The Hunt

Natsu quickly evaded the incoming cart that Cobra had pushed, and kept on going. Cursing as Cobra slipped through a closing elevator he turned to the stairs and ran. No doubt he'll try to escape now. The pink haired thought while dialing Lucy's number, "Did you get him?"

"No he went in the middle elevator, what the floor did the elevator stop on?"

"The second. Where are you right now?"

"I'm at the stairs." Natsu huffed while running down the stairs. Damn why did I take the stairs again? "Where are you?"

"I'm in an elevator going down."

"Are you gonna give me the shaft?"

"Idiot, that was cheesy." The elevator doors flew open as Lucy got off the first floor, looking around for the red-brownish haired man.

"Sakura cheese?"

"Natsu!"

"What? You can't blame me! Remember the financial aid?" Lucy groaned at both her partner's way of relieving tension and her luck at finding Cobra. "No and don't remind me!"

"Your 'novel'?"

"Natsu seriously! Do you see him?" The pink haired agent hear one of the stairway doors open, he guessed about three levels down while he ran. When he reached the opened door which was slightly opened, Natsu saw a glimpse of brown and said, "I got eyes!"

"Where?"

"He just opened the back door!"

"I'll be right there." Lucy ran downstairs to the first floor before putting in an earpiece and pocketing her phone. Retrieving her pistol from her purse the blonde ran to the back of the hospital. Surveying her surroundings, Lucy noticed a fire escape ladder, a large garbage container, and a person on a purple motorcycle running right towards her.

Taking the initiative she aimed and shot at the guy's left shoulder cause him to spin and smash into the bags of trash next to the rest of the garbage. Running up to the knocked out man, she kneeled down and took off his helmet and grinned. It was Cobra. "Natsu!"

"You got him?" He hollered going over to his partner as the back door closed behind him.

"Yeah!"

"What should we do with him?"

"Interrogate him? Torture? Hand him over to the Council? Kill him?" Suggested Natsu

"Don't kill Erik, please!" Heads turned as the duo saw a purple haired woman behind them panting with her hands on her bent knees. Erik? Lucy frowned before pointing to Cobra. "This guy?"

"That guy." affirmed the unnamed woman who wore the hospital's nurse uniform. "Look this guy's a wanted man, miss…?"

"Kinana, and I know that already. Erik isn't that kind of man as before you have to believe me!" The blonde turned to her partner, "What should we do?"

"That's your call to make, Luce. I'll tie him up just in case." Lucy got up, turned to Kinana and asked bluntly, "Did you get him that flower delivering job?"

Kinana shifted warily, "Why?"

Suspicion arose as the blonde reasonable said while putting her safety locked gun behind her back, "I just want to know. It won't affect what we do to Cobr- Erik that I can promise you."

After a moment of hesitation Kinana answered, "I did because I knew he broke off all contacts with those people, and he wanted to stay close in case something happened… Please don't take him away from me! We're only trying to live a normal life!"

"How do you know him?" asked Natsu curiosity brimming in his mind.

"… I knew him since we were kids, though we didn't keep in contact, not after that. Anyways he has been searching for me, and we only recently found each other…. So if that helps…." responded Kinana shifting slightly out of nervousness.

"Did he know about the flowers?" asked Lucy as the purple haired woman frowned before shaking her head, "Erik wouldn't be able to tell the difference between flowers. He's usually into snakes not plants. He doesn't have much of a green thumb."

Lucy said after a moment's pause deciding that the newly encountered woman was being honest with them it practically bleed into her voice, "We won't hand him over to the Council, but we have some questions for him."

"The Council? What's that?" The duo looked at each other wondering how much they should reveal.

"It's like a government, but for people like us." explained Natsu who leaned against the wall. "Oh they'd love to get their hands on this guy."

Kinana's shoulders tensed before sagging in relief. "Than-"

The purple haired woman was cut off by the sound of a gunshot. Natsu instantly redrew his gun as his partner saw Kinana slump to the ground instantly blood coming from her forehead. Headshot. Lucy bit down on her bottom lip to prevent her from saying anything as the blonde thought. It never gets any better.

