A/N: Finally an update... My apologies everyone... life got super busy and Darkhope and I couldn't rp for a while... but we are back in action and into these pairings more than ever!

So onto the next chapter... Please enjoy and always ship NaLu and Gruvia :).

Notes: Italics are thoughts as well as emphasis; also sometimes flashbacks.

Scene changes/Time Breaks:

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Copyright: I only own the random villain/characters I create... Mashima-san owns all of Fairy Tail otherwise, yus.

Created: 09/07/13 - 09/11/13

NaluxGruvia

The Googely Gang

By: darkdreamerx & Darkhope

Chapter 3
What Happens Now?


Previously...

"Natsu don't burn everything!" Lucy begged though knowing, it was futile. She got up slowly, rubbing her behind tenderly. But he's right... Forget the reward for now! Together we can win! "Yes, we can do this together," she said aloud. "That's what Fairy Tail is all about!" She pulled out Scorpio's key, ready to avenge Taurus.

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In the midst of the deserted village, chaos surrounding the Fairy Tail mages only increased when Roger looked at Daryl and he nodded maliciously. "Right," the googely man smirked as he threw his arms out at the fire Natsu created, "they'll never escape this one."

His stout partner mimicked the arm gesture, preparing his congruent attack. "Get 'em!"

"Wh-What are they doing—?!" the celestial mage wheezed. She coughed at the burning smoke surrounding them and widened her watery eyes when the enemies aimed their outstretched hands. She hooked Scorpio's key back, realizing she didn't have time to summon him if she needed to be on the defense. I have a bad feeling about this...

With a vicious inhale, Daryl and Roger bellowed, "LIGHTNING BOX!" A crackling was heard and, within seconds, a cube-shaped box formed around the three wizards. Disoriented with no chance of escape, Fairy Tail witnessed the entire space filled with currents of electricity.

"What's going on—?! AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Lucy screamed out as she watched, and felt, her entire body jerk in pain. The electricity flowed through every part of her vulnerable skin; she was paralyzed in the attack. All coherent thoughts sizzled into nothing as the throb of currents entered her veins. Her tortured scream meshed with Happy's, and Natsu's own yelling from the shock.

The blonde girl and blue cat collapsed to the floor and the dragon slayer grit his teeth in frustration. Damn it... "FUCK THIS!" With a strong intake of the air around him, Natsu gulped down the entirety of electric currents deep within his body. The cube-shaped box dissipated until it was wholly consumed through Natsu's esophagus.

Then he swallowed.

The lightening pulsated inside him and his eyes danced with the intensity of black embers. "You've only charged me up more!" he ground out, smashing his fists together, the impact sending the dual magic back to the googely gang members at high velocity.

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(Previously...) The ice mage was panting but he paused to spit blood out of his mouth. "Thanks Juvia... Let's show 'em how strong Fairy Tail mages are!" He grinned at her quickly before glaring at the idiot in front of him. "You prick," he all but growled.
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There was something in the way his ocean eyes met hers...

Trust me again, they'd expressed.

"Yes!" Juvia agreed, her own cerulean eyes hardening. She extended her arm, holding a hand out rather bravely as the alchemy seeped through her skin, a glow gradually overcoming her as she whispered, and he'd echoed, the words, "Magic Power Fusion!" She felt Gray's magic flow through her and she couldn't ignore the serenity it brought with it. She knew they would be alright; this was the exact replica of that move, the one they'd used twice before.

Their opponent noticed the strange radiance heightening their magic prowess. Glenn snarled, lunging at them. "I'll stop you before you can complete that!"

"Just try it," Gray challenged. The ethereal glow claimed, too, his body as he interlocked the water mage's fingers. He thought it was lucky that he was an ice mage and she, a water mage. He internally groaned, realizing they were a perfect match for the attack.

And possibly each other.

Nope.

Not going there.

Gray had to admit though, the nausea he'd felt earlier had diminished; judging by the oncoming threat, there was no time to freak out about their hands interlaced.

Or his thoughts.

Or his other hand, resting nonchalantly, on her shoulder as the two mages pointed their arms at Glenn.

Maybe later, but not now.

"Ready," he commanded, "...GO!"

