~*****~

"What, they sealed that monster?" I exclaim loudly at the news from Warren.

"Yeah! Somehow!" Warren responds.

"That's awesome!" Happy chirps. "So does this mean that all the fighting is over now?"

"Ah, no way!" Natsu complained. "I was lookin' forward to goin' head to head with him and givin' him the beating of his life!"

"YOU'RE FALLING APART AS IS!" I bellow at him, causing him to hunker down and cover his head with his good arm.

Gray snickers. "You wanna catch a beating?!" Natsu snaps at him.

"Shut your mouth, Flame Brain!" Gray barks back.

They both cowered when my posture shot up, menacing horns bursting from my head as I tilt over them. "Both of you need to rest and heal. So shut up and play nice."

Lucy laughs nervously. "Leave it to Aria to completely flip to mother mode."

Natsu and Gray peek at one another skeptically before discretely bumping their fists as if calling a truce, until Natsu bellows in pain, holding his injured arm. "Man, that hurts! Are ya trying to break my hand?!" Natsu shouts.

"Sorry about that," Gray hums.

"What's the big idea, ya droopy-eyed naked weirdo?" Natsu snapped, getting into his face. "I oughta melt you down!"

"You're too trashed to take a fist bump, spikey?!" Gray barked. "Why don't you go sit on an icicle?!"

"I'm so glad they're back to normal," Lucy giggled.

"And she's goin' for the knockout!" Ballad and Happy cheer. My fists crack on top of their heads, sending them to the ground.

"If you insist on acting like children, you'll be treated like it," I snap. I haul Gray up by the belt of his pants and toss him onto my shoulder before grasping onto Natsu's ankle. "Come on, Lucy, let's get back to the guild hall."

~*****~

"Seriously, though, your arm is lookin' rough," Happy mentioned when I release the two morons.

"I guess I got a little too fired up," Natsu hummed. He snapped his fingers on his good hand. "I'll get Wendy to cast one of her healing spells on me!"

"The guild hall's right ahead," Gray mentions.

Natsu sighed. "Every time I see that place, it brings back so many memories." Natsu sighs.

I snort in response, my head tilted down. "All the fighting is over," Lucy sighs. "I can't wait to get back to normal life. I've got books I need to finish reading, some manuscripts I need to finish writing- there's so much to do!"

"No kidding," I sigh. "I've got so much rent to collect, I don't know where I'm gonna put all that jewel." I complain.

Lucy giggles. "Rich girl problems, huh?"

"You know, first thing on my list, is thankin' Juvia." Gray comments.

"And I'll be sneakin' around to see you smoochin' her." I chirp.

"SHUT IT!" Gray barks at me.

Lucy giggles again. "I wanna relax. Then it's time for a new adventure!"

"Now you're talkin'." Gray smiles.

"Sounds good to me!" Happy chirps.

Lucy bumped my shoulder. "So, since you went ahead and made a new one for me, how about you guys help me track down Aquarius' key?"

"You should probably know it's temperamental. I'm pretty sure it cussed at me when I'd finished it and again when it disappeared on me." I comment dryly.

"Would it be Aquarius if she didn't curse your mother?" Ballad laughed. "Oh, oh- Happy, what was it that you wanted to do once this was over?"

"Aye!" Happy chirped. "Well, Natsu, should we spill the beans on what it is?" We all turn to see his response, but the alleyway is empty. "Natsu?" Happy floated towards the empty area. "Natsu? Come on. Where'd ya go?"

"Look, this isn't the time for jokes, man!" Gray complained.

Ice snapped across the alleyway as I fought to keep my emotions in check. "Why?" Lucy sobs. "We rewrote it and everything!" Lucy whimpered.

"No, he's here!" I snapped angrily. "He has to be! I still smell him!" I exclaim as I stomp forward. "You can't just disappear on us, you bastard! Natsu!" I bellow out. I reach up, pressing at the mostly faded bite mark with an almost aggressive sort of push to it. "You can't be gone! I told you we had things to talk about!" Then, a power surge hit me, nearly strangling me with the pressure. "What the hell-" I gasp.

"Aria!" Lucy gasped.

"What's going on?!" Gray shouted.

