Luce

Where's Luce?

~Don't worry about me, because I will not give in... I promise you, so wait for me.~

No pov.

Team Natsu are on the train to their current job request in a town found just on the borderline of Fiore. It was a 6 hour long ride to their destination and Erza had been kind enough to knock Natsu unconscious to help ease his travel sickness. It seemed to be working. It was the only option since Wendy's Troia magics affect ceased to fix the dragon slayers illness.

On the train the team have their own private room, hired out by the requester, insisting they have a comfortable journey. The room is square with cushioned benches on each side (besides the side with the door), a table in the middle, a wooden door to one side and a large window to the other. It was a cosy little cabin.

Erza sat near the door, always alert, as if waiting for trouble to burst through the door. Next to her was the unconscious Natsu who was slumped in the corner, peacefully asleep. On the bench under the window was Wendy, who was kneeling on the seat and looking out of the window, watching the scenery fly by. Next to Wendy also sat Happy and Carla who were having a one sided conversation about fish. On the opposite bench to Erza and Natsu was Gray and Lucy.

- - - - - Lucy pov. - - - - -

"So, what's the job again?" I ask, breaking the silence. Erza looks at me briefly before pulling out a poster showing the jobs details and handing it over to me. "It's a job to take out a dark guild that has been bothering the locals in the nearby village. The village is also known for it's foods, especially desserts... such as cake.." Erza replies to my question even though I am reading the poster. Once I've given it a look over I pass the poster on to Gray so he can see it too.

"I'm guessing you'll want to pick up some cake then?" I ask though I already know what the answer will be. "Oh you don't mind? I'd love to!"

I laugh at Erza's crazy obsession of cake.

"Hey Erza?" Gray suddenly speaks up.

"Yes Gray?"

"Are you sure it's okay to bring Lucy with us? I know this village, the people are fanatics of the stars and practically worship the Zodiacs, Lucy will probably be like a God to them, what if they try to.. ya know, force her into some crazy scheme or something?" Gray asks which makes me a little nervous about going, maybe I can avoid the village.. -"Lucy has us, she will be fine Gray. And if it comes to it then we can use her Godly presence to distract the people whilst we run out with the cakes," Erza smiles.

Oh great. Now I'm Erza's cake bait. Just perfect.

I'm actually really excited for this mission. I have been training really hard in secret for a while now and my strength has greatly increased, I even learned a few new spells! I can't wait to show the others how much I've improved and show that I truly do belong on this team.

"Hey Luce-" Natsu suddenly spoke up but after remembering that we were on a train his face quickly turned a sickly shade of green before Erza knocked him out again.. poor Natsu..

"Say Lucy.."

"Yes, Gray?" I ask curiously.

He looks over at me confused, then his eyes go wide and he looks away quickly and mutters a quick,"nothing." under his breath, I heard him though because of how close we are sat to each other.

Wait! Why are we so close!? I quickly scoot back to my corner of the bench and stare awkwardly out the window. "So, Wendy.. how are you doing?" I start, trying to make conversation to break the silence."Oh, I'm okay, thanks Lucy. How are you?" She replies happily.

"I'm feeling great!" I say, smiling. I look back at Gray but he's fallen asleep.. wow he sleeps fast. I grab a cushion and place it on our bench then gently lower him down so he is lay with his head on the pillow. Surprisingly I can still fit on the bench though with not much space, I can't be bothered moving though.

My eyes start to feel heavy and my eyelids slowly start to close. Before I can stop myself, sleep takes me.

- - - - - Erza's pov. - - - - -

The others suddenly begin falling asleep, one by one. It could just be the long journey.. but it all seems sketchy to me, how quick and sudden they fell asleep... and the fact none of them are responding to me trying to wake them up is worrying.

"Lucy!" I whisper shout, gently shaking her shoulder."Gray! Wendy! Carla, Happy?"

After a few tries I give up and look around worried, they're all definitely being affected by some sort of sleep spell but I can't sense anyone nearby and no one came in the room, and why haven't I been affected?

The train lights blow out. Damn! It's too dark to see much, it is night outside and the train has stopped in a tunnel made of overgrown trees, not even moonlight is shining through the thick branches overhead.

I hear other passengers faint screams of fear in the background and on instinct call out a sword and ready myself for a fight.

I stand up slowly and walk towards the door, which is open a crack, and peer through the opening. No one in sight. Quietly opening the door I step out into the carriage hallway and gently close the door behind me.

All my senses are saying something bad is about to happen, my instincts practically screaming to turn back and stay with the others. But I have to check on the passengers.. those screams trouble me. I can't just leave them at a time like this.

I walk through the different carriages telling everyone I'm going to help and not to panic, they seem to be calming down now I'm here but I can feel a dark aura coming from a few more carriages down, and I'm not sure I can fight it alone.

No, this is no time for doubting myself! I have to keep a level head and press forward.

Through the window in the door separating this carriage from the next I see a shady figure and duck just as they turn to face me, hoping I was quick enough not to be spotted.

The heavy footsteps getting scarily closer to me said otherwise.

I requip into my purgatory armour, taking no chances, and jump back from the door into a defensive stance in the walkway and prepare myself to fight whatever demon may walk through that door.

But nothing did.

I felt my stomach fall as I heard a terrifying scream from behind me.. no..

That was Wendy!

I run back to our carriage and throw the door wide open, breathing heavy, my heart pounding, ringing in my ears as the sight before me shocks me so much I fall to my knees.

I quickly recover though and look through the shattered window for any sign of the person who was just here.

Wendy looks terrified and appears to be the only one recovered from the sleep spell. I see Natsu is still unconcious and Gray is just where Lucy put him, Wendy is holding on tight to Happy and Carla, shaking, tears streaming down her face.

"Don't cry Wendy, it's going to be okay," I try to comfort the small girl.

"N-no Erza.. they.. I-I.. I couldn't.." she stutters.

"Wendy.." I whisper and gently hug her.

"E-erza..."

A sudden realisation hits me.

"Wha... no.. oh please no.." I close my eyes, to afraid to turn around, already knowing what I'll see, just hoping if I don't actually look it wont be true.

Wendy's tears turn into sobs and I know it's true..

A shuffling in the background brings my heart to a stop.

"Hey guys.. where's Luce?"

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Okay so this is the the first chapter (: it might seem a little fast paced but I had to fit it all into this chapter to make the story work.... and because I'm lazy... anyway, I hope ya like it!