Gray and Juvia both shouted, "UNISON RAID!" with an explosion of blue overhead. Within the blast, two magic circles appeared in the sky directly above the duo. Giant cyclones of water started to appear, and all at once the water bubbles burst and ice rain discharged upon the blistering village. The entire process happened within seconds, and no one was prepared for the attack.

The sharp blades of ice caught Glenn off guard and he stopped abruptly, his googely eyes wide as he took in the performed attack. Without another increment of time passing, he screamed "NOOOOOOOOO! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" His voice died in his throat as the icicles penetrated his body. Various vital sections were hit and his body collapsed in a heap of bloody flesh.

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On the opposite side of the village, Natsu was flinging himself all over the place, dodging and avoiding the aftermath of his teammates' Unison Raid.

He was, to say it frankly, pissed off.

"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE AIMING THAT SHIT, ICE BASTARD! GAHHHH!" With all the smoke and icicles surrounding the battle area, he'd hastily separated himself from Lucy and Happy. Shit, where are they?!

Daryl lost his sanity as he jumped around the flying ice blades, Natsu's defensive attack slicing through the air toward him. "...SHIT, RUN!" he yelped to his comrade. But it was too late to run; the licking flames and pulsating electricity immersed him together with an icicle that tore through his chest.

The portly googely man somehow managed to last longer than the leaner one. "SORRY BOSS! AHHHH—!" he screamed, earning a hit on the head with a lump of ice, and then carelessly running straight into the dragon slayer's fire and lightning combination.

Natsu watched from afar while he dodged another giant icicle. Damn... that better not happen to me! Shouldn't their magic know we aren't the enemy?! He jumped out of another stalagmite's path. Tch...guess not.

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"Augh..." Lucy groaned, "I'm in... so much pain." The spirit wielder opened her mahogany eyes, dreadfully remembering that she'd just gotten electrocuted by two perverts.

Those bastards...

Frazzled, she quickly took a glance at her burnt skin and shredded clothes. Seriously... Why does this always happen to me?!

"Oh—!" she shrieked in surprise as frozen rain stabbed the earth between her and the remnants of broken cobblestone. Instantly, Lucy knew where it'd come from. So Gray and Juvia performed another Unison Raid, eh? Heheheh... now I'll have something to retort back to them when they make fun of Natsu and I again! While finishing her thoughts, she gasped, realizing she had to get out of there quickly because their Unison Raid was no laughing matter. She darted her eyes, trying to focus through the smoke and flickering gold light the flames around her displayed.

Where is everyone...? "Natsu...?! Happy?!" Just as she was about to turn her heel, a blue tail caught her attention. Happy!

From above, a new icicle appeared: it headed straight for the unsuspecting cat. "HAPPY!" Lucy cried out as she barrel rolled toward the feline, her own body protecting her companion from the impact of the deadly attack. To her dismay, the blonde's movements were sluggish from drained magic and a weary, physical state. As a result, the sharp edge of the ice pierced her lower right abdominal as she rolled them both out of the way. "AUGHHH!" Why couldn't I avoid that!?

Within her arms the blue cat stirred, sensing the agony in Lucy's voice. "Lucy! Are you okay?!" he whimpered, watching as fresh blood oozed out of her malignant wound. "L-Lucy! Do you know where Natsu is?! We have to get help!" The small animal grasped the icicle, using his paws to try to yank the protruding object out of Lucy's body. The ice blade did not budge. He frantically turned his head, looking for any sign of movement—but there was none. "NATSUUUUU!"

"It's—it's okay Happy... as long as... y-you're safe..." Lucy tried to say, though her words strained and she winced in pain. There was blood all over her hands as she clutched her side, silently wishing she was at home in her bed, with Natsu and Happy curled up beside her... But she knew she had to do it. With the last bit of magic residing in her, she wrenched the ice blade from her body and thrust it backwards, where it shattered into many pieces. A second scream resounded through the village; Lucy clutched her side tightly, more blood pouring out of the wound. It...hurts... So much...!

"Lucy! Lucy! LUCY!" Happy cried, tears and dirt flooding from his big eyes. He collapsed on her chest, mumbling "I'm sorry," over and over again until his voice became hoarse and he starting choking on the smokey air.

