Hello! Here's another chapter for you, which is much longer, and hopefully much better. In case you are wondering, this story will have a) six chapters b)many friendship pairings and c)no romance (well, save for Grayza. It can be really seen different ways for that one).

"Lucy!"

Erza cursed under her breath. She knew something was off when Lucy had not been in bed with her that morning, yet she refused to assume the worst. The Scarlet checked under the bed, and grimaced. Throwing open Natsu's door, she began to shake him violently.

"Whaa...stop, Erza," the Salamander mumbled, throwing a pillow at her. She snarled, shaking him even harder. Natsu, who never took her seriously in this situation, continued to ignore her, drifting back into a peaceful slumber.

"Listen, Natsu...," she said, her voice breaking slightly, "We don't have time for this." The pink haired teen looked at her suspiciously, squirming into a sitting position and crossing his arms. The air in the room thickened. He shied away from her intense glare.

"What? Is something wrong?" he asked. Erza closed her eyes as she sighed, and she massaged her temples. This definitely wouldn't be easy for Natsu to hear, however, if they were to get anywhere with the problem, she would have to tell him.

"Lucy is missing."

Natsu's eyes widened, and he looked towards the edge of his room. Four figures burst through the door. Gray advanced towards Erza quickly.

"Lucy is WHAT?!" he yelled, and Wendy, who was also with him, looked down at the floor in worry. Happy, who didn't know what to feel, hid behind Gray quietly. Natsu swallowed, a ball of worry welling up in his stomach. He knew Lucy could take care of herself...but, what was going on here? He shook his head, not wanting to think of the multiple gruesome possibilities.

"Before we jump to conclusions," Erza said, turning to the two boys, "We should split up. I want all of us to get hard at work searching for her." Gray raised his hand, a small blush on his face.

"What if she is in the bathroom?" the ice mage asked, and Carla face palmed. Erza looked at him as if the answer was obvious.

"I don't see what the problem would be. You both have seen have seen her naked before, be it accidental or purposeful. Besides, a little skinship is perfectly normal among guild members, especially since both of you boys are such close friends of her's." she responded, and they nodded quickly. Wendy was tempted to say how unormal it was, in contrast, but swallowed her thoughts. Erza would most likely not get it anyway.

Natsu, who was now fully awake, sprung into action. He was the first to leave the room, calling out her name at full volume. Gray was second, fervently checking every nook and cranny. Wendy and Carla entered the kitchen.

Carla came across a piece of paper, and opened it. She gasped, and her hands began to tremble. As soon as she found her voice to speak, she called the others.

"I found something!" Carla yelled, and the other members of Team Natsu quickly came to join her. Erza took the note from her, and her eyes widened. She bit her lip. Natsu tapped his foot impatiently, looking at her warily.

"Well?" he snapped. Erza gulped, giving him a confused look. The fire dragon slayer tried again. "Well, what does it say?"

"It says 'Goodbye Lucy'," she murmured, and everyone was taken aback. Gray was the first one who dared to speak.

"Goodbye Lucy?" he repeated, his voice trembling in worry. "Does that mean that she's...," Erza shook her head furiously.

"I don't think so. But it does mean that someone else knew that we accepted this request. They're one step ahead of us," she said. "Natsu can you smell her?" Natsu, who was now snapped out of his thoughts,put his nose to work. After a few minutes of painful waiting, his eyes widened.

"She's...I don't understand," he muttered. He sniffed a bit more. "I'm sure of it. She's in the inn basement." Gray, who was surprised at his words, looked at Natsu dubiously.

"Why would she be there?" he asked. He looked at Erza, who was frozen stiff. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was formed in a thin line. What she said next surprised everyone.

"We've been doublecrossed."

Lucy opened her eyes. Immediately, she winced. All her limbs ached, and it was difficult to breathe. She attempted to get up, but failed.

