A/N: I officially am changing the name of the currency. I named it off the top of my head, however when I started reading the second Harry Potter book (for the first time in my life mind you and with a year in between from reading the first one) I realized what they meant. I honestly had no idea. From now on the currency will be called tikkers which actually feels more right for this little AU I'm creating.

Now for shout outs and personal thank you's: FairyTail9908, Roxie14, Marudiaz, tkitty23, Avetho and PerfectlyStrange. It makes me so happy that you guys are enjoying it as much as you are.

Also as promised my personal thank you to my followers:Benzy5115, Forgottenwulfe, blackdragondemonise10, fairytalesandreality, skelekc, Fairytailfanatic123, Lucy Usui, Lucy the queenofstars, MPHBC, SoraSoraNoMi, okaysunshine, Kirinah, mizuki-ryuuzaki, VivaLosTacos21, cjoy3646, Lilith Jae, Melsono, NuttieNyxie, Loso, booklover551, MissAlexxis, CeriseUnderwood1996, hapiflower, onelongstarrynight, Kisa7221, Ray Akaba 210, EnkuP, rigaryuna, takeagamble27, AbstractAbsent-mind, Celistastar, Karsyn1p2, NaLu1411, cureheart1023, FairyTail9908, Mekutakito, Valerie Gambino-Snyder, jachyra84, marudiaz, tkitty23, Avetho, Kimiga, Roxie14 and SaraphinaK!

Disclaimer: The story is mine the characters are not.

Chapter 5

Monsters Suck

Three months since Natsu entered her world, one month in that time since she started seeing…things. Things she couldn't explain, particularly around the enigma. Lucy swore her mind cracked, when she caught glances of an invisible outline with a blue color, hanging around him. Like now while sitting across from him at the cafeteria next to Levy, watched as the invisible thing floated around his head.

Levy noticed the odd behavior and stopped eating her green bento of onigiri. "You okay over there?"

Lucy sat with her fork midway to her mouth watching it bounce around, float, do twirls. "Uh-huh."

Pink hair that couldn't be concealed by magic, watched with now brown eyes because of said magic, noticed. How could he not because she made it so damn obvious. He decided that the best course of action would be to play it off with a cool attitude. "You look like you're looking at a ghost." He finally mastered relaxed speech. The teens here were weary of him for weeks because he spoke so properly. He decided a change was in order.

"Uh-huh."

A deep masculine voice came in from behind them. "Since when, do you see ghosts Lucy?"

Turning to face him ignored the inquiry, not wanting to explain nor admit it herself. "Hey Gray, been a while since I've seen you during lunch hour."

He waved it off and laid down next Lucy with his feet at her thigh. "Eh, Mr. Dacker needed help grading papers in AP science. I'm the only student he doesn't have in any of his classes and being the nice guy I am, helped him out. You must be Natsu, haven't seen you around either." With his arms behind his head chewed on a toothpick he swiped from the lunch-line previously.

Lucy decided to answered, figuring it would be better if she did. "That's because he's usually in class playing catch-up from the first half of the semester. He finally caught up yesterday and is free to play with the rest of us."

"Sweet." He stared at the empty ceiling bored, but thought of what would normally be a genuine concern. "Any trouble with Kinto?"

Leaning back to see his face, gave a fatigued response laced with a hint of relief. "No, he hasn't been bothering me since Natsu's been walking me home."

"Oh yea, forgot you told me."

It bothered the hell out of Natsu. Something about this character reminded him too much of a certain winter spirit. At the time he always felt that he was his greatest rival and even though he hated to admit it, his closest friend. The few times they met on earth was to battle, especially when they argued over who's seasons were whose. Particularly spring. Spring and Summer were his domain; but winter would somehow manage to go past it's "due date" making the season longer than need be.

It didn't make sense why Gray looked and acted so much like him, as far as he knew the others weren't affected by the curse. 'Then again…' he thought and realized he hasn't seen nor heard from the other "spirits" in centuries. It could be that the curse had a delayed effect. Natsu decided to find out in the only way he knew how.

"Eh, I'll get to top class in no time."

