IMPORTANT: I DO NOT OWN THE COVER PHOTO OR ANY OF THE FAIRY TAIL CHARACTERS/PLOT; ALL CREDIT GOES TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS!


~3rd Person P.O.V.~

"WE'RE BACK!" Natsu roared as he kicked the guilds doors open. "Mira! Get the stamp ready!" The pink haired boy grinned as he pulled Lucy over to the bar. "Oh? Have a new recruit do you Natsu?" The silver hair barmaid giggled as she pulled said stamp out. "Two actually." He nodded his head. "What color and where?" Mirajaine smiled. "My names Saiya! Can I have my mark in gold, on my back?" The silver exceed asked in pure excitement as she landed on the counter top of the bar. "Of course!" After getting her stamp Saiya flashed it to Happy, who in turn showed her his own guild mark. "And you?" Mira turned her gaze to the blond and had trouble holding back a devious smile as she spotted her hands linked with a certain fire dragon slayers. "Lucy, and uh, surprise me." All to eager, Mira snatched up Lucy's right hand and pressed the stamp to her skin. "Perfect. Don't you think so Natsu?" The woman asked as she revealed the pink mark. "Yep!"

"So the idiot flame brain finally returned? And with a little girlfriend too?" A certain ice mage sneered from behind both slayers. "She's a holder mage though, such a shame. Of course a strong girl would never get with someone like you. All she's good for is being pretty." Gray smirked. "What did you just say?" Lucy all but growled as she turned around to face the raven haired male. "Hit a nerve, did I?" His expression turned smug as Lucy's anger became evident on her face. "Or perhaps you're just embarrassed because you know what I'm saying is true?" Gray only added fuel to the fire as Lucy's eyes began to burn with a bright golden hue after releasing the hold Natsu had on her hand. "Are you lookin' for a fight stripper?" By then all of the guild was interested in the scene playing out before them. "And if I am?" Gray challenged. "This could be bad.." Saiya frowned as she hid behind Mira's shoulder. "How so?" The barmaid asked in confusion. "Lucy hates it when people insult her spirits because they're more than that to her. Her keys are all she has, they're the only family she has left." The exceed explained as her frown deepened.

"Lucy protects her family at all costs, even if its just their pride." Tension rose thick as Lucy took a step toward the raven haired mage while she narrowed her eyes into a deadly glare. "Listen up you ugly little boy. Say one more nasty thing about my family and I'll end you." The blond snarled exposing her sharp canines. "Your. Spirits. Can't. Do. Anything." The next thing Gray knew he was launched into the wall on the other side of the guild by a giant, talking, bull. "Miss Luuccy you're lookin' mighty fine this morning." "Why thank you Taurus." Lucy smiled fondly up at her spirit. "Ice Make: Hammer!" "Celestial Dragon Star Shield!" Everyone's eyes widened as the hammer of ice shattered upon contact with the golden shield. "Celestial Dragon Iron Fist!" Gray's eyes widened as he barely dodged the girls fist, which made a wooden chair blow up into hundreds of pieces before a small cut formed on his face from where the bulls axe managed to nick his skin. "Yeah! Fighting's a man!" Elfman suddenly yelled as he punched a guild mate in the head. Lucy ducked to avoid Gray's retaliation kick, while it ended up sending Natsu crashing into Elfman who fell on top of Loke. Next thing anyone knew, an all out guild brawl was going on.

"Maybe," Gray began as he wiped some blood away from the corner of his lip. "I was wrong-" "Damn right you were, stupid stripper!" The blond scoffed as she kicked Nabs body away from hers. "I'm trying to say I'm sorry!" The male responded as he punched Reedus away before he could crash into the new girl. One of Cana's cards blew Lucy backward before she landed in Natsu's arms as he jumped into the air to avoid Bisca's bullets. "YOU BRATS BETTER STOP FIGHTING RIGHT NOW!" A voice boomed causing Natsu and Lucy to slap hands over their ears in pain. "You wimps! Looks like we won this one Luce!" Natsu laughed, completely unaware of the large foot that loomed over his and Lucy's body. Animal instincts seemed to kick in before Lucy swiped Natsu's feet out from under him and raised her arms above her head so her forearms faced the ceiling. The blond was forced down onto one leg as Makarov's foot crashed down on her arms. Everyone's widened more as the girl had easily prevented not only herself, but Natsu as well, from being crushed by the Masters giant foot.

