After Tartaros

The Calvary

A knock on the door woke the two up. Stumbling, Lucy made her way to the door, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Erza, Gray, and Gajeel burst through the door as soon as she opened it. They all began talking at once until Lucy held a hand up and yelled, "SHUT UP!"

Shocked, they looked at the blonde mage, and took in her rumpled appearance. She gestured for them to sit and they obeyed.

"First," Lucy began, rubbing her eyes, "did Levy's group make it back to Ichiya?"

Erza stood up. "They did, thanks to you. Ichiya and Anna sealed the book and it's in their possession." She started to say more, but Lucy held up her hand for silence.

"So they are safe?" At the mages nods, Lucy sighed with relief. "Good." She looked at them, her arms crossed. Although she was wearing a tank top and sleep shorts, she exuded control, much to the amazement of the three sitting there. Happy snickered. He'd seen Lucy like this before with Natsu. He was amazed it worked on these three though.

"Does the Master have any ideas on how we can save N-Natsu?" Lucy cursed silently at herself for letting her voice falter at his name. She needed to be stronger than that - she promised herself that last night after her sob fest in the shower.

At their expressions, Lucy knew the answer and sighed. She thought of Anna's words in her dream.

"The others will be joining us soon. We need to contain the, um, situation," Gray told her, his eyes apologetic. "Juvia and Lily are bringing Gildarts and Laxus."

So all the hard hitters were in play, Lucy thought to herself. She shared a glance with Happy.

"That's not going to help Natsu. He'll only feel more threatened and retreat farther from us," Lucy sighed.

Erza placed a hand on Lucy's shoulder, looking the mage in the eyes. "Lucy, you realize what we must do? We all love Natsu, but if he's out of control, if he's lost under Zeref's control and will become END . . . "

Lucy wrenched away from Erza's hand. She turned to Gray, who was avoiding her gaze. "I know there's a way we can bring him back! He's not all the way turned! Anna and Ichiya have the book, not him! Have you lost faith?"

"It's not that," Gray finally ground out, hating seeing Lucy hurt like this. It's not like he enjoyed going after his best friend! "You understand, Lucy, that he might never come back? We have to be prepared for that."

Lucy's lips drew in a thin line. "We owe him the chance to try!" she pleaded with them.

Gajeel sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, uncomfortable with all the emotions in the room. "Look, it's like this. With the power of a demon and a dragon slayer, we may not be able to stop him at all. We have to be prepared for that possibility, though. If Zeref has Salamander convinced that this is the only way to avenge Igneel's death, then it's going to be hard to change his mind."

Lucy wiped the tears from her face and looked at them. "If he still thinks I have the book, he'll track me down...."

"You are NOT setting yourself up as bait!" Gray stood up, yelling. "I won't allow that!"

"I have to at least try!" Lucy shouted back at him. "If you're that worried, wait in the background, but I - I think I'm the only one that can change him back."

Erza held up a hand at Gray's protest. "What makes you think that, Lucy?" she asked her.

"It's something Anna told me," Lucy began hesitantly. "Maybe if I could talk to her again, she could tell me exactly how, but . . . "

"So you're willing to set yourself as bait but you don't know what the hell you're doing?" Gray interrupted, angry. "Lucy, you're surely not that stupid!"

"No, I'm not!" Lucy snapped back at Gray, insulted.

Erza held up her hand again at the two, and they stopped. "Talking to Anna is out of the question now. We know that Natsu is trying to find her and she is in hiding. It's one of the reasons she sent Ichiya as a messenger. She's been hiding out at Blue Pegasus where they've been able to conceal her." She took a deep breath and continued, looking sternly at Lucy. "If you can tell me a well thought out plan, I will at least consider it."

"I - " Lucy was speechless, looking at Happy for help.