BlackLynx17: Sorry it's a late update; been busy reading 'The Host' so I could watch the movie when it comes out. So my favorite part last chapter was with Laxus and the Gorillas, and how Lucy called them his relatives. I laughed.

Thanks for my reviews!

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Never Ending Fairytail

Chapter 26

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Trapped again.

...

Trapped... again.

...

I never catch a break do I? That mission before, the Lucy mission, complete failure. Complete and utter failure. So what if we found the girl, in the end I had no idea who she was and I still didn't have my scarf. So yeah it was useless...

"USELESS" I sang.

It's been a week. I don't know why but Happy and I haven't slept in our room since we came back, we were always in Lucy's room. I didn't care, her scent relaxed me but it made me wonder... why?

I've been officially banned from missions, not that I wanted to go on missions anyway. I think I was just stuck in a rut. Question was how to get out of it though?

"I am boooooreeeeeddd" I sang out loud.

"NATSU! WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT SINGING?!" Erza asked.

"That I'm bad and should never do it... ever?" I responded.

"AND YET YOU STILL CONTINUE TO SING!" Erza yelled.

I sighed and walked out the room, Fairy Tail isn't the same anymore. It's like there's a cloud hanging over all of us, weighing us down. Our moods we're no better, even Mira who is always smiling has just normally smiles now... sometimes even barely.

"What's happening to this place?" I wondered out loud.

I'm sure we'd turn back to normal soon, it might take a while; maybe a year or two. Soon everyone will forget about this Lucy person and everything will be back to normal. I turned my attention to the silver band on my ring finger. Lucy gave me this and for whatever odd reason I've kept it on. I guess to move on I should take it off right? I pulled the ring off of my finger and started spinning it in the palm of my hand.

What now? Waiting for a full year to go by is long... maybe I should distract myself by training. Yeah that usually worked. Now where was Gray?

"Seal... Zeref?" Porlyusica repeated.

I nodded and ran over to a table. Carefully moving things out of the way, I dug in my bag and placed the Orichalcum on it. Jellal came from behind me and placed everything else I was missing beside it.

"We have everything, even the spell book!" I explained.

Porlyusica walked over to us and started picking up the jars and boxes one by one. She examined each item very delicately before finally looking back up at us.

"The spell?" she asked.

Jellal pulled the book out of his bag and placed it in front of her; Porlyusica dusted the cover off before opening it. She looked through the pages with narrowed eyes.

"You're missing something" she said.

I reached for my keys and slammed them on the table, "no, we have everything!"

She looked down at the book then back up at me.

"... Who are you people?" she asked.

Jellal took of his hoodie and mask, fully revealing his face to her. He was the only one hiding, Laxus's cloak was torn while my own was neatly folded and hanging on the back of my chair.

"Jellal Fernandes" he said.

"Lucy Heartfilia" I announced.

"You already know me" Laxus said from the background.

"What makes you think I can do this?" she asked.

"Because you're a witch!" I blurted out.

Porlyusica glared at me, I felt a shiver course through me but I didn't back down.

"And because if you don't a lot of more people are going to die! Innocent people! Precious people!" I said.

"I hate hu-"

"Fairy Tail people! People I love and care for!" I interrupted her.

Porlyusica started mumbling words to herself.

"Just do it Grandma, think of it as Makarov owing you one" Laxus said from the background.

"SHUT UP!" she yelled chasing Laxus around with her broom.

"Will you do it?! Please! I'll do anything, I'll give you anything! I'll become your personal slave forever just please help us" I begged.

Porlyusica stopped running and started panting. She fixed her bangs and stared at me.

"Makarov owes me big, makes yourselves useful and go collect me some wood" Porlyusica said.

I smiled.

"Thank you so much!" I said.

"Yeah, yeah" she muttered.

"Well! You heard the lady boys! We need wood, shoo, shoo" I said.

Jellal smirked and went outside, same as Laxus.

"You're the girl everyone's been looking for"

Huh? I turned over to Porlyusica; she placed Jellal's book down and was rummaging through her cabinets.

"Fairy Tail's been a mess since you've left, Makarov has been pulling out his hair trying to control everyone from searching for you" she said.

My breathing quickened, I had to sit down. Everyone's... been worrying over me? They've been searching for me! I knew Natsu and Erza was but... everyone.

"I... I didn't think I mattered enough" I said.

