Gomen'nasai!

I didn't mean to keep you all waiting for this chapter... I had school to be done and then life just kept me preoccupied for a terribly long time.

This chapter is more about the story plot moving along and I'm sad to say that there will not be any MidLu scenes in it, but I promise you, in the next chapter there will be. Also I made this chapter slow and a bit boring...

Hope you enjoy this chapter anyways!

And so; Bonne Lecture! ~ Translated from French to English; Happy Reading!

Previously;

"The next time I see that bird I'm gonna pluck his feathers and open up a quill shop!"

The Afternoon Of That Same Day

After placing the now clean and dried dish in the cupboard thusly closing it and completing my task of cleaning the dishes, I start my way up to the Lighthouse tower but find myself coming to a pause as I glance out a large window that overlooks the rarely fogless landscape and sky outside of this estate mansion. Right now in this afternoon, the bright sunset has produced a beautiful blue, pink, and orange color that illuminates and paints the droplets and the waves that crash against the rocky beachside as well as the puddles filled with ocean salt water that are placed at random around the slightly sandy yet entirely rocky landscape into a picturesque beachside illuminated by the residing sun. Taking in the breath that was swept away by the scenery, I continue my walk up to the Lacryma Light.

At The Lighthouse Lacryma Light;

Letting out a small inaudible sigh, I gingerly touch the Lacryma Light and start to trace random lines and drawings on it as I go into the depths of my thoughts.

Fairy Tail...I wonder how they're doing? I slowly ask myself before imagining the former and present glory of the Fairy Tail building. The main guild hall, the tables, the bar, the request board, the S-Class floor, the backrooms, the infirmary, the basement, all of it was right there in my mind. I start to bring in the rowdy noise that the guild usually has as I start to bring in guild members to the imaginary guild.

Mira is drying another mug while chatting away to Kinana, Wendy and Carla about some topic or other. 'Looking' to a more secluded area of the guild I 'see' Gajeel and Levy in the back as they cuddle into each other while Levy is yet again reading another large tome in another language. A few tables away from them Alzack and Bisca are watching Romeo and Asuka playing battleship while Pantherlily and Erza are cleaning and polishing their swords while having a conversation. I 'turn' to the stage to 'see' Miki singing a fast pace rock song to a crowd of cheering and partying guild members.

At a table by the stage is Elfman arm wrestling with a random guild member as Lisanna and a visibly pregnant Evergreen are talking about their significant others or about the child that is on the way. I 'turn' back to the bar to see Makarov, Macao, Wakaba, and Gildarts teasing and joking around towards the newly engaged couple, Laxus and Cana.

Laxus has an irritable look sprawled across his face while Cana has a merrily giddy expression sprawled across hers. Cana takes another swig of her beer before getting up and giving Laxus a smooch on the cheek. I 'turn' 180 degrees and miss Laxus' reaction to 'see' Gray and Natsu starting another pointless brawl between each other. Multiple random guild members are brought into the middle of the brawl as they seek some sort of vengeance against the elemental mages. 'Seeing' a mug hurtling my way, I 'duck' down and 'watch' the trajectory of it as it narrowly misses Cana. With a snarl, Laxus glares towards Natsu as lightning dances around him. Natsu gets into a fighting position and laughs before exclaiming, "I'm all fired up!" The two dragon slayers pounce onto each other but before one of them lands the first punch, I take a 'glance' to the open guild doors.

Snapping momentarily out of my daydream, I retract my hand from the pulsing Lacryma Light and head towards the glass double doors to lean against the railing before heading once again back into my daydream.

With my back 'turned' towards the brawl behind me, I 'look' to the door and suddenly find the urge to reminiscence the walk that I usually take to my apartment. With a 'step', I find myself right outside of the guild gates as I 'look' upon Magnolia streets and canals that are illuminated a warm orange from the setting sun. Another 'step' has me beside the bridge and in front of the bakery. I 'nod' and give the bakers a warm smile as well as a 'quick wave' to the running and gallivanting children who play and hang out in front of this area. Another 'step' has me in front of the flower and trinket vender who wave and exchange polite words with me. Another 'step' has me on the canal ledge balancing with Plue and 'waving' to the boatmen. Another 'step' has me in front of my apartment door. I 'reach' my right hand out in an attempt to open the door only to find myself on the other side of the door that is slamming closed behind me.

