Yo, yo, 'ttebayo!

Hey guys, I've really got nothing to say either than thank you so much for your continued support. I've hit 150 reviews and it's made me really, really happy! I know that I really don't answer your reviews, but I read each and every one. I get distracted easily and generally forget about them, but it's also because some of them are so short that there's really no point in replying either than saying an equally short thank you. And there have been several instances where I write fully fledged replies and get no answer.

So, if you're sad that I haven't replied to your reviews, I apologise greatly. I love each and every person on this site who take the time to even read this story along with my others, let alone review. So yeah…cheers.

Disclaimer: New arc of Fairy Tail, and a new arc of FVH. I only own one of them, though.

Warning: Language, some spoilers, crying and wailing, sneakiness and several adorably fluffy teammate moments!

Lucy P.O.V.

"Do you understand why we've called you here, Heartifilia?"

Barely daring to blink at the imposing visage of the Second Seat, Org, I nodded stiffly. "Yes, I believe you have summoned me here to discuss the consequences of Phantom Lord's attack on Fairy Tail."

"So you say that Phantom Lord was the one who attacked you?" Michello, Third Seat of the Magic Council said in a tone I picked up to be condescending. "Because I have several reports of Fairy Tail attacking Phantom Lord thirteen hours prior; that does not seem like Phantom Lord attacked Fairy Tail."

Tilting my head slightly in acknowledgement and I continued to report in a calm voice. "The attack that you are referring to was a retaliation upon Phantom Lord's beating of three of our guild members. And, according to the Guild Lawbook, Charter Three, Paragraph twelve; 'Any and all attacks from one legal guild to another can be retaliated with no repercussions from the Magic Council; Chairman Girth Leor.'"

I tried my best to remain impassive, but I couldn't help but quirk my right eyebrow slightly. "This law was created during the beginning of guilds coming into legality so that the Magic council, who had only just been created, couldn't delve too deeply into their affairs. Guilds managed themselves and the Magic Council only interfered as a third-party when called upon, or when the situation was declared too unstable. The law has not been changed or touched during any of the Chairman's reign and still stands firmly."

"You dare!" thundered Michello, his small cat-looking body producing quite a loud shout.

"I dare," I replied firmly, "I am merely stating the law here, and I mean no ill-will towards the Council and its members."

The tiny man glowered at me, but he had no solid ground to stand on to oppose me and he knew it. Much like the other Council members who were studying me as if they had never seen me.

A low chuckle came from the centre of the chamber we had gathered in, and I turned my gaze towards the current Chairman Crawford Seam – the unknown traitor who was working for Tartarus – who looked at me with a twinkle in his eyes. "You are very right there, Lucy-san. I'm afraid we can place no charges against Fairy Tail—"

There was some very loud grumbles there from several of the Council members, but Crawford merely ignored them.

"—But I declare that Phantom Lord will be disbanded from now on, and all members who were directly involved in breaking the law that I placed – 'No guild may attack another guild' – will be sentenced to a term in prison."

There was more murmurs at this, most of the Council shocked at Crawford's rather brutal approach to the manner. However, as I locked eyes with the plump man, I knew that he was merely playing up the grandfatherly roll that people saw him use every day. No one but I and the members of Tartarus knew of his true greedy, sly and manipulative personality. And upon seeing a different sort of glint in his eyes, I knew that he was about to use another sly trick for his advantage.

"However," Crawford continued, eyes trained solely on me, "I do wish to know where your loyalties lie, Lucy-san. You have been working for us the past year and have performed admirably. Your skills have been valuable to our force and your work clean and efficient. So it was perplexing to us when, after turning down several offers to join our Rune Knights and be a lieutenant, or even a Commander of your own division, you joined the guild that has caused us so many problems; Fairy Tail."

The elderly man raised one of his bushy brows at me in a challenging way. "That does not seem to be the attitude or choice that a loyal member of the Magical would have and take respectively."

Oh, so he was trying to turn the Council on me? I believe that he was starting to see me as a threat, and when someone begins to see someone as a threat…well, they never lose that point of view. There was no way that I could return to the faithful mage that they had believed to have, not after this. But I could still retain some contact after I assure my place as someone not to lose.

"I mean no grievances to you, Seam-sama, nor to the Magical Council." I spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear, but in a level tone as to not betray the mild irritation I felt at the situation; political matters always took so long and there was too much dancing around to get anything done. "But I believe that I had established, upon your first summoning of my presence to this chamber a year ago, that I was not a working member of the Magical Council. I was, and still am, a roving mage first and foremost. My core loyalties lie with no one but my spirits, myself and the land. I may have offered a contract with you that bettered us both, and I will not subtract it, but I'm afraid to say that either than the usual jurisdictions over a normal mage, you do not own me."

Keeping my face composed as several seats of the Council glowered angrily at that comment, I continued on determinedly. "Fairy Tail was a guild that I joined for many reasons, and some that you may benefit from. You will notice since my joining that there has been a twenty three percent drop in damages to Government buildings and properties. This was due to a warning I gave to the entirety of the guild. I have only been there for a month, imagine what other changes that I could bring."

At that moment, I was rather glad that Makarov had been escorted from the Chamber after giving his testimony to the Council. If he heard what I was saying…

I was playing a very dangerous game here. I was walking the line between the Magic Council and Fairy Tail, much like I did with my family back home and whatever gang I chose to align myself with. Neither could know about my dealings with the other, and I had to make sure that I had a different façade for both. It was dangerous and tiring, true, but the rewards I would reap would be worth it in the end.

"Do you plan on doing something with Fairy Tail?" Yajima asked, one of his eyes opened to peer down at me. It was plain to see that he was unhappy with the idea, as he was very close Fairy Tail and Makarov in general, so I was quick to placate him.

"Either than making sure to keep them out of trouble?" I asked him rhetorically. "Then no. I am enjoying being with fellow mages and learning of new things and making new friends. It is an interesting experience for me, and I hold no harmful intent towards them."

Yajima relaxed slightly, but I noticed that he didn't agree with my statement; a wise old man indeed.

"This still does not answer our questions!" another Council member, Yuri, shouted. "We wish to know where your loyalties lie, girl!"

Crawford was quick to hush the man, the others tittering quietly at Yuri's loss of face, but he still looked at me expectantly alongside the others.

Repressing the urge to sigh and knead my brow, I answered honestly. "I seemed to have already answered your questions in my previous statement, Yuri-sama. I did say that my loyalties lay with my spirits, myself and the land."

"Answer the damn question!" Yuri burst out, eyes blazing as he glared at me. "You—"

"What my companion is trying to say, Heartifilia-san," Belno, the only female of the Council said softly, cutting across whatever Yuri was going to say next, "is that your answer is too obscure for his, and our, liking. Do you mind explaining your answer fully?"

Just managing to stop myself from shrugging in answer – damn, Natsu was rubbing off on me – I answered in a respectful tone to the fair woman. "My loyalties lie with my spirits as they are my pillar of strength during hard times, my nakama, and have proven to me a hundred times over of their own loyalty to me. The loyalty to myself is merely just a mantra that I must believe in myself and not let anyone else sway my true thoughts and feelings; loyalty to my own heart and its beliefs. The loyalty to the land, however, is referring to my loyalty to protect Earthland, and therefore Fiore, and all of its occupants to the best of my abilities. I am a mage to save people's lives and bring greater good to this land; nothing else means more to me than that."

A small smile crossed Belno's lips at my words and she gave me an equally short nod. "Thank you, Heartifilia-san, and know that you have my backing on your future endeavours."

Slightly shocked by her words, I only managed a deep bow as several other members around the women looked at her with peculiar expressions. "Thank you kindly, Belno-sama."

The woman waved me off, and Crawford quickly took the opportunity to take back control of the situation.

"Yes, thank you for that, Belno-dono, and I believe we have covered all that we have needed here bar one thing; Ultear Milkovich." The man paused to let several words of anger wash over the Chamber from Council member's lips before continuing on. "We have been unable to find Ultear since you brought to our attention of her true loyalties, Lucy-san. As we know of your contracts around Fiore, we were hoping that you'd be able to find us some information on her, or the woman herself."

Bowing slightly, I agreed with the man. "Is this a task you wish me to complete right now, Seam-sama?"

"After you help us round up the last of the Phantom Lord members," Crawford said. "Our Rune Knights have caught most of them and detained them, and they are going to go on trial shortly. However, Gajeel 'Black Steel' Redfox is still on the loose, as well as Juvia 'Of the Four Seas' Lockser. I wish you to find them and bring them here to be trialled."

