Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the fictitious places used within this story, all rights belong to their creator Hiro Mashima.

(A.N: This story is being written for a good friend, as per request. Characters may be a little OOC at times, but only if it moves the plot along or better fits the narative. I do not have a scheduled uploading time, as I have more than one project underway. Feel free to check out my other stories and comment often to get my attention on the story you like most. Leave me a review, favorite, or even follow. I will try to upload my more popular fan fictions more often.)

Chapter Four:

Inside the cavern was dark and a little damp, Lucy used a flashlight to light up the path that laid at their feet, and the group continued onward, with only the sound of water drops that fell to the stone floor to break the lull. Their footsteps echoed throughtout the cavern, the sound had instantly hushed the voices they had heard upon having first arrived, which only added to the unsettled feeling that draped over Erza and Natsu. Lucy shut off the flashlight once they reached a deadend in the path, two small circles marked the otherwise flawless stone. The visitors watched on with an intrigued curiousity, as the two rebels pulled off their rings and placed them in the circles. A purple magic circle suddenly appeared on the stone, as the rings were removed and slipped back on to the mages fingers. They stood in silence as a second circle appeared under the feet of the rebels and the guest they had brought with them, within seconds they no longer stood in the cavern tunnel, but inside a beautiful guild hall.

Lanterns hung along the walls, mages of every kind were seated at the many tables, as the conversation had begun to pick back up, and the tension lifted from the caverns inhabitants. Lucy lead Natsu and Erza to a table and gestured for them to take a seat. "Gray just has to go check in with Master Macorov and then we will explain what happened here, and why things have changed so greatly." All eyes were on the newcomers, most of the members had joined years ago, and they hadn't gotten any new applicants in a very long while. It wasn't odd for all of them to be weary and their curiosity was rightfully piqued. Gray returned to the others, he had with him a tray of drinks, which he placed on the table before taking a seat. "So you want to know what happened to Fiore?" Erza nodded, her elbows were already on the table, her chin in her hands, as she eagerly waited for the mage to weave the tale of what had destroyed their city.

He took a quick pull from his glass before he began to speak again, his face held a thoughtful expression, it was as though he tried to find the best and most effecient way to explain everything. "To make a long story short, six years ago demons raided the city. The creatures brought with them, destruction and fear. They attacked the guilds first, tearing down all of them one by one, and in doing so they slowly had the hope dwindling down to nothing. Once they had stopped the guilds, they went after the magical council, and once that was destroyed, the demons took over everything." Lucy stared at the table, the terrible memories played through her mind, the fear and pain still too fresh to relive. "Tell them why we moved our guild underground, Gray. They need to know how dangerous it is to be anywhere near us and this place." Gray patted the girl's hand in a reassuring manner, she never did like how dangerous the rebellion was, but she had promised her mother that she would fight for what she believed in. This was her way of keeping that promise.

Gray took a deep breath, he knew that the truth may have the newcomers running for the hills, or worse, revealling their secret base to the authorities. "I was getting to that, Luce. After the take over, magic was outlawed, several mages had been arrested, and placed in cells that leave them powerless. Those of us that weren't caught went into hiding and the decision to form the rebellion had been made. Mages that were forced to leave their homes, joined us, and together we fight for the freedoms that the people in Fiore lost. Our end goal is to eventually over throw the demons and take back what is rightfully ours." The anger he felt didn't change his voice, but it was reflected in his midnight blue eyes, it burned coldly right around the edges. For just a moment, Gray reminded Erza of Jellal, but it only lasted for a second, before she shoved the thought from her mind. A temper didn't mean the same thing as darkness, this man was much too kind to be the reincarnation of her first love, he didn't have it in him to act cruelly.

