Author's Note:Hi everyone! It is finally time for an update! I really needed a break from studying, so I figured I would do some editing and post a chapter. I have two more chapters written that will need some editing, but I'm hoping to post again soon! Enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think! (:

April 2nd

Two entire days passed and Natsu managed to avoid conversing with Lucy the entire trip. Once Gajeel explained their location, she was able to design a rough map for them to follow. She was leading the way, while Natsu trailed behind to cover their tracks. It was during the third night, while Gajeel was out looking for food, that Lucy snapped. She never could handle being ignored very well.

"So you're just not going to speak to me anymore? That's it? Just like that, our friendship is over?" She caught Wendy and Natsu off guard with her outburst. Wendy hurried away, mumbling something about finding a water source, heading after Gajeel. That left the pair alone, Lucy glaring at Natsu while he studied her.

"I have nothing to say." He muttered, pulling his eyes from her.

"Nothing? I try to help you and you just push me away. Some friend you are." She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

"What else do you want me to do? You know the truth now and those soldiers saw your face! Being with us, it puts you at risk. We can't be friends. I can't think of you in the same way anymore." He retorted, his gaze pained as if each word cut through him as they left his lips. It didn't matter to Lucy, how much pain he was in. It was his own doing.

"Why?" Her voice cracked as she spoke and she cursed her wavering tone. She didn't want him to see just how much his words hurt, but it was inevitable.

"Because I'll just be reckless and you'll get hurt! That's how I am in every battle. I don't think of any consequences, I just fight to survive and to protect those I care about! Being my friend, it's a risk even for the other dragon slayers. I never should have let my guard down around you, but I was selfish." He shouted, pushing himself off the ground to glare down at the celestial wizard. Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes and she tried her best to blink them away.

"I'm not a damsel in distress! I'm the one who saved you twice! I can defend myself in a battle." Lucy shouted right back at him and he growled, his fist shattering bark as the flames licked the trunk of the tree in front of him.

"If the other dragon slayers deem you a nuisance, they won't hesitate to kill you. Zeref would rip you apart. Luce, you saved me and I will always remember that, but you won't stand a chance against the others. Knowing that, it just makes me crazy. I can't focus on the mission. If I lose control over my power, it could be catastrophic." He explained through his clenched jaw. That infuriated Lucy.

"Because you can't control your emotions, I have to lose the only person I've ever trusted as much as my spirits. I have to lose my best friend. That's just great." She snapped, shoving herself off the ground as tears flowed down her cheeks. She stomped off into the woods, leaving the dragon slayer behind her. She climbed through the underbrush, ducking under vines and low hanging branches as she pushed on into the darkness. Her only light was the moon and she summoned Plue to keep her company. She held the little guy in her arms, hugging him close to her chest. When she was far enough away, she collapsed to the ground. Her back rested against rough bark as she clutched onto Plue, pulling her knees to her chest. She sobbed. Her tears fell for the people killed a decade ago, for the mages who were torn from their families and drained of their power, for her spirits who had to stay hidden to keep her safe, for her shitty past, for the loss of her closest friend, and for the dragon slayers who were misjudged and wanted as fugitives.

"Such a pretty girl like you shouldn't be crying. What's wrong?" She startled at the sound of a young voice. A little girl poked her head out from behind a weeping willow, her brown eyes wide with wonder. Her blonde hair glistened in the moonlight and Lucy couldn't help but see herself reflected in the girl. She sniffled, wiping her eyes before responding.

"I just had a fight with a close friend. That's all." She smiled softly. "What are you doing out here?" The little girl stumbled out from behind the tree, her battered body exposed under her pale nightgown.

"I'm hiding from Daddy. He came home angry again. I ran and hid under my bed like Ms. Vivian taught me, but he found me." Her fragile voice pierced Lucy. The girl shifted, growing taller as her body filled out the night gown. It was tattered, her hair knotted and soaked with her own blood. Her gaping side was staining the night gown as tendrils of red swirled down her hip.

"Father had a rough night. Mom was haunting him again and he only sees her when he looks at me. Ms. Vivian is missing and I'm terrified. Please help me." She stepped forward and it dawned on Lucy that she was screaming. She hadn't even noticed the high-pitch tone escaping her own lips.

"We need to go home. Daddy needs us." The smaller girl formed beside the teenager and they both stumbled towards Lucy.

"Leave me alone! I'm never going back to live with that monster!" She wailed, her vocal chords straining as she scraped her back on the bark to distance herself.

