I'm going to tell you all a story. Kytrin and I have written well over ten completed 'stories' together in the past. We only recently decided to share a few of those stories with everyone. It means we have to slow down a lot and look at the story from all angles. Still, we decided to invest the extra time and energy into the story because we thought it would be fun to share with everyone.

We also decided, as fanfiction readers ourselves, to make an update schedule where you guys don't have to wait as long to read the chapters. We have pre-written over thirty chapters in advance and we write every single day just for you guys. To stay ahead of the game. All we ask in return is that you guys review and let us know how we're doing.

This doesn't mean you can use the review as a platform to complain about a perceived delay in our update schedule. Yes, we have a set schedule, but we will update when we need to. And if I tell you you're acting out of line, it's because you've offended me. I won't apologize for that.

So again, I will post this like I do in every chapter. (And hilariously, I thought I was actually clarifying this based off people's questions in the chapter before last, but I guess not?)

THIS FIC UPDATES ONCE EVERY THREE DAYS: POST, BREAK, BREAK, POST.

Please enjoy.


CHAPTER 8

Hippogriff

Across many North American indigenous cultures, the thunderbird carries many of the same characteristics. It is described as a large bird, capable of creating storms and thundering while it flies.


Lucy swallowed thickly when she found herself in an empty room with a chair and no windows.

"It'll just be a moment Captain," the doctor smiled at her, "we need to ensure the demon's side of the link is properly tended to before we attempt to disconnect you on this side."

Lucy blinked at that, a trickle of unease dripping down her spine.

Gray's warning were ringing in her head, how he had talked to her after they got back from the beach. He was worried about her, and she didn't blame him either.

If their places were changed, she would be concerned about him too.

She sank down in the chair, leaning forward on her knees and sighing as time began to tick by.

Round and round her thoughts ran as a couple of minutes bled into half an hour, to an hour. She looked down at her watch several times, wondering what was taking so long.

It was like being in the actual doctors office.

And then she heard it.

The noise was very faint, but almost familiar.

A distant roar, muffled through walls and corridors. It must have been loud to be heard from such a distance.

Gasping, Lucy pressed her ear to the wall, her eyes widening when she recognized the sound of Natsu's pain filled roars crying out from far away.

It sounded hoarse, as if he had been screaming for a while, and Lucy felt ice flood her veins.

How had she not heard it sooner?

She ran to the door and tugged on the handle, fear clouding her mind when she realized the door was locked. Ugh, the doctors must have wanted to keep them separate in case something like this happened to Natsu.

Regardless, she had to get to him. He was in very real pain, and at the very least she had to talk to the council about this. There had to be another way.

Lucy threw her weight against the door, but while it rattled satisfyingly it didn't actually come loose. She narrowed her eyes and kicked it as well, but while the rattle was much more pronounced that was all it did.

"Alright." She whispered, her blood burning as another agonized scream reached her ears, "Time for the big guns."

She concentrated for a moment and Taurus' stardress wrapped around her, bringing with it a surge of power and her spirit's approval.

She smirked as she stepped back a pace and aimed another kick at the door, this time throwing all her weight and power behind it.

The door didn't spring free from her attack. It burst into splinters.

"Obstacle one down." She growled as she rushed out, and narrowed her eyes at the nurses that rushed for her. Natsu's screams were much louder and more pronounced here, and her fury rose. How could these people listen to this like it was nothing?

The very thought sickened her.

"Captain Heartfilia!" The head nurse exclaimed, "What are you doing? Return to your room immediately!"

"While I can hear Natsu screaming like that?" She demanded, "Not happening!"

She pulled her whip taut, "You've got two choices here." She growled at them, "You can either get out of my way while I stop this torture, or we can fight."

The soft sound of a footfall behind her had her lashing out just before an orderly could jam a needle into her neck.

"Fight it is!" She snapped as she slammed the orderly into the wall, and then grabbed him by the front to throw him against the others.

Ice went down her spine as Natsu let out another roar of pain that abruptly cut off, and she sprinted towards it, absently punching her way through anyone stupid enough to get in her way.

"Hang on Natsu." She breathed, "I'm coming!"

She knew exactly where he was. After all, she hadn't spent years working as a Knight not to know the layout of her building backwards and forwards.

