Fairy Tail - Lucy's Ordeal

 Lucy has decided to take a job whiteout the others for the day. Little did she know her life would never be the same.

WARNING! this story contains themes that may be upsetting. 

This is a much darker story then I have released on here before. I am curious how it is received so let me know. Fairy Tail was the anime that got me back into the genre about a year ago and depending on reaction I might do more. Please forgive any typos and problems, more so then usual. I did not do a proper edit. 

Barely out of Magnolia and Lucy was not having a  fun time. With Erza, Grey and Natsu all out doing their own thing today Lucy had accepted a job offer from the guild to go to the nearby town of Apricot. There was a woman who apparently was dealing with ghosts and though the locals had at first thought she was going insane it was now spreading and many of them had reported to have seen a young boy walking around the town with a sad look and apparently asking if anyone had seen someone or something called Grimes. It was an odd assignment but not something she couldn’t do on her own and it was close enough to go and be back before dinner. So Lucy had set off from Fairy Tail’s guild with a song in her heart and a bounce in her step knowing she would soon have some money to put towards her rent. Only a mile or so out of Magnolia though the skies had turned gray and the rain had started to come. Regretting her cheapness in not hiring a carriage Lucy had at first calling on her spirits to protect her from the rain but she was long since past that. She was a full fledged member of Fairy Tail and had even competed in the Magic Games only a few months ago. A little rain was not going to stop her so she complained but moved on. Finally starting to enjoy herself she was walking still in the rain when a passing carriage hit a divot and sprayed mud and foul water all over her without stopping. Lucy cried in indignation and shouted obscenities towards the departing carriage before she managed to clean herself off and continue on her way.

About two or so miles from the town though she saw a tall man blocking the path. As tall as Lexas and about the same type of build this man wore a long black trench coat and black pants. The trench coat was unfastened even in the rain to allow Lucy a look at a dark almost blood red shirt he wore underneath. It clung to his body that showed a well developed and muscular chest. Wearing a long almost cowboy like hat that he kept tilted downwards Lucy could not make out his face. Black leather gloves completed the ensemble while he seemed to lean on a large wooden staff that Lucy could feel magical energy permeating from. When she thought about it as she approached the man she could feel nothing but large amounts of magical energy. Something she had only seen in some of the most powerful foes and friends she had ever met. Only about fifteen feet from him Lucy pulled up and stopped walking. Wary of the man to her bones she thought about what to do. Though he stood in the middle of the path she could easily walk around him but his pose and his presence suggested he would not take kindly to that.

“Lucy Heartfilla?” The man’s voice boomed out. A guttural almost demon like voice that sent shivers up her spine. Lucy took a step back.

“Who is asking?” Lucy asked. Thumbing her celestial keys on her hip.

The man chuckled and moved his head up. Revealing a tanned white face with a beard that looked like it had about a weeks worth of growth on it. Well manicured but with hints of grey in it. His eyes though bored into her. They were silver and seemed to encompass her very soul.

“From Fairy Tail? The one who fought and lost in the Magic Games?” The man continued in that deep guttural tone.

Lucy tensed up. Though she was aware her loses in the games were not entirely her fault it was still a very big sore part on her pride. She had let her guild and her friends down and the shame she felt at that still felt raw.

“I say again, who is asking?” Lucy took another half step back and assumed a half fighting stance. 

The man chuckled again and stopped himself from leaning on the staff. Taking a couple of steps forward with a grace and speed that seemed to defy his girth. Lucy could feel from the magical energy coming from him if this were to come to a fight she wouldn’t have a chance but still she thumbed her celestial keys.

“My name is unimportant to you right now but if you insist on calling me something. You will call me Master” The man chuckled again and took another couple of steps towards her.

Lucy jumped back a few feet and resumed a fighting stance.

“I have a guild and a Master thank you very much. Now please let me pass. I have no wish to fight you” Lucy poured all of her courage and strength into those words.

The man chuckled again.

“You have a guild Master, You will no longer be apart of that guild. You will be mine. I will take you and turn you into my toy. You are my slave” The man’s words stuck fear into Lucy and before she could say or do anything the man moved again.

This time he was mere inches from her. A sneer on his face as he took her hand from her waist and removed her keys. So quickly he had moved that Lucy had barely even registered he was close to her. When her hand went down to grip her keys she found his. His leather encased glove seemed to melt at her touch and envelop her hand. Dumbstruck Lucy looked and saw his glove melt onto her hand and surround it. Before becoming a mitten with a buckle around her wrist. The man smiled and took a hold of that hand and twisted her. Lucy found herself twisted around, her back to him now while he grabbed her other hand and she felt the same thing happening to that one. There was a click and she tried to pull her hands away but found them restrained behind her back. The man turned her again to face him. That sneer on his face larger now and a look in his eyes that told her not to fight back. How could she? she thought. It was all happening so fast. He held her keys in one hand and pushed her down to her knees on the muddy ground. Lucy could barely budge, it all seemed to be happening outside of time. She could see a passing birds wings as it flew past and an insects wings as well. Time had slowed down and before she knew it her boots were pulled from her feet and she was wearing new black leather ones with buckles at the top and padlocks in place. Chained together just like her hands behind her she was pulled back to her feet and the man placed her keys into the inside pocket of his coat and produced a grey collar. Lucy had seen seal stone restraints before but never a collar. The man smiled and without much effort or fight from Lucy the collar was placed around her throat.

Time seemed to come back to normal just as the collar was placed around her throat. Lucy could see everything again like normal and watched as the man removed her keys from his jacket to show them to her. Lucy could feel her magic was gone with the collar around her neck but she refused to admit she had been beaten so quickly. Pushing forward she lunged into the man. Attempting to knock him off balance and drop her keys but the main smiled and stepped to the side and took her by her long blonde hair and shoved her to the muddy ground. Face first she landed. Lucy huffed and turned herself over to look up at him.

“None of that slave. You be good now” The man smiled down at her.

Running his finger through her keys he laughed as he saw one of them lighting up on it’s own.

“Ah would this be Loki?” The man asked rhetorically.

Lucy couldn’t see which key it was but knew that Loki had opened his own gate before to help her.

“You listen here spirits. Lucy is now mine. If you try and save her I will kill her” The man lifted the keys up to his face and spoke to them.

To emphasize his point he looked at Lucy and she felt nothing but fire and pain lace through her body. From her collar bolts of magical energy encompassed her body. Lucy cried out in pain. She felt herself losing consciousness as the pain was more intense then anything she had ever felt before.

“Understood?” The man asked.

In response the entire set of keys seemed to glow and everything became somber for a moment.

“Good. Now to make sure you don’t go and warn her little friends” The man laughed and drew a symbol on each key with a small tipped pen that seemed to completely dull their power. 

Lucy though deprived of her magic felt Loki reach out to her and apologize for not helping. Telling her he could not breach the gate. That none of her spirits could. Tears welled in her eyes at the loss of her friends. She didn’t have time to cry though. The man pulled her from the ground and looked her over.

“You are filthy” He half laughed and taunted her.

“When I get out of this I am going to kick your ass” Lucy tried to sound intimidating.

“When I am done with you, you’ll do anything I please….. and I do mean anything” The man’s lecherous grin sent more shivers down her body.

Holding her with one hand he reached out with his other and unfastened her top. It fell to the ground revealing her large breasts. The man took the sight in for a moment while Lucy struggled and yelled at him. Calling him a perv and all the names she could think of. He simply laughed and moved down to her shorts. He removed those as well. They pooled down at her ankles while he tore them to shreds. He looked her over and saw that in her nude form she was just as lovely as he had imagined. Her large breasts were just the thing he loved. With large aerola’s and pink nipples that just dyed for his attention. Her pussy was tight and perhaps even virginal he thought as he looked at her. She certainly didn’t seem to be very experienced with men the way she tried to hide herself even in her bonds and the way she kept her pubic mound in such an unruly mess of hair.

“Oh no slave this wont do. We will have to shave all of this hair away” The man snickered as he detailed plans for her.

“Pervert!!!! let me go!!!!” Lucy screamed in the open. Hoping for at least someone to hear her.

The man still held her by one hand and now placed the palm of his free hand against her pubic mound. Bushing all of her hair under his palm Lucy could feel a sort of heat beginning to come from him. Before she knew it she looked down and saw her pubic hair falling from her body. Almost as if one by one they didn’t seemed to be be burned away as much as they were plucked but there was no plucking sensation just the burning. He held his hand there for a couple of minutes, when he took it away Lucy was bald down there and now sported a mark. From her vantage point she couldn’t see much of it but it seemed to be black lettering of some sort. 

The thought of being tattooed unwillingly in her most private of areas gave her renewed strength and she started to squirm in his grasp once more. Struggling so violently and fiercely that he was forced to take a hold of her with both hands and looked with real menace into her eyes.

“Do you want to be punished again?” The man asked with a tone of real evil.

Lucy thought back to the shocks and vigorously shook her head no.

“Good then you will be silent and not move. Clear?” The man commanded. 

Defeated for the moment Lucy nodded and when he put her back on the ground she stood next to him. With her hands chained in mittens behind her and her feet and ankles in new leather boots that were also chained together there was nowhere Lucy could go. Standing naked out in the open on a country road. 

The man took a step back and raised his walking stick that he had placed on the ground before he had man handled her. He pointed at the remnants of her clothing that were scattered on the ground and they disappeared into thin air. With a short little circle he waved the stick in the air horizontally across the ground. A portal opened up and Lucy could see beyond it. Dark gray stone walls that would be the basement of any house in Firoa. The man turned to her and told her to walk towards him. It was only a couple of steps but when she got to him she felt the portal reach out and take them both. 

The country road became still as though no one had ever been there. The only piece of evidence that Lucy had ever been there was a couple of boot marks in the mud.

Half walking half dragged by the portal Lucy found herself now surrounded by dark gray stones. In a large basement that seemed to stretch forever in either direction. There were sounds and smells down here that she couldn’t quite make out. Her senses adjusting to the new environment seemed to be overloaded for a moment. Her fear was doing of some that too she had to admit to herself while he placed a hand on her back and encouraged her to walk with him. The fear of being captured and having absolutely no idea where she was now. Her friends not even aware yet she was gone from Magnolia let alone where. Lucy felt a pang of despair come over before she mentally shook it away. She had been in worse spots before and survived she kept reminding herself. The hand on her back was strong and uncompromising he started to lead her into wherever here was.

The large almost cavern like setting that she had thought it was when they arrived was quickly dispelled. Only a few steps and she saw that it wasn’t as large as she thought just not lit at all. There was one small light that seemed to be centered over  a batch of stone stairs leading upwards. Which confirmed her theory they were in a basement somewhere. Her eyes and her nose as well as her hearing began to adjust quickly now. She noted that they were walking in a hallway that was brodered on one side by the stone and on the other side by blackness but she could sense there was something there. There were smels of people. Dirty people and stale food and dripping water The man who she refused to ever call Master led her further down the hallway. Soon her eyes had adjusted enough that at the edge of the blackness there were steel bars. Sounds of females crying and breathign began to assualt her senses as well.

“Where are we?” She finally demanded.

The man chuckled and pushed harder on her back.

‘We are at my business office” The man replied with far too much smugness in his voice.

“There are people behind bars down here, what kind of business are you in?…..” Before she could have the answer though Lucy’s own mind clued her in.

“You’re a slaver!!” 

“I am indeed. I specialize in females of course. Don’t worry though my slave. You are mine alone. I could not sell you even if I tried. You are far to hot in many ways. No you will spend your life down here pleasing me from no on” The man replied. 

They stopped and he pushed her towards the steel bars. Revealing a cell beyond them that held three other woman. All terrified and huddling together trying to suppress their sobs. They were all nude and all had restraints around their ankles and wrists as well as what looked to be metal collars around their throats. Non wizards thought Lucy.

“I am not property and neither are the rest of these girls. Let them go now!” Lucy demanded.

The man chuckled that very annoying chuckle now and just opened the gate to the cell. With his hand still behind her he pushed her in and then followed her. The three young woman all looked terrified at his appearance and bunched together even more tightly then before. Turning their faces from him as he entered. Leaving the door fully open the girls were not restrained in any way but they refused to even get up and see that there was a path to freedom open to them there. Lucy watched as they just huddled among themselves. Herself she was pushed towards the back wall were there were four rings set into the wall. Two about six feet from the wall and two more directly beneath them about a foot off of the floor. The man pushed Lucy to stand in between them and then with a couple of magic words chains appeared from the rings and shot out to couple with the restraints on her wrists and ankles. Now chained to the wall Lucy flexed on the chain to see the strength and found she was never going to pull them out of the rings. There was some play in them though. She was standing with them chained but she knew by looking at the slack in the ones attached to her wrists that she would at least be able to sit on the ground if she pleased. The ones connected to her ankles also offered a good amount of slack but nothing that would allow her to do more then get up and down. She didn’t have nearly enough slack to make it a quarter of the way back to the front of the cell.

“These other girls are product. You are my property. The sooner you learn that the better your life will be” The man warned. 

He reached down and cupped a breast with his hand and then forcefully moved in and kissed her. His tongue and mouth so powerful and strong there was nothing Lucy could do to resist,. He forced open her mouth and just had his way with her. Finally when he was down and removed his mouth from hers a trail of saliva forming between the two of them that then cut from their mouths and landed on her breast. The man smiled and with the hand he had been using to fondle her reached down and began to touch her pussy and her clit.

“Why are you wet there slave if you don’t want this?” The man laughed while he played with her clit.

“You lier!!!” Lucy screamed in the cell but he smiled and with is other hand reached down and cupped her chin. Closing her mouth.

“Your a slave now Lucy Heartfilla from Fairy Tail. Learn to live with it” He laughed and pushed himself away from her.

He showed her his fingers he had used to play with her clit. Lucy saw they were slick with her juices.

“No… you are lying” Lucy replied but the man simply smiled again.

He moved down to her once more and this time he placed his palm against her pussy and seemed to be whispering again. Just like when the tattoo had been placed on her pubic mound that Lucy had still yet to see, she felt something warm. When he removed his hand she felt the warmth continue. It grew until she felt arousal. Lucy tried to crane her head but all she could see was a faint glowing coming from her pussy.

“I just enchanted your clit. You wont be able to rest of sleep until you have cum for me a hundred times” The man laughed and Lucy wanted to scream again at him but she felt the arousal and the excitement build within her. 

Lucy had played with herself before and had orgasms before but this was something on a whole other level. The heat she felt in her body was unlike anything she had ever felt. She looked at the man and despite herself she pleaded with him with her eyes. The man chuckled once more that annoying sound and turned to walk out of the cell.

“You will learn your place Lucy Heartfilla or you will die” The man laughed while he closed the cell door and there was the tell tale sound of a lock being put back in place. Within moments he was out of sight. 

There was barely any light in the room. There was a sort of candle that was in the back wall giving some light and then there was the little green light now that was comign from her pussy and generating all the warmth and arousal she had ever experienced in her life.

“Oh god!!” Lucy moaned despite herself.

She could feel the other three woman in the cell were breaking up from their huddle and coming towards her. With so little light in the cell she didn’t really make them all out until they were surrounding her. Two brunettes and a blonde they all appeared to be her age or a little older. With dirty marks, bruises and cuts all over their bodies they reached out and took her in their hands.

“Be still. It will help if you sit down” One of the brunettes said to her.

Lucy simply nodded to overcome by the growing lust in her body to be confident not to open her mouth for anythgin but a moan to escape it.

“He never used this spell on us but we know what it’s like to cum when you don’t want to” The blonde said to her with worried and almost sullen eyes.

The other brunette seemed to have gathered some hay from somewhere and moved towards her. She placed a bunch of it under her bum.

“So you don’t get too cold” The girl said. Lucy acknowledged it with a nod.

“It’s okay you know. Just cum. Get them over with” The first brunette advised.

Lucy looked at the three of them and nodded. Releasing her inner battle she felt the first cum immediately over take her senses.

“OHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!” She screamed into the void of the basement.

“That’s it. Just let it out” The second brunette reached up and brushed her hair. 

The blonde nodded and reached over to take a shoulder in her hand.

“OHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!” Lucy screamed again. The three girls surrounding her just comforting her as much as they can.

“How long…...you…...been…..here?” Lucy tried to ask before the third orgasm overtook her body.

The first brunette hushed her and with knowing eyes looked into Lucy’s.

“We will get to that. Just let yourself go” She answered.

“MMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!” Lucy moaned again at the fourth orgasm.

Lucy moaned in her chains. The cold stone floor below her bum was not helping her current state of mind. Even with the hay helpfuly pushed underneath her by the other women in the cell she could feel the coldness of the stone creeping through her body. For awhile she hadn’t noticed as her own body was generating it’s own heat while she endured a flood of orgasms thanks to the enchantment of that vile man. That had died down about an hour after the last orgasm. The three women in her cell were all idientifed. The first brunette was named Mercy and she had been in the cell for three months. The second brunette was Vicky, she had been there for one month. The blonde was named Steph and she had been there for four months. They had told her there were girls in the other cells who had just been captured but as far as they knew they had been there the longest. The man who had captured her was still virtually nameless. He had told them to call him Sir but had overheard him with others being called Dee. To Lucy he didn’t look like  aDee but he certainyl acted like a dick. With her strength recovering she looked down at herself to see that the tattoo was still barely visible above her pussy. Looking at the others she noted that they didn’t have any markings. 

“Girls can I ask what is the mark that he put on me?” Lucy asked. 

One of the girls, it was Vicky came to have a look. She knelt down and had a look at her most private part. Lucy had been naked in front of other women before. Especially with her guild mates in the baths but there was something different about being naked, chained in a cell. Lucy tensed while the girl looked at her.

“It says slave” Vicky told her finally.

“Thank you Vicky” Lucy answered. 

“I think it’s because he sees you as personal property” Vicky answered before she sat down in front of Lucy.

“I feel sorry for you if that’s true” Steph said coming from the shadows.

“Why?” Lucy asked not as if she really wanted to know the answer.

“He trains us for use. To work in whorehouses and brothels or some of us thankfully get sold to individuals to be used as slaves. He trains with pain” Mercy said as she joined the others in front of Lucy.

Mercy turned around to show Lucy her scars. There were whip marks, and all sorts of bruising and half healed scars and wounds. She was surprised Mercy was still walking.

“Oh my god Mercy….. I am so sorry” Lucy answered.

“No you don’t understand. He has to hold back with us because he is going to sell us…… you are his. He can go as far as he likes with you” Mercy warned.

The three women shivered at the words and when Lucy digested them as well, she couldn't help a shiver go down her bones.

“I’ll get you out of here” Lucy stated.

Steph snorted and Mercy didn’t react at all. Vicky however seemed to have a half smile come to her face.

“I bet you can” She said and Lucy reached out and took her hands in her own.

“I am a mage with Fairy Tail. We don’t give up. My friends will come for me and until then. I’ll get you out if it’s the last thing I do” Lucy answered with far more strength then she thought she had left in her. She even saw a flash of hope go through Mercy and Steph’s eyes as well.

How long had it been? Lucy thought to herself. She hung from her wrists that had finally been freed from her mittens she thought about a day or so ago. When she had been led into this area. Seperated from those in the cell she had been taken to this white washed room that after spending days in the dark cell was an assualt to her eyes. Hanging with her wrists directly over her head, her feet possibly two or three feet from the floor. Swinging lazily in the room. Below here Lucy saw nothing but white and red. The red was her own blood. She knew that from the pain she felt on her back, her thighs, her chest and her butt. The man Dee, had whipped her for hours, or was it days. Just continually rounding on her with the whip while she called out and cried from the pain. He didn’t ask her anything or say anything. He had simply led her into the room and strung her up before he had started to whip her. Nothing asked. Every time Lucy tried to ask him something or tried to speak beyond the pain he would redouble his efforts and lash her within an inch of her life.

Now she hung with her eyes barely open looking at the red on the ground. How long had it been? She kept asking herself again and again. Natsu, Erza, Grey…… where the hell were you? Here alone in the room she allowed herself to weep. Knowing there was a good chance she was being recorded but she didn’t care. As long as there was non one there in the room. She wept, she wept like she hadn’t since her mother had passed. 

Dee returned. Entering from somewhere. Lucy berated herself for not catching it. She didn’t know where the door was in the room. She had been disorientated when she had arrived and the walls all blend together. There was no seam to suggest a door anywhere. Even if she got free she didn’t even know how to get out of this room. 

“Are you ready to call me Master and pledge yourself to my pleasure?” Dee finally asked something.

It was a question she knew to expect. She couldn't deny that there was a part of herself that wanted to say yes if only to stop the pain and the whippings but she couldn’t. 

“Go to hell perv!” Lucy answered. The volume and ability seemed to take him aback. Clearly not thinking that she would have the strength to answer like that.

Dee walked towards her and cupped her chin his hand. Raising her head to look at him. His sneer and his chuckle causing Lucy to sneer in contempt at him.

“You will serve me little fairy” Dee stated. It was more then a statement though. It was a promise.

He reached down with his free hand and moved her legs apart. Spreading her thighs with his powerful hand. Lucy stared daggers into his eyes before she heard something hit the ground. His grip loosened on her chin just enough for her to look down and see that his pants had hit the ground and his cock now stood at attention. In between them he pushed himself against her. His cock rubbing against her stomach. Lucy felt sick.

“No….. please don’t” Lucy pleaded.

“This is your life now slave. You give me pleasure” The man sneered back at her and let go of her chin.

One hand forcing her thighs apart while the other guided his cock towards her pussy.

“PLEASE NO!!!!” Lucy screamed with more strength then she really had. Struggling wildly in the restraints she hung from.

“This is your life” The man laughed. 

“NO!!!!!!!” Lucy screamed.

The man pushed into her. Taking her virginity and a piece of her pride with it.

“Where the hell is she?” Grey asked. 

Erza, Natsu and Wendy looked up from the woods they found themselves in. A week now Lucy had been missing. A week since they had returned from their missions to be told Lucy had gone out on her own. It was nothing abnormal at the time so they all stayed at the guild hall waiting for her return. Mira had told them she should be back by dinner but she never came back. That night the entire guild was on high alert and the four of them set out to find her. The only thing they found was she had never made it to the job in Apricot. Natsu and Wendy’s noses had picked her trail up on the road leading into the town but it just vanished a couple of miles from town. It had been raining pretty heavily and the road was full of mud and no sign of her.

“We should get back to the guild hall. Maybe Master Makarov has some news” Erza suggested. Wendy looked between them all and nodded.

“LUCY!!!!!!!!!!!” Natsu yelled into the forest. For a moment they all stood still hoping to hear an answer but there was nothing.

“Come on Natsu. Lets see if the guild has any information” Erza took him by the shoulders.

The guild hall was normally a lively place. It was no different tonight but for different reasons. Where their would normally be music, laughter, drink and merriment there as chatter and people exchanging notes. The entire guild had been mobilized to find Lucy. Levy sat with Gajeel, their hands intertwined as Levy went through notes from dispatches all from the trains. Laxus sat at the bar with a dink in his hand that hadn’t been touched since he had come in hours ago. He talked with Mira and Lisanna beyond the bar. Talking about the last time they had seen Lucy and what she had said. Cana, Elfman and Juvia all huddled together with maps spread out over the tables in front of them.

Erza opened the doors to the hall. The entirety of Fairy Tail’s members turned to look at her. With a simple shake of her head the news was broadcast. They had not found Lucy. Despair gripped the guild while some openly moaned in frustration. 

“I am going to contact the Magic council and other guilds. We need to setup a search parties throughout all of Firoa” Master Makarov said. Turning to go behind the bar and into his main study.