"Ha ha, that's rich. No way you can get to my level."

"Tch, listen to this ice-cube acting all high and mighty."

Gray bounced up instantly at the bizarre insult. "Ice-cube…ICE-CUBE?!"

"You heard me, your attitude is colder than dry ice in subzero temperatures."

Lucy was about to step in when the oddest thing happened, Gray who was normally so calm, collected and mature rose to the bait.

"Now listen to me flame brain. You think that you, a newbie, can come into MY school and challenge ME like that? You have another thing coming."

"Yeah, I'm challenging you for top spot." Natsu stretched and watched Gray calculatingly with one eye open. "I'll get there in no time, all my teachers tell me I have straight A's."

"You wanna have a go? I bet you cheated and are nothing but hot air and melted bronze."

Natsu's response was a dangerous grin that showed off his unusually pointed canines. His magic could hide many of his otherworldly features, but teeth wasn't one of them.

Lucy stood up with her back straight as the bad insults started to grate on her nerves. Unable to contain her anger snapped at both of them, hitting them both in the head hard enough to get their attention."Alright! That's enough! You're starting to scare both Levy and I." For emphasis pointed to a very dark spot in the cafeteria. "Knock it off or I'll send you both to the corner." Lucy thought that might set them straight for a bit, it was a gamble on her part, so she waited for the results.

In unison both Gray and Natsu replied with a "yes mam", which satisfied her.

"Good, now let us go Levy, we need to leave these two love birds alone."

Weirdly they were again in unison. "We are NOT love birds."

Delectate hands waved them off as her soft voice retorted from afar. "Could have fooled me."

Levy waved them off herself, a little freaked out by the display. When they were out of the cafeteria and back down the hallway made of dark oak, wooden floors, built in lockers with rose gold lining around the door to each one, she finally spoke out of fake concern. "You don't think they're gay, do you?"

Laughter ensued from both girls, but Lucy did manage to respond after about a minute. "No, but that was strange. It had me questioning them too. What lame insults."

The young scholar began to mock them as the young writer joined in pretending to be Natsu.

::***::

Damn club meetings. Since she was part of a literature's club on Tuesday her and Levy would normally leave around five; but today Lucy needed to stay later to catch up on homework and lost track of time getting out closer to nine. Exiting the now closed library, noticed how dark it became and suddenly missed Natsu. She now felt spoilt with him walking her home all the time, her demeanor saddened as she hugged herself close against the biting cold, doubting he waited for that long and figured he went ahead on without her. She didn't want to bother calling Gray and regretted telling Levy to leave without her.

Brown eyes skimmed the area, only now noticing the school's age. In this instant more than ever, she was positive it was haunted. Everything looked like light had vanished, replaced by the thickest ink on dead leaves, that long lost their color. Even worse, the street lights close to the school building, were out. Struggling to see anything put her hand in front of her, fumbling about.

Whispering to herself, trembled as the damp air bit through her clothes, making it feel as if she were naked and bare. Struggling with shaky legs, began to jitter with intensity when a hearty gust of icy wind blew against her uniform and deep blue scarf. "Where is Natsu when you need him…" Deciding she didn't have a choice, began a slow lonely trek home, when anxiety kicked in causing her pace to quicken.

Finally about to turn the corner of the gate, picked up a long figure moving in the shadows walking backwards on its hands and knees. The only source of light was far in the distance down the road, illuminating just enough to reveal unwanted details. It had long stringy dead black hair and white circles in place of its eye sockets. Lucy froze as it slowly turned then changed speed, just as a hand grabbed her shoulder back through the gate and pinned her to the wall.

A strong hand covered her mouth while putting an index finger in a shushing sound and shook their head no to keep her from screaming, hoping she could see it. He watched the evil spirit look around for its lost prey. Putting a tight hold around her waist, brought them further into the corner where they couldn't be seen. It entered through the gate, quickly moving its head back and forth on a twisted neck.

Being so close to this man's chest felt his heartbeat that seemed to thrum with hers. Not knowing who it was at first felt him shift in the darkness as he placed his free hand on the concrete. From his fingertips, a natural warm light cascaded down the wall in five streams, briefly illuminating strong features, that traveled across the wall as if hunting the unnatural parasite.

