AN1: The rating for this will be "M" after this chapter. It probably should be for this chapter… I just want to warn you it gets a bit violent toward the end. Mainly, this author's announcement of changing the rating is for the lurkers/guests of FFN that follow this story who won't get an email update when I post the next chapter.

Chapter 22: Loke

Honestly, Levy didn't know why she kept her bedroom door cracked at nights. She wasn't claustrophobic, but there was something bothersome about keeping the door shut. Her windows were also left slightly opened, a habit she learned from Lucy. Although this was one night she would have kept the door closed when a four hundred pound animal leaped onto her bed scaring the crap out of her.

"Loke!" She scolded barely above a whisper, glad she had not screamed.

The lion, still on top of her, whined softly at her tone. He moved fitfully causing Levy to get a mouth full of mane making her gag.

"Get off!"

She tried to push but there was no way her small body was moving something more than four times her body weight. The cat did manage to lean away from her, allowing her to wiggle out. Yawning, she got up, surveying the faint light outside the window. It was almost her normal time to rise anyway. She didn't bother to change, knowing nobody would be awake, merely grabbing her robe on the way out.

Loke rushed passed her heading to some unknown destination. The small bluenette made her way downstairs slowly, thinking nothing about it. The lion probably needed food or to be let out for a morning bladder run. When she entered the kitchen, he was already pawing at the door.

Sighing, Levy unhooked the latch, shoving the wood open but he didn't move.

"Go!" She waved her hand to encourage him but she froze when a deep warning sound - between a growl and a snarl - emitted from his body. His hair stood on ends. The noise chilled her bones, shaking her to her core, and raising her own hair in fright. He did not move other than sniffing and raising that strange sound. She quickly closed the door, once her alarm had reached an all time high. She didn't want them to be easy targets in case unsavory characters were lurking outside.

"What is it boy?" She questioned the cat, patting his head as his tail swished angrily. He calmed a bit when he turned his attention to her.

"Let me wake some people up." Levy scurried to the den, barely stopping to pick one of the pistols over the mantle. The cat strangely did not follow here, content with his guard duty at the door.

When Levy made it to Lucy's room, she eyed the unmade bed in disbelief.

"Lucy?" She called, but the girl didn't reply. Frantically Levy rushed to Sting's room, not bothering to knock. The blonde boy lay sleeping innocently, cuddling to his pillow. Running to his side, she tried shaking him.

"Sting! Wake up!"

The guy rolled over, "No Laxus, I don't want any bananas."

Her eyebrow twitched menacingly before ripping his pillow out of his grasp and hitting him with it. "Sting!"

She hit him again. "Get."

Then she gave one last pillow slap, putting all the strength her little body could muster. "Up!"

"Where's the fire?!" Sting barked jumping, bare-ass naked, into a fighting stance. He then noticed Levy. "Levss what the hell? Why are you beating me?"

Levy placed her hands on her hips, stating, "Loke is upset."

"Put him out then. Geez... I thought it was an emergency." The boy settled back down again.

"Lucy is missing! She hasn't slept in her bed. I am really worried. Loke came into my room. He doesn't do that and now he's standing guard at the door, threatened by something outside. Get some clothes on and get out here!" She smacked him with the pillow before muttering about men always wanting to strip.

"Because it was hot!" Sting yelled, blushing furiously. The door slammed in his face.

"Ain't nobody got time to for that." Levy huffed, walking swiftly to Laxus and Mira's room. Pounding on the door, she called out to the two and was immediately rewarded with the door swinging open.

Mira's face seemed frightened, her expression hard and tightly controlled as Levy explained the situation. Laxus appeared, before pushing past the two girls.

"You are coming out?" Levy asked in amazement and he merely grunted in reply.

Mira glanced, downward, hands fisted on either sides. "Not again." A dark fire emerged from somewhere deep inside her eyes as she stated, "I won't lose another sister."

Chaos descendant the ranch after that. Rifles, guns, and lanterns were passed out among the four. Sting checked his two pistols then headed outside, followed closely by Levy, who snapped on a gunbelt over her nightware. Both Laxus and Mira took rifles to the second floor. One person to cover the south windows and the other to watch from the balcony. They locked Loke in the storage room, not letting him outside, which he furiously protested by roaring and throwing his body against the door.

Sting fired warning shots into the night as soon as he stepped off the porch. The signal to have the workers be on high alert.

The two scoured the grounds, running into Jellal who returned from his night post upon hearing the shots and also Elfman who had been sleeping. Natsu still had not returned from the Fort. The group divided up to search, Sting heading to the barn to get a horse.

