Chapter 1

"Dammit Natsu! Why is it that we always end up getting shot at!" Lucy shouted, diving behind a ratty couch.

Natsu grinned at her from his position crouched next to her. "Sorry Luce. Didn't know they were armed."

Lucy scowled. "That doesn't mean you can come bursting in here the way you did! You should have been more careful!"

Natsu peeked over the top of the couch and ducked back down quickly when the gunshots started back up. "Do you think we could argue about this later? After we arrest these idiots?"

Before Lucy could respond, they heard the sound of sirens and screeching tires and then the booming voice of Gildarts Clive, captain of SWAT.

"THIS IS THE MAGNOLIA POLICE! WE HAVE YOU SURROUNDED! SURRENDER NOW OR WE WILL USE DEADLY FORCE!"

The gunshots paused again and then Natsu and Lucy heard the sound of metal clattering to the ground. One by one, the shooters exited the building with their hands raised.

Natsu and Lucy slowly stood up, watching the criminals walk through the doors. Lucy turned to Natsu, a frown marring her features. "Did that seem too easy to you?"

Natsu shrugged and gave her another grin. "Nah. They just know when they've lost. Let's let forensics do their sweep and head back to the station."

The sound of the floor creaking was the only warning Natsu needed. He grabbed Lucy's arm and hit the floor just before the gunshot rang out. Quicker than the blink of an eye, the detective had drawn his own gun and jumped to his feet again.

"Drop it!" he shouted, his gun aimed at a man standing in the center of the living room.

The shooter stared steadfast at Natsu, his own gun clenched in his fingers but down at his side.

"I said drop it! Before I drop you! I won't ask again!"

The shooter scowled and released the weapon, letting it fall to the floor. Natsu kept his gun trained on him while he reached for his walkie talkie.

"Gildarts, I've got a stray at gunpoint. Send someone in with cuffs."

"Coming in."

Natsu directed his full attention to the shooter. "Want to tell me what you were hoping to accomplish with that stunt? Why not just give up like your buddies?"

The man scowled again. "They are not my buddies, pig. They were cowards."

Natsu smirked. "And what does that make you? At least they were smart. You're just an idiot."

Before the shooter could respond, a SWAT officer came into the room and took him into custody. Natsu immediately holstered his weapon and looked down to the floor. Lucy was sitting cross-legged behind the couch, her chin in her palm and a bored look on her face.

"You okay, Luce?" Natsu asked as he helped her to her feet.

Lucy sighed. "I'm fine. Just tired of dealing with complete morons."

Natsu chuckled and threw his arm over her shoulder. They exited the house together.

"Well, they may be morons, but they were dangerous morons. Now Magnolia won't have to worry about anymore gang activity from Eisenwald and their idiot leader Erigor for a long, long time."

A smile graced Lucy's face. "Very true. Now, how about you take me to that adorable cafe that just opened up on Main Street. I need a milkshake."

"Whatever you say, Miss Heartfilia."

"Move along. Come on, come on," the guard directed. He sighed. Working at the Magnolia County Prison was not all it was cracked up to be.

Movement in the corner of his eye captured the guard's attention. A young man he had never seen before came up to him wearing a guard's uniform, his unruly yellow hair and red eyes giving him a slightly crazed appearance. The guard looked to this new man's chest for his name plate but found none.

"Who are you? And where is your name? It's part of the uniform, you know."

The other man gave him a smile that sent chills down his spine.

"Is it? Well, I'll have to remember that the next time I break someone out. Can't have anyone getting suspicious, you know?"

The guard only had time to register a high pitched, sadistic cackle before an explosion shook the building.

In another cell block, another man with no name plate was walking leisurely down a hallway, his long white hair falling to his waist, the beard hanging from his chin the same length. He never strayed from his path, even as the sound of the blast rumbled through the hallway and the shouts of guards and inmates filled the air.

He walked until he reached a certain cell and then stopped, turning to look at the inmate behind the bars. The prisoner had short white hair and was wearing the same orange jumpsuits all the prisoners wore. He was standing at the cell door, hands gripping the bars and watching the man before him both curiously and warily.

"Hello, Mr. Lapointe. I believe you know of a detective by the name Dragneel?" the false guard said.

Lapointe scowled. "What of it?"

The guard smiled in a way that could only be suited for a devil. "How would you like the opportunity to get some well deserved revenge?"

At this, Lapointe smirked. "I'm listening."