SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 8 out, this is Chapter 9 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and the main pairing.

Chapter 9: Traveling Companions

"Oh dear…" Mirajane muttered, the shrunken Natsu sitting on Happy's head. "He's so cute."

"Is that what you mean?" Cana blinked.

"Natsu, you're getting kind of heavy." Happy reminded.

"It's not like I'm riding you for fun!" Natsu snapped.

"Hey, Max." Gray picked up the flailing Dragon Slayer. "How about opening your shop again? I bet you could actually sell a lot of slant-eyed munchkin goods."

"I ain't goods!" Natsu protested.

"At that size, you can't blame anyone for seeing you like that." Happy pointed out.

"Everyone, shut up!" Lucy roared, as she and Ami buried their heads in the books. "We can't concentrate! I found out a lot." She reported. "My father followed the contents of this book." She held up the 'Key of the Starry Heavens'. It's about a little girl, who was told she'll become happy if she could gather six special keys, so she goes off to look for them. But in the end, the people around her became unhappy."

"What kind of ending is that?" Happy wondered.

"So then?" Erza prompted.

"It says, 'The First Key goes on a journey'." Lucy read.

"How can a key go on a journey?" Natsu was puzzled.

"Idiot," Gray rebuked. "It's just a metaphor. How can you be so dense? Where did the Legion attack first?"

"That's right." Lucy confirmed. "The clock hand was brought here. In other words, it 'went on a journey'. That's when all the attacks started. The little girl goes on a journey to find the remaining five keys." She added. "And she finds them in different places. In the end, she arrives at a church and finds the sixth key there."

"A church?" Erza echoed. "Don't tell me…"

"No." Ami corrected. "It isn't the Kardia Church in this town. It's much further away."

"How do you know? "Erza asked.

"I did a landscape scan of Magnolia when I got my bearings right, and then when I saw the places in the 'Key of the Starry Heavens', something just clicked. I realized those places were actually modelled after real locations."

"I think my father scattered the five remaining pieces of the clock, hiding one in each place." Lucy concluded. "Anyway, if we go to the places "Key of the Starry Heavens' was based one, I'm positive we'll be able to obtain the remaining parts. I don't know why Legion is after those clock parts. But I can't let them succeed after seeing the prophecy about 'chaos descending'. I'm going to look for the parts."

"What are we gonna do?" Gray inquired. "Legion has probably already figured out the same thing. And if I'm right, this becomes a race against time."

"When the five remaining parts are all gathered, it isn't certain what will happen." Makarov cut in. "However, 'chaos upon the world' must be avoided."

"Let's split up into groups." Erza suggested.

"Why are we partnered with her?" Gray muttered, he, Ami and Juvia walking through the forest.

"Come on, it isn't that bad." Ami chuckled.

"The sun's beautiful rays are like a refreshing smile." Juvia gushed.

"Juvia." Lyon voiced from behind.

"What do you want?" Gray demanded.

"I came." Lyon started. "Anyway, I came. I was worried about the two of you being on your own."

"What's that to be worried about?" Gray snapped.

"Various things." Lyon replied.

"Well, don't follow me." Gray demanded.

"I'm worried…" Lyon looked away. "About this and that."

"And I said worried about what?" Gray glared.

"Awkward silence…" Juvia muttered, the quartet continuing their way.

"Again, why are you tagging along?" Gray glared at Lyon.

"Because there's no way someone like you would be able to find the clock part." Lyon replied. "You're not suited to take on a complicated mission like this in the first place. That hasn't changed, even after seven years. In fact, it's possible that your mind has atrophied during that time."

"What the hell are you talking about, 'atrophied'?" Gray snapped. "For starters, we were all sealed away. For us, no time passed, let alone seven years. Not even Natsu ever said anything like that to me. You wanna have a go?"

"You get hot under the collar so easily." Lyon sighed. "For someone who wields the power of ice, you're like a kid that's full of crap."

"'Full of crap'?" Gray echoed. "That's even worse."

"I'll throw down with you anytime." Lyon remarked. "But right now, searching for the clock piece takes priority. Just leave it to me."

"Something's been bugging me for a while." Ami cut in before Gray erupted, the Fairy Tail mages having introduced Lyon to the newcomer. "Where did you hear that information, Lyon?"

"I don't understand it." Gray muttered. "Why do I feel so run-down?"

"Say, Ami." Juvia broke the uncomfortable silence. "Have you ever received a token of love?"

"Yes, once, that is." Ami flushed a deep red. From someone who was always tying with me on exams that I took under the name 'Mercury'. His was 'Mercurius'. He sent me a love letter, and I…I…"

"Rejected it?" Lyon's curiosity was piqued. "Burnt it?"

"Broke out in hives." Ami mumbled.

The small group was silent before Juvia, then Lyon, began to laugh as Ami giggled as well, but only Lyon noticed Gray was looking ahead, the younger ice mage stiffening at the mention of a love token and seemingly slump his shoulder a little more than he usually did.

"This is it." Gray announced, the group having arrived at their destination.

"Ruins?" Lyon echoed.

"According to Lucy, the piece of the clock should be somewhere in these ruins." Ami noted.

"But how do we look for it?" Juvia wondered.

"Good question." The two males chorused.

"Don't give us 'good question'!" Juvia snapped.

"Seriously!" Ami agreed.

"Men!" both females stormed off.

"Remind me again why we put up with them?" Ami wondered.

"It's times like this, I wonder too." Juvia nodded.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.