A/N: AU(ish) fic, set in a world of magic and all. Watch out! Several changes for making it more easy to read and makes sense.

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail will always belong to the respective owner(s).

6 months prior...

"Natsu! Happy! Let's go take a quest, okay? Uhm, I wonder what kind of quest we're going to take...?"

"Uh... Sorry Lucy, but I have decided on a quest."

"Well, that's great! See, what kind of job we're going to take?"

"...Sorry."

"...Natsu? What's wrong?"

"Lucy, this time I want to go alone with Happy. It's a dangerous one so..."

"...Oh! It's alright. I understand."

"Sorry, Lucy..."

"It's okay, Happy! Don't look like that. You know I rather take easy quests."

"Really? Thanks Lucy."

"Sooo what kind of quest is that? Is it truly dangerous?"

"Well... Yeah. I'm no, we're searching Igneel, Lucy. There is a clue about where he is about. And I can't help to find out!"

"For how long?"

"I can't predict it well... Maybe, a year? Or half of year if I can make it..."

"I see. Please be careful, both of you!"

"We promise that we will bring a souvenir, so wait for us, 'kay?"

"Okay...!"

4 months earlier...

"Yo! Lucy, what are you doing here?"

"Oh! Don't scare me like that, Gray!"

"Oi, be careful with your hands! It hurts!"

"Oops, sorry. Well, anyway, welcome back! It's been a while!"

"Thanks! So what are you doing here?"

"Oh that. I'm searching for an easy quest to pay my rent this month."

"Where's that fire brain? He usually goes along with you."

"...He's going on a dangerous quest with Happy. Since it is rather dangerous, he rather not to take me along then."

"Hmm? That's very rare of him, actually. Are you guys fighting or something?"

"No, it's nothing like that. I don't like hard quests, so I declined it this time."

"Then, are you going to take another quest alone then?"

"...I haven't decided it yet."

"You know," he paused as he grabbed a quest paper on the upper quest board and gave it to Lucy, "This quest isn't difficult and well-paid as well. You can do it easily on your own, Lucy."

"Yeah, thanks for the advice. Have you take a quest? If you're free, want to do it with me?"

"...Ah, sorry Lucy. I've taken a long term quest."

"...I see. For how long?"

"Hmm... If I'm not wrong, around half a year or so. I might went home earlier if I had finished the quest. Why?"

"Ah, I'm just asking. Anyway, be careful, Gray."

"Yosh. I'll see you later then. Do your best, Lucy."

"...Yeah."

2 months prior...

"Welcome back, Erza. How's the quest? Is it difficult?"

"Yeah, but not really. I just need to kick off their heads, that's all."

"...Oh then, are you free today?"

"Yeah, but until 9 AM. I'm going to meet the clients of my quest."

"You had taken another quest? That's... fast!"

"Yeah. I can't help but to do something useful. They're quite punctual, so I can't afford to late at the meeting."

"I see..."

"Is there something wrong, Lucy? You know, I can always help you if you're in a trouble."

"No! I'm okay. Actually I want to ask you to do a quest together."

"Too bad. Maybe next time, Lucy? I'm sorry I can't do the quest with you this time. The clients inquire me to do it alone."

"...Sure! Oh, it's almost 9 AM, Erza. Hurry to the clients! Be careful!"

"Yeah. You be careful on your quest too. There's Natsu, Gray, Happy or the other at the Guild, right? You should ask them to come with you."

"...I will."

Lucy woke up herself from a terrible nightmare which haunted her sweet, peaceful dreams. It's been a while that she had that nightmare. That very nightmare where she saw everyone left her, just because she was weak. In that dream, they had gone to different paths without looking back at her. It's painful to her to be the one who constantly watched them left. All because that she was weak, even though Caprico had trained her this past months, Lucy couldn't help but ask him more training to undergo.

