Dragon's Tear Chapter 20 in now up for your viewing pleasure by WildCard555. Now its time to see what Lucy learned during the time she spent away from Fairy Tail. First part of this fight might seem confusing because of the ground fighting. Also I appologize for the over long delay between chapter. I really had to get my life back in order, Being an adult sucks.

Lrdhollow: Don't be afraid to ask. Although the main thing for a good fight scene is some psychology. Fight psychology that is.

Dog's Paw Burning in Hot Ash: I make no guarantees.

PhoenixedDragon: Like I said in the foot note originally the last chapter was supposed to be Faiths introduction to FT, but without her the return ended up the way it did. Indeed Bickslow and Cana did have a drunken night, as for that story it will unravel in time. For the Lucy vs Gajeel scroll on down to see how much has changed. If not for what he went through Natsu probably would have said what Loke said, but not as straight as the spirit.

Hundefrau: Thanks for telling me I got the mood right. On the handling of brawls you can't do those when you have babies and toddlers around so the back yard of Fairy Tail is now the designated area for fighting. For the rest just scroll down and keep on reading.

GoldenRoseTanya: I'm fine with either LaCa and BiLi as I am with LaLi and BiCa(even though I killed Bickslow off screen in this story). Yes the Bromance was good. Yeah lets find out how this fight goes down.

AhVy1920: Yeah I wish I could somehow animate these fights somehow, but sadly I can't. Don't forget Gajeel has probably learned some new trick, but the big question is how much did Lucy learn.

Lizzysakura21, Guest(1), Holy Angemon, Flaming keys25, hg: here is your update.

RinaSmileFT: here is your update, and it will be another chapter of two until we get the answer on weather or not Lucy and Seyru did anything.

LovesLullaby: Damn this story does take a long time to read doesn't it. Actually I've borrowed a couple of characters from an original story of mine and put them in. Yes you heard that people I do have my own original story, sadly I'm really lazy about working on it -_-.

Prettykitty280: Scroll on down to read the fight. Nice to know I got someone who doesn't know anything about Fairy Tail/Anime addicted to this story.

I Own Nothing.

Chapter 20.

What I Gained?

(A/N: One thing I hate that tends to happen in animes is when a fight has spectators and have to do commentary while the fight is going on. This means there are going to some transitions from the fight to the spectators.

* when you see the star that means I'm switching from fight to spectators. *

ex

* Gajeel vs Lucy. *

blah blah blah

* Fairy Tail members watching. *

blah blah blah.

* Back to the fight. *

A/N: end)

"What do you mean the same stance as his?" Gray Questioned.

"Seyru's." Natsu answered. "That's the same exact stance he used." Looking at Lucy's normally gentle brown eyes, but only saw cold calculating eyes. "Even the look in her eyes are the same as his."

"Makes sense to me." Master Makarov said getting stares from everyone. "In order to learn a new form of art you must first start with the art of imitation." Now starting to see the same things Natsu was seeing. Sure he didn't see what the younger man had seen, but it was clear to him the changes Lucy had made in her fighting approach, like the rest of the guild still shocked seeing that she broke Gajeel's arm in seconds.

"We should stop this." Levy said concerned for her fiancée. "He already has a broken arm." Not wanting to see him get hurt any further.

"Gajeel wants to continue." Laxus said looking at the fight as a typical Fairy Tail brawl.

"We don't break bones in our brawls." Somehow reading the hulking man's mind.

"Lucy isn't fighting like its a brawl." Jellal said. "She's was trained by that bastard. There is no way in hell she doesn't take any fight other than life or death from here on out."

* Fight *

Gajeel looked at his left hand as he painfully opened and closed the hand trying to get the feeling back in his relocated left arm.

"Still want to continue?" Lucy asked hoping the man would say no.

"I ain't quittin." Looking up at the blonde. 'No way am I losing a fight to Bunny-girl in front of the whole guild.' Besides I've got some new tricks up my sleeve as well."

Without saying a word Lucy charged in. She saw the Iron-Mage taking a few steps back trying to catch her timing and see how she would attack. Once she was a in range did she throw a right head kick at the man.

Out of natural instincts did he raise his left arm up to block the head kick, only his head wasn't the real target of the attack.

Seeing the response she was looking for did the blonde aim to drive her shin into the mans elbow where she previously broken it.

'Mother Fucker!' What normally would have been a successful block turned out to be several times more painful than he anticipated. The pain he felt when the arm first broke came back forcing him to hug the injured arm back to his chest.

'Perfect.' Stepping down onto her right leg she began to swing her left hand overhead before hitting the dragon slayer square on the jaw.

'What the Fuck!' Even though he had been hit by much harder shots and kept going, on this strike he felt his body collapsing to the ground against his will.

As soon as he landed on the ground Lucy continued the attack as she jumped onto the man sitting just below his chest(full mount), and his left arm unintentionally. With her left hand she placed it on his throat guiding his head where she wanted it to be. With her right arm she lifted it up to eye level before arching it driving her elbow down onto the man's head.

The first punch he took his balance the elbow he just took didn't hurt much either, but if they kept adding up they would. Barely seeing a second elbow about to be thrown down he quickly lifted his right arm and used his raw strength to reverse the position so he was onto between the her legs with him now on top(inside Lucy's guard).

During the transition Lucy had thrown her left leg over Gajeel's right shoulder. Once she was on her back did she pull the man's head down as she threw her right leg over her left ankle trapping the his head and right arm between her legs(Triangle Choke). Once the legs had contact with the other did she begin to squeeze her long slender legs together tightening the hold she had on Gajeel.

Though he felt no pain the Iron Dragon Slayer knew he was once again in trouble. Whatever the woman was doing he felt himself losing strength and was unable to breath. His left arm was stuck on the ground unable to pick it up to do anything, and his good arm was caught up in this new hold. 'I'm not losing this fight. If Salamander could beat him then I can beat whoever he trained.' He told himself as he struggled to fight his way out before passing out.

