"W-What do you mean?" Lucy whispered, fear seeping into her chest. Her eyes couldn't help but bore into imitatia's own. Was this really the Michelle she thought was family? Was anything she said true? Or was it all a lie. Tears formed in the corner of Lucy's eyes. She couldn't believe she was tricked that easily.

She believed all of it because of the guilt she felt for her father. She brought Michelle in her life because she told herself that was what Jude would of wanted. But he wouldn't have wanted this. The tears rolled down her cheek easily. She was so weak, so...vulnerable.

"I guess Imitatia kept you so in the dark that you probably have no idea what I'm talking about," Midnight laughed. He slid down from the hill he stood on top of. He smirked and circled around Lucy. The blonde couldn't even bother to push him away when he reached out and grabbed a strand of her hair. He chuckled darkly and stepped back.

"Just tell me." Lucy spit out through her gritted teeth.

"I want Imitatia to." Midnight smirked, his eyes traveling over to Imitatia- who was conflicted enough. Anyone could tell she didn't like what she was doing. But Lucy was so overcome with grief and anger that she didn't see Imitatia's expression. Imitatia glanced over at Midnight and nodded. She would do anything for the man at the moment.

"We needed you sister. Your magic specifically. You're the only one who can cause this chaos. But after that, we can be together forever. I'm sorry it had to come to this..." Imitatia sighed. Lucy held her hands to her chest while more tears streamed down her face. All they wanted was her magic. Michelle- Imitatia- whatever, she didn't actually care. It was all a lie.

"I...I don't care who the hell you are," a new voice chimed in. "But I won't let you hurt Lucy any longer!" Lucy's eyes widened as she looked behind her. It was Natsu, he was okay! He stood up striaght and glared dangerously at Imitatia. Though Lucy was unbearably sad, Natsu brought a watery smile to her damp lips.

But that smile disappeared when he ran to Imitatia to punch her across the face. For some reason, for some stupid reason, she was scared for Imitatia. Even though she betrayed her and everyone else, even though she caused her grief, Lucy still didn't want her to get hurt. She stepped forward with fearful eyes and called out to Natsu. She couldn't stop what came out of her mouth

"Natsu no!"

He stopped immediately. But that didn't mean Imitatia was going to have mercy on him. Imitatia used her weapon to push him so far back, he landed roughly on his back a few feet behind Lucy. Lucy gasped at what she let happen. She couldn't believe she had Natsu stop his attack.

She bit her lip to stop the tears that threatened to fall again. She wanted to run to Natsu, but a punch to the back of her head stopped her. She watched in horror as she fell into Midnight's arms. Her eyes finally blacked out and she fell limp. Her last thought was going to haunt her for years.

How could she let this happen?

...

Elfman watched the entire scene from behind a boulder. He pursed his lips in fear and began to say something in his mind. 'Warren, if you can hear me, you need to pass this on. Michelle betrayed us, she worked for the Oracion Seis. They tampered with Kana's mind and made her choose our groups for us. Anyway, more pressing issues. They took Lucy and Natsu's knocked out. I'll do my best as a man to bring Natsu back to the guild.' He'll admit, it wasn't manly to hide while his friends were getting the crap beat out of them. But he wouldn't have been much help. He would of been in the same predicament as Natsu. It was better he hid so that he could warn everyone else.

He stood up from behind the boulder. He looked both right and left, and behind him for any other Oracion Seis member. He was in the clear. Stepping out from behind the boulder, he ran to Natsu and crouched down to pick up the smaller mage. Natsu was light, Elfman observed as he trudged him back to the guild.

"Lucy..." Natsu mumbled in distress. Elfman peered down at his friend to see if he had awoken. But he hadn't. He just mumbled her name in his sleep. If they weren't in the situation they were in, Elfman would of teased and laughed at him. But he knew what Natsu was feeling.

He knew Natsu felt weak in that moment. That he couldn't protect the one he loved. That's how Elfman felt when he lost Lisanna to his own ignorance. Seeing himself bat his little sister away like nothing all those years ago...it had made him feel so hopeless. Though this situation was different, it invoked the same response.

Which is why Elfman could understand. He sighed and shuffled Natsu around until he got him into a more comfortable position. When the guild was in his sights, he picked up his pace. The faster he got there, the faster he could explain everything to everyone if Warren didn't get his message. He stepped into the guild, watching everyone's panicked expression.

It seems they got the message. Kana looked the most upset about the ordeal, while Gildarts tried to comfort her. Elfman furrowed his brows and set the unconscious dragon slayer on a table. When had Gildarts and Laki came back from their mission?