Lucy was the light of Fairy Tail and slowly that light was fading.

Where was she now? This wasn’t that white room anymore. No she was in a smaller room with that gray stone block. Maybe eight by eight with eight feet high ceiling there was a wooden door and a small wooden bench that she was placed on. Her hands and ankles were chained to rings in the wall. Large chains that had a fair amount of slack in them that would allow her to stand. Lucy didn’t feel like standing though. She reached down and felt her pussy. It was raw and sore. How long had he fucked her for? Was it mintues? Or days? Lucy didn’t know and she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

The door opened and once more there stood the man. His walking stick in his hand he held a smile of one truly victorious. Lucy wanted to get up and slap the man but she didn’t have the strength.

“Are you ready to accept your position now slave?” He asked with a sinister smile appearing on his face.

“Go to hell” Lucy answered without raising her head.

In reply the man activated her collar. It was the first time since the road that she had felt the pain. Combinded with all her other injuries and trauma she had gone through recetnyl Lucy couldn’;t help but flail on the wooden bench in pure agony. Falling off of it into the center of the roomo she cried out for help. For anyone. By the end of it she was cryign for her long passed mother.

“How about now?” The man asked.

“Go…..TO ….. HELL!!!” Lucy didn’t know wheere she got the strength but she rose to her feet. Shaky but standing she looked at the man with fire in her eyes.

“I will make sur you die for this” Lucy stated. 

The man chuckled that hated chuckle again and let loose on the collar once more.

Lucy didn’t see much after that. She collapsed on the ground. Writhing in pain and screaming at him she passed out before he could ask her again. 

Hanging in the white room again Lucy wondered about the three other women in the cell. Had they been sold. How long had it been now? Did time even matter anymore? She had just waken up to find herself like this. The man behind her caressing her body with the handle of his favourite torture tool. The whip. Leather braided with barbs Lucy had begun to know it well and she was sure she was going to learn it far better in a moment. 

“Oh my fairy slave. I wish I could say I don’t like hurting you….. but it would be a lie…… even if you told me you were ready to be my slave I would l still whip you right now” The man whispered from behind into her ear.

“Go to hell” Lucy managed to say.

She felt him take a couple of steps behind her and she tensed herself. Readying her damaged body for more blows. The air seemed to hum as the whip cracked against her butt first. She screamed in her bods and thrashed with the hit but refused to give him the satisfaction of begging. 

He laughed from behind her and started to give her blow after blow. On her butt at first and then her back and shoulders and finally he moved in front of her and whipped her chest, pussy and thighs. Lucy hated herself but by the end of it she was begging for him to stop. He would not though until she agreed to be his slave and she refused. So the whipping continued. The white floor turning red again with her blood before she once more passed out.

Lucy’s feet dragged through the hallway of the basement. Her eyes barely open she registered the cells she was passing by. There were girls in each of them. Maybe thirty in total she thought to herself but she had to admit she was seeing double at some points and her mind was fuzzy. She couldn’t stand on her own but the man had more then enough power to drag her through the cells. He had even made sure there was more light in the basement so that everyone could see the fairy mage being dragged back to her cell. There was a slight trickle of blood left in her wake in the hallway but Lucy tried to smile for them all. To let them know she was okay but she found it hard. The cell door opened and she was thrown in. Lucy landed with a deafening and hurtful thud.

“LUCY!!!” Came the cries of the three women.

So they were still there.

“We thought you were dead or given in” Vicky cried. Coming to her and picking her up.

The man had left the cell as soon as he had closed and locked the door after throwing her in.

“Never…. Give….in” Lucy managed to say.

“How…..Long?” Lucy managed to say again but she felt her strength ebbing and sleep coming.

“Three weeks since you were last here” Steph said. Coming from the shadows. She held what looked liked to be a rag of some sort.

“This might hurt” Steph braced her. 

In the somewhat increased light of the cells the three women gasped when they saw just how badly Lucy had been punished. There were half healed cuts and bruises all over her body that were interlaced with fresh cuts and bruises. There didn’t appear to be a single spot on her body that had not been inflicted with pain.

Steph drew the rag along the fresh cuts. It was wet but it stung. Lucy cried out into the darkness.

“Oh god Lucy why don’t you just become his slave?” Mercy asked.

“Never be his slave” Lucy said almost roboticaly. Like a mantra she repeated to herself.

“We’ll never get out of here” Vicky wailed.

Lucy smiled before she passed out.

Six months since Lucy’s disappearance. The guilds of Firoa had initiated a massive search to look for the popular young mage but had yet to find a single clue to her disappearance. In the Fariy Tail guild hall Master Makarov and his guild were beginning to lose hope. He was heartened by the response from the other guilds. Sabertooth, Mermaid Heel, Lamia Scale, Blue Pegusus, Quatro Cerberus had all sent the entire guilds into the field to look for Lucy. The Magic council had sent their guards out as well. The Kingdom of Fioro under the guidance of Princess Hishe had also sent troops out looking for her. Still there hadn’t been a single lead.

The once bustling and lively guild was somber and almost lifeless. Master Makarov looked around and found it hard not to despair himself.

“Have faith third Master” The spirit of Mavis appeared next to him.

“I try first Master but I have to look at my guild…. My family. They all hurt” Makarov explained.

Mavis’s tiny little head nodded while she sat on the bar.

“I feel she is not dead but in grave danger. I have done my own search and have not found anything” Mavis stated.

Makarov turned to look at her.

“Thank you first Master for trying”

Mavis simply nodded her head.

“She is a member of Fairy Tail. I would do no less for any. I care for them all just as you third Master” A tear coming to the specters face.

Makarov had to look away as a tear threatened to come to his own face.

Dee dragged Lucy through the hallway again. What was this she thought to herself. Had he kept her and had his way with her for another three weeks before bringing her back again. She didn’t know. At the moment she didn’t care. She watched from half closed eyes as the man walked dragging her with one hand while another hand held his walking stick. Lucy thought back to their first encounter and remembered the power coming from that staff and how he had opened a portal to here. She was sure even without her powers because of the collar around her throat there was power enough in that staff to open a portal. They reached her cell and Lucy looked in. She winked at the three women who were still there but they all looked far worse. More fresh cuts and bruises and Steph now just stood staring off into the void. Lucy ached for her. Sometimes that’s all she wanted to do as well but she was a Fairy Tail guild member and she had made a promise to get them out of here.

The man opened the cell with the staff parked against the steel bars. Lucy knew she was going to have to time this right. Just as he was about to throw her into the cell she took a hold of the staff. Thrown into the cell she landed at the feet of Vicky and Mercy who saw that she now carried the staff. Lucy mustered what strength she had in the split second before Dee realized that she had the staff. She twirled it horizontally from the ground and a portal opened up. Beyond she could see woods and maybe a stone house. She hoped it wasn’t the house they were currently in but she didn’t have a lot of options.

“Mercy, Vicky, Steph. Jump through the portal now!” Lucy yelled.

Dee knew now what was happening and was coming into the cell. Vicky and Mercy jumped through without hesitation but Steph just looked off into the void. She was maybe a foot away from Lucy but Lucy had barely any strength she couldn’t stand. She crawled to Steph and grabbed a hold of her leg.

“Steph you have to run through the portal now!” 

There was nothing recognized on her face but at least the woman looked down at Lucy. Lucy was crying and watching as Dee came closer. She needed Steph to snap out of it. Lucy thought for half moment and then with the only strength she could imagine she bit into Steph’s leg. It caused the woman to jump and howl in pain and look down at Lucy.

“RUN!!!” Lucy yelled. Steph looked at the portal and got the idea. She took off through the portal.

Lucy still held the staff in her hand and tried to crawl towards the portal but she saw Dee was closer. She could see the three women on the other side. Beckoning for her to come through. Crying for her to follow but Dee was on top of her now and if Lucy didn’t close the portal he would jump through and capture them. Lucy cried and managed to wave to them before she closed the portal and threw the staff at Dee.

The man had a crazed look in his eye. He took the staff from the floor and started to beat Lucy with it. Lucy already prone and without any strength on the floor took hit after hit to her body while the man screamed at her.

“YOU STUPID BITCH!!!” He yelled while he thrashed her with the staff.

Lucy moaned in pain but she couldn’t help a smile come from her lips.

“Fairy Tail always completes a promise” She managed to say mostly to herself before she passed out.

It had been eight months since she had been captured.

Fourteen months since Lucy’s disappearance. 

Fairy Tail was a somber place. There was no life in the hall anymore. Makarov watched with a still full beer in his mug while the members chatted listfully and meandered between tables. The search for Lucy had been officially stopped two months ago. Unofficially there were still teams from Fairy Tail and other guilds out looking. The magic council and the Kingdom though had stopped. Saying their resources could be used better elsewhere. Makarov wanted to be angry with them but he couldn't he knew it was the right choice. He had heard that the Kingdom had requested the help of Sabertooth and Mermaid Heel in dealing with the mounting human trafficking problem but since he was no longer apart of the magic council and his guild was not involved he didn’t know for certain but Fairy Tail had many friends in both guilds and news leaked out. The trafficking problem was one thing that had been unearthed by all the searching the guilds had done and for a while there was hope that perhaps Lucy had run afoul of them but there hadn’t been anything to give that merit. 

The hall doors boomed open. In the spring sunshine outside Makarov could only make out two figures but he could sense their magical power. These were not guild mates but friends.

“Master Sting and Yukino from Saber Tooth. IT is always an honor to welcome another Master to the hall but it is an even greater honor to welcome back friends” Makarov announced. He moved towards them with a smile.

“Thank you Master Makarov it is good to be in Fairy Tail again…… somber as it is” Sting stated.

Makarov took the statement with a bow and looked at the two mages.

“Not that we need a reason to see our friends but what brings you both here today?” Makarov asked.

Sting looked at Yukino and the pari looked aroudn the guild hall. Some of the guild members were payign attention but not many.

“Perhaps it better we talk Master to Master somewhere private?” Sting suggested in an almost whisper.

Makarov nodded and turned back towards the bar.

“Mira is my study decent?” Makarov asked.

Mira the always cheerful mage smiled and nodded.

“As decent as it ever will be Master Makarov” She replied in that sweet voice.

Makarov grumbled beneath his breath and turned back to the two Saber tooth members. A smile on his face.

“Follow me”

In the study the three of them sat.

“Master Makarov how aware of you of the human trafficing task force Saber Tooth and Mermaid Heel are apart of?” Sting asked.

“Broad strokes and rumors mostly” Makarov replied.

Sting nodded.

“We have been rounding up what looks to be an extremely sophistic network of human traffickers but have yet to even identify who leads the organization”

“Ah I see” Makarov crossed his hands together in front of him.

“We recently rescued…. Or should say came across three women who seemed to be apart of the organizaton. They had been captured and been in captivity for months” Sting continued.

“Quite a stoke of luck” Makarov replied.

Sting and Yukino nodded.

“They survived in the woods outside Iris town for months. To afraid to go into town. It wasn’t until me and Rogue were out on a walk that we found them” Stign continued.

Makarov nodded.

“It seems they had no idea where they were…..” Sting continued and then looked to Yukino.

Yukino looked to Makarov with tears in her eyes.

“They say a blonde mage was with them, helped them escape, said she was from Fairy Tail and her name was……. Lucy” Yukino broke down crying.

Makarov was stunned and he heard a gasp from behind him. The first Master Mavis had appeared. He knew Sting and Yukino would be unable to see her but he felt good that she was there with him. 

“Where is she? Do you have her?” Makarov asked.

Sting shook his head and Yukino continued.

“They say she opened a portal with their captors magic staff. She closed it before he could come after them. She stayed behind so that they could be free. Said Fairy Tail mages always keep a promise” Yukino couldn’t stop the tears and for the first time in months Makarov had hope that brought tears to his own eyes.

“She is still with this man then?” Makarov asked. He felt the reassuring touch of the First Master on his shoulder. 

“Yes we believe so” Yukino replied

Sting cleared his throat and looked between the two.

“The three of them. Mercy, Vicky and Steph are their names said that he was a sadsitic man who felt that Lucy was his property and his personal slave. They described some of the way she looked the last they saw her…… Master Makarov it’s very possible he may have already gotten rid of her” Sting broached the subject.

Makarov sat stunend by the suggestion. H edidn’t know what to say and he could feel the First Master behidn him was in the same state of mind.

“Where is this man?” Makarov finally thundered in anger.

Sting and Yukino were taken aback.

“We have an idea and a plan but…. Well Sir we could use some of that Fairy Tail swagger” Sting asked.

“Then you shall have it. I will make available to you the best I have at the moment. Erza, Gray and Natsu are all out chasing another lead on Lucy but Gajeel, Lexas and Mira are here” Makarov announced.

“We would be honored to have their help” Yukino beamed.

Makarov placed his hand on her shoulder as he walked out of the room.

“It is us who are honored to have such friends” Makarov said.

Comign back into tehguild hall Makarov jumped on the bar and was pleased to see the form of the First Master appear next to him. When ever she appeared the guild stood down and looked and they acted no different this day. They all looked towards Makarov and her.

“Our friends from Saber Tooth and Mermaid Heel require our help. They are taking down a human trafficaing network and require some big guns to do some flushing” makarov announced.

“YEAH, lets help Saber Tooth and Mermaid Heel!! They are our friends!” The shout was sent up from the back and was echoed by all in the guild. The strongest among the guild stepping forwads. Makarov looed to his right where his grandson Lexas sat with a mug of beer in his hand.

The Lightening dragon slayer half turned and winked at the old man.

“Laxes, Gijeel and Mira well accompany our friends and help them in any way they need” Makarov announced to great cheers.

“UMMMMM excuse me?” The voice of little Wendy Marvell spoke up.

“Yes Wendy?” Makarov asked.

“May I go too….. I know I am not as good a fighter as those three but I am good enough and if they are taking women I can help heal them” Wendy said cheerfully. 

“Wendy dear this might not be the best thing for you” Came the cheerful voice of Mira from behidn the bar. Stadning off to the side of Makarov and the First Master.

“Why because I am young?” Wendy asked, not like a child but more with a reasoned critique.

Gajeel walked up to her with Levy by his side. Levy looked at Wendy and smiled.

“We are worried at what you might see Wendy. It might be too much for some of us and we know what to expect” Levy tried to explain.

“I want to help and I can heal them” Wendy explained.

Gajeel looked at Levy, then at Mira and Lexas. He placed a hand on the petite girls head and smiled.

“I say lets take her. She’s handy in a fight and like she said she can heal” Gajeel stated. Levy looked at him with a touch of concern but his smile drove that away.

“I’ll look after her” Gajeel announced.

“Yeah me too” Mira announced.

Lexas simply shrugged and had a drink of his beer. 

“Good then it’s settled. Your four wait here while I see to our guests” Makarov said.

Back in his study Makarov entered and touched Yukino’s shoulder who still had a some tears in her eyes.

“Lexas, Mira, Gajeel and Wendy will join you” Makarov announced.

“Wendy?? is that wise?” Yukino asked and Sting seemed to take in the looks from the both of them in the room.

“She is a healer and a daragon slayer. A capable fighter. You may need her and her compassion” Makarov replied.

‘I don’t think that’s what Yukino is referrgin to Master Makarov” Sting interjected.

“I know and I triedto warn her away but she wishes to help” Makarov sighed.

“Do they know Lucy could be there?” Sting asked.

“No and I would prefer we keep it that way. The loss of Lucy hit us all hard. I don’t want to get our hopes up too soon” Makarov replied.

Sting looked at Yukino who returned the look.

“I understand” Sting replied.

Out in the main guild hall Sting and Yukino were joined by Laxes, Gijeel, Mira and Wendy. 

“We are happy you four can come” Sting shook each of their hands.

“Glad to help friends” Mira replied. With an very empthatic nod from Wendy to concur with the statement.,

“I’ll get to show you and Rogue up again so I am all good” Gijeel half teased. Which elicited a smile from Sting and Yukino.

“I hate slaver scum. I’ll always take them out” Laxes repleid.

“Thank you Fairy Tail” Yukino called to the whole guild halladn though it wasn’t as boistours as it had ben in the past there was a renewed sense of purpose and joy in the room now that they were helping their friends. Those who could raised their mugs towards tehm. 

Before they left Makarov pulled Laxes aside.

“Bring them home son” Makarov’s intensity burned into his grand son.

“Don’t worry old man. We’ll make sure they get home” Laxes confirmed in his usual arrogant tone but like he always did now since he had grown a little. He smiled and now tapped his Gramps shoulder.

“We wont let Fairy Tail down” Laxes confirmed.

The battle strategy was fairly straight forward. While Saber Tooth and Mermaid Heel engaged the network at their satellite facilities the one they had identified as the main facility in a nearby town to Crocus was to be Fairy Tail’s target. With Saber Tooth and Mermaid Heel spread out so much it was decided the concentrated power available from Fairy Tail would be used for an attack on the main facility to draw out whatever defenses they had in place. Once they had secured the area a detachment from the kings guard would arrive to escort any captured women away from the facility. 

“Listen Wendy. If I tell you not to go inside you obey me okay?” Laxes leaned down to speak with the youngest member of their group.

Wendy looked up at him with those big eyes and nodded.

“I understand” Wendy replied. A little sullenly but Lexas thought she took it better then he would have at that age.

“It’s not that we don’t think you can handle it Wendy it’s more like we don’t want you to have to choose to at your age” Mira replied. Coming to stand next to Lexas.

Lexas nodded his agreement to that statement.

“Besides shrimp. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun showing them what two dragon slayers can do to people who dare kidnap women” Gijeel came from behind and placed his hand on Wendy’s head.

Mira smiled at the pair and Wendy felt any anxiety about the whole thing fade away. With friends like these how could she be afraid. 

The lacroma they had been given by Sting flared o flife to reveal Sting’s face.

“You guys ready?” Sting asked.

“And able” Lexas replied.

Stign nodded through the lacroma.

“You have a go Fairy Tail and good luck” Sting signed off.

The building was a large warehouse in the middle of the once bustling town. Now it was barely contained half of the population it once did. With many abandoned and cheap buildings available ti was the ideal place for slavers to setup. The warehouse was surrounded on all four sides by large wide avenues. With not a building in the town more then stories high it was a perfect place to hold the line. Though there were only four of them and at least one of them had to go into the building to release any captives they were confident they could hold the line quite well.

Overlookign the town from a steep cliff the four of them looked at each other and jumped off of the ledge. Wendy could glide on the air if she choose and Lexas could glide through his lightening. Mira as well could fly if she changed but she was opting to stay in her human form at the moment. Gijeel was the only person who could not naturally fly but as always his faithful companion Tigerlilly was with him and with his wings could fly the dragon slayer as well. Instead though they had opted for a land approach. 

Approaching the building from two angles with Wendy and Gijeel together and Lexas and Mira comign from another they encountered little resistance until they were about two hundred feet away. The tops of the buildings nearby popped off and revealed what Wendy could only describe in her mind as some sort of shadow. These were completely different then Rogue’s shadows though. They numbered in the hundreds at lest and came at them.

“Push through” Gijeel roared.

From a couple of blocks to the west the sounds of Lexas’s lightening started to play through the wind. It was an effort but the four of them finally fought their way to the building entrance. Rejoining together they surveyed themselves and the regrouping enemy that was beginning to look like it was in the thousands. 

“Well didn’t expect that” Lexas replied with a smile.

“Yeah much more fun then I thought it would be” Gijeel smiled back.

“You two need to really reevaluate your idea of fun” Mira smiled back at them.

Wendy smiled up at the three older guild mates. Wondrous at their humor in the face of battle.

“Mira secure the building, we will hold them all off and wait for the Kings guard” Lexas half ordered.

Though they really hadn’t agreed on who was leading the mission they had agreed to stick to their strengths and though Mira could just as easily if not more so then the others fight outside. Her compassion would be key to getting some of the women up and out of the building.

Smiling she nodded and took off inside the building.

The other three mages gearing up for a fight.

Mira entered the building and thought about the information Sting had provided. He had told them that the three who escaped believed they had been held in the basement fo a large place that certainly fit this places descriuption. Mira half expected to encounter people inside but up until now she hadn’t encountered anyone or anything. Makign her way to a set of stairs she descended fromt eh frist floor. She reached a solid steel door that was locked. Powering herself up but not changing into her more stronger appearances Mira ripped the door from the hinges and walked in. The first thing that hit was the smell. It was of sweat, stale food, decay and death. She held her hand up to her mouth as she walked down the staris. There was barely any light in the basement but she found a hidden switch that was connected to lights. She puleld the switch and a few more lights came on. Enough for her to gasp. The lights illuminated about ten or eleven cells full of women. The sudden onslaught of light causing many of them to recoil. Those that had the strength to anyways. Too many of them were on the ground barely moving and Mira hoped that they were just slpeeing. She reached into her pocket and puleld out a portable lacroma that was linked to Lexas.

“Found the woman, start sending in the Kings guard” She reported.

“Gotcha” Lexas replied.

Mira went ot eh first cell and raised her hands.

“Hi there. My names Mira from Fairy tail. We are here to rescue you” Mira compassionately said.

“Fairy….tail?” One of the woman said.

“Yep, that’s us” Mira answered with her trademark smile and cheer.

“Oh my god they came!!” The woman repleid with clear joy cpreading through her and tears comign down not only her face but all the women in the cell.

The call was taken up by all the other women in the cells.

“Great now I just have to get them out” Mira muttered to herself looking at the cell door and the locks. She didn’t have the raw strength to rip these doors off but she didn’t need that.

“I’m just going to change please don’t be afraid it will still be me” Mira compassionately said to confused looks from the women in the cell.

“SATAN SOUL!” Mira chanted.

Mira transformed into her Satan Soul self. Her white hair up and her hand now long claw like pieces with wings She looked at the women who seemed to cower a little from her.

“It’s still me. I’m mage this is what I do” Mira explained in her same cheerful voice and that seemed to calm them.

With one rip through the lock with her claws it fell from the cell and clanged on the floor as she opened the door.

“Go up the stairs take a right and keep walking. Kings guard members will escort you from there” She called. Watchign asn making sure the cell emptied. Every women thanking her as they walked by.

Mira moved to the next cell and did the same there.

Topside Lexas, Gihjeel and Wendy were not overwhelmed by the shadows but they were numerous and enough to cause problems. When the Kings guard was approaching they were forced to blow a line through to make sure that they arrived. With Wendy and Gijeel forming a barrier around them to make sure they could do their jobs. It wasn’t soon after that a group of about five or six woman began to come out in little spurts. The shadows seem to notice that the women were being taken from the building and they seemed to collectively shriek. Instantly their numbers doubled and Lexas looked towards his tow comrades who were up top with him and locked eyes with them. The message clear from all three. They were in trouble now.

“Mira we are running out of time here” Lexas called into his lacroma.

“I understand only one more cell to open” Mira answered.

The last group she had just freed was already making their way up the stairs.

Mira looked into the cell and saw only one woman. Unlike the other cells there was only one occupant in it. This one seemed to be a blonde but it was hard to tell, her hair was coated in dirt and grease. Her wrists were individually chained to the wall behind her as well as her ankles with large chains. Naked like all the others this one was huddled so far into herself the only thing Mira could make out was her hair and the side of her leg. 

“Hold on. I am here to get you out” Mira announced and ran into the cell.

