Chapter 1

Of course bloody Natsu just had to pick a mission in the sacred mountains of a small town in the middle of nowhere. Just because it mentioned mysterious fires were seen above the treeline, but whenever the town's people tried to investigate there were no signs of any fires. Plus any men on the team were scared away by a ferocious roar. Lucy was just glad that Laxus had ordered Natsu had to take the whole team for this mission, instead of leaving her alone with Natsu on a mission that he was surely to take too many risks on. The idiot might be twenty now, but he still had no sense of self preservation. Always wanting to fight the strongest opponents and trying again whenever he failed. It surprised everyone that Natsu hadn't gotten himself killed yet. There was actually a betting pool at the guild for when Natsu would finally bite off more then he could chew. To anyone that didn't know Natsu it might be morbid, but honestly they had people from all over Fiore in on the bet, even Happy had his own opinion on Natsu's recklessness. Not that anyone actually wanted Natsu to die, but he was the biggest risk taker in the guild and one day it would catch up with him.

So much had happened since she had joined Fairy Tail, and during this peaceful time Lucy couldn't help, but feel like something terrible was going to happen now. It was how her entire life had gone. Whenever she was getting happy something had to happen to ruin her happiness, and convince her that her life was nothing but a curse once again. She hated feeling so hopeless, but nothing ever changed, and Lucy was positive it never would.

"Want to say that again Flame Brain!" Gray growled at Natsu making Lucy groan as she turned to look at her two fighting team mates. Ice covering Gray's arms as his skin darkened with his demon slayer marks, Natsu flaming up completely once again. No matter how old the two got they never stopped fighting, and it was driving everyone crazy. Almost all of the other men in the guild had stopped rising to Natsu's challenges, but Gray seemed like he never would. Then again most of the other men were ready to settle down and look for a life partner. Gray and Natsu just didn't seem interested in romance. There were some people who thought Natsu and Gray were just fighting because they were into each other, but Lucy knew the two saw each other as brothers, even if both of them didn't really care what gender their partners were. They were quite Boscan in their attitudes towards pleasure.

"Yeah I said that you'd probably run away screaming like a coward Ice Princess!"

"Boys," Erza glared, although she didn't do much else she had mellowed since Jellal finally got his head out of his ass and married her. "Do you want to give Laxus a reason to finally break up Team Natsu."

Yeah Lucy was glad of one thing about Laxus becoming Fairy Tail's new Master. He had done what Lucy had thought was impossible, made it so that Natsu and Gray actually held back during most missions, although there were still occasional damage reports. It had surprised everyone in the guild that he hadn't automatically disbanded Team Natsu when he became Master, but he did give them a lot of conditions making it so they had to be followed as best as they could, unless if lives were in danger the boys behaved well enough Lucy was no longer struggling to make her rent on time. And thanks to Ever using a contact who made mage weave clothing Lucy no longer had to worry about her clothes being damaged all the time. Lucy had five separate type of mission outfits now, each of them made for a certain type of climate, and all of them fire and ice resistant.

"Idiot boys," Charle huffed. She still hadn't given Happy a chance yet, but Lucy was hopeful, she had been seeing a thaw on Charle's attitude lately.
"Come on we still have a lot of ground to cover tonight. Especially since we need a decent campsite. I don't really want to have to huddle around Natsu for warmth, again. Otherwise Mira will start again on why she thinks we are such a good match."

Mira just couldn't seem to understand why Lucy was happy enough on her own. After seeing how everyone in the guild was when it came to romance Lucy stopped faking looking for a life partner. There was no point when the guys who were fake dates got scared away by someone in the guild who wanted to protect their light. And gave Lucy a good enough reason for everyone else on why she wasn't in a relationship. It was easier since she would never tell anyone the truth. With how much she had been exploited in the past she was done giving too much about herself away and only acted when needed, although due to the time lapse in her memory and the seven year gap she had lost many of her old contacts.

The past had made Lucy vow that she would never have children. Never see them die the way she had seen way too many people with the magic they would have die. So to make sure there were no mistakes she had given up on any kind of romance. Romantic love wasn't that important to her, she had people she saw as family and that type of love would always be enough for her in the end. Even if sometimes she felt lonely it always faded eventually.

'Damn it,' Lucy cursed to herself when she recognized the magic energy swirling in the air. The extra energy within the magic making her suddenly use her whip to knock Gray and Natsu down the two being unable to dodge the sneak attack. "Wendy put them to sleep now!" Having learned to trust Lucy's instincts Wendy did exactly as she was told. Then started scanning the area for any sign of a threat. Erza pulling out her strongest sword and preparing to strike any foe.

