Holy Sh*t, It's a real update! Yes to all those that have stuck with me during this giant lack of updates and have stood by my never posting, I'm back and alive. I will try to update more often now, since I got a new laptop (old one crashed/caught a virus, don't ask). So enjoy, I know it's a bit shorter then my normal chapters, but I think you'll enjoy it just the same. *waves to prove still living* wait… *checks pulse* Yep alive and updating.

An hour later, Natsu was being dragged by Lucy to the train station. Lucy smiling as they see Artemis standing next a train cart. Natsu sighing "Are we still waiting for Erza?"

"Yes, that red haired she-demon has yet to arrive." Artemis speaks, "I would prefer to leave without her but I understand why you do not Lucy."

Lucy smiling as Erza approaches dragging her giant cart. Artemis scowling at the extra luggage that would slow them down as the train would take them to Cedar. Erza not paying any attention to Artemis as she steps into the train's compartment with Lucy and Natsu following behind. Growling, Artemis enters, all eyes rush to her as she stalks to the empty seat next to Lucy.

Natsu groaning as the train heads towards Cedar, Artemis filling everyone in on the different pets she owned, "There were the mermaids, much like Aquarius, who followed me but were mostly peaceful. The Krakens were a bit different, they were a violent race always out for blood of my enemies."

"Then would the Kraken things been the creatures that are attacking the towns, Artemis?" asks Lucy, worry etched on her face, "And if they are will you be able to stop them from hurting innocent people?"

Artemis looking out the window and away from the harsh gaze of Lucy and Erza "I believe I will be able to care for them, but that is no promise Lucy, they may not even recognize me or worst they may believe that it is my fault they have been locked away for so many moons."

"Then why are you bothering to come along?" snarls Erza as the train stops, "We can kill them faster with you gone."

"They are my pets and have been under my care since the beginning of their time," growls Artemis "So no there will be no killing of my beloved pets! How would you feel if someone destroyed something you held most dear?"

Erza drawing a sword and pointing it towards Artemis "The only thing I hold dear are my friends…It would be wise not to threaten them."

Artemis pushing the sword away and walks towards the water front inn where they planned on staying. Lucy dragging Natsu along after her with Erza bring up the rear with her cart and everyone's bags. Reaching the inn, Natsu begins to feel better and follows Erza to the front desk to check in, Lucy and Artemis heading out to the beach to see the damage.

Arriving at the beach the pair first notices that the building that once stood tall over the sand, now stood as ruins of what they once were. The sand that once was pure white, now was stained a rainbow of reds leading to the water that once held a beautiful blue-green, now just a fade of blood out as far as the eye could see. Waves crashing, drawing the blood out and back in, bring forth dead bodies and missing limbs of those that were foolish enough to venture into the water.

Lucy gasping at the sight "Your pets did all this?"

"No, those bodies belong to my pets, but those limbs seem to be a parts of humans that attacked them" replies Artemis a scowl embedded on her face, "They got what they deserved in the end."

Looking at the normally peaceful Spirit-world Princess, Lucy is rendered speechless. Artemis sighing as she takes Lucy's hand and leads her back to the inn, meeting half way with Erza and Natsu. Natsu grabbing Lucy in a tight hug as Artemis shows Erza the true damage on the beach.

Walking to their own room, Natsu smiles brightly at Lucy, who is still in shell shock over what has happened, offers "I can get you something to eat Luce?"

"Thank you Natsu…" mutters Lucy "A small salad or a cup of coco would be lovely."

Natsu nodding before letting Lucy lay on the overstuffed bed as he walks down to the kitchen, ordering the food for Lucy and some extra for himself. Walking back, Natsu smiles as he sees Erza and Artemis talking in the gardens over some kind of drinks.

Artemis explaining "You see now the horrors that would have befallen you had I not come?"

"I can see why you came now," calmly replies Erza "It seems as though the locals left out some parts to make it seems as though they were just being attacked, but the creatures were just defending their homes and families… They are no different than me in defending Lucy and Natsu out here."

Nodding and taking a small sip Artemis adds "We just have to find where the portal has cracked and finish opening it. Once all my pets are back and safe in their homes under the sea, everything then should be fine and have worked out for the best."

