Hello, everyone! :D  Lol, I'm trying to publish as many chapters as possible before I go to Volleyball. c: ♥ I think I'm doing pretty well, too! ^.^  Haha, anyways, I dedicate this chapter to nalufanforever123!  You're such a good friend, thanks for being there for me!!  Also, thanks for giving me complements on my stories!!  Those always make my day. c:  Alright!  Feedback is very much appreciated, and until next time everyone! ♥

яу-¢нαи, тнє иαℓυ ωяιтєя ☆

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Team Lucy had been traveling for three hours, but the sun still hadn't comletely dipped over the horizon.  Erza was determined, along with the others, to get as far as possible in one day.  Lucy had to admit she was tired, but she wanted to keep going, mostly for Natsu and Wendy.  They had been seperated from their foster parents for seven years--well, fourteen if you counted the seven year sleep.  Lucy, though her relationship with half her family wasn't healthy, couldn't imagine being seperated from them that long, especially her mother.

But that was the case.  Lucy's mother had been dead for awhile now; she was gone.  It hurt inside, but Lucy knew what happened to her mother.  But Wendy, Gajeel, and Natsu didn't know what happened to their parents, or why they left.  The dragons could have been anywhere all these years.  And that's what scared Lucy.  When Rose said they'd find the dragons, did she mean what Lucy hoped she meaned?  Would they find them, safe and sound?

Or would they find something else?

Lucy stopped in her tracks, realizing all the things they could find.

Lucy couldn't deal with that thought.  Thinking about Natsu's devasted face when he found out Igneel was dead tore her heart to shreds, and Wendy's reaction only added to that feeling.  She'd rather have Natsu not find Igneel than having to see him deal with pain of finding out his dear foster father was dead.  Dear god, she'd rather have them not be there at all.  Then they still wouldn't know, and there could be a hope he was still alive.

"Lucy?"  Natsu asked, ahead of her.  He'd wondered why she'd stopped.

Lucy didn't look up, and instead continued to think.  

I'm scared I'm taking everyone - including myself - to the dragon's demise...  Lucy thought, her eyes twitching in the fear of the realization.

"Earth to Lucy!"  Natsu exclaimed, stopping in front of her.  "Oi, what're you doin'?!"

Lucy snapped out of her reverie, blinking in stupid surprise as she looked at Natsu.  "Eh?"

"What'd you stop for, Lucy?"  Wendy asked, and Lucy looked ahead to see the others turned and looking at her in question.

Lucy shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.  "Sorry, everyone.  I...was just thinking."

She looked to her left, and pointed to the woods.  "We have to go this way, now.  I remember the vision directing me off of the path and into the woods."

"If you say so, Lucy."  Gray replied, and they did as Lucy said.

Once they got a good way into the woods, Erza halted them.

"We'll rest here for tonight."  She announced, and everyone slouched to the ground in relief.

It was a good place to rest.  It was surrounded by trees, which was good cover.  The space itself was a small area of open ground, no trees in the way.  It was about fifty feet wide on both sides, and gave enough room for everyone to stretch out as much as they wanted.  The sun had finally disappeared, and the sky was darkening into a blue shade.

Erza looked at Wendy and Lucy, who were unpacking their sleeping gear.  "There's a stream nearby.  Do any of you want to go with me?"

Wendy nodded, delighted to go.  Carla followed, and the three stared at Lucy in question.

Lucy's mind was still occupied, so she didn't really feel like it.  "Actually, I think I'll stay here.  I...I'm not really in the mood."

"Alright, that's fine."  Erza replied.  "If you change your mind, remember we'll be there."

"Okay, thanks."  Lucy replied, waving as they disapeared through the trees.

Natsu and Gray started a fire in the middle of the enclosing, and Lucy felt better as the warmth washed over her.

Natsu plopped down next to her, folding his legs.  "Why are you not going, Lucy?"

Lucy shrugged.  "I guess it's because I don't feel like it.  I've got a lot on my mind."

"I'll be right back,"  Gray replied.  "I'm going to go and find some stuff to open this food can."

Natsu and Lucy nodded to him while Happy walked over to Natsu.

Lucy sighed, letting herself fall back onto the ground in exhaustion.  Natsu followed, making Lucy smiled in amusement.

"Nat-zu, do you think we'll get to the ruins tomorrow?"  Happy asked, excited for his partner.

Natsu grinned, nodding.  "I bet we will!  Since Luce is guiding us, we'll be fine!"

Lucy looked at him, biting her cheek.  "Don't make assumptions like that..!"

Natsu laughed, and they all looked back up at the stars.  

"Hey, Lucy?"

"What is it, Natsu?"

"Which stars are out right now?"  Natsu asked.

Lucy looked at him in surprise, sitting back up.  "Now you're interested in stars?  When I tried to tell you awhile ago, you called it boring and ignored it!"

"I'm curious now!"

Lucy sighed, shaking her head.  "Alright..."  Laying back down, she began searching.