The blonde's eyes began to droop, and when they closed, she heard Happy's fretful voice become distant, his voice decreasing in octaves until she could barely hear sounds anymore. "I'm s-sorry... Happy... Natsu..." she whispered ruefully, her head lolling to one side as she lost consciousness.

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With the Unison Raid finished, the two Fairy Tail wizards let go of each other and stood back to back, their posture taking on the defensive.

"Fuck!" Gray cursed. With all of the carbonated clouds, steaming flames, and protruding ice sculptures, he was having a tough time figuring out where the hell his teammates were.

"Where is everyone...? Juvia can't see anything!" Cerulean eyes blinked repeatedly, having the same problem.

"I'm trying to figure that out myself!"

The answer reverberated through suspended nerves; a torturous scream entered their ears violently and echoed into their distressed hearts. The look they gave each other synced their vocals. "Lucy!"

"Gray-sama! We have to help her!" Juvia cried; she tried to sense the celestial mage's power—but she felt absolutely nothing. She gagged when she took a deep breath, smoke entering her windpipe and forcing her to cough. Her eyes assured Gray that she was fine when he turned around; then she felt someone else approaching them.

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The pink-haired salamander also heard the scream. Onyx eyes dilated. "That was Lucy's scream...!" The fire wielder dashed forward, punching stalagmite's repeatedly; whatever object in his way of finding Lucy obliterated, shattering to tiny pieces. He was frantic, breathing heavily and cursing under his breath when his sense of smell was proven useless. In the site of trepidation, he'd already forgotten about the Googely Gang members he'd seen perish—as long as they weren't trying to take Lucy away from him, he could care less they'd been defeated.

Because he turned his head for a second, his body slammed into something hard and fleshy—and Natsu flew back onto his tailbone once more. He looked in front of him, his dragon eyes morphing to slits; his long time rival was in the same position, opposite of him. "WILL YOU STOP THAT?!"

"Oh it's Natsu..." Juvia breathed.

They had crashed into each other.

...Again.

"DON'T BLAME ME FOR YOUR IDIOCY!" Gray loudly retorted, his cheeks a little flustered. He glared, deciding it was a good time to give Natsu a piece of his mind. The opposing elements jumped to their feet and Juvia watched as the men acted like screaming toddlers. Their foreheads squished together while they growled under their breath, their minds forgetting about a certain blonde...

"YOU STUPID ICE BASTARD!"

"FLAME FUCK!"

After a few nasty snarls, Natsu's eyes widened as his mind awakened again. He glanced at the blue-haired girl; her face was anxious, and then it dawned on him. "WAIT...! Where is... LUCY!? Shit, we have to save LUCY!"

"Look! Juvia sees something!" With weak hands, the water mage pointed to an opening in the voluminous smog. In the depths of the disarray, a corpulent shadow emerged; there was no denying the two figures lying on the ground were the silhouettes of their friends.

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The blue exceed's ears perked up; there was someone approaching them! Obsidian eyes left Lucy's figure as a giant shadow loomed over them. His paws became clammy and his tiny body began to quiver. Head lifted skyward, Happy whimpered at the man before him. A robust member of the gang, obvious from his violet googely eyes, peered down at the girl, his lips, along with his mustache, curling into a wicked smile.

"Heh... What have we got here?" The man bent down slowly, his large hand twisting around Lucy's neck. He observed her silently, his leering vision taking in all of her. "Looks like you're bleeding... Well, simple enough. After I use you I'll just dispose of you then." A twisted laugh escaped his chapped lips.

Lucy's companion was quiet, mentally berating himself. What can I do? I'm just a cat... I'm useless. Happy's shaking increased, but he could not let the giant gang member have his way with someone precious to him! He didn't know where Natsu or the others were—it was up to him to save her! "D-Don't touch Lucy!" he growled, though his voice was low and far less menacing than any voice he'd heard Natsu use when Lucy was in trouble.

With a shift of his irises, the googely man peered down at Happy.

He hadn't been noticed.

Until now...