* Guild *

Both Natsu and Levy found themselves glaring at the position their respective lover were in. Because from the angle they were looking at it looked like Gajeel was going to town on Lucy's nether region. The majority of the guild looked on in confusion like Gajeel not fully understanding what was going on in the fight.

"Triangle Choke." Master Makarov said with everyone listening. "It's a technique in which the user uses their legs to trap the head and an arm while choking the victim to sleep if they don't surrender."

After hearing that did they see that the man's face was starting to turn a darker shade of red as the hold stayed on.

"Another submission hold then?" Laxus asked his grandfather wondering why if he knew such techniques that he never taught him any of them.

Nodding his head to the question.

Tapping Natsu's shoulder. "Did Seyru do that to you during your fight." Gray asked.

Shaking his head. "He threw me a couple of times, but he never did anything like that during the fight." Natsu answered. He then remembered something the Edolian said during the fight. "Technique beats power nine times out of ten."

"And the way this fight has been going so far Lucy has the technique." Freed said.

"But Gajeel has the power." Laxus added in knowing how hard his fellow Dragon Slayer hits. "All it takes is one hit to end a fight."

"He has more than that." Gray said gaining everyone's attention. "We both have some tricks up our sleeves." Now looking at Natsu. "You two aren't the only ones to improve these last couple years."

* Fight *

"Give up Gajeel." Lucy said to the man continuing to tighten her squeeze. She knew what she asked him to do would never happen. That's why she went for the choke instead of a second armbar not wanting to injure him further than needed.

"Fuck you Bunny Girl." Gajeel managed to gurgle out before gathering up a burst of energy. First he activated his Iron Scale to coat his injured left arm in iron, next using it to elevate himself until he had the woman stacked up on her neck and shoulder placing him in a near standing position. Once that was done he locked his hands together to fight the choke, but more importantly so he could lift the woman off the ground till she was over head again using his raw strength to get out of the bad position. Finally using all the might he could muster he slammed her several inches into the ground breaking the hold she had on him.

During the couple of seconds she was lifted up the blonde couldn't believe that the man had dead lifted her with a broken arm. 'Then again he wouldn't be in this guild if you didn't defy the impossible.' She thought before being driven back first into the ground losing the choke as her whole body was submerged in pain feeling the ground crack around her.

Able to breathe again the man slowly sat up removing his face from the crouch area of his fellow Dragon Slayer's mate. Now looking at her she wasn't moving except for her large chest going up and down as she breathed. Now slowly standing back up before backing away. "I know you're not out Bunny Girl."

Opening her eyes at his words she too slowly got up to her feet rubbing the parts of her back that took the worst of the slam. "You still want more." She grinned seeing the Iron-mage hugging his arm to his chest again.

"Tough talk comin from someone who just got slammed."

"Says the guy with a broken arm." Getting back into her fighting stance.

"I'll make sure its the arm that will knock you out!" stretching out both arms to show he could still use the broken arm.

Raising her right hand in front she signaled him to bring it on.

At his opponents request did he charge in putting bad intentions behind everything he threw whether it be a punch, knee, kick or elbow.

upon seeing the charge did Lucy drop her hands down to her side.

* Guild *

Upon seeing his love drop her hands down did Natsu get a flashback of what happened to him when Seyru did the same to him.

"What's wrong Natsu?" Erza asked. by the look on the man's face you'd think he saw a ghost.

Jellal saw the concern on his wife's face looking at Natsu. Without the other man saying a word he knew he was reliving the fight that nearly claimed his life.

* Fight *

Each strike that was thrown by the Iron Mage was being dodged. At first he was only aiming at her face wanting to knock her out and end the fight as quickly as possible, but eventually found it to troublesome after missing the tenth shot. That's when he started to throw shots at her body. only now instead of just moving her head out of the way she started to use her feet to move herself out of harms way and continued to back walk as the attempted assault continued.

"Hold Still!" Gajeel shouted growing more annoyed and furious as his opponent was avoiding fighting him.

"Sure." Avoiding a body kick. "All you have to do is catch me." Lucy taunted.

"Iron Dragon's Club." first one to use magic he used it to extend his arm.

Ducking underneath the iron fist for the first time the blonde charged in ready to reveal her new magic to the guild. Once in front of him did she slap her left palm on his chest. "Breathless!" Once contact was made wind burst from around her hand.

Before he knew it the Dragon Slayer felt nearly all the wind in his chest leave him in an instant. "Ugh!" Starting to fall backwards.

* Guild *

This time it was Gray who got a flashback replaying in his head. Touching one of the two scares he acquired the first time he encountered Seyru. "Wind-Scar!" Remembering how he was taken out of the first fight.

Erza was taken back as well. Even though she was caught in a Water-Lock at the time she saw the damage Gray took on that attack.

"She learned Wind-Magic in her time away from us as well as submission fighting." Makarov said stroking his mustache. Looking over he saw Gray rubbing at his chest. "What's wrong."

"Wind-Scar." The Ice-Mage answered shaking.

"No Gray it was Breathless that Lucy used." Juvia trying to calm her husband down.

"It's nearly the same way he got taken out three years ago during the fight." Erza answered the others question why Gray was acting this way.

"So it looks like Lucy used the non-lethal version." Laxus said getting more intrigued by the fight he was watching. "Hey Gajeel Quit Fucking Around." He yelled not liking how his fellow slayer was fighting to this point.

Smack. That was the sound made when Lisanna smacked the back of her husband's head.

"What?" looking at his wife.

"What if Dante or Virgil heard you cursing." Scolding her husband

Pouting he mouthed sorry to his wife.

