Out in the vents, Utility Belt Gray reached a wall next to another vent leading to an unspecified location. He scanned the area with his open wrist communicator, before giving a hand gesture to the others that it was clear of enemies. Lucy, Levy, Happy, Wendy, Erza, Gajeel, and the Lamia Scale group slowly dragged their feet, the experience with the elevator weighing heavily upon them. At the same time, they tried their best not to trail behind.

"Mission Log," Utility Belt Gray spoke into his wrist-com accessory. "We've reached Tartaros's command deck, but there's no sign of their Natsu captive."

Happy stated, "The way Gray speaks into his wrist communicator reminds me of our first meeting with him, back at our old house."

Erza nodded, "Yes, we all remember the first time we met Gray, the week before we moved to a new house far away from Takeshi." Her body shook with nostalgia, "I can still remember the horrific things he has done to innocent toys. At least, until the Mutant Toys scared him away…"

Gajeel chuckled, "And he's spendin' a year in therapy. Too bad we didn't see it happen."

Lucy interjected, "That's another thing!"

Wendy asked, "You mean Takeshi?"

Lucy corrected, "No, the wrist communicator! He's thrown away that accessory, like, a year ago!" She gestured to Utility Belt Gray, "Not to mention the detachable helmet with an open-close function that helps him breathe in space. The Gray I know would've accepted that he's a toy; when he discovered the truth, he threw away his helmet and communicator, and he felt comfortable without them. Then all of a sudden, he's wearing them again?" She sighed agitatedly, "It's kinda weird how a toy is acting normal, until he's snapped back to his old imaginary self. Seriously, this new Gray's got a questionable taste in fashion."

"That's because he's not who you think he is!" Sherry frowned. "Your Gray wears no helmet or wrist-com! It's because this Gray, the one who's been with us the whole time, he's a—"

Suddenly, cries of laughter and protest resonated within the ventilation system. Erza stretched out her ear towards the vent, and her eyes widened upon recognizing the tone of the voice. "That's Natsu!"

"NATSU?!" Everyone reacted shockingly, with Lucy screeching the loudest of all. After a long search, they finally found their salmon-haired toy friend!

Sherria exclaimed, "You found Natsu?!"

Lyon gasped, "You found your friend?"

Sherry screamed angrily, "STOP INTERRUPTING ME!" She grumbled to herself, "Geez, why do people always cut me off?"

Sherria shrugged, "I'm guessing it's bad luck, Cousin Sherry."

Sherry protested, "Oh, you know that's not the case!"

"C'mon, this way!" Utility Belt Gray walked down the vent, and the others followed. Upon approaching a sealed air duct, which, unbeknownst to all, was unscrewed by Natsu, the Space Hero action figure peered through the iron bars, trying to get a glimpse of the pull-string Dragon Slayer tackled by tickles from his fellow Roundup Gang members. Apparently, the metal obstructions made it hard for him to see.

Levy pointed out, "It's coming from over there!"

Happy asked, "Gray, can you see? What's going on?"

Utility Belt Gray rubbed his chin, "I can't tell. It's hard to see because of those metal bars. We need a telescope or something." He turned to Happy, who was trying to observe the scene in front of them, and got an idea.

A little later, Utility Belt Gray was holding one of Happy's eyes as a binocular so that the Exceed plush toy could find out what's causing the ruckus. "To the left," Happy instructed, and the dark blue-haired toy turned the eye the wrong direction. "No, your left. Take it up higher." The eye changed direction and rose to see what looked like Juvia, Romeo, and Kemo-Kemo hurting Natsu. Happy analyzed the situation, then looked back with a horrified expression.

Utility Belt Gray asked, "What's happening?"

"Oh, no!" Happy despaired. "It's… It's horrible! They're torturing him! They're killing Natsu!" The rest of the group gasped, their faces retracted with worry. Their Exceed friend misjudged this playful act as a cruel method of torturing Natsu. They began to fear the worst.

