Vanished

Chapter 7 - Echo

Its been a little while but happy long weekend to those who have one!
Big thanks to all who fave and review! Keep them coming, I love to hear what you all have to think : )


"Damnit you stupid flame head!" The celestial mage felt as if in her seething anger she sounded exactly like Grey, her fists balled up in her lap as she looked over his peaceful knocked cold body. She knew he was waiting for her, for some sign to know that she was still here. Yet how could she do it? She used up that chance, that valuable bit of info that could have saved her and everyone else under the control of Blanc…she wasn't about to give up; but he didn't have to be so reckless when she didn't even have a plan!

"That's not your style though…" Lucy spoke to herself, even surrounded by her nakama she knew they couldn't see her…not even Cana who did look right at her and probably felt something. Yet even as she tilted her head to look at the card mage, her focus was on Natsu anyways. Lucy could tell it was taking everything in Mirajane's powers not to run and try and tend to the dragon slayer despite his firm warning to his friends.

Friends…She was a little shocked to have seen her spirits here; and it ached in her heart that she had no way to let them know she was alright. It did puzzle her though that Taurus, Plue and Aries were all out; the power they were draining being out had no effect on her. So how were they all able to come out at once where only one could usually sneak out without her realizing it unless it was Loke.

"Maybe...I can pull that same kind of power…" The blonde mage pondered, looking back worriedly to Natsu as he still slept soundly; wondering…was it possible?

She was going to get nowhere just sitting around as that determined look crossed her face, hand tenderly reaching out slowly as if it was going to hurt him to touch his forehead and held her breath with her one finger inching closer until…

…nothing.

This time she closed her eyes and put her whole palm over his forehead even though she couldn't feel the contact; focusing all her might and desire to make some kind of connection. Some way to enter his dream like she had done before and warn him of everything, to keep her promise and to get back to the way things were.

"I'm not going to give up!" She hissed, her eyes closed tight and her jaw clenching, realizing it wasn't going to work...she had to do something. Anything!

Raising her hand up without further thought on what she was doing she went to slam it down in frustration; the flat hand swiftly falling and before she could stop herself made a slap noise as she contacted with his forehead and felt the sting. With her eyes snapping open to look at her hand, in the next moment she was once more met with the vast darkness as it settled around her.


He'd been wandering, searching frantically with bated breath as he raced through the darkness; his feet able to touch a solid surface but all he could see was black. It was surreal to Natsu, never before had he been able to see….but as if he was running nowhere fast in a void of some sorts.

"Luce!" He bellowed, slowing his pace as he turned his body to try to see something…anything to let him know where he was.

"Luce where are you!" But all he could hear was the echo of his own voice drift into silence.

Dark, vast nothingness.

She's not coming... He thought, not usually one for pessimism, but perhaps he was a little hasty on his decision. However, Natsu also found it strange he could remember the reason why he was suddenly 'dreaming' but also awake. He remembered once asking Igneel about dreams, and remembered the wise words of his father.

'Dragons don't dream, my son. Dragons continue their thoughts while asleep, and spend the unconscious hours reflecting on what was, or planning what will be. Although they can be strange, dreams are nothing more but portals into what our hearts desire, and with training you can act within them to make use of every hour.'

Although he didn't really care nor see the point in what Igneel had told him; it was strange these things always found a way to bite him in the ass when he should have been listening then.

"I wasn't seeing things…I know she's here." He confirmed, looking around once more fully prepared to see nothing.

...but he saw something instead.

His chest tightened uncomfortable as his body began to move before his mouth; breaking out into a run towards the only other thing of color in this dark world.

"Luce! Luce over here!" Natsu yelled out, but Luce didn't seem to hear him as she was looking around worriedly but not in his direction. Not to mention no matter how fast he ran he wasn't getting any closer to her.

"LUCE!" He roared out, un-phased by this sudden hindrance as he was going to reach her. Natsu had promised he was going to bring her back and something as trivial as this wasn't going to stop him. "LUCE I'M RIGHT HERE!" He pushed his legs harder than he had since running to the hospital to catch up with Lucy and Happy, he could feel the wind rip against his face as he sprinted but she still was as far away as when he started.

