A/N: Sorry that this is SO late. I know I said I would update this like two weeks ago, it's just that something unexpected happened. My sister, who live like thirteen hours away, had a gull bladder problem that unfortunately required my parent to go visit her. Meaning I had to go visit her, too. When we had finally gotten back, we only had one day before we went on a week long vacation to Vancouver, BC. That meant the one free day I had was meant for packing. I got back really late Thursday, but then I had to write a new chapter, this chapter, after changing my mind about the chain of events in the story. I got that finished Saturday night. After that it was just me being forgetful, same as usual :P. ANYWAYS! That was a long AN that was really pointless, so I suggest just moving to the story, I think it'll be better for everyone that way.

Chapter 2

Dimly lit by a fireplace against the far wall and a few pedestals that held groupings of candles, four cloaked figures waited in a large circular chamber. Along the walls lined bookshelves, stocked with a countless amount of books, that reached from the floor to the ceiling several stories above. Seven columns were placed in the center of the room, creating an inner ring. Atop these columns housed seven thrones.

Each throne was magnificent in it's own way. Atop each throne was a symbol, a ring of seven figures. A flame, a spiral, three rocks clumped together, and a star. As well as what appeared to be an ocean current. Also found apart the ring of symbols was an unidentifiable creature and a circle. Contained within the circle were twelve markings.

On the backs of each of the elaborately decorated thrones were one of these symbols. Out of the seven pedestals, four were currently being used by these unknown people. The symbols on their seats were as follows; star, flame, water, and circle. All four were staring into a viewing lachryma. A picture was currently being shown on the crystalline picture being shown contained two unconscious people. One was a man, in his late twenties, the other, a young woman in her early twenties.

One of the four that sat atop the columns, the one that donned the symbol of an ocean current, looked up from the lachryma to speak to another of the four.

"Are you sure they are worthy of the roles? They haven't even woken up yet." By the sound of the water figure's voice, it was obvious that it was a man.

The cloaked figure who had been spoken to, the one that sat in the chair that donned a star, looked up from the lachryma as well and faced the one that had just spoken. "They wouldn't be hear if the king hadn't approved them, you know that. Besides, it took almost an entire day for you and fire man over there to wake up. It's only been a few hours, they should awaken soon."

At the mention of his symbol, the one who sat on the throne with the flame perked up. Looking over to the one who had spoken first, the one who donned the symbol of an ocean current, he snickered before speaking.

"That's right water boy, it took you a whole day to wake up, that means you have no room to complain."

The man of water growled before launching back at the one now known of fire, "I wasn't complaining, merely inquiring what her opinion was on the matter. And you were down the same amount of time, too."

The second man spat back at the first post haste. "You were 'inquiring'? You don't even know what that means!"

The water crested man raised his arm threateningly, a fist appearing from under his sleeve. "You trying to pick a fight?"

Both the fire and water figures began to argue with one another. Each one stood was standing on their thrones. The two other people, the ones with the star and circle, easily ignored them and continued to watch the image being relayed by the lachryma. Only when the magic power of the two fighting men spiked up did the other two pay more attention to them. Not long after, the one with the circle had had enough.

"Boys!"

At that single word the two men quieted down. Quickly, both sat back down on their respective thrones. The one who bared the circle, now known to be a young woman, stood up.

"Just because Styxx isn't here doesn't mean you two are allowed to fight, got it?"

Both men looked down at their feet, trying to not imagine the cold glare that they knew was coming from beneath the hood of that cloak. Silently, each one muttered, "Yes ma'am."

The one who sat on the throne with the star giggled before standing up. The figure looked up at each of the other three, who now had their attention redirected to the one with the star, before speaking.

"Gajeel and Wendy are waking up, it's time to go greet them."

In a flash of golden light, the one with the star was gone, nowhere to be found in the circular room. Then a flash of silver light flushed the room as the one with the circle disappeared as well. The room was then filled with color once again as flashes of blue and orange continued afterward. The men of fire and water were gone as well.