'I want to be strong like everyone, too. I hate being like this.' She clutched her tip of pajama. Her naïve thought kept resounding in her head all over, but that was all she could hope. She went to turn on the light and searched a glass of water to calm her nerves.

She is completely aware that she isn't as strong as Natsu. The thought of her close friend made her smiled wryly. The infamous Fire Dragon Slayer is now one of a S-Class magic user. She was very happy for him, God knows how long he had dream about the promotion. He was currently going out from dangerous missions along with Happy, searching for Igneel. Lisanna is constantly worry about him, Mira said teasingly, but their relationship isn't progressing at all. In fact, Natsu was getting too close to her, something Lucy disagreed with, since his actions gave her several envy stares from Lisanna. Natsu is still Natsu after all.

Not only Natsu, Gray is stronger as well. For he had also recently being promoted as one of a S-Class magician. Actually, he was just barely lost to Natsu last 2 years; but he trained and accepted a lot of job the next year. Juvia was crying for the next two days; she said because her Gray-sama was very far now. Gray was just grinning his usual famous sly grin and challenged her to be S-Class mage, which caused Juvia to train the hardest now. Lucky for her. But that's not going to stop Juvia gave her infamous murder stares when Lucy grew too close with her Gray-sama.

Erza is still very strong, she is one of the strongest mage over the Fairy Tail now, apart from Master, Gildarts and Laxus. Ever since her last meeting with Jellal, she had grown more mature now and in fact, whether she recognized it or not, some of Fairy Tail mages thought that her sisterly-figure of Fairy Tail had developed into a motherly one. Sometimes she went on a long-term mission, but gladly, most of the missions she had taken was easily dealed with since she went back uninjured. Lucy was very glad for her friend.

Three of them had now on their own missions. Tough missions, Lucy recalled. It's been 6 months since they went. Lucy wondered on how they had changed.

Truthfully, Lucy had taken her first difficult mission alone, but she failed it miserably. The job was only to retrieve an old artefact from a mage. She won triumphantly against her, before she passed out on the ground. However, the artefact had suspiciously gone missing with the mage when Loki came back to human world. And such, she failed on the mission.

Since that, she is prohibited to take hard quests by both her Celestial Spirits and Makarov. Since that very incident, Lucy haven't summoned any of her Celestial Being friends...

In the midst of the Guild, there was a commotion right in front of the Guild's board. There stood Lucy and her fellow Celestial Spirit, Loki. Everyone stopped their activities to watch their fight. Even Levy just stood there, speechless.

"It's not fair! I want to do this quest, Loki!" Lucy yelled at Loki, who looked troubled.

He sighed desperately, "Lucy, it's too hard for you. Please understand this. We don't want you to get badly injured like last time!"

"I promise I won't get hurt this time! So please...?"

"No. Our decision is final."

"...I hate you Loki! You don't understand my feelings at all!" Lucy shouted in despair as she ran outside.

"Lucy, wait-!"

In the end, she was the last one remaining in Team Natsu...

This thought alone made her shivers and hurriedly shook her head, before she turned off the light. She then went back to her bed to sleep. Before went back to sleep, she mumbled slowly.

"I want to get stronger so I can take missions again with everyone."

She didn't know that her single wish had come true the next moment in a very bad way...

Natsu had just go back home to Magnolia almost in the middle of the night after doing some tough jobs. Ever since he had promoted into S-Class mage, he promised to himself to keep searching for Igneel. There are some clues, but then, they weren't that much of help after all. All he had been found is, there was only very few of dragons left in Earthland, however they weren't as kind as Igneel, but wild ones. So Natsu had to smack some of their heads for they came into senses.

Beside him, Happy was flying merrily of the thoughts of going home to Fairy Tail, or specifically, meeting Charle. The female exceed was, in fact, missing his presence in the guild, even though she was shy to accept the fact. Natsu chuckled as he patted Happy's head kindly.

"What's wrong, Natsu?" The exceed looked at its best friend, or partner to be exact.

