A/N: Thank you flutterbe-chan for your kindness!

Unexpected Welcoming

It'd been about two hours since Natsu and Happy had joined their fellow Mages on their special job request, two minutes since they'd stepped off a train which had caused the pink-haired male's mood to turn sour. He had thrown up a few moments after stepping off of the train, having rushed to the nearest bathroom inside the station to avoid making a mess. Now they were leaving the station and heading through the town they'd just arrived in, searching for a place to eat. Natsu's appetite was completely gone by the time he and Happy had found a restaurant. The group shuffled inside and took their seats quietly as Erza reminded them of their schedule, so they couldn't stay for too long. Natsu slumped down in his chair, folding his arms upon the table's surface before he buried his face against them. "Stupid trains, stupid transport," he muttered under his breath. Just the thought of having the ride another train made him feel queasy. Grey had to hold himself back from making fun of his team mate with the threat of Erza becoming angry at him. That was a risk he certainly didn't want to take. Keeping his mouth shut, the Ice Mage lifted up his menu and scanned the available meals to decide on his lunch for the day.

"Why isn't Lucy here along with you two?" Erza suddenly inquired, as the thought had been on her mind since Grey had found the duo. She dropped her gaze from the paper before her to look at the comrade occupying the seat across from her.

Natsu stopped complaining about the transport they'd just ridden and lifted his head to answer. "She didn't want to come," he responded in a disappointed tone. "She said something about you two being mad if you found us…" he mumbled, averting to gaze to stare out the window.

The scarlet-haired woman didn't seem surprised. "Well Lucy's always been the more intellectual out of the group." Erza nodded with a fond smile at the thought of the Celestial Mage. "She doesn't seem to do reckless things, like you, Natsu." A glare in his direction made Happy hide behind the Dragon Slayer in fear. Natsu opened his mouth to argue that he was sure of Lucy doing at least a few reckless things, such as their S-Class mission…

…which he got her to come along with…so really it was his reckless decision…

"I reckon you shouldn't have left her behind." Grey mused, gazing at Natsu over his menu. "Without you two, who else does she have to break into her house every day?" he chuckled, unable to help the laughter bubbling up inside of him.

Natsu scoffed. "I don't break in, Ice Princess. You've "broken in" plenty of times before but at least I have clothes on." he muttered. Grey growled something hateful back at the Fire Mage and they jumped from their seats, shoving them backwards, snarling insults in each other's faces until the red-haired Mage shoved them back down. Her gaze fierce was enough to make both males shrink a little bit in their chairs.

"So she was completely fine with the fact the four of us would be gone for about a week?" Erza asked in a lighter tone, forgetting about the scene her partners were just about to cause.

Natsu shrank further back in his seat at her words. "I didn't think we'd be gone for that long…" he whined, hating the bad feeling spreading throughout his chest as he remembered rushing out of the Guild, leaving his best friend completely alone. "I don't think she was that happy we'd be going, but I thought–"

"Aye, Lucy looked weird when we left!" Happy chimed in, completely ignoring the scene that had just happened, just like Erza. "Her face was all funny!" he scrunched up his own face in a poor imitation of the expression he remembered.

Grey rolled his eyes. "I think you mean she looked sad or something." The Ice Mage supplied.

Natsu once again shifted guiltily, an action which did not go unnoticed by the Requip Mage.

"Then it's settled." She decided, lifting up her menu, her gaze still fixed on the male across from her. "When we return, you are to apologize and then we'll take on a group job." It wasn't a suggestion, it was an order.

The Fire Mage let out an exaggerated sigh. "I was gonna take her on one when we got back." Natsu mumbled, barely looking up as they were asked for orders. As their food arrived, only a glass of water for the Dragon Slayer, they decided to discuss their course of action for their mission. Happy, however, was not paying attention in the slightest, having been completely focused on the stack of fish resting before him. His mouth watered and he stared with heart-filled eyes at the seafood before he began to devour it.

"Now that we're back on schedule," Erza began, taking a small taste of her own meal, a lighter meal consisting of pasta. "I believe we'll only have to journey through this town before we arrive in Terranpet." She looked to Grey, who nodded as he took out the letter Master Makarov had presented them with. The duo glanced at the paper for a moment before a soft sound emitting from Natsu grasped their attention. His fist with pressed to his lips as he was stifling laughter.

"What…what type…" he giggled. "…of name for a t-town is that?!" Natsu burst into laughter at the name before Erza's intense gaze rendered him silent, shuffling his seat a back a little to create more distance between the two of them.

"Terra means Earth and according to Master Makarov, the majority of the town's magic uses have power of rock, dirt and soil. Earth magic is their forte." Erza recited, her expression one of annoyance. "Don't act so immature in a serious matter, Natsu."

"And our client's description of their town's attackers fit the description of a Dark Guild within Terranpet." Grey added with a serious expression, causing the Dragon Slayer to lean across the table in a sudden interest at the mention of a Dark Guild. "A lot of Mages have been killed by this Guild, including a mass of young children." He spoke the last bit a bit quieter, frowning at the memory of the client's retelling of the death toll. The number of youngsters' lives cut short had been too high for anyone's comfort. Even Erza and Master Makarov had looked distressed at the news.

At his words, Natsu's eyes darkened with fury and he clenched his fists. "Kids?" he growled, absolutely outraged at the news of the Guild's actions. "They actually killed kids?" his bared his teeth in anger as Erza and Grey nodded grimly in confirmation. A lot of Mages have been killed by this Guild, including a mass of young children.Grey's words echoed in his head and he felt sickened…even disgusted that anyone could bring themselves to end a child's life when they were still so young.

