Gray and gang made a mad dash towards the docks, hoping to catch up with everyone else. The docks were bustling with people at this hour, so finding a ship for rent was not hard. in fact, they found one almost too easily. Question is, how long was the time gap between Gray's team's acquiring of a ship and that of Natsumi's? It could have been hours. But that isn't what matters, what matters is catching up with Natsumi right here and right now. At least, that's all Gray had in mind.

''I swear, If Sting does anything to her, I'll snap Lector's neck in front of him'' Gray said in a pissed off tone.

No one else replied, they knew how much she meant to him. Ever Erza, who was usually the one to to stop things from going haywire, didn't bother, feeling what Gray must be going through.

''Gray.'' Lucy replied, ''We'll find her, I promise!''

Gray let out a sigh, attempting to calm down. His rage had overtaken him, leaving him lightheaded and his limbs numb. He suddenly felt dizzy from all of the blood rushing to his head. as he leaned against the mast to cool off.

''There's no way we can make this ship go any faster, all we can do is wait.'' said Gray.

''Let's just hope they aren't doing anything too crazy.'' said Lucy.

As the ship rocked side by side from the waves, and everyone was discussing their respective plan once they reach the prison. According to the sources they got, which were scarce due to the lack of information outside the country, Impel Down was four times more secure than even Black Vox, Fiore's highest security prison, and four times more inhumane as well. From it's description alone, Erza had to punch down a pillar to let out her anger, as her childhood PTSD was acting up.

As Gray looked into the sky, he couldn't get Natsumi's image out of his head, all the while attempting to suppress them, telling himself that he's better than that. He couldn't just fall for his former arch-nemesis just because he underwent a sex change. But thinking so only make him realize how much of a fool they BOTH were in their arguments. Especially the one that got Natsu in the mess he's in in the first place.

''Natsumi, change or stay, it doesn't matter anymore, I'll still love you...'' he murmured, before realizing how creepy he sounded, causing him to bang himself on the edge of the ship.

Natsumi woke up with a sneeze, Looking outside, she saw a massive building in the distance, and woke everyone up, signaling that they had arrived. As Sting and Rogue steered the ship to the side so that they don't get caught, they took this as an opportunity to scout and determine what's the best way to tackle this kind of fortress.

''So that's Impel Down? It's frickin huge!'' said Natsumi.

''Guess those documents weren't kidding when they said that the prison was like an entire city, this thing dwaves even our king's palace!'' said Sting, in amazement.

''So, how do we want tackle this?'' asked Rogue.

''I was thinking maybe we could do the old disguise yourself as a prisoner trick.'' suggested Happy.

''Actually, why don't we fly over the guards? they wouldn't expect an aerial attack now would they?'' asked Natsumi.

''Yeah, about that...'' said Lector, embarrassed, ''Neither of us can fly.''

''Yeah, we just kind of cheer while Sting and Rogue do all the fighting.'' said Frosh.

''WHAT KIND OF USELESS PARTNERS ARE YOU PEOPLE?!'' Yelled Happy.

Suddenly, a dark mass appeared below the ship as the floor shook violently.

''What's going on?!'' screamed Natsumi.

''Crap, this is plan just took a turn for the worse!'' said Rogue.

''Dear god! IT'S A SEA KING!'' Yelled Sting as two massive jaws sprouted out of the water and gobbled up the entire ship.

Inside the Sea King...

It was dark, within the wreckage of wood, a glow of Light was seen as it traveled around, looking for his lost comrades.

''Natsu?! Rogue?! Lector?! Frosh?! Anyone here?!'' Yelled Sting, emitting a light tin an attempt to regroup, ''Damn, how long was this Sea King, I've been searching for half an hour!

Suddenly, He walked over what he thought was a scarf. As he looked down, he instantly recognized it as Natsumi's signature Scale Scarf, meaning that she's somewhere within this wreckage. As he used his heightened senses to scout out where she could be, his ears picked up a faint cry for help. As Sting was filled with hope, he made a mad dash towards the source of the noise. After a solid minute of running through the fleshy cavern, he found what was previously a mast, and Natsumi was trapped under it.

Sting was overtaken with joy as he lifted the mast and dragged Natsumi out of it. He assumed she was just unconscious, but upon closer inspection, he knew that Natsumi was in serious trouble. With a hint of panic, he needed to feel her pulse to see if she was still breathing. So, apologizing in spirit, he stripped Natsumi from her clothes to inspect for any internal injuries. He needed to fell her pulse, which was usually very easily for him, but this time, he was operating a girl, who had two Double-Ds in the way. He tried his best not to look perverted as he pressed his head against Natsumi's chest. Her warm, soft breasts made Sting fell like he was lying on a pillow rather than trying to save someone's life. All he could think off was how painful the slap would be if Yukino saw him like this.

No luck, the barrage of thoughts made it impossible for Sting to figure out whether she had a pulse or not. He had to come to the conclusion that she had no pulse, as concluding that she did might cost him her life. Meaning that the only way to reanimate her, without anything to do with her chest was... CPR...

''Curse the doctors who came up with these ridiculous medical techniques!'' Sting said, as he opened Natsumi's mouth. Little did he know, Natsumi's eyes were twiching as Sting was bending over.

All there was was pitch black. Natsumi couldn't see, hear nor feel anything. All that she remembered was getting swallowed whole by a giant Sea Creature, then pitch black. As she swam around the black void, she became increasingly lost. Fear started to take hold, and she wanted to scream, but her voice was so muted, that not even she could hear it. Just then, a glow of light was seen in the distance. She had nothing to lose, and hope began to reclaim her, so she swam towards the light. It was warm, soft, welcoming, Natsumi had never felt such bliss, all her pain and worries were vanishing, and she loosened up in the white heavenly fields.

''So is this it?'' She thought to herself, ''I'm actually dead, aren't I?''

She wanted to cry, but she just felt too good, that any semblance of sadness as instantly dulled. Just then, a familiar hand reached for her. Turing around, her eyes widened as she met face to face with the one she spent half her life searching for: Igneel.

''D-Dad?!'' asked Natsumi.

''What are you doing Natsu?'' asked Igneel in a soft tone.

''I was looking for you! Father, I finally found you!'' said Natsumi happily.

''You look a little... different'' said Igneel.

''I... was turned into a girl.'' said Natsumi in embarrassment.

''Oh come on! I didn't ask for a daughter!'' said Igneel jokingly.

''I was planning on finding a away to revert back to normal, and you see how that turned out!'' said Natsumi.

''And you're just going to die?'' Asked Igneel

''Well, what's done is done, right?'' asked Natsumi.

''You're not dead yet Natsu! You have an entire life ahead of you! Look around!'' said Igneel.

Suddenly, from the void, Everyone was there, The Guild, The people she met on her journeys, everyone.

''We are waiting for you Natsu! So live on.'' Said Igneel.

Natsumi teared up.

''Alright!''

Suddenly, all faded to black, as another tunnel of light appeared above her. Suddenly, she found herself, kissing Sting.

''S-Sting?!'' She cried out in shock.

''Ah! N-Natsu! I'm so sorry! This isn't what it look like!'' Cried Sting in retaliation. He shut his eyes, expecting a hit, but instead, Natsumi lunged in, kissing him back.

TO BE CONTINUED...