chapter fifteen: the man from the shadows

"Natsu, aim your barf blaster somewhere else," Gray said.

"I'm trying but it's getting pretty hard to aim," Natsu said.

"Ew!" Juvia exclaimed. "Gajeel, get off of me!"

"This has to be the worst team assignment ever," Happy said.

"We're getting close - *blurgh* - I can smell it," Natsu said.

"We should go the rest of the way on foot," Erza said. She went to tap the carriage driver on the shoulder. "Excuse me, sir. We'd like to get out here, if possible."

Their driver slowed to a stop. "Here you go."

"Thank you, sir. Everyone, let's go!" Erza said.

As they all climbed out, Sting looked around them. He remembered the road they were on from when he and Natsu went to save Lucy and Rogue. He could even smell the location of the building that they were in.

"It's close by," Sting said.

"Yeah. We should be careful out here," Natsu said.

"Okay. Here's our proposed plan of action," Erza said. "We'll split up into three groups. Gray, you and Juvia go in through the back. Gajeel and myself will go through the front."

"Wait, what about Sting and me?" Natsu asked.

"You two will wait in the woods with Happy and Lector. They've seen you two before, and will more than likely have you two targeted." Erza looked up at them. "When the noise dies down from inside, that'll be your cue to enter."

"Right!" Natsu and Sting said together.

"Let's go!"

They began running through the woods, paired off in their respective groups. Sting caught up to Natsu, who had been the first of them to start running toward their destination.

"So we're going to get revenge for our friends today," Sting called out to him.

"Yeah. They messed with the wrong people when they hurt Lucy and Rogue," Natsu said. "We're going to make them pay for what they did."

"Oh really, dragon slayer?" someone said from in front of them. "You're going to make us 'pay' for something we did?"

Natsu and Sting stopped running. Happy and Lector, who were flying behind them, stopped a little ways behind them and listened in.

"Who are you?" Sting called out.

"You don't need to know who I am just yet. But I know who you are, 'White Dragon' Sting Eucliffe, and Natsu 'Salamander' Dragneel."

"Quit messing around and tell us who you are!" Natsu yelled. His fists ignited.

"You'll find out soon enough," the man said, disappearing into the shadows.

"Dammit!" Natsu yelled, punching a nearby tree. "Who was he? He talked like he knew us."

"He must be from that place where Lucy and Rogue were held," Lector said. "If we keep going forward, we'll run into him again."

"You guys also have a chance of getting captured," Happy said.

"We'll just take that chance head-on," Natsu said. "Let's go, we need to catch up with the others."

"Yeah," Sting said. He followed Natsu and they soon caught up with Erza, Gray, Juvia, and Gajeel.

"What was all that commotion back there, Natsu?" Erza asked.

"Nothing we couldn't handle," Natsu said.

"So this is the place?" Gray said. He looked at the building, a Gothic-style castle. "Looks ancient."

"Smells ancient, too," Gajeel said.

"Yeah. This is the place," Natsu said.

"Okay. remember the plan," Erza said.

They split up, Gray and Juvia heading to the back of the building and Gajeel and Erza heading to the front. Natsu and Sting watched and waited from the edge of the woods with Happy, Lector, and Pantherlily.

"So Lily, why didn't you go with Gajeel?" Happy asked.

"I decided to stay out here with you guys and lend a hand when it's your turn to enter," he answered. He sat down on a tree branch. "You guys hear that? They're inside."

Sting listened closely. He could hear the sounds of fighting: yelling, crashing and screaming. He sat down on the ground. "We'll be here a while."

"Au contraire, White Dragon Sting," came a voice from behind him.

Sting felt as if he had been covered in ice. He bolted up and turned around. "Who are you?!"

"I'm the one who possessed your friend Lucy Heartfilia with my Shadow Magic," the man said.

Pantherlily transformed into his battle form and drew his sword, Musica. "So you're the one who possessed Lucy?"

Natsu erupted in flames fueled by his anger. "I'm going to make you pay!"

"Sorry, but that's not going to happen," the man said. He snapped his fingers and thin ropes began winding their way around Natsu and Sting. "You two are coming back with me."

"Hey! What are you planning on doing with them?" Pantherlily asked.

"Nothing that concerns you," the man replied. "Weren't there three of you cats here?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Pantherlily yelled.

Natsu looked around in concern. Happy! Where are you?

Lector… wherever you are, stay safe! Sting thought.

The mysterious man tossed Sting and Natsu aside. "So are you going to fight me then, cat?"

I need to buy time for Happy and Lector to find one of the others, Pantherlily thought. He gripped his sword. "Yes. I will fight you."

"Brave words coming from a shape-shifting cat," the man said. "After I'm done with you, I'll find your friends."

"No you won't!" Pantherlily lunged out at the man with his sword, but missed. He received a hard blow to his stomach and was instantly reverted back to his smaller form.

"Well, that didn't take long," the man said. "What was your name again?"

Pantherlily struggled to stand. He glared at the man before him.

"Well. Know that Gabe from the Black Phoenix Guild was the man who defeated you. I'll be taking Sting Eucliffe and Natsu Dragneel now. They'll prove useful to us in the future." Gabe picked up Sting and Natsu and disappeared.

"Lily!" Happy called out. He flew toward him, Gray and Juvia behind him. "Where's Natsu and Sting?"

"They're gone. He took them. I'm sorry, I couldn't protect them," Pantherlily said.

"What's going on?" Erza said. She and Gajeel appeared behind Lector.

"Where's Sting?" Lector asked.

"He and Natsu were kidnapped," Happy said. He had tears in his eyes.

"We need to retreat and come up with another plan. Happy, Lector, you guys help Lily! Let's hurry back to the guild!" Erza said.

"Right!" Juvia said.

Gray knelt down to Happy and Lector, who were both crying. "Hey, listen. I know you two are sad about Sting and Natsu, but we need your help right now."

Happy sniffled. "You're right."

"I hope they're safe," Lector said.

Pantherlily stood up shakily and spread out his wings. Happy and Lector stood on either side and helped support him as they rose into the air.

"You're talking about Natsu and Sting," Gajeel said. "The bastards that got them will regret it soon enough."