After ten minutes, Levy was in full panic mode. She couldn't find Lucy. Also there was no evidence of anything remotely suspicious. All the horses were accounted for except Pantherlily that Natsu took earlier to the fort. No villain was hiding anywhere. No fires. No cut fence. No trail of footprints leading to a clue. All traces of anything out of the ordinary had vanished.

Jellal suggested that the best tracker would be Loke's nose tracing Lucy's scent. Levy, thinking the idea had merit, went to retrieve him. Jellal stopped her with a warning that the cat could run off if let outside the house. She nodded in agreement before saying she would leash him. Gathering a rope from the kitchen, she went to let him out.

"You know where she is boy?" Levy asked tying a rope in a loop around his neck. He licked her like a dog then huffed as if annoyed that she doubted him.

Everything went well at first with Loke dragging Levy behind him in an attempt to find Lucy. Elfman traveled behind with Jellal watching carefully at a safe distance. Sometimes his presence made Loke antsy. Sting had already ridden out on Lector to search the outer areas.

The cat got particularly frenzied close to the fence where a busted lantern lay, letting out a huge roar that probably woke the dead. His body then began straining against the rope. Levy almost toppled over. Having such difficulty restraining him, the girl handed Elfman the rope as she studied the lantern.

Fairly fresh. The oil was still warm.

Loke let out an angry howl that echoed through the night.

"You definitely told them." Levy tried to lighten the mood even though her heart beated furiously. She was so nervous, while brushing her sweaty hands on her robe when the cat pulled finally breaking the rope.

The bluenette had only a moment to act.

Since she was standing right beside the cat, Levy leaped, tackling the cat, who didn't stop. Now holding the beast through what was left of her homemade collar, she righted herself into a riding position.

"LEVY!" Elfman shouted as both girl and cat bounded off, disappearing into the night.

Pain laced through her temple as Lucy's eyes flickered open. Remembering what happened, she jolted up abruptly, making her head spin. Waves of nausea threatened to drown her, but she clamped her lips together until the feeling passed. The taste of blood apparent on her lip. Lucy tried to touch her face, noticing too late that her hands were bound together. Retracting her hands, she realized her head was bleeding with the trail of liquid dripping toward her mouth. Lucy didn't want to panic at her wound, head wounds always bleed a lot. Maybe the blood seemed worse than it was? Although she felt a bit woozy.

Muffled noise cautioned her that she was not alone. Seeing the campfire and strange men caused a strangled cry to escape.

"Well the little princess is awake." Jacob leered with a cruel face. Cain laughed along with a dark haired man who she didn't recognize. Lucy got a chance to check out the area around the camp, it was mostly unfamiliar - grass and a few trees.

Jacob's eyes were frigid as he stood from his seat next to the fire. Tall with a black suit, he was an imposing figure, definitely having missed his calling as an undertaker. Marching slowly toward her, he stopped before her, striking an intimidating pose. Lucy glared. He watching her carefully before his hand shot out like he would slap her. He didn't. The offending appendage hovered an inch away from her face. She held her breath as he touched her cheek. Then he began to pet her. Lucy jerked away, falling on her side. He snorted at her attempt. She continued to glare as his fingers covered in blood were brought to his mouth. Then he did something disgusting, making the blonde shudder. He licked the blood.

"Delicious." Noticing her horror, he smacked his lips for emphasis of his enjoyment.

"Be careful that's a nasty habit to develop, you might get infected. Although, I don't really care either way." Lucy sneered causing Jacob to purse his lips.

"But I like di…."

His words were interrupted by the downshifting and pop of a motor somewhere in the distance. Lucy had heard the sound before in Fiore from one of those three wheeled tricycle contraptions, even though she had not seen many in Alvarez.

A light shined on them, blinding them. A new man, strangely dressed in a tacky suit, parked his horseless vehicle next to the camp. He did not move for the longest before pulling his goggles high on his impossibly stacked brown hair. Jacob walked toward him but he did not bother getting off the bike. Eyeing Lucy and the men with a surprised expression, he quizzed Jacob, "This is all you brought?"

"We didn't bring ANY. Forget this one is here. She is mine. The women are just getting too dang smart in this area to be traveling at night." The two frowned at each other while the others tensed at the unfriendly exchange.

The goggle man twisted to study Lucy. Slowly examining her face, her dirty clothes, and the blood, he stated, "Well she passes if you did want to sell her. Serena's waiting in a secret place. Normally, he would be displeased with an unfulfilled quota of girls. You have had two weeks, but he is focused on other matters currently. The army has a new lapdog and this new guy is tedious, chasing Serena down. He almost got caught today."

"Surprised it isn't Gildarts, Marin. Now he's someone that even I would be afraid of!"

