Natsu, Lucy and Happy ended up staying another two days in front of the convent, just to make sure no one tried to attack the nuns again. After the third night the nuns felt safe enough to be okay with them leaving. It was a long way from the mountains back to Fairy Tail, but Lucy insisted on droping by the guild before heading home. In Fairy Tail there could always be something going on worth knowing about. Natsu agreed that he wouldn't want to miss out on any fun and they desided to stop by to catch up.
They were walking towards the guild when a shadow separated from the wall and quickly started walking towards them.
„Where the hell have the three of you been? Huh?"
The shadow turned out to be Gray. He was quickly closing the distance between them and he seemed to be angry about something.
„Haven't you learned anything at all? How can you just walk away on you own?"
Lucy was suprised by his angry tone of voice, „Gray, what is going on? We took a normal mission and we were only gone 3 days."
Natsu didn't seem to catch on to the tension in Gray's voice, „Yeah, Gray, did you miss us already? We weren't gone thaaaaat long."
„In your dreams," Gray sneered at him with contempt, „I am guessing you guys haven't heard yet. That Podicu gang that was attaking the convent, everybody is talking about it."
„Hah, news travells fast! You heard how we kicked their butts already?"
„Natsu, you are so full of yourself. That's not what I meant. Everybody is talking about them, because they are dangerous as hell. We weren't sure if you were dead or alive. When Master realized who exactly was terrorizing the nuns, it would have already been to late to rescue you. After a battle Podicu don't leave survivers."
Lucy and Natsu looked at each other in confusion.
„Wait, Gray, it wasn't like that...", Lucy started out only to be interrupted by a laughing Natsu.
„Oh, Gray, you were worried about us. So nice of you! But we've beaten those Podicu guys really easily! You didn't have to worry.
Making fun of Gray he set out to jokingly hug Gray, only to get Gray's fist right into his face.
Realizing that this fight could take a while, Lucy sighed and moved on passt them into the Fairy Tail building. Gray's words didn't sound like he was joking and it didn't seem like the Master to misinterpret a situation like this.
Inside Fairy Tail it was lively as always. After talking to some people, the situation became clearer. The stories that got Gray so upset were about cruel warriors that called themselves Podicu and attacked villages, killing everybody in sight. No survivors, ever. Rumors were that they were looking for somebody, but nobody knew the details since there were really no survirvors.
„Then who were those people attacking the convent? It couldn't have been the real Podicu. They were not hard to fight at all", wondered Lucy.
„I don't know what to tell you. I suspect that were just some simple bandits that were trying to use the fear that the name Podicu brings with it", the Master replied.
From somewhere Natsu's head popped up, „That explains a lot! But I am sure we would be able to beat the real Podicu as well. Right, Lucy?"
He winked at her and off he went again. Lucy wasn't as sure about the outcome of their battle if it had been the real Podicu attacking the nuns. But now it was to late to worry about it and by the time she got home she was too tiered to think.
"Lucy! Lucy! Are you alright?"
Natsu was running up the stairs to Lucy's apartment, shouting. The whole neighborhood was turned upside down. Who would have thought that Podicu could attack so close to Fairy Tail and go unnoticed until sunrise when the mess they left became evident. The door was unlocked and Natsu threw it open only to find Loke banging his head against the wall in a completely wrecked apartment.
"Loke? What are you doing here? Where is Lucy? What happened?", Natsu was looking around in a frenzy, trying to understand what was going on.
The scene in the apartment was anything but serene. Lucy's table was tuned upside down with its contents spread on the floor, covering it with paper, pens and pencils. The wardrobe had a crack in it and one of the doors was lying on the unmade bed. It must have been a hell of a fight to create such chaos.
"They took her. I couldn't stop them. I failed. I was breaking the rules to protect her and still failed. They just knocked me out and I went back to the spirit world. By the time I got back it was morning on this plane and they were gone", Loke explained still banging his head against the wall making a loud thud every time.
Natsu kept questioning him, "You were here when they attacked? You saw them? Is Lucy still alive? How did this happen?" Loke just nodded and Natsu continued, "You have to come to Fairy Tail and tell everybody what you saw! We need to get Lucy back!"
Not saying another word to Natsu Loki walked out the door and started heading towards the guild. His expression was sullen, but focused. Natsu wanted to get some more answers out of him, but it seemed that Loke wouldn't say a word until they reached Fairy Tail.
Natsu was already going crazy by the time they sat down inside. He was too hyped up and ready to go fight Podicu or whoever took Lucy. How Loke could stay so calm, especially after some thugs had beaten him, was a mystery anyway.
"Loke, start talking! How can you be so quiet? What happened? You are killing me!"
"Natsu, you have no patience! Either Lucy is already dead or they need her for something. From what I heard they need her and for now she is safe there. We need to think of a good plan to get her out. I can't do it alone. I need your help."
Natsu enraged that Loke even considered going without him replied, "Of course we will all come with you, but first you need to tell us what you know." Others chimed in confirming their desire to help rescue Lucy and Natsu continued, "Why were you there anyway? Could you feel that Lucy was in trouble? Her spirits often just appear in the right time. It is very convenient."
"No, it wasn't quite like that. Let's just skip the why I was there part of the conversation for now. It doesn't matter. I'll start from the beginning. I was standing in Lucy's room when I heard a noise outside. I didn't think much of it and wanted to go back to the spirit world before Lucy woke up, but she was so tired from yesterday, so there was no reason to leave."
"I wanted to check outside, but the door got slammed in my face. About five men stormed inside knocking me to the floor. I heard one of them say something like 'This time I am sure. This is whom we need. Get her'. I tried fighting them off, but I was outnumbered and they were surprisingly well trained. Lucy didn't even get the chance to fight back once one of them grabbed and gagged her. I did all I could, but they knocked me out."
"Before I got sucked back into the spirit plane I believe I heard them say, 'Got her. Soré will be happy'. As soon as I restored my strength I went back, but times flows differently in the spirit world. I arrived back not much earlier than Natsu did. While we were walking here I tried to locate my key, but it seems like it is somewhere shielded. Somebody must be very powerful to shield my own key from me. I really don't know what to do right now."
It was quiet for a bit.
The Master sighed, "I am glad you were there, whatever your reasons to intrude, since I believe Lucy had no idea. Now we at least know who leads the Podicu. We have a starting point."
"Yes, you go ahead and get started with the search. I will use the spirit world. I can break through the shield, but I won't know where I will reappear so I won't be able to tell you. You will have to find Soré and get us on your own", added Loke and was starting to get up from his seat.
"Loke, don't even think of going there on your own! If it is shielded that well you will be able to get in, but you won't be able to get out. They don't need you, so they will kill you. You won't be able to just go back to the spirit world like you did today because of the shield. Do you hear what I am saying, Loke?", the Master shouted furiously at Loke.
Loke was pumped with anger as well and even changed into his spirit form and his words sounded more like roaring, "I know how things work! I get killed in your world and don't go back to mine, means I die. But she saved me! I'll be damned if I let anything happen to her. Just try to find her quickly."
With those words he slipped into the spirit world.