"Lucy!" Natsu called out and Lucy knew by the way he said her name it was important.

"Yeah" she said "I hear them too" the whispering was like they were coming from inside their head.

"Do you understand what language is?" Lucy tried to concentrate but the whispering came from three different voices mixed together and she didn't recognize the language.

"No, are you listening to three different voices?" asked Lucy. He nodded feeling uneasy. He had a bad feeling about this but one of the voices caught his attention suddenly. And he realized something.

"Lucy I think I got something!" he said with a low voice and Lucy could feel the tension. As she was about to ask what he continued looking at her determined. "You have to go to the others right away. Split up and go to the village in case something happens. I will go and search for something and return as soon as possible!"

"But it will take forever to go to the chief house now Natsu." Natsu was thinking and an idea came up.

"What about that new key you got Luce?" he asked her. Now she remembered as well.

"You mean Meganium? Yes he can teleport a person but the distance depends on the fuel he gets and I don't see any lava here" she said then realized, when saw his cheeky grin. "No Natsu it is a bad idea we tried last time and it didn't go well."

"Because last time we didn't have an emergency. When did we fail when counted Luce?" she had no answer to this so she sighed and took her new silver key. She opened his gate and a big semi furnace semi human with mustache appeared in front of them. He was just like Horologium since he was his cousin.

"What can I do for you princess" asked in a robotic way Meganium.

"Can you locate the chief house through the magic power of Erza Gray and the others?" asked the blonde to the spirit.

"Yes princess it is 5 kilometers and 426 meter in that direction" answered Meganium indicating.

"Can you teleport me there Meganium?" asked again Lucy

"I think it's impossible with the amount of food I have now, if I go back to the spirit world and refuel for some time maybe I can, princess." Answered Meganium. Lucy shook her head and looked over Natsu who was smiling and preparing for his next move.

"Ok Meganium , we will try and feed you with Natsu's compressed fire like last time. Tell him to stop when you can teleport me to the house ok?" the furnaceman nodded and opened the door in his body to get his food.

"Natsu, wait till I'm behind you." She went behind him and he started creating a big ball of fire in the air using his hands. The ball became larger and larger and Lucy could feel the heat even from a hundred meters away. Then using some new magic he learned, the ball began to shrink and be more dense. It went from a 3 meter radius sphere to a football size one. The color changed to a deep orange red one like lava. Lucy was really anxious at this point. Last time he tried something like this the ball became unstable and exploded creating a crater big enough to bury the guild inside. Natsu's hand began shaking but he moved closer to the furnace man till his ball was inside. As soon as Natsu left the ball there, Meganium closed the door and a small explosion could be heard, but it was absorbed by the big spirit. After he absorbed the high concentrated fireball he felt satisfied and rubbed his stomach.

"Was that enough Meganium?" asked Lucy still in security distance.

"With this, I can teleport you to the other side of the world, princess." Responded Meganium and Lucy sighed in relief giving Natsu a chaste kiss, whom grinned like an idiot at what he achieved. She shook her head and opened Meganium's door to enter his stomach.

"Luce! Before I forget. Take this!" He called out her throwing an earing with a sort of green transparent gem which was pulsating. Lucy was studying it and was confused. "It's a locator Luce." Answered her unspoken question Natsu, and showing her a ring with the same gem on the earing. "It's one way locator, so only you are able to find me because I have my nose for that. Just put it on like a normal earing and it starts to beep when you are approaching my direction. So you and the others can find me. Ok?" As soon as Lucy was about to ask something, Natsu flied through his propulsion magic, leaving Lucy there like a fish.

"Arghh… that idiot. C'mon Meganium teleport me to the house, fast." She could hear that the whispering was becoming louder. Meganium closed the door with Lucy inside and started building his magic power to teleport. After 10 seconds Lucy found herself inside the chief house. Meganium actually had teleported on the air and so he crashed on the floor with a big bump. Everyone that was inside, came to see what was happening.

"Lucy?" asked Erza "What is going on?" Lucy exited from Meganium which disappeared, and went to inform Erza.

