Ch. 6

"FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!" Natsu yelled releasing a powerful blast of fire at a huge monster and killing it instantly as three more walked towards us.

"ICE MAKE LANCE!" "WIND DRAGON'S ROAR!" "REQUIP!" The rest of us yelled attacking the other monsters while Lucy, Rain, Carla, Happy, Eclair, and Momon all ran ahead to safety. After we defeated them I ran for a few minutes until I caught up to them just as the small group collapsed at the base of a tree out of breath.

"Aren't you going to do anything?" Eclair said between breaths looking up at Lucy who was breathing hard.

"Yeah..." She said laughing nervously as Happy began crawling towards a large pond filled with murky water.

"Let's eat some fish and regain our strength." He said as I came forward and dispelled my sword with a sigh.

"THAT'S ONE BIG FISH!" Happy yelled as a colossal fish rose up out of the water causing everyone to jerk in fear.

"You have got to be kidding!" Carla yelled her sleek white fur standing in spikes at the same time as Rain who looked like a dirty cotton ball let out a scream of her own.

"Open, Gate of the Water Bearer! AQUARIUS!" Lucy yelled as a loud doorbell ran and a blue mermaid appeared with a jar in a burst of light from the key.

"Oh, yeah! Take that!" Aquarius yelled triumphantly as she sent the sharp-toothed fish beast flying with a blast of water. I stood there in shock at the amount of power the fish had as Lucy smiled. "Hey, don't summon me from such dirty water!" Aquarius snapped menacingly to Lucy as the others backed up against the tree. I frowned and walked forward as Lucy nodded.

"Quit being mean!" I said stepping in front of Lucy and carefully pushing the floating fish away surprising both females greatly.

"Who's the brat?" Aquarius asked glaring at me with her arms crossed while I mimicked the pose and tried my hardest not to step down. 

"Lucy, you okay?" Natsu asked from behind us as I continued to have a staring contest with Aquarius.

"No, I'm kinda in a pinch...Ashley," Lucy began laying a soft hand on my shoulder causing me to twitch anyway as Aquarius smiled.

"So, the brat's name is Ashley. Keep an eye on her, she's got guts." Aquarius said before vanishing in a puff of smoke surprising everyone. I sighed in relief and turned around to look at a very shocked Lucy as Erza and Gray walked up.

"Ashley...You just earned the approval of Aquarius...That's amazing..." Lucy whispered in awe as a grin broke out on her face before pulling me into a hug.

"Leggo!" I yelled pushing at her as she laughed. After a few seconds, she let go and I glared at her as I brushed off my shirt.

"What is with you people and hugging?" I mumbled as everyone, except Eclair, continued to laugh. Suddenly I felt someone behind me but before I could move I was lifted up and squeezed.

"Hugging means we care." Erza whispered into my ear as I felt my face get hot and tried to squirm out of her grip. I felt her squeeze me tighter and move her hand a little making me let out a small snort.

"Oh! Is she ticklish?" Lucy asked stepping forward with an evil look. I gulped and tried even harder to get out of Erza's loosened grip as she laughed.

"I am not!" I yelled hitting the ground and running ahead of the laughing group. I saw Rain flying towards me with a smile and waited for her as the others calmed down and we continued our journey.

"So are you ticklish?" Rain asked flying next to me, I glared up at her as she smiled and laughed again. As we walked, I caught sight of a red wall peeking through a wall of vines and stopped waiting for the others to catch up.

"What is it?" I whispered as the others caught up and began walking through it one by one seeming unaffected by it.

"It's a barrier to keep monsters away. It's in pretty bad condition, though." Erza told me as she walked through it with Wendy with me close behind.

"Then, it won't last..." Wendy said sadly before stopping right behind the others.

"Woah, what a wreck!" Natsu said as I caught sight of the remains of a stone building with ivy growing over it.

"This is Kalard's house?" Lucy asked as Eclair suddenly took off running towards the house. As she did we followed, running to keep up.

"This house is quite old." Carla said looking around at the remains as Rain flew about.

"It's been abandoned," Gray said in a low tone, looking around as Eclair walked over to a staircase leading underground beside a chimney.

"Gray!" Lucy hissed reproachfully as Eclair began to make her way down the staircase, after looking at each other we followed her one at a time with Erza leading the way.

"What an amazing workshop," I heard her whisper as we came into a fairly large room filled with dusty old books that Levy would love and other objects covered in inches of dust. I carefully followed Rain over to where a tree's roots and began to grow into the room.

