Thank you for all the support! Like always, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Bloodstained Fairy

Chapter 08

Chasing

It was that time of year again that got the people of Crocus in a frenzy of excitement. It was when they would go to the arena and cheer of their favorite guilds and mages who competed. Only some where is disarray when they remembered that Fairy Tail was not participating this year, despite the disbandment of the guild and rumored reestablishment. Yet as soon as the guild has disappeared, the members were gone and not one had seen a trace of a previous member.

Wendy Marvell on the other hand was curious about who was competing in this year's games and who would prove to be victorious. Of course she probably wouldn't stay long enough to then end of the games since other things were on her agenda now, but she would hear about it and at least say she had gone for a bit. Her main mission in this city was to track down Erza and find out what was going on exactly.

Looking over at Carla, who walked besides Wendy in her human form that was possible due to transformation magic, the two females walked looking through the city trying to find something. What it was, that was the question. Something that looked familiar, or something that was just out of place- answers they didn't have. Anything.

"What if we don't find Erza or Natsu?" Wendy asked, looking at Carla who frowned.

"We can't have negative thoughts, it won't help us in the end." Carla says, trying to offer the young dragon slayer some comfort. "We'll find someone eventually. Maybe even Lucy."

Wendy shook her head, "Lucy isn't in the town, her scent isn't even around here anymore. That is if she was to begin with."

Carla sighed softly, not liking how Wendy was acting. Carla didn't like seeing the little girl she had watch grow up so stressed and worried, but she also understood why Wendy was like this. Carla wondered how much more worried Wendy would be is Carla had told her truthfully of her vision that night.

That was a burden Carla wanted to carry alone for now, knowing that Lucy might be with something not human. It stressed Carla out, but deep down she knew the Celestial Spirit mage was stronger than she looked. Besides, creatures like those men only existed in legend.

"Where ever Lucy may be child, she is capable of handling herself. Not only is she a grown adult woman, she has her spirits with her." Carla reassured, but she could sense it did nothing for Wendy.

"I can't help but worry." Wendy admits softly, pausing in her steps. "I don't know what she did, but she did something that saved us all that day. I know Lucy didn't come out unscathed, emotionally and physically. Now knowing she had to deal with whatever that was alone, it hurts my heart and I feel guilty."

Carla smiled sadly, "Then you should know Lucy wouldn't want you to be sad or worry over her. Let alone feel guilty. None was your fault."

Wendy nodded, wanting to move on from this topic so she started to walk again. "Who do you think will win this year's Grand Magic Games? There's new guilds entering the games, so i can't help but wonder."

"I don't even know who's in the competition this year, so I couldn't say." Carla says and then stops when loud cheering came from inside the arena as the announcement gives the people a warm welcome to the last day of the games. "Wendy, I thought you said they started today not ended."

Wendy scratched the back of her head in embarrassment, "I think I got the days mixed up. I'm sorry Carla!"

Carla couldn't help but smiled fondly and shake her head, "Nothing we can do about it now but go and enjoy the last battles. Hurry now."

Wendy laughed slightly, following Carla towards the stadium where they bought their tickets for last day admission and were quick to find seats near the judges. It was like a sense of dejavu to Wendy, being back here and watching the other guilds duke it out for the top spot that would always belong to Fairy Tail. It was amusing, sort of. It did bring back good memories though.

"Look, the battle's about to start!" The voice of Jason from Sorcerer Weekly cried out in excitement, causing Wendy to glance up to see him being accompanied by another reporter. A female who looked bored.

"Yeah but it's all an act." She says, giving Jason a look.

"Not really- I mean Skull Millione's had a rocky start Zoe, but who knows? They might just-"

"That's my point." Zoe, a dark haired female says. "Sure Chrisaac's strong, but from what I see, Skull Millione's members are way stronger. They're probably a lot stronger but just hiding it."

Jason looked down at Zoe, "Huh?"

"They are more than likely just doing it for the money." Zoe added.

Wendy had no clue who these guilds were she was overheard in the other conversation were, so she refocused on the battle playing out, but to her surprise the battle was already over. "How fast, I don't know if I should be impressed and amused or unimpressed and disappointed." Carla voiced her thoughts.

"The winner is Skull Millione"s! Who knew!?"

"See, I told you." Zoe smirked up at Jason, who was still being a fanboy for the moment.

"Skull Millione! What an unexpected win, having them worth one hundred times more! Strongest Guild in Fiore!"