I mean I understood with Natsu... wait a second I didn't. I knew he didn't remember me... I had no idea why he tried to find me. Erza, yeah I guess being the leader... everyone else though.

"Idiot" Porlyusica said.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"You heard me, if you don't think you matter to them then what are you doing there?" Porlyusica asked.

I blinked.

"You under estimate your nakama" she said.

I smiled softly, "you're probably right, it's just been a while since I've seen them. I must have forgotten" I muttered.

"Bonds aren't easily broken, you young people are always forgetting that" Porlyusica said walking towards me.

She dumped bottles and tubs of things on the table next to me.

"Do.. you need any help?" I asked.

"Wood" was all she said before picking more ingredients from her shelves.

"Check!" Laxus said carrying a handful in; Jellal too.

"Put it under the kettle" Porlyusica said.

I looked over to the table and picked up my keys, well old Dragon Fang. You and me had a good run, looks like this is our goodbye. I started taking it off of my key ring. I looked over and saw Laxus lifting up the kettle while Jellal put the wood underneath it. After everything was set, Laxus put the kettle back down.

"How long is this going to take?" Laxus asked.

"Shut up; another thing you young kids don't know, patience" she said whacking Laxus's head.

I giggled.

"You blue boy, bring that table over here" Porlyusica said.

I giggled.

"Right away" Jellal said.

I scooted my chair over so Jellal would have an easier reach. Porlyusica placed her broom in the kettle, the end sticking way up in the air. She looked at Jellal's book then started reached for... this purple liquid stuff. She reached for the goo next, I giggled; the goo was stuck at the bottom of the jar. Porlyusica just shrugged and threw the whole thing in it.

I liked Porlyusica... she was actually kind of... cool. Slowly did Porlyusica stir her pot as she added our collected ingredients, all our hard work and time. Finally it was about to end. Pretty soon the table was empty, nothing but empty jars and boxes.

"Dragon Fang" Porlyusica said.

Jellal looked at me.

"Where's Igneel?" I asked him.

He blinked.

"Really?" he asked.

"That was part of our deal or have you forgotten? Where is Igneel?" I asked.

...

"I don't know where the boy's Father is" Jellal said.

...

"I knew it!" I yelled jumping out of my seat.

"I knew it was too good to be true! You tricked me! How dare you Jellal! Ho-"

"I know how to find him though! I have a spell" he said.

"Just great, let me guess. You don't know how to put that spell together either!" I yelled.

Jellal groaned very loudly before taking the book from Porlyusica. He flipped the pages rather loudly before slamming it on the table.

"Here it is! Tracking spell, I can get you everything on this list all you need to get me is something of the Father" he yelled.

...

...

"You mean... something that the Dragon's touched?" I asked.

Jellal nodded.

"Touch? Breathed on? Had? As long as he's been near it our touched it at least once then we can find him" he said.

But the only thing of Igneel's Natsu and I had was...

"The tooth" I said.

"Yes, our deal's done now" Jellal said.

"No I mean, the tooth. It's the only thing left of Igneel" I said looking at it.

The tension grew in the room.

"You're not really considering this Lucy" Laxus said.

So now he used my name.

"After all this time, we spent weeks getting all this stuff!" he yelled.

"But how will I be able to find his Father without it?" I asked him.

"What's more important? Saving Natsu and sealing Zeref or finding the boy's Father?" Jellal asked.

"Natsu of course" I said.

"Well then give it here" Jellal said.

Natsu's more important, he's more important. Why did I even make a fuss in the first place? I needed Natsu more than we needed to find Igneel. Besides how could we find him if Natsu was still under Zeref's control? I stood up and walked up into the kettle, gently kissing the tooth.

"Thank you" I whispered dropping it in the pot.

The pot exploded. Exploded! I jumped back as bubbles started to overflow, Porlyusica quickly put a lid over it.

"When it whistles you'll have your potion whatever" Porlyusica said flipping through the book again.

"Whistles?" I asked.

"Whistles, you know" Porlyusica said then whistled really loudly.

I giggled. "Like a tea pot" I said.

"Speaking of tea, would you like some?" Porlyusica asked.

I nodded.

"Sure"

"Whatever"

Porlyusica walked into her kitchen part of her cottage and started boiling some water. I looked over the table picking at the empty jars... well almost empty.

"What's this?" I asked.

Porlyusica looked at me, "the Orichalcum" she said.

"You didn't use it?"

