Hey um… hey. It's been a while huh. Sorry, writers block is stupid and I've passed it now, it dissipated. Anyway, here it is. I may not post for quite a while because of computer issues. My main computer is my laptop, and it's currently in the process of breaking… it doesn't connect to the internet very well. It disconnects after three minutes of being powered on, therefore it's really difficult to post chapters. I know, no Wifi? I'm not dying, I have a phone. Don't worry. But until we fix the problem or I get a new laptop I won't be posting anything. I had already started this so I finished it but I won't start the next until my problem is resolved. Anyway, we're nearly finished and I'm sorry if it's not a very good finale but this is my first fic. So I'll shut up and let you read now! (^w^)/

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Previously

"Step 4, Find Natsu"


~~Erza POV~~

"Wait what?" I exclaimed. "That's going to be impossible! He could be anywhere!"

"Juvia agrees, we can take this step seriously but there is no guarantee that we will be able to find him in her life time." Juvia added.

"You don't think I know that? This is only if we can. She has a huge secret weighing on her chest and if he isn't here, she can't push it off." Mira reasoned with us. Only if we can…

"So…if we just happen to find him… we drag him here?" I asked, getting my facts straight.

"Yes, I know this will be nearly impossible but we need to at least try. That's what important with this. Now… lets go watch you stuff your face with ice cream." And with that Mira pushed past us back into the dining room. We followed soon after and I took my seat in front of Lucy.

"Yay! We can start!" Lucy picked up her sundae spoon and dug it to a huge scoop of strawberry ice cream. I saw a scoop of Pistachio and decided to have a taste. It was heavenly! I took more and more and stuffed it into my face. Lucy had a bowl of blood in front of her and occasionally would dip her spoon in or just take a sip. A few minutes later the whole thing was gone and we were leaning back in our chairs, stuffed to the brim.

"That looked really good." Gray was moping, it was well known how much he liked ice cream.

"It's okay Gray-sama! Juvia shall get you a bowl!" Juvia piped up, her expression lighting up like a Christmas tree.

"Nah, it's fine. I'll get one tomorrow. If I'm honest, I'm knackered." He shrugged and headed for the door. "I see you guys later, oh and sorry if when you come in I'm asleep Gajeel!" He shouted as he exited. Eventually everyone left and we were all in our lodges. Gray and Gajeel were the only two guys and Mira had booked two six bedroom lodges for some reason but we had six girls so…


It was really late seeing as I had been thinking a lot about finding that little bitch while just lying in bed. My mind had enough so I was trying to fall asleep, that was when I heard a THUMP coming from outside. If I had to guess it was from around the reception area, mainly because it sounded close and we were lodged just across from it. I jumped down from my bunk (we had bunk beds) and started shaking the sleeping Mira below me.

"Mira! Psst, wake up. I heard something… MIRA!" I started to push her around more until she stirred.

"What is i~~~t…" She waved me off and snuggled further under her sheets.

"I heard something though! Get up!" I pulled her out of bed and she landed with a much quieter thump on the floor.

"NO! ERZA STOP!" Mira quietly yelled at me and sat back on her bunk. "Don't wake me up!" Then we heard another louder THUMP which caused our heads to turn to the door. We immediately pulled on a coat and a pair of shoes and rushed outside to see what the commotion was about. As we ran out the door we were met by Gray and Gajeel.

"You heard it too?" Gray asked as we all walked towards reception.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"Who knows." As we rounded the corner what we saw was nothing as we expected. I stopped in my tracks immediately and just stared, opened mouthed. The scene before us was… unbelievable, to say the least. Two guys, fighting… fist fighting. HAD I NOT HAD ENOUGH! What was worse was who was fighting… it was Natsu and Jellal. I've known Jellal since I was little and yea, we are both mages, but I never expected him to be here with NATSU of all people.

"What the FUCK are you doing!" I stormed up to them screaming at the top of my lungs. I kicked Jellal in the gut and grabbed Natsu by the ear. "PACK IT IN!" I screamed this into Natsu's ear and the pain was very evident.

