Chapter 3:

In the nightmare, Lucy couldn't do anything to stop the horrific scene that was playing out before her eyes. Natsu, Gray and Erza were all collapsed and bleeding. The ground was stained with blood and no matter how much she wanted to go and help them, her body wouldn't respond to her commands. He had her by the hair, making her watch as his minions beat her friends to a blood pulp. A dark chuckle came from right behind her left ear, "Do like my weavile?" he asked "I made it specially for you. Someone so beautiful without a single flaw? Well, now that's changed. I can't wait till it reaches your brain and latches on. Oh, you'll still be Lucy, for sure." Another chuckle. Lucy's scalp hurt as he yanked on her hair. "Oh! But I'm ruining the surprise!" He said dropping her and placing a hand over his mouth. Lucy watched as his men gathered around him and they turned to leave. "Till we meet again, my dearest tainted angel."

Lucy awoke with a gasp, as if air had just returned to her lungs, and her eyes snapped open. Sitting up, she wiped the sweat from her forehead. That nightmare hadn't left her since the event itself. Watching her friends get thrashed was more scarring for her than it had been for them. They only had to fight, she had had to sit there, useless as a lawn gnome and watch as her friends were brought to the brink of death. Lucy's hand stilled on her face as she felt someone watching her. Looking around, she realised she was still in the bandits camp. But it wasn't the same as it had been. Surrounding where the bonfire had been there was freshly turned over dirt, and at the head of every mound of dirt there lay a rock with a name carved into it. In the centre of the ring of graves, where the bonfire used to be was another mound, this one was completely covered with rocks to form a kind of coffin of stone. At the head of this coffin there was a makeshift wooden cross, with a name carved into it. I did this? I killed these people?... then a thought occurred to her. Why aren't I dead? Lucy made her way over to the centre of the group and summoned up her magic, sending golden, glittering sparks over all of the graves, and recited the line that had ingrained itself into her mind.

Cronus watched in rapt attention as the girl stood at the centre of the ring of graves and said something he never would have expected.

"There are 3 conditions for anyone who leaves Fairy Tail. Listen Well!

ONE: You must never reveal sensitive information about Fairy tail to others for as long as you live!

TWO: You must not have unauthorised contact with past clients or profit personally from them!

THREE: Even if we walk different paths, one must always live on as strong as you are able! You must never treat your own life as something insignificant! And you must never forget the friends you love for as long as you live!

Even if we're separated, even if you can't see me, I will always be watching over you." Cronus watched in surprise as she raised her right hand and pointed to the sky with her index finger and thumb. Falling to her knees she faced the masters stone coffin and cried. "Forgive me..." it was barely a whisper, and he had to strain to hear it, but Cronus watched as her falling tears made dark splotches on the light stone.

Standing, Lucy walked away from the grave site and away from the staring man. She would leave this behind her, just like every other hardship in her life. Even when she heard footsteps behind her, she didn't change her pace, stepping over root and stone she slowly but surely making her way towards where the captives were being kept at the front of the camping site.

So that's what she was after... Cronus thought as he followed her. He didn't know why he was following her, but his feet seemed to have a brain of their own and his curiosity about her carried him away.

Walking into the tent after her, Cronus watches as she untied the captives, letting them go one by one. Once untied they stepped outside the tent and for the first time in two days they filled their eyes with the beautiful sight of the blue sky dotted with white clouds. Cronus watched as she girl introduced herself as "Lucy Heartfilia" and debriefed them on why they had been captured and what they were to do now that they were free. Lucy... Heartfilia, huh? I know that name from somewhere... It was interesting to watch her work. Her face was completely impassive, but that just made it more interesting to look at her, he wanted to know what her gorgeous face would look like if she smiled. Without the madness.

Once she dismissed the captives, she began to back track the path she had used to get from Cait Shelter to the camp site. And he was still following her. Why was he following her? Getting a bit irritated she took larger steps, but he kept up with her easily. Rounding on him Lucy stared him down.

