Chapter 23

"Natsu! Lucy!", shouted Sora after everyone defeated all the Neoshadows and Dusks.

"Damn it! Who knows what happening with them!", said Gray.

"How powerful are those two?", asked Lily.

"Very powerful!", said Goofy.

"It's all my fault. I let you guys join me, and now Natsu and Lucy were taken!", said Sora worriedly.

Laxus then came up to Sora, put his hand on his shoulder, and said, "Relax, kid. It's just like Erza said, they will be find. You saw how powerful their magic is. I bet Natsu is teaching them a lesson they'll never forget."

"Yeah. Knowing Salamander, he'll probably just be causing destruction.", said Gajeel.

"But… What if they took them to a different world?", Sora wondered as he looked down at the grown.

"They haven't left."

Sora looked up. It was Loke who spoke. "What do you mean?", asked Sora.

"I can sense my key and it is still in this world. If my key is still here, then they must be somewhere in Twilight Town."

Everyone looked shock and relief by this. "Y-you mean it?", said Sora in relief.

Loke nodded.

"Thank you."

"Lucy is my contract owner so I have every right to worry for her.", said Loke.

"Now that we know that there still in Twilight Town we should go look for them.", said Erza.

Sora then was looking up at the trees and said, "Herc said… He said, 'With all my hearts.' Okay. Then all my heart it is. I'm getting Roxas out. Are you with me, guys?"

"You betcha!", they all said.

"I don't know what Ansem and Xemnas want, but I think we'd better tell the others to watch out."

"Yeah.", said Donald.

"But first, we need to search for Natsu-san and Lucy.", said Juvia.

"Okay then. Let's head back to town.", said Goofy.

In the Tunnelway that leads to Sunset Terrace, a dark corridor appeared in the middle of the Tunnel, revealing to be Xemnas dragging Lucy by her collar. He then toss her on the ground.

"What are you doing?", asked Lucy furiously.

She then grab one of her keys and shouted, "Open, Gate of the-"

Before she could summon a spirit, Xemnas uses his Thorns to grab Lucy's keys.

"Hey, give them back!" She tried to take her keys back, but Xemnas used his left hand to summon his Ethereal Blade and point it directly at Lucy's face, making her stun out of fear.

Xemnas examine her keys, then finally said, "You use these keys to summon those creatures, correct?"

"Y-yes.", Lucy stuttered nervously. "And they're called Celestial Spirits."

"This is like the summon ability Keyblade Wielders use.", he said still examining the keys.

"I've been hearing that a lot."

"What is your name?"

"Lucy.", she responded stubbornly.

"So when you call a Spirit, they assist you in battle? They listen to every command you give them?"

"Well, you have to form a contract with the Spirit when you first receive it's key. The contract forms a dedicated and serious bond between the Spirit and summoner."

"So, your powers is just using these Spirits in battle. You do not care what happens to them as long as you achieve victory.", Xemnas said coldly.

"That is not true!", Lucy responded. "I love my Spirits. I don't want them to get hurt during battle!"

"And yet, you call them during battle knowing the danger they might be in."

"If I don't use my magic, how will I be able to protect my friends? I know how strong my Spirits are, that's why I call them during battle! And besides, I fight alongside them in battle, I want to help and protect them!"

Xemnas smiled. "Your an interesting person, Lucy. You are not so different from us."

"What does that mean?", she angrily asked.

Xemnas toss her keys back to her and said, "You say you love your Spirits, but you still use them like puppets. Just like we need thirteen seekers to complete our plan. Your Spirits are just tools for battle and nothing more."

"No, that's-!" Lucy began to hesitate. Is it true? I mean, I never see any of my Spirits complain when I summon them, but… is that how all Spirits feels when they are summon?

After seeing Lucy's self-distrust, Xemnas then said, "So you are starting to realize your connection between you and your Spirits. I'll leave you to figure out where your true loyalties are."

Xemnas summon a dark corridor and left Lucy in the middle of Tunnelway.

It can't be true. It just can't! Anyway, I need to go find the others!

Lucy then left the Tunnelway to go find the group.

Meanwhile, at the Station Plaza, Ansem came through a dark corridor along with his Guardian carrying Natsu.

After coming through the corridor, Natsu then said angrily, "This is not going hold me, bub!"

Natsu then ignited his entire body, making the Guardian let go of Natsu and disappeared.

"Your entire body became combusted.", said Ansem. "How is that possible?"

"It's call Dragon Slayer Magic. Igneel taught me everything I know on how to use Dragon Slaying Magic."

"Magic, capable of defeating dragons!?", said an astonished Ansem. He then smiled. "Impressive."

"Anyway, where's Lucy!? If any of you Organization creeps hurt any of my friends, I swear I'll burn every single one of you into a pile of ashes!", Natsu growled as he lift Ansem up by his collar.

Ansem then blasted Natsu away with dark magic, making him crash against the wall next to the station's entrance.

"You seem to have a habit of attacking people before you know them. Either way, the girl is fine.", said Ansem. "Xemnas is probably just talking to her about her powers. I can't blame him, her powers are similar to that of the summoning ability Keyblade Wielders have."

"I don't get what going on. What do you want? What's with you guys giving Sora advice? Because the bad guys never assist the hero.", said Natsu as he recover from the crash.

"That is none of your concern. It seems to me that all you think about is fighting and destruction."

"Yeah, so what?"

Ansem explained. "Your destruction behavior brings darkness in your heart. Any negative emotion: pride, arrogance, jealousy, etc., will bring forth darkness into anyone's heart. When you and me first arrived here, you immediately burn my Guardian to make it disappeared. If that was a real person, you would of burn them to death." He then smirk. "I guess your power makes sense since your a hot-temper kid."