The woman barely moved or even seemed to register Mira’s arrival. Mira could understand as well, she was almost gray and translucent with hunger and pain. Fresh cuts and bruises seemed to form a layer of clothing for her. Little trickles of blood that had dried from fresh cuts added the only hint of color to her beyond the somewhat blonde hair. Mira ran towards her and towards the chains holding her wrists to the wall. Slashing at them with her claws she was surprised when a light erupted from them and pushed her back. 

“What the?” Mira gasped.

There was movement from the woman now. Her head trying to come up to meet her saviors eyes. Mira looked at the woman, it seemed to take so much effort just to raise her head up enough to look at Mira’s eyes. When those eyes made contact with Mira. Mira melted.

“LUCY!!!” Mira cried.

The eyes of the woman seemed to enlarge for a moment in recognition and then almost as if that effort alone exhausted her the woman whose eyes looked like Lucy’s faded onto the ground. Collapsing into a heap the woman was fully exposed now. Mira looked her over and gasped again. The woman had a gray seal stone collar around her neck but gorged out in the middle of it was a gold band that almost gave it a regal feel. Going down her body Mira noted that her nipples were pierced with gold rings through them. Further down again she noted that there were three golden rings through her lips on each side as well as a golden stud through her clit. Mira looked her over and found her eyes going towards the woman’s hands. It was there that she finally knew who she was looking at. Though it had a brand of some sort over top of it. On her hand was clear, the Fairy Tail emblem. 

“LUCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it is you!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Mira cried and raced back towards her.

Lucy tried to raise her head to look at her but she just didn’t have the strength to do so.

“LUCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” The voice was clear as day from the warehouse.

“What the?” Lexas half turned towards the warehouse while he was fending off attacks from the shadows.

“What was that?” Gijeel asked.

“Was that Mira?” Wendy asked.

“She said Lucy” Lexas muttered. 

“Gramps you old bastard…… You said bring them home…… you meant Lucy” Lexas muttered again to himself.

“Gijeel, Wendy. Hold the line. I am going to help Mira” Lexas declared and rushed inside.

“Great, yeah because we can do that” Gijeel said parrying a punch from a shadow.

“Is Lucy down there?” Wendy asked while avoiding a kick from a shadow.

“Concentrate Wendy. We will figure it all out later” Gijeel declared while he took out another couple of shadows.

Lexas raced past the last survivors who were being herded by the Kings guard. Down the stairs she found Mira in the last cell. Trying with all her might to cut through chains that just didn’t want to give way.

“I can’t get her free” Mira turned to him with tears in her eyes and a frantic tone. Slashing again and again with her claws to get through but the chain didn’t even show a mark.

Lucy lay crumpled on the floor. Barely recognizable except for the somewhat blonde hair and fairy tail emblem that could seen just below a brand on her hand. Lexas reached out and took Mira by the shoulders. The woman was frantic trying to get her friend free from the chains.

“magic” the words were barely a whisper from the floor.

Lucy looked up at the both of them.

“wont let….. me…..go…….he’ll come…… come…… for me…… wants me…… slave…… please….. get everyone….. else….. leave me…… already…...broken…...just……kill…..me” Lucy grasped for every breath. Tears falling from her eyes.

Mira’s hand covered her face in tried to hold back tears. Lexas didn’t even try to stop the tear from rolling down his cheek.

“Nonsense…...we are going to take you home” Lexas bent down and cradled her in his arms. 

“too late…..broken…...tell…..tell…..tell them all…….I loved them” Lucy managed to squeeze out of her mouth before she lapsed into unconsciousness. 

“LUCY!!!” Mira cried. Coming back to her. Slashing again with the chains.

Lexas put her gently to the ground and cried out himself. He never knew her to well but she had treated him with kindness and she was a guild mate. Summoning every single little surge of lightening that he could gather. Lexas pushed out with his senses and found the chains through his magic. 

Thunder and lightening clouded the battle field. Gijeel looked up and So did Wendy. Even the shadows looked up. 

“Looks like something has really pissed off Laxes” Gijeel remarked.

“Yeah” Wendy agreed.

Lightening shoot down. Blowing a hold in the warehouse and riding right down to the cell. Focused on the four points of the chain the lightening struck with such fire and fury that the two mages were forced to turn their eyes. When the dust settled and they looked back. Lucy was still chained to the wall.

“What the hell?” Laxes exclaimed. 

“There’s not even a crack in them” Mira exclaimed.

“Damn it!!” Lexas pounded the ground. 

Mira powered up her own energy attack but it did nothing as well.

“Oh my!” The little voice came from behind them.

Mira and Lexas turned to see the first master standing there. 

“First Master!!” The pair of them sounded off at the same time.

“I sensed my children in distress…… is that Lucy?” Mavis pointed beyond them towards Lucy.

The two of them nodded their heads.

“We can’t get her restraints off. Even the building around them wont come away” Lexas explained.

Mavis walked over towards Lucy. Lucy as if she sensed the First Master tried to raise her head but she couldn’t do it.

“Rest child” Mavis reached down and patted her head.

Mavis touched the chains and ran her hands around them.

“Magically sealed. Very well done” Mavis remarked.

“Still iron though” Mavis remarked and turned towards them both with a smile.

“Of course” Lexas burst out of the room.

At the fastest run he could manage Lexas was through the warehouse and outside looking for Gijeel witin a moment.

“Gijeel!!” Lexas called.

Iron dragon slayer turned around to look at him.

“Yeah?” He called back.

“Mira needs you down in the basement” Lexas cried. He reached him and took over the fight. Taking on the shadows. 

Gijeel didn’t debate it. He simply took of at a run towards the warehouse.

Reaching the basement and sniffing out Mira he ran towards her in the last cell. He came to a stop and looked into the cell. His eyes looking at Mira first and then he turned to look at the woman in the cell. Chained by her wrists and ankles to the wall Gijeel couldn’t see anything different about the woman until he saw the blonde hair and the fairy tail emblem on her hand.

“Lucy” He muttered. His feelings overcoming him slightly. The first thing he thought about was Levy and if he saw her like this.

He took her all in. The collar and the piercings and he growled. 

“Time enough for that later” Mira scolded.

It was only then he noticed the First Master in the cell as well.

“Gijeel these chains are magic. We can’t break them. Any chance you are feeling hungry” Mira asked.

Gijeel smiled.

“I could go for a bite” Gijeel walked towards the chained Lucy.

With a grace and care he tried to avoid touching Lucy. Lucy who looked so frail below him. He took the chain that connected her left wrist to the wall and placed it in his mouth. He chowed down on the iron and was pleased to see that it began to crumble under his bites. 

“This stuff tastes awful” Gijeel remarked while he continued to chow down. 

It took a minutes or two but Gijeel chewed through the chain and Lucy was free. Not that it seemed to matter as the blonde mage just didn’t have the strength to move from the floor.

“Come on blondie. Wake up” He gruffly but affectionately told her.

“This is bad Mira. I can barely hear her breathing” He turend towards Mira.

There was some movement behind them.

“Sir? Ma’am? Is there anyone left?” A Kings guardsman asked while walkign closer to the cell. 

“Don’t let them see her like this” Mira requested.

Gijeel nodded and went out of the cell to block their access.

“There’s one more but she she is a special case we will handle. If you have a stretcher that would be great” Gijeel was uncharacteristically polite in his attempt to stall the guardsman. 

“Yes Sir” The guardsman was heard saying.

“Gijeel?” Mira called. She as sitting down with Lucy. Putting her friends head on her lap and stroking her hair.

Gijeel came back into the cell.

“Get Lexas we need his coat to cover her, then bring Wendy down….. thank you Gijeel” Mira asked and her sweet charming voice seemed completely out of place in such a place.

Gijeel returned quickly with Lexas’s coat. Explaining that Lexas was more then happy to donate it this one time only. Mira smiled and draped her friend in it and was happy to see Lucy seemed to reach out with her hand and pull the warmth of the jacket into her a little. Wendy came down next.

“Mira??” Wendy was heard calling from the stairs. 

“Here!” Mira called. 

Wendy was soon at the entrence to the cell. Her eyes immediately on Lucy head in Mira’s lap.

“Oh my god LUCY!” Wendy ran into the cell and knelt down at her head.

Mira was still strokign her hair.

“I can barely hear her breathing” Wendy cried.

“Use your magic honey” The First Master’s form told her.

“Oh….. sorry First Master I didn’t see you” Wendy wiped a tear from her eye.

Mavis walked towards the young dragon slayer and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Understandable but you can heal her” Mavis’s child like eyes looked into Wendy’s and she felt her resolve strengthen.

“Right!” Wendy placed her hands over Lucy’s body and a small blue light began to appear. Mira could hear the guardsman approach with a stretcher. Until she heard a gruff voice tel them thanks and took the stretcher from them.

Lexas appeared in the cell carrying the stretcher.

“The shadows just disappeared roughly around the time Gijeel ate through the chains” Lexas reported.

“You think they were all a security feature to keep Lucy here?” Mira asked, still stroking her friends head. 

The blonde haired mage shrugged his massive shoulders and looked down at Wendy and Lucy.

“Hows it going Wendy” He asked her.

“HMMM I don’t know something is fighting me. There is magic all around her that seems to be deflecting mine” Wendy seemed very distressed.

“Keep trying Wendy” Mira reached out with her hand and grabbed Wendy’s and starred into her eyes with that charming smile. 

They tried for five minutes until Wendy nearly passed out from exhaustion. 

“I’m sorry you guys” She said as she lay on the ground.

Gijeel came in and placed a hand on her head.

“You did your best kid. Those chains that were holding her were something else so I bet whoever did this to her did something that your magic wouldn’t help her” Gijeel consoled her. Wendy seemed a little uplifted from that but not to much. 

“We don’t know how long tose shadows are going to stay away and the guardsman are itching to get out of here with all the other girls” Lexas said.

“Right” Mira gently took Lucy’s head from her lap and placed her on the floor and then rose to her feet.

“Gijell and Lexas can you carry her on the stretcher?” Mira asked.

The two men looked at each other and nodded. Lexas placed the stretcher down next to Lucy. He went to her top and Gijell went to her feet. The two men could carry Lucy four times over without a problem but they knew they had to be careful. With great care they picked her up and straightened her out before they placed her on the stretcher. To Wendy’s horror she noted that the coat that had been placed on Lucy came away a little bit to reveal a breast and a pierced nipple. Mira gasped but Wendy was closest and saw it first. With a speed she didn’t know she had she reached out and moved the coat back into position. Mira reached out and took Wendy into her with a giant hug.

“You okay?” She asked.

“No…… we need to find whoever did this to Lucy and make them pay” Wendy half cried half roared.

“You got that damn right kid” Lexas remarked. The two men were now making their way out of the cell and towards the stairs. Mira with nimble and agility she rarely exhibited raced past them, leaping up the stairs.

“Attention guardsman we appreciate your help. There is one more woman to come out but we will be handling her. We would appreciate some discretion” Mira asked in her sweetest voice and the guards immediately agreed. They moved out of the warehouse and went to the many carts and carriages that were now full of rescued woman.

Lexas and Gijell brought Lucy up on the stretcher into an empty warehouse. 

“Mira we are going to need specialized medical helpa dn quickly” Lexas said as they wer emaking their way delicately through the warehouse.

“I know I had a thought” Mira said.

She pulled out the lacroma that contained the conection with Sting and tehir Sabertooth allies.

“Mira??? how did it go?” Sting answered immediately as if he had been eagerly awaitign their call.

“I lost count of how many we saved but Sting we have one here that requires more special service. Private and the best. Do you get me?” Mira asked.

“I got you. We’ve got Princess Hishe on lacroma. You guys are real close to Crocus. I am sure they could get you into the Royal wing” Sting offerred.

“That would be great. Thanks Sting” Mira said in that charming voice.

“Mira?” Sting asked through the lacroma.

“Yes?” Mira answered.

“Is she okay?” Sting asked.

This confirmed to Mira that Sting had properly guessed who they had in their care. 

“No…… she is not….. Sting is this why we were here?” Mira asked and she noted that Lexas paid close attention to this question.

“We had evidence but nothing concrete and we were dealing with eye witness reports that were possibly tainted due to trauma” Sting replied.

“Some of the girls escaped” Lexas offered to the conversation.

“Three, all because of Lucy” Sting replied through the lacroma.

The four Fairy Tail wizards looked down at their friend laying as close to lifeless as she could be on the stretcher. Amazed at how she had helped three other out of that god foresaken place.

“Just spoke to the Princess” Yukino came into the conversation.

“She has granted special parameters for your entry into the capital and into the private medical wing at the palace. She says she and her personal guard will meet you at Elmwood just outside the city to escort you in” Yukino continued. 

Elmwood was only about a half hour ride from where they were. The three dragon slayers were perfectly fine to put up with their famous motion sickness this one time for their friend.

“Thank you. Sting I am sure Master Makarov said this but I will say it again. Thank you from all of Fairy Tail” Mira responded.

“Friends help friends. You did the dirty work tonight and helped us complete our job” Sting replied.

“I also imagine he asked you to keep it secret” Lexas confirmed before they signed off of the lacroma.

“Yes….. I wasn’t entirely sure why to be honest” Sting replied.

Lexas laughed.

“Think of who her closest friends are Sting. If they find out what happened to her like we just did. There wont be a country on Earth that wouldn’t burn as they looked for the man who did this to her. That also includes half of our guild” Lexas laughed and added steel to his voice in the last bit.

“Ah I see…… I am still learning this Master business” Sting scratched the back of his head with a small laugh.

“You are doing just fine” That came from Gijell which probably meant more to them then it would have come from Mira or Wendy.

“Thank you Gijell. Let us know if we can help” Sting asked.

“Actually Sting can you send a couple of people to beef up the escort. We just have us and the Kings guard here and to be honest we will protect Lucy above all else right now” Lexas said. Though he got a look fro Mira she did not object.

“Rogue and Minerva are in the area as well as Kagura from mermaid Heel. I am sure they would be able to keep their mouths shut and provide more then ample cover” Sting offered.

“That would be great, we are meeting the Princess at Elmwood…. Thanks again Sting” Mira replied.

“I’ll send them there. I’ll see you in Crocus” Sting signed off.

Wendy placed her hand on Wendy’s side and started to try and heal her again.

‘Wendy your too weak” Gijell admonished trying to pull her away but she pushed him away.

“I may not be healing her but I can help her to stop from getting worse. Don’t tell me you can’t hear how labored her breathing is” Wewndy replied.

“Yes but you can’t do that the whole way to Crocus” Gijell said.

Wendy’s eyes turned towards him and had the same fierceness every dragon slayer could wield at any given time.

“Watch me” She challenged. 

They were now coming towards the last carriage in the line that had been left to them. There was a carriage in front of them that had the windows opened and no curtains on the windows. Mira could understand that. After who knows how long in that basement the women wanted to see everything.

“You are Fairy Tail?” One of the women in the carriage asked Mira as she came to the front to take the reigns. Lexas and Gijell loaded the stretcher into the back with Wendy hopping in afterwards. 

“That’s right sweetie” Mira replied cheerfully.

“She said you would come” Another one of the woman in the carriage said.

Mira’s heart broke then. A tear came to her eye.

“Yes….. but not soon enough” She said low, hoping no one heard her. Though with three dragon slayers in the carriage that was unlikely.

The girls in the carriage in front were all talking to the driver of the carriage and tehn something was said to the driver in the next one and tehn the next. Some sort of message went up through the line and then a guardsman cam edown to speak to Mira.

“We are ready to push off. The woman are saying you should take the lead and travel with all speed to wheerever you need to go. Whoever you have in that carriage means a lot to them and they just want to make sure she is going to be koay” The guardsman stated.

Mira felt another rush of tears come to her face.

“Thank you Captain but we are not only here for her we are also here to make sure all the woman are safely returned. We have a rendezvous at Elmwood where we have asked for additional support so that we may then move at all speed” Mira replied.

The guards man nodded his head and turned on his heel.

‘Then we shall make best speed to Elmwood” The turned and ran off and Mira was sure the caravan of carriages was moving before he had even got on one of them.

“Thank you girls” Mira called ahead the carriage.

“We wont tell anyone who it is….. we promise. Not until the news gets out. She helped keep us sane even while he was trying to break her mind” The woman called back.

Break her mind? Thought Mira…. My god Lucy what did you go through?

The journey to Elmwood was thankfully uneventful. They made it there in twenty five minutes which Mira was happy for. In the back of the carriage she could hear Wendy panting as she continued to give everything she had to just keep Lucy stable. The silence from Gijell and Lexas though was telling.

As confirmed the Princess and her royal guard were waiting for them as they pulled into the small little hamlet. With Rogue, Minerva and Kagura waiting by her side Mira was happy to see her friends and the increased protection. The shadows just disappearing when Lucy’s chains were cut was worrying her. There being no one in the warehouse as well was also something that worried her. 

“Rogue, Minerva, Kagura! It’s great to see you” Mira annoucned. She puleld the carriag up just in front of the Princess. 

Immediately Lexas and Gijell jumped from the back of the carriage and assumed positions on either side of the carriage. Arms crossed against their chest and their senses stretched outward looking for any kind of threat. Rogue took notice of this and nodded to Mira and walked towards Gijell.

“Is it true Lucy is in the carriage?” Kagura asked.

“Yes…. I would like to say more my friends but time is off the essence” Mira announced. The two ladies nodded and allowed the medical team that the Princess had brought to come between them and to the back of the carriage. They jumped in and seemed to startle Wendy. The blue light from her hands still going all this way but she was clearly tied and in need of rest.

“You have been trying to heal her all the way” A medic asked her.

“yes….. there's some sort of magical inhibitor. I could only try and keep her stable” Wendy half cried as she fell from her seat.

Finally her job of keeping Lucy stable over she gave into the exhaustion that was threatening her. Falling she nearly fell out of the carriage until Kagura caught her.

“Kagura!” Wendy maanaged to say.

“You have been using your healing powers for twenty minutes?” Kagura admonished.

“Longer really” Wendy shrank from the taller woman who was like a sister to Erza and in turn because Wendy viewed Erza as a sister Kagura was like another sister. 

“That is impressive….. but reckless….. Wendy!” Kagura admonished.

“What was I supposed to do?” Wendy asked.

The words were small but very true.

“I suppose what you did but still, it was reckless” Kagura admonished.

“It’s what you or Erza would have done” Wendy commented and finally closed her eyes while she was cradled in Kagura’s arms.

“She has you there” Gijell smiled.

Kagura growled. With great care Kagura placed the now sleeping Wendy back in the carriage. There were four medics in there now working on Lucy.

At the front of the carriage Mira was talking to the guardsman who had come with them into the warehouse and shaking their hands. Some of the women from the carriages had come out before they were leaving. Trying to get a glimpse to see if Lucy was okay. The guardsmen seemed upset that they seemed to know who it was and they weren’t being allowed to know.

“Not to be indelicate Princess but can we trust these medics” Mira asked. 

The Princess was renown for her beauty and her intelligence. Most of all though she was a friend to Fairy Tail and counted Lucy as one of them.

“They are my personal staff. They are aware what happens if I become displeased” The Princess answered and Mira nodded.

“If not I can always make examples of them” Minerva half heartily smiled.

Mira chuckled at the attempted joke. Minerva was coming a long way since her time with Tartorus and was a friend as well to Fairy Tail and most importantly to Erza who regarded Lucy like a sister. 

The medics jumped off of the back of the carriage and came running back to the Princess.

“We must get her back to the palace as soon as possible” The head medic declared.

With those simple words the carriage was going again with moments towards the capital. The lights were visible from here and Mira wondered how they would get into the palace without being seen.

Turned out it was pretty simple. The palace had an underground system of tunnels and service roads to service it. Little known by the common folk but apparently well known to those who knew the castle. The Princess and the Captain of her guard guided them through with expert precision. Within an hour they arrived at the palace proper. Lucy was taken from the carriage with great care and placed into a separate and very private medical wing in the palace. Gijell, Lexas, Rogue, Kagura and Minerva standing guard while Mira and Wendy had the unenviable task of telling their Master. Mira pulled out the lacroma that would connect to the guild hall and the Master’s office.

It didn’t take long for the lacroma to be picked up and on the other end Mira could see the face of her Master Makarov.

“Mission was a success” She reported.

Makarov smiled and nodded his head.

“Anything unforeseen?” He asked.

“Yeah we found Lucy, but you knew we would didn’t you?” Wendy broke in and accused. Mira pushed her away but didn’t tell the young girl off. The look she gave Makarov was one that told him she agreed with Wendy.

“The information was not one hundred percent. I didn’t want to get the hopes up” Makarov explained.

Mira took a deep breath and understood his reasoning but she was still mad. Being on the mission itself she felt she should have been informed but it now made sense as to why he both didn’t want Wendy to come and why he allowed her to come. The medics had told them that without Wendy’s healing Lucy could have died on the way to Elmwood.

“How is she?” Makarov asked.

“I think you should come and see her” Mira answered.

‘Where are you? Are you not on your way home?” Makarov asked clearly confused.

“Lucy needed immediate emergency medical help. Without Wendy’s help she would be dead already. The closest place was the capital” Mira answered. Knowing what he would say next.

“The Capital… are you crazy, you will be mobbed by people any moment” Makarov nearly blew a gasket.

“We snuck into the city under the Princess’s guard and are in a private section of the palace where Lucy is receiving the best treatment anyone can get in the country” Mira explained.

Makarov rubbed his temples and then nodded.

“Well done” He conceded.

“How bad is it Mira?” He asked. Pangs of guilt and real concern in his voice. So much conern in his voice it was heartbreaking.

“It’s bad Master Makarov. She’s lapsed into a coma. She’s had multiple bone breaks and fractures, sprains and tears. Her body looks like a road map of scars and half healed cuts and bruises. I didn’t recognize her when I found her” Mira turned from the lacroma and prevented herself from crying.

“It is okay to cry my child. One of our family has been hurt. Is there more that was done to her?’ Makarov asked and Mira knew what he was referring to and she wasn’t sure if she shold say it in front of Wendy.

“Wendy do you mind?” Mira asked.

Wendy nodded and went to leave the room they had been provided.

“I understand you don’t want to say the next parts in front of me…… I hope you also understand I know exactly what you are about to say” Wendy said.

“Stay outside and we can talk about that when I am done okay” Mira asked.

‘Why, I know what happened?” Wendy replied with a typical teenagers attitude.

“Please for my sake?” Mira asked.

Wendy nodded and exited the room.

“How bad?” Makarov asked again.

“To bad to even truly say. They say she has had so many vaginal intrusions it’s impossible to determine. Her anus is no better and there’s evidence of semen around her mouth. She was well abused Master” Mira nearly cried herself from simply laying it out there.

Makarov took a deep breath and remained silent while he thought about the information.

“Anything else?” Makarov finally asked.

Mira swallowed and nodded.

“What else could there possibly be?” Makarov asked.

“well besides the fact that Wendy’s healing magic wouldn’t work. She said there was something around her that was stopping her from doing it. Whatever that means” Mira explained.

“And that is not even the worst of it, is it?” Makarov asked.

Mira shook her head and then took a deep breath herself.

“She’s been modified” Mira said

“There’s a seal stone collar around her throat that is engraved in gold. Her nipples have been pierced with golden rings. Same with her clit and three more through each of her outer labia lips……. Also there is a tattoo on her pubic mound that says slave and her fairy tail mark on her hand has a brand over it that appears to be another slave marking” Mira explained and felt all her strength leave her as she explained it all.

“By MAVIS!” Makarov exclaimed.

“Master you can’t let the guild no yet. They will go to war with everyone and everything to find out who did this to her” Mira reluctantly advised.

“Yes I agree but we wont be able to keep it secret for long. Natsu and Grey where already askign wher eWendy and Gijell were today” Makarov said.

