I was reading chapter 7 and I realized I put a LuLo (or is it LoLu?) moment in there by accident. Reading that, I almost kinda wanting to ship them. . . Let's just say, I'll be happy if Lucy ends up with anyone. Everyone is just so compatible that I just want them all to have one huge man-dingle party! (Okay, maybe not that far. . .)

Chapter 10- There are no if and buts.

Lucy was glad to be herself again, especially with the hope she can save her friend. But when she boarded the train at Magnolia, she could finally do what she wanted. One of the things she missed doing much.

As she looked out the window, she grinned as she saw a flustered Gray look around anxsiously. He scratched the back of his head, flustered. The train was leaving soon, yet Gray was waiting for a certain mage to come say her good-byes.

The train whistle blew, and Gray, with a sorta disappointed look, turned toward the train ready to board. Lucy's grin faltered. She was so close.

Just as Gray began to ascend the stairs to the train, a crying voice yelled out; "Gray-sama!" Gray turned around and there he saw Juvia, running at him in full speed.

Gray leaped off and she crashed into him. She hugged him, spilling out all her good-byes really quickly. He hugged her tightly, glancing up when the train started to inch forward slowly.

"Gray! Hurry up!" Erza called from the window, also enjoying the love scene. Gray nodded.

He looked back at Juvia, pecking her quickly on the lips before running to the train and jumping on. He waved her good-bye as she soon disappeared from sight.

Lucy snickered as she saw him stalk toward their booth, blushing severely. He sat next to Erza and looked away.

Natsu, gagging fell onto Lucy's lap, where she allowed him to stay for the moment being. She grinned evilly at Gray.

He caught her eye, and-blushing a color that put Erza's hair to shame-averted his eyes.

"Erza," Lucy said, as Erza looked at her. "I do wonder what i'm going to wear." Erza gave her a questioning look.

"For what?"

"Gray and Juvia's wedding, of course." That's when Gray, who exploded in a series of coughing fits, sunk lower into his seat. Erza smiled too.

"Oh, and Erza, I had a question." Erza looked at her again, still smiling.

"When are you and Jella going to get married?" She laughed and this time Gray smiled too.

"All that marriage talking, Lucy." He said it small at first but growing more confident. "Perhaps it has something to do with the person on your lap?" Lucy blushed deeply.

"No, it's was your kiss." Erza and Gray both smiled evilly at her.

"You sure?" Gray asked.

"Yes," Lucy said, crossing her arms over her chest and closing her eyes. Natsu then let out a groan as he sunk deeper into sleep, causing the ice and armor mage to snicker. Lucy, not bothering to open her eyes, slid farther from Natsu, and pushed his head away. He responded by scooting closer and laying down again.

The rest laughed out loud as Lucy struggled to get him off her lap, but in the end gave up.

"We're not dating though!" She said. "So no wedding."

"I'm not dating Jella," Erza stated boardly.

"Didn't sound like that when you told me about him." Lucy said back, a devious look in her eyes. Erza, blushing, gulped.

"I told you that in secret."

"Oh, do tell." Gray said, scooting closer to Erza.

She crossed her arms in a similar manner to that of Lucy.

"No."

The pestered her until she got so angry, she bashed Gray in the head knocking him out. Lucy, scared out of her wits, gulped and sat back.

"I shall take a nap!" Erza announced, as if waiting for someone to challenge her to a napping race.

"Ok, have, um. . . fun?" Erza closed her eyes and sat back.

Wendy and Gajeel, who were chattering quietly in the both next to them with the three exceeds, glanced at then cautiously. Gajeel gagged when he felt the train hit full speed, doubling over and hitting his head on the seats. Wendy pressed her head to the wall, closing her eyes and taking deeps breaths.

Lucy took that quiet moment to look out her window. She was watching the mountain fly past her. The dam was approaching and she made sure to keep her fingers pressed to the metal, so she could feel any sudden movment. When they passed over the dam, Lucy sat back and relaxed.