"This is useful." Mira, who was now off to the side was giggling to herself.

"You can say that again."

~~Lucy POV~~

"LUCY! WAKE UP!" I was harshly forced awake by someone shaking my shoulders back and forth. "COME ON! Oh wait, she's stirring. God you sleep like a rock." Mira was stood over me, complaining.

"I'm sorry, but I was beat up yesterday, what do you expect?" I sat up, groaning. If Erza had let go that wouldn't have been so bad. I bent my arm awkwardly and it aches like hell. Almost as bad as the time I had to kill that star wrestler. He fought back, that put me out of business for a few.

"Really, I never expected this." I heard Levy's voice from the other side of the room.

"Was I really the only one left asleep?" I scratched my head and yawned.

"You need to get dressed, immediately." Mira nervously looked over her shoulder then back down at me and what I was wearing. I had only my pants (she was wearing knickers or underwear for my american audience) and an oversized t-shirt. "Definitely… and do it over here, don't leave the bed." She turned and went over to my luggage. My clothes went all over the room as she threw them left right and centre.

"Hey! Those are my things you're disrespecting!" I made to stand up but suddenly Juvia was on top of me, preventing me from getting up. "What're you doing!"

"Mira stop. Lucy stay, for the sake of everyone." Juvia turned and began to usher Mira and pick up my clothes, Levy started looking through it and picked out something simple.

"Thanks Lev." I took what she gave me and started getting dressed… awkwardly. Dressing on a bed was never easy, I'd done it before. "So why exactly am I getting changed here, I mean we're all girls aren't we? Or are we, because if we're all in fact guys that doesn't really make a difference." I stood up, adjusting my bra underneath my top. I looked around Mira was bickering with Juvia and Levy was sat on her bed opposite mine. Erza was nowhere to be found and Wendy was down the other end of the cabin but she wasn't alone. She seemed to be talking to someone but she was blocking whoever it was from my view.

"Errm… Wendy…" I began to walk towards her and when I saw to whom she was talking a fell back onto Mira's bed, of which I was stood next to. "What's he doing here!?" Of all the people. And what was he doing here. He has sooo much to answer for. I stormed right up to him and punched him straight in the face.

"Fuck, seriously. I didn't want to run into you either!" He stood up and started to yell.

"Why did you disappear? You did nothing wrong. It was my fault!" I yelled back. The other girls were either stock still or had their face in their hands.

"I had to do something! For your information I went back to Crocus!"

"And that takes three months!?" I could practically feel the steam erupting from my ears.

"We're gonna leave you two alone." The girls made their way out one by one leaving us alone. I turned around and sunk into Mira's bed again.

"Why were you gone…?" I calmed down and asked the question through my hands. "I needed you here. Do you know how hard it's been."

"Look I'm sorry but I had to go back. Just let me explain." He came and sat next to me.

"Fine… Natsu, tell me what happened."

"Okay, so I went back to Crocus… to see Sting," I just looked at him blankly. "He was held in gaol (Yes I am that British, and I'm proud of it) for three days and I was allowed through to see him. He was fine… not scared in the least but then again, we never are. Anyway he asked me to get something for him but I still haven't found it. Why I'm here though? Jellal dragged me along…" He trailed off and started staring into space. The silence that fell was horrible. When I was sure he wasn't going to speak again I decided to him ask something.

"What did he want you to find?" He looked down at me and sighed.

"It was some sort of... red dagger? I looked everywhere he lived, went, talked about but Nada. Zilch. I went back to Sabertooth a million times, didn't find it." He shrugged and I had to stifle a giggle.

"It's back home… along with my other knives." The look of his face, it looked like he could cry.

"Shit… you're serious! Could he not have told me that!? God…"

"It's fine, we're going back tonight… but we're gonna have to tell the others now…" I patted his shoulder and stood up. I made my way over to the door and slipped some shoes on. "You coming?" I looked back at him. It was now that I realized how dirty he was. At least he's not coated in blood; his hair's still pink, not brown.

