Gray heard a clatter at the end of the hallway.
"Gray." Happy tugged on Ice wizard's leg.
"Natsu?" He slowly approached the sound.
There was a loud bang, followed with an echo of excessive coughing.
Gray sprinted towards the door and kicked it down, he knew it was Natsu. He noticed that they were underneath the stage. The room was dimly lit, but off to the side he saw Natsu curled up on the floor in agony with black substance trailing from his mouth.
"N-Natsu!" He ran over and kneeled next to him easing his head up. The coughing has ceased but, his breathing was unsteady and his body temperature had started to rise alarmingly even for Natsu.
"Hey wake up!" Gray shook him. Given the obvious physical state Natsu was in, he wasn't expecting him to wake up, but some sort of response would be reassuring.
Natsu shuddered at Gray's voice and sheepishly opened his eyes. "G-ray?" His voice was raspy and broken, "I feel cold" his body started to shake.
"Hey! Try and stay awake. How did you get here, the door was locked?" Maybe asking so many questions probably wasn't a good idea.
"I– I. Uhh. I don't– know. Why– why is it. Cold?' He'd begun to cough again.
Gray rubbed his back to try and encourage Natsu to sit up, with the feeble hope that it would ease his breathing. However, it only provoked his stomach to regurgitate more of that mysterious black mass that was the source of his pain. "Uhh. I really– don't feel. Well." Natsu's broken speech only worried Gray and Happy further.
Happy wanted to help his friend, "Natsu." He had no idea what to do, "I'll get the others."
Gray continued gently rubbing his back. This situation has become a regular occurrence to Gray in the past few weeks. Natsu started to look less pale and had calmed down a little, but he was still weary.
"You think you can stand?" He looked at Natsu who looked tired and possible on the verge of passing out again.
"I-I think so." He made some effort to stand with Gray's help. He could stand, but only just, walking was another thing however.
After a few minutes of trying to orientate himself, Natsu gradually starting walking with Gray as support. With Natsu starting to look more like himself, they headed for the hallway. There could be something in there, but it was too dim and Natsu wasn't using his magic anytime soon.
"Do you remember how you got in here?" He asked.
"No. The last thing I remember was being in the main hall with you guys. Then suddenly I'm here, my head hurt and you were shaking me." He spoke quietly, it seemed that his vocal chords had taken some damage.
Natsu noticed Gray's concern, "Hey, don't worry about me. I'll be fine." He coughed again. But, Gray was finding it hard to believe Natsu's words considering his current state. He knew himself he wasn't going to be okay for a while. But, he was determined to fix his brothers mess no matter what, so he had to be okay.

They slowly walked down the corridor and before long the others had come to join them.
"Natsu! Are you okay!" Erza demanded as she and Lucy ran towards them. Happy flew into his friend trying not to cry with worry. No matter how hard he could try, Natsu couldn't convince them he was fine.
"What happened? Are you okay?!" Lucy repeated.
"I'm fine–"
"He's not fine." Gray cut him off. "I found him underneath the stage."
They began to look worried, now that they were close enough they started to notice how sick Natsu looked.
"Do you remember how you got there?" Lucy asked.
Natsu became frustrated with the questions, "No" He started to waver again, and they could see that. If it wasn't for Gray he'd already be on the floor by now. But, he was sick of them constantly worrying about him, he wanted to be left alone.
Erza took note of his demeanour and backed off, "We might have found something. But, we should head back to the hotel. I get the feeling we're being watched" Erza proclaimed rather ominously.
Natsu suddenly passed out. Gray managed to catch him before he hit the floor, "He's exhausted." he started to lift him up onto his back.
"Let's head back before someone finds us here." Lucy was worried more about Natsu's condition and this place creeped her out.

The group headed back to the hotel and got Natsu into bed.
"You shouldn't worry about me, I'm fi–" He murmured in his sleep.
"His temperature has gone down a little, but I think he might be asleep for a while." Lucy spoke softly, as she sat on the edge of the bed placing a cold cloth on his forehead.
"Well he was sick quite a bit. Although I still don't know what that black stuff even was." Gray responded.
"'Maybe there's something in that room." Happy added, "We should go look." He was determined to make Natsu better again.
"We could, but it's too dark so well need to take a light with us next time. Speaking of–' Gray turned to Erza, "you guys said you'd found something?"
"Yeah a book. Well a diary really. The covers scorched and I can tell there are some pages missing. But it might help." Lucy replied grabbing the diary out of her bag.
"What makes it useful?' Happy pondered.
"Well aside from the oddness of finding a diary in such a place. All the entry's haves dates, and those dates go back to 400 years ago. I guess it was put away with other books and files and was eventually forgotten about. Luckily it's managed to hold onto life a little longer and maybe give us answers of what happened." Lucy stated.
She opened it up carefully before continuing, "What's more, is that going from what Levy has managed to translate so far from the children's tale and what's written in here. I think. I think this might be the girl from the story."
"Wait seriously?' Gray was surprised, "You mean that the story could actually be true?"
"That or someone's screwing with us. But, I can't see that happening." Lucy yawned, just seeing Natsu asleep made her tired.
Erza concluded, "As far as what we initially came here for is concerned I think we have all we need. But, I think we should take up Happy's idea of checking out that room."
"Yeah. We can go look tomorrow. I'm pretty beat." Gray's clothes were off and he was already in bed.


