The boys didn't expect what they saw as they opened the door, they found at the end of the staircase.
Gray stuttered. "A-a.. ANOTHER GROUP OF STAIRS!What the hell is this architectural design!"
Natsu rubbed his sweat and continued walking. "H-Hey! We don't know where this may lead us, this can take us outside!" Natsu continued walking and said "Exactly".
The three looked at each other thinking that their leader must be an idiot but they followed still. While walking Gajeel suddenly said "Y'know she won't be mad at you anymore, you did try your best."
Gray agreed, "I think so too, we don't have to do such measures, this can endanger our lives." Natsu continued walking ignoring their comments. Jellal added "Natsu, I think you should think this thru before arriving the end of the path"
Natsu stopped and turned "Why stop, when were at the end already" he grinned. The trio behind him admitted defeat and had no choice but to follow Natsu's orders. He opened the door and inhaled the wind. It was refreshing and a little bit salty. "We must be near the end of the river" said Gray. Natsu and the boys looked over the rocks and saw a not so large but big enough ship to carry cargo. There were a few men carrying boxes to the ship, and pulling up ropes a sign they were about to set sail. A van suddenly arrived and what shocked the most was, there were women inside. They were lined up in chains and they looked tiers and in a daze, like they were under drugs.
Natsu had a tough time planning; this was a suicide mission if they all decided to attack with shortage of arms. Jellal tried to think of a way but then he spotted one of the men on his way to a small bolder near them. He was about to do his business until Jellal thought of an idea. The four men suddenly attacked the man in rugged clothes and interrogated him behind the rock.
"Tell us where is that ship going!"
"I-I-I- d-don't kn-know.." Said the scrawny little man.
"Liar!' Natsu demanded an answer "Tell us where Jose is off to or we'll rip your throat!" Gajeel took out his pocketknife and placed it on the throat of the little man. "N-no" The short man pleaded. "Speak!" Jellal shouted in command. "P-please I'm innocent! I don't know what they're up to!" The man pleaded for his life. "Please! Please! I beg of you!"
Jellal thought this was going nowhere and they were running out of time. The ship might leave any second. Natsu then thought of a crazy idea, first he commanded Gray to call Juvia and tell the police that there was a commotion going on at the end of the river in Oak Town. Natsu then pulled the short man to his side aiming a gun right at his fore head.
"Hey you thugs!" Natsu yelled on top of a rock, feeling all high and mighty. "Leave your ship and women and we'll let you go!" Natsu smiled at his cleverness on how his plan was going. Gray and Jellal got confused but Gajeel didn't seem to care as long as they beat the crap out of these bastards.
Jellal whispered behind the rock "Natsuu! What the hell are you doing?" Gray whispered to Jellal. "Just play along" Jellal looked confusingly at Gray, Gray only said "If its Natsu,, don't worry, I know he's got his plan all straightened out."
Natsu started to notice the men laughing at him. He got fed up and shot lost bullets in the air. Gray and Jellal got shocked at the sound and started to panic if the lost bullet might land on them. Gray suddenly took back his words "I'm wrong! If it's Natsu's plan panic! Panic!" he shouted at Jellal.
Natsu laughed at where he stood. "Come out now you pussies! Bring out your top man and we'll make deal out of it!"
"Julio!" A voice from the ship shouted. "Who is this annoying man?"
Julio, the scrawny little man shook where he stood. "I-I d-don't kn-k-know master.P-please help me"
Then Jose finally appeared into Natsu's full view. He was standing on the ship looking at them down below. Natsu yelled, "Let go of those women and handover your cargo and we won't tell on you!"
While Natsu blabbed to Jose about giving up and letting go the women Gajeel whispered to Gray and Jellal, "You two, once that idiot finishes his speech, create a diversion with him! I'll be going at the back and bomb half of that ship!" He said pointing at the ship. Gray and Jellal thought this was a crazy idea, but better than nothing! So they went up behind Natsu. "Come right at us!" Gray shouted feeling confident as ever. "Or are you afraid to be beaten up!" Jellal added to create more insult in the scene.
The men cringed at their insults and stared at Jose but he knew where this was going. He ignored the insults and commanded his men to dispose of them immediately. Natsu shouted "You don't care what happens to this man if you don't do what I say?!"