Seconds later, the man's other hand was crushing the blue feline's body; a bit of struggling ceased after a few beats and then the moving stopped all together. "So," he said aloud, "Glenn, Roger, and Daryl all failed..." The perverted man grasped blonde strands, lifting up disheveled hair and the attached owner. As she dangled, he chuckled and threw her over his shoulder carelessly. "Oh well, I'm the boss. And now I have you to add to my collection," he smirked.

While about to leave, he heard shouting. With a casual look behind him, three wretched figures came blundering toward him. They stopped in their tracks when the scene before them unfurled.

"Happy! Lucy!" cried Juvia. Oh no! We were too late! Juvia felt drained, her magic no longer able to aid her. She needed to save the second origin for the other gang members when they appeared. Surely this man had a whole other crew of googely's at his whim, waiting for more innocent girls to capture. Her heart constricted; if she used any more of her energy, she would undoubtedly endanger her own life. But Lucy...!

Standing beside her, Gray observed Natsu's face; the features began to morph, the dragon slayer's body temperature rising dangerously. When it came to Lucy, there was no controlling the dragon slayer's fury.

Before Natsu was able to rip the man's head off, the head spoke.

"Oh...? So it was you who created this mess... Your friends here will pay for it," the boss commented dryly. Then his vision shifted to the only girl, eyeing Juvia hungrily. "Mmm... I'll have you next, sweetheart."

"NO!" Natsu yelled, throwing himself forward. Another steam cloud appeared and his fire punch burst into ashes when Natsu fell to the floor in shock.

They were gone.

"What the hell just happened?! Where did they go?! LUCY! HAPPY! DAMNITTTTTTTTTT!" the pink-haired slayer roared, falling to his knees. The broken ground shattered again as he slammed his fists against it, cursing under his breath. Gray and Juvia watched silently as their fallen comrade wrestled his insides, guilt and anger tormenting him.

After a while, his voice was a cold whisper. "We will find them..." Pink bangs covered onyx eyes; it was obvious he was struggling with emotions. He couldn't lose Lucy. It was hard enough remembering her future self taking her last breath in front of him during the war against dragons. Even now, he still hadn't forgiven himself... Lucy was something special, something he'd been lucky enough to stumble upon and befriend, all those years ago... And Happy, his companion forever... No one could replace the blue exceed; they'd been through far too much to end it now. Forgive me Lucy... Happy... I will, save you...

From behind the crouching salamander Gray regarded the outburst calmly, though he was wrestling turmoil too. "Crap..." Deep ocean eyes glanced sideways at his companion, cerulean meeting his with sorrow. She looked away slowly, more concerned for the pink-haired man. The ice mage stepped forward, observing the ground just a few feet in front of the trio. He bends down, studying the gravel intently. "Natsu... Can you tell if this is Lucy's?"

Said man lifted his gaze to Gray's hands, the spot on the floor fresh with scarlet. Natsu inhaled through his nose, nodding dejectedly as silence fell over the group once more.

Gray was the first to speak again. "She must be injured," he muttered. While pacing, the ice mage looked around, wondering where the shadowed figure could have taken them so quickly. "Where could they have gone?!"

"Lucy... She was always so kind to Juvia. Even though she was her rival in love..." admitted the water mage, her expression melancholic. "It's all Juvia's fault... she dragged everyone on this request..."

"Juvia, stop. You're not helping by blaming yourself." Gray's clipped words broke the blue-haired girl's negative train of thoughts. "Nothing is going to happen—we will find Lucy before anything happens. And Happy..."

She nodded, agreeing with her Gray-sama's words. In the lapse of silence that followed, their neurotic teammate jumped to his feet and faded in and out of dust and smoke as he ran back and forth, and back and forth again. His facial expression wild, mouth set back in a snarl. "GRAY! JUVIA! LET'S GOOOO!" he howled.

Gray and Juvia exchanged looks again. They mutely agreed Natsu needed to calm down so they could figure out a plan.

Gray took the initiative.

"Cool it Flame head! Tch...We have to figure out where the damn guild is..." The dark-haired man rubbed his face repeatedly, trying to think rationally. "Fuck... Do you think the guy that assigned the job knows where it is? Juvia," he started, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Do you have the paper with the address on it with you?"

