Oh my.. Thank you for all the positive reviews! And Follows! And Favoring! And just being the awesome readers that you are! Seeing people getting into it pumps me up to keep writing more chapters!

So Lucy was forced to use her Arrancar key moments before drowning. Time for some Espada-ass-kicking!

Enjoy~

Lucy was stunned. This was an Arrancar? It was dark and powerful; confident and proud.. Amazing.

Lucy took in every detail: green eyes were slightly hidden under blonde hair and blonde eyelashes. Dark tanned skin bringing out her lighter features. She wore a white jacket, zipped all the way to her face, covering to just below her eyes and just the top of her generous bust; and was that a hole in her abdomen? Her sleeves and pant legs were long, and on her back sat a mid-length, but wide sword sheath.

"You are not human, Arrancar, nor Shinigami. I'm assuming I'm not in my world as none of this is familiar to me. I am here to protect that girl over there, I do not know why but I can no longer allow you to harm her." The Arrancar was casting a deadly gaze at the creature hovering above the sea. "So he is a sea monster of sorts."

"I do not know who you are woman, but it doesn't matter. You are standing before the Great Sea Demon, Xiphias Gladius! The sea is my home; I am one with the sword and the ocean!" He spread his arms, encasing the sea in a wide sweeping gesture, telling her it was all under his control.

"Xiphias Gladius is it?" She was taking note of his sabre and fish like features.

"If I'm correct your name means Sword Fish, does it not?" She had now uncrossed her arms, still eyeing the demon – almost like a predator.

"How unfortunate for you," she slowly began unzipping her jacket; exposing her mask covering her entire lower jaw, stretching down her neck and chest and showing a number "3" tattoo on her right breast. In one swift motion barely visible to the naked eye, she had unsheathed her sword, showing its hollow form; and holding it point down in front of her.

"Sharks eat fish."

The demon flinched. Taken aback by her appearance; and even more frightened when the sea wouldn't answer his call to attack, "Is the sea.. Rejecting me? No.. it's only obeying her now."

"Destroy – Tiburon." All the water the demon previously had control over was now flaring out around the spirit, making almost a heart shaped form; and then it crashed in around her. A few seconds later it slowly began to split again, showing the Arrancar's new battle form.

Her jacket, mask, and pants were gone; instead bone remnants formed new shoulder blades. Her cleavage was barely contained by the bone that continued down her abdomen and finally flared out into what looked like a sort of skirt. The bottom half of her legs were now covered and her right arm was a huge lance. She was powerful. She was terrifying. She was beautiful.

Lucy instantly felt the impact. It was the same as when Kenpachi removed his eye-patch, she was struggling. "Damn it.. I need to hold on.."

The Arrancar turned to the girl, instantly deducing that her reiatsu was somehow directly effecting the girl's own abilities; she knew she was a powerful Espada – staying in her released form could really harm the girl; she needed to end this quickly.

"I promised the girl to make this quick, shall we begin?" And before the demon could even form a thought, she was behind him. "La Gota."

The demon was shot 500 feet straight into a nearby fishing warehouse; she managed 3 more shots – destroying the warehouse, neighboring houses, and then the entire neighborhood.

Erza stood. Stunned. Mouth slightly ajar and eyes bulging. "T-this is Lucy's key?!"

The rest either gasped or stood stunned, "thank god she's on our side.." everyone thought as they sweat dropped.

Gray was seeing one of her spirits for the second time, but the first time in battle. He instantly got the same idea Freed did, and ran behind Lucy.

"Come out of there. I don't have time to waste." She was still floating in the air, patience running thin as the demon was most likely buying time in the rubble.

"Heh.. Very impressive shark, but if that's the best you can do then-"

"Gran Rey Cero." A Blast of light and sheer force made a direct hit on the demon. Completely encasing him and destroying everything on the horizon. This attack was a mini packed Etherion. Holy shit.

Lucy collapsed; this was much worse than the first time, when Kenpachi arrived he hadn't used any special attacks, just brawn. But this power she was using? Lucy could barely breathe, it was becoming too much for her to bear. "Thank god I trained with Capricorn; I should be able to hold out for at least a few more minutes."

