Hello! sorry for the long wait. I am so sorry. I didn't mean for it to be for so long. I moved to a different state and have had very exciting changes in my life. I am back for this week only.

I will be finishing this story up this week so thank you so much for waiting and staying for the journey. It really has been so humbling to read all your comments. I truly enjoyed writing this story and hoped that you all would enjoy it too.

Hiro Mashima owns Fairytail.

Warren ran out of the master's office and was greeted with the surprised looks of everyone in the guild.

"Warren.. what's going on? What happened?" Macao asked standing up from his seat.
"Do we have a lead?" Levy stood up as well.

Macao gritted his teeth and spoke with a shaky and angry voice.
"They've.. they've got the Raijinshu.."

"Who's got the raijinshu?" Elfman stood up alarmed now.

"The people looking for Lucy.. they are really dangerous.. we have to.." Warren trembled with tears running down his face.

Master Makarov walked out of this office and jumped on the railing.

"We have just been contacted by a vile enemy. They have our own in their hands. They have threatened to kill them if we don't bring Lucy to them in three days."

"Three days?!" Wakaba said exasperated. "How are we going to find them in three days! They could be anywhere in Fiore."
"Master…" Lisanna said clenching her fists.

"Go my children. Find Laxus and Gajeel and you'll find Lucy. We must protect our family. We will crush them for challenging our family!"

Soon screeching noises were heard all around the guild from everyone's chairs. The guild doors slammed open and everyone ran out in all directions.

Lying in bed, she stared up at the window next to her. The sunrays were gently kissing her hands and the warm blanket. She could see the swirls of dust specks floating about and felt calm. Lily was in her arms and remained there silently as he watched her with sad eyes.

Gajeel was sprawled out on the bed at her feet. He had bandages around his waist and arms. His legs were dangling off the bed. With eyes closed, he listened to her breathing. It began to even out and he knew she had fallen asleep. He finally let out a deep sigh of relief. It felt as if a weight was lifted off his chest. He turned his head and opened his eyes. Her face was calm and foreign. He had imagined Lucy's face, her chocolate eyes, and golden hair. But he saw brown hair and a face he didn't recognize.

The sun rays were cut off and the room dimmed. Her face dulled in color and the reality of the situation they were in sunk in deeper. Gajeel looked upward towards the window and towards the sky. He saw dark clouds. Dark thundering clouds. Frowning he narrowed his eyes as he saw lightning flashing within the clouds.

He knew it was not natural. It was Laxus. And he had found even greater bad news.

He searched and searched for his team. He had lightning teleported to rendezvous back with the Raijinshuu and found no one. There were signs of a great magic battle. But what scared him.. the great Laxus Dreyar.. was that it was the blood of his comrades. HE SMELT THEIR BLOOD. And guilt.. overwhelming fear brewed in his veins.

Then he saw it. In the middle of the road.. was a bloody helmet. Bixlow. He slowly walked over and picked it up. There was a note.

"Your father was right. You are a coward and a weakling. Leaving your guildmates for the picking. Bring the girl or your friends will die."

Coordinates were written on the bottom.

He clenched the note and his body began to crackle. Thunder clouds formed above. With a large boom, he lightning teleported away.

In the shadows, a mad stood grinning. "sir, he took the bait."

"excellent.. you know what to do."

The man walked out of the shadows and put his hand up in the air. A large seal formed above him and an electric ray flew out of it. Floating through the sky it began to follow the lead. Putting his hands in his pockets now, he grinned and walked slowly after it.

"Natsu.. she could be anywhere. Do you even know where you are going?!" Gray said running next to him.

"I know I'll find her.. I know it." Natsu said clenching his fists.

"We know the only lead we have is of the train accident site. We'll go from there." Erza said running beside.

"Wendy! Do you see anything?" Gray yelled.

"I see the crash site!" Wendy said as she and Carle flew up above.

They rushed forward and saw the wreckage. They were surprised to find dark mages sprawled around everywhere. They began to inspect them but found it hard to really see who they were or which guild they were from. They were charred.. as if from electricity.

"Laxus was here." Natsu said standing up.
"So was Gajeel. I can smell his iron." Wendy said looking towards Natsu.

"Can you smell Lucy?" Erza asked.
"No… not Lucy.. but someone else was here also." Wendy said.

Carla stood next to an area where the grass had parted. As if someone had been laying there. Then her vision blurred and she saw it.

An electric ray was going to fly over them. And soon a man would walk in their path.

