While they managed to lose the guards, they didn't leave Hargeon yet. Natsu had stashed his pack somewhere and Lucy desperately needed to change her clothes, or at least her shoes.

Her dress was probably ruined. She didn't know what salt water could do to clothes, but she couldn't imagine it was good for them. It didn't really matter all that much, it was just a dress, but it was a nice looking one and she'd spent good money on it. Her shoes were goners as well. They simply weren't made for running away or swimming, or really doing anything more than standing, sitting and looking pretty. Her ankles were probably going to kill her later as well.

Lucy and Natsu argued a bit on what to do first, before deciding to split up. She wasn't entirely sure the fire mage understood why exactly Lucy wanted to get out of her salt covered clothes. She was a bit concerned, but Natsu seemed pretty confident that he'd be able to find her again.

A small cynical part of her wondered if Natsu was going to take the opportunity to ditch her. However doing so didn't make much sense, considering he dragged her away from the guards in the first place. Why bother doing so if he was going to leave her behind? More than that, Natsu didn't seem like that kind of guy.

Somehow she found herself in the same restroom that she'd gotten changed in before. She nearly cried when, upon summoning Horologium, Lucy found that the entire ordeal she'd just gone through had only lasted for about an hour and a half.

"Are you alright, Lucy?"

"'M fine." She squeaked out. At some point, without her realizing it, she'd collapsed to the floor, and curled against the wall near the sink. Horologium settled next to her. "It's been a long day."

"So I've heard. You've had quite the adventure since the last time I was summoned." Lucy couldn't help but let out a slightly hysterical giggle at his dry tone. "I won't be able to stay out for very long."

"I know, I know." With a deep breath Lucy tried to compose herself. "I'll just take a bag with me." She grabbed one of the larger ones, a suitcase, that she'd already stored her usual clothes and whip in. Lucy then quickly exchanged shoes before dismissing her friend.

With him gone she sagged back down. She couldn't remember the last time she'd used so much magic in one day. Her reserves were nearly all gone. All she wanted to do now was curl up somewhere soft and sleep for a few days.

At the same time, she couldn't help but feel thrilled. While getting captured and being helpless wasn't something she'd like to repeat anytime soon, or at all. The rest of it, however had brought out a strange rush. Her escape with Happy, diving in the water, pushing the boat to the shore…Even watching Natsu fight had brought fourth an addicting feeling. Lucy found herself wanting more.

Was that what it'd be like in Fairy Tail? Full of fast paced danger and excitement?

With shaky legs she got up and stripped out of her salt covered dress. Thankfully it wasn't wet anymore. It'd dried out between the intense heat that had been briefly contained in the yachts cabin as well as the run through town. Regardless, it was shoved into the most isolated part of the suitcase she could find.

Before getting dressed she took a towel and dampened it in the sink before running it all over her body. It probably didn't do much to get her clean, but it made her feel much better. Soon enough her body was as clean as it was going to get. She wrung it out and stuffed it in with the dress.

She paused, taking in the image of herself displayed in the mirror over the sink. Her bare upper half stared back at her. She took in her tired brown eyes and the beginnings of a bruise along her ribs where Happy's tail had held her entire weight aloft.

With a sigh she lifted up her left breast, revealing small white numbers displayed in the crease where it met her torso. There was no real need for her to look at them; they hadn't changed since the last time she'd seen them. However it had become a habit after one of the other Lucys convinced her that she wasn't the Lucy she thought she was.

Now she had to wonder what her potential new guild mates would think should they see the strange small tattoo. Or would they even notice? The numbers were small, little larger than a grain of rice. They weren't written in a straight line, rather they curved slightly, following her body's natural crease between her mammary and torso. The paleness of her skin and the natural weight of her breast hid them further. Letting her breast go, she could hardly see it at all. Even then, it was only because she was looking for it.

In any case, how often would her guild mates ever see her bare chest? No one ever would, if she could help it.

Shaking her head from those thoughts, she dug out a hairbrush and wetted it down before working on her brown locks. She could practically hear Cancer crying out because she wasn't washing the salt out right away and she'd probably get dandruff or something. If there was one thing that spirit was passionate about, it was hair.

Then again all spirits had their obsessions. Taurus for instance had a blatant fixation on boobs, though Lucy once heard him call them udders. Lyra barely acknowledged anyone who didn't have a nice voice, Horologium somewhat predictably adored grandfather clocks, Crux had a library of historical fiction that he loved to edit and correct, and Aquarius collected pottery though it was mostly jars and urns.

It took about ten minutes for her to tease all the knots out of her hair. As it turned out getting tossed around in the ocean was really bad for the silky strands. Her hair was still damp, but she pulled half of it up into her usual side ponytail regardless. It made her feel a bit more prepared.

When she left the restroom, she half expected to wait around for a few minutes, if not all night. To her surprise, however, the two males suddenly sprang out from the bushes, making her cry out in shock. She was quickly shushed by Natsu.

"You're going to get us chased again."

"She's really noisy, Natsu."

"Anyone would be if you jumped out like that!"

Natsu laughed off her comment before waving at her to follow him. "Anyway, come on! You took forever in there." With that he started on the path out of the park.

There was a brief silence before her nervousness got the better of her and Lucy spoke up.

"Did you mean it? About joining Fairy Tail?"

The two of them glanced back in confusion. "Why wouldn't we mean it?"

"You wanted to join didn't you?" Happy looked up at her with wide innocent eyes. "Did you lie?"

"What? No! Of course not! Just…" She wasn't the strongest Lucy, physically or magic wise. More than that, she'd fallen for a fairly obvious trick not even two hours ago. "Would your master accept someone like me?"

She glanced shyly up at Natsu and found him looking at her, observing her with a serious look on his face.

Suddenly he smiled and gave her a thumbs up. "Don't worry. You have the kind of assets the old man will like for sure!"

"Really?" He knew that just by looking at her? That was amazing!

"Absolutely!"

They lapsed into another silence until Lucy noticed that they were leaving Hargeon and bypassing the train station.

"Fairy Tail's in Magnolia right? Aren't we going to take the train?" That was the quickest way to get to the other town.

Natsu gave a small shudder. "No way, we're walking."

"Eh?!" What was a couple hours away by train was over a day's worth of walking. She supposed it made sense though, the guards would likely be waiting for them at the station. Still, she wasn't looking forward to walking so much; all she really wanted to do was sleep.

Happy giggled. "Natsu gets motion sick."

"Even on a train?"

"Anything that moves!"

"I suppose carriages and cars are out too, then."

Natsu stumbled and gagged, his skin was noticeably greener than before. "Shut up," he whined, "stop talking about those things."

"Even just talking about it makes you sick?"

Happy cheerfully agreed. "Aye!"