AN: Hey all! I just wanted to saw how much I appreciate everyone who has read, followed, favored and reviewed this fic! So I tried to fit in the return to Fairy Tail in the chapter but decided it would be best if I waited until chapter 18. This chapter was mainly filler.

Sorry for any mistakes. Considering taking someone up on their offer to be my Beta so I can stop worrying about whether the chapter is good enough or if it has a crap load of mistakes when I don't feel like rereading everything. Lol

Hope you like it.

Lucy POV

I was surrounded by darkness, unable to see anything past my nose. Incapable of finding my way out on my own while I couldn't see anything I reached for Loke's key, planning on summoning him so he could light my way. But when my hand I encountered nothing but air I began to panic.

"My keys! Where'd they go!?" I said, patting every inch of my body and immediately dropping to the ground so I could see if they had somehow fallen when I didn't find them on my person. When my search still turned up empty I continued to pat the ground as I crawled around. Bumping my head into something hard I felt the object as I stood up. "What's a door doing here?" I thought as I turned the knob to open it.

Opening the door i revealed a blinding golden light that produced a heat even hotter than Natsu's flames. Shielding my eyes with my hands I saw a familiar glint out of the slit of my fingers. Removing my hands from my face I could see my keys hovering in midair above someone else's hand. Reaching out for them I instantly pulled my hand back, away from the burning light. Watching in in horror, for there was no way for me to reach my keys, I watched as one by one all if my spirits appeared and slowly fell to the ground in agony as blisters from the heat formed on every inch of their bodies. Each one had varying expressions of pain and anger that was directed to me.

Looking closer I saw that Loke was trying to say something but no sound came out. "What? Loke I can't hear anything your saying!" I shouted trying over and over again to withstand the heat of the light so I could save my friends but it was too much.

Watching his lips move I was able to catch what he had been trying to say. "It's all your fault. Why couldn't you save us?" He kept repeating, staring into my eyes with so much anger and disgust.

"No no no no no! It's not supposed to be this way!" I cried, enduring the pain of the heat as I stepped forward to get to them, only to be pushed back to safety by some unknown force.

The figure within the light took a step towards me to reveal a woman who appeared to be several years older than I. She was tall, at least half a foot taller than my hard earned _. Which made the fact that her sparkling silver hair that reached the back of her knees all the more impressive; as she moved her hair cascaded around her shoulders somehow maintaining its perfect appearance.

"What else did you expect little girl. Did you actually think you'd be able to defeat me? Ha! I have had thousands of years to train, to enhance my magic and hundreds of years to come up with a perfect plan to enact my revenge. I'll make sure you die just like your meddling mother did. Nice and slowly so you can watch as the rest of your friends suffer and die. Muahahaha." Up until her laughter her voice had been melodious, soothing me into an unwanted surrender but the moment she began laughing the spell was broken by her maniacal laughter.

She continued to laugh as one by one my team appeared along with various members of the other guilds I considered my friends appeared beside my spirits, all going through the torture of being burned alive.

"NOOOO!" I shouted and sobbed at the same time as I suddenly woke up. Fighting the restraints that held me down I tore from their grasp and sat up. Flinching from the hands I felt on my shoulders I tried to move away only to have Rogue's scent and soothing voice penetrate my senses.

"Lucy it's just me. Nothing is going to get you while your here, I promise." Slightly calming down I allowed him to sit next to me without flinching.

"Lucy are you okay?" Rogue asked as he drew me tighter into his arms and got me to lie back down next to him. "Lucy you're crying." He said as he wiped away the remnants of my nightmare.

Panting I squeezed him closer and closed my eyes tight, hiding my face within his side. Remaining quiet I took comfort from Rogue's presence and nodded my head. When I felt his fingers run through my hair I felt myself calm down a bit enough for my breathing to even out.

"I got you, it's going to be alright" he said over and over again until my shaking stopped.

Seconds later I turned my face away from Rogue's side when I heard thundering footsteps and watched as Sting came running to us with his clothes and hair in a disheveled state. Looking around the cave he looked for the threat and was confused when he didn't find one.

"She just had a nightmare Sting. Thanks though." Rogue said for me since I still couldn't get myself to speak.