"What's wrong?" I heard Lucy ask and I turned around to see Eclair gently touching a painting hanging on the wall above a table cluttered with books and a crystal ball in the middle.

"This is...Me, as a child." Eclair whispered and we all looked at her in surprise and I silently made my way over to her with Rain resting on my shoulders.

"You mean..." Natsu started only to be cut off when a light erupted from the crystal.

"Eclair!" We all yelled as Natsu tried to jump over the table.

"Eclair, get back!" He yelled as an image of an old man with a kind face and glasses on appeared. 

"Eclair. Eclair. If you're seeing this, then what I hoped for has come true. I have searched this far and talked to survivors from Fire Village. I'm glad that you've survived. But when I think about your fate..." The man spoke slowly tears in his eyes before he suddenly starts coughing really bad.

"This is...Kalard?" Gray whispered, getting a few glares from the others trying to listen while the man paused to take a deep breath and stopped coughing.

"Eclair, the time I spent with you was the most enjoyable time of my life. But Fire Village needed you to be their priestess, and I had a responsibility to dispel the Phoenix Stone." Kalard continued and gazed at where Eclair stood with a sad smile.

"Dispelling Magic...A canceling magic..." Eclair whispered so low I barely heard her but knew Natsu, Wendy, and the exceeds had heard her clearly from the looks on their faces. "I'm sure you became a fine priestess. I've completed the Dispelling Magic, but I don't think I will be able to use it." Kalard went on regretfully as I hear a loud crack come from the crystal.

"I've become ill. I doubt I'll still be alive when you bring me the stone. I'm sorry Eclair." Kalard told her sadly and I saw a single tear go down Eclair's cheek.

"Kalard is already..." Wendy whispered, covering her mouth quickly, as if not saying it could make it untrue.

"I wish from the bottom of my heart for you to find great friends. Eclair, my beloved daughter." Kalard said fondly as he raised his hand as if reaching out to her even though he wasn't really there.

"Father..." Eclair whispered softly reaching for his hand as tears arched down her cheeks. Just as her hand brushed his, the crystal shattered and the image vanished. I watched as Eclair seemed to freeze, a look of disbelief and utter grief on her face as she slowly dropped her hand, gathering the shards quietly and refusing to look at any of us. Without a word we all left, leaving her to grieve alone and in peace while we made camp. 

"Natsu, Gray see if you can find anything. Lucy, and I will get some firewood while Wendy and Ashley set up bedrolls." Erza said breaking the depressing atmosphere and sending us off with our jobs. After about an hour Eclair came back up but didn't acknowledge us as she walked towards a small clearing that was lit by the full moon. 

"It's no good. We've searched everywhere, but Kalard didn't leave any instructions on how to use the Dispelling Magic." Gray said as he and Natsu came out of the workshop with dust on their faces and looking tired a while later. 

"I see." Erza said from her spot watching as Eclair slowly begins to dance to unheard music. Even from a distance, we could all see the sadness and tears glittering on her face.

"The main problem is the magic that was cast on that Phoenix Stone." Erza spoke calmly while Lucy and Momon moved closer to Eclair. "The magic that Kalard spent his entire life trying to dispel...I can't think of any other reason except that it's evil." Erza admitted, shaking her head as she watched Eclair fall to her knees and Momon fly over to her frantically with Lucy walking towards her calmly. We watched Lucy talk to Eclair before bending down and hugging the girl sadly. After a minute we can see both girls crying and for some reason, I knew that everything would be okay.

'...'...'...'

"I'd like to make an official request to Fairy Tail: Please dispel the Phoenix Stone on behalf of my father, who spent his life attempting to do so." Eclair said later that night as we all sit around the campfire in an easy silence after eating the stew Lucy had made for everyone. 

"Of course, we accept." Erza told her with a nod and smiled as we all smiled at the surprised Eclair.

"Leave it to us." Natsu said confidently as Eclair's hand tightened around the stone and she looked at all of us with hope in her chocolate eyes.

"Aye!" Happy said with his hand in the air.

"Thank you," Eclair told us softly and for the first time I saw her smile a real smile and I couldn't help but think of the power of Fairy Tail.

After a while, we all begin to trade jokes and stories, Gray telling about how I had helped him with a police officer and everyone laughing as Erza hit Gray on the head for getting arrested while Natsu teased him for it. A few stories of the Teams misadventures followed before Lucy and Natsu told the story of their first date and how Natsu had fallen off a bridge and into the stream below it. I don't remember falling asleep but after awhile I woke up to movement and tried to move.

