A/N: Chapter fourteen is here, and the action is finally picking up! Remember to let me know what you guys think down in the review section, and show your love by following and favoriting! ;) (Ooh, action-packed chapter.)

Chapter Fourteen

As soon as the news sunk in, everyone was rushing out of the lobby and towards the front of the room, where two people were dragging in a pale Sting. He was conscious, but a bullet hole in his leg sprayed blood. As soon as they got to the infirmary, Makarov forced everyone out save for Wendy, Natsu, Gray, and Ultear.

As Wendy instructed Natsu to put pressure on the wound, Makarov started asking questions. "Sting, what happened. You must tell us."

Sting took a deep breath, sweat dotting his forehead. "I— I made a... break for it. I maanged... to get... around the corner and started running, but... they got me in the leg. Then Lyon... and Rogue... distracted them, so I could get away."

"Where are they headed?" Gray butted in.

Sting took a labored breath. "Towards this huge... tower thing... in the west. It's... impossible... to miss it. Please, you have to... go rescue... them." With that, he passed out, and Makarov cursed. "We'll put together a party immediately. Gray, Ultear, you'll go with Erza and Lucy. And Wendy, as much as I'd like for you to have a helper here, I need someone who can handle basic medical training to go with them, so Natsu, you'll be going as well. Plus, your talents as a sniper will help tremendously."

Natsu nodded before continuing wrapping Sting's leg in bandages.

Gray wanted to protest, considering what happened to Natsu last time they came up against these people, but he too had gotten hurt, and he supposed he couldn't stop Natsu from going, no matter what he thought about it.

Since the craziness had died down, Gray now took notice of the occupant in the other bed. Gray had only seen her a few times, seeing as how they weren't exactly friends, but he recognized the woman because she looked exactly like her sister, Yukino, who currently sat in the chair beside the bed, clutching her hand tightly. It was Sorano Aguria, and she looked like hell, to put it kindly.

Her whole body was bruised and scraped, and her breathing was labored, her brow furrowed in pain and sweat staining her forehead. "So they left her behind as what, a message to us?" Gray asked, disgusted at what they had done. Makarov nodded. "They left a note, as well."

He handed a crumpled piece of paper to Gray, who silently read through it.

Dearest Makarov,

First of all, I'd like to say hello. You don't know me, but I know you very well. I would tell you what I'm planning, but that wouldn't be any fun, now would it? Think of this attack as not only payback for taking that little sakura-haired boy away from me, but also as an attack on the Outpost.

Fell free to try and rescue them, but know this; I am stronger than you. Much stronger.

But do please try. I think it would be fun.

All I ask is this; if you do send out a rescue party or whatever it is you'd like to call it, do include those two boys from before. I feel they'd be the most challenging of your little organization, and I like challenges.

Come and get me.

- Z

Gray crumpled the note in his fist. "He wants us to come. He expects us to come." He whirled around on Makarov. "You're just going to send both of us, just like he asked?"

Makarov grimaced. "As much as I don't want to, you're one of the best here, and I need someone with medical training."

"Then send Wendy!" Gray hissed.

"I can't. I need her here for Sorano and Sting," Makarov said in a low tone, so none of the others heard. "She's too valuable right now, and she's only fourteen, Gray. I won't get her involved in this. And Natsu is the most talented sniper we have at the moment, so I won't pass up an opportunity."

Gray sighed irritably and tugged a hand through his hair. Wendy was like a little sister to him; of course he didn't want her to get hurt. And he was right when he said Natsu was a fantastic sniper. But walking right into the trap that was obviously set for them? No way was Makarov that stupid. But he figured he had no choice. This was their only way to save Lyon and the rest, and no way would Gray just sit back and watch.

"Okay," he finally said. "Let's go, then."

"Go gather your weapons and meet the rest of us at the doors in ten minutes."

"Right."

"Oh, and Gray?" Makarov called, and Gray paused at the door, Natsu already walking out in front of him. "Stop by the armory. I have something special I want you to take with you."

Natsu and Gray gathered their weapons and packs in silence, and Natsu felt an undertone of nerves behind his every movement. He didn't know why he was suddenly nervous, but he knew he needed to shake it off. Everyone was counting on them, and he couldn't let everyone down, especially Gray.

When they had everything, they started towards the main floor, but when they reached it, Gray told Natsu to go ahead, saying he needed to grab one last thing. Natsu shrugged and continued towards the doors. Lucy caught up with him, and Natsu couldn't help but notice how tense she looked. Not only tense, but angry.

"What's wrong?" he asked her as they settled against the wall beside the door to wait.

"You know the ones captured, right?" Lucy asked, her voice tense. Natsu nodded. "Yes, well, one of them was my little sister. Michelle." Her tone turned sad when she said her sister's name, and Lucy's fists clenched. "But I'm going to get her back, and these bastards are gonna get what they've got coming to them, not only for you and Gray, but also for Michelle, and everyone else they've taken."

Natsu gave her a small smile. "Thanks, Luce."

They fell into silence, and Gray couldn't help but wonder where Gray was. Ultear was also missing, and it was nearing the ten minute marker Makarov had set for them. But finally they came jogging down the hall, and everyone was gathered and ready.

