~Valaymier~

It was strange watching the younger me talk and joke with his friends. In fact, it was almost surreal. I was watching them as they walked through the busy street of Clover Town. I felt sort of like how I imagined a ghost would feel: I could see and hear things around me, but I couldn't touch or communicate with people. The only person who could hear me was Mini-me. I would strike up a conversation, but right now he was too busy talking with Lucy. It got me pretty bored.

"Lucy, I'm hungry," Val said, hanging off of her shoulders. Man, he really was just a little kid. Somehow—I'm not sure when—I'd grown fond of him. I've never really been fond of anyone before, but that kid pulled on my heartstrings.

"Alright," Lucy said smiling. I liked her smile. Her smile seemed to cheer me up, and I liked that. It occurred to me that she was another person I'd grown fond of. It also occurred to me that I was becoming a softie. I questioned why I was acting like this—feeling these things—but I let the thought slip from my mind. It wasn't that important. At least, I didn't think so.

"Me, too! I'm hungry, too!" shouted Natsu, waving his hand in the air excitedly. He was even less mature than Val was, which I managed to find impressive and annoying at the same time.

"Food sounds nice. Let's find a place nearby to eat," Erza said, nodding resolutely.

"We are in the middle of town. I doubt that it will be that hard," Gray added, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"How about that place?" Lucy said, pointing to a small café on the corner. It looked like any other café, with a green door and big glass windows.

"It looks fine. Let's go," Erza said. Natsu led the pack, Val following closely behind him. "Foooood!" Val and Natsu practically screamed at the same time.

"Wait up!" Lucy called. I smiled to myself, laughing silently at their childish antics.

"I'm dying of hunger," Val said as his stomach roared. That's when it hit me.

Val, don't go in there! I yelled. It was too late. He'd already burst through the door. I caught sight of her: the source of the dark magic that was radiating from the café. I recognized her immediately. It belonged to Ambrosia. She was sipping tea at one of the tables and spotted Val immediately. She stared at him, her green, catlike eyes, which I had found so sexy all that time ago, narrowed slightly.

She calmly put down her elegant teacup and pulled up the hems of her long, lace gloves. Her golden hair was longer than it was the last time I'd seen her, whenever that had been. I wasn't sure considering the fact that I'd been in a semi-coma for a while. It reached down to her waist, the waves that had reminded me of sunlight shone in the dim light. Her long, sleek dress was dark against her pale skin. A small smile pulled at the corner of her bright red lips.

Val, run! I shouted. He didn't move. What are you doing? You need to get out of there!

"Val? What is it?" Lucy asked, coming up behind Val. Natsu had sensed the same thing that Lucy did when she walked into the room.

"Well, well," Ambrosia cooed, "It seems fate has finally returned you to me."

Val tensed up, "It was you, wasn't it. You're the one who took O?" His eyes were dark. No, Val, just go!

He ignored me, "Give my friend back."

"Well, isn't that just…" she paused, considering what word to use, "Disturbing?" She took a step towards Val, her heels clicking against the tiles and her thigh peeking out of the slit in her dress.

"Disturbing?" Val questioned, anger still in his voice. I'd given up on trying to get him to leave. I knew he wouldn't listen to me.

"The Val that I knew wouldn't befriend anyone. He was a rather cruel man," she said, her tongue snaking out of her mouth and gliding along her ruby lips. She let out an amused laugh and showed her sharp canines, "I guess my curse has really changed you, hasn't it?"

That pissed me off. Yeah, once I had found her attractive enough to spend a night with her, but I hadn't known how ugly she was inside. How should I have known that she would fall in love with me after one night? I let out a deep growl. She raised a thin eyebrow and tilted her delicate chin up, "Is that the real Val that I'm hearing?"

I realized that my counterpart was growling also. It sounded much too deep for a child like him. "Val?" Lucy whimpered.

"Hey, Val, do I need to beat this lady?" Natsu asked, his fists lighting up. I frowned. I highly doubted that a weak wizard like Natsu would be able to defeat Ambrosia. Granted, he was one of the strongest amongst his friends, but that didn't mean much.

"I'll help you," Gray said, stepping forward and patting his friend's shoulder. It was strange that the one thing that brought the two of them together was violence.

"Don't underestimate her," Erza said commandingly, "And be careful of civilians."

Ambrosia laughed, "You are challenging me?"

