Chapter 1: Prologue
Chapter Text
This story starts in a small town.
A young girl, by the name of Lucy, was walking around in search of her brother. About a year ago their father went missing, and her older brother had been distraught. She followed him everywhere searching for their missing kin, but no such luck. That morning, when the 10-year-old Lucy had woken up, her brother and all of his stuff were missing.
The now determined blonde set off to find her missing brother and bring him back home.
Together they would go and find their father.
Maybe then, everything would be back to normal.
Lucy was now 11 years old as she walked around the small town of Lumia. It was a wonderful place and all the inhabitants were so kind to her, she knew she couldn’t stay, but it was a nice thought. As the young blonde was walking through town, she heard a scream from nearby. She raced toward it, wanting to help the citizens who have been so kind to her.
When she got to the alleyway, though, there was no trace of life anywhere. Puzzled, the blonde turned away to check the surrounding area, only to be yanked back by her shoulder. She struggled against the firm grasp and watched as more figures moved in around her. Lucy recognized the symbol on their masks, they were a dark guild. Grimoire Heart.
Lucy’s scream was cut off as she was kneed in the gut, effectively knocking her out.
It was dark.
Lucy had been in this cage for months, barely any scraps of food were given to her, and no one has told her why she is here. Her wrists were chained to a wall and her body sagged from exhaustion, she’s barely slept since she arrived.
For the first time in months, she sees someone other than the usual guards that come to give her "food". He’s tall with a long grey beard, an eyepatch covers his right eye, but his left glares down at the blonde. Lucy snarled at him, he must be the reason she’s here, why she’s suffering.
"Lucy Dragneel, that is you, correct?” He spoke, his voice was deep and carried a warning undertone.
“Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t,” She growled. Lucy wasn’t gonna be intimidated by him, she had to stay strong, just like her father had wanted.
“Ms. Dragneel, we’ve been following your activity for a while now, it seems that you are a very powerful wizard for someone of your age. You are here so we can do... some tests. You will be helping us enhance our soldiers and in return, we’ll increase your power. How does that sound?” His wicked grin made Lucy feel sick, she tugged on her chains.
“Why would I ever help you?” The words were hissed out, her eyes narrowed, he must be an idiot to think that she’ll help him kill people. The man hummed as a smirk grew on his face.
“Because if you don’t... we’ll kill your brother,” The man hissed back at her. Lucy felt her heart stop, no, they couldn’t hurt him. He’s just a kid, just like her, they shouldn’t be going through something like this. All fight drained from her, maybe if she helped them, they’ll leave him alone and let him free. She couldn’t lose the only family she had left.
Lucy’s head dropped and she nodded her consent to help them with whatever they needed.
“Good, now, let’s get started."
Chapter 2: Chapter 1
Notes:
Mentions of torture, but nothing explicit. Just recalling memories and the word is used a couple of times.
Chapter Text
Lucy shot up, her body was shaking.
She woke up in the dark again, in the 6 years of Grimoire Heart experimenting with her magic, she never got a room, just the same old cage put on display like some sort of prize. She’s grown numb to their projects now, just waiting for them to be done with her, she doesn’t even care if she dies anymore.
She just wants it all to end.
She was curled up in her small cell, her head was tucked between her legs as she heard explosions above her. She knew that she was invulnerable to the damage that the shrapnel would have caused if she was being tested on the main level, thanks to the many procedures she’s endured, but she curled more in on herself. These invaders would probably try and kill her or use her just like what has been happening for years.
Or they would die.
This branch was one of Grimoire Heart’s strongest, nothing close to the 7 Kin of Purgatory, but still pretty powerful. Any guild that had been sent was quickly wiped out. Lucy was sickened that she took joy in the destruction of her kidnappers, but maybe their evil has seeped into her as well, changed her. Lucy sighed and tensed when she heard a commotion by the door to her cage. Her room was a large concrete square, her prison hung from the ceiling with titanium for the bars, and a lava pit beneath her cage. They could easily dispose of her and she wouldn’t be able to do anything until it was too late, that fact hung over the blonde’s head, a constant reminder to behave.
It was beneath the building and down a large pathway filled with traps, so the blonde was genuinely surprised when the door burst open. She kept her face shielded and wrapped her arms tighter around her thin figure. She couldn’t be strong for her father and brother anymore, the people who’ve just exploded the door, have doomed her to a slow death. She felt the gears shift above her as the cage was slowly lowered into the lava. Lucy watched as she got closer and closer to the melted rock, her eyes squeezed shut and tears dripped from her face.
