Author's Note: Hello all! Thank you to those who reviewed, favorited, or followed this story! It means a lot to me. Here is what happens next. Let me know what y'all think!
Disclaimer: Fairytail and its characters belong to Hiro Mashima (who, btw, tore my heart out at the newest manga installment)
Natsu came back to the hotel an hour later with some dinner for Lucy. He had needed to get out, to think. His anxiety had yet to wane. He wished that he could at least send Lucy back to the guild. She would be safer and she could help with the research. However, he knew she was stubborn when she set her mind on something. She was going to stay put whether he liked it or not.
"Natsu, are you okay? I'm worried," the blue Exceed said, flying next to him. Natsu ruffled Happy's fur.
"Don't worry, buddy. We're Fairytail mages! Nothing is too strong for us!" he smiled.
"Aye sir!"
Natsu's spirit was slightly lifted as he walked into their hotel room. Steam came out of the bathroom indicating Lucy was in the bath. She was such a weirdo.
"Lucy! We got you some food!" he called. He didn't hear an answer. Maybe she had fallen asleep in the tub. When she was extra tired, she sometimes did that. He often had to dress her and put her to bed. She would Lucy Kick him across Magnolia if she ever found that out. He shook his head, not like he hasn't seen her naked before. She always seemed to lose her clothes in battle. He was going to kick that ice stripper's ass if she learned it from him. Natsu decided to risk a kick by checking the bathroom.
"Lucy? Did you hear me? Happy and me got ya some grub," he said, peeking around the doorway. The bathroom was empty.
"Huh. Maybe she went to get herself something to eat?" Happy wondered, munching on some fish.
"She promised she wouldn't go out alone," Natsu said, his gut starting to wrench. Lucy never broke a promise. Suddenly, fear crept its way in his heart. A familiar scent wafted from the bathroom window. Natsu let out a low growl as he grabbed Happy and bolted from the room.
"Natsu, what is going on?" Happy asked, clinging to Natsu's vest.
"Edwin took Lucy. I think he got ahold of the stone or its influence is too strong. Either way, we got to hurry. The scent is fresh so they can't be far." Natsu sprinted across the cobblestones, sniffing the air every so often.
"Don't be afraid, Lucy. I will get you back!" Natsu vowed under his breath.
Lucy had a terrible headache. It pounded in her head, making her wince. She had been taking a relaxing bath when something hit her head, knocking her out. She awoke in a dark cellar with chains around her ankles and wrists. She shuddered to think what had been done to her since she was dressed in a flowy, white dress. She tried calling for help, but she soon realized it was useless. The cellar was deep underground. She tried to remain positive though. Natsu would soon notice she was missing and would track her scent to her location. Lucy just hoped it was soon. Deep down, she knew who had kidnapped her. She tried to think of other culprits. A dark guild with a beef against Fairytail, a villain who wanted to use her celestial magic for world destruction, or, even someone with a grudge against Natsu and was using her as bait. It was useless. Lucy knew who kidnapped her and why. She really wished Natsu would save her soon. She cringed at the thought of what might and possibly will happen to her. She cursed herself for not doing some research on her own about the stone. That way, she would have some knowledge of what they were up against.
A sudden clicking of locks drew her attention to the outline of a door. Lucy started to panic. She looked around for her keys, but then she remembered they were back at the hotel room. At least her friends were safe. The door creaked open, blinding her with white light.
"Hello, Lucy," Edwin's voice spoke through the doorway. It was slightly deeper and chilling in tone. "Did you sleep well? I apologize for the state of your living quarters. I didn't have much time to make it more comfortable. Maybe, over time, we will be able to accommodate you better."
"Edwin, wake up! This isn't you talking, it's the stone!" Lucy cried. Maybe she could get him to release from the stone's grasp long enough to free her. However, his cold laugh froze her heart.
"The stone? Ha! If I was under the stone's influence, you would still be safe and sound in your hotel room." He stepped into her vision, making her gasp. Edwin looked just as he had earlier that day, only with a devilish grin.
"I thought the stone was evil and was controlling your father. It was trying to get ahold of you," Lucy said, confused. This wasn't making sense.
"My father is a coward. He clings to the stone to protect himself from me. See, I am the evil one. One of Zeref's more devoted followers. That stone is ancient dragon magic, so pure, I would be instantly destroyed. I want to destroy it instead. My fool of a father guards the stupid thing obsessively. So, I figured I could hire a wizard guild to "protect" the stone and get it out of his hands. Thus, I could kill him, destroy the stone, and maybe slaughter a whole wizard guild at the same time. It was genius! That is, until you, my dear, came along. You, with your shimmering golden hair and delicious curves. Plus, a pure and innocent soul. I had to make you mine. So, I put on the lost, but adorable school boy act and you fell for it. Too bad you also happened to have that nosy Dragon Slayer with you. He could hear the stone warning him of my thoughts and he whisked you away. So, really, you left me no choice but to kidnap you."
