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"Laxus, we need to talk." The smirk on Laxus face vanished.

The guild doors burst open as four figures came inside. Mirajane saw them and decided to greet them but something held her back. There's something different about them. Were they up all night searching for Lucy around Magnolia? Those eye bags sure do mean something. Never have she saw such deep circles around their eyes. They search for her but not on this grand scale, that they'll risk their own health. She's worried for their safety and why have they returned so late? It was noon.

"Welcome back, Natsu, Gray, Erza, Happy!" She called for them, trying to cheer them up. They looked at her but no words seem to form from their mouths, just apologetic and guilty faces. They just nodded at her. It's really weird. Usually, even though tired from a nightly search, the next morning they were energized and greet everyone with at least a weak smile. There's something solemn about the way they walk. It's like they made a pact only to speak to a certain someone? It was like someone has died? 'Oh no, you can't mean her!' She tried to contain her tears and comfort herself that she might be wrong in her speculation, as she watched them walk to a nearby table where the Master is having a drinking contest with Cana, obviously both of them are trying to drown themselves to forget their problems.

"Master." Erza was the first to speak, walking towards the Master. Gray, Natsu and Happy soon followed. Makarov turned around, failing miserably to get himself drunk. He then put his full attention to the approaching group. The whole guild noticed this and in a second, everything was quiet. Deathly quiet. Everyone anticipated what will be the outcome so much that they all stopped what they were doing and stared. Team Natsu was giving these strange vibes, after all. They want to pop open the bubble of tension. It's unbearable. Makarov and the Team were just staring at each other, neither of them willing to start.

"Brats, speak up!" The Master scolded them in which they just bowed their heads lower.

"We're here for the punishment, Master." Gray was the first to speak up. Mirajane glanced at Juvia who just stared in horror that her Gray-sama is facing something so inevitable. Master was shocked at this brave proclamation. He then relaxed like he knew something all along.

"Master, we went there last night. At Tenrou Island." Gasps of shock and disbelief were heard in the whole building at Erza's no-nonsense statement. It seems that they have prepared themselves for the consequences.

"I know. And?" Macarov said. He knew it all along. After all, he's a respected and powerful wizard. Espionage is a mere child's play. It was time for Team Natsu to be surprised. All of them looked up to meet his relaxed face. He's not mad but that doesn't mean that the punishment won't come. It sure is. They didn't ask him how he knew. They just stared at the floor, thinking of the things they should say. It was decided, everything. They will tell everything.

"She was there." Natsu spoke up. Lisanna saw this and went to join her sister in the bar.

"Was?" Macarov asked. Happy cried at this. 'Was?' Mirajane thought. 'Oh no! She's dead, isn't she?' Noticing her sister's tensed body and muffled cries, Lisanna hugged her and sobbed. The whole guild saw the girls' display of sadness and soon all of them tried so hard to conceal their own turmoil. Levy, who was watching the whole situation, covered her face with the book Lucy has given her. Elfman joined his sisters in the bar, comforting them. Juvia walked up to Gray. Cana stopped her drinking, finding it unappetizing. Natsu noticed the whole guild's tears, finding it that they misunderstood his statement.

"No, everyone, Lucy's not dead!" Natsu shouted. Breaths of relief followed at Natsu's reassurance.

"Then what is it, brats?!" Macarov was getting irritated by the team's silence. He'd had enough.

"Lucy is alive but we're not perfectly sure she's fine…" Erza started, choosing her words carefully so as not to cause another ruckus. The guild was puzzled by these words so, they listened attentively. "…when we got there, Lucy is nowhere to be found. What we found were two other scents. And both of it belong to guild members." Everyone in the building talked to themselves, asking who could it be? Is Lucy safe with that person?

The Thunder God Tribe has been suspicious about all this. Is it Laxus? If he was, who's the other one? That guy was a private person. They don't know who else would be his accomplice and if so, why would he be with Lucy all this time without even contacting them?

"One belongs to The First." Gray said. Everyone just nodded. The first guild master's grave was erected there in her honor so it is not a surprise that her scent was all over the place. The guild members were more relieved by this revelation. Piece by piece they managed to uncover the mystery if Lucy's disappearance. After their moment of breathing, they turned again their attention at the people at the center.

"And the other was Laxus." Natsu confessed, gritting his teeth. Commotion soon followed at this vital piece of information. Thunder God Tribe was taken aback; they didn't know how much their speculation was right. But even though he was the main suspect at the Heartfilia's disappearance, they find themselves feeling the need to prove their leader's innocence.

"Don't talk that way about Laxus-sama!" Freed was the first to spoke, his usually calm demeanor was replaced by fury.

What followed after Freed's reaction was a never-ending barrage of insults from Team Natsu and Thunder God Tribe. Natsu called Laxus a bastard that would never change. Bickslow countered, saying that his sense of smell was a failure due to his malpractice. Gray said to the other team that, don't get their hopes too high. Laxus was once a traitor, he could be one again, anytime. Evergreen threatened to turn Team Natsu into stone. Erza requipped in her armor, swords waiting for her command. Both teams then assumed their battle stances, ready to knock down each other for their member. Macarov was watching the whole ordeal, processing in his mind all of the information. Just when both teams are about to charge each other and rip their throats, the Master, put his magic-enhanced, gigantic hand in between to stop them and said in a loud voice,

"We can't be too sure about Laxus. Remember, Mavis was there. She could save Lucy from Laxus if he were a threat." At that, everyone seemed to calm down and took their seats. Just when Erza could speak up, Macarov continued his speech as he turned back to Team Natsu. "What puzzles me the most is that, why didn't you follow their scent when you had the chance?"

"It was for that reason we came back. When we got on the ship to follow it, it has vanished again." Natsu said, defeated. Hearing all of those, Macarov started to walk up to the stairs to get to his office. Time think about what should be done next. But before he could reach for the hand railings, he was stopped by Gray's voice.

"Master, what about our punishment?"

"I'll postpone it until Lucy is found." He walked up. He didn't have the time to think about punishments for misbehaving children yet. If it wasn't for them, they won't have a new lead. Team Natsu really was starting to mature. 'Gray, you really deserve to be an S-Class mage.'

"Thanks." Team Natsu smiled.

A/N: Here's another chapter! Come on you guys, I really need your reviews. I'm having a major writer's block these days. :)