At night, in a plaza filled with trees, the small group rested. Natsu slept peacefully on Lucy's lap as she gently stroked his hair. Gray, noticing the vibe between his two companions, decided to search for a nymph who could help them.
Lucy, despite herself, smiled as she watched Natsu sleep serenely – *To think he's the one who saved me...* – she sighed – *I'm completely useless on this quest. I still don't understand why Gildarts sent me...* – she blushed slightly – *I know why. I just won't do it like Gildarts ordered...*
Lucy snapped out of her thoughts at a rustling from the trees. She quickly grabbed her pen, turning it into a bow and readying an arrow, aiming at the sound.
Gray – *Whoa, man, those nymphs are...* – he stopped, seeing Lucy armed – *C-Calm down. It's me* – he gave an awkward smile.
Lucy lowered her bow, glaring at him – *Don't sneak around like that. I could've shot you. We'd have to roast goat back at camp.*
Gray fell to his knees – *G-Goat... roast?*
Lucy sighed – *Don't overreact... I'm going to sleep...* – she gently placed Natsu's head on a backpack – *Keep watch and look after Natsu.*
Closing her eyes, Lucy fell asleep quickly. Exhausted from the day's events, she didn't care about anything else. She just wanted rest.
The next morning, with the sun shining brightly despite cloudy skies, Natsu woke feeling a weight on his body. He opened his eyes slowly, seeing only a blonde blur.
Natsu – *...Wait...* – he whispered – *Blonde...?* – he tensed. Then he fully woke, realizing what it was – *LUCY?!* – he saw her lying on him. Blushing intensely, he felt her body against his, her medium but ample chest for her age. Cold sweat broke out. He looked for Gray but couldn't find him.
Lucy stirred on him – *Hmm...*
Natsu gulped – *If she wakes up, I'm dead!*
Lucy – *Hmm... Ah... Damn...*
Natsu – *She's waking up?!* – he panicked – *Think... Think... Think... Nothing's coming to mind!*
Lucy stirred again, opening her eyes calmly. She stayed composed seeing Natsu so close. One word came to her mind – *Kill...* – she whispered.
Minutes later, emerging from the woods, Gray sighed for the seventh time. He headed to their makeshift camp, feeling that leaving those two alone too long would lead to them either doing things kids their age shouldn't or killing each other – *The second option's more logical and likely...* – he thought, sweat-dropping. Entering the camp, another sweat drop formed – *Yup. No doubt. The second option's the real one. They're gonna kill each other.*
Gray watched Lucy chase Natsu as if she wanted to rip his head off.
Lucy – *You jerk! Die! Die! Die! Die! I hope you die!* – she shouted, cheeks still flushed.
Minutes later, after Natsu and Lucy calmed down, the group sat on the ground.
Gray – *Can you two stop fighting so much?*
Lucy pouted – *It's this pervert's fault! He got under me while I was sleeping to take advantage!*
Natsu growled – *Damn it. You're the one who tried to take advantage...* – he defended himself – *Besides, you laid on me! I'm just a victim! You wanted to assault me!*
Lucy blushed hard – *A-Assault? Don't give me that! You wanted to assault me!*
They glared at each other angrily. Natsu's eyes shifted from their usual color to sea-green, and Lucy's turned cloudy gray.
Natsu – *As if I'd want to assault someone like you...* – he smiled coldly – *There are way better girls than you.*
Lucy – *Tch. Hmph. You'd definitely want to assault me* – she smirked coldly – *So don't act like you wouldn't.*
Gray watched the argument, sweat-dropping – *What's with this assault talk? This is getting weird!*
Later, in a city café, the trio ate breakfast quietly, whispering:
Natsu – *Where to now?* – he ate a piece of his cake.
Gray – *Not sure, but gathering more info on the divine weapons is our best bet* – he sipped his juice – *Once we find out who stole them, we can end this. Until then...*
Lucy – *We can't do much...* – she finished Gray's sentence – *The real problem is finding the thief. But how?*
They sighed, mentally and physically exhausted. Their attention shifted outside as a tall, burly man dismounted a motorcycle. Wearing dark sunglasses, holding a backpack in his right hand, and covered in facial scars, he entered the café and looked at Natsu.
Natsu felt a chill from the man's stare. His blood boiled, and he wanted to smash the windows and everything around, even punch Gray in the face.
