Ultear sighed as she and Simon walked back into the guild, heads down. They'd just spent a week looking for Nashi, Elise, and Drake, but they'd found nothing. It was as if they'd disappeared off the face of the planet. The townsfolk hadn't seen them since they'd stayed at the hotel in their town 2 weeks ago, and no sign of them even existed outside of town. They found their belongings in their hotel room, but that was it. They saw heads turn when they entered.

"Nothing?" Kinana asked wearily. Simon shook his head.

"Nothing" He replied, driving his fist into the open door. "Not a damn sign of them" Ultear sighed, staring at the floor, partially mad at herself for not being with them because of her damn fever. Maybe if she'd been there, things would've been different. They'd toyed with them being sent to Edolas, but apparently without magic in said world, it was impossible. Ultear looked up to face everybody.

"The people in the town said that they'd seen them when they arrived, but after they left one morning, they never returned." She reported. Her news was obviously not good news, because no one seemed any better after hearing it.

"How could they have just disappeared?" Gajeel demanded. " Salamander and I went to look too. Their smell was so faint it was like they were there years ago." Natsu only nodded in agreement.

"No random note or anything?" Lucy asked, and Ultear shook her head. "I don't get it. How were their tracks covered to well to the point were Natsu and Gajeel couldn't sniff them out?"

"I have a bad feeling their in trouble" Levy spoke up, rubbing the tears out of her eyes. Ultear couldn't help but mentally agree. It wasn't like the three of them to just disappear without any warning whatsoever.

"they're tough" Simon assured, trying his best to raise their spirits. "If they are in trouble, I'm sure they won't give up"

Nashi was prepared to give up. Another beating the following day had knocked the fire right out of her. Drake was insisting Angel was close to finding a way to get them out, but Nashi didn't care anymore. Elise hadn't spoken since she'd been taken away. She spent all her time curled up in a ball eating whatever shitty provisions they were given. Nashi felt terrible. Whatever she'd gone through was because Nashi had shied away, pretending to be weak and asleep. She and Drake both were in much better condition then her, but it didn't change that Nashi was losing strength every day. She'd neglected to tell her friends, but more rather than less she found herself at a loss for the energy to eat and chew, soon it was to lift her hands to her mouth to eat at all. Drake helped her as much as he could. but that wasn't much. Angel showed up less and less, to the point where Nashi was positive Angel had been a figment of her imagination. Why would anyone here want to help them? That was, until, Angel appeared outside their cell.

"Are you guys okay?" She whispered. Nashi regarded her quietly, hoping her silence proved enough of a statement of their condition. Angel sighed.

"I hope your still trying to get us out," Drake told her flatly, a dead look to his eyes. Angel nodded.

"I'm close, I just need a little more time. I promise I won't let you guys die in here" Nashi wanted to laugh, but it would've cause her way too much pain. Nashi knew why Angel was here, and it was more than just reassuring them. Nashi began to stand, faltering slightly as she did. Angel gave her a look that said sorry more times than she could count. Nashi leaned heavily on Angel as they went towards Apocalypse's 'interrogation room', or, as Nashi referred to it as, his torture chamber. Angel opened the door, and Nashi stumbled in. Apocalypse laughed.

"Back again, little Fairy?" He asked. Nashi grinned.

"I just love your face so much" She croaked. "I find it hard to stay away" Apocalypse chuckled.

"You flatter me,"

"Don't get used to it"

Nashi panted as she limped towards the wall and leaned against it. a green magic seal appeared on her stomach, sending waves of pain through her system.

"Your Rupture magic is off point today, Apocalypse" She boasted, trying to look tough, but knew she was failing. "Something wrong?" Apocalypse just smirked,

"Boss told me he couldn't have you weaklings dying, so he told me to let up a little bit, but don't worry, I'll still make sure your in a lot of pain." Nashi was about to retort when the door opened and Angel appeared.

"Times up" She said in a monotone. Nashi limped over too her and Angel pushed her roughly out the door. Nashi was practically being carried by Angel back to her cell, who didn't grumble in protest having to do so. Nashi collapsed into the cell and Angel sighed.

"Alright, Elise, it's your turn." There was no response, no sound of Elise getting up to go be tortured. Nashi looked towards her friends, who was still curled up into a ball. Nashi was unsure if she was awake or not, but Nashi didn't have the heart to check. "Elise, c'mon, I can't cover for you, I understand it's difficult, but..."

"Don't make her go" Drake spoke up from his corner of the cell. "She's not okay"

"None of you are" Angel replied. "Like it or not, she has too..." Nashi grabbed Angel's ankle, and looked up at her.

"She. Can't." Nashi growled, staring the older woman right in the eyes.

"Why not?"

"Take me instead"

"Huh?" Nashi gave Angel a look of pure determination.

"Elise needs time to recover from what happened. Take me in her place." Angel shook her head.

"Apocalypse will kill you, he was ordered to torture her the most this time, for whatever reason. He won't discriminate if you show up there instead of her." Nashi cast a glance over to the iron dragon slayer, and decided.

"You're taking me or none of us." Nashi said coldly, standing up so tall and proud she was surprised not to feel any pain. Angel shook her head sadly, and She escorted Nashi out of the cell.

"Nashi..." Nashi turned to find Drake watching her, a weary expression plastered on his face.

"Don't worry, Drake, I'll be fine. Make sure Elise makes it for me okay? Just in case?" Drake looked like he was about to protest, but made a somber face and nodded.

"I will," He replied. Just...just in case."

It was another hour or so before Angel brought Nashi back, and Drake felt awful just looking at her. She looked fine a first glance, but under the rags she had open wounds, bruises of all different colors, and a rib or two that look out of place. Angel looked guilty.

"Why did I let her do that?" She hissed. "Apocalypse could've killed her"

"Elise would've killed herself, that's why" Drake replied. Angel gave him a look.

"What happened to her anyway? Did she have a mental breakdown or what? She hasn't moved since I took Nashi away"

"She...she was..." Drake told her. He told Angel everything he'd heard the night it happened, and he watched Angel's face contort from attentive to shock to rage. She turn on her heel and went for the door of the prison.

"Angel?" Drake called out, but he was ignored. The door slammed, and he heard Angel stomp up the stairs. He had a bad feeling that however had done this to Elise was about to get it.

Angel could take the guilt from escorting them to torture, but not this. She hadn't expected what Drake had told her, but she couldn't just sit this one out. She barged into Apocalypse's room. He turned to look at her, confused.

"What is it, Sor?"

"I need you to come with me" Angel replied, giving the younger man a look that said he'd do well not to argue with her presently. He followed Angel out and there was silence between them.

"What the hell is this about, Sor?" Angel turned to look at him.

"Someone asshole has disobeyed our master, and we're gonna find out who"

Not as long as I would've liked, but I'll make do. Review!