Lucy smiled at their new friends sadly, now was when they would decide to stay or go, and if they chose to leave there was a chance that they would turn them into the demon King. "We have extra beds if you want to stay here, but if you choose to leave, I beg of you to keep this place secret." Natsu and Erza exchanged glances, it didn't take much thought for them to come to the conclusion on what was the right thing, the secret was safe with them. Natsu grinned in a confident way, he had always been better at making friends and gaining trust, he wasn't nearly as jaded and guarded as Erza was. Even so, she wanted these mages to know that she was on their side, she knew what it was like to have to hideaway from the rest of the world . "It wouldn't be so bad to stick around her for a while and help you take back your city. I can't speak for Natsu, but I'm up for joining the Fairy Tail rebellion." She glanecd towards the Demi-God in question and he still grinned with a child-like excitement. The source of his joy sat across from him, the longer they lingered in the secret cavern, the more Natsu grew sure that he had found his Lisanna.

The chatter had began to die down, as the other mages started to trickle outof the main hall, and back to their rooms. The space in the guild was a bit limited and most of the members had one or more roommates, at one point there had been no spare beds, but as members were arrested beds became avaliable. Lucy turned her attention to the only other female at the table, her eyes sparkled with happiness, as she made an offer to Erza. "I have an extra bed in my room and it's yours if you want it. I've had my own room for a while and it wouldn't be so bad sharing with someone again. So what do you say?" She eyed the scarlet haired beauty eagerly, as she awaited her response, and Erza couldn't help but to smile. "If you got the room, I'll share my company with you." The blonde clapped her hands together in front of herself, it had been so long since she had the opportunity to make new friends. "Great, I was hoping you'd agree. Your friend can room with Gray, if he decides to stay, and we can take you both on patrol with us tomorrow."

The ice maker mage didn't seem all to pleased with the idea, but he never voiced any displeasure with either plan Lucy had come up with. His cousin did thrive in social settings, she needed to meet new people, make new friends, and as much as he was distrusted newcomers, he knew that the celestial mage was beyond happy. Natsu eyed Gray with his own bit of displeasure, he hadn't wanted to get to know anyone but Lucy, and if he wanted to stay, he was stuck rooming with the guy. Even so, he had no intentions of going anywhere, not until he had his rightful time with his soulmate, so he would just have to bear with it, so to speak. He could always attempt to get Gray to give him information on the lovely blonde and learn some interesting things to sweep her off her feet. All in all, it wasn't the worst situation, not when he could use it to his advantage. "So I guess we're roomies now, at least for the time being. Is that alright with you, Gray?" The was an awkward break in the conversation, as an excuse for searched for, he would have declined, but the brown eyes that pleaded halted him. "It's fine with me."

Evening fell outside, but the atmosphere in the cavern hadn't changed. The guild hall was never bathed in sunlight nor moonlight, the air had always been stuffy, and wind never rushed around the building. Erza sat in Lucy's room, on the bed that laid on the opposite side, she had expected the room to be pink and frilly, but it was actually rather plain. Only two photographs were sat on the shelf, that was otherwise lined with books, one of the blonde with her cousin, and one of a woman that looked nearly idenitical to the celestial mage she currently roomed with. Lucy layed on her bed, she read a book wordlessly, as Erza had begun to shift anxiously from the stretching silence. She had to break it, before she went mad, after not having had anyone other than Natsu to talk to, she craved new conversations. "So, are you and your cousin close?" She spoke softly, in an attempt to not completely startle her new companion, and was relieved when the girl closed her book, and offered her full attention.

The blonde picked up the framed photograph of Gray and herself, she smiled softly, in what seemed like remembrance of the day it was taken. "Yes, we are very close. It wasn't always that way though, not until I left home to find him." The red headed immortal shifted to lay on her stomach, her chin was back in her hands, and she hoped the girl would continue and tell her the story. "Well, why did you leave home?" Lucy returned the picture to it's shelf, the look on her face was thoughtful, and somewhat sad. "It wasn't the happiest place to be after my mother died, my dad was so busy, that he sort of forgot I even existed, but I learned the truth fast enough. A letter had come for my father, one that asked him to open his doors to his only nephew, who had been quite suddenly orphaned. He turned him away, my father hadn't forgotten me, anymore than he forgot Gray, he just didn't have a single bit of love in his heart to give." Erza had quickly decided that Lucy had a knack for weaving a story rather well and she found enjoyment as she did nothing but listen, even if it was a sad tale.