"Luce! You alright?! Natsu was now by Lucy's side, snapping Levy and Gray out of their stare stupor to notice their friend now on the floor. "Oh my goodness Lucy are you okay?!" Levy was now worried; she forgot how much of a toll these beings took on her friend. The Arrancar was now looking to Lucy, slightly anxious at the girl's predicament.

"Don't worry guys, I'm fine, I can handle this!" She gave her spirit a look of determination, urging her to continue the fight. "So her name is Lucy is it," she had questions, lots of questions; she was inherently protective, always guarding the females in Hueco Mundo, but she had no ties to this girl. So why was she feeling so protective? Why was something nagging at her subconscious to keep the girl as far away from harm as possible? Her questions would have to wait though as she felt the demon approach. He wasn't much of a threat anymore.

"Y-y-you! W-w-w-who do you th-think y-y-you are?!" He barely managed a coherent sentence as he swayed. He looked like every train in Magnolia station ran him over, than went in reverse a few times just to make sure he looked like road kill. His sword was now snapped in half, his fin was completely frayed and half his teeth were missing. His clothes were completely singed off, thank God for all those scales covering all the right places.. All you needed was a skewer and some veggies and he was ready for a fish fry. Happy's mouth slowly began watering.

"I am Tier Harribel, Tres Espada; and your worst nightmare fish." She slowly began to advance on him as he 'eeped' and attempted to run. She completely overpowered him.

"I'm not in the mood for games, do not run. I will end this quickly; am I not kind?" She was mocking him now; she was aware of his last comment to the girl – must have something to do with their newfound connection.

"W-wait! Wait! Why are you fighting for the humans?! They are weak! You should fight with us! For Zeref! He can give you power beyond your wildest imagination!" The demon was on his knees as Harribel approached him – but then suddenly stopped.

"You.." She was looking over her shoulder to Erza, who was still in her armor and ready to fight if needed. "Will you protect Lucy? All of you?" She just stood there, waiting for their reply as she made quick eye contact with each the mage.

"Of course, Lucy is our family; we would do anything for her." Erza was confused, why was she suddenly asking them to protect Lucy?

"Then I leave the rest to you - I do not want to cause the girl anymore harm." She slowly began to disappear from her spot, casting one last glance at the demon, "I would have ended you quickly; however I don't think they will." She disappeared completely as Lucy was now lying limp on the ground in Levy's arms.

"LUCY!" Levy was worried; Lucy was in the same state as her last mission.

Natsu, Gray, Gajeel, Erza, and Lily in his combat form were all standing directly in front of the demon. Their combined death aura and red glowing eyes causing the demon to slowly back away.

"Hey Happy, ready for a fish fry!?"

"I couldn't agree with you more Natsu, fish does sound rather good."

"Gihi, I guess I can pass on bolts for one night."

"Try not to overcook it Dragon Boy."

The demon instantly called forth his water - but it still wasn't answering; his fight with the spirit depleted all of his curse power. Defending against her attacks took everything he had and without the water there to replenish him, he was done for. She was too fast, attacks too powerful and she could readily use them over and over. He could also sense her sword skills were superior to his, she was truly his better in every way. "I see why Zeref wanted these keys now.." He needed to get back to the sea, he was vulnerable on land. In one last effort he made a dash for the water.

"Oh-hoh.. You thought we'd let you run back to the water after our friend just gave her everything to hand you on a silver platter to us?" Erza was now stopping his movements, foot on his face. "What was that you were saying earlier about me being able to beat you on land?"

The demon paled. This woman was just as scary as that spirit.

"This is for the town's people! Ice Make: Fist!" Gray threw the first punch, shooting the demon back farther from the water as Natsu hit it with one of his special techniques, "Lightning Flame Dragon's Roar!"

"Damn it Flame Brain! I told you not to overcook him!"

"Wanna go Popsicle?!"

"NO FIGHTING YOU TWO! Pentagram Sword!"

"…Yes Erza…"

"Stop hoggin' him!" Gajeel and Lily both brought their metal down at the same time, Gajeel effectively knocking out the rest of the demons teeth as Lily managed to destroy whatever was left of his sabre, which was now back to its original form.

"AND THIS IS FOR LUCY!" all 4 mages threw their finishing attacks. Destroying whatever was left of the town. So much for the reward money..