As they walked out the doors and towards the gates, Makarov pulled Natsu aside and handed him a card. "Here." he said. "This is long overdo. Welcome to the team, son."

As the old man walked ahead, Natsu gazed down at the card. It was similar to the ones he'd noticed Lucy and Gray carrying, only his had a small flame charm attached to it. He grinned and stuck it in his pocket.

"Alright, I want this quick, precise, and clean. I want zero casualties, if possible. Got that?"

Everyone nodded, and Makarov gave them all a look of fondness. "Good. Now be safe, my children. I'll see you all soon."

As soon as they were outside, the gates closed behind them, and they started heading west. "Guns out," Ultear whispered to the others, and everyone pulled out a gun and held it at attention. The streets were oddly calm, and Gray felt something tighten in his chest.

It was quiet. Far too quiet. And Gray couldn't help but feel like it was the calm before the storm.

The group's breaths were the only sound in the air aside from the rustling of tattered fabric, and the wind blowing through the empty streets. The moon shone against the broken glass littering the edges of the street, and the wind howled through the hollow shells of buildings, making an ominous echoing sound.

The hulking shadows of the ghost buildings lining the sides of the street like silent soldiers at attention looked creepy, and only added to the cold emptiness around them.

"This is so creepy," Natsu whispered from beside Gray, his eyes darting around anxiously.

"What did you expect?" Gray whispered back. "Ever since this whole thing started, the whole world has looked like a ghost town."

Natsu shrugged. "Still... It's also kind of pretty, if you think about it."

Gray went silent, allowing that thought to float around in his head. Soon it was replaced by what Ultear had said to him earlier, when they were leaving the armory.

"You know this mission is going to be dangerous, right?"

Gray shrugged. "Yeah? So?"

"So, I see how you look at him."

Gray stiffened. "I have no idea to whom you're referring."

"You know who," Ultear said with an eye roll, before she grew serious again. "Anyway, this could end badly for any of us, including him. You should really tell him how you feel before we leave, just in case either of you don't come back from this."

"No," Gray said, shaking his head. "We'll all come back from this, Ul. I know it."

"Whatever you say," Ultear said with a sigh. "I just hope you don't regret this later."

Gray shook his head. Stupid Ul. Why would she say something like that, anyway? Of course we'll all come back.

"Look," Lucy said suddenly, pointing a pale finger towards a looming shadow in the distance. "That must be the tower."

"You're right," Erza said in a low voice, hoisting her gun higher on her shoulder. "Everyone, get ready. We might run into a little... interference."

Gray's finger tightened over the trigger of his gun, and they started moving forward at a slightly quicker pace. Within minutes they were about twenty feet from the tower, which looked even bigger up close, stretching almost thirty feet into the air.

Ultear held up a hand to stop everyone, her eyes scanning the cityscape around them. "This seems too... easy. Surely they'd have guards this close to the tower?"

Natsu took a few steps past her and scanned the area, his brows furrowed. "Do you guys smell that? It smells like... gunpowder?"

Gray's eyes widened in recognition, and Erza's and Ul's a second behind him. "Hit the deck!" he yelled, tackling Natsu right as an explosion rocked the earth. The two buildings right in front of them went up in a fiery blast, and toppled towards the street. Gray scrambled to his feet, pulling Natsu up beside him and shoving him forward. "Everyone, run! We need to reach the other side before the buildings collapse and block the way!"

Everyone made a mad dash towards the tower, dodging burning rubble and coughing from the smoke, their eyes watering from the intense heat. As soon as they cleared the stretch, the building crumbled, and they were all knocked off their feet by the impact of the buildings crashing against the ground and each other.

As the dust settled, Gray coughed and groaned. "Is everyone okay?" he asked, his voice raspy.

A second later, more coughs and groans chorused around him. "A-okay," Lucy mumbled, followed by a "Fine," from Erza."

"Natsu?" Gray asked, pushing himself up to his hands and knees.

"Fantastic," Natsu grumbled, pushing himself into a sitting position and shaking dust and small pieces of rubble from his hair.

They slowly hauled themselves to their feet, making sure everyone had escaped major injury and that they still had their supplies before slowly starting to walk towards the tower. Natsu was limping slightly, Erza's jeans were ripped and her knee was bleeding, and Lucy had many scrapes and bruises, while Gray himself had sprained his right wrist. Good thing he shot with his left.

"Well, I didn't expect that," Erza said after a while. "Do you think they'll assume we're dead and not come check?"

"I hope so," Lucy grumbled. "Although I would like to shoot someone in the face quite a lot right about now."

"You're not the only one," Natsu agreed.

Gray's eyes scanned the area, still wary after the explosion. Natsu and Lucy continued to talk, with Erza occasionaly chiming in. Gray only saw the gun because of the glint from the moon and the flames behind them. "Natsu! Look out!" Gray tackled him, and the bullet pinged against the ground right where he'd been standing. "Run!" Erza yelled, and Gray pulled Natsu to his feet, grabbed his hand, and took of sprinting down the street.

"So much for them leaving us alone!" Natsu yelled as bullets peppered the ground around them.

"We're almost there!" Erza shouted in response. They were three feet from the tower entrance now, and they picked up the pace for the last stretch, bolting through the door and closing it behind them.

They were inside the tower.