Ohai-yo, my Nakama! ♡ Here is the next chapter, I hope you like it! ^-^  Hopefully, this one is a little longer for you all, hehe!  I'm thinking there'll be between fifteen and twenty chapters of this book...  At least, I hope so!  I dedicate this chapter to annimefreakxx. c:  This person is a great writer, and deserves a dedication. If you like One Peice and Naruto Fan Fictions, you can go and check this person out!  Thanks~!  I hope you all enjoy, and please tell me what you think!  Other feedback is very much appreciated, too!  Until next time, minna-san!

яу-¢нαи | тнє иαℓυ ωяιтєя ♥

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Natsu knew what he was going to do; he was going to break into Lucy's apartment, and see how she was doing.  It's not like he was just barging in; no, he was paying his partner a visit, a friendly exchange of greetings.  

Of course, Natsu knew Lucy didn't want him barging in, but he had to admit, he had a lot of fun in teasing the Stellar Mage.  Besides, he didn't mean anything by it.  He had just wanted to see her; after all, they were comrades, and very close friends.  Since Rose and the Dragons incident, Lucy must've been sad.  Which, of course, was just another reason to go visit her.

Happy had stayed with Carla and Wendy back at the guild, because he was guarding Natsu's food for him.  Natsu had asked if he wanted to come with him, but Happy was the one to decline.

Now that Natsu thought about it, maybe it was for an entire different reason...

Eh, who cares!  As long as his food was safe!

Natsu pushed off the ground, jumping through the air and landing on Lucy's window sill.  The window was open, and Natsu grinned in childish meddling as he jumped inside.  He had no intention of being sneaky this time; he was going to let Lucy know he was here.

"Luucyy!"  Natsu exclaimed, walking around the room.

He quieted down when he saw Lucy sleeping, her head resting in her arms as she sat at her desk.  Natsu grinned again, but this time it was slightly more affectionate.

However, since Natsu had yelled, Lucy started to stir, opening her eyes.  When she saw Natsu, she instictively sat back in the chair, rubbing her eyes tiredly.  A finished letter had been covered by Lucy's arms, which looked to be another letter to her mother.  

Lucy sprang up, fully awake now.

"Natsu!  What're you doing here?!  There is a door, you know!"

Natsu grinned.  "I wanted to check on you.  We're leavin' soon and I thought you'd want some company."

Lucy sighed, sliding her finished letter out of sight.  She'd put it in the envelope later.

"Alright, I guess that's nice of you.  But really, can't you ever use the door?"

Natsu grinned.  "I did one time, Luce!  During the festival!"

Lucy held a finger in the air.  "Hence on the 'once', Natsu.  Only one time.  That proves my point."

Natsu rubbed the back of his head.  "Eh?  I don't get it."

Lucy shook her head, but smiled slightly.  He really could be an idiot sometimes, but Lucy couldn't complain.  That's what made up Natsu.  Lucy would have to deal with it anyway, so she had to just except it.

"Here,"  Lucy replied, throwing him something from the kitchen.

Catching it swiftly, Natsu grinned at it and looked at Lucy.  "Thanks, Luce!"

Lucy nodded, smiling.  "Now that I think about it, I never let you eat in here.  This is a one time occasion!"

Natsu saluted her childishly, making her laugh.

As Natsu ate the food Lucy had given him, Natsu watched her do the dishes in the kitchen.  Here face was slightly solemn, but there was a sad smile on her face.

When Lucy caught him staring, she looked at him with question along with annoyance.  "What is it, Natsu?  Why are you staring at me?"

Natsu shrugged.  "You sure you're okay, Luce?"

Lucy paused.  "Of course I am.  What are you talking about?"

"I mean you just seem a little down.  Is it about Rose or somethin'?"

Lucy was silent for a moment.  "Maybe it is.  I just feel a little guilty, is all."

Natsu finished eating, turning on Lucy's bed to look at her.  "Why do you feel guilty?"

"I guess...I keep thinking I could have helped Rose before she left.  Maybe..I could have helped her so she could've stayed.  After all, she was the only relative I know about right now."

There was a small silence.

"Ah, Luce!  You know she wanted to go; it was her choice, wasn't it?"  Natsu exclaimed, grinning.

"Yeah, but..."

"Then don't feel so guilty!  She's with you, even if you don't know it!  Besides, you didn't really know what to do back then.  None of us did.  It's alright, Lucy; no one blames you for anything."

Lucy smiled at him.  "I'm glad to hear that."

