A few months went by as Lucy was confined to the perimeter of the house. It wasn't without a fight every so often though. She tried time and again to test her boundaries with him, but so far, he only had Evergreen turn her to stone once for six hours. Another time she tried to sneak out in the middle of the night only to halve Laxus drag her to his bed with him. The last time she tried she had researched how to break script runes and had gotten outside of the limits set in place, but Laxus hadn't been as forgiving that time. He constantly had one of his team watching her constantly. After that Laxus and his team would come and go, but Lucy was never seen at the guild. Loke and the others were her only contacts when Laxus and the others were gone. She was sitting in the living room reading one afternoon when she felt the enchantment that Freed had placed around the house disappear. Taking her chances Lucy ran out the house and she headed towards the guild. She needed to find out exactly what was going on. All the explosions and noise that had been going on for the last hour had unnerved her. Arriving at the guild she saw Happy, Natsu, and Gajeel.
"Lucy!" shouted Natsu. Smiling she hugged her friend. Explaining what happened they filled her in on what was happening and how Master Makarov was. Levy came into view and she hugged her friend. "I have to go find him! This has to stop!" shouted Lucy. "Lu wait, above the city in the sky is a thing called the thunder palace. We only have about an hour before it burns everyone to a crisp here in Magnolia," said Levy. Terror filled Lucy. The people she cared about were about to be burned by the man that had cared for her and she might love herself. Growling she turned on her heal. She didn't know where she was going all she knew was that it was the right direction.
Lucy arrived in front of the cathedral just as Erza came around the corner. "Lucy!?" Running over to her friend she hugged her. "Erza I need you to find Warren. We need to reach every member possible.," said Lucy. She explained everything to Erza and smiling she waved at her friend before walking into the church. Laxus turned around surprised to see her. "Laxus! You need to stop this! What will be the point of this if you destroy everyone!" shouted Lucy. "Shut Up! How could you possibly understand! I've lived in my grandfathers' shadow for too long and now I refuse to be in it any longer!" he shouted at her. Walking forward she looked at him and only him. Her focus had to be t bring him back to his senses. "Is this honestly what this is about? How stupid are you? Just because you think that doesn't mean everyone thinks that! I know I don't. To me you are kind and caring. You have a soft side you won't show anyone because you fear it will make you seem weak and weakness isn't allowed in your mind, but to me it means everything," said Lucy. At that moment Lucy knew she was speaking from her heart. Everything she was feeling was true and that she does really care about him and his wellbeing.
Laxus' anger faltered for a moment before it returned. Erza got lucky and found Warren not far from the cathedral with Gray. After explaining the situation to them she ran back to the cathedral and watched the interaction from the cracked door ready to step in if Lucy was in danger. "You may act all tough, but inside you are just like everyone else in Fairy Tail. We cry together, we laugh together, and we love together. Laxus magic is not meant to be used to kill people... but without power we can't protect the ones we love." She was surprised that anyone could get away talking to Laxus like that. Maybe that time with him had changed the both of them. Lucy stopped in front of him and looked into his stormy gray eyes. It was as if they were in a trance, but it was broken shortly when Natsu showed up. "Laxus!" Lucy turned to see Natsu. "Lucy move!" She didn't know what happened, but it was just like that night in the guild hall, she felt the need to protect him. "No!" Growling she threw her arms out wide Infront of Laxus and blocked either from attacking the other. Natsu looked between the two and sniffed. Something clicked in his mind and he balled his fists while glaring at him.