Lucy growled spitefully, "I should've seen this coming! Natsu's trapped in Konishi's room with evil toys, and they'd do anything to make sure Natsu goes to that museum!"

Sherria insisted, "We have to help somehow."

Sherry agreed, "We must save Natsu in the name of love."

Gajeel questioned, "But how are we gonna save him when that air vent's blockin' the way?"

Utility Belt Gray turned to the Iron Dragon Slayer action figure. He gripped his fist, a quick plan coming to mind, "Use your head."

Ten seconds later…

That was how the plan carried out: Lucy, Levy, Erza, Wendy, Happy, Utility Belt Gray, and the Lamia Scale toys were running down the vent, holding Gajeel like a battering ram!

"HEY!" Gajeel yelled. "I DIDN'T SAY YOU COULD USE MY HEAD!" The others ignored him, and with a thunderous battle cry paired with his screams, they managed to smash through the vent with a loud CLUNK! They stampeded into Konishi's room, only to land in a heap of discarded cardboard boxes packed with Styrofoam, right in front of a very confused Roundup Gang. Juvia, Romeo, and Kemo-Kemo immediately stopped tickling, and Natsu stood up, caught off guard that his friends— the toys from Ken's room— rolled into the place.

"What's going on here?!" Brain demanded.

"Gray! Lucy! Guys!" Natsu rushed over to greet his pals. "How did you find me?"

"Get down!" Gray pinned Natsu to the floor and pointed his Ice-Make Magic laser light at the Roundup Gang. "We've got the enemy on the ropes! Lamia Scale, attack!"

"CHARGE!" Erza sounded the charge by aiming her Heaven's Wheel sword towards the enemy. The rest of the group shouted vigorously and began their assault.

"Guys, what're you doin'?!" Natsu exclaimed, "What's goin' on?!"

"We're here to save you, Natsu!" Lucy responded. "We'll take out those creeps first, and then bail you out! So hold on!"

Yuka and Toby launched themselves through the air and pinned Brain's box to the ground, glaring dangerously at the sorcerer doll. Yuka pressed a button on his chest, activating his Wave action function by summoning two projectile-like shields around his arms. He asked, "Hey, mint-in-the-box! Have you ever heard of the waves of change?"

"Well, get ready for Dog-Fu!" Toby shouted, and he pressed the buttons on his wrists, spreading out miniature Paralyzer Claws from his fingers.

"Dog-Fu?" Yuka raised his eyebrow. "A lame name for a tactic, but affective nonetheless."

"Who cares about the name?" Toby growled. "Let's decrease the collector's value!"

Brain sneered, "You wouldn't dare!"

Yuka and Toby countered, "We would!"

"Taste the fury of my Active Ice-Make Magic!" Lyon proclaimed. He fired his own Ice-Make Magic laser light at Romeo, but no effect; it just blinked. Lyon realized his mistake and palmed his face, "I should've brought in the Snow Tigers."

Romeo scoffed, "Ha! You think a little light bulb that blinks can take me out?"

"No, but I can!" Happy declared, opening his back hatch and about to replace his regular eyes with the 'angry eyes' Carla gave him. "Prepare to meet Mr. Angry-Eyed Cat!" Unfortunately, he put whiskers instead of eyes in the empty slots. With a hiss, Happy blindly charged at Romeo, but ended up hitting the wall.

Romeo rolled his eyes, "This has got to be the worst strategy ever. Anyway…" His face turned serious, and he prepared to confront the attacking toys, "Bring it on! I ain't afraid of either of ya!"

Before he could act, the Young Prospector doll was knocked out cold by a sucker punch from Gajeel. He cockily smirked, "Ya done talkin', kid?"

"Hold on, guys! You don't understand!" Natsu attempted to defend the disoriented Roundup Gang. "These are my friends!"

"Yeah, we're his friends," Wendy said assertively. "And we will fight for him! We'll show you what happens when you mess with our friends!"