It didn't take long for her to plow her way through to the rooms where they kept their more unruly patients. Natsu's howls and cries were almost deafening so close as she was to him, and she kicked open the door with ease.

It blew off its hinges as she stepped inside, causing a smattering of nurses to scatter. The doctor near Natsu's table looked up in surprise.

The demon only had a light set of restraints on him, but he didn't make any attempts to escape. After all, Lucy had commanded him to listen to them.

Her heart wrenched at what she was seeing, his face pale and eyes glassy. Covered in his own blood.

Half healed cuts and slices decorated his chest, arms and face, some looked worse than the others. He panted heavily, looking dazed and in pain.

They weren't just testing his physical limits, they were testing to see how much his body could resist. And it looked like a lot.

"Natsu!" Lucy shouted, without thinking "Get up! Don't let them hurt you anymore!"

Natsu blinked at her a little, clearly having difficulty comprehending her command through his haze of pain. A fact that made Lucy nervous as the doctors began to get over their shock and converge on her. It looked like she would have to take things into her own hands if Natsu was too out of it to obey her.

"Captain Heartfilia!" The lead doctor shouted angrily, "Cease and desist this madness at once! What do you think you are doing?"

"I could ask you the same question!" Lucy growled back, "Why are you torturing Natsu?"

"We're testing the demon's limits." The doctor replied, "You know that."

"He's screaming in pain!" Lucy exclaimed furiously, "That's not testing limits! That's torture! It's cruel and unusual and I won't let you do it!"

The doctor shrugged uncaringly, "The council has ordered it Captain. Neither you nor I are in a position to argue."

He nodded to someone to the side and Lucy quickly lashed out her whip in that direction, sending people and equipment scattering, "Somehow I doubt the council had any idea what you were really planning!" She snarled, "Natsu! Get up and fight!"

There was a loud cracking noise that prompted her and the doctors to look up, and her heart nearly stopped when, despite his injuries and pain, Natsu smiled at her as he broke free and got up. There was no mistaking it. The look in his eyes had none of the dullness from before as the pain faded. He was relieved to see her.

His smile widened into a demonic grin as he hopped to his feet and cracked his knuckles.

He ripped out the IV that had been pumping him full of drugs, his head shaking as he attempted to clear it. Growling, his hand lashed out at once, fingers wrapping around the doctor's throat.

He cocked his head, slanted eyes narrowing as a tick of anger flared within them. Throwing him back into his equipment, Natsu roared out a cone of fire at several people trying to contain him.

Lucy watched as he fought his way back to her side, lips pulling back and snarls building in his chest. Fire flashed around his fists, but she could tell from the heat and force of them that he was still very weak.

Whatever they had drugged him with, Natsu was doing good to even be standing up and fighting.

"Lets get out of here Natsu!" Lucy cried out as they sprang into action and finished pummeling what was left of the crew. Lucy ushered him quickly out into the hallway, knowing they had caused enough of a ruckus to get the attention of everyone.

Natsu seemed a tad on the reluctant side to leave the ones who had tortured him still breathing, but he followed obediently.

They made it out of the medical block just as Natsu began to slow down. He panted, leaning against the wall, his body trembling.

Behind him there was a trail of blood, marking where they had run off to, and Natsu weakly wrapped an arm around his middle as if he were trying to hold himself together.

Lucy tugged his free arm, not liking how pale he was, or the glazed looks in his eyes.

"Natsu we have to go," Lucy pleaded with him, his eyes tiredly following after her desperate movements.

He shook his head, his mouth opening and closing.

"No, Lucy..." He mumbled, those two words he seemed to have picked up on the most. He gave her a light push.

"Lucy go," he staggered, his eyelids drooping. But a small smile was flickering over his lips. And she realized he was happy. Happy she had even tried to come for him. Even if he didn't think they could make it out together.

Lucy twisted her hand around and grasped his elbow, "Not without you." She told him firmly as a gate opened up beside them, "Loke! Help Natsu!" She told the lion, "I'll cover you!"

"You got it!" Loke replied as he grabbed hold of the surprised and feebly protesting demon just as Lucy cracked her whip sharply into a wall, knocking a huge hole in it.

"Captain Heartfilia! You are betraying the Rune Knights with these actions!" One of the doctors called, but Lucy ignored him as she followed Loke through the hole. She knew she would probably be branded a traitor for this until the truth was told, but that was something she was willing to live with.