"Laxus! Why her of all people!?" shouted Natsu. He ran at him and Laxus pushed Lucy out of the way with such force she fell to the ground. Natsu was trying to hit him, but he kept dodging his attacks. "What the hell are you talking about!" he shouted back. This just made Natsu angrier. "Don't act like you don't know. I heard how your old man put a dragon lacrima in your eye. That is why you have a scar over your eye! I looked into what it could do to you for Lucy's sake! With that lacrima comes everything power, strength, and choosing a mate! Fire dragon roar!" Natsu yelled. Laxus looked at him and then over to Lucy who was standing ready to attack but looked torn on who to defend. "Keep your eyes on me!" Natsu punched him in the jaw sending him flying back. Running forward he grabbed his shirt while sitting over him. "She doesn't know who to help because like it or not your inner dragon has claimed her, and she may not really understand what is going on but understands that there isn't anything she wouldn't do for you! A mate will always be willing to lay down their lives for one another!" Laxus was in shock that had it not been for Lucy knocking Natsu off of him he would have been hit with a fire fist. As she landed on him their stomachs touched and he instinctively grabbed her hand.
Natsu looked at her and paled as he saw tears in her eyes. "Natsu is what you said true? Am I really his mate?" she asked through the tears. He knew he had to tread lightly. Nodding he went to touch her hand, but Laxus growled warningly causing him to stop. "Whether he did it intentionally or not his scent that marks you as his is all over you." She cried and Laxus looked at the interaction between the two friends. "So, everything I've been feeling is fake?" she asked. Natsu sighed and looked at Laxus. "Luce, I will explain it to you later, but right now I need to make sure everyone makes it out of this festival alive which means I need you to head out with Erza to take out the thunder palace above Magnolia." She couldn't leave them even as Erza was pulling her up. "I… can't!" Natsu turned to see Lucy crying harder than before and she pulled away from Erza wrapping her arms around herself she cried. Suddenly Loke appeared and wrapped her in a hug. "Natsu! Erza! Go I will care for Lucy and deal with Laxus!" Natsu wasn't budging and looked at the lion spirit. "Natsu now isn't the time to argue! I promise Lucy will be safe!" Nodding he turned around. "You better make sure she isn't crying when we come back!" shouted Natsu as he ran after Erza. Loke turned to face Laxus, anger filling his eyes. "You made Lucy cry and that isn't something I can never forgive! She means the world to us and I refuse to see her hurt any longer!" He was about to fight him when he felt Lucy wrap around his arm. Looking at his Celestial Wizard he put a hand on her head. "Lucy, I know you don't want to go, but in order to protect you I will do whatever it takes. Now I need you to go help the others. Your friends need you."
She looked at him through her tears and nodded before running out the door to see Erza and Natsu. They all made their way to help out the rest of the guild defeat the thunder palace. "I'll take the 200 to the north you and the rest take out the other hundred," said Erza. Nodding she ran off to help out. She knew that she would have time to sort out her feelings later, but right now even though she had the need to be by him Lucy knew the people of Magnolia needed her more. Defeating the lightening lacrima globes was no easy feat as they had link magic. Lucy took out three of them as the others took out as many as possible. As the dome was destroyed, she felt the magic hit her full force. As she sat up after being electrocuted Lucy saw Loke standing beside her. "How…" she began. "I think it might have to do with I was outside of a gate for so long. I can use it freely now without your help" He picked her up and carried her and tried to take her to the guild, but she stopped him. "Where is Laxus?" she asked wiping tears from her eyes. He averted his eyes and she ran back towards the cathedral. When Lucy entered, she saw he wasn't there. Fear gripped her, and she went to find him.
Lucy looked all over town before she ended back at the guild hall. When she arrived, Cana told her that Natsu, Gajeel, and Laxus were being treated in the infirmary. Something about getting into a fight after Natsu saw Loke and Laxus walking out of the cathedral together. Slowly everyone trickled in. When Loke arrived, he made sure she would be alright before he returned to the spirit world. Standing up she walked to the infirmary to find Natsu. On the way she saw Levy. "Levy, can you see if you can find anything on dragons and mating in the library." "Sure Lu, but why the interest?" asked Levy. "I'll explain later, but if you can I'd appreciate it." She walked into the infirmary to see Laxus and Natsu whispering angrily back and forth. When she entered, they looked at her? Relief washed over her as she saw he was still in one piece. Bandaged, but alive.