"We always fight for our friends," Lucy said, not a hint of fear in her voice. She was wrong to be unafraid. Ambrosia would surely annihilate them. I had to stop this. I had to help them. Besides, they were little me's friends. If I ever planned on saving Val, he'd be sad if they weren't there. On top of that, Lucy was here. I felt a strange attachment to her. All I knew was that I didn't want her to get hurt. I wouldn't let that happen.

"Lucy, you need to go," Val said, his voice quiet but determined.

"What are you talking about? I'd never leave you!"

"Please, Lucy?" Val asked, turning to her. His eyes were watery.

She shook her head violently, "Puppy-dog eyes won't work for something like this."

Val looked angry, "Lucy, I don't want you to get hurt!"

"Oh?" Ambrosia whispered softly. No, Val! What've you done? Now she knows!

"So you're fond of this particular girl?" Ambrosia asked, her smile widening, "Do you love her? Do you love her like you said you loved me?"

"I never said—" Val began, but his voice was cut off by terror. Within seconds, Ambrosia's shadows had shot from her gloved hands and wrapped around Lucy, snatching her from where she stood. "Lucy!" Val shouted. He started towards her, but Ambrosia wrapped her long fingers around Lucy's neck. Darkness started to wrap around Lucy's neck. I knew that spell. It was like a collar. If Ambrosia so wished, she could strangle Lucy…or even decapitate her.

"Move another step and she dies," Ambrosia growled, breaking her habit of maintaining a ladylike demeanor that I knew about all to well.

Val froze and so did his friends. Ambrosia looked into Val's eyes and then stared at me…directly at me. I didn't know how she knew where I was, but her eyes met mine. "There you are, Val," she said with what would be a sweet smile if I didn't know the truth behind it, "Why don't you come out to play? I know my curse is wearing off. It has been a long time since I last saw you."

I growled again, "Let. Lucy. Go."

"Hmmm," she said, cocking her head, "I'm not sure what you're saying, but I'll take her collar off. Maybe then you'll come on out, yes?"

I narrowed my eyes, waiting for the black ring around Lucy's neck to vanish…only it didn't. "On second thought, I think I'll do this instead," she said, smiling. Her smile was cold, not reaching her eyes. It was an insane smile. It was an obsessed smile. Lucy's mouth opened wide as she gasped for air. She scratched at her neck, trying to get the collar off. I knew it wouldn't work.

I felt anger rise inside of me. I told myself I wasn't going to let Lucy get hurt. I told Val that I wouldn't let her get hurt. "Lucy!" Val cried out, tears falling down his face, "Please! Save Lucy!"

I didn't need his permission. I summoned my energy and smirked. On the count of three, Val. He nodded. One. I took a deep breath. Two. Val stopped shaking determinedly. Three!

I slipped back into my body as it grew to its usual size. Val's clothes ripped off of me and I immediately requipped into my armor. I lunged forward and knocked Ambrosia back, seizing Lucy easily. I pressed my hand against her throat and released a bit of my magic. She gasped for air as the collar flaked off of her neck. She coughed a few times, her face bright red due to lack of oxygen. I smiled, "Nice to see you again."

She nodded, "Thanks for not letting me…you know, suffocate to death."

"Valaymier!" Ambrosia called loudly from where she'd been sent flying from my attack, "I missed your handsome face, my love!"

I looked up at her, clutching Lucy against myself protectively.

Natsu rushed forward and knelt beside Lucy, "Luce, you ok?"

Lucy nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck, "Help me up." He nodded, a little pink on his cheeks, and lifted her up princess-style. He carried her to safety, putting his desire to battle Ambrosia behind his need to help Lucy. He cared for her gently and my worries eased a bit. I got to my feet, my golden armor shining. Light reflected off of it and lit up Ambrosia's face. She was walking towards me, her hips swaying with each step. When she finally stopped she was standing inches from me, her face looking up at mine. It made me uncomfortable, but I didn't move away. She reached up and touched my face. I slapped her hand away, "Disgusting woman."

"I truly hate you, Valaymier," she hissed. Her hand slid up my chest and grabbed the back of my neck. She yanked my head down and crushed her mouth to mine. I heard Lucy gasp, but was too busy trying to suppress my gag reflex. I hated myself for being drawn in by her trap, but I was young and spent my days chasing women. I didn't know better. Granted, I still chase women, but I was even worse back then. She was still kissing me when I summoned forth my spear. I plunged it into her abdomen and she gasped. Gray cheered, but I knew it wasn't a cause for celebration. It was more of a way to get her to stop kissing me than an attempt at her life.