She looked at Natsu, who slept carelessly on her lap. She remembered how she had baited him to try and snap him out of his nausea.

"Love Lucy?" He had asked.

Maybe one day, she thought, brushing hair from his face. He stirred a little, but then put a protective arm around her waist, squeezing her tightly. The warmth that only his arm had made her feel like she had drunkin' warm hot coco, cuddled by the fireplace and bundled in warm thick blankets. It was a pleasant feeling that she enjoyed, one she wished to experience forever.

She looked out the window, seeing many familiar sights from their travel. The town wasn't too far, a few hours. She pressed her faced against the cool window, remembering how the cold night had kissed her during their travels.

Back then, just a few weeks ago, things had felt so complicated, so bundled in it's own mystery. Now, she finally had her chance to get answers.

Yet, as time was ticking, she felt something inside her unravel. Her nerve, hope, something inside felt like she should have given up. Levy might be within saving reach, but did she want to be saved?

Natsu's arm tightened, as if he knew what she were feeling, and he was telling her; never give up. Ever.

She nodded faintly, then she glanced at her hand. Still confined within her black glove. Lucy unbuckled the wrist and slid off the glove.

There is what she had really kept hidden from her friends. Something that served as her hope and motivation. During her training, when she wanted- no had- to back down, one glance, the thought of saving all her friends at Fairy Tail, that was more than enough to get her right back up and fighting.

What she had guarded so closely, meant the world to her, was her guild mark. Pink, happy, and a mark that never let her forget. The first person she had excitedly told about getting her mark; Natsu.

She looked down at him. If it weren't for him, she'd still be wandering around the streets, probably broke. Or worse, she would have gone back to her father.

Lucy bent down, lightly and cautiously, she kissed his head. "Thank you, Natsu Dragneel. For everything."

Natsu, little to Lucy's knowledge, smiled in his in-and-out state. Muttering something along the lines of; "Your welcome."

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Returning to the City of Lost Voices kinda felt like a flutter in Lucy's chest. The memories they had here, when she finally felt like she could trust her friends, not as just Lucy or Kurai, but both. Still, the pain and suffering, the chilled nights and the seemingly endless road of lost hope, those still remained. It scared Lucy to be back in that town.

Like reading a book, with the most beautiful ending. But when she opened the squel, it felt like opening a patched wound, rubbing salt on it, sowing it up, and making a new cut.

Or, in other words, she felt as if she had a good ending here. She got to stay with her friends, live her life, realize that maybe she had another chance in life. Coming back made her feel like she was pushing her luck. Like someone was gonna realized that she couldn't have what she had gotten, there was a mistake, and she'd have to go. Forever.

So she was cautious to walk through it's streets again. Safer now that she didn't have to spin a new web of lies, but a chrysalis of truth. As she walked through the streets, with a specific goal in mind, she felt at ease. She knew she didn't have all the time in the world, no one did, but she knew that with her friends she could do anything.

"I believe we can call it a day," Erza stated, her wagon being drawn behind her. Lucy frowned.

"We only have 10 days, 9 if we rest."

"That gives us plenty of time." Natsu said. Lucy felt kinda of outraged. They weren't talking about a countdown till the Butterfly blossoms, they were talking about Levy's life. Whether she lives or dies. Who knows the consequence of having your soul sucked out of your body. Probably not good.

"But we also have to hike up the mountain, search for clues- if they're any- and then hope we can save Levy in time." Lucy said, walking faster so she could talk side-by-side with Erza.

"Would you hope us to enter feeling dreary and tired? We'll leave first thing in the morning; fly up the mountain, ride up, anything. We'll make it Lucy, just try to keep calm." Lucy wanted to argue more, it was someone's- no Levy's- life. Promising her an earlier journey doesn't settle her nerves. She wanted to go up then down quick as possible. She want to find whoever is harvest souls or whatever, kick they're ass to Mexico (or some other surrounding kingdom), release the souls and be done.