"Seam-sama," I spoke up after the man had finished, "if I may, could I suggest something?"

"You may."

"To be blunt, Redfox has a life debt to me right now, and I wish to pull that into play. Lockser will follow anything he says as he is her only friend, but she is also someone who has a good heart; she was merely mislead by Jose, as well as Redfox."

"Go on," Crawford said, eyes narrowed at me."

Swallowing slightly, I kept my gaze locked on him as I spoke. "I wish to use Redfox's life debt to pull him and Lockser into Fairy Tail. That way, I will be able to keep an eye on them and monitor their progress. Their strength would be wasted in prison and I believe that I will be able to reform them into good members of society. That is, after they have faced their trials and have been dealt with punishment."

After some initial protests, the Council seemed to mull over my words, gazes thoughtful. Well, all of them bar Yuri, who was glaring at me, Belno, who was looking rather amused if mildly irritated at my demands, and Siegrain, who was smirking at me.

I had managed to dodge the blue-haired projection for most of my time at the Council, only occasionally bumping into him whenever I met with Ultear. The man had seemed to find my attempts amusing, and he was almost always smirking at me whenever I looked at him, like he found everything I did to be hilarious, yet also so far beneath him.

Asshole.

"I concur with this request," Crawford said finally, ignoring some last minute protests from other members. "However, know this Lucy-san; if Redfox and Lockser prove themselves against the Magic Council, it will not be only their heads on the chopping board, so to speak."

Recognising that as a dismissal, I bowed deeply to the Council before turning heel and walking out of the Chamber.

I didn't relax until I was on the cart home, with Makarov snoring lightly next to me, having fallen asleep not long after we had left the Magic Council Headquarters – I was so dead.

"Luuuuucccccyyyyyyy!"

Turning at the cry of my name, I was shocked to see Natsu and Happy come barrelling towards me as soon as I entered the guild the afternoon of my meeting with the Magic Council.

Barely managing to brace myself, I was hit with a massive hug from Natsu as Happy fluttered around my head.

After the whole deal with Phantom Lord, Natsu had taken to hugging me whenever he could. I had found it odd, but I didn't mind it too much. He seemed to find it hilarious though when I was uncomfortable with the contact, having been so long without anyone hugging me really.

"What's wrong, guys?" I asked them, my words muffled by Natsu's shoulder being shoved into my mouth – damn, I was still short compared to him!

"You disappeared without telling us!" Happy wailed out in reply, alighting on top of my head as Natsu retracted from me with an uncharacteristic frown. "We were going to go on a job and you totally ditched us!"

"Oh," I said as I brushed past the two to head for the bar – this entire experience called for a glass of whiskey – "is that all?" I ignore the twos grumpy retorts as they followed after me, both looking rather forlorn. "I was merely meeting with the Magic Council."

Both Happy and Natsu blanched behind me as I sat down at the bar, but Mirajane gave me a concerned look. "Ara, ara, what did they want, Lucy-chan?"

Sighing, I ran stressed fingers through my hair, not caring that it was messing up the neat bun I had done that morning. "They were just talking to me about Phantom Lord. I managed to get them off our cases with an old law, but I have to deal with some things before everything settles down."

I cast a shifty glance down the length of the bar where Makarov was nursing an ale, still looking as depressed as he had initially when I told him that Gajeel and Juvia were coming to the guild – he and I both could see all of the things that could go wrong with this.

"Awesome!" Natsu cheered from behind me, bringing me back to the situation at hand. "You totally one-upped the Council, Lucy! Heck yeah, that'll show them!"

"Why did they call upon you, Lucy-chan?" Mirajane asked me as she set down a whisky on the bar for me – this women knew everything. "I didn't think a regular mage would get mixed up in the political affairs."

Taking the shot of whiskey in my hands, I cradled it carefully as I answered. "Normally they wouldn't, but I'm not a normal mage. Prior to coming to Fairy Tail I was a roaming mage. That mean that I took any job that I could during my travels and completed it for less pay than what normal members of a guild would, as there's a surcharge for putting it through the Request Centre at the Council. During my travels, I kind of made a name for myself, and that caught the Magic Council's attention."

"Names?" Natsu asked excitedly as he dropped into the stool beside me. "What kind of names? Not as awesome as my name, Salamander, right?"

I cracked a quick smile at him. "No, I don't really have a solid name like you, Natsu, or even Erza's Titania. People just kind of gave me stupid titles for things I did, and most of them stuck."

"Like what?" Happy ventured, sitting atop the bar and looking at me expectantly. "I bet The Biggest Weirdo was one of them, right?"

Swiping playfully at him, I answered. "Nothing like that, Happy. I don't remember most of them, but there was some like; The Defeater of Wyvern's, Fate's Fortunate, Celestial Blade or Maiden, etc, etc." I shrugged at the three listening to me, "They're not very impressive."

"Not impressive," Mirajane repeated in a tone I picked up as incredulous, oddly enough. "Lucy, most people only get one name, how do you get so many?"

"None of them are proper names," I repeated, "and most are really unimaginative titles. But it doesn't matter," I cut off what Mirajane was going to say next, "I thought I was telling you of my association with the Magic Council?"

Mirajane flapped her hands at me with an abashed smile. "Yes, yes, continue with that!"

"Well, there's not much to say, really," I replied dutifully. "I just began to do the odd job for the Magic Council and report Dark guild activities to them. It was pretty cool – especially since I did a bunch of S-class missions when I wasn't even S-class – and I even got to work beside Rune Knights and their Commanders. I met this really cool guy called Lahar and—"

"TRAITOR!" Natsu suddenly roared out, pointing his hand at me comically as he slipped off his stool and backed away alongside Happy. "You are a traitor to Fairy Tail and me, Lucy! Siding yourself with the dark side!"

"How could you, Lucy?" Happy cried out beside him, joining in on the act – well, it wasn't an act for them.

"We've already gone through this before," I replied to them before I knocked back the shot of whiskey and revelled in the warming sensation and buzz it gave me. Nothing like a good shot of alcohol to end your day. Well, the day time, as my day wasn't going to end so shortly.

But I couldn't dwell on the activities of tonight as someone else called out my name.

Quickly slipping off my chair and turning around with my arms opened expectantly, I easily met Ryos's mad dash towards me. I turned his momentum upwards as I picked him up and flung him into the air, shrieking, before catching him softly and propping him up in my hip. "Hi there, Ryos."

The black-haired boy smiled shyly at me, but I was happy to note that he didn't wriggle to get out of my arms anymore. He had been very hesitant to let anyone touch him, but with some coaxing from me, Levy, Mirajane and, surprisingly, Erza, he was beginning to open up more.

He was still slightly terrified of Natsu after I introduced him as a fellow dragon slayer to Natsu and the older boy had gone nuts with excitement, but he still respected him.

He was most comfortable with Levy, Erza or I, but seemed to have a certain amount of wariness for Mirajane after the woman had gushed over him and coddled him to a degree that was almost smothering.

"Have you had fun with Levy-chan today?" I asked the boy as I caught sight of said girl and gave her a smile and wave. That girl was a Godsend as she had taken in Ryos while I had been recovering with Porlyusica, and was more than prepared to watch after him – as I didn't trust anyone else in this fucked up place – when I wasn't here.

When they boy nodded tiredly, I gave him a quick squeeze before tossing some jewels on the bar for Mirajane. "We're tired now, so we're going to head home; see you guys."

When Natsu tried to follow Ryos and I, I gave him a short glare. "Natus, we've discussed this; Ryos is sleeping with me now, so you can't come over anymore."

"Awww, what?" he moaned in answer. "Can't he sleep on the couch or something? I was there first!"

Shaking my head in a firm no and glaring at him for good measure, I turned on my heel and headed home, holding Ryos in my arms as he nodded off.

Of course, Natsu attempted to jump into my bed later that night, but I managed to snag him as he leapt into the air and toss him back down into the street.

When I crawled back into bed, I heard a soft giggle come from next to me, and I couldn't help but laugh alongside Ryos as I cuddled him.

He was so like my little sister sometimes that it was almost eerie. He had the same laugh like her, and the same politeness. But my sister was more of a closet spitfire than Ryos, and normally I would tickle her whenever she crawled into my bed.

Ryos was still skittish around people, and I wasn't the most touchy-feely person myself, so I think it would be a while before we got anywhere near the stage of playful fighting.

But that was alright, I thought to myself as I stared through my open window to the stars outside. There was no rush, and I was more than happy to live in the moment for now.