"Miss!" Ballad and Happy cried out. In an instant, my vision cuts off, and it's like I'm asleep, almost like one of those nightmares I'd get where I couldn't move my body. Whatever the hell Lucy called it. It hit me after a moment; this was some like Evergreen had done at the Magnolia festival. I just had to focus the power in my real eye and break the containment I'd been put in. I could feel copious amounts of magic flowing all around me, and it's not all one element, so I'll need everything I've got to break free. I focus hard, spreading the spell breaking energy into the familiar pools of magic around me. Coupled with the voices of all our friends ringing through my head, it urged my magic to multiply. My eyes snap open as my container shatters.

"Nothin' in this universe can hold me down!" I snarl once I take in my surroundings.

"Aria! How did you break outta that crystal?" Natsu cried out.

I lifted my head and tapped at my temple. "My eyes might be weak, but this gift was given to me so no one could exploit me or anyone I loved ever again." I express. "I channeled my magic and the prayers of our loved ones to break those shitty crystals."

"Everyone's rootin' for us," Sting nods.

"And that bond gives us our strength." Rogue adds.

Laxus clasps my shoulder roughly. "Well, guys, it's dragon hunting time. You with me?" Laxus asks.

"Let's hunt that dragon!" Natsu roars.

We all cheer in agreement. Acnologia stares down for a moment. "It would seem you fools need to learn a lesson. One I'll gladly teach you. Why I'm known as the Dragon King!"

"Bring it, you old bastard!" I bark, ensuing chaos.

~*****~

"Can you hear me, Cobra!" Laxus shouts as we charge.

"That's a stupid question," Cobra shot back.

"All physical abilities will now be enhanced with my Deus Eques!" Wendy cried out. I feel a boost of stamina within me, charging up my muscles and magic power like nothing before.

"Oh, yeah! This is awesome!" Sting exclaims.

"This power's incredible." Rogue hummed.

"Never underestimate what a shrimp can do!" Gajeel stated loudly. "You with me, sis?" Gajeel asked with a bump to my shoulder.

"Always!" I shout back. "Ice Dragon Sword!"

"Iron Dragon Sword!" Gajeel and I roar, arms extending outwards with a gust of cold wind. Gajeel's sword merely bounced off of Acnologia's chest while mine shattered completely. "The hell-" We gasp. Rogue and Sting try their luck and are merely blown away with a harsh blast of magic, throwing them back to us.

Gajeel and I skid back as we catch attempt to catch them. Laxus, Cobra, and Natsu try their hand, but with Acnologia merely batting away the first, Natsu shouts back at them. "Come on, you guys! Stay with me!"

"Natsu, move!" I shout, my body moving on it's own. My body erupts in scales as I push in front of Natsu, holding my arms out. The blast hits hard, scalding the scales across my back, but they remain strong, sizzling with steam before it cools back down. "That sucked," I comment irritably, peering over my shoulder as if I were trying to glance down my back. My shirt was ruined, but at least my front was still covered.

"Crazy," Laxus sighs.

"We knew that this wouldn't be easy," Rogue hums.

"Thought we'd get in a few hits, at least," Sting agrees.

"He's barely even moved since we started," Cobra commented.

"He's powerful, but don't give up." Wendy reminds us.

I turn to my side, arms lowering as my back stops stinging. "I said I'd show you why I'm called the Dragon King," Acnologia commented. "Is the lesson beginning to sink in yet, or will I have to start killing you?" I grit my teeth at his cocky expression. Only this time, that cockiness is absolutely warranted. "As we stand inside here, my flesh form is on a path of rampant destruction outside the time rift, bringing about the end of the world. The hour of reckoning now is upon us. Civilization's reached its demise."

"Why are you doing all this?" Natsu asked.

A sneer suddenly lifted onto Acnologia's face. "It's simple. To bring destruction."

Acnologia threw his head back with a great laugh. "Sounds like a load of crap to me," Natsu scoffed. "This world ain't that weak, you hear me?! And it sure as hell ain't yours to destroy!"

Everyone charges in to attack again. I hang back, peering at the battle strategically. Physical attacks are ineffective, even with Wendy's enchantments. And it would seem not even Laxus can damage him. "Your magic has no effect on me," Acnologia chirps.

"You got anything, Aria?" Rogue asked as I grip at my chin, deep in thought.