"No, Wendy! I mean, THEY'RE my friends!" Natsu shouted in protest.

The team of Wendy, Levy, Erza, and the Blendy cousins surrounded Kemo-Kemo, who nonetheless delivered a mean stare to his outnumbering adversaries. Sherry glared, "This is as far as you go, you overstuffed animal!"

Sherria declared, "We'll take Natsu back and put an end to your evil schemes!"

Shaking with the urge to protect his friends, Kemo-Kemo was about to pounce. Before the counterattack could occur, Erza fired her Heaven's Wheel blade rope, Wendy and Sherria grabbed and tossed it to Levy and Sherry, and they wrapped the rope around Kemo-Kemo, trapping him.

Levy smiled proudly, "Take that, beast! You've got nowhere to go!" She giggled to herself, "I hope Gajeel sees this."

Sherria smiled, "We make a pretty awesome team!"

Wendy cheered, "Yeah!"

The two slapped each other's hands, "Hi-five!"

Sherry threatened Kemo-Kemo, "Don't make another move, unless you're begging to have the stuffing ripped out of your nose!"

Erza declared, "He is the enemy, one of those who conspired to hurt Natsu. All who lay injury on our friends must be dealt with accordingly. They have provoked our anger. They must be punished!"

Kemo-Kemo's pupils shrank with worry. He wasn't going to like it at all.

"Hey!" Displeased of this atrocity, Juvia came to Kemo-Kemo's aid. "You leave him alone, you creeps!" Suddenly, the rope of Lucy's Fleuve d'étoiles delivered a stinging slap across her cheek. "Ouch!" Juvia cringed at the injury. "Who threw that?!" She turned to see the Celestial Treasure Hunter doll gripping her toy whip, staring at her enemy viciously.

"Not so fast, boyfriend stealer!" Lucy pointed a finger at the baffled Rain Woman doll.

"Boyfriend… stealer?" Juvia was confused.

"You don't fool me!" Lucy spat. "Obviously, you and your posse are villains trying to keep Natsu away from me and my friends! You think you're rare toys? To me, you're a bunch of sellouts! Greedy toys wanting to be idols for some dumb museum!"

"Sellouts?!" Juvia exclaimed angrily. "I'll make you pay for saying that! As of this moment, you are officially my rival!"

"Bring it, gloomy girl!" Lucy motioned Juvia with her hand, daring her to fight. "No one touches Natsu! He's my man!"

"AND I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR CALLING ME GLOOMY, TOO!" Juvia roared. She tackled Lucy to the ground, commencing a catfight between the two. Their blows landed indiscriminately against each other's faces, chests, arms, necks, and heads. The members of the rescue party who defeated the other Roundup Gang members were simply the spectators.

"I'M GONNA STRANGLE YOU!" Juvia shrieked futility.

"I WON'T LET YOU TOUCH NATSU!" Lucy blurted out.

"Yeah! Catfight!" Toby cheered.

"Go, Lucy!" Happy rooted.

As the battle reached its conclusion, Lucy grappled Juvia's neck with her legs, applying a submissive pressure that forced the Rain Woman doll to wheeze, to gag, until she passed out, and her body was moving no longer. Seizing the opportunity, Lucy called out to her friends, "Now's our chance! Grab Natsu and let's go!"

Utility Belt Gray picked up the salmon-haired toy, who shouted frantically, "Guys, stop! Put me down!"

"Retreat!" Erza signaled her comrades.

"Quick, to the vent!" Wendy cried.

"Every toy for himself!" Gajeel shouted.

The group dashed for the vent, and as the Roundup Gang recovered from their injuries, they watched in horror while picking up Brain's box. Romeo gasped, "They're stealing him!"

"No!" Brain exclaimed.

The rescue party once again screamed with vigor, Utility Belt Gray leading the way while carrying Natsu. A quick sprint back to the elevator and a trip down to the ground floor was all it took to escape from Gouma Konishi, from the Roundup Gang, from the apartment. Only then, would they return home and revel in their victory…

That was before someone else stood in the way and halted them with an open palm. "Hold it right there!"