Natsu grinned back.  "Besides, you've got the location to Igneel, along with Wendy and Gajeel's dragon!  When we find them, we'll all be really happy, thanks to you!"

Lucy blushed slightly.  "W-What're you talking about, moron?  I'm helping out, because you're all my friends..."

Natsu grinned.  "I know that.  Thank you, Lucy."

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Natsu couldn't remember exactly what Lucy had given to him, but it wasn't anything fancy.  Fruit?  Bread?  He couldn't remember.  But for some reason, that memory had suddenly come to mind.

"We...can save her?"  Wendy asked, stunned.

Natsu's eyes were wide, despite the small tears still left in his eyes.

Loren nodded, smiling slightly.  "Yes.  We can."

Happy started to cry happy tears, rubbing his eyes to try and hide it.  Everyone else smiled, while Natsu's face was still surprised.

"How will we do it?"  Erza asked.  "After all, isn't she in The Black Stars?"

"As I've told you, I can create a portal.  However, I'll need Lores' help when he wakes up."

"So we can go inside and grab her?"  Gray asked.

"Not exactly."  Loren replied.  "There a lot of catches."

"What do you mean?"  Carla asked.

"Remember, The Black Stars is controlled by Vallen.  When you go inside, he'll try everything to stop you.  After all, with Lucy's magic, he can control that realm.  It'll be extremely dangerous."

"We know that,"  Erza replied.  "What else is there?"

Loren sighed.  "Only one person can go inside."

"What?"  Everyone exclaimed.

"People from Earthland need to stay in Earthland.  It is, of course, unnatural for a being of another realm to go into another, where it doesn't belong."

"But in Edolas, the entire guild was taken there!"  Happy protested.

"The Black Stars is different."  Loren replied softly.  "It's just the way it is.  If more than one person goes inside, then their existence would start to fade."  Loren looked at Natsu with a scrutinizing gaze, who flinched.  "Even the person who goes inside...their existence fades eventually, but at a much slower rate."

"I see..."  Erza murmured, a hand to her chin in thought.

"I'm going."  Natsu replied sternly.  "I won't let anyone else.  Besides, it's my fault Lucy's..."

Everyone looked at him sympatheticaly, understanding in their eyes.

"We expected you to say that."  Gray huffed, rolling his eyes.

Loren nodded, turning back to them all.  "Then, here's what we're going to do."

Everyone listened with intensity.

"Lores and I will open the portal to The Black Stars.  When Salamander goes in, Vallen will do everything to stop him."  She turned to him.  "Natsu, there are different things you could run into."

"Like what?"  Wendy asked.

"He could run into shadow monsters, for one."

"You mean a similiar magic to what Rogue contained?"  Gray asked.

Loren nodded slightly.  "Sort of.  They are made up of dark magic, but it looks like weird purple gel.  They reside inside that world, until there is a mage who can summon them magically comes along."

"Are they tough to beat?"  Carla asked, anxious.

Loren shrugged.  "There are many different kinds inside.  The bigger, the more stronger.  There are different varieties in strength, as well."

She looked at Natsu warningly.  "The point is, you will run a lot into them, Natsu."

He nodded.

"Another possibility is levels."

"Levels?"  Happy asked.

"Like realms.  You'll be thrown in different areas you know, and you'll either have to fight mirror images of your friends or beings from The Black Stars.  When you fight all the monsters, beat them, and clear the stages, then Vallen will come out of hiding."

"Like a trial..."  Erza replied, and Loren nodded in confirmation.

"When and if you defeat Vallen, he'll have no choice but to give Lucy back."

"What will happen then?"  Natsu asked softly, and Loren turned to look at him with regret on her face, however there was happiness slightly there as well.

"If you reach Lucy, she'll either be awake or unconscious.  Most likely the latter.  When you two meet, you'll create a rift in The Black Stars, since you both belong to Earthland.  You'll be sent back, safe and sound."

There was a small silence.

"Right..."  Natsu murmured, stirring.

He rubbed the tears from his eyes as he pulled himself to his feet, everyone turning their heads to look at him in question.

Lucy wouldn't have wanted him to cry.

Natsu's face looked up, his expression serious, despite the small smirk on his face.  "I'm all fired up!"

.

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Finally, Natsu's got his fire back!  He's ready to save Lucy, and bring her back; to not only just him, but to Fairy Tail!

Will Natsu enter The Black Stars now?

Find out what happens next in Chapter 4: The Real Lores and Entering!