Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters: that right belongs to Hiro do I own the rights to Xenosaga: that right belongs to Tetsuya Takahashi.

Author's Note: Time Frame, still before the GMG, but after Tenrou Island. About late April to early May. Meaning they didn't get to start the training for the Grand Magic Games yet, due to the mission from the Council and Lucy's kidnapping. Also, I fixed a small mistake in the first chapter concerning the year.

Author's Note 2: I had a hard time writing this chapter. The concept and idea was clear in my mind, yet when I sat down to type it all up my muse threw it out the window and this was in its place. While I do not like it more than my original concept, this actually works better for future chapters dealing with the stuff that happens after the GMG! And I hope it makes it a bit more clearer who the bad guy is.

General POV

As the group rushed through the tunnels of the old mining cave, each checking in roughly every ten minutes. They all agreed on one thing that this whole thing didn't feel right. There were no people anywhere in any of the tunnels the deeper they went. The four Dragon Slayers, one of each, were in each of the four groups (with a Rune Knight in each) that the smell of people was at least three days old and fading.

"Hey, we found a room with Lucy's scent in it."

The sound of Gajeel's voice over the magical communication devices provided by Hibiki had the groups stopped in mid-step. It was the first they'd found of her. The maps that had been supplied and filled themselves out (again provided by Hibiki) as they searched told them that Gajeel was in the eastern tunnels.

"Okay. Do you sense anything else?"

"I wasn't there for that party, but I smell traces of another magic used in here, and frequently," Gajeel replied. "I suggest we resume our search."

No reply was made as the groups went back to exploring their assigned tunnels. They were trying to find any signs of the people that had inhabited it just a few days ago.

000

It was an hour later when they all converged into a central area before a large wooden door. After it was checked for traps, they opened it cautiously. The sight of their missing friend and Guild Member sitting on what looked to be a mini throne tied at the ankles, elbows, and throat to it had them rushing in. It bothered them that she stared blankly ahead, not seeing as they saw the two sets of magic canceling cuffs on her wrist.

"Damn, that's not good," Gray muttered.

"Wait, don't go closer."

All eyes turned to Natsu, who was staring narrowed eyed at Lucy. His nose was twitching as he continuously smelt the air.

"Yeah, I smell it too," Wendy spoke up.

The two soft grunts of agreement that came from Gajeel and Laxus had the rest of the groups either staring impatiently (mostly the Rune Knights) or waiting as patiently as they could.

"What do you smell?" Erza asked.

"It smells like another Dragon Slayer was here, but the magic smells warped," Laxus stated. "And as far as I know, there are only the four us, right?"

There was a brief pause of silence before Hibiki spoke up, the Rune Knights not happy about it either.

"No, there are two others. They are the third generation and belong to the number one Guild in Fiore Sabertooth, and they are referred to as the Twin Dragon Slayers. Their magic is based in Light and Shadow," Hibiki explained.

"Third-generation?" Wendy asked.

"Yeah, they claimed they were trained by Dragons and then killed them. Then had Lacrima made from their essence implanted into their bodies to strengthen their magic," Hibiki told them.

Chaos POV

Chaos had just listened to what was being said, yet he couldn't tear his eyes away from Lucy. There was something about her that unsettled him. And he had learned to pay attention to that feeling when he got it. He coupled that with the fact that this was the first time in weeks had gotten to see his friends since she was kidnapped right from his arms.

Slowly, Chaos began to move towards her, letting his eyes roam all over her. There had been no response from Lucy at all the talking going on, nor from him coming closer. Her usually warm brown eyes were dull and empty as if she wasn't even mentally there. It was rather disturbing.

When he was a few feet from Lucy, Chaos noticed that she didn't have her whip on her, nor her keys. And that strange magic was radiating from her body. It had an odd feeling to it that had him doing his best to keep his own in check.

"Guys, something is not right with Lucy," he called over his shoulder.

This brought the discussion of other Dragon Slayers to a halt before the sound of them rushing over to him. In seconds he was jerked out of the way with more force than need to be used. When a steadying hand landed on his shoulder, he looked up at Laxus, who had his grey-blue eyes narrowed in annoyance.

"Don't touch her!" Laxus snapped.