"He's physical capable of taking brute force, and any magic attack is brushed off as if it's nothing," I comment. "Cobra, I have a plan, do you understand?"

Cobra perks up from the ground, brow twitching in annoyance. "I'm always listening," He snaps. "But I heard it loud and clear."

Laxus sits up and spits on the ground. "We won't let you kill the old geezer, or anyone else, you got that?" He and Gajeel move to stand in front of me as I slap my hands together.

"So we're just gonna have to go ahead and crush you before you get the chance to crush us!" Gajeel snaps.

"You may be some kinda legend, but your story ends today!" Wendy states.

"Are you ready for the final battle?" Natsu growls. The wild push and pull of magic starts billowing out of my body as I continue to concentrate deeply on it. "Because I'm all fired up!"

"Final?" Acnologia scoffs. "We haven't even begun to fight. But this will be your end." Acnologia starts to laugh once more.

"He seriously likes to ham it up," I comment as my real eye snaps open, enveloping the others with the sacred magic of my right eye. "Make sure to shut him up. After this, the magic in my eye will be gone for good, so we have to make it count, it should protect you for a while. Cobra, you'll be my eyes for me just until the blurriness disappears." Both my eyes feel as if I've got wool over them. They're horribly itchy, and it feels as if I've got a fever in just my eyeballs.

"I got it." Cobra nods.

~*****~

It's back and forth, with neither side giving an inch. I'm grateful for the assist Cobra is giving me, as I know a few of those attacks might've done me in had I not been listening for Cobra's cues. "Is that the best you can do? Feeble dragons," Acnologia snorts.

"You say that magic doesn't hurt you. Even though that may be the case for now..." Natsu growled out.

"We'll see how long you can take a pounding," Sting comments.

"Hit you till it does hurt!" Rogue adds.

"Now I'm into that idea," Gajeel chuckles.

"I'll fight with you!" Wendy chirps.

"Sounds good, let's take him down!" Laxus snaps.

"I can hear it now. Your fighting spirits are roaring!" Cobra mentions.

"Let's keep pushing until his head is under our boots!" I bark.

"Let's go!" Natsu roared. We all charge again.

"Your struggle is futile. I slay all dragons!" Acnologia roars back. Even now, with all of us attacking at once, we're still no match for his experience in battle. Still, none of us were going down without a fight.

"Fire Dragon!" Natsu sucked in a deep breath.

"Iron Dragon!" Gajeel roared.

"Ice Dragon!" My hands cupped in front of my mouth, then, the three of us let loose a powerful torrest of roars.

"Roar!" We all bellow.

"Holy Ray!" Sting shouts, blasting down on Acnologia from above.

It forces the black dragon into the sky, where Rogue and Cobra corner him. "Shadow Dragon!" Rogue shouts.

"Poison Dragon!" Cobra growls.

"Roar!" The two bellow, slamming Acnologia back into a pillar, where Wendy bursts towards.

"Sky Dragon... Great Wave Wind!" Wendy shouts, shooting Acnologia every which way until he crashes into another pillar.

Laxus shoots overhead, fists reared up. "Lightning Dragon... Heavenward Halberd!" Lightning crackles loudly as it slams down with a thunderous boom.

Despite the amazing teamwork, Acnologia still stands unscathed. He opens his mouth, and a bright light fills the air, shunting us all back again with savage blows. "It appears that you've reached your limit. This is the end," Acnologia hummed as I try to lift my head despite the horrid pounding all throughout my body. "Your eye saved them all from death for the meantime, but I cannot allow a single dragon to be left alive to contaminate this world. Because that is what it means to be a Dragon Slayer. It is my entire purpose in life."

I hear Natsu snort before a laugh bubbles out. I wearily lift my head, wincing at the blurriness still taking my sight. "That's pretty funny, comin' from you," Natsu comments with low chuckles before he stands up. "I mean, you're one of us, right? Just face it. As long as you're alive, there'll still be one dragon left. Besides, we're actually humans. Just regular ol' people who were given some of the powers of dragons. So I'm not buyin' any of your crap. In case your never realized this, real dragons are not just strong, they're noble. And they're kindhearted, too."

