Finally uploaded guys, sorry about the lag!

I was stuck doing a lot of things and I didn't find enough time to write.

Please enjoy the chapter and READ AND REVIEW!

Chapter 3: Despair

Natsu extended his arm and a bright ball of flame ignited just above his palm.

"There," he said. "That should give us some light."

Lucy looked further into the cave and saw nothing but darkness. An ominous breeze seemed to flow from the cave, making Lucy shiver.

"It doesn't really help us; the light's radius only extends a few feet ahead of us." Erza said. "Still, if the rumors about this place are true, it's better that we have light. Be prepared for any kind of ambush. Whoever or whatever keeps taking the townspeople probably won't want us messing things up."

Lucy gulped and slid closer to Natsu, gripping the back of his vest. He turned around and flashed her a quick grin.

"Don't worry, Luce. I won't let anything happen to you."

Lucy looked up and returned a small smile, feeling the tension slowly leave her body. Right…there isn't a reason to be so freaked out, everyone is here with me and Natsu can-

An image of the two figures from her dream flashed through her mind. Lucy's eyes widened in horror as she remembered Natsu's defeat…is limp body sprawled on the floor.

"Hey Lucy, are you okay?" Concern Natsu's face. Lucy snapped back to reality when she heard his voice.

"Y-yeah…I'm fine." She faltered, glancing down uncomfortably.

"Relax." Natsu chuckled. "Like I said, I'll protect you!"

"Sure, if you don't need protection yourself hothead." Grey sneered.

"Shut it snowflake!"

"Enough!" Erza shouted. "We can't afford to waste any more time here. Let's find the missing townspeople. Natsu, light this and we'll use it as a torch. That way you don't use up too much magical power."

Natsu placed the ball of flame on the stick Erza was holding out.

"Now let's go!" Erza marched ahead.

Lucy's eyes trailed on Natsu's back. Natsu…what if you're the one we can't protect?

Fermon looked out at the town from his office window. He didn't even take notice to the humanoid lion standing by his desk.

"Do not ignore me, Fermon. I made my presence quite clear when I came in!" growled the lion.

"I know you did." Fermon said, not bothering to turn around. "You're odor was a strong enough warning without you crashing in here like a wild animal."

"Don't talk to me that way! Just because the master asked us to help you out doesn't mean I have to take orders from you!"

"Oh, I believe it does mean precisely that, Fang." Fermon's cold glare sent chills down his spine. Fang looked away in defeat.

"I see you've learned your place. Good." Fermon smirked. "Isn't it ironic how your Master gave a cat, a dog's name? Seems he thinks you are nothing more than a pet as well."

Fang growled is soft defiance. Fermon's smirk grew.

"Now, don't you have some Fairies to catch? Also, that flying blue cat they left behind, make sure he doesn't cause any problems. I don't care if you put him in a cage or a boiling pot; just make sure he's out of the way."

"Yes sir." Fang said through gritted teeth.

"Good, now go. Send in the other two, I have many things I need to discuss."

"Where the hell is everyone? We've been walking in circles! It's a damn labyrinth down here!" Natsu shouted.

"Wow." Grey said. "I'm impressed. I didn't know you knew the word 'labyrinth.'"

Lucy and Erza sighed as Natsu glared at Grey, ready to retaliate. To their universal surprise, Natsu just sighed and turned away.

"C'mon. Let's just find these missing people and get out of here. This place is giving me a bad feeling."

Erza, Lucy and Grey all glanced at each other, shocked.

"Natsu" Erza began. "What do you mean-?"

She stopped short as a bright light shone as the rounded another corner.

"What is this place?" Lucy asked.

Surrounding them was a huge underground coliseum. Old bones and rusted armor littered the floor. A rancid smell filled the air, and the temperature was extremely cold. It was so humid the air seemed to weigh them down.

"What the hell is this?" Grey said. "This isn't like any cold I've ever felt before."

"This smell…" Natsu mumbled.

"Someone's approaching!" Erza hissed. A deep laughter echoed through the coliseum.

"Well done, Titania. I would expect no less from Fairy Tail." A large, humanoid lion emerged from the darkness. "I am the great Lion Knight, Fang. It is very unfortunate that you ran into me Fairy Tail."

The lion let loose a hearty laugh. His golden armor clinking as his body shook.

"Where are the townspeople?" Erza asked as she exquipped into her fire armor.

"I let them all go. They weren't needed now that you are here!"

"What do you mean? Why did you take them in the first place?"

"To lure you here of course." Fang laughed.

"Well here we are!" Natsu shouted, bright red flames engulfing his fists. "And now we're gonna take you out!"

Natsu charged at the lion, fists blazing. The lion laughed as he easily sidestepped Natsu's attack and countered with a bone crushing punch into his stomach. Natsu crashed into the wall behind Lucy.

