*Slowly peeks out from the cave that is my room.*

So um... hey guys. Yeah, first off, let me apologize. I've been a butt this past uh... year? Yeah, yeah its been a year since I updated. *whistles* Whoa, how times flies. I mean, really, I'm honestly shocked myself how long it took me to get this up. 0.0

And I have no excuse to give you other than... I've been a butt and a jerk and a terrible author. I know, I'm terribly sorry.

So um, I forced myself to make this chapter long for you guys, and to add some super cute scenes, and some intense scenes, just for you guys.

Hope you like it, and just so you know, I've already started working on the next chapter, so hopefully, HOPEFULLY, it wont take me a full year to get the next chapter out.

Yeah...

"Lucy-nee! Tell Laxus-nii to stop!'

"I'm not doing anything!"

"Yes you are!"

"Laxus." Lucy sighed, grabbing the smaller boys ear to yank him back. "Stop teasing Romeo."

Laxus winced when Lucy pulled on his ear, pulling him back to walk beside her.

Since leaving Magnolia, there had been an on going argument between Laxus and Romeo on whether Romeo was strong or not.

"I'm not teasing him, I'm just telling him the truth." Laxus insisted. Rubbing her temple, Lucy shook her head.

"How about we just drop this whole subject. It doesn't matter who is stronger or whatever."

Romeo and Laxus glared at each other, slowly turning their heads away.

Behind her, Hugo, one of the pedestrians she was escorting, chuckled. Glancing at him, she titled her head, confused to what he was chuckling about.

Hugo's wife, Marcy, spoke up, "Excuse me for asking Ms., however you seem to young to be these boy's mother." She mused. "Are you their older sister?"

Dumbfounded Lucy opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out.

"Yes!" Laxus suddenly answered with a grin. Lucy snapped her attention to him in surprise. He blushed and looked away, sheepishly smiling at the ground.

Romeo laughed, grabbing Lucy's hand and hanging onto it. "Lucy-Nee." He giggled.

Shocked, Lucy smiled softly. "I… In a way. We're not blood related but um-"

"Explain no further." Hugo held up his hand with a kind smile. "A bond is a bond, be it blood related or not."

Smiling at him, she nodded, taking Romeo's hand into her own and swinging it a bit.

"So, if you don't mind me asking, why are you moving?" Lucy inquired to the family of four.

"Papa got a job!" Hugo's twin daughters, Su and Li explained with a grin.

"Ah yes.' The older man nodded. "It pays more which allows me to support my family better."

"However, it is rather strange, moving to a new city and such." Marcy chuckled to herself, pulling a bit on the horse's reins that were connected to the carriage filled with their belongings.

"We've always live in Magnolia since we were but children." She looked at Hugo, who nodded. "To move after all this time… I'm going to miss our old home."

Thinking back to the time she left her own home to join Fairy Tail, Lucy understood the feeling. "It is hard." She agreed.

"Yet… it is exciting as well." Hugo and Marcy took each other's hands, smiling at their daughters.

"Cause adventures are fun!" Romeo turned around to grin at the family.

"Haha, yes, but they can also be very dangerous young one." Hugo pointed out.

Romeo shook his head. "Don't worry. Fairy Tail will protect you! Cause I'm a Fairy Tail mage too!" he pointed to himself proudly.

Lucy chuckled at the sight.

"You're not a Fairy Tail mage yet Romeo." Laxus scoffed

"Neither are you!'

"I am too." Laxus lifted his shirt down a bit to show the Fairy Tail symbol on his chest.

Romeo's eyes widened. "When… did you get that?" he asked confused.

"I've had it since I turned 13 last year." Laxus reminded him, rolling his eyes.

Lucy tilted her head, confused as well. Yesterday he didn't have a Fairy Tail symbol. Then again though, yesterday he was an 11-year-old boy. Did that mean Laxus was able to use his lightning magic? Had he always been able to use it or was he only a lightning mage after he got the Lacrima put inside of him.

Pausing to think it over, Lucy rubbed her chin. No, that wasn't right. Laxus had always been able to use lightning magic… at least she thought so. However, he hadn't been able to use Dragon slaying magic till the Lacrima was put inside of him.

