Hello my peeps! Wowsa almost at 200 reviews! I cannot thank you all enough for sticking it out and all the wonderful reviews! As for how long this story is I'm sorry to say I don't know. This is the first of many stories I plan to write and am kind of letting it take me where it needs to go :) Just enjoy the ride!

Chapter 38

"Lucy, can you give us a clue what's going on?" Cana asked once Natsu faded from sight.

Lucy groans and pants out, "They found all of disguised members even Gemini and Jura's golem of Juvia is down. Gemini says the last they saw was Laxus and Sting underground being held off by Jura. Kagura and Beth were taken out, then the Juvia double. They don't think he'll last much longer. As for the second group, Gemini was discovered by Natsu before they got out of the cards, so I don't know what's happening there."

Minvera adds, "We know Lymia Scale, Quatro Cerberus, and Crime Sorciere are stationed in Hargeon with Sabertooth and Blue Pegasus on the Christina Advance flying towards Tenrou."

"But if Natsu was already on our tail…" Gray mutters

"Does that mean he blew through Hargeon?" Yukino whispers in shock.

"No that wouldn't explain how he found us; we purposely went further up the coast to avoid meeting in Hargeon. Somehow, he tracked us down another way but since the rest of them aren't with him. I'm guessing the Thunder Legion and crew are holding their own against Cobra. Cause they share a mind link right?" Mira said seriously.

"Ummm Wendy can you tell where they all are?" Kinana asked

The little Sky Slayer grimaced, "not without giving our location away. The bracelet Milliana made me is the only thing protecting me from them right now."

"Yea and its also cancelling out your magic right?" Gray frowned not liking how Wendy was caught up in all this.

"Well we just have to follow the plan and meet up with the Christina," Romeo concluded, and everyone murmured their agreements.

"No doubts Happy, and the rest of the exceeds will be able to meet up with us by then." Lucy piped in.

Sorano scowled, "it's stupid that those little lacrama's can't work this far down."

All the fairy tail wizards turn to glare at her taking offense for Warren's sake. Mira calmly stated, "we should just be grateful we have those "stupid little lacrama's" at all." Sorano geared up with a snide remark only to have her sister slap a hand over her mouth at the deadly looks being shot at her.

"Maybe we should try sleeping while we can, you know to recuperate." Yukino said trying to redirect the conversation.

"Good idea, I've got some booze if you need some help going night night," Cana cackled.

"Yea I don't think any of us want a hangover at the moment but…." Levy shrugged grabbing Cana's bottle and taking a sip er well more like a gulp. "Bottoms up Minerva!" handing the bottle over.

"Hm I guess why not," Minerva took her sip and passed it to Yukino.

Yukino looked at the bottle, frowned, shrugged, and took a deep drink, "oh that's actually really good."

Lucy watches Kinana, then Mira each take a drink and pauses when Mira goes to hand it to her. "Um guys I don't think this is the best time for this."

"It's ok Lucy it's that wine I told you about before we left," Mira smiles sweetly.

"Oh well I guess then its probably better that I do huh," Lucy shares her smile and takes a good long swig.

Levy perks up, "ooooo it's the special wine even better!"

Within moments all the girls were asleep, having known Cana would have some sleeping brew from Porlyusica mixed in the wine. Cana sighed, "waste of good wine putting that crap in it."

Gray, Sorano, and Mest stood in shock; while Romeo demanded, "Um Cana just what the hell's in there!"

"Huh," she turns sees their faces and just starts cackling, "you… you should see your faces….gods that is just priceless!"

Wendy giggles before explaining, "Ms. Porlyusica made a sleeping draft for them. Not only because it would be hard for them to sleep with all this happening but because their mates can connect with them in their dreams."

Gray raised a brow, "so they'd be able to track'em down from their dreams?"

Wendy shook her head, "no but they could share their agitation, and insanity."

"Well shit," Sorano muttered before looking worriedly at her sister. Everyone nodded in agreement worrying for their friends.

Meanwhile just off the coast from their departure the water started to boil.

"HEAR ME," Natsu howled through his nests mind link.

"YES FREE CAVE WHERE MATE!" Sting snarls bursting from the ground with Laxus hot on his heels.

"ISLAND THEY GO ISLAND WITH TREE!" Cobra hissed out loud and in his head.

"TENROU!" Laxus booms as clouds darken the sky and lightning is seen flashing at an alarming rate.

Natsu roars another wave of heat at the persistent red headed challenger.

"Come on Natsu I know you can do better than that," Erza purrs teasingly as she winces at the boiling water. She doesn't know how much longer she can keep him at bay. Once she caught up to him, she started to slowly edge him along the coast towards Hargeon in hopes to get back up. They needed to give the girls as much time as possible. Only a day and a half more, they could do this! Reinvigorated by her inner monologue Erza gave a shout and attacked Natsu again.

Not a realm but more of a pocket of space, a group gathers to witness the events unfold. A large figure bursts through a pair of doors that are as old as time itself, "so Igneel's realm has a contender for new a Protector."

A snicker slithers over the silence, "some Protector he would make mangy mutt is just as likely to turn out worse than the last prospect."

"Shut your trap! Igneel did his best which is more than I can say of your sorry hide!" A third voice snarls. Arguments began to fill the great hall with tension and uneasy.

"ENOUGH!" The first bellows, "It is not for you or any of us to decide what is to become of this world. And we especially have no say in who its protector is. We are here to witness and assist them if they pass the trials. This Council is for keeping the peace and balance in all realms need I remind you." The figure pulls down her hood revealing hair as pale as the full moon with skin as dark as a never-ending night. "We shall watch and wait for these young dragons, because that is what they are no matter what you try and say Avery, to finish this test. We can only hope they pass otherwise I doubt there could possibly be another contender and we all know what that would mean."

The one called Avery smirks under the hood of his cloak, "it would mean their realm is up for grabs."

The woman's lip curls in distaste, "yes, unfortunately it would."

The others begin to murmur at this news while Avery and another out spoken soul stare at each other with a promise of violence.

The woman ignores those around her and investigates water mirror in the middle of the room. She smiles at the mages she sees there. Igneel would be so immensely proud of his hatchling and the nest he has chosen. She whispered blessings into the mate's dreams hoping to help the process not a lot but just a bit.

Despite Porlyusica's potions each mate began to dream of their mates and back in Hargeon they paused in their race to listen. The sweet thoughts of their mates soothed their souls and calmed the frenzy. Erza watched in shock as Natsu stopped fighting, swam to the surface, and simply stared into the setting sun.

Natsu whispered into Lucy's mind, "sweet dreams Luce."