Okay, so this chapter isn't as intense as I thought it would be, but I wanted to post.

In all truth, the last chapter, this one, and the next one were all supposed to be one big chapter.

but that would've taken too long.

So, enjoy!

The group slowly started to walk down the dark corridor, Aurea immediately feeling something wrong. Her magical energy seemed to be affected by the area itself, and her head started to cloud over. She placed a hand on her forehead, but the corridor was so dark, no one could see the young mage's distress as she walked down the stone stairs. Her heart beat quickened with each step, causing her to reach out for the other members of the group, but found none. Her heart stopped for a moment as she looked behind her, hoping to see their silhouettes walking behind her, but the path was empty. Her eyes widened as she frantically ran forward, hoping to find the group. With that, she bumped into something and fell back. The thing, or person, she bumped into looked behind himself and saw the young girl. It was Gray. He stopped when he saw the young girl on the ground, and turned towards her.

"Hey, kid, you alright?" he asked.

"Uh-huh," Aurea nodded, "I'm sorry for bumping into you, I guess I fell behind in the group." she apologized.

Gray just shook his head and smiled warmly, before wrapping his hands around her waist and lifting her off of the ground. Aurea yelped quietly as her feet left the floor, and she was placed on Gray's shoulder. He looked up to her as she clung to his head out of slight fear.

"Now you won't fall behind." he said before walking down more steps.

Aurea smiled and let out a small laugh. The steps made it a bumpy ride, and they had to move faster to catch up with the group, but Aurea didn't mind. She held onto Gray's head lightly so she wouldn't fall, but he didn't seem to mind. When they caught up with the group, Aurea desperately wanted to see what was inside this dark corridor, but she didn't know if the group wanted to stay hidden.

"Um, guys, is it okay if I light up this place a bit?" she quietly asked.

Erza shook her head, "No, unless you can make only a faint light, your powers spread a little too much light, and I don't think it would be a good idea if we're found."

Aurea nodded in understanding as they continued down the stairs. Suddenly, with each step Gray took, Aurea's head clouded over a bit, and pressure started to fill her senses. Before, it wasn't as much, but with each step the pressure built higher, and her head was starting to fill with slight pain. Something was messing with her magic energy, and it was down there. Aurea desperately tried to stay quiet, but as they drew closer to the end of the corridor, the pain began to become too much. She grasped her head with one hand, whilst still holding Gray's with the other, and let out a small whimper, causing the group to turn around and look at her with concern.

"What's wrong Aurea? You aren't scared, are ya?" Kai asked.

Aurea only shook her head in response, "M-my head… it hurts!" she quietly exclaimed, shaking a bit.

She grasped her head again as pain sailed through it, and cried out as quietly as she could. Now gripping her head with both hands, she fell from Gray's shoulder and fell forward, starting to tumble down the stairs. The group rushed forward to catch the girl, but stopped when they saw they were on flat ground. They walked a few steps forward, and a small glow encased the room so there was just enough light for the group to see simple shapes of everything around them, and each other. They looked over to see Aurea on the group, grasping her head in pain with her eyes squeezed shut. They rushed forward in concern, and Kai reached a hand out towards her, but he swiftly pulled it back when he felt a strange presence around the little girl. His eyes widened in confusion, and he reached a hand out again. The presence was gone, and Aurea was now breathing heavily, her arms slowly removing themselves from her head and moving to the ground. Her head was free of the pressure, but something was still clouding over it. Knowing this, she swallowed slowly and stood up, her legs shaking as she did so. Strangely, though, she did not show pain or fear, but strange knowledge as she looked at the group.

"There's something here," she said, "and it's messing with my magic energy."

"It might be the stolen items!" Kai exclaimed.

"Or the thieves." Gray added, causing Kai's face to turn to a slight frown as he nodded.

"Whatever it is, I think I can find it. Follow me." she said as she started walking towards the end of the room.

Team Natsu just nodded and followed her, as she obviously knew what she was doing. Their footsteps echoed across the room with each step, and their breathing could easily be heard. They all had a bad feeling about this, even Aurea, but what choice did they have? Strange humming started to come from the direction they were heading, and it sent shivers down Kai's spine. Strangely, Aurea wasn't fazed, but in a daze like state as she lead the group. They soon came upon a strange door and Aurea stopped. Natsu walked up and pushed on the door, but it wouldn't open.

"Huh?" he asked, confused as he tried again to open the door.

After about ten tries, he finally gave up.

"What's the deal with this thing?" he asked.

"It must be some sort of magic seal." Erza suggested.

"Um, anyone here know how to break those?" Lucy asked, and everyone shook their heads.

Then, Aurea walked up to the door, and placed a single hand on it, sensing the magic energy. Before she knew what was happening, her eye was circled by the red light again, and the same symbol as before appeared on the door in sync. The door then slowly opened, and, without hesitation, Aurea walked inside. This room was encased in a soft red glow, though even less light filled this room. The twisted humming had stopped, and the room was completely silent. There was nothing in it, that is, until they saw a strange figure emerge from a chair at the end of the room. All that could be seen of it was a black silhouette. It had short, shaggy hair with two strips at the side, crossing down and ending at its chest. It was wearing a strange robe that seemed to only allow half of the tail to near the ground, whilst the other ended above its knee. Nothing else could be seen, except for a strange red symbol on its neck, the same area that Aurea held her guild symbol, but on the opposite sign. Aurea and Kai immediately recognized the symbol, it was the same one that had been formed by the clouds. Noticing this, Kai tensed up as the figure walked towards them.

"Well, well, well…it seems a guild has trespassed on our territory." the figure said in a deep voice, obviously a males, "What do you say we do with them?" he asked the shadows.

"Are you the guys that keep stealing magical items!?" Natsu yelled.

The man only scoffed, "And they're rude too, well that just won't do."

"HEY! I'M TALKING TO YOU!" Natsu exclaimed angrily.

"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk… My, my, I guess we must deal with them rather quickly, don't you think?" the man continued, before pulling out a strange staff with magical energy swirling inside a glass orb at the end.

"That's one of the stolen items!" Lucy exclaimed.

The man just laughed as other magical items showed up behind him, seeming to be carried by other people, but Team Natsu knew better. They weren't real people, but enchanted dummies, which explained how easily the objects could be stolen. The magical items all pointed towards the group and before they knew it, magical energy was shot straight at them. Most of them braced for impact, but no damage came, they all slowly opened their eyes to see Erza in her 'Tatiana Armor', blacking their path with her shield. She glared at the silhouette harshly, but he only chuckled creepily in response.

"Ooo, we've got a feisty bunch now don't we? Well, we won't let that bring us down." he said, looking around at his enchanted dummies.

"Come on," Erza started.

"Let's show them what we can really do." they both said simultaneously, before launching into an intense battle.

Review Replies!

Featherleap: Any would be fine, but I guess I ned more good guys, like in this town. Anything you make up, I'm sure I'll find some way to put it in the story! ^^

Till next time!

Hasta-la-pasta!