Yeah, that sounded right. So Laxus could use his magic, right?

He didn't have a scar on his eye at this age, however she knew he had it when he was at least 17. So did that mean the Lacrima hadn't been put into him yet? So he was just an ordinary Lightning Mage.

With a huff, she rubbed her temple. This was too confusing to think off all at once.

Looking to Lucy, Romeo pouted a bit, not understanding what was going on. Taking his hand Lucy whispered, "I'll explain later."

Nodding slowly, the young boy kicked the rocks, most likely thinking how unfair it was that Laxus was a mage and he wasn't.

"Don't worry little guy." Marcy assured Romeo, seeing his pout. "Growing takes time. Just live life to fullest and you'll be surprised how fast it is time will pass by."

"Isn't that the truth?" Hugo mused.

"Bleck." Su suddenly made a disgusted face. "Who wants to be a grown up anyway?"

"Grown ups are boring!" Li agreed.

"Now, not all grown up are boring, are they?" Marcy turned to them.

"Grown ups gotta follow the rules and get jobs and do boring stuff." Li explained.

"And they get married!" Su covered her eyes in horror.

"Ew! Cooties!' the two shrieked hiding in the back of the cart.

Lucy laughed. "Not all grown ups are boring." She assured. "Or… follow the rules." She trailed off, thinking of Makarov, Gildarts, Macao, and Wakaba… Laxus even when he was older. Or then there is Yajima from the council… Should she go on?

"Yeah, I don't really… know a lot of adults that follow the rules." Lucy sighed.

Hugo and Marcy both gave her odd looks, not sure what to make of her sentence.

"Well… you are a member of Fairy Tail. They don't… ever follow the rules." Hugo slowly nodded.

"That is very true." Lucy nodded. "It is actually sort of sad how true that is."

The group shared a laugh, basking in the peacefulness of the area.

However, nothing ever seemed to go exactly as planned when Fairy Tail was involved.

"AHHH!"

Whirling back towards the cart, Lucy's eyes widened in shock as a few suitcases and pieces of luggage were tossed into the surrounding trees.

"Su! Li!" Marcy screamed in terror at the sight of some sort of monster attacking the back of the cart.

"Lucy? What is going one?!" Laxus gasped.

Yanking out her whip, Lucy bolted for the back of the carriage, pausing at the sight of a large 10-foot shadow that stood before her. It was bulky, sort of like a shadow shaped snowman.

Rushing for the cart, Lucy jumped up to it to see the two screaming girls inside.

"Quickly! Get out!' she held her hands out to the two. They leapt into her arms just in time before the shadowed hand smashed against the cart again. Leaping back, Lucy placed the girls on the ground and stood in front of them protectively.

"Gate of the Bull, I open thee!" Lucy whipped out her golden key. "Taurus!"

A bell sounded in the air as Taurus arrived. "I shall protect Lucy's nice body!' he cheered, pumping his axe in the air.

"Uh. What…" Marcy trailed off behind her, frowning in confusion.

"He's just a pervert, please ignore what he says." Lucy smiled nervously over her shoulder. "Anyway though, Taurus, please, defeat that monster!'

Taurus grinned at her, twirling his axe between his fingers. "If it means I can protect that perfect body, of course!" Taurus charged forward.

"…Right." Lucy sighed.

As Taurus charged forward, Axe swinging expertly in his hands, the shadow monster lifted his head, prepared for the attack.

With a cow like battle cry, Taurus attacked the monster, swinging left and right.

"What is that thing?" Laxus ran to Lucy's side, watching the battle from the sidelines.

"I'm not sure. It has to be some sort of magic though. The mage responsible must be close by." The older celestial mage scanned the surrounding trees for their enemy.

"MOOoO~!" Taurus suddenly wailed when the Shadow monster hit him against the trees, charging at the group.

"Laxus, get back." Lucy commanded, holding an arm out in front of her attack with her whip. With a quick snap, she struck the beast on its' side, hitting at just the right angle to make it slide into the ground. Furious, the shadow monster shook violently, glaring at Lucy with lifeless black eye sockets.

"It's coming back!" Marcy warned.

