Regular Story Line: Arcane Eclipse Guild
The town is quiet the moment as Achilles, Drake, and Natara walk towards a tall stone guild covered with vines by the side. The stone is chipping slowly due to years of erosion and neglect from the members. The guild looms over the town like an eerie dark shadow. There's barely any windows except for two small one at the front of the guild, but they're dirty and cracked. When Natara, Drake, and Achilles walk inside the guild, the town resumes to its cheerful self.
No one questions the sleeping teen Achilles was carrying over his shoulder or when Natara was carrying the sleeping exceed. The town rather turn the other cheek than to question their motives. The town knows the dark history with the guild and they rather not be on their bad side. However, the inside of the guild is worse off than the outside. The darkness welcomes the group as they walk over broken glass on the floor.
The guild isn't furnished but it didn't matter to them since they don't want to give their guest a welcoming feeling. Achilles walks toward an entry way then heads towards to a flight of stairs to reveal a wooden door, he reaches for it then opens it slowly. A loud creak resonates around the guild as he enters the room; inside the room is a dark cell staring at him. The bars are rusty as well as the lock, but the lock is still sturdy. Achilles carefully opens the cell then grabs Natsu's clothes and tosses him roughly inside the cell.
Natara walks next into the cell and places Happy gently on the ground then walks back to Achilles. Her pale white eyes glow brightly in the darkness as she analyzes Achilles.
"You should be more tactful to defenseless people. You shouldn't treat them like that when they're vulnerable." Natara lectures quietly as Achilles locks the cell.
"I apologize. How are you so kind after all that has happened to you?" Achilles ask as he looks at Natara.
At a young age, Natara was stricken by diseases causing her to lose her sight. She had no one and roamed the streets trying to get by until she met a traveler who promised her that he would teach her about magic and how she can unlock it. However, he told her that in order to achieve it, you must make a sacrifice. She gave him money and some of her valuables then snatched it from her and fled. Anger took over her as she let out a frightening shriek that caused the traveler, who turned out to be a con artist, to collapse on the floor due to his heart stopping.
"I learned from my mistakes, Achilles and I promised myself to become stronger like you, Bellona, and Drake." Natara vows as she gives Achilles a warm smile.
"At the rate you're going you will be the strongest one of everyone here." Achilles confesses as he and her walk up the stairs.
"Thank you. I just don't want to bring you and the others down." Natara says sadly as Achilles places his hand on her shoulder. They both stop as Achilles bends down to see her eyes.
"Don't think like that ever again. You were never and never will be the weakest link." Achilles says softly as Natara smiles brightly, which he hasn't done for a long time. They both leave the room leaving Natsu and Happy sleeping in the cell.
Regular Story Line: Hargeon Town
Wendy takes down two bandits then glances at Lucy punching and kicking down each bandit with ease. Her black sunglasses hide her eyes, but Wendy knows that Lucy is still angry at Natsu. As Lucy takes down the last bandit with a swift kick to his left side, she turns back to her blue skirt that matches with her sleeveless blue shirt with her dark knee length boots. Her hair is back to being in a long side ponytail as she looks at Wendy's worried face.
"She seems angry." Wendy whispers to Carla
"That's an understatement" Carla whispers as they see Gray and Erza walking with two unconscious bandits over their shoulders. Erza and Gray place them on the ground then look at Lucy and Wendy.
"Well that seems about it." Erza announces
"Not much trouble but stubborn to quit." Gray sighs as he rolls his shoulders back to loosen up.
"Find Natsu and Happy while I collect the reward." Erza demands as she starts to find the owner of the poster.
"Where could that loud mouth idiot be?" Gray mutters as he and Lucy start to search for Natsu and Happy.
Regular Story Line: Arcane Eclipse
Natsu slowly opens his eyes to see two Happys staring at him with wide eyes. He blinks his eyes a few times to later on get one Happy staring at him with a smile. Natsu's head is pounding from landing on the concrete floor as he staggers to get up from the ground. He uses the concrete wall to help him get up.
"Didn't think it would take you so long to recover from a nap?" Happy says as Natsu gives him a sly smile.
"Where are we?" Natsu ask as he finally gets his balance.
"I was going to ask you the same question." Happy answers as they hear heels clacking against the concrete floor.
