God, please don't hate me because this is so late! I am so so so so sorry! I have good reasons though! I just finished mt last year f school and I had exams, plus major writers block! Please don't hit me *hides*

I hope it's worth the wait and R&R to let me know if I messed up anywhere. I didn't have time to edit much of it :L

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail (It's magic is credit to the amazing Hiro Mashima), only the my ideas and love for the show.

Chapter 24

A Night for Friends

Lucy P.O.V

"Your mother was a smart woman, Lucy," Erza says, a soft smile on her lips. "She thought of this herself?"

"Yes, I think so," I reply, brushing my hair from my face. We sit in our makeshift tent with Juvia, Levy and Lisanna. The boy's are outside, keeping watch.

"Juvia believes that Lucy will one day become even greater than Queen Layla," the bluenette says softly, running a comb through Lisanna's soft, white hair.

"No, I'll never be like my mother," I say quickly, jerking my head around to look at her. "I will never be the Queen my mother was. I'll be my myself, a different Queen from my mother. Never greater than her but different."

"When did you get so wise?" Levy asks me, leaning against my back flipping through a book.

"Must have happened when I was in the after-world," I joke, making them laugh. I run my hands over the page in front of me, careful not to smudge the drawing I've etched into the page.

Flashback

"You''ll have a week when you get back," Mama says, placing a hand on my knee.

"A week?" I ask, frowning at her.

"Yes. A week until Zeref returns," she reply's, smiling a little. "Your magic scrambled his for a while, so he won't be able to come for you until a week has passed. When you get back, you can have a day to relax. Traveling between worlds isn't that fun and your body will hate it. Over the next four days, you must make a contract with each element. This means making a contract with each guardian -and the spirits connected to them- and obtaining a charm."

"A charm? Why would I get a charm?" Instead of answering me, Mama reaches over and takes a small box from the table. Opening it, she reveals a silver, chain-link bracelet. Attaching each end together is a link which resembles a feather, looped through a ring.

"Wear this, and with each contract a charm will be placed on it to signify the guardian or spirit," Mama says, taking my wrist and hooking the small chain around it. "You shall get a total of twelve spirit charms, which will look like keys. The another four, each for the guardians and their elements. These shall be small daggers, each inlaid with a different gem. Garnet for Fire. Aquamarine for Water. Jade for earth. And Moonstone for Air."

"Wow," I breathe, running a hand along the bracelet's smooth links.

"On the first of the fours days, call for Adan, the guardian of earth," Mama continues, sitting back in her chair. "I do believe you have met the guardians?" I nod and she smiles.

"Ask him to call forth his three spirits," she tells me. "Then, make a contract with each, gaining their power and trust.. On the second say do the same with Aine, the fire guardian. On the third with Anila, the air guardian. And on the fourth, and last day, do the same with Kairav, the water guardian."

"And the charms will just appear?" I ask, looking a little dubious.

"No, they will give you the charm," Mama laughs, shaking her head. "If they find you worthy of their charm, that is. You do not necessarily need all of them but it would be wise. Holding all twelve Zodiac charms holds amazing power. Adding that to four elemental charms is untold power. Only our family can control such power."

"A-a-are you s-sure?" I stutter out, glancing around wildly.

"Yes, child," she sighs. "You need to trust me."

"I do," I say. "It's me I don't trust."

"Luce, you'll be fine," Natsu murmurs. "And I'll be there to help you." I blush and look down, smiling, before nodding.

"So, relax, then contracts," I say, holding up two fingers. " That's only five days, what about the other two?"

"One of those days will be spent equipping your friends with a means of fighting," Mama says. "Erza, Gajeel, Jellal, Elfman, Gray and Natsu will all need swords of some form. We shall provide you with those. Lisanna, Juvia and Levy will need a bow each, with arrows. I do not want those girls in the front line of fighting. They can shoot from the trees. You, my daughter will sadly be at the front line. Be careful."

"And the last day?" I murmur, my voice low.

"Unlocking Ace's ability to change," Mama says. I blink at her and frown. What is she talking about? "Don't worry, you'll understand soon."

Flashback End

Now I really did understand. Having a Dragon on our side would definitely boost out odds. Ace obviously couldn't change into a Dragon at will like Grace, so we would need to figure out how to make that happen.

"Lucy?" Levy says, turning around and resting her chin on my shoulder. I turn my head and blink at her. "What happens when this is all over? Do we just go back to normal?"

"I don't think we'll ever go back to normal again," I admit, reaching a hand up and placing it on her head. "What is normal anyway? We live in a world of magic and dragons. No, we will never have normal. But we can get on with our lives. We'll save my father and we'll all be safe."