Grunting Sting turned to leave but turned back. "It's almost sunrise. We should start getting ready so we can head to the mayor's house."

When he was no longer visible Rogue shifted his attention back to me and looked down at my face. "You okay now? You know when I lived with Skiadrum and I had nightmares about my parent's death it always helped when I talked about it… I'd be glad to listen if you wanted to talk about it, whenever you're ready."

Swallowing a couple of times to get my mouth and throat to work properly I spoke "Yeah I'll be alright, thank you. I don't think I can talk about it, or even want to. It... It was terrible and I never want to relive it again." I mumbled as I felt my tears fighting to be released. Once I gained control of the wayward tears I looked up at him with a tiny blush. "…Sorry if I woke you up with my screaming... and for using you as a pillow last night."

"No need to apologize. I didn't mind being used as a pillow and I'm just glad you're not crying anymore." He said giving me one last squeeze before he detached himself from me and stood up. "Why don't you stay here, and I'll get Frosch to bring you your bag so you can get ready. That way you'll have some privacy." When I nodded my head at his suggestion, he left, dusting off his clothes as he went.

Once he was out of sight I brought my keys to my chest and clung to them for dear life, sending a probing tendril of magic out to each key to make sure my spirits were unharmed and safe. "I promise nothing like that will ever happen. I will give up my life to prevent it." I swore, feeling their reassuring responses through the keys.

Hearing something being dragged against the floor I looked up to see Frosch struggling with my bag. Internally laughing I safely put my keys on my belt and went to help her. Giving her a quick hug and a word of thanks I sent her back to Rogue and dug into my bag. Grabbing one of my new outfits, a pair of black pants with a royal blue long sleeved shirt that had a bold outline of a white star of the right side, I got dressed in record time. Why did Capricorn have to throw out all of my clothes? I thought as I released a big sigh. Ever since he began training me he had nagged me about wearing clothes that were more suitable, and when Virgo stored my bag in the Spirit World he had seized the opportunity and switched them out. Something I had discovered last night when I was rummaging through the bag for my sleep wear.

Shrugging it off for another time I stuffed my dirty clothes in my bag and pulled out my lacrima pods, eager to call Mira back to make sure she and everyone else were alright. Leaning against the wall I plopped them onto my head and pulled out the screen, watching as Mira's anxious face appeared instantly.

"Lucy! Are you alright? What was the roar I heard before you hung up on me?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. The roar was nothing of importance. I'm just calling to make sure everyone is fine… I had this nightmare, and well I just need to know how everyone is." I said sheepishly not meeting her eyes.

Giving me a sympathetic smile answered. "Well when I called everyone last night to tell them you were on your way back they were all fine. They said that they would be back either sometime today or early tomorrow."

Relaxing, I sagged against the wall, relieved to hear that everyone was fine. "That's great! I can't wait to see everyone; I've missed you all so much."

"We've missed you too! Your team hasn't acted the same since you disappeared on us. But all of the new couples that came from it!" Mira squealed as hearts appeared in her eyes. Getting that certain gleam in her eyes she focused on me and smiled, "I've found someone who is definitely interested in you! Oh the babies you'll make, I can imagine them now. Big brown eyes and -."

"Woah their Mira, I don't need you to find anyone for me." I interrupted with a blush.

Unnecessarily she brought her face closer to her lacrima screen to peer at me. "Do you mean that while you were away you found someone? Are you ruining my ship?!" She asked suspiciously.

Feeling my blush increase I stared at her in fear. "Now Mira I never asked for you to go looking for someone. You kno-."

"Lucy you have five minutes!" Rogue yelled at the worst moment.

Watching Mira's eyes widen at the voice I quickly said goodbye before she could start interrogating me. Rubbing a hand over my eyes I put the rest of my stuff away and made my way to Rogue. "I'm coming!" I mumbled upset at his interruption. Touching Draco's key I warned him that we had to leave soon and that he should return to his key or meet us at the entrance in five minutes.

'Coming Master.' He said through his key.

'I told you to not call me master. Anything else, well almost anything else is preferable.'

'Yes Lucy-sama'

Sighing I let it go… At least it wasn't master.