* Fight *

'Hey Gajeel Quit Fucking Around!' He heard still falling to the ground as his eyes nearly rolled into the back of his head. 'I ain't losing this fight.' Willing his legs to get back underneath him he took in as much air as he could. "Roar of the Iron Dragon!" Aiming the roar at the Wind-Mage standing before him.

'Too Close!' Knowing full well she couldn't dodge at this range. Jumping back she cast the first spell she learned. "Wind-cushion." Creating a wind pocket in hopes of stopping the attack, but to no avail as the metal shard tore through it and hit her hard. "AGGGHHHH!" she screamed as she was sent flying backwards

Straightening his right arm out like a cannon he pointed his fingers at Lucy. "Iron Dragon's Lance: Demon Logs" Firing numerous iron arrowheads continuing his attack.

Seeing the second spell heading her was she swiped her hands at the ground "Wind-Scar." Cutting at the earth sending up chunks to stop the second attack. Looking down at her right arm she saw several cuts on her arm, with none of them being too deep. thinking back to the roar she was unable to fully stop she was at least able to focus the damage on her arm. "So tired of playing around then Gajeel?" Lucy said looking at the man.

"Play time is over." Gajeel claimed coating the rest of his body in Iron-Scale. "Tell me Lucy do you really think you can beat me with wind magic now." Knowing Iron was a bad match for wind with all the time he spend sparring with Aria back in Phantom Lord.

"Do I think I can beat you." closing her eyes. "I know I can beat you." smiling.

* Guild *

"What the..." Everyone watching asked seeing Lucy close her eyes. Before anyone could question further the fight started up again.

* Fight *

Both mages charged each other, but when she got close enough Lucy let Gajeel be the aggressor dodging his first few attack with her eyes still shut.

'How?' Gajeel questioned still hitting nothing but air. 'How is she dodging me with her eyes closed?' This time with a sense of fear. Why fear you might ask after all she was doing this already. For starters like he stated her eyes are fully closed so she shouldn't be able to see anything. Secondly despite what you might think of his Iron Scales the slayer actually moves much quicker with it on than without. Finally from what he saw in the initial attack she was having a hard time reading him. This time however her movement appeared to be a lot more fluid, and her face matched her ease growing each time he failed to hit. 'Something's not right.' "Iron Dragon's Sword" Turning his right arm into a buzz-saw like sword letting out screeching noises.

"What's the matter Gajeel? Can't hit me?" His sword never getting close enough to touch her. "Even with my eyes closed I can see your frustration." Lucy said even though she didn't like how she was saying it. But with her teachings she knew getting into your opponents head was vital to the style she was trained to fight.

Deciding to change his approach he jumped back a few feet. 'Attack from a distance.' Before he even cast the spell he saw the blonde jump back a couple yards. "Iron Dragon's Lance: Demon Logs" Knowing she knew how to stop the attack already he was preparing a second roar. That was until he saw she responded differently.

What everyone saw blew their minds. with elaborate foot work, balance, speed, and head movement Lucy began dodging every single shred of iron heading her way until the attack ended.

Once his attack was over he took a step back not believing what he just witnessed. "Are you really Bunny-Girl?"

"What's the matter Gajeel? You wanted to see what I learned. Well this is what I've learned." She spoke in a calm voice waiting for his next move.

"Dodge this." Two long curved poled started to come out of his right arm with an iron string connecting the two poles.

"So you learned how to use a bow and arrow?"

Touching his right wrist with his left hand he started to form an arrow as he connected it with the string now pulling it back with the arrow tension growing

"It won't work." Lucy said standing still.

Bow and arrow at full tension Gajeel took aim. As soon as he had the shot something unexpected happened. His left arm gave out as the his Iron brace couldn't hold the pain back any longer. "Fuck!" releasing the arrow that missed its mark by only and inch. causing an explosion on impact creating a twenty foot creator fifty feet behind the wind mage. 'Great I can't use anything I leaned the last two years now.'

"Looks like..."

"Roar of the Iron Dragon!" recklessly using his breath attack for a second time.

Unlike the first roar used on her this time Lucy had the distance between the two to counter it. "Wind-Scar!" Casting the spell to cut the one powerful stream of metal shards into two streams. "Wind-Cushion!" Using the defensive spell as a wedge to spread the two steams coming at her so neither one touched her.

He couldn't believe it. Everything he was throwing at the woman was being neutralized. Each time he failed both frustration grew, and his moral dropped. 'I can't lose this fight.' Not starting to wonder if he even can beat Lucy as he charged in once again only to get the same results.

* Guild *

"Gajeel can't touch her." Laxus said seeing Gajeel slowly break down. "For some reason she's fighting better with her eyes closed."

"Fighting better with her eyes shut." Half he guild repeated watching as the blonde gracefully avoid all the attacks thrown at her.

Remembering what his love told her when she told him about Samuel helping heal her magic. "When she closes her eyes she can see all things magic." Natsu said.

"What?" Asked Gray.

"Lucy told me that her sensory magic was reversed when she got kicked so she sensed magic instead of life. Samuel made it so she could have both, but can only use one at a time depending on whether her eyes are closed or shut."

Everyone let the info sink in.

"Gajeel coating himself in Iron Scale was the worst thing he could've done." Makarov said never taking his eyes of the action even to blink.

"Odin's Eye?" Levy said silently.

"Odin's Eye?" Juvia asked her fellow bluenette.

Nodding her head. "I only know parts of it. How a great man named Odin who most called a god forever looked for knowledge. On his journeys he was offered a choice. If he gave up one eye he'd be granted either all the words wisdom, or the ability to see all things depending on how you interpret the tale."

"So what you're saying is, is that Lucy is sacrificing the use of her eyes to see the magic flowing over Gajeel's body?" Freed asked.

