I do not own Fairy Tail.

Igneel flew above as I sprinted through the narrow streets of an empty city. I panicked as I felt his large shadow pass over me. Changing direction I took a sharp turn into an alleyway, the fire Dragon gaining. My heart stopped when I saw a dead end. Igneel hovered in the dark sky above. Turning to face him I pleaded, my voice unable to make a sound. He grinned, engulfing my world in flames.

I jolted awake in a cold sweat, gasping for breath. Realising it was just a dream I relaxed although a new anxiety began to take over. Seeing the dragons in my sleep wasn't new but experiencing them in that light was. They never harmed me before.

I shook off my unease, noticing I wasn't alone. I stiffened, suddenly aware of another warm body lying next to me. Warm was an understatement, this person was radiating heat. I turned my head slowly to face my uninvited guest, a thick head of pink hair tickling my face. I glowered, ripping off the covers of my bed and jumping up, resisting the urge to beat him to death with HeartString.

"Natsu." I seethed, holding my bedside lamp up like a weapon. "Wake up."

This wasn't the first time he had snuck into my apartment but it was the first time he had the audacity to sleep in my bed. I glanced around the room, sure enough his blue cat; Happy was curled up on my armchair, fast asleep.

I poked Natsu with the lamp. "Wake up Natsu." He pushed it away still asleep. I grumbled, trying to ignore my slight headache. It had been a few weeks since I had tested if Natsu could sense me, which also meant it had been a few weeks since I had drawn HeartString. It was beginning to affect me. There was never a moment where I knew I wouldn't be caught. I realised that when Natsu started to appear in my apartment at the most inconvenient times, in the bath, getting changed, when I was asleep. So using my magic was off limits.

I grinned evilly realising that he wasn't going to wake up with me just poking him. I fetched a jug of cold water from my kitchen, a sadistic smile on my lips as I poured it over his pink head. Natsu immediately sprang out of my bed, flames in hand, water steaming off his body.

"Ahhhh Lucy!" he yelled, shocked. Pink strands of hair clinging to his face. "Why did you do that?" He asked softly, he sounded hurt. He scratched his head, pouting a little. "I thought we were friends?"

I rolled my eyes, exasperated. "Oh no. Don't act like you're the victim here! What the hell are you doing in my bed?"

Natsu squinted, confused. His glanced around my room, his eyes widening. "Oh yeah…" His voice trailed off. I crossed my arms, an eyebrow raised. "OH YEAH?" I fumed. "That's your excuse?!"

Natsu stood up and stretched. He shrugged coolly. "Jeez sorry. Happy and I came over last night to see if you wanted to go on a mission but you were asleep so we joined you. I didn't think it would piss you off so much." He huffed, sulking.

My anger subsided at his hurt expression. I sighed, defeated. "It's okay." I mumbled, feeling guilty. I still wasn't used to having people around. Refusing to look at him I picked his waist coat up from the floor and threw it his way. Walking over to a snoozing Happy I tickled under his chin, causing him to emit a contented sigh. "Come on I'll make you breakfast." I smiled softly to myself. Even though they were annoying sometimes, I still enjoyed their company.

Natsu seem to forget all about my rage once food was mentioned. "Aw! You're the best Lucy!" he exclaimed. Happy appeared beside him, tail waving excitedly. "Can I have fish Lucy?" he beamed. I chuckled, shaking my head at the pair of idiots. "Sure Happy."

After breakfast we headed for the guild. I closed my eyes and smiled, enjoying the summer sun on my face. Natsu and Happy strolled beside me, their contently on their stomachs. "Ah that was good. I was starving! There's no food in our house!" Natsu exclaimed. I bit my cheek, holding back my annoyance. So that's why they came to my apartment?

I gave them a smug smile. "Well. If you had just accepted the money from our last job we wouldn't have this problem." I reminded them; referring to the daybreak job we had the week before. Natsu laughed, putting his arm around me. "Ah come on Lucy. You know we couldn't take it. Anyway we'll get a better job today!" he exclaimed, jewels in his eyes.