"GRAY?!" The group immediately froze, their mouths wide with shock, to see the real Gray Fullbuster making his appearance.

"You again?!" Utility Belt Gray walked over to his counterpart, a scowl on his face.

"Natsu!" Gray smiled, looking at his friend with concern. "Boy, am I glad to see you!"

"What the heck is going on?" Natsu asked, confusedly looking between the two Grays. "Why is there two of you?"

"It's a long story," Gray admitted. "I—"

"Hold on!" Utility Belt Gray interrupted. He tossed Natsu behind his shoulder and confronted the real Gray. "I'm Gray Fullbuster, and I'm in charge of this detachment."

"No," Gray replied calmly, walking forward. "I'm Gray Fullbuster."

"I'M Gray Fullbuster!"

"I'M Gray Fullbuster!"

"I'M GRAY FULLBUSTER!"

"I'M GRAY FULLBUSTER!"

They argued back and forth as the group watched. Natsu pulled himself up and decided to make a guess, "So, who's the real Gray?"

"I am!" both Grays said in unison.

"Don't let this guy fool you!" Utility Belt Gray scowled. "He's a spy sent by Tartaros to copy my every move!" The real Gray nonchalantly pressed the button on Utility Belt Gray's helmet, invoking the device to flip backwards. At that moment, the other Gray gasped for air and his body moved erratically, under the pretense that he was losing oxygen in a toxic environment. As Natsu and most of his friends watched with blank expressions, the rest did so with suspicion and understanding. Any Gray Fullbuster toy programmed with memories would gasp for air as long as his helmet was flipped open, but this Gray… he was breathing without a helmet. In fact, he didn't even wear a helmet or a wrist communicator. It couldn't be… Could it? To clear the air, Gray lifted his foot to show the others a familiar signature written on it.

"GRAY!" the group cried out his name, this time with gladness. They walked over to greet, hug, and shake hands with their friend, now that they knew it was really him.

Lyon said happily, "It really is you. The real Gray."

Toby smiled, "That's our Gray! The Gray we want better!"

Yuka chuckled, "I had a feeling it was you, Utility Belt-Less Gray."

Lyon confessed, "Listen, Gray, we're very sorry we left you at the Lamia Scale aisle. We were under Utility Belt Gray's influence back then. Aligning with him was worse on our part. Can you forgive us?"

Gray smiled, "Apology accepted. So, how are you doing with my friends? They're probably lucky to have Lamia Scale toys like you on their side."

Sherry replied, "We made a great team with your friends."

Sherria wrapped an arm around Wendy, "And Wendy became my new best friend."

Wendy nodded, "That's right."

Happy stated, "You have no idea what we've been through. My front end just had to catch up with my back end."

Lucy affirmed, "Yeah. Another fact was the difference between this Gray and the other. The first Gray wears a helmet, a wrist-com, and a utility belt, and the other wears none. The signature written on his foot is proof that he is our Gray." She patted Gray's back, "It's good to have you back."

Sherry shrieked, "You see?! That's what I've been trying to tell you! Your Gray doesn't wear a utility belt, a helmet, or a wrist-com! I tried to tell you, but you kept on interrupting me!"

Gajeel exclaimed, "You're trying to tell us? Then why didn't you tell us sooner?!"

Sherry countered, "Because all of you didn't bother to listen, that's why!"

Levy rubbed her head in embarrassment, "Oh, bummer. We're so busy with Konishi that we didn't have time to pay attention to Sherry."

Lucy chuckled nervously, "Sorry, Sherry. We should've listened."

Sherry crossed her hips, "Well, it's about time you figured it out."

Lyon cleared his throat, "Allow me to explain. Your Gray ventured into the Lamia Scale aisle all by himself, trying to find someone who would help you find Natsu. Sherry, Sherria, Toby, Yuka, and myself were more than willing to help, until Utility Belt Gray, the one who ordered us around and kept us in that display stand for so long, ruined everything. He took your Gray's place."