"What if we don't come back from this island?" Lisanna whispers, pulling her knees up to rest her chin on them.

"We are coming back, Lisanna," I say, looking up at the top of the tent. "I promise you that."

"Lucy's right," Erza says, with more confidence than I feel myself. "This is not going to be our end."

I run my hand along the drawing again; small pictures of the charms I need to collect. Each tiny and beautiful. All holding untold power. I was in for one hell of an adventure but I'm not scared. I have my friends with me. I have Natsu. I don't think I have anything to worry about.

Natsu P.O.V

"Would you quite pacing? You're making me nervous," Gray grumbles, grabbing my arm and pulling me down beside him. "She's fine. She's in the tent with the girls. We are out here keeping watch. Breathe!"

"I know, I know," I say, running a hand through my hair. I've probably made it messier than it usually is. "Just, after everything, I worry that I might lose her."

"Have you told her yet then?" Jellal asks, walking past with canteens full of water. He passes them out and collapses against a tree, looking at me through his blue hair.

"Told her what?" I ask, confused. I blink at him as he sighs and shakes his hand.

"You are such an idiot," Gajeel mumbles, placing his head in his hands.

"What did you say, you metal studded freak?!" I shout, leaping up.

"Would you lot shut up!?" A loud screech comes from the tent and Erza's scarlet head pops out of the tent door. We all shudder and take a step back as she glares at us.

"Hai!" With a nod, she disappears back into the tent, leaving us clutching each other.

"I love her but she scares me," Jellal mutters, looking shaken.

"No kidding," Gray says, coming out from behind a tree.

"She's the man," Elfman says, causing us all to shake our heads. That man is weird.

"Anyway, like I was saying, you should tell her," Jellal says.

"Tell her what?" I ask, my voice raising. Gray tells me to shut up, casting a fearful look at the tent. I shudder but stare at Jellal.

"Are you serious? You really have no clue what I mean," he says, eyes wide. I keep quiet and just stare at him. "You're in love with Lucy, you should tell her, idiot!"

"Oh, that," I say, looking down.

"Wait, what?" Gajeel shouts. We all glare at him but it's too late. The demon heard him.

"I thought I told you idiots to be quiet," Erza says, stepping out from the tent and placing her hands on her hips. Even in her *cough* cute *cough* nightshirt, she's still scary.

"Erza, leave them alone," a soft voice says. The tent door opens once again and Lucy steps out. Her night dress barely reaches her knees and the shawl around her shoulder barely conceals what the nightdress is doing to her chest. I blush and look away; anywhere but at her.

"Lucy, they are keeping you up. You need to rest," Erza says. I turn to see her smiling at Lucy. Seriously? She can go from scary to sweet in a second.

"I'm fine, Erza, seriously," Lucy says, placing a hand on Erza's shoulder and smiling. "I'd rather sit out here and talk to everyone, honestly. I don't think I could sleep."

"Very well," the red head says, sounding cautious. She then leans forward and whispers in Lucy's ear. Lucy nods, face turning pink, and slips back into the tent.

"What was that about, Erza?" Jellal asks, standing and wrapping his arms around her small waist.

"It's unimportant. Though, you may want to make that fire bigger," she says, nodding to our poor excuse of a fire.

"I can fix that." Aine jumps down from a tree nearby, followed by the other fours guardians.

With a flick of her writs, the fire blooms higher. The clearing is suddenly dowsed in heat and everyone moves closer to source. I notice how the space beside me is left empty and I try not to glare at everyone.

"Oh, that's lovely," Levy says, exiting the tent, followed by Juvia and Lisanna. Levy immediately sits on Gajeel's lap and tucks her head under his chin.

"Glad to hear it," Aine laughs from her place next toe Adan, who's tossing a rock in the air. "Would you stop that?"

"You going to make me?" Adan smirks, still tossing the rock. A small burst of flame shoot the rock right out the air and Aine's laugh rings through the clearing.

"I think that was a yes," Lisanna giggles, reaching over to grab the singed rock.

"So where are Ace and Grace?" Jellal asks, pulling Erza down so that her back leans into his chest.

"Reconciling," Kairav says, pointing towards the forest. "We left them to patch things up." Anila nods as he says this. I kind of wish we could hear her voice, after all she has done for us.

"They need it, I think," a soft voice says beside me. I whip round and come face to face with Lucy. She smiles softly at me, before turning and smiling at Kai. "It's a lot to get over."

"Yeah, no kidding," I mumble, causing her to giggle. I look at her and notice that she's changed. That must of been what Erza was saying. Her knee length blue dress is a lot more appropriate for sitting out here. Wait, why do I care? Oh yeah...