And so I counted the moments as I lay in the bed, waiting for the moment when Ryos would fall asleep, and then some to make doubly sure.

When I felt Ryos relax completely beside me for an hour, I careful untangled my arms from around him and slipped out of the bed, making sure not to wake him.

It had taken some time, even with my stealth skills, to learn how to not wake up Ryos with his super senses, but I had eventually learnt. And now I was putting them to use as I crept around my apartment, gathering up the bag with some food and specific items that I had prepared earlier that day.

Once I had done that, I placed the note I had carefully wrote that morning onto the small kitchen table – the only table I owned – in plain sight for Ryos to find tomorrow morning.

I cast one last glance around the room before nodding decisively and making my way back to my adjoining bedroom to where Ryos lay peacefully in my bed.

Compared to Natsu, who snored and rolled around and spoke in his sleep, Ryos was a welcome change as a bed buddy. He hardly moved, didn't drool or snore, and wasn't a ridiculous degree of temperature above the normal human range. I didn't mind having him sleep with me, after the boy had insisted that I take the bed, even though I had told him that I would sleep on the couch.

It had taken a bit of negotiating – as Ryos and I were too calm and civil to argue – before we both agreed to share the bed, much to Ryos's adorable embarrassment – I was also mildly embarrassed, though, when Natsu came bursting in one night to sleep with me and I had to explain the awkward situation to him.

'Head in the game, Tia,' I thought to myself, shaking my head softly to get my brain out of its memories and back into reality.

So, observing Ryos's peaceful face with his silky black hair flopping all over it, I gave him a quick kiss on the forehead – spur of the moment, I swear – before vaulting over him and out the window.

Landing with a soft tap of the boots I had on, I stood up, internally wincing at the pain in my feet from the drop, before heading off down the lamp-lit street that I lived in.

No one was around at the late hour, and I was thankful for that. I much preferred to walk on my own, and night time was a beautiful time that I adored to walk in. The stars lit my way alongside the lamps, and the moon was a bloated, unsymmetrical orb above my head, shedding even more light.

Sighing softly and adjusting the black cloak I had thrown around my shoulders to ward off the mild chill in the air, I headed off into the night.

3rd Person P.O.V.

Swinging in through Lucy's window, hands quickly letting go off the window sill he had used to forward his momentum, Natsu did a quick back flip before landing with his arms spread out wide. "LUCY! We're going on another adventure!"

Instead of the amused chuckle he normally got from Lucy at his actions, or even the light chidings or blank stare of disapproval, Natsu got the image and sounds of Ryos crying on the floor of Lucy's apartment.

He wasn't even changed from bed, if Natsu could guess from his messy hair and rumpled, over-sized shirt that he had been given by Lucy, along with a pair of pants that swallowed him up. His thin shoulders heaved under the black shirt – was everything Lucy owned black? – and Natsu could smell the scent of salt that meant tears, even if he couldn't see his face, what with it being buried into his arms and chest.

"Ne, Ryos…what's wrong?" Happy asked as he fluttered into the room after Natsu. "What's happened? Where's Lucy?"

The blonde wouldn't let the boy cry like this. Just a few days ago the boy had been hit by a stray chair in one of Fairy Tail's usual bar fights, and Lucy had gone ballistic. She had promptly broken up the fight after making sure Ryos was okay – just a bump on the head – before returning the favour to the culprits – including a very terrified Natsu and Gray – ten-fold by kicking them in the heads and knocking them all out.

Needless to say, everyone knew not to mess with Ryos when Lucy was around, and even then they shouldn't touch him, as Lucy always seemed to know – Happy's money was on Mirajane telling her. So it was strange to see Ryos crying without Lucy beside him comforting him.

"S-She's gone me…" sobbed out Ryos, voice muffled from within the folds of his – Lucy's – shirt. "Just like Skiadrum, she left me."

Now, Natsu knew all about Ryos's dragon and what had transpired when he was younger, having had to kill the dragon due to its insistence, and was now beginning to get mildly worried by Ryos's words.

"What? Lucy left? Nah, there's no way she would leave. She's a Fairy Tail mage, just like you, and we never leave each other behind." Natsu tried to wave it off, but when Ryos pegged a wad of paper at his head, black Fairy Tail mark flashing on his left shoulder, he began to realise that the normally very composed boy was rather disturbed and angry – which didn't mean anything good.

Upon moving slightly so that Happy could read the note over his shoulder, Natsu unrumpled the note and painstakingly began to decipher the loopy, fancy handwriting style that Lucy insisted on writing on.

But by the end of the note, Natsu wished that he couldn't read those words at all.

Dear Ryos (and probably Happy and Natsu since you guys have most likely come to my house without my askance),

Sorry I'm not here right now. I had some urgent business to attend to at my Father's Estate and I need to set things right for everyone. For Fairy Tail.

I shouldn't be gone too long, although I can't exactly determine when I will be back. Until then, stay safe and make sure that you eat well (no destroying stuff Natsu).

Sincerely, Lucy Heartifilia.

"She's gone to that asshole's house!" Natsu howled out, scowl twisting his features into sharp and brittle pieces. "What the hell is she going to do there?"

"Who's the asshole?" Ryos asked, expression still torn, but slightly curious underneath it all. "Her father? Who's he?"

Something akin to a grimace appeared on Happy's face. "He's the guy who paid Phantom Lord to get Lucy, his daughter, from us and bring her back home; sounds like a massive prick." The cat then paused, eyes beginning to well up in his eyes. "Wait…Lucy said she's going to 'right things,' right?"

"Right," Ryos responded, frowning at the absurdness of his reply. "But what's the problem?"

Happy shook his head, looking very uncomfortable. "Lucy's ideas of right are screwed up. She sees things from a completely different point of view."

"A weirdo's point of view," Natsu agreed, arms folded against his chest. "She thought that she was weak after being captured by Gajeel and beaten up by that bastard Jose. She thought that it would be better to die than spend her life with Jose – she totally forgot that me and the rest of Fairy Tail would come for her."

"Fairy Tail and I," Ryos corrected absently as he mulled over the facts that had been given to him. "So you're saying…what? That Lucy will give herself up to her father just to keep Fairy Tail safe?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Happy agreed.

The three males exchanged a look for a mere second before scattering, leaping out of the window and bolting out of the door in order to get out of the house and closer to Lucy – wherever she may be.

Lucy P.O.V.

Stretching my arms over my head and giving my back a twist to get a good crack out of it, I sighed softly and dropped my arms back to my side.

"I forgot how big this place is…" I murmured to myself as I walked up the ridiculously long driveway that led to the Heartifilia Estate. "You'd think that I would see more workers, though."

Just as the words slipped out of my mouth and I neared the large fountain that stood proudly outside of the Mansion that used to house Lucy, the main doors burst open and several people came bursting out towards me.

"Lucy-sama!" they all cried, waving their arms over their heads as they came running towards me. "Lucy-sama's back!"

I managed to get out a small 'Eep' before I swamped by a whole swarm of people that I had seen from the series. I could only remember the name of one of them, though, Mrs Spetto. Or was it Ms Spetto? I really didn't bother to memorise these people's names, deeming them useless to remember – I'm regretting that so much right now.

Completely overwhelmed by the crush of people around me, I only managed to give out small smiles and words of greetings – not much more than that.

This continued for what felt like ages, with people babbling on about changes to rooms I've never heard of, and people who I'd never met. It wasn't until a younger girl – was this the same girl who had come to my room the fateful day that this all began? – led me aside to inform me that my father wished to see me did I get a breather.

Smiling in thanks at the girl, I gestured her to lead the way through the mansion, not daring to speak lest I begin to say stupid things like 'Who the hell are you?' and 'Please stop touching me before I chop your hands off with the sword I have tucked away in the bag on my back. Yes, that's the strange bulge, right next to where your head will be kept!'

Oh God, Natsu's been an awful influence on me. When I hang out with Gray, nothing like this ever happens. We have comfortable silence between us as I might read a book, and he might make a sculpture out of ice. I'll give him some pointers about the design, and he'll amuse me with stories about how everyone in the guild was when they were younger.

Nothing was destroyed, set on fire or eaten like it was with Natsu.

Holding back another sigh and feeling a migraine start in the back of my head from lack of sleep – even though I had managed to catch up on some sleep on the train when I summoned Lyra and had her play her lyre to calm me down – I followed the young maid through the maze that was previously Lucy's house.

Shivering slightly at the thought of memories of Lucy wandering through these halls, I wished that the maid would quicken her pace, so that we could hurry up and see Jude.