"We're going to put an end to the suffering they have caused." Erza glared at the written description of their targets. "But these Mages will be dangerous. Be on your guard." She warned. Grey muttered something in agreement as Happy said an "Aye Sir…" in a more saddened tone, trying to figure out how to react properly to the news of the murders they had to bring down. Natsu simply nodded, a newfound hatred bubbling inside of him.

"Are you alright, Princess?" Virgo's intense gazed shifted towards the Celestial Mage, who laughed awkwardly at the question.

"Yes, I'm fine, Virgo." She responded as if the answer was obvious, which in fact, it was. "But are you alright?" Lucy looked the Spirit up and down, a small seed of worry unfurling inside her heart.

Virgo nodded her head happily, despite the two men she had hauled over her shoulders heavily weighing down on her. "My Princess has given me punishment, I am glad." The Maiden's smile of delight sent a small shiver down the blonde-haired girl's spine. She was about to respond once more and tell her that she hadn't intended for this to be punishment, or for the Spirit to carry both Dark Guild Mages, but she kept her mouth shut.

As long as her beloved friend was happy, she would also be in high spirits.

They'd been journeying only for a few minutes since having run into the Razor Fang members, and with the aid of Sagittarius and Loke, they'd been taken out quite quickly. They forest wasn't as dense anymore; Lucy could tell they were nearing the exit to the cluster of trees as they begin to thin out in amount. It was if they were travelling towards the light at the end of a darkened tunnel as the more they travelled, the more sunlight was beginning to envelop their surroundings. By Starlight's given name, Lucy was imaging a beautiful village that was bathed in the glow of the moon and the night sky's constellations during the evening. She smiled at the thought of it, stopping as she noticed Virgo had ceased her quick strides towards the town. They somehow had found themselves staring at the foot of a large mountain. Lucy's eyes travelled up the massive work of nature, her jaw dropping as she couldn't even see the summit, which was submerged in clouds.

"I believe we have arrived, Princess." Virgo said in monotone, lifting her head to also stare up at the mountain before them. She let a rare smile appear on her lips, simply impressed and even excited to begin walking. Lucy vaguely heard her murmur something about punishment, letting herself drink in the massive heights they'd have to climb up before they'd begin. The mountain ascended high into the air, a large staircase stretching up for miles that wrapped around the mountain and reached up into the clouds above. The stairs themselves were carved from the rocky terrain itself expertly, beautifully. The Celestial Wizard allowed herself a few moments to admire the craftsman's work before she realised one of the problems she was faced with.

"How…" she mused, never taking her gaze off of the clouds above. "How…how are we expected to climb all of that?!" Her outburst seemed to be directed at the sky as she narrowed her eyes at the Heavens.

Virgo blinked, unfazed as she turned to the blonde-haired Mage. "We use the stairs, Princess." She replied simply.

Lucy let out an exaggerated sigh and slowly nodded. "Yes Virgo, thank you for making me aware." She muttered sarcastically.

Virgo brightened up at the praise, giving a low bow, ignoring the heavy weight on her shoulders. "You're welcome, Princess." She said, straightening up again. "Shall we begin journeying?" she stood patiently, waiting for her Master to begin moving.

Lucy nodded. "Yes Virgo, we shall." She said, grudgingly marching towards the beginning of the staircase.

They'd only walked up a few steps before Lucy suddenly halted her actions, staring down at her boots in surprise as they began to shimmer. "Princess?" Virgo prompted, cocking her head to the side in confusion at the sudden stop. Lucy's eyes widened in surprise as the outline of her shoes began to glow, the light travelling up her body, illuminating her entire frame.

"W-What….what's happening?" she held up her hands, watching as they slowly became encased in light. In her peripheral vision, she witnessed Virgo suddenly disappear, along with the men she carried upon her shoulders. The Celestial Mage barely had time to let out a cry of the Maiden's name in absolute shock before the shining light blinded her as it consumed her whole.

A soft thud was heard as a dull pain grazed the left side of her body, some hard, solid surface slamming against her. "Ow, ow," Lucy moaned, scrunching up her face as she slowly opened her eyes. Her surroundings were spinning around her, spots of colour flickering in her vision as she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Her cheek hit against something again, but this time she knew what it was. Ground. Lucy had fallen against the ground after the strange, unknown light had consumed her. She was unable to focus on anything, so when a warm hand grasped her shoulder, she couldn't turn to see who it was. Her eyes were squeezed shut as she winced in pain and as uneasiness spread throughout her stomach. Maybe this is how Natsu feels on trains… she wondered absentmindedly. Another set of hands grasped for her, and she was being pulled to her feet, though she was unware by whom.

Her arms were slung over a set of shoulders either side of her, two people standing next to her, supporting her. Lucy didn't trust herself to open her eyes, she believed the aching sickness fogging up her mind and twisting inside her stomach would intensify if she did. Her legs were almost completely unresponsive, feeling heavy and immobile as she stumbled forward. The blonde-haired girl knew if she wasn't be supported by the strangers holding her up, she would've fallen straight back onto the ground, most likely face first. Various fragments of conversation melded in through the haze cast around her. Lucy let out a pained moan as she felt the world slip away from underneath her feet and she was consumed by an entity once again.

This time, it was utter blackness reeling her in, pulling her away into her own darkened slumber.

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A/N: Thank you to all of the follows and reviews so far!