"M-move already Natsu!" Lucy panted as she struggled to keep up her pushing. At the last second Taurus yanked both Natsu and his key owner backward before they could be fully crushed by Makarov's foot. "I'll be going now Miss Luucy." Was the last thing her spirit said before returning to his home. Levy gasped as she spotted the golden scales on the girls arms only for them to disappear as fast as they came. "It can't be.." The blunette murmured. "Well, well," Makarov's voice boomed as he loomed over Lucy's body. "If it isn't little Lucy?" The old man chuckled as he reverted to his small form. "T'sup, old man Makarov?" Lucy blinked as she placed her hands on her hips and bent over so she loomed over his body instead. "That bastard Guildarts here?" The girl suddenly questioned causing Master Makarov to chuckle. "No Lucy, Guildarts is not present." He shook his head.

"Master Makarov?" Levy's voice forced all eyes on the girls small body. "Is she that mage?" The blunette asked without hesitation and genuine curiosity. "And which mage would you be referring to, Levy?" Makarov had trouble holding back a mischievous smirk. "The so called, Ruler of the Stars?" "The what?" Natsu asked, completely clueless. "There is a mage rumored to wield the ultimate magic of the stars. She destroyed hundreds of dark guilds at a young age and was offered a spot with the Wizard Saints. They say this mage commands the stars to do her bidding. She's rarely ever been defeated, only once by Guildarts in fact." She explained as she eyed the blond up. "Is she, Master?" Levy repeated. "Lucy-?" "Are you really that strong?!" Romeo butted in as he pushed his way through the crowd. "My dad, Macao, he took a mission on Mount Hakobe a week ago! He said he'd be back within three days! No one will go after him!" The young boy said as tears began to form in his eyes. "Now Romeo, how many times do I have to tell you? Your fathers a wizard, you need not worry about him!"

"You said he took a mission on Mt. Hakobe?" Lucy asked as she crossed her arms. "Y-yes!" He hiccuped as his tears ran free. Romeo's eyes widened as the girl suddenly flicked him between his eyes before stepping around his body. "You look ugly when you cry so cut it out. I'll bring your dad back." Was the only thing the blond said as she weaved her way through the crowd.

"OH? YOU'RE NOT CRYING, ARE YOU?! PUNY BRAT! WIPE THOSE FILTHY TEARS! YOU LOOK UGLY WHEN YOU CRY! I'LL BE YOUR FAMILY!"


"Still following me, I see, Natsu." The girl sighed as she heard his familiar footsteps over the sound of Magnolia's busy streets. "I'm coming with you." Came his simple response as he fell into step with the blond. And as they walked Natsu couldn't help but watch her from the corner of his eyes. It was almost scary how easy it was to read her; body tensed in anger, eyes darkened with emotion, her shoulders hunched forward. It was easy to tell she was more than upset. "Don't mind Lucy, she's probably thinking about Draco." Saiya's voice snapped the boy out of his thoughts. "You have to understand, Draco is the only good thing that's ever happened to Lucy. She doesn't like it when she see's someone upset over being alone since she knows how it feels so well." "I understand." Natsu nodded his head as he recalled the feeling quite well.

"You're a dragons daughter so stop your whining and get up. You don't have to worry about being alone anymore."

