Chapter 12

Maze

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters, only my own OC's, and my Ideas

..._-+-_...

Alumina got to her feet once Happy was done helping her wrap some bandages around her arm, and she placed the first aid kit back in her Magic Storage. She also picked her staff up from off the ground where she had dropped it, and gently lifted Happy up so he could sit on her head.

Happy looked all around them with wide eyes, while Alumina swept her gaze across the hedges around them, eyes narrowed and ready for danger.

"Is this the Game that lady was talking about?" Happy asked.

"Looks like it, this would take an awful lot of Magic to create though..." Alumina murmured.

Lets face it, that woman has essentially created something that is sure to be confusing and intricate. Who knows what other things are inside of this game of hers? And who the hell knows where she is?

At this point the game is focused on just getting out of here and finding Erza. They no longer had to find Happy and rescue him, but Alumina had to wonder if Erza knew she had gotten Happy back before the Game started.

"Hey Happy," Alumina murmured.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think you could fly up and try to spot Erza?" Alumina asked and Happy lifted a paw in the air, smiling at her.

"Aye!"

Happy took off and Alumina watched him climb in the air, only to gasp in shock as he was thrown back her way by a flash of light.

"Oof!" Happy coughed out as Alumina caught him in her arms, Alumina looked him over worriedly.

"Are you alright?" She asked and he nodded a little, looking dazed.

"Yeah... Some type of Magic threw me back." Happy told her as he shook his head a little. "I can't fly up too high or I'll just keep getting knocked back." He explained and frowned. "Sorry." He apologized and Alumina shook her head at him.

"Its fine." She told him. "Looks like we'll just have to go through the maze and look for her.." She murmured. Happy nodded as he floated next to her and they started off in the only direction they could go, forward.

Alumina stayed alert as the two of them began to make their way through the maze, always looking out for Erza, or anything inside the Maze with them other than the red-head. They took a few turns when they came to some dead-ends with nowhere else to go, until they stopped upon coming on a fork in the maze after about 20 minutes of traveling through it.

"Right or Left?" Happy asked as he switched his gaze between the two paths and Alumina narrowed her eyes in thought. She kept walking until she stopped, having both the right and left paths on each side of her as she closed her eyes and concentrated. She couldn't hear anything down the other paths, so she had no clue of which one they should take...

"Now I sort of wish I had the hearing of a Dragon Slayer..." Alumina mumbled as she opened her eyes again. "Or even the nose, it would be so much easier to find Erza if I could catch her scent." She sighed at the thought.

"Aye... Its always easy for Natsu to find someone quick with his nose." Happy mumbled and Alumina glanced his way. Happy caught her eye and blinked, before smiling sadly at her. "I'm sorry Natsu is so nasty to you, Alumina." He told her and Alumina shook her head at him, waving the apology off.

"Don't worry about it, some people just don't like certain people. Natsu seems to be that way." Alumina told him and Happy sighed.

"Still, that doesn't mean he has to be so rude to you..." Happy mumbled, so low she almost didn't catch it, but she pretended she hadn't heard for the moment. Alumina tilted her head to the left, then the right.

She turned left and kept walking, she wouldn't usually pick left, but she didn't think right would have been the better choice in this instance, though she wasn't exactly sure why she felt that way. Just a feeling she had.

"So Alumina," Happy perked up.

"Hmm?"

"Where did you live before coming to Magnolia?" Happy asked and Alumina blinked at the question, but she didn't bother to glance up at him as he floated near her head.

"Not anywhere specific really..." Alumina started slowly, resting her staff on her shoulder and shrugging a little. "I've been traveling all over Fiore for years, picking up a few skills, learning my Magic and just messing around." She explained with a quick glance up at him before looking back at the path.

"Did you ever consider joining a Wizards Guild before Mavis asked you to join Fairy Tail?" Happy asked and Alumina sighed.

"Not really." She answered.

"Why not?" Happy pressed and she looked his way.

"Well... I just never really thought about it to be honest." She replied. "Sure maybe I did a little, at one point joining a Guild really did appeal to me." She told him. "But then the appeal just sort of wore off... I guess I had just been traveling on my own for so long I just got used to the feeling of solitude." She murmured. "Ursa has pretty much been my only friend for the longest time."

"If you wanted to join a Guild once," Happy began. "What Guild were you considering joining?" He asked and Alumina looked away, a sheepish smile suddenly appearing across her face.

"Well... at first I was sort of considering joining SaberTooth..." she chuckled nervously, glancing back to see Happy's jaw drop open and he stopped to stare at her with whiteted-out eyes.

"SaberTooth?!" He yelled and she nodded as she came to a pause too.

"Yeah." She told him truthfully.

"But SaberTooth is just full of big meanies!" Happy yelled at her. "They are rude, and horrible, and they hurt people in our Guild like Gray, Natsu, and Lucy!" His voice noticeably cracked when he said Lucy's name and Alumina frowned a little.