Lucy struck her whip out again, gasping when the creature caught it in its hands.

"Ah~!" she cried as it yanked on the whip, sending her flying back into the slightly destroyed cart. Hitting it back first, Lucy gagged when the wind was knocked out of her.

"Lucy!" Laxus yelled. Gritting his teeth, he glared at the monster. "You picked the wrong group to mess with." He hissed. The monster made a light chuckling sound, as if it found it funny that it's next opponent would be Laxus.

Angered, Laxus positioned himself in a fighting pose. "You wont be laughing for long."

Ready to strike, Laxus paused when he saw the creature look to the left. Glancing for a few seconds where his enemy was, Laxus' eyes widened to see it was staring at Romeo.

The young boy was frozen in place, trying to bring forth his courage, yet unable to do so.

"Romeo…" Laxus mumbled, snapping his attention to the monster. He could see it in the thing's movement. It had targeted Romeo.

Both stood still for a few seconds, glancing at Romeo from time to time.

"Don't you dare." Laxus warned darkly. The monster bent it's knees, Laxus' mimicking it's movement.

They both sprinted for the young boy, knowing it was a game of speed over who would get to him first.

"Romeo! Move!" Laxus barely called out a warning. The boy jumped a bit, dazed from his fear.

The Monster opened its mouth, revealing rows of sharp canines. With a roar it lunged for the young 6 year old.

"Don't touch him!' Laxus screamed

Tackling Romeo out of the way, the 14-year-old lightning mage stumbled a bit, tripping and tumbling down a small hill. The two rolled, landing on the bottom in a pile of limbs.

"Laxus! Romeo!" Laxus could hazily hear the sound of Hugo and Marcy calling to them from on top of the hill. "Lucy! The boys!"

"Owwie." Romeo whined within his arm, sniffing at the cuts and bruises that covered his knees and lower arms.

"Sorry, you okay?' Laxus lifted himself up to examine the smaller boy.

Romeo nodded. Looking back up the hill, he gasped in fright. "The shadowy thing is following us!" he exclaimed, pointing his finger at it. Looking towards the top of the hill, the young Lightning mage narrowed his eyes to see that it was indeed slowly approaching them from the hill. Pulling Romeo to his feet, he dragged him towards the trees.

Pushing the young boy into some bushes Laxus commanded, "Stay down!"

"But-"

"Stay down and don't move. I'll take care of that thing." Rising to his feet, Laxus turned to the monster, small sparks of electricity coming from his fingertips.

Squaring off to his opponent, Laxus charged. Enveloping his hand with lightning, Laxus punched at the creature, shocking it with every hit. Roaring in pain, the creature jumped back, it's arm suddenly out stretching pass normal lengths and back handing Laxus across the grass.

"Laxus-Nii!' he faintly heard Romeo squeak.

Out stretching his hand, a round ball of electricity shot out from Laxus' palm like a bullet. Aiming towards his opponent, he shot many lightning bullets at once.

With quick speed, Laxus wasn't aware the creature possessed, it dodged his attacks, flipping over them and slamming in front of Laxus.

Gasping, he hadn't enough time to dodge when the monster reached forward, wrapping its hands around him.

Laxus screamed when the monster grabbed him around the waist, lifting him up into the air.

"L-Laxus-Nii." Romeo stammered, feeling his body tremble in fear.

Fighting against the darkness, he struggled to pull himself free. Twisting his neck, Laxus yelled, "Romeo, get outta here!"

"B-But-" Romeo stammered.

"Don't argue! Get going! You're too weak to fight this thing!"

Romeo's eyes widened, clenching his teeth and fists. "I am not!" he argued.

"Yes you are!" Laxus sounded almost desperate now. Why couldn't Romeo just get out of here? Why did he insist on staying? He could get hurt! "I'm not having this argument with you! Go! Go now- Gah!" Laxus gagged when the creature squeezed around his torso, making it hard for him to breath.

Rushing forward, Romeo stood before the beast, throwing rocks and whatever else he could at him.

"No! Stop it! You're hurting him!' Romeo demanded.

"T-That wont do anything Romeo! Run!' the lightning mage choked out.