There were some lines that should not be crossed. Ever.

"So where do we go from here?" Loke asked as they raced away from the labs, the alarm blaring behind them and calling the Knights into pursuit.

"I have a safe house." Lucy replied, "If we can get to it we can lay low there for a while."

Gray had been the inspiration for the idea. He'd told her stories about some of the problems that could occur on some missions, and how much benefit having a safe-house or two around could be when things went south. She'd never had the need to use it before, but though it had cost her quite a bit of jewel to build and maintain, she was eternally grateful she'd gone to the trouble.

Admittedly she wasn't sure what she would do once they were there, but the most important thing was getting there and treating Natsu's wounds. They could figure out the rest later.

At least it was well stocked, well hidden, and no one knew it existed. Not even Gray. She'd been intending to tell him, but had never gotten the chance to, and with how things turned out she was glad she hadn't.

After all, he couldn't reveal what he didn't know. She would just have to try and get a message to him later on.

They struggled out into the street, barely managing to evade the Knights that followed them. Lucy knew she couldn't keep up a constant flow of magic forever, but toting Natsu's heavy body around wasn't going to be possible with her switching between star dresses and keeping the Knights off their back.

She couldn't believe how quickly things had fallen into disarray. It was almost like an endless nightmare.

The scientists would truly suffer this time. Lucy would make sure they were strung up with the highest punishment in accordance to their crimes.

"Lucy.." Natsu mumbled, in and out of consciousness.

"It's okay Natsu, we're almost home free!" Lucy tried to soothe the demon, but he shook his head weakly.

"...No..."

He managed to lift a hand to point, but too slow did she realize his heightened senses had picked up on something she couldn't.

A short, marching, order of Knights blocked off the other side of the street, and they found themselves penned in.

Eyes wide, Lucy realized this was the end of their run. Not even she could taken on this many magical Knights at once.

"Captain Heartfilia." The captain in charge sighed as he stepped closer, "It seems the doctors underestimated both your strength and your ethics." He shook his head, "A true pity. We wanted you to die painlessly and with honor. Not like this."

Lucy felt her blood freeze in horror at the man's words.

"You... what?" She asked blankly, her mind having difficulty processing her fellow captain's words, "You wanted me to die?"

The man shook his head, "Want? No Captain Heartfilia. The council never wanted that. You are an exceptional Knight of nearly unsurpassed strength. It's likely that in a few years you could be strong enough to qualify as a wizard saint. The council fully intended to find a way to harmlessly sever your connection to the demon. However, Fairy Tail forced their hand. If the guilds are after END then it's imperative the transfer take place immediately."

Lucy stared at him in wide-eyed shock, "But.. why? Why's it so important?" She half pleaded, "They know I'm loyal!"

"It's true." The man nodded, "You are loyal. However, the council requires more than that, and your own morals will not permit you to dirty your hands as is required when dealing with a thing like END."

Lucy didn't understand. What was wrong with her morals? She was proud of them! She worked hard for the people, and fought against the demons and monsters that roamed outside their city. It was true she would not harm a child, or allow any sentient being to be tortured, but she didn't understand how that was a failing.

She watched in a kind of numbed shock as the other captain and his Knights prowled closer. They were going to kill her. They really intended to do it. A part of her screamed at herself to do something. To put a stop to it. To fight. But she couldn't move. Her mind was still locked on the enormity of the betrayal she'd just had laid before her.

However, before the Knights had taken five steps a lone figure landed heavily between Lucy and them.

"You may consider Lucy Heartfilia's morals to be unworthy." The redhead growled sternly, and Lucy's jaw dropped as she realized she was staring at Titania Erza in full battle armor squaring off on her behalf, "But it is those very morals that set her apart from the council and Knights like you!"

Her eyes glinted dangerously as two swords appeared in her hands, "Begone filthy worm!" She commanded, "You are unworthy of even speaking to one such as Lucy!"

"And it's just going to be you against all of us?" The captain asked with firm calmness. The appearance of Erza would have frightened many great men, but he did not shake.

"I believe I alone would be enough for the likes of you," Erza said calmly, pointing the tip of her sword at the man in front of her.

"But it's unfortunate for you, that I did not come alone," her voice was soft and victorious, with just an air of secret humor in it.

From behind, the Captain's men went flying in a rush of cold air, a pillar of ice erupting through the line and throwing them asunder.

