A/N: A big thank you to everyone that has followed and favourited

:)

The combination of solemn faces and lack of noise in the guild was enough to convince Lucy that something wasn't quite right. She, Natsu and Happy had just returned from their job and we're surprised at the sight which greeted them.

Lucy walked over to one of the tables where Wendy and Lisanna were currently sat.

"It just makes no sense," Lisanna said with a frown.

Wendy nodded with agreement; a sad look was on her face.

"I know..." she answered grimly.

Lucy wondered what the two mages were talking about, though she assumed that whatever it was it had to be the reason to the guilds mood. Though she did notice that one person who was always able to brighten up up the room wasn't there.

"Anyone saw Rissy today?" She asked no one in particular, however at her question everyone seemed to stiffen slightly.

"Rissy-Chan's in the hospital...last night her and Lavender were attacked" Levy sadly explained.

She glanced over to Natsu, he too had stiffened and his hands had now clenched into fists which was never a good sign.

"But who- " She asked.

"No one was seen, but the council is sending someone over once she wakes up" Lisanna answered.

"Erza, Gray and Juvia are over there now" Wendy added, though to be honest Lucy was paying little attention as Natsu had started on walking away with Happy not too far behind.

Before anyone could ask her what was wrong, she was already halfway out of the guild and catching up to the two mages.

"You didn't just think you could run off without me?" She asked with a small smile.

Only this time Natsu didn't return her own smile, instead his signature grin was replaced with a scowl. She had never seen him look this angry, thigh apparently to her guild mates the last time was when she was kidnapped by Phantom.

"I'm gonna find that bastard...who thought he could get away with this" he growled out through grit teeth.

Lucy just stared at him, she didn't talk only listened for at least this way he was able to vent out his frustration without hurting himself.

"How can they just attack her...and for no reason" he continued, his hands once more clenched into fists.

Now it seemed that Happy shared her concern, the blue exceed stared up at his partner with wide eyes. He then turned to Lucy, his eyes pleading as if begging her to calm his best friend down.

"Natsu-" She said, before he abruptly turned around the anger in his eyes was enough for her to cease her reasoning.

"Luce, don't tell me to not look for the bastard that hurt my family, because I won't listen..." He stated.

She gave him a small smile whilst placing one if her hands on his upper arm in an attempt to calm him.

"I wasn't going to stop you...I want to go with you" she said to which Natsu's eyes widened.

He nodded before giving her a small smile and quickly embracing her. His arms were wrapped round her middle and his face pressed into the crook of her neck.

"Thanks Luce, I don't know but I can always count on you" he whispered, his voice was muffled and slightly soft for Natsu showing just how vulnerable he felt at that moment.

She sniffed slightly, half surprised that tears had left her eyes. She gently withdrew from the embrace whilst rubbing at her eyes.

"That's why I'm here...and the fact that I'm your best friend" she added with a small grin.

At this statement Happy pouted slightly, he didn't seem to be too proud at being replaced.

"But Natsu, I'm your best friend" He whined almost on the verge of tears.

Natsu grinned before patting his friend on the head whilst using his free hand to pull Lucy into a group hug.

"Both of you are my best friends" he declared with a large grin, and Lucy was glad that the old Natsu was starting to resurface.

The three of them then set off ready to find Rissy's attacker and show them just what Fairy Tail was made of.

The last time any of them had ventured into Crocus was for the Grand Magic Games, so to be there once more was enough to bring up recent memories that had taken place in the location. However the town was now location for the latest Guild master Summit which Rogue had been so kindly invited to since Sting insisted on having a right hand man.

He had initially felt bad on leaving both Frosch and Rissy behind, but he knew that he wouldn't have been much fun to be around since he was so busy helping out Sting. They had just left their latest meeting which only resulted in another argument between his surrogate brother and many of the council members, which caused Sting to be in a foul mood.

"What the fuck do they mean 'my immaturity could cost me my guild'" he said in a usual deep voice in an attempt to imitate Doranbolt, Mest or whatever he went by these days.

Rogue rolled his eyes slightly before speeding up his pace to catch up to Sting.

"He's just worried that such a responsibility is too much for someone your age" Rogue suggested in an attempt to shed light on the situation.

Sting exhaled loudly in frustration before turning to face him.

"He's acting like I'm not capable of being a guild master" Sting growled before punching a wall.

Rogue sighed before grasping his friend's wrist mid punch, for a guild master and an adult his surrogate brother could act rather childish however he did disagree with Mest's claims.

"Punching walls solves nothing" he stated to which Sting only rolled his eyes before pulling his fist from Rogue's grasp.

"And anyway Mest is wrong, for Sabertooth has been doing since you've taken over" He pointed out.

