Fighting Oblivion

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

"Lucy!" I heard Yukino calling out from behind us. I didn't realize how worried I was about her until I felt the tension leave my body. Gray, Wendy and Carla were running at her heels. Lucy dropped my hand and rushed over to her across the shaking ground.

"Yukino!" she cried. "Are you alright?"

"Lucy, we found it!" Yukino opened her hand to reveal a small, intricately carved, golden key. I could just make out two blue squiggles before Lucy grabbed it and held it to her heart.
"Thank you," she had tears of gratitude in her eyes. "Did you form the contract?"

"We can't," Gray interjected. "We need to get it to Juvia."
Lucy looked puzzled at first before realization dawned on her. Which was not helpful to me as I had no idea what was going on. Whatever.

"Then let's go," I said, trying to take charge. "We need to get out of here anyway and find out what's going on."
"Right!" And we rushed out of the cave entrance.

The sight that greeted us made my blood run cold, and not from the freezing temperatures. There were boulders scattered everywhere and I could see the heavy damage to the mouth of the cave, the stone ledge completely pulverized. The ground was covered in darkness, I could see our friends spread out across the frozen plane, separated and in trouble, trading blows with enemy mages. At the center of the blackness I could see two people locked in battle. Then suddenly one of the figures lifted both arms to the sky and the darkness around him separated for a moment before converging on his opponent. Rogue.

"We need to get down there!" Gray's shout brought me back to my senses and snapped me into action.

"Lector, Frosch, Carla," I gestured to the exceeds. Their eyes snapped to attention, even little Frosch. "Take these three down to the field, Lector bring Lucy to Juvia."
"Aye sir!" Frosch squeaked.

"Lector," I placed my hand on his head, stopping him before he could grab Lucy and fly off. "Be careful with her, please. She's precious to me."
I saw his expression go from afraid to serious. His eyes narrowing and his little jaw setting in determination. "Find Juvia, get Lucy to her and this could all be over."

"Right," he said as he grabbed her by her coat and took off.

"Wait!" Lucy cried, "What about you?" Despite how serious this situation was I couldn't help but smile at her concern. Even in the midst of all this, she still thought about me. I felt my heart beat a little harder.

"Don't worry," I called out to her. "I'll meet you down there." Then I leapt from the mouth of the cave, letting my light engulf my feet, slowing my descent. I concentrated for a moment then "Power up! White Drive!" I shouted, increasing my magic power as much as I could without going full dragon force.

"Get away from him!" I screamed and slammed my fist into the face of the creep who had the fucking nerve to hurt my best friend.

"Come on, Rogue," I reached out and pulled him to his feet.

"Thanks," he grimaced.

"Bad time to be sleeping, we're in the middle of a fight," I joked.
"Really?" He asked. "I hadn't noticed." I smirked in response. This felt right, comfortable. We were at our best when we could still joke. This guy had to be tough to be giving Rogue so much trouble. But no one could match the twin dragon slayers when we worked together...almost no one anyway.

The darkness jerk had finally recovered from my fist to his face. And I was happy to see the bruise already forming on his jaw. Hoped it fucking hurt. He was tall, like Laxus tall. He towered over us. But I wasn't intimidated by his size. I'd fought bigger opponents than him and came out on top. This time would be no different. The aura of magic around him, though...made me feel sick. It felt...wrong. Diseased. I couldn't really explain it, I never felt anything like it before. He was bald, older than me, which meant he probably had more experience, and he was wearing a black swirling cloak that looked like it was made from the darkness itself.