Chapter 17: The Worst Has Yet to Come

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NATSU'S POV

No. No no no no no! NO! I was cursing myself in my mind. How could I let this happen? How could I let Lucy be in the same room, well cage, as Codin? I'm so stupid! I need to get free. I need to save Lucy.

Codin took a step into my cell. My eyes narrowed. He smirked at me. "Look at that. You're right where I wanted you to be" Codin said softly to Lucy. I growled at him. "Stay. Away." I said in a dangerous voice. He looked up at me with a perfectly raised eyebrow. "And what if I don't?" he asked in a teasingly way.

My eyes flashed with anger. He just threatened my mate and expects to live after it. I hope he doesn't make too many plans.

"Now..." he trailed off, he's eyes flashing over to Lucy before back to me. "Shall we begin?"

GRAY'S POV

I was following Loke's key with everyone else. We were all hoping to speed to the rescue for them. Unfortunetely, the key moved realy slow and we were walking at a turtle's pace. I mentally forced my thoughts of going faster toward the key... and... it didn't work. The key keep going the same pace.

I sighed and fidgeted in anticipation, waiting for the key to either go faster or to find Lucy. Oh! And Flame-brain. We had a long journey to make, it seens like. And we've only walked about 2 blocks from Fairy Tail.

UGH! This is going to take forever. I looked around to see that everyone else was thinking the same thing. "Hey Gray! Do you think we'll make it in time?" Happy asked worriedly. I looked over to him. I saw that his eyes don't have the usual spark they have in them.

Usually, his eyes always sparkle. They do when he's eating fish, making fun of Lucy, and when he's just plain hanging out with Natsu. But now Lucy and Natsu are gone, and it's effecting hi a lot. I open my mouth to speak when all of a sudden, Charla falls down.

"Charla? Charla? CHARLA?" Happy yelled as he tried to shake her awake. "Happy, she won't wake up" Wendy started. "Huh? Why not?" I asked confused. Juvai, Erza, Lily, and yes, even Gajeel stood to the side looking worriedly at the white cat.

"Because she's having a premonition" Wendy answered, her eyes squarely on Charla.

"I hope she wakes up soon" I whisper to myself as I watched Happy sniffle next to the white exceed.

CHARLA'S POV (Italics are what Charla thinks of each flash)

Flashes of the future were appearing in my head. First, I saw Natsu puling on chains. He was captured. Next, I saw a man with black hair beating up Lucy, who was crying. That's horrible! After that, I saw a building I recognized, one from Magnolia, collapse on fire. What? Is that where they are? Then, it flashed to Natsu hugging Lucy as he cried. What's happening? Than, it shows me Natsu's face as he glares at someone with hatred. Fire came off him and scales were forming under his eyes. Scary! It showed me the man beating up Lucy laughing and then Natsu and the man rush each other. I hope Natsu wins! I saw Natsu walking off into the distance with a look of longing on his face. Huh? Then I saw a really big creature, as Natsu stood in front of it. What is that thing?

I shot up as the premonition finished. I was gasping for breathes as everyone stared at me. "Charla, what did you see?" Wendy asked me softly. I was sweating and shaking from the premonition. "I-I-I saw" I stuttered. "It's ok, take your time" Erza told me kindly. I nodded and tried to calm down from it.

I took a deep breath. "I-I saw Natsu and Lucy. Natsu was t-tied up while Lucy was being b-b-beaten." I started. "WHAT?" Gray exploded. Juvia started to cry in horror, causing it to rain. "Gray! Calm down!" Erza snapped. He nodded, still with a glare, and mumbled an apology. I nodded that it was ok. "Then, I saw a building collapse" I said "A building?" Erza asked. I nodded. "And it seemed familiar" I added. Everyone's head snapped toward me. "Do you think you could lead us there?" Gajeel asked, hopeful they could go faster than the key's pace. I thought back. Would I be able to?

Yes, I knew where the building was. It was right in the center of Magnolia. "Yes, I would" I answered. They all cheered. They were so caught up in that, that none of them asked what else I saw. All except...

"Charla? Did you see anything else?" Wendy asked me in a low tone, so she wouldn't catch their attention. I looked at her. "Do you really want to know?" I asked concerned. She nodded. "You shouldn't have to be the only one who is scared by it. Tell me!" she said softly but firmly. I nodded. "Ok. I then saw Natsu glaring at someone or something, and then the man the beat up Lucy laugh and then they rushed each other" I said all very quickly. She nodded for me to go on.

"Then, I saw Natsu leave with a longing look and then he was standing in front of a big creature." I finished. "A big creature?" she asks. I nodded. "Do you think... it's a dragon?" she asked me hopefully. My eyes widen. "You know, I didn't think of that, but now that you mention it, it seems possible" I said,

Hmmmm... what is going on?

WENDY'S POV

What the heck is going on? Charla can now lead us to where Natsu and Lucy are, but she also saw a dragon. This is so mysterious. "Juvia?" I asked. She looks down at me. "We're going to fid them no matter what, right?" I say with a smile. She smiles back through her tears. "Yeah!" she answered. Gray smiled at me in thanks for cheering her up.

I smile back. "Ok. How are we going to do this?" I asked. "I'll carry Wendy" Charla immediately says. " smile in thanks at her. "I'll carry Gajeel" Lily says, looking up at Gajeel who nodded. "Happy, can you carry Gray?" I asked. He nods but then looks up. "What about Juvia and Erza?" "I can carry her" the strong voice of Titania, aka Erza, was heard. They all looked at her in surprise. I already knew what she was planning. "What? I have my flying armor" she said.