"Remind me again. Why do I have to go?" I frowned; my last mission with Natsu and Happy wasn't one of my favourite memories. How could it be? Being tricked in a skimpy maid outfit only to be called ugly by some creepy midget. I shuddered remembering how I had to summon my keys again instead of my bow. Depending on them was definitely not something I enjoyed. To top it all off we came back penny-less, not that I would have taken their money, Natsu was right about that.

Natsu looked at me incredulously. Slapping me on the back. "Because we're a team remember?!" He exclaimed happily. His cat nodded in agreement. "Yeah! Team Natsu!" Happy sang.

I scowled. "Yeah about that…Why is called after him?"

Natsu glanced sideways at me and smirked. "It's because I'm the strongest mage in Fairy Tail of course!" His ego growing before my eyes. I deadpanned, quickening my step. "Sure you are." I replied unenthusiastically. Natsu grinned for a second before freezing, finally picking up on the disbelief in my words.

"HEY WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSE TO MEAN?!" He yelled after me.

The guild seemed quieter today. Or maybe I had just become accustomed to their wild behaviour. Groups of guild members sat together, laughing and yelling over each other. After Natsu's explanation of teams I understood Fairy Tail's dynamic much better. Mostly it explained why Levy was always being followed by Jet and Droy. I was worried she had two stalkers.

Mirajane smiled sweetly at us when we entered the guild, going straight for the request board. "Looking for a job?" she inquired from behind the bar. Knowing that Natsu would want to pick the mission I strolled over to her. "Yeah. We're broke." I admitted. It was only half true though, I still had jewels from other missions, like my dealings with Bora. My old employer paid me up front. Unfortunately I wasn't in it for the money. I thought dejectedly.

Mirajane giggled. "Oh dear. I'm sorry there's not much to offer at the moment. Maybe the Master will have something when he gets back." She beamed.

"The old man's gone?" Natsu asked from behind me, obviously not finding anything on the request board.

"Yep. He's at a regular meeting." She answered. Her eyes widened on me. "Oh Lucy you probably don't know what that is! Want me to explain?" she offered, taking out a chart. I shook my head, "Oh no thanks Mirajane. I get it!" I knew enough about the politics of Fiore.

I glanced at Natsu.

Something had been bothering me ever since we formed a team. If Natsu was as great a mage as he thought then why wasn't he in a team already? It had been racking my brain for the past few days.

"HEY FIREBREATH!" Gray Fullbuster yelled as he marched into the guild. His dark blue eyes incensed. He stormed towards us, holding up an item of clothing. "You burnt a hole in my jacket!"

Natsu's nostrils flared. "So what? It's not like you were gonna wear it anyway, you perverted snow cone!"

Gray raised a clenched fist. "What did you just say flamebrain?" he hissed. He ran towards Natsu, losing his clothes in the process.

"THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! YOU ICE CUBE! " Natsu yelled as he met him halfway with a flaming punch. I sighed turning away. Natsu wasn't in a team before because he wanted to fight everyone he met - except me of course. Did he not see me with even the slightest threat? I wasn't sure how I felt about that. It was what I was aiming for but it irritated me.

Natsu flew across the guildhall, hitting a wall. I silently thanked Gray for relieving some of my stress. Although he annoyed me too, constantly looking for fights with Natsu. I wondered if they really hated each other, the way they were always at each other's throats reminded me of a pair of puppys playing with each other. It wouldn't surprise me, things were never as they seemed here at the guild. I only had to look at the barmaid in front of me to prove it -The sweet and gentle Mirajane who had Satan take-over magic.

Gray stripping certainly was weird but I had come to accept that all the mages in Fairy Tail had their own eccentricities. Cana's drinking. Elfman's manliness obsession. The way Loke acted around me. It wasn't like I was completely normal either. I shuddered, touching my head gingerly.

A panicked guild member burst through the main doors. "Erza! ERZA'S BACK!" he screeched, out of breath. To my surprise, Natsu and Gray froze mid-punch, the rest of the guildhall turned deadly silent. Natsu and Gray leapt away from one another, horrified. They stared at the messenger. "WHAT?" they yelled in unison.

A load thudding noise came from outside the guild, getting closer. The tension in the room rose with each thud. Natsu and Gray cowered together. Seeing them so terrified worried me. Who were they so afraid of? This Erza person? The name sounded familiar.

