Author's Note:

Sorry I've been MIA. Had a lot going on and I'm trying to rework a bunch of the story. I had a plan, then the plan changed and now I'm trying to figure out HOW to write what I want. This chapter is split up into sections because people kinda scatter. Thank you all for sticking with me while my brain flip flops over my writing choices! Hope you enjoy this chapter because things kinda go everywhere.

Lucy awoke sometime around noon. She'd stayed up all night talking to Natsu. Who had finally realized he liked his roommate! Although the name sounded familiar she couldn't quite place it… Oh well. That was for hours later when her head wasn't pounding like a construction site.

Lucy got up from her position on the floor gripping her head. She hurriedly looked for the headache pills that she'd been given and washed them down with water. Looking around she realized she had a lot to do. Starting with a cold shower and food. Good greasy food. Mmmmmm….bacon and eggs sound perfect.

While Lucy hated showers, they were convenient. Especially cold showers. Those were strictly for waking up fast and were better forgotten. After a quick rinse Lucy bundled up in a pink fluffy robe with a towel wrapped around her hair. Feeling a bit more refreshed she began to cook a heavy meal for herself. Cooking was something that always calmed her. Learning to cook from the chefs when she was young had been extremely unusual. But she hadn't cared. Mostly because she wanted to help her sick mother at the time. Just doing something was better than simply watching to a young girl who didn't understand that her mother suddenly couldn't play anymore. So she'd learned to cook.

FInally done Lucy sat down and thought about how her world was changing. She still loved Bickslow. Of that she was absolutely certain. She also realized that she had feelings for Kaleb. Strong ones at that. It was almost like a string held them together. Yet her feelings for Bickslow were just as strong as before. Even though she was hurting from his comment. She knew she had to face him and explain that while what he said came across as rude, her response was due to a past trauma. Not him. He was likely feeling incredibly guilty and she knew once Bickslow felt guilty he acted how he felt others perceived him. Like an asshole playboy who didn't give a damn about anyone else. Scarfing down the rest of her breakfast she hurried to get ready. SHe had quite a few things to sort out. Starting with apologizing to Bickslow and telling him how much she truly cared for him. SHe was done trying to ignore her feelings. If being in Bosco had taught her anything, it was that she was far stronger than she'd ever believed. She could handle a potential rejection.

Searching the guild she quickly found that Bickslow wasn't anywhere. Not in his apartment next to hers, not the main hall, the training rooms, not even the baths or the bar. Confused Lucy ran up to Kaleb's offices only to find most of the Pradesh siblings in a very serious meeting that she wasn't to join.

Growing frustrated Lucy was now bored and a little worn. She had gotten all worked up for nothing it seems. Wasted butterflies. Looking around Lucy tried to think of something to do…. The library! If anything she could kill time while she was researching any of the magics she was learning.

Making her way through the grand double doors she took a deep inhale. Nothing could quite compare to the way books smelled to her. Books had been her saving grace when she was young. Transporting her to faraway worlds that made her feel less alone. Worlds where she could forget her duties as an heiress and just simply imagine anything was possible.

Making her was through the sections she found a spot she hadn't explored yet titled Rare Magics. Looking through she saw some books on the gold keys of celestial magic. Now smiling she kept looking and found more books on dragon slaying magic. Grabbing a few that mentioned mating in the index, something she hadn't ever heard of but probably ought to know, she halted. In the corner of the section was an old worn book with the title The Mysteries of Seith Magic. She hesitated before grabbing the heavy looking volume. Bickslow hated his magic, never used it to his full potential. Never talked about it. Maybe this could tell her why. She heaved the book off the shelf and quickly looked for a nice quiet spot.

Finding an open study alcove she made sure it said occupied so she wouldn't be disturbed then set to discovering everything she could about her friend's magic. Maybe she could help him to not hate himself so much if she knew something about how he learned it.

-Pradesh Meeting-

The siblings looked at all of their letters feeling their hearts drop. Yet again they were being called away. Farron had left a few days ago since he could no longer ignore appointments to spend time with his family. It was reckless of him to do so.