"Ah. Someone! Anyone!" The heavy breathing was making it difficult to shout.
The small boy ran and ran for what felt like hours. The soldiers were catching up. Fast.
"Haaa. Help!" The boy screamed.
"No one's here boy. Mummy can't save you." The man laughed as he ran behind him.
The boy was backed into a corner. Right behind him was a steep drop and in front of him were two large, armoured men holding giant, bloodied swords.
The moments that followed we a blur. Everything happened so quickly.
Then there was a whisper by his ear, "Natsu stay with me. Please. No." His mother was with him. She cradled and soothed him to ease the pain.
"It's okay. Mummy's here with you." She gently rocked him.
"W-Where's–" He started coughing up blood. "Big broth-er" He could barely speak as the iron tasting substance filled up his throat.
"Don't worry he's safe. Don't talk okay. Just stay with me." She knew it was pointless. The side of his neck was cut open and it wouldn't be long before his lungs would be overwhelmed with blood.
"Shhhh, it's okay Natsu. It's okay sweetheart." She continued rocking.
"Mumm-y" everything was going heard her let out a piercing scream.
"You promised me! You promised me you fuck!" She screamed. "Igneel. Why? Why? Why? Why?" She continued on. "You promised me." The tears began to take a hold of her, "You promised me, you would protect him." That was the last thing he heard.

"Huh?" Natsu opened his eyes. It took a while but he soon realized that he was back at the hotel. He looked around the room, Lucy was on the floor with her head rested on the edge of Natsu's bed. He smiled at seeing her, feeling oddly reassured. Happy was in a ball next to where his head had been. Gray was in his own bed. While Erza had fallen asleep on the floor, with her head rested on a small pillow and an open book in her hand.
Now that he thought about it, he vaguely remembered them saying they found something. He figured he must have passed out again which didn't comfort him much, but knowing they were still with him calmed him. Erza was soon to wake up after Natsu stumbled out of bed, avoiding waking Happy and Lucy up and somehow pulling it off.
But he was startled by Erza suddenly sitting up, "I didn't mean–"
"Don't worry you didn't wake me." She stopped him, smiling softly. It was the first time for a while that Natsu looked, normal? It was a little odd actually. Even when Natsu was doing okay enough to take some jobs, he still looked a little off and would tire easily after using a small amount of magic.
Erza's smile turned to concern, "Do you feel okay?" She stood up to get a better look at him. He looked normal.
"Um. Y-Yeah. What are you doing?" He was confused by Erza's reaction.
"Eh?" Erza quickly realized how close she was too his face and backed off. "Um n-nothing." She flustered.
Yet, even still after everything that happed. Especially yesterday. Was okay for Natsu to suddenly look like his normal self? All he did was sleep for a few hours. And he's, okay? As grateful as she was to see her best friend looking healthy for the first time since the came back to Magnolia, it can't be this easy. Can it?
"Are you. Are you sure?" She wasn't convinced.
Natsu began to understand why Erza looked so confused. "Yeah. I think" He didn't really know what to say. But he responded with the same confused tone as the red head, letting her know that he thought it was strange as well. "Yeah." He repeated himself. He felt like he was lying. But, he really wasn't. He felt fine. No tiredness. No headaches. No sickness. Fine. Perfect. Oddly so.
It was then that Gray and, swiftly after, Lucy woke up to this awkward conversation.
"Morning? What's up with you two?" Lucy raised her eyebrows.
"Did you guys give me something?" Natsu ignored her question.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Gray was still waking up, questions like this was not what he needed first thing in the morning.
"I shouldn't feel fine should I?" Lucy and Gray looked at him blankly, before realizing what he was getting at, they were half awake so they'd not really processed that Natsu was standing in the room perfectly healthy.
"Well it's great that you do." She got up and walked over to him, "You look fine." Lucy was ignoring the obviousness of which Natsu was implying. This was the first decent thing they've had in weeks. Not to mention to part where they found something to help with the search for answers. She didn't really care of the reason, she probably should, but she didn't, Natsu was Natsu again and that was all that mattered.
Happy then woke up, "Natsu!" without question flew into him and hugged him tightly.
"Hey. I didn't mean to worry you. I told you I'd be okay." He wasn't so sure about the statement. Yet, was okay telling the others that being miraculously fine wasn't normal. But, they could handle that. Happy was a different matter.
Natsu had raised Happy from an egg and was responsible for him. He wasn't really a fatherly figure. More of a big brother. He felt that although Happy should have his back, he shouldn't be worrying about him or looking after him. Natsu didn't really want anybody doing that. But he needed to be realistic and listen to the ice freak for once. But, Happy isn't doing that. Natsu is supposed to look after him not the other way around.