"Yeah, sure…" he followed after me and we made our way outside, over to the café on site.

~~Natsu POV~~

As we entered, everyone was sat at various tables. I felt sorry for Jellal who was being lectured by Erza, and especially after we had been traveling all night. One sign of looking bored or tired, and he's dead. I bet he already knows that though.

"Hey guys!" Wendy waved at us, slowly the other heads turned in our direction.

"Lucy… I'm sorry to have to ask this but can you tell us now?" Mira had stood up and was looking at Lucy in a sorry fashion.

"Um… yeah. I think I have to." We sat down and began to repeat what happened.


When it was over no one seemed to know what to say, it was probably best that no one said anything. The day passed quickly and soon we were on our way back to Magnolia. We managed to all fit into the cars parked at the bottom of the mountain. The journey was long; and quiet. Thankfully most of us managed to fall asleep. My heart went out to Erza and Gray, who had to drive the twelve hour journey. Traveling by train was one thing, but by car it was a lot slower. Roads tended to take a longer route around, twisting and winding up and down hills. Jellal and I had come by train from Crocus and that journey was a lot quicker, however painful it may have felt. Jellal didn't spend much time with anyone with motion sickness so never carried around those life savers Lucy had introduced me to.

A few hours later I felt myself plummeting back to earth, or maybe I should say rising? I had a quick scan of the vehicle. Only guys were in here, Gray up front with a reading Jellal and myself next to Gajeel who was loudly snoring and heavily drooling in his sleep.

Eww…

The scenes flying by looked familiar and more suburban. The houses were quaint and looked almost like a dream. I could only really imagine the happy families that lived within… or the unhappy but even that must be better than my predicament. In eighty years I would be killing my own father in ceremony, preparing to inherit the whole of hell. Frankly, I could see that not happening though. Dad was very happy where he already was and didn't really want to die. He would probably follow the actions of Lucifer the VIII, who killed his son instead. His reign went on for millennia until my great, great gramps killed him, being a stray halfling himself. Now that I thought about it, I was barely related to first guy at all. Everyone downstairs was eligible to be in charge, but they had to be at least part human. My life is so overly complicated. I just wish I could stay here forever…

"Yo, Ice princess, how much longer!?" I yelled at Gray in the front. I heard the snarl pass his lips at the name but he then proceeded to answer.

"We entered Magnolia a few minutes ago." He sounded tired and a slight slur could be heard in his pronunciation.

"You sound like shit."

"That maybe because I feel like it. How could I ever get Erza to talk me into a 12 hour drive?" He sighed and returned his gaze to the road, shoulders slumping accompanied by a yawn.

"Natsu," I looked to Jellal who was trying to get my attention. "You sleep like a dog." I just stared at him blankly.

"Wait, what?"

"You sleep like a dog. We stopped for lunch earlier. You didn't even move when we tried to wake you up, and when we nearly had a crash due to Gray falling asleep at the wheel. You didn't make a sound. You just grunted." Jellal was smiling to himself. "Gajeel woke up, and look at him." He turned in his seat to look at the big snoring mess of black.

"I guess. It comes with growing up in the loudest hell hole in existence, quite literally. It's really loud there, especially at home. Only quiet places around where I lived were the soldier's chambers." I smiled to myself this time, remembering when I still lived in darkness. It wasn't bad, not at all. But it's nicer up on the surface. Despite the global problems, we had none of those. The atmosphere is toxic anyway.

The remainder of the journey was quiet. Gajeel woke up quarter of an hour later and quiet conversation took place. Mainly about hell, he hadn't been there. His mother brought him up and she was human.

When we finally reappeared outside the Fairy Tail bar, it felt like heaven. Erza had to come and help Gray out of the vehicle. I went over to the other car to find Lucy sleeping peacefully. Without realizing it, a gentle smile had crossed my face and Mira had seen it.

