Hello, everyone! ♥ Here is the next chapter, I hope you all like it!  I'm feeling a lot better, and I haven't thrown up since this morning. c:  Thanks for all the get well wishes! ;w;  They made me feel so much better!  Sorry if you all think this chapter is a little short, but like I usually say, I had to end it here. c:  I dedicate this chapter to jeraru.  This person's great, and deserves a dedication.  I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and until next time!  Feedback is, as always, very much appreciated~!

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Lucy yanked at the chains on her ankles, but they didn't budge.

I know!  Lucy thought.  My keys--

Lucy pulled back to reach for them, but then remembered they were still back in Earthland.  

Giving up that idea, Lucy focused on Natsu and Vallen.  It was strange; Lucy could - somehow, with her mind - see Natsu and Vallen.  It was as if she...partially controlled Etoiles Noires.  Yes, Lucy knew about everything; she didn't know how, but Lucy knew all that had happened in The Black Stars.  From hearing Happy talk about Rose, to seeing Natsu fighting.

Suddenly, she had an idea.

If Vallen wanted Lucy because she could control Etoiles Noires, then did that mean she could somehow use it against Vallen?  After all she could control it, right?  If that was the case, then Lucy had to try it.  

She had to try and use her magic and fight Vallen, despite how far away she was from the both of them.

But how was she going to do it?  Lucy had no idea how to use her powers to send an attack at Vallen who was miles away on another floor of The Black Stars.  As far as Lucy knew, Vallen could just know how to do it and just needed Lucy powers to make everything effective.

Then, Lucy remembered.

The chains.

Turning around, Lucy saw some of the few broken chains on the ground.  Lucy crawled over to them since she was still chained on the ankles.  When she reached them, Lucy wrapped her arms all the way up to her forearms with them.  The chains had been the things connecting Lucy to the rest of the realm, not only physicaly, but mentally.  If she could send her magic to the right location using the chains of fate, Lucy could easily send an attack to Vallen, injuring him.

Lucy closed her eyes, concentrating.

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"Let's go."  Natsu repeated, his voice rough.

Vallen smirked.  "Will do."

Stretching out his hand, Vallen concentrated.  He shut his eyes, and his fingers shook slightly as he conjured up his Blood Abjuration magic.  Preparing to charge, Natsu pushed off the ground, running straight for Vallen.

Suddenly, Vallen's eyes flied open, and the same gun shot noise exploded in the air.  The blow hit Natsu in the stomach like a freight train, and Natsu - with his shocked eyes - felt blood fly from his mouth as he was knocked back, hitting the ground on his back.

"Natsu!"  Happy exclaimed, coming to a stop above him.  "Are you alright?"

Natsu pushed himself into a sitting position.  "I'm fine.  But...what the hell kind of magic is that?"

Vallen smirked.  "Blood Abjuration.  I can fire magical attacks by using the blood inside or outside your body."

"Damn it..."  Natsu muttured, pulling himself to his feet.

Natsu charged again, expecting another attack like that from Vallen.  However, it strangely didn't come.  Instead, Vallen let him come closer.  When he reached him, Natsu threw a punch at Vallen, and was able to skim his skin.  However, Vallen quickly recovered, and grabbed a hold of Natsu's arm and thrust him towards him.  Surprised, Natsu didn't react in enough time as Vallen slammed his fist into the side of Natsu's face.  As a result, Natsu skidded across the ground again, but on all fours.  With a wild look he charged back at Vallen with a roar.

"Come and get me!"  Vallen taunted.

Doing so, Natsu slammed his flamed-fist into Vallen's face, making him sail a few feet from the impact.  Instictively, Happy appeared, and grabbed the back of Natsu's vest when he was still suspended in the air.  Flying towards Vallen, who was coming to a stop, Natsu lit both of his hands on fire.

"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!"  Natsu exclaimed, slamming into Vallen with his face murderous.

As Natsu pushed him back, Vallen actually looked in pain and in shock.  However, as Natsu dropped to the ground with Happy returning to the sky, Vallen's face darkened.

"Blood Abjuration: Quantumn Blood Explosion!"  Vallen exclaimed, sending off multiple attacks at once.

It was the same attack as earlier, and as each attack made Natsu's blood explode from inside him, the same gun fire sounded through the air.  One hit him in the stomach again, then the back; his sides, and even his chest.  As the attacks ensued, Natsu grew higher and higher into the air from the impact.

Finally, Vallen stopped his attack, and Natsu plummeted to the ground, smoking.  The impact of him hitting the ground made debris clouds go up into the air.  Though, still going, Natsu hesitantly pulled himself back up to his feet, breathing hard as more blood surfaced from not only his mouth, but the places Vallen had attacked.

Natsu noticed something strange.  How come Vallen didn't attack right after his first blow?  Was he purposely waiting for Natsu to get closer?  No, that couldn't be it.  Vallen even had his hand down and wasn't using his magic on Natsu now.  He was just standing there, waiting.  What did that mean?

Natsu flinched slightly when he got it.

Vallen had a time limit.

Smirking now that he found his weakness, Natsu guessed he had about three minutes in between Vallen's one attacks.  Between a series of blows, Natsu guessed he had ten.  Since his time limit had just begun, Natsu rushed forward, lighting his body up so he was covered in fire.  Vallen, fortunatly, hadn't realized Natsu figured out his secret as Natsu charged towards him.

"Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!"  Natsu exclaimed, slammig his body into Vallen's.

Air exploded from their impact, and Natsu made Vallen sail across the ground, making him skip like a stone across the transparent flooring.  Natsu had still been suspended in the air, so he dropped to the ground with a clack.

Vallen ticked slightly at the action, pulling himself to his feet angrily.  "So, I take it my prize really does want back by you people?"

"Of course!"  Natsu hissed.  "And Lucy isn't a prize!  How many times do I have to tell you that?!"

Charging again since his time was almost up, Natsu raised his fist into the air.  "Fire Dragon's Claw!"

Vallen thought Natsu was going to come right at him, but instead, Natsu tricked him and dove for his side, slamming his clenched hand into Vallen's side.  Vallen was actually surprised, but shoved Natsu off and back a few feet.  His cloak now smoking from Natsu's flames, Vallen shrugged it off, and it evaporated into the air.

"You can live without one more in your guild..."  Vallen replied roughly, "one more" being the closest thing to humanoid he'd get.

Natsu's face got angrier.  "Shut up!  No one can replace Lucy!"

His anger growing, Natsu took a step forward as his body was still alight.  "You have no idea what it felt like to loose her.  It felt like everything went white; like everything I've ever known didn't matter anymore.  I've realized..."  Natsu murmured, clenching his teeth.  "...that I can't live without Lucy!  She's become a part of my life, and if she's not in it, then it will never go back to normal!"  

Natsu clenched his teeth.  "I...I--"

Natsu folded over as another blow from Vallen hit his stomach, making the same painful exploding-feeling fire through his abdomen like a rocket.  Another gun-like crack sounded through the air as the attack hit Natsu, and as it passed, smoke seemed to come from Natsu's body from the amount of impact.

Vallen's time was up.

"Natsu!"  Happy exclaimed, watching as he skipped across the ground like a pebble on water.

Coughing, Natsu tried to pull himself up, but lost his strength and dropped back down to the ground.

Vallen smirked.  "It's almost over."

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Looks like Natsu's in trouble!  Can he somehow work around Vallen's strange powers and beat him?

And how's Lucy doing?  Can she be successful and help weaken Vallen for a victory?

Find out what happens next in Chapter 18: Found You.