"Sorry, I kinda have something to do. Mind going ahead?" Said Natsu with a grin plastered on his face.

"Aye!" Happy's eyes getting bigger for obvious reason. Actually, with or without he replied, the exceed had gone flying fast to the direction of the very guild.

"Sheesh, that Happy! After traveling nonstop by feet, I thought he wants to sleep early..." Being Natsu, he opted walking than going with train, or anything that moves since he had that annoying motion sickness. He chuckled lightly. However, being Natsu Dragneel, he was denser than anyone could be. "Well, he misses Fairy Tail that much, huh..."

Being alone gave Natsu some time to think of everything he had done this far. He repeatedly thought of his dear foster (dragon) father, his comrades at Fairy Tail, his foes, and somehow, he ended up thinking about his team members.

'It's been a long time, three? No, no, no... Err, five months since I've been away. Quite long, huh?' Natsu thought in his head. 'How's everyone in Guild... How's Lucy? We left her back at the Guild. Guess she didn't show it, but she might be quite upset...'

Thinking deep in his head, Natsu suddenly realized he was passing Strawberry Street, the very place Lucy's rented house was placed.

'I'll pay her a visit... Though, she might had been sleeping. But it's not that hurt to check...' Natsu thought as he walked casually to Lucy's apartment.

'Well, I'm right! She had already been sleeping now.' He thought as he passed her apartment with the lights off. He was suddenly surprised to see lights from Lucy's room, which was just turned on.

'Weird. Is this just me or Lucy is getting weirder?' Natsu tilted his head in wonder. Not long after that, the light went off. Natsu couldn't help but wonder, 'Did she get a nightmare... Or something'?

Out of curiosity, he had entered Lucy's apartment, by none other from window. He usually went in by spare key, but he was too lazy to take it from the guild. 'Careless girl. What if she got a thief? Oh well, if she wasn't this careless, I couldn't enter anyway...' He thought amusely.

Natsu slowly went to Lucy's bedroom. 'Slowly, Natsu. Or she'll wake up and smack your head!' Natsu shudder in his thought. In his mind, even though Erza was much, much powerful than Lucy, when Lucy was angry, she was almost tenth times scarier than Erza. Lucy is actually quite powerful, but she sometimes underestimated herself.

Last time Natsu went here, he was an urge to sleep, and he ended up on her bed, sleeping next to her. Happy was also there as well, but unlike Natsu, he was sleeping peacefully on the sofa, making him free from Lucy's wrath in the next morning she woke up.

When Natsu arrived in her bedroom, Lucy was sleeping soundly and peacefully. She, being a heavy sleeper, didn't sense Natsu's presence at all. Being Natsu, he stared to sleeping Lucy before he looked around her room. The books were many now, but the layout of the bedroom didn't change much in Natsu's last memories.

'Hmm, not much changes...' A smile crept up Natsu's face, when he found his photograph, along with Erza, Gray, Happy, and Lucy were smiling in front of Fairy Tail guild, on her desk board. Not just him, a lot of people were added on her desk board, heck even Gajeel and Laxus were there! But of course, the one Natsu looked more were the ones which had his teammates on, remembering their adventures together. The smile formed on his lips when he realized that his photos were, in fact, the most of all, including Happy.

"No! Don't leave! Please...!" Lucy's rumblings jolted Natsu. His heart couldn't stop beating so fast in any minute. What if Lucy found out that he was here? Nevertheless, she turned out to see Lucy, still sleeping, but supposedly she was having a nightmare.

"Oi, Lucy?" Natsu's hand reached out to her face, hoping to wake her up from her unpleasant dream, whatever that might be. He wasn't even think of her punishment later, if she woke up. His first priority was to wake her up, he determined to do so.

"...Cold? Lucy, wake up! She's so cold-!" Natsu was bewildered-Lucy was looking very pale? Did she get a cold? He got to call a doctor fast! But, is there even any doctor who was still open in this kind of hour? Natsu's thoughts were in disarray.