The man known as 'Marin' shook his head, "Nah. Some ranger living under our noses has been giving him hell. He managed to shoot Serena, which makes me think that this ranger could be an actual threat."

Ranger? Lucy's heart soared as she thought that they might be talking about Natsu, which would mean why he didn't come home was because he was hunting these men. Maybe he was on their trail now and would save her? That's wishful thinking Lucy, but I have to hope for the best.

The two talked while the others watched. Lucy immediately shook the notion out of her head about Natsu saving her. She wasn't going to wait for a man to save her! She can damn well do it herself, she wasn't training with Natsu for nothing! She's got to put the news skills she's learned to the test now!

She could save herself.

Slipping closer to the fire, she eyed how distracted the men were with talking.

Crap, this was going to hurt. I am not going to look forward to this.

Lucy stuck her hands on the edge of the fire to burn away the rope. She tried to angle her hands in a way that the flame barely touched her skin. Tears welled up as she bit her lip from the pain. No sound could be made or she would be caught. As the flames flickered up to singe the rope, she wiggled and pulled with all her might.

Finally, some slack began to give as more threads frayed. Luckily, the conversation between her captor and Marin was still going so she had time.

"Pleasure doing business with you." Jacob shook his hand before the boy road out. When he turned Lucy had the cords pulled apart.

"What are you doing?!" He dashed toward her but she picked up one of the burning logs in her hands, hitting him square in the face before making a dash to the horses. Natsu had said to use the environment as her weapons. She secretly smiled for that bit of wisdom.

Cain dodged ahead of her. "No girlie will escape on my watch!"

Raw determination filled her as she shifted to slide beside the fat man, aiming a foot around the back of his kneecap, throwing him off balance. Excitement coursed through her muscles as he went down but those thoughts were quickly crushed when his hand snapped out around her heel.

Lucy crashed to the ground, a thud sound being created from her body hitting the earth. She was exhausted from the blood loss and the constant beating her body was taking, but she had to endure. With a burst of energy, the female rancher kicked out with her other leg, and managed to hit him in the head. Aware that Jacob and the third man were on her heel, she quickly reached into her boot instead of running. Lucy had fallen to the ground defenseless, and there she crouched, waiting. When the third man comes towards her thinking she's hurt...

Under her dress, her fingers close around the handle of Igneel's blade…

A few more steps put him within her range. Lightening fast, the blonde sprang up slashing outwards, and the blade had connected, successfully slicing his chest.

She stabbed towards Azir, fully prepared to deal a fatal wound by targeting his jugular, but he knocked her arm before sweeping her feet under her. Lucy once again has fallen, barely stopping herself from face planting into a pile of manure. The knife clattered to the ground, immediately picked up by Azir as she reached for it. Light flickered off the metal as he aimed it toward her.

"Azir back away from her!" Jacob commanded, veins prominent and eyes filled with pure rage.

Closing in on his prey, Jacob stepped on her hand. Twisting sadistically, he laughed at her shout of pain. Bones crunch. Through the biting feeling traveling up her arm, she scissor kicked him, a move Natsu had taught her. He drops, knocking the wind from her, as he lands on top of her.

"Well I was planning this anyway." Climbing into a better position, he straddled her. His hands find her neck, strangling her.

"How do you like this you little bitch?"

At first she tries to claw his hands, but he chuckles dismissively. The world becomes blurry to Lucy. Gasping for breath, she has only a moment to react. Grabbing the manure beside her, she slings it up into his open mouth.

She barely hears him gag as his weight is lifted, and she is allowed a few fresh breaths.

Lucy isn't able to drink much of the hot air before something crashes against her elbow causing her to scream as the joint breaks.

"Let's see how funny you think you are now?!" The bald man bellowed. Seizing her hair, he drags her toward the fire. For a second, Lucy thought he was going to throw her face first into the flames. Closing her eyes, she awaits the scorch.

"You are going to be punished or defying me." Bending over, he takes a stick of flame while still holding her head with her hair, he leans over closing the distance between the burning wood and her face.

At that moment, a roar sounded.

Everyone froze as a large blurry figure jumped Jacob. The two crashed somewhere off to Lucy's left. She doesn't twist to see where as she hears a female voice.

"Lucy! I found you!"

"Levy?"

The little bluenette was indeed running toward her in a robe and boots with a gun belt strapped around her waist. Lucy did not have time to ask about her weird wardrobe choices when a gunshot rang out.

Levy held up her smoking pistol, ordering "Now you boys better hold up as I have you all in my sights. Loke, come here!"

