Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters; that right belongs to Hiro Mashima. I do own the Original Characters (OC's) and ask that you do not use them without at least asking for permission first. Please respect this as I am possessive of my OC's and don't share as easily as other authors.

Author's Note: This story was written after having a particularly bad nightmare and talking with a friend about it. They suggested that I do this to help work through the nightmare and my phobias. One is lepidopterophobia or the fear of butterflies. And the other is Mottephobia or the fears of Moths. These are only two. And like any fear, there is a legit reason for it, one I do not care to share.

He stood there staring up at his liege. Face blank, even as he caught the surface thoughts of the man he detested so much. But he had learned from the brutal beatings, emotional degradation, and the knowledge that the man was not above letting his guards use his body as they saw fit. It was disgusting. Everything in his body told him to take the girl from his ruler, to run and protect her. None of which he did as he stood there watching as the male touched her, his thin, white fingers caressing the filth-encrusted face with a delicate touch that was more than polite.

"You found her in the ruins? Like this, on the altar?"

Sucking air in through his nostrils, he nodded his head in answer to the male. He didn't trust himself to speak.

"She has no wings… and her skin, though filthy, is as soft as ours is after our final metamorphosis."

Knowing that each statement was rhetorical and that answering would only bring down punishment. Which he knew the man wanted, he remained impassive. Not looking at the girl or his liege. Instead, he focused on a point well beyond what had once been a glorious throne.

"Her clothes are strange. If she is, for whatever she is, fully mature, then she would not have a need to cover herself in solid clothing. Though from what I can see, her hair is like liquid gold under this refuse."

Not moving or responding, again knowing that the man was just talking aloud to himself. He listened in on his thoughts. Steeling himself from wanting to spit at what was being imagined. There was no mistaking that lust haze that was famous among those that were the concubines and courtesans. To make it worse, he was well aware that the man sitting before him was intentionally broadcasting his thoughts loud and clear. Making it so no matter how much he shielded, that he'd still hear, if he couldn't see. Like the poisonous White Cabbage Butterfly, he resembled.

"Lu'arna, you shall take this female. Cleanse her, dress her. I am giving her care and protection to you. When she awakens you will come to me, bring her in proper garb for a courtesan… and bound in the white and silver cuffs. I can feel her strength, thus will have her made to submit."

Bowing at the waist, he waited until he got permission to come near and take the female back. Glad when a soft hum was heard, he stepped up to the throne and had to catch the girl. Tempering himself to keep from giving a dark glare as the male just laughed haughtily. Reminding him that until decided otherwise, the girl was his property. Looking down at the female who was still unconscious, he spun and marched stiff-backed from the throne room. A semblance of peace settling over his body and mind at having her in his arms again.

The further he got from the man, the more he let his body relax. Slowly he unfurled his large green wings and flapped them. Causing his body to lift and hover just a few inches above the floor. Lu'arna made his way quickly to his own personal quarters. The risk would be worth it. The attendants there were the ones he had had since he was born. They were to be trusted. In fact, they were part of the few that still held out for him to take back his birthright, the throne of their world. To lead them to peace. And he would, one day, he hoped.

Fear, panic, anger, sadness, and loss. Those were the jumbled emotions washing through Team Natsu's remaining members. They'd saw Lucy go into the antechamber. Each of them had felt the pulse of magic. It had reminded them of Lucy's own magic, yet it felt so different. Each trying to finish their fights to get to their friend. A sinking feeling in each of their stomachs as they tried to call her and didn't get a response.

By the time they got into the room, Lucy had tried to tackle the man at the altar. Who was currently bound, gagged, and lying prone on the floor? None of them caring if he was pissed the ritual he was trying to work was ruined by Lucy. It was because of this man that they'd seen their friend being sucked into a brilliant portal of light that mimicked how Lucy's magic looked when she summoned it to open a gate for one of her spirits.

"Do… you think… Lushy is gone for good?" Happy asked as he floated down to land on Natsu's shoulder.

The pink haired slayer lifted a hand up and rubbed affectionately at the blue exceeds head. He didn't know. He hoped that they could bring Lucy back. She was his best friend. She was like a sister to him, as well as every member of their team. And to make it that much more painful to think of her being gone for good, she was the light of their guild. Always have an easy smile, was almost forgiving to a fault. Helpful and loving to everyone. Though, he knew what she was like when angered. It gave Erza a run for her money, which was saying something since they'd all learned the truth of Erza's lineage during the Alvarez War.

"Happy, let us consult Master and get Freed and Levy here to see if they could translate these ruins hieroglyphs. And, we should have Bickslow come as well," Erza said, her face a grim mask as her eyes narrowed as she looked at the man on the ground, who was under the foot of a very naked Gray. "And Gray, clothes!"

