Lucy's POV

I was running through the woods, trying to catch up to Natsu. I knew I was at the disadvantage because he knows these woods. I had a feeling that I might get lost. I stopped and quickly looked through my keys. I know I have him somewhere. Ah! Found him. I grab the silver key.

"Open, gate of the Compass, Pyxis." (Unsure if this is correct way to summon Pyxis, but we'll go with it.)

I watched as the red bird, with a wide bill and a black compass on its head appear. Something felt off about summoning him, but I ignored that feeling.

"Hey, Pyxis, I need your help. Can you find where Natsu is?"

The celestial spirit's compass on his head spun around before pointing south? He ran east, and now he is South? Glad I summoned my spirit. I started heading South. Where could he be? Oh right, a whole forest! This is a pain. Why did he run? He really isn't himself. At least, he wasn't our Natsu. I kept running until I had to come to a cliff. Where did this cliff come from... I looked around. He came this way. Pyxis told me he went South, but if I hadn't stopped, I would have fallen. Why do I always lose him. I seem to wonder through this forest and get lost. I collapse to my knees and have my head hang down.

"I need to fine him... Natsu... where are you?"

I heard a strange chirp. It wasn't a normal bird call, like one I was familiar with, but at the same time, I knew it. I looked up to see the small red phoenix, the one that liked Natsu. Crimson. What was he doing here?

"Hey, Crimson... What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your mother?"

He chirped at me and kept his eyes focused. He then looked down. I think he realized that I can't understand him.

"Uh, did you follow me?"

He looks up and shakes his head.

"Are you out here for a reason?"

This time he nods his head yes. Okay. He seemed close with Natsu, maybe he followed him.

"Did you follow Natsu?"

His head nods.

"Do you know where he is?"

Another nod.

"Can you take me to him?"

He flaps his wings and takes flight. He flies around me making happy chirps. I stand up and look at the red phoenix.

"Lead the way."

Erza's POV

I had gone back to Gray and was looking over him. As of right now he seems better. His fever had gone done and he seemed more relaxed.

"Don't worry, child. The boy will be alright. He is healing quite fast, for a human. There is something about him that is helping him. He is strong."

I look to see Carys standing above Gray's head.

"You sure he will be alright?"

"I am sure. He does have a little poison left in him, however, his body is fighting it. As long as he doesn't give in to such poison, he will be fine."

"Carys, tell me what you know about that guy that was here. The one Natsu seemed to be afraid of."

"I can't tell you much because that would be intrusive on my part, but I can tell you this, he had a rough start in his early years, as well as a hard upbringing, and he is tough on Natsu. He doesn't like people, for as long as I have known him. His magic ability is strong."

"His magic? He can do magic?"

"Yes, he can. I can't tell you what it is because he likes to keep to himself. I, myself, am unsure about what it is. You can tell if he is using his magic though his eyes. They change color."

"I see. So you can't tell me any more than that?"

The rainbow phoenix nodded her head.

"Thank you for telling me this. It is better than nothing, I suppose."

Carys smiles.

Gray's POV

I heard Erza. I heard her voice. It sounded so close yet so far. Something felt off. I remember being attacked. I remember seeing Natsu... What happened before all that? Where are we anyway? Why can I not think clearly? Why is it that my head is filled with many questions?

Hello there.

What in the world? Who is that? That voice? Why do I hear another voice? This is not a voice I recognize! Who are you?

So you can hear me... good. Listen well, human. I want you to stop fighting... give in to the poison... let your soul die and fade away.

Give... in? Fade... away? No! I mustn't!

Fighting is pointless. Why fight when you will lose?

Who are you!? Why are you in my head?

Who am I? My name is Corvus. I am in your head because you are mine now.

How long have you been in my head?

I have been in your head for a little bit. I haven't spoken to you because I was just observing, but now ... I needed to talk to you. You are fighting my poison. You mustn't do that.

Poison? Right. I remember hearing them say something like that. But if I don't, I'll die.

That... Is a lie. Your body won't die.

My body won't... Then what does the poison do?

That is for me to know, human.

Why? Why was I hearing this voice? Where is Erza, Lucy, Happy and... Natsu?

Don't fight me, boy!

I opened my eyes. I started to cough. I felt someone help me sit up right. I look and see Erza.

"Gray! Are you okay?"

It took me a moment before I was able to stop coughing and breath.

"You recovered quickly. Far faster than I thought."

I look down and see a bird. Was...

"I am the one who talked to you."

I looked around I was finally able to see clearly. I looked around and took in my surroundings. Happy was actually right next to me on my right, Erza to my left, and that bird in front of me. Her voice and the voice I was hearing were different. I must have been dreaming. It was very odd. I didn't like it. Not at all. Wait, I scan the area again. Lucy was missing and so was Natsu. I could not have dreamed that he was here... right?

"Where..."

My voice sounded bad. When I talked... my throat was burning. I knew it was painful, but I had to know...

"Where... a-are... Lu-cy a-nd... N-... Nat-su?"

Lucy's POV

I followed Crimson for a while before I started to see a light ahead. I know it was day time and the sun should be light enough, but this light was different. More of a glow and the light was dancing? As we got closer, the light I was seeing was fire. My eyes widened. It was a dome of fire! It was odd, the fire was burning, but only in that contained area. It curved at the top making the dome shape I see. Crimson kept flying toward the flames. I stopped on the outside of it. For a fire this big, I was surprised it wasn't as hot as I thought. Crimson saw me stop. He turned around and was flying just a small ways away from my face. He looked at me and nodded his head toward the dome. Was Natsu in there?

"I can't go into Fire... I'll get burned."

Crimson pulled on my shirt and was trying to get me to go to the dome.

"Crimson! Stop!"

The small bird stopped. He looked around before picking up a small stick. He flew through the fire and back out. The stick, was fine. It wasn't burning. Somehow... the fire was safe? I let out a sigh and decided to trust the phoenix. I took in a deep breath and walked through the dome of Fire.

A/N: Please note that Pyxis is during/after the Grand Magic game Arc. I personally haven't seen him yet, so I am just using what I have read on the Wiki page. Originally, Crimson was going to help her, which he did because Pyxis only pointed in the direction and left. Lucy was going in the right direction, but without Crimson, she wouldn't have found Natsu. He can point out directional references, however, I am unsure if that is exact location. However, this is a fanfic so anything I write is canon to my story, so yay. Story plot rules are applied. Also, sorry for the change in view points throughout this chapter. Anyway, hope y'all are safe and are doing well. See you in the next chapter.

~Zolf

Posted: 8/7/2020