All rights to Hiro Mashima

~ Sixteenth ~

-Freed-

'There, finally finished. All the dark enchantments surrounding the lacrima have been either banished or rewritten to render them completely harmless.'

"Ms. McGarden, I have completed the first task. The lacrima is now safe from the enchantments if we have to implant it into Natsu as a last resort."

She smiles, but doesn't remove her gaze from the heavy pages in front of her. "Well done Freed, I have almost completed the reversal spell, the last stanza is giving me a bit of trouble because I don't recognize the language. It's so old that I had to ask Crux to research it for me. It was pure luck that he found a book written in the same language and the translation is starting to pick up again. I should be done within the hour."

"Wonderful. I am going to announce our progress, then check in with Master." Levy gives a short, sharp nod and continues with her reading.

I turn in my seat and clear my throat. The train car we are occupying is quiet so my interruption grabs everyone's attention right away. Erza stops her conversation and turns towards me and Natsu cracks open his eyes and looks at me with unwavering focus. "I have just completed the task that Master Markarov has set before me. There are no enchantments on the lacrima holding Natsu's magic any longer. Ms. McGarden has almost completed the reversal spell and will probably be finished at the end of this hour."

"Well done Freed!" Lucy looks ecstatic at our progress and both her and Natsu smile at me. They have always been strong supporters of our group, looking past our transgressions that we caused to the guild and I feel a sense of pride at their words. I can see why everyone gravitates around them. Lucy is a beacon of hope for all of us, and Natsu is a pillar of never ending strength.

"Think nothing of it Ms. Lucy. I would like to thank you for the help of you spirits. Crux was an invaluable asset to our cause. I would like to formally thank him sometime after everything is settled." I bow my head in recognition.

Lucy adopts an approving grin. "I'm sure he would love that Freed. Thank you for thinking about my spirits like that. Not everyone realizes that they are separate entities from myself and deserve recognition for their hard work." She is then distracted by a haphazardly flung pair of boxers from Gray and a very high pitched squeal from Juvia. She claps her hands over her eyes and just shakes her head.

What a peculiar team.

A communications lacrima is rolled into my lap and I look up to see Laxus standing beside me. "Here. Call the old man and tell him everything. It's a good idea to keep everyone updated." I nod and stand up to move to a less…crowded part of the train to make the important call.

"Freed, good job this past week. I'm glad that everyone is trying to help Natsu, but without your skills that lacrima might have killed him." Laxus looks down on me, a little pale, but upright for the moment.

"Thank you Laxus. I am going to call the Master now. I will be right back." A small smile graces my lips as I move to the other side of the train.

-Lucy-

"Gray, do you think that you could at least put your boxers back on?" Although I'm used to his stripping ways, it never fails to surprise me when he goes fully nude.

"Gods. You are such a pervert Ice Princess! No one wants to see your tiny icicle hanging in the breeze."

Well, thank you Natsu for that charming mental imagery. I slap his head a bit and he just rolls his eyes and laughs.

"Juvia would love to see your icicle Gray. Let's go somewhere else and maybe you can show me." Her gaze lands on Natsu. "Although I am sure that Gray's icicle is not as tiny as Natsu says."

Gray sputters and flounders while trying to put his foot through the correct hole of his boxers that I threw back at him. He ends up putting them on backwards, but hey, at least he's somewhat covered. "Gods, Juvia, stop talking like that. And get off my lap!"

True to form, Juvia has somehow shimmied her way onto Gray, hooking her arms around his neck and pouts. "Love-rival lets Natsu lay on her lap, why can't you do the same for Juvia? Do you prefer Love-rival over me?"

I pity Gray at the moment. But I don't want to get into it with Juvia. There is no changing her mind and I really don't want her to drench us all in a torrential rain storm or something.

Thankfully we are interrupted from this lovely conversation by Freed re-entering our section of the train car. "I have contacted Master Markarov and have updated him with our progress. It seems that Gildarts showed up just after we all left for the station and due to the fact that he has the appropriate level of magical ability and energy we need to complete the transfer of magic, Master has sent him to meet us at the council tomorrow. Seeing as we will be getting in late, it is recommended that we all find an inn to stay at, and then start fresh tomorrow." He bows his head slightly and sits with Laxus and the rest of the Thunder Legion, engaging them in a quiet conversation.

