Lucy was running low on magical energy. 'I've still got to try. There's no way we could possible take these on without magic.' The blond mage though worryingly to herself, weighing her chances. They looked bleak.

Smoothly, she tugged a golden key from her belt. "Gate of the Bull: I open thee!" She cried turning the key into the thin air. "Taraus!" Her energy depleted and her body fell limp against the wall. The brown-eyed mage staggered to her feet. "Get them Taraus!" She commanded, raising her hand to point at the twin by the exit. The man's face seemed unsurprised by the black and white bull appearing from a gold glow.

"I will protect Lucy's body!" The bull moo'ed un-sheathing his axe from his back. His hooves lifted it high above his head. His bell run, as the axe fell plummeting down, directly toward the man. The echoing ring of metal on metal shifted through the air. The man had caught the axe between his two bare palms. Lucy noticed the silver ring he wore around his thumb. Its beautiful carvings of a snake slithering around his finger. His hands began to push against the axe. More pressure was added. Thin cracks began to slowly skate over the axe's blade. Taraus watched in disbelief. And then, it smashed. Crumbling to pieces before the bull's very eyes. Flecks of celestial metal fell with tiny pattering against the stone ground. Without a second though the man's hands lunged for the cow's throat. Taraus struggled, trying to pull the meat hands away. Lucy watched in horror.

"No Taraus!" She wailed lurching forward onto her knees. "Gate of the bull. I force thee closed."She proclaimed skimming the golden key through the damp air.

"Lucy. No!" The celestial-being protested. It was too late. He was gone. The cow disintegrated into a golden dust.

The man's empty gaze locked onto Lucy. The rattle of a thin tin can, rolled against the cobble stones. Gas exploded from the can. It shrouded the air around them. The stellar mage pulled her hand over her mouth, desperately trying not to breath in the sinister mist. But she couldn't stop it. The gas choked her throat, constricted her airways. The slam of exhaustion fell over her in a matter of seconds. She crumbled to the floor. Large muscular arms picked up her limp body from the floor. Her body swayed in time with his.

"Natsu..." She grumbled. Her vision blurred. One last gaze at her unconscious friend in the other mans arms. Then it all went dark.

The next morning as the sun was reaching its morning peak, Jet and Droy waited impatiently inside the guild. They paced up and down the hall, muttering frantic words to themselves. A worried expression dawned on their faces. "Will you guys take a seat?" Gray snapped.

"What the hell is up with you? Ice pick!" Natsu groaned. He had just arrived. The black-haired mage scowled at the dragon slayer irritably.

"Those two!" He pointed over at the 2/3 members of team shadow gear. "They've been pacing all morning. It's making me anxious!"

"Why?" The pink-haired boy asked examining the grumbling pair.

"Levy's late." The runner mage jumped in, startling Gray. "She's never late."

"Now that I think about it..." Gray began, recomposing himself. "Levy always comes to the guild at the same time; she always has done."

"She left to go somewhere yesterday and we haven't heard from her since." Droy added.

"Didn't she go with Lucy to that bookshop or something?" Happy contributed.

"Really? When?" Jet wondered. But his attention re-directed itself toward the door. A scarlet hair mage just entered. She sat beside Natsu and Gray.

"Erza!" Droy exclaimed.

"What is it?" She grumbled. Picking up a fork and chocolate cheesecake with white swirls decorating the top of it, in beautiful patterns.

"Have you seen Levy?" The, now in just his boxers, ice-mage intervened calmly.

"Gray, Your clothes." Cana reminded him from the bar, downing yet another barrel of wine. Gray jumped up in surprise.

"No, not today. Shouldn't she already be here?" The re-quip mage replied.

"No she's not." Jet mumbled. The armoured mage watched the two mages carefully.

"She didn't come back to the dorm last night..." Her eyes still set on watching the two. A darkened and worried expression amplified their disappointment. "Didn't she go to the bookstore with Lucy?"

"Did she? I was just looking for Lucy?" Wendy asked, interrupting. Her innocent face glanced around the group. "Sorry. Was I interrupting!" she exclaimed.

"It's okay Wendy." Erza smiled gently.

"She went to the bookstore last night with Levy." Mira joined in as well.

"Have you checked her apartment?" Gray asked.

"I checked it on my way over here. No one was home. According to her land lady, she never came home last night." Wendy's face looked glum. "She was going to take me shopping for some new clothes," She sighed, disappointed.

"Wait! Haven't you guys seen her?" The young dragon slayer exclaimed.

"No. We haven't seen Levy since last night either." Erza explained.

"Oh no! Maybe something happened!" Mira gasped. Natsu's face shadowed.

"Something is defiantly not right." Gray grumbled.

The sounds of a bar stool clattering against the guild's wooden floor, startled the whole group. No-one noticed, until now, the iron dragon slayer drinking at the bar. He'd listened to Jet and Droy mutter all morning and now this massive group discussion. His face was worried but hidden behind an irritated anger. He had noticed Levy's being late. He was worried about her. His deep strides brought him to the guild doors. Slamming them open and not looking in anyone's directions. "Where are you going?" Natsu growled. Gajee'ls eyes glared at the boy with fury and determination, singling him out of the group. Dark eyes locking onto his. A deep, intense eye contact. A soft whisper echoed in his voice.

"The bookstore." He grumbled, walking out the guild. Silence overcame the guild. Their eyes dancing over everyone else, looking for direction. The fire-mages face was bland. But a slight acknowledgment rested in his eyes. He too walked to the door. As he reached the doorway, he glanced over his shoulder.

"Aren't you coming?" He questioned the dumbstruck guild members.

"Where?" Gray grumbled.

"To find Lucy and Levy." His eyes glowered down on all of them. Until, Erza rose, joining Natsu besides the door. In that one show of leadership, they all followed, determined the find their friends.