"Where is he?"
"I'm not sure. He must be somewhere in this school."
"We need to find him fast! Damn that old man..."
"We could have found him much faster if someone hadn't mispronounced the school while using their crystal. Aye."
"Hey it wasn't my fault that I sneezed!"
"Aye. Keep telling yourself that."
"Why you little furball..."
"Gray! Happy! Knock it off!"
At the sound of Erza's booming voice both Gray and Happy immediately shut their mouths.
The three Licerians were currently walking the corridors of Fairy Tail Academy, in a search for Master Makarov. A search that had taken longer than expected (due to a sneezing Gray).
Erza was determined to inform the master of Lucy's arrival and the advancements of Luxas, who's power was increasing daily.
"Since he wasn't in his office or any of his classrooms-"
"He must be at his house." Gray finished and Erza nodded.
The three made their way out of the school and into Erza's crimson car.
"You know I've been thinking." Gray started as Erza drove out of the parking lot.
"Go on." The red-head stated.
"Well," Gray continued, "Why would any of Laxus's men send Natsu back to Liceria? I mean if anything you'd think that they'd want to keep him out."
Erza nodded, "That has been bothering me as well."
"Well," Happy chimed in, "whoever it was seemed to be in a bit of a hurry to get us out of there. He had just murdered someone, aye."
"Yeah," Gray said, "But why would one of Luxas's men care if you saw them murder another person? I mean this guy was in such a hurry he sent you through the portal instead of taking a chance of killing one of you and having another get away."
"He didn't want to be seen." Erza stated, "He must've been-"
"A traitor." Gray stated and Happy's eyes widened.
"Aye!" Happy exclaimed, "That would make sense!"
"A spy," Erza spat out, anger blazing in her eyes, "But whom? Who in Fairy Tail would be working for Luxas?"
"I assume that's something we'll be asking the master." Gray said just as they pulled into the driveway of Makarov's house.
"Aye." Happy said as the three got out of Erza's car and headed up to the porch of the small blue house.
When they reached Makarov's green door Erza gave it a firm knock.
Shuffling could be heard inside and then a *click* as the door was unlocked and opened.
"Yes?" Makarov asked and upon seeing the three mages, quickly shooed them inside.
"Hurry now." Makarov said and once everyone was in, shut the door and locked it.
"What brings you three here?" Makarov questioned as he sat on his plush yellow sofa.
The master's house was a complete mess, with papers scattered about and viles of countless chemicals resting atop the kitchen's counter.
It's a wonder he's not married. Gray thought sarcastically and had to stifle a chuckle.
"Master, we have much we need to discuss." Erza said sitting on the couch next to Makarov.
"Oh?" The old man asked with raised (and a bit worried Gray noted with great reluctance) brows, "Well then, we best get started."
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As time went on the evening sky began to darken making Elfman increasingly anxious.
Natsu began to notice a constant trail of sweat formed above the tall man's brow making the Dragon Slayer more than a little suspicious.
Lucy didn't seem to notice Elfman's strange behavior due to her own problems.
Lucy kept scratching her arm as she continued to feel dizzier and dizzier.
It had first started in the afternoon, only a couple hours after breakfast.
Then it had gotten worse as the day had continued and when Lucy had gotten into her small spat with Natsu she had thought her cheeks felt hot merely because she had been so angry.
Though as they continued walking the heat in her cheeks had grown until it had seemed to make her whole head throb.
Not to mention the flashes between hot and cold (and mind you Lucy was much too young for such things).
Plus her arm, her damn arm!
It had a constant itch that Lucy couldn't ignore but the more she scratched the more tender the skin there became, making things terribly painful.
Lucy didn't think an itching, stinging wound was a good sign.
As Lucy continued to feel sick the sky became increasingly darker and when it had almost completely turned to night Elfman decided he couldn't stay one moment longer.
I've already waited much too long...
"Miss Lucy," Elfman said, stopping suddenly, "I hope you won't mind when I say I must go now. It's getting very late and I wouldn't dare get any closer to my village so if you don't mind..."