But when we went to Lucy's room rather than Jude's study, and the door opened to reveal three other girls waiting with a familiar pink dress, I finally let out one of the sighs that I had been holding back for so long.

A nice looooong, exasperated sigh that had one of the maid's trying to hide her grin. I'll count that as a win against this bleak household, thank you very much.

Fuck my life.

Adjusting the heavy bodice that did barely anything to cover the unfortunate cleavage Lucy possessed (they had taken away my bandages, those merciless harpies in dresses), and brushing my fingers over my red guild mark that was on view to the entire world, I paused in front of Jude's office.

The dark, stained wooden doors glared right back at me, and my lips twisted in distaste of what was about to come. I knew this moment would come ever since I had arrived in Fiore and Lucy's body, but that didn't mean I had to look forward to it.

However, this was no time to go down memory lane or pretend not to procrastinate; I had to set this right.

My knocks echoed through the empty ghost halls and was answered by a gruff 'Come in,' that signalled me to open the doors and head in.

I bowed as I went, keeping my eyes directed to the plush carpet below. "Greetings, Jude-san."

There was an answering scoff from the man standing by the window as I raised my head, and Lucy's father glared at me with dark, loathsome eyes. "It's sama to you, Lucy."

"That would dictate that you are someone of much higher standing than me who deserves respect," I said with a sharp smile. "The only reason you have a san attached to your name is because you are an esteemed business man and only that title deserves respect; but that means nothing to a mage like me unless you're a client, which you're not."

Jude's eyes flashed angrily beneath his bushy eyebrows and he whirled around on his feet to stalk towards me. When he stood over me, nostrils flaring angrily and teeth gritted, I blinked lazily up at him, completely undeterred – I've fought monsters on a regular basis and faced down mob bosses, this is nothing.

"You—!" Jude seemed lost for words as he spat and growled in front of me, eyes rolling nearly in madness. "Why—!"

Carefully wiping away some spittle from my cheek from the disgusting man, I gave him my most unimpressed look – the one that cowed Natsu and made Erza rethink herself and her plans. "Jude-san, compose yourself; this is a very unbecoming image to be faced with."

The man's face flushed a heavy mauve in reply and he went back to gritting his teeth.

Taking the brief pause as my cue to speak, I gazed without blinking into Jude's eyes. "I am not here to fight with you, Jude-san, nor cause a ruckus. I am merely here to inform you that, by Law thirty-one of the Mage Law book, I am more than an eligible adult. This means that you have no claim over me and my actions, and that you cannot act against me in any way like the stunt you pulled with Phantom Lord. That is very much illegal, and as I am part of the force under the Magic Councils rule, I can easily detain you for that…scenario."

Smiling politely at Jude and making sure to show as many teeth as I could, I continued to ignore Jude's thunderous expression and calmly made sure that he knew his place. "You cannot marry me off to anyone without my approval, nor detain me from Fairy Tail as I have completely and legally removed myself from the Heartifilia name. I am not Lucy Heartifilia anymore. I am only Lucy; Lucy of Fairy Tail, and that's how it is from now on."

"I apologise for giving you any false hopes," I continued, bowing my head shallowly, "but I merely wished to clarify that. Now, I know that you will have your objections, and that they will be hollow, but go ahead if you'd please."

Instead of answering me, Jude raised his hand to backhand me.

I easily caught his limb, quirking an eyebrow at him as he began to speak, mouth nearly foaming in anger.

"You little wrench! How dare you speak to me like that! You ought to…"

The rest of what Jude was saying was lost to me as I tuned him out; I was not impressed by his reaction. I knew that he was a good man, just twisted by grief, but this was absurd. This was no way to treat a child, and I could feel my anger mounting for all of the hardships Lucy would have felt growing up.

It all came to head, though when Jude spoke up about Fairy Tail. I could take him disrespecting me, but Fairy Tail…?

"—You flaunting that damn mark on your skin makes me sick!" Jude bellowed at me, tugging ferociously at my hand, trying to get his hand free. "You're a little whore with a tramp stamp of a filthy, insignificant—"

The rest of what he was going to say was cut off as I punched him squarely in the mouth.

It was only half-strength, maybe not even that as I didn't want to do lasting damage, but Jude still stumbled back when I let go of his hand. He touched his bleeding mouth and nose gingerly, as if he was scared that he would somehow mangle it further.

"Never talk about my guild like that every again," I spat at him, uncaring that the beautiful carpet was turning an off colour with the blood trickling off of Jude's chin. "I don't care who the hell you are, I will tear down everything that you own and strip you of your identity. Then I'll make you watch as I burn everything you've strived for to the ground."

Totally ignoring the fact that the last part wasn't possible (by my own hands) due to the whole fear of fire and whatnot, I made several crude gestures towards the still shocked and gently dripping Jude before casually tearing my clothes off.

The dress fell in tatters to the ground and I took in a deep breath, enjoying the freedom of having no heavy cloth weighing me down. I didn't feel naked in front of Jude with just my slip and corset on; I felt free and untamed, like how I've always loved to feel, and I couldn't help but give Jude a smile as I turned away, waving my hand just like how Lucy did.

"Have fun with your company and ambitions while you can, Jude, because I'm sure that won't last much longer."

The door slammed behind me, and I walked away to furious screams of rage echoing dully through the corridor.

With that done, it's now time for the important stuff.

3rd Person P.O.V.

Gray rolled his eyes as Natsu began to groan as soon as they got on the train that would get them as close as they could to the apparent Heartifilia Estate.

He could tell why Natsu had gone to Erza to ask for directions to the place as she had plenty of maps in her possession and was able to draw information out of any person or live object ever – he shuddered at the memory of what she did to this particular man – but he couldn't fathom why Erza had dragged him along.

Until he found out that it was Lucy that they were going after.

He was more than slightly concerned, especially when the whole situation was explained to him. Then it was a matter of getting Natsu and, surprisingly, Ryos on board a train before they could head towards the Estate.

It would take hours of Natsu's insistent moaning until Erza knocked him out, and some soft whimpers from Ryos who was curled up on Erza's lap getting his hair stroked by her since Lucy wasn't there, but eventually they would get there.

A door creaked open and the dust that had gathered on the floor of the forgotten room swirled slightly with the burst of fresh air came whistling in to replace the stale, old air.

Footsteps were pressed into the dust as Lucy walked carefully into the room, but she hardly seemed to notice. She barely spared all of the odd trinkets of the room a glance as she walked straight ahead with a purpose.

Straight ahead to the doll sitting innocently on the bench with the torn canvas.

Kneeling down in front of the doll, Lucy offered her a smile before slinging the bag off her back and placing it on the ground. She began to rummage through it – careful not to cut herself on her sword – thankful that she was back into the black singlet, pants and cloak that she had worn to the Estate.

She had to push a fair few bits and bobs that she had just collected from Lucy's room out of the way before she reached what she wanted, but she didn't mind too much.

Placing the objects next to the doll, Lucy placed her hands on her knees and leant forwards to smile into the doll's face.

"Hey there, Michelle. It's me, Lucy, you're big sister. I'm sorry I haven't seen you in years…" Here, Lucy frowned deeply, her eyes shadowed by something dark lurking in the depths of her pupils. "But…something came up." She sighed deeply, looking exhausted. "That's no excuse, and I understand completely if you hate me, but I don't care; I still love you."

The doll dressed in blue stared blankly back with a small smile as Lucy beamed painfully at her. "So I want you to know that I'll be back someday. In your life, I mean. I can't take you with me right now as it means that I won't be able to have you in real flesh. You see, seven years from now a boy will come for you. His name is Midnight and he'll offer you a life in order to join his group."

Lucy shook her head sadly as she fiddled with her keys hanging at her waist. "Their plan is not good at all. They're not evil, per say, but are very misguided and believe that what they will do is right. It's not. They kill people in order to reshape the world, and not in a good way; I don't want to see that happen."

Small, innocent buttons stared into sad browns eyes, and neither smile wavered as Lucy spoke. "So I'd like it if you'd join them, but wait for me to come back. My father will fall from his perch soon, but will eventually reform himself with the merchant guild Love and Lucky. If you go to him, he will give you a piece of the Infinity Clock; I want you to hold onto it until I come back. I'll be gone for a long time, and I'm sorry you have to wait, but know that I love you and always will."

With slender, trembling fingers Lucy picked up the locket that held the photo of Layla and Lucy so many years ago and wound it twice around Michelle's neck. The golden locket hung heavily on the doll's chest, and Lucy carefully stroked it as she picked up the blue ribbon that Lucy had worn throughout the series.

