"Laxus!" Lucy grinned and ran towards the shadows. He stood, motionless. As she approached she saw his expression and slowed to a stop a couple feet away. "Um, Laxus?"

His eyes flicked towards her and then back to Bacchus. She didn't like what she saw. Something about Laxus's expression scared the crap out of her. "Laxus? Sweetie?"

He turned back towards her and blinked a couple times. "Lucy, oh thank god." He wrapped his arms around her and she let herself sink into his chest. The front of his shirt was wet and he smelled like he had bathed in garbage but Lucy couldn't get enough of the warm embrace.

"How'd you find us? We must be a hundred miles from Magnolia."

Laxus strummed her hair, soothing her. She bit her lip and fought back tears as Laxus spoke. "The little weasel sucker-punched me." He paused. Lucy couldn't see Laxus's face but she could imagine the snarl that was there. "I was disoriented or a minute but I got back up in time to see the little shit running towards the train station. I managed to get on right before the train left."

"You did? Why didn't we see you?" Lucy pried herself away from his chest and studied his face. He looked… different.

"Are you blushing?" She had never seen Laxus look embarrassed before.

He grumbled and rubbed his jaw. "I wasn't able to search the train. Look, it's not a big deal. It's a dragon slayer thing."

Lucy's eyes widened. "Oh yeah! Motion sickness. I forgot. Natsu gets that all the time." She looked back at his moist shirt. "Oh crap, were you sick? Is that what I smell?"

"I didn't puke on myself, if that's what you're asking." The lightning mage tugged on the bottom of his shirt. "Anyway, enough about me, what about you? Are you okay?"

Laxus looked her up and down critically.

"What, don't you think I can handle myself?" She put her hands on her hips and struck a pose, trying to lighten the situation.

Laxus finished his inspection. "This isn't funny Lucy." He looked over at Bacchus who was still fighting the pack of weredogs. The palm magic user hadn't noticed them yet. "Wait here," Laxus ordered.

"Laxus, please don't. Nothing happened."

Laxus's jaw clinched. "This doesn't look like nothing. It looks like you are in danger."

"I'm not in danger, I'm okay. Bacchus is protecting me, see." She gestured towards the dark haired mage, who was still striking fierce blows.

"PROTECTING YOU?" Laxus's voice boomed. The dogs stopped fighting and looked towards the shouting. The mutts closest to them whimpered and backed away with their heads low.

The commotion had finally gotten Bacchus's attention. "Ah, I can see that Ken has found his way back to Barbie." He stared at Lucy intently as he spoke. She looked away, uncomfortable under his gaze and pulled on Laxus's sleeve. "Let's just find an inn and get some sleep. I'm exhausted." She started to pull her fuming boyfriend away.

Bacchus shrugged. "Ah shucks, women are just so darn fickle." He flashed teeth at Laxus. "That was our plan just a couple minutes ago. Well, the part about me and Barbie getting an inn, but I wasn't really planning on any sleep."

It was the final straw.

Laxus launched himself at Bacchus and they tumbled to the ground. Several of the dogs around them started to howl and yip in excitement. Lucy tried to get near them to break the fight up but she felt an intense pain just above her ankle. She looked down and saw a huge dog with its muzzle clamped around her. She tried to pull away and felt her skin begin to rip. She briefly thought to herself, this is the most pain I have ever felt, until the dog started to shake his head back and forth. No, THIS is the most pain I have ever felt.

She pulled back her other leg and kicked it hard in the face. The dog fell back, but not before taking a chunk of her flesh with it.

I'm not going to look. I'm not going to look.

The dog she had just kicked had shaken the blow off and was readying itself for another attack. She heard another growl behind her and prayed that she had enough time to do what she had to.

My boyfriend won't help me. My kidnapper won't help me. I've got to do this myself.

She pulled out her key. "Open, Celestial gate of Capricorn."

Luffy fan: Thanks for the reviews. Keep em coming.