"Now, now. My lucky Lucy. You are a Heartfilia! You shouldn't be roughing it out in the woods. Come home and take a nice bath. Then we can have some father-daughter time. Let's go to the movies or go to the gallery. You always loved the art galleries in town. I miss you sweetheart." That voice. Lucy's entire body tensed, her limbs no longer obeying her. She couldn't move. There was no escaping him. She would go home and be his punching bag once again. It's what she deserved. She was the reason why her mother passed. If only she was better behaved. If only she didn't play with the keys in the courtyard. Her mother might have survived if she could have fought back, but the young and naive toddler had no idea the dark guild had settled in town. She had no idea the keys were her mother's only defense. "Stand up Lucy! Look at your father! I deserve that much respect! You made me hurt you!" He shouted, anger lacing his words as they cut through Lucy like a dagger. She sobbed, clutching her head as her entire body shook.

"Get the hell away from Lucy." A low voice snarled, heat dancing around Lucy's body. Lucy tensed as her younger screams tore through the night air. The sound of fighting around her didn't even pull her attention. Her mother's kind smile plagued her mind. Her father's disappointed and disgusted glare followed and she curled in on herself. "Luce? That sick bastard can't hurt you anymore. Please, open your eyes." The warmth pulled at the edge of her mind and her body relaxed into it. It was familiar and Lucy startled as a gentle hand cupped her cheek. Her eyes snapped open as she shoved herself backwards. Natsu was crouched down in front of her, his stare pained as he watched her. His movements were cautious as he leaned forward, his hand extended.

"Natsu? When did you get here?" Her voice was soft and uncertain. Her throat was scratchy and it burned when she swallowed.

"I was here the whole time. I followed you, but when I saw your past self, I froze up a bit." His fists clenched as he growled. "What kind of man does that to his own daughter?" Flames danced behind his eyes as embers formed on his fists.

"He blames me for my mother's death. She was attacked by a dark guild in town and I had her gate keys. I thought they were toys and I was too young to understand magic. He spent most nights trashed, reeking of whiskey. He only hurt me when I sang or when he looked at me too closely. There were a few nights that he would mistaken me for my mom and that only fueled his rage. It's why I ran away and why I can't ever go home." She explained before reaching out to cup Natsu's fists with her shaking hands. The fire went out the instant her palms touched his skin, only a gentle warmth remaining.

"Lucy..."

"I'm okay now. I'm traveling with three of the most powerful wizards in the world. He can't hurt me anymore." She smiled softly at him, trying to reassure herself more than anything.

"I'll never let him touch you again, Luce. I promise." He tugged her forward, wrapping his arms around her. Her body relaxed in his embrace, settling into the warmth of his body as he pulled her onto his lap. She curled towards him, sniffling to keep the tears from flowing. She tried thinking of anything but what just transpired. She wasn't weak. She wasn't going to shed anymore tears because of that man. The pair sat in silence for nearly an hour, Lucy finding comfort in the dragon slayer's embrace. He was one of the most powerful wizards in the entire word. She never felt safer.

"Is it that easy to forget about me, Natsu?" A young woman's voice startled the two mages. Natsu's entire body tensed around Lucy. Both of their eyes opened to settle on a beautiful woman with short white hair. She wore a lavender dress that hugged her curves and split to reveal her leg. A white Fairy Tail symbol was positioned on her left thigh. "We were supposed to get married. We always talked about it when we were kids. We would have been a family. You, me, and Happy." Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she spoke softly.

"Lisanna." He whispered, jaw agape as he watched her. Her lovely features twisted into a scowl.

"Instead, you left me to die! You let my siblings get cursed and you let Happy get tortured! Now you are parading around with someone else? You're just going to get her killed too!" She growled, her fists clenching. A small, blue cat took shape beside her. Tiny white wings expanded behind his back and a soft gasp escaped Natsu's lips.

"Did you forget about me Natsu?" The cat questioned.

"Happy." Natsu released Lucy, pushing himself to his feet. Lucy stood beside him, eyes trained on the odd pair. "I never forgot you buddy. You're my best friend."

"Then why'd you let me die?" Happy shouted, launching himself off the ground. He arched in the sky, diving to collide with Natsu. Natsu shut his eyes, turning his head slightly as a tear escaped, trailing down his cheek.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so freakin' sorry Happy, Lisanna. I failed you both. And I'm sorry Lucy. I can't fight them." He sounded so broken and Lucy didn't hesitate, she couldn't. Her outfit shifted, light surrounding her body before a bow formed in her hands. An arrow pierced Happy, the blue cat dissipating into the breeze.