Refusing to move from his spot, Romeo shrieked in terror when the foot of the monster slammed into the ground to his right, barely missing him.

"Romeo!"

Clenching his tiny hands into fist, Romeo narrowed his eyes, small tears threatening to fall from them. "Let… Let go of Laxus-Nii!" he screamed, a small spark of purple flames erupting from his hands.

Hitting the base of the creature, it howled in pain at the intense heat and released Laxus, dropping him to the ground.

Rolling over, Laxus lifted his head in surprise. "Romeo… how…?" he gawked at the young boy. He thought Romeo couldn't… us magic? Had it just been awakened? "Romeo! Romeo!" Laxus grinned, rushing forward to pull the dumbfounded kid away from the growling beast. "You… you just used magic!' Laxus laughed.

"I… I did?" Romeo stuttered.

"Yes! You did-Ah!" Laxus jumped when the monster attacked them again, wanting revenge for it's burned foot.

"TAURUS!"
Suddenly, a large crack within the ground shot towards the monster, firing rocks and other debris at it, knocking it back.

Leaping forward, Lucy stepped in front of the boys. "I'm so sorry I'm late. Are you two all right?' she asked over her shoulder.

The two boys looked at each other, slowly shrugging, still hyped up over Romeo using magic. "…Yeah." They shrugged with small grins.

Confused, she frowned at them. "You uh… you sure?"

"Yup. Never been better." Laxus nodded.

"Magic is awesome." Romeo chuckled.

Slowly nodding, not sure what to make of the situation, Lucy mumbled, "Uh… okay then." Narrowing her eyes, she turned back to the monster. "Taurus." She extended out her hand.

Taurus nodded, knowing what she wanted. Rushing forward, he once again used Rampage against the grounding, shacking the ground around them, shooting large spikes of rocks at the creature.

It howled in pain as earth impaled against it, hitting it back. When once large piece of rock, or, more of a boulder really, slammed against it skull, it fell back.

Hitting the ground, the creature whined once before it evaporated into the air.

Stunned, Lucy's eyes widened when the shadow's vanished, disappearing without a trace.

What was that just now? Was it an enemy mage? Perhaps his magic had finally run out?

She could no longer sense any magic presence near and slowly lowered her whip. Looking at Taurus, he stared at the empty spot where the monster once stood, a dark look on his face.
"Taurus… what was that thing?" she asked slowly.

The cow like man looked grim, as if he had just seen a past enemy of some sort. "Dark magic…" he mumbled. "A magic… that shouldn't exist."

"Eh?"

Reaching up to rub the back of his head, the Cow like man titled his head. "Nothing, it is nothing. You're beautiful body shouldn't worry about such things." Taurus' eyes suddenly turned into hearts. "And what a gorgeous body it is!" he cooed.

"Okay yeah, we're done here.' Lucy sighed, whipping out Taurus' key to close his gate. "Thank you though Taurus." She smiled at him.
Grinning, he gave her a thumbs up just as he disappeared.

"Lucy-nee!" Romeo cried out behind her. Dropping to her knees, she scooped Romeo into her arms, holding him close. "There, there, it is alright." She said soothingly.

Romeo sobbed into her shirt, clinging to her as if she were a lifeline.

"Lucy! Are you okay?!" Laxus rushed forward, crouching down to her and Romeo.

"I'm fine, are you?" Lucy reached a hand out to cup his cheek. He blushed a bit from the embarrassing gesture, nodding.
"I'm not a baby anymore Lucy." He whined, pouting at her.

She chuckled. "Oh you're right. My bad." She winked. After a few seconds, Romeo pulled away, whipping the tears from his eyes using his sleeve.

"Laxus-Nii? You okay?" he looked to his older nakama with worry.

"Yeah." Laxus nodded, reaching out to pat Romeo's head. "…Thanks for saving me, buddy."

"Eh? You saved Laxus?" Lucy looked down at Romeo in surprise.

Blushing in embarrassment, Romeo nodded meekly. "I-I used my magic!"

"EH!?' Lucy gasped. "Wha- when- how?!"

"I dunno! It just… happened!" Romeo laughed.
"Can you do it again?"

