Hi guys! So I'm staying home to prep for my grad night and as I was I decided, why not update today since I'm free? So, I hope you'll like chapter 8. Though, it has alot of sad content in here. But you understand that this is a sad story after all. So anyway, get reading already!

Meanwhile, Team Natsu and the Guardians were tracking Ikuto and both of their Lucy's. They've been searching all night.

Amu called her parents before the search. Saying that she and Lucy would be sleeping at Rima's that night. Amu could only hope that Lucy was unharmed.

The Guardians were anxious. They were worried too. If something were to happen to Lucy, they wouldn't know how to cheer Amu up at all and they didn't like seeing Amu sad at anytime.

Team Natsu had the same thoughts. But, they also couldn't help but feel guilty for everything happening to Lucy. Now, their Lucy - the one who sacrficed herself for Natsu - had somehow appeared there. Team Natsu didn't know if they should feel happy or worried.

Natsu had the most trouble processing all of it. He thought he was being delusional again. From the hoping of Lucy alive and everything that happened with those dark mages was all just a bad dream.

"Luce. You were there, right?" He thought. "Even if it was just you as a ghost or whatever. You still smiled at all of us, just like you always did."

That's when Natsu recalled what the celestial mage said.

(Flashback) "I'll pass in 3 days time." (End of Flashback)

Natsu gnashed his teeth together in anger. It was already the the 2nd day and still no sign of both Lucy's.

"Tomorrow will be the day. Luce leaves for good." He said aloud.

Everyone stopped at his words. Then, they also recalled what Lucy had said just a few hours ago. Team Natsu and the Guardians stood in silence.

Until, a certain lion spirit spoke to all of them. "I wouldn't be too sure of that, y'know." Loke's voice echoed.

2 lights came and both Loke and Virgo appeared in front of the group, Loke's rigt arm on his hip and Virgo's hands behind her.

"You're that lion guy." Rima said blankly.

"How're you here without-!?"

"Without Princess?" Virgo finished Gray's sentence.

"Exactly." Erza replied.

"What are you guys talking about?" Loke asked. "Can't you guys see or are you blind?"

2 more lights came at the spirit's hands and 2 girls appeared, unconcsious.

"We thought Princess would appreciate that she be given new clothes first." Virgo said.

Virgo was holding the 10 year old and the Guardians rushed to her side.

Lucy wore a white strapless dress with unattached sleeves. Blue lining went around the hem and the top. On her feet were knee length white socks and blue short heels.

"Lucy! Lucy! Lucy!" Amu said trying to wake her.

"What happened to her?" Tadase asked.

"She's just fatigued. She's been through alot." Virgo reassured Tadase.

"Why? What's going on here!?" Yaya asked anxious.

"Well..." Virgo started.

"Hey!" Nagi said.

The 10 year old opened her eyes slowly and turned over.

"Guys?" Lucy asked sleepy.

"Lucy!" Amu cried so relieved.

Virgo let the girl down and Lucy nodded.

"Thanks alot Virgo."

"My pleasure, Princess." Virgo replied as she was sent back to the celestial spirit world again.

Lucy turned to Loke and - she didn't notice before - Lucy saw that Loke was now a teenager.

Then, she turned to see Team Natsu - except Wendy - back to their teenager size as well. They didn't seem any different.

Team Natsu just stared, silent. Loke had placed down Lucy Heartfilia gently as Team Natsu surrounded their old nakama.

The Guardians joined them and stood behind the mages.

Team Natsu kneeled down and started crying in utter sadness they couldn't believe that their Lucy was there, right infront of them. Though she wore new clothes, they could still see dried blood around her arms.

The Guardians didn't look at Lucy Heartfilia. They just placed their hands on Team Natsu's shaking shoulders.

Lucy and Amu took Natsu. Tadase took Erza's shoulder. Nagi placed his hand on Gray. Rima placed hers on Wendy. Yaya held Carla and Happy.

The Chara's had gone in their eggs, not wanting to watch such a sad moment of silence.

As Team Natsu mourned, Loke didn't say anything as he nodded and left to his world.

None noticed. But now, this sad moment was a happy one.

Natsu didn't open his eyes. He couldn't look at the girl that he failed to protect in the end. Natsu felt that he let Lucy down and he couldn't handle that guilt anymore than he could. He just thought things as he cried along with the rest.

