Dux and I walked towards the train station, Dux this time didn't run off like he did before, but stayed at my side. I figured he knew why we were out this late.

When we reached the station I quickly looked towards train schedule and scanned for Gefallene Heim. "Seems like there was a train that headed out towards that way earlier, they probably took that," I said quietly. "Come on Dux, we can get there before dawn if we start walking."

With that the two of us started walking through the cold night towards the place we once both called home.

"Why are we walking to the town," I asked as I shivered in the cold.

"Because there aren't any trains that go this far north, and it's not this bad," Erza said as she continued to lead us.

"Yea I don't feel anything," Gray said, somewhere losing his shirt and pants.

"Same."

"Maybe it's because all of you have some sort of ability to stay warm, Erza has her armor, Gray you're an ice make wizard, and Natsu, oh my god it's so warm around you," I said feeling his warmth radiate off of him. "Natsu you're a living furnace."

"And, you can summon spirits, I see no reason for you to be complaining," Erza's voice had a hint of annoyance, but didn't add anything else after that.

"Maybe we should do some training to help you become used to the elements, I mean this won't be our last time in the cold," Gray suggested.

"And how would we go about doing that, we all strip and make snow angels," I answered pulling my coat closer to me.

"That could be a way to start, but Natsu would probably melt all of the snow."

"You wanna fight Popsicle."

"Come at me Coal for Brains."

"Enough!"

I smiled at the memory, back then it was so easy for me to get to cold or to hot. Through the night we walked until the sun started to rise. Once we drew close enough I heard someone chopping wood, which caused Dux to run off towards the sound.

"Dux, get back here," I shouted as I ran after the dog who weaved through the trees. I then heard someone fall to the ground and start laughing. I emerged from the trees to see Dux sitting on top of a man licking his face.

"Good to see you too Dux," the man laughed as Dux finally got off of him. I recognized the stripe of color in the hair, and his eyes met mine.

"Lucy Nix Heartfilia, I was wondering why Dux was here," Theo said with a smile as he pulled me into a hug. I hesitated, but hugged him back, when he pulled away he noticed my robotic hand. "I assume you're here to talk to Zo, she's inside taking care of the brat," he said motioning his head.

"The brat," I asked.

"You'll see when you get in there, tell Zo I'll be in in a few," Theo added as he lifted his axe again. I nodded and headed into the house with Dux following at my heels.

"Theo is that you," Zo called as she came around the corner of the room, on her hip was a young boy that was only a few months old.

"Lucy Nix Heartfilia," Zo said softly adjusting the child, she stuck her hand out for a handshake, and after thinking for a moment, I shook her hand. "I see we have a bit of catching up to do," Zo said looking towards my robotic hand.

"Theo will be back soon," I said softly as Zo lead me into the kitchen that had several objects that were clearly for her child. Zo let the child into a playpen and sat down at one end of the table.

"Let me see it," Zo said sternly, giving me a look that I recognised to be one of Erza's. I sighed and removed my hoodie revealing the robotic arm it hid. Zo analysed the arm from far away and let out a heavy sigh. "How did that happen," she then asked her voice becoming softer.

"I was on a job with some friends, this guy was about to kill them and I intervened," I answered.

"And who was attacking you."

"The leader of Roaring Skeleton," I answered, Zo nodded and closed her eyes, Theo then entered the house and looked towards us.

"You definitely picked a fight with a powerful group," Theo said taking a seat next to Zo.

"Yes, we figured that out," I said pulling on my hoodie again.

"So why are you here Lucy, it's not like you to simply drop in to just visit us," Zo added.

"Our dragon slayers have gone missing."

"And you think we would know anything."

"Don't try that with me Zo, even though there's not much in the way of trouble here, I know that dark guilds often come through here," I said almost glaring towards Zo.

"Lucy, we have a family now, you have to understand that we might seem, hesitant, in the face of telling you what we know," Theo said softly grabbing Zo's hand.

"My family is at risk too," I answered.

"We can tell you one thing," Zo said looking away. "If Roaring Skeleton's old master managed to do that to you then you will need a lot of back up."

"What do you mean by old master, Roaring Skeleton was disbanded."

"We can't tell you anymore on the subject, I'm sorry Lucy," Zo said, our eyes meeting again. Then someone else burst into the house, I recognised the man that was in good shape to be a one of the people who trained with Zo when I was living with her.

"Zo, there's a group of people fighting down town, they're all wizards, no one can break them up," the man shouted. Zo immediately got to her feet and ran out the door, I followed suit and Dux wasn't far behind us.

"What the hell are we doing here," a man shouted.

"Gray just calm down," a stern female voice said.

"No, I won't calm down, Natsu is out there somewhere and we're wasting our time here," the man shouted again. When I saw the group it was four people.

"You've got to be kidding me," I growled when I realised who all it was. Erza and Gray were yelling at one another, Levy and Romeo siding with Gray, and Erza was alone.

"We have to start somewhere Gray," Erza shouted.

"And this isn't the place to start," Levy shouted.

"I'll take care of this," I muttered to Zo as I stepped forward. Zo let out a soft laugh as I stormed over to the group of people.

"This is better than just-"

"Enough," I roared causing all four to look towards me in fear and shock. Their eyes met mine and the placed their hands up. "This is not the place to be fighting," I added.

"Hey is that Lucy Nix Heartfilia," someone in the group that was surrounding us murmured. "Sure looks like it, seems like Lucy is here to save the day," someone else said.

"Go back to the guild," I said glaring at them.

"No, we won't go back to the guild," Levy said her anger now directed towards me.

"Before another fight breaks out, how about we go back to my house," Zo said placing her hand on my shoulder. "Don't you agree Lucy," Zo said tightening her grip on my shoulder.

"Yes," I answered turning away. I walked ahead of the rest of our group and shoved my hands into my pockets. Once we returned Theo had his son in his hands and was bouncing him on his knee in the living room.

"So the fight was taken care of," he asked looking up towards me.

"You could say that," I answered taking my place of leaning on the arch that separated the kitchen and living room.

"I can't believe you want us to go back to the guild," Levy said, her finger pointed at me as she closed the distance between us. "It's our partners that are gone, not yours," Levy added, the anger in her voice clearly there.

"Then why is Erza here," I asked flicking my eyes up to the redhead who took a similar position on the wall opposite of me.

"I wanted to get my friends back, why are you here," Erza shot back. I remained silent and looked towards her, the events from the previous day still fresh in my mind.

"Erza was right to say that you should start here, but there's nothing that would help you," I said closing my eyes as I crossed my arms.

"And how would you know that," Gray asked looking towards me. I remained silent and glanced towards Zo.

"They have a family to protect," I answered bluntly.

"And we don't," Levy shouted in anger. I shook my head and looked towards Erza who seemed to be the only person who was thinking logically at the moment.

"Just go back to the guild," I said again.

"No." I felt their glares on me and then Theo stood up.

"Lucy, let them follow you then since they won't go back home. And think about what we told you. Does that make everyone happy," Theo said opening the door.

"Fine," I said getting off of the wall and walking towards the door. Dux trotted behind me, only to be joined by Erza a few seconds later, and then the other three after about a minute of walking.

"This better lead to us finding them," Gray murmured as we walked out of town.