Lucy rubbed her chin, "I see… So that makes sense."

Lyon grinned, "And thanks to your Gray, Utility Belt Gray finally learns his place."

Wendy asked, "You mean you're happy about it?"

Sherry nodded, "Very happy. Now he won't be able to boss us around anymore. We're now free, free to do whatever we want."

Sherria interjected, "But the bad news is, we're out of the toy store, and no one's gonna buy us."

Toby dreaded, "How are we gonna find owners? Where we will go from here? Who will play with us?"

Yuka mused, "An uncertain future is waiting for us."

Erza assured them, "Don't worry, our Lamia Scale friends. We'll let you come with us. You'll all be a part of our toy family."

The Lamia Scale toys beamed with hope, "REALLY?!"

Erza nodded with a smile, "Of course! You'll always have a home with us. Think about it. When Ken finds you in his bedroom, he'll be very excited to see the entire Lamia Scale group united. He'll most definitely play with you." She placed a hand on Lyon and Sherry's shoulders, "You'll have a whole new life. You'll have a chance to make a child happy. You'll be part of a family who cares for you. So what do you say?" She paused to let it sink in, "Will you come with us?"

Lyon, Yuka, Toby, Sherry, and Sherria didn't hesitate to agree. They replied with nods and wide smiles on their faces.

"It's settled, then!" Erza beamed. "Welcome to the family, Lamia Scale!"

The Lamia Scale toys trailed off, but it was clear what they were getting at. Natsu, Lucy, and the rest of Ken's toys swarmed around them, hugging and laughing as if they had accepted these new toys into their family. That's what the toys in Ken's collection do: they welcome new toys into the family with open arms, no matter how different they look. To be loved by a child, to be part of something bigger… It was a cherished thought. Words could not express how happy Lyon, Sherry, Sherria, Toby, and Yuka were. No orphan finding a family could be more proud.

Gray smiled proudly, "Can you imagine this, guys? All of Lamia Scale, together!"

Happy agreed, "Aye! Wait till the guys see you!"

Wendy suggested, "You're going to love Ken's room. We have lots of friends there, like Cana, Mirajane, and Mavis."

Sherria grinned, "I can't wait to meet them."

Levy remarked, "Six times the group means six times the adoration."

Natsu chuckled, "You can say that again."

Yuka turned to Gray, "How did you escape from that box?"

Toby nodded, "Yeah, dude. It could've locked you up completely."

Gray chuckled, "Never underestimate a toy with pride and guts."

At that moment, Utility Belt Gray held his breath until he closed the helmet over his head, allowing himself to breathe safely. He demanded, "Can somebody please explain to me what's going on?"

"Anyone want to field this?" Lyon asked dryly.

"Nope," Yuka refused, crossing his arms.

"I ain't talkin' to him," Toby turned his head away.

"It's alright, Space Hero," Gray chuckled, giving a pat to his counterpart's shoulder. He leaned in to lower his voice, "It's a Code 546."

"You mean it's a…" Utility Belt Gray began.

"Yes," Gray nodded with a smile.

"And that Natsu guy, he's a…"

"Oh, yeah. No doubt."

Gasping, Utility Belt Gray approached Natsu, took his hand, and kneeled down. "Your Majesty…"

Levy asked, "What's that about?"

Lucy replied, "Code 546: Rescuing a hostage who's actually a king disguised as a peasant." Crossing her hips, she chuckled, "Very clever."

Happy approved, "That's Gray for ya."

Natsu chuckled sheepishly, "Thanks, Other Gray… I think." He removed his hand from Utility Belt Gray's, who continued to worship him as if he was a king.

Levy placed a hand on the salmon-haired toy's shoulder, "We're so glad to have found you, Natsu."

Natsu turned to Levy, "Thanks." He scratched his head curiously, "Um, who are you, exactly? Are you a new toy, too?"