Lucy burst out into a sprint, much to Natsu's surprise, before the boy was chasing after her. It felt as if they'd ran for miles, having passed the lively Magnolia streets and instead made it to the outskirts of town. The blond quickly made her way over to a man who was leaning against his carriage, looking up from the ground as he saw the girl come up in his side vision. "Can you bring us up to Mount Hakobe?" Lucy panted as she struggled to catch her breath from all the vigorous running she'd previously done. "Luckily for you I'm headed up that way. Hop in the back." The old man grinned before tipping his hat at the two teens. As soon as Natsu even stepped into the mode of transportation his skin became clammy and his face green. Lucy simply leaned her elbows against her knees and cradled her face in her hands. "You get motion sick too Lucy?" Happy laughed as his eyes landed on the girl.

"If I throw up, its gonna be on you, damn cat." Lucy spat only to groan as the carriage began to move. That's how most of the ride went, Happy teasing Lucy and Lucy about god knows what, Saiya laughing along with her blue companion, while the two slayers themselves could only groan and gag at every little bump. A sudden jerk of the carriage sent both mage's tumbling onto the floor into a tangled mess of limbs. "Sorry bout' that!" Their driver apologized in the midst of the accident. Lucy could have sworn she had never felt so tense in her entire life as she laid with her legs tangled with Natsu's and her face buried in his warm chest. His scent smothered her senses and for the first time ever, the blond wasn't nauseous while traveling. For Natsu it was the same way. Lucy's vanilla and strawberry tinted scent made his body feel warm, as if he had just eaten the best fire he'd ever had in his life. His motion sickness dispelled as he buried his face into her silky smooth hair and took a deep whiff of her smell, something that roused a burning heat on the girls face, especially so when he wrapped his arms around her hips and pulled her body in closer.

"They're weird." Happy laughed as he spotted both slayers on the floor. "Lucy's always been a weird one. Blame it on her Dragon, he was craazy." Saiya giggled. "Look at how big my fish is!" "Whoa!" -of course those two would get off topic. "This is as far as I can take you." Their driver exclaimed as he pulled his vehicle to a stop. While both exceeds flew out of the carriage in record speed, Natsu and Lucy staid entangled on the ground. "I can't move if you don't let go." Lucy spoke against his skin. "I know." Natsu's voice was muffled due to the fact that his face was still buried in her hair. "Then why won't you let go?" Her voice came out as nothing more than a whisper. "Don't know." He whispered back. "Lushy move! Your fatness is suffocating Natsu!" Happy cried as he pulled at the back of the girls shirt. "What'd you say about me?!" Needless to say, Lucy and Natsu finally broke away from their intimate hold on one another.

"Its c-c-cold!" Saiya chattered against the harsh winds. "Damn straight." Lucy agreed as her cloak reappeared on her body. "How can you do that?" "Requip. A friend taught me it." Lucy shrugged her shoulders as Saiya moved under the confines of the cloak to keep warm, only her head popping out just below Lucy's chin. "She gave me this cloak, in fact. Its infused with magic to protect its wearer against nature and any sort of attacks." The blond added as she pulled the hood over her head. "Saiya, do your thing." "On it~" The exceeds eyes suddenly began to glow a bright blue before her eyes darted around. "Saiya can detect magical currents. Wherever Macao is, she'll find him. It may be a bit hard with this blizzard though.." Lucy trailed off as she narrowed her eyes at the sky. "I need to get closer to the mountain Lu." The silver cat said causing the blond to sigh slightly. "Of course you do."


"Macao! Macao! Where are you?!" Natsu cupped his hands over his mouth as he called out for the missing mage. "Any signs of him Saiya?" Lucy questioned as she trudged on through the snowy mess before her. "Sorry." The cat shook her head. "Don't strain yourself. You passing out won't be doing us any good." The girl commented in concern for her loyal friend. "I know." She responded. "Above us!" The exceed suddenly yelled. Lucy shot forward with a burst of speed and managed to yank Natsu out of the way just before the giant vulcan could crush either of them. "Lucy!" Saiya yelled with wide eyes. "Open! Gate of the Clock: Horologium!" Lucy hopped into the spirits body just before the vulcan could snag her body, grabbing the clockworks form itself instead. "The vulcan is.." The last of Horologium's statement went unheard as the giant monkey ran away with Lucy in tow as he sang about having his own 'Human woman.' "Hey! You get back here!" Natsu growled as he chased after the beast.

