Here we go again. I don't own Fairy Tail; Hiro Mashima does. Let me know what you think, and enjoy!

Erza's POV

I leaned casually against the tree, watching the sun as it kissed the horizon and enveloped my home in a lazy orange, setting everything on fire. A gentle wind passed among the trees, blowing my scarlet hair. A few strands blew across my cheeks, but I ignored them as I continued to watch the sunset. It was mesmerizing. Many below in the town bustled around, finishing last minute chores before the sun finally disappeared, and the moon chased away the warmth and encased Magnolia with its cold silver sheen. They were unaware of the beauty, and it saddened me to know that they took the small moments such as this for granted. Then again, they probably had never felt what it was like to have the perfect moment ripped from their hearts. They probably had never felt the despair of losing what was always theirs but they could never have. Luckily, it was not like that anymore.

I closed my eyes to block the tears from rolling down my face. It had been a hard battle, but finally, after so many years, things were changing. I'd learned to never take those precious moments for granted again. We both did. I heard him before I saw him. His soft footsteps approached eerily quiet through the brush, but I didn't open my eyes at his approach. Instead, I let him come closer to me. His hands found my face, and gently stroked the stray hairs away before he pulled me to his lips. My body trembled at his touch, and I finally opened my eyes when he leaned back. Blue locks fell into his gentle, yet haunting brown eyes. My fingers wrapped around his neck, and I breathed his name against his lips, "Jellal."

He smiled against me and rested his forehead against mine. His hands never left my face as they continued to caress my cheeks. "I missed you," he admitted softly, as if this moment was too fragile to speak. The truth being it was.

I kissed him once more, and said as equally quiet, "I missed you too."

With our hands wrapped around each other, we stayed like that for what seemed like hours. All these times we had decided to meet in secret at our spot on the hill side was still a dream. It was the one place we could hide from our guilds, and from the magic council and be alone together in this world. Though we could only meet perhaps once every few months, and each week was more agonizing than the next, being together finally was a sweet paradise that was worth the wait and the risk of being caught.

Unfortunately, we were not here this time simply to enjoy the company of one another. After Scarlet's frightening story of the future, I had sent a letter to Jellal to look into the madness of this sorceress. Makarov's rage and fear echoed into me, and I began to take drastic measures. Over his travels, I asked Jellal to find information and meet as soon as possible. Luckily for us, he had found what we needed hours after receiving my request, and we met when we could.

Reluctantly releasing each other, Jellal reached into the bag at his side and removed a thick and worn book. "I found this in the guild," he informed me, handing me the book. "I took the liberty of reading the journals written inside, and…"

My eyes took in his worry, and I took the text from his hands. Flipping through it, I beckoned, "And?"

Jellal shook his head and ran a hand through his blue hair. He released a long sigh before answering. "It's just as you said. This sorceress is not a mage that can easily be brought down. Her magic is something not even I have heard of before. It's dangerous."

I silently agreed with him as I continued turning the pages, scanning each one quickly before continuing to the next. "She uses manipulation magic to control her enemies and death magic to fuel her. I already knew this," I muttered. Jellal traveled to the dark guild that the wicked mage had taken over and browsed through the rubble to see if he could scavenge anything. Though there was no promise of anything surviving the war between Fairy Tail and the dark mage, he had found a journal of the previous master. He hid from her in secret, and thankfully written down the brutal account. It must have been difficult, but at least he was smart enough to realize that this type of power could prove lethal and should be recorded in case he was slaughtered. Looking at the sudden end of the journal, it appeared he was. "Morgania," I read from one of the last pages. "That was her name."

"I couldn't find anything useful about weaknesses or locations," Jellal added. "The author mostly mentioned how she manipulated others. She couldn't physically transform into anything, but she used their mind against them by creating an illusion. She made it appear as if she was a lost loved one, and she promised to reunite them so long as they fought for her. She cannot kill herself, but she has to make others kill for her to obtain more power."

"That's sick." I slammed the book shut and pinched my eyes closed. "What kind of monster would use that type of manipulation against everyone? Does she even have a soul?"

Jellal's arms wrapped around me, and I felt him shrug. "I cannot answer why people turn against everything they love," he answered, "but, I know once you lose something precious to you, and you have the opportunity to have it back, it's hard to refuse. She uses emotions against you."

"But that's Fairy Tail's strength," I argued, opening my eyes and breaking out of his grip so I could rant. "We are powered by our feelings and bonds. That's why we are the strongest guild. We may fight and brawl all the time, but there isn't a single person we do not love and cherish. How could someone who was a part of Fairy Tail turn against us and use it to their advantage? We've all lost something and honing in on that to destroy us…" My fists shook at my sides, and Jellal could sense the raw rage rumbling from me. I cut my eyes at him, and swore, "Anyone who would dare cross Fairy Tail as she has whether it is in the past or the future, is going to wish they had never been alive!"