"Shh...go back to sleep." I heard a soft voice whisper as I was laid down on something soft. I did as the voice said, recognizing it as Erza and grateful she was there as I moved closer to her before drifting back off. 

'...'...'

"Shh! You'll wake her up!" Lucy hissed hitting Gray and Natsu, who were arguing passionately as Erza carefully lifted the dozing Ashley up and carried her over to her sleeping bag. After a minute Lucy saw Ashley move closer to Erza, and couldn't help but smile at Erza's look of surprise. "She's so cute!" She whispered as Rain smiled before going back to her conversation with Carla and Happy.

"Yeah, it's a shame that Reedus isn't here to paint it." Gray said watching Erza carefully brush Ashley's hair out of her face with a soft look. After a minute of silence, Lucy glanced over at Eclair to see her sketching on a drawing pad and glancing up at the duo across the fire.

"Eclair, you draw?" Lucy asked, surprised as the woman worked to draw the pair by the fire, a soft smile on her face as she created the image. 

"Eclair, is amazing!" Momon told them as Gray and Natsu leaned over the woman to see the picture take shape. As they watched their looks going from curious to amazed, the picture slowly became clearer, until everyone could see the emotion in the image. Eclair stopped after that, leaning away from the image to look at it herself before tearing it out of the pad and setting it down next to her to begin drawing something else. As she started the second drawing Lucy carefully snagged the picture and looked at it with awe. In the picture, Ashley was curled up against Erza with a small smile sound asleep as Erza looked down at her with a loving gaze as her unarmored hand carefully brushed the side of Ashley's hair. Lucy looked at the picture than at the duo sitting at least ten feet away from them then at Eclair who seemed to be drawing a younger version of Kalard.

"Eclair...this! This is amazing!" Lucy exclaimed, awestruck as she placed the paper back beside the girl who shrugged in response.

"It's getting late, I think we should all get some sleep before we head back to the Guild." Gray says moving over to his sleeping bag which he has next to one of the old walls. After a few minutes the others follow, each going to their own sleeping bag and drifting off for the night.

'...'...'...'

"The two halves of the Phonix Stone create its child. If it happens, it will bring true peace." Eclair said as Macao turned the stone every which way and looked at it lost in thought.

"Well, it doesn't look all that dangerous to me." Macao said looking at Eclair, who was holding Momon, and Lucy with a frown as Natsu and Happy looked at the stone in his hand curiously.

"Why not destroy the stone?" Happy asked causing all of our attention to turn towards the blue cat.

"Great idea Happy!" Natsu said excitedly grabbing the stone from Macao before anyone could try to stop him. "WING SLASH OF THE FIRE DRAGON!" Natsu yelled jumping into the air and attacking the stone. As the smoke faded Natsu landed on the floor holding the still intact stone in the palm of his hand.

"Dammit! At least think before you act!" Macao yelled at the pink haired idiot as I smiled a little from where I was standing next to Erza, Cana, Wendy, and Carla with Rain sitting on my shoulders.

"This is one hard stone," Natsu comments tiredly as he sits on the floor thinking.

"If it could be destroyed that easily, Kalard wouldn't have worked so hard!" Erza yelled at the idiot as she stomped over and hit him on the hand while Eclair carefully took the stone out of his hand.

"Sheesh," Gray said as everyone laughed at Natsu's idiocy. After a minute we all gather at a table to talk to each other.

"By the way, what happened to the other Phoenix Stone?" Erza asked Eclair curiously causing the girl to become lost in thought as she tried to remember.

"It was stolen...I think. On the day we were attacked by...Vero...nica?" Eclair said frowning at herself as we all looked at each other.

"I know that name! Veronica is a small country to the north of Fiore!" Rain said from my shoulder at the same time as Happy spoke causing everyone to look at the two exceeds in expectation. Before they could explain further we heard loud booms and the walls burst apart sending everyone near them flying and causing a domino effect as the rubble flew back with them destroying everything in its path. 

I felt myself being tackled and fell into the rubble, coughing as dust flew about. Slowly I felt the weight on me lessen and looked up to see Erza above me looking over at where a wall of the guild was now missing as members begin to stand up and look in the same direction. Slowly the dust settled to reveal four people standing at the new entrance of the guild. A man with cannons floating around him and a gun in his muscled hands standing next to a man with mint green hair wearing all black and grey with a young boy with blonde hair wearing the same as the man minus the grey gloves on the man's hands standing between him and a woman with an evil smile and blond hair wearing a blue dress and a knife sword in her hand.

