Gray finally breathed a sigh of relief as the strange frog things he has never understood passed them without suspicion. Erza shot him an annoyed glance, to which Gray replied, "What?!"

"Three things. Firstly; everytime we hide you sigh out of relief. It annoys me. Second; you don't have a shirt on. Thirdly; WHERE THE HELL IS NATSU?!"

Gray looked around, before swearing under his breath.

Erza looked at him, her eyes full of annoyance, "I told you to keep an eye on him."

"What am I, a babysitter?"

"Just...go...find...him..." Erza hissed. Gray, knowing Erza well enough that disobedience results in a punishment, nodded, as if afraid, and then sprinted off throughout the council. Erza knew Natsu would have gone to the prison chambers, and Gray had run towards that area, too, but Erza knew how truly big it was. She only knew one person who could help her now.

Jellal.

Lucy looked at Natsu as he strode over towards them, and she raised an eyebrow. "I think it's my turn, now," Natsu said to the man quietly.

The man looked at Lucy, then to Natsu, before raising an eyebrow. "Oh, sorry! Are you two a couple?"

"Wh-What?"

"Y-You're mistaken!"

The man looked at them as they both blushed a scarlet red. He laughed, bowing to Lucy before handing her hand to Natsu's. Afterwards, he strolled over to one of the oak trees where the white haired lady he had accompanied stood waiting for him. He smirked, "I did what you asked me to do."

Mira giggled, "yay!"

"Anyway, they didn't seem to suspect anything."

"Yeah, I told Lucy I came with Max, so she would think you're completely single."

"And...am I?"

Mira looked at him, before beaming brightly, "ofcourse!" And then she waved merrily, walking off happily to where her siblings stood.

The man stood there, his face slightly shocked in disbelief, before he shook his head slowly. She's helping a romance but is clueless when one drops a hint to her, he thought. Then he smiled.
I guess she has a bigger heart than most.

Erza strolled into the prison chambers, undetected. She was surprised at this, but did not let it falter her steps. She walked to where she remembered sensing where he was when she was fighting in Tenroujima. She could have sworn she heard his voice, calling to her, as she was about to give up. It took her a mere five minutes to find him.

He was unguarded, probably because they'd detected the idiot that was Natsu, and she saw his face light up, and then darken. "What are you doing?!" He hissed angrily.

"I'm here for a friend."

"If you get caught here they'll give you a cell next to mine!"

"Happy days, then."

"This isn't a time for jokes!"

"Jellal. I'm sorry, but I didn't come here to get you out."

Jellal rolled his eyes, "I know you aren't that stupid. You looking for the crazy woman who was dragged in here a few days ago?"

"How'd you know that?"

"She was ranting on about how she got a Fairy Tail member and that it was worth doing the time," he said shrugging, and then sighed as Erza's face clouded over in anger. "Erza. Don't do anything rash. I'm going to tell you where she is if you promise not to get too carried away with question time and that, after, you'll slip away undetected. Promise?"

"I promise I won't kill her. Does that count?"

Jellal, sighed, before nodding. "Good enough."

Erza listened intently as he gave out directions.

Gray sent himself flying into Natsu, and they were dragged on the floor, screeching to a halt. Natsu turned, his eyes wild with fire, and they stared at Gray as if they were daggers.

Gray rolled his eyes, "Natsu. I know you're upset and worried. But just calm down. Doing this won't help Lucy whatsoever. We need to be calm, and focused, and figure out a plan. You've already had two guards on your tail. When they discover them unconcious, they'll be a whole party searching for intruders."

"By that time, I will have beaten the instructions out of that bitch and be on my way to help Lucy!"

"Natsu! You idiot! That woman is mad! Are you honestly stupid enough to think that violence is going to make her speak? You need to trick her into saying it."

"How do I do that?!"

"I don't know! You think of something, Lover-Boy!"

"Shut up, Gray! I'm trying to think!"

"With what? A brain? You have to have one to use one."

"Oh yeah?! Well-"

Their argument was short lived as they felt a force hit into them and send them sprawling. They looked up to see Erza, rolling her eyes, which were blazing in fury. Gray sighed, standing up quickly, whereas Natsu took his time.
"We have no time for chit-chat," Erza announced. "Natsu was on the right track. Now let's go, get the instructions and get out of here."

Gray and Natsu nodded in agreement, and followed Erza towards their target.

I'm coming, Lucy.

Mira bit her lip as a group of people swarmed her for the latest update on Lucy's condition. Levy's eyes were filled with hope, scanning Mira's face to detect good news. Gajeel's hand was clutched tightly into hers, looking at Mira, too, expecting an answer.

Laxus, pretending to be sitting bored, kept glancing over as Mira tried to shout over the protests, and even shuffled his chair closer, claiming it to be "Because of the draft that was floating in."

Wendy was clutching her hands together tightly, and Carla held onto her dress, in an attempt of comforting the young girl.

Lisanna and Elfman were stood close to eachother, straining to see over the crowd, to hear news.

Mira couldn't take this anymore. If she said that Lucy was getting better, or even staying as she was before, that would be a lie. In truth, Lucy's fever had gone far worse than before, and now it was completely untreatable.

Even now, Master was pouring himself over the books that the guild had previously read (all of them, with the help of a whole bunch of glasses Levy had stashed away) in a vain attempt to find a cure, or atleast something to prolong the inevitable until Natsu and the others came back. Mira shook her head sadly as Levy had finally asked, "is she... getting better?"

The guild was stunned into silence.

Never before had it been so quiet. Never before had Mira heard the steps of those who walked outside, past the guild and it's usual rowdiness.

Never before, had Mira seen so many upset faces.

Natsu, She pleaded. Natsu. Not only is it Lucy's life in danger, but, if she leaves us. She swallowed a little, to delay the tears that were about to come. I dread to think what would happen to this guild.

To our family.

To our team.