Master chimed in once again. "If you can see what spell is being used you can quickly learn how to counter it, or know how it attacks. In this case she can see every move Gajeel makes before he can move his body."

"It looks like she's dancing right now." Mira pointed out who finally managed to get the toddlers settled down for their naps.

Everyone took a closer look to see that Lucy was indeed dancing around the man.

"To put things more correctly she's moving to Gajeel's every movement at point blank range." Freed pointed out.

"This won't last much longer." Gray said.

"Gajeel is slowing down." Natsu said. He also noticed his love wasn't even breathing hard.

"He's about to change his rhythm."

Thinking back to the tag match he had with Gajeel against Sting and Rouge the two of them aloud Sting to beat them down so they could find out his rhythm before the counter attack. "Lucy." Concerned on how this fight could change.

* Fight *

"Time to stop playing around." Gajeel claimed, and just like Gray said he learned Lucy's movements/reaction time/speed. Making the readjustments Gajeel started his new attack with a straight left. Only...

"As you say." Lucy said responding to the man's new attack by beating him to the punch. However knowing she wouldn't be able to hurt Gajeel with Iron Scale still active she used her a variation of Wind Cushion to push him back.

The Dragon Slayer didn't know what happened. Whatever hit him didn't hurt, but it stunned him making him question what just happened. Seeing the woman now charging him did he try to attack first only to get countered and pushed back again by the same strange magic.

Now the guild watched even more astonished by what was happening. Only seconds ago Lucy was avoiding everything Gajeel was throwing. Now she was beating him to every punch confusing him each time not allowing him to gather his wits.

She could see everything. His movements, flow of magic, any spell he could cast as he was about to use it, even where the armor was about to crack. countering a right hook she hit him with the palm of her hand using her wind magic cracking the armor covering his face.

In that instant he saw the iron protecting his face com flying off. 'Unreal. It hasn't even been three years.' Thinking back to all the times he saw her getting saved. 'He turned her into a monster.' "Roar of the Iron Dragon!" Desperate to create some distance.

Like all his other spells the Wind mage saw it coming, but was too close to avoid the attack this time. 'Can't dodge, so defend and attack.' First casing WC to stop part of the roar. Once it was close she then cast Wind-Scar to cancel out the rest of the roar. "Nice Try…UUUGGGHHH!" Getting hit right in the middle of her gut she got launched back nearly ten feet. 'How?' Wondering how she didn't see the attack coming as she hit the ground. Still with her eyes shut she could no longer see Gajeel. Opening her eyes as she got up she saw Gajeel was no longer covered in armor.

"I'm not losing to you Lucy." The Dragon Slayer charged in reactivating the iron scale.

Upon seeing him armoring up again did she close her eyes. Seeing his path she readied a counter only half of his body disappeared. 'What the?' Completely thrown off guard. Before she could respond did she receive a kick to the body and two punches to the face knocking her hard to the ground. Opening her eyes did she see only the right half of the Slayers body was covered while the other half was exposed skin.

"Hard to fight back when you can't fully see me. Gi Hi Hi!" He laughed feeling the advantage was coming back to him. Seeing his opponent getting up he decided to not to giver her a chance to recover kicking her ribs while she pushed up off the ground.

"Uggghhh!" Lucy groaned in pain getting kicked back several feet wondering how none of her rips snapped from the iron-coated kick. Sadly she knew now it was her turn to be on the losing end.

* Guild *

At that Fairy Tail saw the tide of the entire fight change. Where Lucy was being technical about her dissection of Gajeel, he was using sheer brutality as he began to pound away at her.

"Lucy!" Natsu screamed watching as Gajeel kept his offensive flurry continue on his mate. Sure she had done the same to him, but the Slayer had already dealt way more damage in the few shots he's landed compared to what she had done to him...besides breaking the arm.

Levy watched silently being conflicted. On one side her man was now winning a fight after being on the losing end of the majority of the fight, but now she had to watch as her best friend was being battered up now. 'Please let this end soon.' She prayed neither would take much more punishment.

"This is what happens when power gets that one shot in." Laxus said.

Freed nodded his head. "Its going to be much harder now for Lucy to move the way she was earlier now." Seeing the woman slowing down drastically.

"Gajeel won't be able to keep this up much longer." Jellal added in.

"He's slowing down." Erza noticing the blows looking more labored than the last.

"Lucy!" Natsu again screamed attempting to jump down to end the fight, but felt two hands stopping him. Turning around he saw they belonged to Gray and Loke.

"We didn't end the fight when Gajeel was losing so we won't stop it now." Gray said flinching when he heard the slayer drive his leg into his 'little sister's leg'.

Loke remained silent using his will power to stay up on the balcony, and not save his mistress like her lover was trying right now. Although if this lasted any longer he'd either have to jump in, or go back to spirit world.

With how injured he was he couldn't fight off the duo. Instead. "Wendy once this is over get to healing right away!" He ordered the youngest slayer.

"Be ready to give me a hand." Wendy looked at both Lisanna and Mira for assistance not knowing how damaged either would be once the fight was over.

* Fight *

"Huh, huh, hug!" Lucy was breathing heavily from the strikes she was taking. over the last couple of minutes she went from fighting the perfect fight to being right back where she was when she defied Gajeel back during the war they had with Phantom Lord.

"Wanna give up?" Gajeel mocked as he stocked the blonde.

"Funny I was just about to ask you the same thing." She replied defiantly.

Her word intensifying his anger. He'd hate to admit it but right now he was feeling the same way when he was back in Phantom. Not caring about anything. 'I need to end this soon.' Not liking this old nearly forgotten feeling. Looking at the woman did he see just how much damage he had done to her.

