Finally regaining a piece of consciousness, the crying voice stirred Natsu. He heard Lucy calling out, she was in pain! Something was happening and he had to do something!

Jolting awake, he focused his attention towards Lucy. She was strapped to a large boulder, red hieroglyphics illuminated around her body. Lucy was covered in blood and let out a noise he had never heard from her.

The voice was complex, a cry of sorrow, anguish, frustration and fear. Beside her obvious injuries Lucy kicked and pulled on her shackles vigorously.

The terrible sight stained his memory, he would never forget that moment.

"LUUUUUCY!" He bellowed and tried to fight off the murky obscures.

Tragically, his efforts went unfruitful. Lucy still wept and Natsu remained captive. He felt powerless, he couldn't even escape his binds. The sealing stone had him locked up tight.

Suddenly Lucy went quiet and the glowing letters dimmed. Her body slowly sank into itself, dropping lower, finally at peace. As Lucy caught her breath, lights began to appear. One by one all nine of her Zodiac Spirits were summoned. At the same time!

Natsu had never seen more than two Spirits at once, this must have been an incredible amount of magic to summon them all! Loki, Virgo, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Capricorn, Cancer, Taurus, Gemini and Aries. Natsu stared in bewilderment, the sight was awesome. He had forgotten how powerful Lucy was, she held the power over all these great Spirits. Yet she treated them with compassion and loyalty. Lucy was truly amazing.

However one Spirit was not summoned, Aquarius. The one Spirit needed to open the gate without damage.

Surprised by their sudden beckoning, the Spirits turned and observed each of them were present. Understanding the current situation, they clicked into gear as they saw Lucy.

"Princess!" Virgo ran to her loving master.

"Virgo...Im sorry." Lucy whispered, barely making a sound.

"Lucy, who did this?" Loki asked gently.

Lucy shook her head sorrowfully and fell silent.  Too much magic sucked from her and she no longer had the strength to respond.

Loki whipped around to the occupied Natsu, his eyes burned with rage. "Natsu?!" He demanded.

Natsu gestured with his eyes, pointing towards Savina. The Witch stood proudly in-front if the glowing gate. "Welcome Zodiac's."

"What have you done?!" Taurus yelled.

"The time has come for you to open the gate." Savina dismissed his silly query.

"Why should we listen to you?" Capricorn crossed his arms tightly.

It seemed all the Spirits had lost their playful attitudes, now replaced with a sense of urgency and seriousness. They did not mess around when their Key Holder was threatened.

"I have your Leader, that makes me your Commander. Now obey my voice and open the Gate!"

Not one moved, they would not listen to anyone except Lucy. This angered Savina, the red of her hair collecting in her cheeks.

"Obey me!" She screamed and punched Lucy, making her head flop to the side aggressively.

They all flinched and silently fumed, in anger. A storm circled in Natsu's head, he was so desperate to stop this. Desperate to get Lucy out of here and back home safely.

"Fine, if you wont listen willingly." With lightening speed, Savina pulled a crystal out of thin air, then suddenly plunged the sharp stone into Lucy's breast bone.

"NO!" Natsu yelled, too late to stop the strike.

Immediately, Natsu saw Lucy change. Her pale skin turned dusty grey as darkness flooded her veins. Each web pulsated with evil energy as they spread outwards from the entrance site. The obsidian vines snaked up her face and latched onto her eyes.

Lucy screamed, her fragile state forced back to life, in the worst way possible. As the darkness ceased its invasion, Lucy also froze.

Her body still and stiff, eyes open wide without blinking. Lucy's expression was distant and shallow, as if not really seeing anything.

"Lucy?" Natsu stuttered.

However, Lucy did not budge. Not even a flash of recognition to his voice.

"How dare y-!" Natsu was cut off, a rough grip tightened around his throat.

"Loki...what the...h-hell?!" Natsu attempted to kick him off. But with his hands bound behind his back, he found himself utterly stuck.

Loki didn't answer, his face completely blank. He seemed to have the same dull look and his skin had turned a murky grey.

Turning, Natsu noticed that all of Lucy's spirits had frozen and altered. Each unmoving and quiet.

"Celestial Spirits of the Zodiac, I command you to open the Equinox Gate." Savina ordered.

Without delay, every Spirit advanced towards the gate. Moving as a collective sum, as if they were robots controlled by one remote. Their movements sluggish and zombie-like.

"No stop!" Natsu shouted. "Don't open it!"

"They cannot hear you Dragoneel. My spell is unbreakable." Savina laughed.

"Thats what you think!" Natsu retaliated, his furry and determination overflowing. "Fairy Tail is stronger than any other! We have the power of friends, the power of family...and love!"

With a final tug, his restraints shattered. Magic flowing back into him like a broken dam. He was angrier than he had ever been! Ready to kick this Witch's ass.