This made Natsu furious. "Hot-temper KIIIID! Now listen here! I don't know what your going at, but I won't fall into darkness because of how I solve my problems. Besides, I got friends to help me no matter where I go!"

"That is another reason about your power.", Ansem continued. "Keep this distruction up, and your friends and yourself could end up dead."

There was silence in the air. Meanwhile, Happy was still searching for Natsu.

Come on, where are you buddy?

But when he reached the Station Plaza, he saw Natsu standing in front of Ansem in the Plaza. Happy was filled with joy and started to fly to Natsu.

But, Happy immediately stop when Natsu shouted, "SHUT UP! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME!"

"Natsu…", said Happy.

Happy looked at Natsu. He looked furious, like he wanted to kill him. Happy then looked at Ansem, who had a dark cold expression on his face.

"I will never hurt my friends! And my friends will not be defeated that easily. Don't ever underestimate me or Fairy Tail, got it?!"

Ansem smiles. "So stubborn. Then continue your fight. Eventually, you will fall."

Ansem then summon a dark corridor and pass through it, leaving Natsu at the Plaza.

"Naatsuuu!", shouted Happy.

Natsu looked up and saw Happy flying towards him. "Happy!", shouted Natsu.

Happy crashed into Natsu's chest, crying, and said, "I was so worried!"

"Oh sorry, buddy. I didn't mean to scare you."

"Natsu!"

Both Natsu and Happy looked up, they saw Lucy running towards them.

"Lucy!", said Natsu and Happy.

"Are you alright?", asked Natsu in a worried tone.

"I'm fine.", said Lucy.

"Hey, guys!"

They all saw Sora, Donald, Goofy, Loke, and the rest of Fairy Tail coming towards them.

"Are you alright?", asked Erza.

"Where good!", said both Natsu and Lucy.

Sora step forward, looking ashamed, and said, "Natsu, Lucy. I'm sorry."

Natsu smiled and said, "It's all good. Look, no one got injured. Those guys are just annoying bastards, getting in our way."

"I guess you're right…", said Sora

Loke looked at Lucy, she looked ashamed as well. Loke walked up to her and asked, "What's wrong, Lucy?"

There was silence. Everyone was now looking at Lucy and Loke.

Lucy finally spoke. "Loke, how do you and the other spirits feel about being summon?"

Loke stuttered. "Wh-what do you mean?"

"Do you like being summon?"

"Of course I like being summon. I mean I get to see your beautiful face after all."

"I'm being serious!", shouted Lucy. "I'm asking, do you spirits love being summon or is that just a cover up to hide that you hate being used."

Everyone was shocked and silent. Lucy looked upset and serious, she wanted an answer.

Loke then put his hands on Lucy's shoulders and said, "Do you really think we're being used?"

Lucy had sadness all over her face.

"It's true. Nobody likes being used and yes, we spirits have trouble dealing with our jobs time to time. But that doesn't mean we don't love it. We love to help out summoners and we trust our summoners with all our heart. All of your spirits love you the most because you treat us with kindness and you want to protect us. I know you don't believe that we're being use, I know it."

Lucy then began to cry. Natsu then went up to her and embrace her with a hug.

"Lucy, did Xemnas say anything to you?", asked Goofy.

"He said that me summoning spirits to help me fight is like using them, even though I care for them and fight alongside them. After hearing this, I began to think of all the times I summon my spirits. All I tell them to do is to help me fight someone and that it. I treat my spirits like people, but I put them in danger."

"That's so mean!", said Wendy.

"Completely uncalled for.", said Charle.

"Why would he say that?", Juvia wondered.

"That's what they do. They test where your true loyalties are and stomp on your spirit to achieve their goal. It happen to me a lot on my adventures.", said Sora.

"Those bastards! Next time I see those guys, they're getting a fiery punch to the face!", Natsu growled furiously.

"I wonder.", said Erza. "Are they trying to test our bonds? Are they trying to delve deep into our personal past to break us apart and destroy us?"

"If they think they can easily break us they're dead wrong.", said Gajeel.

Sora walked over to the crying Lucy and said, "Lucy, I think your magic is amazing. And I don't think you use your spirits as toys. Using your Star Dress powers, you assist them in battle. Don't listen to what Xemnas said, overcome this and you will be amazing."

Lucy stop crying and smiled. "Thank you, Sora. Loke, you can return to the Spirit World now."

"Hope you feel better, Lucy.", said Loke as he return to the Spirit World.

"We should probably head back into town.", said Laxus.

"Agreed. We still have to find a way to bring Roxas back.", said Lily.

"Well, let's go then.", said Gray.

"Put some clothes on first!", shouted Donald.

"Damn it!"

Everyone then laughed, while Juvia was happy and excited.

It's strange, Lucy thought. When Xemnas spoke to me it reminded me of someone else...

This one took a long time to write. I tried to make Ansem and Xemnas' personalities perfect when talking to Natsu and Lucy and try to think how they would break their spirit like what they did to Sora and Riku. For Celestial Spirits, a summoner can call a spirit and fight in battle. That is also the same when the Organization summon Heartless and Nobodies. Having Xemnas question Lucy's abilities makes her question about Celestial Spirit Magic, since Celestial Spirit Mages only use Spirits for combat. But, despite Lucy just using them in combat, she is different because she fights with them and respects them. Also, I chose a conversation between Lucy and Xemnas because Xemnas' japanese voice actor, Norio Wakamoto, also plays the Celestial Spirit King in Fairy Tail. I tried really hard on this chapter, if you don't like it, it's your lost.