"Oi, Natsu, quit daydreaming," Gray says, jolting me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?" I say, looking over at him. He snickers and shakes his head.

"Fire wood. Now." He stands up and look at me expectantly.

"You can't tell me what to do, Shirtless!" I shout, nodding to his bare chest.

"What the-?!" He turns around and grabs his discarded shirt, quickly pulling it on. "And I wasn't tell you, Erza gave us the job."

I look at said red head and gulp as she glares at me, nodding her head to the forest. I jump of and run after Gray, who's already disappeared into the forest. It doesn't take me a second to catch up with him. I walk silently just behind him, every now and then reaching down to grab a branch from the ground.

"You need to be less obvious," Gray says suddenly, stopping and turning. His grins a little, raking a hand through is jet black hair. "You're going to blow it if you don't."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I grumble, turning away and scooping up a pile of dry wood.

"Sure you don't," Gray laughs, picking up a log from the ground. "I'm just saying. I've known Lucy all my life and I can tell she liked you. Just don't hurt her. You'll have more than me to face if you do."

I snort lightly, rolling my eyes at him. "Thanks for the warning, Stripper."

"Hot head," he shouts, glaring at me.

I simply laugh, glad to get his attention off my feelings. It was so not the time for that.

Levy P.O.V

"...and then he fell of the ladder, straight into the pond below," Jellal laughs, finishing his story. We all in is laughter, letting in echo through the clearing like music.

"It wasn't that funny," Gajeel groans, burying his face in my shoulder. I giggle and rest my head on his, our fingers interlocked.

"I'm afraid is was old friend," the blue haired man announces, smiling.

"Juvia thought it was funny too," the pale girls says, staring off into the forest where Gray disappeared.

"Wait, you saw that!" Gajeel yelps, looking up. Juvia nods, turning to face him, a slow smile gracing her soft features.

"As did Lucy and Lisanna," she says, pointing to the girls in question. The both grin evilly, a glint in their eyes.

"We where at the top tower, looking for something for me to paint," Lucy says, tucking a blonde strand of hair behind her ear. "It just so happened we looked out of the window in time to see. I don't think I've laughed so much in my life."

Again, laughter fills the clearing and I sigh contently. It's nice, after everything, to have this. Like some small family I never knew I had.

"Oh whatever," Gajeel says, pouting. I give him a quick kiss, causing his face to turn a light shade of pink. But he smiles, which is what I wanted.

"Fire wood has arrived," Gray shouts, emerging from the trees, Natsu a step behind. Both carry a large bundle of wood, which they drop next to the fire.

"That didn't take long," Erza accused, glaring.

"It's a forest, Erza," Lisanna points out, smiling. "Wood litters the whole place." The red head mutters to herself but agrees.

Gray flops down beside Juvia, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, while Natsu sits beside Lucy. His face is scrunched up and annoyed, leading me to believe Gray had a word with him.

"Is there any food left?" I ask, looking around. Elfman reaches behind him and tosses me a bag. I catch it and peer inside, eyes lighting up when I see rolls of bread nestled at the bottom. And not just any rolls; chili rolls made in my home town. "Oooh, yum!"

I pull one out and hand the bag to Gajeel, who takes one too before passing it on. He examines it before taking a bite, eyes widening at the taste. "What the heck is this?"

"Chili Rolls, made with chili flakes and chili flour," I say thickly, my mouth full. "They make them in the town I come from."

"Ah, that explains your reaction them," he laughs, finishing his roll. "Well that was interesting but I liked it." I grin at him, fighting the urge to throw my arms around him.

"Ne, Levy?" Lucy asks, causing me to look away from those deep red eyes.

"Yes?"

"Does your Mother know about the fact that you and Gajeel are now a thing?" I stare at her, noticing the glint in her usually gentle brown eyes.

"Em, no," I mutter, glaring at me co called best friend.

"Oh dear," she chuckles. I shudder and turn to Gajeel while smiles back.

"Scared to tell her, are we Shrimp?" he muses, playfully nudging my arm.

"No! Of course not!" I say shrilly, outraged. Well, maybe I was a bit. Gajeel isn't exactly the type of man my Mother wanted me to be with but she would have to deal with it. I love him. "She's just going to take some convincing is all."

"Fair enough," Gajeel muttered before turning away. His eyes are slightly sad. I guess he's as worried about how my Mother will react to him.

"Hey," I whisper, placing my hand on his cheek, "we're in this together, no matter what happens." He smiles and brushes his lips across my forehead.

It couldn't end that badly, could it?

There we go, hope you all liked it! R&R please and feel free to message me if you have any questions or even ideas for the story :)

Till next time :3