"Aww, the demon does have a heart." I snapped my head to look at her to be met by giggles.

"I thought you knew I was half human. I naturally have feelings, that's really offensive." I knew I was joking but it was honest. Saying stuff like that to normal halflings could result in you being their next meal.

"I'm sorry. I know, I mean I know three others… well, two others I guess." Her face instantly fell and I felt a twang in my heart.

"I'm sorry. It just happened…" She forced a smile and I stopped mid-sentence.

"It's fine. It's natural. Anyway, everyone is born to die…"

"That's not actually true…" She looked at me, puzzled. "Between me and you, unless we're killed downstairs, Wendy, Gajeel and I can't physically die. We just vanish and go home. We can't control it, it just happens." I winked at her, picked up Lucy and left, leaving Mira looking back at me in disbelief.


When I arrived at Lucy's I pulled her keys out of the bag she had brought to the mountain and unlocked the door. Once I had properly entered her apartment and set her down on her bed, I plopped myself on her sofa. Resting my hands behind my head and letting out a long sigh. Who would have thought that a wizards holiday with Jellal who had relaxed in a couple of years miraculously, would have led to me ending up here again. Hmm, I wonder where that knife is. It's probably important so I should just wait for Lucy to wake up. It didn't take long though because she suddenly sat up and looked around.

"Oh, hey Natsu… wait why are you in my room!?" Lucy seemed confused and panicked.

"You fell asleep in the car so I brought you back here. Anyway where's that knife? As soon as I have possession of that thing I can finally relax and start to settle into the idea of eighty years up here." I looked to Lucy. All she did was nod, stand up and walk over to her cupboard.

"Here, he gave this to me last year, telling me never to open it." She pulled out a small knife encased in a blood red sheath. "I guessed he gave it to because it looks like blood but it must be more important." She handed it over and I twirled it around in my fingers. Carefully I grabbed the handle and began to pull it open. The blade shined a brilliant red and I instantly realized what it was.

"I had no fucking idea he owned one of these? Whoa, I've only ever seen my fathers and his is millions of years old. 'Effing hell this is beautiful!" Lucy was now even more confused, looking at me with a very puzzled expression.

"What is…?" Suddenly a loud knock on the door was heard. I put the knife back into its sheath and went to open the door before Lucy got a chance to react. This would be too dangerous for her to have to deal with. As the door flung open, it revealed someone I never actually expected to see again.

~~Lucy POV~~

"Natsu, what's wrong…?" He suddenly burst out laughing and made way for whoever was at the door.

"WOW! Long-time no see dude!" He slapped the guest on the back, smiling from ear to ear.

"Yes… Natsu… Please, enough with the touching."

"No!" He slung his arm around the visitor's shoulder in a hearty one armed hug. "How could I not hug an old friend. I haven't seen you in years!" He continued to laugh but the person next to him looked very uncomfortable. It was only a matter of time before Natsu's friend caught sight of me. He shrugged Natsu's arm off and his sheepish grimace turned very serious.

"You must be Miss Lucy Heartfilia, member of the old Fairy Tail guild, professional assassin." The serious look pierced into my soul and I found myself speechless. I managed to nod my head though, causing the serious look to morph once again, but this time into a gentler smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," The visitor was a man of lean build. His hair and eyes reminded me slightly of Gajeel as his hair was dark black and his eyes red and piercing. He was much smaller though, considering how Gajeel tended to tower above everyone and his hair was way shorter too, it came down to the base of his neck. He looked nice enough though. "I'm Rogue Cheney, I've heard a lot about you."

"Um… err, yeah. It's nice to meet you too. However, may I ask how you know so much about me?" He was nice enough but he knew too much for my comfort.

"I'm one of the commanders down, back home. I'm a halfling also. I was very close with Sting." Oh… right. So this guy is a demon as well. Why are there so many?! My mind was racing and I was at my peak. So he knew Sting, but as far as I knew Sting hadn't been back to hell since he met me. But somehow he still knows who I am, without leaving his post…

"Still… how do you know about me?" I asked again, looking him directly in the eye.