“Erza will go balistic as well” Mira said.

“Yes but we may have to tell her. We will need help to get the search started before we tell the full guild” Makarov rubbed his temples again and became silent.

“I will travel to Crocus immediately I will bring Freid and Levy with me. They are our best researchers and if there are clues to find they will find them. What about her keys Mira. Did you recover them?” Makarov asked.

“No Master. They weren’t with her” Mira replied. 

“Very odd. If she was in so much trouble why did Loki not come and find us?” Makarov asked rhetorically.

“That is one of the questions we have all been asking ourselves Master” Mira answered.

“Okay I will be there late morning. Until then keep her safe” Makarov ordered.

“We have plenty of guards at the moment and have help from Rogue, Minerva and Kagura. Lucy is safe” Mira was at least happy to say.

“Good. Keep her safe Mira and we will work with what the fates give us” Makaraov signed off and Mira slumped in her chair. 

“Wendy?” Mira called.

The door to the room opened and Wendy walked in. A sullen look on her face but a hopeful expression in her eyes.

“Care to tell me what’s going through your mind” Mira asked.

Wendy looked up at her and Mira had to remind herself that though the girl was battle hardened and tested she was still just a girl. It was tough to remind herself after all she had seen and experienced but this latest experience was one that could really shatter a young girls believe in the world. Mira knew what that felt like and knew that she had guild mates to help her through things when she had thought Lisanna was gone. 

“I know what you were talking about was sexual” Wendy said. She stuttered a little over the word sexual but beyond that she stated it with a confidence that Mira admired.

“That’s right” Mira replied. Looking at the young woman and wondering just what was going on in her mind.

“So if I knew that then why I couldn’t I be apart of conversation?” Wendy asked.

It was a reasonable question and Mira wondered how to answer it without insulting her, which she really didn’t want to do. It was all about protecting her.

“You feel like we are leaving you out of it?” Mira asked.

“Yes” Wendy answered quickly.

“We brought you though” Mira responded.

“After I made a good argument” Wendy responded again quickly.

“Yes you did. So we brought you and told you before hand we would protect you from certain things. I found Lucy….. do you know that?” Mira asked.

“Well yeah. You were the first in” Wendy answered.

“Yes I was. Why not Gijell or Lexas?” Mira asked.

“Because they are men and you were expecting something like we saw…. Just maybe not with Lucy” Wendy answedred.

Mira smiled at the young woman. Wise beyond her years and so very willign to help her friends.

“That’s right to a degree. You know about sex but you haven’t had it…. At least I don’t think you have” Mira cheerfully asked.

Wendy giggled and blushed.

“No of course not. I get flustered when we are in the baths” Wendy answered and tehn immedaitely drew back.

“You see?” 

“Yes….. I now it in my head but seeing things are a little different” Wendy answered. The sullen look coming back to her face but also understanding and a wish for apology in her eyes.

“Very different. I…. nearly couldn’t handle it” Mira admitted.

“Really?” Wendy asked.

“Of course. That is our friend we found. That image will be burned in my mind forever. Tell me when the coat moved a little and you pushed it back into place you sw what had been done to her. Is that an image that is something you don’t think you will ever forget”

Wendy looked down and nodded.

“I don’t think I’ll ever forget it…. It was awful” Wendy admitted.

“Exactly and that was just one thing. You will see Lucy in the next couple of days maybe even hours and you will see her covered and hopefully at rest. That is the image I want you to associate with rescuing our friend, not seeing her body mutilated” Mira explained.

“I get it….. I just….. I wanted to help her” Wendy broke down crying.

“Wendy…. The medics told us that without you she would have died on route to Elmwood. You saved her” Mira reached out and hugged her young friend.

“It doesn’t feel like enough” Wendy cried into her arms.

“I know….. but I will always be grateful for what you did and I know Natsu, Grey and Erza are going to thank you from the bottom of their hearts when they learn of what you did” Mira told her.

“You think?” Wendy asked.

“I know” Mira hugged her closer and the two cried into each others arms.

Lucy was cuffed to a table in a small room. It wasn’t the wooden door room that she had been in before but this was something a little larger. Her legs were spread and cuffed to the legs of the table and her hands were the same above her head. The man stood over the table. A vibrator in his hand he looekd down on her with that smile and chuckle again.

“Ready slave?” He asked.

Lucy told him to go to hell again but the man lowered the vibe to her clit and started to tub it against her exposed clit. Lucy couldn’t help herself she rubbed her pussy against the vibrator. It was far to pleasurable not to. Her long blonde hari was streaked with sweat and arrayed on the table above her head but with each movemetn a strand came acorss her face. The man rubebd her clit with the vieba dn she thrashed with pleasure against it. She hated it and him but her body betreyed her. Arousal flooded thorugh her and soon she as moaning in plesaure. He laguedh and called her a slut and a slave but Lucy yelled back at him, Telling him she was a fairy tail mage and if she didn’t get out on her own her friends would come and destroy him. That chuckle would come from his throat at that and he would take the vibrator away from her.

“You precious guild has given up. They have moved on” he taunted her.

“Never!” Lucy yelled but the man chuckled again and placed the vibe back on her clit.

Her cries of never turning to moans. 

“Beg me to take your pussy again slave” Teh man demanded.

Lucy cried into her shoulder and refused to answer.

“You know you want it. I can give you pleasure or I can give you pain” The man took the vibrator from her and the collar activated. 

Lucy screamed in pain. Thrashing in her bonds and screaming at him.

“Beg to be my slave” The man taunted her again.

“Go to hell” Lucy screamed at him.

Laying in her bed Lucy thrashed. Screaming and writhing in pain the medics looked at each dumbfounded. Gijeel and Laxes came rushing in. followed closely by Rogue, Minerva and Kagura.

“What the hell is going on?” Lexas asked the nearest medic.

“We don’t know. She just started thrashing in the bed and screaming”

“GO TO HELL!!!!” Lucy screamed into the private chamber. Her eyes never opened but the energy she used to thrash about in the bed was remarkable for the frail figure that actually lay there.

The covers that had draped her since her arrival in the palace fell away from her bed. Thrashing about. It revealed her entire body. For those who had not seen, Rogue, Minerva, Kagura and the medics the sudden exposure of her nude, pierced body was jarring.

“My god!” Minerva exclaimed. A hand coming to her mouth.

“Who would do such a thing?” Rogue asked aloud.

“Justice must be served” Kagura gripped her sword with a white knuckle.

The medics hurried to put the sheet back over her body. Gijeel and Laxes went to their fellow wizards.

“Again we have to say…..” Gijell said.

“Yes… it stays quiet….. however when you go after this monster. The full resources of Mermaid Hell will be available to you” Kagura said.

“You can count Saber Tooth in as well” Minerva agreed.

“Why haven’t you removed them?” Rogue asked.

“Removed…… you mean the piercings?” Lexas asked.

Rogue nodded and Lexas looked over to the still thrashing Lucy who was being held down by the medics. 

“We just didn’t have the time….. I am not sure why not now” Lexas confirmed.

“We thought you knew” A medic said from the side of the bed.

Lucy was settling now but she still moved in her bed which should have been impossible for someone who the medics said was in a coma.

“Knew what?” Gijeel demanded.

“The piercings are magical in nature. They can’t be removed. At least we haven’t found a way to. Tehy give off an impressive amount of magic” The medic answered.

“Was that what was preventing Wendy from healing her?” Lexas asked more to the room then to anyone in particular.

The blank looks he got in return let them now they were as confused as he was. 

At her bed the medics were still having a hard time keeping her contained. Gihjell, Lexas and Rogue moved in and with their strength they were able to keep her pinned on the bed. Minerva and Kagura made sure that the cover did not get flung off of her again. All the wizards looked among themselves and though no one expressed it aloud there was one prevailing thought that they all shared. What the hell was going on?

Master Makarov, Fried and Levy had taken the first train out of Magnolia towards the capital. Makarov had merely told the two mages that he needed their help with a most private and sensitive matter in the capital. Being the master of the guild and trusted by all the two had simply nodded their heads and come with them. Makarov had told them to pack to be away for at least a week and as such it had taken them a little longer to get ready but they were wizards after all and used to extended stays away from the guild. When the train pulled up at the station in Crocus and the three disembaracked from the train they were met by a dettachemetn of royal guards from the palace. Supplied by the Princess, Fried and Levy were at first concerned by they were greeted by the Master with respect and accepted by him easily. 

Guided into the royal palace by way of underground passages Fried and Levy began to understand just how private the matter was. The palace itself was a massive place but they were being taken to a large wing that seemed dedicated towards medical applications. Walking through the halls that were large and designed to accomadate a large amount of people that were currently empty was a little unsettling for Levy but she followed Fried and the Master without any issue.

“Halt!” Came an echoey voice that seemed to come from everywhere in the hall. It was familiar but because of the echo and the vastness fo the chamber it was hard to pin point who it was.

“You know it’s us Gijeel” Makarov said into the chasm that was the chamber.

“Sorry just making sure. My senses are a little messed up at the moment” Gijeel came from the shadows with his hands crossed over his chest.

Levy was elated to see him. She ran towards him and threw herself at him.

“Gijell!” She hugged him. 

Levy was used to the gruff way in which Gijell presented himself in public and knew to expect some sort of comment about her and probably not to even hug her back. Instead though he opened his arms and just before she buried her face into his neck she saw something in her eyes she had very rarely seen. It was pain and suffering. He hugged her like he did in private. Withholding none of his feeling towards her. The sudden public outburst from him caught her by surprise and though she just wanted to hug him her natural curiosity got the better of her.

“What’s wrong?” Levy asked.

It was then that her mind reminded her what he had just said. His senses were messed up. Was he injured?

She pushed herself away from him and for the first time since they had known each other he resisted. He kept her in the embrace. His breathign was ragged and Levy could feel a tear hit her head. He was crying. Gijell sniffed and then finally puleld her away from him. He brushed a hand against his eyes preventing any more tears from falling and looked into her eyes.

“Sorry shrimp, didn’t want you to see me like this but it’s good you are here. We could use the help” Gijell tried to smile for her and Levy felt her heart break for him.

Makarov and Fried who had watched the incident without comment simply stood there and waited for Gijell to finally look at them.

“Sorry Master…. Fired it is good to see you. Your help will be much appreciated” Gijell said and the words were so uncharacteristic that the two men nearly fell down in disbelieve but Makarov knew where it was coming from.

“You haven’t told them have you Master?” Gijell said. Levy was now to his side. He draped an arm around her in a protective measure he only did to her in battle. 

Makarov cleared his throat and seemed to stutter for a moment.

“I didn’t know how to” He admitted.

Gijell nodded and truend to look down at Levy. His smile was warm but there was real pain behind it.

“What is going on Gijell?……. Master?” Levy demanded to know.

“You must be prepared for what you are about to see” The booming voice of Lexas announced his arrival. The tall striking blonde haired man was walking with a purpose. Behidn him was Rogue and Minerva from Saber Tooth. 

Levy didn’t know what to think seeing Lexas with Rogue and Minerva but the way they were constantly scanning the palace and even outside with their eyes and probably other senses told her that they were on guard fro something very important. 

“You are right of course my son” Makarov replied and looked downcast.

“It is always the plight of the Master to deliver bad news” The voice of Mavis the First Master echoed through the chamber. She appeared walking next to Lexas and the other wizards.

Levy’s alarm level went up several degrees at the sight of the First Master who would not be there if it wasn’t something very important to the guild. 

“Okay I have had enough of the cryptic stuff. Just tell me and Fried what is going on?” Levy blurted. She tried to disengage from the protective arm Gijell draped around her but she found he was unwilling to let her go. She looked at him with a look that would normally tell him to obey her but the return look he got from him was full of pain again and she felt her heart break once more and her will to resist fade. 

Makarov looked at the two wizards he had just arrived with and sighed.

“There is no easy way to say this……. Yesterday Lexas, Mira, Wendy and Gijell………. Found Lucy” Makarov announced.

Levy felt the air leave her lungs. All of the energy in her body seemed to just be gone. Her legs became shakey and she felt herself falling. Grateful that Gijell had her wrapped in that protective arm he grabbed her and prevented her from falling. Lookign at Fried the green haired wizard simply stood with his mouth open and a tear in his eye. Levy looked at that tear and wondered why was she not crying. She couldn’t even stand at the moment, Gijell was holding her upright with one hand.

“I……. We must see her!” Levy finally said. Not sure where she got the strength to say it but with each word she felt some come back into her body.

She was standing on her own now and she looed up at Gijell and gave him a silent thanks with her eyes. Then the tears came. When she looked at him and saw the pain in his eyes and knew that he had seen Lucy and was now in such pain. Her brain then put it together.

“Wait, Lexas, Gijell, Mira and Wendy were helping Saber Tooth and Mermaid Heel with the human trafficking problem…….” Levy’s brain began to piece it together.

“…… she was with them….. wasn’t she?……. She was being held by them?” Levy demanded.

The nods from all of those present confirmed it and Levy felt the strength ebb from her again.

“How bad is it?” Those were the first words Fried had said and he addressed them to Lexas who had stopped only a couple fo feet from his friend and greeted each other.

“It’s bad” Lexas confirmed.

Levy overheard it and then leaned into Gijell.

“Take me to her” She demanded and Gijell nodded.

“We are keeping this from the guild and the wider world at the moment because of the sensitive nature and for the safety of many” Makarov announced as they were led through the medical wing towards Lucy’s suite.

“The guild should know” Levy replied.

“Yes and they will but not right now. We must gain more information. If the guild were to find out just what we know right now there will be hell to pay throughout all of Firoa” Makarov explained.

Levy thought about it and it seemed wrong but she understood what he was saying.

Lucy’s room was massive. With a large window that overlooked the beautiful city below. All around her where the hums of equipment and about four medics and two doctors. Not to mention the scores of medics and doctors they had eventually passed on their way here. The Princess was a friend to Fairy Tail and Levy was happy for it. Lucy lay in a bed looking peaceful and serene. Not moving a muscle, her head the only thing visible from beyond the white sheets that covered her. Levy rushed to her side and looked at her. She was much thinner then normal in her face and her skin was so pale. Her hair was matted and dirty though it looked like someone had tried to clean it for her.

“I am not very good with make up and that kind of stuff but I tried my best” The sounds of Kagura from the other side of the room greeted them. She was walkign towards the bed from a chair that she had obviously been sitting in.

“We’ve had at least one of us in the room at all times” Lexas confirmed.

Levy looked up to the warrior from Mermaid Heel and smiled.

“I’m sure she is thankful for it Kagura” Levy smiled.

Kagura nodded and took a step back to allow the others around the bed.

Lexas stood on the other side of the bed from Levy. She could feel Gijell behind her and she reached up with her hand. He took it in his and she felt his warm embrace through it.

“This isn’t going to be easy to see but it’s important that you and it’s the reason we needed Levy and Freid here” Lexas warned everyone. 

He reached down and took a hold of the sheet that was covering Lucy. Levy felt her heart stop and wanted to tell him no don’t roll that back. She knew her life wouldn’t be the same after seeing what had happened to her friend and knew instinctively that what she was about to see was going to change it again. The sheet was removed in a florish. Lexas draped the sheet over his shoulder.

Makarov, Fried and Levy looked at the body of their friend and for the first time she could remember she saw the Master cry. Levy looked down at Lucy’s body. The horrible bruises and scars and half healed marks just seemed to take every inch of her body. Her eyes were immediately drawn to those but when she was able to look better at her friend was when she saw the piercings and the tattoos. She squeezed Gijell’s hand behind her and felt his strength and warmth come into her as he squeezed back. Levy looked at her friend and the piercings and she was struck by the magical power coming off of her. Seemingly generated by the rings in her body. Levy refused to look closely at them but there was something in the back of her mind telling her to. Six rings in her labia lips. A stud in her clit and two rings through her nipples. The word slave tattooed above her pussy and a seal stone collar around her throat with a grooved out gold inlay.

“Where are her keys” Fried asked from the other side of the bed.

The others answered that they didn’t know.

Levy looked at her friend and those piercings. The magic coming from those piercings.

“They are there” Levy pointed towards her friend.

“What are there?” Lexas asked.

Levy squeezed Gijell’s hand once more and looked over her friends body again.

“Her keys….. they are on her body… the rings and the stud and the collar….. those are her keys” Levy announced.

The stunned silence in the room was deafening.

“Lucy had ten golden keys and there are ten uses of them on her body” Levy tried to say without crying.

The others looked down at Lucy’s body and they all began to see it.

“DAMN IT!!! WHY DIDN’T WE SEE THAT!!!” Lexas turned from the bed screaming in a rage. 

Master Makarov simply stared with his jaw open at Lucy on the bed.

Lexas threw the sheet from his shoulder behind him and it fluttered down over Lucy. Kagura and Minerva quickly draped it over her so that she was covered again.

“They will pay” Rogue said from the foot of the bed.

There was no need to echo it. Everyone agreed.

Levy and Fried were put to work to try and find out why Wendy’s healing was not working and now with the revelation of her rings being her celestial keys Levy was working off of the estimation that it was the magic from the keys that interfered with Wendy’s healing and thus prevented her from doing much. They had been given a study room that was only a couple of feet away from Lucy’s room. Gijell stood guard just outside though with Freid in the room Levy felt more then safe but she could understand Gijell feeling more protective then normal at the moment. Working under that hypothesis Levy was certain that if they removed the keys and restored them to their natural state then Wendy would be able to heal Lucy a lot quicker. Luckily the Princess was a celestial mage herself and as such had books upon books of material to pour through.

Lucy was on all fours in the white room as she had named it in her mind. Her breasts hug below her and she was cold on the stone floor but she was otherwise unrestrained. The man Dee stood behind her. He had just come into the room and though Lucy felt she could have rushed him at that point she didn’t really have the strength. He had walked around her, appraising her like a slab of meat and now he just stood behind her. Lucy was thankful that at the very least he wasn’t using her like a sex toy for the moment.

“Are you hungry my pet?” He asked.

Lucy wanted to say yes but she had been through this before. If she answered he would demand that she beg for it. She would refuse and thus would begin more punishment. Today she kept her mouth shut and looked away from him as he circled her again. He held a bowl in his hand that Lucy swore he hadn’t had when he walked into the room. It was a stainless steel bowl about the size one would use to feed a house pet. There was a smell of noddles from it as well that prickled her senses. She was so very hungry. He placed it down by her face. On all fours she could see it on the floor directly beneath her.

“Eat my slave” The man used his foot to push the dish directly under her face.

Lucy wanted to eat. The smell was intoxicating and the noddles looked so very fresh and warm. She turned her face. Not willing to give him anything.

That damned chuckle coming from his throat again. Lucy wanted to get up and punch him but she didn’t have the strength. She was so hungry and so powerless.

“No tricks Lucy, just eat” The man tried to be compassionate but it came off as creepy more then anything. 

Lucy stared down at the noddles and relented. She moved her feet to shuffle under her so she could sit on her butt. He stopped her though with his foot and loomed over her.

“I said no tricks but I also didn’t say you could move” He taunted her.

Lucy peered up from her position trying to look him in the eye but he was too tall and in her position all she could do was peer up at his chest. She wanted to ask how she could eat but she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of hearing her voice. Then it hit her, the bowl was for a pet and she was on all fours. He wanted her to eat out of the bowl like an animal. Inner rage consumed her but it died away in the face of her hunger.

Her head lowered and she placed it in the bowl and started to eat.

“That’s a good slave” The man gleefully laughed.

“NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! I AM NO PET!!!!!!!” Lucy screamed in her bed. She trhrashed in the bed again. This time they were ready though. Lexas and Gijell were nearby and immediately went and grabbed her by her arms. Master Makarov grabbed the sheet covering her and held it in place while she thrashed.

“I don’t understand!” yelled a doctor.

“She’s in a coma, how is she doing this?” He yelled aloud.

“I don’t know Doc but you better figure it out quick” Lexas grunted.

Lucy was far stronger then had ever given her credit for both in the mind and now physically. 

The door to her suite swung open and Levy came running in.

“I heard her scream!” Levy said coming to a stop next to Gijell.

She took a hold of her hand. Her scared hand that used to contain her fairy tail emblem. 

“Calm down Luce… You are with friends” Levy soothed her.

“I’m here. You’re surrounded by friends Luce…… please calm down” Levy stroked her friends hand and arm.

Lucy didn’t stopped thrashing but she did seem to calm a little. Levy continued to stroke her hand and arm.

“That’s it Luce…. We are here. You are safe” Levy stoked her friends hand and arm with every ounce of heart she had. Brushing back tears when she could with her hands before continuing to stroke.

“That’s good Levy… keep it up” Master Makarov commended.

“Good work shrimp” Gijell said next to her with a smile on his face.

Her body was not thrashing anymore but it was still moving. Her arms and legs moving back and forth but Levy kept a hold of the one hand. Lucy’s head mulled from side to side.

“That’s it Luce….. I’m here” Levy continued to soothe her friend.

Now Lucy was back to resting normally in her bed. Lexas and Gijell hesitantly let go of her but she seemed to settle onto the bed. Levy couldn’t hold the tears anymore and allowed them run. She wouldn’t let go of her friends hand though and just allowed them to fall. Gijell stood next to her and took some tissue from a nearby area and started to wipe away her tears. Levy held tight to Lucy’s hand.

“We tried that before but we couldn’t soothe her….” Lexas said to her.

Gijell took her by the shoulders and smiled down at her.

“You’re amazing” He whispered into her ear.

Levy couldn’t help but smile and use her free hand to wipe away the last of her tears. 

“Magic surrounds and engulfs her yet she seems cut off from it” Makarov mused.

Levy finally removed her hand from Lucy’s and moved to the top of the bed. She pulled some hair from Lucy’s eyes and leaned in and kissed her friend on the forehead.

“We are here Luce” Levy whispered.

She turned towards Makarov and motioned for him to walk with her a bit away from the bed. She eyed Lexas and Gijell and they took the hint to join them.

“I think we have to at least get Natsu, Grey and Erza here” Levy said in her most forceful way.

“Those three will tare the country in two looking for whoever did this” Makarov said shaking his head no.

“Maybe but they are the closest to her. If I can get her to calm just imagine what they might be able to do” Levy reasoned.

Lexas nodded and Gijell did as well.

“She makes a good point old man” Lexas confirmed.

“You can talk to Erza and she’ll be angry but she wont go against your command and she’ll keep the others in check” Levy reasoned again.

Again she was joined by nods from Lexas and Gijell.

“Very well” Makarov relented. 

Lisanna stood behind the bar. Fillign in as she often did when her sister was away. She didn’t think she was as good a cook then her sister but no body seemed to complain. The hall was livlier then it had been in weeks but still justa shade of it’s former self. With some of it’s memebrs away and the continued absence of Lucy. Fairy Tail was just not the same ray of light it had been. So lost in thought she didn’t notice the vibrating orb below the bar that told her the lacroma in Master’s office was calling. She took off at pace to the office to answer it.

“Master Makarov!’ Lisanna exclaimed when she answered it.

“Lisanna my dear how are you? And the rest of my children?” Makarov asked through the lacroma.

“Being asked to help Saber Tooth and Mermaid Heel has breathed some life back into the guild Sir but it’s still dark” Lisanna voiced her thoughts from only moments before.

Makarov nodded through the lacroma.

“Perhps then it best if I address them all. Before I ask you to take the lacroma out into the guild hall can I ask if Erza, Grey and Natsu are there?” Makarov asked.

“Yes Sir they are in the hall right now” Lisanna answered.

