Hello everyone, my name is Michael Fri and I have never done a Fairy Tail story but I seriously gotten into it a lot. I had a very interesting idea that I wanted to present as a slight AU to the series. In terms of time wise this story takes place after the seven year time-skip, or three years after...well, everything, to be more detailed: Lucy is 20 years old. It's been a long time since I have done a solo story so I am very eager to get into a new idea, I hope you all enjoy this story from start to finish.

This chapter was beta read and edited by: KingofClubs8129.

Second Son

by

Michael Fri

Chapter I: Yeah? We have a Dragon-Slayer

Everyone in the little fishing village was suddenly and harshly woken from their daily routine by a loud 'bang'. Not the bang of two pots clanging together, the bang of a giant metal leg crashing down to the ground. The bangs increased in rhythm as five of them marched throughout the town, casting their dark shadows over the sky. This was such a quiet little village too...nice trade overseas, a somewhat decent tourist industry, and even a few well known wizards had their humble beginnings here. Who would have guessed this town would be the location for a dark arts blacksmithing operation? It all started with a wizard who was tired of being mocked about how his magic was only good with making things, rather than making things blow up. So, rather than be a good citizen and assist in creating something beneficial for the community he decided instead to create something to destroy the city. After creating an army of five giant mechanical spiders he then decided to hold the town hostage, demanding tribute be paid to him once a week indefinitely. Usually it was money, or a grand feast in his name, it had to be something different each week otherwise he would destroy a part of the town as punishment. This was week six already, the wizard 'Kakarof' stood upon his lead mechanical spider, almost shuddering in anticipation, wondering what the villagers would offer him today. He already received many jewels, a grand turkey dinner, property deeds, and many great weapons. As his spiders rumbled to the town square he saw there was not an object waiting for him...but a person, a woman...a very beautiful woman.

"Well well!" Kakarof said as the lead spider lowered to let the woman on board, "Everyone certainly went out of their way this time, how fitting, a Queen to keep me company!"

The woman, vibrant red hair shining in the sunlight, cast a smile in his direction. "I take it you're Kakarof, the Blacksmith Wizard?"

Kakarof looked at the woman with pride that his name was so well known, "Very few know me as the Blacksmith Wizard, I am now Kakarof, King of Steel!"

The woman's smile suddenly had a shadow across it, "No, you are Kakarof the Blacksmith Wizard, who got drunk on his own Dark Magic and laid siege to his town."

An angry shadow was soon cast over Kakarof's face, "What did you say?"

"I said you laid siege to this town and became so powerful that several of the villagers secretly sent out a letter of request to the Guilds. A request we answered."

In a flash of light a blade appeared in the redhead's hands, the sharp point braced against the hollow of Karkarof's throat, and his eyes widened in shock as he realized he had be duped. "Kakarof, cease and desist at once. Or we will destroy you."

Kakarof eyed the blade glinting dangerously under his neck, he was certainly afraid but he could not let fear overrule his common sense, instead he gave a confident laugh and gestured all around him. "Very good! Very good! Yet you have forgotten what I have around me! I have an army of mechanical spiders at my beck and call, don't assume I'm out of options so soon!"

Panels opened at the side of the spider and rockets appeared in some, long mechanical ropes in others, multiple red eyes glowing as spells formed, ready to fire. All of them began to gather around Kakarof and the armored redhead. "Go ahead! Try to swing your blade, my spiders will blast your pretty little body into millions of pieces! What do you have to stop me? That little sword? I have an army!"

Karakarof's stomach twisted uneasily at the woman's smile, "Yeah?"

Suddenly one of the mechanical spiders exploded out one sided in a blazing roar of concussive force, fire billowed in plumes before it all suddenly began to syphon inwards to one centralized point, into the mouth of the individual who had punched a blazing hole through Kakarof's pride and joy. Erza Scarlet gave a triumphant smile, "We have a Dragon-Slayer."

Standing atop the mechanical spider, sucking down the fire like they were his favorite noodles was Natsu Dragneel, who gave a satisfied smile when he was done; pounding his hand in his fist as fire formed.

