Chapter 1

I'm fine

Her head hurts. She'd been having an headache for the entire week. All she'd been doing was sleep, eat and whine about how much it hurt. Still, she was going to the guild today. If there was something she hated, it was worrying her friends.

When she got out of bed she felt a cold shiver along the sides of her back. It made her nauseous, so she ran to the bathroom just in case, but nothing happened. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she wanted to scream. She looked terrible. Her hair was such a mess - closer to a rats nest, she smelled like a sweaty sock and she had thick, black bags underneath her eyes.

She tried smiling, but she only looked sicker and way more tired than before.

"Argh.. I can't go to the guild looking like this.." She ruffled her hair, something that only made it look a lot worse - if that was even possible.

"I'm taking a shower.. maybe it'll help a bit.." She forced her gaze away from the mirror and started removing her clothes. With a sigh, she went into the bathtub and felt the warm embrace of the heated water.

She really didn't know what was the matter with her, but she knew that it didn't feel comfortable. Nor could she find the courage to ask Wendy for help, she didn't want to worry the girl after all. Especially if it ended up being something minor, like a cold. But she knew her friends would always be there for her, no matter what, and that left a comforting warmth in her heart.

Friends.. So this is how it feels.. She smiled at her thoughts while getting out of the bathtub, which she regretted instantly. It was like everything shifted and the world turned upside-down. Something made it's way up her throat and she ran over to the toilet and began to puke.

When she realized what she was vomiting, she started to cry.

Blood. A lot of it too. The mere sight was enough to bring a grown man to his knees, so it surprised her she didn't faint.

She was a complete mess with blood dripping from her lower lip. "Not good.. I need to get my medicine.." And with that she hurried to the kitchen and started rummaging through all the trays and cabinets. In the end she found a little bottle of plastic and turned bottle upside down, but not a single pill fell into her hand. It's empty! She mentally screamed inside of her aching head.

She stumbled over to the bed in distress. "I need to get to the doctor.. he may have something for me.. And I still have time.. its only.." She let her eyes fall upon the clock hanging a few feet away. "9.." She got up slowly, she had to hurry.

With slightly shaky fingers she got her keychain out and looked for the one key that could help the best in the situation.

"Open, gate of the maiden.. Virgo!" She shouted, her voice cracked at the end and she ended up bending over with extreme coughs. A flash of light shone in front of her, and soon enough, the maid with pink hair stood in front of her. Virgo stood there with eyes filled with worry as she looked at her key holder.

"Princess?"

"Hey Virgo.. I need you to take me to a doctor.." Lucy managed to say in-between the coughs.

"As you wish." Virgo picked her up, carrying her in her arms then running full speed, though, what Lucy didn't know was where Virgo was taking her.

Natsu had been sitting at a bar stol in silence while drinking a glass of water when the guild-doors slammed open. At the door stood none other than Virgo, one of Lucy's celestial spirits, in her arms laid a very-tired-looking Lucy.

"We're here, Princess!" She exclaimed in an inside voice, and Lucy lifted her head up to see the guild; her family and friends, staring at her with curiosity. At the moment she was glad she had taken the time to put on some clean clothes before leaving. Virgo let her on her feet on feet and she turned towards Virgo. She was too far away from him to tell what they were whispering about clearly, but he was happy to see her. It had already been a week since their last meet. He'd gone to her house, but she'd told him she didn't feel up for anything, so he'd left her alone for the time being.

Virgo disappeared in a flash and left a smiling Lucy by the door. She quickly spun around and faced the rest of the guild with a grin as she shouted.

"Good morning!" The guild laughed and shouted 'good morning' back to her, which only caused her smile to grow. She started walking towards the bar where Natsu was seated and sent him a warm smile. He grinned back at her, happy for her arrival. She sat down next to him and turned towards Mirajane, who was washing a plate while facing them.

"Welcome back Lucy, we were wondering where you were!" She smiled to her.

"Heheh.. Yeah.." Her smile seemingly disappeared for a few seconds, then reappeared again: but it seemed more forced this time around. "So what can I get you?" Mira smiled while getting ready to take an order, she didn't seem to notice Lucy's weird behavior. "I ate before coming here, so I'm fine!" Mira nodded and picked up a beer glass.

"So, what have you been doing that was more important than the guild?" Natsu saw her flinch at the question, and almost regretted asking when he noticed how she paled. But he was slightly annoyed at her for kicking him out for two days.

"I.. Uhm.. Needed a beak.." She said in a slightly nervous tone. He got a bit closer so he could smell her scent: strawberries and vanilla. But that wasn't all there was, there was something else too, something he couldn't identify completely. But he knew he didn't like it, it smelled like vomit or blood.

