Hey guys. I want to thank all of you so much because your reviews are so amazing and they have kept me up during an extremely upsetting time. Enjoy the chapter!

I do not own Fairy Tail

Rogue POV

Watching Yukino squirm normally would have been extremely entertaining to watch but Rogue had more important things on his mind.

"How much of that did you hear, Rogue?"

Rogue merely raised an eyebrow at her.

"Yeah I figured." Yukino sighed and leaned back against the wall. "So what are we going to do?"

"I think we are going to need some help." He pondered for a moment. Who would be best for this? He needed someone who could do tons of research in a short time, someone who would be equally as interested to learn about this odd magical phenomenon. Suddenly it hit him. Yukino must have come to the same conclusion because she voiced her opinion just as he did.

"Rufus!" The guild mates exclaimed simultaneously. They grinned at each other. Then Yukino had another idea.

"Maybe you should ask Minerva as well. She worked closely with Tartaros. She may know what has affected Lucy so adversely."

"So much for keeping this to yourself." Rogue teased.

"Hey since you eavesdropped you can do whatever you like and I don't have to break my word." Yukino replied. "Ah the joys of nosy dragon slayers."

Rogue snorted. He began contemplating how to approach his guild mates with this daunting task when reality set in.

"Lucy is joining Sabertooth." He said in wonder.

"Pretty sure that was already established yesterday, Rogue."

"But she's joining Sabertooth." He reiterated. "She will be here... I should do something for her!"

Yukino watched him and smiled. I've never seen him like this before, she thought. Rogue continued to bounce ideas around. Suddenly it came to him.

"Yukino can you summon Libra please? Quietly."

"Why?"

"Please, unless you can summon Lucy's spirits?" He was almost hopeful. But sadly it was not to be.

"No I can only summon those contracted to me. Very well if you insist." Yukino pulled Libra's key from her pocket. "Open Gate of Golden Scales! Libra!" Gold light flashed as a voice sounded from behind the closed bedroom door.

"Yukino? Are you still here?" Lucy called out.

Rogue looked mildly panicked and grabbed Libra's hand to pull her out of the apartment. Libra, however, was not one to be grabbed for any reason and used her gravity magic to force him to the floor. Yukino rushed to stand between the two.

"Libra please not now!" Yukino whispered hotly. "Libra I need you to accompany Rogue and help him." Libra simply stared coolly at her mistress. "Please?!"

"Very well my lady." Was the long suffering reply. Libra allowed Rogue to stand again and poor Frosch was rubbing his head from where he had been squished under his partner. They quickly made their exit while Yukino went back into Lucy's bedroom.

Lucy POV

"Yukino are you still here?" Lucy called after she had turned off her shower and dressed. She heard some scuffling outside her door, and after wrapping her hair in a towel she cautiously approached her door.

"Yukino?"

The door opened abruptly and Yukino stepped in looking rather flushed.

"Yuki what was that noise?"

"I, uh... tripped. In the hall." She responded quickly. "Yeah clumsy me. So anyway... the masquerade! You requested a masquerade and Sting has given me full creative freedom so we can do whatever you want!" Or at least I hope he will!

Lucy became very excited. But before anything else...

"Yuki you wouldn't happen to have a communications lacrima would you?" Lucy asked, resigned to her new fate. It's better though, she thought. Because now someone knows. I'm not alone anymore.

Are you sure? You are little better than a new toy. They're entertained with you for now. But they WILL get bored. And you'll be all alone all over again. What will you do then?

Yukino was speaking animatedly about her ideas for the party as she dug through her purse for her lacrima. Finally finding the small device, she went to hand it over and dropped it out of shock. Lucy had gone so pale the blue of her veins stood out against her skin. She stared into the distance, her eyes wide and unblinking.

Yukino grabbed Lucy by the shoulders and shook her gently. Lucy didn't respond and Yukino shook her a little more forcefully. The towel came loose and fell to the floor and Lucy's hair fell around her in long, wet tendrils. Lucy dropped to her knees, still awake but clearly not present.

"Lucy! Lucy! Come on I'm right here for you please!" The white haired girl was beginning to panic. She needed to help but how? She needed help! Yukino knelt down and held Lucy's hand, but searched frantically for her lacrima. Spotting it quickly, Yukino snatched up the device and used her magic to power it. Once she felt the connection she screamed, "STING! ROGUE! LUCY COLLAPSED IN HER ROOM PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!"

Yukino had contacted the guilds main lacrima in Master Sting's office. She knew the slayers would hear her cries. She prayed to any deity that would listen, that her guild mates would arrive quickly.

Sure enough, light and shadows filled the room as the Twin Dragon Slayers materialized before her. Rogue knelt behind Lucy and placed his hands on her shoulders. Sting stayed by Yukino but his gaze traveled over the vacated form of the blonde mage. It was as if all the personality that normally animated the girl had gone. Her eyes were blank and her face could have been made of marble for all the emotion it held. They all seemed at a loss.

Rogue POV

Though outwardly he appeared calm, internally the shadow dragon slayer was panicking. He had no clue how to help Lucy. What do I do?! What do I fucking do?! A small separate part of his mind wondered why and how his feelings for the girl the had grown so quickly but he couldn't worry about that now.

Suddenly the front door of the apartment burst open and footsteps raced down the hall. Orga and Rufus practically fell over themselves trying to get into the room.

"How did you know where she's been staying?" Sting queried, mildly annoyed that he had nearly been flattened by Orga.

"I could smell her you idiot." Was the Lightning God Slayers reply. "Now what happened?"

Rogue opened his mouth to answer but Yukino beat him to it. Between half-choked sobs she relayed Lucy's story from the moment Tartaros had come into play all the way to her immobile form crumpled before them. She knew Lucy wouldn't be happy about it but Yukino felt she had no choice. As the white haired girl ended the tale all of her guild mates, but Rogue, were looking at Lucy in abject horror. Rogue merely looked sad and pained.

"Rufus have you ever come across something like this? I've also noticed that this "shadow" plaguing Lucy seems to respond to my magic." Rogue spoke quickly as he pulled the wet tendrils of Lucy's hair out of her face.

Rufus, the Memory Make Mage, thought hard.

"My memory recalls something similar that I read about here in the library. As the phenomenon was not particularly interesting at the time I didn't pay attention to it. But I do know the book. I'll go-"

"No I'll go," Sting said quickly. "I can light travel there and back much faster. What is the book?"

"Ancient Curse Magic: A History. It's on the very back shelf on the top. Red leather binding, with black writing. It's huge you can't miss it."

Sting nodded and disappeared in a flash of light.

All Rogue could do was sit there and think: Please hurry!"

Ok so I'm sorry this is so short but it's been a minute and I wanted to get something out for you all. I'll make it up to you next time I promise.

Also, a special shout out to you who called yourself NoOneImportant. Please know that you are indeed very important and I value everyone's opinions and comments on my story.