The Skull Hidden in the Sand

Paths Of Dragons

A/N: The concept art I created waaaaay back when I first had the idea for this story.

Natsu charged through the forest, following the scent so closely that he didn't see Gajeel until he had smacked right into him. "The fuck?! Watch where you're going, Salamander!"

"Ow! Why'd you stop?"

With a smirk devoid of any warmth, Gajeel jabbed his thumb at the tree in front of him. Lucy's keys were hung on a branch pointing to the left and Levy's headband was hung on a branch pointing to the right. There were small dark stains on the headband and a few drops of the same color liquid on the keys. "Looks like we gotta split up."

"Is that...blood?!"

"Looks like it. Just enough to rile us up. Keep your head, Salamander." Gajeel instructed as he left, following Levy's scent trail. The iron dragon slayer stomped through the forest. If the asshole could hear him, then so be it. He didn't give a damn. When he broke through the bushes, he stopped dead in absolute horror. For a brief moment, he saw the tree again. Shrimp bruised and broken, the symbol painted on her stomach. Her fanboys pinned beside her.

"Nostalgic, yes?" A voice mockingly asked. Gajeel gave a slight gasp and shook his head. The scene from the past vanished. Levy was tied with rope between two trees, completely suspended in the air. There were cords loosely wrapped all over her body, but the majority was on her wrists and some on her ankles. She was unconscious, but otherwise looked unharmed. Her pose, though, was exactly the same as it had been that one horrible night. "I tried to make it exactly the same, but alas..." A cloaked figure stepped slightly to the side and poked Levy's hip, which was at its shoulder level. "I just didn't have the time. Leaving your comrade behind to face the great Titania alone? How cowardly of you."

Gajeel finally found his voice. "Cowardly? Says the bastard who's so weak he has to borrow other people's power."

The figure shrugged. "Considering you haven't managed to beat me, despite being so purportedly weak, I'd say the pot is calling the kettle black."

"Fuck off. Are ya gonna run this time or ya actually gonna act like ya have balls? Or maybe..." Gajeel gave a dark, sardonic grin. "You're gonna make Shrimp fight me?"

"How annoying. Of course not. Like I'd do something so cliche as have you fight your girlfriend or that kitty-cat best friend of yours."

"Wait, what about L-?"

"I have chosen a much better opponent for you~!" The figure continued, ignoring him. "Come on out!" A second figure stepped out from behind a tree.

Gajeel let out a dark chuckle. "Ya made a mistake. He's not someone I'll go easy on." Aras stood there blankly, a magic circle just barely visible on one cheek.

"That's good." The shapeshifter taunted. "Because Aras sure isn't gonna go easy on you." Aras flicked out a knife that had been hidden in a sleeve. It was Erza's knife, long and deadly. As the greeter walked forward, Aras situated it so that one finger rested causally on top of the blade.

"Gihee. Don't take this personally, Blondie..." Gajeel transformed his arm into an iron pillar. "But I gotta kick yer ass."

Meanwhile, with Natsu....

"Luce?! Luce?! Where are ya?!" Natsu burst through the bushes, clutching her keys in one hand. "LUCE!!" Unlike Levy, all of the ropes were wrapped around Lucy's middle, pinning her arms to her sides and suspending her by her waist. "HOLD ON LUCE, I'LL GET Y-!!" Natsu had only charged forward a few steps when a large shadow stepped in front of the Celestial Mage. Lily was in his large form and swung his sword in a wide arc. His eyes were dead and the same strange magic circle, complete with needle, was visible on his left shoulder. Natsu grinned. "I'm all fired up! Let's go, Lily!" His fists caught fire and he charged towards the exceed.