A/N- dudunnnnn... The suspense kills...

Hey everyone! I'm writing this in the lovely English weather. I'm being sarcastic, dears. The weather sucks, but hey, I've got an opportunity to continue writing!

Christmas is coming up and there is chaos everywhere, people trying to do some last minute shopping, last minute present buying etc. For those who are in this category right now, I feel for you. =)

Hoping for a white Christmas-su...!

Anyway, onto the story!

Chapter 9

...

"Gray!" Loki burst into the ice mage's room, willing him to be awake at this time of the night. Luckily for him, Gray was a light sleeper, stirring immediately at the sound of his voice. On seeing the look on Loki's face, he sat up immediately and started to put on his clothes.

"What's happened?" he looked to see Virgo standing just behind the light spirit and no Lee. If both had used their powers to get here, then it would have been a very serious matter indeed.

"Somehow, those people had access to Lucy's med room. We felt them try to pry more magic energy out of her." The spirits went on to wear hoods, readying themselves for a long journey. "they would have succeeded had it not been for our suspended contract. Without control over her keys, she has no magic present within her; holder magic can only be found if the magic user is in command of their spirits, which she is not. However, the ordeal has deeply wounded her and is affecting her recovery."

"Master Gray, we are going to bring her back to Magnolia. It is a risk, but we have no other choice; Sapphire may have the equipment, but she does not have the protection that Lucy requires. She will have to agree to our bringing the equipment with us." Virgo handed over the keys of their two spirits to Gray. "For the moment, we are not signed with Lee. Lucy's contract is suspended until the time when she is in dire need of assistance and that is now. Lee doesn't know this, so you must tell the boys when they awake. If we do not return in the next forty days, it is of utmost importance that you move the boys to a safer place. Those people may be looking for more holder magic, especially if the person has a sensory ability."

"With their previous knowledge of Lucy's pregnancy with a dragon slaying child, they will predict your close communication with this guild and with Natsu. We have no time to inform anyone of our change in plans, so it will be your responsibility to let the Master know and to train the boys to their full potential. We are expecting war; the confidence those people are portraying is indicating a readiness to battle. We cannot win, if not for Lee and Blaze. They are our hope and you are their teacher; we are placing our full trust in you to put them at their strongest."

"They are our key to victory."

...

"I see," Makarov looked grave on hearing what was being said. It was still dark outside, with the guild in full swing party mode below. Gray had thought it best to inform the master immediately, leaving the boys in the sick room to rest. He wasn't taking any chances by leaving them alone at home. "I will prepare the secret room for Lucy's arrival. It will be best for her to stay close, hence I will place her at the heart of the guild. No one has to know of this, of course; we will have to manoeuvre the situation so that she arrives on the day of a festival. Better yet, she arrives on the day of the S-class exams."

Wendy listened quietly before speaking up. "Gray, has Lee noticed the missing keys yet? Or have you told them anything about this?"

"No to both. Loki and Virgo just left half an hour ago, whilst Lee was sleeping; he hasn't had a chance to check over his keys yet. I also do not know whether I should reveal the truth, or tell them another story. There are consequences to both, but, what is the lesser evil?"

The guild master sighed dejectedly. "To be honest, I really don't know. I feel it's dangerous to tell Lee that his mother is in an unstable condition right now. On the other hand, withholding this information may have worse results; he may never learn to trust again." he looked sternly at Gray, "Are you going to tell Natsu? He's going to know that he's a dad sometime, Gray! You're just delaying the inevitable."

Said man shrugged; he wasn't wasting the effort to tell a man who didn't care. Gray didn't tell the older man, but he was leaving the secret for Natsu to either find out himself, or for Lee to reveal it. After all, Lee was the person to decide whether or not he wanted a father figure in his life.

"For now, I don't think that's very important, Master. Instead, the issue we have to sort out is whether or not we tell the boys the real situation."