The group got ready and set out to the theatre again to check where they found Natsu. They didn't intend to stick around long, especially since the townspeople were starting to notice their snooping around, as well as starting to notice who they were. It was only a matter of time before someone picked a fight with them. They were Fairy Tail member after all, they were renowned for fighting.
"Well since you seem to be better. Do you think you can remember anything?" Gray asked.
Natsu tried to think, but his mind drew a blank, "Honestly before waking up this morning that last thing I remember was entering that creepy place yesterday." It hadn't really dawned on him until now that nearly an entire day had passed, which worried him now because apparently he was awake for some of it.
Gray was worried but decided that he wouldn't show it, he sensed it was bugging Natsu and he wouldn't blame him, "Stop thinking you make it look painful."
"Hey you asked idiot!" Natsu snapped.
"Pack it in you guys. People are starting to get suspicious." Erza was getting ready to bang their heads together.
They rushed towards the theatre and headed straight for the room underneath the stage.

"Now that I think about it. Isn't it strange to have a room underneath the stage?" Happy asked.
Lucy replied, "Not really. Since performances would use trapdoors."
Natsu glanced at her, "Since when were you a theatre expert?"
"It's common knowledge, well for someone who cares about the arts. Besides my mum used to take me to shows as a kid. So I guess I am an expert."
Erza diverted back to the original question, "Normally I'd agree. But there's no sign of a trapdoor anywhere. This just looks like a normal room. They might have used it as storage. But, there's already a storage area." Erza held the lantern to the rooms ceiling to check she was right about the trapdoors. She was of course.
"That is odd." Lucy pondered.
"H-hey. Is that. A bed?" Gray looked to the corner of the room. There was in fact a bed. It didn't look like a prop either. Like everything else in the room, the bed was rusty and clearly old.
"What's a bed doing here? Are those chains?" Natsu looked at the bed stand. Or what was left of it. There was a shiny metal object hanging from it. It was a set of chains that seemed to be in perfect condition.
"They look new." Erza walked over and picked them up. "No. These aren't new." She studied them closely. "They're magic cancelling chains. They don't rust." She put them down, trying to forget the horrible memories she had with such chains.
"How do you know they aren't new?" Gray asked.
"Because like most they have the date they were made on them. It says X315. I read some of that diary last night and the same year is written in it." She hesitated to say any more, causing everyone to reach the same conclusion about the room.
This wasn't a bedroom or a storage area.
This was a prison.
"I think people are coming. We should leave." Natsu's ears pricked up. The townspeople were on to them.
"But we didn't fi–" Lucy was cut off by a loud bang.
"Oi Fairy Tail. I know you're in 'ere" it was a man's voice.
"There's a back entrance. I don't want to start a fight. Not in a place like this, it'll only aggravate things. We can't afford any trouble with the council right now." Erza whispered.

March 2nd X392

How anyone could follow such a man I don't know, he doesn't even hide his arrogance. But, the things they do doesn't bother me anymore because their time will come. It seems this book and pen was a gift from that arrogant fuck they all worship like a God, he's barley a King. But he's please his precious exotic girl came back to him. I fed his some crap about how I couldn't make a living outside and I enjoyed dancing.

They still whip me. Beat me and fuck me. But, they can keep doing that. They don't know what's coming. They're stupid to believe my story, I mean it's been two years and they still buy that I tried to live for two years and then come back to a life in chains and to dance in a cage like an exotic bird.

But, it's okay. I will have my revenge. I will give them a dance.
A swan song.
You can put a dragon in chains, throw it in a cage and tell it to perform. It will perform. But it'll be the last thing you see. You only see a dragons dance once.
I'll give you your last dance.
He promised me.

"That sounds ominous" Lucy read it back in her head.
"I only really read that page. I must have fallen asleep." Erza looked down at the book. "I wonder who 'he' is though."
"I wonder who 'she' is. It's the first entry too. I wonder what happened before that." Lucy questioned. "It doesn't sound happy."
She continue, "She mentioned a fire, I wonder if she was talking about the theatre?"
"I'm not so sure, but I think it could piece together with the book Levy's translating. And if we keep reading I'm sure we'll find out." Erza replied.
"I don't think my stomach wants to be in me anymore." Natsu was hunched over his seat.
"You better not throw up on me. I've dealt with enough of that in the past few weeks." Gray had no sympathy when it came to Natsu's motion sickness. Mainly because it was normal, and normal was good. "I preferred it when you were too tired to do anything."
"It's not. My fault. Uhhhh. Are we nearly there?" He squeezed his stomach. It felt more painful than usual, but he didn't want to say that to the others, they'd worried enough about him.
"Another half an hour and we'll be home. Just bear with it a little longer." Erza reassured.
"Jeez you need to get a grip on this." Gray knew it was hard on him, but he also knew that sometimes pissing Natsu off served as a good distraction for his motion sickness.
Of course it wasn't working, "I think I'm gonna be sick."
"You better not pyro!" Gray who was sat opposite him lifted his feet up to avoid the inevitable.
"We're nearly there Natsu!" Happy was sat next to him patting his leg gently.