I’m sorry brother, father, I won’t be seeing you guys again.
When Erza Scarlet was sent on this S-Class request by the council, she didn’t want to risk this infiltration by bringing Natsu and Gray, but since they were a team, the two tagged along. Erza huffed and pinched the bridge of her nose as once again, Gray and Natsu started arguing over another stupid thing. Insults were flying between the boys and were getting heated before Natsu just went silent. His head jerked to the side and his ear twitched. Erza and Gray watched him silently, whatever was going on seemed to have Natsu’s full attention.
The 18-year-old froze in his spot before he snarled.
“We need to bust into that building, no infiltration, we need to be in there now.” The statement made Erza pause, Natsu was never this serious and he sounded like he was going to snap. Erza nodded, if Natsu was going against her requests then that meant that this was very important. Gray nearly protested, but Erza sent him a glare, the ice-mage nodded with a determined expression growing on his face as well. The three broke the door down, Natsu had fire spewing out of his mouth as they knocked out everyone, leaving no one conscious.
The two followed Natsu’s lead as he leads them down a flight of stairs and a long hallway, the three expertly get through the traps, and a pair of large, double doors stand in front of them. Natsu’s head twitches again and his eyes narrow dangerously, he punches through the door, busting it off its hinges and sending the wooden material flying into a lava pit. The three take in this dungeon styled room, wondering who they needed to keep in. Their eyes landed on a shaking figure in the slowly sinking cage, Natsu’s breath hitched as his eyes stared at the girl. Erza raised an eyebrow at his reaction upon seeing the girl.
The three heard a little whimper followed by a sob as the cage was inches from the lava pit. The sound seemed to snap Natsu out of his stupor, and he launched toward the girl. Gray looked torn, no one deserved to burn to death, but if Grimoire Heart had her locked up here, how dangerous was this girl?
And what if she’s an even bigger threat than Grimoire Heart?
Erza had taken off after Natsu shortly after the pinknette had shot off to free the girl. Gray reluctantly followed and froze the top layer of lava, the cage landed on his ice, but it was quickly cracking under the heat of the lava and weight of the metal prison. He couldn’t keep this up for long. Erza knelt as Natsu quickly melted the bars, his rage making the fire hotter. Once the bars were melted away, Erza quickly grabbed the girl and the ice fell away, the cage slowly submerging itself beneath the molten rock.
Metal fingers ran through the girl’s hair as she sobbed, Erza was slightly uncomfortable, not knowing how to comfort someone who was crying. The rescued prisoner was trembling as she clung to the knight, Natsu watched next to the girls with concern. Gray decided to speak up when the girl seemed to have cried herself asleep.
“Natsu, do you know this girl?” Gray questioned, confusion was written across his face. Erza cradled the blonde and looked up at Natsu as well, barely hidden curiosity on her expression as well. A bittersweet look grew on the boy’s face as he reached out and gently ran a knuckle over the blonde’s cheek.
“Yeah, I do. Her name is Lucy Dragneel, she’s my little sister.”
The looks on Erza and Gray’s faces were priceless.
When Lucy woke up in a brightly lit room, she half expected to be dead. Memories from earlier flashed in her mind, remembering being saved by three mages. One of them seemed familiar somehow, she sensed the hesitance in one of the people, and one smelled comforting aside from the hardness she had laid on.
The blonde felt herself stiffen as a nearby door opened. The woman who’d just entered had dark red hair, like scarlet. Lucy could recognize the color anywhere, seeing as it was her favorite. Brown eyes connected with Lucy’s matching ones, and the blonde blushed slightly. The woman was beautiful and the scent of comfort and safety she smelled earlier came back, the scarlet-haired knight watched Lucy carefully, slightly unsure about the blonde.
“Hello, my name is Erza Scarlet. What is yours?” Despite Natsu already filling her in, she wanted confirmation from the girl in case Natsu was wrong. The blonde tilted her head in confusion, her brows were furrowed in thought. Lucy was struggling, for years everyone had called her girl and that, her mind eventually blocked out everything but the necessities.
“Girl?” Her tone was uncertain as she spoke and Erza couldn’t help the sympathy she felt for the girl.
“Yes, you are a girl, but that can’t be your name?” Erza wasn’t frustrated in the slightest, but Lucy seemed to think she was and curled into herself, wrapping the blankets tighter around herself.
