A/N: I just realized that I uploaded the wrong document/chapter a while ago. I've corrected my mistake and I'm REALLY sorry for those of you who got all excited because I posted a new chapter and then went through hardcore deja vu! Apologies! Don't murder me! Anyways...here's the real new chapter. *facepalm* Gosh, get it together, me! Sorry again and read on!
PS
As an apology gift, the next chapter will be extra long!

~Lucy~

"Alright, their guild is not that far away. We can probably reach it today. We'd get there around nightfall," Erza said, nodding to herself.

"Are you sure we shouldn't wait until tomorrow?" Gray asked, "I'm just saying…I mean, we'll be tired from traveling all that time, won't we?"

"Of course we have to do it today!" Natsu protested, "Val's friend is in danger. We can't just leave him there for longer because we're a little tired."

"I agree," I said, raising my hand and then wrapping my arm back around Val.

"I want to get to Val as soon as possible. I owe him that much, don't I?" Val said, directing his question to no one in particular.

I smiled, "That's just what friends are for, Val." He nodded and let his head fall back against my chest. He'd been asleep when Natsu got back, only barely waking up when I took him from Natsu's arms. He was only barely conscious now.

"You ok, Val?" I asked. His eyes drooped, "I'm just sleepy. I'm fine." I was a little worried, but he had been through a lot in the past few days. I could understand why he would be exhausted.

"Shall we go, then?" I asked, "We're just wasting time sitting standing around here and talking."

"I don't see why not," Erza replied. She smiled at Val and then grabbed her abnormally enormous amount of luggage.

"Hey, Luce," Natsu said, bounding up beside me. I shushed him and his eyes went wide. He nodded when he saw that Val was fast asleep.

"Can I ask you something, Luce?" Natsu asked, his voice hushed so that he wouldn't wake Val up. I nodded, wondering what in the world Natsu was going to ask me about.

He looked a little nervous. "When we get there, can you…not die?"

I scoffed, "What?"

Natsu ran his fingers through his hair. It was his nervous habit. I narrowed my eyes, but he didn't meet them. "I just worry…" he said, his voice trailing off. He hesitated for a moment, a stick crunching beneath one of his feet, "I mean…back at the café, when you were…" His voice cracked. I raised my eyebrows. Natsu's voice cracked? Did I hear that right?

"I was just…really scared," I said, his voice lowering so that I could barely hear it. Natsu was scared? Natsu was never scared. Something strange was happening with him and I wasn't sure what it was.

"Scared? I thought you never got scared," I said, shooting him my best yeah right look.

His eyes suddenly met mine, "It's different!" I flinched at his voice and Val raising his head.

I stared at Natsu, in shock. I'd stopped walking. I only snapped out of it when Val waved his hand in front of my face, "Lucy? Are you alive?"

I nodded, still a little surprised. Natsu just…yelled at me. He'd never done that before. Sure, I'd seen him yell before, but this was strange. He was really angry.

"Natsu?" I squeaked. I felt a little like crying, but held my tears in. I didn't know why Natsu yelling at me had made me so upset, but I was tougher than tears. I wasn't about to let my weakness show.

"Just…don't die, ok?" he said, looking away from me. He turned and ran ahead. I stared after him, Val snug in my arms.

"Lucy, are you ok?" Val asked, looking worried. His eyes were a little watery. I nodded, "Don't worry about me, alright? I'm tough."

Val sniffed a little and then nodded, "Alright." He almost immediately fell back asleep.

"That was a lie, wasn't it?" Gray asked, walking up beside me. I glanced at Natsu who was a long way ahead of us. He looked like an ant. I guess he didn't want to be close to me right now. I looked back at Gray, who was just walking beside me. He wasn't pressuring me at all, which was nice. It made me open up a bit. I took a deep breath and let it out, "Yeah."

"Need me to beat him for you?" Gray asked.

I smiled, "Not necessary. Thanks for the offer, though."

"What was he angry about?" Erza asked, walking on the other side of me.

"I'm not really sure. He told me not to die," I said, feeling puzzled.

Gray grinned, "Ooooooh."

My head whipped towards him, "What?"

"I see. So that's it," Erza said, nodding in understanding.

"Did you make fun of him?" Gray asked.

"No…" I said, then realized that I'd mentioned that he was afraid. "Maybe I did?" I said, furrowing my brow.

"That's makes sense, then," Erza muttered.

Gray patted my shoulder, "Just know that it's not your fault. He's just…got something on his mind, is all."

I nodded hesitantly, "Ok?" We kept walking for a long time, completely silent. I found myself glancing at Natsu. Every time I did, Gray and Erza both grinned not so subtly. I can't say it didn't confuse me more.

~Natsu~

What have I done!? I yelled at Lucy! Things couldn't get worse. What if she hated me now? I probably couldn't live with myself. All these thoughts were spiraling around my head like a tornado as I practically sprinted away from her. I was horrified with myself. My three comrades talked for a little while and then fell silent. We walked separated from each other. I didn't like it. I was away from my friends. I wondered why I'd done this to myself. It wasn't like I could just walk back there and talk to Lucy. She'd look at me like I was crazy. Or, even worse, she might look at me with those terrifyingly angry eyes of hers. I didn't want that.