It was then she could breath a little better knowing it was Natsu.

Too busy staring at her protector missed what caused the shadow born creature to shriek in pain, as it ran up alongside the academy walls into the oldest part of the school building long since abandoned.

Lucy saw it for a split second, the light that cascaded down that wall revealed an unnatural eye color, though it didn't register to her yet as tears welled up from fear and disbelief. Her brain immediately went into rationalization but it came out as incoherent mutterings instead.

To calm her ramblings Natsu embraced her by holding her head to him as he caressed her back tenderly. "Shhh it's alright I'm here, I'll explain things later. You're coming with me to my dorm tonight, it's too dangerous out."

Lucy shakily nodded her head up and down.

Taking that as good an answer as any, hunched down to give her a piggyback ride, which she readily accepted.

The walk home was eerily silent as Lucy hid herself within him as much as possible to prevent from seeing, what she was starting to feel everywhere. There were countless evil spirits on the school grounds, why she only now started noticing them, she'll never know and wished this new awareness would go away.

A warm gentle voice put her more at ease. "Don't worry, they won't harm you with me around. We're almost there."

"Mmhmm…"

Natsu felt the night grow colder, there was no moon out plus the cloud cover blocked any stars, beginning to feel uneasy himself ran to his dorm. Eventually they arrived safe and intact. The dorm leader warned him no girls were allowed, but Natsu's explanation of outrunning a homeless person who tried to grab her then stalked them home, left little room for debate. The dorm leader couldn't disagree with his actions and allowed them in. Lucy shuffled down to stand instead of his back, but he held her hand leading them to his room when Gray came up running.

"What happened? I'm about to go to sleep when I hear that Natsu is bringing a girl; causing mayhem. What. Happened…"

Natsu scanned the area seeing everyone on his floor and some others eyeballing him. "Uggghh, both of you get in here." Grabbing both people by the wrist and unceremoniously tugged them to his room; locked his door with a breathy sigh.

Still a little shaken, Lucy sat on Natsu's bed and wrapped herself up within his warm cozy red and black comforter.

Grey not at all too pleased with her state, barked at both of them."Alright, explain."

Doing a double take for Happy, who fortunately was smart enough to hide calmed enough to let the two of them explain as best as they could to their worried and irritated friend.

"I came out after finishing my homework, quickly I might add, around five knowing club was today and waited. I didn't expect for her to get out at nine and fell asleep in a comfortable spot in a corner next to the campus gate. I woke up when I heard her pass by and saw that thing... It was so dark, no wonder Lucy missed me. I'm sorry, I was careless." He was not only apologizing to her, but almost to Grey as well. From all he knew they practically raised each other.

Gray watched them, it had been four months and these two acted like they've known each other for years. "What…thing."

Natsu crossed his arms, placed his weight more to the right and gave a sharp stare in the man's direction. "Grey, have you ever seen an evil spirit so strong its tangible to the naked eye?"

The person in question had to think on it. He has seen strange phenomena, but nothing science couldn't explain. "Those exist? Lucy you don't believe this hogwash, do you?"

"If I hadn't seen it myself, I would agree with you. All I know is it scared the living shit out of me, and I never want to stay that late at school ever again."

"That bad, huh? Well if you say you saw it, I believe you. I'll go make you your favorite hot tea."

"But don't you live on the fifth floor?" They were on the third.

"Nah, don't sweat it Luce, anything for you."

After he left Lucy stared at Natsu, while Natsu sat against his door. There was a silence that lasted a good five minutes till eventually Lucy found her voice.

"Thank you for protecting me like that."

"I wasn't going to let some evil spirit kill you. What kind of man would that make me?"

"… Thank you anyway..."

"Don't sweat it."

A few more minutes passed of awkward silence before Natsu finally thought of an idea. "Well this is the pad, not much but its mine. This is our first sleepover and tomorrow we're playing hooky. It's gonna be a four day weekend baby. I have smore's I bought with some tv dinners. We can do whatever you want." He was more excited than she could have possibly realized. He and his moon only had a few nights together before magic on earthland couldn't sustain their corporeal bodies anymore. Plus, she was here in his bed, he couldn't have wanted for more.

