AN: Yay another chapter! Sorry it was late…again, but at least you didn't have to wait as long as you did before! Honestly this was finished a couple of days ago, but FanFiction decided it didn't want me to post this any earlier and banned me from my account. But luckily they did whatever maintenance they needed to do because I can no update! YAY!

Hope you like it.

Natsu POV

"Natsuuuu!"

Whipping my head towards the yell I half heartily knocked one of the guards into the nearby wall and turned to see Happy flying over the rest of the circling guard's heads. He dodged their grabbing hands and blasts of magic as he did so as quickly as he could but no matter how fast he moved my little buddy wasn't fast enough to dodge every attack and went tumbling to the ground as one blast of fire nicked his leg. Unable to do anything other than watch, my anger grew. Dodging a wild swing of a poorly sharpened sword by ducking under it, I slammed my head into the guy's stomach and kicked him as he fell to the ground. Guard after guard tried to keep me from Happy but everyone that stood in my way went down after a well-placed attack. So focused on getting to Happy I didn't notice the multitude of cuts and scrapes I had that were freely bleeding until the blood clouded my vision and I had to wipe a hand across my face.

Discarding the last guards that stood in my way with a roar, I froze when I saw an arm around Happy's throat as he kicked his legs and gasped. The unfortunate guard attached to the arm I was about to tear off was shaking, and smelled strongly of urine. From the looks of him he was extremely young compared to the rest, possibly younger than my 18 years. Not sensing any threat from him other than the offending arm I glared at him and slowly advanced. Revealing my teeth as I smirked at him I let loose a single growl and the guard let go of Happy as he fled. Catching my exceed I looked him over and cringed when I saw the burn on his leg. "I'm sorry I couldn't get to you sooner Happy." I said closing my eyes to try to calm myself down so I didn't track down the guard that had gotten away.

"It's not your fault Natsu, you were already dealing with seven guards." He said patting my head trying to comfort me. "Here, Gray said you should have this. He has gone with Elle to take the freed prisoners to Fairy Tail. There's a map on here, and you can only use it to call within the facility. Laxus and Cana have gone to the bottom floor where they believe the cure is being kept. Gray said to meet them there when you were done up here."

"Can you fly?" I asked suddenly, distracted by other thoughts rather than focusing on what Gray wanted.

"Aye sir!" Happy saluted, wincing when he tried to apply pressure on his leg.

"Good, I want you to catch up with Gray, help him lead everyone to Fairy Tail and when you get back to Fairy Tail ask Wendy to look at your leg."

"But I want to help find Lucy's cure." He said looking crestfallen that I was sending him away. "You can't do it on your own, no matter what you say."

"You've helped out a lot already, but they're gonna retaliate and when they do I want you there watching after Lucy. You know how much trouble she gets into when left on her own." I joked. "Besides I won't be alone, Laxus and Cana will be with me."

Happy mulled over my words for a little bit before wiggling out my arms and hovering in front of me. "Alright but make sure you let them help you, and that you call the guild when you find the cure and are on your way home."

Smiling at the concern look that he wore I readily agreed and watched to make sure he was flying alright. When he was no longer visible I flipped through the lacrima and found the map he had been talking about. Just another eight more floors until I get to the bottom. I thought stuffing the lacrima in my pocket.

Taking a step in the direction of the stair well I grinned when more guards poured out of the doors and surrounded me once again.

Unknown POV

For nearly a century or was it two, time easily slipped away from me, I have been trapped here hanging above this vat that mocked me every time I looked at it. Weaker than weak I wasn't capable of doing much else than eat the food that was brought to me and glare at me captors. Polaris, that conniving bitch of spirit had sent her lackeys to capture me the moment she had had enough powers to contact them, ordering them to beat me into unconsciousness then drag me to this hell hole.

In all of the time I had been here, not once had I seen the guards so panicked. Pretending to be unconscious I listened to their chatter excited that they had, had so much destruction wrought on them.

"Team three and four do you copy? What's the status on the upper levels?... Team three, team four?"

All they got in response was static. The next guard who spoke was on the verge of panic, and his voice cracked with every word.

"Team two do you copy? Have you secured the mid-levels?"