Rogue POV

"So what's the plan?" Sting asked as he put on his now dry clothes.

"I don't know… I know we want to go to Fairy Tail with her, but I don't know if that is what she wants to do." I said sullenly.

"Lucy is leaving?" Frosch asked as she and Lector stopped jumping on the bed to stare at us.

"I don't know Frosch."

"Fro doesn't want her to leave." She said with tears in her eyes at the thought of losing her new friend.

"Yeah, Blondie should stay with us. The Great Sting Eucliffe can protect her better than her guild did." Lector said.

Shushing them when I heard Lucy's approach I quickly finished packing and waited for her to appear. Watching her face light up at seeing Frosch and Lector I thought of what it used to be like before I had found her. How much we had all changed with her in our lives, Sting was still his usual pain in the ass self but he cared more about others beyond myself and our exceeds, Yukino had finally started to move on with her life, and I… well I had finally found someone I could truly be myself with, and I didn't want to lose that.

With that thought I opened my mouth to ask her if we could join her as she returned to her guild but someone beat me to it.

"Lucy, Fro doesn't want you to leave." Frosch wailed as she ran to her.

"What do you mean? I'm not leaving…" She said confused as she looked at me for some clue as to what Fro meant.

"Geez Blondie, she means that you're going back to your own guild and we're going back to ours." Sting said, upset.

"Oh…" She said looking sad as she looked away from us. "I thought you were going to Fairy Tail with me…"

"Well how were we supposed to know that? You never mentioned anything about us joining you Blondie." Sting said, trying to cover up his excitement at meeting Natsu. "Well there's no time to waste, let's go get the reward and head to Magnolia. Putting an extra pep in his step he grabbed his bag and Lector and jumped out of the cave, only to have Lector fly him gently to the ground. "Last one there is a rotten wyvern's egg!" he yelled from below.

Both Lucy and I ignored him as we looked at each other and blushed. "I'm sorry for him, if you don't want us to go with you we don't have to."

"No! I really want you to go; I just thought it was assumed that you guys would. I'm sorry for not inviting you sooner."

Clearing my throat I nodded at her and walked to the edge of the cave, looking at Frosch to Lucy to the bottom of the cliff I sighed. "Frosch will fly you down and I'll climb down and meet you in town."

"No that will not do, I will fly my master down as is expected of our contract." Draco said as he perched on a rock near the entrance.

"You really don't have to do that…!" Lucy was saying before Draco took off with her, continuing to fly over the forest instead of setting her down below.

Chuckling I waited for Frosch to return to me since Lucy had, had her in her arms when she was flown out of here. Making my way down the cliff with Fro's help, I held her in my arms as I ran the rest of the way to town, easily catching up with Sting and Lector. Keeping pace with them I watched as Sting looked behind us to look for Lucy.

"She fall behind?" he asked

Shaking my head I put on a burst of speed and pulled out ahead of him, weaving in and out of the trees, then people as we entered town. By the time we got to the mayor's house we were panting for our run. A few seconds later Lucy exited the mayor's house with a big smile on her face and an extra jingle in her bag.

"Took you two long enough." She said with a laugh. Pulling out a bag full of jewels she offered it to us. "Here, since I took your mission it's only fair that you get the reward."

"Thanks Blond-."

"That won't be necessary, you completed it means that you get the reward. Plus that looks like it's more than was offered." I said cutting off Sting.

Nodding she looked at Sting, waiting for him to take the offered money. "It is. He said that since we finished so quickly, kept it a secret from the residents and returned most of the stolen property that we deserved double the previous reward. Here."

Sting was tempted to take it, it was as clear as day, but he knew that we had done nothing to help complete the mission and that we didn't deserve it. With his shoulders slumped he shook his head. "You keep it Blondie, it's as Rogue said, we didn't do anything to help so you keep it."

"If you're sure…" She said hesitantly putting it in her bag, before she called out Virgo to store it, along with our bags.

"Lead the way." I said sweeping my arm out in front of us.

"Is it okay if we make a stop on the way? I have to pick up some research materials." Lucy said wringing her hands.

"Where ever you go I'll follow." I said with a smile.

