"Now then you meddlesome Fairy's, it seems my useless minions have failed to capture you and so it seems I'll just have to take you myself celestial mage!"

"You're not takin Lucy anywhere! I don't care who you are, you ain't getting her"

Natsu lunged forwards to the intruder, fists alight with flames. The intruder seemed to effortlessly dodge every attempt Natsu made for him hopping along the broken frame of her windows, Lucy tried to catch him with her Fleuve d'etoiles and finally succeeded in tying his legs together briefly, just enough for Natsu to tackle him off of the windowsill and out on to the street outside of Lucy's.

"Nice one Luce! Now you stay there and away from this goon! And you – tell me who you are and what you want with Lucy?!"

The intruder had appeared with a green bird like mask on his face, he had no smell oddly which Natsu could only guess was a well thought out magic move from someone who knew a lot about dragons.

"Ahhaa like I'd tell you that. You really are a meddlesome little dragon, begone!" he went again to launch an attack at Natsu as he went to also lunge for him readying a fire dragon iron fist but before they could connect the intruder was knocked off course with a beam of light and into the river., there in his place was Loke.

"Loke! What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean what am I doing here Natsu, I'm here to protect Lucy of course."

"That's my job, you pesky Lion!" he squared up to Loke butting heads with him and glaring down the Lion.

"Would you relax your dragon instincts for a minute. I summoned him here to help Natsu – I'm not going to let you fight this guy alone", Lucy had changed to her Cancer Star Dress and hopped down to join them, giving them a stubborn look that had Natsu hopping back from Loke.

"Sorry Luce. This guy is after you, I really think you should get away"

"No chance Natsu, we're partners remember", she flashed him a big grin and against his better instincts he didn't immediately scoop her up and away from there.

"Well isn't this touching", their opponent glided out of the water to land back in front of them all as they launched a barrage of attacks at him all he seemed to easily deflect. Oddest was how no-one else seemed to be around in town – something they were grateful that the citizens weren't being caught up but it was worrying where they were.

"Enough! I'm through with this game! Shikigami Torrent!" Streams of white paper dolls came flowing from the mage towards Natsu and Loke battering them both – they managed to eliminate many with their fire and light but the sheer volume of dolls was proving to be an issue. Lucy seemingly untargeted started for the line of dolls planning on cutting through them with her swords to free the duo but before she made it more than a few steps she too was surrounded by dolls forming around her in a globe.

She swung her swords desperately trying to cut through them but the globe moved with her and was just far enough away to avoid the blades.

"Shikigami Cage Capture" moving as one the dolls pulsed around her and then the globe quickly shrank in size capturing her pulsing down until they all vanished completely.

"LUCE! OI YOU, you better tell me what you've done to Lucy and give her back NOW!" Flames erupted around Natsu in every direction quickly burning through all of the dolls as he started for the mage.

"Ah, too little too late little dragon. I already have your precious celestial mage and there's nothing you can do. And in a few short days you'll go mad with insanity – ohoho maybe this has worked out even better than I planned." He surrounded himself with dolls and then he too vanished.

As he faded out of the street, normal citizens faded in to it walking around as if the day was normal until they caught the image of the dragon and lion beaten and worse for wear standing bewildered and furious in the middle of the street.

"What the happened Natsu?" They spun to find Erza, Grey, Happy and Wendy heading for them. "We sensed a dark aura from Lucy's apartment so came to see what was going on. Where is Lucy?"

"She's gone Erza, someone took her. He didn't have a smell I could trace and…and…I can't smell her scent anymore either, I don't know where they've gone", he slumped to his knees and bent his head down – Happy flew down to hop into his lap.

"Then we will get her back. But first we should go to the guild, you two will tell us everything you know and we will make a plan together. No one messes with our family"

"She's still alive you know Natsu, if she wasn't I wouldn't be here anymore"

Rising to his feet he nodded in agreement, "thanks, Loke. Now let's go get her back!"

The group headed back to the guildhall, sure that they could find their lost nakama again.

I'm beyond sorry for the epic delay in updating! 3 months with no update *hangs head in shame*

This is a short one but shifts us in to the next gear of the story. I'm hopeful we should be faster with an update but please hang with me - I will complete the story there's just a lot going on at the moment.

Thank you all for reading and for follows and likes as always! And for those who've left reviews - thank you so much, reading your thoughts on each chapter really makes my day and makes me want to put my all into the next chapter :)