"Where...am I?" she whispered, taken aback by the hoarseness of her voice. A surly man turned towards her, and grinned at her sadistically. She gave him a cold glare, growling at him. He laughed at her, approaching the cell she was kept in confidently.

"You're in the inn basement, it's 7:00 in the morning, and you've just been captured by Silver Chimera's forces," he responded. She looked at him in surprise.

"T-that isn't possible. We defeated Silver Chimera yesterday," she said, wincing again. He hummed in response.

"Oh did you? Weak, weren't they?"

"W-well, yes," she said. "But I don't what that has to do with you." The man laughed again, but this time it was loud and violent, and it scared her.

"What if I told you there were more mages than the ones you saw that day?" he asked her, and she snarled in response. He continued. "In fact, what if I told you that this inn you've been staying in is actually the Silver Chimera guild hall?" Her eyes widened, and she didn't trust herself to speak. Her heart was jumping out of her chest, and she felt trembles of fear shiver up her spine. No.

"B-but...what about those villagers?" she said, refusing to believe the truth. He sneered at her innocence, picking his nose.

"Actors. We promised them pay, but them killed them so we didn't have to," he responded. "Just face it. You fairies were completely fooled, and you've only got yourself to blame." Lucy felt tears come to her eyes. This whole job was just a trap.

"They'll come for me," she said defiantly. He snorted.

"Not a chance," he said. "They'll be killed before they can even reach here. I guarantee it."

"Don't underestimate fairies," she said. He turned his back, giving another violent laugh. She got up, gripping her keys. "And don't underestimate me." He turned around, his eyes widening and a cold sweat forming on the back of his neck.

"Wait, how are you even able to stand? Do you know what this air does to magic users?" he asked. "Listen, for your own health you should-"

"Star Dress: Leo!" she screamed. "Regulus: Lion Brilliance!" In a flash of light, the cell bars shattered, and the man collapsed. She smirked, running out quickly. She smelled the air, her nose scrunching.

"What is that smell?" she asked herself, before putting her hand on the wall. "Never mind. I should get back to the room, to warn the others."

"This place smells funky," Natsu said,making a face. "Don't you guys smell that?" Happy nodded, covering his nose.

"Is this the basement, Natsu?" Erza asked, and he nodded. Immediately, mages launched themselves at them, and Erza widened as she felt a fist connect with her stomach. She coughed up some blood, and moved back.

"Erza?!" Gray asked, looking at her in worry.

"These mages are on a whole new level than those we faced yesterday," she said, clutching her abdomen. "And, what's more, they don't even use magic." Gray stepped in front of her, defeating a couple of the mages.

"Regulus Impact!" a woman's voice screamed, and Natsu smiled. After managing to defeat a few more mages, he smiled at her.

"Lucy!" he called out in relief, yet frowned at her condition. Her legs were trembling, and she was unnaturally pale. She looked at him with exhaustion in her eyes, before beginning to fall to her knees. Instead of feeling the impact of the ground on her body, she felt two cool hands wrap around her. Gray lifted her up bridal style, and she smiled at him weakly.

"You've really gotten strong, haven't you Lucy," he says, and she laughs at his statement. Natsu joined the two, ruffling the blonde's hair with an affectionate smile on her face.

"I guess you've found out about our little mess-up," he said. "But you don't need to worry. You already did enough. Rest up,'kay?" She nodded her head. The Salamander turned to Gray suddenly. You better not screw this up, Ice Princess.

"Popsicle, take Lucy out of here," he said, and the ice mage nodded. Natsu then turned to Wendy and Carla.

"You guys go back to tell Grandpa what happened," he said. "Happy, you go with Ice Brain and Lucy." He looked at Erza, and she smiled at him. He turned his back, and smiled confidently. He punched his fist to his palm.

"Erza and I will handle things here!"

Were you guys surprised?! I'm so evil. I'll be updating shortly. Hopefully, I can finish the whole entire story today. See ya!

~Hiraethe