"I thought I'd never see ya again, Luce." Natsu thought.

Suddenly, a hand wiped the tears right off his right cheek.

"Why is Team Natsu - the most powerful team in Fairy Tail - crying for me?" A voice asked.

Team Natsu's eyes popped wide open, except Natsu's, but they couldn't make their heads look up.

"The Natsu, Gray, Erza, Wendy, Happy and Carla I know, would always smile in the guild hall."

Team Natsu's heads shot up immediately after those words and looked up at who was talking before them.

"Luce?" Natsu finally asked.

There, Lucy Heartfilia's eyes were open. She had a smile on her face as always. Her hand extended to Natsu's cheek.

Team Natsu and the Guardians didn't know if it was a dream.

"No way." Gray said slowly.

"Lucy?" Erza asked unsure.

"Please tell me this is a dream." Wendy said gratefully.

"Lucy." Happy said softly.

"How can we be sure?" Carla asked.

"I'm here, Natsu." Lucy said.

Natsu could only shake as he wanted to make sure the Lucy infront of him wasn't a dream. He could smell her scent. He could see the life in her eyes. Natsu raised his hand to hers. The one on his face. One last tear fell from his eye as he held her hand in his. He could hold her hand. He could feel her warmth again.

"Luce." He said gritting his teeth. "Lucy! You're here and you're alive!"

Natsu pulled Lucy Heartfilia up and hugged her very tightly.

"Yeah. I know." Lucy replied.

She embraced the dragon slayer tightly, not wanting to let go for a second. But Lucy knew better. She remembered it all.

Lucy Hinamori stared at her older self. She was envious. But when she saw her other's smile leave for a split second.

Lucy knew Lucy Heartfilia saw what events occured not too long ago in the building.

Amu stepped up, causing Lucy Heartfilia to let go of Natsu.

"I'm really glad you're alright." Amu said.

The celestial mage smiled. But it wasn't real. Natsu knew it.

"What's wrong Luce?"

"You're not really smiling." Gray added.

The older blonde let out a sad sigh. She couldn't hide from her team.

"Lucy Hinamori."

The 10 year old stepped up and had a worried expression too, knowing what the older blonde was going to say.

"You know why I'm alive. You know what happens to me." Lucy Heartfilia said still tiredly.

"What does she mean?" Wendy asked.

Lucy Hinamori stayed silent. She just nodded.

"It's best that they're not involved. Not yet anyway."

The 2 counter-parts talked as if they were alone. Team Natsu and the Guardians didn't know what they were talking about.

All they know is that both Lucy's didn't want them to interfere with anything.

While both groups were lost in thought, something brought them back to their reality.

A groaning pain.

They snapped out of it only to see that Lucy Heartfilia was shouting in pain.

"Luce!" Natsu said holding Lucy in his arms again.

"What's happening to her!?" Tadase asked.

They all turned to Lucy Hinamori. Since she - other than Lucy Heartfilia - knew.

"Please tell us! She's hurting!" Wendy begged.

But the 10 year old stayed silent. Not wanting to make them grieve.

Wendy turned back to her team and was about to heal the celestial mage, until she was stopped. By Lucy Hinamori.

"What are you doing, Lucy!?" Nagi asked.

"Yeah! Let Wendy heal our Lucy!" Happy added.

"It's... no use." Lucy Heartfilia spoke up again.

"The pain she's feeling won't go away until this afternoon." Lucy Hinamori spoke up too.

"Huh?" Erza asked.

"It's just an after effect." Lucy Heartfilia replied.

"Whew." Carla said in relief.

Natsu placed Lucy's right arm over his shoulder and helped her up.

"Come on! Let's go back to town!" He said finally smiling his toothy grin again.

"Yay!" Yaya cheered.

"Let's get something to eat." Rima suggested since everyones stomaches started growling.

"Yeah let's eat!" Gray agreed.

"The food here is great Lucy." Erza said to her team mate.

"You'll enjoy it!" Happy added.

Lucy Heartfilia smiled happily. But, she knew it wouldn't last.

So there you guys have it! I'm sorry again that it's a short chapter!_ What do you think will happen now? What's going to happen to Lucy Heartfilia in the end? Will she tell the others? Find out in the next chapter!