"Dragons? Kindhearted?" Acnologia scoffed. "The dragons took everything from me. Had hearts devoid of kindness. They slaughtered my family... burned my village. Not even children were safe from their wrath. So how in the hell can you tell me those creatures are kindhearted and noble?" Power billowed from Acnologia in response to his own anger. "They deserve to die!" Another blast rocked the battlefield. I feel a tug on my magic power and relinquish it when I realize it's Wendy's pulling at my magic.

I winced at the heat billowing from it, willing my eyes to stay open. "Didn't you hear me? I said real dragons are like that!" Natsu growled as the dust began to settle. "It's just the same as with people. There are all kinds of dragons in the world. Some are good. Some are bad. Some are strong. Some are weak. Some are cruel. Some are kind." Natsu lit up in flames in response to his strong emotions, bringing tears to my eyes at how brightly his heart glowed. "And there are some who are gonna kick your ass."

A waver of doubt shot over Acnologia as he stared at Natsu. "My attack should have killed him... instantly." Magic flowed everywhere, from everyone who put their faith in Natsu. All seven Dragon Slayers were giving our powers to Natsu.

"I'm enchanting all of our magic power into you, Natsu!" Wendy calls out.

"So don't miss!" I shout.

"Yeah! Smoke him!" Laxus roars.

"You got this, pal! Don't show 'im any mercy!" Gajeel roared.

"Take him down! Do it!" Sting shouted.

"You've got all our powers now!" Rogue exclaims.

"So blow this jackass away!" Cobra screams.

Natsu groaned in appreciation. "Oh, yeah! That's more like it." A cascade of magic billowed from Natsu. "All of you put a fire in my belly! It's our fire!" He raises his fist up, the magic powers merging together and creating a beautiful cascade of colors. "Raging Flame of the Eight Dragons!"

The blurriness in my eyes disappeared as I peered at the two getting ready for their final blows. This was all or nothing. It had to work. And even with Acnologia losing his mind- rather specifically, I mean. Natsu charges, and at the last moment, it would seem Acnologia's movements stopped, as if something from the outside world was stopping him.

"Natsu!" Laxus roared.

"We've giving you everything we've got!" Gajeel shouted.

"All our power!" Rogue shouts.

"It's up to you!" Sting shouts.

"You gotta make this count!" Cobra pleads.

"Natsu!" Wendy cries.

"Put your whole heart into it! Because everyone's putting their hearts on us!" I scream.

"Leave it to me!" Natsu roars. The attack in his hand doubles in size. "I'm ending this right now!" Acnologia tries to stop it with his right arm but seems to forget it's gone from his fight with Igneel, and Natsu lands a solid blow right across the face, sending him flying. We all gaze after him in shock and awe. Then, it's as if we could all hear Acnologia's heart, calling out. "Nobody can have everything," Natsu hums. "And that's why you should treasure what you do have. Don't be greedy. For me, I've got my friends, so I don't need anything else." Acnologia's spirit form shatters, leaving behind a final message.

"You truly deserve being king," Acnologia sighs as he disappears.

"I don't wanna be the king of anything." Natsu retorts with a sigh.

I perk up when I hear a crack, and I swallow thickly. "Anyone got any strength to survive a fall?" I ask nervously.

"Oh, crap-" Everyone murmurs. The crack opens up, spitting us all out of the time rift. We all scream in shock as the ground grows closer and closer. Lucy's figure comes into view, and I scream in horror, not because the ground is getting closer, but because I know I'm gonna be squished under someone. It's like a flurry of limbs as Natsu and I collide with her. I groan unhappily as I lay on the ground, twitching as Lucy somehow manages to sit atop my back with Natsu pinning my legs down. "How does this keep happening?!" I roar as the others cheer.

"You should probably stop pullin' Lucy out of the way." Ballad chirped as I lean my head on my hand. "But aside from that- I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE OKAY!" She wailed loudly before leaping onto my face with a teary eyed expression. Lucy laughs with a stifled sob and wraps her arms around my head in a tight hug.

~*****~

A lot of things have changed since that battle with Acnologia. In no time flat, a whole year went by. Lucy won a prize for her book- which I read, thanks to those nifty glasses from Levy. And she totally deserved it. Although perhaps we shouldn't have embarrassed her at the award ceremony. "Jeez! I let you guys come here if you guys promised to behave yourselves, remember?!" Lucy cried out as I crunched on some ice. "DID YOU EAT THE ENTIRE ICE SCULPTURE!?"