"The curse is acting now, Erza. I was outside with Natsu when the whispering started. He said that he got something and that we should get to the village to see if some children disappear or something happens." Everyone looked panicked. Erza was fast to think and gave orders.

"Okay, everyone get ready. Gray go put some clothes on and you too Juvia. Wendy will go with Carla and Happy with go with me and Lucy. We will go there together and split up. Clear?" Asked Erza. Everyone nodded and soon they were outside the door running on the streetway to the village.

"You can hear it too guys?" asked Gray to the group. Everyone nodded. "This is really disturbing."

"I tried to understand what is it but its impossible." Said Lucy

"We have to see if we can register the sound somehow, it seems it's inside our brains" said Erza

"We don't have a lachrima for that." Answered Lucy

"What about grandpa Crux?" Asked Wendy from behind. Wow that was actually a good idea.

"Good idea Wendy as soon as we arrive at the village I'll summon him and see if he can give some explanation." Wendy smiled and so did the group.

"What about Natsu?" asked Erza looking at Lucy.

"The idiot flied away giving me this." Said the celestial mage pointing at her earing. "It's a locator. We will control the situation over the village and if we don't find anything then we will use this to locate him." She was actually a bit worried for the dragon slayer even though she knew he was strong enough to defeat an entire dark guild alone.

They arrived at the village and everything seemed alright. The people inside the houses were sleeping and nothing could be heard.

"So if people are sleeping the whispering doesn't reach them." said Juvia.

"It seems like it. I mean did you heard the whispering before I woke you up?" asked the blonde and Juvia shook her head.

"So what now?" Asked the white cat.

"Lucy you call Crux meanwhile Gray creates his new barrier to try and locate something abnormal." The two nodded and did what the requip mage asked. Gray had developed a new technique which creates a big sphere barrier and can locate in his mind where are the mages through their magic power. The only downside is that he actually needs to stand on the spot and concentrate which is a disadvantage on the battlefield.

Lucy called Crux and Gray began to mold his magic to create a sphere big enough to cover the village.

"Grampa Crux. Can you listen to the whispering we are hearing?" asked Lucy to her spirit. Crux who was listening just now started to sleep and have a soft snore. The others waited until he was awake again.

"The whispering are from a cursed ritual. There are three different magic prohibited items that are being used on the ritual and so three different voices appear. I can't seem to find the ritual that's being used or the motives but it's a gathering curse, which means they are gathering some source of energy from the livings or nature itself."

"Is this curse related to the missing children?"

"No it's impossible for this kind of curse to do something like that. It can weaken the persons they are gathering life energy from, or it can give them nightmares or even sickness but it cant make people vanish." Lucy was tacken aback by this. So it isn't the curse that is the source of the missingchildren, it's something else.

"Thanks Crux you can return now" with that the spirit vanished Leaving the rest of the mages thinking about this.

"So if it is a ritual and they are collecting some source of energy it must have a physical location" said Erza thinking.

"Well and if they are gathering it then Gray-sama must be able to locate the point by the time he is finished with the sphere right?" asked Juvia and the others nodded understanding.

It was then that point that a white exceed almost yelled.

"What is Natsu trying to do, we have to stop him right away" Carla seemed really panicked at this point. All eyes were on her right now.

"What do you mean?" Asked Lucy concerned and confused.

"I had a vision I think. Something terrible is about to happen and Natsu is related in some sense, and NEKO-MALE KNOWS Something" she pointed a finger at Happy who seemed rather distressed.

"Happy what is the meaning of this" Asked Lucy. Their best friends never hided anything from her.

"Umm…"

"Found it" Cut it off Gray before Happy could respond.

"Let's leave Natsu's issues for now. Gray tell us where the ritual is located!" Ordered Erza.

"I think its in the south of the village in a cavern behind a forest. Here" he pointed in the map before him. It was some distance away from them. It would take some hours walking.