The doors swung open, revealing a girl around my age, probably a bit older by the stern expression on her pretty face. She was wearing armour and a navy skirt, her red hair flowing past her waist. I heard a few members gasp in awe of the large decorated horn she was holding with ease. She dropped it on the guild's floor with a bang.

"Where is Master Makarov? I need to speak with him at once." Her loud, regal voice rang across the hall. "Oh welcome back Erza. He's out at a conference right now." Mirajane answered, completely oblivious to the visitor's menacing aura.

With the Master absent Erza turned her attention to the other guild members, scolding each one. Her brazen voice echoed over my head as I stared intently at the object behind her. A large horn, decorated with various jewels at its base.

"A Cynthernian Troll." I murmured faintly to myself. An unexplainable déjà vu forcing the words out of my mouth. Happy suddenly appeared by my shoulder. "Lucy what's a Cythernian troll?" He asked loudly. I cringed, trying to cover his mouth before he asked again. It was too late though as I felt a pair of cold brown eyes on me.

Erza walked away from her conversation with Natsu and Gray, their forced smiles disappearing as she turned my way. I bit my cheek, cursing internally as she approached. Her brown eyes ran over me for a moment. Her face remained impassive.

She paused by the decorated horn, running her hand over it. "This was a Cynthernian Troll Happy until I defeated it. The villagers it was attacking decorated its horn for me as thanks."

Natsu pouted, muttering to himself. No doubt wishing he was the one who got to fight the monster. Gray looked thoughtful, his eyebrows clinched together. "I've never heard of it before…"

Erza nodded. "Yes well they are quite rare, since they usually only live on the Cynthernia mountain peaks. This one was exception. It seemed to have climbed down to terrorise the village at the base of the mountain." Her eyes returned to me once again. "Are you from that village?" she inquired.

I shook my head, unsure of what to say. Erza frowned. "Then how did recognise the beast?"

I froze, what do I say? I just knew? I bit my lip, I couldn't say that, it would be way too weird. I stared at the horn, hoping for some inspiration. "The gems." I answered eventually, grasping for a believable excuse. "They can only be mined from the same mountains so I just assumed… I've read about them before…" My voice trailed off, uncertain whether I should add more to the lie.

Erza watched me for a moment, glancing at the blue gems embellishing her prize. My heart's erratic beat eased when she smiled at me, showing how beautiful she really was. "Really? How fascinating. It's a relief to know an intelligent mage has joined us, perhaps you will rub off on the others? I'm Erza. And you are?"

I grinned, perplexed by her sudden charm. "I'm Lucy. Nice to meet you."

"Lucy why are you here?" Natsu asked, not for the first time that day. He had Gray in a headlock, also not for the first time that day, while we waited at the train station.

"I told you! MiraJane told me to come!" I growled, exasperated. I was asking myself the same question. After how quickly I had gained suspicion from Erza yesterday my plan was to avoid her at all costs. She seemed sharper than the other guild members I had spent time with. If she found it strange that I knew the monster's name from yesterday then what would she have thought if she had seen my eyes change colour that day on Mt Hakobe? I shuddered. I had committed myself to keeping this a secret and she was an unnecessary risk.

Yet when MiraJane suggested I should go to keep the peace between Gray and Natsu I had agreed. Why? I groaned, regretting the decision. Why would she think I could keep the peace anyway? Had she seen these guys? I watched them fight, irritated. "Hey guys stop." I called out lifelessly, wishing MiraJane was here to see just how wrong she was. Natsu and Gray ignored me, grappling with each other. I bit my cheek, holding back my anger. "Oh look Ezra's coming!" I sang bitterly, slightly jealous when I saw how they sprang apart from one another.

"Where?" Natsu gasped, his black eyes searching the station. Gray held him in a stiff hug, terrified. How did she have such an effect on these guys? I clinched my eyebrows together, curious.

"Why are you guys so scared of her anyway?" I asked.

Happy, who was hovering above us, perched on Natsu's head. "Erza beat them up really bad!" He beamed, his voice extra cheerful today.

I raised my eyebrow, crossing my arms. "Is that so?" Tempted to do the same.