Lucy felt the same rage. Wanting to break everything, she realized – *Ares...* – she whispered, shocked.
Natsu looked at her – *What?*
Lucy gulped as the man approached their table – *What's Ares doing here? Shouldn't he be on Olympus?* – she wondered.
The man sat across from them – *How's it going, Lucy-chan?* – he smirked.
Lucy – *Ares...* – she rested her hand on her thigh, feeling rage build – *What brings you here, great Ares?*
Ares – *Nothing. Just bored* – he smirked – *So I decided to help you guys and have some fun.*
Natsu frowned – *Have fun?* – he growled, rage intensifying – *Don't mess with us!* – he slammed his hands on the table, drawing attention.
Lucy – *Hey... Quiet down...* – she grabbed Natsu's arm, making him sit – *Sorry, Ares-sama* – she bowed – *He's kind of an idiot. If you're generous, please let him be.*
Ares – *No worries. I'm in a good mood...*
Natsu glared at Ares coldly, feeling rage spread stronger. Then he realized – *It's him. He's making me this angry...* – he narrowed his eyes at the god, who smiled – *What are you doing here?* – he asked calmly, trying to control his anger.
Ares's smile widened – *Didn't I say? I'm here to help and have fun* – he sighed – *Being a god is tiring and boring. In peacetime, I'm even more bored* – his smile grew – *But now, Kronos is rising and building an army. No one knows how he's returning, but I know he wants war.*
Gray raised a shaky hand – *Ares-sama, forgive my boldness, but why are you really here?*
Ares – *What if I said I want to stop you so a war happens?*
Natsu reached for his pocket – *We'd be happy to fight you* – he smirked, eyes glowing intense sea-green, almost white-gray.
Lucy gasped at Natsu's eyes – *Like Gildarts said...* – she sweated – *If he awakens here, not just Gray and I will get hurt, but many mortals...* – she glanced around, seeing people staring – *Hey, Natsu. Calm down.*
Natsu's eyes returned to normal.
Ares laughed heartily, eyes blazing red – *You know, kid, you're the first to challenge me with a smile.*
Natsu smirked, not understanding his own confidence – *I didn't get it before, but everyone always said I'm dangerous* – his smile grew – *And you know, I don't mind fighting you.*
Gray – *Hey, Natsu! Don't say that to him! He's a god.*
Natsu growled, breathing deeply to let the rage subside.
Lucy – *Ares-sama, please, tell us what you want so we can go* – she glanced around, noticing they were drawing attention again.
Ares – *Alright. I won't take long. I came to give you this* – he placed the backpack on the table, catching their attention.
Gray – *What's that?* – he eyed the bag.
Ares – *A gift. It might help* – he smirked.
Lucy grabbed the bag, placing it on her lap and opening it – *A map?*
Ares – *Yup. A map. It'll show you how to get to the Underworld since you're headed there.*
Lucy clutched the bag – *How do you know?*
Ares – *I'm a god. Nothing escapes my ears* – he leaned forward, whispering – *Also, I talked to Azuma, and he said you're after the stolen divine weapons. So I figured you'd go to the Underworld.*
Lucy/Gray/Natsu – *That jerk!* – they thought, furious.
The war god headed for the door – *See ya, kids. Later* – he left.
Hours later, leaving the café, Natsu's group walked calmly through Manhattan's streets. Natsu kept his hood up, looking odd; Gray's crutches drew attention; Lucy, with just her backpack, seemed the most normal.
Natsu – *Where to now?* – he asked, breaking the tense mood from the stares they received.
Lucy – *Let's see* – she pulled the map from the backpack – *Wow!* – she stared, surprised.
Natsu – *What's wrong?* – he leaned closer, worried.
Lucy pointed at a section – *It shows everything. All of Manhattan and the country. Even places tied to magic* – she blushed slightly – *This map is amazing!*
Gray/Natsu – *THAT'S WHY SHE GOT EXCITED?* – they fumed.
Gray sighed – *Lucy, please, find how we get to the Underworld so we can go.*
Natsu realized – *The Underworld? We're really going there? Like, where the dead go, right?*
Gray – *Yup. So, Lucy, where's the Underworld?*
Lucy – *In Las Vegas* – she eyed a glowing dot on the map – *That's where the Underworld's entrance is. We need a train to get there* – she said calmly.
Natsu – *The Underworld's in Las Vegas?* – he found it odd.