"Oh yeah, now I'm all fired up!" He laughed his attention turning to one of the other mechanical spiders that were beginning to focus in on him, it was moving to keep him in sights...when it suddenly started slipping, the legs were dancing frantically around.

"Ice-Make: Knuckle!" Several crystalline white knuckles shot out and knocked one of the legs out of balance and caused the whole thing to crash under. Where it landed on a white sheet of ice, created by the now stripped to his boxers Gray Fullbuster; who gave a confident smirk as the machine went down with a crash. Kakarof looked around in horror as he realized he was being attacked, "How can I the King of Steel be tricked by a woman and a half naked man?!"

Ignoring the cries of Gray as he struggled to clothe himself Erza Scarlet kept her sword to Kakarofs throat, "We are Fairy Tail, surrender now or we will have no choice but to take you down."

As Erza was making her demands Kakarof had reached for a metallic object in his belt, screaming "Nyet!" and drawing a sword shaped like a wrench. He hit Erza's blade aside and the two of them engaged in a battle as the mechanical spider they were on lifted into the air, Kakarof issuing commands as it raised itself up. "Fire on these pathetic Fairy Tail wizards, leave none of them alive!"

The three remaining spiders began to target and attack Natsu and Gray, the latter of whom was prepared to run when a shield of water blocked Gray from the missiles it fired.

"Drip, drip, drop." the voice of a woman with blue hair, wearing an elegant fur coat and carrying an umbrella appeared next to Gray. "No one shall hurt my darling Gray."

As this was happening Natsu leaped into the air, fists ablaze as he charged for the one that attacked Gray, only for metal ropes to suddenly shoot out at Natsu, "What the-?!"

Natsu kicked and punched several of the others away but it was no use, the ropes wrapped around him and held him tight. Natsu yelled out as the ropes began to coil around him like a snake, it seemed the spiders had him exactly where they wanted him...until a giant axe came down from the sky and cut the ropes apart. As they sprang loose a blue cat with wings grabbed ahold of Natsu and launched him into the air, "Thanks Happy!"

"Happy?!" A female voice called down, showing the buxom blonde bombshell Lucy Heartfillia with Taurus. "I was the one who freed you!"

"Taurus was the one who freed you." Happy corrected.

"Thanks for the help Taurus!" Natsu smiled, the giant bull spirit gave him a thumbs up, leaving Lucy infuriated. Natsu, with the help of Happy, was launched into the air at the giant spider robot, fire covering his fist as he punched holes into the machine. In seconds the spider-machine came down with a crash, two of the other spider-machines closed in on Natsu with rockets aimed at him.

"Water Slicer!"

"Ice Make: Rope!"

Juvia shot a high powered burst of water that cut through the body of the creature and it crashed to the ground with a fantastic explosion. A rope made of Ice magically wrapped around the second one's legs and caused it to lose it's balance and fall. The two of them, Gray fully clothed now, ran to Natsu as he finished off the massive machine.

"One more to go!"

"Erza's up there," Gray nodded, "she's got it!"

At that moment a series of explosions rang out from above the machine and the three of them stared at the spot for a moment, "...nah I think she's still-"

Another set of explosions ring out and three of them frown at each other before Gray suggests, "Perhaps we should...check up on her?"

Another explosion rocked the night air and the three of them nodded, "Wouldn't hurt to you know, have a look or something..."

At the top of the spider-machine Erza would usually have this battle finished easily, however with the mounted turrets firing at her it was making the battle less than easy. The Great Titania though had the situation somewhat handled, Kakarof was a decent fighter but it was clear the turrets are the crutch he was leaning on during this fight. Erza sliced her blade across each one she could, each creating a delayed explosion after she cut through them.

"Muahahaha! Cut through as many as you like!" Kakarof's wrench-stylized sword glowed as magic circles appeared over the broken Turrets. "My magic will just make new ones!"