"I'm sorry Natsu." Lucy whispered as she released the second arrow, hitting Lisanna in the chest. The girl crumpled to the ground, her body vanishing. Lucy's star dress vanished and she fell to her knees, her hands shaking. They sat in silence for a while, breathing heavily, before Natsu's hand tangled in her hair. She hadn't realized that she leaned towards him when she fell.

"Thank-you, Lucy." He spoke softly before taking a deep breath. His fingers slipped from her hair, his fists clenching. "Show yourself, you coward! I know you're there! Get out of our heads and fight us head on!" He shouted at the trees, his nose twitching as he smelled the air. "Found yah." He growled as flames lit his feet, catapulting his body into the tree. He crashed through the branches, dragging the body of a woman with him. They collided with the ground, clouds of dirt shielding them from Lucy's sight. The celestial mage pushed herself to her feet and stumbled after them. "Why are you toying with us? What's your angle?" He spat, newly formed talons digging into the woman's throat. She squirmed, gasping for air as she clawed at his hand. Fury was burning in Natsu's eyes as he lifted his other hand, fire dancing on his exposed talons. A shimmering band on the woman's bicep caught Lucy's eye and she sprinted towards them.

"Hold still!" She snapped and Natsu tensed immediately. Lucy wrapped her hands around the band, pulsing bits of magical energy into the cuff until it shattered. A sigh of relief escaped the woman as she stilled, her body going slack against the tree. "Put her down. She was being controlled by someone. It's not her fault." Lucy placed a gentle hand on Natsu's arm and the fire mage let the woman slip through his grasp. He dropped down, falling back on his butt as he held his head in his hands. Lucy left him for a moment, making her way back to the campsite. With Gajeel's help, she brought the woman to the campsite and Wendy got to work on healing her. Gajeel didn't even question it when Lucy took off again. She climbed through the woods and returned to Natsu's side, dropping down to sit beside him. Her body was shivering involuntarily and she bit her lip, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Come here." Natsu mumbled, raising his arm. The talons had retracted and he seemed to have calmed. Lucy inched forward, tucking her body under his arm. He held her close, sharing his body heat with her. Lucy finally let go, allowing the bottled up emotions to escape. Tears slid down her cheeks as she sobbed. Natsu stayed quiet, lost in thoughts of his own. As the night progressed, Lucy slowly felt consciousness escaping her. That was, until Natsu surprised them both. "I thought pushing you away would keep you safe. I wanted you to go back to Fairy Tail and forget about me. Before you moved to Mongolia, I was a puppet for a dark guild. They worked to hide my magical presence and to protect Fairy Tail." He took a deep breath before continuing. "While Fairy Tail might look like a normal bar, only wizards can see it. To outsiders, it just looks like a run down factory. Levy took you there as a test because she sensed your magical energy. She knew that only wizards with good intentions could see the bar and enter the building. It's how Gramps protects us. Fairy Tail is an underground guild and while Mira said the mark was for work, it's actually the guild symbol and is only visible to other wizards." The words poured from Natsu's lips and Lucy refused to interrupt him. "Fairy Tail took Gajeel, Wendy, and I in without hesitation. They're my family and I got careless and almost risked exposing them because I didn't want to be a puppet anymore. I also didn't want to lose myself. The woman you saw, her name is Lisanna. She's a childhood friend. Her family took me in when I was young and first came to the surface. Her older siblings,Mira and Elfman, took care of Lisanna and I. One day, we found a giant egg in the middle of the forest. Lisanna had the great idea of hatching it and being the parents of whatever hatched. Happy was born from that egg. We raised him together and he was my best friend. When we were older, our home was attacked by a dark guild, followers of Zeref, and I lost control. I was so focused on killing that I forgot to protect. Lisanna died trying to save Happy. The dark guild, they tortured Happy and took him. I tracked him for years but I never found him. On top of that, Mira and Elfman were cursed to spend eternity with me. It was lost magic, a curse I hadn't seen in hundreds of years. I didn't want their lives linked to mine, but I never found a way to break the curse. Neither of them blamed me, but I know that I failed to protect Lisanna and Happy that day." His tone broke Lucy's heart and she curled closer towards him.

"It was their choice to fight with you. There's only so much you could do."