"I didn't use all of it, you needed to save half" Porlyusica said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Too many questions, tea is ready" she said placing three cups down.

I picked mine up and took a sip, it was warm.

"Thank you Porlyusica" I said.

Jellal and Laxus pulled up a seat and sat down next to me. Look at us... all having tea together... all smiling and happy. This happiness was only temporary though, once Zeref was sealed then we'd truly have no worries.

"What now Jellal?" I asked.

"We wait" he answered.

"I know that! I mean what do we do when we have it?" I asked.

"We find Zeref and..." Jellal paused.

I waited for him to continue but he never did, his eyes widened as soft gasps escaped his lips.

"Not only did you not know how to put the spell together, you don't even know what to do with it" I said blankly.

"Some leader we have" Laxus said.

"He has to drink it" Porlyusica said.

We stared at her, Laxus even went as far as to drop his tea cup. It crashed on the floor but none of us moved.

"Could you repeat that?" I asked nicely.

"It says right here, to banish the dark one he must drink upon the juices" she said reading from the book.

"So that basically means-" Laxus said.

"He has to drink it... drink... that just made our problem harder" Jellal sighed running a hand over his face.

"You two hold him down, I'll shove it down his throat" I sighed drinking my tea.

Porlyusica placed two jars on her table, she started examining both of them.

"Too big" she mumbled

We continued drinking our tea, all of us watching Porlyusica look through her junk. Finally she said something and came back with a vile. It must have been as long as Jellal's index finger... maybe Laxus's. The jar's next to them had to be about four times bigger and wider.

"What is she doing?" Laxus whispered not so loudly.

Porlyusica started pouring tea into the vile... so she wanted to take it on the go? She took the remaining Orichalcum and placed a piece into the vile, there was a puff of smoke and the vile was empty.

"What was the point of that?" Jellal asked.

"Protection, if not done that potion would have melted right through it" Porlyusica said putting it on the table.

"So the tea you're making us drink right now is also a spell that'll prevent that burning?" Laxus said.

Porlyusica nodded as she walked back to the kitchen.

"I'm glad I dropped it" Laxus said.

The way Porlyusica came back with a broom in hand, I thought she was about to whack Laxus on the head! But... no, she just held it out for him.

"Now clean it!" she said.

I smiled and continued drinking my tea, keeping my giggles to myself. I don't care what it was used for, I haven't had a nice cup of tea in a while.

"Jellal... how are we going to find Zeref?" I asked.

"Simple. We're going to visit your boyfriend" Jellal said.

"You mean... I get to see him before the big battle?" I asked hopeful.

"You talk like it's our last battle" Laxus said.

It won't but... I shook my head.

"You're right" I said.

Then again I was always going to see Natsu no matter what because... hold on a second.

"Why are we going to visit Natsu?" I asked.

"We're going to kidnap him, since if we stayed Zeref could send the council to destroy Fairy Tail. If we kidnap Natsu they won't really have an excuse for sending their army" he said.

"This sounds like the plan I had a month ago" I mumbled.

"But this time we can have a way to fight Zeref back" he said.

I placed my cup on the table and grabbed what was left of the Orchanium, a little diamond. Hunter...

"Our new mission for Fairy Retribution, we go back to Cadaverous Crypt and find out what happened to Hunter" I said.

"We're not a super heroes, it's not our business" Laxus said.

"You would let me go all the way back there by myself?" I asked.

Laxus glared.

"Meeting adjourned, next mission to Hunter!... what time is it anyway?" I asked.

It was morning when we first arrived at Magnolia, the sun was just beginning to rise, then we went in that forest and it got foggy and now I have no idea.

"Around sunset" Porlyusica said.

I yawned, "I'm tired"

I scooted my chair over closer to Jellal and leaned against his chest, probably knowing that Laxus would have probably dropped me.

"It's unhealthy to sleep that way" Porlyusica said.

"I don't see a bed here" yawned.

"There's a floor though isn't there?" she asked.

I opened my eyes; Porlyusica threw a pillow on the ground next to me and walked over to pass me a blanket. I just shrugged and laid on the ground. This wouldn't be the first time, travelling with these guys they never plan ahead. We've slept in trees, caves, grounds, I hated when it rained though. Those would be the worst nights, when I'd lay under a tree or in a cave for shelter and wish so badly for Natsu's warmth. I wouldn't have to do that anymore, soon I'd be with him.