“Sorry,” Lucy spoke shakily. The redhead’s eyes widened and she slowly approached the blonde as to not startle her, but the seventeen-year-old seemed to shrink further into the blankets that surrounded her. Erza and comfort have never been in the same sentence, and that is for a reason. She changed out of her armor into normal clothing and awkwardly patted Lucy’s shoulder, Lucy seemed to appreciate the gesture.
Everything was quiet for a moment before Lucy shyly peaked out of the blankets, her head popping out with a messy mane of blonde hair. Erza smiled softly at the girl’s appearance before smoothing her hair back, Lucy leaned into the touch with a peaceful expression. Suddenly becoming shyer, Lucy wiggled a bit before the blanket opened. Her arm was held out and her shy face was asking for Erza to join her. The knight found it endearing.
“It’s probably warmer in here than out there, as a fire dragon slayer I produce more heat than a normal person,” Lucy mumbled, a small blush scattered across her cheeks. Erza smirked slightly and moved into the blanket nest, she took hold of the blanket and wrapped it around herself. An arm slowly wrapped around Lucy’s waist and the blonde tensed, but she soon calmed down as Erza cocooned herself in the warmth as well making Lucy giggle. The younger girl hesitantly rested her head on Erza’s shoulder, thinking Erza wouldn’t like it. It made the knight genuinely smile and her arm tightened around Lucy, both wrapped up in the comfort and warmth, the happiest both have been in a while.
Lucy's peaceful dream was interrupted when Erza had abruptly stood up, standing with her back facing Lucy and a sword appearing from thin air. What the blonde didn’t know was that she was in one of the Fairy Tail guild’s safe houses, so when the door started opening it startled Erza. When Gray’s face appeared from behind the door, he nervously eyed Erza’s sword.
The redhead grunted and put the weapon away, all gentleness from earlier replaced with a cold demeanor.
“Uh, Flamebrain and I are done patrolling the area. Should we get everything ready, or will we be staying longer?” The raven-haired boy questioned, fully moving into the room and shutting the door.
“Yes, we can start gathering everything up. Are you well-rested?” The question was directed at the blonde who nodded at Erza, Gray watched as the S-class mage smiled at the girl and helped her up. When Erza met his gaze, he gave her a look and motioned his head outside. Erza rolled her eyes but followed him anyways, but told Lucy to stay inside. The blonde nodded and proceeded to wander the small building. The sight that greeted Erza when she emerged from the safe house was Gray leaning against it, with his arms crossed, a weird expression on his face.
“What is it Gray?” Her voice was the commanding tone it usually is, making the boy stand up straighter.
“Are you sure you should be getting close to her? Grimoire Heart had to have her locked up that securely for a reason. Who knows how long she was there, and what she might have picked up. I don’t care if she is Natsu’s sister, that doesn’t instantly make her good.” Gray spoke, Erza instantly felt the need to defend the girl, but she could see Gray’s side. The only difference between them was that he didn’t spend time with the girl.
The broken and scared girl didn’t look dangerous, and her eyes were too kind for her to be evil.
“Her body shows signs of torture, maybe she was locked up in Grimoire Heart, possibly her whole life, but they could have wanted her for another reason. Don’t jump to conclusions so quickly Gray, give her a chance. She doesn’t even remember her name, has many visible scars, if Grimoire was so scared of her they wouldn’t have put a hand on her.” Erza explained sternly, jumping to conclusions wouldn’t help anything.
“It just seems too cruel to treat someone like that.” Erza's demeanor softened slightly at Gray’s words, no matter how cold he tried to act he was so caring.
“Remember, they are a dark guild. Who knows what extents they’d go to.” Gray nodded at her words, seeming to think about what she had told him. A smug smile slowly grew on his face as he eyed Erza.
“Scars on her body, huh? How much of her body have you seen while we were gone?” He teased, Erza’s eyes widened and her face turned a dark red.
“G-Gray!” She stuttered and steam was practically pouring out of her ears, and he snickered at the requip mage. As Gray was about to tease her more, the door opened again. Lucy’s head peeked out from behind the door and she instantly went to Erza.
“I know you told me to stay in the house, but my memories returned, I’m sorry for interrupting your conversation.” Erza turned to the blonde, instantly dropping her commanding stance and tone.