Levy giggled, "No, silly! I'm Levy McGarden! I'm the Speak & Spell toy."

Natsu confirmed, "Oh, right. Hey, Levy. How are—" He then screamed in absolute shock, "WHAT?! LEVY?!" He was left speechless by the Speak & Spell toy's new form. "But… But… How are you…"

Lucy explained, "I uploaded her consciousness and personality into this Amiibo, a Nintendo Wii U figurine Ken received for Christmas. She's got a lot of spirit and courage like any one of us in the rescue party. She insisted that she wanted to come with us, and we simple couldn't refuse."

Levy smiled, "And with this Amiibo as my new body, I can maintain a wireless connection at a distance and access the Internet without using a computer."

Natsu asked, "So that makes you an Internet goddess?"

Happy replied, "Aye. As long as the connection's strong enough."

Natsu admired, "You know what? I'm starting to like the new Levy. She's like a walking GPS or something."

Levy blushed, "Oh, Natsu. You're too kind."

Natsu smiled at Lucy, "This is the best idea ever, Lu. Trading a Speak & Spell toy for a real walking body? That's somethin'. You always come up with the best ideas. It's one of the reasons why you're my girl."

Lucy smiled back, "It's what I do best, Nat."

Natsu admitted, "The whole world's full of surprises, if you know what I mean." He turned to the Lamia Scale toys, "You're the Lamia Scale crew Gray's talking about, right?"

Lyon replied, "And you must be Natsu. It's a pleasure to meet you and your friends."

Natsu nodded, "Same here."

"Okay, with all the pleasantries and introductions out of the way, it's time to get serious," Gray interrupted everyone, and he looked over at Natsu. "You're in danger here, Natsu. We gotta get outta here now."

"Get out?" Natsu was confused, as he was pushed by Gray to the open air vent. "What do you mean?"

"Haven't you heard? Konishi's selling you to a toy museum in New York," Lucy stated. "If we hurry, we can make it home in time."

"Oh, and by New York, she means—" Happy began.

"I know, guys. I know what that means," Natsu laughed, getting out of Gray's grip and looking at his friends. "New York's in the United States. And about that… I actually want to go. I'm going to New York, the Diamanté Toy Museum, where me and my buddies are gonna be displayed in the Fantasy Toy Exhibit."

"Huh?" Wendy gasped.

"What?" Erza exclaimed.

"Are you crazy?" Gajeel questioned.

"We're all aware of Konishi plans, but you actually want to go overseas?" Lucy asked incredulously. "This is insane! You can't go!"

"I really have to go to New York. I must go. The thing is…" Natsu pointed to himself, "…I'm a rare Natsu Dragneel hand-me-down doll." He motioned to Juvia, Romeo, Kemo-Kemo, and Brain, "And these guys are my Roundup Gang."

"Natsu, what are you talking about?" Gray asked.

"What am I talking about?!" Natsu exclaimed joyfully. "Natsu's Roundup!" He went over to the remote excitedly, "It's this great old TV show in the 90's, and I was the star!" He turned on the TV, motioning to the screen, where the animated Natsu was riding Kemo-Kemo through the desert in the show's last episode, Juvia and Romeo Trapped in the Old Mine. "You see that? Look at me! That's me!"

"This is weirding me out," Gajeel commented to Levy.

"Guys, it was a national phenomenon," Natsu reasoned to his friends, who didn't look impressed for some reason. The salmon-haired toy kept up his hyperactivity, making the best out of a bad situation, "And there's all this merchandise that just got packed up. You should've seen it. There's a bento box, a record player, and a yo-yo! Gray, Lucy, I was a yo-yo!"

"Was?" Happy raised an eyebrow.

"It's true," Lyon confirmed. "He's a toy based off the star of a classic anime show."

"Without even using an Internet connection, I can tell," Levy pointed out. "Natsu's Roundup is the most popular fantasy anime in the 90's, until it was canceled in favor of Lamia Scale."