The youngest slayer really had grown into her own power over the last few years. She was a gorgeous young woman now and would soon go through her first draconic heat, and Lucy would make sure she would be prepared when the time came. It had taken time to convince Charle that Wendy was growing into a young woman, and to not chaperone her on every date she went on. But thanks to finally getting some more freedom from the mothering Exceed, Wendy was more confident in herself, and was becoming one of the most requested members of Fairy Tail. She never caused destruction on the missions she took without Natsu or Gray, and with the fact that she could heal she was requested frequently. Although as the only healer in all of Fairy Tail Laxus had demanded she go with at least Charle and one other person for every mission. Not because they didn't trust Wendy's abilities, but because just like Lucy was a constant target for her magic, Wendy was an even bigger target. Healers were the rarest magic users in all of Earthland after all. Lucy herself was under similar restrictions, not that she always obeyed them.

"What is it Lucy-nee?"

"You guys stay here."

Lucy didn't even give them a chance to respond she just took off running. Cursing idiot dragons as she followed the trail of magic. She was glad Natsu had forced her to come on this mission, otherwise things could have gotten messy.

It didn't take Lucy long to find the cave that the energy was coming from. It had been so long since Lucy had felt anything like this, that she had thought maybe she had been imagining it due to her melancholy, but it seemed she could still recognize the air of a pregnant dragon slayer. The field of magic swirling in the front was basically a challenge to male dragon slayers to try and break through meaning this female obviously wasn't mated. The magic of the mating would have kept her energy locked up tight to keep her and the future hatchlings safe. And considering how it was trying to lock on to something she was far from her kin. Lucy had heard rumors of other dragon slayers, but she had never thought she might meet one of them this way. Honestly she had thought she would met one after Natsu tracked them down for a fight.

Allowing her aura to swirl around her Lucy started to walk through the cave. The energy swirling around her embracing her as it seemed to recognize her, meaning Lucy had most likely known the dragon whose soul this slayer held. Unfortunately she couldn't recognize the magic with the additional magic of the hatchlings bleeding from their mother's womb. Whoever the dragon had been, had clearly forgotten to warn the poor slayer about being careful not to let males other then their mate beat them in a battle if they were going to have sex. It was irresponsible and could have cost this woman her life.

"Cristoff," the voice sounded weak, with all of the unknown males around her the female slayer had probably hidden out in this cave until her tatsu could find her. Or she was already all alone and scared having no one to trust during this time. Lucy wondered if she had even realized she was pregnant, or if she believed what everyone else believed that a female slayer could only become pregnant by her mate. Heck even Natsu and Gajeel had believed they could only impregnate their mates, and Lucy had to be the one to tell them even dragon slayers could have illegitimate children if they didn't wrap up or use the Boscan infertility disks.

"No I'm Lucy Heartfilia. I won't hurt you."

Surprisingly enough Lucy didn't have to coax the female slayer out of hiding. The second she said her name it was like the woman recognized her and stepped out of the shadows Lucy hadn't even realized the woman had been hiding in. Despite her weak sounding voice the woman seemed healthy enough, and had a small baby bump already showing. Despite the woman seeming to recognize her Lucy didn't know her. She had an exotic look to her being six feet tall with orange eyes like the sun, blonde hair lighter then Lucy's, and an even better figure. There is no way Lucy would have ever forgotten meeting this woman who seemed to be the very embodiment of the sun.

"I'm Emzadi, I don't know why my magic is so haywire, I've tried to go home, but I just can't my instincts tell me leaving isn't safe."

"It's alright. It's what happens when a dragon slayer female's dragon soul realizes she's pregnant. Without your tatsu and kin being around your dragon soul is in protective overdrive. Actual dragon males would often try to attack a lone nesting female to have her bring his children into the world, so the dragon soul is trying to protect your children until they are born."

"How do you know so much about dragon slayers? I've had this magic my entire life, knew an actual dragon although not the one whose magic runs through me, and they never mentioned the soul becoming protective when I'd become pregnant. I've been taking birth control that has never failed anyone else before, I didn't think I'd become pregnant by accident without my mate."

Emzadi's confusion just proved what Lucy had always known. Most dragons who trained a slayer didn't even talk to other dragons to find out what the magic would actually do to the human body. How it would change mating rituals and pregnancy? It was annoying, but none of this was Emzadi's fault. She just believed the information she was given. Learning from a dragon why would she ever doubt what she was told about the changes the dragons magic would bring.

In Bosco Arman Pradesh was panicking. It had been three months since he had heard from his eldest daughter Emzadi. The mission she had been taking had only been supposed to take three days, they contacted the client and were told Emzadi had left as scheduled, but after that there was no sign anyone had seen his daughter. Cristoff and Vander had both failed in tracking her down, and her comm system had been found smashed in the forest behind the clients house. Kaleb had even questioned the client thinking maybe a trap had been set, but it had been a legitimate request, and even looking through the minds of everyone who had been in the town when Emzadi had brought nothing. She had just disappeared without a trace.