That is her body jolted in recognition and she turned to look right at him; her eyes sharpening as she could finally see him.

"Natsu?" Lucy felt her breath hitch in her throat; until it was like the bubble of time he'd been in popped and suddenly he flew forward at the speed he was going and collided with the celestial mage with a yelp from both of them as they crashed into the solid surface at their feet.

"Luce! You can see me?" Once the shock had worn off he moved his hands to the ground and lifted his head to look down at Lucy who groaned in pain with a sour expression on.

"I can feel you too, and you're not light!" The blonde mage huffed, but was relieved when he quickly scrambled off her and sat beside her to allow her to get up.

"I knew you would come…" Natsu grinned in glee, relieved that his plan had work and that vicious headache awaiting him later wasn't for nothing.

"You Idiot!" Lucy snapped as she sat up, glaring at the pink haired man beside her which earned her a confused look. "Don't go doing that, you're going to get hurt or worse kill yourself pulling something like that! I know you're tough…one of the strongest people I know…but think about your limitations and the people who worry sick for you!"

"Luce…I'm sorry…" The dragon slayer sincerely felt bad, it wasn't often that he had to worry about himself…and no one had really ever called him out on his risky decisions other than Happy but the exceed never really questioned him.

At his solemn expression Lucy felt herself sigh, immediately regretting her little snapping at him; she knew that Natsu would go to the ends of the earth and beyond for any of his nakama…it was simply who he was.

"I'm sorry Natsu…it scared me is all." Lucy admitted, before looking at him a little more skeptically. "Yet how is it you knew I was coming?" It didn't look like before when he was dreaming, it was almost as if he'd just been waiting in his subconscious. She knew magic changed a lot of things about people's lives…but the ability he was showing now was something completely new to her.

"I'm not sure…" He began, scratching his head. "Igneel once told me that Dragons don't dream and it's simply a continuation of their thoughts while their body sleeps even though they're awake…I wasn't really paying attention." Although he did get the jest of it, Natsu decided to leave just a little bit out of what he knew further. "What's happened Luce? Why can I only see you here?"

At the blunt question Lucy knew she had to spill it, all of it. She couldn't risk that she may not have had another chance and with the way the dream was going she had a good feeling he was going to remember fully when he was awake. "You were right, Natsu. I'm not dead…but I might as well be."

"I learned more of Blanc after I woke up after we went to the sakura tree; I met up with another person who had taken that job…who was a ghost like me. Her name is Nirah, and she told me he uses black curse magic."

"Like that flute guy!" Natsu snapped, remembering the danger that came from him and even those...other guys. Man his memory wasn't great, but he still pondered for a moment as not a single name came to mind.

"Somewhat." Lucy answered, "He has…how can I put it…powers similar to Elfman and Lisanna except he can transform other people. That's why no one can see me; he made me into a ghost. His body and his spell is just like a Lacrima; he can absorb people similar to the tower of heaven and holds it until he is destroyed leaving my spirit outside my body." She looked closely to Natsu to see if he was following; and it looked like she was doing a good job at making it simple.

"So…you're a ghost?" He gave her a funny skeptical look, to which she pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration.

"Somewhat…I'm not dead though. You just can't see me other than here."

"Well…what do we do then? How can I break this?" Natsu put on his serious face as he crossed his arms over his chest, already feeling the need to pound that Blanc's face in tenfold with the news he'd just received.

"That's where it…gets tricky. Nirah said the only way to reverse this for me and everyone he's cursed…is he has to die. Otherwise he'll never release everyone…" She looked down to her lap, knowing the feeling of dread that overcame her when she heard it. How could anyone kill…the guild wasn't like that and every person they'd been up against they'd been able to defeat without resorting to it.

Yet what if it was the only way? Could she even say she agreed with the aspect even to get her life back?

"I'll find a way…" Natsu seethed, his fists balled up even as he tried to keep calm with his arms over his chest. "I'll find a way to get you and everyone back to normal; without killing him. There has to be one…and I'll find it Luce…I promise."