...

Gajeel grunted as he sat up in the bed. His head pounded with pain. The room around him swirled in different directions for a few moments as dizziness came and went. When he was finally able to see correctly, Gajeel looked around the room. There were no windows and only one door could be seen. Light filtered into the room from an unknown source.

One other bed could be found in the room. Sitting on it was Wendy, his fellow dragon slayer. She was looking around the room as well, trying to figure out where they were, too.

"Where the hell are we?" Gajeel muttered.

Wendy stood up and walked over to Gajeel before inspecting his body furiously. She checked every visible part of his body before beginning to proceed in undressing the metal dragon slayer. "Do you feel alright? Do you hurt anywhere?"

Gajeel easily pushed the younger dragon slayer away with his elbow. With a steely edge in his voice, he hissed at the wind mage. "I'm fine, squirt." Gajeel walked over to the door and inspected it for a moment. Squinting his eyes in annoyance, Gajeel looked for a door handle. "What the fuck- there's no handle!"

Wendy stood next to her companion and scanned the door as well. Her eyes went wide at the sight of no door handle. Looking up at the pierced man, she asked, "Do you think you could eat through it?"

Without his glare straying from the door, he answered. "It's made of stone, I can only eat metal." His tone of voice at that moment made it seem as if he was speaking common knowledge, knowledge that Wendy should have already known.

Suddenly, she was pushed aside and onto Gajeel's bed. Recovering from her initial surprise, Wendy was able to see Gajeel preparing to break down the door, his hand currently an iron pillar.

Wendy jumped out of the bed, her arm outstretched at the other man. "Wait! If you do that, the debris will-"

She was to late, Gajeel thrust his hand forward, propelling the attack. The black metal pillar rocketed straight towards the stone door. As the two made contact, the sound of metal and stone against each other rang out and echoed through out the small square room.

"That's not going to work, it's only for show."

Gajeel and Wendy whipped their heads around in search of who had said that. It hadn't been one of them. When no one could be found, both dragon slayers changed to defensive positions.

Again, the voice spoke out, filling the room with a smooth grace. "Your always looking for a fight, aren't you Gajeel? And Wendy, I thought you would try to talk things out. The has that flame brain Natsu been a bad influence on you?"

Wendy lowered her arms in surprise. With her eyes wide, she practically returned to her once younger self. "N-Natsu?"

Gajeel kept his guard up, but he too was thinking the same thing. How did they Natsu? Or their names to be in fact? Growling in annoyance, Gajeel barked, "Show yourself coward! Or are you to much of a coward?" The metal dragon slayer snickered as he said that last sentence.

"Fine, might as well."

A golden light flashed, blinding the two for a few seconds. As Wendy and Gajeel blinked away the spots in their vision, a person behind them spoke.

"It's been eight years, the least you could is face me." It was the owner of the voice from before.

Now that it wasn't being produced by magic, both of the dragon slayers realized who it was. Slowly turning around, Wendy gasped in surprise as tears began to form. Even Gajeel was effected by this person's appearance, his arms tightly balled up into fists to constrain himself.

Sitting on the bed Gajeel had awoken in before was a woman in her mid-twenties. Long golden hair cascaded down her back, the ends resting gently on the sheets of the bed. An inviting smile was donned her face as she looked upon the two. Large, warm, chocolate brown eyes scanned them from head to toe.

"It's nice to finally see you guys again, have you missed me?"

Tears fell down her now slender face as she removed her hands from her covered mouth. Under her breath, Wend whispered the woman's name. "Lucy."

Now snickering, Gajeel announced his nickname for the woman. "Bunny girl."

Lucy let out a small giggle as she stood up. "Gajeel, Wendy, welcome to the after life, sort of."

A/N: Oooooooh, now THAT'S a cliffhanger… or at least I think so. And it's only the second chapter. I'm sure you're asking questions like "What is he planning?", "What's going to happen?", "Why is he always late updating?". Sorry, but you'll just have to wait and find out