Lucy was stunned, but mostly, just terrified. They had been wrong. Edwin was the one they needed to protect themselves from.
"Why me? What makes me so special?" she asked, hoping it was for her magic. He chuckled and knelt down in front of her. Taking her chin in his fingers, he smiled.
"Why, my dear, you are not special at all. You are merely my plaything until I get bored or you die. You really have no worth to me. My last plaything bored me a couple of months ago so I had her disposed of. I have been wanting a new one for a while. You were just there."
Lucy's stomach dropped. This couldn't be happening. Normal people weren't this sick. Tears started to pool in her eyes.
"Tsk, Tsk. Don't cry, not yet. I want you to save those tears for later," he winked at her and started for the door. "I need to take care of some things first, but don't fret, I will be back soon." With that, he left her in the dark.
"Please hurry, Natsu," she whispered, silently weeping.
Natsu was getting frustrated. He had been tracking Lucy and the odd scent throughout the entire village. He should have found her by now. He began to curse.
"Natsu…" Happy said, looking concerned.
"Don't worry, Happy. She is around here somewhere."
"Is she?" a voice called behind him. The odd scent wafted towards his nose and he started to growl.
"Where is she, Edwin?" Natsu snarled, facing the culprit.
"Easy now. Wouldn't want to set the whole village on fire. Though, that still wouldn't help you find her," he smiled, enjoying the Dragon Slayer's aggression.
"I swear, if you touch her…"
"Oh! I haven't, yet. But, I can promise you that I will do more than 'touch' her. She will be so pleased. I'll have her screaming my name. Whether that is in pain or pleasure is up to her. I, for one, with enjoy it. So much so, I'll do it again and again and again." Natsu lunged for him, but Edwin sidestepped.
"I will murder you!" Natsu growled, fire sparking on his fingers.
"Not if I kill you first. Sadly, it will have to wait. I have to destroy that pesky stone first, then have my way with my new toy before I deal with you." With that, he disappeared into the fog. Natsu bolted after him, desperate to get a punch in.
"Damn it! Where did that bastard go and where is he hiding Lucy?"
"Natsu, we should get the stone before he does. He said that he wanted to destroy the stone, not use it. Maybe it has the ability to hurt him."
"You're right, Happy! We need to contact Levy on our way to the manor. Hopefully she can clue us in on what the stone does and how to stop it," Natsu said as he started towards the hill at the edge of the village.
"Natsu, that stone is ancient dragon magic. It predates even Igneel!" Levy exclaimed through the lacrima as Natsu and Happy made their way to the mayor's house.
"Something older than Igneel? That's not possible," Natsu grinned, remembering how he used to pick on his adoptive father about his age.
Flashback
"Ne, ne, how old are you Dad?" a little Natsu asked, poking the Fire Dragon's large snout. Igneel huffed out a column of smoke making the youngling cough.
"I'm only about 500 years old in human age," the dragon boasted, as if he was a young whippersnapper. Natsu quirked his head, aware that it was a large number, but not understanding the meaning.
"What about dragon years?" he asked.
"That's a secret I will take to my grave!" Igneel laughed as the boy pouted. Giving up on trying to convince the dragon to tell him, Natsu wandered to practice setting thing on fire. Igneel watched with pride swelling in his chest at how much the child had grown in his magic.
I guess that secret will be known sooner than he thinks, Igneel thought as he watched the sunset touch the earth.
End Flashback
"Hey, Levy? How old is 500 in dragon years?" Natsu wondered.
"I'll let Igneel tell you that himself when you find him again," she smiled. "Anyways, the stone is roughly translated to 'Mirror of Malicious Thought'. It can portray the evil thoughts of any single living thing. Even thoughts that are deeply hidden in the subconscious. Once the stone gets ahold of those thoughts, it purifies them. However, if the person is truly malicious, the stone will try to purify them. It is neither good nor evil. I wouldn't directly touch it, but try to get Edwin to. He is of true evil and the stone will purify him. It honestly will most likely turn him into a living vegetable. The stone doesn't kill, per say, but it can take away your soul essentially." Natsu absorbed the information Levy had given him. To his understanding, that stone wasn't good for anybody.
"Should I destroy it?"
"No!" the Master's voice shouted through the lacrima. "I want it to be brought here. If you destroy it, then you will absorb all of the dark aura the stone has collected over the years."
"Natsu not destroying something? That would be the day," Gray's voice echoed, making the whole guild laugh.
"Shut up Ice Prick!"
"Be careful, Natsu and bring Lucy home," Master said. Natsu gave him a thumbs up and disconnected the lacrima. They were getting close to the mansion. Natsu took off his scarf and handed it to Happy.
"Wrap the stone in this and get out of here. Fly as fast as you can back to the guild. I'll deal with Edwin."
"Aye sir!"