Gray – *Explain, Lucy.*
Lucy – *Alright...* – she rolled her eyes – *You know the Underworld is where Hades rules. When the Olympians' power shifts, so do they. Right now, the gods are in the U.S. because of the strong Greek culture here. So they're in Manhattan. The Greek flame is here, so the gods are rooted here until it moves again, like it has many times.*
Natsu – *Huh?*
Lucy – *Listen. The Greek flame is like an ancient relic. When it moves, the gods do too. It's been in Canada for centuries, China for three centuries, Japan for a long time, and other countries. The gods have been everywhere. When they move, their origin, history, everything changes.*
Natsu – *I think I get it...* – he scratched his neck – *Oh! I forgot to ask. How did Miss Rinza come back to life?*
Lucy – *Ever heard of Tartarus?*
Natsu shivered. The way she said it made it clear it wasn't just a place, but a name.
Natsu – *Tartarus? My mom mentioned it... What's it got to do with this?*
Lucy – *Tartarus is the home of monsters, below the Underworld. Tartarus is a child of Chaos, one of the first primordial gods, so he's ancient* – she sighed – *His presence is immense. He's so powerful he makes dead monsters reborn.*
Natsu's eyes widened – *So, Tenes... He...*
Lucy – *He'll likely be reborn...*
Natsu gritted his teeth, noticed by Lucy.
Lucy – *Don't worry! Most monsters take up to 50 years to be reborn. By the time he seeks revenge, we'll be old or maybe not even alive...* – she gave an awkward smile – *Sometimes it takes a long time for them to return in Tartarus.*
Natsu smiled faintly – *Thanks...*
Lucy returned the smile.
Gray – *Ahem. Hate to interrupt, but...* – he smirked – *We're at the station. Can we get on the train?*
Lucy and Natsu blushed.
Lucy – *Sure! Let's go* – she marched toward the ticket counter.
Minutes later, after buying train tickets, the group sprawled in their cabin, relaxed.
Natsu sighed in relief – *Finally...* – he removed his hood – *I was starting to think this hood was part of my face...*
Gray laughed – *It's not that bad...*
Lucy – *Alright. Let's talk...* – she was interrupted.
Natsu quickly pulled his hood back up, covering his face.
Lucy – *Yes?* – she opened the cabin door, seeing a woman pushing a cart of sweets and treats.
The woman smiled – *Would you like anything?*
Seconds later, the trio devoured the cart's contents.
Natsu – *Lucy... What was that coin?* – he asked, popping a sweet in his mouth.
Lucy – *A drachma* – she replied simply.
Natsu – *Drachma?* – he found the name odd.
Gray – *Ancient Greek coin...* – he explained – *If it's gold, it attracts lots of people, magical and human. That's why humans trade anything for pure gold coins.*
Natsu – *Got it...*
Hours later, the group got off the train, unnoticed despite being twelve-year-olds alone in Manhattan.
Natsu was dazed, looking around, jaw dropped. He couldn't process what he felt, staring at the dazzling place.
Natsu – *We're in Las Vegas...* – he smiled, eyeing the casinos and bars everywhere.
Lucy – *Yup. Now we need to get to Vierrgeneea Street.*
They walked cautiously, always alert. At Vierrgeneea Street, they saw a street full of casinos. Two places stood out: a massive casino resembling the Queen of England's palace, with a blinding sign reading *Lucky Goat Glories*, and a smaller place with a huge window showing people milling about, named *Certain Death Studio* with a smiling skull.
Lucy pointed fearfully at the smaller place – *That's it.*
Natsu – *They don't even hide it...* – he thought, sweat-dropping.
Gray – *Let's go. No time to waste.*
Gray marched toward the studio, followed by the others. Inside, they were startled to see the people were floating spectral souls. They hurried past to the counter, where a strange man in a green suit held a phone and a cigar, puffing lightly and exhaling through his nose. A rubber duck sat beside him, making the place weirder.
Man – *Who are you?* – he asked indifferently, still smoking.
Natsu stepped forward – *I'm Natsu, and we'd like to go to the Underworld* – he said seriously.
The man took another puff, ashed his cigar, and stared at them – *Everyone here wants to go to the Underworld, kid* – he smirked creepily – *If you haven't noticed, all these people are dead and want to go to the land of the dead.*
Lucy – *Then why not send them to the Underworld already?*
Man – *Simple. They haven't paid me* – he replied, bored, puffing again.
