I'm working to improve on the presentation of this fic. I agree that I need to amend my summary badly. I'm not sure if I can extend the chapters longer though but I will do what I can. Thank you for all the advice.

Chapter 14: The Return of a Comrade

"Wake up, Lucy. How long are you going to sleep here?" A voice of a male was heard. Lucy could vaguely make out the voice.

"Gray?" She blinked and slowly opened her eyes. Lucy realised that she was in a cave. How did she get here? To think she had to see Gray's irritating face when she woke up from her sleep instead of Natsu.

"Where is Natsu?" Lucy looked around frantically but was cut off by Gray and his annoyance at her failure of completing her own mission.

"I thought I ask you to meet up with Erza? Why are you even sleeping here?"

"I… " She wanted to ask if Gray had seen Natsu around but she decided to change her mind instead. "Was it just my imagination? Natsu should not be here."

"What about you? Aren't you supposed to be with my Brother-in-law?"

Before Gray could answer her, they heard noise coming from the other end, both of them rushed over and found a little girl who was unconscious with a white cat trying to wake her up.

"That is an Exceed like Happy?" Lucy exclaimed

"What happened to her?" Gray asked the white Exceed.

"Wendy collapsed as she had exhausted too much of her healing magic. I had reminded her not to overdo it but she won't listen." The Exceed known as Charles explained. Gray cradled her trying to wake her up. "Hey! Are you ok?" He asked in concern.

Wendy stirred. She struggled to open her eyes and sat up. She looked crestfallen and she started crying shakily. "I'm sorry. I'm of not help at all. I can't cure this poison."

Lucy and Gray did not understand what was going on. "Did something happen to her?" They watched as Wendy continued mumbling to herself what she knew. "The Jellal up there is a clone. I believe the real Jellal is going after him to stop his plan, if not, I don't know what is going to happen if the clone succeed."

"What did you say?" Gray and Lucy's eyes widened in shock. Jellal who ambushed their Master was a fake.

At this moment, they heard footsteps running towards their direction.

"An enemy?" Gray exclaimed in battle stance. Lucy prepared herself for what was coming but what they saw was a salmon haired boy charging in screaming for help.

"Help! Wendy, help! The fire is intense. I can't believe I can create a fire like this ever again. Let me show you." He stopped when he saw a familiar face who was obviously watching his one-man show right in front of him.

"Isn't that Gray?" The boy pointed right at him with his eyes popping out. Gray could not help but to tease him, "Here comes a boy who can't stop making noise and who can't stop scaring us like his younger brother is." Gray could easily differentiate between the Dragion Twins. Gray was glad to see him full of energy. At first he was worried as the boy seemed to be depressed over the loss of his magic power.

"Lucy, when are you going to let Tsuna know about your relationship with him? If not I will get this boy who can't seem to get it together to tell him instead. It's between the two of you so it doesn't matter who tell him." Lucy rolled her eyes. Gray was the one who could not get it together. He was still yapping about it.

"You guys are here?" Natsu exclaimed. "And Gray! Why did you trick me?" Natsu recalled the raft incident.

"The person who tricked you is not Gray." Lucy explained on Gray's behalf.

"What?" Natsu cried in response. The boy's mood changed so quickly that he changed the subject.

"Lucy, did you save me?" He scratched his head.

"Did you just realize it?" Lucy asked as she sweatdropped. That was just like Natsu.

"I'm just too happy to see Lucy." Natsu blushed when he said that.

"Ahh!" The little girl behind watching them just realized something. "I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Wendy. Wendy Marvel. I'm from the Magic Council. Nice to meet you." She bowed to Gray and Lucy who she first met. Lucy and Gray who would like to introduce themselves was interrupted by the hyper-energetic Natsu.

"And Gray, why are you here?" Natsu was surprised to see him.

"I'm here of course to stop Jellal and to get him out before Etherion is being fired." Gray replied but frowned in dismay when the boy rushed off excitedly to Wendy. Gray found himself translucent, who could easily go unnoticed.

It seemed that he was being ignored by the twins. He had collapsed earlier after the battle with the bird-like creature and realized that he was left behind by Tsuna and the gossiping Exceed. To think he had rescued him from being eaten. How ungrateful could he be? On the way to catch up with him, he found his blonde comrade who was sleeping out there.

"Wendy! I can use magic. I can fight again." Natsu cried in excitement. Wendy was doubtful despite smiling at him in response. She wanted to check with him on something but noticed that he had run off to greet Lucy. Natsu kept shaking Lucy telling her that he had recovered his magic power cheerfully.

"Lucy~ I had recovered my magic finally~".

On the other hand, Brain had left with Cobra accompanying him. He looked out to the dyed red scenery in front of him and commented to himself.

"That tool had undying determination just like my younger son who was sacrificed. I will respect your decision if this is your choice. There is no room for regret."