Chapter 21: Because Twists and Turns

Beth stood there, surprised. "Me? Why would they want me? I'm not even a strong wizard or someone with a lot of enemies."

"I didn't hear why. But I did wake up at one point while they were carrying me. They said that they were going to give you to another group. I didn't hear anything else because they knocked me out again. I didn't come to again until you all arrived."

"They were hired," Aaron said in disbelief.

"This is troubling," Makarov said, deep in thought. "Beth I'm afraid for the time being I will ask you to refrain from taking any jobs by yourself until this situation is resolved. Also, you should probably change that 'not a strong wizard' comment. I'm sure Team Natsu would be happy to help you."

"I'll talk to them about that."

"Can I join too?" Aaron asked.

"Of course. And Siprix too, of he wants when he's recovered," Beth replied.

"When it doesn't hurt to move, count me in."

Beth looked at the untouched food in her friend's lap. She took the fork and put it into his hand. "You need to eat you know."

Siprix laughed. "Here we are talking about precautions to keep you safe, and you tell me to eat." Nevertheless, the water mage took a bite of the food in front of him.

"I can fight. You can't."

"Fair enough."

Beth turned to Makarov. "Do you think they'll attack the guild?"

"I hope not. But if they do, we'll need to be ready." He stood up and started to walk away. "I will address the situation to the rest of the guild."

Laki walked out too.

Siprix stared at Beth. "What are you going to do now?"

Beth shrugged. "Talk to the others, see if they'll help me train and get stronger. I need to be able to defend myself. Especially now. Now eat."

"Fine," Siprix said. Beth walked out, deep in thought.

The murmur of voices quieted down when she entered the main hall. Beth walked over to where Team Natsu was sitting and joined them.

"You okay Beth?" Happy asked from his perch on Natsu's shoulder.

The Forest Dragon Slayer nodded. "Just confused. Why would these people want me?"

"Unfortunately, none of us have an answer that," Gray said. "Anything we can do to help?"

"Can you guys help me train?"

"Of course. What do you need help with?" Lucy asked

"Well, try everything. I'm not that good with my leaf blades, and I'm just bad at combat in general. The most experience I've had is a pack of Vulcans and the rescue mission. Everything else has either been against Naymmi or really small."

"You aren't that bad actually," Aaron said, coming up and sitting next to her. She sent him a small smile.

"We can definitely help with that," Natsu said. "Plus, you have another Dragon Slayer here!"

"Thanks guys, you're the best," Beth said, smiling wider. "Is it okay if Aaron and Siprix join in too?"

"That's fine. Maybe you guys should form a team," Erza suggested.

"One thing at a time." Aaron looked shocked at the suggestion.

"Should we start tomorrow?" Gray asked. "The sooner we start, the better."

"Sounds like a plan."

Lucy stood up and walked away. She came back a few minutes later.

"I talked to Master Makarov about you heading home. He said it's okay as long as someone's with you. I can come with you if you like."

"We all can," Natsu said as the rest of them got up. "If you want to."

"I should probably update my uncle on the situation. All he knows right now is that Siprix was captured, and nothing else." Beth stood as well. "Thanks guys."

"You're welcome," Lucy said. They walked out if the guild hall, the other mages glancing at them questionably.

"Do you think that's a good idea?" Cana asked Mirajane.

"No."

The walk to Beth's apartment was uneventful. Everyone was silent, ears primed for sounds. Even with two Dragon Slayers, all they heard was the night sounds of crickets and their own footsteps. When Beth opened the door, she was tackled with a hug from her uncle.

"Thank goodness you're alright," Ken said. He released her and stepped back. "I've been worried sick."

Beth rolled her eyes. "I'm fine Uncle Ken. Mission was simple really." She turned back to her friends, who were standing there awkwardly. "Thanks guys. See you tomorrow."

"I'll come by and get you at eight. Just to be on the safe side," Gray said. Beth nodded, said good night, and closed the door.

Ken pulled her to the table, and sat down. "Tell me everything."

—

"WHAT!?" Ken exclaimed when Beth got to the part about Siprix only being bait for her capture. "Why are you even allowed out of the house anymore?"

"I can't avoid the trouble. There will be someone coming after me eventually. I need to prepare. Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Erza have already agreed to train Aaron, Siprix, and me. It'll be fine soon enough for me to go out on my own."

"Yes, but all you ever get is trouble."

"Agreed. Now, it's one in the morning. It's best if we get some sleep." Beth headed off to her room with a final "good night" to her uncle, who looked at her closed door with concern.

"You are too much like your mother. From what I hear, both of them." With that, he sighed and went to his own room.

As soon as the last light went off in the apartment, a window slid open in the kitchen. A man in gilded clothes slipped in, avoiding the plants in the windowsill, and looked around. He walked silently into the hall and stopped in front of Ken's room. The man opened the door silently, and took in the room. It was mostly bare, with only a shelf full of books and a bed tucked into corners. The man rested his eyes on the sleeping figure sprawled on the bed. Still keeping silent, he slipped over and threw a bit of white dust into Ken's face. Ken mumbled and shifted, but didn't stir. The man chuckled softly.

"That should keep you out for a nice long while." He turned and walked out of the room. "Now, for the girl."

The man went silent again, and walked to Beth's room. He slipped in just as silently as he did before. He was met with the sight of an indoor greenhouse look.

The shelves and headboard were covered in pots full of different plants, ranging from ferns to wildflowers to herbs. There were even hanging plants from the ceiling, flowering ivy and vines hanging over the sides of their pots. The plants also released a bunch of perfumes, bombarding the man's nose with sweet and fresh scents. The dresser was in a back corner, but books were on the top instead of plants. Upon further inspection, there were revealed as plant encyclopedias.