"Natsu!" she shouted and ran toward him.

"Dammit…" Natsu growled below his breath.

"Relax, Salamander." Fang said. I am not here to fight, at least not yet. I came here with a message."

"Why lead us here, into a bunch of ruins for a stupid message?" Grey asked.

"Because," Fang smirked. "This is a great burial ground for you."

"Burial ground?" Erza shouted.

"Oh, yes. I don't plan on letting you leave here alive." Fang slammed his fist into the ground and the whole coliseum began to tremble. "My message is this: War will soon converge on your guild, and if you refuse to take part, then the First shall be punished! Oh and don't worry about letting your guild know, that blue cat of yours is already carrying the message."

"Wait!" Natsu shouted. "What have you done with Happy?"

The lion once again let out a hearty laugh as he disappeared into the shadows.

"Wait!" Natsu tried to give chase but the coliseum's ceiling gave in and the ruins began to collapse on top of them.

"We have to get out of here!" Erza yelled. The group began to run back the way they came, dodging falling rocks and debris but soon the amount of debris was too much and they were buried along with the ancient coliseum.

Mira glanced at the entrance to see a tattered Happy slowly hover in. She dropped her tray of drinks and ran towards him.

"Master come quickly its Happy!"

Makarov bounded from the top railing next to Mira, who was now cradling Happy in her arms.

"Happy! What happened? Where's everyone else?" she asked frantically.

"Nat….Natsu…" Happy said weakly, losing consciousness.

"Happy? Happy!" Mira yelled. Makarov put a hand on her shoulder and shook his head.

"Don't worry he's not dead, but he needs medical treatment right away." He reached down and pulled away the note that was stuck to Happy's arm.

"We shall go to war, Makarov. If you refuse, the First shall perish." Makarov grimaced as he looked down at the note.

"What does that mean Master?" Mira asked.

"It means what I feared earlier is true." Makarov glanced darkly at the rest of the guild. "Natsu, Lucy, Erza and Grey might not be coming back…"

Fermon looked on at the rubble and ruin. "Fang seemed to have done his job well. Now on to the next phase of my plan." He began to laugh maliciously as he walked away.

From the center of the rubble came a burst of flame. As the rubble gave away, an ice sphere came into view. Natsu, Lucy, Grey and Erza emerged from the ice.

"Ugh" Erza grumbled. "Thanks Grey. That was close."

"It was there…" Natsu said. "She did that, but how?"

"Natsu what's wrong?" Lucy asked.

"Those bones and armor…the burn marks…a dragon did that."

"What? But dragons have been missing for over seven years!" Grey said.

"Yeah…but this one is different. She was always different."

"Natsu, you're not telling us everything." Erza said. "And I think this is something we need to know."

Natsu sighed. "Before Igneel left, he told me about this sapphire blue dragon who had a heart as evil as you can imagine. In legend, only two dragons were enemies of the world."

"There's another evil dragon?" Lucy asked.

Natsu nodded. "But Igneel didn't tell me anything about the other one. It seemed to bother him a lot."

"Well, what of the sapphire one?" Erza asked.

"She worried Igneel as much and she angered him. He said she caused despair wherever she went."

"Sounds like she had problems." Grey said. "But each dragon has unique powers, right? Like you with fire and Gajeel with steel. Those skeletons were burned."

"Yeah, they were." Natsu said.

Lucy looked at him confused. "But Igneel is the fire dragon. How can this dragon be fire too?"

"Igneel called her Hydra. She is also fire dragon but her fire isn't normal. It's a blue flame colder than ice and it blazes brighter than the sun."

"That sounds extremely powerful. Imagine a dragon slayer of that level." Erza said.

"No, Igneel said she hated humans. She'd never train one."

Erza rubbed her chin. " Another question is what that dragon was doing in the coliseum or how long ago it was."

"It was only a few days ago. Those skeletons are very recent, and Hydra is out there somewhere." Natsu said.

"Why did that lion drag us down there then? Do you think it was coincidence?" Lucy asked, fear slowly creeping into her.

Erza shook her head. "No, it wasn't. He knew exactly where to lure us. That guy was insanely strong. If the people he works with are just as strong as him if not stronger then we have a huge problem on our hands. And if that dragon is working with them, then these guys might be the worst enemies we've ever faced. This might be a war we can't win."

Lucy shivered. "That can't be. There has to be something we can do!"

"There is." Natsu stood up, and started to walk away. " I'm going to find Hydra and take her out."

So I'm officially back and writing.

Again sorry for the lag and I know this chapter seemed a little fast and Natsu was OC but I needed that to set up what I'm planning.

Please stay patient!

Please read and review!