"Don't tell Lee and Blaze yet, Gray. I will find a way to tell them later; as a dragon slayer and a wind user, it might also be beneficial for me to take up training them as well. If you can schedule a time when you are not with them, or need to be on a mission, I will watch them in your place." Wendy handed him a small card. "This is a message board that I acquired in my travels. Anytime you need help, just write on it and I will receive your message immediately. The writing will fade after several minutes so that you can reuse the sheet later on. It also does not require a pen."

"Thanks Wendy. I may need to separate from them often. Loki said he was to bring the machine along, but made no mention of the energy source or the quantity. For that reason, I will need to leave in order to find a long lasting energy source that can work alongside the guild's magic to use the equipment; I have a time limit of four weeks, though. Do you have any suggestion, Master? A source that is long lasting and quick to find?"

"...If you are desperate for a quick source then the only thing I can suggest is the energy crystal. HOWEVER, you must be extremely skilled to retrieve it; it used to be in the hands of a very strong mage, who used all elements in his magic. Before his death, he announced his willingness to give away this crystal, on the condition that the retriever passes all the obstacles that guard it. Your only way of survival is if there are at least four element users in your group." The master frowned slightly, coming to a decision. "The only way to get this crystal is if you agree to take Wendy, Lee and Blaze with you. The mission is extremely dangerous but, if you succeed, you will benefit in retrieving an energy source while also bringing the boys to the strongest of their abilities. The mission itself will only take a maximum of one week, so you have plenty of time to make a decision. Wendy, you must go along as their healer and to support them as a fellow element user as well."

"I understand, Master."

The man paused suddenly, as if to remember one vital piece of information. He turned to stare at the ice mage, delivering his final words. "I must also command you to take another member along with you, in your quest. He will be of great help to you and will support you where Lee cannot."

"No, master!" Gray immediately understood the meaning behind those words. "I may have learnt to act normally around him, but it does not mean I forgive him! Natsu and I have not worked together since the team broke up twelve years ago. I will not agree to work with him again, especially on a mission that concerns Lucy's safety. If he were to find out the truth, only God knows what he might do."

"It's the only way I will allow you to take the boys on this mission, Gray! You may be able to fight for yourself, but the boys lives are on stake on this mission! It is crucial that you and Wendy agree to Natsu travelling with you, even with the slight friction between you."

The silence was full of tension, as Gray fully understood the risks of this mission.

"Is there no other energy source?"

"None that will allow you back in time for Lucy's arrival. It's this mission with Natsu, or none at all."

"Fine, I will think about it and get back to you."

...

"Dad? What's happened to Loki and Virgo's keys? Lee hasn't counted them yet so he doesn't know they're missing."

Blaze had woken up to find them in the guild sick beds. Knowing that his father would have a reason for their move, he hadn't commented on it, instead going about with his daily activities. However, he was a very analytical child and noted the absence of two keys in Lee's bunch; it alerted him to suspect that there was something important happening and he wanted to know why.

On seeing the child's intent gaze, Gray knew that his son was intelligent enough to detect any lies. He took him to the side and built a soundproof ice wall to ensure total privacy.

"Blaze, what I am going to tell you must never be spoken to anyone, even Lee." Blaze nodded "Lucy has been attacked; Loki and Virgo have been sent to bring her home and ensure that nobody repeats such attack again."

Eyes wide, the boy questioned "Why is Lee not told of this?"

"Because, we cannot risk Lee making a move against the people in question. They are very clever and any move that is not calculated can lead to the destruction of Fiore. Until we can determine the Lee is in complete control, or until Lucy has arrived, we are not to tell him of this. Got that?"

Blaze nodded again to receive a hug from the ice mage.

"Another thing, Blaze. We may have to go on a very dangerous mission; just me, you, Lee, Wendy and Natsu. It will test you to your highest of abilities and you will have to make use of all your magical abilities to survive. You have a high chance of death, but the results will be ten times what you will achieve in normal training and missions. Would you still go?"

"I would, dad! I don't care how hard the mission is, as long as I can get stronger to protect Lucy! Lee might not want to, because his dad's there, though."