Lucy paused for a moment, she didn't want to bring the mood down in the room, because nobody really liked pessimism, but the red head seemed genuinely interested, so she pushed on. "I ran away when I was sixteen and went to Fairy Tail in search of the cousin my father turned away all those years before. He's been there for me ever since, protects me during every mission, and only scares me when he uses his slayer magic." Erza lifted a slim eyebrow, she hadn't expected that turn of events, because she found Gray anything but frightening. "I didn't peg him as someone who would ever scare you, I have to admit that what you are saying, is rather surprising." The blonde shrugged her small shoulders, as if she preferred that they didn't continue with the topic of her cousin's magic, or his ability to frighten her. Erza let the matter go, she was sure that if her and Natsu stuck around long enough, she would get to witness the slayer magic that the ice mage possessed. With Lucy being Lisanna, Natsu would want to stick around for as many years as he could, so she had plenty of time to see it for herself.

Natsu had forced himself to seem anything but disappointed, he hadn't wanted to room with the ice mage, but he was still grateful that he was allowed to stay this close to his soulmate at all. His new roommate was a quiet fellow, Gray hadn't said a word since he lead the way to the room Natsu had been offered half of. Two single beds were place one either side of the room, both were dressed in white linen sheets and black comforters, two lamps lit up the room from the matching nightstands, that had been placed by each bed, which left a pair of shadows on the walls. The air conditioner kept the room cool, but there was still a staleness to the atmosphere. Gray motioned to the bed on the left hand side of the room, before he sat on the edge of the one on the right. Natsu eyed the shelves for any sign of a personal touch, but found nothing that even spoke of someone staying in the room.

Gray watched as his unwanted roommate stood in the center of his room, onyx colored eyes scanned the room for some answers, to a few unspoken questions. The raven haired mage didn't offer any information freely, it wasn't like he knew the guy all that well, and he had no reason to open up to him without provaction to do so. The silence stretched on, neither seemed to be uncomfortable, but Natsu wanted to learn about Lucy, and talking to Gray was a good way to gain more knowledge on his soulmate's new vessel. He needed to be nonchalant and ask his questions carefully. The mage was obviously a bit cold with newcomers, which he couldn't quite understand why, yet the Demi-God wasn't really bothered by the icy demeanor either. "So, what kind of magic do you and your cousin use?" The Fire God's son figured this was the best plan of action, to appear like he was interested in both of the mages. Gray seemed a bit annoyed by the impromptu Q&A, but he tried to conceal it with a well convicted fake smile. "I'm an ice maker mage and Lucy is a celestial mage."

Natsu waited for the mage to ellaborate and offer up more information without being prodded for answers, but instead he closed up again and added nothing more to the conversation. How could the pink haired, half fire god, seem indifferent if he had to consistantly press for answers? "I don't want to seem pushy, but I would feel more comfortable if I knew the people I was staying with a bit better." Dark blue eyes gazed upon him skeptically, it was a look that unnerved the one that it was placed. "The same could be said about you and your travel companion. We know next to nothing about either one of you, both you and Erza are the strangers, and yet I'm not the one asking you for your entire life story." It would be an understatement to say that the response Natsu received , wasn't the one he was expecting. To speak of his past was nothing short of a challenge, he was forced to speak carefully, and avoid the landmines his words could reveal. He hadn't been a child in centuries, people his perceived age, wouldn't have had a childhood like his, it would be difficult to include modern means to his dated lifestlye. "Fair enough, I will restrain myself from asking anymore questions."

(A.N: I may not be able to upload as often as I like, but I will do so whenever I get the chance. Continue to show your support by leaving a quick review, even the simpliest comment brings me a sense of joy, it means more than I can explain. So a big thanks to my few reviewers, Nightwing, SnowRabbit, Mikasa-Chan, and the unnamed "Guest".)