Lucy was covered in cuts and bruises all across her limbs. she had a black right eye. Her legs were struggling to keep her standing. Three of her ribs on both sides felt like they would break under one more of those heavy kicks. Her clothing ripped showing off parts of her underwear. Finally she knew there was some internal damage feeling blood dripping from the left side of her mouth.

Gajeel wasn't in much better condition despite being on the winning end the last few minutes. His left arm still broken. Was having troubles breathing properly ever since the being hit by that Breathless spell. His entire body was off balance from the wind spell that was cracking his armor otherwise he would have finished her by now. He also felt his magic and cardio nearing their peak.

Even though their stubbornness was on full display during the fight they could both agree on one thing. This fight was nearing its end, and one of them was going down hard.

'I can't use a hidden technique otherwise I'd end up killing her.' Gajeel deciding how he was going to finish this fight.

'I'll have to use that if I want to win.' Lucy decided on what she was going to do. "Thanks Gajeel." She grinned as she slowly got back up to her feet.

Having already underestimated the blonde several times already and paying for it each time Gajeel upped his defenses before asking. "Thanks for what Bunny-Girl."

"For teaching me a new spell." Taking a quick look at Wendy. "Sorry Wendy I was hoping to learn this from you."

"The hell are you talking about?" Gajeel demanded.

"The Dragons' roar!"

Everyone who heard what the wind-mage just said eyes widened at what she just claimed.

"Impossible." The Iron Dragon Slayer claimed. "Only a Dragons Slayer can use the breath attack."

"When my eyes are closed I can see all things magical, including the magic circles used to create each spell. Seyru told me if I could read the spell then surely I can write them as well. All I have to do is substitute the element with wind instead." At that Lucy took in a huge breath of air before gathering her magic up into her first breath attack.

"No way will a Dragon Slayer lose to a Non-Slayers' breath attack." Now preparing to execute his fourth breath attack.

The guild continued to look on in amazement as the fight grew more intriguing by the second.

"Roar of the…" Both started.

"Wind…" Lucy said.

Iron…" Gajeel said at the same time

"Dragon!" Both mages casting their respective breath attacks against the other. Both colliding against the other half way between mages. For a few moments it looked like both would cancel the other out. That was until the iron roar began to tear through the wind roar and then hit the woman hard knocking her back over twelve feet before skidding on the ground another ten.

"Lucy!" Nearly every guild member yelled out the blonde's name believing the fight to be over.

"I win this fight Bunny-Girl." Gajeel grinned raising his right arm up in triumph.

* Guild *

"Gajeel below You!" Levy screamed.

"Huh?" Everyone and I mean everyone looked at what Levy just noticed. "No Way!" not believing what they just now noticed.

* Fight *

"Huh?" Doing as his mate told him to do he looked down, and what he saw nearly made his jaw hit the ground. He was standing in the middle of a giant magic circle that had to have a twenty-foot radius. "When did she…" He tried to question, but knew he had to get out of the circle before it was to late. Try as he might after the hard fought fight his body wasn't responding to his command to go full speed. Knowing he couldn't escape he put what little magic he had left into using his Iron Scale one last time.

Harsh winds began to blow all around the battle field and into the balcony "Fūjin God of Wind, I Lucy a master of your domain call upon the power of your eye." Lucy began to chant the incantations of her most powerful spell she learned from her uncle as she stood up. "Give warning to my enemies that soon your wrath shall strike them down." Opening her eyes did only the Slayers and the Master notice her eyes had turned from chocolate brown to azure blue. "Eye of Fūjin, Open!"

* Guild *

(A/N: Everyone is yelling over the roaring winds in this part.)

"GAJEEL GET OUT OF THERE!" Levy shouted at the top of her lungs

Natsu, Gray, and Erza all froze up feeling those cold deadly winds again. Lucy not only learned the spell that they fought so hard to stop in the first encounter with Seyru, but was about to use it on one of her Nakama.

"When did she?" Laxus asked trying to figure out when the hell he even got that much magic to create such a large spell circle.

"Her foot work." Mira answered "She was dragging her feet when ever she moved."

"So she drew the circle without using magic meaning no one without an overhead view could see it." Freed knew such a thing was possible working with rune magic most of his life, but never knew it could be done at that scale by one person is such a short time frame.

"That may be, but when did she feed it magic?" Evergreen questioned.

"Manly!" Elfman said unsure.

"When she got slammed into the ground." Makarov said seeing where the ground cracked was the dead center of the spell. "She was charging up for the spell the whole time."

"That's why all her spell weren't doing much to Gajeel." Wendy said knowing her own wind spells could crack the man's armor, and with the training she received from the man from Edolas she should have been able to crack it much easier than her. "She's been feeding it each time she used magic."

"And in the process Lucy has been wearing him down the entire time." Lisanna added in.

"She planned this whole thing out?" Jellal said just then noticing something that nearly froze him up like his wife. "She's been using wind-cushion every time she took a hit." Seeing none of the bruises were deep and all the blood looked smeared on.

"She played him the whole time?" Gray now seeing what Jellal was, and that being Lucy feinted all the hits she took.

"Did she see this whole fight playing out this way?" Erza wondered.

"They really are related." Natsu said remembering how Seyru planned out so many things during their fight with only the passage of time that aloud him to finally win.

* Fight *

Exhausted from using several high costing spells, and throwing several powerful strikes whether or not they hit Gajeel was unable to get out the circle before he found himself standing in the middle of a giant tornado never expanding outside the circle. All the debris around him soon began to hit his metal armor doing next to no damage. That was until the winds began growing stronger by the second so now the debris around him was striking him like bullets. Except for his Iron Shell Gajeel was next to defenseless against the spell. Thinking he'd be able to weather the storm he found some ease. That was until the Tornado once again picked up in speed to were the rocks and his own shards of iron began to tear his armor apart. In seconds he was stripped of all his iron getting hit everywhere until out of nowhere the devastating winds simply ceased.

