Lisanna stiffened but did not turn to look at Minerva, allowing the disguise to be affective for as long as possible. Bickslow was however, slightly insane and stupid enough to say something about her entrance.

"Well! We know what kinda trail you left behind..."

Minerva frowned at him, as her usually flawless appearance had been tarnished with sweat, blood and grime. Her kohl eyeliner had smudged and streaked onto her cheeks and her slick hair, was slightly fuzzy due to the humidity.

"...A few fallen trees and, part of the jungle completely flattened. I thought we were being followed by a family of elephants..."

"Elephants! Elephants! Elephants!"

Minerva's eyebrow twitched in silent rage, but Bickslow decided to dig, their grave even deeper while Lisanna sweated nervously.

"Lady, you need to lay off those cakes and take a few stealth classes."

"Cakes! Cakes! Cakes!"

Minerva's sweaty red face, turned a deep maroon.

"FOOL! You think now is the time to insult me!"

Lisanna face palmed at Bickslow's smug expression and prayed to any Gods present for a miracle; that he and his parrots would shut up.

"I was not insulting you. I was only offering you advice and a few painful truths."

Lisanna sank to her knees in desperation as Minerva looked about to burst with anger.

"We'll see who's smirking when I dispose of that hussy over there and take the Urano Metria!" She pointed violently at Lisanna, who began trembling.

Bickslow frowned and glanced at Lisanna, who still had her face turned to the tree and was clutching at the vines hanging down.

"Listen Lady. We've never heard of that. We don't know what you're talking about!"

Minerva snarled at him, her sword raised; "Don't lie to me! I know she has it!" She gestured to Lisanna again.

"HAND IT OVER! NOW!"

"Y-you h-heard him. W-we, d-don't know what y-you're talking a-about!"

Bickslow winked at Lisanna. Even though she had stuttered, she'd faced that cow head on and stared her down. But now her disguise was useless; Minerva was bound to see that she was not Lucy. From the pale blue eyes to the clear, pale skin devoid of freckles and thin pink lips. Not to mention those white eyebrows with the blonde wig

Minerva's anger seemed to boil as her face became more menacing. "You're not that little bitch. Where are they?!"

Lisanna chuckled a little, "Why would we tell you?"

"You will if you value your lives."

Lisanna shook her head and pulled off the blonde wig and the heavy coat.

"We will never sell out our crew mates."

Bickslow smirked and raised his sword at Minerva; "Give us your worst."

"Worst! Worst! Worst!"

In hindsight acting cocky hadn't exactly worked in their favour, but they were not giving up yet. Bickslow was currently pinned to a tree, with several knives; he desperately tried to pull himself off the trunk as he watched Lisanna struggling to fend off Minerva. The Sabertooth Captain wasn't giving her time or space to attack; Lisanna could only defend against the fierce parries and blows thrown her way. She already had a nasty gash on her forehead; blood trickled down her face and into her eyes. Bickslow's parrots were squawking round Minerva's head, pecking and pulling at her hair while she flailed her arms and sword in an inelegant but deadly fashion.

Finally Lisanna grew tired and failed to block a swift kick to the stomach; she crashed against a broad tree trunk, spluttering and clutching at her stomach. Minerva stood over her with a smug grin on her face.

"This is your last chance to tell me where she is!" Minerva spat, her sword raised.

Lisanna, spat out some blood on the floor and shook her head defiantly.

Before Minerva could swing her sword down at Lisanna's arm, Bicklsow detached himself from the tree and lunged at her; pinning Minerva onto the ground. He barely missed the hidden blade thrust at his stomach, before he rolled off her and skidded back over to Lisanna, pulling her into his arms. Her eyelids drooped as a small trickle of blood ran down her jaw.

Bickslow, rocked her and looked down at her groggy expression as a deep panic settled in his gut.

"Come on Snowy. Ya can't die of me yet...That's an order."

Lisanna giggled tiredly and gripped his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Minerva laughed condescendingly and brushed the dirt off her coat; "I see the demon sisters are not all they're cracked up to be..."

Lisanna's eyes widened in alarm, "What do you mean!? What happened to Mira!?"

Minerva shrugged, flicking a bug off her sword; "She should be dead by now...hopefully."

Lisanna, clutched onto Bickslow harder as tears welled up in her blue eyes.

"No." She whispered; "You're lying."

A sob racked her chest when she propped herself up to look straight at Minerva. Bicklsow, rocked her gently as she screamed, sobbing wildly.

"NO!"