Pausing, Romeo stared at his hands confused. "Um… I don't think so." Slowly, he grinned widely, nodding. "That is okay though, cause I saved Laxus-nii, cause I'm a Fairy Tail wizard. And you're my Nakama!"

Laxus smirked. "Don't' get cocky now, ya brat." He wrapped his arm around Romeo's head in a head lock, giving him a noggie.

Watching the scene, Lucy smiled, slowly turning back to their group who had slowly slid down the hill. "Are any of you injured?" she asked.

The four shook their heads.

"We are fine." Hugo announced. "We are very lucky to have such strong mages protecting us." He smiled towards Laxus and Romeo, who rubbed the back of their heads sheepishly.

"What was that creature though?" Marcy, Hugo's wife, asked with concern, looking to the spot the creature had been standing before.

"I'm not sure." Lucy narrowed her eyes. "We should keep moving though, in case it decides to return." The group nodded, quickly heading off.

-000-

Not to far away, hidden within the tree, two masked figures watched the group quickly move on.

"Master," one of the two, a female, spoke up, "Was that truly necessary?"

"Do you question me Hikari?" the other asked.

Hikari folded her arms. "Of course not, Master. However, I simply do not understand what it is exactly that we are trying to accomplish."

"We are changing that boy's fate, as I said before." Her Master replied.

"How is attacking them with shadow magic going to accomplish that? I wasn't even aware you were able to use Shadow Magic. " Hikari frowned in confusion.

Rising to his feet, her companion chuckled. "I do not. It was only a small amount of magic that was lended to me. Besides, it teaches Laxus Dreyar a lesson he was never able to learn before."

"…A lesson? You've mentioned that before. How he must learn several lessons. Why is that though? Why are you so interested in changing that boy's fate?"

The masked man said nothing slowly lifting his hand up to remove his mask. With the hood still over his eyes however, Hikari was unable to see his face. Yet, she could see small tuffs of spiky blond hair peaking out.

"I have my reasons Hikari, just as you have yours for aiding me. Or for why you insist on calling me Master," he mused.

Hikari looked away, with a huff. "Very well then." She didn't want to continue that conversation any more. "I shall do as you ask, I simply hope you know what you are doing."

"I do, now head off. Deliver the message to Lucy Heartfilia when she returns to her Guild."

"I will… however-" Hikari paused. "Did you really have to attack the boy?"

Hikari's 'Master' shrugged innocently. "I wanted to see how far Laxus would go to protect his nakama… and it was pay back."

"What could you possibly need pay back for from a 6 year old boy?' Hikari huffed.

"…That is a story for another time and era, now just… deliver the letter." He waved her off.
"As you wish… Master." With that she disappeared into the next couple of trees, leaving her companion alone.

With a sigh, the man shook his head, stepping back into the shadows to disappear.

-000-

"We can never thank you enough Lucy, Laxus, Romeo." Su and Li said together, grinning widely at them.

"It was no problem at all." Lucy smiled warmly at their four requesters. About two hours after being attacked by that Shadow monster, Lucy and her team of Mini's (She wouldn't tell them that is what she called them) they were able to get over the mountain and safely to the next town.

It was odd. After the first attack, nothing else came after. You would think that if the attacker wanted them gone, they would have tried more than once.

However, no, they had not.

Perhaps that shadow monster was just, as she first thought, a monster of the forest. Perhaps it didn't have anyone it took commands from and simply felt like attacking them for being in its territory.

Lucy wasn't sure. It was over now though, so she should just wait to discuss with Master Makarov about it later.

"Will you guys go back up the mountain?" Li asked, tilting her head.

"Perhaps." Lucy nodded. "I might just head to the next town to the train station. That will cut the journey at least a good 6 hours then if we were to head back the way we came."

"That sounds wise. Who knows what you might run into on the way back." Hugo looked towards the mountain wearily.

Lucy smiled. "I apologize though for your… your cart." She looked towards the slightly demolished thing. Luckily the wheels had still been intake after the attack, but the main structure of it had been completely destroyed.

"It is fine." Marcy assured, smiling down at Su and Li. "All that matters is that we are safe."