Nearly everyone in the guild looked on in horror seeing what the last spell Lucy cast did to Gajeel. The man was covered head to toe in deep cuts and large bruises, his clothing torn beyond repair, and despite the lights being out the unconscious Dragon Slayer was still on his feet for a few seconds before finally falling to the ground.

"Gajeel!" Everyone yelled out in concerns as they rushed toward their defeated Nakama. Fortunately Wendy was the first to get to the man, and immediately began to heal him.

"Gajeel." Levy sobbed looking on as her fiancée was being healed. She was the first to take a look as Lucy who stood where she got up from starring at her handiwork without any emotions on her face. "Why did you go that far Lucy?" Yelling at her best friend.

"You all wanted to see what I learned while I was gone." Lucy began lowering her head so her bangs hid her eyes. "This is what I learned." Voice oozing with guilt from what she did.

"You still didn't have to go that far!"

"That's the way I was taught!" Yelling back. "Keep going until someone goes down or gives up. Gajeel refused to give up each time I had him in trouble so he left me no choice." Not really wanting to use the Eye in the first place

"You know we never go full out like…"

"I don't play games like the rest of you." Anger now in her voice feeling a tear going down her cheek. "I learned the hard way its kill or be killed." Pointing at the dragon slayer as he was still being healed. "You say you leaned some new techniques, but to me it felt like you barely did anything to increase your power." Looking up showing off her face with tears drenching it. "Tell me how seriously did any of you take this rematch? Because to be honest it feels like Natsu was the only other person here who did."

A couple of her Nakama tried to protest, but she didn't let them.

"How much did any of you suffer since I was taken?"

Deep down everyone knew that compared to Natsu and Lucy no one suffered nearly as much as the duo. Its not that they didn't want to, but they had to take care of their families.

"You all took it easy." Sorrow taking over her words not instead of anger. "Eight-hundred and fifty-three days." Falling to all fours.

"?"

"That's how many consecutive days I trained under Seyru." Thinking off all the hell she was put through during that time. "The man who knocked nearly all of you out."

Right then the new image of the almighty Lucy faded as all the years of separation began to show not a strong woman, but a broken child.

"The man who tried to tear down our guild." Pointing at the guild. "The man who nearly killed my two best friends and the love of my life right before me. Then took me away from all of you." Hugging herself around the abdomen placing her head on the ground about to reveal to them what only a few knew. "The vary man who killed my unborn baby." Tears falling heavily down her face straight onto the ground.

The last statement shook nearly the entire guild to their vary souls. In truth only Natsu, Gray, Erza, Makarov, Jellal, Loke, and Mira knew about the baby lost that day. Under Master's strict orders none of them were to breathe a word to anyone else. Those who didn't know quickly learned who did just by looking at their knowing faces.

"Gray why didn't you tell Juvia?" Juvia asked her husband.

"Or me?" Wendy asked.

"Mira?" Freed looking at his wife who in return looked away from him.

After a bunch of questions being asked to those who did know the Master decided to say it. "In the heat of battle Seyru went for a killing blow on Natsu. Somehow Lucy intercepted a kick meant to take his head off. That blow was taken to Lucy's stomach." Over coming a wave of guilt knowing he could have made the save if he arrived sooner. "That kick ended the life of Natsu and Lucy's unborn child."

Right then did everyone understand the duel slayers overwhelming guilt before quitting the guild.

Lucy raised her right arm up showing off the tattoo on the inside of her right wrist. "Faith." Telling them what it meant. "That's the name of the daughter Natsu and I lost that day." She sobbed. "You all got to start your families off while I lost mine."

Now not only were their souls shaken, but now felt hollow having most of them begun to raise a family, or getting ready to start one soon. They all then imagined what it would be like to lose their children, or if they had a miscarriage like the blonde never even getting to hold them once. The answer was universal. Everyone of them would be broken as well if they had to endure what Lucy and Natsu did.

Before she even said it she knew she broke her uncles final request. "Why is it that Natsu and I were the only one who suffered?" She asked one final question before breaking out into a full on cry. 'I'd gladly trade all this power so I could be holding Faith right now.' Wishing they could have heard that thought.

Right then did they slowly look at Natsu who was completely unreadable. If Lucy felt the way she did then they could only imagine what it felt like to be Natsu knowing he was the one who put Lucy in the situation to loss her baby. How had the guilt not destroyed his vary soul? Only the men knew that the only thing keeping Natsu the way he was right now was the fact Lucy was so close and she needed him to be strong for her. If not for that he'd have broken down as soon as she revealed Faith's fate to the guild.

Makarov was the only one to move as he approached his broken daughter. He didn't want to look at her with pity, but couldn't stop himself from doing it. "Lucy." Not even sure where to start. That was until he heard a nearly inaudible couple of word thankful he was the only one to hear them. "Go to Porlyusica." he said helping her to her feet

"I'll take her." Loke offered as Natsu was still standing where he was unresponsive.

As soon as she was to her feet did she cling to her loyal spirit as he began to guide her to the old healer's home. They didn't walk twenty seconds until she drenched the entire right arm of the spirits suit jacket.

"One more thing." he said before the two could escape earshot. "..." Soon enough the dual mage was gone. Turning around he watched as Gajeel was being carried off to the infirmary with Levy in toe. "One more thing while everyone is here." Waiting until he had everyone's attention. "As many of you all know the S-Class promotion test starts tomorrow, and as I announced three weeks ago the eight participants. With his injuries sustained moments ago I cannot allow Gajeel to compete. Also. With her pregnancy I cannot allow Levy to participate in the test either for obvious safety reasons." No one questioned either decision.

"So its going to be a six-person test this year Gramps?" Laxus asked.

"No!" The old man shook his head. "With how much I was impressed by her fight I'm allowing Lucy to take Gajeel's spot."