My room.

I could feel tears welling up as I looked around my trinket filled room, my lips trembled as I take in the homely scene. Don't get me wrong, the room that I'm residing in right now is great and all that, but it isn't my room. The bed sheets and comforter are brown, gray with some black embroidery. Around and framing the bed against the wall is drawers and shelves that is a foot away from the ceiling. The closet and the dresser drawers are in these built drawers as well as supplies, in case there's a black out. Across the room from my bed is the desk with the rolling chair. In the desk drawers are endless quills, ink bottles, paper and coloring utensils incase I wanted to be artistic. In the back of the room is a lovely armchair with an ottoman, opposite of the armchair is a tall lamp and between the chair and the lamp, at the very back of the room, is the window that faces West.

Back in the flashback of my apartment, I 'look' down and do an attempt to take off my shoes but once again I 'find' myself directly in front of my desk in my fuzzy socks and 'looking' at a tall stack of papers, a quill and a bottle of ink. The writing on the topmost paper is covered by a deep forest green colored paper. The only bit of writing that is revealed is what looks to be the tail of a 'Y' that slips out of the bottom of the forest green color paper. I 'reach' forward to brush off the colored paper but stop upon seeing-my Pink Spice Fairy Tail guild mark. With eyes filled with tears threatening to overflow, I use my left hand to outline and pet the guild mark in both daydream and reality.

My thoughts travel to my landlady, and the first time I talked to her;

Flashback;

The Landlady of this apartment complex just opened up her door after I knocked a few knocks on it politely. Her wide eyes stared down at me as she inspects me while her slightly crinkled face bears a frown.

"What do you want?" She gruffly questioned.

"Oh, I'm here to see the apartment that's up for rent." I said quickly.

I step back from the door as the Landlady lets out a sigh before stepping out of her home and closing her door. She looks down and sees my Fairy Tail mark on my hand. "Are you a mage from Fairy Tail?" She asks as she takes out a large ring adorned with keys and starts rummaging through them.

"Ah! Yes! I just joined the guild today. I'm also new to Magnolia as well so when I saw your advertisement as Natsu and Happy were dragging me to the guild, I had to come back to see the pricing." I explained excitedly.

The Landlady just hums as she finds the key she's looking for before walking up the stairs and going up the right stair well. I follow behind her like a lost puppy of sorts. She unlocks the door at the top of the right stairwell before opening it up and sidestepping for me to enter.

"The apartment is small but there's everyday appliances around here. You can check it out. You'll find that the washer and dryer are not in here, they're downstairs, I'll show you later on today. As it was mentioned on the for rent sign outside, this apartment is for 70,000 Jewels a month." The Landlady drawls as I spin around the room and quickly run to take a quick glance at the other rooms. "Now I know it's not the more exquisite suites that my competitors around town have but I make sure to keep it in top shape!"

"IT'S PERFECT!" I shout as I spin around and do a quick cartwheel on the floor before stopping to stare at her with wide eyes brimming with excitement as my face is glowing with happiness. "I'll take it!" I quickly set down my suitcase and take out my purse. "You said 70,000 Jewels, right?" I asked as I quickly gather the money. After a few moments of no response I look up to the open-mouthed shocked, yet amused look of my new Landlady and ask, "Right?"

Closing her jaw with a loud, sharp click the Landlady's usual frown comes back to her face but her eyes glisten with amusement. "That's correct." She said. "Now I usually try to keep this place in one piece but since your a Fairy Tail member and you know Natsu Dragneel, I want you to try to keep this place whole, as well as to pay half of what is damaged. If there's a ruined wall paper, you pay for half of the yards in wall paper. If there's a broken toilet, shower, bath, or anything else-"

"You'll/I'll pay for half of it." The Landlady and I finished together.

"I don't know if their visits will be regular, and I don't know if they'll stick around me just because they brought me to Fairy Tail, but if they do come into my apartment, I'll try to keep them under control. No promises though." I said as my face pales upon remembering on what destruction happened in Hargeon.

"So, where did they drag you from?" The Landlady asks in amusement.

"Hargeon." I said as a bit of gloom radiates off of me.

"I'll have to see what damage they did around there." The Landlady mentally notes to herself as she turns around. "Don't lock the door if you're going out today, keep it unlocked and I'll give you the key that I'll be having the lock-smiths create by the end of today...if business isn't too busy over there." The Landlady descends down the stairs with loud heavy thumps.