The two groups smiled at each other. Shacking each other's hands and saying their good byes, they turned different directions.
"Oh, Laxus!' Hugo called to the younger boy before the two groups could get too far apart from each other.

"Hmm?" Laxus paused

"Make sure you watch over that young lady and boy now!" The elderly man called.
"Huh?" he looked over his shoulder, confused.

"You're the man of the group, right? That means it's your job to watch over them. Pick them up if they fall." The man smiled, nodding to Laxus.

Laxus blinked, glancing towards Romeo and Lucy. "My… job." He slowly grinned. "Ah! Thanks, old man!" Laxus called, running after Lucy and Romeo.

As they began to walk away, they waved goodbye to the small group of four, who were waving them off as well.

Once they had gone far enough, Lucy let out a whine. "Oh no."

"What?" Laxus and Romeo asked.

Slowly looking at Romeo, Lucy frowned at his scratched up face. "Your father is going to kill me Romeo." She said softly. Romeo, remembering he had fallen a few hours before, felt his face.

"Ah, he is!" he gasped, covering his mouth.

"I'm doomed!" Lucy cried into the air, falling to her knees.

"Don't worry Lucy." Romeo and Laxus said comfortingly, patting her on the back. "We'll protect you!"

Lucy looked at them in surprised. "Eh?"

"We'll always protect you!" the boy grinned.

Suddenly feeling touched; Lucy brought the boys into a hug. "Idiots, that's my line!" she laughed.

-000-

"LUCY!" Macao roared in anger, chasing the younger Celestial mage throughout the guild.

"I'm sorry!' Lucy wailed.

"Dad!" Romeo whined. "It was an accident, I swear! It is Laxus-nii's fault!"

"What- you can't blame me!' Laxus argued.

After returning to Fairy Tail, Macao had become devastated at the sight of his son's cut and slightly bruised face. After a few seconds of fussing, and freaking out about how his mother would react when she saw him, Macao turned to Lucy. A dark aura of death loomed over him as he glared at her, blaming her for the whole occurrence.

Thus leaving us where we are now.

"Do you know what his Mother is going to do to me?!" Macao roared with rage.

"I don't know! Please don't kill me!" Lucy begged, moving to hide behind Natsu. Macao paused, standing in front of Natsu. He moved to the right, yet Lucy moved to the opposite way, still using Natsu to stand in between them.

Natsu blinked, confused to what was going on. "…A fight?" he slowly asked.
"Yes. Attack Macao, quick!" Lucy took the chance to escape by shoving Natsu forward.

"ALRIGHT!" Natsu grinned, instantly tackling Macao to ground.
"I'll get you for this Lucy!" Macao screamed, just before he got punched in the face.

Lucy smiled nervously, quickly moving to get away from the two and towards the other side of the room. When she was there, she smiled to see Laxus was still waiting for her to head home.

"Ready to go?" she asked.

"Yeah, are you?" he glanced at Macao and Natsu.

"…Yup." She nodded, not willing to look behind her and keeping her head low.

Laxus chuckled. He looked ready to head out the door, when something caught his eye. "Oh um… Wait just a minute, okay Lucy?"

"Okay." She nodded, keeping her eyes to the floor.

"Hey, Romeo." Laxus called.

Turning to face him, Romeo smiled at his older Nakama, "Hmm?"

Shuffling his feet a bit, Laxus averted his gaze to the floor. "I-" he mumbled something.

Romeo frowned, confused. "What?"

Biting his bottom lip, Laxus hesitantly lifted his head. "I'm sorry."

Romeo's large eyes grew wider, stunned. Behind him Wakaba almost dropped his mugs; his mouths gapping open. Even Natsu and Macao froze mid punch.

Had… Had Laxus just apologized? Thee Laxus Dreyar?!

"Um…." Romeo shrugged a bit, not sure what to say. "Okay… why? Did you take my ice cream while I wasn't looking?" he asked suspiciously.

"What?" Laxus smirked at him. "No, nothing like that. I just-" he paused, scratching the back of his head. "I'm sorry I called you a weakling before."

Lifting her head, Lucy turned to look at Laxus, amazed.

