Well here we are, another chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail or it's characters, though god I wish I did :

Chapter 26

Fire

Aine P.O.V

"It's now or never, I guess," I laugh, though my hands shake. Sure, Adan went through this and seemed okay but there was no telling what it would do to me. Fire and Earth are so different.

"It'll be fine, Aine," Adan whispers, his broad hands resting on my shoulders. I relax into his touch, his thumbs pressing on the bare skin of my back.

"Yeah, sure it will," I mutter, looking at the ground.

Just a head, the other wait for me in the clearing, standing in a lose circle. I look up at them, frowning. They all depend on Lucy so much and in a way, me. If my magic doesn't connect to her, then what will we do? Without my magic, this could go so badly.

"Stop thinking bad thoughts," Adan mummers, his breathe dancing across my ear.

"Hard not to, you idiot," I say, leaning back. His arms circle my waist and he pulls me to his chest, his chin on my shoulder.

"It'll be fine; it was for me, wasn't it?"

"You're different though," I whisper, staring at his hands where they sit on my stomach.

"How so?"

"You're stronger than me, less unsure of yourself," I say, my voice barely audible.

"Don't be daft," he breathes. "You're one of the strongest people I know; you're wise and kind, so full of power. Don't ever downgrade yourself. Ever!"

"When did you get all sweet?" I ask, turning to look at him. He shrugs and kisses me lightly, his lips brushing mine.

"When I met you, I think," he whispers against my lips. He presses his forehead to mine and looks at me. I blush slightly, looking down at his lips.

"You idiot," I whisper, before kissing him again.

Lucy P.O.V

"Okay, let's so this," Aine grumbles, stalking into the clearing. Adan walks behind him, a smirk on his lips and a swagger in his steps.

"Took you long enough," Natsu grumbles at my side.

"Shush," I say, nudging him in the side. He glances at me in confusion. I just shake my head in return.

"Do you think this will be the same as it was with Adan?" Levy asks.

"I doubt it. Fire and Earth are very different," Kai answers, hopping down from a tree. Why are they always in those things? "We'll just have to wait and see."

"So it'll be different for all of you then?" Lisanna asks.

"More than likely."

"Good luck, Lucy," the white haired girl says, frowning at me.

"I'll be fine, don't worry," I say, smiling.

"But all this magic, it could change you," Jellal muses, pacing the edge of the clearing. "Change you're look, you're mind…" He trails off, muttering to himself.

"Well on that happy note, let's do this," Aine says, shaking her head at the blue haired man.

"Sorry about him," Erza says, eyeing him thoughtfully. "He always was a lover of magic and anything related."

"No kidding," Gajeel mutters.

"Here we go then," I say, as everyone moves to the edges of the clearing.

We join hands, like I did with Adan, but this time it starts right away. Heat building in my wrists, spreading down through my hands into my fingers. Aine smiles slightly, lips parted, like she enjoys the heat. She probably does actually. I smile too, letting the heat soak into my body, like I'm taking it in.

"This isn't too bad," I say, which was probably the stupidest thing I could have said.

Suddenly, my hands start to burn. Not physically; there are no burn marks or redness on my skin. But inside, it feels like molten lava now burns in my veins instead of blood. I whimper, looking up at Aine. Her face is smooth, yet her eyes hold a bit of pain. Even a fire guardian has a heat limit I guess.

"This is new," she groans, hands gripping mine.

"It'll be over soon," I whisper, more to convince myself than her if I'm honest.

Suddenly, my hair start flies back and heat engulfs me. Aine, breathes in deeply, smiling again. The heat in my hands is gone, it's now surrounding me. I look down and gasp. Both our bodies are surrounded in golden flames, yet they don't burn us, just dance closely to our skin.

Then, just like Adan's, Aine's marking's pulse with light and I faint.

This time, when I wake, Natsu's face hovers above me. He smiles gently and helps me up. My hand is empty, so I glance around for Aine. She sits off to the side, Adan's arms wrapped around her. Well at least she's okay.

"What, no golden barrier this time?" Natsu smirks, pulling me till I sit across from him.

"No, I decided it was too much," I joke, though I honestly don't know why there wasn't one this time. Like Kai said, everything would be different.

"Oh well, I don't mind," he laughs. Then he looks at me, searching my face for signs of pain. "It didn't hurt, did it?"

"No, I'm fine," I lie, pushing the memory of the burning away.