With a blush, the water mage nodded and answered the question easily. "Gray-sama...yes! Juvia remembers the information on the request paper."

The fire wielder abruptly stopped, his sandals carrying his body back to the other two mages. His imperative expression caused Juvia to frown. "Happy is missing too, Gray; Juvia. Damnit! Two of my precious nakama... And Lucy is a female... What if they..." Natsu swallowed audibly, color draining from his heated face. "I CAN'T JUST STAND HERE! ...We need some more damn clues—"

"—Juvia knows where the guild is!" Juvia exclaimed, her face earnest. Natsu fell silent, listening intently as she continued. "The group has a hide out... Within the outskirts of Magnolia!"

"...And?" Natsu pressed.

"And... what?" Juvia asked, confused.

Gray face palmed, releasing Juvia's shoulder in the process. He was worried about Lucy and also paled at the thought of—but he shook his head and cleared his throat. "Natsu, just friggen calm down! Okay. Juvia, we need to be a little more specific than that... Which outskirts? We don't have much time..." With all of his frustration, Gray had the utmost urge to rip the pants off his body.

He refrained from doing so. DAMNIT!

"I can't calm down when they have LUCYYY! Juvia! Where?!" Two strong hands grasped the water wielder's shoulders, shaking her frantically.; his face full of panic.

Juvia gasped, her body bobbing back and forth. "Uh—Um...! I—I just remember it was o-on the outskirts a-and i-in the for—forest!" she managed to stutter, her words misconstrued through Natsu's actions.

"Shit... They couldn't be more specific could they?! This job seems really odd..." the ice mage mused. He paused, taking Natsu's arms and ripping them off of Juvia's frail body. "Quit it already!"

"It—It's okay Gray-sama... Juvia understands Natsu's worry for his lover..." Juvia's small voice didn't reach the salamander's ears.

The smirk on Gray's lips was proof that he'd heard her.

And agreed.

He then took his shirt off, and Juvia swooned.

"WHY ARE WE STILL STANDING HERE?!" Natsu yelled; his fists clenched and just like that, the gag ended.

Back to reality, Gray thought. "OK! Let's split up and try to find the entrance. When we get to the forest, it'll be easier to cover more ground if we're in two groups," he said with urgency. "Let's go!" Earning a nod from Juvia and a furious look from the flame brain, Gray forced his tired legs to run. We have to trust in each other's abilities... We have to do everything in our power to get our friends back!

And they ran, stumbling over broken cobblestone, implanted icicles, and leaping over destroyed earth. It was dusk, the orange and pink hues of the setting sun caching the sky like a kaleidoscope of conturing colors. Juvia thought freely how beautiful everything illuminated, despite the dire situation they were all in. When they reached the forest, they stopped for a moment, catching their breath. The woodland was huge, towering trees and thick brush in every direction.

"We need to split up now," Gray said. "I'll stay with Juvia incase those bastards try and take her too."

Another blush crept up the water mage's pale cheeks. Gray-sama...wants to stay with Juvia? "Juvia is flattered..." Cerulean eyes widened and she dashed forward, slightly turning right. "Juvia senses a powerful magic! It's this way!"

"Right behind you," Gray shouted. The two sped off, leaving a certain dragon slayer behind.

It wasn't until a minute later that Natsu realized he was completely alone. "Wha... What just happened...? They just left me here. WHAT THE HELL! I don't have time for this!" he declared, running forward into the jungle's threshold. Lucy...please be okay. Happy...you too. Watch over her... I can't lose her...


A/N: And chapter 3 is finished! I hope you guys enjoyed :D. It felt good to actually write again... I'm hoping I can get chapter 4 out a lot easier this time around... I've just been suffering from a lot of health problems, so bear with me if it takes a little while please xoxo!

Thank you so much to those of you who've reviewed, followed, favorited, PMed, everything... You guys are amazing and it really means a lot to me... I'm just glad that both the writer and reader can enjoy Fairy Tail for everything that it truly is... Mashima would be proud of this fandom :D.

So next chapter... Will Natsu, Gray, and Juvia successfully locate the Googely Gang's Guild to save their comrades? Or will it be too late for Lucy...?