Hello there!

Yes it has been a while, but I'm here!

I didn't feel motivated to write this until I reread the story, and then there was an urge to smash out another chapter. And there's Natsu!

Disclaimer: Don't own any of the amazing characters, just some twists in the plot and the chick inside Lucy

Warning: Some language here and there. No sweat

Tia/Lucy P.O.V.

I was wandering through the streets of Hargeon when I heard the excited screaming of teenaged girls.

"That is definitely Salamander," I muttered to the floating spirit next to me.

"It doesn't sound like very dignified women at all," huffed Lyra. "Those ladies should be ashamed of themselves! Screaming over a man like that!" She turned to glower slightly at me, "no boyfriend for you if you act like that!"

I snorted slightly, "that doesn't sound anything like me Lyra. If I squeal over a man like that, please kill me."

"But then I would be banished out of the Spirit Realm," Lyra replied innocently.

I cursed lightly, "it's somewhat irritating that you've gotten used to my fucked up humour."

"Language!" Lyra slapped me lightly across the head.

Scowling slightly and rubbing my head, I turned a corner to find a massive throng of screaming girls with – I'm not even joking – freaking love hearts in their eyes! Some things in anime still weird me out when I see them in person.

"There's an allure surrounding these girls," Lyra said seriously from my left. She flicked a concerned look to me, "is it affecting you Lucy-chan?"

I shook my head as we approached the crowd, "no Lyra. Remember how illusion or controlling spells don't work on me? Because of the fact that I always have my magic enhancing my movements?"

"Oh yeah!" Lyra nodded excitedly, "it forms a layer over your body that repulses illusions and whatnot. Didn't you find that out when we versed that illusion mage?"

"Yeah," I agreed. "Just annoying that he managed to get away when I was distracted, he had Horologium's key."

Lyra didn't answer as we had now entered the mass of women calling out to the single male in the centre of the ring. Even from here I could tell Bora was a scummy, little bastard. He had the look of a con-artist, or someone from the several red-light districts I had passed through. Did this country not teach stranger danger?

Stupid Fiore people.

The slight tug of the charm spell increased with every step I took closer to the fire mage. I had to actively fight it from taking over my mind when I stopped directly in front of Bora.

Several of the women behind me were clawing at my back, trying to get past so I could see, but I merely stood there quietly and did nothing.

It only took a moment for Bora to notice that a female in the crowd wasn't screaming, drooling, proclaiming their love, that they wanted to marry him, wanted to have his babies, or throwing themselves on the ground in front of him.

He appeared in my face with – I'm still not joking – actual fucking sparkles shimmering around his entire being. A hand caressed my face and it took all my willpower not to either; bite the offending hand, or grab the sword on my back and go ape-shit insane on him.

I can't express how much willpower it took.

I held back a shudder and stared blankly at Bora as he said strange things about me being a blossom, or some random crap like that. Just a few more moments…

"IGNEEL!"

There he is.

Bora turned to find a salmon haired boy on his hands and knees, staring up at him expectantly. It took a few moments for Natsu to realise that the creepy man was in fact, not his huge ass dragon father called Igneel.

"You're not Igneel."

And with that, he turned from Bora's ever smiling face and walked straight through the crowd of stunned women.

"He just flicked off Salamander!"

"How dare he do that!"

"Get him girls!"

I could hear Lyra choke back giggles at the fairly comical scene of Natsu being beaten up by a bunch of civilian women.

Rolling my eyes at her stifled laughs, I walked over to the scuffle that was going on and gently pushed some of the enraged women aside. "I think he's had enough ladies. We don't a murder on your pretty little hands do we?"

With much grumbling, the women backed off and slowly turned back to Bora, who had apparently come over to where Natsu and I were.

"My beautiful blossom." He brandished a ringed hand at me, "I would be delighted if you were to join me upon my ship tonight. There will be much merriment and beverages to be drunk!"

What the hell was this guy! Some royal from the olden days!

I tuned out the rest of his flowery speech, nodding where necessary with a polite smile on my face. When he finally reached the end I put on a bigger smile and said that I would be delighted to come.

"Excellent!" He chirped before waving at me and the other women before clicking his fingers and being whisked away on a trail of purple flames.

Show off.

"What a weirdo."

A grin crossed my face as I turned to find a slightly dazed looking Natsu staring after where Bora had gone. "And he wasn't even Igneel!"

I laughed loudly at his absolutely devastated facial expression, "as if you would find a giant dragon in the middle of a port town!"

A flash of pink and white was all I saw before Natsu's onyx eyes bore into mine, "you know who Igneel is!" He shook my shoulders roughly with the hands that were suddenly clamped down on them, "do you know where he went?!"

I couldn't answer him, I could only try to keep my eyes in my head as my brain rattled around in my head.

"Stop shaking her idiot!"