Vander was getting called to find who was killing the research facility scientists. For some reason many were killed recently in a manner of poisoning and it needed to be addressed as to why they were being killed and by who.

Cristoff was on his way to the palace as he had been requested by the princess...again. At least he could heal when it was all over.

Emzadi and Xally were to go to the estate. They had a mountain of letters proposing potential suitors to finally address. No matter how much they ignored them they won't just disappear. Might as well write to the poor bastards that they weren't interested in meaningless political marriages.

Bickslow had left to wander around the city. They all knew something was sincerely wrong. Especially when he refused to even meet Kaleb's eyes while saying his goodbyes since Kaleb wouldn't be around for awhile.

Kaleb was heading out to conduct S-Class training and testing. He had quite a few capable mages ready to test and even more wanting to train to properly prepare for the testing in a few more months. That and he had received more letters from potential applicants to simply join the guild.

The siblings all looked at eachother with matching looks of disappointment. Ever since they'd come into their respective magics they'd been pulled in different directions. They'd so hoped to be able to pretend they were able to stay as a family a little longer. Truth be told, they rarely got to see everyone at once like this. It'd been difficult and painful. But now they were adults with their own responsibilities. They weren't children who could slack off anymore.

Saying quick goodbyes, they all went off to help make the world a little bit better. Well….hopefully. With Vander you never could tell what trouble he'd get into.

-With Natsu-

Natsu was bored. And worried. Mostly worried. Zale hadn't come back. After inquiring at the Office of Records he found that Zale had opted to spend the rest of his break with his family. DIdn't say where, just with his family. So now Natsu had to wait to even apologize for what he was sure to be rather hurtful actions. Hopefully Zale understood that this was all too new. Natsu didn't know how to go forward or even if he should. He knew he liked Zale in a different way than he liked his friends. But he wasn't sure he loved him. What did it feel like to love someone anyway? Everyone described it differently so he didn't know who was right or wrong.

While wandering around the campus he heard a shriek from a little ways away. Instincts kicked in and he sprinted to the site. Stopping before he got there he remembered Lucy's words from a long time ago, 'You can't always charge in. When you don't know what going on, it's better to be a little late and successful. Be careful and use that hearing you have to think a little before you get someone killed!'

Taking a deep breath he listened.

"What do you think of these girls? Think they'd even be worth the time to fuck?"

"Of course they would be! Look at the necklaces they have. Obviously nobility. Which means untouched. They'll be easy to handle."

Hearing enough Natsu rounded the corner roaring. Seeing the poor girls cowering in fear to the right he focused to the left. Two men holding knives awkwardly and both smelled of strong alcohol. Easy to take down so long as he moved fast. While they were drunk they'd be unsteady, but unpredictable. Moving fast he sent a burst of flames at the both of them before kicking out in a sideswipe to get them both on the ground. Luckily these two were both slow as well as drunk. On the ground Natsu Knocked one out while continuing to keep the other down with his flames just hovering above hime. Not burning him.

The moron fainted from the fear. Seeing they were both down Natsu looked at the girls. Their clothes were torn and he could see bruises blossoming in the pattern of hands along their dainty looking arms.

Moving slow Natsu tried to be quiet. "My name is Natsu Dragneel. Are either of you injured?" When both girls shook their heads Natsu let loose a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. Hurrying he pulled out his communications lacrima to call the guards. They could deal with these pests.

After telling the guards his location he could see the girls shivering and, at a safe distance away, set up a small contained fire they could huddle around. Moving back he watched them get warm and calm down some.

Feeling satisfied he saw the guards and hurried to tell them what happened and to approach the girls with caution. Don't move too fast. Speak low, try not to yell. They hadn't had anything happen but no one could know how the girls would handle what was surely a terrifying experience for them.

Looking at him in surprise the guards followed his advice and talked to the girls with no further incident.

"Well I'll be damned. You sure have matured since I saw you last." Turning towards the voice Natsu saw Doranbolt smiling at him. "Since when are you level headed enough to recognize when someone may not react well to your normal rambunctious ways?"