"Who the hell are you guys?!" Natsu yelled angrily standing up and glaring at the small group.

"We are Carbuncle," the man with the mint green hair told him in a calm happy voice that made me feel cold. "The beast that bears a garnet and slithers in the dark. My name is Dyst." He said, raising his hand and causing his long hair to fan out slightly as large sharp pieces of rubble rose and shoot at Natsu sending him flying back into a wall where he was pounded by the rubble.

"Natsu!" Lucy screamed fearfully from her spot next to me her right arm wrapped around a dazed Eclair, who was still holding Momon and Rain, while her left reaches out to her pink-haired boyfriend.

"Natsu!" Wendy yelled also and I looked up to see her start towards her brother figure only to be yanked back by Cana who yelled for her to stay down as the attack from Dyst stops suddenly.

"Bastard!" Gray hissed his eyes narrowed in anger as the gunman jumped inside the partly destroyed wall.

"Hey there, handsome. Why don't you spend some time with Cannon-sama?" The man said in a deep voice as he licked his lips.

"What?" Gray snapped angrily as Juvia stepped in front of him her face a mask of fury.

"Stop trying to win Gray-sama over!" Juvia yelled angrily at the confused Cannon.

"I wasn't trying to!" The man said confused as we all stared at Juvia with 'you're kidding' look as she glared daggers at the man.

"Don't lie!" She screamed sending a blast of water at him just as he fired his gun. It came as a shock to all of us as the water and bullets connected and a look of pain made its way onto Juvia's face forcing Gray to jump in front of her to make an ice shield to deflect the spray of bullets. I could see Gray grunt as the hits worked to shatter it in a matter of seconds sending the couple flying backward just as everyone else jumped into the fight.

"Take care of Eclair." Erza commanded as she jumped into the fight, pushing me down as she got up and equipped into her fire empress armor.

"You got it!" Lucy yelled pulling Eclair behind a wall of rubble that was closer to where Natsu was buried. While she was doing that I provided cover and equipped into my own dark iron armor with a shield and ran into the fight just as Erza took a hit from the blond and got sent into a wall behind me. Enraged, I ran at her ready to force her back with my shield only to have the boy slide in front of me and stop me with a wave of his hand and a look of concentration on his dark face.

"Dammit!" I yelled twisting around but not touching the floor or anything as I rose up into the air. "I hope this works." I muttered and equipped my shield for a few of the shurikens I had gotten from the night of Lucy and Eclair's attack and threw them at the boy forcing him to jump out of the way. As I dropped back to the ground I ran at him and punched him as hard as I could in the stomach, managing to knock him away and getting the chance to go after the blond woman. Before I could though, I heard the others screaming and I turned just in time to see them all fly to different sides of the guild as a cloaked figure in a mask dropped down and grabbed Eclair, knocking her unconscious.

"Eclair!" I yelled and change direction to go after her, equipping out of my armor to move a little faster and equipping my sword. Just as I got close I heard a roar behind me and turned just in time to catch sight of Natsu enveloped in flames just as a wall of rubble surged towards us. I heard someone scream as something hit my head and then nothing.

'...'...'

"Eclair and Ashley were taken...And I couldn't do anything!" Lucy cried as everyone worked to care for the wounded. After the small enemy group had left they had dug through the rubble to find most of the guild members alive and with only a few injuries but when they started to look for Ashley they couldn't find her.

"I have to go rescue Eclair!" Momon grunted sitting up with effort as Happy tried to push him back down.

"Momon, you shouldn't get up yet." Happy said concerned, for his feathered friend as he got him to lay back down.

"Kidnapping a client and a member of Fairy Tail...They don't know who they're messing with!" Natsu snarled, slamming his fist down on a slab of stone as Wendy watched, unsure of what to do for the enraged man. "I'm going to get them for this!" Natsu yelled his eyes roving over the members of Fairy Tail as the all stood there silently but ready to fight again if needed.

"Well, what do we have here? Looks like you took quite a beating." A voice spoke making everyone turn to see the Master, Gajeel, and Lily staring at them all with curious expressions. 

"Gramps! Gajeel!" Natsu said in surprise when he saw them and stood up, ignoring the pain from his newly healed ribs to look at the old man.

"Lily!" Happy cried out also surprised and flew up into the air as Erza ran over to them.