"Damn! Hang in there, Lucy!" Natsu brought her in his arms before leaving her apartment in a hurry. He didn't care about anything anymore. All in his head was just bring Lucy to a doctor. However, there isn't any doctor who was still widely awake in this kind of hour. So he chose to go to the guild and asked a certain Sky Dragon Slayer.

Lucy opened her eyes just to find herself in a white room. There are no furniture, no lamps, and no doors. It's just empty, lonely room. The white paints look nothing but sickening more and more as she saw them.

Suddenly, someone spoke like a ghastly wail, "Do you want to get stronger?" It sounded dramatic as it echoed the white, door-less room.

"...Who are you?" Lucy was hesitant to answer.

The voice chuckled lightly, "It is painful to be left alone, don't you think so too?"

Lucy was left speechless. What did she/he know about her feelings?

"Humans are such pitiful beings."

"Who- who are you! Show yourself! I'm not afraid of you!" With its statement, Lucy immediately felt scary. She braved herself up to yell that one.

"Everyone's far away..." The voice paused a moment for dramatic way, "No one will look at me." The voice then used Lucy's voice, "I'm alone."

"Shut up! Who are you!" Lucy felt angrier than ever. How dare that being used her voice!

"Isn't that what you are thinking?" The voice replied with mocking cackles.

Lucy immediately shouted to defend herself, "...NO! I'm not thinking about that!"

"You're lying. I can see it in your eyes." The voice said sternly.

"No! No! Everyone's here with me! Stop talking like you know everything!" Lucy shouted in despair.

"You're crying, child of human."

"...Eh?" Lucy didn't feel hot tears are forming out from the corners of her eyes.

"Fear not. Unlike humans, I won't tell to anyone. I appreciate secrets." The voice said gently as it reassured Lucy.

"...Everyone's... They're gone on their own paths. It's just- I just want to go with them too!"

"I understand. If you intend to be stronger, I can lend you my power."

Lucy replied slowly, "...How? Who are you exactly?"

"The name's Cigma Revowolf. Pray yourself upon me, and I will grant you your deepest desire, with one condition." With that, it revealed a little of itself. It was so large and quite big. Lucy wondered herself. It looked almost like a long eel.

"...And what will the condition be?" Lucy replied hastily.

"Sharp, aren't you?" The voice cackles lightly.

Lucy thought before saying, "...I was taught to be careful of sweet words." She was careful with what she was going to say since she already felt that it was not an ordinary being.

The voice replied without no difficulties, "I will take your emotion, your expression. In other words, your very heart. You won't be able to suffer anything, feel anything."

"That's-!"

The voice interrupted her, "After all, it is not much a fuss about it, right? You will gain what you want."

Lucy was speechless for a second before something flashed in front of her mind. It was her fragment of memories back there. It showed the first time Lucy went to Fairy Tail.

"Hey, Natsu...!" Lucy tugged his scarf a little.

"What is it Lucy? You're interrupting my fight!" He was bewildered at her.

"Hey, is this really Fairy Tail? We're not mistaking it with other guild, right?"

"Hahaha! You're such a weirdo, Lucy! Of course it IS Fairy Tail! Didn't you read the name?"

"I did-! But-!" She puffed her cheeks.

"It's indeed Fairy Tail."

"Master!" Both of them shouted.

"Fairy Tail has a motto for its members. Do you know it, Lucy?"

"If I'm not wrong, Sorcerer's Magazine said that... Ah-!"

"That's right! Fairy Tail's motto is freedom of hearts and happiness with your comrades. Don't forget it Lucy..." Master gave her his serene smile which she vowed not to forget Fairy Tail's motto from that day on.

Suddenly the voice said, "Oh? It seems your celestial spirits are quite handful. Using that method of interfere!" The flashing memories are now gone in an instant.

