At the daily news station, Gray decided to skip the talk and just go straight to action. And by action he sneaked into Gajeel's office while he was in the john, picked the lock of his boss's safe with his tiger claws, grabbed Laxus's pictures, and slipped out of there without being noticed. It might have been illegal but his best friend's safety and sanity were possibly at stake and this might be the only way to get through to him.

He took those pictures to a professional who concluded with careful study that those pictures were indeed doctored. He gave Gray the information to prove it which the young man took back to show his boss.

"You broke into my office and stole from me!" Gajeel shouted enraged when Gray explained what he did. "You're fired Fullbuster! And you're going to jail for breaking in and theft!"

"Fine! I don't care but you have to listen to me! Please!" Gray pleaded. He put the professional's findings on Gajeel's desk. "It was a robber who shot your wife. Not Red Dragon. He's completely innocent and this proves it."

"Kid do you have any idea how much trouble you could get in for doing this? Why are you sticking your neck out for this costumed freak? Would you really be willing to go to jail just prove this guy innocent?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"Because if I don't I may just lose a good friend of mine!"

"What are you talking about?"

"I can't explain it but believe me I wouldn't have done this if I didn't know for a fact that Red Dragon wasn't responsible for that robbery or that shooting! And if you don't call off that reward you could be responsible for an innocent man getting seriously hurt or worse! You can't imagine how much one lie can do to ruin someone's life!"

Gajeel looked at Gray. Although annoyed and angry with the tactics he used, he was very impressed with the young man's dedication to the truth. As sleazy as Gajeel was he would never lie.

"Did anyone see you sneak in here or steal those photos?" Gajeel asked.

"No sir."

"Alright then no one will know I let you slide on an illegal act."

"You're not pressing charges?"

"No. I don't entirely believe you about Red Dragon but I do believe that you thought you were doing what was right and I will look at this stuff you brought me."

"You will?"

"Yes. After my visit with my wife. But this is a one time thing kid and don't ever tell anyone I looked the other way for you."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir."

"Now get out of here."

"Yes sir!"

Gray left the station feeling great relief. He was certain that once Gajeel read those notes Natsu would be proven innocent and hopefully it would get that thick headed moron to understand that Gray was looking out for him.

He went back to his dorm and prepared himself to take a long rest when his phone started ringing. It was Erza calling.

"Hello?" He answered.

"Oh Gray thank goodness!" She said. "I've been trying to call Natsu for hours but he refuses to pick up."

"Why? What's going on?"

"I just finished looking at all the data from that ooze. It's got me shaking. I've never seen anything like it."

"Now calm down. Just tell me what you found out."

"It's called a symbiote and it's some sort of parasitic alien species."

"Parasitic? As in it's a parasite?"

"Yes. It chooses a host to attach itself to and while it does increase the host's strengths and abilities it's just to distract the host from it's toxic nature. It keeps the host very close to it and away from anyone who could possibly reach the host's thoughts. It lies to the host, manipulates it's thoughts, changes their nature, all while trying to gain complete and total control of the host."

"How did it get a hold of Natsu?"

"I'm not sure but I theorize that it came to earth by attaching itself to a meteorite. Natsu must've been near where it landed and the symbiote latched itself on to him."

"Does it have a weakness?"

"I'm still trying to figure that out but until I do it is imperative that you get the symbiote off Natsu now! Because if the symbiote gains total control of him, he could go brain dead."

"Oh God. I'm on it. You call me if you learn anything else."

"Right."

Gray hung up and quickly started to change into Blue Tiger but had to stop when he heard a knock at the door.

"Oh great not now." He opened the door and on the other side stood Ur. "Aunt Ur? What are you doing here?"

"Making sure you don't forget what tonight is." She said.

"Right...Uh what's tonight again?"

She sighed.

"Always so forgetful. Just like your father. Tonight is Juvia's play. You promised her you'd be there."

"I did? Oh crap I did. Look Ur I really can't go. I have something very important I have to do right now."

"But she'll be so disappointed if you don't show up. She already feels bad that her own brother can't see her performance but if you're not there it'll crush her."

"I know and I'm really sorry but I just can't."

"But Natsu and Lucy are going."

"I can't- Wait Natsu will be there?"

"Yes. I just bumped into him on his way to pick up Lucy to take her to the theater. He said he wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Oh...In that case, you're right. I should be there. Sorry for almost forgetting."

"Good so I don't have to worry about being dateless." Ur joked. "But you can't go to the theater like this. Fix yourself up, put on some decent clothes, and comb your hair."

"Yes Mother." He said in a joking manner.

This was perfect. At the theater, Natsu would be in a crowd of large people so he couldn't act out when Gray talked to him right? He would just find Natsu, pull him aside, and tell him everything Erza said. No doubt hearing this information would definitely get Natsu to remove that suit and if not then Gray would tear it off himself.

Speaking of Natsu he had just picked Lucy up from her house and they were headed toward the theater together. However during the walk Natsu noticed that Lucy was being a lot quieter than usual.

"Is something bothering you?" He asked her. "You haven't said a word since I picked you up."

"Me? Oh no I'm fine. But if you don't mind me asking, is everything alright with you lately? You haven't been having any problems have you?"

"No. Why do you ask?"

"Well I talked with Juvia earlier today and she...She seemed afraid for me to go out with you tonight. She said that she thought something was wrong with you."

"Well she should just mind her own business. She shouldn't be spreading lies."

"I don't think she was lying."

"So you believe her?"

"I do believe that she's worried for you and me. Natsu is there something wrong with you? Did something happen?"

"No. Nothing's wrong. Juvia just jumped to the wrong conclusion. She saw me having a small argument with her brother and she misunderstood."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Juvia's an actress remember? And you know how melodramatic actors can be."

"Yes I suppose you're right. But don't be upset with her. You know she wasn't trying to be mean she was just worried."

"I know. I know."

He had a smile in his face and his voice was calm but inside the symbiote was whispering things that made his blood boil. Saying that Juvia was telling lies to ruin his life just like her brother. And he needed to do something before her lies ruined his chances with Lucy.