"What does the hour have to do with anything?" Natsu asked suspiciously, that smell was getting stronger...what the hell was that smell?
"The hour? I was just-um-erh you see..." Elfman searched frantically for an excuse.
"How did your wife die?" Natsu asked this question with a firm expression, startling Elfman.
"I told...I told you already." Elfman said, the sweat on his brow falling down his face.
"You're lying." Natsu growled, he knew something was up with this Elfman character!
Lucy looked between the two, trying not to appear as dazed as she felt, "Wh-what are you talking about Natsu?"
"This guy is hiding something Luce!" Natsu said pointing to the 'guy', "Just who the hell are you?"
"I-I didn't mean to...I couldn't control myself." Tears poured down Elfman's face as Lucy began to realize where he was going with this story.
"You...killed her?" Lucy asked, Elfman looked to the young blonde and found her eyes filled with horror.
"Please, you must understand, it wasn't me I-" Elfman tried explaining only to be cut off by Natsu.
"You killed your own wife! How can you justify that?" Natsu shouted as sparks flew from his mouth.
Elfman looked at Natsu with fear and then to Lucy.
He couldn't hurt Lucy...
"I-Ah!" a sudden burst of pain enveloped Elfman as he fell to his knees and all too quickly he realized that the sky was black and the moon had risen.
"St-stop it!" Elfman cried out as both Natsu and Lucy's eyes widened, "GET OUT! GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"
All too suddenly Natsu realized what was going on, and wasted no more time.
"Lucy, c'mon!" Natsu yelled out and grabbed Lucy's hand, pulling her along with him.
"What the hell is going on?" Lucy asked, feeling sick and confused.
Lucy looked back towards Elfman just in time to see the once tall, kind man's tan skin rip apart and become replaced with a greasy (gray) layer of hair.
Lucy's eyes widened in horror as she saw his hands being replaced with great claws and his once blue eyes turn crimson red.
"Holy crap!" Lucy cried out and forced her eyes forward, "He's a-a-"
"Werewolf, I know!" Natsu shouted as the two continued to run as fast as they could.
Lucy heard a great howl and looked behind her only to find the new Elfman rushing to catch up with them.
"Natsu!" Lucy cried, "He's coming after us!"
"Dammit!" Natsu cursed as he continued his sprint, "Whatever you do, don't stop running Lucy!"
"Yeah right!" Lucy shouted; what did that idiot think she would do? Stop to smell the daisies?
But now was not the time to think of Natsu's ridiculous ways, their lives were at stake!
The two continued running as fast as their legs would carry them, jumping over stumps and avoiding branches.
As they went on Lucy saw that Elfman was gaining on them. The young blonde could feel her body ache; she didn't know how much more running she could handle.
Lucy's throat had grown dry and she could feel the same fever-like heat from earlier turn even worse, as her arm emitted excruciating pain.
"N-natsu...I can...I can't..." Lucy gasped out but found that Natsu didn't even hear her.
Lucy turned to see Elfman almost directly behind the two and found enough strength to scream.
"Natsu!" Lucy screeched as the large werewolf slashed her leg, causing the blonde to tumble down.
"Lucy no!" Natsu cried out as Elfman took off towards a fallen Lucy.
Lucy looked up to see Elfman lunge forward only to be knocked back by a large gust of flame.
Lucy could feel the world spinning as she struggled to stand, only to find she was unable to do so.
"Lucy, hurry!" Natsu yelled and turned to see the woman attempt to get up only to fall again.
"Nat-natsu..." Lucy wheezed as she lay on the ground unable to see straight, let alone stand.
Elfman let out a growl as he stood again only to be knocked down by another of Natsu's flames.
"Lucy," Natsu said rushing to the blonde's side, "Please you have to get up. I know your leg is hurt but he can't be killed with flame, only silver, so we have to move!"
"Natsu ju-just go..." Lucy rasped and Natsu began to realize something was terribly wrong.
"Lucy?" Natsu questioned as felt the young blonde's face only to find it to be burning hot.
"Oh shit..." Natsu breathed and for a moment the Dragon Slayer didn't know what to do.