She glanced up to the person who was standing with his pistol pointing at them. The man was an elderly person with an eye patch over one of his eyes, and a long beard wearing a very well tailored suit and tie. Natsu snarled stepping in front of me like a knight, "You bastard."

"How crude." Were the first words out of the man's mouth as the pink haired man demanded, "Who the hell are you? Do you know Zeref?"

"Why would you think that?"

"We can only assume that you shot the woman since Cobra was compromised, and whatever you had in store for my father is out in the open." Cut in Lucy reaching her gun, but a quick leer from the elderly man caused her to stop.

"How sharp of you. I did it to make a point." He commented

"To make a point?" growled Natsu who was ready to shoot the unknown man regardless of the fact that he might have something to do with the man the duo was in pursuit of as of an hour ago. "By taking lives?"

"You take lives also." He pointed out as Natsu shot back, "Only the ones that don't deserve to live!"

"Is that your form of justice?" Natsu stiffened as the old man continued, "My associate does have a sense of justice also."

"And who might that associate be?" He inclined his head, "I'll tell you if you come with me, Natsu Dragneel."

"I'm not that desperate." Natsu snorted as the other man shrugged, "The answer you want is the answer I have."

"Can you just give me a straight answer? I hate riddles!" Lucy felt the urge to roll her eyes and sigh. That's Natsu for you.

"Then come with me. Otherwise," The elderly man gestured to Lucy with his pistol, "I might have to injure your unarmed partner there."

Natsu glanced back to Lucy before glaring at the man, "Don't you fucking dare!"

"Then don't force my hand."

"Do I get a name first?" asked Natsu wary of his choices, not liking them one bit as he glanced to Lucy.

"You may call me Hades." Hades? Lucy frowned vaguely remembering that name from the Agency's wanted list. Wasn't that the man who controls Grimore Heart, a corner of the Baram Alliance notorious for drug smuggling, and trafficking?

The blonde looked to her partner who for the briefest of seconds glanced towards Hades before turning his eyes back to her. Lucy shook her head. Too risky. "If I go with you, my partner here will call reinforcements."

"I don't think your comrades will come to your aid, seeing as how they all have to deal with a few problems of their own."

"What do you mean by that?" Both of them knew what that meant. Their friends were either under gunfire and trapped. We have to do something! Anything! "Natsu!"

"No."

"So you're just going to go?!" Lucy knew that they were no of opinions, but to just go? She refused to accept that.

"Yeah. It's for the best." Even though the pink haired man said that his eyes told a different meaning. This isn't over. You know what to do.

"Don't forget about the words we said!" called out Lucy who wondered if this would be the last time she would see him alive. Natsu grinned, "You too."

Lucy pressed her lips together and could only give a small nod. While she watched her partner cross over to the enemy, Lucy steadied herself, took a deep breath and thought for a long while about what she should do and what she can do. I can't let emotions shake me. For now I'll start by confirming everyone's situation and plan accordingly.

Mirajane clicked her tongue in a very unhealthy habit that she caught onto by her husband, but it was understandable what with the shots fired to her group who was behind a turned over car. Her arms were around the small bluenette who trembled and had her hands on top of her head, and the highly trained agent reasonable thought that's never been in a shootout before. "M-Mira-san."

"It's going to be okay, Wendy. I'll figure us a way out of this mess. Trust me." I've got three bullets, and I've only got eyes on six of them. Mirajane clucked her tongue and tried an escape route. A gun fight is out of the question. A diversion? An explosion? How big? Would it endanger Wendy? It's the only card we have and there won't be any reinforcements to come help us.

"Wendy I need you to focus and be brave. Open the passenger's seat and see what we have in there." The bluenette nodded before reaching for the car handle opening the car that the duo was now behind of, pressing the switch for the glove compartment that opened it Wendy saw what was in there and said, "We have one lighter, a bottle of whiskey, and a first aid kit!"

An idea sparked within Mirajane's mind as she asked Wendy, "Do you have any perfume? Hand me the whiskey."

Perfume? At a time like this? Wendy wasn't sure to be shocked or dumb folded as she handed the other woman the whiskey bottle. Maybe the latter of the two, "Yeah, but it's not very much."