It was tied in a neat bow around the doll's waist, and Lucy offered Michelle one last smile before standing up. "I'm sorry to do this to you, Michelle, but, please, wait for me. And remember that I'll always think of you, even when I'm gone."

Sparing the doll one last look, Lucy slung her bag over her shoulder before picking up the family portrait behind Michelle. She turned on her heel and walked away, out the door and into the sunlight.

The slam of the door signified the beginning of the longest years of Michelle's life.

"Hey there Layla," Lucy said as she dropped her bag down on the grass and knelt before the angel tombstone of Lucy's mother. "I know that I'm not worthy to be in your presence, not after stealing your daughter's life, but…I hope that you can forgive me. Someday, any day, please."

The blonde groaned and ran her fingers through her unbound hair, feeling tears of frustration begin to bloom in her eyes. "I-It's just…so hard, you know? Pretending to be someone I'm not. Trying to keep this secret from everyone and keeping everything from falling to shit…"

Lucy lay her hand on the cold marble of Layla's tombstone, revelling in the smooth sensation. She then leant her head forwards to rest against the stone, letting the tears roll out of her eyes and to fall and darken the stone beneath her. "I know about the future, Layla, and what it means for everyone, but I'm scared…So scared about it all. But I don't want to burden you with all of this, I just wanted to come here to apologise, and to let old friends come and visit you to pay their respects."

Rocking back on her heels, Lucy drew out two gold keys and swiped them through the air, slightly irritated that she couldn't summon three at once, and that another was missing from the proceedings.

Taurus and Cancer appeared in a flash of golden light, both of their gazes solemn as they stared at Lucy.

"Hey guys," the blonde said softly, clasping her hands behind her back after having quickly wiped the tears from her eyes. "I waited until I brought you guys here to properly verify this, and I was scared to admit it, but I'm not Lucy Heartifilia. I know that Cancer already knows this, and I'm going to talk to Aquarius, but I thought you should know Taurus. I don't care if you hate me – I deserve it – yet I hope that we can still be friends." Lucy tugged her hair with one of her hands, "Even if my existence is a lie."

"I already kneeew about yooour secret," Taurus admitted, looking slightly bashful. "I kneeew that yooou had Luuuucy-san's amazing body, but that yooou weren't really Luuucy-san."

Lucy bit her lip nervously. "Why didn't you say anything, Taurus?"

The bull shrugged helplessly. "What was there tooo say, Luuucy-san? Even thooough yooou weren't the same girl, yooou had the same compassion and love that Luuucy-san did. I was sad that Luuucy-san wasn't around anymore, but yooou were still my summoner, and I didn't mind."

"Taurus is right, ebi," spoke up Cancer, scissors tucked into his belt. "Lucy may have been our old summoner, but you have shown us more love than we've ever experienced before, ebi. Each and every one of our summoners have been cruel to us until we reached Layla." Here, the spirit glanced at the tombstone next to him, sadness evident, even with his eyes hidden behind his glasses. "Even though we do miss Lucy, you are…"

Cancer looked lost for words, and Lucy struggled beside him, unable to comprehend what was going on.

But Taurus had the answer. He lay one of his massive hands on Lucy's head, ruffling her hair softly. "You are ours."

Lucy blinked owlishly up at him from under her fringe, her brown eyes so big and lost. "Taurus…" The blonde stepped forwards to hug the bull, and the spirit easily wrapped her up in his massive arms, careful not to crush her body with his immense strength.

When Lucy let go of him, she gave Cancer a quick hug, conveying all of her feelings through the tight grip she had on him. She smiled when he squeezed back, his spindly limbs able to wrap around her and then some.

With that all done and said, Lucy stepped back to let Taurus and Cancer have a moment with their old summoner, only moving to give them candles to light and place on the ground in front of Layla's name.

They stood like that for several minutes before Taurus and Cancer dismissed themselves with quietly sad smiles and waves. Then, it was time to summon Aquarius.

Having had dreaded this moment ever since she had first arrived here in Fiore, Lucy took her time to make her way over to the nearby fountain to summon Aquarius. And when she did, she was met with the meanest of glares to have ever existed on any plane and/or dimension.

"You…!" Aquarius hissed out, tail lashing around the water in anger. "You dare summon me here of all places!"

"I'm sorry, Aquarius," Lucy murmured in reply, bowing her head in submission. "I'm sorry for everything; there's nothing more than I can say. I just wanted to bring you here to say that I'm sorry, and to show you to Layla. After that…I can set you up with another summoner, or hide your key so that you won't be bothered. I know how much you want to be with Scorpio all the time, and I'll make sure that you won't be interrupted in dates and—"

"Shut up, brat," Aquarius snarled out, slapping the water with her tail in irritation. "I just want you to explain yourself; why you took away Lucy's life so that you could have hers."

"I didn't want this!" Lucy cried out in reply, tears beginning to stream down her face as she tugged at her hair in frustration and guilt. "I didn't want to take Lucy's life away! I was dead! I should've stayed dead! This never should've happened to me! But of course it happened, because my life fucking sucks!"

Lucy kicked the fountain, uncaring that a crack appeared in the stone from the impact. "Fuck this! I wouldn't be here still if I didn't want to fix things!"

"Fix things how?" Aquarius asked cautiously, beginning to see that there was another (darker) side to the story.

Attempting to smooth down her hair and expression, Lucy blinked up at Aquarius with tired eyes. "In reality, I didn't use any magic to take over Lucy's body. I didn't even know magic was real until I was in Lucy's body; it's always been just a fantastical dream to me, only seen in books and movies and TV."

"TV?" Aquarius repeated, sounding distinctly confused. "What are you talking about? How could you not know of magic? Did you live under a rock your entire life?"

The sour look Lucy sent Aquarius showed just how much she appreciated that comment. "No, I didn't. I lived in another dimension. World. Whatever you wish to call an entirely different place governed by different rules."

Aquarius gaped at her, body movements going still for the first time in Lucy's memories. "A-Are you joking? Are you seriously going to pull my tail like that?" The spirit began to fire up, eyes blazing with righteous anger that was only quelled by Lucy raising her hand up.

"I'm not joking, Aquarius. The place that I was born was on a planet called Earth. There, we had no magic, only science and technology. There, I was also an heiress. But I wasn't Lucy Heartiflia. My name was Tiana Laakson, and now I'm dead." Lucy slumped slightly, some sort of light disappearing in her eyes. "I never did want to wake up again – I had accepted that I had died. And I certainly did not want to take over Lucy's body! I know what she has to go through, and I don't want to go through that."

Aquarius glared at Lucy. "How do you know what Lucy's going to go through? Can you see the future or something equally stupid as that?"

"Or something," Lucy agreed. "In my world…none of this is real. This whole world, the people in it, you, Layla, Lucy; they're just characters in a show. A show that I've watched and memorised. That show tells me everything about what Lucy did since she joined Fairy Tail, and all the struggles she faced. But a show that wasn't real."

"No…" Aquarius muttered, eyes widening in something akin to horror. "What the hell are you talking about? This is real, everything's real. Layla was real, Lucy was real…" The spirit sneered at Lucy, a sharp, bitter look in her eyes. "The hatred I feel for you is real."

Lucy flinched, eyes flickering rapidly. It took her a moment to compose herself after that blow to her heart, but she struck her chin out and continued to talk with an attempt at a steady voice. "This world is real, but only since I've travelled to here. Back in my world it may not be real, but here…here it's real. The friends I've made, the memories, the love…It's real to me, more than the past life I left behind, sometimes."

"Is this meant to make me feel better?" Aquarius burst out. "Is this meant to make me feel sorry for you? To cry tears over the unfairness of it all? Oh, boo hoo," the spirit sneered, "I'm a prissy little bitch whose life is so unfair. Well, I'll tell you what's fucking unfair; you taking Lucy's life!"

Lucy's fist imbedding into the fountain beside her face made Aquarius stop, eyes wide with horror as she looked into Lucy's glowering face.

The blonde was normally so composed, and to see her face twisted and screwed up, flushing a bright red was disconcerting in the least and terrifying at best. She glared at Aquarius with bright, rage-filled eyes, leaning in close so that Aquarius could hear every ragged breath that she took.