Flashback End!

I can't deny this home-sick feeling I have for all of my town friends and Fairy Tail family, I miss them dearly and want to see and be with them again... But... a certain memory of a certain paper flashes across my mind;

-caught and rodeo tied the - 74-spies surrounding Galico's forests.-

There's the organizations and enemy countries that are against Galico and Fiore and would do anything that they can to bring the two countries down into ruin. I don't know who exactly is spying on the Lighthouse, I don't even know which organization or country that they're from, I can only assume that their intentions for Fiore and Galico aren't the greatest and could even be extended to malicious.

Clenching my hand, I turn back to the stairs and start to head down so that I can go to the gym to train. I know that at times I may not be much, and I know that I'm not at my full potential yet, but I'll be sure as damned if I'm not going to do anything in my power to protect my family and country.

Normal POV:

If Lucy Heartfilia had turned around as she descended down those ladder-steps and looked back up to the spot on the balcony where she was previously standing, she would have seen a pink ethereal light glow the exact same color to her guild mark before Amphias pierced it with his spear to muffle the guild magic within that Guild tattoo. Although it swivels, curls, twists and turns in it's spot a foot away from the balcony railing, it's luminescent light never wavers. With a quick swirl that resembles a vortex of water and wind, the light bolts off inland to the direction where it can only be assumed that the guild hall Fairy Tail is at.

Back To Lucy's POV:

In my room, I've just finished dressing into a fresh pair of work out clothes and am putting on some special leg and arm warmers that are created only in the Celestial Spirit Realm and help me with my weight training as each can weigh up to half of the wearers body weight.

I overlap two arm warmers on each arm and three leg warmers on each leg before heading right on over to the gym where I summon Capricorn who has my training tools with him and at the ready to use.

"Same schedule as always?" I asked the goat.

"Well of course, Miss Lucy, it is the most effective schedule for you." Capricorn reminded.

With a half-hearted grumble, I head on over to the indoor track that they conveniently have here and after doing the proper amount of stretching, I start running my laps.

Sometime Later That Evening:

Once my laps are finished, Capricorn unhooks a whip that has great resemblance to a large, heavy black chain if you missed the handle and drops it directly between him and I. I leap forward and grab the whip as Capricorn leaps back and proceeds to dodge my training attacks as I whip and lash the whip expertly around with strain and effort.

Sometime After That:

I take some generous gulps from my water bottle as soon as my whip exercises are done and briefly pat some sweat off my face and neck with a fluffy hand towel before walking back over to Capricorn and start to copy his hand to hand combat that I've grown accustomed to practicing but never really using over the years of my exercise.

After doing three repeats of the movements that Capricorn did, I take out a dummy and start to use his moves on that.

After that:

With a relieved sigh, I drop the last of my limb warmers into a laundry bag that Virgo gives Capricorn before going into the center of the slightly maimed room, sitting down criss-cross, taking in a deep, calming breath, I send my magic out into a circumference diameter of 17 feet.

After three more soothing breath's, I start to experiment with my pushed out magic and start to create 15 center points of light from all around me, that takes in the surrounding magic until my field of pushed out magic, is separated and forced into the size of 15 golf-balls of light and magic.

Once that last ball is stable, I start to mentally count;

One-Mississippi.

Two-Mississippi.

Three-Mississippi.

The golf-balls twirl lazily around my body but they never stray any farther than 8 odd feet away from me.

Four-Mississippi.

Five-Mississippi.

Six-Mississippi.

The golf-balls start to pulse and waver the tiniest of bits.

Seven-Mississippi.

Eight-Mississippi.

As soon as I finish mentally counting those Mississippi seconds, my magic comes back to me and has me collapsed onto my back, panting as heavily as I did the first time I ever did this meditation technique.

"Miss Lucy," Capricorn starts as he walks closer to me, "can you clarify to me of what you just did?"

"Well," I start as I accept my towel from Capricorn's hand, "after pushing my magic out, I compressed it into 15 golf-ball sized orbs of magic and after my magic came back to me, I know that I can push out my magic for 15 minutes and 8 Mississippi seconds."

"Interestingly clever. Although it puts more strain on you, it doesn't appear to be a harm-full exercise."

I laugh, "Well, I'll still be meditating normally, this just helps me increase my magic."