The broke gear parts and metal shells formed and repaired themselves until all the destroyed turrets were once again operational; Erza scoffed and took off to a run as they fired on her again. Rushing to Kakarof she re-quiped her sword to an axe and tried to break through his sword; the axe bounced off his blade and she winced as his counter attack nearly hit her exposed side. Erza didn't like being so close to him, but the turrets wouldn't fire when she was near their master so it was either deal with them or deal with him. She needed more time to form a plan and for that there was usually one way to stall for time.

"So I have to ask, what do you intend to do now that my friends have destroyed your other little toys?"

Get them to monologue.

"Hah! Those things? I'll make new ones! There isn't anything I cannot create with my Blacksmith Magic, if something is broken I can just simply repair it! I am like a god! I create and destroy at my whim!"

"What a waste..." Erza shook her head, "You could have done so much good...but you allowed yourself to be seduced by Dark Magic and now you must pay for your crimes."

Kakarof did not seem happy about that, "I have done much! I've done everything for this damn town! Did I ever get thanked for anything?! Nyet! But now, now I will get the recognition and rewards I deserve! You though...you need to learn a lesson."

The mechanical-spider began to move, causing Erza to stumble for footing while Kakarof was as steady as a rock. One of the arms began to raise into the air, a blade appearing on the end points of the arm. "You are good, very good, I cannot harm you...but I can harm her!"

The 'her' he was referring to was Lucy who was the only one still ground level and out in the open, Erza realizing what he was about to do tried to stop him but the gun turrets kicked in and she was forced to defend herself. The leg swiped down at Taurus moving with such speed that it slashed the bovine spirit aside before he could even register the movement. Lucy cried out, recalling the spirit back into the Celestial Plane to heal, which unfortunately left her defenseless as the leg swung back around. Lucy cried out, holding her arms out in an attempt to shield herself...from a hit that never came. Her eyes opened and she saw Natsu had caught the leg before it got close.

"Lucy...move!" He cried out as he strained against the massive leg, the Dragon-Slayer giving a roar as he began to swing the machine upward into the air. Kakarof now started to lose his own footing as the massive spider was suddenly lifted into the air. Fearing the worst he leaped from the spider onto a nearby rooftop, Erza didn't follow, not yet. Instead she slid to the back of the spider-machine, Natsu gave a final yell of strain and with impressive strength threw the spider-machine into the air. Erza moved while it was being thrown, swinging her sword and slicing through the machine as she moved, leaping higher into the air she brought her sword down and cleaved the entire machine in two, bouncing off the falling parts to a safe landing in front of the others; the machine finally crashing down and exploding impressively.

"Well...there goes the art museum," Lucy commented sadly at the spot where the machine exploded, "And another cut of our reward..."

"Not now Lucy, Kakarof is trying to escape, we have to stop him before he creates more of those things!" Erza took charge, chasing after the fleeing Kakarof – with the others now in tow. Chasing Kakarof led them back to his workshop, which he had placed on the highest ridge of land near town. Making short work of the door to his garage the team of Fairy Tail burst inside and was met with a soft blue light of the one thing they didn't expect to see.

"Hey wait...isn't that...a Lacrima?!" Gray burst out as Kakarof walked out from behind the Lacrima Crystal.

"Yes...the secret to my success! Lacrima Crystal cores in all my machines, they absorb my Blacksmith Magic and transfer my will onto them. They are the perfect loyal followers!" Kakarof's wrench blade began to glow, "And now...I will construct the ultimate soldier! The epitome of my skill and strength will be so overwhelming that even the great Fairy Tail-"

"Shut up!" Natsu roared, launching forward and throwing his fist straight into Kakarof's jaw which sent the Blacksmith Mage flying backwards into the wall and collapsing with a groan.

"W-wow, Natsu defeated him in one hit!" Happy cheered.

"Yeah I did! Cause I am biggest baddest Fairy Tail wizard of them all!"

"I...really don't think he was all that tough guys..." Lucy tried to interject, but Natsu and Happy were too busy with their victory dance to care. Erza eyed the Lacrima crystal with disdain.

"We need to do something about the Lacrima, its too dangerous to leave be." Natsu perked up at it and slammed his fists together, "Then lets smash it! I did it with the Heaven's Tower!"