Natsu – *What do you mean?*
Man – *They owe me a fee to go to the Underworld.*
Gray – *Fee?*
Man – *Yup. One hundred drachmas.*
Gray's jaw dropped – *O-One hundred... drachmas?*
Man – *Now, tell me what you want. I've got better things to do, like play Pokémon GO.*
Lucy – *To go to the Underworld.*
Man – *I already said, everyone here...*
Natsu – *We get it. But we want to know if we can go to the Underworld.*
Man – *Pay me first. Then I'll let you through* – he smirked – *Otherwise, you're not going anywhere.*
Lucy – *Damn it. We don't have a hundred drachmas, and we can't get them that fast* – she remembered – *Wait, that casino nearby, is it tied to Greece?*
Man – *Hmm? Of course. It's a casino, and lots of magical beings and minor gods bet there.*
Lucy smirked – *Great. We'll be back soon to go to the Underworld.*
Man – *Fine. Bet, and if you're lucky, win* – he smiled – *Come back with plenty of drachmas, 'cause for three of you, it'll cost a lot.*
The group left the studio.
As they exited, the man took another puff, ashed his cigar, and grinned maliciously.
Man – *Survive if you can* – he puffed again, still smiling – *Let's see if you live through the Death Roulette.*
At the *Lucky Goat Glories* casino, the group entered without issue. The interior was as stunning as the exterior.
Natsu looked around, awestruck. He'd never seen a place shine like this. His friends were equally dazzled. Despite its size, it seemed almost impossible to contain everything.
Natsu – *All kinds of cool games...* – he whispered, recognizing and seeing the magnificent attractions for the first time.
Gray – *Yeah... All sorts of games and a bar/restaurant!* – he grinned, excited.
Lucy – *But remember...* – she said, hypnotized by the place – *We need to get drachmas to reach the Underworld.*
Natsu – *Right... Let's play... I mean, get drachmas!*
The trio dispersed into the crowd.
Gazing dumbly around, Natsu saw a woman appear in front of him.
Woman – *Hello, dear. Want a fortune cookie?* – she smiled kindly, holding a tray of cookies.
Natsu – *Uh... Well, I don't have money...* – he smiled awkwardly – *Can't spend on just anything!*
Woman – *No worries. It's on the house! Take one. Go on.*
Natsu eyed the tray suspiciously but took a cookie.
Woman – *Thank you for choosing Lucky Goat Glories and have a fun night* – she vanished from his sight.
Natsu stared at the cookie, fearing a seven-eyed, five-meter monster might pop out – *Not impossible...* – he thought, sweat-dropping, recalling the supernatural world he lived in. Shaking off the thought, he broke the cookie.
Natsu – *What's this?* – he found a small ring and a note inside – *"Congratulations, you won the Deadly Luck Malignant Ring." For some reason, I don't like the name* – he sighed.
He looked around again, unbothered by the ring's name, and slipped it onto his right ring finger.
Natsu – *Now... How do I get drachmas?* – he scanned for anything helpful – *What the hell is that?* – he whispered, seeing a strange, bright spotlight – *"Come now, luck may smile on you!"* – he read part of the sign – *"Hit the most darts in the center of the roulette to win fifty gold drachmas"... Wait... Fifty drachmas...* – he grinned widely – *That'll help a lot!*
Natsu ran to the game room to win the drachmas. He approached the dart area and saw a cheerful woman.
Natsu – *Uh... I'd like to buy a ticket to play.*
Woman – *What're you talking about, young man?* – she beamed – *No need to pay! It's on the house.*
Natsu frowned but didn't care. He grabbed a dart and got ready, then remembered – *Damn it! I'm terrible at aiming...* – he sighed, lowering the dart.
Woman – *Sir? Not playing?*
Natsu smiled awkwardly – *It's just...*
Lucy – *He's bad at aiming* – she answered for him, appearing beside him.
Both Lucy and Gray showed up suddenly.
Natsu – *Lucy? Gray?* – he found their appearance odd, but his gaze fell on Lucy's hand, where a shiny ring matched his – *It's like mine...*
Lucy – *But I'm great at it* – she smirked confidently – *Alright! I'll play!* – she grabbed a dart, smiling, and quickly threw it at the target.
Natsu – *Whoa! You hit it!* – he exclaimed as she struck the bullseye perfectly.