"What is it there for, then?" I complain irritably. "Just to look at it?"

"That sounds kinda stupid," Natsu agrees. "Why have ice out if ya can't eat it?"

"Seriously, Lucy, did you really think we'd behave? With our reputation?" I ask ironically.

"Come on, you were supposed to dress up for this, Natsu," Gray mentioned.

"You're not even dressed at all, you jerk!" Natsu barked.

The two got in each other's faces, urging Erza to kick them apart. "Don't ruin Lucy's night of happiness!" Erza ordered.

"GET 'EM, ERZA!" I roar with a wave of my fist.

"Gray, my darling, I'll take my clothes off, too," Juvia hummed to herself.

I laugh happily. Lucy sighs in annoyance. "And of course, my big nights a big mess." She sighs.

I loop my arm around her shoulders. "Would you have it any other way?" I comment impishly.

Lucy smiles after a moment and sighs. "I guess not." She murmured.

"Lucy? Congratulations," Anna's voice rang out. A shiver of delight rushes down my back when I get a whiff of that smell from Anna. I leapt onto her with a happy hum. Despite not remembering much, I did remember why I adored Lucy right from the start, and it all stemmed from our teacher, Anna Heartfilia. Although, she seemed much smaller than I remembered. She gave a delighted laugh and rubbed at my head. "You'll have more success in due time," Anna reminded Lucy, all the while rubbing at my hair. "I'm sure of it."

"I don't doubt it," Lucy laughed.

"Oh, hey! I thought there was someone here who smelled like Lucy!" Natsu chirped. "It makes me feel nice and relaxed!"

"Back off, pyro!" I bark at Natsu.

"You wanna go?!" Natsu roared back.

Lucy and Anna laughed. "I remember it being the same when she was our teacher," Gajeel commented.

"So what? She smells nice!" I exclaim.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Gajeel roared.

"Exactly what you think it means! You weren't oblivious with you likin' her smell!" I bark back.

"No kidding! You used to wail and wail until we gave you a turn with huggin' her!" Natsu laughed.

"Why you little-"

"Oh, hey! There you are!" Levy chirped.

Gajeel perked up and turned to her. "Yeah. Hey-" He chimed in a friendly tone. I elbow Natsu discretely and we start making kissing noises. "KEEP IT UP AND I'LL BE KICKING THE CRAP OUT OF BOTH OF YOU!" Gajeel roared.

"You can't kick the crap outta me!" I bark at him before snagging my arm around Levy's shoulders. "I'll just steal your girlfriend and tell her all the embarrassing things you did as a kid!"

"You keep your mouth shut!" Gajeel barked.

"Don't be mean to your little sister," Levy scolded him.

"Why the hell are you two gangin' up on me?!" Gajeel exclaimed angrily.

I hum and peer down at Levy. "Cause the little sister's gotta be the best of friends with her big brother's girlfriend." I chime. "I want at least three nieces and nephews." The two wail in embarrassment. Natsu elbows my side and nods his head towards the empty areas. I hum in response before waving at Lucy and Anna.

The cool night air felt wonderful. Especially with my walking heater. Despite having such strong feelings to staying by myself, over the past year, Natsu's done everything in his power to reassure me he's not going anywhere. It's not like he could, anyway. Porlyusica had a ball on discovering the ancient magic we'd accidentally marked each other with.

"This type of body link spell will always keep two souls tied together, no matter the distance, you'll always find one another," Porlyusica hummed as she roughly rubbed antiseptic all over the scrapes on my body. I screamed out in irritation that she watch what she's doing, all the while, Natsu just laughed before getting his own harsh medical treatment.

Since then, going on jobs on our own felt less lonesome. As if someone was right there by our sides. And when we returned from our jobs, that lonesome feeling came back until we were right besides each other, as if we couldn't wait another second to see one another again.

I'll admit, it was frustrating at first. I was still dealing with the trauma that Tartaros left upon me. In retrospect, I needed a lot of time to heal, but I refused to sit down, and I kept chugging along, using my anger in the best ways possible. Now, after all that time, I feel I can finally let go of that fear that's been harboring in my mind. And we were scheduled to go on a very long quest starting tomorrow. Something Natsu put together with our whole team. And I was excited, to say the least.

"Somethin' on your mind?" Natsu asked.