"Natsu that was before the tower turned to Lacrima, if you attack it the destabilizing effect could cause-" Natsu rushed past Erza and began delivering rapid punches to the crystal. "Natsu NO!"

Far too late for that, the Dragon-Slayer had dealt a flurry of fire enhanced punches to the crystal. Causing it to shake and shudder, like it was going to break apart; except it continued to shake getting progressively more violent.

"Uh oh..." Natsu gulped as suddenly there was a 'ping' sound and a shard of Lacrima bounced against the wall. Soon more shards began to shoot out and embed themselves into the wall and onto the ground around them.

"We got to get clear! Hurry!" Erza yelled, Gray grabbing the unconscious Kakarof. The shards shot out in quicker flurry, increasing in size as they did; Natsu with his senses were able to dodge the shards as they shot out. Then his ears caught a particular ping, his eyes turned to another shard...a good deal larger in size then most of the others, trapped in the Lacrima and shaking as the pressure built: if that thing fired it would be deadly. He traced his eyes across it's projected path...and saw Lucy in it's way; he heard the ping again growing louder and then he knew the shard was going to fire. He had no time to waste, he rushed over to Lucy.

"Lucy run!" He yelled to her to no avail, she couldn't hear him over the pings of the shards. He ran to her and shoved her out of the way just as the shard exploded with a POW...and landed straight into Natsu's chest.

"...Hk..." Natsu took a few steps back before he fell on his back, his vision began to grow dark as he heard muffled screaming in his ears. Even as his vision darkened he could see the faint glimpse of colors, blue...red...yellow...then they all want dark.

Lucy Heartfillia sat in the waiting room of the town's hospital, her head lowered as she and the rest of the Fairy Tail team were waiting for news of Natsu's prognosis. It has been nearly an hour ago since they rushed him to the emergency room and the doctors hurried him to the back room; during that time all Lucy could only think about was how if she had just moved a bit quicker Natsu wouldn't have been in this situation. She tried to take her mind off it, but the silence of the room was killing her: the ticking of the clock, the scratching of pencils from the nurses, Happy's nervous tail movements. Finally Lucy stood up from her chair in a rush of anxiety, "It's been an hour, I have to see what's going on."

Not waiting to hear any protests from the group, and they voiced plenty, she moved down the hall in the direction they had taken Natsu. Moving at a brisk pace as the others scrambled to catch up with her, she remembered hearing the doctor would be taking Natsu to room nine so she rounded the corner to room nine and pushed open the door...to find Natsu, sitting upright and scarfing down a sandwich. He turned to the door and smiled.

"Hey guys what's going on? These sandwiches are pretty tasty!"

"Natsu!" Happy flew up to him, the two of them gave their hugs and soon the cat joined in in scarfing down the sandwiches.

Lucy stood at the door, jaw dropped, eyes narrowed as Natsu continued to eat as if nothing had happened to him. Finally she let out a shriek of anger and ran over to him, grabbing him by the shirt and shaking him. "NATSU YOU JERK! How could you make us worry like that?!"

It was in the middle of shaking the Dragon-Slayer's brains out that she noticed something that caused her to stop in alarm, the Lacrima shard was still embedded in the right side of his chest: it hadn't been removed. She let go of Natsu in alarm and pointed to the crystal in his chest. "Why do you still have the Lacrima in your chest?!"

Erza and Gray exchanged glances before looking and sure enough: the shard was still snug in his chest, Erza's eyes became as red as her hair at the sight. "What is the meaning of this?! What kind of doctors are running this place?! We need to get that out of you Natsu before-"

"What's going on in here?"

The Fairy Tail team turned to the doctor who walked in, a man in his middle age, walked in with his cane in one hand and chart in his other hand. Erza stomped to the doctor and jutted her finger at Natsu, "What is the meaning of this! The Lacrima Crystal is still in his chest, you have to get it out before-"

"He's perfectly fine."