I was dropped sharply and hit the ground with a thud. I tried to focus my eyes on something, but it was hard, it felt like they were swirling in circles. When I could see clearly, I had to laugh at Natsu's now cowed expression as he was torn into by an angry Lyra.

"I dare you to touch my summoner again cretin!"

Scrambling upright, I put my hand on Lyra's shoulder in a soothing gesture, "calm down Lyra. He was just excited to hear any information on his father. That was all."

She huffed and turned away from the confused dragon slayer, "well he could at least be civilised about it!"

"I agree." I smiled at Natsu before linking arms with Lyra, "care to join us for lunch dragon slayer? It's on me."

3rd Person P.O.V.

Lucy sat down on one side of the booth, Lyra now gone, and Natsu sat on the other side, with a Happy who had appeared suddenly during the walk to the restaurant they were in.

Natsu pointed at Lucy dramatically, "how the hell do you know Igneel?!"

The blond with red tips didn't reply, she calmly ordered a large selection of food from the waitress that came to take their orders.

Natsu was steadily getting angry at the busty girl, she had talked about Igneel like he knew him, and now she wasn't saying anything about him! Maybe this girl was tricking him, just like many others before her had done. But those people hadn't know Igneel's name, or the fact that he was a dragon slayer.,,

The slayer discreetly pulled Happy slightly closer to him and warily watched the girl in front of him. If she tried anything, he would blow this joint.

Literally.

"I beg your pardon." Lucy smiled slightly at Natsu after she finished giving the waitress a long list of foods to bring them, "I expect you want to know what I know of your dragon."

"Aye!" Happy called from Natsu's side, "are you some sort of dragon in disguise?"

Lucy snorted, "that would be cool, but no. I'm just a travelling mage that was intrigued by dragons and anything about them, including their pupils, slayers like you."

"You mean there's more of us?" Natsu asked excitedly, "did Igneel teach other kids like me?"

Shaking her head Lucy replied, "not at all. I know of four other dragons and their slayers, either than you and your dragon." A crooked grin came over her face, "it was easiest to acquire information on you Natsu Dragneel, fire dragon slayer, pupil of Igneel the fire dragon."

The celestial mage crossed her arms and leant back in her seat, "is there anything you wish to ask of me?"

"Aye." Happy peered at her curiously, "why do you talk all posh like? It's so weird."

Lucy chuckled in reply, "well I came from a noble family, and the way I was brought up may have something to do with that. The main reason though is because I think over my words when I am around strangers, often picking over my words before speaking. Therefore they come out more sophisticated and cold than what I actually think."

She stared across at Natsu's and Happy's confused expressions, "I talk smart because I don't trust you. Idiots."

"Hey!" The two yelled back.

The blond just rolled her eyes, "if you don't want to call you idiots, don't be idiots. Obviously."

Natsu and Happy couldn't reply to her comment as suddenly there was a huge line of dishes being served onto their table by a small crowd of waitresses. The duo sucked up the drool that was escaping their mouths and swiftly dived into the many selections of dishes in front of them.

They were quickly consuming the food at a fast pace, but Lucy wasn't far behind them, doing away with several dishes down at her end.

Natsu paused in his eating to grab a plate of spaghetti, but a hand swiftly clamped around his wrist in an iron grip. "Don't you dare eat that."

He glared at the blond whose angry face glared right back, "what does it matter to you?"

"I haven't eaten actual food in two months." Lucy began to wind up for a massive argument. "I have missed my fucking bolognaise, and if you don't let go, I swear to god I will stab your hand through this table!"

"Why haven't you eaten 'actual food' in two months?" Asked Happy curiously, "it seems stupid to cook fake food for yourself."

Lucy snarled slightly at the feline, completely different to the cool and collected face she had before. "I've been on the road for nearly a year, and let me tell you, taking down packs of deer to cook over a fire is not as fun as it sounds. The blood is awfully hard to get out of your clothes, and your mouth."

"You kill deer?" Natsu whispered horrified and retracted his hand away from the dish, "what kind of monster are you?"

"A starving one," Lucy replied, calmer than before. "In order to survive, I had to take down the lesser on the food chain. I have killed many a creature I agree, but I have also made friends with others. In fact, at the start of my journey, I was living with a pack of wolves to the west. That's where I learnt to hunt. Unfortunately that meant I had to use their methods, meaning I was often washing blood out of my clothes, under my nails, and out of my mouth." She shrugged casually and twirled a forkful of spaghetti, "you get used to the taste of blood after a while."

There was a long stretch of silence as the two mages and cat quietly consumed their food. It was awkward and Natsu felt like if he made one false move, all hell would break loose.

"You must think I'm a freak."

He looked curiously at the blond who was now stabbing her fork into a plate of sausages. Her face was shadowed by the bangs that swept across her forehead, two longer strands curled around the base of her face on either side.

"Why would you say that?"

"I kill."

Natsu now leant across the table to peer at her openly, "so?"