"Well I kinda had it hit me hard recently that my antics end up bad for a lot of people. I used to laugh about leveling cities in a fight. Not even acknowledging that people had lost their homes or their livelihood. My best friend got the worst of it and made me face the facts. I'm still itching for a decent fight but I'm trying very hard not to randomly hit someone. Mostly you since I know you." Natsu laughed sheepishly as Doranbolt took a cautious step beck. He couldn't help himself. It's how he had always been. Always wanting a bigger fight. Always wanting to be the loudest. The strongest. It's how most of Fairy Tail was. But since coming to school he'd had way too much time in his own head to think. And how guilty he felt. He helped and saved so many people. But how many of those people were able to recover their lives from the mess he'd made while saving them? He wasn't helping if they ended up on the streets starving because they couldn't afford to fix their businesses or homes. So he'd be better. Starting with this. Not just rushing in all the time. For the first time, he'd actually helped.

Unbeknownst to Natsu, the girls gave their names. One of them happened to be the daughter of a very wealthy nobleman. After realizing how close she'd been to being irreparably scarred she looked at her savior. Maybe she could do him a favor. He was in one of her classes after all. Maybe she'd write and ask for an exclusive interview with Sorcerers Weekly. Talk about how much the Fire Dragon Slayer had grown since she'd first met him. She'd overheard him talking to his roommate in class about how he needed to shape up for his guild. Maybe this would score him some brownie points so things weren't so difficult for him.

-At the research Center-

Scurrying through the dark, a lab assistant was trying to hurry. With all the deaths recently everyone was not only terrified. The company was coming under scrutiny as to why they were being attacked so viciously. They couldn't allow the secrets to slip out. If it was known that they were doing experiments on slaves they'd bought from Pergrande all hell would break loose. Slaves were not only illegal in Bosco, but the buying of slaves combined with unauthorized human experimentation would spell a death penalty to anyone who was working in the labs. He couldn't have that. He may just have been an assistant, but they made damn good money from the discoveries on the properties of magic channels throughout the human body and what tampering with them results in. Mostly very loud and painful deaths.

So busy was he worrying that he didn't see the shadow looming behind him. Nor did the poor fool notice as a maroon mist was inhaled until it was too late and an agony ripped through him with such force he dropped to the ground already half dead.

Looking up he could see a tall figure. Unable to make out the face he could only feel fear and the figure began laughing. Iit was the laugh of a madman who'd found a new toy.

-Back in Fairy Tail-

Boring. That's how things have been for the last while. Natsu was at school so there was no rambunctious idiot to start fights or poke fun at. Lucy was in Bosco with Bickslow so she wasn't around to make everyone smile. It was just...quiet. But most of the guild had made do. THey'd raised a little extra money for Lucy while she was away. She'd taken care of her rent but after realizing exactly why she was always stressed about money they thought it'd be nice to have a little buffer ready as an early birthday gift. That and hopefully everyone would stop damaging her house and clothes that obviously needed to be replaced.

Cana hadn't been drinking as much. Surprisingly. She still drank often. Obviously she wasn't going to just quit. But she realized with everything that had come to light that being drunk all the time wasn't the greatest thing. So, she'd made it a personal goal to not have a drink before 5PM.

Currently she was doing random spreads with her cards. Specifically spreads using the guildmates cards. She had already found out about Mira having a special person on her mind but didn't find exactly who. Just a few open options. Happy was finally going to get somewhere with Carla in about a weeks time. Carla was just waiting for him to mature a little. ANd he'd finally seen that he'd needed to anyhow. Bisca and Alzack would be expecting this year! Couldn't spoil that. Suddenly Cana felt her magic grip her and guide her. Following the pull she did a spread that she didn't recognize. When she was done she saw Lucy's card, with Bickslow and an unknown man on either side of her. Above them was the card representing war or a massive battle. Below Bickslow though is what halted her hand. Her eyes brimming with tears and panic gripping her heart. Below Bickslow, was the Trickster with Death.