I smiled. "Glad to have that figured out" Gajeel said. "Yeah!" we all cheered.

"Let's go!"

NATSU'S POV

Why? Why is he here? I growled at him. "Don't" I say with a scowl. He looks at me surprised. "Will you tell me where the dragons are?" he asked seriously. My face must have looked incredibly sad and broken, because he smiled and said "I didn't think so."

He turns back to Lucy. "Don't move" he says with a smirk. She looks toward me. "What should I do?" she mouthed to me. I was about to mouth something back but I was caught off. "Uh, uh, uh! I need you to look at me Luce" he said as he grabbed her jaw and forced her to look at him. She squeaked out of surprise. Was it pain too? I growled. "Let her go!" "I don't wanna" he told me with a smirk while still staring at Lucy.

Lucy tried to look anywhere other than Codin. "Look at me straight in the eye!" he commanded, still holding her jaw in place. "No!" she said firmly. I frown, knowing he will hurt her because of that. What to do? What to do? I don't want to give up, but I don't want Lucy to get hurt.

He slapped Lucy in the check, right after he had removed his hand. She tried to dodge, but didn't soon enough. Her head snapped to the side when he hit her. He had hit her HARD. My body was shaking from anger. "Stop!" I said. He smirked toward me. "Look me straight in the eye!" he commanded Lucy again. "No!" Lucy replied, just like before. He shook his head sadly. "Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson, unless you have had a change in heart?" he questions her.

Lucy shook her head. He sighed sadly. "That's a little sad, considering you're so pretty" he said as he advanced on her. Lucy stood put, head still facing down. "I don't respect you! Why would I look you in the eye if I don't respect you? You hurt me and my friends. You hurt my family!" she said loudly and angrily. I smirked proudly. Yeah, that's my Luce.

Codin smiled. "That's too bad. Guess I'll have to teach you not to disobey me!" Codin said to Lucy. He reached for her. "We're going to a different room. I won't need to question Natsu for another couple of hours, so let's go have some fun!" Codin said while laughing.

He started to drag Lucy out of my cell. "Stop! Take me! Not Lucy! Don't hurt her!" I was calling out. He just smiled at me before closing the door, and dragging Lucy behind him up the stairs. "Natsu, I'll be fine" Lucy whispered to me.

"Shut up, girl!" Codin yelled, and I heard him slap her again.

I looked down angrily. Why can't I get out. I'm so close. My eyes snap open.

Maybe if I...

LUCY'S POV

He slapped me only twice and I'm already feeling numb. I can't believe he had that much force in one hit, and he used it on me twice! I'm so going to take him down when we escape! Natsu can have everyone else, but I'll take Codin down. For sure!

He dragged me to an empty room. "We have 2 hours" Codin said. "You better learn by then!"

I looked questionably at him, but not into his eyes. I looked at him at his chin, cheek, or forehead. "I'm bringing you there for the questioning" Codin said with a smirk. "Why?" I ask. "Because Natsu loves you! You're his mate! You're his weakness" Codin revealed. I blushed a little.

"Awww, does the little girl like him back?" he coos. "I'm not a little girl!" I snap. He smirks. "Oh! I hit a nerve, did I?" he asks teasingly. He then glares down at me. "Too bad! I need to punish you for not respecting me and also for escaping. Don't plan on getting out of here alive" he told me darkly.

I started to shake. I could tell he was not joking around. Although, why would anyone joke about that? He smirks at me. "Look me in the eye!" he said. "No!" He swiftly kicks me in the rib-cage. "Look me in the eye!" he repeats. I shake my head. This time he kicks me in the back. "Look me in-" I cut him off. "Look! I won't so why keep telling me to?" I said angrily.

He looks surprised at first, but then he smiles. "This is going to take a long time, but it'll be fun!" He walks toward me slowly. "Wanna see my magic?" he asks. I'm getting a bad feeling. I shake my head. "Too bad! I'm going to show you" he looks right into my eyes, my panic forcing me to freeze to allow him to, and it all goes black.

I scream at the top of my lungs.

NATSU'S POV

I have to get to her! But I can't! I'm chained to this stupid wall!

It's been a couple minutes since I have heard Lucy scream. I haven't heard anything sine then. I heard a foot step. Someone is coming down.

My head snaps up as I recognize Lucy's and Codin's scent mixed together. My teeth grit in anger. They don't smell good together. I see Codin first.

"I taught her how to obey me!" he says happily. "Liar! Lucy would never obey you!" I scream at him. He just smiles. "Watch" he says and then turns toward the cell door. "Lucy. Come here" he says. I hear Lucy step before I see her emerge from the darkness. "Thank goodness he didn't hurt you too bad" I sigh in relief, but then I notice something.

She has no light in her eyes. I looks as though he broke her. "What did you do?" I asked him angrily. He plays innocent. "Huh?" I glare at him. "Ok. I took control of her. I have complete control over LucyI saw Natsu walking off into the distance with a look of longing on his face. " he says.

I have complete control over Lucy.

I have complete control over Lucy.

I have complete control over Lucy.

That one line continued to run over and over again in my head. Why? Why did this happen?

What did I do to deserve this?

What did Lucy do to deserve this?