"Hmm, looks like you're right and that little bastard in there is wrong" Sting declared with a cocky grin, causing Rogue to mentally curse himself for repairing his friends confidence.

"But still you can't disrespect council members" Rogue pointed out, for he knew it wasn't wise to get in the wrong side of the law.

Sting scoffed before grinning once more.

"But he's an idiot..." He stated as if the answer was obvious.

Rogue mentally face palmed before turning back to face his friend who was still grinning.

"And a member of Fairy Tail" he reminded him, since their guilds were allies.

At this statement Sting was grinning once more.

"Yeah, you're girls' guild...which is why you want to get in their good side" he added in a singsong voice.

that got him thinking he actually hadn't heard from his girlfriend in a while. To be honest it felt weird for him to describe her as his girlfriend, for he had never been to close to someone to want be exclusive with them - no one special, until she came along.

It was Sting Sighing loudly that brought him back to reality, a large grin was plastered across his face and his arms were folded over his chest.

"You're thinking about her again aren't you" the question may have sounded like one, however they both knew that it was a statement.

"You really have it bad..." Sting said with a smile - an actual genuine one which wasn't his usual grin.

Before Rogue could even answer a loud humming noise was heard and both mages instantly turned to the source in Rogues pocket.

"It could be your girl" Sting suggested with a grin to which Rogue only rolled his eyes.

Fishing out the communication lacrima he was surprised to see Lucy's face flash across the screen rather than his girlfriends.

"Rogue, you need to come to Magnolia" She stated once he answered the call.

Both himself and Sting shared identical glances of confusion before he glanced back to the screen.

"What's happened?" He asked, suddenly feeling a pit in his chest as if something wasn't quite right. Sting had come to his side then and was peering eagerly into the lacrima to get the news first hand.

There was a pregnant pause before she answered.

"Rissy's been hurt" She explained and that was when his head started to spin.

"What do you mean" Sting asked as he pulled the lacrima away from him.

"I was talking to Rogue..." Lucy said with a sigh before continuing.

"No one knows anything apart from she was attacked and badly too, not too far away from Fairy Hills" He heard Lucy explain.

He took the lacrima back away from Sting; only his partner didn't make any protests.

"Where is she now?" He asked.

"Magnolia hospital, apparently someone dropped her there but didn't stick around to tell them anything" Lucy answered though Rogue was already walking away and had placed the lacrima in Stings arms.

"Fine. I'll just stay here alone while you play knight and Princess" Sting called out after his friend.

"Don't do anything stupid" he called back, to which Sting just laughed.

He had felt bad for just leaving the salmon haired woman like that, however he had to for if he stayed the nurses would have asked questions about who he was and where he came from, and he wasn't in the mood for that.

He carefully placed the bag onto her table, he would have hated for her to lose it since he knew how much it had meant to her. She was always sentimental, a lot like her brother.

He knew that he had to be more careful, for not masking his scent had almost got him caught and getting caught would ruin his plan, and he couldn't afford for his plans to be ruined when lives were at stake.

The door to her hospital room rattled slightly as if to open and he quickly sunk back into the shadows and disappeared.

Natsu sighed once they came to yet another dead end, Lucy was talking to Rogue on her lacrima whilst Happy walked close beside him. He was glad that his friends were with him though he wished that he had answers for himself and them.

There were three main scents that concerned him; one was his sister's, the second unknown who had to belong to the attacker and the third was the same one from the East Forest.

He turned to Lucy who had just put away the lacrima and was now facing him with a small smile.

"Natsu what's wrong?" She asked as she walked towards him.

"That scent from the forest is back" He answered which caused both Happy and Lucy to turn to him in confusion.

"Where is it headed?" Lucy asked.

Natsu turned to gesture down a pathway that headed towards the town centre and the opposite direction of Fairy Hills.

"Both that scent and Rissy's went that way" Natsu explained

Lucy nodded in understanding before walking to where the scent wad going, as if realisation hit her she turned back to face him with wide eyes.

"Natsu that's the direction of the hospital" Lucy pointed out.

"That's a good thing, right?" Happy asked hopefully to which Natsu nodded.

"It means that they're on our side" he answered, to which Lucy nodded.

"Then that's good because I recognise the scent" Natsu stated

"And it would be really fucked up if they weren't on our side"

"Who's scent?" Happy asked, since he was starting to not like being kept out of the loop.

"Rissy and Rogue" he answered.

Lucy and Happy frowned, both seemingly confused.

"What about them?" Lucy asked.

"The scent of the person back at the forest, and the one here...It smells like Rissy and Rogue"

So what did you think of that?

Sorry about the short chapter, but I didn't want to give away too many details on the mystery man or who was after Rissy. Who do you think mystery man is and what does smoky cloak man want with Rissy?

Stay tuned for the next chapter.

JustAnotherFairy :)