Wendy bristled at that, not liking that her guild at heart's title was being tarnished like it was nothing. It angered Wendy a bit, that these people forgot that it was her guild, Fairy Tail, being the reason they were still here alive and well. Yet Fairy Tail was never one to barge around to remind people of that little fact.

Around her, Carla was the the first to notice that the crowd had hushed down and whispers were starting to float around them. Glancing over at Wendy, the dragon slayer had also took notice to the strange occurrence of the cheering abruptly stopping.

"Oh, what's happening over there?" One of the announcers ask, leaning forward in his seat. "There's a very fishy guy in the ring now."

One of the members of Skull Millione had stepped up to the man, "Who the hell are you?"

Wendy frowned, "An intruder?" Then she caught the very familiar and very dominant scent she wasn't expecting now. "No.."

Carla watched as the cloaked man stepped more in the arena, as he approached the new GMG winners with challenge intended. The rising magic was alarming, and seemed somewhat dangerous to be contained in the small confinement

"It's not safe here-" Carla started but she heard a yell from that female reporter.

"Quick, we have to evacuate the people!" Zoe yelled, but it was too late since heat blasted from all directions.

In the arena, the members of Skull Millione stared the man down, and the same male member spoke up. "That's some guts you have to be picking a fight here."

"Hey isn't that the guy that's been going around…"

"No way."

"So you're Fiore's number one huh?" The man covered asked, and Wendy's eyes widen with confirmation and a small smile played on her lips.

"Who the hell are you?" The man from the winning guild demanded now.

"I'm a challenger." With that a powerful blast was shot at Skull Millione, knocking them back.

"He attacked them!" The announcers yelled, sweat going down their faces at the increasing heat in the arena.

Once again Zoe went rattling off to Jason, "We need to gather wizards that can fight!"

Wendy couldn't help but look up at Zoe, voicing her own opinions. "No you don't, there's no need to fight. Damage fees, maybe, but he means no harm."

Jason looked down at Wendy, eyes widening noticing the previous Fairy Tail member. "Why is that?"

"It's obvious who this is." Wendy tailed off, looking back over to the arena with a sweatdrop since it was literally melting. Wendy sighed and shook her head, seeing that familiar pink hair that was now too long to maintain.

"Natsu." Carla's eyes widen, and then out of nowhere Happy was floating in front of her and Wendy.

"Wendy!" Happy grinned. "How are ya!?"

"Happy!" Wendy smiled at the blue exceed. "Natsu couldn't help but fight?"

Happy shrugged in a carefree manner as he floated there in the air. "Oh man, Natsu said he had to come here and see the fight, but everyone's out of commission now.

"ANYONE'S FINE SO COME AT ME!" Natsu's battle cry rang out, as did the battle cries of the other mages going at Natsu in the acceptance of his challenge.

"I'M BURNING UP!"

"He's a monster!"

"Run!"

"Mann, he's over doing it again. That Natsu." Happy sighed, but Wendy couldn't help the little giggle, glad to see nothing had changed too much with her companions.

It was then Natsu looked up towards the three, grinning at the blue haired dragon slayer with that famous grin he always had that made him Natsu, "Yo, it's been such a long time Wendy!"

Wendy could help but smile, wincing as the royal guard came in and reprimanded Natsu before she could even get a word in. She then looked over at Carla, who Happy was surprised to see in a human tranformation and asking her about it. Wendy, despite Natsu being arrested, could help but feel happy.

"We should go get Natsu out of the Royal Gaurd's custody." Wendy says, earning an eyes roll from Carla.

"Once an idiot, always an idiot."

Yet Wendy caught the fondness in Carla's voice.

Luck is what Erza would call it, pure and utter luck. When Jellal had called to tell her that he had found Juvia and told her what was happening, it was the first good news she had heard for the past few days that were just filled with worry. In fact, a lot had been happening so fast that Erza struggled to keep up.

It was indeed Laxus who had approached her originally in Crocus, where she had been working alongside the royal guard and taking high classed missions to protect the kingdom. The Lightning Dragon Slayer then informed her of the guild being re-established, that Makarov would remain Guild Master for a year or two before Laxus would take over himself, but he needed help reaching out to the other guild members and getting their family home.

Erza knew she had a new priority, but her family came first before anything. She had already told Jellal and Laxus she would resign from her position as soon as Gray came back from his mission of infiltrating a dark cult called Avatar. Sadly Erza couldn't tell Juvia that she knew Gray was alive and well, and not being taken over by his new slayer magic. Not only that, Gray had to focus on his mission so he couldn't know this news of their family until her was done. She knew they all needed some good news.

