Finding Their Lost Light

Chapter I

"Natsu, are we there yet?" Lucy asked as the blonde mage trudged through the dirt on the ground.

"We're almost there Luce," Natsu said in front of the group. "Quit getting your lacy panties in a twist!"

Lucy immediately blushed, her face rivalling the colour of Erza's crimson hair. Happy let out an agreeing 'Aye Sir!" as Wendy and Yukino had a light shade of pink dusting their cheeks and Mira let out a light giggle.

"Sh-shut up Natsu!" she yelled.

Currently, the rescue team were making their way through the dungeon underneath the castle. The eerie green torches lining the walls made it difficult to see around them but the group knew they would be fine. After all, they had taken out those executioners. Bones from the former prisoners that were sent here before them cracked as the group stepped on them. There was no real point in avoiding the bones, they were littered everywhere on the ground.

Soon enough, the amount of bones and skeletons seemed to thin out until there weren't any left. They all agreed that it was because they were nearing the exit of this eerie place.

"How's that guy doing Loke?" Happy asked, flying over to the leader of the zodiac keys and to the knight on his back. "He seems out cold."

Loke looked over his shoulder to look at the man from the corner of his eye. "He'll be fine once we lay him down somewhere."

"That's good," Carle said.

"Doesn't mean that we have too," Happy said. "He used Lucy and Yukino for something that sounded evil."

"Despite what's happened he managed to look out for Lucy and Yukino," Mira said, shaking a finger to the blue cat. "We should be more grateful."

"Fine," Happy said, flying back to where Lucy was and plopping on her shoulder.

"Tired Happy?" Lucy asked.

"Aye~!" the Exceed said with a sleepy tone in his voice.

Lucy smiled and lifted the cat from her shoulder and held him in her arms. The blonde smiled as the cat nestled in his grasp, his soft fur tickling her a bit.

Natsu was looking over his shoulder, an unreadable look adorned his face that Lucy couldn't make out. She picked up her pace, leaving Wendy behind with Yukino, and walking beside her pink-haired partner.

"Something wrong Natsu?" she asked.

"What?"

"You seem…off, somehow," Lucy said. She turned away and looked in front of her. "I'm just worried about you. A lot's been happening and who knows what's gonna happen now."

Natsu looked at her from the corner of his onyx eyes and raised a hand to place on her head. She turned back to look at him, being met with an all-too familiar grin on his face.

"We'll be fine Luce! Don't you worry about a thing!" Natsu was being genuine, which Lucy felt relieved for. If the happiest member of their guild was feeling excited, then there shouldn't be much to fear.

"Alright." The blonde sighed, closing her eyes and her head facing forward. "I wonder how final match went today, ne?"

Natsu nodded, "They'll be fine! Our guild's team is made up the strongest members in the guild! We'll definitely win!"

Lucy laughed.

His sharp nose picked up a scent in the direction they were heading. "I think we're close by."

As soon as he said it, a large door came into view. Everyone stopped in front of it. Loke let Arcadios slid gently off his back to stretch. Mira and Yukino took a breather as Wendy checked up on everyone's wounds. Natsu and Lucy stood in front of the door, intrigued by whatever they were going to face behind it.

"Something's going to happen," Lucy said.

Natsu nodded. "I know, you can feel it too huh?"

"Mm. There's something telling me that it's going to be bad…And that we're not going to-" Natsu covered the blonde's mouth with his hand. "Mmm?! Ma-thu?!"

"Don't say that Lucy…" Natsu took his hand off her, placing it on her shoulder. "We're gonna be fine! I'm here, remember? Nothing's gonna happen to you or anyone else in the guild, alright Luce?"

Lucy smiled softly to her partner and nodded quickly. "Rig-"

Suddenly, the door opened slowly, light flooding in through the crack. Standing in the doorway was a hooded figure. The figure was clearly a man, as they had the built of a man. The light eventually faded away, allowing the group to see the man more clearly.

His face was hidden behind a hood, but he looked up when he sensed the group's presence. His cloak was a very deep navy-coloured blue with white trims on the edges. His pants were white with black sandals on his feet. Despite his body being mostly covered by the blue cloak he wore, the group could see a black cloak with gold trims on the ends wrapped around his waist.

Natsu sniffed the air when he saw this new person. He didn't smell like a threat, but there was plenty of lingering scents around him that made him cautious. The fire Dragon Slayer smelt dried and old blood and stale scents…particularly the lingering scent of fresh water mixed and pine…Lucy's scent.

The man before them began to mumble words under his laboured breathing. His voice was low, to the point where the two Dragon Slayers of the group couldn't catch what he was saying to them.

"What did you say?" Wendy asked.

The man looked around, searching for someone in the group. He stopped when his sights were set on a blonde mage.

"Lucy…" he whispered.

"What?" she asked.

The man took a couple of steps towards Lucy, making Natsu step in front of her in a protective stance. The fire Dragon Slayer's fists were clenched, ready to make the first move if needed.

"I…I wanted to see you, Lucy…So much…" the man said.

Lucy's breathing spiked as she clenched her jaw shut. She was scared, she didn't know what was happening. Maybe, this was that bad hunch she was feeling earlier.

"Who are you?" Natsu asked, his voice sounding like a low growl.

The man ignored Natsu, continuing walking towards Lucy with a hand reaching out to her. "Lucy…"

Natsu lit his fists with flames. There was an angry gleam in his onyx eyes that Lucy noticed. "Who are you?! What do you want with Lucy?!"

The man before them stopped, lowering his arm before sighing. He lifted his arm once again, only this time, he aimed for his hood. "It's been a while…since I saw everyone like this…Alive and well, that is."

As the man's hood fell back, everyone's eyes widened at the sight of the man's appearance. Lucy gasped when she saw the man's hair colour and Natsu lowered his stance, simply staring at him. The man's dark eyes looked directly at Lucy before they filled up with tears.

"I missed you Luce," he said as his tears started streaming down his face.

Lucy began breathing in uneven patterns before she said a single name.

"Natsu…"