What hurt her most was thinking that this had gone on for over a year. Lucy may not have been the first victim, and that was almost two years ago. What happens to all those people whose 10-day span has gone up in smithereens.

But Lucy refused to say more. No point in arguing with her friends, they all seemed set on sleeping in. They slept on the train, however. Lucy will leave early. She had too. Her best friend's life is on the verge of slipping away, off the cliff of life and onto the rocks of death below.

When they got to the hotel they had previously stayed at, they split up. Since only two rooms were allowed a group, they split guys and girls.

Lucy, Erza, and Wendy shared a room, while Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel got a room across from them.

Lucy helped Erza, who was a little hesitant about the idea, with her bags, hauling her luggage up the stairs. Their room was similar, or basically identical, to the room Lucy had slept in previously when visiting.

When you walked into the room, a line of counters formed a mini snack bar/ kitchen with a built in sink. Across was the bathroom, a two counter-top bathroom with a small tub.

A tiny living room, with a small couch, coffee table and bookshelf were separated from the sleeping area by a half wall. The book was pushing against the half-wall, seeming to loom over the entire living room area.

The room area had four twin sized beds. Covered with stiff white comforters and one tan pillows, there was little to the bed's detail. Lucy sat on one, hearing it spring underneath. She glanced at the lamp, which lit up half the room.

The best part of the room was the balcony. You could step out through sliding doors to get an amazing view of the town. The hills that surrounded it, the architecture that Lucy guessed who have looked similar to the church. Lucy glanced at the small mountain and frowned.

It was as if a giant vacuum had come by and sucked the life out of just a section. It was a perfect rectangle, straight edges, right corners. Like someone stamped on it mud.

"Let's sleep now," Erza said, calling Lucy away from the balcony. "Then we can leave early in the morning."

Erza got the bed opposite of Lucy's, giving her a good view of the balcony and mountain, but cropping off the town.

Wendy yawned loudly, stretching her arms. "Long trips tire me." She pulled back her covers, not bothering to change.

Carla walked up and nestled next to Wendy, who crawled into the bed next to Erza's, leaving Lucy alone on the other side.

Erza re-equipped into her pajamas, leaving Lucy to turn off the light. Since the only light provider was the lamp next to Lucy's bed, she hurried over, tucking herself in, and switched off the light.

She found it hard to sleep. Wendy's soft breathing and Erza's loud snoring did nothing to take her mind off of Levy. She felt guilty laying in the soft sheets and stiff comforter while Levy was who knows where, doing who knows what, for who knows how long.

She wanted to save Levy, and then, for once in her adventured filled life, settle down. She wanted to be able to jokes with her friends, expand her magic without having to worry about dying or getting hurt. Of course, that's the adventure, but she couldn't think knowing her friends were dying and getting hurt.

She pulled the covers over her head and stifled a sob. Why can't her life be simple? She cried again, louder this time, sniffing. Why must she always have to be saving someone? Why can't her friends be safe?

She turned, allowing her covers to fall back. She wiped her eyes, cursing herself for complaining when Levy probably has it a lot worse. She rubbed hers eyes softly, and that's when she realized it.

She pulled her hand back, and in the moonlight, giving her hand a faint but vision silhouette, she saw her Fairy Tail guild mark.

She smiled faintly, knowing her answers. Her life couldn't be simple because she didn't like simple. She didn't want to settle down. Her friends get hurt to protect the one's they love. She couldn't have the normal life because her home was Fairy Tail.

There is no running out of time. She can see why her friends aren't worried. They will save her, there are no if and buts. She was certain, as certain as her friends, that she can save everyone else and Levy, because if they try they cannot fail.

We're coming Levy, Lucy thought, her mind filling with happy thoughts. We will save you, or die trying.

And with that, Lucy fell asleep.

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Ugh, school tomorrow!! Sorry for posting, I was rushing to find a shirt that wasn't wrinkled x_x anyway, enjoy. Don't forget,

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