"Ah good. You're all here. Shall we depart?" A familiar, noble voice questioned. I turned to face Erza. She was in her usual armoured clothes pulling a large pile of suitcases behind her. I tried to hide my astonishment. "Em Erza? Didn't you pack a little…too much?" I asked gingerly.

Erza stared at me, her face blank. "No? I think this is just enough, if not lacking. Should I get more?"

I shook my head frantically, my hands up in surrender. "No! No! You're totally fine!" I cried. She nodded, looking past me at the two guys, who were clutching each other in one of the most awkward embraces I had ever seen.

"It's nice to see you two getting along." She paused, her eyes narrowing. "Let's hope it continues." The guys nodded eagerly, their eyes watering in fear. I watched them, mystified.

"Y-yes Erza." They stuttered. I rolled my eyes as I boarded the train. My reasons for being here becoming less and less.

"So Erza. Why don't you fill us in? Why are we here?" Gray finally asked the question that had been bothering me all day.

She nodded. "I was resting in a tavern when I overhead some people talking about a strange object called The Lullaby. I didn't really pay attention until they mentioned a mage named Erigor. He's an infamous mage of the dark guild Eisenwald. I figured something troublesome was going on." She confessed. She sighed. "Unfortunately they were already gone when I had made the connection."

A shiver went down my spine. Erigor the Shinigami. I had heard of him before, a merciless assassin. Erza was probably right about there being trouble ahead. I glanced at Natsu who was unconscious- Erza's own cure for travel sickness.

"What kind of magic do you use Lucy?" Erza inquired. I squirmed slightly, a faint blush on my cheeks.

Relax Lucy. It was an innocent question.

I smiled half-heartedly. "I'm a celestial spirit mage." I lifted my keys to show her. "See?" Erza admired my keys for a moment. "Good. Seems you have a few."

"What about you Erza?" I cocked my head, curious. To defeat such a large monster she must be strong.

Happy grinned. "Erza's magic is really pretty! It makes her enemies bleed a lot!" he sang jovially.

Ezra smiled. "Thanks Happy but I think Gray's magic is much prettier."

I turned to Gray who appeared to be forming something in his hands, he opened them, revealing an ice sculpture of our guild's symbol. I gasped reaching out to touch it, appreciating it's beauty.

"Ooh ice magic!" I exclaimed, it was different to mine. Remembering that I had used the ice dragon's power not too long ago I felt uneasy. I retracted my hands, fidgeting with them, refusing to look at Gray as I asked him an important question, my voice cautious.

"Em… You're not Glaciem's dragon slayer are you?" I peeked up at him, surprised at his vacant expression. "Who's Glaciem?" Gray asked.

I blinked. "The Ice Dragon?" I finished, baffled that he had never heard of his own element's dragon. Erza had a similar vacuous look.

"There's an Ice Dragon?!" Gray exclaimed, amazed. "Whoa I had no idea…"

Erza smiled, her eyes shining proudly. "I'm surprised you know the name of such an obscure dragon Lucy."

I shuffled uncomfortably. "Yeah well… I read a lot." I shrugged.

She nodded, pleased. "You certainly are very knowledgeable. I'm sure it will be very helpful in the future. I don't suppose you've ever heard of this Lullaby have you?"

I shook my head, disappointed. "No. Nothing." I sighed, leaning on my hand as I stared out the carriage window. I watched as fields and mountains soared past. The Lullaby… my mind came up blank. The further we got from Fairy Tail the more uneasy I felt.

"I can't believe you!" Gray yelled over whirring of the magic-charged car Erza was racing. Things hadn't exactly turned out as planned. Firstly we left an unconscious Natsu on the train and when we finally caught up to him he was being thrown out of it- by none other than an Eisenwald member, an Eisenwald member with the Lullaby according to Natsu. Of course he didn't realise this was important since he was unconscious while Erza was explaining our mission earlier. So it may have been a few minutes until we discovered we needed to follow that train.

Natsu groaned, unable to answer Gray, his face green. We were speeding towards the station. Natsu had described the Lullaby as magic flute with three eyes. I remembered a legend about a death flute of a similar appearance; one song could kill anyone who heard it. Erza seemed to believe me when I told her this, becoming more determined to stop Eisenwald than ever.

