Thanks everyone for sticking it out! I'm doing the best I can :) my newborn is adorable and my other little nugget is turning 2 on saturday :'( how in the world that much time flew by I'll never know. I hope all of you are doing well and are staying safe! Enjoy my peeps!

Chapter 33

I lift the shirt Juvia had given me to see a swirling pattern around my navel, "it looks like a sun." Happy says as Levy reaches for it; Levy and I both gasp once she touches it.

Levy pulled her fingers back, "it ...it burned me."

I run my own hands over it, "I felt the heat but it didn't hurt me. Levy are you okay!?"

"I'm alright I should've guessed something like that would've happened. I felt a shiver when you touched mine and my marks feel like they are metal bracelets."

I pull Levy's hand to meet and examine her finger making sure she wasn't simply downplaying things. "See Lu its just a little red I'm ok."

"Here Juvia will soothe that for you Levy," Juvia wraps Levy hand in hers.

Levy sends Juvia a grateful glance and smiles softly at me, "do you want to know what it says?"

I raise my brows, "of course! I just thought it said the same thing as yours!"

She shook her head giving me a blinding grin, "it says:"

Our Bond Will Outlast the Stars

My heart ached hearing this and my mark warmed at my response I think. "It's beautiful."

"It will grow until The Exchange is completed and you are fully bonded. Now we need to get a move on and start the next phase before they can regroup." Anna called from the base of the stairs.

Levy, Lily, Happy, Juvia, and I met Kinanna and Mira at the stairs, "Lucy, Levy where did your marks appear? Mira found mine along my ears and hers decorate her shoulders!" Kinanna chatters excitedly.

Levy holds up her wrists and I hold up my shirt, "oh they are beautiful. Levy if you wouldn't mind can you tell us what they say?" Mira asks oh so sweetly.

"Sure just let me stand on this step. Wow! Kinanna yours are stunning!" Levy exclaimed reaching for them but I grabbed her hand and Kinanna stepped out of reach.

"I don't think touching them would be the greatest idea, Lev" Levy bashfully scratches the back of her neck at my comment.

"We found out her marks are actually sharp like the thorns on a rose. Definitely pricked my finger and thankfully the poison can't harm me." Mira giggled at our stunned expressions.

"Oh I'm pretty sure its non-lethal, " Kinanna rushed to say.

"Well Lucy's belly button barbecued Levy's finger!" Happy broke in.

"Oh my!" Mira gasped reaching for Levy's hand.

"It wasn't that bad you blue fur ball" I hiss still feeling guilty.

Kinanna pats my hand in comfort and we share a guilty grimace, "anyway did you see their markings? What do they say?"

Levy perks up at that, "well Kinanna's says:"

Our very souls shall become one

"And Mira's says:"

With this bond you are my partner, my beloved, and my everything

Both had smiles spread across their faces and Kinanna even blushed. "I wonder they'll eventually say? Anna said they would continue to grow."

Mira giggled, "probably all the things they've never been able to say out loud."

We all laughed as we walked down the last flight of stairs meeting with the rest of the crew in the common room. Minerva was gracefully seated by a window looking the picture of calm. Meanwhile Yukino was wearing a hole in the floor. Both turned to us and I suddenly felt the weight of our mission come down on my shoulders. This had been the easiest part but now we had to not only make it to Tenrou but find Anna's book, and make the potion. All without getting caught too soon or too late to stay alive and preserve our mates sanity. I look down when I feel my hand being squeezed to see Mira holding my hand. I see the understanding of what I'm thinking on her face. I squeeze back feeling determination flood my body, I nod and smile in thanks.

Cana walks into the room clapping her hands, "Alright ladies great job on the first step! I see some lovely new marks and I will drag every juicy detail about those kisses out of each and every one of you. But it'll wait, as we now need to begin phase 2 and since we have discovered your mates can track your magics the easiest we are going to be creative." She wiggles her eyebrows in a lewd manners than only she can manage.

Erza grasps Cana's shoulder shaking her head at the brunettes actions. "We have contacted the other guilds and they have finished their prep work so we are ready to go. Your packs and supplied are already on their way to Tenrou courtesy of Blue Pegasus. Mermaid Heel is currently in the bath house with your personalized shampoos courtesy of Juvia and ..." Erza shudders, "Ichiya. They will be wearing your clothing and with Lucy using Gemini they will have your magical signature. Now this means all of you will have the best chance to get out of here however it also puts Lucy at the highest risk."