"I wanted to join because I feel like they cant be all that bad." Alumina told him. "I know what happened between Fairy Tail and SaberTooth two years ago at the Grand Magic Games." She put in. "I don't think that SaberTooth is a bad Guild at heart, and I will keep on giving them the benefit of the doubt until they prove me wrong, personally." She explained in a calm voice and Happy's face fell. "Don't think any differently of me though. Even you have to admit that they aren't always bad, I'm sure." She smiled and a little and Happy looked away.

For a minute Happy just stayed silent and Alumina was happy to let him stay that way for awhile. She was fully aware that if she shared her views on SaberTooth around the Guild she would get the same reaction from the others that she had just received from Happy. It was public knowledge that Fairy Tail and SaberTooth weren't friends, in fact they were seen as rivals.

Happy opened his mouth, looking as if he was about to say something, but was suddenly cut off by a very low growl. Alumina whipped around, eyes widening in utter shock to see a huge dark creature springing toward her. It looked like a huge dark grey bear with two razor sharp antlers coming out of its head, it back legs that of a bear, and its front ones the hooves a deer.

Alumina jumped sideways, just barely missing the antlers as they came at her. She stumbled a little and stumbled more when she quickly jumped backward as the creature came toward her again. She barely managed to recover herself before she fell over as she dodged again and sweatdropped. She rolled left to escape the antlers again, and grabbed a key off her belt in an instant.

"Open! Gate of the Scorpion! Scorpio!" Alumina yelled as she swiped the key out in front of her, Scorpio appearing in a flash. The spirit smirked and immediately folded his middle and ring fingers back while keeping his index and little fingers extended in his usual manner.

"All right!" Scorpio smirked. Both Alumina and Scorpio jumped back as the beast charged again, Alumina swiped her hand to the side and looked toward Scorpio.

"Now!" She ordered. Scorpio nodded and got down on all fours,

"Sand Buster!"

A huge tornado of spinning sand spiraled out toward the creature, catching it up and battering it around. Alumina crouched down and placed a hand on the ground as she kept herself from being blown around from the sheer force coming from the spell. The creature was blown away over the hedges surrounding them and out of sight. Scorpio and Alumina got to their feet and Alumina cast a smile at him,

"Thanks for the help!" She told him and he nodded.

"No problem!" He answered with a smirk as he gave the hand-sign again, before disappearing back into the Spirit World. Alumina looked around and tilted her head.

"Happy?" She asked, not seeing the Exceed anywhere.

"Right here..." Alumina turned to see him tangled in the hedge behind her, and she blinked. She stepped forward and smiled sheepishly at him,

"Sorry, I guess I should have warned you about Scorpio's attack." She apologized as she gently untangled him from the hedge and he shook his head at her.

"Its ok," He replied and she nodded, setting him on her shoulder. "I'm just glad that big scary monster is gone now." Happy smiled at her.

"Wonder what it was though? I've never seen something like that before." Alumina asked as she started walking forward again, on high alert for anything else that might find them inside the maze.

"Me either." Happy told her.

"Now hopefully we don't run into anymore surprises..." She mumbled.

"Aye..."

..._-+-_...

"Why does the universe hate me..?" Alumina moaned as she stumbled to a stop, and collapsed onto her knees, breathing heavily. Happy stopped and flopped down beside her on his stomach, panting.

"Where does that woman come up with all of these traps..?" Happy asked and Alumina shook her head, still trying to steady her breathing.

The hope that they wouldn't run into anymore traps had soon been crushed. Spikes, monsters, carnivorous plants, pitfalls... you name it. The Maze was covered in all manner of hindrances and dangerous creatures. They had only just come to a stop from running away from a swarm of flying monsters with razor sharp talons.

They managed to get away by sprinting for a good ten minutes, leaving the creatures behind but not without receiving a few minor scratches each. Alumina sat on her heels and rested her hands on her thighs, head hanging as her heart rate and breathing slowly went down.

Now they had been inside the Maze for almost an hour, and still no sign of Erza, or the woman that had put them here. And considering they hadn't gotten out of the maze yet, that meant Erza hadn't managed to find the woman and defeat her yet either. They had no idea where Erza was, or the woman.

How long are we gonna end up spending in here?

Alumina glanced over at Happy to see him sit up and let out a heavy sigh, and she bit her lip when she saw a long shallow scratch running down his shoulder, blood trickling out of it slowly.

"Are you ok?" Alumina asked and Happy looked at her.

"I think so." He replied and glanced at the scratch on his shoulder with narrowed eyes. "It only stings a little." He mumbled and Alumina sighed. She let her head hang as she closed her eyes, the shadow of her hair covering her face.

"Sorry you got dragged into all of this.." She told him quietly and Happy blinked up at her in surprise.

"Don't be sorry!" Happy told her sternly. "I'm the one who asked to come! You didn't force me to come along, and I'm glad I did." Happy told her firmly and Alumina glanced his way. Happy smiled at her and lifted a paw in the air, "This is the most fun I've had in a long time!" He grinned and Alumina smiled a little too.