It lead her on a new mission, to find her family and get them back home where they belonged. Mirajane, Lisanna and Elfman were also newly informed and reaching out to any others that they could to spread the words. The only one Erza has asked Laxus specifically to let her handle was Lucy.

The redhead's heart was guilty, since she hadn't even visit the blonde in the eight and a half months they parted ways. More so, since Erza left. From what Erza understood, Lucy had said she would be residing still in Magnolia. She had the bright smile, but it hadn't reached her eyes. Why hadn't Erza noticed Lucy wasn't okay? No one from that battle was okay, and Erza knew that but she didn't ask.

She had left, so it broke her heart completely when she finally went back two weeks ago with high hopes that Lucy would break out into that smile and give reassurance that she would track everyone else down with Natsu and Happy, who Erza had been so positive would stay by Lucy's side.

Yet she had been so wrong, on so wrong. Going back to Magnolia, back to Strawberry Street, Erza came to learn that Lucy was no longer there. She no longer lived in that apartment they all were so fond of, a home besides the guild were so many memories were made.

"She isn't here anymore."

Erza looked over at the shorter women who was wrinkled with age, slowly lowering her arm from where she had been knocking on the door. "Lucy moved to another room?"

"She moved from this town." The elderly woman motioned for Erza to follow, which Erza did without question. "Lucy was here about a month after you all disbanded. The girl was a mess, sad and always had the man in a suit with her."

Loke. Erza easily knew which spirit the woman was talking about. "How about Natsu and Happy, surely they have been around."

The woman snorted, "The pink haired idiot with his equally dumb feline? No, they never came around. In fact, Lucy mentioned they went training for a year or so."

Erza's eyes had widened. "They left her?!"

"Oh honey, you all left. Lucy stayed until she couldn't bare it." The woman opened a door, revealing a storage room. Shuffling around she picked up a box, and turned towards Erza. "This was what she left behind before the new tenant moved it. I didn't have the heart to throw away these things, I'm sure she has some attachment."

It had been the letters to her mother, some clothing and the photos of their team- Team Natsu. Erza was hurt to know Lucy left that behind, it didn't give her a good feeling in her stomach. Not only that, Natsu had left her alone and so had Happy. When Erza saw those two idiots again, she swore on Mavis she would supply a punishment fit for their actions.

"I didn't think you'd be back here so fast Gray." Erza says without looking over her shoulder as she picked at the strawberry cake in front of her, thinking.

"Levy and Gajeel came in and busted the cult, and busted my cover. Assholes they are." Gray huffed, plopping into the seat next to Erza and ordering a beer to nurse for a while, knowing that something was bothering his red headed comrade.

"Levy and Gajeel are together then they are still in the Magic Council." Erza hummed softly, and now Gray was positive something was going on.

"What happened while I was on that mission Erza? There's something you aren't telling me, I know you." Gray says, putting his beer down and placing a hand on Erza's arm, causing the red head to relax slightly.

"The guild is being re-established, Laxus came to me and told me himself. Now his team, myself, Jellal, Juvia- who Jellal found recently, and the Stratuss siblings are working on finding the others to bring them home." Erza tells Gray, still not looking at him.

Gray on the other hand broke out into a grin, sitting up straight. "Alright then we get to go home soon and I'll see fire prick and punch him in the face! We'll help the others locate the rest of the guild- what's wrong Erza?"

Gray had taken a quick notice how Erza curled her fist, and sensed a deep anger inside her. The redhead wanted to yell, she wanted to yell about how it wasn't the easy. Yet she took a deep breath, and looked at Gray.

"I don't know where Lucy is at Gray." Erza admitted, and she watched his eyes show nothing out of the ordinary.

"If she isn't in her apartment, good chance she's with Natsu and Happy." Gray shrugged, not to worried.

Erza shook her head though, causing Gray to grow confused. "No, Lucy no longer lives in Magnolia and Natsu left with Happy to train for the next year. I genuinely have no clue were Lucy is with, just that she's alone and that she left behind the letters to her mother and our photos as a team."

Gray's eyes widen in surprise and then he frowned as he ran a hand through his hair. "That stupid fiery bastard left Lucy behind? Not only that, you're telling me she dipped out and left those letters and photos- which kinda hurts."