"Indeed. I'll be retiring for the day, Miss Lucy."

"Say 'hi' to the others for me!" I called out as Capricorn starts to head back to the Celestial Spirit Realm.

"But of course Miss Lucy." I hear Capricorn say before he is completely in the Celestial Spirit Realm.

Getting up, I stumble over to the doors leading into the courtyard. I carelessly trip and start to fall forward, only to have a bright light shine beneath me. I suddenly find myself being fire-man carried by Virgo (AN: Ha! I bet you all thought it would be Loki, eh?).

"Punishment, Princess?" Virgo asked.

I let out a weak chuckle, "No Virgo. Can you take me over to the bath's?"

"Yes Hime." Virgo said as she darted out of the door and towards the baths.

Next Morning;

It's been half an hour since I've had breakfast and I've situated myself in the library, sitting on a comforter by one of the tall windows, taking leisure in reading a book.

Hearing a light, hesitant patter, I glance side-long at the window to see that it is both extremely foggy and is starting to rain.

Pursing my lips, I place a bookmark down and look over to Plue, who's reading a book and enjoying a candy he brought along.

"Care to join me on a walk over to the Lacryma Light?"

"Pun, Puun, Pun."

"Lead the way!" I chirped cheerfully.

At The Lacryma Light:

For the last five minutes, I've been lazily doodling on the Lacryma Light with my finger tips while watching and listening to Plue as he reenacted some funny scenes about an party that he and the other Nikora's had in the Celestial Spirit Realm. I giggled at some parts here and there.

Straightening to my full height, I scan the landscape around the walled mansion before heading down the stairs. Plue hops after me as the rain just outside starts to downpour.

A Little Later:

Holding an umbrella, I lazily walk around outside on the grass barefooted just for the heck of it.

Twirling around slowly, I take in the exterior of the house and the beauty of the garden as the rain pours around me but doesn't drench me aside from the raindrop here and there that my limbs catch while I lazily twirl and walk around in slight boredom.

Two Day's Later:

I open my eyes and look down at the window to see that it is once again a foggy day's beginning from the warm covers of my blankets.

I'm starting to missing the morning sun. Sometimes these dreary mornings can be boring even though they have their perks. I think absentmindedly.

Shortly After Breakfast:

Leaning on the kitchen counter, I glance down at the salt water puddles as they ripple and splash from the strong ocean waves that splash and spray as they crash against the water. The ocean is certainly riled up today, wonder how Galico's doing? I think absentmindedly to myself as my eyes drift up to the shaded outline of the rocky beach meeting the lush trees. I wonder if this fog will stick around.

Later On That Day In The Library:

Approaching a window, I glance out of it as I put a book back in it's rightful shelf. With a heaved sigh, I turn around and hum a tune while searching for my next book to terrorize in this great big house to ease my pure boredom.

Some Days Later In the Gym:

"78-79-80-" I muttered as I did my crunches.

I notice Capricorn gazing at something within my view. Glancing side-long at the opened gym doors, I notice that the fog is still here and inevitable slow my crunches to a stop.

"No slacking off Miss Lucy." Capricorn scolds.

My response was a groan as I continued my work out.

Time Jump To A Day After The Gym, Up At The Lacryma Light In The Evening:

I walk past the light briefly touching it before exiting out onto the balcony where I lean back onto the glass panels of the Lighthouse Light. A light smile ghosts my lips as I stare out wistfully at both sea and land.

"Lucy."

Jaw dropping at the familiar voice, I jump forward and twist around to look up at the roof of the lighthouse. A wide smile grows as I see who it is.

"Mavis!" With a giggle, Master Mavis floats down from the roof to the railing.

"So this is where you've been!"

With a giggle of my own I answer, "Yeah. Amphias De Cotoro brought me here after he, Midnight, Cobra and Amphias' friends attacked our train. Amphias explained to me that they're ambassadors from Galico and they had an offer for me. Amphias is the one who decided to act like enemies and 'kidnap' me. I bet this stirred up quite a bit of trouble and worry for all of you back home."

With a small smile Mavis answers, "Indeed. Your team has been searching high and low for you while everyone is searching for any clue or sign of where you are. I only found you because your guild mark lead me to you."

"But that's impossible, Amphias said he nullified the mark so that the enemies of Galico and the Lighthouse don't detect that Galico has another Ladyship at the Lighthouse."

