Hello again, minna!  Hope you haven't been waiting long~!  I've been pretty busy as usual, yada yada...  Anyways, I hope you all like this chapter, ne? ♡  I dedicate this chapter to Celine_Fullbuster!  She's awesome, so be sure to go and fan her! ^^  Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you all something!  I counted up all the fan fictions I have for you now, and I so far have seven NaLu fan fictions still coming out!  Isn't that exciting? c:  Whelp. I hope you all enjoy this next part of my story, everyone!  Feedback is very much appreciated, so please do so~!  Until next time,

{я у - ¢ н α и}♡

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"Of all the places-!"  Lucy groaned, sitting back in her chair with a thump.

" 'Darkauroral's official guild mark'..."  Erza requoted from memory, anger and disbelief on her face.  "That means..."

Lucy had her face in her hands.  "We have to go to Darkauroral's guild in order to get inside."

Lucy and the others had retreated back to the guild, and had informed Master Makarov of the situation.  Lucy sat in the chair in Makarov's office with everyone else around her.  His arms crossed, Makarov resided behind his desk, contemplating the circle of events.

"What're we going to do?"  Wendy asked, clutching Carla for comfort.  "Lucy needs to get to that drawing of Daronyt, doesn't she?"

Lucy nodded.  "I have to get there, and soon.  But..but how?  After all, it's under Darkauroral!"

Natsu slammed his hands together.  "We can just beat em' all up!"

Lucy sweat dropped, while Makarov shook his head.  "We don't want to start a small war between two guilds unless we absolutely have to, Natsu."

Lucy's face was strained, and she looked down at the ground, but then she pulled it up with determination when she got an idea.  "I'll go!"

Everyone blinked.  "What?"

Lucy pressed a hand to her chest in recognition of herself.  "If I 'turn myself in', they won't be expect anything, will they?  If I escape, then I will be able to find the caves!"

"Absolutely not!" Natsu exclaimed, getting in a surprised-Lucy's face.

"Natsu's right, Lucy."  Erza replied, her arms crossed.  "Do you realize how much could go wrong with that plan?  What if you don't escape?  And you don't even know the layout of that guild; none of us do."  She scowled.  "And Darkauroral is vicious, remember?  What if they try to hurt you when you're by yourself?"

"I will have my spirits."  Lucy started to protest.  "I can--"

"If you even want to do a plan like this, it cannot be hostile."  Master replied without looking up.  "So, you wouldn't be able to attack.  Secretivity is the best form of action here.  But overall, it's just too dangerous."

"Can anyone think of anything else?"  Lucy asked, angry.

"Lucy.."  Happy murmured, concerned.

Lucy's face was determined but also pleading.  "I can feel it, Master!  If we don't do something soon, Daronyt won't be stopped!  I believe that this isn't over yet; that there is a conspiriacy going on we don't know about!  Zeke had said 'master', hadn't he?  That's why I have to stop this now!  If I don't, what I saw will happen!"

Everyone watched her with mixed expressions.

"It's my responsibility to fix this!  Rater passed the Star Mist on to me, so I have to except that fate, whether it was intentional or not!  I've caused everyone so much trouble already, which makes a weight of guilt so large drape over my shoulders!  Please, Master, let me do this!"

There was a moment of silence, and with recognition Lucy realized she had risen to a standing position during her small speech.

Finally, Master sighed.  "If things are as dire as you say, I trust you to make this decision."

Lucy's face lit up.  "Thank you.  Levy has a certain magic tool I could use to speak with all of you telepathically; I could use that.  It will work its way back to all of you, but your responces will privately be sent to my mind only.  I guess it's used for sneaking around, but I know it will help.  I could find the right spot and have Virgo dig a tunnel to top ground, letting all of you in."

Gray nodded.  "That may be the one thing figured out, but you don't know what they will do to you once you get there; presumably Red and Adamantalia."

Master sighed.  "I hate to put one of my children in such a dangerous position, especially after all that's happened.  But if Fiore is in danger, we can't just ignore it."

Everyone nodded sternly.

Makarov turned his head to Lucy.  "Let's get started."

Lucy nodded, her face strained in expectation.

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Everyone was informed of the plan.

Lucy, Natsu, Wendy, Gray and Erza would all head back to Beltran, where Lucy would go to Darkauroral's guild out of the city.  Natsu and the others would then remain behind in the town, staying alert in case they needed to do a rescue mission and help Lucy.  The remainders of the guild would stay behind in Magnolia, and make sure Levy along with the smaller matters would stay stable.

Lucy had to put on an act when she would be taken into Darkauroral; she had to act depressed, given up, and weakened.  This, Makarov stated, would give the impression Lucy had given up and decided to let Red and Adamantalia take her.  So, the plan was ready for action; an attack of secrecy.  After a long day and rest, the team set off for Beltran; for Darkauroral.  

They arrived close to the evening, the sun starting to move from its noon position.  Lucy was feeling slightly nervous, but her will to overcome Darkauroral and find the last description of Daronyt overpowered her fear.

"We're here..."  Lucy breathed, her face strained.

Everyone nodded, but Natsu was looking at Lucy out of the corner of his peripheral vision.

"We are going to walk with you to the edge of the city."  Erza replied, and Lucy knew she couldn't argue with her.

Though Lucy didn't want to.

Walking through the streets, Lucy remembered all the events that had happened to her in this city, along with heading to the Caballeen Forest.

Erza then nodded.  "Alright.  Now; as planned."

Lucy continued to walk forward as the forest overtook her footing, but the others had split up ominously and seriously.  Erza and Wendy had started to walk to the right along the borderline of the city, where the white roman bricks turned into dirt and grass.  Gray had done the same, but to the left.  As Lucy stepped onto the forest path, Natsu stopped at the boarder line.  They had formed a wide ranged fence with their bodies, making the range of magic being able to be used more widely and less difficult to communicate through the telepathy.

"Ready!"  They all exclaimed, and the setting sun shadowed all their faces, which were serious and slightly fearsome.

Lucy looked on ahead, narrowing her eyes as she scanned the distance ahead to see if she could spot Darkauroral's guild already.

"Lucy."

Lucy turned, the shadows on her face shifting.  By now, the trees were starting to cover the area, so most of everyone's faces and bodies were completely darkened.

Natsu blinked, his eyes shining fearlessly.  "Please, be careful."

Lucy looked at him in surprise, but then nodded.  "I will.  See you soon."

"Good luck, Lush-ee."  Happy replied, flying next to Natsu's head.

Lucy smiled slightly, nodding to everyone else.  "Good luck, everyone."

Turning, she took a deep breath as she walked into the shadowed-forest, disappearing from her friend's sight.