A/N: So I'm really not sure how I feel about this chapter. I dunno. It seems a little...forced.

I do not own Fairy Tail.

The pair had run from the party, exiting from a back gate that, fortunately, was placed in an unpopulated part of the estate. Natsu had held Lucy up onto the high brick wall and caught her when she fell into his arms, earning a blush from the runaway bride. They ran through the city streets, trying to avoid busy streets and taking alleys when they could. Natsu covered Lucy with his cloak, pulling the dark black hood over her hair so that people couldn't see her face. Natsu and Lucy made it all the way across town to the train station and bought tickets to the town of Magnolia. Still, Lucy didn't feel truly at ease until the train was beginning to pull out of the station.

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this," Lucy wailed as the night sped past them. Natsu wrapped his arm around her shoulders and Lucy laid on the crook of his neck. "So, what do you know of Magnolia?" she asked. Surely, there must be something that caught Natsu's eye.

"I've been there a few times. The magic guild Fairy Tail is based there, and we could become members." Natsu groaned and gripped his stomach with his hand, making Lucy remember his severe motion sickness.

That was one of the main reasons why Lucy didn't want to marry Gray. As a rule, the royalty typically didn't practice magic unless it was absolutely necessary. Lucy didn't want to give up that part of herself, especially since it went untapped for most of her life. Her father didn't approve of it, but it was always there, dormant, waiting to be released. The thought of finally doing so made Lucy smile. But Fairy Tail was a fairly well-known guild. "That's a popular guild, though. Wouldn't we attract attention?"

Natsu shrugged. "We'd use fake names. And you should dye your hair."

"I am not dying my hair!" she snapped, but she couldn't deny that it was a good idea.

Lucy didn't remember when she fell asleep, but when she woke up, she was lying on Natsu, their seats lowered into makeshift beds. Natsu was still passed out, snoring loudly. There was only a few people in their car, and none of them seemed to mind too much, except one older gentleman who narrowed his eyes at them. Lucy pulled her hood tighter over her head and turned to face out the window. The sun was just rising, turning the sky a gorgeous light pink. The train whistle blared loudly and Lucy could feel the brakes begin to slow the train down. She began to shake Natsu, who murmured something she couldn't understand. As the train halted, his eyes fluttered open and he stretched his arms over his head with a loud yawn,

"Remind me never to take the train again," he sighed as they stood and made their way to the car's door.

Magnolia was actually a lot bigger than she thought. But that would make it easier to blend in, Lucy thought. Even though it was early, the town seemed to be abuzz with life, the markets bustling with people. Lucy pulled the hood of her cloak further over her head as she and Natsu made their way through the crowd towards the Fairy Tail guild.

The hall turned out to be a huge building several stories high, topped with a brilliant brass bell. It was made with gray brick and each level was separated with a blood red roof. If rain were to be falling, the drops would run off each level, eventually hitting the ground below. It looked more like a cathedral than a guild hall. Across the front of the top level hung the guild's insignia, white against the bright orange backdrop. The gates were open, as if someone was expecting them. Natsu lead Lucy up the path and opened the huge door, stepping inside and standing proudly in the threshold.

"Natsu!" a chorus of voices cheered. Lucy, curious as to how they knew Natsu's name, stepped hesitantly after him.

"Hey guys!" Natsu greeted, a huge smile on his face. "It's great to be back."

Lucy looked over to him, realizing what was going on; Natsu was a mage here. He had a whole life here that she knew nothing about. That would explain why he knew so much about Magnolia. Deciding to give Natsu the benefit of the doubt, Lucy asked, "Hey, Natsu? Why didn't you tell me you were a part of this guild?"

The addressed mage scratched behind his head with a flustered expression. "Well, you're a rich girl. You have a good future. I didn't wanna wreck that for you. Until you married Fullbuster. I had to do something; I couldn't have you end up with him."

Lucy, touched by his rare show of deep emotion, kissed his cheek, her worries and doubts gone. The guild began to clap and cheer again, enthusiastic whoops coming from the gentlemen. "Who's that pretty chick hiding underneath that cloak?" a tall, broad man smirked. He had gleaming silver hair and an intimidating face.

"This is my girlfriend, Celine," Natsu introduced. Lucy glanced at him, wondering who Celine was. He was staring at her out of the corner of his eye and instantly she understood; Lucy couldn't give her real name. If she did, one of them could go and turn her in. It would be terrible lying to those people, but it was better than going back and marrying Gray. "I brought her here to join the guild. Where's Gramps?"

