Lucy and Natsu made it back to the hotel safely, where they found Erza and Gray waiting for them.
"Good, now that we're all here we can go inside and discuss what we found." Erza said, and the three others followed behind her.
The hotel room was a nice size. There were two beds, a small couch that had a pull out mattress, a large window, and two dressers.
Erza sat on the bed that was closer to the door while Lucy and Natsu sat on the other that was closer to the window. Gray sat on the couch.
"So, what did you find?" Gray asked Lucy. "Well we found this old couple..and well..."
Lucy spoke while Erza and Gray listened. Natsu tuned her voice out after a while, growing bored, and began to play with his flames on his fingertips.
Lucy told Erza and Gray what they learned while they were there. What happened to their Grandson, and how they seemed so scared.
"Oh! They also gave me this.." Lucy held out the shaft with the ruby moon crescent. Erza grabbed it first, observing it.
"It holds a lot of power.." She said. "But it seems... off." Erza passed the shaft to Gray so he could observe it as well.
"Maybe if we do get hit with his power, this can make it disappear?" Gray asked. Lucy shrugged. "The couple didn't know what it was used for..they said it might be helpful."
"Arghhhh, all this talkin'! Im starving over here!" Natsu whined as he fell on Lucy's lap. "Lushiii, you don't have any snacks on you?" Natsu asked with puppy dog eyes.
"Not for you." Lucy said, letting out a huff as she blushed. She always found him irresistible when he pouted for her.
"I supposed we can order something, what do you all want?" Erza asked as she picked up a phone and began dialing numbers.
"If you could find anything cold, that would be great." Gray said as he relaxed more into the couch.
"Anything hot and spicy will do me just right!" Natsu said, happily.
"Lucy?" Erza asked, "Are you eating?"
"Ill just have some soup." She said, not really in the mood to eat.
As Erza ordered, Lucy rummaged through her bags for her nightclothes. Natsu and Gray picked at each other with their taunts – as usual – until Erza stopped them.
The night ended and it was soon morning.
Lucy was the first one up, or so she thought.
The hotel room was empty, no one was in sight. She sat up and stretched, assuming they left to grab breakfast.
Natsu barged in the room. Lucy snapped her head to face him, "What the hell Natsu!? Try not to destroy anything okay?" She said, getting out of bed.
She walked up to him and was about to greet him until he said something. "Where is it?"
Lucy froze in her tracks at the tone of his voice. That...wasn't his voice. It was someone else.
"W-w-who a-are you?" Lucy asked. Natsu slowly rose his head, his smile more sinister.
His eyes were revealed and they were red...
Before Lucy could say anything else, Natsu pounced on her.
"AH!" Lucy yelled, jumping up. She felt arms grasp her shoulder and turn her around. She faced Natsu.
"Luce, are you okay?" Natsu asked her, with complete worry in his eyes. His eyes, they were normal again..
She was dreaming that all happened. "I-I had a bad dream, that you... that you-" Lucy stuttered but Natsu pulled her into his arms.
"Shhh, it's alright." He spoke softly. "I'm here, I didn't change at all. I promise."
"Promise me you'll never change." Lucy spoke looking into his eyes.
Natsu hesitated, he didn't know whether he would get controlled or not but for the sake of Lucy..
"I promise."
The two headed back to sleep..
The next day came. Lucy woke up to Natsu snuggling against her tightly. She blushed a bit, hoping Erza and Gray didn't see.
"N-n-natsu.." She whispered, her blush growing deeper. She rubbed his head a little and Natsu held her tighter. He grumbled a bit in his sleep, as if he was trying to protect her from someone.
"Hmmm... yah... mine." He whispered quietly. Lucy's blush deepened.
"Seems like someone is enjoying their dream." Gray said, making Lucy jump a little. "G-gray! You don't see anything!" Lucy said, but it was too late.
"I already did." Gray said with a smirk on his face. "Wake him soon will ya? We wanna get an early start on the forest." He said before heading out.
She noticed that Erza left as well. She must've been the first one up..
"Geez I hate that guy." Natsu's voice made Lucy squeal. "When did you wake up!?"
"Right before that ice bastard left.." He said, sitting up. He then turned to her and blushed. "Stop staring would ya?"
Lucy blushed even more and closed her eyes. "I-I'm not!" She shouted. Natsu smirked a bit. "Hmph, weirdo.."