"Sting told me about you, is that not obvious? He had lots to say on the matter, never shut up about you. Or how he got to see Natsu again, that seemed to have excited him. Then he went into depressing matters like he had to…"

"Yes, but how do you know? Sting is dead… And he only saw Natsu again like… three days before he got dragged of by the council army?" I was frustrated and it showed. But Rogue and Natsu just burst out laughing. My eyes widened in shock at the insensitivity, but they seemed to know something I didn't. "What…?"

"You seriously haven't told her?" Rogue looked to Natsu, red and panting from lack of breath.

"Oh yeah, I haven't have I. I'm stupid aren't I. Ha, I even told Mira!" After calming down, Natsu turned to me. "Lucy, halflings are the only demons that can come up here, right. However, they are still demons. You may not know this but there are tons of different dimensions and shit that we can all traverse through. Only, some species can't go to certain ones. Anyway that's beside the point. A species can only die where they were born. Seeing as no halfling can ever be born up here, they can't die up here. They just go home. Dissipate, disappear, vanish, teleport, whatever takes your fancy. Sting is just back at home. He can't come back though, for moral reasons. He's been there three months." He was smiling but I could feel the anger bubbling up inside me. I didn't get it, but I now know that he was alive and no one had dared tell me?

"SHIT!" I yelled and flopped back onto the couch. Natsu face instantly changed and he sat next to me. Worry crossing his features.

"That hurt, didn't it?" He sounded guilty and he rested his hand on my shoulder lightly. I turned to looked at him, possibly a little to coldly.

"Ya think?" Pain flashed across his eyes and it was my turn to feel regret. "Haaa, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to… I just… it's a bit of a shock." I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a quick squeeze. "It just takes a little to get used to." I flashed my teeth and stood back up, turning to Rogue.

"Yes?" He sensed that I wanted to interrogate him again.

"Why are you here?" My eyes narrowed and I had a huge urge to grab the knife sitting in my lamp.

"Because you called." His face had turned stone cold, the tense atmosphere causing all three of us to feel uneasy.

"We… called? What do you mean?"

"You unsheathed the calling card so I came, mine lit up so I arrived at its location." He looked down at Natsu, who was still holding the knife. "I gave that to Sting before he left."

"Oh! That's why this seems so familiar. It's that knife. Wow, I had no idea it was one of them." He looked down at the small knife in his hands, opening it again. A bright light emitted from a belt fastened around Rogues waist "Aww, cool! I wonder whose Dad's contacts?"

"You could come and ask, I'm taking Lucy back anyway." Rogue pointed out… Wait…

"What!? Going back with you? Why would I ever do that?! I'm quite happy here." I folded my arms and stood my ground.

"No, you're coming. Sting told me that if I was called that I had to take you back with me. Apparently he told Natsu to find it, so… yeah. Anyway, I'm sure you want to say goodbye. He does." Rogue just shrugged.

"Lucy… come on. Let's just go." Natsu was now next to me. He looked a little fed up but suddenly a little nauseous. Home sick maybe? "Please?"

"Fine, I'll go, but I want to be home by tomorrow." Rogue nodded and Natsu smiled with what looked like relief. "I always hoped I'd never have to go to hell."

"Don't worry it's great!"


Okay, shit ending right? Haha, anyway. This is farewell for now. I'll start to write as soon as I get permanent WiFi. Anyway quick notice, I have two other fics in the planning process. One of them is a GaLe one (hence my FT OTP) but recently I became obsessed with Hetalia, you know the one… Anyway, I'm trying to write one for that if anyone's interested. If not, I'll hit that fandom if you aren't part of it. Don't worry, I'll still write FT shit, I'm just gonna widen my demographic… yeah…

DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW! Especially if you have any ideas for stories or one-shots you want me to write, I'll do my absolute best!

This was Alpha, so long and thanks for the fish!