I hope you enjoy this story. I know it's long. Please give critiques, not spam. -Lisian38

Lucy had become concerned when Natsu hadn't come back. She knew that Happy and he had gone on a private mission (for old time's sake) last week. She was hanging out at the guild, looking terse. Mira, noticing Lucy's expression and neglected milk shake, decided to see what's wrong. Mira inquired, "Lucy, is there something wrong with the milk shake?" Lucy looked up surprised. She reported, "What? Oh...no, Mira. I was just wondering what's taking Natsu and Happy so long. They should have been back before yesterday. I guess I'm just concerned, that's all." Mira smiled that cat-like smile when she was in matchmaker mode. She purred, "Oh really, Lucy? Is there anything else you want to say about Natsu, hmm?" Lucy frowned. She grumbled, "Geez, Mira. I'm just worried about my friend. Nothing more. I think I'll go talk to Erza and Gray." With that, she picked up her milkshake and walked over to her friends in a huff. Mira smirked.

Gray and Erza were staring at the board, looking for a small job until Natsu came back. Lucy walked over.

She greeted, "Hey, guys. Has Natsu come back yet?" Gray shook his head, saying, "Nope. Flame-brain sure is taking his time with his 'small' mission. We thought he would have come back earlier." Erza turned over to him, irritated. She demanded, "Silence! He will be back soon enough. I'm sick of your complaints." Lucy fretted, "Guys, don't you think it's strange he hasn't come back yet? This really isn't like him. I'm worried." Gray and Erza rolled their eyes at each other; they obviously thought of Lucy's worries as ridiculous. Erza chose reassurance, saying, "Lucy, there is nothing to worry about. He likely is taking longer, because he walks everywhere." Lucy nodded, saying, "I guess that makes sense. I feel silly not thinking of his problems with transportation. I must've worried for nothing."

"Sure thing, Lucy. That ash-breath would have to be under some major threat to have trouble. If anything, the client needs to worry about him destroying something," Gray chuckled.

Suddenly, the doors opened. Happy came flying through them in tears. He flew directly to Lucy and the others. He cried, "Guys, Natsu needs help! Please!" Erza looked at Happy, alarmed at his injuries. Lucy said, "Calm down, Happy. We need you to tell us what happened." Happy sniffed in Lucy's arms. He sniffled, "Okay. Here's what happened."

Flashback

Natsu and Happy were cheerfully walking down a lane on their way back to Magnolia. Natsu reported, "Well, looks like we'll be back in two days, Happy! Should we start looking for a place to camp?" Happy cheerfully responded, "Aye, sir!" They found a cave nearby. Natsu smiled at his exceed, stating, "This looks like an awesome spot, huh, little buddy?" Happy agreed wholeheartedly. He cheerfully suggested, "Aye sir! Let's look for a place to go fishing. I want to eat some fish!" Natsu laughed. He stated, "All right! Let's set up the tent near the cave.

As they got closer to the cave, Natsu smelled something strange. He paused. Suddenly, he stopped Happy and whispered, "Something's not right with that cave. It smells like there are tons of people in it, along with the smell of..." He sniffed the air again. "Other dragon slayers." Happy looked shocked. He murmured, "Natsu, should we go look for help? Who are the other dragon slayers?" Natsu had a grim look. He stated, "It smells like those guys from Sabertooth. Something's not right. Let's quietly sneak in." Happy gently picked up Natsu, and flew in the cave as quietly as possible.

They saw a group of people in strange robes surrounding Sting and Rogue from Sabretooth. The dragon slayers were in chains attached to a wall. Sting growled out, "Let us go! I don't know what the hell you want. We have done nothing to you people." All the robed people surrounding them were chanting "Haegl Draca! Haegl Draca!" Rogue looked irritated, yelling, "Why are you ignoring us? What is wrong with you? Let us go!"

Natsu was confused, wondering, 'How in the hell did these people manage to capture dragon slayers? We're supposed to be some of the strongest wizards in all of Fiore.'

He felt something pat his arm. He looked over only to see a powder blown in his face. Natsu clawed at his throat as he struggled to breathe. It felt like acid was in his lungs, burning intensely every time he took a breath. He grabbed at his neck, coughing and choking. His eyes were bugging out, the veins on his wide open eyes turning bright red. He was helpless as two robed men approached him with magic deflecting chains.

Happy was being held by another man in a cloak. A howl of pain was heard in the cave, as Happy bit the man's hand. Once free, he soared over to Natsu and flew as fast as he could to escape. Happy was so focused on getting out of there, he didn't notice one of the men aim a dart gun right at him. He felt a little pinch in his thigh, and everything was spinning. Natsu was about to go unconscious from the horrible powder, too.

Happy saw a sliver of sunlight at the entrance of the cave. Happy said, "Hang on Natsu! We're almost there." He was determined to escape that cave with Natsu. He frantically thought, 'Don't let me lose power now. We're so close!'

All of a sudden, Happy lost his power. His magical wings disintegrated into tiny Etherion. Happy sluggishly dropped Natsu as gently as he could. He couldn't hold Natsu's weight anymore. Natsu fell on the hard cave floor in a clump. As Happy plummeted down a chasm, he hopelessly watched men in robes put some sort of chains on the unconscious Natsu, before carrying him off. Happy fell a little further down into a chasm before luckily landing on a pillar that was a little further down. It was in the dark, so the perpetrators didn't see him. Happy breathed raggedly in and out, tears running down his face. 'I failed you, Natsu!' was all Happy anguished about, before everything went dark.