"Why don't we make a shaft and Juvia can use her magic on this river to speed it up. The exceed and Wendy can fly to the location so Wendy wouldn't suffer from motion sickness."

"Good idea Juvia. Gray make an ice shaft so we can go." Erza was pointing at the river near them. Gray did it, breaking his barriers and everyone hopped on. Juvia entered the river and transformed in to her water form and began to carry the shaft. The exceed and Wendy flied away to the location as well.

Lucy was thinking about what Happy and Natsu might actually hide that would be so dangerous. Then looking away her eyes landed on Gray. 'Gray' she exclaimed mentally. He must know something of course.

"Gray it's not that you are actually trying to hide something as well, right?" asked Lucy in an intimidating way. Gray sweet dropped and tensed, which Lucy noticed.

"What do you mean Lucy?" asked Erza and giving a suspicious look at Gray as well.

"Well this two idiots have been having some competitions for the past months and sometime it would take actually some days. But when me and Juvia asked them to come along they declined giving us stupid reasons. So I was thinking if what Carla was saying it's related to this." Now Erza was very interested on eyeing Gray which became pale and cursed the blonde companion intuition.

"Fine fine, I'll tell you all I know but it's not really too much" he sighed and all attention was on him right now. "Look we were going on some strange missions that Natsu insisted. They were s or ss mission classified. Not too much troubling but not easy too. I would tag along with the idiot when he would get a year quest. And it would take a week or two to complete. He never said anything about the reward though which is what he was aiming for, and I can say one thing. Beside the money there were some items on all missions but he wouldn't let me know what they were. So that's all I know" Erza and Lucy were thinking about this and Lucy was a bit disappointed that Natsu wouldn't tell her anything about this.

"Well as soon as we get to see Natsu again he will have to do some explanation!" Said Erza and Lucy thought that she was right 100% at this point.

….

After arriving to the designated spot the group could see the exceeds and Wendy waiting for them near the river. They regrouped and had to walk for some minutes to get to the cave.

"Do you feel that dark energy?" asked Grey

"Yeah its really creepy and big at the same time" said Lucy tensing.

"They are gathering some source of black energy and keeping in stock for two weeks or so." The group was really close now and they could see the cave. It was big enough for a dragon.

"Now this cave, by what the map is saying it's actually composed by tunnels so we have to be careful not to get lost. Lets make some torches before we go inside." Said Lucy to the others and they nodded. They entered the cave which had a strong scent of some kind. Wendy seemed to detect something and turned he head around.

"I caught the scent of Natsu guys." She exclaimed " It's not too distant from here, maybe we can go and tell him where we are, and what we discovered." Erza thought about this and spoke.

"Very good Wendy. You Carla, Happy and Lucy go get Natsu. We are going to see if we can get to stop the ritual." They nodded and Happy took Lucy while Carla took Wendy and they flied to the direction where the scent was coming from. When they were flying Lucy asked Happy irritated

"Something to say Neko?" Happy looked down at her and tensed.

"I don't know what you are talking about Lucy" tried to play the fool card Happy.

"Is that so. So you don't know nothing about a certain dragon slayer going on solo mission to gather some items right?" Happy tensed more confused as to why did Lucy know this information.

"I cant say anything. Natsu promised he would say what he is doing himself. I promised I would keep his secret ok?" Lucy became even more irritated that Happy would contionue to hide something even though the situation was serious.

"If something happens, you will be a bold cat by the time I'm finished with you Happy." Lucy warned him.

"Aye!" he exclaimed nervously

After flying for some minutes, they could see now some sort of ruins. Lucy and the other's could definitely sense Natsu's magic but there was something to it.

"Wendy can you sense it too?" asked Lucy the bluenette

"Yes it's definitely Natsu but there is something odd about his magic, maybe he is trying a new technique or something." She tried to rationalize

"Maybe but it's like his magic itself has changed a bit. Well lets hurry and find out."