The car skidded to a stop outside Oshibana station. Natsu moaned. A large crowd of people surrounded the entrance, listening to the station controllers announcing that station was closed. It appeared the station had already been taken over by the Eisenwald guild. Erza went to speak with the staff, once she realised they knew nothing, she knocked them out.

"We don't have time for this. The Lullaby needs to be contained, one song is fatal." She bellowed, turning back to face us. "Come on, a small army unit has already entered a short time ago." She marched inside. We hurried after her, a sour faced Natsu on my back, Happy flying beside us and Gray not far behind.

"Lucy I have to tell you something!" Happy stated as we turned a corner. The soldiers from earlier lay scattered on the stairs before us. I gasped, unsure if they were alive or dead. "Happy it can wait. We need to find the Lullaby!"

Happy pouted as we followed Erza into the main hall of the station. She stopped at the entrance, glaring across the room where a large group of shady magicians stood, sneering. Around twenty in all, their leader, a sinister looking man crouched on a ledge above them. A menacing smile on his pale face. A scythe was strapped to his back, glinting in the sunlight.

The Shinigami.

"You." Erza pointed. " Are you Erigor?" She called out, her voice strong and opposing.

He smirked, confirming it. "Looks like the Fairy Tail flies did come after all. Good. We can teach you smug bastards a lesson. " His followers snickered beneath him.

I nudged Natsu, taking notice of how many mages were here. He needed to get up. "Natsu!" I whispered. "Come on. Pull yourself together!"

"What are you planning to do with the Lullaby?" Erza demanded. Erigor and his cronies sneered. He leaped into the air, using wind magic to fly. "What do train stations have?" He mused, perching himself on the speakers.

"You plan to broadcast it?" Erza finished for him, her tone serious and unforgiving.

He smirked. "All those nosy onlookers. Hell if I raised the volume maybe I could kill the entire city?"

"As if we'd let you!" Gray yelled. Natsu got up, unable to ignore what was going on for any longer. He glared at Erigor, his hands burning.

Erigor shot him an amused look, flying into the air once again. "I'll leave the rest to you. Show them the true terror of a dark guild." There was a flash of light and he disappeared.

Erza glanced at Gray and Natsu. "You two go after him. If it's the both of you he can't win."

They glared at one another for a moment before nodding to her and running off, leaving two girls and a flying cat face off the others. I glanced at Erza, her stern face summing up our opponents. Her pretty face was blank, her brown eyes calm yet there was a darkness to it. She was too calm, too focused, as if she had done this a hundred times. I shuddered; unsure whether to be in awe or terror. Did she look like that when she beat Natsu and Gray up? No wonder they was afraid of her.

"So just us against them?" I asked, forcing an enthusiastic tone. I wouldn't be much help just using my spirits. Erza nodded, stepping forward.

The Eisenwald members leered at us from across the room. Murmuring about they'd do to us after they won. It made my skin crawl. I knew I could take them all if I could use HeartString but that wasn't an option. I winched, a sharp pain shooting through my head. Erza oblivious to me began to transform, her clothes replaced by a more striking armour with wings. Swords appeared all around her.

Re-equip magic.

It was the first time I has seen it used to such an extent. Erza began to fight, tossing and turning, the clang of swords against the yells of the surprised guild members. Her calm eyes met mine and I nodded, taking Cancer's key out. Even if I hated using my keys this way I wasn't going to let her have all the fun.

Erza spun slashing her blades in final attack, one of the last attacking mages hit the ground. The short man remaining ran in terror, sprinting into one of the side corridors. Erza breathed heavily surrounded by the bodies of the dark guild members she had dispatched. I watched her, impressed. She scowled at me. "Follow him, he might be going to Erigor."

I paused. Erza didn't look too good. "You sure?"

"Please." She hissed, glaring at me. I swallowed before nodding, sprinting after the escapee.

I grinned as I turned the corner. If no one was around then I could use my real magic. I reached out to form my bow when I heard the flapping of wings behind me.

"Lucy wait!" Happy called.