"I'm extremely sorry, I wasn't able to protect the guild in your absence." Erza said with regret and worry in her eyes and voice before she moved to go by the Master.

"Erza, where are you going?" He asked stopping the red head as she tried to get by just as Droy rumbled over to them.

"Master! Did Jet get word to you?" Droy asked looking for his best friend.

"Jet? No, he didn't." Master stated in a confused tone while Droy seemed to pale in shock as the old man turned to Erza. "Erza, what's wrong?" He asked her gently as Gajeel and Lily got down off of the pile of rubble they were standing on and began to help the guild clean up as best as they could.

"Ashley's missing, I didn't notice her get in the fight but Lucy said when the wave of rubble hit Natsu, she lost sight of her and no one's been able to find her...Master what if she's hurt? What if she got kidnapped with Eclair?" Erza whispered fearfully to him as he caught sight of Mira watching them.

"It's alright, come let's get downstairs and we'll talk with the others. Juvia! Gray! Natsu! Lucy! Wendy! Gajeel! Happy! Carla! Lily! I want you all to follow me," the Master yelled as he made his way downstairs with Erza close behind her face twisted with fear and worry.

'...'...'

"By Master's orders, we were investigating some abnormal magical activity," Lily explained once everyone sat down a few minutes later.

"During our investigation, we ended up in the Principality of Veronica," Gajeel said when the black exceed with a scar over his right eye paused.

"That's the place Eclair was talking about!" Happy exclaimed as Gray looked at the three people across the table from him and his friends.

"What about the guys who stole the other Phoenix Stone and took Eclair?" He demanded, setting his arm on the table while leaning forward his jacket slipping off a little as he did.

"The bunch who attacked the guild, Carbuncle, are currently employed by Kreem, the ruler of Veronica. They accepted the job to kidnap Eclair for a high reward." Lily told the young man in front of him as Juvia stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on his back.

"Two days from now is the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Principality of Veronica. Prince Kreem intends to combine the two stones during its ceremony." Gajeel said after a minute, his arms crossed and a slight frown on his pierced face as he looked over the depressed and angry group sitting across from him while he leaned on the back wall beside the Master, who had yet to say a word since summoning them all down there.

"Why?" Erza asked leaning forward and staring at Gajeel her eyes filled with worry and curiosity.

"According to a legend from there: When the two stones are combined, the sealed Phoenix will awake from its slumber. When that happens, it's said that he'd obtain immortality." Lily explained causing everyone to gasp as their attention turned to him.

"Immortality?" Natsu whispered, shocked and unable to believe it.

"The inhabitants of Fire Village paid a heavy price to complete that seal. This act would be akin to resurrecting a demon." The Master spoke gravely, for the first time looking at the group with a stern face as they tensed and looks of determination crossed their features.

"If we can dispel the magic on either one of the stones, we can prevent the Phoenix from resurrecting. That's why Kalard was waiting for Eclair to return with the stone." Gray said, understanding dawning on him as he voiced what everyone realizes.

"Prince Kreem intends to use the power of the Phoenix and immortality as he sees fit." Gajeel told them after a minute before glancing at Lily.

"If he becomes immortal, even if he is unable to control the Phoenix, he won't die. Everyone else will." Lily added darkly his arms now crossed as he looked at the group in front of him, taking note of the one person who had yet to react to anything.

"That asshole!" Natsu growls and moved to stand but was stopped when Lucy snapped to attention.

"Wait. I'm going with Erza to rescue Eclair!" Lucy exclaimed, lifting her head up to stare into the eyes of the Master. "She cried when I hugged her. She cried so hard that even my body began to shake. I don't care about the stone or the Phoenix! She's just a normal girl!" Lucy explained to the Master as everyone looked at the determined and teary eyed blond.

"Good, go ahead, Lucy. Erza, you decide who goes along with you two." The Master said looking at the red head as she nodded and stood up.

"Yes sir," she said calmly looking at the old man.

"Take our strongest members! With Veronica being an independent principality, we cannot allow this to turn into war." The Master said sternly.

"I understand," Erza said in response and looked at the others beside her.

"Wendy, I'm counting on you to keep my motion sickness at bay." Natsu told the smaller girl.

"I understand, I'll come along too." Wendy said nodding at him, a small smile on her face as she held Carla.

"I'm going too! Ashley needs our help just as much as Eclair does." Gray said raising his hand with a determined smile.

"And Juvia as well." Juvia said looking at the Master as Happy and Momon stood up.