"Yeah," Natsu nodded. "Romeo told me the whole story."

"Who's Romeo?" Wendy asked.

"He's a member of my Roundup Gang," Natsu replied. "One of my friends."

"Natsu, stop all this crazy stuff and let's go," Gray insisted. What was his deal? Didn't he and the others see how excited Natsu was?

"You have a home to go back to," Lucy agreed. "Everyone's awful worried about you."

"No, guys…" Natsu backed away, his excitement gradually turning into defeat. Between returning home and going overseas, he struggled to find the right words to say. Finally, he replied, "I can't go. I can't ditch these guys. They need me, to get into this museum." Every word he spoke was laced with sadness mixed with sincerity, "Without me, they'd go back into storage, maybe forever."

Sherria whispered sadly, "How sad."

Toby remarked, "Tough choice, dude."

"Natsu, you're not a collector's item. You're a child's plaything!" Gray was starting to get angry. "You. Are. A TOY!" Those were the exact words Natsu said to him a year ago in the gas station, when Gray was still the delusional Space Hero.

"For how much longer?!" Natsu glared back at him. "One more rip, and Ken's done with me! And what do I do then, Gray? Huh? You tell me!"

Gray's gaze never wavered. "Somewhere in that pad of stuffing is a toy who taught me that life's only worth living if you're being loved by a kid. And I've travelled all this way to rescue that toy…" He paused to let it sink in, "…because I believed him."

Natsu just scoffed, "Well, you wasted your time. I'm staying, and that's final."

"That's it?!" Lucy's voice suddenly rose, and Natsu was startled by her outburst. "We finally found you, and this is how you repay us? You don't want to come back home with us?"

"Lucy, you don't understand what I'm up against! What I've been through!" Natsu shot back, trying to make his girlfriend see things the way he does. "When I first met these guys, they told me everything, about toys and kids. And they were right. Kids are meant to grow up, and they're nothing you can do about it. So why worry?"

Lucy felt shocked and disgusted, "How could you say such a thing? Toys are meant to make children happy! They're not meant to be on display in an exhibit for the rest of their lives. And Gray's right. A toy's life's is worth living if loved by a kid. You thought him that. I thought him that. And yet…" She started advancing on him, "…it looked like you forgot. Are you turning your back on Ken like he's nothing? On us?" She pointed to herself, her voice laced with a hint of anguish, "On me?"

"Well, what about you?" Natsu snapped back. "What if what happened to me, might happen to you? Ken's already outgrown me the moment he ripped my arm. When he shelved me, you cheered me up, gave me advice, and I trusted you. I trusted your advice." He turned away, "I realize, now, that what you told me, it got off on the wrong foot. Brain was right about him, about me." His voice turned grim, "Ken doesn't care about me anymore."

Lucy shouted back, "There are OTHERS who care about you too, Natsu! You have us!" She thrust out her hand to gesture to the group around her, "You can't go wasting your life in a museum if you still have a family who misses you, who needs you, who CARES for you!" She softened up a bit and put her hands around Natsu's cheeks, trying her best to get through to him, to make him understand. "Please, Natsu. We're doing this because we care. Because we love you." Her voice dropped to a whisper, "Because I love you. Please, come home with us. Please, my love…" She was on the verge of breaking down, "Say you will."

Natsu pushed Lucy's hands away. The anger in his eyes had been extinguished, making room for an river of sorrow. Overwhelmed by a multitude of emotions, he couldn't bring himself to answer. He just couldn't. He was faced with a choice between home and fame, one thing more important than the other.

"I'm sorry, Lucy."

He made his choice. He turned his head away.

"I… can't."

Lucy was not pleased to hear this at all. An expression that was a juxtaposition of contempt and anguish spread out on her face. She raised her hand, and gave a powerful slap towards Natsu's face. Her voice rose with her emotional breakdown, "I SHOULD'VE KNOWN YOU'D BE SELFISH!"