Natsu stopped suddenly and cocked his head to the side; listening intently. Lucy looked up and nearly crashed into his back before nudging him forward.

"Natsu...What's wrong?"

He gave her an uneasy smile and pointed down a narrow path that forked off from the wide track, they were standing on.

"Did you hear that?"

Lucy shook her head and peered through the trees, where Natsu was pointing. The scream echoed through the jungle again; stopping Erza, Gajeel and Aquarius in their tracks. Lucy shivered slightly as she heard what sounded like anguished sobs and more screaming.

Natsu frowned into the dense sea of green. "We need to go over there."

Aquarius nodded in agreement (for once)," I guess we should check. It may be a waste of time though..."

Lucy shivered again; "I'm sure it won't be."

Tears ran down Lisanna's face, as she hiccupped and sobbed hoarsely, now that she felt too weak to scream. Bickslow shielded her, while Minerva stalked towards them with her sword raised.

A loud crashing sound and the snapping of branches and twigs as well as loud shouts were heard to their left. Lisanna raised her head a little and watched as a blur of red and blue, rushed into the clearing and sped at Minerva; shoving her into a clump of trees. Bickslow was pulling Lisanna unsteadily to her feet when Lucy, Natsu, Gray and Levy along with Gajeel and Aquarius bowled into the clearing; panting and leaning against each other.

"HA!" Natsu panted, wheezing slightly as he flapped his hand at Aquarius. "I was right!..." He panted some more, leaning his sweaty forehead on Lucy's shoulder.

Aquarius glared at him, "Now's not the time to brag you moron! Focus already!"

Natsu whimpered slightly and looked surprised and confused at Bickslow and Lisanna standing in front of them.

"Oh...Why are you here?"

Everyone groaned loudly, except Erza and Minerva and Juvia who had become a ball of fists and screeching.

Lucy slapped her forehead repeatedly and looked tiredly at Natsu, "It was part of the plan. You remember the plan don't you Natsu?"

He blinked at her albeit a little stupidly; "what plan?"

Lisanna coughed loudly and wiped away some of the blood from her chin. "We were leaving a fake trail. Do you remember that Natsu?"

Realisation dawned on his boyish face, "Yeah! I remember now..."

He peered in deep concentration around the clearing before focusing on Erza and Minerva slapping each other repeatedly around the face; while Gray watched Juvia pull viciously at Minvera's already bedraggled hair.

Natsu's face lit up with sadistic glee and her jabbed Lucy in the shoulder excitedly.

"Luce! Luce! Let's beat the crap out of that mean lady!"

Lucy chuckled, matching his evil grin; "Of course we will Natsu."

Minerva finally pushed Erza and Juvia off of her with great difficulty and tried to adjust her messed up hair. Erza pointed at her dramatically, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Stop this now Minerva! You are heavily outnumbered."

Minerva shook her head and cackled madly; "I'll take all of you to Davy Jones, with me if I have to! I'm not leaving until I get that sword!"

Lucy stepped forward and looked calmly at Minerva and smiled.

"Here. Take it."

Minerva smirked, "You fool! I will be unstoppable with this sword."

Lucy held out the hilt and smiled wider, "What are you waiting for then? Take it."

"Oh! I will!"

Minerva swept forwards and grasped the hilt. She looked at them all smugly until Lucy let go of the blade and she fell flat on her face; the sword pulling her down.

Natsu giggled evilly as the angry Captain raised her now muddy face, spluttering madly and coughing up twigs, dirt and leaves from the jungle floor.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" Minerva shrieked, tugging desperately at the sword while Lucy dissolved into loud chuckles and snorts of laughter.

Lucy shook her head and wiped the tears from her eyes, "I didn't do anything. The fact is that you cannot wield it."

Minerva growled and strained, pulling harder at the sword, now embedded in the spongy floor.

"That's ridiculous! I'm the daughter of Jiemma! The Captain of the Sabertooth crew!" She glared at Lucy, gesturing wildly.

"I will not be outdone by the spawn of that...that slut!"

An angry snarl sounded behind her. Minerva froze suddenly and began shaking violently.

"It's funny really. Only the spawn of that woman can use this sword."

A dark aura emanated from Aquarius as she smiled at her old crew mate; her teeth bared in a deadly grin.

"Aquarius!" Minerva squeaked, shuffling away from the claws extending from the mermaids, long fingers.

"I-I thought y-you were..."

"You hoped I was dead!" Aquarius finished.

"I'm going to make you wish you never even existed."