AN: sorry it took me so long to update. had a bout of writers block. I'm back on track now sooo... here is the next chapter! thanks to all my readers, favs and follows. also a shout out to ErzaDreyer! HUGS hun!

Previously

Her fingers slid into soft locks of hair. She locked her fingers there and sighed. She knew what that was even if she could not see or hear. She could still not see... She still could not hear… Zeref… she thought to herself softly. But if he was there she would be fine. And with that thought, she drifted off to sleep with her fingers firmly locked in Zeref's hair…

Chapter 21

After the couple awoke and began their day, they bought tickets for a sleeper compartment for the three day journey to the small town called Larkspur. Lucy and Zeref stood at the platform for their train as Lucy leaned into Zeref's side. When he wrapped his arm around her she sighed softly and melted into him more. She was still tired from the night before and was craving the warmth of the man next to her. Zeref smiled slightly and kissed the top of Lucy's head.

The train soon pulled into the station and stopped at the platform they were standing at, so Lucy and Zeref grabbed their bags and boarded the train. It was a little weird; even though it was an early train no one boarded behind them and there were no passengers. This registered in the back of both mages minds but they decided to ignore this small fact. They walked through several empty cars as they headed toward their sleeping compartment. Lucy started to get an eerie feeling, but before she could voice this to Zeref the train jerked and started to rumble down the tracks.

Lucy watched Zeref's back as she followed him to their compartment. She shook her head to clear away the eerie feeling and chocked it up to the empty early morning train, plus the bad experience on their last train ride. They settled into their compartment and Lucy sat near the window and watched the scenery fly by as Zeref curled up on the bench and rested his head on Lucy's lap. She looked away from the window and smiled softly down at his face as she ran her fingers through his hair. Zeref let out a sound of contentment and closed his eyes. He was soon fast asleep. Lucy propped her elbow on the window sill and rested her chin on her hand as she watched the scenery go by.

About an hour after the train departed, Lucy felt a jolt and watched as the westbound train tracks they had been on became visible through the window. They were not headed west anymore! Lucy shook Zeref awake harshly. Tenshi, wake up something is wrong!

Zeref sat up and looked out the window where Lucy pointed at the westbound tracks. "Those are the tracks we were on?" he asked as he looked at the tracks and the angle their train was now at before he stated, "We are headed south-west now." His brows furrowed as he asked, "Lucy do you have a map?" Lucy nodded and reached into her bag and pulled out the map of Fiore that Loke had marked for their travels. Zeref frowned at the map. There were no train stations south west of Crocus. Not only that but there are no towns on the map south-west of Crocus. "Lucy we need to find the engineer of this train. We need to know where we are going," Zeref said seriously.

Lucy nodded her head and stood to follow Zeref out of their compartment. Just as she stepped past the door Lucy felt a wave of sleepiness. Her body swayed and she said, "Zeref, I'm so tired." Her body gave out and she slowly slumped to the ground. Zeref was able to catch her just before she hit the floor. He shook her slightly. Lucy cracked her eyes open slightly and said, "so… tired…" her eyes closed once more and then she was fast asleep in his arms.

Zeref started to panic; the only thing that stopped him from a full blown panic attack was that Lucy's chest rose and fell in a solid, strong rhythm. He held her tight against his chest and laid his forehead on hers. He took several calming breaths and delved into her mind. Everything was calm in her mind. She seemed to just be in a magic induced slumber and seemed to be in no danger; she just seemed to be dreaming. Zeref slowly withdrew from Lucy's mind. He let out a ragged breath and then stood up with Lucy in a princess carry as he walked back into the compartment and laid Lucy down on the bed.

He looked at her peaceful sleeping face and ran his hands through his hair. Why are things always happening to his Lucy, can't she ever catch a break? Zeref reached down and wrapped his hand around Leo's key. Zeref never bothered to cross-train with celestial summoner magic. He never had the urge to have to depend on someone else for his magic ability. That however did not stop him from learning some of the magic.

He had learned just enough to be able to communicate with any spirit whose key he might be able to get a hold of. Zeref let some magic seep into Leo's key and pushed his mental thoughts through the key. Lion! There is trouble and I need you and Virgo out here! Was all he sent though the key. Very shortly after Zeref had let go of Leo's key there were two golden glows in the cramped compartment. Loke and Virgo stood there looking at Zeref then their eyes turned toward the sleeping form of Lucy,

"What happened?" Loke asked as Virgo walked up to Lucy and laid a hand on Lucy's forehead.

Zeref watched as Virgo examined Lucy. He turned toward Loke and said, "We got on the train to Larkspur. About an hour into the trip the train changed tracks and is now headed south-west."

"Princess is in some kind of magic induced sleep. I am not able to wake her," Virgo stated monotonously, "It does not appear she is in any danger yet. Her magic and life signs are stable."