The man turned his attention to the bed in the other corner, where Beth was curled up, asleep. She cuddled her pillow as she rolled over and mumbled, remaining unaware that someone was also in the room. The man gingerly pulled back the covers, and visibly relaxed when he saw she was clothed in a lavender spaghetti strap top and black nylon shorts. The man was about to use his Sleep Magic, when the door to the apartment slammed open, startling the man and waking Beth. She shot up so fast, her braided hair and pendant slapped her face. Upon seeing the man, she squeaked and shot out her leg. The man caught it effortlessly, and pulled her off balance.

"Beth!" A flame lit up the room, blinding both people for an instant.

"Natsu! Ahh!" Beth yelled as she was suddenly pulled in front of the man, who pulled a knife out.

"Stop where you are, or she gets it," the man said, not bringing the knife to her throat, but still holding it close to her face. Team Natsu stopped in the doorway.

"Let her go, and you won't get hurt," Erza said in a level voice, despite the situation.

The man laughed. "And what makes you think that you're in any position to attack?" Beth winked at her friends. She spread her hands.

"Forest Dragon's Hydra!" A green seal appeared below her, and a four headed plant, ten feet/three and a half meters tall sprung up from the ground. Startled, the man released Beth and jumped back. The hydra plant turned towards him. Beth ran to her friends.

"Are you hurt?" Erza asked. Beth shook her head, and turned to face the man. He dived towards the plant, and slashed his knife at the stems. He cut them before the heads had time to react. They fell to the floor, streaking, and shriveled into nothingness.

"Not good," Beth said under her breath. Natsu moved in front of Beth, and put his arm out.

"You need to leave. Now. We'll take care of this guy. Happy, make sure she gets to the guild."

"No need," said the man. He sent some dust at the group, who backed up.

Someone else grabbed Beth by her arm, but it wasn't one of her guildmates. The Forest Dragon Slayer pulled away, but the guy had a good grip on her. She caught the flash of gilded clothes. The others turned around and Erza swung her sword, but the guy dodged. He let go of Beth in the process, who backed up into Lucy. The celestial mage put her hand in Beth's shoulder. The first guy got in close and scattered his white dust, effectively getting it in the faces of the Fairy Tail mages. Beth successfully managed to summon an herb and shoved it into Natsu's mouth. The fire mage looked surprised, but didn't reject. Just then, Gray dropped to the floor, unconscious, as the others struggled to stay awake. The second guy grabbed Beth and met no resistance. He put the sleeping mage onto his back.

"Let's go." The men sprinted away as the Fairy Tail mages tried to follow them. The effects of the Sleep Magic finally got the best of them, as them all fell to the ground. The men ran out the door and out of the building, shoving through people who were curious about the commotion. They jumped onto a motorcycle, put on the SE-plug, and sped away.

Back in the apartment, Natsu woke up with a start and look around. He sprinted to the window, and glimpsed the men turning a corner, taking Beth with them. The fire mage ran back to his friends, deemed that they would wake up soon and catch up, and sprinted out the door. He took off for the guild.

—

"When will they be here to collect her?"

Beth heard a voice as she woke up, and cracked her eyed open a tiny bit, not moving the rest of her body. She saw two men standing next to her, the same two who broke into her apartment.

"Soon." They walked out of the room, locking the door behind them. Beth listened to their receding footsteps.

When the hall was quiet, Beth sat up and looked around. She was in the same room Laki, Aaron, and she found Siprix in. She saw a pair of clothes next to her, a gilded cardigan with a matching ankle length skirt. She shivered at the chill in the room she didn't notice before and put them on, using a vine to keep the cardigan closed. A glint of light off metal caught her eye, and Beth noticed the vent cover she failed to put back on. She looked up, and found that the vent had been left untouched. She raised her eyebrow.

"Sloppy." She stood up and jumped, just catching the vent with her finger tips. Then something grabbed her hands and threw her down. She landed with a soft "umph."

Beth looked up. There were a pair of blue eyes staring back at her. "Sorry. I can't let you go. Enjoy your stay." The person sounded very similar to Siprix.

Beth groaned and spread out on the ground. Guess I just hang out here until the others come she thought. Wonder what they're planning?

—Back at Fairy Tail—

"Guys!" Natsu yelled as he burst through the doors, panting. "Wizards-Beth-Sleep Magic." The others looked up and stood, hearts sinking. Natsu straightened. "We got ambushed. The others are unconscious in Beth's apartment. And they got her."

Murmurs and gasps went through the crowd as Makarov went up on the stage. "Okay everybody. We need to take immediate action. Natsu and Cana, go get Lucy, Gray, Happy, and Erza from their current location. Bisca, Najeel, once Team Natsu is ready to go, you two will assist them in Beth's rescue. Aaron and Laki will assist in navigating to the base. Everyone else will be here incase they try to prevent exactly what we're doing." Everyone nodded.

From his bed, Siprix listened to what was being announced. He clenched his fist when he heard Beth was captured, and that the others were going to rescue her. "They're probably just going to barge in without knowing where to go or what they're up against." He sighed and tested his legs. The water mage smiled when he found he could move them without pain, as well as his other limbs. "Never healed this fast before. Wonder if Beth has anything for do with it." He managed to stand, albeit shakily, and headed for the door. "Guess I'll have to do my own training, and fast."

Hey guys! ThinMint here! Sorry for missing last week. Some family needed me and I couldn't post. Hope y'all have a good weekend! Go get 'em tigers!

-ThinMintE