Out of all his children Emzadi wasn't the one he had ever been worried about being kidnapped, but he could see no other reason on why she wouldn't have contacted anyone in the family. They had hidden her disappearance from the rest of White Sea while the main team searched, but it seemed like they might have to alert the guild to their missing slayer.

He hadn't felt this scared since he had heard about the bombing of the Embassy in Pergrande before he found out his wife had died. Arman had been lucky enough to find his son Zen alive, although at the time he had thought he had gained Zen back at the cost of Bickslow dying on his Guild's holy land.

"Dad we'll find her Emi's strong, she probably just got distracted at some kind of spa or something," Kaleb said although despite the confidence in his voice the look in his eyes gave away how much worry his son was feeling. Kaleb wasn't just Emzadi's older brother he was also her Guild Master, and Arman knew Kaleb was blaming himself for Emzadi disappearing.

All of his children were terrified. Bickslow had even come to Bosco with his teammates, other then Laxus who was busy running Fairy Tail, despite not having set foot in the country since before he joined Fairy Tail. During his time sleeping on Tenrou Island, Arman had finally gotten Bickslow pardoned for his Seith magic, but his son had been happy as things had been. His family going to visit him. For Bickslow to finally come home it meant he was terrified his sister was dead. He had been too afraid before to return thinking something bad would happen the instant he came home. Arman had been hoping to get Bickslow to come home proving his fear wrong, but he had never though his son would come home like this.

Xally was inconsolable when she had found out. Zen was blaming himself thinking whoever had taken Emzadi had really been after him. And Farron was blaming himself that he couldn't be home to help find his sister, but the situation in Alvarez was still precarious since Zeref's death. Either Farron or Arman himself went every couple months to deal with one problem or another.

He had thought after the two wars his children would be safe for a long time. Zeref had been defeated in Fiore at the same time his own country had gone to war with Pergrande, freeing the slaves and finding his lost son in the process. Zeref had been so certain he could defeat Fiore first and that well he was fighting Fiore, Bosco would fall to Pergrande because of his deal with Kardian. Instead both countries came out victors in their own wars.

His children had been his world since his dear Ganier had passed. She had decided after they were married that she wanted a large family, and when she died after only giving him two children, he had adopted the rest. Arman was certain he would never love anyone again. He still wore his wedding bands. Knowing that Ganier was his other half and no one could ever possibly replace her. There had been a short time after he found out Zen was alive that he had hoped that maybe he would find Ganier alive as well. That her death had been a lie as well, but it had been three years and there was no record of her anywhere. It was like he had lost her all over again. He had only just started to heal all over again from what felt like her second loss.
Now his baby girl was missing and the worst part was not knowing what had happened to her. No Dark Guild was claiming to have her. It seemed as far as the rest of the world knew Emzadi Pradesh was just on another mission. There was no whispering of her on any market. And it made him fear she was already dead.

Deep in her heart Lucy felt a sharp stabbing pain. But as always she ignored it. She had grown used to it over her childhood feeling pains that came from nowhere. It would eventually fade there was nothing she could do about it. Emzadi however she could help. It would be difficult, but the dragon slayer needed to get home to her kin before her hatchlings were born. For an unmated female the pregnancy was always worse, especially since she was feeding her hatchlings her powers, more then what a mated female gave since most of their development usually relied on their fathers. Emzadi's bonds with her kin would help lessen the chance of her dying when she gave birth due to having used too much of her own magic during her pregnancy. Kin bonds supplied power usually only enough to keep the bond going, but when one was in danger or hurt it would react, which is probably why Lucy's kin were always so protective over her. She was almost always in danger.

Seeing how peacefully the slayer was sleeping now it seemed in the few hours they had known each other Emzadi's dragon soul had made Lucy kin. Probably to increase her chances of survival. It would help though to have that bond in place to make sure Lucy could get Emzadi home safely. The only issue was what to do with her team. They hadn't been so pleased when she had called them on her comm and told them she wasn't coming back yet. Probably more so because she refused to tell them about Emzadi. Even if Lucy didn't recognize the female slayer she did recognize her Guild mark. White Sea was the biggest Guild in Bosco and the oldest Guild still running in all of Earthland. Without knowing the full story of what had happened besides her pregnancy to drive Emzadi to hide in this cave, Lucy wouldn't dare risk her life. So for now she couldn't trust her team with this, not when Natsu couldn't be trusted around Emzadi in her current condition.

Opening her comm as it beeped she wasn't surprised to see Laxus's face staring back at her, "I'm not coming home."

"Blondie."

"Oh don't take that tone with me Laxus. I have other duties outside of Fairy Tail that I have been lax with for way too long. My help is needed, and Natsu and the other's will be no help this time. There are times when I need to do things myself."