"Alcohol based?" Wendy nodded reaching into her sky blue messenger bag pulling out a purple glass perfume spray bottle that was created by Ichiya Vandalay Kotobuki. Mirajane glanced at the bottle with a smile, "Ah Ichiya. He's a good perfumer."

"You know him?" asked Wendy amazed by the fact that the people around her knew a lot of famous people. The white haired beauty twisted the perfume bottle open and poured one-third of the whiskey into the improvised bomb she was going to produce as a diversion act.

"Yeah, if I wanted one of his new perfumes I'd bribe him with the pictures of Erza. Can you tell me whether the men have moved?" Tearing a strip from her already ruined black pencil skirt Mirajane was current rolling the strip into a long thin tight cylinder shaped cloth igniter before pushing it into the perfume bottle not all the way though just enough so that some of the cloth was still out of the bottle.

"Okay, but Erza-san? Why?" Wendy peeked out from the side of the car and made a check of all the six of the guys, "They're still there. Three near the car, the others have spread out."

"Apparently he has a liking to her. Good now once I throw this, run and I'll be right behind you. Take the first aid kit too." Creating a small flame with the lighter, Mirajane lit the dark cloth and threw it over the car. In an instant Wendy ran Mirajane followed and split seconds later a fire emerged and chaos ensued. The bluenette ran while hearing the gunfire behind her clutching tightly to the first aid kit to her chest as Mirajane fired shots behind her making sure that those men wouldn't try and do something stupid like follow them. Grabbing Wendy's hand the duo ran even further until she deemed it safe for the tired teen.

Now to refill. Mirajane thought scanning the surrounding while trying to remember where the newly placed cashes were. Spotting the steel storage box Mirajane grimaced as she saw a boy about Wendy's age hanging around the storage box that looked like a storage box for the street light next to it. "Hey Wendy can you talk that guy into going someplace out?"

"Eh? Shouldn't you-" Wendy started.

"Wendy, you're sixteen and cute enough to make guys like him drool. Plus I don't want to be seen as a cougar." After a short pause the bluenette nodded before stepping out of the alleyway shadow and made her way to the other side of the street where the blonde haired guy was.

"Hi. Waiting for someone?" Wendy greeted the blonde guy with a small wave. His head perked up and the bluenette got a good view of his dark green eyes. He had a slim figure while wearing a very casual outfit, a pale yellow untucked shirt, dress pants, and a pair of loafers. The guy smiled, "Yeah I'm waiting for a beautiful flower like you."

Wendy held herself firm from wincing. Did pretty guys like him actually flirt like this? At times like this she was grateful that Romeo wasn't like this guy. She stuck her hand out, "T-thank you. I'm Wendy. What's yours?"

"My name's Eve. Eve Tearm." Eve took her hand and bought it up to his lips, placing a small kiss on her knuckles. Her cheeks colored as Wendy stuttered, "H-how about we get out of here? I could go for something to eat… You?"

"I would, but I'm actually waiting for some friends of mine." He really looks sorry. Thought Wendy as she looked over Eve's shoulder to where Mirajane was. While keeping the conversation going the bluenette moved her left hand into Mirajane's line of sight and held down two fingers. No. Pointing to Eve she made a swift gesture with her hand. Knock him out? Despite being a medic Wendy did have some training in hand to hand combat. Mirajane shook her head. No. Wendy could vaguely hear what he said. "….. number?"

Blinking Wendy tilted her head, "I'm sorry?"

"I said can I have your number?"

How did people do this sort of thing? "Okay."

"Wendy?" The bluenette froze. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. She turned wondering if a god out there wanting her to fail. Wendy breathed out the name of her best friend and crush, "Romeo!"

"Wendy! Get down!" In an instant the bluenette grabbed both men pulling them down with her as Mirajane fired shots while crossing the street, successfully putting a bullet in two of the men legs.

"What the hell?" Romeo shouted as Wendy heard a click and her eyes were instantly on Eve who pulled a pistol out of his back fitting at the men who were moments ago hot on Wendy and Mirajane's heels.

"Please don't hit Mira-san!" said Wendy as Eve said, "I won't, Wendy-chan. Ichiya sent me to cover for you guys."

Ichiya?! Even though Wendy wondered how the famous man knew about their situation, she had a job to do, "What's the code?"

"6197."