"I could have done more! I'm a monster, Lucy. I bring death and destruction wherever I go. I'm freakin' terrified that I'll slip back into the darkness. No one will be able to stop me." His voice was quivering and Lucy pushed herself to her knees. Her fingers slipped to cup his cheek, palm pressed against the warm skin. His cheek was wet with fresh tears and Lucy swiftly wiped them away with her thumb.

"That'll never happen. I don't see darkness within you. When I look into your eyes, I see hope, strength, and compassion. I see my best friend. What happened to Lisanna, Mira, Elfman, and Happy wasn't your fault. Happy could still be alive out there, fighting to see you again. Don't give up Natsu and don't blame yourself." She leaned forward, pressing her lips to his forehead.

"Lucy." Natsu whispered under his breath as they gazed into each others eyes. Lucy had leaned her head down, gravitating closer to him. Their noses brushed as Lucy's eyes fluttered shut. Natsu was conflicted, the battle raging within him. He couldn't do this to Lucy. He had to push her away and keep his distance. He lacked all self control though, when it came to her. He leaned closer, breathing in her exhaled air. Twigs snapped, startling them both as Gajeel came stumbling through the woods.

"That girl's awake and she's got some interesting things to say." He huffed, trying to calm his breathing. The pair nodded, Natsu pulling them both to their feet. He stole a glance at Lucy, noting her rosy cheeks.

"We will talk more later." Lucy squeezed his hand before following after the iron dragon slayer.

"I know." Natsu stated, following after them. As the foliage growing along the forest floor cushioned their feet, Lucy felt herself gravitating closer to the man behind her. She couldn't help herself. The dragon slayer soothed the creeping fear that made a home in her heart for years. Seeing her past selves, seeing her father; it made all of the emotions she successfully buried come rushing to the surface of her memory. Natsu, he helped control them and she wasn't ready to be apart from him just yet. In a few moments, she fell into step beside him and a soft smile touched his lips. He swung his arm out, linking his fingers with hers. Their palms nestled together and his familiar warmth danced up her arm. She returned his smile, squeezing his hand as they reached the clearing. Wendy sat on a tree stump, her shoulders slumped as she breathed heavily. Beside her, sat a girl with a chocolate brown braid hanging down her right shoulder. Her clothing was tattered and she had pulled her knees to her chest, tucking her head behind her arms. The scrapes that had littered her body were pulled close and Gajeel's cloak resided on her shoulders. Gajeel was standing away, just outside the light of the fire. He leaned against a tree, eyes narrowed and fixed on the stranger. Natsu led Lucy towards the fire, gently tugging her hand so she would sit beside him. The moment she was seated, he slipped off his cloak, draping it over her shoulders. She pulled it close around her, enjoying the smoky aroma and warmth that enveloped her.

"You must be Salamander, right? You're the leader of the dragon slayers." The girl slowly opened her eyes, settling them on the pair. They were the color of amber, sparkling from the light of the embers. Though beautiful, her eyes were puffy from the many tears she shed when she woke.

"My name is Natsu and I am the fire dragon slayer. The one who healed you is Wendy, the sky dragon slayer. By the tree, is Gajeel, the iron dragon slayer." Natsu introduced the slayers and the girl nodded before her eyes landed on the blonde.

"And you're Lucy, a human like me. You're a celestial wizard." Her voice was soft and unsteady. Lucy nodded, tightening her grip on Natsu's cloak. "I'm so sorry for what I did to you, to both of you. I couldn't stop myself though. When I felt the terror in you, Lucy, my heart broke. And Natsu, the guilt." She took a deep breath, eyes trained on the fire now. "I wanted to vomit. I wish I could take back what I did. I wish I never stepped foot in that mansion. The moment I did, he could sense my magic and he played me for a fool." She choked out, her arms resting on her knees.

"Just tell them the truth, like you told Wendy and I. Natsu may look scary, but he doesn't hold actual grudges. I wouldn't be here if he did. And Bunny girl, she's already forgiven you." Gajeel mumbled, pushing off the tree to join the others by the fire. He crouched down before dropping himself backwards, sprawling his legs in front of him. The corner of Natsu's lip quirked into a smirk and Lucy's eyes widened. She didn't think Gajeel could read her so well, but she went along with it,

"He's right, you know." She whispered and Natsu's hand seemed to find hers the moment the first word left her lip. "I have already forgiven you. You were being controlled, used as a puppet by someone. I only know how to break that technology because of my spirits. We just want to know the truth, really. What's your name?" Lucy continued, taking a deep breath to calm her throbbing heart.