“No, no, no, it’s ok. We just finished, right Gray?” The last two words were gritted out and directed at the ice mage as Erza glared over her shoulder, the smug boy shrugged playfully. Lucy shyly averted her eyes as Erza returned her attention to her, Gray watched with curiosity.
“L-Lucy, Lucy Dragneel. The last time I heard my name was six years ago when I was kidnapped. This old, bearded man called me Ms. Dragneel, but after he left that was it.” Lucy told Erza, the knight smiled kindly at her. Lucy peeked around Erza at Gray, the boy’s attention was fully on the girl now.
“I heard parts of your conversation, my hearing still isn’t quite used to hearing all these sounds again. I understand your hesitance though.” Erza’s face flushed again at the chance Lucy heard what they had been talking about before she appeared.
“I had been walking through a town searching for my brother when I heard someone scream and went to help. Turns out it was a trick and I was taken to that building you found me in. For months I was chained to a wall, I didn’t understand why I was there, but I stayed strong so I could find my brother.” Lucy smiled at the thought of Natsu before her smile dropped, Erza placed a soothing hand on Lucy’s shoulder. Gray listened to Lucy’s story with intrigue.
“Then the man I mentioned earlier appeared.” Lucy’s tone grew bitter at the thought of the guy, he smelled evil and the thought of his scent still made Lucy sick.
“He told me I was being held there so they could do tests on me, tests and experiments with my powers to enhance their members. He had been following me and my actions as I tracked down my brother, and he decided he wanted my power cause I was stronger than most people. So at 11, I was forced into tests, then power enhancements, followed by experiments. For years the torture repeated.” Lucy’s sad eyes met Gray’s sympathetic gaze, Lucy could sense Erza’s anger simmering just under the surface.
“Why-Why didn’t you try to escape if you were so powerful?” Erza’s eyebrows were scrunched in thought as her eyes met Lucy’s, the bittersweet smile that appeared on Lucy’s face matched Natsu’s earlier one.
“The man told me they had my brother and that they’d kill him if I tried anything, I couldn’t let anything happen to him, he’s the only family I have left.” Erza and Gray’s face dropped, Natsu was never taken, she’d gone through all of that for no reason. Suddenly, Lucy’s face grew panicked.
“Wait! Did-Did you guys save him too? They’ll kill him if I’m not there.” Lucy was going hysterical, Erza went to hug her but quickly pulled away because of Lucy’s burning skin. A voice broke through the haze in Lucy’s mind.
“Hey, what’s everyone doing outside, is everything packed already?” Natsu grinned as he walked up, Lucy’s eyes watered as her eyes landed on the boy. A sob escaped her lips and Natsu looked over at her, his eyes widened as well. Erza stepped out of the way as Lucy darted toward him. She clung to him, crying happy tears as she finally got to see her brother again. Natsu has a watery smile as he tightly hugged the girl. Erza and Gray watched the tender moment with smiles on their faces.
“Natsu,” The girl cried. Big brother mode kicked in and he quickly soothed the girl. Lucy pulled away from the hug and the biggest smile Erza’s seen appeared on the girl’s face. Natsu waved the other two over and they all joined in on the group hug.
Lucy wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
Chapter 3: Not A Chapter
Notes:
This notice will be deleted when I update the book next!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Hey, everyone!
I realize that I've been gone for a while😅.
I've been writing still, but just not the stories here or over on Wattpad. It turns out that it is possible to get burnt out with writing about a single topic😂.
I've been writing ErLu stories for nearly 6 years, and 4 of those years, it was nothing but Fairy Tail stuff. Now being older, I've got burnt out on the topic.
But! That doesn't mean I'm ending all the books just yet. I have thoroughly planned out all of my Fairy Tail stories, and I'm even working on a pretty big one too.
I am still writing ErLu. It's just not as frequent as before.
I am, though, working on a huge project to post on here. It's going to be 8, possibly 9, books with many lengthy chapters.
It's a multifandom thing, and Fairy Tail is one of them.
I'm incredibly excited to share it with you once the first book is done. It's taking all of my writing time, so all of my previous books are on hold, but I will be continuing them.
All like, 20 of them I have in progress😂.
I hope you guys will like what I have planned!
Notes:
This will be in all of my Ao3 stories, but not Wattpad.
Loil (Guest) on Chapter 2 Mon 27 Dec 2021 04:12AM UTC
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stcrrykisses on Chapter 2 Tue 12 Apr 2022 07:49AM UTC
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