The sight which greeted her next was enough for Lucy to completely lose track of her senses, as none other than her partner broke open the ranks with a tidal wave of ice.

"Lucy!" He shouted, eyes wild with concern, "Are you okay?"

Lucy stared blankly at her partner, unable to compute why her partner was standing there as half a dozen others poured around various corners or dropped down from above to deal with the Knights.

"G-Gray?" She asked as he rushed up to her side, "What? I don't...?"

Gray's lips curled up into a faint half smile as relief flooded him. Lucy was in some understandable shock, but she didn't appear to be hurt. Thank whatever gods were up there.

"I'll explain later." He promised, squeezing her shoulder gently, "For right now, let's get you and Natsu out of here alright? I know someone who can heal him up."

"Right." Lucy agreed faintly, and then visibly shook herself. She didn't understand what was going on, but now was not the time to fall to pieces! Natsu needed her, and it wouldn't be long before reinforcements were on the way.

Gray nodded approvingly as he took Natsu from Loke, "C'mon! It's this way!" He looked over his shoulder, "Juvia!"

Lucy looked over in surprise, and nearly felt her brain go blank again as she saw Juvia tearing apart Knights with water magic the likes of which she'd never seen before. Since when was Juvia a wizard?!

"I will cover you my darling Gray!" Juvia called back, seemingly unconcerned by the battle as she whirled gracefully and slammed a jet of water directly into a charging Knight's face.

Lucy felt her jaw unhinge even as Gray grabbed her wrist and pulled her along.

He pulled her down into an alleyway as the battle roared on behind them, until he ushered the somewhat numb Lucy into an underground sewer drop.

It was a large tunnel, wide and just a little smelly. Natsu didn't seem to like it by the way he was trying to cover his nose, his watering eyes squeezing shut.

But Gray quickly lead her out, knowing the way to go almost flawlessly. A creeping suspicion was dawning on her, one that should have been achingly obvious.

And when he pulled her in front of an old bar, a carved fairy in the wood frame of a door, she knew exactly where she was without having to be asked.

"Lucy please, trust me, "Gray turned to her, a plea in his eyes when he noticed how she had stopped rigidly still in her stride.

His dark eyes met hers, begging for her to stay with him for just a little while longer. Lucy's eyes flickered hesitantly to where Natsu was bleeding over Gray's shoulder, and she slowly nodded.

She needed to know what was happening. She needed the story from Gray.

Furthermore, Natsu needed help.

Lucy was lead into a dingy bar, that was crowded and flush with activity. However at the sight of Gray holding a bloody Natsu and Lucy still in her old Knight regalia, all movement stopped.

"Mira!" Gray barked, "We need Porlyusica!"

Mira's eyes widened and she nodded hastily as she rushed out from behind the counter, "This way!" She exclaimed, holding open a curtain that led to a back room. A room that Lucy guessed led to an infirmary of some kind.

She followed Gray through it, her shock and worry for Natsu overriding her knee jerk hatred of guilds for the moment, but was still somewhat startled to find they really were being led into an infirmary.

There was a pink haired old woman bent over some vials there, and the scowl she gave them as they entered was enough to make Lucy feel a touch of nerves. That was worse than some of the scowls she'd gotten after joining the Knights!

"Just what have you brats gotten yourself into this time?" She demanded angrily as her eyes tracked to the bleeding and moaning Natsu, "Put him on the bed!" She demanded as she stood and began gathering supplies, "Well hurry up! Unless you want him to bleed out on the floor?"

Gray grimaced as he and Loke hastily carried Natsu over to one of the beds and laid him down. He gently pulled Lucy out of the way as Porlyusica got to work, and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry. Porlyusica's the best there is." He promised, but felt his heart sink a little when Lucy just stared at him like she wasn't sure what to make of him.

He sighed and pulled her a little further away, "Alright. Explanations." He ran his hand through his hair, "Where to start..."

"How about with the fact you're a member of Fairy Tail?" Lucy asked in a tone icy enough to make him shiver. Ouch. Yeah, she was mad.

"Alright." He agreed, keeping his own tone calm and soothing, "I am a member." He told her, "I have been since I was a little kid begging for food and picking pockets on the streets. The same is true for most of the rest of us."