"Grace. My name is Grace. I'm from Dershire. It's a kingdom not far from here. I was traveling with some friends when we reached a neighboring town. There were flyers posted everywhere, advertising a merchant show in one of the mansions on the outskirts of town. Of course my friends insisted we go, so I went along. The moment I stepped inside though, a dark and brooding man was at my side. There was something eerie about him and I was thrown off. He introduced himself as Rogue and said that his brother wished to speak with me. He insisted that I followed and that I would regret any other decision. He led me to the chambers of a man named Sting, who immediately asked about my magic. When I refused to answer, he put that cuff on me and I don't remember much of anything after that. I'm so sorry for the pain and suffering I caused you both." Tears fell down her cheeks once again, her fists clenching as her body shook. Lucy released Natsu's hand, pushing herself to her feet and moving to crouch in front of Grace. She placed her hands on Grace's knees and smiled.

"You have nothing to apologize for. Now we have a new destination. For whatever reason, those men were targeting the dragon slayers, but we can face them head on." She assured the girl and Grace sniffled, her eyes wide.

"Those men, Rogue and Sting. They are the dragon slayer twins, the shadow dragon slayer and the white dragon slayer. Grace, what town are they in?" The dark tone of Natsu's voice startled both Lucy and Grace.

"Berkshin! I can show you the way. It's the least I can do." She assured him, dropping her knees down to sit more comfortably. Lucy maneuvered back to give her some space.

"We know where Berkshin is. It's about a five day journey from here. Go home to Dershire. For whatever reason, Sting liked your magic and wanted to use you against us. That means he knows we are looking for them and that they don't want to be found. It won't be an easy confrontation and you don't need to put yourself in harms way." He snapped, gaze trained on the crackling embers of the dying fire. Wendy and Gajeel nodded, staying silent.

"I may not like fighting, but I'm well trained. I can hold my own and my magic may be useful to you. I can read people and unravel their past by making figments of their memory and imagination a reality. I give shape to them. While the ones I shaped for you were easily thwarted, I can make stronger ones. I won't get in the way. I want to know why the brothers chose me to come after you. Please." She was determined, raising her voice in hopes of getting through to him.

"No. Take Lucy and Wendy with you and stay at the kingdom until we return. It'll be safer for all of you there." Natsu pushed himself off the ground, fire forming in his fist before giving life to the smoldering ashes once again.

"Natsu!" Lucy gasped, the hurt from his words cutting through her. Even Wendy tensed, a frown touching her lips. She didn't speak against Natsu though. Why would he say she could travel with them, just to go back on his word?

"Why?" Grace whispered, the shock clear in her voice. Natsu stepped away, his back to them.

"Wendy will keep you both safe on your journey. Whatever game Sting and Rogue are playing is dangerous and you shouldn't get involved. Get some rest. We go our separate ways in the morning." He muttered and disappeared into the darkness of the forest.

"Get some sleep. There's no use arguing with him tonight. I'll keep the first watch and get Natsu to keep watch after." Gajeel quipped at them, turning to face the forest.

"Don't worry Lucy. We can talk to him in the morning." Wendy assured the celestial wizard before using her cloak as a pillow and shutting her eyes. Lucy was stunned into silence, her brain working through everything that just happened.

"Lucy, can I ask you something?" Grace spoke in a hushed tone, looking up to meet Lucy's stare. She nodded, still processing what happened with the dragon slayers. "You're a celestial wizard. When I looked into your mind, I saw your childhood and when you ran away, but nothing further. I don't want to invade your privacy anymore, but I am curious. How'd you end up here, with the dragon slayers?" She inquired, laying down and using Gajeel's cloak as a pillow. Lucy pondered her question for a moment before a smile touched her lips.

"When I settled in Mongolia, I didn't have a job and was running dangerously low on funds. I met Levy, Gajeel's girlfriend. She took me under her wing and brought me to Fairy Tail, their wizard guild. I was accepted into Fairy Tail and that's how I met Wendy, Gajeel, and Natsu." She explained, but Grace's expression made her pause.

"There are still normal wizard guilds out there?"