Erza stopped mid-tirade at the statement, the doctor gave a smile as he limped into the room. "I was surprised too when you brought him in...but he's completely fine. The Crystal hasn't hit any vital organs...and for some reason his body is completely fine from the Lacrima's usually poisonous effects, it's quite astounding really." The doctor held out his chart for one of them to take, "Have a look if you don't believe me."

Lucy reached for the chart but Gray grabbed it first, his eyes pouring over the content intently before he announced, "I cannot understand a single word of this."

Erza snatched the chart from him with a scoff and read it over herself, she was quiet for a long time before she looked at Lucy and held out the chart for her to take herself. Lucy's jaw dropped again, "Wait, you can't understand it either?!"

Juvia gently took the chart from Erza's hands and gave a read, "It says his body isn't having a reaction to the Lacrima, the doses of Lacrima taken from the crystal are very small..."

"But the crystal is still in him!" Lucy pointed out, "Shouldn't you guys take it out?"

The doctor shifted uncomfortably, "Unfortunately many of our doctors and surgeons were chased out by Kakarof, I'm sure they will return now that he's been dealt with though. You could either wait for them to return or take him to another surgeon in the next town. His wound hasn't punctured any of his major organs and there is no Lacrima poisoning, so there is no immediate danger to his life."

Lucy didn't seem to be completely satisfied by the answer, even though the rest of the team clearly were. The doctor gave a smile as he took the chart back from Juvia, "The town will be quite glad to hear this too...they're throwing a party tonight in your honor."

"Really?! A party!?" Natsu jumped up with Happy, "Party! Party!"

"Will you two settle down!" Lucy called out, but Natsu and Happy were too busy practicing their dance moves to care. Gray tried to ignore them as Juvia was launched into a fantasy realm, Erza was suppressing a grin as the two of them danced on the bed like children. Lucy just gave a sigh...the things she put up with sometimes...

The party was nice and festive, they held it out on the streets and quickly assembled the party tables and decorations. Soon by the time dusk had fallen the fires were roaring and dinner was cooking; with all the villagers out it didn't seem like it was a party for Fairy Tail, but it felt like a party for the entire village. Everybody was dancing, eating the food, or even listening to Natsu's dramatic retelling of the final fight with Kakarof.

"...And then boom! I delivered the punch to his face! He crashed to the ground unable to take any more!" Natsu pumped his fist, "Cause Fairy Tail is the best guild in the whole world!"

The entire table cheered along with Natsu, Gray looked over with mild interest and slowly continued his meal. A gaggle of teenage girls slowly moved over to the Ice Mage's table, one of the braver ones spoke up, "Um...Mr. Gray, we were wondering if-"

Suddenly Juvia slid in on the bench and wrapped her arms around Gray, the Ice Mage gave an odd stare as she snuggled up next to him. When he looked away Juvia turned her head and gave the girls what could be described as the 'slasher' smile. "Did you need something?"

"N-No nothing at all!" the girls scattered in fear, with Gray simply trying to finish his meal while Juvia continued to invade his personal space. Erza was talking with some of the villagers there when a young boy began to inch his way over to her, he slowly reached up and tugged on her skirt.

"E-excuse me, miss?"

Erza turned her head down to the boy who took a deep breath and held out a wood sword in his hands, "Please teach me how to fight!"

Erza blinked, "You...I'm not really exactly the best person to ask..."

"But you're a warrior aren't you?" the boy asked again, a bit more insistently, "You're strong and tough! I want to be strong and tough too so that I can defend the town! Please, teach me how to fight!"

Erza stared at the young boy's face for a moment before she gave a soft smile, "I'm leaving in the morning...I suppose I could give you a quick lesson before I go, but be warned..." she folded her arms, "I'm a fierce teacher and I have no intention of leaving until you master my lesson."

The boy didn't seem to be intimidated, he nodded his head eagerly, "Okay! Thanks miss! I will see you tomorrow morning!"