"I'm glad you came too, Happy." She told him softly and Happy just smiled wider in response. Alumina straightened up and clenched her fist, determined smile spreading across her face. "All right, lets find Erza and beat this Game!" Alumina smiled and Happy nodded, his own determined grin spreading across his face.

"Aye sir!"

They got to their feet, and Alumina took the lead as Happy floated at her shoulder. They had stopped off in a place where the path suddenly veered off to the right suddenly, that turn was just a bit ahead of them. They started that way, having nowhere else to go unless they wanted to turn back, which wasn't appealing when they thought of the traps and creatures they had already run into back that way.

They turned the corner without a second glance and followed the path as it lead them forward, not turning of anywhere or splitting up into another path along the way. They kept walking for a good twenty minutes, managing only to have Happy fly into one trap, stringing him up side down to hang in the air. Alumina laughed at the little blue creature, before quickly helping out of the mess, and they continued on.

They both perked up when they saw the path turn right up ahead, instead of going on straight as it had been doing. As they neared the turn, they both slowed down to hear loud thuds and rustling.

"What is that..?" Happy mumbled and Alumina narrowed her eyes.

"I don't know... Hold on, and stay quiet.." Alumina ordered and Happy stopped, nodding at her to show he understood. Alumina pressed herself up against the hedge as the noises around the corner stopped, and all she could hear was the sound of heavy footfalls getting closer. She stopped with her back up against the hedge, just as she reached the corner, and she pulled her staff out of her Magic Storage slowly.

She had put it away while they had been running, but now she needed it. Straining her ears, she locked on to the foot-falls and frowned. The familiar clink of armor wasn't reaching her, so she guessed it wasn't Erza.

It must be that woman...

Alumina raised her staff and crossed it in front of her, waiting for the perfect moment to swing out and catch whoever was coming as they rounded the corner. Her eyes closed as she listened to the footsteps get closer and closer...

Alumina's eyes snapped open and she swung her staff around as she stepped around the corner, eyes narrowed. Her staff made a cold sharp noise as it hit the sword that had been raised up to meet it in an instant, and she blinked in shock at who stood before her. Red-hair...

Alumina jumped back and lowered her staff, sweating like crazy and quickly bowing several times, looking very flustered and nervous. Now she would hate to feel the wrath of that person for attacking her like that.

"Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean to go after you like that! I thought you were someone else.." Alumina closed her eyes, still bent over in a bow and eyes shut. "Forgive me." She said quietly.

Erza blinked at Alumina, surprised to see her there, and even more surprised that Alumina had jumped out at her like she did. She wasn't wearing her regular armor, instead she was wearing the simple red and orange pants, no shoes, her hair tied up, and her chest wrapped in white bandages instead of a shirt. In her hand was held one of her regular swords, which she slowly lowered after Alumina jumped away.

Erza chuckled and smiled, "Its alright, don't worry about it." Erza told Alumina who looked up and sighed in relief. Happy came around the corner and smiled widely upon seeing Erza.

"Erza!" He exclaimed and crashed into her chest.

"Happy?" Erza murmured as she looked down at him. "I thought that woman had you, I've been looking for you everywhere." She said and looked toward Alumina. "You too, what happened? How did you get away from that woman, Happy?" Erza asked and Happy got off of her.

"Alumina saved me before you two were sent away!" Happy exclaimed and Erza blinked in surprise at him, before glancing at Alumina.

"Did you?" Erza asked and Alumina nodded a little. "That's impressive, you couldn't have had more than a few seconds before we were transported." Erza told her and Alumina smiled sheepishly.

"It was nothing..." Alumina told her, a faint pink dusting her cheeks at the complement as she rubbed her arm a little out of embarrassment. Erza's gaze rested on the bandages wrapping around Alumina's arm where the sword had gotten her, but she didn't press the matter.

"Don't be modest!' Erza smiled, "Now that we're all together, all that's left is finding that woman and defeating her." Erza said, her expression turning serious and both Happy and Alumina nodded.

Erza requiped into her normal armor and her sword disappeared momentarily as she stepped past them, waving at hand at the two and motioning for them to follow.

"Come on you two." Erza called over shoulder and they began to follow her. "I found out how we are going to find the woman." Erza explained.

Happy and Alumina blinked, "How did you figure out where she is?" Happy asked and Erza smiled.

"I had a fight with a Chimera a bit ago." Erza explained. "It took a bit of convincing, but eventually I got him to tell me where to find her." Erza replied and both Alumina and Happy's eyes widened.

Alumina may not have been in the Guild long, but she had definitely seen Erza's scary side, and she knew how powerful the red-heads wrath was. She could only imagine what Erza had down to that Chimera to make it talk.

Alumina sweatdropped at the thought.

..._-+-_...

Another shout-out for my other story, it was written awhile ago so it may not be as well-written as this one since I wrote it more recently but I would appreciate it if you checked it out and gave some feedback!

Speaking of feedback, why not try writing a quick comment for this one and vote? Its appreciated if you do!

Till next time ~