"Where's the keypad?" The bluenette asked as the blonde yelled over the bullet exchange, "Bottom!"

Wendy reached down and tried to feel for the keypad that was in the near the center. Struggling she frowned, "I'm not sure where the numbers are!"

Romeo snapping out of the confusion reached down as Wendy pulled back in wonder as he punched in the numbers of the code. Hearing an audible click the raven haired man looked up while extracting his hand from the space in between the steel storage and concrete. Wendy yanked out the storage doors as Eve and Romeo pulled back. Mirajane asked as she reached the trio out of ammo she gestured Eve for a magazine, "Do you know how to shoot?"

"I'm a pretty decent shot." shrugged Romeo remembering the times that his father took him out to the shooting range as Wendy shook her head. "I was only taught a couple of self defense moves. I'll carry the bag. Romeo…"

"Yeah?" Romeo said, his eyes scanning the now empty streets for more of those men. Wendy mumbled an apology, "Sorry for dragging you into this."

"You don't gotta apologize, Wendy. You can't help it if weird perverts with guns are chasing after you two." Taking out one of the medium sized sports bags Wendy loaded it with pistols with their safeties on, a dozen magazine clips, four bottles of water, and a first aid kit. "As much as I adore this loving moment you guys are having, we have to go. Ready?"

"We're good."

"I'll cover with you Mirajane-san." said Eve reloading his gun.

"Go!"

The security guards groaned as a white haired woman entered the Agency's containment room where a certain blue haired man sat on a clean bed against the wall in front of the intruder. God knows how she got here. Most likely through the back, it wasn't always a secure place. Jellal thought before speaking, "So he sent you? You obviously haven't lost your touch, Lisanna."

Lisanna kneeled and got one of the guard's gun, "You got caught Jellal. Not to mention the fact that you revealed Zeref's part in the massacre."

"That got your brother killed."

"What?" Jellal tilted his head, "So he didn't tell you? That you had family?"

"… Shut up."

"Did you ever wonder if you had any relatives?" The prisoner asked

"Shut up!" Lisanna undid the safety feeling a headache coming on. Shoot him and be done with it. "Don't listen to Zeref he's just using you."

"SHUT UP!"

"You have a sister." Jellal advanced as Lisanna held the gun gritting her teeth. "Zeref killed you other sibling your older brother, Elfman."

"Elfman." She tested the name on her tongue her head throbbed as he took another step.

"Not another step, Jellal!" Lisanna fired a shot near the man's feet; Jellal didn't break a sweat while he continued until he was right in front of the struggling woman while Jellal held her hand that was holding the gun slowly pushing it down. Once that was done in a heartbeat he quickly jabbed at the back of Lisanna's neck. Catching her as the woman whom Jellal viewed like a little sister slowly put her down to the cold floor picking up the gun next to her hand the now free prisoner stood up and his farewell, "Sorry Lisanna, but I have no intention on dying here."

"Is this really needed?" questioned Natsu as the pink haired man was blindfolded by Hades who answered, "Of course."

After doing a full body check on the young agent Hades dragged him into an elevator. Pressing the button to the top floor Hades waited before Natsu made his move elbowing the man hard in the gut before shoving the man against the wall with his arm pressing against the elderly man's neck. It didn't take Hades long to pass out just as Natsu felt the elevator stop.

DING!

The pink haired man turned with clenched fists to the only person on that floor. This was for his parents, this was for his friends, and this was for himself as well.

"Zeref."

"Natsu."

"It's time to end this!"

Lucy contacted everyone in the Agency and all of them were held up by an even larger army. Erza and Laxus were fighting off an army. Mirajane and Wendy were currently running from a group of men. Gray, Juvia, Levy, and Gajeel were evacuating the Agency because an explosive set off on top floor. Everything's falling apart. So so fast. Her phone rang. Please let this be someone that can help.

"Hello?"

"Hello Miss Heartfilla."

Not another unknown voice! Lucy snapped, "Who is this?"

"My name is Igneel Dragneel. I'm Natsu's father."

I'm sorry for updating this story earlier. I got caught up with real life stuff. ^^'

Happy late new years everyone!

Also expect a GaLe fanfic from me soon. I'm almost done with it. If anyone wants to beta-read it. PM or leave a review!