Hi! I don't have anything even remotely interesting to say right now, so I won't bore you with notes. I don't own anything, and hope you enjoy the story!

Natsu ran over the hill to the forge, praying nothing bad had happened. There HAD just been a magical explosion there last night.

"KLEAH!"

No answer, nor was there any sign of her. Panic swept through him at the thought she was harmed in any way, and he again marveled that he could care so much for a girl he knew so little.

"KLEAH! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

No answer on the grassy hill, just the wind blowing softly over his head. Just as he was ready to go back to town and ask around, a cheerful girl's voice giggled. He knew that laugh; he'd know it anywhere. He spun around, facing the open plain, not believing his eyes. Lucy, just as he remembered her, was spinning around in the grass a couple yards from him. His common sense rejected this vision, but his heart spurred his run to her. She held out her arms, and in a moment of shock, he actually managed to touch her.

"Hi, Natsu. I can't stay long, but I have something to tell you."

"Yea, Luce. You can tell me anything."

"Come closer."

He hugged her, allowing her to whisper in his ear comfortably.

"Two things: Kleah is in danger right now at Gavin's, and I need your help, too. You'll have to figure out the second one on your own, though. Goodbye."

She faded out of his arms, and he broke. After six long years, all the feelings he'd pushed away regarding his dead partner surfaced at once. He would have continued to cry there on the hill had he not heard a scream so distinctly hers. Lucy had said Kleah was in danger.

Lucy stared in horror at the nightmare she thought she'd banished long ago: the witch that had cursed her and killed Natsu. Even now, her knees shook at the thought. She'd already gotten Gavin out, but the witch was not going to let her go.

"I finally found you, little girl. I waited SO long!"

The witch laughed before striking her hard across the face. Lucy smashed through the stone cottage wall, feeling a couple ribs break. She struggled to stand, but there was so much pain. Everything appeared red or black, and she wasn't sure her eyes were even still completely intact.

"You should have died a long time ago when I killed that fire mage. Oh well, I can just finish now. Let's see that eye I left you with."

She couldn't hold back the scream that issued from her lungs when what felt like lightning drilled into her cursed eye. Her head felt like it was going to explode under the pressure. At some point, Lucy stopped screaming, though, because her entire body went numb. There was no sound, no sight, no smell, and no sensation to alert her to life. Somewhere deep inside her, Lucy realized that this was the end. Very soon, she would be in Natsu's arms again, and she could watch over Fairy Tail.

Natsu arrived just as the witch straightened up from her crouching position over Kleah. The cloudy figure looked satisfied for a reason Natsu did not want to know, but he did know he had to get rid of this thing. Even without his dragon slayer abilities, the witch still reeked of death and decay.

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!"

He grabbed the witch's face, praying that curse would work against its caster. Thankfully, it did. The witch screamed, hands attempting to remove him but unable to compete with his blacksmithing strength. She threw him, but he managed to land on his feet between her and Kleah.

"You will not touch her anymore, and if she is dead, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth. LEAVE!"

The witch stared at this strange man, wondering why he seemed so familiar, but failed to recall. She could not hurt him if she could not touch him as all her spells required physical contact and concentration. The celestial wizard was dead, anyhow. This gnat was of no concern to her.

"Well, then, happy hunting. That girl is dead."

She vanished, leaving nothing behind but her stench. Natsu ran to Kleah, despair filling him when he saw her face. The cursed eye was gone, leaving a black pit that seemed to reach to the center of her skull. There was no pulse or breath issuing from her. Kleah was dead.

"Hold it right there, Haru. She's not dead yet. She can live if you act fast and smart. Are you listening?"

Natsu wiped away his tears and stared at his mentor who felt much like a father he hadn't had in so long.

"I need you to take that glove off her hand, but make sure you put these on first."

Gavin tossed Natsu a pair of thin leather gloves. He did as he was instructed, confused at what he found. There were stars tattooed on her arm in color-coded fashion.

"All the way."

He peeled the glove completely off, shocked now. On Kleah's hand was a red Fairy Tail mark. She was from HIS guild. Why was she alone?! Fairy Tail mages always traveled with a partner, even if they didn't need one.

"See that little green star on her wrist? It's a portal link. It'll take you to the first place you think of. I suggest it be her guild; Wendy is there and can take care of her. I don't know when I'll see you next, Natsu, but make sure it's not in a coffin. Good luck."

Natsu nodded at Gavin before lightly touching the star. A shimmering green portal opened up before him, routing directly to the front of the guild. He lifted Kleah into his arms, careful that she wasn't touching his skin. With only a slight feeling of trepidation, he stepped through the portal.

Mira and Wendy were cleaning the bar in the empty guild, chit-chatting about everything and nothing. The rest of the guild was at the local festival celebrating and reminding Magnolia who the rowdiest guild was, so they were taking advantage of the quiet to get some much-needed work done. The guild doors flew open with a BANG, scaring Mira so bad she dropped the glass she held. Wendy recognized only one scent vaguely as Lucy's, but the man holding her was a mystery. She pushed it to the back of her mind when she realized that the man was holding an injured Lucy that didn't smell very alive. Questions could wait. Wendy vaulted over the bar, and Mira screamed for the Master. The man collapsed to the floor, and Mira thought he looked like Natsu when he stared at Wendy. She could almost feel the raw determination in his being that just screamed to be vented on something. Mira took the man's gloved hand and sat him down at the bar. They needed to talk.

Well, as compensation for missing a day, I've posted two tonight. This trend may continue for the next week because I have no school. Perks of being a private school girl, or should I say SINGULAR perk. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I welcome any reviews about Mira's conversation with the unrecognized Natsu! See you soon!