good-luck, be safe, see you at the guild."

"Lucy, you're coming, even if we have to carry you down." Gray said assertive.

"Down there?"

"Yes."

"Could you come back and get me? You know once the danger has subsidded?"

"Lucy, you're probably the only one who can transcript the knowledge, you and. . ." Erza didn't need to say it, they all knew she was talking about Levy. "Besides, without you we wouldn't have found it, or it would have taken longer. Please?"

She wanted to leave, she could feel the chill to her very bone. The growling had scared her but the thought of losing Levy scared her even more. Looking at the hopeful faces of her friends, she knew she had to do this. She glanced at the back of her hand. Kurai probably would have rescued Levy by now. Lucy swallowed her fear.

"Fine, but I'll have you know, I have died. Levy is dying. I wanna save her from that. If i die again, and i don't like dying, I'm going to haunt all of you."

"If you help us, I'm might just allow it." Erza said with a small smile. She knew Lucy was joking, but there was a truth to her words. So Lucy got back into position.

They seemed to walk continuously for hours, it's was probably already night time. After the long day of searching, Lucy was ready to call it a day and head back to the inn.

Then it's one less day to save Levy

Ugh, she really hated her subconscious. Of course she knew that, it has been haunting her ever since she left the guild. It's the reason why she has been putting one foot in front of the other when she honestly wanted to give up. But giving up isn't an option. It never was, is, or will be. It's because she's a Fairy Tail wizard that keeps her bold determination going, fueling her body when she can't.

Just suck it up, we'll reach the bottom in no time.

"So, how much further until we actually reach anywhere?" Lucy asked.

"Let's check." Natsu said, grabbing a loose rock from the eroding stairs. He put out his hand over the edge and let the pebble drop from his clutch.

They all listened and after what seemed to be an eternity, they heard a soft click. Lucy suddenly felt a lot less determined.

"It's already way past my bed-time, is there somewhere we can rest?" She asked, knowing truthfully there was no answer.

Erza frowned. "Are you tired already?"

Great. Now they think I'm weak. "Of course not, I mean, you all are probably tired, searching all day, climbing the monster hill. I'n rearing to go. I could run a marathon if i wanted, wouldn't even break a sweat." She said. "Poor Wendy, how's your small, child, body holding up? You must be exhausted."

"Oh no, i'm perfectly fine. Thank you for the concern however." Wendy said with a small smiled. Lucy sighed.

"Onward then, I guess." And so they continued.

By the time they had reached the bottom, Lucy had been ready to jump in the hole, anything to make the trip shorter. She practically dragged herself to the bottom. She was even less thrilled that her friends wanted to immediately purse.

"It would be unwise. We should get our bodies in shape in the case of an enemy." Lucy said.

"All we did was walk, why do we need to rest?" Gajeel asked.

"If there is an enemy, he should be just as strong as Malus, if not, stronger. Every bit counts." That also brought up another subject Lucy had been wondering about. "Don't you guys think it's strange that the enemy hasn't attacked yet? They should have felt our presence. Could have attacked while we were vulnerable on the stairs. Why wait for us to get the edge?"

"Perhaps the enemy had left when Malus was defeated." Erza suggested.

"If so, why protect it at all? To just leave?"

"Something tells me we'll find the answer behind this door." Natsu said solemnly.

"What door?" He pointed at a door, a large wooden one. It was a little further away from the steps. It was classic, with metal keeping the wood together, but it was missing a doorhandle.

Lucy approached it. She knocked once and heard the hollow sound echo. "There's a room on the other side all right, but it might be a trap." She could hardly see the door, however. Her shadow got in the way of the provided light. She looked beside the door where two old iron torches were hung on the wall. There was an old rusty knob on each one. Lucy could tell that even far away it was a gas torch, probably using the knob to allow the flow of gas.

She got on her tippy-toes, and-barley managing to reach it- turned the knob. A small sound could heard, like the pressing of air. She gestured for Natsu to come her way. She asked him if he could light it for her.

Nodding, he placed his hand near the torch and suddenly the air above the torch flared into fire. That was how they got they're first torch.

Lucy glanced at the door and saw something new. Perhaps it was the lighting, or maybe a trick, but she could see a iron pallet on the door. She traced it with her finger. Maybe this is where the doorknob should have been.

She turned the knob on the second torch, and again Natsu lit it for her. When she looked at the door again, her eyes widened at the new doorknob.

"That's strange, I'm certain there wasn't a doorknob before." She said to the others.

"Could it have been the torches? Activating some magic?" Gray asked.

"Maybe. . ." But Lucy had an unsure feeling. "Should we open it?"

"Well, there's no where else to go," said Natsu, seizing the doorknob and turning it. "Well just have to try the straight approach." He leaned against the door, and under his weight it opened slightly.

And thats all that happened.

"Push harder!"

"I am!"

"Kick it!"

"No! Don't break it!"

"Use your magic."

"I'll do."

"Let me do it."

"Mine's more suitable!"

"Ha, like your pesky magic could do anything."

"Trust me, I'm better than all of you. I'll do it."

"What was that, you jackass?!" They all erupted into arguments, but the door wouldn't open.

"Taurus might be able to open it!" Lucy exclaimed. She pulled out his key. It was already a tight fit at the base of the stairs, probably the same size as the dark circle, and Taurus wouldn't help with the cramped pace. But if he could open the door, they would be actually making progress."Guys, step back." She told her friends. Mumbling about not being fair, her friends pressed themselves against the wall.

"Open! Gate of the Golden Bull! Taurus!" A loud noise, like a doorbell, could be heard while only a cloud of steam could be seen.

"Hello, Ms.Luuuuuuucy." Taurus said, emerging from the smoke. His eyes turning into hearts as he fanned over her body. "Looking good today!"

"Would help if she lost a few pounds." Happy mumbled. He was quickly silence after Lucy glared at him.

"Taurus, could you open the door?" He gave her a questionable look.

"That door?" He asked, throwing his thumb at the door. Lucy nodded. "It's already open."

"All the way." Frowning, Taurus seized the doorknob, turned it and attempted to open it.

Lucy gave him an irritated look. "I could have done that."

"It doesn't open." He says. She sighed. How oblivious and typical.

"Yes, we are aware. Could you smash it to bits, please?" Taurus, with a wild grin, nodded.

Grabbing hold of his axe he stood in front of the door. "That, I can do." Lucy too rushed up and pressed herself against the wall as Taurus readied his axe, bringing it back like a baseball. With all his might he swung and seemed to cut the door in half. Smiling, he admired his handy work as the door fell apart on the ground.

"Thank you Taurus."

"Anytime, Ms. Luuucy." She nodded, signaling him to go and he left. The others crowded along the door's frame, peering inside. The now empty doorway led to a empty and dark chamber.

"Careful, we don't know where the enemy is. He could be just as strong as Malus, or he might even be stronger." Lucy warned.

"He? While I'm quiet flattered, that indeed hurts my feelings." Said a woman. They all tensed as the saw a woman step into their veiw. "I believe 'she' is a more suitable word that describes me, don't you think?"

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2k u guys are amazing...

And so is Batman...

But you guys are better (if that's possible) cause u read and comment!

Thanks so much

And thanks Batman, for keeping us safe and prompting Alfred to write and read that amazing letter he wrote after Batman "died" (Batman never truly dies. Ever.)

If anyone is awesome at reading It's Alfred. And Morgan Freeman.

I want Morgan Freeman to narrate my death and birth, but Alfred to write and read the speech at my funeral.

Anyway, thanks.