Though no one said anything they all doubted whether on not she'd mentally be able to compete for the promotional test in less than a days time.

"Then who's getting Levy's spot?"

"The eighth person who will be competing with Elfman, Evergreen, Wendy, Alzack, Juvia, Lisanna, and Lucy is." pausing for a dramatic effect. "Natsu Dragneel."

"What?" Nearly the whole guild asked.

"Huh?" Natsu questioning the old man's decision to add him as the eighth man, snapping out of his solemn state.

Looking at the pink-haired man. "Not only has you magical abilities grown since last time we saw each other." 'Or should I say with how young you still are?' "And with how much you have grown mentally you have made yourself worthy of taking the test."

Unlike Lucy who mentally might not be able to compete Natsu was the exact opposite not knowing if he could physically compete. The Dual Slayer tried to say something but the old man beat him to the punch.

"The boat heading for Tenrou Island leaves tomorrow at nine O' clock sharp." At that he turned his back to the guild as he made his way to his office.

Lucy

Lucy knocked on the door of the elderly healers home. Loke was no longer beside him as she begged and ordered him to leave before speaking to the healer. He only agreed to leave after Virgo gave her a new set of cloths(The blue and white dress she wore during the fight with Hades).

Opening the door. "Get off my…" Porlyusica stopped with broom in hand as she saw Lucy standing on her porch with tears running down her face like a running faucet. 'So much pain.' Wondering how the broken girl still stood up without collapsing "What can I do for you child." Opening the door so her guest could come in.

Making her way inside. "You're and expert in all tests that can be done on the human body right?" The blonde asked with a barely audible whisper.

"There are only a few I can't do without a mages help…"

"Because like him and my mother you aren't from Earthland."

The old healer ears caught every word the younger woman had just spoken. "What do you mean like him and your mother aren't from Earthland."

Rubbing her arms nervously. "It turns out I'm half Edolian." Over the next couple of minutes Lucy did her best to explain her newfound origins to the woman fully from Edolas with how emotional she was.

Never before had Porlyusica felt so connected to anyone from the younger generation of her old friends' guild. "What did you come to my house for." Knowing in her current state she shouldn't be left alone even for a second.

"I want you to run a test for me." Fear ran through the Celestial mage's veins fearing her hunch might be correct about the test she wanted Pory to run on her. "Its something I should have done in Hargeon, but there was no way of me taking it with Natsu around." If she was right about this then there would be no recovering for her. "..." Whispering what she wanted tested.

Porlyusica nodded her head looking at what Lucy showed her before letting her in. "Just be prepared for the worst." Heading towards her herbs to concoct a potion that would tell her the results of the test she would soon be running.

Lucy didn't do or say anything as she waited patiently for the potion Pory would have her drink. She thought the wait would feel like a long drawn out eternity, but in reality it only took the Edolian a minute and a half to whip up the potion.

Natsu.

Like Lucy Natsu left the guild shortly after the fight. He wanted to follow her, but his gut told him not to as she needed to do something important. He also didn't want to stay at the guild for obvious reasons. So he found himself mindlessly wondering around Magnolia seeing all that had changed in his time away physically there really wasn't all that much. Not until he smelt smoke coming from fire placed did he even notice it was now night time.

Eventually he found himself standing outside the apartment he'd called home with his love for over four years. Before he jumped up to the window on the second floor he saw that it was inhabited by a couple he had never seen before. Only taking in a glance of the happy couple as the man was kneeling in front of the woman with his head resting on her growing stomach. "That should be me and Lucy." Turning away from what he saw. Once turned around he saw Gray standing behind him.

"Sorry Natsu." The Ice-Mage quickly apologized. "We wanted to keep it ready for you and Lucy, but…"

"It's fine." Interrupting his rival. "It doesn't even look like home anymore." Referring to more than just the apartment.

"Where is Lucy?"

"I don't know. I thought she'd be here."

"She's probably staying at someone's house for the night then."

"Yeah." He sighed.

"You two can stay with me and Juvia till you find a new place to live."

"Thanks but I don't want to burden you guys."

Raising his left hand up. "Don't…"

"Its too soon." His mask broke showing how much pain he was in.

"Huh?"

"Lucy made me realize just how far we fell behind you all." Never once thinking what life would be like when they returned home only to get a slap of reality like he did earlier today. "I'm still getting used to the idea of you being a dad." For once jealous of his life long frenemy.

Looking away when he saw the look in Natsu's eye. "You going to be ready for the next couple of days." Changing the subject.

Pain still flooding his body even after months of recovering in the hospital. "Yeah." Faking his grin weakly.

"Sure about that." Reaching out to tap the fire wizards heavily bandaged chest.

Even though it was only a friendly tap it felt like a hard punch to the chest. Grabbing the area as his face grimaced with pain.

"Standard for the first test of the S-Class promotion is a fight between another candidate or an S-Class wizard." Gray warned. "Even if you get the free pass do you really think your body can handle a fight?"

"Don't worry about me Gray." Natsu said trying to mask the exposed pain. Before Gray could say anything else he started to walk away not wanting to talk about the future except if it was with Lucy, even if it was only tomorrow.

"By the way Lucy was wrong."

"What?"

"While its true most of the other members aren't taking this fight seriously I was." Forming ice in his left hand. "When I wasn't at home with Juvia and Dusk I was pushing myself as hard as I could." Thinking of Samuel the man he promised to fight. "I know I can't take that man lightly."

"Thank you." Were Natsu's final words to Gray before walking away. Instead of mindlessly walking around he now knew where he needed to go. Once he to there he simple said. "I've put this off for long enough." Those were his final word that painful day reminding both him and Lucy just how much Hell they still have to go through in order to get back to where they once were. If it was even possible to get there again.

Boat ride to Tenrou Island.