The four Fairy Tail members landed in front of the entrance of an ancient ruin. Lucy tried to locate the ruin on the map but there was no information about it. They entered and strangely the walls had ignited torches already so they could see inside. The place were really old and it seemed that no man has entered here like forever. There were strange signs on the walls. After some turning and going deeper. They could sense Natsu magic getting stronger and stronger. They stopped when they saw a stone door and clearly Natsu was behind it.

"Wendy try and blow it with your roar" suggested Lucy. Immidiately the blue haired girl transformed in to a pink one and used her roar on the big door blocking the entrance. But she couldn't break it.

"Lets try Taurus with your enhanced magic Wendy" said Lucy and Wendy nodded. Lucy Called Taurus and he appeared as always making some boobs comments to Lucy and then using the enhancing magic from Wendy he shoot with his axe the door which finally exploded.

They entered inside and saw a big open space with all crazy statues and a big altar in the middle. In front of them was a big statue resembling a demon of some kind and it was tall. Maybe 3 meters or so. Standing at his head was actually Natsu using his fire but something wasn't right. It was like with his magic he was pouring it inside the rock and the statue face was opening like a door in half.

"Natsu!" shouted Lucy to the dragon slayer to get his attention but he didn't seemed to notice her. He was on his back but there was something strange about him. She could see some symbols on his right arm, some very familiar symbols. As she was about to walk to him he finally ceased his fire and the symbols dissipated. She thought she had just imagined it but that wasn't right. Now his signature magic was normal and before it had that odd feeling. He took something from inside the demon's head statue and put it on his bag. Then noticed the familiar scent of his friends and lover. 'Shit' he thought. Now he had to do some explaining to them. He turned around only to see 4 stunned faces looking at him. He grinned nervously and landed on the floor.

"What are you doing here you guys" asked Natsu nonchalantly. Lucy was irritated and worried at the same time. The others had some kind of distress as well.

"You stupid idiot what are you up to? Do you know Carla had some vision about a dangerous situation in the future. And she said YOU were related by what you are doing these past months" He seemed confused as he approached his friends.

"Really?" he asked. A vein ticked on Lucy's forehead.

"Really? Really? REALLY? TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON NOW NATSU DRAGNEEL" she shouted at him transforming in Scary-Lucy. Everyone tensed and the Natsu sweat dropped like crazy waving his hands defensively.

"Alright, alright I'll tell you now. I actually wanted to keep it a surprise b"

In a hill 600 hundred meters away stood a black haired man standing with a high caliber sniper. He was smirking as about to shoot. He took measurements another last time before shooting a 50 mm ethernion bullet which passed through the air with high velocity and blasting through 4 different stone walls, directed on the head of a certain dragon slayer.

As soon as the bullet was some meters away Natsu detected it and a barrier of flame was created before even him could blink. The bullet exploded before reaching his target. On the other side of the hill the man cursed. Then a dark smirk made it's way to his face. 'bingo' he thought.

Inside the ruins, everything happened so fast only Natsu was aware of. The others just heard a shooting.

"What was that?" asked Lucy in the direction of the sound. As soon as she finished the sentence a black smoke exploded from the bullet near Natsu. Natsu noticed it but it was too late as some gas made it to his lungs before he could even block his breathing.

"Shit. Don't inhale and stay away." He exclaimed. The others panicked when they saw Natsu's figure collapse before their eyes. The smoke dissipated and the others rushed by the pinkette side. Lucy was actually the first that made it there and was holding his head one her lap trying to shake him.

"Wendy what is happening?" she asked panicked. How could some gas bring him down so easily? He must have been targeted.

"Lucy-san let me check on him to see what kind of gas is and what is happening to him." With that Wendy brought her hands to his body and was checking up on him. After some minutes her face became rather depressed trying to hide some bad emotion.

"What is going on Wendy tell me!" Lucy pleaded the small girl.

"Lucy-san I think he must have been targeted because the gas was created specifically to attack his magic type and organism." Lucy's mind was running through many possibilities of who might try to kill Natsu, 'Her' Natsu. Some rage was building up inside her.

"What can we do right now Wendy?" asked Lucy trying to control her furious emotions.