"And of course you won't give me any details will you Blondie. Stubborn girl."

"Oh you have no idea Laxus how stubborn I can be. I'll stay safe. Everyone needs to trust me. The time of allowing you guys to coddle me is over. Unlike Wendy I am an adult and it is time this guild treats me this way."

Lucy knew Laxus would take her words as her threatening to leave Fairy Tail. Although with this cycle she had no idea why she would ever wish to leave. Everything important to her was in Fairy Tail. The rest she had lost to the harsh ravages of time. Sometimes she just needed to spread her wings for a time and be alone.

Besides helping Emzadi would hopefully finally give her the answers she had been seeking. For too long she had allowed fear to keep her away from Bosco, afraid of what she would find there. The brief time she had spent there as a child had made her deadly ill, and she was apparently talking gibberish about someone named Tessa telling them it wasn't their fault she was going to die. Since then Lucy had refused to go back to Bosco to afraid of what she would learn. Of the betrayal that had most likely been dealt to her by the one being she had thought would never do anything to hurt her.

"We can help Blondie. The guild needs you!"

"Not as much as this person does. I need to do this Laxus. Just trust me. I'll check in once a day."

Laxus Dreyar growled at the screen as the stubborn Light of Fairy Tail hung up on him. The woman was a damned trouble magnet. But he was not able to say no to her. His dragon knew she could handle herself, it was just that she was the only person in the entire guild who could make everyone stop. Laxus was honestly surprised his grandfather hadn't decided to name her Master instead. Especially considering that Lucy had more training then he ever had. As an heiress she already knew how to deal with the business side of the Guild, and no one could deny that she was the one every member went to when they were in trouble. She was Fairy Tail's Light and it was going to be so hard to explain to them how he could allow her to go on an unknown mission without forcing her to come home.

Before Laxus's dragon had named her kin he knew his grandfather was praying she would be his mate. Gramps wanted grandchildren and to him the best mother for those grandchildren would be Blondie. Honestly Laxus had been a little disappointed himself. But he knew his dragon wouldn't get his other half wrong, and believed that there was someone way better out there for her anyway. Whoever the poor man was would have a hard time convincing Lucy to give him a chance however, but if he did the whole guild would accept him with no hassle. They all knew Lucy could be happier and they wanted the best for her. Even if the best would one day take her away from Fairy Tail.

At least she had the decency to tell him she would check in daily. Lucy always kept her word it was a part of what made her such a powerful mage. He also knew she was strong enough to face any foe. She was the one who always got the guild out of their worst situations after all. It was better then what Bix and his family were going through. They didn't even know where Emzadi was.

Laxus hadn't seen the little spitfire since just before he had been stuck on Tenrou. Circumstances had always kept him busy when she was visiting Bix, but he was still worried about her. He could remember how she used to trail behind him when he would visit her family acting as his grandfather's liaison to White Sea, but really bringing them info on Bix. The little girl had even tried sneaking into his cabin once planning to run away just so she could go see her big brother. And when he caught her she had tried to threaten him to take her with him anyway by burning all his hair off.

He wanted to help Bix and his family so badly. Needed to see for himself that the little spitfire who used to stay glued to his side at every visit was safe. Laxus hated not being able to be there for Bix. But his guild needed him and Gajeel was discreetly going through his own contacts left in the dark just to see if there was any rumors about adult female slaves about ready to be sold. Cobra was doing the same with Meredy as his back up. But there had been nothing. Unlike Emzadi's family though something in Laxus told him the little spitfire was alright. They would find her alive. There was just something keeping her from reaching out to them.

Sighing he made the call to Blondie's team ordering them home. Cutting Erza off when she tried to protest, "Lucy is a strong woman if she needs to do something alone we will let her."

"She's not supposed to be alone!"

"Lucy's never alone. Her spirits can open their gates on their own and will protect her. Sometimes we just need to do things on our own. If she needs us she will call. Now come home, if any of you even think about going after her I will disband Team Natsu permanently. We need to show her we trust her judgement, or she might even disband your team all on her own."

"We'll be home in the morning Master Laxus. Erza and I will make sure that Natsu and Gray listen to your orders when they wake up."

At least Wendy was still sensible enough. He hoped once she fully matured as a dragon slayer that she wouldn't become as unbearable as the male slayers. Or else his guild would get even harder to run in the future.

Yes this is another new work before I've finished a Dragon's Fate, but this is my NaNoWriMo I was originally not going to post this until NaNoWriMo is over and this work is complete. But I've realized that sometimes I hit roadblocks without feedback from my fans and with the time constraint and word count needed for NaNoWriMo I could do with some feedback. So please be honest and tell me what you think. I'll post the next chapter tomorrow.