This time however there was an actual response over the lacrima. "Team one, we need back up, I repeat we ne- ahhhh-" the transmission abruptly cut off. Peeking down at the guard that stood with his back to me I saw as team two disappeared right as a ball of fire consumed they're lacrima. In my head I snickered glad that someone was doing what I could not.

I must have laughed out loud because the next moment my keepers jabbed the syringes into my body and began their torture. "What are you laughing at? Do you think it's funny that our friends, our families are dying up there?" With a evil gleam in his eye he cranked up the speed of the withdrawal of my blood and bone marrow and cackled as he watched. "You're in no position to find anything funny."

"Danny quit playing with the prisoner we have to send back up to teams two through four." Unhappy to be interrupted Danny maneuvered the giant needles so they would tear my flesh as they were yanked out.

Schooling my features so he wouldn't know how much pain he had caused I watched helplessly as the syringes were emptied into the vat below me and stirred slowly. My blood and marrow weren't the only things to be added into the concoction, some of the deadliest herbs had been added earlier; nightshade and belladonna the only names that came to mind. If I wasn't so sleepy all of a sudden I knew I could recall what else had been added but I couldn't focus on much else than keeping my eyes open so I could watch the humans squirm some more.

Team one had been divided into three groups, one was to provide back up for the other teams, the other to guard the space outside of the doors and the last, and largest group was to remain here and watch over me. As usual luck wasn't on my side and Danny remained in the room with the last group. By the still present gleam in his eyes I knew he had more pain in store for me as we waited to see what happened with the others.

Not wanting to miss a single second of what was going on out there every one of the guards turned their lacrima on as soon as they left so it would be relayed back to the remaining group.

"What the? How did you get past the first group?" Someone yelled within five minutes of leaving, as a flash of pink passed by one of the lacrima a before cutting it off; like before there was yelling and cut of requests for back up as pink and red consumed the lacrimas until everyone from group two had been decimated.

Everyone stood around shocked at what they had just witnessed. Leaving them no time to process what had just napped noises came from outside the door. I was unaware I had been hold my breath until the door blew open and I released it in a gasp, as I saw that the person who had caused so much destruction was merely a boy. Again the my captors were shocked, but then some of them stupidly began to underestimate the boy, but I knew better; he was dangerous, far more dangerous than any of the mages that stood before him and he was steaming mad...literally.

"Give me the cure and I promise I won't hurt you...much." He said with a grin as he took a threatening step forward.

"Cure, cure for what?"

"For whatever poison you used to poison Lucy!" He growled, growing impatient and sprouting flames on his fists.

"Ha! There is no cure for that retched girl. She's as good as dead; in fact I'm surprised she's lasted so long." Danny said hauntingly, proving his stupidity by antagonizing the pinkette.

Danny's words shot through the boy, causing him to pause and his eyes go vacant. Going by his facial expression he was in anguish that there was no cure. For a moment it looked like he had given up when his flames vanished and his shoulders slumped. I don't know what ran through his mind in the brief seconds as he stared at the ground but it couldn't have been pleasant because suddenly he looked up, taking in everyone; Danny, his fellow guards and even me.

Something in him had snapped at Danny's foolish confession and young mage was even more pissed off than he had been before. Instead of his earlier flames encasing his hands, a mixture of fire and lightning surround his entire body. So sudden was the appearance of the two elements Danny didn't get the chance to step back and was singed by the boy's new aura.

In a dangerous whisper he spoke. "No cure... are you sure about that?"

"Are you stupid; I just said there wasn't one! You're going to pay for that little stunt of yours, you brat!" Danny laughed, clearly too stupid to sense the amount of danger he was in.

"Then there's no need to hold back anymore." The boy grinned maliciously.

Hold back? He took out at least a hundred of Polaris' most powerful followers to get down here and he had been holding back?! My thoughts were echoed among the remaining men who were smartly backing away from Danny and his big mouth, and looking for a way to reach the only exit that inconveniently was behind the source of their fear.

Leisurely the boy walked forward, ignoring Danny's raised sword and the beginning signs of his water magic.

"Lightning Flame Dragon's Fist." He said, barely loud enough for me to hear, right before his left hand knocked away the incoming sword as his right fist went sailing into Danny's face, causing a loud crunching noise as bone shifted and broke. My tormentor was knocked clear across the vast basement/factory and towards the far wall that held the vials of my blood and the poison they had made with it. Before he even hit the wall Danny was screaming as flames consumed him. Dropping to the ground Danny moved to roll around to get rid of the dancing flames but before he could complete his first roll his body jerked this way and that as the lightning magic shocked him. A second later his screams abruptly cut off as he fell into unconsciousness.