It paused for a moment before disappearing into thin light, "I'll meet you a bit later, Lucy Heartfilia. I'm going to get rid of those pitiful Celestial Beings of yours."

Before Lucy could protest, the voice spoke, "Don't worry. I won't kill them. Just give them some warnings. And don't forget the deal."

"Natsu's kinda of late, isn't he?" Lisanna sighed as she was waiting for Natsu's return. "Are you sure he is going back here, and not to his house?" Lisanna turned her head to face Happy, who is waiting for Natsu's arrival.

"Aye! Natsu himself said that he'll catch up with me soon. He hardly broke his promise, though." Happy replied as he walked to the guild's main door.

The only ones remain are Jet, Droy, Max, Laki, Reedus, Wakaba, Macao, Cana, Mira, Lisanna, Elfman, Pantherlily, Fried, and Evergreen. Wendy just barely went home with Charle, her exceed. Surprisingly, Gajeel had gone back first with Levy; making Jet and Droy were staying gloomy at the corner. Pantherlily opted to stay here in Guild for the rest of the night, since he didn't want to interrupt Gajeel with his funny business.

Suddenly, Happy saw a figure who looks like Natsu. He seemed to bring something big in his arms. Happy flied to his direction immediately, thinking that probably Natsu brought some foods, "Natsuuu~!"

How shocking it was for Happy, for what he thought of 'big thing' Natsu carried was actually Lucy! But Lucy in Natsu's arms are actually looking very pale. "Lucy...? Natsu, why's Lucy?"

Without answering Happy's question, Natsu hurriedly went inside the guild. Lisanna exclaimed, "Gee, Natsu, you're late! I almost go back-" she paused for a moment, "-Lucy-san? Natsu, what happened to her?"

Ignoring her question, Natsu then shouted to the guild with Lucy was still in his arms, "Where's Wendy? I need her now!" All the guild mages' intentions were now all over to Natsu.

"...Natsu. Calm down. What happened to Lucy?" Mira went hurriedly to his aid.

"Mira, please, she-I couldn't stop... Her fever-" Natsu said barely. Noticing this, she quickly checked Lucy's temple. "She's very cold! How can that happen...? There's no way that she's getting cold at summer!"

She then asked warrily, "Natsu, can you please warm Lucy's temple as hot as you can? I need to check on something...!" Natsu then placed his hand to her temple, but suddenly he jerked back his hand. "...Ow!" Smoke ceased out from his hand. "My hands are turning into cold! How's that possible...!"

Without wasting any time, Mira said, "Hurry, go to the infirmary!" She paused for a moment, "Laki, prepare some hot water! Lisanna, help me to prepare the bed! Elfman, find some thick blankets! Evergreen, can you please bring Wendy here, we need her help! I'm afraid her cold-it's not normal ones we usually have..." Mira hurriedly ordered everyone around.

"Hurry Natsu!" Mira shouted. Lisanna, Happy and Natsu ran to the infirmary.

While Lisanna is making the bed, she couldn't help but wonder at the same time as well. Didn't Lucy go back home since evening? That explained her wearing pajamas. Then, why Natsu...?

"...Natsu, can you tell me why this is happening?" Lisanna asked him slowly as she making up the bed. When Natsu didn't reply immediately, she quickly added, "Uh, I mean-"

"When I arrived at her apartment," he paused for a second, "She was already sick. I don't know... I kind of trespassing her apartment, just like usual..." He then continued, "When I was about to leave, she suddenly scream in her nightmares. I then tried to wake her up, but then her body is very cold. I tried to warm her up, but I couldn't."

"...Don't push yourself, Natsu. This isn't your fault. Lucy-san will be alright once Wendy-chan come," she tried to assure his pain at least a little before then added, "The bed's ready."

"Thanks, Lisanna." Without noticing her muffled voice, Natsu put Lucy gently on the bed and covered her with a blanket. Happy sat next to her bed, looking as worry as he could be.