"It wasn't right, y'know? I mean, yeah you are only six, but that doesn't mean you can't… be… strong." Laxus fumbled over his words, embarrassed that everyone was starting to stare. "Not saying you aren't strong, cause I mean, you are. You just got a different type of strength, ya know?"
Romeo shook his head, confused. "Not really."

Laxus huffed a bit. "Like… you are really brave. You got that type of strength that doesn't make your body strong but… gives you a strong will." Laxus stuffed his hands in his pockets; his cheeks growing red when he realized the whole guild had paused from their conversations to listen to him. "So I'm… sorry I made fun of you."

Romeo slowly began to nod in understandement, his grin growing wider. "It is okay Laxus-nii. I forgive you!" he smiled, running forward to hug Laxus around the waist. "I had a lot of fun too! Besides, I gotta save you today too, so we are even."

"You're never going to stop reminding me of that, are ya?"

"Nope."

Laxus blinked wildly down at the younger boy, slowly smiling and hugging him back.

"Whoa, what?" Macao gawked. "You… you did what?"
"I saved Laxus-nii! I used magic!" Romeo grinned.

Macao released Natsu, jumping to his feet and rushing to his little boy. "You did?!" he squealed, lifting Romeo up to swing him around. "THAT"S MY BOY!"

The two laughed, cheering wildly. "Yeah, and Laxus-nii didn't believe I was strong at first." Romeo announced.
"Really?" Macao smirked at Laxus, as if to brag about his son's awesomeness.

Laxus shrugged with a scowl. "Yeah yeah, soak it up." He grumbled.

Pulling away, Romeo giggled. "My mommy always says, strengths comes in…" he trailed off, looking at the floor to remember his mother's words. "Strength comes in all uh-"

"Shapes." Macao whispered to remind him of the next few words.

"Oh yeah, strength comes in all shapes and sizes!"

His body going stiff, Laxus' eyes widened, as if something had shocked him. The guild didn't seem to notice and were all nodding or cheering in agreement to Romeo's words.

All except Lucy, who had seen Laxus' reaction. Moving towards him, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?" she asked softly.

Jumping a bit, it took him a few seconds before his shoulders relaxed at he replied. "Uh…" he looked around, slightly dazed. "Yeah." He nodded casually. "Just got a weird feeling."

"A weird feeling?"

"Yeah, like someone pinched me or something." He looked around wearily. Frowning, Lucy lifted her head to take a good look around.

The guild had already begun to busy themselves with their normal activities, and didn't take much notice to the either of them. There was something odd about the guild though; as if there was something in here that just didn't belong.

Looking to the second level, a place only S Class mages were allowed, Lucy's eyes widened.

A girl stood above, watching them. Her piercing silver eyes were narrowed dangerously at them both, but most preferably, Laxus. Her face, shrouded by a dark hood, only revealed the end of her chin, which was not enough to decipher is Lucy had even met this person before.

Laxus shivered a bit, noticing the girl as well. His body growing rigid, his breathing shallow, he stepped behind Lucy, as if to hide himself.

"Laxus?" Lucy asked in concern, looking back at him.

He shook her head vigorously, unable to make a decent sentence. "….C-Cold…" he stammered.

Reaching back to take his hand, Lucy looked back up at the girl. She stood, unmoving from her spot.

Who was she? The only S-class mages in this guild were Mystogan, Erza, and Laxus; and Lucy knew that women could never be Erza. She probably wasn't even apart of the guild.

Yet, no one in the guild seemed to notice her presence besides Laxus and herself. Speaking of Laxus, he held tightly onto the back of her shirt, his body shacking. Ignoring the girl for now, Lucy moved to grab Laxus' shoulders, worried.

"Laxus? What is it? What is wrong?" she whispered softly. Tentatively, she lifted his chin so she could look at him. His eyes were wide with fear and slightly moist from unshed tears.

"L-L…ucy." He stuttered, stepping forward to embrace her. Her expression growing soft with concern, she wrapped her arms around him.

He was scared. Of what? Could it be-

She looked back at the women, whose gaze had never left them for even a second.

Was it that woman? It had to be!

"What do you want!?" Lucy screamed, feeling rage boil up from her stomach. She couldn't just stand here as this woman did whatever she was doing to Laxus!