"Are you okay, Luce?" He asked, concerned about the blonde's well-being. Before she could answer she was interrupted by a familiar feminine, yet powerful voice. "It's good to have you back Lucy, we started to get worried!" The scarlet haired woman, also known as Erza, said.

"Of course! No one can ignore a guild mate they haven't seen in a few days!" Gray said from behind Erza, Juvia hung onto his left arm like an unbreakable rope like always. Lucy stiffened a laugh, it was hoarse and a bit cracked, but still warm and welcoming. While Natsu started telling Lucy about how Happy had tried to charm Charla with a fish again, Erza leaned forward and sniffed the blondes hair.

"You smell different today, new shampoo?" Natsu could tell Lucy tensed, but she hid it well with another fake smile. "Yeah.. I dislike it though, so I'm gonna return to my normal shampoo!" Erza was just about to ask another question when Lucy was tackled out of her stol by something blue.

"Lucyyyy! I was soooooo worried!" The blue haired girl whined while hugging her. "Don't worry Wendy! I'm back and better than ever!" The small dragon slayer sniffed the blonde just like how Natsu had earlier. "You smell like blood and.. Puke!" She shouted while getting off the older woman, and in the moment Lucy's smile fell a little. But she brushed it off with laugh. "Must be the clothes.. Don't worry though, I'm okay!" The blunette didn't seem to believe her, but nodded her head anyways.

The conversation went on but was interrupted when Lucy started coughing really hard. Without any hesitation she stormed off, but not before waving her hand as a sign for them to continue on without her. Lucy bolted for the bathroom.

Lucy ran as fast she could manage in her condition, with a hand over her mouth and the warmth of blood rushing out in-between each cough. After a few seconds she finally reached the bathroom door, but crashed into something, rather someone. She fell backwards, onto her butt.

"Hey Lu-chan!" Levy smiled while reaching her hand down to help Lucy get back up. Lucy gladly took it and was helped up by her best friend. But before the conversation could go on, more blood made it's way to her mouth. Lucy only bowed as an apology then ran straight to a toilet stall and closing it behind her.

With tears brimming the corners of her eyes she stood on her knees over the toilet, blood being coughed up into the clean water and turning it red. Over her distress Lucy heard a knock, then another one. "Lu-chan?"

Oh no.. She thought to her self, knowing she'd gotten herself wrapped up in a difficult situation. Levy were smart enough to piece two and two together, and Lucy were aware that she couldn't fool her. But that didn't mean she wouldn't try. "Y-Yes?" She answered with her hoarse voice.

"Are you okay?!" Levy's voice rose, filled with worry for her best friend. There was no answer. Lucy was still thinking of what to say. "I'll go get Wendy!" Lucy heard Levy starting to run off, so without thinking she opened her mouth. "WAIT! I'M OKAY!" Lucy blurted out, desperate to stop she did, Levy stopped. "Are you sure?" Disbelief in the voice that asked, but Lucy knew Levy wouldn't run off again.

"Yes! I'm perfectly fine!" She chuckled, then started coughing again, luckily there was no blood this time. "Could you tell Mira and everyone I'm going home for the day? But I'll be back tomorrow."

"Of course, Lucy! See you tomorrow!" Then, the blunette ran off, Lucy still hiding behind the stall wall with a relieved sigh. She flushed the toilet, washed her hands and face before finding the key she needed. "Open, gate of the maiden.. Virgo!" She whispered the words with the blood taste in her mouth and for the second time that day, Virgo appeared.

"Can you dig a hole and take me to my appartement? And please fix the hole afterwards." Virgo nodded then started working. And not soon after, Lucy could finally rest on her bed, paler than before with another spirit in front of her. "Capricorn.. I need you to go to the drugstore and buy.. medicine.." He nodded and went out, and Virgo came walking out from the kitchen with a bowl of soup in her hands.

"I made you some soup, princess!" She placed it on the nightstand next to Lucy before starting to fade away. "Thanks.." Lucy smiled at the disappearing spirit, who smiled back while waving. Soon after, Capricorn appeared to give her the pills. "You should go see Wendy, miss Lucy." He tried convincing her, but Lucy refused to worry her friends, especially if it really did turn out to just be a minor thing and she'd just been over reacting all along. "I'm fine, the last thing I need... Is my friends worrying!" He smiled before disappearing in the warm light. "Stay safe, miss Lucy!" He bowed, then disappeared completely.

"I always do.." She muttered to herself before digging in on the soup. It was warm.

I decided to keep writing here too, but I'm rewriting my chapters! (: Hope it's better now :D

-Nofir

-Nofir