Fairy Tail: The Mysterious Girl

Reunion

I finally awoke on a soft bed. I was a little confused as I looked around the strange room. Then my eyes finally rested on Jackal who was sitting cross legged on the ground and staring at me.

"..."

"...you..."

Jackal finally spoke and I sat on the edge of the bed. He didn't move, but he seemed unsure of himself. I didn't speak, I was afraid he didn't remember me.

"How do you know my name?"

"...y-your name?"

"You said my name before you passed out."

"..."

He suddenly stood and walked toward me. He placed his hand under my chin and pulled my face toward him. I became scared, if he doesn't remember me then he might kill me.

"Your eyes...remind me of her."

Tears formed at the edge of my eyes and I pushed his hand away. I grabbed a nearby pillow and threw it at him. He seemed surprised by my sudden outburst.

"You idiot, Jackal."

"It is you."

I only nodded in response. He slowly approached and sat next to me on the bed. We sat awkwardly in silence for a little bit, but after a few seconds I decided to punch Jackal in the arm.

"Ow!"

"You lied to me!"

"What are you-"

"You said you would come back for me!"

The tears I held back began to fall down my face. I rubbed my red eyes as I gasped uncontrollably. Then I felt a warm palm on my cheek and a gentle thumb wipe away my tears. Jackal's warm arm wrapped around me and pulled me into a warm embrace.

"I wanted to go get you...honest, I did, but..."

"But what?"

I spoke with my face buried in his chest. I calmed down a bit, but I refused to look at his face.

"Because Mard Geer threatened to turn you into a demon if I brought you here."

I see now. The reason why Jackal didn't show up that day wasn't because he forgot me, it was because he wanted to protect me.

"But you knew Deliora would attack...that's why you wanted me to leave, right?"

"...yeah..."

"Why didn't you just tell me, I would've-"

"Because I wasn't allowed to tell anyone...all I was thinking about was saving you, Phoenix."

I made eye contact with Jackal and I couldn't deny the sincerity in his voice. Saving me...saving...someone I need to protect. Laxus. I pushed myself away from Jackal and became worried.

"Jackal, how long was I out?"

"I don't know...kind of long I guess."

"What happened to my friends?"

I ran to the door and attempted to pull it open, but I was stopped when Jackal pushed it closed. His body was only inches away from pressing against my own, I could hear his breathing as he placed his hand over mine.

"Don't go outside."

"I'm worried about them, Jackal. Wouldn't you be worried if they were your friends?"

"Only if it's you...so don't go outside."

"Jackal I-"

I stopped talking when I heard a deep voice speak to me telepathically.

"So you're the girl that Jackal adored."

"Who are you?"

I spoke aloud, but the voice didn't respond. Instead, Jackal suddenly fell silent.

"Jackal?"

"I have to go, Phoenix. Don't leave this room."

He walked out and locked the door behind him. I was alone in the room, then I heard the voice again.

"I'm known as Mard Geer, the underworld king."

"So you're the one that threatened Jackal."

"I didn't threaten him. I simply told him that if you were going to stay here, then you would have to be one of us. He didn't agree with me."

"...So Mard Geer, what have you done to my friends."

"Friends? ...oh! You mean those lumps of flesh in the ground? Hahaha!"

"You!"

I tried to open the door, but I was rejected by some type of barrier.

"Let me out!"

"Calm down...I'm the only one who can open that door."

"Then open it!"

"Are you sure you want that?"

"Open it!"

The voice of Mard Geer stopped and the door clicked. I rushed out into the hallway and saw what looked like people stagnant in the walls. I continued to walk slowly through the hallway, but I stopped and fell to my knees when I saw happy frozen in the flesh like walls. I placed both my hands over my mouth as I realized what this meant. Everyone was trapped.

"Now do you understand why Jackal didn't want you to leave?"

I stood up and ignored the voice. I could still feel people fighting somewhere within this place. One was Jackal, but the other person was...Lucy? I ran to find them, I needed answers, and I needed to reverse this. No matter what happened in my past, the only thing I care about is my future, and that future is with Laxus.