Lisanna immediately replied with an understanding smile, "I'll leave you guys here. Please look after her, I'll go help Mira-nee dowstairs." She then exited infirmary with two nods of theirs.

"Careful! Hot water's coming!" Not long after Lisanna left infirmary, Laki appeared from the door. She was bringing a piece of cloth along with a basket full of hot water.

"I'll put this on her head," Laki said to him who looked concerned, "That's right, Mira said you should stop warming her with your body temperature, unless you want to get hurt."

Natsu didn't hear, or simply put, didn't want to release Lucy's hand. He was very afraid she'll disappear in anytime he blinked. Just like Igneel. And nearly like Lisanna, even though she went back to Earthland. 'This time,' Natsu told himself, 'This time, I won't let go of this hand'.

"Natsu...?" Laki asked slowly.

"Nuh-uh. Natsu won't hear you. He's worried about Lucy very much." Happy shook his head with his ears pointed down. He, too, was very concerned with Lucy.

"I understand, Happy. Can you please help me change the cloth once a while, then? I'm still boiling hot waters downstair." Laki replied with a gentle smile.

"Aye! Let me help!" Happy said cheerfully. Laki then exited the infirmary.

Knock, knock!

"Wendy, someone's knocking the door." Charle was sipping her tea and reading a magazine, as the door of Wendy's dorm knocked by. "It must be from that guild. Don't they know what time is it? Wendy needs to sleep!"

"Sorry, about that Charle. But can you please open it? I'm still changing." Wendy replied inside of her bedroom. She apparently just changed into normal pajamas to sleep.

"Sure. I have nothing to do anyway." Charle elegantly walked to the door and opened it up. In front of the door surprisingly, withstood a woman with deadly medusa eyes; Evergreen. That amber haired woman was standing impatiently judging at what she said, "How rude of you for taking so much time just to open the door. Someone's dying right now."

Even though she said that casually, Charle had quickly reacted, "Who? How?"

Evergreen, despite of her usual behavior, turned out that she was worried as well. "Lucy Heartfilia. Abnormal colds. Mira asked me to bring Wendy."

"I understand. I'll tell Wendy right away!" Charle replied. She was looking very worried not because Lucy was one of Fairy Tail members, but she was also the one who invited them to come to Fairy Tail. Not to mention she occasionally helped them in some missions together and encouraged Wendy in several occasions.

"No need, Charle. I heard it. Lucy-san is sick, right? Let's go now!" Wendy appeared next to Charle. She was wearing pajamas, but she seemed care less about that. Charle and Evergreen nodded in understanding and then went out in a hurry.

Meanwhile in Celestial Spirit World...

Virgo, the Maiden, looked up to see beautiful stars and graceful moon. However, in spite of the amazing view, she looked grim.

"Virgo, don't use that face." Loki, the Lion, patted her shoulder gently. When Virgo turned her head to see him, she was taken aback to see everyone from Celestial Beings were there behind Loki.

"Brother... Everyone..."

"Don't give up on Lucy. Keep the faith." Scorpio said gently.

"Yes. That kid is stronger than we thought she be. That, at least I know. After all, I'm the longest with her, you know?" Aquarius replied to her with a wink. It's a rare one to see her gentle smile, but she did.

"Lucy-sama is strong, quick-witted like her late mother, Layla-sama. So then let's just hope to the stars to help her survive this. Loki, in that time, please be there for our dear master." Caprico turned her head to the stars and Loki respectively.

"I'll do it. I'm responsible for her actions." Loki said desperately..

"Her wish- no, she didn't mean that way. She wasn't thinking clearly." Aries patted his shoulder gently. "That's why, you should not feel that way, Loki."

Loki smiled forcefully, "...Yeah. I'm off, everyone..."

"We're back!" Two silhouettes came up to the guild's door. Instead of the usual chirped situation, they were greeted by whispers.