"Yeah, I was surprised too. When this is all over, we can bring you by to meet everyone. They welcome all wizards with good intentions." Lucy smiled widely before continuing her story. "The more time I spent with Fairy Tail, the more I felt at home, finally at peace with my life. I also felt myself gravitating towards Natsu. He quickly became my best friend and the morning he disappeared for this quest of finding the other dragon slayers, I refused to let him leave without me. I sprinted to Levy's and followed Gajeel through the woods for hours until he met up with Wendy and Natsu. I didn't know that's where he was going, but luck was on my side. I followed along until they were attacked by soldiers and other wizards. At that point, I had to show myself and I helped them escape. Then I convinced Natsu to let me stay." She frowned as the last sentence hung in the air. "Get some sleep. I'm going to clear my head for a bit." She pushed herself off the ground, stretching her legs as Gajeel looked over his shoulder. "I won't stray too far Gajeel. My legs are just cramping." He nodded in response to her statement and returned to scanning the forest.

Lucy trekked out in the direction Natsu had went. He couldn't have gone too far and she just wanted him by her side once again. If she could convince him to let her accompany them to the mansion, that would be an added bonus. As her eyes were scanning the trees, she spotted a bit of white, nestled in the branches of an oak tree. It was Natsu's scarf and she followed the fabric until her eyes settled on the pink spikes she found herself adoring. Pushing through vines and overgrown thickets was a lot more difficult than she anticipated. Thin scratches covered her arms and she stumbled into the trunk of her target tree. Biting her lip, she tried to pull herself up the tree, but her arms weren't strong enough to haul herself up there. She was never really one to strength train. Hands reached down from the branches above, startling her until she recognized the warmth radiating from them. She grabbed on tightly, letting Natsu pull her into the tree. He set her on his lap for a moment, studying her face with a gentle look in his eyes. A warm smile touched his lips as his gaze softened. He freed a few thorns and leaves from her tangled blonde locks before setting her down next to him.

"Did you hear me struggling down there?" She mused, dazed from the kind and gentle encounter. Those moments with Natsu always surprised her.

"No. Your scent got stronger and I figured you followed after me." He sighed, looking up at the moon.

"My scent?" Her brow furrowed and a small smile touched his lips again.

"Yeah, you smell like honey and vanilla to me. I assumed it was the scent of your soap or lotion. Of course, it's a subtle scent and the other slayers aren't attuned to it like I am, so they may not pick up on it in the same manner as I do. It's not a bad thing, but it's unique to you so I can track it easily. I was always the best at tracking by smell." He explained, his shoulders shrugging slightly. A rosy warmth blanketed Lucy's cheeks and she glanced away, twiddling her fingers.

"So you knew I was following the whole time, didn't you?" Her voice was cautious and he chuckled.

"At first, I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me, making me feel guilty for leaving. Then, it got stronger in town. You stayed closer because there were more places to hide."

"Why didn't you stop me then? Just find me and send me packing?" She leaned forward, kicking her legs in front of her.

"Your scent, I rather enjoy it. I find comfort in it and I was selfish. A small part of me thought you could come with us, that our true nature wouldn't scare you off. It was foolish." He huffed, shoulders slumping.

"I already told you that you're my best friend, Natsu. Nothing you do will scare me off. We're a team now. All of us, including Grace. You said Zeref was strong. We can all help you. Please let us go with you to find Sting and Rogue. No matter what happens, no matter what I see, I'll stay by your side." Lucy leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled as he inhaled deeply.

"You say that now, but what if you see something from my past or what if you see my true nature? We are demons, Lucy." His words were heavy and Lucy sighed.

"You have a dark side that you keep under wraps. I get that and I trust you Natsu. Nothing you do will change that, okay? Grace and I are wizards and we can help you, so let us. Let me stay by your side, please." She whispered and the last part escaped before she could muffle her words. Natsu scooped her into his arms and swiftly dropped out of the tree. "Natsu?" She tried to look into his eyes but he was set on a target, walking while holding her tightly.

"If you're coming with us, you need sleep. Get some rest, I'll watch over you tonight." The fire and the others came into view in a few moments. Gajeel met Natsu's eyes before he nodded, sprawling out on the ground. Natsu dropped down, lowering Lucy gently by the fire. He rested her head on his lap, blanketing her with his cloak.

"I can come with you? Do you promise?" She blinked up at him, turning so her face was angled towards his chest.

"Yeah, I promise. Sweet dreams Luce." He tangled his fingers in her hair, gently massaging her head in a soothing manner. In a matter of seconds, Lucy felt the grogginess settle in her mind.

"Goodnight Natsu." She mumbled sleepily before letting the calm darkness overtake her thoughts.