"Hmm, well, you had strong feelings to protect your family and so, the mark sent me a light so that I'll find you. It shared with me some things. You have the Infinity Clock's power, don't you?" Seeing my body stiffen and my eyes turn into fear she continues, "You don't need to be fearful, your family. We'll accept you no matter what. I'm guessing that since De Cotoro is an ambassador from Galico, he made you Ladyship of this Lighthouse so that you can protect both Galico and Fiore, right?"

"Yes. And I don't really have the Infinity Clock's power, I'm just bonded to it to where I can use it but it's still separated and sealed away thanks to the First Child Sacrificed. The First Child told me when we first saw the Lacryma Light that I should touch it because my world won't collapse as much as it will grow if I become Ladyship." I answered.

Mavis kicked her legs back and forth like the child she acts like as a smile grows on her face. She glances down at my hand and sees my guild mark. "Do you want me to get rid of your guild mark?" Mavis asked.

"No! I won't see you then, I won't be apart of Fairy Tail anymore!" I exclaimed after blinking twice with owlish eyes.

"You misunderstand me, I'm merely getting rid of your damaged guild mark so that when you visit the guild again, you'll get a new one. As for seeing me, I'll simply put a rune on you so that you can still see me when I visit you if you haven't visited the guild yet." Mavis explained with a motherly smile.

After a few moments of thought, I hesitantly answer, "Alright."

I bring my hand up to Mavis who with a blue glowing hand, places a rune that said, 'Friend', on my wrist before her blue glowing hand turns gold and pink as she drags it over my mark. The Double Truffle Pink blows off and away from my hand like sand. A few tears roll down my face as my lip starts to quiver and my body starts to shake.

"Why are you crying? You'll get another guild mark." Mavis said reassuringly.

"I know but I don't think that I'm getting it at any time soon." I answered with a croak.

"I have a feeling that that time is sooner than you think." At Mavis' words I looked up at her questioningly. "Be safe Lucy. I'll see you again soon." Mavis said as she floated back to the ways towards Magnolia.

With a big smile, I wave and call after, "Say 'hello' to everyone for me, Mavis!"

"I will!" Mavis called back with a wave of her own.

For a few minutes I watched Mavis' retreating form get smaller and smaller until she was a tiny dot of blonde. Turning to the door, I head my way back down to the main floors of the mansion as I stretch my arms above my head with a noise of content. I feel lighter as I know that my friends and 'family' are doing well enough and the cold ice caps of solitude quickly melts.

"I feel like checking out the maps, one more time."

Late Evening Of That Very Day:

With a happy sigh, I walk down the hall towards the kitchen to get a nice hot cup of tea when I start to pass the piano room. Catching a dim light from the corner of my eye, I pause my momentum and peer through the opened doors to make sure that I'm not just seeing things.

Stepping closer to the bay window, I see that I'm not hallucinating, I'm really seeing a lantern light glowing in the forest that's darkening to pitch black as the sky turns a deep blue thanks to the setting sun.

Slipping on some shoes and making sure I have my keys with me, I lock Galico's lighthouse doors behind me and transform the key into a seal that goes on the inside of my forearm and doesn't allow anyone besides De Cotoro, any of the Ambassadors or myself from accessing it.

Hurrying towards the light with a lantern of my own, I stop 20 feet from the forest, the hair on my arms and neck standing on end as I try to spy out the light that I saw disappear from view a few minutes ago.

Frowning and inwardly panicking with worry as there's no sight of the light - no.. wait... There! Right in the distance... It's that light!

15 feet away from the forest edge.

It keeps on moving around. Is this person hurt? Are they running from someone? If they are, then why are they having there light on? Wouldn't that just be a beacon that'll attract the enemy?

12 feet away from the forest.

Alright, I shouldn't be the one talking about 'beacon that'll attract the enemy' seeing as I have my lantern out and alit too. And that there are some spies in this forest who're against Galico and possibly Fiore too.

8 feet away.

Should I call out to this mysterious person with the light? I have my key's and my whip with me so I can summon any of my contracts or whip any enemy away.

4 feet.

"Hello?"

The world starts to spin in black as my head feels light headed. I don't feel like I'm getting enough air!

Light's out.

Okay. I'm not always the best with angst. I just hope you all liked it enough and were all like, "don't walk towards the forest Lu-chan!"