Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters, that right belongs to Hiro Mashima.

Author's Note: PLEASE FOR THE LOVE THAT IS CRACKFICTION AND ANIME/MANGA READ THIS! So, now I am ready to start this again. But... AND I MEAN BUT, there will be changes to this story. It will not be like it was before. I will still follow the set up (backstory) I had that Lucy summoned the Celestial King to stop the Eclipse Gate, Yukino will have died because of the Eclipse Gate. Instead of defeating Zeref (We didn't know he had nothing to do with that event at the time), it will be the dragons being sent into the past. My chapters won't be more than 5K in words... or that if you get lucky. I want shorter, more comfortable to read chapters. My style has changed in the last six years, folks; it is called growth. To make this more fun, I will have a few other canon things, and yes, the babysitters will still be there. That was too fun and cute to write. Now, I ask you to read this with an open mind and review once you are done. Thank you!


The trip to Lucy's apartment was mostly quiet; no one wanting to speak after informing Wendy of what Loke had told them. It weighed down on all their minds. Knowing the situation Lucy was in personally, and now to have a wounded Dragon Slayer from a Rival Guild who had hurt their precious Nakama so severely in her apartment. It was not a good mix at all. So as they rounded the corner that would put them on Strawberry Street, they slowed down at the sight of the pink-haired lady standing with Lucy's landlord on the front stoop.

The way both of those women stopped whatever they were talking about and looked at the four of them darkly spoke volumes. But the only one who mattered to the mages of Fairy Tail was the tall pink-haired woman whose red-eyes were narrowed and accusing. It set each of them on edge and kept them quiet until she raised a small, withered hand and waved them forward. Or rather, Wendy, who was her apprentice, learning the healing arts. As one they moved together, closing the distance and wisely staying silent.

"I heard the thump earlier and was informed by the weird pink-haired maid that things were not good for that poor girl," Lucy's landlady snapped up at them. "If it is not one thing with that poor girl, it is another. And from what I just heard from Porly, she has a member of a rival guild, the same Guild who let a member almost killed the poor girl during the damn games, in her room tending to his wounds."

None of them could say anything to deny this. And each bowed their heads in acknowledgment of the statement. Earning a loud, rude snort from the woman.

"Porly, I trust you and your apprentice to make sure that Lucy is okay as well as that other mage, whom I want out of here as quickly as possible. Her teammates destroy that place regularly," the woman snapped. "And I don't want to lose my whole house because a bunch of barbaric mages in a rival guild take slight at their teammate is here, wounded, and being treated by this guild of trouble makers."

They all looked in tandem to Porlyusica, who just curtly nodded her head. Then they were being ushered into the small two-story house and up the steps that would lead to Lucy's apartment. The door swung open soundlessly, Virgo appearing in the doorway, her face void of all emotion as she stared at them for a few seconds. Then, with a step back, the spirit waved them into the room with one hand, while the other pressed to her lips, indicating that they needed to be quiet. And the reason why was evident when they saw Lucy laying sleeping on the couch, her shirt and hands covered in dried blood. While on her bed was the Shadow Dragon Slayer of Sabertooth.

"She helped me clean and bandaged him," Virgo stated. "Princess should wake soon. I will prepare tea and leave so not to stress her, even though I am here on my magic."

Each person had a small smile at the words of the spirit. It was apparent how much that spirit cared about Lucy.

"The sooner, the better, otherwise the girl will be in the danger zone again," Porlyusica snipped as she pushed her way through the small group. "Stupid is as stupid does, even for the right reason. She knows better, should have just let the bastard die."

They all flinched at the woman's words. Never could anyone make the mistake that Porlyusica liked people, let alone mages. But that this was a member of an opposing guild. Said Guild that almost killed Lucy, well they were not going to say anything against her words. Porlyusica had healed Lucy after the Naval Battle. Knew first hand just how bad the injuries to their friend were.

"Yes, Miss Porlyusica," Virgo said and was off to the little kitchen.


Gajeel finished explaining everything and observing Lucy from the corner of his eye. Other than saying oh she hadn't reacted much at all. Though he noted her face took on that thoughtful look she got when processing things. Meaning that while she was tired, looked like utter shit, she was cognitive enough to make sense of it.

"Lucy?"