"It's why I cam to Crocus, not only to resign from the royal guard but to track down a lead. I found out Lucy was in training to be an editor with Jason from Sorcery Weekly. She lived in this city Gray, had an apartment for about two weeks and then suddenly she leaves her apartment and a month a half later leaves her job." Erza had a bad feeling, it wasn't like Lucy to just leave.

Gray on the other hand understood moving out of Magnolia, but if Lucy had gotten a new place and job that she left all of sudden then something just wasn't right. Lucy never just left. The question was where did she go and why?

"I'm guess now her tracks end here." Gray muttered, earning a nod and then sighing out. "The guild would want Lucy to be there, so we have to find her, Natsu and Wendy- along with the exceeds."

This is why Erza believed luck was on her side that very day, because not only did Gray come back to her from the mission, but looking out the window of the cafe she saw Wendy. Of course the smoke and sudden yelling of other people about a monster breathing fire got her attention first. Yet she noticed Wendy, a girl with white hair and Happy going right past them towards the castle.

It all clicked then, and Erza muttered, "That idiot!"

Gray leaned back, slightly startled. "What's wrong- that's a lot of smoke outside."

Grabbing Gray and tossing money onto the counter, Erza was quick to follow in pursuit of Wendy and Happy, knowing that if Happy was here then so was Natsu. The smoke from the arena made sense and they could only be going to the castle to get custody of Natsu back.

"Wendy!" Erza yelled, causing the dragon slayer to pivot sharply and falling on her face.

"Oh child, somethings just never change with you." Carla sighed as Erza and Gray approached them.

Gray was the first to catch on to Carla's new form, "Transformation magic?"

"It's new." Was all Carla offered and the two other mages nodded and dropped the subject.

As she got up, Wendy couldn't help but smile at the two other mages with a grin, launching herself at them to give them hugs. It felt nice to be back in the arms of the people she missed, the family members she worried about.

"What are you two doing here in Crocus?" Wendy asked, but she was caught off when Gray snatched Happy by the tail and glared the blue feline down.

"What is this I've heard about you and Natsu leaving Lucy behind?" Gray muttered lowly, his question and tone causing Happy to shiver in fear.

"Natsu wanted to go! He needed to train in order to protect Lucy and the guild since Igneel was gone now!" Happy confessed faster than a sinner in church. "I tried to convince him to bring Lucy, but he said she would be fine with the guild!"

Carla sighed at the stupid cat, "The guild disbanded this past year, and now only getting back together."

"WHAT!?" Happy cried, disbelief in his eyes. "Does that mean that everyone left? What about Lushie!?"

"We don't know her current whereabouts." Erza says, motioning for Gray to release Happy, which he did. "Which won't be a problem as soon as we get Natsu out of the castle, even paying for his release, and going back to the guild."

"What about finding Lucy, Erza?" Gray asks, worried for his blonde friend.

"We'll find her after we get back and alert everyone to be aware for Lucy wherever they go." Erza paused and looked at all of them. "We won't tell Natsu of this until we are back in the guild and tell the others, or there will be no stopping him. I'm afraid of how Natsu will react."

"Guilty for leaving Lushie." Happy says, sitting on Wendy's head. "He felt bad for leaving her, but if he had known then he would have brought her."

"Promise not to say anything until we are home."" Erza says, because as much as she wanted to smash his head in for being this idiotic, Erza knew that Natsu wouldn't react well to the news of Lucy being missing and that it would be hard to control him without the other slayers besides Wendy.

"Aye sir!"

In the city of Crocus, Ayato walked around the city with Yui, Reiji, and Ruki- who had annoyingly accompanied them to explore this new world. It was no lie that Reiji hadn't allowed his brothers to leave very far from the estate, they didn't know how this world worked exactly, how many people were stronger and could give them a challenge.

Since demons here existed, were fought against and not only defeated but killed- then what more of a chance did a vampire stand? Now Reiji would never admit it, but the truth was simply obvious. In this world they could very well meet their match and see their end if they were not careful enough. Their sad excuse of a father had warned them explicitly about that when they first arrived.

Blending in was more of a challenge, and it was because of their natural behavior of being the divine beings they were and` got what they want when they wanted it. Before coming out to the city, Lucy had warned them, specifically Ayato, that they had to be careful since they wouldn't know exactly who was around and what they could do. Vampires here would be seen as nothing more than demons, and they dealt with demons quickly and swiftly. Especially in the kingdom's capital, which was exactly where they were at.