Surprisingly the flames stopped their assault but the boy didn't. *Boom* the ceiling above us shook, showering us with dust. *Pop pop pop* the next assault sounded as more rocks fell down. Unfazed by the unexpected ruckus coming from above he continued walking towards the others who were still frozen in fear.

As he got closer the guards slowly came to their senses and finally started to fight back. The first few brave fools hesitantly stepped forward as they called forth their powers.

Natsu POV

A dark haze clouded my vision as I thought of the poison affecting Lucy. Without a cure she wouldn't be able to on any more missions with the team, she wouldn't be able to summon any of her spirits and she wouldn't be able to grow old with the person she loved. Her future had been stolen from her by these idiots and that was unforgivable. For that they needed to pay.

Their punishment overtook my thoughts as I walked towards them. So much so, that I didn't even see the mouthy one charge at me. My rage consumed me and all I could do at this point was let my instincts guide me. I felt as if something had taken over my body as I watched my arm shoot out of its own accord and knock the guard aside.

Without pausing I continued walking towards the rest of the shaking mages. They must pay for hurting what is mine. I thought as I watched as five of them gained the courage to stand up to me. Calling their on their magic I felt a familiar prickle in the air. Lucy. No, it can't be Lucy, she can't use her magic. Shaking my head I refocused on the minimal threat the guards provided.

How dare they be able to summon their spirits after they took away Lucy's ability to do so.

"Lightning Flame Dragon's Hammer." I snarled as I swung both arms onto the ground in front of me. The floor between us rolled and cracked as my attack raced towards them. The floor beneath their feet crumbled into nothing, revealing the resting magma below.

Unable to move quick enough the guards fell screaming as they did, their voices growing even more frantic and pain filled as they plunged into the fiery heat.

Looking up from the bubbling pit I saw that the remaining three guards were gone. My attack, apparently stronger than I had thought had continued past the five mages and made it all the way to the others, sending them all down into the molten pit. Hearing rocks skid across the floor I turned. One more, I thought as I took in the one I had knocked aside earlier.

"Wait! Stop!" The downed one quivered, scrambling to get to his feet. "There may be a cure… but it won't be easy for the girl. I'll tell you if you spare me." He pleaded looking to the creature that was hanging from the ceiling to me.

Grabbing him by the throat I slammed him into the wall. "You will tell me even if I don't decide to spare you." I growled. "Now speak." I said releasing my hold on him and letting him fall to the ground.

"Tha- that creature there is a Celestial Spirit. Ther-"

"I know what spirits are."

"Right… well…ummm… that spirit is the Phoenix. He is supposed to have the ability to heal anything as long as it's still alive. But for some reason he refuses to use his healing abilities and has been used to create the poison that is in your friend's blood."

Dismissing him I walked towards the giant bird. "Is it true… can you heal my friend?" I asked, feeling more like myself all of a sudden.

It was quiet for a while, assessing the situation to determine if I would hurt it if it gave me the wrong answer.

"I would give you anything if you healed her." I pleaded.

"Is she still alive?"

"Yes."

"What symptoms is she exhibiting?"

"She can't do much magic and she has less energy than normal."

"Hmmmm"

"Please."

"I will make no promises until I see her and if she is worth saving. If I do heal her, make no mistake I will hold you to your promise."

"Anything that is within my power is yours." I promised without a thought.

"Good. You may call me Nick. Now if you would, please release these shackles." Concentrating, I shot a stream of flames at the bird's shackles, cutting him free. "We should go, this volcano is going to erupt any minute thanks to your earlier attacks." Stretching out a wind to me he tossed me onto his back before swooping towards the last guard. Turning sharply Nick grabbed the mage in his talons and shot several fireballs at the ceiling cracking it even further until it shattered.

Smelling my guild mates I pointed towards their twisting bodies, and Nick caught them as we made our escape.

Laxus POV

"Damn it Cana have you gotten us lost?" I suddenly stopped, when the stairs stopped at level 23, causing her to run into my back. Turning to her I watched as her head rose from the lacrima.