“Good. Can you bring them in so I can talk to them first please” Master Makarov asked.

“Certainly Sir” Lisanna happily said and turned to go and grab them.

It wasn’t long before the three of them were brought into the room.

“Just let me know when you need me” Lisanna cheerfully called.

“No Lisanna, it’s best you hear this as well” Makarov stopped her from leaving the room.

Lisanna looked at the three of them in the room and they all shrugged their shoulders.

“What’s up Gramps?” Natsu asked the lacroma.

“It is good to see you Natsu, Erza and Grey. I have some news for you but you must let me finish and obey my commands before I saw anything”

“Of course” quickly remarked Erza.

The other two quickly nodded their heads.

“And you Lisanna?” Makarov asked.

“Oh me?…. I I didn’t think…. Of course I agree Master” Lisanna confirmed.

“There’s not an easy way to say this. Lucy has been found” Makarov announced through the lacroma.

Immedaitely Natsu grabbed a hold of the lacroma and threw it in the air and caught it.

“That’s great news!!” He cheerfully yelled.

“Natsu!…. Put me down!” Makarov announced with an amused anger in his voice through the lacroma.

“I am about to tell the whole guild but as I am talking to you I want you three to immediately come to Crocus. As fast as you can. Understand?” Makarov commanded.

“I understand” Erza replied. Grey and Natsu nodded their heads.

“Lisanna I know the guild is going to be without a few of us for a bit. If you can get a message to Gildarts and see if he can come mback to the guild for a time just to make sure everythgin is protected” Makarov asked.

Lisanna nodded.

“Also I know I am askign a lot of you but I will need you to keep an eye on everyone. The news I am about to bring to the guild will make everyone happy but I am afraid the details will also turn that happiness to anger. What I am about to tell you four is what I will tell the guild and Grey, Erza and Natsu you will understand why you need to come with all haste”

The four of them in the room nodded their heads. Suddenly a solom modo overtook the room.

“During the raid that Lexas, Mira, Gijell and Wendy took part in with Saber Tooth and Mermaid Hell. It was revealed that the human trafficers had Lucy all that time……” Makarov stopped to allow the gasps in the room.

“My god” Erza declared. A hand over her mouth.

Natsu’s flames began to boil up from every part of his body. While Grey gripped his hands so tightly there was a little trail of blood coming from them.

“Mira found her in magical chains. It took some doing but they managed to free her. She…… she was near death….. still is….. Wendy tried with everything she had to heal her but there is some sort of magical barrier around her. Wendy is still recovering from using her powers for what I am told for well over half an hour to try and save Lucy” Makarov continued.

There was tears in Erza’s eyes and tears flowing down Lisanna’s cheeks.

“Mira decided rightly that Lucy needed help immediately. They were near the capital and requested help from the royal family which they were thankfully given. Lucy is here in a private wing of the palace being looked after. Lexas, Gijell, Rogue, Minerva and Kagura keeping constant guard while Mira helps Wendy recover. I arrived earlier today with Levy and Freid to try and help” Makarov stoppe dfor a moment to let it all sink in.

Natsu was in a burning rage but he was keepign inward at the moment except for the red hot flames comgin gfrom his hair. Grey’s hand was covered in his blood as he gripped so hard. Erza’s hand was on her sword while her other was wiping tears from her eyes. Lisanna just stood with tears flowign down her cheeks.

“Lucy is in a coma but it’s unlike anything anyone have ever seen. She keeps having perodic fits that require many of us to restrain her. She doesn’t seem to know we are here and with her being in a coma she shouldn’t be able to do any of it. We fear it might have something to do with her own magic that is cut off because of a seal stone collar that we can not get off of her” Makarov again paused.

“Unacceptable!!!!” Erza blasted.

“Who has done this?????!!!!!” Natsu half whispered, half screamed.

“They will pay!” Grey agreed.

“We don’t know and right now we don’t need you three going off. Lucy needs you here” Makarov’s words cut through the anger in the three of them.

Erza bowed her head and took her hand from her sword.

“You are right Master….. forgive us” Erza looked at Natsu and Grey and they nodded at her.

“Your anger is understandable my children. This is why I didn’t want to tell you all yet but Levy and the rest convinced me. You see in the middle of one of her fits Levy was able to calm her. It was the first time anyone was able to get any sort reaction from her. Levy and Lucy are close but she made the point herself. You three are closer. You must be here to help her” Makarov pleaded with them.

“Then we shall leave at once” Erza stated.

“I am glad to hear it. Lisanna I know I am askign a lot again of you but you will have to make sure the guild runs smoothly. Reley on your guildmates they will help you. I will try and get some of our people back to the guild as soon as I can” Makarov asked of Lisanna.

“Don’t worry about the guild Master. We can handle ourselves. Bring Lucy back to us” Lisanna replied. 

“Erza, Grey and Natsu….. there is more that you will discover when you arrive. Understand?” Makarov asked.

The three of tehm nodded.

“Good. Okay Lisanna take me into the guild hall. You three get going” Makarov comamnded.

The roar of joy that erupted from the guild hall when Lisanna brought the lacroma into the hall was one that Erza would remember for the rest of her life as she, Grey and Natsu ran towards the train station. Her customary cart of luggage flailing about behind her. The other things that she had heard in private in the Master’s room before the rest of the guild will haunt her for the rest of her life. She was pleased the three of them were on their way and even Natsu didn’t seem to care about having to ride. All he wanted to do was to get to Lucy.

Palace guards greeted them on their arrival in Crocus. They were taken through tunnels and underground services into the palace there they were left at what they had been told was the medical wing of the palace. Erza took everything in, in her mind and tried to concentrate on what to do.

“Hello” Mira’s voice sounded from the hallway.

She came walkign into view with a smile on her face that was diminsihed from her regualr self.

Wendy was with her. Lookign tired but happy to see her friends she came runnign towards Erxa. Tears already int eh young woman’s eyes. She jumped itno Erza’s embrace and the two hugged forever and it didn’t seem enough time to Erza.

“How is she?” Natsu asked Mira.

“She has had a couple more fits since this morning but with Levy, Wendy and myself now able to sit bedside with her we can keep her relatively calm” Mira replied.

“I am only sorry I couldn’t do it sooner but Wendy needed someone to look after her” Mira continued.

Wendy had her face buried in Erza’s neck and sniffled.

“I’m sorry for being trouble” the young dragon slayer mumbled.

Natsu walked towards her and Erza and took her head in his hand. Looking down into her tear filled eyes Natsu smiled.

“Hey, the way I hear it, if it wasn’t for you she might not have made it this far. Your a hero in my book” Natsu smiled at her.

“Mine too” Erza repeated.

“Same goes for me” Grey repeated coming to embrace her with his own hand.

Wendy climbed down from Erza and sniffled.

“You did what you had to do…. The both of you…. Lucy knows that” Erza stated.

“Come, let us show you to her….. did Master tell you about her….. changes?” Mira asked.

“Changes? Like what?” Natsu asked.

Mira looked towards Erza and something passed between them. Something only females could possibly know. 

“Oh God…… Mira you have to tell us before we go in. I don’t know if I could contain myself if I just saw her….” Erza confessed.

Mira nodded.

“It was quite a shock when I found her…. I didn’t even recognize her at first” Mira conceeded.

Natsu and Grey looked between themselves and were clearly getting agitated.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Grey demanded.

Erza turned to both of them and looked them in the eyes.

“Lucy was held by human traffickers….. you understand what that means?” Erza asked.

Grey looked at her with a dumb look in his eyes and then it was as if he hadn’t even considered it or hadn’t wanted to consider it. His eyes grew wide and then they became deadly.

Natsu looked at her with wide eyes thinking about her words. He knew of course that’s where Lucy had been that’s what Gramps had told them but now she was safe and back with them. That was the only thought going through his mind and then comprehension dawned. His eyes became wider and tehn deadlier then Grey’s. Fire began to pop from his head and his fists.

“Natsu calm down” Erza commanded but he was not interested in that at the moment.

“What are we doing here then…. We should be out there” Grey demanded pointing outside the castle clearly wanting to track down whoever had done this to Lucy.

“Because Master asked us to come…. For Lucy’s sake. We have to help her first and then we get our revenge” Erza’s powerful commanding voice struck through their rage.

Natsu’s flame dyed down and he looked to Mira.

“Tell us please…. I don’t want to scare her by overreacting” Natsu pleaded.

“I’m afraid any sort of reaction would be good right now but I understand” Mira said. She reached down and hugged Wendy.

“Have you seen her Wendy?” Erza asked.

Wendy nodded an affirmative.

“Was that wise?” Erza asked Mira.

Mira shrugged and looked down at Wendy. Taking her in for another hug.

“Couldn’t be avoided. She was there when we found her. It scared her a bit but we had a talk” Mira smiled and Wendy did too.

“I’m okay Erza…. Promise” Wendy said. 

There was strength in the eyes that looked to Erza and she had to remind herself that Wendy was no longer the little girl thaey had meet only a few short years ago. Erza nodded and smiled at her friend.

“So tell us Mira” Erza prodded Mira.

“Lucy as you know is in a coma. Right now she has a seal stone collar around her neck that we can’t get off. It has a gold inner center as well……” Mira looked at the boys and sighed.

“Her nipples have been pierced with gold rings, her clit with a gold bar stud and her outer labia lips with three gold rings on each. Every time we try to put some clothes on her there seems to be a magic around her that just dissolves them but we can cover her with a sheet” Mira finished.

The three newcomers looked at her and stopped walking. Their mouths gaping open in shock.

“Monsters” Natsu mumbled.

“Where are her keys?” Erza asked.

Mira and Wendy exchanged glances then.

“Levy thinks the rings and the bar are her keys” Mira answered.

Erza took her chin in her gloved hand and thought about it.

“Yes…. Ten accessories for her ten celestial keys but what about her silver keys, where are they?” Erza asked.

Mira and Wendy exchanged glances again and blinked away together.

“I don’t know” Mira finally answered. 

As they got closer to Lucy’s room they saw more friends who they interacted with but just outside the room they were greeted by Levy, Gijell and Kagura.

“Kagura! It is good to see you even in such times” Erza moved forward to hug her adopted sister from Mermaid Heel.

Unacustomed to physical shows of affection Kagura looked very uncomfortable but took the hug from Erza with a smile eventually.

“Levy tell me you have some ideas” Grey asked.

“I’m sorry nothing yet” Levy answered. Grey noted she leaned against Gijell more then she had ever and the large dragon slayer kept a protective arm around her.

“Salamander…… I hope you can do something” Gijell knocked fists with his friend.

“Thank you Gijell for helping her” Natsu replied.

Master Makarov exited the suite that continued Lucy and smiled up at his children.

“It warms my heart to see you all here. Even in these circumstances it is good to see family” Makarov said.

“Gramps I need to see her” Natsu said right away.

The leader of the Fairy Tail guild nodded and gestured fro them to enter.

Natsu led the way followed by Natsu and Grey.

Lucy lay on the cold stone floor of her cell. The portal closed just in front of her. She dropped the staff and smiled. She had done it. The women were gone and free. Dee, her tormentor and would be Master came to her and grabbed his staff from her with force and began to beat her with it. Lucy cried out in pain but her smile refused to leave her face. 

“YOU STUPID BITCH!!!!” The man shouted at her while he landed blow after blow on her back and tehn kicked her over to her expose her stomach. 

He continued to wail away on her stomach with his staff. It didn’t matter at the moment to Lucy she was already passed out. When he realized that he grabbed her by the back of her neck and pulled her upwards and brought her out of the cell. He half carried half dragged her back towards the stairs. About halfway there he stopped and on the wall that faced the cells he pulled out two shackles. He turned her around and placed her face against the wall and exposed her back to the cells in front. He clipped the shackles on her wrists and let go. With a flash of light from his staff the cells became illuminated and all the women in the basement could see him and Lucy. 

“This is what happens when you disobey” The man angrily shouted to all the woman in the basement. 

Another flash from his staff and it was replaced by a whip. The girls in the cells began to beg for Lucy but he shouted them down and told them to watch. He started to whip her with as much force as possible. Lucy was unconscious but her body jerked and swayed with each lash of the whip. 

Erza, Natsu and Grey had just entered the suite when there as a wail from Lucy.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Lucy creid out.

Lexas and Minerva had been at the foot of the bed chattign but at the wail they sprang into action with practiced hands. Minerva to the right of the ebd and Lexas to the left they grabbed a hodl of her arms and tried to hold her down. Lucy fought like a woman possessed though. Her eyes never opening she thrashed against the strong hands of Lexas.

“Levy!!!, Mira!!!!, Wendy!!!!” He called.   He hadn’t even noticed Erza and the rest come into the suite.

Flashing by the three of them came Mira, Levy and Wendy. It was a practised routine now. Levy went to the left while Mira went to the right and Wendy rushed to the top of the bed. Mira and Levy grabbed a hodl of her hands and started to try and soothe her while Wendy brushed hair out fo Lucy’s eyes and touched her forehead saying simialir things. Erza, Grey and Natsu stood stunned. Their friend thrashing about. Somehow in her state managing to overpower four fully gorwn adult mages and throw them around. Mira and Levy hung on though. Their words soft and soothing Lucy thrashed about.

Erza looked on and had to will herself to come back to herself. She had never in all her time had to exercise as much will and power in herself as she did right then to bring herself back. With all the speed she had she went to join them. Leaving Natsu and Grey shell shocked by the door. Reaching the foot of Lucy’s bed she looked to Minerva and Lexas.

“What can I do?” She asked. Trying not to sound scared out of her mind.

“Her legs. Grab her feet” Lexas ordered.

Erza reached out and took a hold of one foot that kicked out at her. It sent her a half step back and she frowned. Her friend certainly didn’t have that power normally. She refused to let go though and gripped it with one hand while her other looked to corral the other kicking foot. It was a tough task as Lucy managed to buck and cry like a banshee even being held down by all of the wizards. Grabbing a hold of the second foot though she brought them together and held firm.

“FAIRY TAIL ALWAYS KEEPS A PROMISE!!!!!” Lucy screamed it at the top of her lungs. Her eyes refusing to open but her thrashing somehow redoubled.

“It’s not working!” Lexas looked towards Levy and Mira who both nodded.

Levy looked down to the bottom of the bed where Erza had a hold of Lucy’s feet and she pleaded with her eyes for her friend to think of something. 

Erza returned the look and steeled herself to act but do what? She didn’t know. 

“Lucy!” she called through the thrashing.

The blonde didn’t seem to register her.

Erza took a firm grip of her feet in one hand and placed a loving touch on her ankle.

“Lucy!, come back to us” Erza called.

Lucy thrashed wildly in all of their hands and then stopped. Her head fell to the pillows below her. Breathing was slowing and her muscles were relaxing.

“erza?” the words came out of her mouth in less then a whisper. It was only the hearing of Wendy and being so close that she perked up and told everyone she just said Erza’s name.

“I am here Lucy, so are Natsu and Grey and so many others….. come back to us” Erza said through her tears. Her hands refusing to leave her friends feet and ankles for fear of breaking whatever connection had been made.

The monitors that were showing her status were beeping more normally now but Erza refused to let go. Willing her friend to say something more.

“erza” Lucy’s voice was barely heard but it seemed to be loud enough for all of them.

“Yes it’s me Lucy” Erza said again.

“he’s coming” Lucy managed to say and then the monitors flashed and started to make to much noise and her thrashing returned. Lexas and Minerva had somewhat relaxed their grips and were flown back a couple of feet. Mira and Lecy were taken off of their feet as well.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Lucy screamed again. It was a wail of pure agony and terror.

Erza had managed to hold onto her feet but as she thrashed without restarint Erza noticed that Lucy was turning over in her hand. The sheet fell from her protection and Erxa got her first good look at her body. Full of marks and bruising and half healed cuts and scars Erza wanted to throw up before she even noted the rings and the tattoo. Lucy with ungodly strength twisted in her hands and was on her stomach now. Erza could see the whip marks on her back. The scars and the bruising were littered all over her back. There was barely any inch that was untouched by it.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Lucy screamed again

Erza looked and saw that the others were looking as well. Streaks of something almost shadowy flashed against her bare skin. Leaving fresh whip marks on her friends back. Opening old wounds and leaving new ones. The whip or whatever it was keep striking her and Lucy kept screaming into her pillow. Wendy was there making sure she wouldn’t hyperventilate but everyone in the suite was crying now. Natsu and Grey finally out of their stupor joined them trying to hold her down but even with their increased support they could not hold her down. Gijeel joined in from the hallway he came running trying not add his considerable strength but still Luxy managed to thrash about and throw people from her. Rogue appeared from somewhere and saw the shadows and tried to abosrd them or dispel them but he couldn’t He gave up and tried instead to add his strength to it.

“AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Lucy screamed again and then she fell deathly silent. Her body that moments ago was thrashing about with ungodly strength now rested on the bed looking frail and unsteady.

Everyoen in the room looked at each other with a mixture of fear and anger in their eyes. 

“What the hell was that?” Grey finally voiced into the silence.

“That was the worst fit she has ever had” Mira said. They all nodded and looked at her.

Wendy was trying to roll her back onto her back but the medics were in there cleaning and dressing the new wounds.

“Has that ever happened before?” Erza asked?

“No” they all answered.

“Perhaps our presence is nto for the best” Erza mused openly.

“NO!” The voice came from the door and belonged to Makarov.

“We have learned something here….. she has given us a message” Makarov stated.

They all looked at Lucy and then at Erza.

“He is coming” Erza repeated Lucy’s message.

“Who is he?” Wendy asked.

“Whoever did this to her” Natsu steamed.

They all nodded.

Lucy woke in the red room again. Her back screamed in pain but she couldn’t help the smile from returning to her face. She had gotten them away. She could die now at least she had done some good.

“Proud of yourself slave?” The man was in the room with her.

Lucy hadn’t even discovered if she was hanging or sitting or anything at the moment. All she knew was she was in pain. Tentatively she reached out with her hands and feet and noticed she was unrestrained. 

“We recaptured them within minutes” The man said to her.

Lucy wanted to die in frustration. That couldn’t be true she said to herself. She had seen the woods and seen them go through. 

“You are lying” She managed to accuse him.

“Perhaps I am’ The man taunted her. He held his staff in his hand and a sneer on his face.

The man reached into his coat and removed her keys. Lucy wanted to reach out and take them from him but she didn’t have the strength. He dangled them in front of her. 

“Today you become my slave” He laughed at her.

“I’ll keep saying it…. Go TO HELL!” Lucy replied. 

The man took her keys and turned away from her. He seemed to be working on something and Lucy managed to raise herself to have a look. Sitting on the floor she could see there as stable directly behind her that the man was now seemingly placing her keys on the table.

“What are you doing?” Lucy asked.

“You will see” The man laughed and turned towards her again.

He reached down to her and took her in his arms and lifted her to the table. He placed her on it with ease. Lucy still didn’t have much strength but to see her keys and be so close to them again gave her hope. She tried to will them to come through their gates but with the collar and the enchantment he had done before they could not. She could see them light up though which gave her heart.

“Look at that, they trying to talk to you Lucy” The man laughed. 

Taking her hands and placed them through steel restraints above her head. Then he took her ankles and spread her legs and placed them into steel restraints on the end of the table. 

“Would you like to touch them again?” The man asked and there was some real malice to that request.

Lucy just stared at him.

That damned chuckle was his response to her lack of one.

The man went out of her sight for a moment and returned with a tool that Lucy wasn’t familiar with. He bent over her collar and started to gouge out some of the seal stone. She wasn’t sure why but she hoped he would mess up and allow her to access her powers but somehow she doubted that. He did manage to turn her collar around and continued to work on it before he seemed pleased and put the tool down. Picking up one of her keys Lucy noted it was Aquarius key. He placed it in his palm and she saw that it began to glow. Soon Lucy saw something leaking from his hand. It was gold and it was pouring all over her collar. Lucy was screaming in rage at the lose of the key to her friend. She screamed at the man who simply laughed and then when he grew tired of her complaints he returned with a ball gag and stuffed it in her mouth. It wasn’t just the key that she was losing it was her oldest friend and Lucy cried and screamed behind the gag. She could feel the weight of the gold being added to the collar and some sort of field that he was emanating from his other hand to keep the gold into the collar. His hand stopped glowing and the last of the gold dripped down to her collar and Lucy cried.

“She’s going to be with you for the rest of your life. Why are you crying?” The man laughed.

He didn’t hesitate and moved to the next ky. This time when he placed it in his hand. Lucy didn’t see any of it melt but she could sense that something was changing. When he unclenched his fist she saw that the key had been turned into a ring about an inch in diameter and gold. Lucy cried and wailed when he pulled out a piercing gun and placed it against her nipple. With that horrendous chuckle again he pierced her nipple and placed the gold ring through it. Lucy could not nothing but cry as he did the same with the rest of her keys. Even going so far as to turn Loki’s key into a bar and then pierced it through her clit. By then Lucy was numb from the despair of losing her friends and barely felt it. All she could do was cry.

Erza refused to leave Lucy’s side. Since they had arrived and she had suffered that horrible fit Erza had been lost in her own mind but she refused to lave her friends side. She kept mulling over what she had said. It seemed it had cost her a lot of pain to get one message through whatever plagued her. Someone was coming and that was obviously the man who had done this to Lucy but surely he wouldn’t be stupid enough to attack an area so populated with powerful wizards but he had taken a member of Fairy Tail and was clearly insane. Looking down at her friend she saw that Lucy was sleeping peacefully for the moment. The subtle hums in the room by the monitors was oddly therapeutic. Erza couldn’t take her eyes of her friends fae and then she saw something new on her friends face. There was a tear escaping her eye. Followed by another in her other eye. Erza jumped to the side of the bed by her head and took her head in her hands.

“She’s crying!” Erza announced to the room. 

Levy who had been sleeping on a chair not to far away came awake quickly and ran towards her. Gijeel who had been right next to her in another chair followed quickly on her heels. Two doctors came towards them as well.

“Has she done this before?” Erza asked.

The shakes of their heads let her know this was a first time for this as well.

“It’s as if she is reliving her torture” Erza mused.

When she finished her words she noted that the gold part of her collar seemed to glow for an instant in response. Almost as if whoever that key used to be was trying to confirm what Erza was thinking.

“We have to wake her up” Erza said as confidently as she could manage.

“It’s not like we haven’t been trying” Gajeel said.

“I know with all the regualr methods but we need soemthign else now…….” Erza openly mused.

“Where is Yukino?” Erza asked out fo the blue.

“I think I saw her sleeping a couple of doors down” Levy said. The unsure tone not quite grasping where Erza was going.

“Gajeel?” Erza asked

Gajeel looked at her and nodded. He reached down and placed a kiss on Levy’s head and then left to go and grab the celestial mage. 

When he was gone Erza smiled at Levy who blushed in response.

“At least one good thing has come of all of this” Erza said to Levy.

Levy looked at her confused.

“His love for you has overridden his need to maintain his image” Erza said to her.

“Oh…. Well…. We….are…..that….is…..not…...we…..” Levy stuttered and Erza laughed. It seemed to be a sacrilegious thing to laugh in this place where there friend fought for her life but it felt good to do it.

“Come now Levy” Erza admonished.

The blush on Levy’s cheek disappeared and she sighed.

“I love him Erza” Levy said and she visibly sagged.

“Wow, that felt so good to say” Levy continued.

Erza smiled and reached out to grab her friends hand.

“I am so happy for you” Erza said with all earnest.