Reiji had offered Lucy to come along, but she merely smiled and told him she'd stay home. Even Yui asked Lucy to come, but Lucy shook her head and added that she told Kanato they would bake cookies, plus there wasn't anything in Crocus she cared to see that she could would know at home.

It was a bit of weird behavior from the blonde, but Reiji put it as a stage if depression or acceptance that the year was almost up, that she wouldn't just be able to leave them. At this point Reiji wasn't sure if Lucy even wanted to leave. There was something different, less yelling but more of let's work this out going on. Even Shuu was acting different, more of the household, which caused tension between Reiji and Shuu.

"Well would you look at that, the stadium is on fire were the games were supposed to be held." Ayato sighed, tossing his arms behind his head. "What the hell are we supposed to do now?"

Ruki eyes the smoke and the people running around. Lucy had been the one to mention the grand magic games, hyped it up even but it seemed a bit of a let down. Surprisingly Ruki was fine being alone with the two pure bloods and the Eve. He came to ensure Eve was safe, and because he was curious about this world.

The others on the other hand didn't care and waved him off saying they'd see it eventually. That was because Yuma didn't want to leave Lucy, and Kou was trying to woo Lucy, and Lucy didn't want to leave. Azusa on the other hand just seemed to enjoy making Kanato even more miserable than he already was.

"We can look around, maybe even take Lucy back something that would cheer her up?" Yui suggested, wanting to see that blonde smile the smile that Loke had mentioned no longer reached her eyes.

"Please keep her hopes up and remind her she has you. There's a darkness there in that house that is trying to take Lucy's light. Right now, you're the only one standing in the way of it consuming her whole." Loke told Yui as he returned her back from the Spirit World. "You're her light, Yui."

Ayato tossed an arm around Yui, looking at the other two males. "Well since the place is on fire, let's do some sightseeing for now!" Ayato, in reality, wanted to see more of this strange world without having to work on some job for jewels.

Walking past the four was a group of people who were loud and a bit rough with each other. Natsu had been getting it from Erza, who pulled him by his ear and lectured him about property damages and how people could have been hurt and how he was lucky the king let him off with a mere slap on the wrist for a warning. Natsu felt like his ear was going to be ripped right off, trying to apologize profusely to Erza and pulling away harsh enough that Erza let him go and he literally flew into someone.

Ayato had just moved his arm off Yui and took a step back, nearly growing when a body was pushed against his. "Oi, watch it!" Ayato snapped at the man who smelled like ember and a weird mix of nature.

Instead the man looked at Ayato with a strange look, and for a moment Ayato swore he saw this strange man's nose flare as if he was inhaling Ayato's scent. His onyx eyes blinked in confusion, and he went to open his mouth to say something but closed it and shook his head. No, it's not possible. She's not in this town, Erza confirmed that. Has to be that girl over there with a similar scent.

"Natsu, hurry up!"

"Sorry." Natsu muttered to the weird smelling redhead. "Coming Erza!"

Ayato frowned at that name, Natsu, and then his eyes widened in realization. The scent of ember lingered on some of Lucy's things a while back, but it wasn't a scent just anyone carried. It was a signature scent, and a name that they all knew to well, including the name Erza. It strikes Ayato in the head that the woman in armor had matched the woman in one of Lucy's photos, as did the other people.

"Reiji." Ayato looked over at his elder brother, ignoring Yui's and Ruki's looks. "I think it's time to go home, it's time to leave."

Reiji frowned, also catching the name of the man that was just here. "Let's go home then."

"What's going on here?" Ruki asked, sensing something had just happened.

"That man and his friends are apart of the guild she had come from, that disbanded." Reiji muttered, pushing his glasses up. "It's time we relocate, lets go."

It was then Natsu caught up with the group, and shared a strange look with Wendy. "Did you smell that Natsu-san?" Wendy asked softly so only Natsu would hear.

Natsu nodded, "I swore I caught Lucy's scent."

Yet when he looked back to the four people he had accidentally bumped into, they were no longer there, and strangely enough neither was their scents.

Gah! I was so excited for this chapter and I am so happy with how it came out. If I'm honest, this was not the original way Natsu, Happy, and Gray were going to be brought back in, but it just seemed to work so perfectly that I had to do it this way, and it works for the plans of the next chapter.

I apologize if the time jumps are a bit weird, but I try to state them as clear as I can through out the story! I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter, and that you're excited for what's to come as well!

If there's certain scenes you'd like to see or for me to try to put into the story, please let me know. Please leave me a review with you thoughts of the chapter. :)

Thank you for all the love and support!