Jose turned his back and told his men "Kill him as well" Natsu can admit he wasn't a patient man, he was brutal and frank when it comes to killing but to people who were innocent and weak he'd always give them a chance, and for those heartless to kill their comrades… those were the ones he despised the most.
He shoved the puny man to the ground leading him to be unconscious and that was enough for him not to meddle Natsu's plan. "Jose!" Natsu shouted from afar before there were a few of his men coming to attack him. Jose turned to look at Natsu.
"Your dead meat!" Natsu shouted loud enough for the others to hear as well.
As soon as he finished his words he ran towards the men right coming at him. He kicked them all with his strength and started punching their faces and dodging their attacks. Gray and Jellal weren't left out, without Natsu's command they didn't use their guns and just kept punching the buff men surrounding them and leaving them unconscious. Natsu was able to knock out all who came near him without a sweat and he came closer and closer to Jose's ship.
Jose started to feel that if he doesn't do something they might be able to reach them. "Antonio! Are we ready to leave?" He shouted to one of his men. "No sir! The women haven't gone on board!" Jose stared to panic. "Leave the others! Get what you can and we should be able to go right now!" Antonio followed Jose's orders quickly, but as he went down to gather the supplies of the ship ready to sail Gajeel grabbed a hold of him and knocked him out. He threw Antonio out of the window after hitting him and continued planting bombs inside the corner of the ship.
Natsu started getting fed up with all the men he's been hitting and knocking out, he wanted to finally get to Jose and kill him straight, but he needed answers, fast! He shouted to Gray "Gray, you and Jellal help those girls from getting in the boat!" He pointed at van unloading the women. Jellal and Gray rushed there while Natsu kept beating up all the men trying to interfere them.
Gajeel was careful from not planting the bomb all the way, since he noticed a few of the boxes contained the drugs, and they needed evidence for the police to file the case. He called over Natsu using his microchip and said " Everything's ready, just give me the signal" Natsu showed a triumphant grin that made Jose feel uneasy.
Natsu became a wild man and started intensely beating up all that came to him he got a little tired, but he was almost there, then suddenly someone started shooting a gun, he saw that one was pointing at him so he suddenly flipped back to dodge the bullet but unfortunately he was hit!
Luckily it was only his right arm, it stung a little bit causing him to curse at the pain. Gray shouted at worry "Natsu! Are you alright?" Natsu said " I'm fine, just get those girls to safety!" Gray nodded and they finally left all the men unconscious. Gajeel kicked the asses of some of the men inside the boat and dropped them off shore without those at the upper deck noticing.
Gray and Jellal managed to get all the girls back in the truck and let them remain there for safety. Natsu finally got unto the deck when Gray and Jellal came to back him up.
Jose was panicking he noticed his men got fewer and he started to almost feel defeat until he saw Natsu's bleeding arm. He smiled thinking there's a loophole to this game. Jose finally waited for Natsu's attack but instead Natsu spoke "Give up and tell me who you work for?" Jose laughed like a lunatic "and why should I? I'd rather die than letting you know what you want!" Natsu thought if they'd kill him he'd lost information, but maybe he can pretend. He took out his gun with his left hand then pointed at him "As you wish then!" he planned to just hurt him and torture him through interrogation, but then the pain on his right arm started to hurt again
"Ahh! Shit!" Natsu cursed.
Jose laughed at his weak state. Natsu then started to realize what if those weren't regular bullets. Natsu's left eye began to blur he thought "What the hell is happening, I'm starting to get dizzy..Was it the bullet?!"
"Did you guess right? Jose asked with a chuckle. Natsu looked at him with deadly eyes. "The bullet contained a drug that my men use to our enemies.." He walked closer to Natsu who was now leaning on the railings of the ship. "It's a drug that loses your sense of sight…." Natsu's right began to blur "and you become sensitive enough, that your pain tolerance decreases." Natsu lost all sight and started to sweat but he refused to give up. "He stood up, blind but attacked wherever he heard Jose's voice coming from, Jose dodged his attacks and laughed evilly at him.
Natsu got irritated and started increasing his speed his punches was excruciatingly painful but he had to catch this guy. Finally Jose was unable to dodge one kick that got him at the face but the pain he felt wasn't equal to the pain Natsu felt on his right leg, it was like it was being cut off.
