Lucy sat alone at the bar in Fairy Tail the next morning. In her hands was the weapon she would use to create a new future for herself and others like her. She studied the circlet closely, wondering how something so small out be so powerful. All she had to do was place it on her head and she could harness the abilities of her spirits, not only that but amplify them as well. How was she even to use such a thing?

"What if I fail?" She questioned to herself softly.

"Fairy Tail wizards don't fail." Natsu's voice erupted behind Lucy, his figure taking a place on a stool next to her.

Lucy looked up at him and sighed. "The only fight I've ever been in was when I fought you. I lost and you were even holding back."

Natsu's eyes widened and his face flushed ever so slightly. "I wasn't holding back..."

"Yes you were, I saw you when you fought Nightmare Element. I wouldn't stand a chance against you in a real fight." She frowned. "How am I supposed to fight a dragon?"

"I don't think that's true. Besides, this circlet gives you new abilities. You'll be more powerful than you ever been. I Believe in you, Luc. And you won't be the only out there. We agreed to this, remember?" Natsu spoke, gently to calm her.

"Lucy!" Mirajane's elegant voice shouted from across the guild.

Startled, Lucy whirled around to see her running towards them. Mira stopped just a few feet from her, a worried look in her eyes. "Lucy, Acnologia has been sighted. He's heading for Magnolia!"

Lucy's eyes widened. "What? Where?"

"Blue Pegasus has informed all guilds that they spotted him themselves. They said he's moving fast, like he's searching for something." Mira relayed the conversation she had just moments before.

Lucy glanced over to Natsu who was watching her expression. "A fast moving dragon could be here in a matter of a couple of hours." He spoke up.

Lucy's mind was moving a hundred miles an hour. Threatening to give her a full blown panic attack. She knew this would be coming but she hadn't anticipated it would be this soon. She knew there were things that needed to happen before he arrived, like make sure the citizens were safe.

"Natsu, please get Wendy and Gajeel. You three will be the first line of defense when Acnologia arrives. Mira how long would it take to evacuate the whole city?" Lucy ordered and questioned.

"The whole city? Normally an hour and a half, some people refuse to leave their homes." Mira answered.

"What's all the commotion about?" Gray questioned as he and Erza joined the conversation.

"Blue Pegasus spotted Acnologia headed towards Magnolia and fast." Natsu replied, seeing the fretting Lucy was far too deep in thought.

"He's coming to us? Why?" Erza questioned.

"Could it have something to do with the circlet Evion gave to Lucy?" Gray threw out his idea.

"Well it is powerful enough to end him if used right...it may not be very far off to think that he would be after it if he knew that it had fallen into the hands of someone else." Erza spoke, pressing her finger to her chin.

That's when Lucy piped up. "It doesn't matter why he's coming, he just is. Natsu, round up the dragon slayers and replay the plan to them. I'm going to evacuate the city. No one can be hurt if we end up fighting him." Lucy went to passed her friends and begin her task but Gray grabbed her by the arm.

"You think you are going alone?" He frowned, a serious expression washed over his face.

Lucy's eyes trailed to his but the only thing she could see was the Gray from the night before when he came back home having one too many. The clock rang midnight when the door finally opened and the drunken ice mage stumbled in. Lucy stayed up waiting for him, worried that maybe he wouldn't make it home.

"Lucy, please I need you to listen to me, just this once!" Gray pleaded.

"Gray, you need to go to bed." Lucy replied.

Gray grabbed her by the arm, a pleading look flashed over his eyes. He seemed so sad, so hurt. "Lucy, why Natsu?"

Lucy's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"Why do you love Natsu and not me? I've...I've spent this whole time never leaving your side. I thought...maybe we had something..." He trailed, unable to meet her gaze any longer, he looked to the floor.

Silence fell over the room after his words escaped his lips. Lucy's jaw dropped slightly, not sure what to say to him after hearing what he spat out. A gut wrenching feeling overwhelmed her and her face overtook a sad expression. Gray opened his mouth one more time but didn't bother bringing his gaze up to look at her.

"Luc...god damn why do you do this to me..." He trailed, letting his grip on her loosen before releasing her completely.

"Gray!" Lucy spoke up, stopping him in his tracks. "How long have you felt that way?"

The midnight haired man turned slightly so that his line of sight encased the enchanting blonde. "The whole time, I've never felt any different."

Lucy shook her head, knowing that her heart wasn't set on him like he wished. Maybe if he had said something to her before everything had happened. Before she got to wrapped up in everything.

"I'm sorry..." She breathed lightly.

"You have no reason to be, sunshine."

"Lucy! Are you listening to me? I said I'm going with you." Gray spoke up again, bringing Lucy from her vivid thoughts.

His voice startled her at first but then she nodded in agreement. "Okay, but we must hurry. Everyone must be out of city limits soon. We have no time to spare."

Erza turned to Lucy before they departed. "What is the plan?"

"Dragon slayers are our first line of defense. They should be able to hold off Acnologia and serve as a distraction. The rest of you, set up positions around the city. You will hit him from afar, I want none of you hurt or in the heat of the battle. When Gray and I finish evacuating, he will join you and I will join the dragon slayers. Erza you are in charge per Master's request.

Erza nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes of course, I will have everyone ready as soon as possible."

Lucy directed her gaze at Natsu, whose eyes had not left her since he arrived. "Please be safe. Do not try anything risky, you agreed to leave that stuff up to me, remember?"

Natsu chuckled and let out a sigh. "Yeah, I remember. Don't worry about me Luc, I'm not gonna leave you."