Chaos agreed with him as he watched as Natsu started to reach for Lucy. The dark glare they both got was telling. They'd been lucky that Natsu hadn't torn through the tunnels with fists blazing. Of course, the threat of him being slapped into his own set of magical canceling cuffs and tossed into prison for past grievances. It had quelled his impetuous nature enough.

"Why? She is right there and needs our help," Natsu growled.

"Because you numbskull, Lucy is covered in that twisted smell from whoever took her. And you don't know if she, herself, has been trapped," Laxus growled back.

Chaos frowned, Laxus didn't state everything.

"Nah, Lucy isn't booby-trapped!"

Body stiffening as a cold breeze brushed past him; Chaos couldn't help but wonder who the tiny blond girl was that walked past him. He had never seen her before and felt she was not of the living world, which was further proven by the fact that no one that wasn't from Fairy Tail didn't seem to notice her.

"But if those cuffs are removed in these caves, you'll cause them to collapse," the blond girl spoke. "It would be wise to free her and get her outside before removing them. Her magic had been repressed for a while, and well, it is going to burst outwards, blasting her second origin open."

The next thing he knew was Laxus giving the order to check for traps and then to remove Lucy's bindings but leave the cuffs on. The fact that no one questioned that particular order meant they were aware of the ramifications of it. It also explained why he felt on edge. It seemed that Lucy was like a ticking time bomb.

He stayed out of the way as the orders were taken care of, and the main group took Lucy to the entrance of the caves. Freed stating he would case a rune barrier to contain her magic. Captain Lahar, who had come with them to retrieve Lucy, said he would do a secondary to make sure no damage was done. Laxus whispering in his ear to stay and help the other Rune Knights search for anything that could be a clue.

000

He watched as Lucy writhed inside the dual barrier as her mouth opened in a soundless scream. It was painful to watch as her body went through her second origin being blasted open. The golden glow of her magic was beautiful as it arched, sparked, and lanced out to bounce off the barriers. There was more magic present than he had thought possible.

His hands closed around the small wooden box painfully. He had found it while helping the Rune Knights with their search for clues and stashing it in one of his pockets without alerting them to it. Its contents were nothing that they needed. But it had him curious about this mystery man who had kidnapped Lucy, cut her off from her magic to the point that it was dangerous. Other than a bald spot on her scalp from what looked like her hair being forcibly pulled out and a few bruises on her body, she was in perfect health. It was evident that she was bathed regularly and kept in clean clothes.

Closing his eyes, Chaos tried to rationalize that the only reason his friend was kidnapped was because of the keys that were missing from her keyring. What other reason would they have to take her, treat her fairly well and take from her the Golden Zodiac Keys? And it had him worried for her when he gave her the box, and she saw that ten of her very important friends were gone?

Lucy POV

Lucy continued to travel to the dark halls of her mind. That man had been rather specific in what he told her — making a point to repeat himself several times as if to taunt her and tell her that what he was saying was important, relevant to his plans. It was a bit annoying that he didn't just monologue like all the others, but was playing a mental game with her.

One that involved her whole family line. He stated that her mother had died because of the Golden Zodiac Keys. But that wasn't right, her mother had gotten sick and died because of it weakening her heart and lungs and taxing her body to the point that she died. It hurt to dredge up those memories.

Right now, all she wanted was to get away from the pain that was coursing through her whole body, lighting up every nerve ending in an endless wave of pain. It was keeping her from focusing on what that man with the insane, glowing, crimson eyes had told her. Then again, the pain was preferable to the fact that she could still feel his touch all over her body. He had spoken to her as if he had known her personally. His parting message to her had her blood freezing in her veins as her body went cold.

"I will return to you, Miss Heartfilia. I am doing this for your good, so you don't ruin my plans. You will return with me to my home and time."

The cold smile on his lips was sickening before she had passed out. Like every time before when he touched her, he coated only his left hand in his magic. Half was black, the other white in perfect symmetry, and ran it along her arms, neck, torso, and legs. He never got overly friendly in a sexual nature. Yet this time, he had placed it over her face and forced it to seep into her skin. The pain of it pushing under her skin was like nothing she had ever felt before.

The slight ebb of the next wave of pain had Lucy pausing and looking around her as the darkness began to fade, and the familiar white and countless doors of her mindscape returned. Though the pain was still there, Lucy felt elated and exhausted all at the same time. The need to sleep was strong, and she let it claim her mental self. She was hoping that when she woke up that she was now free of her capture and prison.

TBC!