"Bunder honey! Come over here!" the young boy's mother called out to him, he gave Erza another bout of thanks and ran off toward his mother. With a small chuckle and a sigh Erza went back to her conversations. Natsu had finished his dramatic retelling and was looking over the crowd, he spotted Lucy sitting at the barstool talking to a guy, a very handsome guy with light brown hair and who said something that made Lucy smile in a way Natsu never seen before. It caused the Dragon-Slayer to feel strange, something he hadn't felt before...in either case he moved from his table to the bar stool. Sitting at the chair on the other side of Lucy

"Hey Lucy what's going on?"

"Oh hey Natsu," Lucy smiled back, "I was just talking to uh..."

"Damon." The young man replied.

"Yes, I was talking to Damon. I'm sorry, you knew my name but I forgot to ask yours."

The two of them laughed at that and Natsu tried to laugh along, but all of a sudden was feeling a bit awkward. "So Lucy I got a lot of food at the main table if you want to-"

"Oh they're playing music now!" Lucy cut over Natsu, sure enough on the small gazebo in the town center they were playing some slow dance music. Damon stood up and held out his hand to Lucy, who blushed a bright red and took his hand as he led her onto the dance floor. Natsu blinked for a moment as he watched her disappear onto the dance floor, once again the strange feeling rose up in his gut...it was unsettling to him. Natsu shifted his shoulders a bit, shook himself as if he could shake off the feeling that was rising within him. Yet, he had no luck...it got even worse when caught sight of the two of them within the crowd. Seeing them dancing together, he whispered something in her ear and that caused her to laugh. It was that smile, that strange smile Natsu had never seen before that suddenly sent him careening over the edge: he knew all of Lucy's smiles, all of them, just not this particular one. It unnerved him though that this smile was not directed at him...and he couldn't figure out why.

It wasn't until much later into the night that the party had died down, Natsu had remained at the bar table throughout most of the night just sitting there in an almost stupefied trance, lost in his own thoughts. Why did it bother him so much that Lucy smiled at someone else? She smiled at Erza and Gray, and it didn't bother him when she did that; yet there was something about this particular smile that just left him confused. Which, granted, was not hard to do, but what was rare was for him to dwell on why it confused him so much. His solitude did not go unnoticed as Happy and Gray made their way over to sit down near him, Happy plopping himself on the counter while Gray settled into a barstool.

"Hey Natsu what's going on?" Gray asked, "You've been very quiet all night...which is kind of a rarity."

"Everything okay Natsu?" Happy chimed in, the Dragon-Slayer sat up a bit straighter and gave them a frown.

"Yeah...hey where is Lucy, have you guys seen her?" Happy shook his head and Gray chimed in.

"She left the party awhile ago, along with one of the villagers I think..." Natsu's face darkened at that and he lowered his head into his arms in desolation.

"Why didn't Lucy want to hang out with us tonight?" Gray and Happy exchanged glances before the lights went on in their heads.

"Oh yeah, she was on the dance floor with someone. She seemed like she was having a good time..."

"Yeah? So? Did she have to hang out with him all night?" Natsu challenged sharply, which elected a strange expression from Gray.

"Natsu she sees us everyday, she can have friends outside of the guild can't she?"

"W-well yeah she can! Of course!"

"So...what's the problem?"

"The problem is she didn't hang out with us even once tonight! I mean yeah making new friends is nice, but I invited her to our table to eat the awesome dinner we had and she completely ignored me for that one guy! Darken or...something!"

"Maybe she didn't hear you Natsu," Happy chimed in, "It was a loud party and Lucy is a bit hard of hearing..."

"I don't think that's it Happy," Gray's statement caused Happy to frown at the Ice Mage, "I think Lucy really enjoy this guy's company and wanted to spend more time with him."

"Wait, are you saying Lucy's in love?!" Happy burst out, Natsu's eyes widened as this and he straitened right up again.

"Love?! Lucy?! With that guy?! No way!"

Gray began to wave his arms to calm down the two of them, "I didn't say that, I just said she enjoys his company; it happens Natsu."

"Is everything alright here?" Erza walked over, the yelling obviously having caught her attention.

"Natsu is apparently upset Lucy didn't want to spend time with him-"

"With us!" Natsu cut in, "We're her friends, why wouldn't she want to hang out with us?!"