"How can I get us lost? We've been in this stair well this entire time. According to the guards constant chattering we are in the right area but the map doesn't show the level they're talking about. It stops at level 23; I'm not sure where the access is to level 24." She said frustrated, jamming the lacrima into my chest as she turned to look around. Throwing her hands in the air she started to pace. "There isn't even a damn door to get out of here!"

"We'll just have to go back up." I said calmly, but on the inside I was anything but. This shit was getting ridiculous we had most of the fucking guild out looking for this cure and when we get so close to finding it we get lost inside of a volcano that could blow at any minute and destroy the thing we needed most.

"Turn back?! We don't have time for that! It should be right here!" She yelled pointing at the ground beneath our feet. "The fucking stairwell should be right here and I'll be damned if I leave here to find a longer way around. You may not care about Lucy but I sure as hell do and I am not giving up!"

"I care about her why else would I have come to you guys, but we'll waste more time trying to find an entrance that doesn't exist than finding another way around."

"You find another way around on that map and I'll go with you but there isn't one. Believe me I've looked. Now move back unless you want to get hit." Cana said taking out her cards.

Several hours had passed as I looked for another way to get to where the cure was being held but the map proved useless as Cana had said. During that time Cana had gone through her entire collection of cards and not a one of them made more than a dent in the ground below us. There was no way we were getting into that secret room, not from here. We were missing something, but we didn't know what. After the first hour of making no progress we had searched the walls and the ground for a hidden switch, backtracked several floors and searched for another entry way but still we found nothing that would let us in. But during our search we found some sort of war room that had maps of Fiore, Bosco and Seven. Each country had names written on them in certain locations and then a red 'X' over them. All of the names had an 'X' over them except two. Rea and Lucy. Instead their names were circled and linked to a line that led to Fairy Tail that had been circled dozens of times until Fairy Tail had been separated from the map all together.

Looking over the rest of the map I found each location that Mira had sent a group to and noticed that some of them also had red 'X's over them. Actually all of them had one except for where we were and where Rogue had been sent.

Hearing a loud boom and feeling the ground shake I quickly grabbed the maps and stuffed them in my pack and ran out of the room. Bumping into Cana we both spoke.

"Was tha-"

"What did yo-"

With matching horrified expressions we ran back down to the bottom floor. It wasn't until now that I remembered Natsu was supposed to have met up with us, and from the looks of the cracks on the ground he was going to do just that in a few moments. Grabbing Cana's arm I started to yank her away from the center of the floor but was took late as the center dropped out from beneath her.

As she began falling she grabbed onto my arm and pulled me down with her. No matter how much we twisted and turned we couldn't see what was below us and we hoped for the best. Feeling a searing heat suddenly we collided with something that was surprisingly soft as I got a whiff of Natsu's familiar scent.

"Hey guys!" Said Dragon Slayer said sheepishly.

"Natsu what did you do?" I asked glaring up at him.

"Uhh… Natsu, what are we on?" Cana asked pulling on my arm to get me to look at what she was seeing.

Knowing she wouldn't give up until she had my attention I gave it to her and balked. We were on the back of some huge as fiery bird that was blasting fireballs at the ceiling to get through. When I looked below us I groaned. "You activated the fucking volcano?!" I yelled, disgusted by his lack of control. "How are we supposed to find the cure now, when everything that could be of use is being destroyed by the freaking lava?"

"Nothing that's down there is of use to us, loud one." The bird beneath us mumbled, as it dodged the flying debris.

"Who and what are you?"

"I am Nick, and as for what I am, I am the Great Firebird, the Phoenix. I believe you have been looking for my brethren and I."

"Great now we have another spirit, but we don't have the cure. How are we supposed to defeat Polaris without Lucy?"

"If you would let me talk Laxus you would know that you're sitting on the cure to the poison." Natsu said getting annoyed. "Nick is a healer in addition to a firebird. According to the guards he can heal anything as long as it's still alive, and since Lucy is still very much alive it should be easy for him to heal her."

Sharing a look with Cana we both agreed we couldn't tell him about Lucy's current state because we knew how he would take it, and we couldn't exactly fight him if up here.

AN: Let me know what you thought! Please and thank you.

The chapter got away from me, so for those who are waiting for Rogue's POV it is definitely going to be in the chapter 36. I promise!