This had the Ice-Make mage look down and look around before stopping and grinning like a fool. Standing up, he used his foot to roll the man over and sat back down, hard, on his stomach. Enjoying the way the man's eyes bugged out of his head and squirmed underneath. Making sounds of disgust.

"Don't worry Erza, I think me being naked is going to be a decent punishment. You make that call to Master and request the Raijinshuu and Levy. And have Gajeel come since he has made it clear she is his," Gray said, smirking up at Erza.

It took a few seconds before Erza nodded her head, motioned for Natsu to follow her. She saw the way the man was acting. It was clear he was homophobic. Gray's natural, or unnatural, habit actually serving a purpose. Once they were out of the circular room, she motioned for Natsu to make sure that the others in the ragtag dark guild were bound tightly and still unconscious. She let her hand slide to the pocket in her skirt. Where she had stashed the two keys she had found on the man. There was no mistaking those keys. That man was a Celestial Mage, just like Lucy. It sickened her greatly that he was a dark mage for the magic that was based in light.

Pulling out the Communication Lacrima, she pushed her magic into it, thinking heavily about their guilds Master.

She was slowly coming to. And she let her mind do a quick mental checklist. Her body ached but was in what felt like warm water. Her nose could smell faintly scented soap. It was a familiar scent. A flower that she had smelt at one point but was currently unable to recall. And someone was holding her and of all things bathing her from the gentle strokes, she felt against her back and arms. Causing a small wave of panic to flood her as she began to struggle in the small hands that were holding her up.

"Oh! Miss, you are awake!"

At the sound of a feminine voice, Lucy stilled for but a few seconds before forcing her eyes open, just to slam them shut just as quickly. Pain exploding through her skull. That was when she felt the soft pull of her spirits. They were frantic as she felt their thoughts practically drowned out her own panic induced ones. Making her body go rigid as she gasped for air. This was not the first time that this had happened with her spirits. Nope, they got like this when they couldn't contact her due to being knocked out. That and she was not in possession of her keyring or her whip. Not if she was in warm water being washed.

"Young Master… she is…"

"It is alright. Place a towel over her. She is apparently very modest considering what she was wearing when I found her, Al'tana."

The sound of the deeper voice, that seemed to be far from her, had Lucy opening her eyes once more. But much slower, so that they could adjust to the bright light. When they cracked enough to let light in, it was immediately clear that the lights had been dimmed greatly. Tensing as she felt her body being lifted and placed onto a ledge. Her feet still in the warm water, as a soft towel was placed over her chest and lap. While she got her first view of the woman who was handling her. She was a lot taller than Lucy, with vivid orange eyes, that matched Orange hair, framing a dark-skinned face.

What struck Lucy as odd, was that the woman's eyes reminded her of a bug. Then the woman was moving away, giving her space, while looking at her in awe. This had Lucy shifting her body slightly, only to feel pain ripple through her, head to toe and back again.

"Young Master… she is… beautiful…" The woman, Al'tana whispered.

This brought a natural blush to Lucy's cheeks. She was literally staring at a woman who was tall, with exotic dark skin and brilliant coloring. Also, wearing a sheer gown that was plastered to her lithe frame, leaving nothing to the imagination. But her getting such an honest and genuine compliment like that out of nowhere, Lucy was a bit taken back. She felt that the woman was more beautiful than she was.

"I can see that Al'tana. Though, with how she is staring at you, I think she thinks the same."

That deep voice drew Lucy's gaze from the woman. When they spotted who was speaking, they were partially obscured by a gauze-like curtains. She saw that it was most definitely male from how the opaque wrap around very slender hips hung low, accentuating a deep v from a very toned stomach. Making her cheeks heat further. Even as her brain processed that his skin looked fuzzy and a very pale green that was almost white.

"Oh!" The woman said, her large buggish eyes practically glowed as she gave Lucy a quick bow. "Thank you… but I am nothing."

This had Lucy frowning and glaring at the woman. She had not a clue why the woman would think that. And if that mystery man half hidden by the curtain made her think that, well she'd have some damn words. Lucy started to open her mouth to say something when the woman turned half way from her giving Lucy a view of her back. Causing Lucy to suck in a sharp breath. There folded along the center of the woman's dark-skinned back was unmistakably wings. Wings that she recalled belonged to a Monarch Butterfly. The orange matched the woman's hair and eyes.

"Oh…stars… what are you? Where am I?" Lucy whimpered as she felt her eyes roll into the back of her head and darkness descended once more upon her.

TBC