On cue, a ridiculously short, elderly man approached them. "So, Celene," he began with a scrutinizing stare. "You wish to join Fairy Tail?"

"I do," Lucy replied truthfully.

"What types of magic do you specialize in?"

"Celestial Spirit Magic." Her words felt rehearsed and lacking the passion that she felt this man wanted to hear in her voice. But she was so shocked and nervous about all that happened in such a short time that she just couldn't muster it.

"Celine, you do realize that being a part of a guild is more than just taking care of yourself. In a guild, the members for bonds and connections that are thicker than any family ties. We grow and protect and serve to better not just ourselves, but our family as well."

Lucy felt the intensity of the man's words and they filled her with excitement and a rush of tears that pricked the edges of her eyes painfully. "I want to join Fairy Tail."

The man nodded with a "hm" and a smaller, more feminine version of the silver haired man approached Lucy with a smile. "Where would you like your mark?"

Lucy was breathless; this girl was absolutely beautiful. Lucy was cute and pretty, no doubt, but this woman was gorgeous. She was the flawless, sweet person that guys like Gray would go after. Keeping her envy at bay, Lucy extended her hand.

Natsu wrapped his arms around her waist. Lucy relaxed into him, burying her face into his chest when the guild broke into a series of "awws." A blush rose in her cheeks. Natsu yelled at them to knock it off. She turned so her back was against the familiar muscular body, her cheeks burning red.

"Natsuuuuu!"

Lucy jumped back when a ball of blue crashed into Natsu, sending him onto the floor. Natsu chuckled and held the body to his chest. All she saw were two little cat ears. Instantly, curiosity got the better of her and she turned to see what had attacked him. Natsu stood, a huge smile on his face. The furry body had been a small blue cat with bright white wings and a cute smile. Lucy's heart swelled with love for the creature instantly. "Aww, who's this?" Lucy cooed.

"I'm Happy!"

Natsu nodded and patted his partner's head. "Yeah, I've had this guy ever since I was a kid. We've been best friends forever, right pal?"

"Aye!" Happy chirped happily. Lucy smiled at the obvious love Natsu had for his friend. The little Exceed leapt off of Natsu's broad shoulders and flew off.

Lucy was then approached by others, all of them offering her welcome to the guild. Most of them were really nice to her and that only made it harder each time they called her Celine. She wished she could be honest with them, tell them her troubles. But she didn't know them well enough and didn't want to take the risk. Her freedom was more important than anything and Lucy would do anything to protect it.

The clinking of a glass resonated over the rumble of noise, calling the room to silence. Natsu stood on top of the bar, a glass of blood red liquid in hand. He raised it, locking eyes on Lucy with a goofy grin. "To Lucy!"

"To Lucy!" Everybody raised their glass with enthusiastic smiles, all eyes on the subject of the toast.

Yep. This was definitely going to be hard.

~oOo~

"Sir, I'm afraid that there is still no sign of her."

"Damn it!" the man snapped, clenching his hands into fists to try and control his anger. "Where could she be?"

Late that night, after waiting for almost an hour for Lucy with her drink, Gray decided to go and find out where she was. He searched everywhere, but she was nowhere to be found. It was as if she had vanished into thin air. The guards had looked around town, but had no such luck.

Why did she go?

When they first met, the prince had been drawn to Lucy's charm and optimism. It was infectious and made Gray feel like the world was a better place just by having her as a part of it. Though she was hesitant at first, she eventually agreed to marry him and seemed excited about the idea. But now, he wondered if she was as happy as she had appeared. Maybe she was miserable, but he was just to stupid in love to see it.

No. Gray pushed the thought out of his head as he walked over to the huge windowed wall. It offered a brilliant view of the perfectly manicured grounds that glowed in the morning sun. Guards wandered around, searching high and low for Gray's missing wife.

Someone took her against her will. That was the only explanation that made sense. He was sure she loved her. Or, at least, she seemed too. The thought that love possibly being a lie made his heart pang with a sadness that made his knees weak. He gripped the edge of the windowsill and clenched his jaw until it started to become sore. Lucy. I swear with every ounce of my being that I will not rest until I find you. And when I do, the one who took you is going to pay.

o.0 Ooooooh. Gray's on a mission. How will this go? Please read and review, and don't be afraid to be critical.