AWOOOO
The werewolf's' howl sent Natsu back to reality making him realize he had to get them out of there, fast, so he put Lucy on his back and took off running.
Elfman ran after Natsu, growling the whole way, showing his enormous sharp teeth.
Natsu kept moving as it began to rain.
The water poured all around making it harder to see, Natsu hoped that this would work to his advantage and it seemed to.
The beast following the mage could barely see in front of him and began to lose track of his prey until Natsu was completely out of his reach.
Elfman (or what was left of him) let out a great howl and made his way back into the woods, in search for food.
Natsu continued to run (wanting to take no chances) as Lucy began to lose all consciousness.
After a few more minutes of running the fire breathing mage finally found a village.
"Help! Please help us!" Natsu cried out as the rain continued to pour down.
"Please there's a girl out here! She's sick!" Natsu continued down the village street looking for someone, anyone.
Suddenly Natsu caught sight of an old building called Lightman's Bar and Inn and rushed towards the door.
It was locked.
"Open up! Please!" Natsu shouted, pounding on the door and after a few moments tried again, this time pounding harder and shouting louder, "PLEASE HELP US! MY FRIEND IS VERY SICK! PLEASE HELP!"
At this the lock on the door clicked and there stood the last person Natsu expected to see.
"L-loke?" Natsu questioned only to have the golden haired man pull him in.
"Hurry," Loke said holding a lantern and rushing up the inn's stairs, "she looks like she's in bad shape. Bring her up."
Natsu decided that there would be time for questions later; for now he needed to get Lucy help.
"Place her on the bed there." Loke said once they had arrived in a room and set the lantern down.
Natsu did as he was told and Loke left the room only to come back with a younger looking woman.
"This is Alexandra, she's an excellent nurse." Loke said pointing to the young brunette wearing a blue nightgown and matching robe.
"What's wrong here?" Alexandra asked as she examined Lucy.
"Well I think she has a fever..." Natsu started only to have Alexandra cut in.
"Yes, and a mighty heavy one at that. What's this?" Alexandra pointed to the scarf surrounding Lucy's wounded arm.
"She was stabbed a couple of days ago and I put that there to stop the bleeding." Natsu explained as Alexandra removed the scarf.
"Oh dear Lord have mercy." Alexandra gasped as both her and Natsu's eyes widened in horror.
Lucy's cut, that had been only slightly swollen that morning, had become a nasty gash emitting blood, green puss and a foul smell.
"Oh shit..." Natsu breathed and turned to Alexandra frantically, "Is she...she hasn't been poisoned? Has she?"
"Loke!" Alexandra called, ignoring Natsu's question for the moment, "Hurry up and get the disinfecting kit in the pantry downstairs as well as a bowl of cool water and a rag for her head. Oh and hot water as well."
"Right away." Loke said and took off downstairs.
"You," Alexandra said turning to Natsu, "I can't know if she's been poisoned until I examine the cut further but tell me this: what was she stabbed with?"
Natsu thought back to what Mildra had used; it had been an old rusted knife with dry blood on it...
"Dammit!" Natsu cursed running a hand through his hair in frustration, "The knife was old and dirty with dry blood..."
"Well then her arm is deeply infected." Alexandra said with a look of seriousness, "With something like that and a fever, I'd say her blood has been poisoned due to the infection. The only thing we can do is stop the spread of the infection."
"How?" Natsu asked with great anxiousness.
"We'll have to cut off the blood flow to her arm." Alexandra said and turned to Natsu, "It's the only way, once we calm down the infection we can allow the blood to flow again but we have to calm it down first."
Natsu nodded gravely as Alexandra turned her gaze to the gash on Lucy's leg, "We'll have to fix that up too. This really isn't her night."
Suddenly Loke arrived with all the needed equipment and Alexandra sent him to fetch a fresh change of clothes as well.
"Here we go." Alexandra said and began work on Lucy's arm.
While Alexandra continued working Natsu kept putting the cool rag to Lucy's head and dabbing it around her face.
When Lucy would wince from the pain in her arm, Natsu would be there to catch her hand so that the young blonde would have something to squeeze.
