Hey my peeps! Thank you for all of the encouragement and feedback. Hopefully this is a little easier to read :) And one of you wonderful peeps asked why this was all so elaborate and what was the point or drive for it all. Well my lovelies you shall just have to wait and see! Hope you enjoy the ride I know it's a slow going one but know that I appreciate each and every single one of you!

Chapter 37

"Evasive maneuvers! Sorano get this thing moving! NOW!" Mest shouts.

"I'm going I'm going; I don't need orders from someone like you," Sorano huffed but moved with a panicked speed.

"Juvia will hold Natsu off, this is Juvia's element."

Gray caught her arm, "we'll hold him off together." Juvia started to melt at his words but remembered her family was at stake and shook it off.

"Wai- ugh," Juvia and Gray paused at the weird protest and looked on in horror as all the dragon slayer mates collapsed in a heap green tinged faced and groans.

Minerva stood her ground even as she was gaged and choking back vomit, "No this can't be happening! I'm, ack, just going to transport …..(gulp) us!"

Erza, Gray, Juvia, Romeo, Mest, Wendy and the remaining mates all screamed, "NO!"

"Minerva, we've been over this using your magic will be like a beacon to your mate. Right now, we just have Natsu we do not want to attract anymore. Not to mention Rogue is probably the last one we want finding us. We can fight Natsu on the ocean floor, but can you imagine trying to fight a shadow down here!" Erza hastily explained again.

The Scarlet demon turned a glare on the Pinkett swimming his way closer and closer to the temple. "Even at this speed he will catch us; Juvia I need you and Aquarius to act as a boost while Gray encases the Temple in ice to shield everyone from any attacks." Erza held up her hand to Minerva's angry scowl, "Lucy's mate is already here no point in her not using her magic."

"Now that, that is settled," a light covers the Titania as she requips into her Sea Empress armor, "I will teach Natsu a lesson for foiling our so carefully laid plans."

"And there she goes hogging all the fun to herself," Gray grumbles as Erza launches herself out of the Temple.

"Juvia wonders how Erza expects Aquarius to help when Love Rival can't even stand," Juvia looks at the green blonde in question.

"That's not the hard part," Lucy chokes out, "I… I don't… I don't have ….."

"Tch, like I can't summon myself like the perverted lion," the Mermaid scoffs scaring everyone silly. "The Spirit King has us keeping an extra close eye on the brat, so we can help as much as possible." Aquarius turns looking for he aforementioned brat and sees her in a pile on the floor, "pfttt I was going to make fun of you for finally getting a man and having to run away from him but just look at you….hahahaha." She clutches her stomach laughing at her masters' misery, after a couple moments she catches her breath and turn to Juvia, "all right Rain Woman let's see what you've got." While everyone was watching them go Aquarius turned back and gave Lucy a "we'll talk about this later," look. Lucy nodded wiping away her tears.

Juvia smiles at the friendly challenge and nods making her way to the back of the temple, "Juvia accepts your challenge!"

"Gods is this how, ack, how Natsu always feels," Lucy groans covering her mouth. "I, ugh, swear I'll never complain again," the blonde whines to no one in particular.

There was a collective groan of agreement, "I suppose if it shuts all of you up, I can fix your little sickness problem just don't make it a habit." Aquarius scowls as she flicks her wrist at the girls causing the girls all weakly cheer in relief.

"How'd you do that? And why haven't you used it on Natsu before! Do you know how many pairs of shoes he's ruined!" Lucy shouted.

"That would be why I didn't fix it before," the Mermaid smirks at Lucy's shocked expression. "I balanced the water in that little air head of yours."

"Which restored our balance!" Wendy cheered.

Juvia turns an inquisitive look on the Mermaid, "Could Aquarius teach Juvia? Juvia knows how to use blood transfusion magic if that would help."

"Hmmm learn that to save your man, did you?" Juvia beams proudly meanwhile Gray scowls at the angry fish lady.

"Ummm Ms. Aquarius ma'am I don't mean to be rude, but could you please assist us in going faster," Yukino pleads while looking at something behind them.

"Oh hell! Did he really beat Erza already!" Mest shouts.

They all turn to see Natsu closing in, "got yourself a persistent one did ya brat?"

Lucy gasped falling to her knees clutching her head, "I ….I can hear him, I can hear Natsu!"

They others all turned their attention to Lucy only gasp in shock as a golden glow began to emit from her.

"Lu!" Levy shouted reaching for her only to snatch her hand back as an unbelievable heat began to emit from her friend. Everyone, except for Wendy and Gray, moved away as the heat began to increase.

"We have to get away from him, he's too close! It's making his essence begin to poison her!" Wendy cried looking to Juvia and Aquarius pleadingly.

"Don't you dare die before you find me again Brat," Aquarius snarls focusing her rage and frustrations on Lucy's new boy toy. Juvia joined her without a thought knowing Fairy Tail wouldn't be the same without Lucy or Natsu. Because she knew Natsu would never forgive himself if Lucy died.

With the combined power propelling them forward, they quickly left the persistent Dragon Slayer in the seaweed. The further they got away from the less heat Lucy produced and eventually her golden light dimmed to nothing. However, the Celestial Maiden in question was left a panting mess on the floor of the temple. Her shirt rode up in all the common and Wendy whispered, "it's bigger!"

Levy having heard that leaned in, "your right Wendy her mark has expanded."

"Um Levy, how did you hear her? I'm right next to Wendy and all I heard was some mumbling but you…. Your way over there and you heard her." Gray looked at the little Script Mage in shock.

Levy looked as shocked as Gray, "is this how all Dragon Slayers hear?"

Wendy nods and Levy blew up, "No Wonder Gajeel knew every present I got him!" The tension in the temple broke as everyone started laughing at the steaming mad bluenette.

"Hey Lev, mind telling me what this new piece of my mark says?" Lucy asked trying and failing to contain her laughter.

Levy still grumbling under her breath making the other mates start to chuckle all over again. The Script Mage blushing realizing they could hear her, "man this must get annoying."

"I'll say, now that you've mentioned it my hearing is getting better," Minerva glowers at Levy, "thanks for that."

Levy huffs but ignores her to look over the latest chunk on Lucy's stomach. Her disgruntled features soften, and the tension leaves her causing a little smile to spread over her lips.

"Levy PLEASE!" Lucy groans.

"Our Bond Will Outlast the Stars, Even Down to the Last Ember."

Lucy chest stutters and Mira coos, "aww Lucy its going to be okay. We'll make it through this and then you can have Natsu actually say those sweet words to you."

Gray laughs causing Mira, Levy, and even Minerva to give him a death glare. "Woah before you kill me, remember who were talking about here." Gray held his hands in surrender.

Lucy sniffles but laughs, "you're right Gray he's always been more action instead of words. Probably makes more sense this was etched onto me." Everyone but Yukino laughed.

The fellow Celestial Mage taps her chin in thought, "I wonder how the words are chosen for the marking."

"Huh, I've never thought of that. Wendy, any ideas?" Lucy turns a confused face to the only Dragon among them.

"I…..I'm sorry I can't answer that," Wendy stutters frustrated.

Mira tilts her head in question and Wendy's shoulders slump, "I physically can't tell you it was an order. I can tell you that you will find out…..hopefully."

And just like that the tense atmosphere was back because they all knew the end of that sentence was if you survive.