A/N: This is being totally overhauled. Bad grammar and OOCness is just too much.

Lucy frowned to herself, as she sat at the bar with a glass of icy water in hand. She took a sip. Her free hand brushed and played with her keys, lost in thought.

Lucy thought about herself, her team, Fairy Tail, and planned. She knew that she was the weakest member in her team. She was unable to truly brawl with her enemies like the rest of Team Natsu.

It was something that nagged at her, and it made her doubt herself. Lucy had only vaguely alluded to this fear to Levy and Mirajane, for after the attack from Phantom Lord it had vanished into the dark recesses of her mind. It only reappeared in nightmares. Yet it had come back to haunt her waking world like a persistent ghost no amount of exorcising would rid her of. Lucy was not proud to admit it, but Lisanna's resettlement into Earthland Fairy Tail had triggered this paranoia.

Edolas and other events had made an old night terror grow into a hulking giant, overshadowing everything Lucy did. Being similar to Lisanna did not help. The off hand remarks made by Cana and some of the others about their similarities just made Lucy want to scream and tear at her hair. She could never stand being told she was someone else other than "Lucy." She had deserted a life of leisure and fiancial power for that reason, but her guild members did not seem to understand that.
At least somebody had not suddenly thrust Lisanna onto Lucy. Lucy smiled as Hibiki of Blue Pegasus came to mind. She had wrote to the elder mage of her desire to grow stronger to protect her team, desiring to be taught the Urano Metria. He had warned her it would have to be taught the hard way, since Archive Magic worked for such things only once. Lucy had wrote back a simple sentence "I'm not afraid of a little work Hibiki."

It had taken months full of backfiring explosions, ruined clothing and hair, and healing by a certain Sky Dragon Slayer, but Hibiki had managed to teach her the frustrating spell. Lucy's eyes unknowingly gained a vicious look, scaring off the other guild members that had been nearby, remembering how good it had felt to finally cast the spell flawlessly. That rock had been asking for it, mocking her with it's previously unblasted surface.

Lucy's thoughts drifted once again. Edolas had altered the guild she had previously thought was as easy to change as the ocean. The oddest aspect of the entire fiasco was to have seen a cowardly Natsu. It had almost been unnatural, but Lucy could see how the two were still somewhat similar. Needless to say, Lucy never mentioned any parallels she drew between their alternative selves.

Yet it was the revelation that Lisanna had not died that had changed her, Team Natsu, and Fairy Tail. In their glee that the youngest sibling of Mirajane's was alive and home once more, her guild had seemed to forget about her and everyone else that had not known Lisanna previously. Usually this would not trouble Lucy, afterall she had virtually lived alone for so long. But Natsu and Lisanna had been acting… lovey dovey to describe it, and Gray and Ezra had been looking speculatively between her and Lisanna. Lucy knew deep in her bones those looks spelled nothing good for her.

Celestial mages were known for a sixth sense for future events pertaining to them. A well known example of this talent was demonstrated by Karen's increasingly frantic pleas to Loki before her death. And to add to her reliance on this sixth sense, Lucy had experienced it before and it had provided wise advice to heed.

So, being a cautious and wary mage, Lucy had begun storing up money. Began keeping a well stocked travel case ready for whatever was coming. Lucy had also had updated all her papers and put her affairs in order for whatever was coming. She knew it was a little silly to put stock in such vague feelings, but the specter that haunted her every waking moment convinced her. For it whispered that the feeling could not prepare her for the heartbreak the future held for her.

With a sudden crash from the guild's doors, Lucy twitched in surprise. She had been deep in thought, but Lucy knew Natsu had arrived and she turned to greet him. She paused in apprehension when she saw he had his travel pack on, along with Ezra, Gray, and Lisanna.

Her specter rasped a whisper to her,"Time's up, Lucky Lucy."

Natsu, ever so lively, practically raced to Lucy in his excitement. He shouted in her ears loud enough to make her head ring "Luce! Is it alright if we go on a mission with Lisanna?" He was nearly bouncing in place with energy as Lucy perked up. Her rent's deadline was not far off, and more money was always welcomed.

"I'll need to go get my case-" Natsu interrupted her with a sheepish grin and said "We wanted to take on this mission like before Lisanna left, just the four of us, if it's okay."

Lucy felt herself freeze. That specter was screaming "I told you so!" in her psyche, laughing coldly. Her smile grew stiff as Natsu's careless words washed over her. She looked to Gray and Ezra to see if they were in agreement with Natsu, and they nodded in reply. Lucy felt like her heart was being devoured by the grinning specter, but she smiled and nodded.

Natsu cheered and ran back to his nakama, smiling at the prospect of a tough job. As soon as the new Team Natsu turned their backs, Lucy dropped her smile and studied her now warm water. She had just been replaced, had allowed it without as so much as a whisper.

The specter mocked her, calling her disparaging names like 'weakling' and 'spineless'. Lucy frowned deeply, stood up with nary a word, and exited the guild. No one noticed the blonde mage's odd behavior, not even Mirajane, except the Iron Slayer. Blood red eyes trailed the celestial mage under furrowed brows, his instincts telling him that this had been an important moment. Even if he had paid no attention to the conversation between Natsu and the blonde.

Lucy strode into the guild the next day in an outfit that drew everyone's stares.

It was not that it was low cut, or revealing. That was normal Lucy attire after all. It was that it was disturbingly casual for someone who prided herself on her looks.