Zeref nodded and let out a ragged breath. He looked at Loke and Virgo and said, "I want to find the engineer of this train. Lion, will you and Virgo please watch over Lucy while I do?"

Loke jerked slightly in shock. Zeref was displaying a lot of trust in him. It took Loke by surprise slightly, but he recovered quickly and smiled at the black haired man standing at the compartment door. Loke could see the worry plastered on Zeref's face and decided not to act with his usual playboy way and as he said with a serious face, "Of course Zeref. I am sworn to protect her with my life, and so is Virgo." Loke bowed to Zeref then watched as the Black mage turned and walked down the train car. Loke turned back and sat down on the bench and watched Lucy with sad eyes as she slept peacefully.

Lucy's first dream…

Lucy opened her eyes slowly and felt her lips rise into a large smile. She watched as a man got up off the sleeping mat. Lucy could feel her heart ache with love for the brown haired man standing in front of her. His brown eyes looked at her with adoration. Lucy turned toward the opening to their first trial. The brown haired man took her hand and asked her softly, "Are you sure about us, Leann? I mean you know what they said about what happens to false Tennyo's and their wards." He looked at her with worry.

Lucy felt the seed of doubt in her heart but still said, "I am very sure Sam. We couldn't feel like we do about each other if we were not a match." Lucy felt her lips rise in a smile of reassurance. Sam squeezed her hand and led her through the gate to the trial.

….

Lucy screamed as her attack missed the monster and the monster bit down on Sam's torso. The monster dropped the limp body at Lucy's feet. It then huffed, turned its back on her, and walked back into the forest. Lucy felt her knees go weak. She dropped to the ground in front of her now dead love.

Soon she felt a powerful presence a short distance in front of her. She slowly looked up to see her Tennyo trainer. He stood there in the clearing, his silver visor down covering his eyes as his armor reflected the setting sun. His wings fanned out several times in agitation. You know what happens to false Tennyo's and their wards. He pointed his sword tip first to the dead body in front of her and then he pointed it at her. Her screams reverberated around the clearing as the beam of light from the Tennyo trainer's sword ripped her apart…

Zeref

Zeref heard Lucy's scream as it ripped through the train. The pain in that scream froze him in place. His breath caught in his throat as he focused into his mind and searched out the sliver of Lucy in his mind. He found it where it always was. It was vibrating but once he touched it, it seemed to calm and he felt that Lucy was not in physical danger. He pulled out of her mind and closed his eyes for a moment. He sent a silent prayer that Leo will be able to protect her.

Zeref forced his legs to move as he continued towards the engine of the train. Soon he was at the door to the engine and he slammed it open. He strode to the engineer who had not even looked toward the door when it slammed open. Zeref asked the engineer loudly, "Where it this train going?"

The engineer looked over his shoulder slowly and said, "This train is headed to your destination." He then turned back to the front.

Zeref took in a calming breath and let it out slowly. He was angry and was trying not to hurt the man before him. He asked again, his voice barely hiding his anger, "I know that is not true. This train is going south-west. Our destination was due west."

This time the man did not even look over his shoulder at Zeref before he said, "This train is headed to your destination. It will be arriving tomorrow at 2 PM. Please return to you compartment and enjoy the ride."

Now Zeref was very angry and wanted to know who this man was, who he was working for, and where he was taking them. Zeref reached out and grabbed the man's shoulder, but to his shock his fingers passed through the engineer and the man instantly vanished. Zeref threw out his senses but could not find a life form in the engine. He cursed himself loudly, because he could not believe he did not check beforehand. To be tricked by a thought projection stung his pride. He roared out his anger and frustration before he swung his body around and stormed back toward his compartment.

Lucy's second dream…

Lucy climbed out of the blackness and slowly opened her eyes. She was standing next to a tall man with blonde hair and grey eyes. He glanced down at her and smiled a grim smile as he asked, "So is this the entrance to the trials?" Lucy looked up at the man and grimly nodded her head. She was sure in her heart that the man beside her was her ward, but she has heard so many horror stories about the Tennyo trials that she was a little worried. She looked back to the north and could barely make out the Tennyo town in the distance. As she slowly moved her gaze back toward their position she scanned over the impenetrable wall of trees.

This had to be the entrance as there was no other place they could breach into the forest. Lucy let out a soft breath. "This has to be the entrance Bran. We have to make it through the forest to the tunnel in the mountain," she said as she took a step toward the forest.

"Wasn't there a trick to finding the tunnel?" Bran asked her while he stepped up behind her.

"Yeah, they said something about; 'When the warm light is drowned, the earth will illuminate the path.' They also said not to stray from the dirt path except when your path is illuminated. So let's just start on the dirt path and then we will figure out the rest," Lucy said as she briskly walked into the opening in the tree line with Bran right behind her.

Once Lucy stepped under the canopy of the trees her world sunk back to blackness.