"Selfish…" Natsu rubbed the wound with a shocked expression. "SELFISH?!" Fury rose in him than he had ever felt before. For the first time in his life, he was shouting at the face of his girlfriend. "THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GOOD THING! A CHANCE TO BE LOVED BY KIDS THE WORLD OVER INSTEAD OF ONE! WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BE HAPPY FOR ME?!"

Lucy didn't have time to feel concern for his dilemma, and she countered with a furious scream that matched his own, "BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY ON A FAMILY! OUR FAMILY! YOU THINK YOU'VE GOT PROBLEMS?! WE CROSSED A WHOLE CITY LOOKING FOR YOU, NATSU! MEANWHILE, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? LIVING IT UP IN YOUR FANCY APARTMENT WITH YOUR SELLOUT CRONIES, SELFISHLY TURNING YOUR BACK ON EVERTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, ALL THE TIMES WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER, BECAUSE YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT YOURSELF! YOU CAN'T JUST ABANDON US!" Her voice lacked the strength and the volume, but she nevertheless kept on ranting, "Don't you understand? We need you! We all need you! Please, come back! Come back to us! Come back to me! If I lose you… I have nothing! Y-You hear me?! I have nothing!" She began to sob, "Please… Come back… Please…"

Natsu paused, and turned to face Lucy. His face was severe, and his voice even more so. The laughing, light-hearted pull-string Dragon Slayer who was the leader of Ken's collection of toys for many years was consumed by desperation and the desire to protect his new friends. His eyes spat severity towards the life he used to have, because they no longer knew how to do anything else.

"I'm. Staying. I don't care what you say. I don't care what you do."

With one last cold glare, he turned his back on his former friends and crossed his arms. His mind was made up.

"And quite frankly, I don't care if I ever see you again!"

That was his last word on the matter. Lucy was severely impacted by the harsh words Natsu filled her stomach with. The words fermented and sparked into a fire, a fire that burned the wood enforcing her heart and shattering it in the pieces. The cruelty, the sudden change of attitude, the cold icy stare… It was too much for her to bear. Finally, she could bear it no longer.

"You jerk… I hate you…" Lucy's face crumpled, her voice choked into emotional sobs. Finally, her sobs grew louder. How could Natsu, the toy she fell in love with, suddenly be so heartless and cruel? He had been a great assert, a dependable ally, a better friend… a lover. And now, he didn't seem to exist anymore. The toy she loved was gone. Natsu was dead. Unable to contain her grief any longer, she ran away and disappeared into the open vent, her sobs echoing from the darkness.

Finally, the world seemed to have faded around them as Gray and the rest of his friends' minds clouded with emotion. They couldn't believe that Natsu, their friend, their leader, would turn on them, even his own girlfriend. Even the Roundup Gang was surprised by the pull-string Dragon Slayer doll's sudden development.

"Let's go, everyone," Gray spoke from the crowd. His expression was not angry or sad, but grim. "We're going home."

Happy asked softly, "But what about Natsu?"

"He's not coming with us," Gray said regretfully, and he slowly turned around. He wasn't going to waste his time trying to change Natsu's mind.

"But Ken's coming home tonight," Wendy reminded.

"Then we'd better make sure we're all there waiting for him," Gray replied. Disappointed and heartbroken, the toys climbed into the ventilation system. Happy, Wendy, and Sherria, the last ones inside, gave their former best friend one last sad look before hopping in with the others.

"Well, see ya, I guess," Sherria waved. "Now we gonna stop Lucy from crying."

Gray was the last to go. Natsu took notice. He had to admit, he didn't want this to happen to Lucy, to Gray, and the rest of his toy family, but he had no choice. What else could he do?

"I don't have a choice, Gray," he sighed. "This is my only chance."

"To do what, Natsu?" Gray demanded. "Watch kids from behind glass and never be loved again?" He shook his head, "Some life."

With these parting words, he stepped into the vent, slamming the grate down behind him.