Looking up, it was clear to Lucy that the man before her was unsure, she could see it in his face as he too wondered what possible other way could there be? Reaching out her hand she set it on his knee as he sat, smiling as she tried not to let the tears welling up in her eyes spill down her cheek. "I know, Natsu. You've never let me down before…so I trust you – no matter how long it may take I'll be here. We're a team right?"

"Always…" Natsu smirked, his own hand relaxing to place on hers to grip lightly. He was all fired up now, this was exactly the confirmation he needed; guild or not he would bring her back. "Is this the only way I can see you?"

"As far as I know, yes. Don't go getting strange ideas to knock yourself out though. I'm still at your side, even if it doesn't look like it; so don't worry about me alright?" Lucy couldn't help her smile, the hope rejuvenating in her very soul now that they were on the same page.

Nodding his head in that moment, he felt a little impish as he grabbed her other hand; startling the celestial mage as her eyes were on him, questioning, curious. To this was his simple answer, wondering for a brief moment if she'd realize the significance. "I won't lose faith in you, Luce."

Unable to hold it, the single tear rolled out of her cheek as she gasped; the image of Natsu fading as he looked at his own body in panic. "I told them not to wake me!" He growled, holding tighter onto Lucy's hands as he gave her a sad look, only receiving a smile in return as she tried to put on a brave face...although she didn't want the moment to end he had to wake up sooner or later.

"It's okay Natsu…remember," Lucy gave his hand a squeeze, before she let him go as he faded; "I'm right by your side; always."

Then he was gone, and she was left in her solitude.


"Lisanna! He said not to wake him!" Levy urged, trying to pull the takeover mage off of the dragon slayer to little avail as she was holding on too tightly to Natsu.

"Let go Levy! I don't care, he's not well…he needs to stop this nonsense!" She snapped, sending a stern look towards the blue haired mage before feeling movement under her hands in which the entire occupancy of the room looked towards Natsu who was awake and looked in a foul mood.

"Natsu!" The girls chimed in sync, Levy letting go of Lisanna and moving to the other side of the bed.

"Natsu…are you alright?" Lisanna let go of his shirt as he sat up and rubbed his head, the skin on the top of his head feeling rather tender but no headache.

"Yeah…I wish I wasn't awoken like I had asked." He spoke out quietly, having a good idea who had been the one to wake him but he couldn't yell his frustration…his nakama was only looking out for him. When he looked around he could see Elfman and Grey standing side by side just to his left, Wendy, Charle and Happy sitting right by the window to his right. He realized it was morning once again, and he must have been knocked out for the rest of the day and night. Folding his hands in his lap as he realized he'd been taken to the infirmary, he felt the shadows cover his eyes as he closed them in thought with his head bowed…what could he do? The weight on his shoulders felt heavy and made his heart ache at such a task before him. What if he couldn't figure out a way…would he be able to take someone's life to safe Lucy if it dwindled down to that only option? Natsu didn't want to think like it, but he couldn't deny it was crossing his mind.

"Well? Did it work?" All eyes but Natsu's turned to the voice of none other than Cana, who spoke what was on everyone's mind once they had been filled in.

Hesitating for a moment, he turned his head up to smile in a relieved manner before he spoke out softly. "Yeah. Luce is okay."

"What!" Levy gasped, not quite having understood the little explanation from before. "You saw Lucy?"

"Yeah…she's alive and fine. She told me she's under a curse from Blanc…something about stealing her body in a lacrima or something...but she isn't dead. She isn't the only one either, the others who 'died' are also just spirits until someone stops him." He clenched his fists again, the silence of the room almost making him irritated. There wasn't time to just sit and wonder…it was a time for action! What more did they need other than they needed to go kick this guys ass!

"We don't even know where he is now." Grey spoke up, clearly as angry as Natsu but had a little more common sense than to rush into things. "How will we even know where to start, the time between the last two jobs was over a year ago when he was last located!"

"A man wouldn't keep running, Man!" Elfman called out in only the style he was capable of with fists balled.

"Even though some of our guild members are out trying to look and gather info…it could be a long time till we can find someone who knows or has seen them." Lisanna spoke, although she was worried, it was a thought that was on everyone's mind.