"Are you sure Saiya?" "I'm positive!" She said without a doubt. "Alright. Horologium, you can go back to the Spirit World." "Yes Miss Lucy." The clock spoke in a proper tone before disappearing. "Woommaan~" The vulcan cried out in pain as the heel of the blonds boot met his face and sent him crashing into the ground. "Oi," Lucy spoke with a dangerous glint in her eyes. "WHERE'S MACAO YOU MONKEY?!" A certain pinkette screamed as he burst into the ice cave. "You're Macao, aren't you?" She increased the pressure of her foot as she spoke. "Your little boy is waiting for you, drunkard old man. Wake up!" Lucy jumped backward to avoid the creatures crushing grasp, landing just beside Natsu on her fingertips and the tips of her toes. "Listen here you vile creature." Natsu's eyes widened as a dark shadow was cast across the girls face as she rose from the ground. "Some of us would kill to still have our fathers. So you'd best give Macao back, or else." The monkey simply banged its fists on its chest and charged at the girl.

"Celestial Dragon Iron Fist!" Saiya slipped out of the girls cloak just before she shot forward, leaving a crater in her wake. "Give back Macao! Celestial Dragon Wing Attack!" While her attack had managed to send several, sharp, ice-shards down from the ceiling; Lucy skilfully dodged each object and retaliated against the vulcan. "Fire Dragon Claw!" The blond sent a quick glance at her, unwanted, 'partner in crime' to see that stupid grin (-in her opinion) on his face. "Can't let you have all the fun, Luce." "Whatever." She rolled her eyes before sliding to the left to avoid the shards of ice the monkey sent their way. "Bring it on! Fire always beats ice!" The pinkette laughed. "Celestial Dragon Star Surge!" Upon slamming her fist onto the vulcan's chest a golden light shot through its body before the monkey was blasted backward into the wall. "That's enough Lu, any more and you'll kill him." Saiya's voice bounced throughout the cave as the dust cleared

"Macao!" Natsu gaped as he saw the injured man, only to be yanked back by Lucy who held a handful of his scarf in her fist as he tried to run to the mans aid. "Let go! He needs help-!" The pinkette choked on his own words as the icy floor and walls around/under them began to violently shake and tremble. His eyes went wide as a large, inhuman, roar echoed and bounced around the cave before the trembling began again. "I t-think I'm gonna be s-sick!" The boy gagged as he slapped a hand over his mouth. "Saiya! Take Macao and lead Natsu and Happy out of here!" Lucy exclaimed as she eyed the large cracks that began to form on the ground. "But!" "Now!" The blond snapped. At the sound of another roar the icicle's on the ceiling began to fall and portions of the floor began to shatter, revealing a gaping black hole that seemed to have no end. "Go, Saiya!" Lucy repeated as she dodged another icicle. "I could never leave you behind!" The silver exceed cried. Sky blue eyes widened as her masters gaze met hers, a small confident smile grazing her lips. "When have I ever given you a reason to doubt me? I'll make it back for you, for all of you. So go! Now!"

With hesitance, Saiya scooped Macao's injured body up from the ground and turned to face Natsu and Happy. "C'mon!" However everyone found themselves rooted to their spots due to the events that were to come. Lucy swore her heart could have pounded out of her chest when the demonic roaring and extreme shaking seized, as if time itself had stopped completely. "L-Lucy?" Her exceed stuttered in fear. "Lucy. L-lets go." Natsu exclaimed in a low voice, as if he would scare something awake if he spoke any louder, and offered the girl his hand. And like the calm before a storm, everything snapped. Lucy slid backward on the tips of her toes and her fingertips; barely avoiding the various shards of sharp ice that blasted through the air. Both dragon slayers felt as if their ear drums would explode when the same roar from before continued, only this time much louder and all the more deadly.

