chapter sixteen: team
"We failed, Master," Erza said. "Natsu and Sting were both taken by that dark guild."
"Don't worry. We'll get them back," Makarov said. He gripped his mug tightly.
"Their hideout was empty, sir. No trace of anyone that could've been there. They all must've left after Natsu and Sting saved Lucy and Rogue."
"Speaking of Lucy and Rogue, how are they taking the news?" Makarov asked.
"We haven't told them yet," Erza said. "We don't know how to tell them."
"I should tell Lucy," Happy said. His voice was trembling. "Do you know where she is, Master?"
"Last I saw, her and Rogue were in the library. He wanted to look up something about shadow magic."
"Okay. I'll go there now," Happy said. He turned and began to fly toward the guild's library. Lector joined him.
"I have to tell Rogue about Sting!" Lector sniffled. "He might be the only one who can save them!"
As they flew towards the library, they mulled over ways to tell Lucy and Rogue about Natsu and Sting being abducted. They knew that Lucy and Rogue would be upset to find out about them. They flew into the library and were greeted by Lucy.
"Happy! Lector! I didn't know you guys were back!" she said. "How did it go?"
Happy's lower lip trembled. "It didn't go well. Natsu, he… he and Sting were captured by that dark guild, Black Phoenix!"
"What? Both of them?" Lucy asked in disbelief.
"That's impossible!" Rogue exclaimed. He stood up and closed the book he was reading. "I'm going after them."
"But you don't even know where they are!" Lector told him. "Plus you're still healing. You need to finish getting better before you go rushing into battle!"
"I'm well enough that I can fight," Rogue told him.
"Wait! There are spells in this book you may be able to incorporate," Lucy said, looking over her wind reading glasses at him. She turned the book around and pointed at a set group of Shadow Magic spells. Rogue could barely make out what the words said. How was Lucy able to read all of this?
"How could you understand this?" Rogue asked her. "I can't make any of this out!"
Lucy handed a pair of wind reading glasses to Rogue. "Try these."
He looked at the black framed glasses before putting them on. Suddenly, the shadow magic spells were clear and began flowing into his head. He quickly pulled off the glasses and stared at them. "What the hell…"
"Trust me, it takes some getting used to," Lucy said calmly. "But once you do, they're easier to manage."
"Okay," Rogue said, nodding slowly. He slipped them back on and began reading again. This magic she found, it's got to do with possession. I can't do that!
As he read the spells and tried to memorize them, Lucy turned to Happy and Lector, who was still upset over Natsu and Sting. She gave them both a smile. "Hey, don't worry. We'll get both Natsu and Sting back. They're probably giving them hell right now as we speak!"
"You're right!" Lector said. "There's no way Sting would let someone get the best of him!"
"Natsu wouldn't take any crap lying down, either!" Happy said.
They sat down on the table and tried to dry their eyes. Rogue finished reading the book and took off the wind reading glasses. He looked over at Lucy and nodded. "I think I got them memorized."
"Awesome," she told him.
"I need a break, though. That drained me," he said.
"Hi, you guys," Wendy said, coming in through the doorway. She had Carla with her. "You weren't in the infirmary, so I thought I'd check here. I guess you both are feeling better now?"
"Yeah, definitely," Lucy told her. "All thanks to you."
"Rogue!" Frosch called out, flying toward his companion.
"Frosch, where have you been?" Rogue asked.
"I fell asleep." The Exceed looked over and saw Happy and Lector sitting on the table between Rogue and Lucy. "Lector, Happy!"
"Yo, Frosch! How are you doing, bud?" Lector called out to his friend.
"I'm doing good!" Frosch said, hopping up on the table with his friends.
"Has Master decided what to do yet about getting Sting and Natsu back?" Lucy asked.
Wendy shook her head. "He's still trying to figure out what to do."
Rogue stood up. "I'm going to go get them back."
"Fro too!" Frosch said.
"Well, if you're going then I guess I'll go," Lucy said. She looked over at Happy and Lector. "What about you two?"
"Well, of course, we're going! We gotta save Natsu and Sting!" Lector said.
"You all are completely crazy," Carla said.
"Well count me in too!" Wendy said. "I can still provide support during battle!"
"What are you all doing, making plans to leave?" Gray said from the doorway. He walked into the library followed by Erza, Juvia, Gajeel, and Pantherlily.
"We, uh…" Lucy searched for a good excuse.
"We're coming too. I have a feeling this will be a good test of our strength as friends. Rogue, I think your friends from Sabertooth should come too," Erza said.
"Um, I…" he stammered.
"We had already planned on it," Yukino said, appearing in the library with Orga and Rufus. "They have our master. We can't just sit idly by while he's gone."
Rogue and Lucy looked at the gathering of their friends in the guild's library. There was nothing they could do. They had all made up their minds that they were going to do this. Rogue stood up and turned toward everyone.
"If we're going to rescue Natsu and Sting, we need to start mapping out our route," Rogue said. "Everyone, get a map and get to work."