Natsu however looked up and to the door, having caught a faint whiff of Lucy's scent and it humbled him for a moment that she was true on her word and around even though he couldn't see or feel her. Yet he could feel in his own heart the ache of what it would have been like to hear such a dismal bunch of jerks spouting off how difficult it would be. How she would have to stay like that for such a long time…

"Then I'm going to do something about it!" Natsu ripped off the covers and started to storm out of the infirmary. "Luce! Come on!" He yelled, earning a confused look from everyone else but they followed with Happy flying to land on his head. "Natsu…are you…" The blue feline spoke up, able to read his best friend's mind like a book. To this the salamander smirked wildly, simply responding with a crazed snicker.

Many of the guild's members had returned, minus Laxus and his team along with a few others who had gone to farther reaches to gather some Intel from sources as they had gathered quietly in the guild hall. However all eyes were on the group as they came down the stairs and Natsu stormed up to the bar where Mirajane stood watching curiously. Without another moment he slammed his fist hard on the counter with a bang echoing through the hall as it went deadly silent, the only one to speak up being Grey.

"Natsu! What the hell flame head!" He snapped, but Natsu ignored him.

"Mirajane! I need a favor." He urged, earning a look from the she-devil.

"Natsu? What is it?" She asked, leaning up against the bar to listen.

"I want to make a request." He began, feeling the fire in his belly burning out of control. This had to work, he knew it. "I want it posted in every guild across the land, two million jewels for anyone who is able to bring in that asshole Blanc alive back to fairy tail, or a portion for anyone who can lead me to him. I want the world to be on his ass and bring him down!" He snapped, the desperation and passion laced in every word; earning a startled look from Mirajane.

"Natsu…" Mirajane began, that was simply brilliant.

"Make it three million!" Grey shouted, having both stripped from his shirt and pants and dropped a sack of gold on the counter. Natsu looked over in surprise, but grinned from the understanding look from his teammate.

"I want her back just as much, flame breath." He grinned, nodding his head.

"I'll up it to four!" Levy yelled out, before the entire guild began to erupt and pitching in; 10…80…200 million and rising.

"Hold it!" Came a booming voice which caused the entire guild to shut their mouth immediately, all looking up to the second tier balcony which stood their master. "You're all idiots!" He bellowed, looking straight at Natsu. "Do you want others to suffer the same fate as Lucy? You haven't thought this through at all!"

"But Gramps! We can't do it alone…Lucy is our nakama, she needs us and I'm not willing to let her down!" He snapped back, holding his fist out. "I'm not going to give up!"

"Who said I was telling you no?" The old man grinned, shaking his head. "You're dumb and you don't listen. The reason I'm telling you is that if you want attention you need to think it through, make it something no one can resist and everyone can go…if we raise the appeal entire guilds will hunt for this man; in which if he's that dangerous there will be safety for those mages in numbers. We'll use the left over from the renovation…from that last total will raise us to one billion jewels."

Murmurs of such a grand total echoed around the great hall as Master Makarov jumped down from the ledge onto the counter; grinning as Natsu looked over delighted at the turn of events.

"We are Fairy tail guild! We'll make history for such a request and show the world we will not tolerate anyone putting harm to any of our nakama! The echo of our roars will reach this man who dare attack our own and everyone else in Fiore!" The master yelled as the entire guild hall erupted in shouts and cheers; Mirajane and Levy already making up the request as everyone pooled around the bar to pitch their donation in, Natsu standing off to the side from the commotion as his expression softened as he spoke only loud enough for someone to hear.

"See Lucy…We're not going to give up. None of us are. We'll all go to the ends of the earth for you." Natsu smiled and put his hands on his hips, although not able to see her; he had a good idea on how she would be right now. Happy smiled from atop his head, figuring out what Natsu was doing as he nodded his head as well.

"We'll get you back Luce, then we can all go fishing again!"

"N-Natsu…Everyone…" Lucy choked out, having been standing beside Natsu the entire time as the tears fell freely from her face…almost unable to get out her words as she covered her mouth with her hands and sobbed with her head held high as she was told so long ago. "Thank you…T-hank you all…"