When Lucy awoke she saw the ground.. Moving.. "What the.." She began to fidget, feeling a lot of warmth in her front. Tilting her head to the side she noticed a white scale like scarf and pink hair, "thank goodness.. Natsu.." She couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips at the comfortable feeling. Big onyx eyes landed on hers, "hey Luce, how you holdin' up?"

Lucy then realized Natsu was giving her a piggy back ride, the rest of the team in front; now turned around looking towards Lucy.

"Hey Natsu, been better.. How 'bout you?" She relaxed her head onto his shoulder, blushing slightly at the comfort her best friend so effortlessly provided for her. "Me? Never been better! Took care of that fish-guy for ya!" Natsu was now giving her his trade mark grin.

"I knew you would.." She now had her eyes closed. "How long was I out?"

Levy and Erza had now dropped back and were walking next to Natsu, wanting to check on their friend. "You've been out for a few hours; we left Gallowstown about 45 minutes ago." Levy was smiling at her friend. Slight admiration in her gaze, "Lu-chan is so strong now.."

"Oh? Where are we going? Why are we walking?" Lucy's eyebrows were now creased, why were they walking out of Gallowstown? Why wouldn't they have taken the train?

"Heh.. Heh.. Well, you see.. Your spirit's ummm, what did she call it? Gran cero or something? Yeah well it kinda destroyed.. The train station.. And most of the town.." Levy was now scratching the back of her head, sweat dropping. Erza's face gave nothing away.

"Ohhhhhhh nooooooo, now I'm no better than Natsuuuuuuuu!" Tears began streaming down her face, realizing she was now on par with her overly-destructive partner.

"Yeah! Way to go Luce!" Natsu was fist pumping, proud of his partner's ability to wreak havoc on unsuspecting towns. "Aye Lucy! Your spirit was so strong!" Happy was now flying in front of her face, patting Lucy's head to help stop her tears.

"Yes Lucy, those keys of yours are truly something else. I'll have to challenge you once we get back to the guild." Erza was rubbing her chin, completely unfazed by Lucy's monstrous spirits. Everybody sweat dropped and Gajeel and Natsu began shivering thinking of Lucy's eye patch spirit.. Oh God..

Wait.. her keys!

"Oh here you are Luce, I was holding these for you!" Levy handed Lucy her keys back, all counted for and her Arrancar key back on its key ring. "Thank you Levy.. I was just about to have a heart attack.. By the way, where are we going?"

"Well we're heading to the next town over to try and get a ride back to the guild from there. Unless you wanna walk back to Magnolia.." Gray answered, stretching his arms and rubbing his neck.

"Ummm.. Gray.. Your clothes.." Lucy was giving him a pointed stare..

"Yeah I lost 'em during the fight.. Don't know where they went.. And nobody else will give me theirs," he answered way too nonchalantly.

"Is that so.." Lucy stole glances at Levy and Erza, Levy blushing and covering herself while Erza had a vein popping out – Gray was really just as dumb as Natsu sometimes..

"In case you're wondering, we're headed to Dawn City, we'll catch a ride from there." Gajeel decided to finally speak up, since Lucy's question was only ever half answered.

"Alright, sounds good. Thanks for the lift Natsu.. I think I'll be able to walk in a few more hours.."

"Don't worry about it Luce, we're partner's, I'll always have your back!"

Lucy blushed again, she'd really been doing that a lot lately, and relaxed into Natsu's back; letting sleep over take her once again.

.

.

"Gladius has been killed by the Celestial Wizard and her friends, what do we do now?"

"Isn't it obvious? We kill her and her little team, and take the keys. We won't be as careless as the other two; we'll have to single her out. She's weak alone – easy prey."

"Yes.. Taking the keys will put us in favor with his lord.. Especially if we kill those who Gladius and Daemon could not."

"heh heh heh heh."

Demons lurking in the shadows plotting Lucy's death! But why are the demons so eager to get the keys back?! Who's Lucy going to summon next?! Another summoning in the next chapter :D

And I had to summon Harribel first.. Because we have the same birthday! Muahahahaha!

**Side note: Xiphias Gladius is Latin for Sword and Fish. Daemon just means Demon in Latin; since he was the first he didn't really get a name.