"So," Lucy drew out the sound, not looking up from her plate. "So that would probably go against your morals. You're a Fairy Tail mage, you guys are all about friendship, peace, kindness, family and all that junk that comes with it."

"So?" Natsu repeated.

Lucy now tilted her head up to meet his gaze, "so I don't think I would quite fit in, in a place such as your guild. My talents would be more suited to those of…Phantom Lord."

"Phantom Lord?!" Natsu asked her incredulously, "why the hell would you like to go to Phantom Lord?! They're all freaks who think everyone is beneath them, and they're really mean to people in their guild. Your guild mates are you nakama, you should never treat them badly!"

A smile curled Lucy's mouth, "well I do have a situation like that. Nakama that have been with me throughout my travels. Caring for me, being there, loving me. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have made it through my travels."

"Who are your nakama?" Happy asked. "I didn't see anyone with you either than that weird chick with wings, then she disappeared!"

A slight glow came from Lucy's belt and the girl chuckled as she pulled them out of a secret compartment in the strap that held her sword. "Lyra really doesn't like to be called a weirdo it seems."

"How do you know that?" Asked Natsu. "And what's up with the glowing keys?"

"I'm a celestial mage that summons spirits of the stars to help me." Lucy twirled the key ring on her index finger. "I summon them by opening their gates, they help me in whatever situation they can. They're my nakama."

"Can you show me?!" Natsu asked excitedly. "Do you have some massively awesome guy who can like, crush mountains?!"

Lucy chuckled again and slipped her keys away again, "All my spirits are massively awesome! Maybe they can't crush mountains, but not many can do that anyways." She shifted her sword into a comfortable position and grabbed her eating utensils again. "I can show you sometime later if that's okay with you. I sense that we'll be seeing each other shortly."

Natsu nodded in agreement and they dived once more back into their food. The silence not so awkward anymore.

Tia/Lucy P.O.V (I should really just call her Lucy now..)

I shifted slightly awkwardly in the dress I was wearing. Lyra had picked it out for me, and it took a combined effort of her and Cancer to get me in it. Now Cancer was doing my hair while Lyra fawned over me.

"You look so beautiful Lucy-chan!"

"Thanks Lyra," I replied dryly. Why? Because I was not happy! I never liked to wear dresses or skirts I my old life, the complete opposite of Lucy. I was glad though that the dress was sensible, and that it hid my 'battle' outfit underneath.

I may wear the jumper, shirt and shorts as casual clothes, but these clothes were much better for the wear and tear of battles.

The tough and brown hide of a monster lizard I had killed on my travels served as my (somewhat) armour. It was almost like a strapped corset that went down to my abdomen and clung to my upper body like a second skin. Showy, but necessary. I needed full movements in battle and loose clothes would only hinder me.

A cream long sleeved top was underneath it, created from a silk of giant spiders that a merchant had fought. It was also tight around my body, but it loosened around my waist and opened into wide sleeves that concealed my hands. Perfect for hiding weapons, or the actions of my hands.

My black pants were also made from the spider silk, held up by a lizard hide belt that also had two knives hanging from it.

My usual boots were worn on my feet, they were good and sturdy for battle. And it didn't hurt that I liked them.

The whole outfit was a surprise presents from my spirits. The outfit was designed by a mash of my spirits creativity, all jumbled together to create it. I could tell Taurus had a hand in the corset, it had his signature all over it. It was made sensible by what could only be deemed as Andromeda's careful mind, she didn't want her summoner to be…basically a skank.

Aquarius had chosen the colours, I could tell by how the way she had yelled at me, saying that she didn't want the brat (obviously me) to outshine her bright colours.

Centaurus had helped out Cancer and Lyra to make the outfit, his superb aim had apparently helped do the stitching.

Man I love my spirits sometimes. And the plus was, Crux had asked to put flames along the hem of my corset and sleeves. He said it was to add a finishing touch. I love that old man.

The whole outfit was hidden by a red kimono-like dress that was so long that it hid my feet. The sleeves of my top looked like part of the dress, and the whole thing was easily removable by the long zip on my back.

I struggled away from Lyra's attempt at putting make-up on me and thanked Cancer for the ponytail braid he had put my hair in.

I kissed the two goodbye, closed their gate, and headed off to find that creepo Bora and his ship of son-of-bitch slaver traders.

Oh man, he was going down Tia style!

It was short, but at least we got that whole shazzam out of the way.

Tia and Natsu definitely acted differently than what Lucy and Natsu did. There wasn't that whole talk about what mages were and stuff, Tia knew who he was and made it clear that she would not screw around talking to him. She can be rather blunt and straight to the point. Hopefully it's now obvious that she is rather harsh and is not afraid to do something that could be considered bad. Killing animals to survive is something I don't think many of us have done.

Ah well though, hope her outfit is clear and that the characters weren't too OOC!

Ciao.