Hey ladies and gentle peeps! Sorry I can't give you a consistent schedule, life I tell yea! I will give you some amazing other fanfics I've absolutely enjoyed over the years to hopefully hold you over while I work on this beauty. I'll try to promote 5 different stories with each post, cause ya'll I love to read. Again thank you to everyone that reviews seriously! Without further ado:

Of Dust and Shadows by the amazing riverofmemories

Any story by Mslead-Kytrin

Gluasad circles by Chaol-the-pitiful-potato

A Bloody Crusade by Fantasyandromancelover

Dawn of Adventure by heartofroses112

Chapter 42

Romeo groans, "how much longer?"

"Juvia, just needs a few more minutes of rest," The water mage pants laying on the floor of the temple.

Romeo ducks his head, embarrassed, "I meant how much longer will they be asleep. Your doing great Juvia! Without you we'd have been caught by now."

"For a second there I thought I was gonna have to direct line you outside for a swim," Mest laughs.

"Pfft I was just gon'a knock some sense inta ya," Cana hiccups.

"Jeez, I get it! What kinda jerk do you think I am," Romeo grumbles.

"Juvia apologies, Juvia is just stressed now that Aquarius-san has gone back to the Celestial realm. What if Natsu-san catches up to us. Juvia must do her best!"

"Well how about I try a flame boost, so you can rest longer," Romeo suggested. "I've gotten a lot stronger."

"I wish I could help propel us, I just feel so useless," Wendy mumbles.

"Nonsense Child, everyone is doing their best" Carla pats Wendy.

PantherLily, looks up from brushing a stray hair from Levy's sleeping face to Sorano, "how much farther to Tenrou?"

Sorano was about to snap with a quick biting comment but paused and took a good look at the crew around her. Gray and Romeo were bickering about using his power as a thruster under water with Gray casting concerned glances at the water woman. The little sky slayer looked like she might crew off her own lips with stress and worry while the white cat changed into a human form and hugged her. The annoying little blue furball was holding Lucy's hand, talking with his little red twin in the purple vest. Lector that was his name, the one closest to Yuki. Then the adorable little cat in the frog suit was brushing the girl with resting bitch face's hair. In a word everyone was looking rough and exhausted. Not to mention Yuki and the rest looked stressed even asleep. Sorano sighs and takes another look at her navigation, "well with the fire kid's boost it'll be another couple hours depending on how strong it is."

Everyone sighed, while Mest looked at her like she'd grown another head. "What!" She hissed.

"Nothing, umm just never thought you were capable of answering any questions without a quip or remark." Mest held his hands up in a "I surrender" gesture.

"Hmpf," the white-haired beauty rolled her eyes, "I am heavenly all the time."

Romeo and Gray heard Sorano's assessment, "Alright Romeo, I'll release my ice barrier to make it lighter and you make your booster. Now remember not to go all out at once like flame brain, you've got to pace yourself."

"Juvia suggests a slow flame and working up to a larger one as not to fling everyone especially Gray-sama." The exhausted rain woman muttered making Romeo jump.

"I thought you were sleeping," Romeo rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. He looked around and it seemed like everyone was staring at him. A wave of anxiety fell over him, and his negative thoughts began building, "what if I fail and just fling everyone out of the temple! We don't have that kind of time to waste! What if Natsu is attracted to my fire, what if he eats it…..what if"

"Hey Romeo," Wendy whispers softly and squeezes his hand, "we're nakama and all we can do is try our best for our nakama."

The young fire mage relaxes at her reassuring smile and nods, "ok let's do this. Everyone hold on I'll try my best to make this smooth."

Everyone smiled at the young mage's gumption and started to cheer him on. Things were looking up for the Dragon Slayers and their Mates, but all too soon they would need more help than what their guild mates could provide.