"The only way is for Poluscia to create an antidote for this gas, which might not be difficult. The problem is that his body is collapsing fast." Lucy tensed at the bad news

"How much?" she asked almost whispering.

"Two hours or so" said Wendy tears welling in her eyes now. Lucy's world stopped for a moment but she had to think fast she would never in a million years let her partner die. "The problem is that for the antidote to prepare it would take at least four hours." 'No, No No' this would not happen.

"Lucy?" came a cracking voice from behind her. She turned to see Happy with tears in his eyes. Before he could even question next Lucy answered him.

"We will save him I promise Happy. Natsu will be fine." He nodded and smiled at her. She was thinking, about Meganium but that would solve nothing. Even if he was to be teleported now it would be impossible to save his life. She had to freeze time in some way. Freeze or slow it. Slow… yeah that's it. As soon as she thought about it she brought Horologium key and called up the spirit. She called simultaneously Virgo.

"Punishment princess?" asked Virgo. Lucy ignored the comment and just ordered fast.

"Virgo put some spirit's clothes on Natsu and we will use Horologium to teleport him to the spirit dimension. As soon as 1 hour and half has passed ask Loke to teleport him back to Poluiscia's house." After Lucy finished everybody seemed to understand the celestial mage's plan. Wendy smiled at how smart Lucy could be. But she was fast to stop before Horologium could teleport him.

"Wait we need some of his blood to bring to Poliuscia so she can work on it." With that she extracted some blood from Natsu and fast enough Natsu was gone with Horologium and Virgo. Lucy sighed and saw a confused blue cat which was not understanding what was going on.

"Listen Happy." She said to the blue cat "Do you remember when we got to the cestial world before the GMG." Happy nodded and she continued "When we were there a day passed on that world but when we returned here it passed a month or so. So in other words in the spirit world time is more slower then in the real world and in our case, I hour and a half is equal to almost a day and a half here. So Natsu would be at Poliuscias house tomorrow but for him only an hour and half would have passed." Happy made an 'o' understanding.

"You are so smart Lucy" he said that and flied on Lucy's chest hugging tightly.

"Alright, alright. Now that the crisis has passed we have to inform the others about what is happening right?" asked Carla. Lucy and Wendy nodded.

"We have to find out who had tried to kill Natsu and what were they after" said a raged Lucy still furious at the person who tried to snatch away Natsu from her. She bent down and took a piece of the exploded ethenrion bullet. "Look at this Wendy" she handed the bullet to the girl.

"I have never seen something like this Lucy-san" said the petite girl. Lucy now was approaching the wall and traced her finger in a hole at some point. She quickly made a mental point to the direction of the hole. She ran outside as fast as she could leaving the others inside. She looked in the direction she presumed the bullet came from and she saw it, a hooded black figure vanishing in the shadows as soon as she spotted him. She clenched her teeth tightly. The others were outside just moments later.

"What is it Lucy?" asked Happy

"The bastard who shot Natsu ran away. He was standing on that hill" pointed the blonde. "Tsk. Can you smell something Wendy?" she asked but she knew the answer already.

"No sorry Lucy-san" Lucy nodded at the girl and just smiled. She knew that to target someone like Natsu, they would have to cover their figure from making sounds and hiding scent. They were really good.

"Well we should hurry now to Erza and the others." With that they parted. Lucy had a specific thought in mind and she would ask directly Grey about it.

…

"How did it go?" asked a brown haired man to the black hooded one.

"As planned. They think that the venom is the only problem the dragon slayer is facing" responded. The brown haired man smirked like a devil and said.

"Excellent!"

Author Note

So this is some development now. I don't know if you like adding some plot like this or just keep the drama feeling session we had the past chapters. If you like it leave a review, so I have the right idea of what is good and what is bad.

Now I'm adding some new abilities to our heroes because let's face it. After the war they would actually develop some new techniques and Lucy would definitely have some new keys. So I'm giving them some more power.

As always thanks for your time reading this, see you next chapter and have a nice day!