A/N: Here's the update guys! Sorry, didn't feel like it yesterday, and I knew I wouldn't be able to deliver. :) But here you go! This one's pretty good, and next chapter, some stuff might go down... you never know.

And to answer the guest review I got, my villain is an OC, not anyone from the manga or anime. :)

Enjoy! :) xx

Natsu's POV

I grinned and swayed my body back and forth as I sat cross legged on Lucy's bed, which for some reason smelt a lot like Laxus, but I was not going to let that put a dampener on my mood and decided not to ask Luce about it.

I was still angry and annoyed that she'd decided to go off with Laxus and the Raijinshuu to train and for their help; I was her partner and teammate, and we're supposed to be on the level with each other and have each other's backs no matter what. But I forced those feelings back; I was just so happy Luce was back and that she was the same as she always had been, I couldn't help but reach near to bursting with happiness!

Luce was back! Plus, she'd promised she wouldn't disappear like that again, and I knew she always kept her word, no matter what. Not just because she was a celestial mage and promises where some kind of big deal, but because it was Luce who swore it to me, and she was cool like that.

I sniggered as she started to trip over her rug while carrying a pile of clothes, and she let out her distinctive little scream before quickly righting her footing rather than fall flat on her face.

I forced my mouth into a straight line as she turned to glare at me; barely able to hold back the grin and causing the edges of my mouth to hurt from the strain.

'Lussshhyyyy! Hurry up! I want my fiiissshhhhh!' Happy had been floating around following her everywhere, his body slumped as he whined about getting the fish she promised. I saw her annoyance at him increase combined with my barely restrained laughter and smiled evilly. Happy hadn't noticed her dark aura making it's slow appearance, and moaned again with a little bit of drool slipping out of his mouth. When she finally snapped at him I couldn't help but start laughing hysterically and throwing myself back to lie on her bed, staring up at the pink ceiling and grinning.

Luce is back! I let my arms flop out so I was lying like a cross, and quieted my chuckles when I heard her walking towards me.

I took in a deep breath, pulling in her unique smell of vanilla and strawberries. Everyone had their own smell, but Luce's was really nice and fresh; it was one of the reasons why I liked to sneak into her room and sleep with her, she just smelled really nice.

Luce is back! I thought again, not able to squish the over excited train of happiness in my head.

Eugh, train... I felt myself going slightly queasy at the thought of that monstrous machine of movement, before Luce interrupted my thoughts.

'What's so funny Natsu?' I felt her drop down to sit beside me and lifted my head slightly to look at her, grinning wildly and ignoring the brittle tone of voice she used even though I could tell she was holding back her anger by a thread.

'I'm glad you're back Luce!' I shouted out, throwing my body upright and pulling her tightly into a hug, her back against my chest, as I pulled her down so we were lying on the bed together. She let out a surprised squeak as we fell backwards, but sighed and settled against me, lifting her hands to clutch onto mine.

'I missed you too Natsu. Even though you eat all my food and burn all my stuff, I missed you too.' I smiled and squeezed her tighter before releasing her.

'She liiiiiiiikkeeesssss him!' Happy hovered around a foot away, his paw covering his mouth as he smirked in our directions, his eyes narrowed slightly with mirth.

I laughed as Luce glared at him and got up to case him around the room.

Luce was back, and this time she wasn't going anywhere; I wouldn't let her.

Lucy's POV

'So Natsu, what job did you pick out? Please say it's not some big fighting job.' I whined as we walked to the train station, Natsu skipping ahead with Happy, his massively overstuffed green backpack bouncing over his shoulders, with a string of raw sausages dangling out of the top flap, catching the attention of every dog we walked past.

'Nope. I picked a job for you Luce!' He spun and shoved the paper at me before turning and skipping along again.

I looked down at the request, slightly surprised. Natsu was thoughtful in his own way, but when it came to jobs, he always liked to pick out the one where he could destroy as much as possible, or fight as many people as possible.

I preferred jobs that had a much lower level of danger and which probably wouldn't end up with me in a coffin.

I quickly scanned the paper and blinked in surprise.

I was a simple escort mission; apparently, a young man was getting married and required an escort to his fiancées home. Obviously, it was from people of the upper-class; the reward was ridiculously high, and there was a spirit key as part of the reward as well.

We were to meet up with the client in Onibus, and escort him by road to Kunugi. Apparently the client disliked trains, and so an extra two days were added onto the mission's time, meaning we had to camp out before travelling the last few miles to the employer's home.

I grinned and ran to catch up with Natsu, the job request held tightly in my fist as I laughed and grabbed onto his arm.

'Come on Natsu! We'll miss the train!' I heard him groan from behind me, and glanced back to see his cheeks swollen up and his face tinged an unhealthy shade of green.

'Oh come on! You can't get sick at the mention of transport!' He groaned and staggered slightly, his face going even greener as I laughed at him, pulling him into the train station to buy our tickets.

I pulled him onto the train and into our own private compartment; the ticket masters of Magnolia knew Natsu all too well and always had a spare compartment set aside for the sickly dragon slayer.

I pulled him inside the compartment and sat him down beside me, immediately, he dropped down so his head rested on my lap and sighed in relief.

'Thanks Natsu.' I muttered as I ran my fingers through his soft hair as he snored lightly as the train began to move towards Onibus.

Unknown POV

The cloaked figure watched the train pull away from the safety of the shadows, before smirking and retreating into the darkness.

He pulled out a communications lacrima from beneath his cloak and activated it. A pair of glowing eyes showed up in the projection, filled with an emotionless gaze that held immense hatred behind its depths.

'The plan is in motion, sir.' The figures guttural voice whispered on the air, unheard by the ears of passersby who saw nothing in the darkness; preferring to deter their gaze towards the light.

Nothing good came from the dark.

'Good. Continue as planned.' A deep, croaky voice muttered through the lacrima and the eyes disappeared as the link was shut down.

The figure silently put away the lacrima, before dissolving into the darkness once again, unnoticed by those who tread the path of light; the only creature who did notice the shift in the air was a small black kitten that shrieked and ran out from the alley with its hackles raised from the evil stench of murder and deceit.

'Not long now...'