"Good," he whispers, smiling again. "Let's go get you some water."

"Yes please," I say, becoming aware of how dry my throat is.

He takes my hand and we both stand up, walking over to where the others sit. Levy throws a canteen towards me and I catch it, opening it and draining it in a few gulps. My thirst gone, I sit down on the grass beside Erza and Natsu joins me, keeping one hand in mine.

"So that was something," Aine laughs. "Here, you may want this."

She tosses me her charm, a small crystal dagger like Adan's, though this one seems to glow from the inside like fire. I join it with my bracelet and nod my head towards the fire guardian.

"Gate's of Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, open!" she shouts.

In a flash of light we are joined by three new people. Leo; orange hair, dressed in a suit and wearing tinted glasses. He smirks at me, his eyes watching my every move over his glasses. Aries; pink haired and wearing a woolen dress. She smiles shyly at everyone, one hand never leaving her mouth, as if she's hiding behind it. Sagittarius…is wearing a horse suit. His quiver sits on his back, filled with arrows and he smiles at us all.

"I'm sure you've heard from the other's, but I'll say it again," I tell them, smiling. "I wish to make a contract with each of you. I promise to protect you just as you would protect me. I'll stand by you in a fight and not use you as a shield."

"Princess, we would be honored to fight by your side," Leo almost purrs. He bows low, still watching me over his glasses and I shiver. Remind me never to be alone with him.

"I'm sorry if I won't be any help," Aries squeaks, blushing when we all look at her.

"No matter what you do, you'll be a help," I tell her, smiling gently.

"Yes, of course, sorry," she squeaks, blushing.

"We'll stand by you, Princess," Sagittarius states, saluting me.

"Thank you," I say, grinning at them.

"We will take out leave then." With a bow from Sagittarius, they fade out and we're left staring at an empty space.

"They get weirder," Gajeel says. Levy hits him over the head with her book and he yelps. "Okay, sorry, sorry."

"Better," the bluenette grumbles, going back to her reading. Gajeel stares at her, a soft smile on his lips.

"Right, well I think it's time to make lunch," Erza announces, standing up. "I shall go hunting, Gajeel you'll join me. Gray, it's your turn to gather, take Juvia with you. And Lisanna get the water please. Levy; look out the bread from out packs. Jellal and Elfman; firewood. Lucy, you just relax. Natsu, you look after her."

We all mumble our agreement and the others go about their jobs. I lean heavily on Natsu's side and he wraps an arms around me, keeping me up.

"Tired?"

"Mhmm," I mumble.

"Take a nap, I'll wake you when foods ready."

"Thank you," I whisper, moving until my head is on his lap. I close my eyes and drift off, smiling when I feel his hands running through my hair.

Natsu P.O.V

Her hairs to soft, I think. Everything about her is so delicate, like she could break at any moment. Or it looks that way at least. In reality, she's stronger than most soldiers. She's much stronger than me anyway. I admire that about her.

"Are you ever going to tell her?" someone says. I glance up and find Levy looking at me from where she sits. In her lap is one of the many packs we have with her. She searches through it, looking for bread like Erza asked.

"Yeah," I say. I laugh at her shocked expression. "I always planned on it, though I've never been great with stuff like this."

"Wow," she says, smiling. "So, any idea when?"

"When the times right I guess," I answer, looking down at the sleeping blonde. "I don't want to rush it. It'll happen, I just don't know when."

"Well then, I wish you luck," she whispers, smiling lightly. Then her faces hardens. "But if you ever hurt her, I swear to the stars, I will end you." I nod hastily, eyes wide.

"Wow, Shrimp, give the guy a break," Gajeel laughs,, walking into the clearing. He holds five birds in his hands. "It's not his fault he's a bit slow."

"You're no better," Levy grumbles, pointing to the basket reserved for meat. "Put them in there."

He dumps the birds, swoops down to kiss Levy and strides away again, off to get more food. Levy grumbles to herself as she lays out the food, her face pink.

"I have the water." Lisanna walks into the clearing, somehow carrying three buckets of water. Levy jumps up and takes one off her, which causes the white haired girl to smile. "Thanks, Levy."

The place the buckets next to the fire and sit down, Levy going back to the food. Lisanna looks over at me and frowns slightly. I tilt my head at her, curious.

"You really do love her, don't you?" I nod and she sighs. "Did you ever feel that way about me?"