Natsu lifted his head at Lucy's comment. "…Uh… nothing?" he titled his head, thinking that Lucy was yelling at him. Erza and Gray looked up as well, frowning at the sight of Laxus clinging to Lucy desperately, his small form shacking.

When Lucy didn't look at Natsu, and kept her gaze locked on something above, he tilted his head up. Seeing the unfamiliar women, Natsu rose to his feet.

"Who are you?" he called up, glaring at her dangerously. His team rose to their feet as well, silent.

"The time is close." The girl at long last spoke up, her voice cutting through the guild's noise easily, stilling the room into silence.

Narrowing his eyes, Makarov spoke up. "State you business here."

Lifting a pale and very skinny finger, she pointed to Laxus. "The boy."

Lucy tightened her grip around Laxus, gently caressing the back of his head. "What do you want with him?"

"I have no interest in him." The women explained, "My Master on the other had, does."

"You're Master?" Erza questioned. "Who is he?"

"That is none of your concern for now." The women said bluntly. "I am simply here to deliver a message."
"I see, and who would you be exactly?" Makarov inquired. Though his tone was calm, there was a dark undertone to it.

The women glanced at him. "…Hikari." She answered.

"What is your message Hikari."

Hikari bowed her head a bit, as if she were thinking. Instead of lifting it to continue she explained, "Lesson three has been learned. From this point on, things will begin to get complicated. I am here only to warn you of the upcoming struggle."

"What upcoming struggle?" Gray demanded.

Hikari lifted her head, her silver eyes glowing from the darkness of her head. "A battle will begin within the boy. A battle for his fate, that only he will be able to fight."

"What are you talking about?!" Natsu raged, fire emitting from his hands.

Hikari lifted two of her fingers. "Only two more left. At that time, it shall be the boy's choice for what road he will pick. Teach him well, Lucy Heartfilia. You hold the key to his victory."

"W-What?" Lucy shook her head, unable to understand what she was talking about.

Hikari bowed her head. "I wish you the best of luck." Lifting her hand, a light blue portal appeared behind her.

"Wait!" Natsu yelled, rushing for the second floor.

Looking one last time at Lucy and Laxus, Hikari murmured softly, "I hope you succeed." She leaned back, falling into the portal and disappearing. Just as Natsu jumped to the top of the second floor, the portal disappeared, leaving the room in stunned silence.

"W-What's going on?" Happy looked around, shaken up and confused.

"I don't know." Makarov admitted softly, rubbing his chin. Turning to Laxus and Lucy, he frowned deepened with concern when the two dropped to their knees.

Lucy struggle to sooth the shacking boy, who sniffled and hiccupped as if… as if he were crying.

"Laxus… Laxus talk to me. It is alright… you're alright. I promise." Lucy whispered softly into his ear, running her hand up and down his back soothingly as the younger lightning mage hide his head into her shoulder.

"Cold… cold…" he sobbed. "A-And… and it hurts…"

"What? What hurts?" Lucy glanced at the second floor, knowing Hikari was long gone, but unable to keep looking up there, in case she returned.

Laxus reached up from the embrace, gripping his shirt where his heart was.

"H-Here… I…" Laxus' voice began to trail off, his body going limp.

"Laxus?" Lucy asked, panicked.

"It… hurts... I… Lucy I'm…" his small form fell limp in her arms, his eyes closing. "… I'm… scared…"

"Laxus?" Lucy shrieked when the young lightning mage fell unconscious in her arms. "Master Makarov!"

The guild rushed forward, quickly moving Laxus towards the infirmary.

Lucy had never left his side for a second. However, she swore, through all the chaos in the room, she thought she saw a number on Laxus' hand.

A glowing number 3.

0.0 hmmmm.

poor Laxus. I mean... yeah, it was... it was really hard for me to write the last scene of this chapter. Just because, I adore Laxus, and when ever something bad happens to him, it just... It pulls on my heart strings!

And who else here thinks Romeo and Laxus make perfect brothers?! XD They are so cute. And lets cheer for Romeo for awakening his magic.

They always say 'One's true strength appears when they are protecting someone they care about' :D