She was in a modest blue tee-shirt, black shorts, and plain black boots. A travel case was in hand, Keys hooked to her belt, and her whip was coiled by her side. Lucy had a slight frown on her face, and was silent as she moved to the mission board with a purpose. She did not smile, she did not chat, and she did not stop.

Gajeel watched the blonde with an appraising eye; it seemed as if she was going solo for once. But where was that idiot of a Slayer to harass her into joining him, or that stripper or Amazon?

She looked at the board for a long moment, before bypassing the newer postings, hunting for the ones that either had not been picked or had been left incomplete. Lucy must have hunted for a good five minutes before she picked out an old, nearly crumpled parchment and read it. Gajeel raised an eyebrow as her eyes grew large for a moment, and she looked around for someone.

She had not noticed yet that the entire guild was watching her warily. Such behavior was at odds with her usual ways, and no one knew what had caused this. Gajeel watched her curiously as she seemed to make her way to him.

Covertly he checked for any of her usual friends that might be nearby, but he was all alone in his little corner of the guild. No one had the balls to sit near him, and Gajeel prefered it that way. But it begged the question as to why the blonde had the guts after he had tortured her. Sure it had been for business' sake, along with indulging in letting off some steam at such a stupid job, but there was no way the blonde would not take it personally.

Gajeel watched as she plopped down without a word and asked bluntly "What do ya want Bunny Girl?" Gajeel smirked as she glared at him for the nickname he had dubbed her with. If she had not wanted to be called Bunny Girl she should not have worn that outfit, in Gajeel's humble opinion.

She handed him the old paper and asked "I need a partner. This job's gonna be tough, and since Natsu and the others just booted me off the team, I lack the firepower for this job." Gajeel felt his eyebrows shoot up in surprise that the idiot had essentially kicked his medic off the team, before looking at the paper. It was very old, and it had stamped across it "A Class". The words were faded but he could make them out with little difficulty.

"A dangerous artifact was stolen from Aras Ayem's mansion. It was stolen by an unknown monster that was powerful enough to overcome wards set by a Wizard Saint. The mages who take this request must slay the monster and recover the artifact. If it the artifact cannot be recovered it must be destroyed along with the monster.
If possible a Celestial Mage or a Dragon Slayer would make a excellent candidate for the destruction of this artifact or it's recovery. The artifact in question is Torque of the World Eater.
Contact Aras Ayem for further details in the Ayem mansion near the town of Hargeon about ten miles to the West. The reward for a successful result will be Four Million Jewels and one Key."

Gajeel felt his jaw drop at the reward amount, but the comment about the celestial and Slayer mages had him wary. At least he knew why the blonde had chosen the job now. But why would she even bother trying to partner with him? Hell, Gajeel knew he was a unfriendly jackass and he had even exceeded his normal limits with torturing her. He snorted at how weird this blonde was, but he need some answers before even beginning to consider this. The only reason he was considering this craziness was the fact he needed a lot of cash fast, since he had eaten through his own rent fund trying to buy iron.

Gajeel ground out "Why are ya even bothering to ask me Blonde? I did hunt ya across this town, used you as bait, and then tortured ya for the hell of it."

Lucy screwed up her face in distaste. "One, if Master thought there was something in you that was worth all of the hassle, I'm betting it's pretty damn amazing. Master hates having to deal with the
Council, and he had to kiss a lot of ass to get you and Juvia."

She ticked off her reasons, leaning in towards him. He was finding this both surreal and amusing in just how fearless she was being. "Two, this job asks for a Dragon Slayer so I figure I need one. Since the one I usually deal with has left me out to dry, I figured you wouldn't mind some cash. And finally, as for the torturing, I can't really hold it against you too much. I mouthed off to a mage ready to kill someone over his frustration, and I got my lesson served to me."
She grinned suddenly, before cupping a hand around her mouth to keep her words a secret. "Plus, you're not the only sadist in the Guild. Ezra's scarier and more painful."

Gajeel grinned at her with all his pointy teeth, just like a shark. Bunny Girl had guts, even if she was about as mean and harmful as your average dandelion. He could humor her, especially since Lily had taken a long job.

"Deal. But I'm the boss. You'll play support and saboteur roles, got it? We'll split the reward sixty forty and you'll keep your Key." He expected her to blow her cool at his terms but was surprised when she grabbed his hand with a grin and said

"Welcome aboard partner. As long as you use your head I'll let you take the reigns. But the first sign of Natsu-like stupidity I'm kicking your ass back to Magnolia!" He barked a laugh. Bunny Girl kicking his ass? Ha!

"Do you need to let Levy know where you're going ?"

She just had to go there, didn't she?

Gajeel growled menacingly before saying in a low voice "No." Lucy's eyes showed surprise before she nodded and asked "Do you need anything from your place?" Gajeel stood up from his seat while shaking his head. "Come on then. There should be a train in twenty minutes."

Gajeel followed after Lucy, ignoring the stares the odd duo got. Suddenly he had to ask "Blonde, is this one time only or are you gonna stick with me?" Gajeel wanted to know where he stood on the matter with the odd blonde. She did just walk up and offer him a partnership without really knowing him, regardless of the fact they were nakama.

Lucy looked at him with a hint of mischievousness, lighting up eyes he had not noticed till then were so dark, and replied "Dunno. Let's see shall we?" Gajeel snorted in amusement once more. He could see just what the others meant about her being 'cute', and walked after her.