At the sound of his little mate to be's voice, Gajeel looked down at her seeing concern written across her face. The way those brown eyes darkened with that concern had his dragon rearing its head and he wrapped his arm around Levy, pulling her close to his side. The slight flush that appeared on his face had him preening.

"I am fine, Levy," Lucy eventually said.

When he looked back at his friend, seeing her face having gone into that blank mask that had taken residency since the Grand Magic Games. It was a bit disconcerting. No one in the Guild talked about what had happened after the Dragons attacked and Lucy had done. The sacrifice she had made to save them all during that fight. Then a thought crossed his mind.

"Hey, Bunny-girl, I have a question or ten for you," Gajeel spoke up, getting Lucy's attention.

Seeing the way she scrunched her nose up at how he phrased it, Gajeel let out his signature Gi-hi-hi chuckle, when she nodded her head to indicate that he could ask at any time.

"Bunny, I want to know what you feel when you are around me," He asked point-blank.

The way her body stiffened as she just glared highly offended, while Levy began to giggle softly. It answered his question, but he wanted to hear her say it.

"I see you as a friend — nothing more, nothing less. There has and will never be anything romantic or sexual; I can never feel that way towards you," Lucy stated in a bland voice.

It was a harsh truth, but it spoke volumes. And Gajeel knew it stemmed from when he tortured her while still a member of Phantom.

"Okay, what do you feel when you're around Laxus and Natsu?" He asked next.

As Lucy's face shifted once more into that blank mask, while her brown eyes were unfocused, he knew she was thinking hard on this.

"Laxus is like that annoying friend everyone has. Good to be around in small doses, but after a while chafes and irritates you," Lucy stated. "Not that I don't like him, I mean he is cool and has grown up a lot... Just still not my type to be around. So, no nothing romantic can ever be felt towards him, other than that I give to all Guild members."

Her words had a soft huff coming from Makarov, but Gajeel knew that Lucy was not mean spirited, just her usual honest self.

"As for Natsu, he is like a brother," Lucy said slowly. "I feel anything romantic with him would be the equivalent of incest. And while the Gentry does practice that, I was glad that I had no first cousin, as Fiore sanctions marriages to first cousins to keep the bloodlines pure."

The laughter that erupted after Lucy finished her little speel. How her voice got dark and heavy as she spoke of her past. It was a quirk Lucy had developed over the years.

"Gajeel, why are you asking me these questions?" Lucy finally asked him.

"Because Bunny-girl, I am trying to figure out something," He stated. "Now, when Sting had you, what did you feel? This is important."

The way Gajeel witnessed her physically curl in on herself was telling.

"I- I felt fear. Paralyzing fear," Lucy whispered. "He smelled me, claimed I smelt good. And while I know from a Dragon Slayer that is a huge compliment, all I felt was fear, until Rogue showed up and pulled me away and told me to run."

Gajeel picked apart what she said, realizing a few things, while his dragon supplied the rest.

"Well, I have a theory, but I would like to do some research with Levy and Freed before I state what I think. But I believe it might have to do with either your magic," He said.


Rogue was awake, though he kept his eyes shut, as he listened to the conversation. Internally he was at war with himself at what he was hearing from the people. He knew Lucy had gotten one upon him because he was hurt, still shocked at the fact that she had done it with no magic and with her eyes shut. To hearing her helping him get bandaged. Then to listen to an older sounding woman speak about just letting him die. It caused his dragon to roll and get angry. But he couldn't fault how the woman felt; it was the truth; they had all stood there and watched for fear of what would have happened if they intervened.

But now, he felt anger of a different kind as he continued to listen to Gajeel as he spoke. While Gajeel stated it was for Levy's ears alone, he was still telling the others gathered about something personal and sacred to all their kind. Then the questions for Lucy started. They were curious and had him wondering why Gajeel would be asking them, even after he had stated it was probably due to her magic.

Small hands were soothing the pain from his abdomen while he felt calloused hands take his vitals. Telling him that the young female Slayer from Fairy Tail was healing him, while their healer who had said he should die, was tending him. It was contradictory, but healers were a strange breed he had learned young.