"Lisanna!" Levy yelps, glaring at the other girl.

"It's fine Levy," I say, still looking at Lisanna. Did I ever feel this way for her? Honestly, I don't think so. "No, I don't think I did. I think I wanted to at one point; it would have made things easier. But looking back at it and then knowing how I feel about Lucy, they weren't the same thing. I loved you, yes, but like a sister. I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Natsu," Lisanna whispers, smiling at me. "I guess I always knew that, I just didn't want to believe it."

"I really am sorry, Lisanna," I whisper. She smiles again and shakes her head.

"Just promise me one thing?" she asks. I nod and she takes a deep breath. "Don't ever leave her. I want you to be happy but I also want her to be happy. She's been there for me so long. Make her happy and that will make me happy."

"I promise, Lis," I say, smiling at her. She nods and then turns to talk to Levy.

I let their voices fade into the back ground, looking down at Lucy. Her lips are slightly parted, her breathing steady. Every now and then her eyelids flutter, as if she's dreaming and the corners of her mouth turn up slightly. I run my hands through her hair again, smiling down at her. How I was going to tell her, I had no idea. I just know I'm going to do it soon.

Lucy P.O.V

I'm dreaming. That much is obvious. For one, I'm back home, in the castle. That's what tells me this isn't real. Also, on my head sits my mothers old crown. What the hell is going on? I turn around, looking at my surrounding, and realize I'm in my room. Well, kind of. Everything is the same, the furniture, the layout, but something off. Possibly the color of the walls….or maybe it's the fact that everything seems to be doubled.

Two sets of shoes by the door. Two cloaks on the hooks above them. In the bathroom, I catch a glimpse of two toothbrushes in the holder. And on my bed, where normally I have one set right in the center, sits two identical sets of pillows. Something is not right.

"Lucy, you around?" someone shouts from outside the door.

"Here!" I call. Only I didn't, but it was my voice. I start towards the door, not in control of my movements. The door swings open and in the threshold is Natsu, grinning.

"What are you doing in here? The parties downstairs," he laughs, walking until he stands in front of me.

"I came to get something," I say. Why am I speaking?! I wasn't thinking about speaking!

My hand lifts to show off the bracelet around my wrist. The one I wear now, with the guardian charms. Only this one is completed. At least, I think it is. The other charms are slightly out of focus, as if I'm not really looking at them. Must be something to do with the fact that conscious me hasn't actually seen them.

"I feel weird without it."

"You went through a lot with it, I understand," Natsu says softly. Then he's kissing me.

If I was in control here, I would have fainted. As it is, I'm screaming in my mind. Did he seriously just kiss me?! Oh my goodness! Lucy, chill, breathe. Other me just smiles lightly and takes his hand when he pulls away.

"Let's get back to that party, it is ours after all," I breathe, his thumb brushing across my hand.

"I still can't believe it's been two years."

"Yeah, two amazing years," I whisper, smiling at him.

"I love you, Luce," he says, bending closer.

"That's why you married me, you idiot," I giggle. "I love you too."

Our lips brush again and that's when I wake.

Lisanna P.O.V

When Lucy wakes, we eat. I notice how, throughout the full meal, Lucy's eyes always find Natsu. Then she blushes and looks away, only to look back again. She's been smiling since she woke up too. I wonder why.

"Food!" Natsu moans, stuffing his face. Lucy laughs, shaking her head, and nudges his side. He retaliates why shoving her lightly and smiling. I wish I could hate this but honestly I can't. They're both too happy for me to do that.

"Lucy, catch!" Levy says, throwing the blonde another roll.

"Thanks, Lev," Lucy laughs, taking a bite. "I really didn't notice how hungry I was."

"How could you not?! Natsu yelps, looking stunned. "Food is the best!"

"And you're really weird," I say, laughing.

"No fair!"

"You are also a child," Lucy tells him, reaching up to ruffle his hair. He grabs her wrist and tugs her forward, so she falls into his side. He blinks down at her, clearly stunned.

"Oh, sorry," he murmurs, helping her sit up. His hand lingers on her wrist before he lets go.

"It's okay." Face pink, Lucy smiles lightly.

Yeah, I definitely can't hate them for that. I don't think it's possible to hate true love.

Another chapter done :)

If I'm being honest, I was losing the will to finish this story for a while but I made a promise and I intend to keep it! This story will see the end!

Thanks for sticking with me guys!