Melody stirred, her head pounding, and she looked around to find herself in some sort of cell.
"Well, well, well. Look who decided to finally wake up."
Melody looked at the cell door, seeing a couple gruff looking men leering at her. "Who are you?" She caught a glimpse of a black fist emblem on their skin and her eyes widened. "You're Black Stonefist...!"
"Right you are, pretty lady."
"What do you want with me?"
"We've been watching you for a long time, you and those Sabertooth wizards."
"You see, they forced us to disband awhile back and we decided to get back at them."
"You were using your magik to extort money from poor villages and you hurt anyone who refused to abide! Sting and Rogue stopped you for good reason! You bastards should have been taken to the Council!"
"Ooo, she's fiesty! I like it!"
"Ya, and look at her in that dress. She's pretty damn hot; wonder if the boss will let us have a bit of fun with her."
"First thing's first, Row, the boss wants to see her."
Melody stood, glaring at the dark wizards.
"Come on, little lady, boss wants to see you."
Melody, sensing she had no other choice, stepped out of her cell and followed the men through the halls and into a large room. 'This must be their guild hall... but Sting and Rogue destroyed it...'
"Boss, we brought the girl."
"Ah, welcome to Black Stonefist's new guild hall."
Melody looked at the man, a tall and muscular man with black hair and tan skin. "Why am I here?"
"You're here as my guest, of course."
"Really? So kidnapping people and throwing them into a dingy cell is your way of greeting guests?"
"I'm not very good with first impressions, am I?" the man chuckled. "My apologies. Allow me to start over."
Melody watched as he stood, making his way over to her.
"I am Tigon Drudar, Master of the newly reestablished Black Stonefist Guild." He bowed, a seemingly innocent smile present. "And you are Melody Cross, S-Class wizard of Fairy Tail, Water Dragon Slayer, and master of the lost martial arts, Lulasodi."
"If you know who I am, then you must know what a grave mistake you've made by kidnapping me. Not only will you have Fairy Tail hounding you, but you will have every legal guild in Fiore at your heels. Especially Sabertooth."
"And that is what I'm counting on." Tigon said, smirking. "You see, the former master of this guild was too simple minded. He sought after only money."
"And what is it that you want?" Melody asked, trying to remain on guard. "Why are you counting on Sabertooth coming after me? Is it revenge?"
"Bingo!" Tigon smiled. "You see, I have more ambitious goals for this guild. Money will always be a perk, but Sabertooth must pay for humiliating Black Stonefist. Once they've been taken out, we're rearing for all over legal guilds until there is nothing but dark guilds left in Fiore."
Melody scoffed at that. "You really believe that you can defeat the two strongest wizard guilds in Fiore? As well as the other legal guilds supporting them?"
"Not on my own, but alas dear Raindancer, that is why you're here." Tigon advanced towards her, chuckling. "You're going to help me."
"You're mad if you think I'd turn against my friends and family."
"You won't be given a choice."
Melody felt a sudden surge of power and looked at her feet, seeing a magik circle beneath her. "W-What are you doing?"
Tigon gripped her chin and lifted it up, forcing her to look at him. "You're going to be my new pet, dear Melody. You're going to do as I say, and if you resist, you'll experience unbearable pain and agony." He stepped back and activated his spell, grinning as Melody cried out in pain.
Miles away, as she sat with the other exceeds, Suki cried out in pain and held her head.
"Suki! What's wrong?"
Suki felt tears in her eyes and felt the fear and pain coarsing through her body for only a moment. "Melody...!"
Sting looked at her. "Is she alright?"
Suki looked at him and shook her head. "They're hurting her...!" She cried out again as another wave of fear and pain hit her, this one leaving her unconscious.
"Suki!"
Pantherlily caught her as she started to slump back, laying her down gently on the table.
"What was that?"
"Body Link?"
"Ever since Suki and Melody met, it would seem that their bond is stronger than what Body Link magik could produce." Makarov said. "Someone please take her to the infirmary."
Lucy offered and picked up the little exceed, hurrying to the infirmary.
"Master, what do we do? Melody is hurt. Who knows what else they might do to her."
Makarov sighed, then looked to Sting. "We'll find her, my boy. Just have faith that she'll pull through."
Sting didn't say a word and turned to leave the room, just wanting to be alone.
For weeks they had been searching for Melody, but no further sign of her had been found. And all the while, Sting blamed himself for everything that happened.
"Sting?"
Sting looked down to see that Lector had caught up with him, along with Rogue and Frosch. "I failed her..."
"It wasn't your fault, Sting." Rogue said. "You shouldn't beat yourself up so much."
"If I hadn't had that stupid party, if I had just kept a better eye on things..."
"You shouldn't blame yourself, Sting. If anything, we all failed her." Lector said. "No one could get to her in time before Black Stonefist took off with her."
Sting punched the wall. "I still failed her..."
Rogue and the exceeds looked at each other as Sting walked off, his head hanging.
"Rogue, we'll find Mel right?"
"I hope so..."