Well, I'm pretty sure that this shorty chapter is completely inadequate considering I've been gone so long. I apologize for that, but I've been through some stuff I was incapable of coping with and writing was the last thing on my mind. So, here is this chapter, and I am going to get back on my old schedule now. Enjoy!

"So, you kept my place for me?"

"Well, Happy lived there for a while before he and Charle started taking missions. After they pretty much got together, he moved in with Wendy and Charle. I held onto it because I hoped you weren't dead and I couldn't bring myself to move all the stuff you collected. I took the maid outfit back, though."

Natsu paused for a moment; trying to think of a good reason Lucy would need that maid outfit. Not finding one, he asked her. She chuckled and pushed her hair out of her face.

"I had to do a mission that involved being a maid, but one with less than honorable pass-times. I used that outfit to get in. Before you ask, I did the mission before I had to do anything of . . . that sort."

Lucy chuckled as her partner visibly sighed in relief. He had nothing to worry about; she had saved herself. The night was so beautiful, the stars on her arm shone in response to the moonlight. Natsu noticed, as well as noticed that many things had changed about his partner. The stars on her arm were evidence of a change in her magic, her hair had grown out long and curly, she'd gotten more muscular, and somewhere along the line, she had become sad. Her smiles she had shown were bright, but not nearly as bright as they'd used to be. If she was so sad, could he have made a mistake in assuming things could just go back to the way they were?

"Why are you so sad, Lucy? Today's been a good day."

She shrugged her hair out of her face, staring at Natsu with a dead gaze. He'd never been on the receiving end of one of those looks.

"I'm not sad over today. Ever since the train accident, it's been really hard to move over the sadness of losing everything. I didn't just lose you that day. I haven't been able to walk around Magnolia without some sort of eye patch. Everyone runs away if they see my eye. My magic changed, too, so I don't even have my spirits to rely on; I only borrow their power. Do you see why I'm lonely and sad?"

Lucy gauged Natsu's reaction carefully. She didn't know if this much information at once would overwhelm him or cause pity. He sighed, running a hand through his pink hair. They continued to walk along the canal, the sun beating on their heads. Afternoon had set in, people just beginning to wander the city created a picturesque scene that could have come from any time. A person or two had noticed them, but so far no one had recognized them.

"I'm sorry you're sad, Lucy. If it makes you feel better, I spent the last six years hiding from you. They had told me you were dead, so I stayed in that tiny town in order to never face your death. I was useless to Fairy Tail without magic and I had been useless to you. I couldn't handle my own self-pity."

The pair fell into a solemn silence, both wondering exactly how they had managed to come to this place in this time. So much had changed, been lost, and found in just six small years. Natsu reached over and took Lucy's hand, gently pulling her into a café on the corner. The tiny shop was empty and only carried a couple items, but he bought them coffees and sat her down at a table for two. The two sat in silence for a few minutes before a glass breaking behind the bar startled them.

"You guys . . . are you from Fairy Tail?"

Lucy stood and looked the younger girl in the eye. She could tell their identities had been discovered by this waitress, but she had to be sure.

"Who do you think we are?"

The girl gulped in response to the sudden flare of darkness in the room. Lucy's aura truly was terrible when she chose to use it.

"Lucy Heartphilia and Natsu Dragneel, Fairy Tail's lost team."

"You are incorrect."

"Actually, I'd know that damn eye anywhere, bitch."

Lucy's eyes widened as the girl transformed into the witch she feared so much. Natsu jumped forward, grabbing Lucy around the waist and pulling her out of the café.

"Lucy, run to the guild. I'll hold her off and signal every couple seconds so you can bring them here."

"Forget it. I left you once; I won't do it again. We'll kill her together."

"I'm trying to keep you safe!"

"And I'm trying to keep YOU safe. So let's not argue and let's kill a witch."

Mira heard the explosions from the guild and instantly knew that something was going on with Natsu and Lucy. She reminisced for a second, recalling all the times that she had heard those sounds in years past, then ran for the Master. Something had to be wrong.

"Master!"

"I know. Everyone, go find Natsu and Lucy! NOW!"

Everyone jerked out of their drunk reveries, sobered up, and sprinted out of the guild. People wandering the streets stopped dead in their tracks; the magic energy in the town had suddenly spiked dangerously high. The hair rose on the back of their necks, and they took shelter, praying that there was no reason to be alarmed. The magic had a distinctly friendly feeling; Magnolia wondered if Fairy Tail was on the move for the first time in years.

"ROAR OF THE FIRE DRAGON!"

More shadow the witch had summoned dispersed, but they were still practically drowning in the minions. Natsu checked Lucy; she was holding her own using a spell that looked like Loke's Regulus Blast. However, he could see her physical fatigue building up as she blasted more and more.

"Lucy, we need help!"

"I know, Natsu! I have an idea, but I need two hands!"

The witch had disappeared by now, probably hiding somewhere waiting for her minions to beat them to a pulp. Natsu raised a fire around him, trying to burn as many away as possible. Lucy flipped backwards out of her clot and lifted her star-tattooed arm. Her eyes closed, body relaxed, and Natsu's ears began to pick up the sound of singing.

"Travel the stars, hear my plea,

Celestial bodies, answer me.

I am your vessel, you are the glow,

I am your servant, humble and low.

My name is The Maiden, kind but stern.

Punish these offenders.

Comet's Burn!"

Natsu ran to Lucy, supporting her as the ground started to tremble. Lucy's non-starred hand now controlled a massive fiery power that instantly destroyed all the shadows and heated up the air. If he wasn't a fire dragon slayer, his skin would have been burned. Lucy's glow died out, leaving her looking rather exhausted.

"Thanks for the hand, Natsu."

"Where did you learn to do that?!"

"No time! We need to find that bitch before she goes on a rampage. I am so done with her."

At that moment, Lucy couldn't believe her eyes. The entire Fairy Tail guild had arrived, eyes wide and magic flaring, ready to fight. Levy ran up to her, throwing her arms around Lucy in a teary eyed hug.

"Lucy! Are you okay?!"

Lucy smiled gently, hugging the smaller girl tightly.

"I'm okay, Levy, just a little tired and irritated. Let's go back to the guild for now; I have some work for you to do."

I gave Lucy a new spell! Let me know if the incantation was bad, I kinda came up with it on the fly. I'm working on the next chapter right now, so stay with me! Thank you!