Blood rushed through Lucy's ears so loudly it seemed to block out any of the surrounding noise. Her heart pounded against her chest in a rythmic pattern while the adrenaline flowing through her veins created a certain high that, almost, replaced all of her fear. Brown eyes narrowed in on a deadly creature of ice while her pupils dilated into large black specks. The creature before her was far more than just deadly. It looked like a sinister creature from the deepest and darkest pits of hell; something that could haunt her in her sleep. While its body consisted of a beautiful glass like blue ice, deadly sharp scales protruded from its back in a curved shape. While its features resembled that of a dragons, it lacked wings and took on more of a snake like body. Steam erupted from the monsters snout before it let out another booming growl, red eyes gleaming in fury as it bared its fangs down at the group before him.

"W-what is that?!" Happy yelped as he hid behind Natsu's head and held onto his shoulders in fear. "I thought it smelt like a Celestial Spirit in here." Lucy said rather to herself but still managed to gain everyone's attention. "The legendary Ice Serpent. I thought you disappeared long ago with the rest of your brothers." The blond added as she narrowed her eyes at the creature. "Natsu. You and Macao need to get out of here." She explained, not once taking her eyes off of the being before her. "Its also commonly referred to as the Ice Dragon. Contrary to its name it does breathe fire, which means it'l eat anything you give out." "But I could just eat the fire-!" "No, you can't. You'd be poisoned because its not the type of fire your body is used to digesting." "Its an 'Ice Fire' Natsu. Your lungs and entire body would freeze if you even got close. Only Lucy can defeat him." Saiya whispered to ensure she wouldn't draw attention to herself or the people surrounding her.

"Oi! Where's Draco?!" Lucy demanded as her eyes took on a golden hue and shimmered under the natural light of the cave. The 'Dragon' released another roar before diving forward, jaws open wide in preparation to either eat the girl hole or spew out its dangerous flames. The blond jumped up at the last second and barely avoided its razor sharp teeth, landing on its back with unstable feet and grabbed at its curved scales for support. A small hiss of pain escaped Lucy's mouth as the action only served to slice her left hand open before her crimson red blood came pouring out of her palm. The metallic scent of the red liquid hit Natsu's nose and sent an unpleasant shiver down his spine before he called out to the blond, "Lucy are you ok?!" The monsters head snapped to the left and zeroed in on Natsu, Macao, and the two exceeds forms before it was lunging toward them.

Its head was roughly yanked upward after a brown whip coiled around its snout and sent its head crashing into the ceiling. "Celestial Dragon Claw!" The Serpent let out a loud howl at the attack and thrashed its head around, bashing it into the walls and the ground. More portions of the floor began to fall and Lucy knew her time was quickly running short; she had to finish this, now. "For thou that has wandered into the path of darkness, I bring you your new light. I am your new Master, Lucy. I bind thee, Ice Serpent, to my side. Forced gate closure of the Ice Dragon!"* An audible gasp ripped through Lucy's mouth after she finished the incantation as she felt every ounce of power, and then some, leave her body. Her magic ripped through her body and wrapped around the serpent like a golden blanket. In a bright flash of light the blue monster disappeared and left nothing in its trace except for one blue key that floated in the air, before that too vanished as well.

Meanwhile, Lucy was flying through the air and toward the bottomless pit below her with no energy to move whatsoever. Natsu shot forward out of panic and barely caught the girl, catching her in a bridal style position. He quickly jumped off of what little floor there was left and landed safely next to Macao, Happy, and Saiya. "Lucy! Are you ok?!" Saiya gasped as she flew over to her partners side only to get soft snores in response. "Only a weirdo would pass out before a battle is finished." Natsu grinned as he looked down at her sleeping face. "Eh?! How can you carry her Natsu?! Lucy looks like she weighs a ton!" Happy gasped. "Nah, she's pretty light, actually. Can you and Saiya get Macao? We need to get back to the guild so he can get checked up." "Aye sir!" Both exceeds chorused, much to the males amusement.