"Yeah, you look super deep in thought," Happy chirped as he leapt onto my head.

"Thinkin' about tomorrow?" Ballad chirped.

I chuckle. "Among other things," I retort softly. "Mostly thinking about how proud I am of Lucy." I add to get them to stop staring.

Happy laughs. "We should probably go check on her, Cana was givin' her way too much wine!" Happy mentioned.

"Oh, yeah, Happy and I will go do that, you two enjoy the silence for a bit, okay?" Ballad hummed. "C'mon, Happy!"

"Aye!" Happy chirped, the two cats flying off, leaving the two of us in silence.

"Did you plan that?" I ask suspiciously.

Natsu snorted. "If I planned it, it would've happened way sooner and way more obviously." Natsu mentioned with a shrug. "Seriously, though, you're not feelin' any pain, are ya? Porlyusica said to take it easy, what with your eyes still healing an' all."

My hand unconsciously goes to rub at my real eye. "They're feelin' a bit irritated, so I should probably check in for the night. I hate to leave so early." Natsu smiles and holds out his arm in a gentlemanly gesture. I peer at him for a long moment before I feel a smile worming onto my face. "Thanks."

"You don't need to thank me all the time," Natsu hummed as he rubbed his nose into my temple in an affectionate gesture. I lean against his shoulder and shut my eyes, welcoming the relief. Natsu leads us forward and at this point, I'm totally reliant on his guiding. "I'm always gonna be around to help you out. You know that." I hum in response. "We'll always be together, I promise you."

"It's still weird thinking about how we've known each other since we were children," I comment softly. "It's not all there, and some memories I can't really place. I'd like to remember everything. I wanna know more about the Natsu of my childhood."

Natsu chuckles. "I'm pretty sure the Aria of my childhood was a menace and liked to beat me up all the time." I give a laugh as a memory resurfaces of me putting Natsu in a headlock as little kids.

"Can you blame me, you were always spouting out you were king of the mountain." I laugh. We settle into silence once again, the sounds of the party we'd left still echoing throughout the town. There's so much I still want to tell him. Even now, as we walk silently as if it's become a daily routine. I want to break from the normality, go back to how we used to be. Laughing and fighting whenever we were alone, playing around like children as our hearts pound at the mere vicinity of each other. And it takes every bit of courage I had to shove Natsu to the side- hard. I hear a splash and sputter of shock.

"What the hell was that for?!" Natsu roared as I'd offended him.

I just grin, my eyes still shut. "How about a game of chase!" I bark. "I think it's high time to start airin' out some tension and have a bit of fun, like we used to!"

I can feel the kick up of heat from Natsu, and condensation starts beading on my skin. "You sure? Cause when I catch ya, I'm gonna mark you up like you wouldn't believe!"

I feel the slow crawl of ice across my skin. "I'm sure about a lot of things- one being you won't catch me unless I wanna be caught-" I comment impishly. I hear the splash, and I take off, darting through the streets I'd come to know so well. I could feel the vibrations under my feet, despite the thick padding in my boots. The hairs on my neck stand on end when I feel the air shift above me, urging my body to sink to my knees and skid forward before kicking to the side and into an alleyway. My goal was home. To get back to the house without being caught, because I knew if I did get caught, I wouldn't be moving anywhere until Natsu was satisfied with how much he marked up my body, which had all faded from the entire year of being kept at arm's length. "Two!" I call out when I hear him sputter in annoyance from crashing into what I assume was a cart. "Neither of us really like bein' alone!" I feel the air shift once again, forcing me to use the main road.

"Quit jumpin' out of the way!" Natsu barked from what felt like right behind my ear.

"And three-" I laugh when I feel the hot scrape of his palms barely slip across my waist before I'm ducking into another alley. "You're too up in your head to notice where I'm goin'!" I shout. The vibrations kick up behind me, and just before the hot gush of air hits me, I skid down to my back, sliding completely underneath what I know is a fence line at the edge of town. I hear the shout of annoyance as Natsu crashes over the fence and lands face first into the ground. Ice crawls under me, letting me slide a good ways away until I smell the familiar scent of Natsu's home just ahead. I kick off of the ground and keep running, nose in the air, relishing in the vibrations coursing through my feet, letting me know just how far away Natsu is behind me.