Protector after protector looked on and watched as the newest prospect in earthland worked to claim his new title. One female dragon smiled fondly into the looking glass, Nyx was right Igneel truly would be proud of his hatchling. She scoffs just thinking of all the bragging he would undoubtedly unleash. The hall would vibrate with the uproar he'd cause and this just made her heart ache. "There's nothing wrong with missing him Elena," the leader of the council of Protectors whispered laying a reassuring hand on her friends shoulder.

Elena's golden gaze did not stray from the mirror as she answered solemnly, "In this place it is Nyx. There are those who wish to prey on the carcass of what was once the home of the creator of this council. And we both know they will look for any weakness even now."

The pale haired beauty turned her gaze to the mirror with a sadden expression, "You mean Avery."

"Tch, like it'd be anyone else." She flipped her crimson hair and slide her burning gaze to her leader, "We both know he's been after Igneel's realm since before the council even formed."

Nyx calmly walked over to bulletin board and tacked up a parchment she'd been holding. Clearing her throat, "Careful, one would think you had a grudge against him." She chokes back a laugh at her friends reaction. Elena's hair began to move like an open flame as a snarl worked its way up her throat. Realizing Nyx was having a laugh at her, she sticks her tongue out and blows a raspberry.

"You might want to take a peek at that," the lithe beauty points at the form she just hung and makes her way to the door. Just before she leaves she lowers her voice to the point that no listening device could hear but only Elena, "I will not let Igneel's memory be tarnished nor will I allow his hatchling to fail. There will be absolutely no room for error, and Avery... he is mine."

The end came out more a hiss but the amount of rage, and hatred in that one sound made Elena extremely satisfied. Nyx might have been impartial once but now, now their leader was on the war path. Elena walked over to the posting and growled at how high she put it. Of course for Nyx it was just eye level so she wouldn't have even thought of the other dragoness shorter she could decide whether to dig her claws into the wall or melt the stone under her feet, she felt a presence behind her.

"Need a lift?" a deep voice rumbles.

"Ha, yea if you don't mind Tenairis. Better you are moving Nyx's precious stone floor than having me melt it." The floor softly shifts under Elena's feet raising her to properly see just what Nyx wanted her to look at. She let's out a soft gasp, "it's a blessings sheet."

Tenairis raises a brow, "I apologize, my love, I do not believe I know what that is exactly."

The fiery beauty sighs and leans back on her mate, "it was something from before your time, when the council was first created, and we hadn't met yet. See this whole mating hunt is unique to this particular realm. Since Igneel was the original leader of this council, then it stands whomever controls this realm will eventually lead this council."

"What about Nyx? She has controlled this council for over 400 years." The Earth-mover whispered in shock. Wrapping his large arms around his mate and setting his chin on top of her head. Smiling softly as her flaming locks brought out the blue hues in his midnight hair.

"It was a temporary solution, she is the moon and can only reach her fullest potential when there is a Sun. Her and Igneel are both direct descendants of the Origin Draconis. It is much like the humans in our realm when discussing Ying and Yang." Elena smiles thinking of their realm and their wards. She shakes her head, "Back to the Blessings Sheet, it allows each council member to sign up to bless the new Protector. Each member can only sign up once and their signature cannot be removed. No doubt someone," she growls, "will use this as an opportunity to bless them in a terrible way."

"How can a blessing be terrible?" The earth bender's strong face scrunched in confusion.

Elena sighs, "trust me Avery is well versed in the misuse of a blessing. It's a delicate balance, for example blessing the dragons with a swift wind will cause them to reach their mates faster which would then.."

"Lead to disaster," Tenairis studies the blessings sheet forming a plan for the long game. Because that was what Avery saw a chess board. "Then we must be careful as to the Blessing Slots we choose."

"Agreed," the Fire Serpent smiles running her hands along her mates enjoying the contrast of the skin tones. She freezes as her beloved's breath brushes her ear, "my skin always seems to make your glow alabaster."

She softly laughs, "and here I was thinking I made your delicious tan skin look even darker."

Meanwhile another lurks in the shadows of doorway slithering away to report to his master.