Till Gray walked in with Lucy's jasmine hot tea in one hand, a toiletries bag on one shoulder, backpack on the other, with a sleeping bag and pillow underneath one of his arms. "Lucy, your tea. No way in hell am I letting you sleep in this jackass's room by yourself." He dropped his bedding down that landed with a hardy thud. "Gonna argue with me?"

Oh yes, how Natsu wanted too. The only reason why he didn't was because he missed his old friend and decided that the only way to be completely positive about Gray's identity, currently he is 5 percent positive, would be to spend more time with him.

Giving a false smile and an annoyed eyebrow raise, relented. "I guess it's a mini party. We're also playing hooky tomorrow, we're getting close to all Hallow's Eve. It's going to be dangerous for us this next couple of days. It's better to bunker down and sit tight for a bit."

"...No way in hell are you keeping her here that long with just you two. But a four day weekend sounds awesome...with all four of us. Lucy call Levy." Tossing his cell-phone, which was caught by the girl in transit, continued. "If she wants to come over, I'll go get her."

Lucy thought about it and figured it would be a good idea. If she didn't then Levy would get extremely worried, if she wasn't already. "Okay."

The call lasted a couple of minutes, followed by Gray leaving to pick Levy up from the girls' dorm. Natsu readied the smores and got a Miyazaki film for them to watch. He realized, that he was a movie fan. He binged watched everything he could. Being in the sky, you watch time pass and see the advancements of technology without the ability to interact or enjoy it. To him he felt like an incredibly old man, with simple pleasures, catching up with youngsters.

By the time Natsu got back from his floor's community area, Gray returned with Levy who snagged some things for their extended stay and demanded a detailed info dump. When the two parties involved finished their tale, even Levy was extremely creeped out.

"No wonder you didn't want to go back out tonight, I've seen similar things eeeehhh, creepy. So Natsu, which Miyazaki movie did you pick."

"Spirited Away."

"How ironic of you…"

"Eh, I figured we could use a classic." Even after mastering teen speech patterns, there were still those rare times when he would slip. "When one has a deadly experience of great proportions, it is often wise to use said experience as a way of laughter, so your spirit is more at ease with the ordeal. Fear is of the mind, to no longer be afraid, we laugh instead thus conquering our fear. Doing this we realize what we were so afraid of was no more than an exaggeration of our own minds."

All figures in the room gawked as if he grew eight heads. "What, can't handle old world wisdom?"

Gray smacked him upside the head. "Just shut it and put the movie in."

"Watch it snow brat. I'm still up for that fight from earlier." Just as easily as it had come, he switched back to relaxed patterns and continued to argue back and forth with the man as he turned everything on allowing the disk to load. It wasn't long before the studio Ghibli logo popped up.

Lucy gawked at his hook-up. "Where do you get the money for all this?"

"I work too ya know, got a really good job as a waiter and I don't have what you guys call bills, so I spend it on what I need or want. Plus, I have quite a few scholarships handy. The scholarships pay for the dorm and school supplies and whatever else is needed, and I use the money I earn for everything else."

Everyone looked at him dumbfounded till Levy spoke up. "But…you've only been here four months, I'm impressed you've gotten acclimated so fast. How did you do it?"

"I got a few magic tricks up my sleeve and everyone likes me."

Gray raised his hand, "Can I be excluded from the word "everyone"?" The comment earned him a smack in the face with a pillow from Lucy.

After the first pillow was thrown, s'mores and movies were forgotten as a pillow fight ensued. Eventually everyone tired themselves out, earlier events of the night temporarily forgotten.

A/N: I've decided that my shout outs for my favorites and follows will be at the end of the chapter to keep from crowding the story. Also I have a couple of reviews:

Ashthenerdystargazer: I sent you a pm :D Also I'm thinking about further explanation for the freakish and outlandish climate change.

tkitty23: Thank you :D I actually have more ideas for this one more than my other one. So the other one is on pause for a bit as I continue to write for TOTL.