Lucy took a shower while Natsu waited. (More like fall asleep) Lucy woke him back up and they went down to the dining hall the hotel provided for breakfast.
(A huge skip because I want to get to the good stuff already..)
It was evening, Erza decided that it would be wise to enter the forest at this time. The group headed into the Appalls all bunched together.
Each mage held their breaths in and stayed quiet, making sure they didn't hear a creak or step that was different from them.
"At this rate we'll never find that guy.." Gray said. "We need to split up."
"No! The lady told us specifically NOT to split apart, we have to stay in a group!" Lucy whisper yelled at Gray.
"Lucy, it's already night time. We'll never find the wizard if we keep taking baby steps like this.." Erza said and sighed. "It's the best way to go right now, you have to trust us."
Lucy looked at her team and sighed shakily. She really did not want to split up. She didn't want anything to happen to her friends. However they were right, they were getting no where.
"Alright fine..." Lucy said.
"It's alright Luce, your strong. If you need any help just yell really loud okay?" Natsu smiled down at Lucy. She smiled back. "Alright.."
The team all split apart, each mage going in a different direction. Lucy continued straight.
She was already sweating, she held onto her keys as if her life depended on it. And it probably did.
As Lucy continued forward, she noticed the climate change. It grew cold and she found herself stepping on snow.
"What is this..." She asked herself quietly as she continued on her path. Suddenly, a gust of wind knocked her down. "AH!" She yelped as she fell onto her back.
Lucy quickly got back up and checked her surroundings.
"Nothing.." She said, she felt something tickle up her spine. Fear probably..
She trudged on, looking all around her. Lucy was then forced onto the ground again. However she felt it was by someone else's weight.
She struggled to get from underneath them, but they were strong. The person grabbed her arms and held them above her head.
"Stop! PLEASE! NATSU!" She cried for help. "Shhh...you don't want them to hear, do you?" A sinister voice said in her ear. Lucy froze and began to shake uncontrollably.
"No please. This cant be...please.." She thought in her head. The person let go of her hands and slid their own down her waist. She tried to move her hands but she couldn't..
They were under his control..
The person turned Lucy to face them. "Ah...what a beautiful younger blonde.." The person whispered.
"W-wh-who are you?" Lucy asked. "Don't play dumb, Lu-shi.." The man grinned at her. Lucy widened her eyes, "Your Ian?" She asked.
The man nodded, an evil smile on his face. "Indeed. It is nice to meet you."
Lucy stared at him in shock. "How rude? This is how you greet your master? Bow down to me." Ian called out to Lucy. Lucy was instantly in a curtsey.
"H-how? Did he already put the spell on me without me knowing?" She asked herself. "That's a bit better.." Ian waved his hand up and Lucy stood straight again.
"Now...I guess I shall fully reveal myself." The man removed his hood and took off his mask. He was young, he looked around Lucy's age almost. He hard black hair with a dark red tint to it, and burgundy red eyes.
"As you already know, my name is Ian. My power is able to control anyone I come across or see. And I could do it simply by coming in contact with the person, looking at them, or simply completing a spell. It's called, CNT." Ian looked down at Lucy, "Do you follow?"
Lucy slowly nodded. Ian stared at here. "Hmm..are you here alone Lucy? Don't lie to me either.." Lucy looked at him nervously. She gulped. "Why are you doing this?" She asked him.
Ian looked into Lucy's eyes, "That's none of your concern. Now ill ask you this question again." Ian glared into Lucy's eyes. "Are you in the Appalls alone?" Lucy could feel his power slowly seeping into her body.
"The more you resist, the more painful it gets. And I fully take over you." Ian stared into Lucy. Lucy resisted however, baring the pain. It felt as if she was getting burned from the inside and out.
Ian watched as she struggled against his power. "This is your last time before I put you against your will."
Lucy felt her vision getting fuzzy and her head began to pound. "Natsu..I'm sorry..." She whispered out loud before dropping her head.
Her eyes shut and she was stuck like this for a while. Ian's magic power was deeply absorbed into Lucy.
Ian slowly lifted her chin with his hand. "Show me your face my beautiful queen.."
Lucy lifted her head and smirked at him. She opened her eyes...
...and they were a bright red..
Finally getting into the good stuff! I hope you enjoyed! 3