"Understand this right now, Aquarius. Never have I wanted to take Lucy's life from her. I would've rather died than done this." Lucy yanked her hand out of the fountain, keeping it curled up into a fist as she slung it by her side. "Every day I wake up to my mistakes. Every morning I look in the mirror and see Lucy's face staring back at me, fucking accusing me of stealing it. And every time Natsu, or Gray, or Erza, or Happy, or Cana, or anyone in the guild calls my name – Lucy's name – it makes me want to scream that it's not my name!"

Aquarius's lips turned, curling up slightly. "Lucy—"

Lucy took in a deep breath, eyes rolling madly. "MY NAME'S NOT LUCY!" She cut herself off, glaring down at her clenched hands. "Goddamnit, why can't anyone see that?"

As the girl hunched over, lean arm trembling, Aquarius hesitantly reached out, her pale fingers ghosting over Lucy's – no, Tiana's – hair. "Hey, brat, it's okay."

"Okay?" Lucy asked, voice muffled as she pressed her hands to her face. "Nothing's okay, Aquarius. You specifically just made it clear that nothing's okay, especially between us."

Closing her eyes briefly, expression torn, Aquarius tried to decide what to do next.

She could hold onto the grudge she had been holding for the past year, despising and loathing the person who held her key and stole her previous summoner's face. Or she could just…let it go. Let all of those thoughts and feelings she had towards Tia that were negative, and think only of all of the good things she had brought.

How she summoned Crux just to hear stories from long ago, sat down to let Lyra brush her hair, or brought out Taurus so that they could have a drink together and play games. She traded styles of fighting with Cancer, bought Plue lollipops just to see him dance in happiness, let Vulp doll her up so that she could see the vixen smile excitedly and brag about her skills. Not once did she complain about Virgo's unfortunate tick of asking about punishment, always blushed shyly whenever Andromeda doted on her, and laughed alongside Cenas whenever Sagittarius tried and failed to teach her to shoot with a bow.

Or-or even when she smiled at Aquarius, all bright eyes and teeth as she splashed in the water beside her, having summoned her just to chat and sit in the sun shining bright overhead. The water was cool against Aquarius's skin and she couldn't help but let her lips twitch upwards as she tripped Lucy – Tiana – up by wrapping the water around her ankle.

The blonde's befuddled look that she gave her made Aquarius roar in laughter. Tiana grinned back before getting up to splash Aquarius back, shrieking and laughing as Aquarius dunked her in the creek they were in over and over, breathless in joy.

Drawing herself out of the memory, Aquarius decided.

"I'm sorry," Aquarius whispered as she slipped her hand around to the back of Lucy's neck to draw the girl's head against her chest. "I didn't mean it. No matter who you are, Lucy or Tiana, you're still my summoner, and I wouldn't let you call me if I hated you."

Aquarius didn't know if what she was doing was right, but when Lucy glanced up with big doe-eyes, tears clinging to her lashes and smiled. Well, Aquarius felt that things might be alright. Just maybe.

And Lucy felt that to.

"Now with all that done," Lucy said as she disengaged from Aquarius's awkward hold, "how about we go say hello to Layla?"

Aquarius smiled.

Running over the hill, ignoring the pain in his chest and the picture-perfect scenery around him, Gray tried his best to keep up with Natsu, who was steamrolling ahead with complete disregard for anyone else.

Ryos had stumbled after them at the start, his small feet barely keeping up. Then Happy had taken pity on him and picked him up, flapping a few times to keep them overhead from Gray, Natsu and Erza running below.

They flew above Gray now, Ryos's face screwed up in worry. Gray could tell he was crying from the small droplets that were landing on his head, even though it was perfectly sunny out.

Then, finally, roofs loomed ahead. Great soaring slopes attached to beautiful bricks and windows made of hundreds of panes of glass that made up the Heartifilia household; a mansion.

"Wow," Gray muttered to himself, barely caring when Erza sent him a sharp look as she ran beside him. She opened her mouth to say something but quickly stopped when Natsu skidded to a stop in front of them, nearly causing Erza to crash into him.

"Natsu—!" Erza shouted in her usual scary way, but was cut off once more as Happy dropped Ryos to the ground beside her.

"Lucy!" the small boy called out, racing down towards the small figure draped in black that stood by a statue in front of the mansion.

None of the others hesitated to follow after him, and Gray was close enough to see Lucy's look of shock as she turned, arms automatically going out to catch Ryos when he flung himself at her. She barely caught him, fingers scrambling against his floppy black shirt to get a grip.

"Ryos?" she asked in bewilderment, brown eyes blinking rapidly as she held the boy up. "What are you doing here?"

"You were going to leave me!" the boy wailed in reply, tears slipping from his eyes and snot dripping from his nose as he clutched at Lucy. "You were going to leave me like Skiadrum did!"

Gray managed to see Lucy's body stiffen, even underneath the long black cloak she wore clasped tightly to her body, the ends brushing against her boots. "What the hell do you mean, Ryos? I left you a note saying that I'd just be gone for a few errands."

"You weren't very specific, Lucy," Erza said sternly, arms crossed against her usual breastplate. "But I'm guessing by your reaction that you aren't planning on turning yourself into your father to protect the guild then?"

When Lucy shook her head in a desperate no, arms winding around a tearful Ryos tighter, Erza smiled and nodded. "Good, I was hoping not."

"Yeah," Gray agreed, shoving his hands into his pockets, "otherwise I would've had to deal with baby flame-brain over here crying even more. I didn't need to deal with him bubbling over with tears the whole way here, and I certainly don't need to heading back."

"Hey!" Natsu protested in response, his previously morose expression that he had been hiding desperately shifting into his usual fired up facial features. "I was not crying! I just had something in my eyes!"

"Sure," Gray replied, rolling his eyes in response, "that's why you were whimpering about Lucy leaving you."

Gray could've sworn that he heard Erza stifle a giggle beside him – but that's absurd, monsters can't laugh – but he was more focused on the tears that were beginning to swell up in Lucy's already bloodshot and raw eyes.

"Oh crap," he said, holding his hands out towards her nervously, "I'm sorry. I totally just made you cry again. Shit. Shit. Um, are you okay? What'd I do? Crap."

"Idiot," Natsu scoffed, slapping Gray upside the head much to the boy's irritation.

Erza glared at them both before Gray could make a move, effectively cowing them into being quiet fast enough to let them be able to hear Lucy's choked whisper.

"I didn't realise that you guys would care."

Natsu's head snapped towards her so fast that Gray almost felt himself get whiplash, and his eyes were so intense that he was sure that Lucy would either be set on fire or melt instantly. ""What do you mean that we wouldn't care? We've gone over this before, Lucy; we're your nakama, we'll always care." The pink-haired boy stepped forwards to reach around Ryos who was curled up protectively in Lucy's arms, to grasp at her shoulders.

"Listen, Lucy, 'cause I'm only going to say this one more time; wherever you go, we'll follow you."

"Like an annoying rash you can't get rid of," Gray replied helpfully before breaking off with a yelp as Erza punched him in the arm.

But it was worth it when Lucy laughed. A horrible choking laugh that squeezed more tears out of her eyes, but a laugh all the same. And it took a few more moments of joking around, a couple of squeezing hugs and terrible puns to make her smile, but it was a beautiful smile.

Rather than the small smile that Lucy normally gave – no teeth, curved strained lips and eyes wide open like she was afraid someone would get the drop on her if she closed them for a mere second – it was one of massive proportions. Her teeth gleamed as she broke into a grin and her eyes flashed a warm brown – all gooey softness that made Gray feel like he would get trapped in it forever – so different from her usual dark ones with its brittle look like it would shatter at any moment, before she closed them from the force of her cheeks lifting up.

And that smile made Gray feel like the whole trip was worth it.

So what if he had to squish up with Erza and the baggage Lucy had brought on a seat on the train, since Natsu had to stretch on his seat to get his head rubbed by Lucy when he put it in her lap, and that Ryos sat curled up on her other side, content to be close with her? Lucy was coming back to the guild and not leaving any time soon.

And if she did, you'd better bet that Gray would be chasing after her to bring her back home.

That night, the group of five mages and one cat had a sleepover.

Instead of protesting and kicking them out for asking to sleep at her place like she normally did, Lucy welcomed her friends with open arms and let them in.

Virgo summoned herself to bring in armfuls of soft, luxurious blankets from the Spirit World, and Lyra followed her, raining down plush pillows onto Lucy's floor.

The two spirits helped everyone gather up the blankets and pillows to heap them into a great mound on the floor of Lucy's apartment, having pushed away the meagre two couches and armchairs that Lucy owned as furniture to create space. The result was a large, cosy and comfortable den of bedding that had Happy curling up to doze on as everyone began to make dinner.