Azir leaped toward her, and she looked him dead in the eye before shooting him in the face. Blood sailed through the air as the man's body hung frozen for a second before slaming to the ground. A scream built in Lucy's throat at the horror before noticing Levy's cold, dead eyes. Her friend's hands shook silently as a flash of regret shown from her face, but then in a blink of an eye, the regret was gone, replaced by calmness. Pain flooded Lucy's body as she tried to move toward her friend. Loke ran over to her.

"Any more takers?' The blue haired girl was completely stoic as Jacob and Cain sat down. Loke had moved back from Jacob, but the lion circled him like prey.

"On your hands, sit on your hands. I don't want to worry about you." Levy ordered the two.

"Loke down!" Lucy screeched a bit hysterically as the cat tried to crawl in her lap. He accidentally brushed her broken arm causing her to almost faint. Levy began to search to tie the men up. Noticing that the blonde was holding one of her arms awkwardly, Levy asked, "Broken?"

"Yes."

She offered her gun to Lucy with a question, "You think you can hold this with you good hand? Or are you going to pass out on me?"

"Yea."

Levy grabbed Loke and tried to maneuver him away from Lucy. With their backs turned, Cain made a move. Lucy turning the gun on him, pulling the trigger.

The gun clicked.

Dread filled Lucy as the atmosphere completely changed.

Jacob grinned mischievously, standing. His eyes danced with mirth as he joked, "Didn't check your bullets? Did we now?"

Levy squealed as Cain slapped her thin frame away, "Crap. Loke. Attack!" The dumb animal just looked at her but glared ferociously as Jacob passed him. He growled in warning before preparing to attack.

Jacob reached into his back pocket. "Leave the little lady alone Cain." As the fat man stalked toward the bluenette, intimidating her as she tried to scurry away. The bald man pulled his own gun out. Lucy could see that Jacob was prepared for murder.

Loke attacked.

In one fell swoop Jacob's gun was pressed against the lion's neck.

A small pop was heard.

Lucy's heart lurched into her throat.

The animal howled. Jacob took his gun in his other hand and in slow motion shot the cat right in the shoulder. Another pain filled howl echoed, followed by a thump.

"Loke!" Lucy shouted, exploding in a wave of motion to get to her baby, but Jacob backhanded her as she tried to pass him. Levy also was trying to reach them but was grabbed by Cain, hauling her into the air as she tried kicking and flailing her arms to get away.

Next chapter: Trail of Blood

AN2: Today is Lucy day. Happy Lucy day!. Initially this chapter was suppose to be heavy on the angst, but I have moved that to next chapter. Also with all the action this chapter, I didn't want this to be too convoluted. And you should pay attention to the next chapter title. It has a double meaning. Also we didn't have Natsu's reaction this chapter. That will be next chapter and… It. Is. Delicious. First with this Loke drama and then it switches to Natsu returning home after an all nighter. He's tired. He's worn out. And Lucy's gone. The ranch is out for blood... Phantom S's blood… even though, they didn't have anything to do with this situation.

Also "Badass Levss" enters the story. Ok she did get captured but… shooting Azir in the face…. People may think that was too cold blooded for her personality, but I was trying to demonstrate that Levy can cut her emotions. In this situation, she's very business and those normal things like feelings are cut for swift logic. Now this doesn't mean she won't freak out later. Remember Mira said if she had to do it over, she would have killed Lisanna's killer. So Levy is the opposite. Yes, GS is Lisanna's killer and he will pop up soon. As for Lucy, she burned Jacob's face along with slashing Azir with intention to kill and throwing manure in Jacob's mouth. The manure part gave me immense satisfaction. Speaking of Lucy…. now she has a broken arm from Jacob and the psychological trauma from losing Loke, but also what will Natsu do when he finds out?

The Levy and Sting interaction was a bit shippy. Sting will have moments with all the single ladies in the story. Right now it's Levy as the solitary-other-single female not related to him on the ranch. Later, it will be Juvia and Cana and maybe Flare. I like him as the unattached, somewhat immature, cute male in the story. Towards the end, Sting will get a lot of development and if you want to see him with one of the ladies you'll have to let me know.

Carebear90 - The boards were for Medical Lab Science. So happy! It is actually bittersweet that fairy tail is ending now because I started fairy tail at the beginning of this program so for the two to end together, it is like a chapter of my life is closing.

Thanks for these reviewers: Carebear90 - Guest - BakaFangril - Emperor Zeref Dragneel - Guest - Juvia is my spirit animal - Mezatron - HammyJessa - JadeDragonXx - Guest - Saranau34 - sarara1.8 - MakeiraSakura - 4evrDorkly17 - NaluFTFanatic

Special thanks to NaluFTFantatic and Emperor Zeref Dragneel for help with the chapter.