Gray – *She's always been good at these games.*
Lucy smirked smugly – *Of course! I'm a genius!* – she laughed menacingly.
Natsu – *That laugh annoys me for some reason...* – he sighed.
After that, they moved through the games, collecting more than enough drachmas but kept playing, not wanting to stop.
Lucy – *Hey, what's that?* – she pointed across the room.
Natsu – *Huh?*
Woman – *Oh, that? It's called the Death Hole* – she smiled.
Natsu – *The name doesn't do the game justice!* – he thought, annoyed, recognizing it – *I don't recall the exact name, but you hit the monster's mouth to win* – he paused – *Even if that monster looks weird...*
Lucy – *Hit the monster's mouth?*
Gray – *I don't remember a game like that* – he said distractedly.
Natsu – *What, you've never seen this game?* – he frowned, confused.
Lucy – *Nope, first time* – she grinned – *But how about we play?*
Gray – *Sounds good* – he walked toward the game.
Natsu felt sweat trickle down his throat – *Something's very wrong... Lucy, of all people, should be suspicious of everything, and Gray should be sniffing out anything odd* – he rubbed his eyes as Lucy pulled him toward the game – *I don't feel right... Everything's spinning...* – he breathed deeply – *What's happening?*
Lucy – *Hey, Natsu! Let's play!* – she snapped him out of his thoughts – *We want three balls, please.*
Natsu didn't know why, but he disliked the game. He took a ball from the vendor.
Natsu – *You go first, Lucy* – he smiled.
Lucy blushed, gripped the ball, and aimed at the monster's mouth – *Just need to hit it... dead on!* – she threw, missing – *Huh?*
Natsu – *Lucy missed? Her of all people?* – he found it odd – *Your turn, Gray.*
Gray – *Hmm. Watch the master at work!*
Seconds after Gray spoke.
Gray – *I... missed.*
Natsu – *What an idiot...* – he sweat-dropped – *My turn!* – he readied the ball and threw it straight into the hole, hitting perfectly – *...I hit it?*
Woman – *Congratulations! You won!*
Lucy – *Damn it... I was supposed to win* – she pouted.
Gray – *How'd he hit it?* – he grumbled.
Natsu smiled awkwardly – *Let it go, Lucy. It's just a game...* – he looked at the woman – *So, what's my prize?*
Woman – *Oh, right... The prize* – she smirked – *Congratulations, Natsume Dragneel, your prize is... death!* – she contorted, transforming into a bizarre monster: bird wings, lizard legs, cockroach body, with only her head remaining human.
Suddenly, all the nearby women turned into the same monster.
Natsu – *SHE KNOWS MY NAME? WHAT ARE THEY?* – he reached for his pen – *WHO ARE YOU? WHAT DO YOU WANT?* – he raised his voice.
Gray – *Reapers...* – he whispered.
Natsu – *Huh?*
Lucy – *Watch out!* – she pushed Natsu, making him fall.
Natsu stood slowly – *Ow! Lucy, what...* – he stopped, seeing her – *Lucy...*
Gray – *No way...*
Lucy, wide-eyed, stared at a gaping hole in her abdomen – *Natsu...* – she coughed blood, collapsing.
Natsu approached slowly, kneeling beside her, placing his sword down – *Hey, Lucy... It's a joke, right? Just a prank, yeah? You're not gonna die, right?* – he gritted his teeth – *YOU'LL BE FINE, RIGHT?*
Natsu let out a piercing wail, cracking the ground and walls.
Woman/Monster – *So, Natsume Dragneel. Will you tell us where the legendary weapons are, or do we have to take that info from you?* – she growled hoarsely.
Natsu slowly reached for his sword. Standing, he looked at Lucy's lifeless body, a tear falling, lost in the red glow around her. His eyes flickered rapidly: red, black, blue. Gripping the sword's handle, he faced the monster, once the vendor, and said:
Natsu – *Die...* – he whispered.
Woman/Monster – *What're you...* – she was cut in two by Natsu's sword before finishing.
The other monsters screamed in shock as their sister was sliced in a blink.