I dare to peek my eyes open, wincing at the sting of the night air before I take in the sight before me. Natsu's house is just up the hill, and to make it there, I have to somehow scale the wall without getting caught. Of course, it was easier done, had I wanted to truly get away. I skirt off to the side, my eyes slipping closed again and I decide to make a break to the main road. I once again feel the rush of heat behind me, and from the feel of it, it seems Natsu's figured out where I'm headed, and seems determined to cut me off.

The ground disappears from under me when I smell the wood that holds Natsu's home together, and I'm suddenly on the ground, wincing at the subtle pain in my head from hitting the earth. I peer through my bleary eyes once I gain my bearings and I stare up at Natsu, a memory finally resurfacing to the forefront of my mind. Of our childhood together. "I think we've been here before," I comment lightly.

"Feels like it," Natsu hummed, his head lowering to perch in the junction between my neck and shoulder. "Except, you were the one pinning' me down, sayin' you were the king of the mountain."

I give a short laugh. "Still am, aren't I? How many times have I bested you in battle?"

Natsu grunts through his nose, the puff of air causing a ripple of goosebumps to erupt over my chilly skin. "I'll try again once you're back at full strength," Natsu retorts. "This time, though, I'm the winner." Natsu grasps at my waist and hauls me upright, leaving me a bit confused. "Not like it's a competition, just two people playing around and opening their hearts to one another, right?"

I stare for a moment longer before a smile slips onto my face. "Yeah, you're right," I chuckle. "Thanks for playin' with me. I really needed to get rid of that routine we'd been in. I think it's high time I started moving forward." My hand unconsciously moves up to brush at the mark at my scent gland that's never faded with the time. "D'you wanna hit the town? Or get some rest for the big mission tomorrow?"

Natsu grins, eyes bright and a sudden lightness to his aura. "I said I was gonna mark you up, so I plan on doin' that!" Natsu chirps eagerly before swooping forward, arm locking around my hips as he lifts me upwards and over his shoulder. I give a rough grunt and a yelp as I'm being jostled around.

"Hey! Watch it! Come on! I can walk! I wasn't gonna run again!" I complain as I squirm in his grip.

"You said that a million times before, too, so I ain't takin' any chances today!" Natsu retorts, uncharacteristically swatting at my butt as he stomps towards the house. I give another yelp and resign myself to get mad about it tomorrow. Arousal bloomed in my belly and I couldn't wait for what he had planned.

~*****~

The next morning, we all met at the outskirts of town, grinning broadly at the aspect of our new mission. Although, spending that much time with the group may cause some issues later. As in, Gray suddenly deciding that teasing Natsu and I for our respective marks that we'd laid upon one another the previous night. "You look like you fought till morning!" Gray laughed.

"You could call it that," Lucy murmured as her cheeks flushed.

"It's been a while since I've seen Aria so content with the teasing," Erza mentioned.

I shrug. "Why be ashamed, we've been practically married since that whole Alvarez business." I mention. "Don't worry, Gray, you and Juvia will be able to mark each other up once you stop beating around the bush and admit you like the poor girl."

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Gray barked. "And what the hell do you mean, mark up?! You act like we're gonna fight like you animals!"

"Fighting? I thought it was something else," Wendy whispered to Carla.

"It's... definitely to a conversation for a child," Carla retorted with a sigh.

"They were wrestling with their clothes off!" Ballad chirped.

"And biting each other!" Happy added with his paw in the air.

"No need to get descriptive!" Lucy cried as she slapped her hands over Wendy's ears.

"Why not?" Natsu asked. "Not like it's a secret. Ain't that what married couples do anyway? How the hell did you think Asca as born?" I gave a laugh as Lucy's face flushed even darker. "Now come on!"

"Seriously! How many times in your life can you go on a quest like this?" I exclaim in excitement.

"Hundred year quest, here we come baby!" Natsu cheered loudly, rousing cheers from the rest of us.

"And we'll totally ace in before one hundred years, too!" Ballad cheered.

"I'm betting in like ten years!" Happy agreed. "What do you think, Carla, do you think it's possible?"

Carla hums. "I can't very well see that far into the future, but, yes, I do believe so. With our rag tag group, I believe we can do anything." Carla nods. We all cheer again, excited at the new adventure coming our way.