Walking up to her friend she looked at him. "Alright Natsu, you need to tell me what is going on," said Lucy. "Look Lucy don't think for a moment this is fake. When a dragon finds their mate, they will go to any lengths to obtain them. It can make them go crazy and do stupid things. One example would be making them promise to be their woman." Lucy looked at Laxus eyes wide as he held his hands up. "Let flame brain finish." Natsu grinned and put an arm around Lucy as he stood up causing Laxus to growl. "So, you see Luce, he may not have realized it, but his dragon was calling for you and even you may not have realized it, but you were drawn to him. All those moments where you couldn't stop thinking about him or when we went to the magic shop and you just had to buy that coat for him is all proof that you felt the pull." Lucy looked at her friend and then to Laxus who nodded. "So, what I have been feeling towards him was all just forced feelings?" she asked.
Natsu shook his head and grinned. "No, the feelings develop. At first it may have been just simple affection, but over time the bond it creates is irreversible. You are tied to him just as he is to you. As a mate you may fall in love faster than most couples, but that doesn't mean its fake." Natsu released her and walked out dragging Gajeel along. Lucy sat down on the edge of the bed across from him and looked at Laxus who had been pretty much quiet the entire time. Brown orbs looked at his gray ones. "So, this mating thing. Do you believe it?" she asked. Laxus looked at Lucy. She had tears form at the edge of her eyes threatening to fall. "Look Lucy, I won't force you to continue being with me. I am in a ton of trouble as it is. I could face excommunication," said Laxus. She looked at him and nodded. Standing up she walked past him and out of the infirmary. Turning back to look at him she smiled. "I don't blame you for making mistakes as long as you learn from them," she said before leaving. Leaning against the closed door she let the tears fall. She was sure now that she loved him, but he was going to let her go. Walking back towards the dinner hall she saw Levy was just coming up from the library with a book when she saw Lucy. "Lu! I found what you asked for."
Taking the book, she opened the book and looked for the correct chapter. Reading over it shock entered her face. The process of mating was simple, but what the side effects for both parties were terrifying. One that particularly stood out was when mates were separated for a long time it could become unbearable for them. Also, there is only one mate for each dragon or dragon slayer. Lucy walked out of the guild for fresh air. It wasn't long before Laxus walked out looking defeated. He saw her and smiled. "So, I got kicked out of Fairy Tail. Guess I will see you around Blondie… Lucy." She watched his receding form. It didn't take her long to realize much this was going to hurt. Running back in she found the master.
"Master…" He turned to see Lucy. "My child I heard from both Natsu and Erza what is going on. I'm afraid I can't change the laws of Fairy Tail," said Makarov "Then I request to leave the guild," she said. Makarov looked at her and shook his head. "I can't. That is the one thing that Laxus asked. He asked me to keep you in Fairy Tail. He actually showed that he cared by stating you would regret the decision at some point." She tried to argue, but Master Makarov told her that she was free to leave, but he wouldn't accept her resignation. Nodding she gave up and walked out. As she walked around town Lucy saw everyone enjoying the festivities.
On the outskirts of town, she saw Laxus. "Laxus!" He turned to see her running towards him. When she was next to him, she smiled. "I'll be here when you get back. If we have a bond, I won't be that far away from you." Smirking he leaned down so his face nearly touched hers. "I hope you know what you are getting into," he said. She didn't know why, but the next moment she was kissing him. Surprise was evident on his face, but he smiled into the kiss. When they broke apart, he waved at her, lifting his fingers in a L shape that made her cry. Lucy knew he really would be watching over her. Right before he was too far away, he turned and looked at her. "Lucy our contract is terminated! If you chose to stay or leave it is your choice, but I want you to have your freedom to do as you see fit and if you ever need protection the thunder legion will only be a call away!" With that he walked off out of view and Lucy smiled. Nine months she had been in the contract, but to her it felt like it really hadn't been that long. She knew that he would come back at some point and she would be there when he did.