We traveled that way for a long time. My feet hurt a little, but I was used to walking a long way. I occasionally snuck a glance behind me and saw my friends all walking together. I took comfort in the fact that they were behind me, but felt like there was a wall between us. Once, Lucy caught me looking at her. She just stared back. We stared at each other for a while before a tiny smile graced her lips. My eyes went wide and I turned away. I felt my face heat up. Damnit! Why can she do this to me with just a smile?

I felt relief flood through me. Lucy didn't hate me. She'd smiled at me. That meant that she wasn't angry. I was glad. I started to feel a weight lift off of my shoulders as I walked. I took in a deep breath and let my eyes slide shut as I walked. I let my head slump backwards so that my face was pointing towards the sky. When I finally opened my eyes again, I saw that the sky was darkening. I hadn't realized it before, but it was almost twilight. I lowered my gaze from the sky—partially hidden behind the treetops of the forest we were traveling through—to the path ahead of me.

In the distance was a tiny light. It took me a minute to realize that the light marked the edge of the forest. I whirled around, "You guys see that?"

"See what?" Gray called back, squinting at the path. I waved for them to catch up and then sprinted forward. The light got brighter and brighter as I got closer to the edge of the forest. I finally burst out of the forest, skidding to a stop. It was a few seconds before the others caught up to me. I frowned as realization sunk in, "Oh. It's not the edge of the forest."

"Sometimes I question how you're such as idiot," Gray deadpanned.

"Thief Soul, the dark guild we're looking for, is inside the forest, Natsu," Erza said, staring me down.

"Oh, right," I said, grinning. Lucy laughed a little.

"What is this place?" Gray asked, looking out into what seemed like a large clearing. There was nothing in it, just tall, swaying grass.

"Who knows? Let's keep going. It's getting dark and we haven't found Thief Soul yet," I said, shrugging and starting to walk forward.

"Wait!" Val shouted. I froze immediately. He sounded serious.

"What is it, Val?" Lucy asked. Val looked down at her from where he was floating. He flew a little ways forward, slowly.

"Natsu, don't move," Val said, "You were about to walk into this." I opened my mouth to ask him what he was talking about, but shut it a few seconds later. Val reached out, his fingertip glowing, and touched the air. A shockwave of dark magic exploded around us, sending us flying. When I recovered I watched what looked like an invisible wall ripple and then shatter. Val turned to us, "See?"

I got to my feet immediately. Sitting in the center of the previously empty clearing was a giant, very sinister looking guildhall. The building seemed to be made of dark stone. Its windows were boarded up and some sort of cloth blew in the wind, skewered on one of the spikes that jutted out from the rooftop. I lit up my fists, knowing that we'd found it. This was Thief Soul. A giant guild emblem adorned the towering door. It was a black dagger that was shown stabbing a heart.

I tensed as the doors to the building creaked open. The inside seemed pitch black. Suddenly, someone stepped out of the building. "Welcome," she said, "It took you long enough, didn't it?"

I heard Val growl, "Ambrosia! Give me back Otto!"

She laughed lightly, her white teeth shining in the darkness. She was barely visible in the shadows of the guildhall. Her hair seemed to glow in what little light shone down from the sky. Most unnerving, though, were her eyes. They were clearly visible in the darkness, lighting up the darkness. A variety of differently colored eyes joined hers.

"Master, should we engage?" questioned a voice. It sounded strangely robotic and monotone.

Ambrosia's smiled was almost hidden by the shadows, "You'd like that, wouldn't you? Well, all right. On one exception, though: you leave Valaymier to me. My shadows would love to have a little feast, wouldn't you my pretties?"

I heard a chorus of hissing in response as darkness oozed out of the wide-open guild doors. They twisted about, curling in the air and wrapping around each other. A feast! We're eating tonight! Mistress is so kind! I hope he tastes like chicken!

I laughed at that last one. "Funny, is it? Well, you won't think it's so funny in a few seconds!" shouted the robotic voice. A figure shot out from the darkness, hurling towards me. I grinned as I saw a column of flame descend on me. I greedily gobbled it up and met the gaze of my attacker, grinning cockily, "Nice try."

Her eyes went wide…well, one of her eyes. The other was a red, glowing light, just like a robot. One of her arms was made of metal and so was half of her face. Her arm—the robotic one—was smoking. I assumed that was where the fire had come. "You can't burn the Fire Dragonslayer!" I shouted, launching myself towards her.

"Attack!" I heard Ambrosia scream, "Kill them! Don't touch Valaymier!"

I grinned. Fighting is what I love. Judging by how many people poured out of the gates, I was going to get plenty of it.

A/N: The finale/epic ending will be coming up soon. Don't worry, it won't end in the next chapter. We've got at least two more. Don't forget to leave me a review telling me what you thought. Thanks! :)