I groaned, my headache returning. Scratch that idea. "Yeah. Yeah come on cat. Let's catch this guy" I huffed, marching after the lone mage.

Happy and I strolled down the empty train station corridor. It had been a while since Erza had sent us to find the chicken mage and we hadn't even seen him once. If Happy wasn't here I could have tried using my other magic but even then I wasn't sure what would work for this game of hide and seek. He didn't seem to be an important player though, which was a relief. I still didn't want to return to Erza empty handed, not with the way Happy was talking about her.

"Lucy I have something to tell you!" Happy exclaimed. I scowled. "Happy it doesn't count if you can't REMEMBER what it is!" I hissed.

A muffled yell echoed across the room. We froze, recognising the infuriated voice. "Natsu?" I called out warily. Suddenly the wall in front of us blasted into pieces and the mage we were searching for landing at our feet, stars in his eyes. Natsu stood over him, panting heavily, his eyes filled with hatred.

Happy and I watched in horror at the scene before us, Natsu beating the sobbing mage to a pulp while Erza and Gray panicked over the bleeding man who threw Natsu out of the train just a few hours earlier.

"What is going on?" I asked to no one in particular, overwhelmed. Gray acknowledged me first. "It wasn't Oshibana Erigor was targeting. It was the regular meeting in Clover!"

I gawked. "Then why are we still here fighting these wimps?" I pulled Natsu off the sniffling mage. He huffed, his anger still simmering.

"Because that Erigor bastard made a wind wall. We're trapped here. That's why we needed this guy." Gray pointed to the stabbed mage. "He can undo magic seals."

The mage must have been a dispeller of some kind. I watched as Erza bandaged his wound. Natsu glowered, seeing the mage wince as she pressed on his stab wound. "I'll fix this." He declared, storming outside to the barrier.

We followed him, Gray and Erza supporting the injured mage. I stared up at the impenetrable wall in dismay, although I couldn't help but admire Erigor's work. To make such a strong barrier and not have to continuously maintain it, his wind magic must be quite powerful. This fact didn't seem to escape Natsu who was flaming up in frustration, preparing to punch his way through the high velocity winds. My eyes widened in terror as he was thrown back against the Station wall. He stood up slowly, staggering, preparing for another try.

"Natsu stop!" I yelled, moving without meaning to I wrapped my arms around his back, refusing to let go. He froze, his eyes calm again but confused. "Lucy what are you doing?"

Realising I was still clinging to him I let go, surprised by my sudden outburst. "Stopping you from getting ripped to shreds. Idiot! It's too strong to break through!"

He frowned, looking away. Refusing to admit defeat. Happy hovered above me, a wide smile on his face. "I remembered!" He dropped a golden key into my hand. "Everlue wanted to give this to you!"

I gazed down at the golden key, feeling my blood boil slightly. "Virgo? Happy did you have this the WHOLE time!" I yelled in disbelief at the fact Happy had been carrying around a Golden key as if it was loose change for the past week. A golden key!

Happy gave me a guilty smile. "I'm sorry Lucy I forgot. But can't we use it to escape? She can dig us a tunnel!"

We froze, realising the cat may be right. "Heh? Is that true?!" Gray cried. Erza gave me a questioning look and I nodded. Knowing we didn't have much time I reached out the key.

"Open Gate of the Maiden. Virgo!" I commanded. A petite pink haired maid appeared, nothing alike to the huge woman who had served Everlue.

"Hello Mistress." Virgo bowed.

"Hi Virgo, I'm sorry we don't have much time, can we do you contract later?"

"Of course Mistress."

"Ok I need you to dig a way out for my friends, to pass the wind barrier. Is that ok?"

She nodded, a small smile on her lips. "Of course Mistress. Right away." She disappeared under the ground, reappearing on the other side of the wind wall. I sighed, relieved. I wondered what her other powers were, thinking of my bow.

"Awesome!" Natsu yelled, jumping in after her and climbing out the other side. Gray followed with the injured dark mage. I stopped Erza as she left to go.

"I'm going to stay here. The army will be here soon and they'll need a way to enter." I stated, hoping she'd believe me. She watched me for a moment before nodding. "Good idea Lucy. We shall meet you back at the guild. Be safe." She commanded before climbing down into the tunnel.