I relaxed against the pillow and snuggled up with the blanket. I wished I could have gotten Hunter's money while we were first starting out our journey. All the money we had went to food, since none of us could go on missions and make more. We could never rent out a room and sleep in a nice, sheltered place. Now that our journey was almost over, I didn't really need his money... still it was nice to have. Maybe I could return it to Hunter and help him rebuild his Hunter Games? Since it was my fault it got destroyed in the first place.

Before that though, the first thing to do with Natsu when this whole thing blows over, scratch that, first thing to do with everyone! Take them all out to eat! Wow, I really must be tired to come up with an idea like that. I curled up into a ball and tucked my head under the blankets.

"Leave my tea" I mumbled.

Just ignore the murmurs in the background Lucy and rest. Rest. Natsu's nothing more than a few hundred meters from me... res-

*WEEEEEEEE-EEEEEEEEE-EEEEEEEEEEEEEE-EEEEEEEEEEEEEE-EEEEEEEEEEEEEE*

My eyes shot open; I practically kicked the blanket off of me. The lid on the kettle started jumping up and down, was it whistling?

"Shield your eyes everyone and take cover" Porlyusica said.

What did she mean by- Once she took the lid off smoke consumed the entire cottage. I quickly hid under the covers and covered my eyes, I couldn't stop from inhaling the smoke though. I started coughing.

"What the hell old lady?!" Laxus yelled.

"BRAT!"

I heard something sound like... or most definitely sound like Porlyusica hitting Laxus on his head.

"OUCH!"

We stayed silent for a while, I could only hear the smoke... if smoke had a sound. It clearly did if I was hearing it though right? Anyway I took deep breathes and stayed under the blanket, my coughing spell over with. Was it even smoky anymore?

"Come on out now" she said.

I pulled the blanket from over me and looked around. Mist still lingered in the air but Porlyusica had opened her windows so it was quickly dispersing. I then spotted the glowing thing on the table, I walked over to it and lifted it up.

"That's all?" I asked.

"That's all? That's all that's needed brat. You should be lucky you got that much" Porlyusica said.

Inside the vile was this glowing red liquid. It was glowing... I swore I could feel it pulsing in my hand like it was... alive.

"Let me see Blonde" Laxus said.

I closed my palm and held it away from him.

"No" I glared.

"Lucy" Jellal said.

"No! I'm going to be the one to finish Zeref, this is mine" I told them.

Jellal groaned but let it go, the same with Laxus.

"We leave tomorrow, until then let's all just get a good night's rest" Jellal said.

I nodded and laid back into my bed, the vile still pulsing in my hands. This was what was going to save Natsu. This vile in my hands, my palm clenched over, this was the most important thing to me at the moment. I looked behind my shoulder to see if anyone was staring at me; Jellal was still sitting on his chair but his head was laid down on the table, Laxus was leaned up against a wall, and Porlyusica was doing something in the kitchen.

"Plue" I whispered.

Plue poofed up in front of me, I held the vile out to him.

"No eating, please give this to Gemini for me. It's very important" I whispered handing it to him.

Plue nodded taking it then disappeared. Everything's going perfectly... I just have to wait till tomorrow to come.

"I know you three aren't planning on sleeping here"

My eyes started blinking in the dead of night... or at least I hope it was. Straining my ears, I tried to listen to my surroundings... just soft breathing. It was completely pitch black in the cottage, my eyes had to adjust a little just to see where I was laying down at. I leaned up, my blanket sliding off of me, and very quietly stood up. When I looked over to the table it was blank... damn!

Keep calm Lucy, I looked around the cottage and spotted a jar on top of a shelf not too far from me. As quietly as I could I tip toed my way towards it, lifting the jar up. I couldn't see Porlyusica in the room but I saw Jellal, he was laying a few inches away from where I was. I smiled softly and looked around for Laxus. He was sitting in a chair that was leaning against the wall, I shook my head. Laxus and his wall.

I looked down at the floor and quietly made my way to the kitchen. Tea, tea, where was the tea? I saw my old cup in the sink and picked it up. There was still some in it, I just hoped it would be enough. I took of the jar's lid off and poured the remaining tea in it. Next was to place the last bit of Orchanium in the jar. I pulled the diamond piece out of my back pocket and dropped it in there. There was a poof as smoke starting rising up in the air; once it cleared though the jar was empty again. Alright Lucy, all you need to do is exit.