Carla snapped out of her vision.
"A dark mage is coming!"

Erza, Natsu, Gray, and Wendy all looked towards each other with determination. They then saw something in the sky.

"Is that.. a ray? like in the ocean?! It's flying!" Natsu said pointing up at it.
"Look at it closely stupid. It's not a real ray. It's a spell." Gray said narrowing his eyes.

"Ice make arrow!" Gray said as he attacked the ray. The ice arrow shot right through the ray and destroyed it.

Ruffling was heard before them and soon a very angry looking man walked towards them. "You are going to pay for that."

"I'd like to see you try." Gray got into battle stance.
"Who are you?" Erza demanded.

The man looked at the group and smirked as he saw the fairytail marks.

"Well well.. you fairytail mages sure are meddlesome." The man said in a sigh.
"I asked you a question." Erza pointed her sword at him.

"I guess I'll have to wipe the floor with you guys as well.. your friends were such weaklings.. I really enjoy—" the man's eyes widened as Natsu shot forward and slammed him hard into the ground with a bang.

The ground under him cracked and he stared up in fear at a demon. Natsu's body was on fire and his skin became scaly. Natsu's hand gripped tightly around the man's neck and was getting tighter. The man's lungs burned from the smoke and his nose smelled the burning of his flesh.

"WHERE ARE THEY.." Natsu seethed with sharp teeth.

She flew high above and scanned the ground below. It was getting dark and the sun was setting over the horizon. She knew she was running against time. The raijinshuu did not have three days left to survive. They would surely pass before them with the injuries they had. She had to find Laxus.

Ahead she saw a spark in a cloudless area. Her heart raced and she flew forward. Seeing a small cottage, she landed and frantically looked around for a trace.

She looked towards the cottage and found a young woman staring at her through the window.

Letting her magic recede, she transformed back to her original self. She watched as the woman's eyes watered and a stream of tears ran down her cheeks. It was then that Mira knew. Her own eyes began to water and she cupped her mouth with her hands. The woman in the window disappeared into the room.. and soon the door of the cottage opened with Laxus stepping out.

"Laxus… the Raijinshuu.." Mira said.
Laxus closed his eyes with a frown and clenched his jaw.

She understood. He knew and there must have been a reason for it.

Then the brunette stepped out trembling..

Mira hesitantly and desperately spoke as tears ran down her cheeks. "Lucy?"
The brunette cried harder. Her shoulders shaking.

Mira ran forward and hugged her strongly. They both cried loudly in each other's arms.

"I'm so glad you're okay! I'm so sorry! Are you hurt?! I'm so sorry Lucy!"
"Miraa!" Lucy hugged back and desperately clung onto her as if she were to never see her again.

Gajeel and Laxus looked away. Avoiding all the waterworks and left the girls to cry their hearts out. Lily turned into his battle form and led the girls into the cottage. Laxus and Gajeel stood alone outside.

"What about the raijinshuu." Gajeel said looking into the dark woods. He had heard Mira.
"…"

The crickets chirped and the wind rustled the leaves around them.

"They got them?"
"yea"

"…"
"Don't tell her. She doesn't need to know." Laxus said looking up at the sky.
"hm." Gajeel said in agreement.

They stood understanding that their opponent was fierce. Whatever was in store for them, Fairytail was going to stop them.

His puffy eyes fluttered open. And his vision began to sharpen. His whole body ached and his wrists were in seething pain. His eyes widened in horror. An enormous demonic tree was growing in the middle of a clearing. It's branches were growing mucous bulbs and they were all throbbing. The real horror was that there were people inside. And they were being transformed into monsters. He could hear their screaming, see the terror in their faces.

There was a line of chained people and they were being led to the tree. Children, women, and men all alike. He could hear their cries and screams.

He looked towards his right and saw an unconscious Bixlow. He looked left and saw Ever unconscious as well. His eyes teared at the horror before him. He closed his eyes in perfect timing as Cesar and some of his henchmen walked up towards them.

"They still haven't awoken. They might as well be dead." The woman on his right spoke.

"No.. I need them alive. I need to see their despair when the real party arrives. I'll kill these weaklings right before their eyes and show them true horror." Cesar said.

"Come." Cesar motioned his followers. "Drax said he found Laxus and will kill him tonight. I am sure he will bring the girl by morning. Let us prepare for our guest of honor."

Freed was left alone again. He kept his eyes closed. A single tear ran down his cheek.