Natsu catches a glimpse of strands of long blonde hair flowing. Natsu excitedly runs to the bars and is excited to see Lucy is okay. However, when he looks at the woman, it wasn't Lucy. Natsu gets away from the bar as he senses a dark presences from the woman. He eyes her pointy gloved hand and starts to fear if she is going to harm his friends.
"The famous Salamander." Bellona whispers as she eyes Natsu with admiration.
"Who are you and what have you done with the rest of my friends?!" Natsu questions angrily as the woman's amber eyes sparkle with excitement.
"You and the exceed are the only one here." Bellona answers
"What do you want from us then?" Natsu ask
"You have built a name for yourself over the years from defeating formidable enemies to increasing your power. You might be one of my most difficult enemies, Natsu." Bellona answers with a chilling smile
"If a fight is what you want then I'll gladly give you one." Natsu blurts as he spews a stream of fire from his mouth aiming towards Bellona. A dark purple aura emits from her body as the fire instantly disappears.
"Where did the fire go?" Happy questions as Natsu sees that Bellona is unharmed.
"It's not wise to use that kind of move in close quarters." Bellona warns as a dark purple flame appears in front of her.
She shoots the fire start at Natsu as he attempts to absorb the flame, but his body won't allow it. The dark flame begins to envelop both him and Happy away. Happy watches the dark purple flames singe Natsu's clothes then slowly the flame disappears from his eyes.
"I couldn't eat it." Natsu grunts as he glares at Bellona.
"Your reckless behavior is bound to kill you and your friends soon if you don't think clearly." Bellona lectures as Natsu races towards the rusty bars and glares at her.
"How about you let me out of the cell and we can have a real fight." Natsu barks but Bellona looks at him coldly. Footstep resonate from the room as Bellona looks at Drake and Achilles enter the room.
"Decided to see the show?" Bellona questions
"Wouldn't miss this for the world." Drake quips as he looks at Natsu. Anger flows inside Natsu's veins as he brings his head closer to the rusty bars.
"I will get out of here and turn you all to ash!" Natsu shouts as Drake releases a long chain then aims it at Happy. The chain coils around his body quickly as Natsu races towards him trying to pry him free but it only tightens the bond.
"LET HIM GO!" Natsu shouts as Happy begins to whimper.
"Finish him." Bellona commands as dark red aura emits from the chain. Happy stops struggling and stays still.
"I can't move…" Happy whispers as the chain uncoils.
"Paralyzes the muscles, given his size it won't take long to reach his lungs." Drake adds as Natsu glares at him.
He runs back to them as he grabs Bellona by the arm and slams her close to the rusty bars. He feels a numbing feeling in his chest as he slowly lets go of her. He looks down to see a sharp object penetrate his chest. Bellona retracts her finger from Natsu's chest then admires the blood tint on her glove. Natsu clutches his wound then glares at her.
"Think before you act!" Bellona warns as Achilles opens the cell and enters inside.
"We might be needing this." Achilles says as he removes Natsu's scarf then touches his forehead. A white light emits from his forehead as Natsu begins to turn pale.
"Natsu…." Happy whispers as he watches his friend soon collapse on the floor in a cold sweat. Achilles lifts Happy up gently then wraps him with Natsu's scarf.
"This shoud make a decent thank you gift." Achilles quips as he leaves Natsu sprawled on the floor. Achilles leaves the cell then locks it again as he and Drake leave Bellona alone with Natsu.
"As long as you don't use your magic, you'll live. Each time you use it, your magic will start to disappear and my magic will take over you." Bellona says as Natsu looks at her with wide eyes.
"If you survive Achilles' Mental Purgatory, we will have our match. Bellona says as she leaves the room.
The darkness looms over Natsu as he scraps the concrete floor with his nails hoping he can escape. It's a constant loop he's witnessing over and over in his head; his friends in danger and he can't move to help them. He feels a soft touch on his shoulder and turns around to see Lucy smiling. He grabs her arm but her skin starts to blister then excessive burn marks take over her body. Her white skin turns red then her body slowly turns to ash as Natsu tries to hold her before her body starts to become to ashes, she disappears.
"This isn't real. This isn't real." Natsu whispers as he places his hands on his head trying to collect himself. A dark shadow walks towards him then smiles wide.
"Real or not, you won't survive this." The Shadow leaps onto Natsu then disappears.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter. :)