"...Hey, hey! We're back faster than we should! No 'welcome back' for us?" Gray shouted in disbelief. Where did that cheerful, stupid commotion of Fairy Tail go off?

"Erza! Gray! You're back!" Mira shouted as she was in hurry doing some preparations. Lisanna and Laki were busy doing some chores.

Erza and Gray looked at each other before Erza spoke, "What's with this commotion, Mira? Did something happen?"

Gray looked around, but he didn't find a certain pink haired Dragon Slayer. He scoffed, "That fire brain sure is late! He said he was going back at guild tonight!"

"Erza, Gray. It's about Lucy- something is wrong with Lucy." Mira said worriedly.

"What's wrong with Lucy!" They both shouted at the same time.

"Lucy- she- she was in a critical condition...!"

"Mira-san! Where's Lucy-san?" Wendy arrived quick at the guild. She was still wearing a pajama with a thick leather coat, because she came in a hurry. Charle was behind her, as Evergreen was too.

"Sorry Wendy-chan, you had to come here this late. Hurry this way!" Mira exclaimed as she guided her to the infirmary. Gray and Erza looked at each other and exchanged firm nods. They then hurriedly went to the infirmary.

Loki was sure he was there. Lucy's inner heart and mind. But why it's empty? A white room with no furniture or anything else. It looked so pure, so fragile, and delicate, as one said. However, it looked very lonely as well.

"Lucy?" Loke aimlessly walked around the white room.

More and more he saw it, it looked so sickening. At first, he thought that with the bright, cheerfulness of Lucy, her inner mind should be bright as well. He imagined it to be around warm sunset brown or sky blue with green landscapes.

And he knew why it changed there then. A being resided in her mind. That very being was trying to corrupt her mind.

One thing suddenly flashed his mind. Lucy. He needs to save Lucy right away!

He concentrated before he realized one spot with a strange, overflowing energy. With that, he ran towards where the energy was.

"Lucy-san!" Wendy exclaimed as she went inside the infirmary. She saw Natsu was sitting next to her bed, as he was trying to warm her hand with his hand. Natsu looked at Wendy and said, "You've gotta help her, Wendy."

"I'll do as much as I can do. I promise, Natsu-san!" Wendy went to the next of her bed and put her delicate fragile hand to Lucy's temple.

"Lucy!" "Lucy, what happened-" Gray and Erza shouted at the moment they arrived.

"Fire-Brain! What on earth is happening to Lucy!" Gray grabbed natsu's vest harshly.

"Gray! Put him down now! This is not the time to fight!" Erza scolded Gray with a low voice. As much as she wanted to yell, she couldn't do it in front of sick Lucy.

"I don't know! I just barely went back home- and she's already like that..." natsu hid his face, unsure for what to say. And both Gray and Erza went silent as well.

"It's been 2 months since I saw her, but the last time I saw her she was okay... Aren't you guys supposed to be near her?" Erza mumbled aimlessly.

"...Huh?"

"...Erza? What are you talking about?"

Both Natsu and Gray were looking at her strangely. As if Erza's last whole sentence was wrong.

"Yeah. Actually, around 2 months ago she asked me to do a quest with her. But unfortunately I already got an S-Class mission to do. Since I couldn't, she said she'll do it with you guys..."

"There's no way that could happen! Erza, both this Fire-Brain and I went to another quest months before that! We just barely went home today. Didn't you already know that?"

"Eh...!"

"Strange, I remembered that she asked me the same too. That time she was standing at the quest board alone. I just barely went back from a mission, that was around after I took this long term mission so I rejected. It was around 4 months ago or so..." Gray looked at the side, as he was trying to avoid everyone's gazes at him.

Silence. no one spoke any word, their busy thinking in their own mind. Mira looked worried at them, knowing what truly happened at Lucy when they were gone; but she decided to keep it quiet for now, for several reasons. Meanwhile, Wendy, Charle, and Happy were busy examining Lucy carefully. Wendy then broke the tension, unaware of the whole situation.