Gajeel returned with a half woken Yukino trailing behind him. Gajeel went straight back to Levy’s side and Levy looked at Erza and smiled. Erza returned the smile with all the love she had.

“What can I do for you Erza?” Yukino asked while stifling a yawn.

“One of your celestial spirits is Libra right? She keeps the balance?” Erza asked.

“Yes that’s about right….. why?” Yukino asked.

“Lucy is out of balance…. We need her help” Erza stated.

Yukino looked at Erza and then at Lucy and then back to Erza.

“I don’t think it works like that” Yukino said but she pulled the key from her waist as she did so.

“Couldn’t hurt to try though” Yukino continued and called on the spirit.

She called on the spirit and soon the spirit was with them.

“Libra it’s good to see you…. I have a request. Our friend Lucy is battling with something in her head and we need to reestablish herself in her mind. Can you help us” Yukino pleaded with the celestial spirit. 

Libra looked down at the bed ridden Lucy and seemed to peer into her.

“She is out of balance but I can not help her. Only a friend can enter her mind to help her. I will enable it because her current condition has upset the spirit world” Libra said.

Erza stepped forward.

“I volunteer” Erza stated.

“Be aware. I sense another presence within her and any injuries incurred there will affect you in the physical world” Libra advised. 

“I understand” Erza said.

Levy pulled up a chair and beckoned Erza to sit in it while Libra reached out and touched both Lucy’s forehead and Erza’s.

“On behalf of the spirit world. I wish you success” Libra said.

One moment Erza was in the suite Lucy had in the palace and the next she was in a dark basement. Surrounded by stone walls and steel bars created a cell. Lucy lay chained to the wall just to her right. Whip marks and bruises all over her body. Her collar full of gold and her rings on her nipples clear to see. Lucy had her head buried in her lap while she sniffled. Trying to prevent herself from crying.

“Lucy?” Erza asked. The redheaded warrior getting to her feet and walking the short distance to her friend.

Lucy didn’t react. She just kept her head buried in her lap. Not daring to look up.

“Lucy? It’s me Erza?” Erza said. Tentatively reaching out to place her hand on Lucy’s shoulder.

Lucy peaked her eyes up from her lap and looked at Erza.

“Erza??” Lucy asked.

“Yes it’s me” Erza said. She put her other hand on her other shoulder. 

“You shouldn’t be here. You have to leave!!!” Lucy pleaded with her.

“You are not really here though Lucy. You are safe surrounded by friends away from this place” Erza said to her with an even voice.

“I can’t leave here….. he’ll find me….he wants women….he wants the women of fairy tail” Lucy pleaded.

“You can leave here. You are safe with me in a hospital bed” Erza said.

“I can’t….. must protect. He’s here….. he’ll come” Lucy pleade with Erza. Her eyes full of fear and fire.

“Let him come then” Erza said.

She knelt down and took Lucy in her hands.

“Give this up Lucy. You are killing yourself” Erza said.

“Better me then all of you” Lucy replied with fire in her eyes. 

“Let him come for me” Erza challenged.

Erza felt a need to turn around and felt something behind her. There was a man in a large coat and hat that looked down on her. He seemed somehow real. He chuckled in a way that was instantly annoying.

“Leave her alone. You are after me” Lucy cried. Comign to her feet even in her chains.

“I want you both and how nice of Erza Scarlett to deliver herself to me” The man replied with a mile on his face. 

“No!!….. Your fight is with me!” Lucy screamed.

There was a light around Lucy that seemed to gather her strength. Erza could tell by looking at it that it had at one time been far brighter and more radiant but now there was twinges of darkness interwoven in it. Lucy looed strong but not as strong as she should have.

The man chuckled and reached out with his hand towards Erza. Erza felt herself unable to move and felt her clothes disappearing. Though she knew this was a projection she was disgusted at the action and tried to cover herself. He took the opportunity and used his other hand to clasp around her throat. Erza gripped his hand with both of his and pushed him away but she felt her neck and there was a seal stone collar there. She had to tell herself again this was just a projection. 

“No!!! You will not have her!!” Lucy raged.

“Lucy let me fight with you” Erza asked.

“His talons are already in me Erza I can’t allow you to become infected with his depravity” Lucy’s eyes lit with a fire that Natsu would have been proud of. 

“If I keep him pinned here then he wont come out to infect the rest of the world” Lucy explained.

“It’s killing you Lucy!” Erza explained to her.

“So be it” Lucy argued back. 

“We can drive him from you and tehn fight him for real” Erza offered.

“I can’t do it” Lucy admitted.

“I am here now Lucy. Let me help you” Erza 

Lucy looked at her and that fire came all over Erza. 

“Lets fight together” Lucy said.

Erza joined her hands with her friend and the two looked over towards the man. He smiled and laughed at them.

“You are mine Lucy and soon shall you be Erza” The man pontificated. 

The man reached out with his hands. He was too far away now for him to get a hold of them but that wasn’t his intention. He shoot out chains that seemed to follow Erza. She ducked and dodged the chains but she couldn’t avoid them all. They were far too numerous. Finally one caught her in the stomach forcing her to the ground. One then connected with her wrist and tehn another with her other wrist. Chaining her to him Erza treid to pull against him but she couldn’t do anything. 

“Vile Monster!!” Erza cried.

“Leave her alone!” Lucy exclaimed. 

The light that radiated from her blasted outwards. Obliterating the chains that held Erza. Erza looked down and noted that her wrists now had restraints on them. Growling at the man in the cell Erza launched herself at the man but when she tried to call on her equip power to summon any of her magic it did not come. Instead with all of her might she channeled it into her fist and struck a blow that staggered him and then caused him to fall. The man chuckled and Erza jumped back towards Lucy.

“Your magic doesn’t work here” Teh man taunted Erza.

“Why not?” Erza demanded to know.

“Because I will it. I own this place” The man answered with a laugh.

He was coming back to his feet again and Erza looked towards Lucy. The light she was bathed in was smaller now but no less radiant. 

“If he owns this place then why do you still have magic?” Erza asked towards Lucy.

Lucy looked at her with a tired look in her eyes and Erza knew then that she wasn’t entirely sure but there as a theory that Lucy had and it was something she was not willing to admit.

“Think Lucy!!….. why does he have power here. We are in your mind….” Erza demanded.

Lucy paled in her light and she fell to a knee. The man laughed and moved to stalk Erza. All around Erza the scene changed. It switched from a cold dark cell to a white room. So blazingly white that it was an assault on her eyes. Erza looked around and aw Lucy dangling from chains in the middle of the room. Her feet a couple of feet off of the ground. She swayed in the air while the man was behind her with a whip. It arched through the air with a deadly sounding hiss before it landed on Lucy’s back. She jerked and screamed in pain. Another stroke from the lash and another scream of pain. Erza moved to stop the man but he simply smiled and laughed at her. The whip coiling around Erza’s arm as she interposed herself between the two.

“I will not allow you to hurt her anymore” Erza gritted her teeth and tried to pull the whip from him.

“You forget your magic doesn’t work here Erza. Your just another weak woman without it” The man taunted her.

With a strength that was superhuman he pulled her close to him. Wrappign the whip around her body as he did so. He embraced her while she was effectively tied from the whip.

‘Leave her alone!” Lucy cried from her position.

“Silence slave!” The man raged at Lucy.

Erza saw it in Lucy’s eyes then. A submission she would have never expected in her friend. Lucy’s head hung and tears flowed and though Erza was caught in the grip of the man all she wanted to do was to reach out and comfort her.

“He does not own this place Lucy. This is your mind!” Erza yelled at her.

Dangling from her chains Lucy looked up and into Erza’s eyes. Erza saw it again, the submission. The despair of hope. Erza knew it well from her life as a slave but she refused to see Lucy surrender to it.

“You own this place Lucy!!” Erza cried.

The man laughed and began to paw at Erza’s body.

“You will make a delicious slave. Too bad I will have to sell you. I only have eyes for my slave” The man looked past Erza towards Lucy.

Lucy’s head was drooping again and more tears were streaming down her cheeks.

“This is your mind Lucy. Together we can push him out” Erza called again.

Lucy didn’t even look up this time.

“He owns me” Lucy cried.

Erza’s heart broke. She screamed in the mans clutches and forced herself free. She ran towards Lucy and took her friends head into her hands. Staring into her eyes Erza looked at her friend.

“That is just the despair talking Lucy. You belong to know one. You belong at Fairy Tail with me and your friends. We all want to hear you laugh and argue. We are waiting for you Lucy. We love you” Erza’s cheeks matched Lucy’s now with her own fresh set of tears.

The man laughed from behind them as he uncoiled his now free whip again.

“He broke me…… After I helped the girls escape. He tortured me and I couldn’t bear it…. I broke…..I’m sorry Erza but I belong to him now” Lucy cried.

Erza refused to let her friends eyes drop from her own. Holding her head steady with her own hands Erza looked deeply into Lucy. There in the back of her eyes Erza saw what she was looking for. A tiny little sparckle.

“No he didn’t Lucy….. he didn’t break you. I can see you in there. You still have some power in here. Which is why you had power in the cell. Your just hiding from him, giving him what he wanted to keep yourself going until hope arrived. We are here Lucy. We have arrived. I, Natsu, Grey, Mira, Wendy, Gijeel, Lexas, Freid, Levy and the Master are all here not to mention friends from other guilds. We all love you Lucy and your hope is still there within you. I know it because I can see it” Erza reached upwards and kissed her friends forehead.

“Now let it out!” Erza demanded.

Lucy looked at her through tear stricken eyes. Erza had to wipe her own away from her face and tehn reached out and cupped Lucy’s chin.

“Let it Lucy and then we can go home” Erza said.

Lucy tried to smile but she just couldn’t do it. The twinkle in her eye though grew just a little bit and then she looked at Erza.

“Help me” She cried with fresh tears running down her cheeks.

Erza tipped her head towards her and turned to regard the man who had observed the whole thing with a smile on his face as large as a gorge. He smacked his whip against the floor and taunted Erza.

“Just submit to my will Erza and I will make sure you go to a good home” the man taunted. 

Erza smiled a deathly smile that would make allies and villains alike run.

“Requip!” Erza called out and a light surrounded her.

The man’s eyes went wild as Erza donned her armor.

“Heaven’s Wheel!” Erza cried out.

Erza stood before the man in her armor with wing wings flowign from her back. Steel skirt and gra completed the outfit along with her vast array of swords.

“Back to Hell with you!!!!” Era cried out.

Teh man took three steps back and droped the whip. It looked like he as trying to call something to himself but he didn’t have time. The swords struck out piercing him in a hundred differenet ways. He screamed a deathly almost ghostly screamed and then vanished.

Lucy’s bonds dropepd and she fell to the floor. Erza heard the thump behind her and turned ot see her friend on the floor. Quickly Erza went to her and slid down to be on her knees with her friend. Craddlign Lucy’s head in her lap Erza changed back into her regualr armor and loked down at her friend.

“Come on Lucy lets go home” Erza said.

“Yeah” Lucy managed to say before she fell asleep in her lap.

Erza woke in the chair to see Levy, Mira and Wendy sleepign all around her. Gijeel was a few feet away in another chair sleeping while Natsu, Grey and Lexas surrounded the hospital bed where Lucy still lay. Erza felt like she had been sleeping for days and finally managed to get her eyes fully open. She stretched out her feet a little. Mira and Wendy noticing it and waking up right away.

“She’s waking up!” Wendy decalred and rose to her feet and put a hand on Erza’s shoulder.

Mira was fast on her feet looking into Erza’s eyes.

“How long?” Erza asked. Her throat dry as if she had not had a drink in days.

“Four days” Levy replied. Wiping some sleep from her own eyes and managing a small smile”

“Four Days!” Erza replied.

“That’s right. We didn’t know what to do but we thought something good was happening because Lucy hadn’t had a fit” Mira explained.

“Lucy? Is she awake?” Erza asked turnign towards the bed.

“No” Natsu’s voice was heard.

“I don’t understand…. I did what had to be done” Erza decried.

All of the faces in the room turend towards Lucy’s bed and looked at the young mage lying at least peacfully in her bed. With all of their eyes on her Lucy seemed quiet and content until erza saw a ruffled brow on her head and tehn there as a twitch of a leg underneath the sheets.

“LUCY!” Natsu called.

“Come one Lucy!” Grey called as well.

“Come back to us!” Levy called out.

“Lucy!” Erza called through her cracked throat.

The leg twitch stopped and then an arm came up from under the sheet. Lucy reached out and took her own face in with her hand and when she pulled it away her eyes were open.

Tired and full of memory and regret but her eyes were open. Time seemed to slow and then she smiled. It wasn’t the smile they had all seen before but it was a smile and the room burst into joy.

With a tired hand she reached out from under the sheet towards Erza and Erza did the same. They took each others hands together and smiled.

“Thank you” Lucy managed to say. Tears streaming down her face and everyone else in the room.

“You are my sister Lucy, I was not going to leave you battling alone in your own mind” Erza replied.

“He’s still coming” Lucy strained to say.

Erza nodded and looked out over the assembled wizards.

“Then we shall give him a greeting he wont forget” 

Lisanna walked into the main guild hall. Tears running down her cheeks. Her brother saw immediately and came running towards her as did most of the guild. She held up a hand and looked out over everyone.

“Lucy’s awake!” She cried.

The whole guild hall erupted into joyous shouts and cheers. 

Lucy sat up in her bed and looked out at her friends. It had been a day since she had woken up and as happy as she felt she felt wrong. For so many reasons but for the most part it was because she still wore the rings and the collar that the man had put on her. For all they tried they just could not get them off of her and as such she could not use her magic and summon any of her celestial friends. She felt like she had lost a limb. Every time she moved she felt the rings move with her and she felt nothing but pity for herself. Erza may have been right that she had escaped into herself to give herself time to be rescued but that still didn’t wash away that she had given in eventually. She had called that man Master and she had performed unspeakable acts for him. These rings were a constant reminder of everything she had lost and everything she had done. She hated them and wanted them gone but wanted her friends back.

Crying was her new magic. The ability to cry at any given moment over a fleeting thought or a look from a friend or even a stranger. The ability to make others cry from simply seeing her. She hated this new power, it made her feel weak and useless.

She was never alone, always someone in the room to talk with or to simply be there. That was a sign of her weakness too and she was beginning to hate herself for feeling that way. These were her friends, people she had been crying out to for months and all they wanted to do was keep her safe. She didn’t think she would ever be safe again. Even surrounded by her family.

“Lucy?” the small but wonderful voice of Wendy interrupted her thoughts.

Lucy smiled and looked over towards the young dragon slayer.

“They always say to talk about things. That’s what Erza told me and it works. I talked with you and Erza when I came to Fairy Tail. You are my sisters and….. well you can talk to me you know” Wendy offered.

Others had offered as well but Lucy couldn’t talk to anyone about it. The things she had done and been forced to do. She just didn’t want to think about them but they were all she thought about.

Lucy smiled and reached out with her hand. Wendy took a hold of her hand and smiled at Lucy.

“Thank you Wendy……. I know I should talk but I…….can’t bring myself to right now…….and I don’t want to scare anyone” Lucy’s new power of tears certainly knew when to manifest as the two woman started to tear up.

“I…. I understand….. but Lucy, you’re not weak…..” Wendy smiled up at her.

Taken back by just how well the young dragon slayer had read her Lucy tried for a half second to remove her hand from Wendy’s but the young woman held tightly for that half second and Lucy was glad for it. She gripped tighter after trying to pull away and smiled at her friend.

“Why do you think I think that?” Lucy managed to say.

Wendy looked at her with those lovely big wondrous eyes that she had and all the sweetness that she had to offer.

“I can smell it on you. So can Natsu, Gijeel and Rogue. Their guys though so they don’t really know how to bring it up” Wendy said with words beyond her years.

“But I am weak!” Lucy declared and she shouted loud enough that the doctors and the medics in the room turned their heads to look at them. Luckily Mira who was the only other member of Fairy Tail in the room at the moment was currently asleep on a nearby chair.

Wendy gripped her hand tighter and stared into Lucy’s eyes.

“You are one of the strongest people I know” Wendy’s determination seared through her and Lucy felt more tears welling up in her.

“She’s not wrong” Mira said from the chair. Stretching out her limbs and smiling that very wholesome and sweet smile that Lucy absolutely loved about Mira.

“I’m so incredibly weak” Lucy broke down and the tears really started to flow.

Wendy still with her hand intertwined with Lucy’s jumped up into the hospital bed and sat next to her. Mira jumped onto the other side and Lucy rested her head on Mira’s shoulder. Tears streaming down her cheeks and Mira’s arm.

“Just let it out Lucy” Mira stoked her friends hair.

“He caught me so easily and then just started to do whatever he wanted with me” Lucy blubbered in their arms.

“I couldn’t stop him” Lucy continued.

Teh suite doors opened up and Erza walked in. A piece of cake on a plate she seemed quite pleased with herself until she looked over at the bed and saw the three of them crying. Erza threw the cake to the side of the suite and came running to the bed.

“Erza! Your cake!” Lucy cried.

All four of them followed her pointed finger towards the cake that now lay on the floor. Normally such a scene in Erza’s presence would have been grounds for war but Erza simply breathed a long deep breath and turned towards the three of them.

“No matter…. You are more important” Erza crowded into the bed and the four of them stayed silent for a moment.

There was a halfhearted smile on Lucy’s face before the thoughts came roaring back to her and she started to cry again.

“So weak” Lucy stuttered out in between sobs.

“Weak?!” Erza cried out.

“You are far from weak Lucy” Erza stated it as if it should be common knowledge.

“You are one of the bravest, smartest, most kind hearted woman I have ever had the pleasure of calling friend. These are not weaknesses. These are strengths that make you one of the best and as many have called you these past few months. You are the light of Fairy Tail” Erza reached past Mira and placed a hand on her friends head. 

“The light of Fairy Tail?….. I’m no light” Lucy sniffed and started to cry again.

“Maybe not right now but you are Lucy” Wendy snuggled into her friend.

“That’s right. You don’t have to be anything Lucy, we just want you to be happy and safe” Mira said as she stroked a lock of hair from Lucy’s eyes.

“I’ll never be safe” Lucy buried her face into Mira’s neck and continued to cry.

“You feel that way now but it eases over time” Erza said to her.

“The things….. Oh god… the things” Lucy cried and the three of her friends just stayed silent and let her cry.

“Shush… you don’t have to talk about it” Mira said. Erza agreed with a nod and Wendy just snuggled into Lucy deeper.

Lucy nodded and loked at her friends and felt a tiredness overcome her.

“That’s okay. Just sleep” Ezra saw it in her eyes.

Lucy drifted off to sleep with Wendy snuggled into her and Mira and Erza next to her on her bed.

Levy and Freid were going through all the books on celestial keys they could find but there as nothing they could find on anyone ever having reformed a key. Let alone forge it back. She was at a loss and she really didn’t now where to go from here.

“AHHHHH!!!” She shouted her frustration and flew a book from her table across the room. 

Freid looked up and took her in.

“It is quite frustrating” He agreed.

“We can’t even get that damned collar off of her. Let alone trying to reforge her keys. I just don’t know what to do” Levy voiced her frustrations.

“Perhaps a break” Freid suggested.

“Lucy’s awake now but she’ll never be Lucy if we don’t get her keys back and her magic back” Levy frustratingly said. 

“Shrimp” Gijeel announced that he was still there. Levy had last seen him hours ago when he said he was going to have a seat at a nearby lounge chair. He still sat there now and he turned to look at Levy.

“Freid’s right. Take a break. Maybe we go see Lucy?” Gijeel suggested.

“You’re right” Levy got up from the table and smiled at Freid.

Gijeel and Levy exited the room and soon found their way to Lucy’s suite. They opened the door to see one of the sweetest sights she had ever seen. There in bed was Lucy, fast asleep. Surrounded by Wendy who was snuggled into her side, Mira and Erza on the other side. Mira fast asleep and Erza seemed to be resting but not asleep. The redheaded warrior turned to see who had entered and a smile came to her face. Carefully Erza removed herself from the bed and walked towards Levy and Gijeel. She motioned with her head to go outseid and the three did just that.

“Sorry but Lucy was…… she’s having a hard time processing everything” Erza said.

“Don’t be sorry Erza, I am just annoyed I wasn’t there to help” Levy said.

“You are helping Levy….. You’ll find a way to remove that collar and those horrible rings” Erza said.

Levy broke down crying with all her frustration. Erza looked at Levy and then at Gijeel.

“She’s stumped” Gijeel explained.

“Ah, I see. Well that is okay as well. Don’t worry Levy I have faith” Erza said and she reached out and took her friends hands into her own.

“Thank you Erza” Levy said. Sniffing away a tear and brushing another from her face.

“When I was in her mind and battling that man. He seemed familiar and the things I saw….. we must help her Levy” Erza declared.

“We will” Levy answered. Feeling energized.

The man walked through the streets of Magnolia. He was not happy. His link to his slave had been cut and all of his business was up in fire. There was nothing he loved more in life then taking women and turning them into slaves for the pleasure and delight of others. His gamble to take Lucy had initially turned out great. With her eventual surrender to him he had won the slave he craved for himself for years. Then those Fairy Tail brats came and took her away from him. He was angry and looking for revenge. So he found himself in the city the guild called home. It was a beautiful city if one cared for such things. He didn’t so much care for them as much as he absolutely despised them. Flowers and water and people cheerfully going about their lives. It was all a sickness to him. Something for him to stamp out. Something he had been doing with one woman at a time before those guilds involved themselves in his business. They would all pay and he would start with Fairy Tail. He would restart his business with the cream of the crop. Some of the most beautiful ladies in Firoa. He just thought about the wealth of beauty in those guild halls and he practically couldn’t help himself. He knew his Lucy wasn’t there. She was in the capital that much he knew. Surrounded by other guild members that he knew contained at least Erza Scarlett. So those two would not be harvested today but he thought about the potential. Mira and her sister Lisanna were quite the pair and would go excellent as a paired sister set to a potential buyer. The card throwing Cana was a beauty though hard on the ears but he could fix that. The flat chested but still very cute Levy was also a delight he would not pass up. The water wizard Juvia was also a steal of a find. Her body was always hidden under so much clothes but he knew a body when he saw one and she certainly had one. Brunette Evergreen would be a slight exotic touch to the market. The green haired sharp shooter Bisca would also fetch a good price.

He couldn’t count his chickens though before they hatched. There would be potentially some dangerous foes beyond the woman in there as well. He knew not to take things rashly but he was aching to put some woman in their places tonight. The guild hall was not behind gates or anything. Anyone could walk up to it and he did just that. The door as slightly ajar while a member of lesser standing walked out. He smiled at the man as she walked by him but said nothing. It allowed him a good look inside the hall. He noticed many were missing but that didn’t mean much. They could have been on jobs or elsewhere in the city. He did see some of the females he was hoping to see. Bisca and Cana at a table talking. White haired Lisanna was behind the bar serving drinks. He licked his lips in antcipation again but chided himself. He knew he had to take his time. 

Lucy woke up to find Wendy still snuggled into her. She reached out and curled a loving arm aroudn the young dragon slayer and silently thanked her. Mira was gone and so was Erza but Master Makarov and Lexas stood guard by the door. Lucy turned the sheet over to try and get out of bed without realizign that she was still naked. She yelped a little when she saw it and quickly puleld the sheets over herself.

“Can I have some clothes please?” Lucy asked to anyone in the room.

Lexas turned and smiled at her. It was a heart warming smile. One that he only reserved for the good and sometimes the bad times.

“We tried Lucy. Whatever that pervert did to you he seemed to have enchanted your body to burn away all clothes” Lexas told her.