"Oh, I did see she was dancing with some boy tonight," Erza mused with a soft smile, "It was nice to see Lucy enjoying herself."

Natsu practically slammed his fist through the counter and Gray winced, "I...don't think that's helping Erza."

"Why did she avoid us?! It doesn't make sense!"

"Natsu," Erza said firmly, "Lucy was not avoiding us, she's allowed to have friends outside of Fairy Tail and you know that."

"I-I..." Natsu spluttered before standing up, "Yeah I know, I know okay! I'm happy she's making new friends and such, but I really wanted her to hang out with us tonight you know! It was a good party and... I just wish she would have hung out with me!"

Natsu stood up from his chair and stomped off, Happy following quickly in suit. Erza and Gray though...it took a moment to process what they just heard, it was clear Natsu didn't even recognize what he said or otherwise he'd be doubling back right away to correct himself. They heard it though...they caught the change in pronouns.

Natsu was stomping his way home in the darkness with Happy fluttering behind him to catch up, "Natsu! Wait Natsu!"

Natsu stopped walking long enough for Happy to catch up to him, the creature looked up at his best friend worriedly, "Natsu what's wrong? Why are you so upset?"

Natsu gave out a grunt and didn't answer right away, instead he let his anger calm down and he sighed, "I don't know buddy...I just wanted Lucy to hang out with us tonight. Erza and Gray were right and I am happy she is making new friends but..."

Natsu trailed off with his sentence and Happy didn't seem to want to add onto it, the two friends stood in the dark in silence as the sounds of the party faded away into nothingness. Natsu looked out from across the water and he could spot the apartment Lucy rented for the night, he wondered if she was home now or still out with that Drake...Darken...whoever. As he stared off into the dark he had a thought...a wild, brilliant, frightening thought: he imagined himself back at the party and Lucy was on the dance floor again, except she wasn't dancing with that guy...she was dancing with him. Not the kind of dancing he and Happy would do when Lucy plays her records, but the slow kind she was doing with the other guy. Natsu was never one to dance like that yet suddenly he was intrigued by the idea of it, him on the dance floor with Lucy and making her smile that strange smile at him. Then as quickly as the night had fallen Natsu's thought vanished, he didn't know why that thought was fascinating to him and for some reason it hurt to think about it, so he stopped. Stretching out with a yawn he turned to his friend, "Come on Happy, lets head to bed."

Happy gave a nod and flew alongside Natsu as they began their trek to their apartment, neither of them noticed though...with Happy keeping his eyes straight forward and Natsu fighting off the thoughts he had earlier...none of them noticed the Lacrima crystal in Natsu's chest give out a small red pulse...

Lucy's eyes fluttered open to the sound of birds chirping, the streams of daylight coming in through the window causing a small throb of pain to shoot through her temples as she readjusted to the light. Once she was awake enough she began to process where she was and for some reason that alarmed her, this is the room I rented...how did I get back here? She didn't sit up, not yet, she looked around the room as she tried to recall how she got back to her room last night. She remembered the party and she remembered leaving...but after that was a strange blank. She gave a tired sigh and closed her eyes, ready to go back to sleep, I got some time before the boat leaves...I can sleep in a bit. That's what Lucy intended to do anyway, until suddenly there was a shooting pain in her stomach. She hissed at it, probably something she ate last night that bothered her, if she went back to sleep it would probably fade. Then it came again, she winced and put her hand to her stomach...and froze. Her eyes shot open and she looked down...her mouth went dry, her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates at what she saw. She couldn't believe it...her mind simply couldn't process what she was seeing ...she stumbled out of her bed and moved to the bathroom. It couldn't be, it just couldn't be...

She stood in front of the bathroom mirror in shock, no not just shock, horror. She reached down to the bottom of her shirt and slowly pulled it up, she needed to see it herself. There was no denying it though, there is was...under the strains of her shirt was a near full term pregnant belly; Lucy stared at it with absolute horror.

"What is this...what..."

Then, in the absence of the daylight, a strange symbol appeared on her stomach and faded the moment daylight touched it. Lucy looked at her reflection in the mirror...and screamed.