"She's so cold! 30 degree celcius... Low blood pressure and her heart beats slowly. I can't tell the disease with this low information." Wendy narrowed her eyebrows. "Is there any other symptoms?"

"I can't warm her hand using my dragon slayer fire magic. A smoke ceased out from both of our hands then. But only my hands were hurt! Her hands were fine-like nothing were happened, though suddenly her hands turned colder than ever be." Natsu said to Wendy as he recalled. "She's having a nightmare too. Even though I budged her a lot, she won't wake up."

"...Isn't this symptoms!" Wendy exclaimed as she reached a conclusion. "It's not a normal ilness, probably like one's life-time curse! There's no way Lucy-san could ever get this curse!" Mira nodded a bit, her eyes looked grim.

"Yeah, I researched too... She is suffering Magic Overflows." Mira said as she looked grim. At the time she said this, Erza was quite shocked as well.

Erza shook her head, "There's no way! That curse had supposedly gone, right? Since X777, there aren't any people who suffered that curse!"

"I know. That's why it's weird. Wendy-chan, is there any way you could safe her? Without harming her minds?" Mira asked.

"I personally don't know much about it, but I'm positive that-"

"Hey! What's Magic Overflows!"

Natsu and Gray both asked, almost shouted. It seemed that they were almost forgotten about them.

"...Natsu-san and you too Gray-san, please listen carefully. Magic Overflows is a rare ilness, a curse to be exact, which attacks the patient's minds. It increases magical powers inside her body; that does explain why you can't warm her hands, Natsu-san. However it won't stop until it destroys the patient's mind. She can be cured, I assure you," Wendy paused a moment, she exchanged a glance to Mira and Erza who nodded slowly for approval, "However, in exchange of that, she'll be most likely end up heartless for the rest of her life. In other words, she won't feel anything. Although she would have an enormous wave of magical energy resides in her body. She's unbeatable as a mage, but she won't have heart, like a doll..."

"...Is there any way to prevent that!" Natsu asked hastily.

"Right! We don't want her end up like that!" Gray replied.

"I'm not sure about this disease either. Grandine hadn't told me how to cure this kind of disease. How about we asked Gran- Porlyusica-san?" Wendy looked down. She's supposed to be the Sky Maiden, who can cured almost everything, except death. But now? She felt helpless.

'But feeling helpless at a time like this won't help! I must save Lucy-san!' She cheered herself up, not wanting everyone get down.

Just now, Loki was sure that he saw Lucy briefly, like an after image of her. The question is; where is she? He had been wandering in this white void for a while now. He had tried to scream and yet he didn't receive any answer from Lucy.

"Damn! Just where is Lucy?" He mumbled.

Suddenly, a gist of wind blew in front of Loki's face and whispered like a ghost's wail, "In front of you."

"LUCY?"

"Heheh…Hehehe…HAHAHAHA!" A person, supposedly be a woman, laughed creepily. Loki unconsciously drew back a second before he calmly stated after regaining his composure.

"…Who are you?

"I don't know… Guess?" She provoked him. "…Leo?"

"…You're!" Loki gulped uneasily. There is only one person to call him as such! 'She's… I know her! Yet, I can't go back now. I need to save Lucy!'

"Yes?"

"You're Magic Overflow!"

"Nay, nay. I've told you, haven't I? I'm Cigma Revowolf. Don't tell me you had forgotten…Leo?" She smiled a little before she continued, "Oh well. You're just a baby boy when I met you… Either way, Lucy Heartfilia is with me."

"Give back Lucy!" Loki shouted at her.

"Not a chance." She calmly stated. "…That's what she wanted anyway."

"Eh…?"

Okay, I'm deadly tired. Nearly 6 thousand words~ it's a record! See you and review, if you like. I'll continue if any of you interested in it.