In Lucy's feverish daze she couldn't make out a single thing except the pain in her arm and one familiar face.
"N-natsu..."Lucy rasped and then let out a small cry of pain as Alexandra placed more disinfecting spray on her wound.
Natsu watched feeling helpless and awful for allowing Lucy to get in such bad shape.
"We're almost finished," Alexandra said and turned to Loke, "Go draw a cool bath."
Loke nodded and headed to get the water going.
Natsu couldn't help but wonder what the golden haired man was doing in such a remote village but decided that, that could wait.
Finally Alexandra finished and asked Natsu to carry Lucy to the bathtub where both boys were locked out until Alexandra had finished bathing a now unconscious Lucy. After the bath Alexandra placed a clean white nightgown on Lucy (during which Natsu himself had changed into a fresh pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt, courtesy of Loke).
"Natsu," Alexandra called gently, "help me get her into bed."
Natsu scooped Lucy up and took her back into the room where a fresh set of sheets had been laid down and he placed her on the bed.
"We have another room for you Natsu," Loke said as Alexandra gathered her equipment, "it's right next door."
Natsu nodded, "Thanks, I'm just going to stay here for a bit longer."
Before Loke could say anything Alexandra spoke up, "Well sleep well Natsu, and take care of her tonight. The worst is over."
Natsu nodded as the two helpers made their way out of the room.
Natsu looked down at a now sleeping Lucy and allowed himself to feel a bit relieved.
They had made it and it looked like Lucy would be alright.
Natsu continued to look down at Lucy and allowed his eyes to roam her sleeping form.
Lucy's face was one of pure peace and her lips were rosy and formed into a small pout.
Her blonde hair surrounded her head in somewhat of a halo and Natsu felt himself snicker at that thought (Lucy an angel? Ha!). And yet somehow this didn't make her seem any less angelic looking.
Lucy's chest would rise and fall with her slow breathing and Natsu stared for a brief moment before mentally slapping himself.
What the hell are you doing?
Natsu could feel the color rise in his cheeks (something he wasn't used to and didn't much care for one bit) and decided he'd best get to bed.
As Natsu was about to leave he heard Lucy mumble something and turned back around for a better listen.
"Stay..." Lucy whispered and Natsu sighed, deciding he should do what Lucy asked, besides it wasn't like they had never slept in the same bed before.
Natsu crawled next to Lucy as he gave off enough warmth to sooth the sleeping blonde and drifted to sleep himself.
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"So he's the one?" Alexandra asked as she and Loke sat downstairs, sipping hot tea.
"Yeah," Loke replied, "He's the famous Dragon Slayer."
Alexandra gave a small giggle, "I hadn't expected someone of his reputation to have pink hair."
Loke shrugged as he took another sip of tea, "It's not his hair that concerns the Master."
Alexandra nodded, regaining composure, "What about the girl? Was it wise to treat her wounds?"
Loke seemed to ponder this before answering, "There's no need to concern ourselves with her too much. She has no magical powers and besides the Master wants her alive and unspoiled."
Alexandra gave a toss of her hair, "An earth born girl in Liceria? How disgusting."
"I wouldn't exactly say she's disgusting." Loke said with a smirk and Alexandra rolled her eyes.
"You said the Master wants her unspoiled, which falls under a number of categories, so don't get any ideas."
Loke gave a flick of the wrist, "I don't need you lecturing me and besides I have no interest in an earth-born."
"I wouldn't put it past you Loke. You are a pig when it comes to women." Alexandra said with a laugh.
"Well my dear," Loke said with a smirk, "as long as she's alive, right?"
At this both partners laughed while an unknowing pair, just above them, slept peacefully.
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AN: DUN DUN DUUUN:O Who would've guessed it? I happen to actually like Loke in the manga but I couldn't help but put him in this roll, I thought he could pull off pretty well:) Well I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and might I add that bookworm0313 and Rin Tya were right on the mark! Haha good guessing (it was like you read my mindXD) Well thank you for reading and reviewing (when and if you do:])!