“Why does such a thing even exist?” Lucy cried out.

“There’s always perverts in the world Lucy” Lexas answered with a chuckle.

“Levy has been workign on something I think she was almost ready last I talked to her. I will go check now” Master Makarov said.

“Thank you Master” Lucy called as the short leader of the guild exited the room.

Lucy’s movements and voice seemed to wake Wendy up. She pulled away from Lucy a little bit and wiped some sleep from her eyes.

“Oh sorry….. I didn’t mean to just stay there” Wendy apologized.

Lucy looked over at her and swept her closer.

“Where do you think you’re going. I like having you with me” Lucy’s smile and words were almost like her old self.

The smile she got from Wendy was large and jubilant. She snuggled right back into Lucy’s side. Lucy smiled at her and at Lexas and she felt normal for a whole moment before the silence caused her to listen to her brain and she didn’t like it. The images and the feelings of her captivity coming right back to her if they even left at all. Her smile fell from her face and Lucy tried her best to stop from crying.

Lexas saw the change on her face and came walking towards her.

“It’s okay to feel joy and it’s okay to feel sad… just don’t let it overpower you” He said.

Levy came into the suite with a smile on her face and a set of clothes that Lucy recognized fromt eh royal palace. A crop top and a knee length skirt that she found quite cute. Levy also held a book in her hand. She handed the dress to Lexas who took it with a deadpanned expression that caused a smile to come back to Lucy’s face. Levy sat the book down on the bed and looed Lucy over.

“It took some doing but there was a book on what me and Fried are calling perverse arts…… don’t let me tell you what else is in there. There’s an enchantment to remove the one that is on you with your clothes. I just had to wait until you were awake that is why I haven’t done it Lu” Levy explained.

Lucy reached out and took her friends hand.

“Thank you Levy” Lucy said.

Levy nodded and began to recite the enchantment. There was a breif flash of white and Levy nodded her head. 

“Okay lets give that a try” She said.

Lexas handed her the outfit and they all turned their backs. Lucy on unsteady feet got off of the bed and put the outfit. Making sure to place the piercings and the rings in such a way that they would not agitate her or been seen by others. Then waited a couple of moments. Nothing happened and she felt a big success overcome her.

“Yes!!! thank you Levy” Lucy cheered.

They all turned around to see a smiling Lucy in clothes once more.

“Oh thank god” Levy said. Lettign out a breath she didn’t know she had been keeping in.

“You’re the best!” Lucy reached out and hugged Levy.

“You are the best Levy” Wendy cheered.

Master Makarov placed a hand on Levy’s shoulder and looked up into her eyes.

“Well done” he said.

Just the effort of putting the outfit on though was enough to exhaust whatever strength had and she found herself with a woozy head and shaky legs before long. Lexas and Wendy helped her back into bed but at least now they didn’t have to worry about accidentally exposing her.

“Levy?” Lucy asked when she was comfortable in bed.

“Yeah Lu?” Levy responded coming to stand at the side of the bed.

“You are amazing you know” Lucy said with a tear in her eye.

“Coming from the woman who just survived hell” Levy smiled and grabbed Lucy’s hand.

“Can you get Erza for me?” Lucy asked.

Levy nodded and squeezed Lucy’s hand before she departed. 

“Master Makarov…. He’s coming. He’ll come for me but he’ll go after all of the girls of Fairy Tail” Lucy warned.

“He’s coming after more of my children?” Makarov asked.

Lucy nodded.

“You have to send people back to Fairy Tail. They need protecting” Lucy managed to say before she just couldn’t speak anymore and placed her head on the pillow and fell fast asleep.

“We have already taken care of it my child. Rest now” Makarov reached out and placed his hand on her bed.

It was almost too easy the man thought. He had walked into the guild just like anyone else and his shadows had come right with him. Within moments he had put all the males to sleep and now his shadows attacked the females. Armed with seal stone collars and his magic they attacked relentlessly. He knew by now who was in the hall and who wasn’t he had missed Mira but the others he thought would be here were indeed here. They fought with skill and determination but his shadows out numbered them easily. The ones he didn’t know where easily subdued. He now had them all lining up on a side wall. Seal stone collars around their necks and shadow restraints on their wrists and ankles. 

It was the ones that he wanted that were still fighting. Lisanna, Laki, Kinana, Bisca and Cana. Even they were under duress though and had barely formed a circle to protect themselves.

“Careful to your right Cana!” Lisanna screamed.

“I got it” Cana called. She flew a dozen cards to her right and destroyed a bunch of shadows. 

“You okay Laki?” Bisca asked. A couple of well placed shots took out more shadows. 

“I’m okay….” Laki responded but she was cut short.

A shadow got through the circle and aimed straight at Loki. The wizards tried to deflect it but it was far to close in. The seal stone collar it had wrapped around the wizards neck and then pulled her gruffly out of the circle. She screamed as she was dragged away but could do nothing as the shadow placed restraints on her wrists and ankles.

“Laki!!!” Kinana shouted.

Her mind should have been on the shadows coming around her. With the gap in the circle so fresh the shadows found her neck with a seal stone collar placed around and dragged her out. Leaving Bisca, Cana and Lisanna the only free members of Fairy Tail fighting. 

“We can’t keep this up forever” Cana grunted. Throwing more and more cards around the circle to buy them sometime.

“Lisanna, you have the best chance of getting out of here. Get to the capital and tell the Master what happened” Cana ordered.

Lisanna looked at them dumbfounded and then shock her head.

“There’s no time for discussion” Cana flashed a card. A light sprang from the card and enveloped Lisanna. It transformed her into the card.

Lisanna was now just a face in the card. Cana handed the card to Bisca.

“Can you shot her out of here?” Cana asked.

“Watch me” Bisca said.

Putting her regular gun away she transformed it into a mini crossbow. The exact size needed to shoot the card. Loading the card into the crossbow Bisca had to dodge a couple of shadows that Cana took care of. The card was loaded and shot through a hole in the guild. The card flew out past the shadows and out of the guild hall. The man watched it go but didn't notice that Lisanna was now in the card. He was far too busy going over the captives on the other side of the guild. He could tell from the quality of the women that he was going to be able to get his business back up and running. 

Lisanna flew through the air down towards the main city of Magnolia. Flying through the air she wondered how she as going to get out of this card but she knew and trusted Cana to know that she would have no problem getting out of it. It was an odd feeling to fly through the air like this and she could sprout wings and fly. She knew she was probably a little time off from falling to the ground and she thought that when the card hit the ground she would probably go back to normal. All she could was think of her friends in the guild hall. The shadows had released some sort of toxin that had caused all of the men in the hall to fall to the ground almost as one. So concerned with the guys that the girls didn’t see the shadows coming in. So many of them were caught in that first wave that only Cana and Lisanna had been able to identify the culprit who looked very much like Lucy’s description of her captor. Lisanna could feel the air through her air which was an odd sensation and then it just stopped. She found her card self was in someone’s hand. Whoever it was turned the card over in his hand looked down at the card.

“Lisanna?” The deep tones of Gildarts was the one who held her.

“Gildarts!” Lisanna called. She was surprised to hear her own voice. 

“One of Cana’s cards” Gildarts put the card on the ground. 

Lisanna grew out of the card and hugged the giant man.

“The guild is under attack. The same guy who took Lucy…. He’s taking all of the women. He attacks with shadows” Lisanna laid it out as quick as she could.

“Shadows Eh?” Gildarts smiled. 

“Stay here. I’ll take care of it” Gildarts took off in a rush towards the hall.

Gildarts ran into the hall to see all of the men on the ground and the women all lined up against the side of the hall. He immedaitely spotted Cana with a seal stone collar being taken over to the wall with Bisca just in frton fo her. Shadowy chain s reaching oout to connect them to all of the other girls in the hall. He spotted a man in a long coat with a walkign stick walking up and down the line of girls. Reaching out and gropping them as well as taunting them.

“So you’re the guy who took Lucy” Gildarts said and ran towards the man.

The man didn’t have a second to even turn around before Gildarts landed a devastating upper cut that knocked him through the roof and out of the city. His shadows disappearing as he flew away.

“Great going old man now we can question him” Cana blurted out.

“But sweetie he had you in cuffs” Gildarts complained to his daughter Cana. 

“Think next time you old perv” Cana replied with a smile.

Lisanna came running in with a smile. Gildarts was already using his power to destroy the collars around the female mages and the toxin or whatever had been done to the men was beginning to fade.

“Wow Gildarts… thanks” Lisanna said as she skeeded to a halt in the middle of the hall.

Everyone was gettign back to tehir feet now and Lisanna went immedately towards her brother and hugged him.

The women in the guild were shaken but annoyed.

“That creep had Lucy for well over a year!” Cana fumed.

“I’m going to see if I can track him” Bigslow announced as he steadied himself on his feet.

“Good idea. I’ll stay here and help protect the guild” Gildarts nodded.

“I’ll join you Bigslow” Elfmann said. His massive form barely able to remain upright and only with the help of his sister below him propping him up.

“Rest a bit big brother” Lisanna encouraged.

“No….. that wouldn’t be manly” He replied in a predicatable way.

Lisanna rolled her eyes and then left him to shakely find his own footing.

“I’ll let Master Makarov know we were attacked but everyones fine” Lisanna announced as she went to the Master’s office and the lacrima there.

Lucy lay in her bed. Her eyes were closed but sleep was refusing to engulf her. She was thankful for that in a way. She had slept quite a lot since she had awoken from that nightmare. She knew Erza had come into the suite not to long ago and simply sat in a chair by the side of the bed. There was a presence about Erza that was unmistakable. The air in the room changed and the attitudes around changed as well. At first it had been terrifying but now she felt comfortable with it. Erza was more then her friend and guild mate she was her sister. She had also risked a lot to come into her mind to help her out of her nightmare and as such Lucy felt even closer to her then before. With little effort she knew exactly where Erza was without opening her eyes, she reached over with her hand and searched out Erza’s. She felt the warm embrace of Erza’s hand within moments and she smiled.

“I thought you were asleep?” Erza asked.

Lucy opened her eyes and looked at her. Erza was always beautiful and in the morning light of the day with the sun just peeking some rays in through the large windows she looked like a saint to Lucy. The smile on Lucy’s face broadened and she stared into Erza’s eyes.

“I’ve slept a lot these last couple of days and my dreams are becoming more….. troublesome” Lucy smiled at her.

Erza looked at her and Lucy knew from the look in her eye that she was searching for the right words.

“I am so lucky to have so many friends who care for me. I can’t ever begin to think how I will repay you all and you most of all Erza. I was trapped in my own mind in a prison I didn’t even create…… I was lost and you found me” Lucy tried to prevent the tears from coming to her eyes and only succeeded in preventing them from falling.

Erza was no different. Their hands interlocked Lucy could feel the struggle in her friend to stop herself from crying. 

“I only did what needed to be done” Erza stated but Lucy knew in those words were what Erza wanted to say. She knew that Erza wanted to say that Lucy was her friend and sister. 

“I need to talk about what happened to me” Lucy said. She gripped Erza’s hand a little tighter and Erza nodded.

“I understand. Would you like for me to get a professional?” Erza offered.

Lucy laughed a little.

“Would prefer to talk to my friends…… if that’s okay?” Lucy asked.

Erza tensed up a little. Lucy knew she was asking a lot of her friend who didn’t deal well with emotion but she also knew her friend would not deny her.

“I understand. Would you like t to be just us or is there anyone else I can get?” Erza asked.

Lucy smiled at her friend. Knowing that Erza was in her own way asking for help because she was unsure she would be able to meet Lucy’s needs.

“I was thinking if you could get Mira and Levy as well. I’d love to have Wendy here too but I don’t think it would be good for her…….” Lucy looked away. The tears in her eyes now finding a way down her cheeks.

There was a squeeze from Erza’s hand and she got to her feet.

“Of course…… I’m sure if you wish we can let Wendy know in more delicate terms later” Erza replied.

Lucy smiled at her and gripped her hand tightly before she left.

“Erza?”

“Yes?” Erza replied.

“I’ll never be that weak again” Lucy promised.

Erza looked over her friend. Laying in the hospital bed as prone and open as anyone could ever be having suffered through a horror no one should have ever even known about in the world. She nodded at her friend.

“We will get stronger together” Erza pronounced.

Erza found Mira in the study where Levy had setup shop with Fried trying to find a way to reform the celestial keys. Wendy was there as well.

“Mira, Levy, Wendy…. Can I have a word?” Erza asked from the doorway.

Levy’s head was buried in a book but when she looed up she seemed more relieved to get a break for any amount of time. She nodded and pushed back from the table and started walking.

Mira and Wendy immedaitely nodded their heads and went to join her.

Erza led them out into the hallway and took a deep breath.

“Lucy says she wants to talk about what happened…… All of what happened…. If you understand?” Erza stated.

Mira nodded and Levy did as well. Wendy took a big gulp of air and then nodded as well. Erza reached down and looked at Wendy.

“The details are going to be…… unfit for probably all of us and Lucy wants you to know what happened because you are a close friend but perhaps let me, Mira and Levy hear it al first in it’s entirety so that Lucy can feel unbirdled and then you can learn it as well” Erza tried as tactfully as she could.

Wendy looked at the three of them and nodded.

“I understand. I just want what is best for Lucy. I don’t think I could handle hearing what I think happened” Wendy answered.

Mira and Erza exchanged smiles and Levy looked at Wendy.

“You are so great and wise beyond your years Wendy” Levy said. Mira and Erza nodding.

“I don’t think I can handle it either but I’ll find a way for Lu” Levy continued.

“As we all must” Erza said. A look of not quite terror coming across her eyes, it was more like confirmation of terror.

Erza, Mira and Levy came into the room. At the door to the sweet Erza had asked Kagura to stand guard. Confident that her adopted sister would keep anyone out and anything overheard would be overheard only by a woman’s ears. A friend as well. 

“Excuse me. Doctors and medics. We would like the room for a bit. Can you give us some privacy?” Mira asked.

Teh doctors and the medics all exchanged glances and then shrugged and started to exit the room. Mira pulled up two more chairs to sit by the side of the bed so that all three of them had somewhere to sit that was close to Lucy. Lucy pushed erself up in the bed and sat against the backboard. A look of fear yet determination flashed across her face.

“That you guys” She said. She reached over to a bedside table and picked up a glass of water. Taking a sip she steadied herself and then looked at her friends.

“You three as well as Lisanna and Cana are the only ones really that I feel comfortable telling this too. Wendy will know as well I guess just in time”

“We are here for you Lucy” Mira said.

“Whatever you need Lucy” Levy said.

“We will get stronger together” Erza repeated her words from before and Lucy smiled at all three of them.

“I’m sure you can guess what happened. I just feel…… I feel like I wont be able to move forward if I don’t just say it out loud to people I care about and who I know care about me” Lucy stuttered a little but held firm.

“I won’t go into details on how I was captured or anything like that I just need to get……. Get the……sexual things off of my mind” Lucy related to them.

The room was quiet except for the subtle nodding of heads causing a slight wind.

“He…… He took…….. my virginity…… pretty early on” Lucy started.

Levy tried to hold a gasp back and largely succeeded. Erza’s eyes narrowed and Mira’s opened in compassion.

“You saw the white room in my mind Erza……. That’s where he did it…...I call it the red room because of all of my blood that was left in there” Lucy started to shake. Mira reached out and grabbed her by the hand. Levy did the same on the opposite side of the bed.

“Of course he didn’t stop there…. Eventually he pushed himself into my…...into…..my ass” Lucy held a choke and a tear back.

“At first he would do it in private in that room….. then after the beatings that followed me helping three women get away…… he would do it….. in front of the other women in the cells” Lucy continued. 

This time Levy couldn’t hold her gasp and she felt Lucy squeeze her hand in strength.

Lucy stopped here. She took a deep breath and steadied herself.

“That was when he broke me” Lucy said simply.

“He had me chained in the middle of the hallway. Hanging there like a slab of meat. It wasn’t anything new it was the way he would tie me in the red room but I felt so open and vulnerable with all the others looking at me. He would punish them if they looked away so I kept telling them it was okay. My friends were coming and this was nothing I couldn’t handle…….” Lucy started to cry with free flowing tears.

“He would take me from behind and have his way. Telling me to tell them all that I liked it. I refused and he would torture me. I think this went on for a few days before I just couldn’t stand it. I started to tell them all I liked it…… what’s worse….. I think I really did” Lucy pushed her face into her pillow and the stunned silence from Erza, Mira and Levy seemed to somehow echo through the room.

Erza grappled in her mind. She had no idea what to say or do at the moment and she looked towards Levy. Her tear stained cheeks and fresh tears let her know that Levy wasn’t entirely sure what to do. Erza looked over towards Mira who returned her look with a cod stare and set jaw. Mira got up from her chair and looked at Erza again. Her eyes still coldly silent but her body language warm and full of compassion. With great care and effort Mira slipped into the bed with Lucy. Sitting with her back against the back board she pulled Lucy’s head from her pillows. The pillow drenched in her tears and her face a complete mess of them as well.

“Hush….. that’s it for now….. it’s too much for you” Mira said in her warm and caring tone. Mira looked to Erza and Levy and it was Levy that found some sort of order in that look that Erza could not find.

Levy got up from her chair. Sniffling away another batch of tears and went to the other side of the bed and sat on it with Lucy and Mira. Bending down she placed a loving kiss on Lucy’s forehead.

“She’s right Lu, That’s it for now. Continue later…. This isn’t doing you any good right now” Levy agreed with Mira.

Lucy looked in between Mira and Levy. Her face just completely full of tears. Then she looked at Erza, there was a pleading there in her eyes but Erza wasn’t sure what it was for until she saw Lucy slump into Mira and Levy’s embrace. She was trying to be brave, trying to get through it but she knew it was too much for her but she was still going. Why was she still going thought Erza. Recognition dawned in that look she had just received from Lucy. She was continuing because she thought that was what Erza would do. Erza felt tears come to her eyes. Her friend who kept complaining she was weak was truly one of the strongest people she knew and she would spend the rest of her days letting her know that.

Erza got up from her chair and moved to place herself between Mira and Lucy. Mira gave a little ground and Erza came into the space between them. She didn’t sit up in the bed with Lucy. Instead she placed her head down at her waist and wrapped her hands around her stomach.

“Hush now Lucy. Rest Now” Erza said. 

Lucy woke in the bed again. She was tired but she felt a little weight lifted from her. Which she found amusing because she found Levy, Mira, Erza and even Wendy had crawled into the bed with her. All fast asleep wrapped around her in one way or another. She had never felt so loved and quickly turned her head to the side and fell right back asleep. 

It must have been much later in the day when she woke up again. This time they were all still on the bed with her but they were all awake. Saying nothing just looking at her with friendly warm eyes. Lucy felt tears come to her eyes again and once more lamented this new power she had but she quickly wiped them away and embraced her friends.

“You guys are the best” Lucy said.

There was a clearing of the throat and Lucy looked over the form of Wendy who had taken up resisdence on her legs like a little kitten and Lucy saw Kagura there.

“I am sorry to bother but Master Makarov, Natsu, Grey and Sting would likea word. I also believe the doctors and medics would like to come in and check on your condition” Kagura said.

Lucy blushed a little and stammered.

Erza looked up at Kagura and smiled.

“You kept them all out all this time?” Erza asked.

“All except Wendy….. When I saw your condition I thought Wendy wouldn’t be a problem” Kagura stated.

Lucy looked at Wendy who had a slight smile on her face. Reaching out she took Wendy into a big hug.

“She is never a problem”

“Are you feeling any better Lucy?” Wendy asked with those wide eyes and sweet voice.

Lucy looked at her friends and managed a half smile.

“I’m getting there”

Erza smiled at all of them on the bed and looked up at Kagura.

“Thank you Kagura” Erza reached up and brought the even more emotional resistant warrior in for a hug.

“I…. just did as you wished…. Big sister” Kagura stammered out.

“I think if the Master is waiting we should let him in” Mira suggested.

Levy nodded.

“It could be important, especially if Natsu, Grey and Sting are with him” Levy concluded.

It was Lucy’s time to nod.

“Thank you Kagura” Lucy said.

Kagura blushed as she was still in the hug Erza refused to let go.

“Sometimes you just need your friends” She said and finally managed to extract herself from Erza.

Makarov, Natsu. Grey and Sting came in just as the bed was clearing. Wendy stayed on the bed with Lucy who was propping herself back up against the back board to sit. Wendy snuggled in under her arm.

“We didn’t wish to disturb you but we have news and thoughts” Master Makarov said. Walking into the suite. Natsu, Grey and Sting following close behind.

“Of course Master” Erza replied for them all.

“Everythign is alright but I need to inform you that the guild was attacked by the same man” Makarov announced.

All the girls in the room gasped and Lucy tried to shoot out of bed but was frozen in place with fear and Erza’s hand that kept her from gettign up. A look swept across Mira’s face as she must have imagined an awful fate for Lisanna for a moment.

“Everyone is fine. Gildarts arrived and beat the crap out of him” Grey added quickly. Lucy looekd to Mira again and saw that she had recomposed hersef.

“Yeah the old man really laid the beat down on the guy” Natsu flashed his grin.

“So you caught him?” Lucy asked with real hope.

Makarov took a deep breath.

“No….. Gildarts sent him flying and Bigslow and Elfmann went to track him down but there was no sign of him” Makarov confessed.

Lucy felt some air knocked out of her for a moment and leaned a little more into the head board of the bed.

“At least now we have a good idea who it is……. Jose Porla” Makarov shook his head in disgust.

“The former Master of Phantom Lord?” Erza confirmed.

“The very same” Makarov confirmed.

“That doesn’t make sense…… I mean I know him. He tormented me the first time when we went to war with them but this felt different”

“He’s obviously changed a great deal if even Gijeel couldn’t detect his scent in the place they found you” Natsu reasoned.

“So how do we know it’s him?” Lucy asked.

“Gildarts got a good look at his true face when he punched him through the roof apparently and the powers and skills used to attack the guild all match up. Erza also felt something familiar about his presence as well and I must say it had been in the back of my mind as well” Makarov explained. 

“From leader of a guild to a slaver…. What a disgrace” Erza spat out.

“Yes, we got lucky though. He had captured the entirety of the guild with his shadows and placed seal stone collars on all the women before Gildarts ran into an escaping Lisanna. He dispatched him easily and released everyone within minutes” Makarov made special attention to look at Mira when he mentioned Lisanna’s name.

Seemed Cana and Bisca covered her retreat so she could get the word out. They were the last three remaining” Makarov said to all but looked at Mira the entire time. Mira nodded and Lucy felt a great strain come off of her friend. 

“We don’t think he’ll go after the hall again but just in case Lexas as volunteered to head back. With him and Gildarts there the guild will be more then safe” Makarov explained and the entire room nodded.

“Me, Gijeel and Sting are going back to where they found you Lucy to see if our noses can pick anything up. Rogue is meetign us there too” Natsu announced and Lucy nodded her thanks.

“If his scent has changed then perhaps we can find his new one and better track him” Sting reasoned.

“I’m going to stick around for support and guard duty” Grey announced.

“Kagura I know I ask a lot more of you to stay away from your guild but would you care to stay as well?” Erza asked.

Kagura looked.

“I confess I am worried about my guild. If this mad man is targeting women mages then my guild would logically be atop of the list” Kagura expressed her concern.

Erza accepted the logic with a nod.