"You too." I called after her. I climbed outside through the tunnel. Silently watching them leave, the car zooming off in the distance. I glance up at the powerful barrier, thinking of Erigor. If it is all of them, they can defeat him easily I reassured myself. Looking back at them once again, I notice a familiar pair flying ahead of the car. Natsu and Happy were going ahead without Erza and Gray? My stomach twisted. Natsu was a fire mage there was no way he could beat Erigor. He wasn't as strong as him either. His chance weren't good and The Shinigami wouldn't hesitate to kill him, either with the Lullaby or with that menacing scythe of his. As the car disappeared into the horizon, I narrowed my eyes into resolve, knowing that I couldn't hold back this time or Natsu and Happy might die.

I swiftly turned to face my celestial spirit. "Now tell me, what can you really do?" I demanded my voice stern and focused. I didn't have much time.

Virgo smiled slightly, her impassive stare disappearing for a moment. "Entrapment and escape are my specialites Mistress."

I nodded, thoughtful, climbing back through the tunnel. I didn't want anyone to see me. "Interesting. I may have to use you later. I hope that's alright."

Virgo nodded. "Do whatever you please with me Mistress. You may punish me if you wish?" I raised my eyebrow taken aback by her words. I sighed, returning her to her key. And just when I was thinking I had finally found a normal spirit.

I creased my brow, observing the barrier in front of me, trying to decide how I would destroy it. Dispelling magic was risky, especially for something this big. The dragon who had given me that ability had been dead long before I was born and I've never met someone to show me how to use it. Whenever I tried I ended up draining my magic as well.

Natsu's face flashed in my mind. I didn't have a choice. I wasn't going to let Erigor kill him or Master Makarov.

I frowned, forming HeartString. I let out a deep breath, enjoying the rush of power in my hands and relief from my headache. I levelled my bow with the barrier, focusing on the anti-magic I desired and released, a purple light shot from my bow hitting the wind wall in front of me. It spread out with the moving barrier, covering it in a purple light, once submerged my magic flared, almost blinding me before the light vanished, taking the wind wall with it, an eerie quiet stretching over Oshibana.

I blinked, surprised that I had succeeded with such ease. Grinning at my handy work I changed my eyes to white, preparing to fly. I shot my bow at the ground, jumping into the air and soaring towards Clover, hoping I wasn't too late.

I heard them before I saw them. The deafening rush of gale force winds and crackling of flames. They were fighting on train tracks in the middle of a canyon. A perfect spot someone who could fly, one slip from Natsu and he was a goner, at least that's what I thought until I saw Happy save him. I landed on a rocky ledge that had a good view of the battle, making sure it would be a place they wouldn't notice me; above them in the shadow of the large overbearing cliff.

Natsu looked terrible, bruised all over, his flames small and dwindling. I clenched my fist, incensed. Did he really think he could take on Erigor all by himself? I remembered his words from this morning, about him being the strongest mage in Fairy Tail.

"Idiot." I hissed under my breath. Natsu was attempting to break through a wind barrier Erigor had put between them, his flames getting sucked away by the strong winds. It wouldn't be long now until Erigor finished him off. I had to end it now.

Forming HeartString in my hand I prepared to shoot Erigor, one hit would do, my eyes black, an unpleasant magic coursing through me like darkness crawling in my veins. Pulling back my hand, I focus on The Shinigami, his scowling face.

Wait. Scowling?

My eyes returned to normal, amazed by the spectacle below me. Natsu was advancing through the wind barrier, the heat from his flames tickling my face. Erigor was frozen in shock as his magic was drained away by Natsu's piping hot flames.

"What?" I whisper to myself, stunned. Natsu's flames overpowered Erigor, engulfing him.

The power of feeling.

I'm not sure how I knew, it was similar to the Cythernian Troll's horn from yesterday. I just did, like some kind of strange intuition deep within me. Natsu had used his own emotions to power his magic, sucking the air out of Erigor's wind. The flames receded, revealing that the infamous Shinigami was out cold, sprawled across the tracks.

He's stronger than I thought...