When movement came from his left side, Rogue felt shocked when he realized Frosch was by his side. The smell of his little exceed filling his senses as he felt the tiny paws pressed against his upper arm. It was hard to keep his body still as relief washed through him that his friend was okay. This was a topic he had been continuously putting off talking with Frosch about, the more so since Sting always seemed to have a lady friend or the yearly mood swings.

Rogue had gone to great lengths to threaten Lector, Sting, and almost anyone in Sabertooth to keep Frosch as innocent as possible. It was only for that one week in August that Rogue took time to abate his baser needs, though he never found his mate. Hell, he wasn't looking for a mate. Rogue didn't want to subject a person to the true nature of his magic. And men didn't do it for him.

The sudden smell of vanilla and honey filling his nose had Rogue pulling himself from his thoughts as warmth washed over his bare chest. Which shocked him, he hadn't realized while he was in his mind thinking, that the two healers had removed his bandages. Then the bed by his left side became lighter, meaning Frosch had been moved.

"Frosch, that is what you said your name was, right?"

At the sound of Lucy speaking softly to his exceed, Rogue once more kept his body still so no one would know he was awake. He was breathing slowly, evenly as possible.

"Yes, that is Fro's name," Frosch replied.

"To answer your question, I do not know. And I think this is something you should ask Rogue, as he takes care of you, right?"

The patience Lucy was showing his exceed was astounding. He had seen her get angry at the blue one that followed Natsu everywhere, swatting at it and threatening its life. Then again, that little troll called Lucy fat and ugly, when she wasn't. But he felt relief when she told Frosch he had to talk to him about this topic.

"Oh... Fro will wait until Fro's Rogue is awake," Frosch said.

"Good. Now, I know I am hungry and tired, and I am sure you are too?"

"Yes, Miss! Fro is hungry!"

He continued to lay there and listen to them converse. It was interesting to hear and reminded him of how Yukino interacted with his little friend. A sad pang resonated where his heart was. Rogue knew that there was nothing he could do about it either, Yukino had died during that whole fiasco.


Porlyusica got the message loud and clear and hurriedly packed up everything before standing and looking down at the blond who was holding the little creature in her arms like a child. It was a homey scene, but Porlyusica kept her facade up, so it didn't show it moved her.

"I think we all should leave now," she snapped. "The girl needs rest, and we can discuss more tomorrow about what is going to happen to Lucy and her- guest."

Her words had the others jumping and nodding their heads as she watched as Wendy stood up and looked worriedly at her friend and Guild mate.

"Lucy, I have medication for him; he is to take it twice a day with food," she said as she put the bottle on the table between Lucy and the bed. "And I have a refill for you as well since I know you were probably going to come out to my house and annoy me."

Next, to the other bottle, Porlyusica set down a similar one. The only difference between the two bottles was that the pills in one were green and the others were yellow.

"I suggest we return tomorrow around noon. That way, they can both get some real and proper sleep. We'll discuss how things are going to be done for the rest of this month because he is not going to heal in a snap of fingers and fucking wishes and dreams," she snapped at them all.

Though while she spoke, Porlyusica looked pointedly at Lucy and Makarov.

"And I cannot be here twenty-four seven, neither can Wendy, so that means Lucy is homebound to take care of this idiotic young man," She continued in her curt manner. "So finding her a job that will allow for her to work from here and pay her bills would be best."

Then with an arch of her eyebrows, she sent Makarov, Wendy, and the other two scurrying for the door with rushed goodbyes. Once they were gone, Porlyusica turned to look at a wide-eyed Lucy and then to the young man occupying her bed, getting a small smile and nod and make her glad that the girl was observant.

"Get some rest yourself," she demanded as she headed for the door. "And do not take a pill until tomorrow, you overdid it with your magic today."

A soft huff as she pulled the door quietly shut behind her, Porlyusica gave a small smile as she saw a petite blond-haired girl with large and luminous green eyes standing before her on the top stair. Even though she hadn't been a part of Fairy Tail for years, she could still see the first Guild Master, Mavis Vermillion. And from the look of it, the spirit was going to be up to something.

"Tomorrow, please," she whispered.

Seeing Mavis nod her head and smile before vanishing, Porlyusica began her descent down the stairs. In the back of her mind, her subconscious telling her that this was not by random chance that he ended up in Lucy's apartment. Dragon Slayers were destructive brutes, but they always seemed to be where they were needed most when they needed to be there.

TBC!