"Well, we'll just have to convince them, right? Wanna help?"

"Yeah. I can get Lee now."

"Great!"

...

"Lee Grayson! Asuka!" hands on hips, Blaze looked down at the heap on the floor. The two rivals had been at it again, when he entered the main room. He had stopped their fights by using the wind to propel them into the wall, leaving them injured and bruised on the floor.

"Hey, Blaze! You coulda warned us before using that attack! It really, really hurts!" almost instantly, Lee was on his feet, complaining about the pain. The smaller boy just smirked, which annoyed his friend even more and resulted in a small sulk. Asuka was in a similar position, stomping off to her parents and pouting outrageously.

"I wanted to tell you something, but you wasn't listening!"

"... well?" The wind mage sighed at the sight before him. Lee had his arms crossed and was tapping his foot furiously; a big sign of an injured ego.

"Come with me. Dad wanted to tell you as well, you know!"

...

"Well, that's the story. Would you mind coming, Lee?"

"..."

"..."

"...(snigger)"

"BLAZE! What the hell, man?" Lee gave his friend a massive dirty; he had just been told an important piece of information and what does his friend do? He sniggers.

"What? Your face was just too funny, what with you trying to think and all."

"Hmph. Gray, why should I go? You know I don't wanna be with Natsu" the tall boy sounded a little whiny since he was still recovering from his sulk earlier on.

"Lee, you want to challenge Natsu quickly, right? Well, how else will you stronger in a short time? If you agree to this, you can also watch how Natsu fights and not be so secretive about it!"

"(blush) I don't watch him!... fine, I do, but still!"

"What, Lee? You a coward, or something?"

"No! I'm not a coward!"

"heh, oh really? Prove it."

"I don't need to, 'cause I'm going on this mission! Bleh!"

(clapping)

"Yay! Thanks Lee!"

"... (sulks)"

...

Gray entered the guild to find his target sitting down alone, at the bar. He walked up to him and nodded, before sitting on a stool.

"Hey, Natsu"

"Hey." The man was staring intently into a glass of beer. He wasn't in the mood for any fire snacks, nor could he go home at the moment. Lisanna had been angry enough to trash his house with so much rubbish, the smell of rotten fish still lingered one week later. He was left without a home and had to camp at the guild for the past week. She had tried to make up, later on; Natsu was not amused.

"I need to talk to you." The ice wizard's statement caused a raised eyebrow.

"You need to talk to me? Must be something important, huh? "

"Yep, very important. I, er, need you to..." Gray coughed slightly "I want to do a certain mission. Problem is, I have to take you as well. So... er, wanna come?"

"...huh?"

"AS I SAID, I need you to come with me on a mission."

"Right. You want me to go with you on a mission. And?"

"Well, I need to do this mission, so you have to come! I'll even pay you!"

"... is everything alright in there? You've never needed to do something so much that you required my help. Why start now? Plus, you'll pay me?"

"Look, will you go, or not?"

"... Fine, I'll go. It's not like I can relax here anyway, with a trashed house and all." The pink haired man stood up and placed some change on the counter. "I'll just need to pack my things and tell Happy. When are we going?"

"If possible, I want to finish by next week, so we'll meet here at 7 am tomorrow?"

"Okay then, see you then."

After Natsu had disappeared from his sight, Gray flopped down tiredly. Wow, he never that persuading someone could be so hard.

Early the next morning, seven figures (five human and two cats) could be seen leaving the guild. Nobody knew of their mission and no one knew how long they would be gone for. However, they were given the best of luck by all, leaving to the sounds of cheers and celebrations. A lone person was seen from the balcony, watching over his dear children and praying for their safety. The mission will be hard and it was crucial that they kept alert and that all stayed together, through everything they did.

...
...

To Be Continued

A/N- GAH! My gosh, people! The real adventure begins now... will Gray and others retrieve the crystal safely? Will Lucy return to find her darling son in one piece? Will Lucy return at all?

Read on and find out, my dear readers.

Update soon ;)