Erza and the others had arrived with the magic car. I watched over them, trying to wrap my head around Natsu's power. My three fellow guild members were also admiring Natsu's handy work, leaving their 'injured' guest by the car. I narrowed my eyes noticing his suspicious expression. I followed his line of sight, my heart racing when I saw it lead to the Lullaby.

Stupid Natsu had forgotten to get it. They all had, their backs to the dark mage as he crept closer to accursed flute. I needed to stop him before it was too late. HeartString flickered in my hand. I glanced down at it worried, why was it doing that? Focusing on my earth magic, I steadied myself to shoot the dark mage. I pulled back my hand except nothing happened. A sudden light headedness hit me as I realised my magic was diminishing.

Crap. I guess that anti-magic spell backfired after all…

I grimaced, realising I didn't have much time left until HeartString vanished.

My bow's flickering became more intense. I breathed deeply, trying not to panic. My keys didn't use my magic, I frantically scanned my keys, which one would be suitable for stopping him. My hand grasped Virgo, remembering what she had said earlier.

Entrapment.

Taking out her key and pulling it back on my dying bow I aimed at the mage currently edging towards the death flute. Letting it go and sighing in relief when chains wrapped around him like a cocoon, knocking him to the ground, his muffling screams finally earning the attention of the gang. Who just stared at the struggling mage perplexed.

I laughed, falling back onto the dusty rock. HeartString disappearing in my hands.

"HEH?" I heard Natsu and Gray shout. I grinned, staring up at the clouds, trying not to think about the fact I was stuck up here until my magic came back.

"Lucy!" I looked up from my book, hopefully concealing how out of breath I was. I had just flown back to Fairy Tail at full speed from the canyon. I stopped outside Magnolia and ran the rest of the way. It would have been suspicious if I had arrived after them. It had only taken a few hours for me to regain my powers. With every hour I had gotten more paranoid that Erza was waiting for me at the guild.

I smiled up at Happy who was followed by Ezra, Gray and Natsu. "Hey guys. Did you catch him?"

Erza nodded, she seemed exhausted, probably drained from driving the magic car. She sat down beside me, laying her head down on the table. Gray and Natsu sat opposite us. I noticed a few bruises on Natsu from his fight with Erigor but they were overshadowed by his elated expression.

"Yeah! Lucy you should have seen it! I destroyed the guy!" Natsu boasted proudly. Happy nodded enthusiastically. "That's right! He did!"

Gray gradually began to strip, unaware. "Lucy how was Ichibana? Did you help the army?" he asked.

I shrugged, pretending to be embarrassed. "Oh … Well the barrier came down a little while after you guys left so I didn't have to do much. What happened after Erigor?"

Gray shrugged. "We brought the flute to the regular meeting and they re-sealed it. I think it should be at the council archives by now."

"Don't forget the chains!" Happy sang, a sly grin on his cute face.

Natsu frowned. "Yeah! That mage who got stabbed covered himself in chains for some reason…"

"Yeah what a weirdo." Gray interjected.

I blinked, keeping my face blank. Were actually being serious? They thought he had some weird chain fetish? Not for the first time I wondered whether I should be glad these guys clueless or not.

Natsu beamed. "Anyway who cares! We're the strongest team in Fairy Tail!" He punched his fist in the air. "Team Natsu!"

Gray and I shared an amused smile. Before the name annoyed me but after today, seeing him defeat Erigor against all odds…

"Team Natsu!" I cheered along with him and Happy

Maybe Team Natsu wasn't so bad after all.

Hey guys.

So just wanted to clarify some things. Firstly the "I just know." sort of reaction to various magic things IS NOT me being lazy- it is an important factor to the plot which will be explained in later chapters. Secondly I know Lucy's behaviour may seem bitter/unnecessarily bitchy but that is down to her being isolated for the past few years/ also a fear of being discovered = a bit of a tsundere, as you can see she's warming up to people now ( like in this chapter)

And lastly, this is an AU and I find following the original plot very tedious so I will be cutting out some arcs and skipping over some others. Haven't decided whether I'll do Galuna yet or Lucy's kidnapping. If you would like to see a certain scene be sure to tell me!

Thank you for reading! Be back soon!