Lucy POV

'Where ever you go I'll follow.' Kept running through my head as we spent the next hour walking to Love and Lucky in Acalypha Town. What did he mean by that? I thought as I stared at his back.

Seeing that we were feet away from the Merchant guild I caught up to the slayers and passed them. "Why don't you two go to the café over there and I'll meet you there once I'm done." I said pointing to the nearby café that was across the street. Although Rogue looked uncertain about leaving me alone Sting took his choice away from him and dragged him away yelling about how he was starving.

Standing in the spot where I had last seen my father was surprisingly depressing and brought tears to my eyes. There were so many things I had wanted to say to him, even more now that I knew about his real reasons behind the way he acted towards me as a child.

Taking deep breaths I walked into the guild and looked around for the main office. Not seeing it I approached the closest person and asked them where it was. Following the person's finger to a large office I knocked and waited for a response.

"Yes? How can I help you?" An old lady asked without looking up from her desk.

"Um my name is Lucy Heartfilia -."

"Oh yes, you're Jude's daughter. He said that you'd show up eventually. Follow me." She said as she stood up and walked briskly out of the office.

She led me to a room full of secure personal safes I watched as she entered in a password and one of them opened. Turning to me she nodded in the direction of the open safe and left me alone with the contents. Tentatively looking into the safe I saw a letter on top of a stack of files that had my name written in familiar handwriting.

Opening the envelope I was careful to maintain my father's handwriting.

My Dearest Lucy,

If you are reading this then that means my illness has run its course and I have finally been reunited with your mother. After your disappearance six years ago I never once thought you could be dead. I knew you were alive, somewhere, and held on as long as I could in hopes that I would be able to see you again and apologize for the way I acted. It may not have seemed like it but I always had your best interests at heart. Lucy, there are things you don't yet know about your mother's death and the reasoning behind my mad drive to get you married.

You're in danger my dear, grave danger. I kept this from you until now in hopes that I could keep you from it or find away around it. But your stubborn nature, just like your mom's, has rejected my attempts to protect you. Like my beloved Layla, I know you will do everything in your power to protect those you love and it's because of that dedication that I know you will not heed my advice and avoid this mess. Your need to protect and love those around you is something that I've always admired about you.

My dear, there will come a time when the Spirit World and ours will collide, when that time comes both worlds will fall into darkness. Your mother died trying to prevent this from happening, but unfortunately she was not able to fully stop it. Her illness was not natural, it was brought on by Polaris. She is a powerful and vengeful spirit who was locked away somewhere, where I don't know, for crimes against both the Spirit World and Earthland. Although I was unable to find her location I have found a way for you to find and defeat her. The Jeweled Keys- a set of six Celestial Spirits banished for their wrongful doings under the command of Polaris – their keys will give you the power to defeat her. But beware you must be able to call upon them all at the same time in order to defeat her. With their combined powers she will disappear for good.

If you don't find these keys she will regain her full strength and destroy all that you hold dear.

Be strong my love, for I know you won't be running for the hills like I would want you to.

Your mom and I will always be watching over you.

Love Your Apologetic and Devoted Father,

Jude Heartfilia

Dad… I thought as I finished reading his letter. Putting it aside I picked up the files that had been underneath it. Flipping through it I saw information on Polaris and several guesses to the locations of where the rest of the keys were. Collecting everything I closed the safe and headed out to meet up with the boys.

AN: Let me know what you thought of the chapter, please and thank you.

BronzeDove: I don't know, all I know is that he wasn't technically a member, at least according to Fairy Tail Wiki so I came up with a reason why he was constantly around. ;) Yay! I'm glad you liked the fight/make up scene!

Eclipse1: You'll have to wait a little bit longer for the meeting between the twins and Fairy Tail. But hopefully it won't be too long of a wait. ;)

MissNerdGirl: Thanks =]

xxsomthngvague: Thanks, I'm glad you think so! Some days I feel like my writing is $h!t and don't want to post the chapter I've written. So i'm happy when other's think its good. =]

PremierGoldPineapple: Haha I'm glad you like it! I haven't read one of the queen of all dragons fics fully, I always get tired of them for some reason. -.- I have no plans to stop. If anything I was thinking of TRYING to get out two chapters a week instead of one, but we'll see.