"Luce, wake up. I can't feel my arms." Natsu whispered as he attempted to shake the girl awake. "Its no use Natsu. That spell Lucy performed takes a lot out of her, I wouldn't be surprised if she slept all night and all day tomorrow." Saiya explained causing the boy to frown slightly. "Just what exactly did she do? How'd that thing disappear like that?" Natsu questioned. "Well, hundreds of thousands of years ago, when magic was still being invented, there was an ancient art of channeling lost spirits into keys for summoning. There have only been a few who have actually mastered the art and survived to tell the tale. While it seems like a simple task, to bind a spirit to an object takes not only a certain amount of magic from the user itself, but also the magic in the earth and its surroundings. The caster has to have ample magic within themselves but also the ability to channel the magic around them."

"I don't, uh, really follow you." Natsu chuckled uneasily through his confusion. "Let me put it into simpler terms. You know how a wizard has a certain amount of magic within them?" "Yeah." The pinkette nodded his head. "Well Lucy's is pretty big because she has two types of magic. So she used every ounce of magic energy inside of her body, even what she had in reserve, to bind the Ice Serpent to a key. But to make the key she had to channel the magic around her while she bound the spirit, at the same time. To channel magic that isn't yours is mentally taxing, wizards have gone insane doing it before, while the large use off her own magic made her physically weak. To rebuild both her physical and mental strength she has to sleep it off." "Oh. I get it!" Natsu laughed. "Dad!" A distant voice gasped. "Hey son-" "I can take it! I can take it because I'm a wizards son!" Romeo cried. "You ask those kids if their fathers can defeat 19 vulcan's on their own!"* "Y-yes sir!" While Romeo and his father reunited, Natsu walked off into the distance with Lucy in his arms. "Natsu! Lucy! Happy! Saiya!" The young boy yelled as the group of four walked off. "Thanks for bringing my dad back!"

"Natsu? Lucy's house isn't this way." A certain silver exceed commented. "I'm bringing her to the guild. She needs that hand checked out." The boy responded as said building could be seen at the end of the street. Just as he had done that morning Natsu kicked the large wooden doors open only this time with less joy. He seemed to have a conflicted expression on his face, in fact. "What's wrong with you flame brain? You look constipated like that." Gray snorted. "Shut up Gray. Now's not the time." Natsu snapped as he stormed past the raven haired ice mage. "Mira! I need you to look at Lucy's hand. She cut it." He exclaimed after gently setting the girl down in a seat. "Oh? That's not good. What happened?" The barmaid asked in concern. "Well this huugge dragon came out of nowhere and Lucy took it out on her own...!"

And that was how the rumor of Lucy's immense strength spread; all because of Natsu's exaggerated explanation of what really happened on Mount Hakobe.


A/N: I'M SO SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE ):

I just recently finished Band Camp and was feeling really tired; I didn't have the energy to put out a good chapter and I didn't want to publish something I wouldn't have time to really focus on.

I was going to originally follow what happened in this episode (Natsu defeats the vulcan, saves Macao, and heads back home) but I wanted to spice it up a bit with my own twist to the ending.

-I'm pretty sure that's how you spell Horologium (?) If not let me know and I'll go back and change it thanks 3

*The incantation Lucy performed will be explained better later on (as well as the Ice Serpant/Dragon)

*The conversation that happens between Natsu and Macao (where Natsu explains he should be proud he defeated 19/20 vulcans) happened while Lucy was sleeping.

I apologize for any grammatical errors.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE REVIEWS/FAVORITES/FOLLOWS!

^Pls do that if you haven't already

~xxTheNightmareBeforexx

p.s. you should check out the other things I've written, ok thanks byeee