She growled and yanked the spear from her side. Black blood oozed from her wound, which closed up almost immediately. "You knew you can't kill me that easily," she spat, wiping the line of ink-like blood that had dripped from the corner of her lip away with the back of her hand.

I grinned, "I know. I just like to see you in pain."

"There was a time that I would do anything to see a smile from you. Now it just disgusts me."

"I feel the same way…except I never loved you. It was just a game…a game that you took too seriously."

That did it. She lunged for me, darkness surging forward and winding around her limbs. It encased me and closed in. I didn't doubt that she intended on killing me, but I wasn't about to let that happen. If I were to die it would definitely not be at the hands of Ambrosia of all people. I heard whispers from her shadows: kill, enemy, crush him!

"Val!" I heard Lucy shout. I grinned. Right, I had something to protect now. I couldn't die in here. I clapped my hands together a muttered a few words under my breath. When I opened my palms, a bright light shone from them. I reached forward and sliced through the wall of shadows with my two front fingers. Ambrosia growled, "You've gotten stronger, haven't you?"

"I was always weak. I guess love really does make you strong, doesn't it? It makes me wonder if what you feel is love or obsession!"

"What's the difference?" she screamed, launching more shadows at me. I easily dodged them and charged forward. I knew I wouldn't have to use a powerful spell to defeat her. I flew into the air and twisted around, landing behind her. I grabbed her throat lifted her off the ground. Her feet dangled above the tiles and she grasped my wrist. I stared at her.

"Love will betray you, Valaymier. You should know that by now," she hissed. I squeezed tighter and she cried out.

"You're so pitiful. I feel sorry for you," I growled. I clenched my fingers into a fist, snapping her neck. Her eyes went wide and then blank. They turned black within seconds and then so did her skin. She burst into a cloud of black smoke and flew out of the door, rushing past Lucy and everyone else.

"Is she gone?" Erza asked, staring at me in awe.

"No. If she died that easily I would have finished her off a long time ago," I said, requipping into my normal clothes.

"B-But you s-snapped her neck!" Lucy cried out, still in Natsu's arms. For some reason that pissed me off—not her words but where she was currently located.

"That wasn't really her. It was a copy. She does that…annoyingly. They're like spies. She sends them out all across Fiore. She uses them to look for me."

"So…you pulled a one-night-stand on her and she got too attached?" Gray asked.

I frowned, "There are some girls out there who take the word 'stalker' to a whole new level."

Gray scoffed, "Believe me…I know."

I raised and eyebrow and then dropped the subject. I walked over to Lucy and patted her head, "I'll let Lil' Val come back now."

She looked happy and then perplexed, "But I have questions."

"I doubt that you want to know about all the women I've slept with," I said, whipping out my player smile that always melted the ladies.

She playfully slapped my arm, "That's so not what I was going to ask about." She blushed a little and I grinned.

I don't want to go back. The corner of my eye twitched in surprise and I turned away from Lucy. "Val?" she asked. I ignored her momentarily.

"Why?" I whispered.

I'm ashamed was all he said. I frowned and turned to Lucy again, nodding. "I guess we'll have to hold off of your reunion with Tiny Val."

I'm not tiny! I smiled.

"What was that about?" Natsu asked, staring at me and stroking his chin.

"Oh yeah…Val didn't tell you, but we can communicate. It's a telepathic sort of thing, I guess," I said, stretching my arms above my head. I turned and walked over to the counter, leaving everyone staring after me in wonder. I ordered one of everything in the menu and the guy behind the counter stared at me, his mouth dropping open. I wondered whether he was shocked by my food selections or the fact that I'd just laid waste to his shop. I mentally shrugged and sighed.

One thought circled around my head: Ambrosia, I can't wait to kill you.

A/N: Alriiiight! So, the ultimate arch-nemesis has officially been introduced and we've found out the truth behind the shadows! The big question now arises: what'll happen to the younger and more adorable Val? Is the older and more attractive Val in looooooove? Look forward to the next chapter...I am! Don't forget to leave me a little review...thanks! :D