With that succinct wrap up I continue to play with Natsu's hair and lay my unoccupied hand on top of Happy who has relocated himself beside Natsu's head on my lap sometime during the last hour. I lean my head against the window and try to catch a quick nap knowing that I'll need all the energy I can get to deal with all the bureaucracy tomorrow at Era.

-Natsu-

I can hear Lucy slowly fall asleep beside me with her hand on my head and one in Happy's surprisingly soft fur. I blink up at her and see her relaxed and peaceful face tilted towards the window.

She looks calm and happy. Everything that I wasn't feeling at the moment.

My feelings are all a bit jumbled to say the least. I'm terrified that I will forget everything about this time I shared with Lucy. And I'm more than a little apprehensive about getting my magic back. There was a small chance that it wouldn't work and I could die. I'm willing to take the risk of course, but it's a heavy price to pay if it all fails.

"Are you okay Natsu? Your face is all scruchy." I jump a bit at the sound of Happy's voice. It seems that I'm not the only one faking sleep.

Both Juvia and the stripper are napping across from us so I feel safe to talk to the little blue fuzz ball beside me in a hushed tone.

"I'm alright Happy. I'm just a little worried that all this with Lucy won't last. And I want it to keep going. Desperately." I can hear the pain in my voice, which doesn't go unnoticed.

Happy nods and shifts around to get a better look into my eyes from his spot. "You love Lucy still, right? That hasn't changed has it?"

"Changed? What do you mean?" A smidgen of hope blooms in my chest.

"You've loved Lucy for a long time now. Just after our return from the S-class exams you told me that your feelings for her have changed. You didn't know when they did, but seeing her almost die that day that Grimoire Heart attacked made you realise that you didn't want to continue being 'just friends'." He closes his eyes and sighs. "I told you to tell her about it, but something was holding you back. You said that you knew that she didn't feel the same way for you, yet and you were just content to stay by her side until the end. Just being her best friend was enough, I guess, if it meant always being around her."

"So I've always loved her eh?" The feeling of warmth that I first got when I saw her, the way her eyes captured my full attention made sense now. "Aye Happy, I love her, and I'm betting that I always will. But now I know that she feels something for me too. Whatever that is I'm more than willing to find out."

He gives me a small furry nuzzle and a smile. "Write yourself and note and then give it to me for when everything is over, just in case your memories are wiped clean again. If the note comes from me in your hand writing, you'll trust it. And I can do all I can to help you figure it out. I love Lucy too, it's time for you guys to get your heads out of you butts and move forward."

I lay my head in a more comfortable position on Lucy's lap and close my eyes again feeling more at peace. "Thanks Happy."

He has already fallen asleep and the train rockets towards our destination.

-Lucy-

"Is it just me, or are we always doomed to have meetings in ridiculously tiny rooms with no air ventilation?" Because honestly, I feel like we are cursed with 'small room syndrome' or something.

After arriving very early in the morning, our tired group of mages and some very wobbly motion sick Dragon Slayers made our way to an inn. We checked in and promptly split up into our usual groups, found something soft to lay on inside said rooms, and passed out almost immediately.

Bright and early we met up with Gildarts in the tavern attached to the inn. If we wondered why he was sitting in a tavern at eight in the morning, our confusion was put to rest as we looked at the lady sitting with him

Turns out Gildarts brought Cana for some fun 'Daddy daughter bonding time'. It actually worked out this way because Cana can now work as a sort of liaison between the guild, our group here at Era, and Crime Sorciere, wherever they are.

Luckily, our group is full of some of the most prolific and well known mages in Fiore due to the GMG and the magic council is terrified that if Gildarts, Erza, and Laxus were all turned away from a meeting that the building would blow up.

Which isn't far from the truth. They are just lucky that Natsu isn't at full strength at the moment.

So they let us in at the request of Master and Laxus for more information on Ivan and the break out. We also asked to meet with the rune knights that detained Kageyama nine years ago to barter for his release to help us with the lacrima.

Which brings us to the teeny tiny room that we are squished in like sardines in a can.

"I know Lulu, I can barely see in here and I can't read this last section with all the bodies around me." I hear Levy's muffled words from somewhere behind me and then a small squeak.

