Fairy Tail: Falling Towards the Chaos

Chapter 40

Lucy's body ached all over. She blinked a few times, trying to clear her vision. A dark, gory red covered the walls and ground around her; feeling sticky yet hard to the touch. She winced as she sat up, experimentally rolling her ankle to test it.

The hall she was in was eerily quiet.

Until the water started rushing in.

"What the hell?" She exclaimed, being swept up in the waves. She managed steady herself, the water only reaching her ankles for the moment. The sounds of yelling and the approaching magical energies alerted her to the enemies, and swiftly, she took out a golden key; swiping it across her chest.

"Open, Gate of the Archer: Sagittarius!"

She barely managed to summon him in time; as he deflected the attack from one of the lesser demons. The minions and demons began popping up out of nowhere and from their chatter, Lucy managed to pick out a few words as Sagittarius disappeared.

Get the girl!

She's the only one left.

Promotion, here I come!

As she paused—a mistake on her part—a large shadow was cast over her, and she gasped when she spotted the large demon; almost double the size of Elfman with his fist aimed for her head. She ducked and swiped out another two golden keys, thankful as Loke appeared alongside Virgo to help her fight against the onslaught.

"You guys okay?" Lucy yelled over the rush of the water, concerned for her spirits, but they remained vigilant. It had been less than ten minutes, but the toll of having two gates opened was already weighing on her magical supply. At the realization, she gritted her teeth. This was not the time to have a seizure. She tried to take deep breaths—calm her mind, as Capricorn always reminded her—but she felt like it was useless. Was she truly the only one left? What happened to everyone else? Did it have something to do with the red goo stuck to the walls and floor?

"Found ya,"

A dark chuckle flooded the hall and shivers ran up Lucy's spine. One of the demon gates, Jackal, stood high above her; perched on an archway with a devious smirk on his face.

"This is bad," Loke said.

"Even Natsu fought him, can I... " Lucy trailed off as she untied her whip from her waist. She took a breath, once more clearing her head as she lashed out, catching his wrist. He seemed unfazed, smirk unyielding as he stared down at her mockingly.

"Did you forget what my curse is?" He cocked his head to the side. In an instant, her whip cackled before it exploded in her hand. She cried out in pain and shock as she was flung back.

"What happened to everyone?! What'd you guys do to Natsu?" She shrieked, barely catching a break as another explosion to her side caught her off guard. She tumbled under the water again, fighting to break through the surface of the harsh current. I can't lose. I have to save them. I know they're alive, I can feel their magic!

As she emerged again, Lucy brandished a third key. The symbol of a water bearer present as it glistened from the water.

"Princess! No!" Virgo cried.

"Lucy, don't! You can't risk it!" Loke urged.

"There's no other choice!" Lucy shouted, gritting her teeth once more as she concentrated her magical power, "Open, Gate of the Water Bearer: Aquarius!" A golden light shined and the water circled around to form the silhouette of a mermaid who formed Aquarius. Lucy leaned back, physically exhausted from the third summon, trying to calm her racing heart.

"You idiot," Aquarius scolded her, but Lucy just smiled tiredly in response.

She barely recognized the movement occurring around her. All she could hear were shouts and cries, the sound of explosions resounding in her ears. When she came too, Loke and Virgo were fading away and Aquarius was injured, laying a few feet away. Her spirits had been defeated.