Lucy's POV

Sweat clung to me like a second skin, and breathing was becoming a chore. My arms were weak from abuse, and my legs threatened to collapse. Yet despite the bruises forming on my body, and the exhaustion spreading like a blanket over me, I lifted my hands once more, defiance lighting up my expression. I would not give up.

A smirk played on the fire mages lips, and his sharp onyx eyes watched his opponent gleefully at my refusal to lose to him. He liked a challenge, and noting from the heavy breaths, he was enjoying every part of this. He punched right, and I blocked quickly, and then swept my other hand to knock away his other fist before it could connect with my side. My leg kicked up, becoming a whip and my shin met his side. He groaned in pain, and I took the advantage by following it with a jab to his stomach. He blocked, and noticed my exposed left side where my arms were starting to fall from exhaustion. He punched without hesitation, and I cried out. I started to fall, but I grabbed the pinkette, and we tumbled to the ground. Unfortunately, I ended up on the bottom. My side still hurt from the punch, but so was his from my kick. He grabbed my wrists and tried to hold me, but I bucked my hips and used my legs wrestle with him.

After a little struggle, I had managed to flip him, though our arms were still fighting for advantage. Being sweaty actually had its advantages though, and I slipped through his grip. However, he took this moment to use his legs, and I ended up on beneath him again. His hips straddled me, and he pinned against the earth. His breath reigned down hotly on my cheeks, and a lazy smile played on his face as he realized his victory. I exhaled deeply in defeat and rolled my eyes at his cocky remarks I'm sure were to follow later.

However, his eyes roamed down my body, and I began to feel all too aware of our physical situation. Warmth spread throughout me that had nothing to do with his unnatural body heat or the taxing exercise we just finished. Though I know I should have felt uncomfortable with the way he was looking at me, I didn't, and instead found myself staring at his rippling muscles. Earlier, he had stripped off his shirt, and I hadn't worried about it then but now it was distracting. With the sweat glistening against his bronzed skin and every muscle taut from years of training, I couldn't help but admire just how…sexy he was. Mavis, he was hot!

His eyes flickered to mine suddenly, and I blushed at my own stupid thoughts, praying that I hadn't said them out loud. They lingered on mine for a second more than shifted to my open lips. Before I could stop myself, I looked at his own soft lips and wondered just for breath what it would be like to feel them against my skin.

As if sensing the direction of my thoughts, he leaned closer, his eyes curious and staring in open wonder. His lips parted as he whispered my name, and I felt my heart race inside my chest. I closed my eyes, a sigh escaping me as we became only a hair's width away. My body shivered in anticipation, and my stomach became as light as air as he breathed against me. "Lucy…" he whispered, and I found myself moaning from suspense.

His body left mine, and my eyes popped open from the sudden lack of his warmth. I stared around in confusion and he was bent over me with his hand held out. "Weirdo," he laughed, trying to play off the blush on his cheeks. I huffed and placed my hand in his, grunting in pain as he helped me to my feet, and I suddenly remembered the torture I had just put my body through. "You're getting good, but you're still not as good as the master," he teased. I knew the cocky comments would come eventually.

"Yeah, well we still have a few hours, and I'm pretty sure I could kick your ass before then," I shot back at him with more confidence than I felt. Honestly, the idea of sparring again made me want to die, but it was something to distract me from the hot moment we just shared. I tried to brush off the dirt and straighten myself, but when the pain hit me, I complained loudly.

Natsu laughed at me. "You couldn't beat me even if you weren't in pain," he said, "but, I will make you a bargain." I rolled my eyes. Oh this was going to be just great. What the hell did he want? "If you win, I promise that I will stay out of your house tonight and sleep in my bed tonight." My brows shot up. Seriously? He would give me privacy if I wanted it? "But," he sang merrily, "if I win…" He grinned wickedly. "I get to stay at your house as long as I want, and we have to shower together. Naked."

"Absolutely not!" I shouted, blushing madly at the sudden nerve of this guy. "Why the hell would you want to even do that?"

"What's the big deal?" he asked innocently. "You were just saying that you could kick my ass, so it shouldn't be a problem."

"It is!" I threw my hands into the air despite my muscles complaining not to move. "I'm not going to be naked in front of you!"

"You stripped down the other night without any problem," he stated with a lopsided smirk.

I cursed. "That was because I didn't know you were in there," I grumbled.

He laughed at my displeasure. "My point is that it's not like we haven't seen each other naked before. Now were just being casual about it."

"That's not something you can just be casual with," I complained and sighed. "Fine," I agreed. "But I'm changing my stipulation." He opened his mouth to complain, but I raised my hand to silence him. "If I win, you don't have to leave my house"—he grinned like a kid on Christmas—"but you will be my butler for a month and do everything I tell you."

Natsu laughed. "Fine whatever, but I'm not going to lose."

Oh yes, I thought. You were.

Hmmm... Wonder what's going to happen next ;)

Review and tell me what you think! Thank you everyone for reading, and I'm glad you're enjoying it so far. You guys are awesome, and it's so much fun writing this story! Until next time!