He gestured vaguely towards the door, "We're street brats Lucy. All of us. And if Fairy Tail hadn't come along we would've died on the streets years ago."

Lucy's eyebrows climbed towards her hairline. Of all things for him to say she hadn't expected that.

"But, what about the orphanages and charities to help cases like that?" She frowned, "I know they exist. I've donated to many, and helped create two!"

"I know you have." Gray replied, hoping to get through to her before her anger and hate pushed back through her confusion, "And the two you created are two of the rare exceptions, but most of those charities don't work. There streets are full of corruption, and not many people get the help they need. It just doesn't work like that."

Lucy frowned deeply, "So you joined a magic guild instead?" She half asked half demanded, "Why would you even consider that? You know the kind of things they're responsible for!"

Her frown turned into a scowl, "And even if you were a kid then, you're not now! Why are you still here Gray?" She didn't notice her voice raising with every word, "Why did you join the Knights? Was it to spy on us? Is that why we could never catch anyone from Fairy Tail? Is it?!"

"Yes!" Gray exploded for a moment and sighed, "Yes, I joined the Knights as a spy. We needed information on their plans our contacts on the streets couldn't get." He matched her glare for glare, "Lucy, I know why you hate guilds, but not all guilds are the same! We're not... them. Fairy Tail is nothing like that! We protect the people."

"It's the Knight's job to protect the people!" Lucy shouted, "I haven't seen Fairy Tail or any other guild do anything except cause death and destruction!"

"We saved you when the council betrayed you, and would've killed you without a second thought." Gray reminded her quietly, "Because you're my partner, and I was afraid that was exactly what was going to happen."

"Lucy please, listen. The Knights don't always have the best interests of the people at heart. You were one of the rare ones that actually did your job," Gray shook his head, deflating a bit at Lucy's stubborn glare.

He knew she wasn't going to see anything besides what she wanted to see. And that was the pits of the guilds. Every dark, unclean crime any guild had ever committed.

"Lucy we're not Phantom-"

She cut him off with a raised hand and a hiss so low and dangerous, Gray thought certain parts of him were going to shrivel up and die under her glare.

"Don't. You. Dare." She cut him off jerkily, and Gray dipped his head in guilt, his glance flashing away.

"Sorry," Gray murmured, cursing himself for even bringing them up. Not after what Lucy had suffered at their hands.

Lucy was closing down rapidly, and Gray knew he wouldn't be able to get anything out of her at this rate. Over on the bed, Natsu made a pained growl as he looked over at Lucy, trying to get up to come to her aid.

"Enough of your squabbling," Porlyusica snapped harshly at the two, "If you're going to have a morality debate, kindly do it away from my patient! You're just agitating him and it's making it worse!"

Gray beckoned Lucy out into the hallway, closing the door to Natsu's whines and looked at her.

"Lucy, believe it or not, I did my job the best I could. I'm still your partner, and if you decide you want to leave with Natsu after he's better, we really can't stop you." He sighed, "Just please stick around for a little while. See how we run our lives here, and take a look at what the lower levels of the slum are like."

"We risked a lot to bring you here, and you could easily turn us all in to the council," Gray breathed out, "But Erza and the others gambled on the strength of your heart overriding anything else."

He hesitated and turned away, "Pissed as you are... I'm glad I don't have to keep this a secret from you anymore."


I know I was a hardass in my A/N at the beginning, but I do want to express a deep gratitude to all of our reviewers who were very lovely and kind. You all have been so supportive during this new project, so Kytrin and I couldn't be happier. We very much appreciate every single one of you. So yeah:

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED

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30 REVIEWS EQUALS A SNEAK PEEK

Gray smiled, pleased by the exchange. It was still frosty by Lucy's standards, and he could tell she was still pissed, but it was miles better than he'd had any right to expect all things considered.

"You're welcome to join me while you wait?" He offered hopefully.

Lucy opened her mouth to say something, even though she didn't know what to Gray, when there was a loud thumping noise over by the infirmary.

Somewhat thankful for the distraction, Lucy rushed off to investigate what it could be.

Only to see a frustrated looking Natsu, sitting in bed and attempting to scoot the whole thing through the doorframe.

She supposed he was technically still in bed even if his curiosity seemed to be getting the better of him. At the sight of Lucy though, his whole countenance brightened, but immediately fell at the severe look on her face.

"Natsu you're supposed to be resting!"