Almost instantly, she spotted Aquarius' constellation.  "There's Aquarius' constellation, Natsu.  There are two more too, like Sagittarius'--"  She pointed to the sky, and Natsu looked.  "--and Lyra's."  She guestured to a constellation again.

"I don't see Aquarius'!"  Happy whined, and Lucy sighed.

"Oh, I see 'em!"  Natsu exclaimed, smiling childishly.

There was a small silence, and Lucy smiled at a memory that suddenly came to mind.

"When I was little, I used to be obsessed with stars even before I figured out I was a Celestial Spirit Mage.  Mama said that by the time I was a year old, I could name all the major constellations."

"Are you still obsessed with them?"  Natsu asked.

Lucy shrugged.  "As much as a Celestial Spirit Mage usually is.  I don't really have time anymore to look at the new ones, like Cassiopeia."  Suddenly, she started rubbing the back of her head, and Lucy sat up.  "Sorry, I'm gloating, aren't I?"

Natsu sat up, grinning.  "Nah, it's alright, Luce.  I like to learn things about you."

Lucy blinked.  "You..do?"

He nodded.

There was a small silence, but then Natsu rubbed the back of his head.

"Uh, Lucy?"

Lucy turned to look at him.  "H-Hm?"

"You know when Happy and I left you all of a sudden?"  He asked, looking away embarrassingly.

Lucy nodded.  "Yeah, what was that about?"

Natsu blushed slightly, but Lucy couldn't see it because of the dark shadows.  "Uh, well..we got this for you."

Turning to look at Lucy, Natsu handed her a long black velvet case.

Lucy blinked in surprise.  "What is it?"

"Open it and find out!"  Happy exclaimed out of nowhere.

Obliging, Lucy picked open the top and looked inside, using the fire as a light source.

When she saw what it was, she gasped.

The necklace from the port.

Lucy looked at Natsu in shock.  "Y-You got this for me?!"

Natsu nodded.  "Happy and I brought our money for the trip, but we ended up keeping ours because we hadn't run outta money yet."

"And you decided to spend it on me..?"  Lucy murmured, stunned.

Natsu grinned, nodding.

"B-But it's not even my birthday or anything!"

Natsu shrugged.  "Who cares.  You liked it, didn't you?  So, I decided to get it for you!"

Lucy surprised Natsu when she wrapped her arms around his neck, laughing in happiness.  She nearly knocked him backwards, instictively make Natsu put one arm on the ground behind him, while he steadied Lucy with his other, wrapping it around her torso.

"Thank you, Natsu!  Happy!"  Lucy exclaimed, her face shining as she blushed slightly from delight.

Natsu's face softened, and his lips quirked slightly in a smile.  "No problem, Lucy.."

Lucy pulled away from him, grinning widely as she grabbed Happy from the ground.  Hugging him tightly, Lucy laughed again in happiness when Happy claimed he couldn't breathe.

Natsu was glad to see Lucy smiling; she looked better that way.

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Lucy was wearing the necklace the next day, playing with it in between her fingers.  She was truly delighted to have it, and was astonished Natsu had gotten it for her.  It made her feel better, especially since Natsu had gotten it for her.  

But, what she didn't know was the happy genuine smile Natsu had on his face when he noticed her wearing it.

When they had stopped for lunch to reguvinate their energy, Lucy felt familiarity run through her mind as she looked at the road ahead.  Standing, she murmured she'd be back in a second, jogging ahead.  Just as she expected, she spotted the ravine ahead.  It was a ways away, but they should make it there today.  A sea of trees was under Lucy, since they had made it to the top of the hill already.  After the sea of trees ended, there was a large rolling hill at least ten miles away from where Lucy stood, and she could scarcely make out the entrance to the ravine.

Excited, Lucy ran back to tell the others.

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"We have to climb this?"  Gray grumbled, looking up the ravine.

Lucy looked at Natsu and Wendy menacingly, though she directed her answer to Gray.  "No, we have to climb it, Natsu and Wendy get to fly!"

Natsu and Wendy sweat-dropped, holding their hands up in surrender.

Sighing, Erza, Gray, and Lucy set to work.

Lucy was the last to get up there, but she wasn't far behind, which she gave herself props for.  When she reached the top, she found everyone else staring at the ruins with wonder.  There wasn't much, but there was one wall standing up while there were ruins all around it.  And, just like in Lucy's vision, there were symbols and drawings painted on the brick wall.

"We made it!"  Erza exclaimed.

"Alright!"  Natsu exclaimed.

Lucy went forward by herself, but then Natsu and the others followed close behind.  Walking up to the ruins, Lucy stopped just feet from the inscription.  But then she heard movement in the brush to her right, and Natsu jumped to her side, along with the others.

But when the shadowed figured appeared, and Natsu was about to attack, Lucy stopped him, and they all looked again.

"You!"  Everyone exclaimed.

.

.

.

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Who just arrived, and are they good or one of the mysterious thieves that've been attacking places, a.k.a Loren and Lores?!  

And more importantly, how is Team Lucy going to read the scriptures on the wall?

Next time: Chapter 15: The Cryptic Theives!