It was a precarious affair, as Natsu kept trying to eat the food, Gray had no idea what he was doing, Erza was trying to make everything perfect in an OCD manner, Ryos was getting under everyone's legs, and Lucy was just trying to get the food to not burn. But it worked, somehow.

In between Natsu throwing spaghetti at Gray, the Ice mage throwing back pasta sauce in return and Ryos tossing up a whole bunch of half-raw mince, they managed to get it done.

And the food didn't taste too bad when they sat down at the only table Lucy had, or lounging in one of the armchairs and lounges. They chatted throughout the meal, trading stories and jokes and dreams for the future. Everyone ate at least a bowl, and in Natsu's case, five before they began to get drowsy.

That was when Lucy ordered it was bedtime, much to everyone's excitement.

It was then a rush to clean up, involving too much detergent, wet floors and a rather pissed off Erza who managed to get splattered with left over sauce.

But they managed to get things the way they looked before, and Lucy was happy enough to let them sleep in any manner of dress they liked – even when it meant she had to suck it up and not scream in fright when Natsu and Gray took their shirts off, and then Gray his pants.

It was late that night when they all collapsed into a heap in the rolling dunes of blankets and pillows, absolutely spent from the day's obstacles. It was rough trying to find sleeping arrangements that were comfortable for them all, as Natsu had a tendency to snore and Gray to kick, but…well, they managed, like they had been doing all night.

And so it was to having her head leaning against Erza's, arms around Ryos who was curled up on her chest, and feet slung over Natsu who hugged them possessively that Lucy found herself at peace.

So what if she was stuck in someone else's body, doomed to go through a whole lot of mess that threatened the world? And that every move that she made could have catastrophic effects? She had her nakama beside her, and that was all that mattered.

Finally, Lucy fell asleep with a smile on her face and Gray's hand in her hair as he moved restlessly; and she wouldn't have had it any other way.

Omake: Rainbow Sakura

A sharp sneeze wracked Lucy's body and she groaned pitifully. "Why the fuck does this have to happen to me? I swear to sweet Kami, I fucking hate colds."

The blonde blew here nose with a tissue, cringing at the sound. "Ugh, Lucy got it in the series, and now I've got it at the same time; Fate's a bitch."

Tossing the tissue away with a frown, Lucy continued what she was doing before the sneezing fit had started. Namely, getting ready for the Blossom-viewing Festival.

"Fuck illnesses," she grumbled as she pulled on her usual boots. "It's not going to stop me from going to this Goddamn festival. I've been waiting for this for weeks, and nothing's going to stop me from going!" Nodding decidedly, she tugged on a red sweater over her plain white top, internally thanking the God of Clothing for blessing Earthland to have jeans.

Just as she had wriggled on her jeans did the window bang open and Natsu and Happy came bursting through, landing in ninja poses.

"To the festival, Lucy!" Natsu called out, saluting the dumbfounded girl. "C'mon, we're going to be late! Get your pants on and get a movin'!" He then leapt back out the window, uncaring that Lucy had thrown a spare shoe at his head in anger.

"What did I tell you two about knocking!" she hollered after Happy who dove out of the window with a giggle, sticking his tongue out at the enraged girl as he went.

"Those two…" Lucy sighed, finished zipping up her pants before slinging her belt with her key pouch attached to it, forgoing her sword for once – although she did slide some knives into some secret pockets she had sown into her jeans, hidden from view.

Coughing twice into her hand and cringing at the rasping sensation, Lucy grabbed a bag of foods she had prepared for the day before jumping out of the window to join her partners for a day of fun and games. Hopefully, anyways.

Spinning around, Lucy clapped her hands to the beat of the music being played through the lacrima that Mirajane had brought to the park, laughing as Levy spun next to her.

The two girls were just a small part of the Fairy Tail crowd dancing to the music. Almost every member of the guild was there; either dancing like they were, sitting down and eating and drinking, or joining in games that were being played in their part of the public park.

Twirling Levy around with her hands, Lucy kicked up her feet before switching partners, grinning when it was a sloshed Cana.

"Hello there, Lucy-chan," the brunette drawled with a wink as she raised her hands over her head, curling them as she jingled her hips alongside Lucy. "How are you today?"

"Alright," Lucy replied with a slightly hoarse throat. "Could be better though." Linking hands with Cana, she crossed them over before doing several arm actions that she had learnt today, specifically for this dance.

Cana let out a small 'Ah' of understanding as she circled around Lucy, linking arms with Elfman for a quick spin before letting going to drop back to Lucy. "That sucks shit for you, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," Lucy replied dryly, twirling Cana one last time before the song ended. "It does a little bit. I mean, I don't know what you enjoy – either than booze and sexy men – but getting a cold probably isn't one of them, is it?"

Rolling her eyes at the comment, Cana led the way out of the throng of dancing people and towards where Levy, Mirajane and Bisca were reclining on a blanket.

"Howdy Lucy," Bisca called out when she saw the blonde approaching, raising her hand in a wave.

Lucy waved shyly back, still slightly unsure about the older and more beautiful girl. Bisca was nice and all, but Lucy had never really chatted to her, or even Alzack for that matter, as they always seemed to be off on jobs together – and she wondered how it took them so many years to get together, they were practically inseparable.

"Hello Bisca, Levy-chan, Mira," the blonde said as she knelt on the edge of the pink blanket. "How are you guys today?"

"Fine," Levy said with an incredulous look, "better than you I'm guessing; are you sick?"

Right at that moment, Lucy broke off into a hacking fit of coughing that left her hunched over, sniffling softly.

"Oh, Lucy," Mirajane sighed, standing up to go over and hug Lucy from behind. "You don't sound so good. You should go home."

Brown eyes shot up to meet blue, wide and shocked.

"Mira!" Lucy shouted, sounding scandalised. "I can't leave now, I haven't seen the Rainbow Sakura blossoming! I can't miss it!"

"There'll always be next year," Mirajane replied softly, gesturing to Cana to help pick up the significantly lighter girl. "And we'll tell you all about it, and take photos for you."

Lucy wanted to shout out that there wouldn't be a next year, or a year after that, or even a year after that. The next chance she would have to see the trees blossoming might be after the seven year gap, but then there was dilemma after dilemma that would most likely stop her from going. So, in the end, the next time she might see this festival would be after Fairy Tail is disbanded, with no friends to dance, eat and laugh with. She would be…alone.

Such a thought nearly brought tears to her eyes, but she managed to hide it with a series of sneezes, making sure to cover her face as to not spray her guildmates.

After the fit subsided, Lucy blinked up at Mirajane, who was frowning down at her. "Mira, I really, really want to stay. Please…" Attempting to do the puppy eyes like Natsu always seemed to do to her, Lucy was crushed when Mirajane firmly shook her head, completely unaffected by her attempt.

"No, Lucy, I'm not letting you stay here. You look pale and tired; you're doing yourself no good staying here." The ivory-haired girl placed her hand against Lucy's forehead, her frown deepening as she did so. "You're burning up, Lucy. You're nearly hotter than Natsu."

Just then, Natsu popped his head into the group of girls, Happy not far behind him. "Someone call my name? Who called upon my awesomeness?"

"Oh good," Mirajane said, turning from Lucy to smile at the attentive Natsu. "You can take Lucy back to her house for me."

"Take her back?" Natsu asked with a wrinkle of his nose. "Why the hell would I do that when I can stay at the festival and have fun?"

A dark aura surrounded Mirajane as she continued to smile at Natsu. "Lucy's very sick, Natsu, and she seems determined to stay here. I need someone strong enough to drag her back to her apartment and make her stay there, and you're the perfect person for that." The darkness began to writher. "Right?"

Wisely, Natsu swallowed down his protests. "A-Aye! I'll be quick!" And before Lucy could protest the boy was swooping forwards to pick her up in his arms in a bridal carry.

Natsu bounded across the open park lands, ignoring his guildmates questions and Lucy's loud protests from his arms.

"Let me go, Natsu!" Lucy yelled out, attempting to roll around in his strong grip. "I want to go back to the festival!" She attempted to say more, but had to break off in order to curl up and cough; it felt like she was coughing up her lungs as it hurt so bad.

"Geez, Luce," muttered Natsu as he dashed through the streets of Magnolia that led away from the park, "are you dying here?"

"Yes, you ass," the girl croaked back in reply, irritably rubbing her dripping nose. "But I'd die happily at the festival rather than at home."

Natsu ignored her as he ran through the mostly abandoned streets of Magnolia, quietly thankful that most of the town had gone to the festival.

