"Its time." Savina appeared in-front of the door and with a snap, spirits arose from the cracks of the floor.

Natsu and Lucy clung to each other desperately, not wanting to be separated. Yet no matter how they struggled, the two were easily split. Still not able to use their magic and weak from lack of food. They were dragged opposite directions, shouting the others name. Arms stretched reaching, as if they could still touch. Nonetheless, they were divided.

Lucy fought with the abnormally strong ghosts, however that had planned for this. In the hectic confusion, she caught eye of a small burlap bag. The shadow grabbed the contents threw it into Lucy's face. A white powder clouded her vision and the sweet sent of poppies flooded her nose. Her violent limbs slacked and the world turned black.

_______________________________

A loud ringing blared over foggy voices as a painful headache pounded. She bobbed her head, taking in a beep breath. Bile in her throat rocketing out with a wretched cough.

Lucy felt horrible, what had they done to her? With a soft clink, she heard the sound of chains. The sealing stone attached her wrists together above her head.

Not good.

Adjusting to the light she found herself outside, for the first time in what had felt days. But there was no sun and hardly any stars. It must be dawn, where day turned to night. The only time when neither sun nor moon were present.

"Good to see you awake, we need you present." Approaching from the side, Savina traced a finger along Lucy's jawline. "Too bad you wont survive this."

Lucy gathered her remaining mucus and shot it directly into Savina's right eye. The witch roared in furry, wiping away the snot. Once regaining sight, she backhanded Lucy across the cheek.

"How dare you!" Savina screeched.

However, this only made Lucy smile. She had finally made her mad and now knew how to exploit her bad side.

The Enchantress stomped away, allowing Lucy to see more of her surroundings. It seemed she was hung on a large stone slab, stood up vertically. The grass at her feet soothed her hypertension, as trees towered over her head. The tallest trees she had ever seen! She was definitely not in Fiore anymore. A silhouette of the moon slowly started to glow, much larger than most.

Furthermore, the object that caught Lucy's eyes was not the immense forest, nor coming darkness. But the large gate looming to her left, almost identical to the Eclipse Gate. However, this particular gate scared Lucy even more. A darkness leaked from within, saturated with evil energy.

This solidified her desire to never open the gate! As her decision was made, a large cloud drifted past the moon, uncovering it new form. A perfectly circular red light, shining down on the world below. Blushing the ground with the dark light. The Equinox had begun and the dreadful night had arrived.

A distance groan began as the tainted beams hit the gate, a muffled road grumbled from deep behind the doors. Caused by the lunar transformation, the gate had begun to wake.

"At last, the Equinox in nigh." Savina held a firm position before the gate, arms held up towards the massive doors. She sucked in a deep breath, held it for a second to savor the tainted aura. Then slowly exhaled, dropped her arms and turned to Lucy.

"I will give you one chance to open the gate before I use force." The wicked woman threatened.

As expected, Lucy said nothing. Glaring so hard, she thought her eye brows might become one.

"I hoped you'd say that." Savina approached Lucy, pulling out a small hooked knife from her black robe.

Lucy did not cry out as the blade dances over her exposed stomach. Nor did she scream when it dug itself deep into her flesh. This was not new, she had experienced much worse. She almost dared Savina to up her anti. Almost.

"Are you ready to comply?" The consistent slicing had stopped momentarily.

"I-I...will never...help you!" Lucy panted.

Savina smirked, leaving Lucy a bit worried. "Then I will have a different type of persuasion." She snapped her fingers and dozens of phantoms emerged from the shadows. Dragging with them a slumped body.

A body Lucy knew too well, a person she loved! "Natsu!" She called out to him, but he seemed unconscious.

"If you don't open the gate, he will die." Savina sauntered over to Natsu's flopped form. She pulled him by the hair and examined his features.

"Don't you touch him!" Lucy pulled on her restraints.

"I wont, if you obey." Finally Davina dropped the fare boy and joined Lucy again.

Lucy was conflicted. She had to protect Natsu, but she couldn't open the gate without loosing herself. She was more than willing to sacrifice her life to save Natsu, however she didn't know what laid beyond the gate. Perhaps, just as before. Possibly holding more dragons, waiting for the doors to open and conquer the new world. Or maybe something much worse waited on the other side, itching to be released.

Lucy trusted in Natsu's strength, she couldn't risk freeing a monster. She forced herself to believe that Natsu could handle anything Savina threw at him.

"I have faith in my friends, we will not go down without a fight." Lucy retorted. "We are Fairy Tail, we are strong! We are family, we are never alone!"

Something snapped, Savina's countenance changed drastically. Her calm demeanor morphed into that of pure hatred and loathing. Mixing with a wide grimace, she glided towards Lucy.

"What was that about never being alone?!" Savina plunged her hand into Lucy open stomach wound. Lucy gagged on her own blood as it sprang up her throat. "Don't speak to me about friends, or family." Savina's fingers wiggled painfully inside her torso, then abruptly yanked her hand out. Causing blood to spill down her legs and onto the floor. Still she did not scream.

Savina traced her blooded hand on the stone behind her, drawing symbols and letters Lucy couldn't understand. A perfect circle splayed underneath her, definitely some type of curse.

"Setūl cykat." Savina chanted placing a hand on Lucy's chest.

Immediately Lucy felt her energy being ripped away, her magic tearing off her soul. The process excruciating as every other sense was overwhelmed by the awful pain. No matter how she struggled or screamed, the pain did not subside. Every muscle in her body shook violently as if she was having a seizure. The endless torment continued for an eternity, only ceasing when Lucy had been completely drained. The curse lifted, taking every drop of magic Lucy had.