"Why are you following me?!" to which he replied with a "I dunno" shrug. Tossing her arms in the air, she spun back around and resumed her march. Why is this guy following me? Ugh! He's really annoying me! Maybe I should've let her kill me... NO! Lucy what the hell are you thinking that for? She thought, shaking her head at her stupidity. She would never let her kill. If there was anything that Lucy could do to the darkness that hid inside her, she'd make sure that it stayed down as long as possible.

Cronus could tell there was an internal debate going on inside her, he just didn't know which side was winning. He guessed that because he wasn't dead yet, the good side was winning. Maybe she wasn't all bad after all... But he still couldn't trust her, he'd observe for now, and not get too close. Yea, that's it! If I can learn something from her then maybe this kind of situation won' t happen again. Good plan! He congratulated himself, he just wasn't really sure if she'd let him, she was as unpredictable as an animal with rabies. Wait... where'd she go? He asked, frantically glancing around. Dammit! You idiot! Why did you get so lost in thought?! Hang on.. where was he? He as he looked around he noticed that there were a bunch of broken-down houses all clustered together. There she is! Lucy was walking out of one of the houses, wearing a change of clothes and with a black bag hanging over her shoulder. Instead of the blades she had a whip strapped to her belt which held up a short blue skirt which hung low on her hips. As a shirt she was wearing a blue tank top and she had a white jacket tied through the strap of her bag. His mouth began to water as he took in ever luscious curve of her body and the way her legs looked out of those jeans. When she had been out cold he'd noticed that her hoodie was high in the chest, but he hadn't really notice just how big they were.Oh man... this is not good... He thought as he noticed she was looking at him, expecting him to follow. Which he did. Watching her hips sway from side to side. This was not good at all.

All the way back to the town she had felt his eyes roam all over her, especially her hips. She had to admit, she loved that he couldn't take his eyes off of her. But once they came into the town it would be weird if they saw him staring at her like a perv.

"If you don't stop drooling over my ass, someone's gonna think you're a perv." Shit! She noticed! He thought panicking.

"I wasn't - "

"Sure... you keep saying that, whatever makes you feel better." She said sarcastically.

Then he noticed where they were. Central? Why are they going to the mayors office?

"The mayor was the client." She replied. Holy crap! Can she read my thoughts?

"No, I can't read your thoughts, it's just easy to read your expressions. Stay outside the room while I go and collect my reward from the mayor." He didn't. As if he would follow an order from her. Despite the fact that she could kill him and he didn't doubt that she was as good with that whip as she was with her knives, that didn't change the fact that he was a dragon slayer and he had his pride. Damn. Just thinking about what she could do with that whip is making me horny (A/N: I felt like making him a little kinky. Let me know what you think ;) ).

Entering the room, Lucy noticed that he hadn't followed her order. She'd have to beat that defiant trait out of him. She smirked. And she'd enjoy it too.

"As promised," she said, addressing the mayor. "All captives home, safe and sound."

"Well done, Ms. Heartfilia."

"How do you like to handle your payments? Cash or check?"

"Check." He said handing her a piece of paper with a sizable amount of money on it. Hmmm.. I guess this will have to do. She thought as she remembered how she'd had to knock herself out when the darkness had come to swallow her.

Jesus! That's how much he paid her to slaughter his team? I should've joined a guild long ago. Maybe I'll follow her to where ever her guild is. See if it's worth it. Lucy left the room and Cronus hurried to follow. He notice when she reached for her whip, he also didn't notice when the tip slapped the floor, or when she raised it and sent the end flying in her direction. The whip loudly connected with his side and he stumbled backwards, glancing up into her eyes to watch the madness there again.

"Let's get something straight, pretty boy" She said leaning over and twisting her head to the side. "If you're going to follow me around like a lost puppy then you better learn how to take orders. Got it?" No response. Lucy raised her whip again and was stopped by the rapid nodding of Cronus' head. "Good." she said cheerfully, and the madness was gone. The whip was re-wound and attached to her belt. "Now, I have a train to catch and you have a ticket to buy. Unless you want to walk to Magnolia." She teased with a raised brow.