“You are correct. I don’t believe he is targeting just any guild’s women though. I believe he is targeting Fairy Tail and Lucy in particular because of his defeat at our hands. It is just a suspicion though and I can’t be sure. I would like to have your company and your sword here but I am not sure what I would do in your shoes” Erza reasoned aloud.

Kagura accepted this reasoning with a nod and gripped her sword.

‘If that is the case then my sword would be invaluable here with you my friends. I have to trust my guild to protect themselves for the moment but I will advise them of this” Kagura announced.

“We should advise all friendly and non friendly guilds” Sting said.

“An excellent suggestion Master Sting” Makarov announced.

Lucy thought back to the first time she had meet the Master of Phantom Lord. Then he had told it was all a job. She was kidnapped in order to be brought back to her father. Lucy had been in a high tower with her hands tied behind her. Now that thought was kind of quaint compared to what he had done to her after. She remembered hanging by her wrists in the middle of the hallway. All of the woman in the cells forced to look at her while she as being taken like an animal from behind. Her disgust at herself for the arousal she felt and the moans that circled through the basement. The sickening sounds as his cock pumped in and out of her. The wails of some of the woman as they watched. Lucy could feel the tears from that day coming down her cheeks and wanted nothing more then to be anywhere, anyone else. She felt herself crunching into a little ball on her bed. Felt Wendy trying to help her but the room was silent to her now. There was nothing she could see smell or hear except for that basement and him. Having his way with her. 

A wail of despair and anguish swept through her being. She didn't know if it escaped her lips but she could feel his presence within her again. The disgusting feel of his breath on her neck. Lucy couldn’t stop it, that was all she could do. Her eyes looked out and saw the expressions of her concerned friends. She knew where she was but she wasn’t there in that hospital bed. She was in that basement again and that wail bellowed up from her core again.

“Lucy!” Natsu called for her. Rushing to her side.

Everyone in the room was by her side. Wendy was in tears trying to shake her out of whatever was happening but she couldn’t do it. Grey made some ice and put it on her forehead but it just steamed right away. Erza was over top of her talking to her but Lucy couldn’t hear anything. The only thing she could hear was the constant smacking of his balls on her body as he pumped her. There was another wail building up inside of her. 

Then Lucy felt nothing and saw nothing but blackness.

“LUCY!!!!” Erza called.

“LUCY!!!!” Mira called.

Lucy looked at them but they all could tell she wasn’t really looking at them. Then she turned to Wendy and smiled, but there was nothing behind the smile. No warmth or any emotion. They all watched as she slipped under the covers and passed out. 

“What the hell just happened?” Grey demanded.

“She had some kind of reaction” Sting said.

“She’s shivering you guys” Wendy said from the bed. She was gripping Lucy tight trying to give her some heat.

“Trauma…… she shouldn’t have started talking about it so early and then the mention of who it was… it was too much for her” Erza explained.

“Yes I agree” Makarov confirmed.

“Oh poor Lucy” Mira moved to take Wendy in her hands. The yougn girl was quiverign in her own fear.

“It’s okay Wendy… just hold onto her” Mira said.

Natsu stared opened faced at the whole scene and then finally his eyes refocused and looked to his friends.

“I am ready to get this guy” Natsu punched his fists together.

“Take your team out Natsu and find this devils scent. Then we shall show him the true power of friendship” Makarov declared.

“Your got it Gramps” Natsu roared.

Wendy was still in the bed when Lucy woke up.

“What happened?” Lucy asked.

“You don’t remember?” Wendy asked.

“No….. I remember being told who was behind all of this and then I went blank” Lucy answered. She felt heavy and far more tired then she had when she had woken from her sleep when she had been rescued. 

Wendy was about to answer when Erza came into the room. A look from her to Wendy toldl her not to tell her.

“You….. had an episode” Erza tried to explain.

“An episode?” Lucy asked.

Erza looked at her with tears in her eyes and sat down on the bed with her.

“You seemed to just kind of….. We think you were reliving something from your captivity…. Something I think you tried to tell us before” Erza tried to explain. 

“Oh god! Please no” Lucy cried. 

“Hush” Erza reached out and took Lucy in her arms. 

“I didn’t say anything or do anything did I?” Lucy asked.

“No…. Just scared us all” Erza replied. 

“Oh please Erza…… I just want……. I don’t want to deal with this anymore” Lucy cried.

“We will always be here for you Lucy” Erza had to dry her own tears.

“I don’t know if that is enough” Lucy whispered.

Erza’s heart broke and Lucy turned away and buried her head into Wendy’s shoulder and tried to fall asleep again. Erza couldn’t help but think the light was truly going out of the light of Fairy Tail.

Jose Porla was quite certain the human wrecking ball that was known as Gildarts got a good look at his true face when he punched him through the roof of Fairy Tail. We was just glad he came to just as he was about to hit the ground and shadowed himself. He told himself it didn’t matter anymore. He had the women of Fairy tail under his restraints once he would have them again but he needed another plan. Something that would bring him everything he wanted without subjecting him to the might of Gildarts and the rest of the heavy hitting members of the guild. He was making his way now by back roads to the capital. He knew that was where his slave was and he intended to claim her. If he happened to claim some others while he as there then all the better. While making his way he had stumbled upon an old farmhouse that he found had a large stone cellar that would make for a fine dungeon for his latest captures. When he had been inside inspecting it a Mother and her teen aged daughter had arrived on foot. Seeing the light he had put on in the old house they had been looking for shelter for the night. A truly disastrous coincidence for them but he was quite happy. The mother was still in her early Thirties and must have had the eighteen year old daughter early in life. The mother was a little plump but nothing he couldn’t whip her out of and had nice large shapely breasts. Of course not as wonderful as his slaves but combined with her daughter who was not as similarity endowed but had a cute face and a tight young body they would make for excellent starters to a new business empire. He had left them shackled by his shadows in the cellar of the old house. He still had a couple of contacts who would be interested and some people willing to work for him. They were on their way to that very place now to look after the new acquisitions. He relished the thought of having his slave Lucy once more. With his own special tracker he could track her anywhere in the world. With an unconscious thought he padded his inside pocket where he held the tracker. Pulling it out he marveled at his own sorcery. He had taken Lucy’s silver keys that were contracted to her and melted them into a compass that would always point towards where ever she was. It would also display a little map above the compass with wider details. 

Knowing that the main roads and trains into the city will now be on the lookout for both of his looks he made his way into the city by less the glamours means through the sewer systems but he didn’t care. He followed the tracker which to his surprise wasn’t leading him to the main hospital but towards the palace. That would certainly make things far more interesting he thought because of the natural security there and obviously any other security the wizards had decided to erect. This time he promised himself he would be patient and wait.

“Lu?” Levy’s voice was in the room.

Since the incident that had seemingly scared everyone, everyone was far more concerned for her. Lucy kept trying to get out of bed but she just didn’t have the will. Levy sat in one of the chairs that had taken up permanent residence around the bed. Yukino was sat next to her in another chair and Mira was across on the other side of the bed. Erza was leangin agasint the wall directly opposite of Lucy’s bed. Her eyes on the floor Lucy couldn’t help think she had let Erza down with what she had said. It was true though. She was so tired of it.

“Yeah Levy?” Lucy said.

“I think you should eat something. The doctors can’t keep you on the drip forever” Levy suggested.

Mira perked up at this thought.

“I can make you anything you want Lucy” Mira offered. 

Lucy smiled at the two of them and shook her head.

“I’m not hungry” She replied.

“You should still eat” Levy replied a little too quickly. The smart wizard anticipating Lucy’s response. 

“I’m not hungry” Lucy replied with a little coldness in her voice.

Levy and Mira seemed defeated and sat back in their chairs. Yukino had observed the interaction with interest and Lucy could tell she wanted to say something.

“Just go ahead and say it Yukino” Lucy prodded her. Her tone and words not matching anything anyone of them in the room knew to be Lucy’s.

“This isn’t you Lucy…… I know in my heart it isn’t you. You with the love of your friends can overcome anything” Yukino’s sweet voice said.

It caused smiles on the faces of Levy and Mira and even Erza looked up. Interested to know the response.

Lucy smiled at her. She tried to put some warmth into the smile but she found she just didn’t have any at the moment.

“I used to think that too” Lucy said.

The room became silent. Lucy both hated and loved the silence. The silence meant she didn’t have to talk which was a good thing but it also meant there was nothing on her mind and that meant she was thinking of everything she had gone through. Lucy closed her eyes for a brief moment and then opened them again to look around. Levy and Mira were still in their chairs and Yukino now had a look of slight horror crossing her brow but it was Erza that caught Lucy’s attention. She seemed to be seething in anger. No longer resting against the wall she seemed to be doing her best to control herself. Lucy couldn’t help but feel some of that old terror that would come to her when Erza would get mad.

“Erza?” Lucy called.

It caused the three other wizards in the room to turn towards her.

“I… Cannot stand this…. There is an evil to fight and you sit in your bed telling us that we cannot solve this??…….” Erza’s words were so heated she might as well have been in battle.

“I don’t think I can do anything Erza” Lucy admitted.

“You don’t think?…….” Erza repeated.

“You?…….” Erza said again.

“We are a guild Lucy…… We are family!….. You are not doing anything alone….. We will find a way….. Just like we always do” Erza managed to say. Tears coming down her face.

Lucy couldn’t help the tears coming to her face as well.

“I’m sorry Erza…. I just don’t know what to do” Lucy admitted.

“You do what needs to be done. You heal your body and then we will heal your soul” Erza pointed at her as if she had a weapon in hand.

“What if my soul is black??” Lucy cried out.

That seemed to stop Erza for a moment. She could never see her friend as evil. Lucy was the most warming person she had ever known.

“What do you mean Lu?” Levy took up the question.

“I…...I…...learned to…...enjoy it” Lucy admitted.

“Oh sweet Lucy….. Don’t hold that against yourself. You were coping with a situation out of your control” Mira answered.

“You may have enjoyed the pleasure but not the act and certainly not the person” Erza stated.

“It’s not right….. what happens if I have another episode?” Lucy said.

“What if that happens in the middle of a fight?” Lucy continued.

“I’d be worst then the useless mage I already am” Lucy finished.

The silence again overtook the room.

“We get your physical body healthy and then we get your mind healthy’ Erza reiterated. 

“I don’t have that kind of strength” Lucy cried.

“That’s bull and you know it” Grey’s words came from outside but were clearly heard.

“Grey?” Erza asked.

“Sorry I am on guard out here and…… It needed to be said” Grey announced from the hall.

Erza smiled and looked at Lucy.

“You see. Lucy you are not alone” Erza countered.

“You told me you will not be weak again. I tell you, you were never weak but we will get stronger together. That is the Fairy Tail way” Erza commanded.

“I liked it…… I wanted more” Lucy couldn’t help but repeat.

Erza breathed deeply. So did Levy and Mira and even Yukino who really didn’t know what it was but she could make a guess.

“That’s what he wanted….. are you going to let him win?” Levy asked. 

Erza looked over to the short haired wizard and nodded.

“No! I will not let him win!” Lucy answered. With that answer she blew out her own breath and seemed to sag in her bed again.

“I will not let him win” Lucy repeated.

“Then fight” Erza demanded. 

The man laughed at the security around his slave. There were some powerful people surrounding her including the guild master of Fairy Tail himself but Porla knew how to get in and out now without notice. He knew who was in the wing and how many there was. He also knew he could neutralize the men pretty easily but the women would still present a threat. Some of the most powerful woman mages in the kingdom were in the area protecting his slave. He smiled though and knew the more powerful and well known the mage the more he could get for them. There were times already over the past day or so that he had penetrated the wing and left without no one knowing anything. He was quite confident in his plan and knew he would soon be able to sell some of the most beautiful wizards in the kingdom into slavery.

Lucy woke like she always did now. With a tear in her eye and regret in her heart. Unlike other times though she woke with no one in the room. Not even the constant doctors and medics. Lucy found that odd and oddly like she had lost a piece of the armour that she was trying to build around herself. The wing felt cold too. The sun was down and everythgin just had a still silent like atmosphere that set her on edge. Lucy pulled herself to the edge of the bed and made herself stand. She looked towards the doors to her suite and it felt like a mile but she started by putting one foot in front of the other. Every time she made a step she was reminded by just how weak she was at the moment but something told her to keep going. Finally with great effort she got to the doors and opened them. Unfortunately for her she hadn’t been out of her suite yet so she really didn’t know where to go.  Looking down though she she the form of Grey on the flow. She cried out and rushed as fast as she could to him and managed to find that he was okay just knocked out. When she looked up and saw another guard on the ground nearby she started to follow the breadcrumbs of fallen guards. Even coming across Master Makarov on the floor. It was then that she started to hear noises from further ahead. Exhausted she moved forward further towards where she heard the voices. Coming to an area that was boarded off with large wooden doors Lucy quietly opened one of the doors and peered in. 

There in the room where her friends. Levy was on her knees, stripped of her clothes she had a seal stone collar around her neck and metal restraints around her wrists and ankles. Chains connecting everything together she had a couple of lash marks across her chest but she looked over and outside Lucy’s current vision with nothing but hatred and resolve in her eyes. Next to her was Yukino. The white haired wizard was no different. Kneeling with a seal stone collar around her throat and restraints connected by chains on her wrists and ankles she too looked out of Lucy’s view with a calculating look that made Lucy want to see more but at the moment she choose not to open the door any further. Mira was next to Yukino in the same state of undress and bounds. She struggled wildly in them but each time she seemed to be making any head way there as a shock that emanated from the restraints. Wendy was bound next to Mira and Lucy was at least happy to see that she was still in clothes but she had lash marks across her thighs that looked like they hurt a lot. She looked over towards the door for a half moment and caught Lucy’s eye. In that moment the young dragon slayer tried to tell her to run by motioning her head but Lucy was not going to leave her friends behind. She could hear Eerza now. She was the noises that had brought her here. Opening the door a little more she saw that Erza was spread in an x by her limbs in between two wooden pillars. The man who she now knew was Jose Parlo stood in front of Erza with a whip in his hand. He was whipping her friend non stop. Lucy knew exactly how that felt but she refused to give into her fear at the moment. She opened the door a little bit more and quietly entered into the room. She noted that next to the pillars was Kagura on her knees and nude like the others. In the same state of bondage. Erza’s back looked like a road map from the whip marks and Lucy couldn’t take her friends cry as the whip hit more and more on her front. Lucy placed herself between Erza and the man so that he couldn’t see her. She quietly made her way towards Wendy, Mira, Yukino and Levy. 

“Lucy… you have to run…. It’s you he is after…. We are trying to not tell him” Wendy whispered.

“I’m not leaving my friends” Lucy said with more determination then she felt.

“You don’t even have your magic” Mira answered in a whisper.

“Please Lu, run” Levy said. 

“No” Lucy answered in determination.

Lucy looked over towards Kagura and Erza and wondered if there was a way she could get the seal stone collars off of her friends without notice but without her magic she didn’t think there was a way. She was exhausted too and the sight of that man again had taken much of her energy away.

“Please Lucy run” Yukino repeated the statements from her guild mates.

“I’m not leaving you in that mans clutches” Lucy said with strength.

The room became a little more silent then it had been when she arrived and Lucy looked over towards the pillars Erza had been strung from. There she saw all the evil in the world looking at her with a wide eyes look of pure lust.

“Oh my I should have just waited and my slave would have delivered herself to me….. oh well I had so much fun whipping poor Erza” Porla dementedly said.

“It’s me you want. Let them go and I’ll give myself to you” Lucy stood up straight as she could.

The man laughed at her and stalked over towards her.

“LUCY RUN!!!” Erza demanded. Though her back was to Lucy. Lucy could picture the look Erza gave her. 

“I’m through running from this trash” Lucy declared with far more confidence then she felt. 

“Ah the wizard has found her confidence. I wonder… do you still beg for my cock in your sleep? Do you remember the pleasure you felt when I take your ass?” Porlo taunted. 

“Shut it perv” Lucy warned.

“I see you’ve forgotten your place….. no matter you still wear my collar and my markings. You will kneel now and beg for my cock in front of your friends” Porlo commanded.

Lucy felt the urge in her to do as he commanded but she stayed tall and refused to submit.

Porlo stalked even closer to her and Lucy found herself taking a step back.

“You have no magic. Just do as I say slave” Porlo demanded. His smile bringing horrible memories back to her.

Lucy could feel her resolve failing. There was a large part of her that wanted to do as he commanded. She even felt her knees buckle slightly before she was able to steel herself again. 

“We will get stronger together!” Erza yelled.

“Stronger together” Levy echoed.

“Stronger together” Mira repeated.

“Stronger together” Wendy concurred. 

“Stronger together” Lucy whispered to herself.

“STRONGER TOGETHER!!!!” Erza screamed again.

Lucy looked into Porlo’s eyes and he into hers. At first he saw nothing but a faltering wizard on the edge of submitting to him but then he saw a light in her eye. At first it was only a speck in the corner but soon it dominated her eyes. 

Lucy looked at the floor. Breaking eye contact with the man for a moment but when she looked up her eyes were nothing but a yellow light. Her breathing was slow and sure and she seemed to be looking through him. There was magic in her that shouldn’t be there. Porlo took a step back.

“I am tired of being afraid” Lucy said but it wasn’t quite her voice. It was cold yet warm. Hallow yet full.

“Kneel slave!” Porlo commanded.

Lucy smiled. The light from her eyes was now spreading along her entire body. Enveloping her from toe to fingers Lucy looked more like a living fireball then anything else. 

“It’s not possible” Porlo seemed more deranged then any other time before. 

“Anything is possible for a member of Fairy Tail” Lucy declared with a mirthless voice that sent chills through everyone in the room.

The seal stone collar that was around her throat began to dissolve around the energy she was emitting and soon the only thing that was left was the gold that used to be one of her keys. Even that began to glow and stared to remove itself from her throat. The energy she was emitted was burning away her clothes. Standing nude all of her piercings were visible again but they were glowing now. Independently of the glow that surrounded her they seemed to glow upon themselves before they started to detach from her body. All nine of the rings and the stud all detached from her body and floated away from her. They started to glow more brightly, more and more before everyone in the room was blinded by a flash and the keys returned. Hovering in the air before her the ten keys all opened their gates at once. All ten of her spirits coming through with glee in their eyes. 

Yukino looked at the gathering of spirits with wide eyes. Mira, Wendy, Levy all looked on with eyes of wonder and amazement. Lucy’s glare of light was reaching out in arcs of lightening. Two of these hit the bounds that kept Erza immobilized and soon her friend was turned and looking at Lucy. Her own posture and eyes reflecting her own amazement. 

“Lucy” Erza whispered the words.

Porlo stood just as awed as the rest of them.

Erza reached down and unbound Kagura. Taking both of their seal stone collars off and preparing themselves for battle.

“It’s time you learn to respect Fairy Tail and Women in general” Lucy’s voice was again warm and cold at the same time but her eyes shinned like a star.

Her tend spirits all attacked at once. The man didn’t stand a chance. In one blow by all the spirits the man fell to the floor. Lucy laughed and looked over towards him. Without even touching him she reached out and grabbed the silver keys he had reformed from her and with a blast of power they too all appeared in their normal forms. All of Lucy’s spirits now roamed the area. Each making sure that the man was down on the ground. Some giving kicks to him. 

Lucy’s shine and glare began to fade and the silver key spirits began to disappear back into the celestial world. Then her golden keys started to go back through their gates but not before one last blast took out all the seal stone collars on the rest of the captives. Another spark of her energy permeated through the palace awakening guards and friends alike. Lucy then finally stood in the nude before her friends without her piercings.

“Stronger together” Lucy said in her familiar tone and then collapsed. 

She didn’t hit the ground before Erza and Kagura grabbed her. The two warriors cradling her to the ground and to their own knees with the care of a delicate flower. Mira, Levy, Yukino and Wendy were all there in a flash as well. Gathering around Lucy who slept with a smile on her face for the first time since her rescue.

“How did she do it?” Erza asked to everyone. Aware that for most of it her back had been to Lucy.

Mira, Levy, Kagura, Yukino and Wendy all exchanged looks of confusion.

“We don’t know. She somehow overpowered the seal stone” Mira ventured to say.

“Ten spirits!” Yukino gasped.

“Yukino?” Erza asked.

“She opened all ten spirit gates and all her silver key gates at once…….that’s never been done, not even close to it” Yukino breathlessly whispered.

The fallen form of Porlo lay motionless nearby. The woman all looked at him with disgust. Mira walked over to him and kicked him again and again in the stomach. 

“Such an evil person….. this is for me……” Mira delivered a blow to his crotch that even though the man was unconscious he screamed in pain.

“…..this is for Lisanna…..” Mira again delivered another kick to the crotch which caused more unconscious screaming.

“….this is for the guild…..” Mira once more targeted the crotch.

“…..for our friends…..” Another kick to the crotch and another scream.

Mira transformed into her Satan Soul self and looked down at the crumpled man.

“…..This is for Lucy……” Mira delivered another three blows to his crotch and then three to his head.

The women in the area simply watched and didn’t say or do anything. Mira transformed back into her regular self and held her hand to her mouth.

“Oh dear me” She said in her sweet innocent voice after brutally hitting the man.

“I think you should all get something to wear before we go wake all the guys up” Wendy pointed out and the assembled women all looked down and screamed in shame.

Lucy woke up in the bed again. Her entire body ached, she didn’t feel like she could move a muscle and that included opening her eyes. Instead she lay there in the room just taking in the sounds of it.

“She opened ten gates?” That was definitely Grey she thought to herself.

“More because she opened all her silver keys at the same time” Charming voice had to be Levy.

“Came right in without any plan?” That had to be Master Makarov she thought. 

“Mmmm Hmmm. I tried to warn her but she was determined” Wendy’s beautiful voice.

“Glowed like a star” the sweet tones of Mira said.

“HAHA way to go Lucy!” Lucy tried to smile. The sound of Natsu’s voice and energy unmistakable.

“That’ll show that old bastard” That had to be Gijeel.

“I have never been so proud and inspired in my life” Erza….. that could only be Erza thought Lucy.

Erza who was taking a whipping when she had gone into the room. A whipping she knew all to well about at the hands of that evil man. A tear somehow managed to escape her closed eyelid.

“Lucy?” that was Natsu again.

“I’m….. here…...just exhausted…..” Lucy managed to say.

“LUCY!” The room erupted in a chorus.

With great effort she opened her eyes and saw one of the most wondrous things she had ever seen. Though over the past couple of days she had gotten used to waking up and seeing people looming over her with worried expressions in their eyes now when she woke up there was no worried expressions. Just pure joy and that warmed Lucy’s heart and gave her strength.

“Hey guys” She said.

Erza wiped away a tear, Levy hugged Gijeel with tears in her eyes. Gijeel himself had to brush away a tear. Mira held her hands together in front of her and smiled so widely Lucy thought her mouth might fall off of her. Wendy stood next to Natsu with a hand around his waist and Natsu’s arm around her shoulder. She too was wiping tears away. In the back of the suite Lucy could see Kagura, Yukino and Sting. Talking among themselves but their faces were all turned towards her with smiles on them. It was only when she managed to turn her head the other way around and saw Erza standing on the other side of her bed. Back dropped by the sunshine that she felt her own tears come to her face. 

“Are you okay?” She asked Erza.

Erza smiled and sat down on the bed.

“That is supposed to be my line” She smiled.

“Thank you” Lucy said to her.

Erza looked at her with confused eyes for a moment and then smiled again.

“Stronger together” Erza reiterated. 

“Stronger together” Lucy managed to say with the last of her strength before the sweet embrace of a powerful and restful sleep finally overtook her.

The End.