"Aye Sir!" Happy yelled as Gajeel and Lily raised their hands with a smirk while the Master stood up as well.

"We must prepare for the worse case scenario. I had better get back to the Council and make my report. Good luck." The Master said as everyone split up to make their way to Veronica as fast as they could.

'...'...'

"Ashley, are you alright?" I heard a voice ask as I groaned and opened my eyes. I was back in a small room next to Eclair, at least this time on a small patch of straw. I frowned and tried to move only to find my hands chained together behind my back and my magic useless to me for the first time in what seemed like ever.

"Where are we?" I asked struggling to sit up and look around. Eclair sighed and was about to answer when the door in front of us began to glow and fade away.

"Hello there, little girls. Thank you for the Phoenix Stone."  A fat head, wearing a crown and fine clothing said, with a conceited and happy voice as he walked in with Dyst and the blonde boy from the attack. "I thought I should give you something in return after having you stay with us." 

"Shut up, you pig head." I growled as he tossed Eclair's necklace, minus the stone, at her and hit her head. After dealing with Fairy Tail, bad guys, and the idiot guards, I was proud to say, I had a bit of backbone. As he tossed it the Prince looked at me with a look of disgust before his attention was turned back to Eclair as she struggled in her chains. 

"You mustn't resurrect the Phoenix! That's not something a human can handle!" Eclair yelled as she struggled against her chains and the crowned boy leaned towards her with a smirk.

"Then it's just right for me." He whispered, his tone sending a chill down my spine as Eclair jerked forward and hit his nose on her head as hard as she could making him stumble backward in pain as he held his nose, blood slowly slipping past his hand.

"Nice shot," I said in surprise, as the Prince glared at us furiously before yanking a small dagger out of his belt and swinging it at Eclair. I cried out as I watched it slice her arm open and blood spilled out as she fell back, gasping in pain. I struggled against my chains, feeling the bruises of the previous night protest as I glared at the laughing pig as he watched blood slowly pool around Eclair as he cut her again. 

"I'll have you executed as a sacrifice! Look forward to it!" The pig yelled at her as he stood over her breathing hard through his rage.

"You bastard!" I yelled struggling to my feet and yanking on the chains trying to summon a weapon to hit the pig with. Slowly his eyes turned to me and he stepped forward staring at me with cold amusement as Dyst and the other boy watched silently.

"Who are you anyway." He asked me as I glared at him before swinging a kick at him. Before I could hit him though, I was thrown back by an invisible force and hit the wall hard enough to force the air out of my lungs. I slid down the wall and onto the floor trying to breathe as the Prince lifted his boot to nudge my face toward him. 

"Your Highness Kreem, this girl could prove useful. That guild we took Eclair from might try to come after her and we can use El- her as a bartering chip." The blonde boy said his face calm but his voice scared as Kreem moved to stand over me with his dagger. He seemed to debate it for a minute before turning and sheathing his dagger while walking out of the room with a scoff.

"Dyst, your apprentice is quite smart." I heard him say loudly as the door slowly faded back in place and I glared at it weakly before looking over at Eclair who is also glaring at the door, her arm still covered in blood.

"You okay, Eclair?" I asked the older girl, once I recovered a bit, softly breaking the silence as she sighed sadly.

"Yes, I'm fine. Are you?" She asked me and I nodded before leaning against the wall tiredly, my chains making a clinking noise as I do. We sat in silence watching the sun's light slowly begins to fade and the sound of festivities begin to grow louder. After awhile I'm able to move around until my arms are in front of me and begin to work on getting out of them.

"I need my magic. Soon." I whispered softly as the sound of the festival grew. Our attention to the window stopped an hour after sunset when the door glowed and vanished to reveal several guards.

"It's time to go." One said in a deep voice, his dark eyes looking at us like he hated his job while the two others behind him moved into the room without a word and unlocked our chains from the wall and yanked us both into the hallway making us stumble. Neither of us made a sound but slowly I began to feel the cold weight of fear begin to settle over me as we slowly left the dungeons and made our way through a small tunnel of people towards a statue of a Phoenix with its wings outstretched as it glared at the crowd in front of us.

"Eclair..." I whispered as the three guards pushed us forward and I hear her whisper something with her eyes glued to the statue with a fond look. 

"Don't worry," I heard her whisper to me as we were pushed onto the statue's pedestal and chained to it. 

"If we don't figure out a way out of this, we're going to die!" I panicked silently, tears pricking my eyes while Eclair and I struggled against the chains. This was NOT where I was going to die.