"Ugggghhhhh!" Yawned Natsu waking up from his sleep only to notice he was on a boat with all the other nominees for the S-Class test. 'Someone must of carried me here.' Not even remembering falling asleep last night. Looking around the deck. "Has anyone seen Lucy?" He asked seeing she was the only one of the eight not there.

"Lucy told Juvia she wasn't feeling so well so Lucy went below deck to rest." Juvia answered.

"Oh!" Sounding disappointed, but could understand not wanting to be around Elfman, Evergreen, Wendy, Alzack, Juvia, or Lisanna seeing as they all had what she wanted.

"Why aren't you suffering from motion sickness?" Wendy asked half hanging over the railing as her own motion sickness from being a dragon slayer started to kick in a few years ago, but due to her sky magic she didn't get it nearly as bad as her fellow Dragon slayers.

Tapping his bandaged arm. "Phoenix's healing powers have healed my motion sickness, or at least while I'm not using Dragon Slayer magic." Saying the last part to himself. He almost laughed at the situation as this was the first time seeing her suffer from the sickness why he now had a cure only for himself.

"Lucky...UGGGGHHHHHHH!" Throwing up over the edge(Before anyone asks no Wendy is not pregnant she actually is just suffering from motion sickness)

"At least you don't have it as bad as the rest of us."

"You should see Laxus when he has to travel." Lisanna laughed. "He tries so hard to fake it, but I can tell." She smiled thinking of all the times she helped ease him during travels together.

"At least Dante and Virgil won't suffer from it since he's only a second generation." Saying that pained his heart, yet he forced a smile. "Your pregnancy was only nine months right." Thinking back to yesterday when Lucy revealed children of Dragon Slayer take an additional two months to develop.

"Yup! Guess I dodged that extra two month bullet if we had gotten married." thinking back to when they were kids.

'As well as a couple other bullets.' Now thinking of Lisanna going through what the blonde did because of him. Then again Seyru targeted Lucy for a reason so Lisanna the fight might not have happened at all. Then again that also means that Lucy might have had to defend herself against that man all by herself. He cringed at the thought.

Lisanna noticed Natsu change in demeanor realizing this probably wasn't the best topic to be talking about. "Natsu I'm..."

"Attention all you brats." the Master called out. "The first test of this years exams will be similar to the last time the test on Tenrou Island." Everyone on board having a flash back of the war they had with Grimiour Hearts. "The only difference is that there will be 5 S-Class wizards blocking 5 of the paths." Nerves rising up. "I would have made it eight this year, but Mira officially retired last year, Gildarts has yet to show back up, and even though she is on the boat Erza won't be an opponent either due to her pregnancy. That means that if you fight an S-Class wizard it will be Laxus, 'Mystogan(Jellal)', Cana, Freed, or Gray."

"That's a tough line up." Said Alzack nervously wondering if he could best any of them.

"Manly" Elfman agreed.

SMACK! Evergreen smacking her husband with a fan. "Cana is not a man."

"Is there still a free pass?" Lisanna asked the master.

Nodding his head. "There is one free pass." Makarov confirmed.

'I hope that's me.' Natsu thought for the first time in his life not wanting to fight.

"What about the last two?" Wendy asked before throwing up again.

"Those two will fight each other with the winner advancing to the next round of testing."

"As long as Juvia doesn't have to fight Gray Juvia will be fine no matter what." Juvia spoke with confidence.

Looking at the Horizon Makarov could see the island was less than a mile away. "And just like last time." He grinned. "You all have to make it to the island from right here." At that the boat came to a complete halt.

At those words everyone except for Natsu made there way off the boat before any funny business could be made. As he heard everyone else screaming and swimming he found himself staring at the door to the lower deck for a couple of minutes before deciding to go down there. He only got as far as touching the handle.

"Why are you still on the boat?"

"Because Lucy is still here and I want to talk to her." About to turn the handle. "I wanted to..."

"She'll come out once you're off the boat." Grin fading into a frown. "She said she'd be fine taking the last route."

How badly he wanted to open that door and talk to her like they needed to. 'Screw this test Lucy is more important.' Giving even less shits about the test than he did yesterday.

"Give her some time."

Stopping what he was about to do.

"You both have much to talk about I know, but don't force until both of you are ready." The old man advised.

He was right. The last heart to heart talk they had nearly killed him, and he knew the next one just might finish what it didn't. "Alright." At that Natsu activated Phoenix Wings to fly to the island. When he got to the rocky shores he saw only to routes remained. B and E. Not caring which one he took he just stepped through the route leaving Lucy only one option. After several minutes of walking through the tight dark cavern he soon came to an opening, quickly recognizing it as the room where Gildartz taught him that fear wasn't evil. "Anyone here?" Believing there to be an S-Class mage in the room with him. No one answered him. "No S-Class mage." Soon he saw the only path leading out was sealed off with runes he knew he didn't get the free pass. "So I'm fighting a candidate." After saying that did he hear a set of foot steps drawing closer to him. "My opponent." Waiting for whoever it was to show themself to him. Only they somehow noticed him first.

"Natsu?" Lucy said completely shocked on who she would have to face in order to move onto the next stage of the S-Class promotional test.

He couldn't believe it turning around to see that fate had brought them together in such a way. "Lucy?" Seeing the shocked look on her face as well as the same broken look she had yesterday.

'Why is fate so cruel to us?' The two thought at the exact same moment.

End Chapter 20

Next Chapter

Inevitable?

Do I know how to set up a cliffhanger or what? I'm only going to say 2 things about the next chapter.

1.) The trilogy will be completed.

2.) It will most likely be a LONG chapter, or possibly be broken into two part.

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter

Please continue to support Dragon's Tear and my other ongoing stories Child of Darkness and My Turn.

WildCard555 Out.