Normal

Zeref stormed back into the compartment. Loke looked at the irritated powerful mage that glowered at him and swallowed the lump in his throat with difficulty. Loke was kneeling next to Lucy's still form. Virgo had just informed him before Zeref walked in that Lucy's condition had not changed. Zeref glared at both the spirits and then his eyes fell on the sleeping form of Lucy. His eyes softened and he exhaled slowly. She seems ok. He thought to himself. Zeref turned his head and focused his eyes back on Loke. "What happened earlier? I heard her screaming," he growled out.

Loke opened his mouth to say something but Virgo answered for him. "Lucy seemed to have had a nightmare; however, it appears it was not a long one and now she seems to be resting comfortably," Virgo stated flatly before she added, "If she is dreaming they do not seem to be troubling her. Her magic and life signs are still stable."

Zeref let out a ragged breath and sat down on the bench. He ran his fingers through his hair and then rested his head in his palms with his elbows on his knees. I need to calm down. I'm irritated with myself and the situation; there is no need to take it out on them. Zeref took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Zeref sat up stiffly as he looked at Loke and said, "Sorry I'm just a little frustrated." Loke's eyes widened at the apology but kept quite waiting for Zeref to continue. "I got to the engine and found the engineer. When I questioned him all he would say is that we are on our way to our destination. I got angry and when I tried to turn him to ask who he worked for he disappeared. He was just a thought projection," Zeref's admitted as his hand griped his knee in a white knuckled grasp. Agitation radiated off of him, he was so mad at himself for being fooled so easily. "So I still have no idea where we are going or who set this up…" he growled between clinched teeth, "All I do know is that we will arrive tomorrow around 2 PM."

Loke got up from his spot next to Lucy and sat down next to Zeref. He watched as the powerful mage slumped in defeat and rested his face in his hands once more. Loke knew how he himself felt, he could not help Lucy right now and it frustrated him to no ends, it also made Loke very depressed. Loke looked over to the despondent man next to him. If I feel this bad, what must a man that was so powerful the world quaked with just the mention of his name feel when he can't help his love? With sad eyes Loke placed a hand on Zeref's shoulder hoping to give the man some comfort. Zeref looked at Loke for a second then closed his eyes and sighed softly and let his body relax a little more.

Virgo went back to the celestial realm and the two men sat there in silence, both lost in their own thoughts, as they watch Lucy's sleeping form.

Lucy

Lucy woke just as the train pulled up to a stop. She stretched and yawned, but then something surprising caught her eye. When she looked over to the other bench, she could not help the smile that graced her face. Loke was fast asleep sitting up on the bench with his feet kicked out in front of him. Loke's head had fallen back in his sleep and was resting on the back of the bench. His arm was thrown along the back of the bench. What had her smiling more though, was the fact that on the bench next to him was a sleeping Zeref. His head was down in sleep as his chin rested on his chest. But what was so cute to her was the fact that he was tucked into Loke's side as Loke's hand rested on Zeref's far shoulder.

As Lucy smiled at the warm scene before her, she thought over all the dreams she had. The last few had been short. One was of people walking around and exploring a massive library full of books about Tennyo history and magic. The last one was her standing with yet another ward looking up at this massive tower. The architecture was breathtaking. She had learned from that dream that it was the Tennyo training center.

Lucy broke out of her thoughts and looked out of the window, when she realized that the train had stopped. Guess we need to get off and see where we are now. Lucy stood up quietly and walked over to the still sleeping men. As she laid her hand softly on the top of Loke's head, his eyes flew open and he raised his head slowly to look at her. Lucy smiled at him softly and raised a finger to her lips to signal she wanted him to be quiet. Loke's eyes narrowed for a second as she looked at him. She then turned her head to look at the still sleeping Zeref and her eyes softened even more and she smiled softly. Loke turned to look at what she was looking at and his eyes widened in shock. He then looked back at Lucy and she smiled back at Loke and nodded her head as she reached out and placed her hand on the shoulder that was tucked into Loke's side. Loke smiled and then vanished back into the celestial realm.

Still holding Zeref in place with her hand, she turned and sat down next to him. She let go of his shoulder and wrapped her arm around him as she placed a soft kiss onto his hair. Tenshi my love, the train has stopped. Wake up my love. She said softly in their minds. Zeref's body shivered slightly in her arms as he slowly lifted his head and looked at her. He blinked the sleep away several times. Once he realized he was not dreaming and Lucy was sitting next to him safe and sound, he let out a soft sob and wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in the hair on her shoulder.

Lucy sat there for several moments rubbing Zeref's back softly as he griped her in a death grip. Tenshi, I'm fine. Nothing hurt me. We need to get off the train now though. Come on my love get up. Zeref slowly released her and looked in her eyes. She smiled a huge smile and brushed his bangs away from his eyes.

The two kissed softly as they both grabbed their bags and got off the train. Lucy then dropped her bags at her feet in shock as she looked at the town where the train dropped them off at. They both looked behind them and discovered that the train was gone...