I tip toed my way to the front door, turning back once to see my nakama. Laxus, Jellal... I'm sorry.

"Thank you" I whispered walking out the door.

I made it five steps away from the cottage before I was caught.

"Where are you going?"

I froze and turned around seeing Porlyusica staring me down.

"Why are you up?" I asked hugging the jar closer to me.

"Something you said yesterday concerned me, I just wanted to make sure that you know what you are doing" she said.

"Of course I know... I choose him over the world though" I said.

"As long as you know, you might want to hurry. It'll be daybreak soon" Porlyusica sweeping her... dirt.

"Thank you for all your help" I said before running into the forest.

If Porlyusica was right then I would be caught if I tried to run all the way, thank goodness that I had this all planned out.

"Gate of the Gemini! Open!" I yelled.

"Hello Master" Gemini said in complete sync.

"The vile?" I asked.

Gemi tug in his pants and pulled it out. I moved the jar in my other hand so I could grab it.

"I need a horse" I said.

"Right!" they said.

A poof of smoke came up and Sagittarius was standing in front of me.

"I mean a riding horse, a real horse" I said.

"Oh!" he said before poofing again.

Gemini turned into a brown stallion.

"To Fairy Tail's Estate, pronto" I said climbing on him.

"Hang on!" he said.

I grabbed his mane as he started running through the forest. I don't think anyone would be up at this time so the streets wouldn't be crowded. It was just a straight line from here to Fairy Tail. We must have been half way out the forest when I heard it, thunder.

"LUUUUCYYYYYYY!"

His yell echoed through the forest, through the clouds and sky itself. Damn! They woke up way too early, I leaned forward against Gemini..

"Faster" I yelled.

Gemini started picking up his pace.

"LUCY!"

The yells sounded closer this time.

"Scorpio! Leo! Stop them!" I yelled summoning them out.

"Yes my Princess" Leo said.

"Alright Master" Scorpio said.

A few seconds later and I heard an explosion, please hurry Gemini.

"GO LEO! SCORPIO!" I yelled.

We exited the forest and started riding through the town. Just like I thought, the streets we're empty. Well shops we're just starting to open but still no one was in the streets. The sun was rising in the horizon, Mira must be up making breakfast with the other chefs right now. I was almost there, I was almost home.

"You can do it Gemini! Go!" I cheered.

Tears started falling down as we ride but they were tears of joy. When I saw the gates of Fairy Tail I just screamed out in glee.

"Go Capricorn, kick the gate down!" I yelled.

Capricorn fell from the sky and kicked down Fairy Tail's gate like it was nothing. It made me think though, Capricorn just outran horse Gemini. How slow was I going on Gemini? Maybe I should have had Capricorn carry me instead.

"Help Leo and Scorpio!" I yelled when we passed him.

"Lucy?!" Warren yelled.

I turned back and waved at him. This many summoning's were taking their toll on me. I don't think I could summon another one out unless I closed someone else's gate. It didn't matter anymore though, I was on my way to Natsu. As Gemini ran through the estate I couldn't help but sigh in relief. Everything seemed exactly the same, the gardens, the fountains, the great wall, the trees. I was gone for a little more than 2 months and yet everything was exactly as I remembered.

"I'M HOME!" I screamed.

I'm home, I was home.

"Hold on tight Lucy, we're going to jump through the door" Gemini said.

"Wait what?" I asked.

Gemini's speed took off.

"Wait Gemini, I can walk in myself!" I said.

"OH LUCY! WE'RE BACK!" I heard Laxus yell.

I turned behind me and could see his electricity in the distance.

"You go first!" I yelled ducking my head.

I held the jar tighter against me, Gemini leaped up and I felt the shock from the door. It busted open and Gemini and I flipped over. I fell over and rolled on the ground, Gemini flying further ahead and landing on each other.

"LUCY!"

I looked up and saw Erza staring at me. I smiled at her, I'm home. I was home. The vile pulsing in my hands told me otherwise, Natsu.

"NATSU!" I yelled.

"LUCY!" was the reply.

Up on the top of the stair case was Natsu. Happy flew over his shoulder and towards me, Natsu running shortly after him. It wasn't Natsu who yelled my name... it was Happy. Yet Natsu was running towards me... did he remember me? More tears spilled out my eyes as I stood up and opened my arms up. Happy started flying around me while Natsu... he extended his hands and reached right for my throat.