Back in the room, Natsu gently pushes Lucy's blonde hair out from her face to wake her up. Lucy slowly waking up to the sweet smell of coco, smiling up at Natsu. Gently placing a kiss on her forehead, Natsu then rushes to get the door before Erza could knock. Erza walking in with Artemis trailing behind her.

Lucy sitting up with the cup in her hands, a look of concern gracing her features as Natsu gets up from where he fell as Artemis threw the door shut. Erza glancing back to see what Lucy had seen, Natsu sighing as he returns to his mates side. The two blonds exchanging a quick glance, waiting for the red-head to speak.

Erza sighing "The creatures are not the problem here. It seems the villagers have lied to get a guilds help in this matter, Artemis thinks that once the portal is opened and her pets are released everything will work out. I'm starting to believe what she says for this, this is not an attack from them. The creatures are the ones that need our help, not the villagers."

"But where do we begin looking for this portal?" asks Natsu a glint of adventure and excitement, "We should leave as soon as we can."

Artemis pulling a map out of her bag, walking to the table inside the room. Everyone following her to see the whole map laid out. Noticing a few different colored circles, Erza asks "What do the colors mean?"

"The red are where the keys could be found," replies Artemis, "But we want to focus on the blues, those will be the possible places that my pet's portals will be."

Lucy watching as Erza and Artemis discuss different options to reaching the further possible portal places. Natsu wrapping an arm around Lucy's waist, letting her lean against his shoulder as she finishes her hot chocolate. Erza slamming her fist down and yelling "If we have to search every single point, it will not be fast to go as a group Artemis!"

"Then how else will we be able to do this, since only Lucy and I will be able to open the portal together, Erza?!" screams Artemis shooting a harsh glare back at her.

Lucy looking up, offers "What if we go as groups of two and use a licrima to send messages back and forth so that the group that finds it first will be able to let the other two know right away. That way Erza we stay together and Artemis we can search more ground. Will that work for everyone?"

"Or you can use this time to look at the points where pink meets blue," offers a silky smooth new voice from behind Lucy.

Everyone turning and sees Loki standing there leaning against the far wall. Loki giving a sly smile to them before repeating himself "Or you can just look by the circles where blue and pink meet."

"What do you mean Lion?" Artemis asks, a growling undertone present, "How will looking for those points be where the portal lays?"

Giving another sly smile, Loki offers "Cause the portal and Aphrodite's key would be, think about it Artemis. Where else would someone hid a platinum key other than near a portal to another world where the only life is those that breathe and live underwater?"

"He does make a good point," offers Lucy looking back to the map, "and see there's only one point, so we all can go there and then split up if that doesn't work."

Loki walking towards the group as the other three turn back to look at the point that was shown. Far out in the ocean on a small island, Erza pulling out her map to check the actual coordinates only to find that the island isn't even on the map. Lucy checking to make sure that the finding wasn't a mistake, sighs "Loki this isn't possible, according to this map the island is the place we need to go but the other one doesn't even have any land anywhere near there."

"That would make sense, any human that would get close would forget what they saw, and" replies Artemis an evil-like glint shinning in her eyes, "My father is very cleaver."

Erza exchanging a glance with Natsu, asks "How is your father so cleaver?"

"He put that spell on those keys," answers Loki "Lucy remember getting Artemis' key, the challenges that you and Natsu had to face."

Lucy giving a visible shiver "I do, that was awful. Why would the Spirit King do something like that?"

"What better way to keep out those mages that were not strong enough to handle it? My sisters' and mine keys are great tools of power and should never be used unless by a celestial mage with great power." explains Artemis.

Natsu scoffing "I could have handled it by myself."

"Not even a Dragon Slayer has enough magic to hold their own against our key's protection," snarks Artemis "So no Natsu you would have failed before you even tried to claim my key."

Lucy shaking, Natsu rushing back to her side to wrap his arms securely around her waist and kissing her forehead. Erza patting her shoulder in a comforting manor to help ease the terror that has taken over Lucy's expression. Loki vanishing back to the Spirit World while Artemis looks out the window towards the sky, muttering to herself "Dark skies, a bad omen to those of old."

Sorry everyone, leaving it off there. Leave a review, asking a question of the characters or about anything, we love reading them and they always brighten our day and CAN possibly make updates come faster. Well I'll leave you all with that. Till next time, stay alive!