Natsu – *Let this world be judged...* – he whispered, drawing the monsters' and Gray's attention – *Let this world be annihilated...*
Gray – *Natsu...* – he stared, shocked, as Natsu's body sparked with fire and lightning – *You...*
Lucy coughed blood, trying to speak – *Stop him... Please...*
Gray – *Quiet! The wound destroyed organs, and the ambrosia needs time to work!* – he looked at Natsu, startled by his white eyes – *Completely white... He's lost consciousness?*
The monster women growled, flying around Natsu. One, the dumbest, lunged at him but was sliced at lightning speed.
Natsu – *Let this world be purified... Let it be rebuilt* – his sword ignited – *Let this world... be... destroyed!*
The ground cracked, and black mist rose from the fissures. Shadows, as if under Natsu's command, tore the monsters apart, dismembering them.
Gray – *Natsu...* – he was terrified seeing Natsu do this without moving – *"Control"... Is this what Gildarts feared?* – he trembled – *I have to stop him* – he played his flute softly – *Natsu! Listen to me!* – he shouted, playing a beautiful melody.
As Gray played, Lucy watched Natsu destroy the monsters. The strange mist still decapitated and shredded them while protecting him – *An invincible barrier...* – she smiled weakly – *But I have to stop him...*
With effort, Lucy stood, startling Gray. He tried to stop her, but she pushed him away.
Lucy – *I'm the only one who can stop him...* – she smiled – *So don't stop me, Gray...*
Reluctantly, Gray agreed. He knew it was dangerous for her, especially in her state, but he trusted she could stop Natsu.
Natsu, with fully white eyes, stared at Lucy but didn't recognize her. A voice whispered in his ear to avenge her by destroying everything.
Natsu – *Die...* – he slowly raised his hand toward her.
Lucy's smile widened. Unfazed, she walked through the black mist toward him – *Hey, idiot, how about waking up?*
Natsu – *Vanish from this...*
Before he finished, Lucy lunged, kissing him, her tongue entering his mouth. Natsu's eyes slowly returned to normal, regaining consciousness. Recognizing her and realizing what she did, he blushed intensely.
Natsu – *Lucy!* – he caught her as she collapsed.
Lucy – *Let's go... Now* – she lost consciousness.
Natsu – *Yeah...* – he whispered, gently holding her – *Let's go.*
Gray – *Hey, Natsu! If you're back to normal, we need to leave. Now!*
Natsu nodded, adjusted Lucy in his arms, and ran with Gray out of the place. Outside, Natsu saw crowds and police around the casino.
Gray snapped him out of his daze. They ran to the *Certain Death Studio*. Inside, they stopped before the strange man in the suit.
Man – *Oh! You're alive?* – he laughed mockingly, showing his teeth.
Natsu – *Damn you...*
Gray placed a bag on the counter – *Here! Three hundred drachmas. Let us through!*
Man – *Why?* – he laughed – *I could have some fun, you know? Send you somewhere way worse.*
Gray – *That wasn't the deal!* – he snapped – *You said you'd let us pass!*
The man's smile widened – *Yeah, but you didn't make me swear on the River Styx to keep my word.*
Gray gritted his teeth – *Damn you...*
Natsu stepped forward, still holding Lucy – *Look, I'm really pissed. It's because of this girl in my arms that I didn't destroy that place. So, unless you want this tiny place full of dead people, let us through.*
Man – *Threatening me, kid?* – he smirked.
Natsu – *Yup. So? Your choice. Let us pass, or I fill this place with bodies. FYI, there's a crowd right outside, so it won't take long.*
Man – *Huh...* – sweat dripped down his neck – *Fine, you can pass. But if you die, I can't help* – he squeezed the rubber duck.
A passage opened in the wall, revealing a silver elevator.
Natsu – *An elevator? Seriously?*
Man – *Now go! And don't come crying when you die!*
Natsu and Gray entered the elevator. Natsu eyed the buttons, one catching his attention.
Natsu – *End of the World?* – he read.
Man – *Oh! Almost forgot!* – he got their attention – *Only press the Underworld button. Anything below it will just hasten your deaths!* – he smiled kindly – *Die in peace!*
Gray pressed the button. The door closed. Nothing happened.
Lucy – *Is it... broken?* – she asked weakly.
Natsu – *I don't know... And don't talk! You're too hurt.*
Lucy smiled – *You're kinda cute when you're worried...*
Natsu blushed – *Shut up.*
Gray – *Damn it!* – he pressed the button again – *It must be...*
He didn't finish. All three screamed as the elevator plummeted, as if its cable had snapped, falling from the height of a 500-story building.