"Gaaah!" Jose shouted in pain as Natsu kicked his head. Natsu sweated badly and shouted " Gajeel! Do it now!" Gajeel was just near him in the ship battling the other men, but when he saw Natsu's state he ran to him and grabbed a hold of him. He pressed his button and sent half of the ship into smithereens.
He and Natsu jumped out of the ship while Jose and his group were still inside. The crew started panicking, Gajeel ran towards Gray and Jellal with Natsu being carried like a saddlebag on his shoulder. Jellal asked "What happened to him?!" Gajeel said, "I don't know, but right now he's unconscious!" Police sirens were suddenly heard near the area, but before seeing them 2 black cars arrive, Juvia Erza and Lucy came out of them and ran to Natsu's aid.
"Natsu!" Lucy ran toward Gajeel to get Natsu's unconscious body. Jellal helped her to bring him in the car. While doing so, the police finally came to the scene where the panicking crew and Jose were jumping off the boat. Erza shouted to Gray "Lead those cops where the women are! I'll bring him to Wendy right now!" They all agreed Erza turned to Jellal who was at the other side of the car, "Jellal you come with me, someone has to explain this to gramps."
Erza started her engine, and shifted her gear. She drove as fast as she can to Fairy Tail not minding the traffic lights blinking red. Lucy was panicking, Natsu's blood kept flowing, and her clothes were almost drenched in it. She held him tight and close to him, feeling his violent breathing. Lucy started to have tears in her eyes, "I'm sorry" she whispered. Jellal was able to hear Lucy's sobs and told her gently " He doesn't regret it, He did it for you" Lucy looked at him, feeling guilty and yet happy that Natsu was kind enough to listen to her. She felt Natsu suddenly gripping tight on her jacket.
"Luce.." Natsu said weakly. "Natsu!" Lucy replied in a worried tone. Erza heard Lucy's shout. "Is he awake? Lucy find his pressure point and stop the bleeding from there!" Lucy followed and moved his head a little, Jellal handed her a knife and she used it to rip the coat and shirt to expose his wound. She used a clean cloth from the first aid kit behind her seat and pressed gently his wound.
"IGNEEL!" Natsu suddenly screamed frantically in the car. His eyes were opened but Lucy noticed him not noticing he was in the car. "WHY IS IT PITCH BLACK?! IGNEEL WHERE ARE YOU! IGNEEL!" Lucy was shocked seeing Natsu in this state. She hugged him from behind and put her hand on his eyes. Erza knew this was another episode Natsu has been making since they met. She was about to instruct Lucy what to do but she heard Lucy suddenly speak to Natsu.
"Natsu.. can you hear me?" Lucy said gently holding him gently in her arms. "Ahhh! IGNEEL!" Natsu continued to shout Lucy's heart began to break seeing Natsu in so much pain. She hugged him tightly and shouted "Natsu, please stop! Please..come back to me" Natsu stopped squirming "L-Luce. Why are you here? I told you to leave!" Natsu said in a forceful tone. Lucy gently smiled "Natsu please be calm, I'm right here, I'm safe..." Natsu suddenly fell silent "I can't see anything.." Lucy faced him and checked to see if his eyes have gone blind permanently. She saw his eyes expression filled with fear. Lucy hugged him which shocked Natsu so much and yet comforted him so much he began to fall unconscious again. Lucy hugged him throughout the whole ride reassuring him they're all safe. Jellal saw the scene behind them and smiled at Lucy and Natsu.
As they arrived at the Mansion, Elfman carried Natsu to the infirmary while Lucy followed them there panicking on the way. Lisanna and Mira were deadly worried and asked Jellal what happened. Jellal was about to explain but 2 cars arrived from the gate which they assumed were the others. As they all huddled inside, Gramps came from the staircase and said "Report to me tomorrow on what happened" He said in an angry tone. 'Everyone, for now, stay calm and don't do any missions yet! It seems we'll be having company the next past few days." Everyone looked serious except Jellal, it was rare for them to accept guests in their household, how is this an exception. Laxus came behind gramps and said "This mafia that will be coming has requested alliance with us, their leader will be staying in our household in accordance with the Don's schedule. We want you all to be in your best behavior."
Wakaba and Macao suddenly asked, " Which mafia is this? Why so sudden Master?"
"Can we trust their leader, who's their topman?" they asked.
Makarov stayed still for a while..and paused before saying…