"We got your message Elfman. Warren is busy trying to communicate to everyone what you had figured out," Makarov explained to the distraught mage. Elfman nodded and sat down on a bar stool. "We also found something else out. Gildarts, care to explain?"

Gildarts stepped away from Kana and stood next to Laki. "Sure thing, master. Laki and I were told to investigate more about Michelle. Well, we found out that Michelle was the only survivor from the Lobster family. But we found her, the real Michelle, under a building, covered in bandages. She was stuck in a coma after the battle. She's brain dead." Gildarts explained darkly. Everyone gasped in awe at the news. Except for Warren, who was frustrated trying to communicate with everyone else.

"So the person who hung around Lucy, wasn't Michelle. We put two and two together when master told us what you told Warren, Elfman." Laki told him. Gildarts nodded in agreement with her. Silence overcame the guild as Warren continued to try and communicate with everyone.

"I think one of the Oracion Seis is cutting off any communication with the others." Warren explained hopelessly. He took his two fingers off of his forehead and let them drop back to his side.

"Than how come I could communicate with you?" Elfman asked. Though Laki was no Levy, she was smart as well. She figured it out pretty quickly.

"They probably wanted you to. They want invoke fear in the mages stuck here while the others fail miserably trying to fight who they put them up against." Laki sighed.

"Than what do we do?" Warren asked her. He leaned back against a table and crossed his arms. He stared at the ground in deep thought.

"I think our best bet is to wait and hope they can defeat their opponent," Makarov nodded, hopping one bar stool to get the bar counter. He sat down and crossed his legs, closing his eyes to meditate. "In the meantime, tie up Natsu." Makarov ordered.

"What, why?" Elfman asked, though he did as he was told. With the help of Gildarts.

"Think about it, once he wakes up, he's going to either want to find every group we have out there and warn them. Or he's going to try and find Lucy. My guess is he'll go for the latter, and that isn't a good idea. All he'll do is wear himself out and we need him for battle." Gildarts nodded towards Makarov, knowing why he wanted Natsu tied up. Elfman understood and hummed, tying the knot extra tight.

Fortunately they were finished right as said dragon slayer woke up. Natsu stirred slightly and opened his eyes slowly. Looking up, he squinted as the bright light hit his eyes. This place didn't feel like a dingy dungeon or anything. He went to stand, only to cough out when his chest was met with thick rope.

If he hadn't gotten kidnapped, then why was he tied up? He blinked rapidly to adjust to the light that was blinding him. That's when he could make out faces. It was Elfman and Gildarts! So he was in the guild after all. He knew that it smelled familiar.

But still the question remained. Why the hell was he tied up? For that matter, why was he tied up in the guild? And where was Lucy? Last he remembered, Michelle betrayed them and beat the shit out of him. And if Lucy wasn't here...that meant...

"Where is she!?" Natsu gasped, struggling against the rope that binded him Elfman and Gildarts back up as he lit on fire to burn the rope away. But Natsu knew it was to no avail. He knew this rope personally. It was enchanted with magic to be specifically designed to withstand fire magic. So this was masters doing.

"Natsu, you need to calm down. We can explain everything to you, kid." Gildarts chuckled nervously. Natsu was in his rage stage so trying to reason with him was next to impossible. But Gildarts had faith in the kid so he wanted to do all the talking.

"I don't care what you have to say. That bitch-" Natsu muttered, anger flaring. "That bitch Michelle betrayed Lucy and then kidnapped her for her magic. It won't change the fact that I'm going to get Lucy back right now!" He pushed himself forward from the pillar he was tied to, only making it an inch before being slammed back to the wood. This made him angrier. He flailed his feet around in blind anger before finally stopping. He heaved from exhaustion.

Everyone's eyes landed on him while he tried desperately to calm himself down. He didn't think he'd ever been this angry before. He let his head fall down until his eyes landed on the wood flooring. Gildarts brought a chair right in front of him and sat down. The older man leaned forward and stared at Natsu's tired form.

"Are you ready for that explanation now, kid?" Gildarts asked him softly. That was the first time he'd ever heard Gildarts sound so soft. He nodded his head and let out a huge sigh.

"Yeah..."

"Michelle Lobster is a real person, but she isn't the one that betrayed us. We're not sure who this person is yet, but it's obvious she works for Oracion Seis. We have to wait until the others can defeat the rest of the Oracion Seis before we can make our move to save Lucy. I know you want her back now, but they're going to keep her alive. If they need her magic, she will be alive. We have to be patient." Gildarts finally told Natsu. Logically, it made sense to Natsu, every battle needed strategy. Because if the other groups defeated the rest of Oracion Seis, it would be easier to get back Lucy. And yeah, she's still alive right now since they need her magic. It made sense, it really did.

But it didn't settle his aching heart.