"Because she will be using her magic Natsu will know which one it the real Lucy the second he gets close enough. This means she cannot join the rest of you and will be by herself on the journey to Tenrou. As for you all, your teams are as follows: "

Team A: Mira, Yukino

Team B: Kinanna, Minerva, Levy

"Team A will be travelling with Laki, Jura, and Juvia. You will use Jura and Laki's tunnel they created in the basement to get you to Hargeon. Where Juvia will then use her air bubbles to get you to Olympia the underwater temple. Soreno will be there to take you the rest of the way to Tenrou."

"Team B you will be going with Jellal, the Thunder Legion and Cana. Cana will use her card magic to imprison you then Jellal will use Meteor to fly you to Hargeon. Freed, Bixlow, and Evergreen will be waiting on an airship to fly you the rest of the way to Tenrou."

Cana picks up where Erza leaves off, "now Lucy we thought about having Loke take you to the Spirit Realm and dropping you on Tenrou. But Anna said since time moved differently between realms it would effect Natsu's essence running through your body. So we're gonna try a different approach with you. Not only are Racer and Mest going to be your teammates to try and out run a dragon, but you are going to use that wicked brain of your to out fox them at every turn."

"Some how that doesn't make me feel any better," I whimper.

"Sorry Lu-lu bear but since we're using your magic from the get go we're going to use you like a homing beacon and a distraction for everybody. And since the boys will be running full tilt in the instincts department we're going with a more fly by the seat of our pants approach with you." Cana shrugs.

"Pardon me but that doesn't sound really fair," Wendy pipes up.

I smile knowing she doesn't like me being used as bait, "no worries Wendy I volunteered for this. I'm just moaning and groaning thinking about how much of a pain this is gonna be."

"Aye Sir, Lushi just wants to taunt Natsu!" Happy snickers behind his paws.

I puff my cheeks in indignation while everyone around me starts laughing.

"Oh Levy, what do Minerva and Yukino's marks say!" Mira squeals excitedly running over to them both.

Minerva raises her brow in question, "It's words? In what language?"

"Yes, it's in Daconian and if you show it to me I can tell you what it currently says," Levy says making her way to Yukino first.

"Currently?" Yukino asks confused.

"Yea, Anna mentioned the marks will grow. My guess it'll stop once their essence isn't toxic anymore." I say hoping that's the case cause that means it's like a built in timer.

Levy was crouched in front of Yukino examining her ankles, when I joined her curious as to what it looked like. And there on the back of her leg from ankle leading up to the back of her knee in white iridescent font was her mark. Levy cleared her throat and everyone stopped talking wanting to hear what it said:

"Our Love Shall Shine Brighter Than Any Sun"

Yukino blushed and stammered a thank you to Levy, who was already making her way over to her next target. Minerva smiled and stood turning her back to Levy and lifting her shirt. There at the base of her spine making its way up was her mark in dark purple almost black. Levy read:

"With the touch of our lips, fate binds us together"

"Alright my children, Mermaid Heel is currently finishing getting dressed and will be ready to leave. Now all of you need to go use the scent eraser soap Levy and Lucy found in Crocus. You will also be wearing odor neutralizing clothing. Off with you be quick we need to get a move on before those trouble makers come up with a plan or worse go on a rampage."

We all ran to the bath house and made quick work of getting ready. I sigh standing under the spray of the shower not paying any attention to what I'm doing but notice my shower isn't hot so I keep slowly turning up the heat again and again and again. Then I start grumbling about the stupid shower and how it still wasn't getting hot when Yukino called out to me, "Lucy? What's the matter?"

I glare at the shower before sighing and turning to her, "This shower isn't getting hot no matter how high I turn it."

"Really? That's weird cause the steams so thick I can't even see you over there." Yukino said confused.

"Um yea Lu, that water has to be hot. The steams just rolling out of there," Levy says concerned.

"Weird it doesn't feel like it," I say looking around at the steam they mentioned billowing from out of my shower stall.

"Oh wow Lucy are you all right? You have it turned all the way up, normally that's scalding hot," Mira says looking concerned over the top of the shower stall at the dial.

I look at my hands they weren't even red, "um yea but it doesn't feel hot to me."

"Maybe its from your mark?" Levy pondered

"I sure as hell hope not! If I can't have a nice hot soak ever again I might have to kill Natsu!" I growl.

Everyone starts laughing, but stops after I say, "I wonder what else will change?"