I look over to see that Gajeel has picked Levy up and is holding her in his arms similar to how Wendy holds Charles when she isn't flying. I stifle my laughter as Levy goes right back to reading her book without a second thought saying a quick 'thank you' to the Slayer behind her.

I turn back to the matter at hand and see most of our group staring incredulously into the eyes of our esteemed hosts.

"Mavis, why is it when something happens it is always you two?" Gray points towards the rune knights in question who are sitting behind the large mahogany desk looking at our intimidating gathering with trepidation.

"It's not our fault that trouble seems to follow your guild like a black cloud Mr. Fullbuster." Lahar and Doranbolt seem to come to the same conclusion, again, that somehow our guild has something to do with everything that has happened in the past week and a half.

I can see an angry retort coming from both Erza and Gray as well as some of the other mages present and I know I need to diffuse this situation before it gets out of hand and we somehow need to replace the entirety of the council's building.

My father didn't raise me to be a trophy wife for nothing it seems. The grace, good posture, and unwavering confidence comes back to me like I've been using it my whole life.

"Captain Lahar, please forgive this intrusion. I know that you have many matters to attend to, but the reason why we are here to speak with you is a matter of life and death it seems. We would appreciate it if you could give us any additional information of the break out of Ivan Dreyer as well as speak to us about the possibility of meeting with the mage Kageyama. He was from the guild Eisenwald that released the demon known as Lullaby on the town of Clover nine years ago."

I wait patiently for their response as they blink dumbly at them. It's like they've never been spoken to politely before. But I can understand it if all they deal with is Fairy Tail.

We are not known for our poise in most situations. We are better known for just how much we owe places due to our destruction.

"Uhm…well, yes. Thank you Ms. Heartfellia. As for the break out, we have no new information about that. We are having trouble tracking down Ivan as well as the members of the Oracion Seis." Lahar glances down at the notes on his desk, trying to organize them into a neat pile while he contemplates his words.

I'm glad his eyes aren't centered on us anymore because all of us from Fairy Tail start to look a touch uncomfortable at the mention of the Seis, seeing as we all know where they are at the moment.

Luckily our discomfort is overlooked. "Kageyama you say? That arrest was before my time as a captain, but I…inherited the case file from the man who retired while you were away in the time lock on Tenrou Island."

"Seeing as he felt remorseful and didn't technically release Zeref's demon on Clover Town we jailed him and his guild mates, including Erigor, for five years. We held on to 'The Reaper' for longer than that until he was broken out of prison with the Neo Oracion Seis, due to the fact that he killed for money. Kageyama was released from our prison here and shipped to Clover Town where he was tasked with helping the citizens to rebuild the destroyed city. He was released with good behaviour after only three years and spent the remaining two on probation. There were no incidents within his probation and he was given the status of full citizen once again and to our knowledge stayed in Clover and made a home for himself there."

I bow my head in thanks. "Thank you Captain Lahar, and you as well Doranbolt, for meeting with us today. We will tell Master Markarov what a great help you were."

Lahar flushes with pride at my words and waves a hand in front of him. "You are most welcome Ms. Heartfellia. I will always wonder how a civilized young lady like yourself came to be in the hands of the most destructive guild known to Fiore."

I drop my lady like demeanour and bristle at his careless comment. "Because they are my damn family Lahar. I will always wonder how a jackass like you ended up being able to uphold the law."

I growl at the mages around me. "Let's get out of this claustrophobic room you guys, I don't want to be here longer than necessary with all the dickwads running around. It might just rub off on us."

Bix sniggers and gives me a high five while Wendy – who is closest to the door – flings it open and we all walk down the hallway to the exit glaring at everybody who dares to look at us.

"I am so done with jumping through all these hoops just to get Natsu back in one piece. If Kageyama doesn't immediately dispel the goddamn seal on that fucking lacrima I will kick him so hard in the testicles that he'll be choking on them for a week." I can feel that my face is twisted in a sadistic expression, but everyone seems to feel the same around me.

I hear Natsu cackle beside me and a warm hand slips into mine. "Damn, you're so sexy when you're all fired up."

I just grin deviously beside him and stalk towards the train station.