As if sensing that he wasn't going to be convinced, Lucy let out a soft sigh and went limp in his arms. She only coughed occasionally as Natsu ran, but shortly her eyes began to droop from the usual dizzy tiredness that she associated with sickness.

She was barely conscious when Natsu scrambled up the wall into her apartment, one arm easily holding her against his side as the other pulled him up the brickwork. He made sure to kick his shoes off and tug Lucy's off for her once he jumped into her bedroom before carefully placing the girl down onto her bed.

She shivered slightly, but a slight sheen of sweat was covering her brow. The blonde rolled over and curled up into a ball, hands clamping the crook of her opposite elbows. "Jesus Christ, it's cold in here. What the hell? Has Gray been here recently?"

"He better not have been," replied Natsu as he stood over her, brow still furrowed deeply in the frown he had been wearing the whole dash here. "But, hey, shouldn't you get under the covers if you're cold, weirdo?"

"Yeah," Lucy chattered back, lips trembling slightly as she scrabbled at her thick, fur blanket. "But could you grab me my cloak from my cupboard? The black one?"

"The one you wore when you went to your asshole-ish dad's?" Natsu asked as he made his way over to a tiny cupboard that housed most of Lucy's clothes.

Lucy made a grunt of confirmation as she burrowed under the blankets, her flushed face only just visible. "Just chuck it over the bed in case I get colder; I always get the chills when I'm sick."

Natsu's face twisted in a mockingly appalled face as he dumped the heavy cloak onto her bed. "Do you need anything else, princess?"

"Fuck you, Natsu," Lucy replied in a rough voice as she dragged the cloak over herself to make a small den of clothing and blankets. "Now, go back to the festival and enjoy yourself. Do it for me, okay?"

Taking one last look at Lucy's hopeful brown eyes shining from her nest of warmth, Natsu nodded and gave her a crooked smile. "Hell yeah I will! That's what partners are for, right?" Without waiting for an answer, Natsu dragged his sandals back on before leaping out of the window to head back to the festival. He did manage to hear a 'Lucky bastard' before he ran out of earshot, though, and couldn't help but frown once more.

Lucy P.O.V.

Blinking blearily, I felt the slow transition from sleep into wakefulness speed up, causing me to instantly become aware of the pounding headache still lurking behind my sleep encrusted eyes.

"Hot damn," I grumbled as I untangled a hand from my blankets to rub at my eyes. "My head hurts…But what woke me up?"

A quick glance around the room revealed no presence of any of my guildmates, not any of my spirits. So nothing in my apartment had woken me…

Then, almost like a strike of lightning to my brain, did I realise that my room was flush in an array of colours that danced and spun across every surface. Reds mixed with blues to create vivid purples, and yellows chased splashes of green around and around.

I couldn't help but let my jaw drop in amazement and realisation. "No…way…"

Quickly tossing my blankets back and nearly falling out of my bed, I managed to scramble closer to my window, pushing my hands against the windowsill in order to lean out further to gawk at the sight below.

It was obvious night had long since fallen while I had been asleep, and darkness blanketed the whole of Magnolia, only broken up by pinpricks of stars. And the giant Rainbow Blossom tree that was floating down the canal beside my house, bathing the street in beautiful, ethereal light.

"Oh my God…" I breathed as I took in the amazing sight, barely able to believe my eyes – much like the people in the street below who were gathering to gawk and point at the sight. "N-Natsu…Did he…?"

Barely daring to hope, I removed myself fully out of my blankets to lean almost completely out of the window, swishing my head from side to side to survey the entirety of the street and the soft rain of petals that the Rainbow Blossom left behind.

There. Almost invisible in the crowds of people continuing to gather in the street, his pink hair flashing dozens of colours as dozens of different coloured petals were caught in its unruly spikes was Natsu. He was a fair way down the streets alongside Happy who was floating beside him. I was wearing no shoes, and dozens of people separated me from him, but I didn't care.

I had to get to him.

Jumping recklessly from my window, I landed in a crouch on the ground, hardly caring when I scared several pedestrians into scattering beside me.

Standing upright, I began to run towards where I had seen Natsu. I had to weave my way through the crowd and I was pretty sure I knocked a fair few people over, but I still didn't care. The only thing I cared about was seeing Natsu and thanking him for this one chance; this singular chance to see something so beautiful before everything fell to shit.

I think I cried a little as I ran, the cobblestones sliding underneath my feet as I raced on underneath a starred and petal-filled sky. But that didn't matter as I burst through the last throng of people, whipping my head around wildly to search for Natsu.

Petals fell from my hair into my face, but they didn't obscure me from the knowledge that Natsu wasn't here.

Panic bloomed in my scratchy throat, and I coughed as I ran on towards the outskirts of Magnolia.

Just as I thought I'd be running off into the forest that fringed Magnolia to search for him, I caught sight of a long white thing go swaying behind a tree at the corner ahead, trailing rainbow petals behind it.

Heart jumping high into my throat, I poured on the speed to race around the corner.

I was greeted instantly by the sight of Natsu, petals still caught in his hair and wrapped around his throat alongside his precious scarf like a necklace of shining gems.

Something bubbled up my throat; warm and explosive, like a stream of fire. It came out in the form of a scream of his name, and I launched myself at him as he turned, his surprised expression caught by the light of the stars and petals.

I crashed into him and wrapped my arms around him, squeezing his arms for all they were worth. My face was buried into his chest, but I barely seemed to care through the happiness that pulsed through me, rippling and waving like a flame.

Someone had done something drastic and wonderful, just for me. Just for ME! Me, and only me. It was – strange, foreign, unknown, daunting – pleasant. But at the same time, it was so much more than that.

It stretched out before me, a hundred thoughts that made up this one feeling, but I couldn't quite grasp it. I didn't have the memories and experience to back up these thoughts and that made me frustrated, but at the same time…I knew that I'd eventually get it. Someday, I would understand.

So I simply smiled and laughed when Natsu spluttered out my name, Happy screeching out my name in surprise beside him.

"Thank you so much…" I said in reply to all of his blusters, beginning to blush slightly at out close proximity – perhaps I should let go now? "Thank you so, so much for that, Natsu. You don't understand what that means to me."

A nervous chuckle sounded from above me, and I smiled when I felt Natsu's arm go up in the grip I had it in, without a doubt scratching his head in that sheepish way of his. "W-What do you mean, Luce? I didn't do anything!"

"Nope!" Happy said, voice also tainted with anxiousness. "Nothing at all."

I simply laughed again before leaning back out of my one-sided hug with Natsu, blush still planted firmly into my cheeks. "Sure you didn't, guys."

Still smiling, I reached dup to drag Happy out of the air and into my arms. I gave him a small cuddle as I rocked him, making sure to rub at all of his sweet spots to make him purr. "Even if you 'didn't' do it, thank you so much."

"For what?" asked Natsu in a confused tone. I could feel his gaze boring into me as I stared down at the happily purring Happy. "Seriously, Lucy, what?"

Looking up into his eyes that seemed to reflect the stars above, I absently brushed a petal from my face, internally marvelling at its magnificent shade of blue. "For caring."

Natsu cracked a grin that made his incisors shine. "That's what—"

"Partners do," I finished for him with another small smile. "But still, thank you."

Natsu rubbed his hair sheepishly. "Any time."

I nodded. "I know; I trust you."

The smile that Natsu gave me in return, surrounded by leftover rainbow petals made me blush in return, but I still didn't care; he was there for me, and that's all that counted.

Holy shit was that long!

I'm sorry there wasn't any action or anything of the likes in there, but I tried to give you as much friendship fluff as I could to make up for it.

Now, as for the omake; take it as you wish.

You can think of it as a romantic scene as I know many of you will, or you could simply call it the true beginnings of their best friendship; I'm intending on making them more closer than the canon Natsu and Lucy, as Natsu's very protective of Lucy, and I reckon he'd be doubly so with Tia as she's more frail emotionally. And she enjoys all of his antics and laughs at his stupidity, unlike Lucy, and does a whole heck more stuff for him; they'll be close, even closer than Gray and Tia, perhaps.

The agenda for the next chapter, however, will be much like this one.

It'll be dealing with some small problems again, as well as the Loke arc. They'll also be the Changling omake as requested a long time ago by one of my reviewers, and might have a sneak peek into the main characters minds about Tia and her actions. The Tower of Heaven is beginning after that, but I'm planning to do an entirely different direction for it, so don't expect canon stuff really.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed and I'll try and see you soon!