A week had passed since Nalu entered the guild. People had finally started to warm up to her. Many people asked her to join them on missions or just to hang out. Others on the streets would ask her on dates, which she would always decline immediately. She spent about everyday with Happy to keep his mind off the search for Natsu and Lucy. It looked like it was working, but she noticed every once in a while he would stare at the guildhall doors, waiting for his two friends to come through it.

It was becoming increasingly harder for Natsu and Lucy to keep lying to their friends. While physically it grew easier to operate like a regular person, mentally they couldn't remove the guilt. They wanted to tell them the truth, but it just seemed too unbelievable and crazy. Did they even stand a chance now?

Nalu was walking through Magnolia on her way back to Fairy Hills after a long day at the guild. She was so lost in thought she was barely paying attention to where she was heading.

Porlyusica returned the damaged code earlier today. Erza and Gray went to check it out.

And?

Nothing. They couldn't repair the last few digits. The trail is still cold.

I'm sure we'll figure out another way to open the door.

I sure hope so.

Nalu stopped in the middle of the street. With it being so late she wasn't bothering anybody. She blinked a few times, wondering where exactly she had ended up. Looking to the side she saw a building she recognized. She stared at the structure before her. Memories of the past in that building filled the pinkette's head. A humorless laugh came tumbling out of her lips

Look, it's my apartment.

…Luce?

We must have just walked here on impulse. How funny is that?

Lucy.

What?

You're crying.

Nalu reached up to her face. She felt the cold tears sliding down her porcelain cheeks. Instead of wiping them away she dropped her hand back to her side. Her body began to tremble as she continued to stare at the apartment.

What if... what if we never turn back?

Lucy?

What if we're stuck like this forever Natsu?

Lucy, don't say that, of course we're going to turn back to normal.

OPEN YOUR EYES NATSU! WE ARE NEVER TURNING BACK!

Nalu stumbled back slightly by the sudden outburst. Her teeth were clenched as she tried to hold back her sobs.

We are going to be stuck like this forever, cursed to share the same body for the rest of our lives! I'm not Lucy Heartfilia anymore and you're not Natsu Dragneel anymore! We're just Nalu and that's all we're ever going to be! I'm never going to finish my book! I'm never going to strengthen my magic, heck I'm never going to see Loke or Virgo or any of my spirits ever again! I'm never even going to see my reflection in the mirror again!

Nalu fell to the cobblestone path. Her tears fell from her face, creating little puddles on the floor. Natsu didn't know what brought this up. He knew she was scared but he had no idea she was this terrified of never getting her old body back. Hearing her teary voice broke his heart.

I-I, I'm never going to find that someone Natsu. I want to find someone I can spend the rest of my life with. I want someone to hold me, kiss me, and love me. I want to get married and have a family one-day. I want someone to grow old with. I want to be me again!

Nalu's arms wrapped around her body suddenly. Her sobbing grew louder and louder, but nobody came out of their homes to see what the matter was. Nalu's lips shook as she tried to control her bawling.

"B-But you are Lucy," Nalu whispered. Lucy's crying died down.

"Y-You are you, you always have been, but you're also me. This b-body we share is more than just a body. It's still us, working as a team to make it work. It's always been us Lucy, and it always will be." Nalu bit down on her lower lip. The grip on her body tightened.

N-Natsu…

"You," a raspy voice muttered behind Nalu. The girl quickly spun around. A figure in dark robes stood behind her. Her body shook, not from sadness but from fear. This person had the build of a woman but they still embodied the same creature that tried to take them a week ago.

"You are The One," it spoke through it's mask.

"The O-One?" was all Nalu could mutter out. She changed into a squatting position, ready to bolt back to the guild if she needed to.

"The 100. The one the doctors are looking for."

"100? Doctors? What are you talking about?" she demanded. While they wanted to bolt while the woman was unprepared, they needed to get as much information out of her as possible. This could be their only chance.

"You know what I'm talking about," she growled, taking a step closer to Nalu. The pinkette in response backed away, "You are no longer under the influence of The Sleep. The memories should already be returning to you."

Nalu was going to question her again, but stopped herself before she could. The dreams she had been having came to mind. The strange rooms, the devices, those two people. They were there, but she couldn't make sense of it.

"It's still fuzzy, I can't remember it all."

"You two make me sick," the woman growled. Nalu looked up at her, confusion written on her face.

"You were the lucky ones. You didn't suffer like the rest of us. At least you can show your pretty face in public. I can't even look myself in the mirror I'm so hideous. But that doesn't matter. They promised to free me. They promised to free us from this prison." Nalu's eyes widened. She jumped to her feet.

"You mean there's a way? A way to separate us?" Nalu asked hopefully. The woman took another step forward.

"They say the Voices can free us. The Voices we hear when they do their experiments are stronger than them, stronger than all." Nalu watched as a knife was pulled out from under the cloak, "It's a pity you won't get the chance to hear them again." Before she could react, the woman chucked the knife at Nalu, scratching her face.

Nalu exclaimed in pain and started bolting towards the guildhall. She could hear the woman chasing her getting closer. Another knife flew passed Nalu's head, just barely missing her ear. Nalu increased her speed as she turned the next corner. She could see the guildhall just up ahead. She smiled in relief, but that relief was short lived when she felt a knife hit and enter her leg. She collapsed on the floor.

She glanced back at the woman pursuing her. She was almost upon her. Nalu tried to army crawl towards the guild doors as fast as her arms could go. A foot collided with Nalu's back, kicking her to the side. The pinkette yelled in pain, the kick dealing more damage than she thought. She lay on the cobblestone floor in pain. The woman walked up to her, placing a foot on Nalu's stomach to keep her in place. Nalu stared at the mask wide eyed. Images flashed through her mind once more of the bright, cold, noisy place she was once in. She clenched her eyes shut, awaiting whatever the woman would do to her.

"Natsu, Lucy."

Nalu's eyes shot open. She watched as the woman who had been pursuing them fell to the ground unconscious. Towering above them now was the great Erza Scarlet with a sword in her hand. The pinkette looked to the side where she saw Gray, Levy, and Happy rushing out from the guildhall to her side.

"Nalu, are you okay?" Happy asked, landing on her lap. Nalu nodded mutely, still in shock. Everyone crowded around her, helping her to her feet. Nalu said nothing to them as they guided her into the guildhall. Her mind was in a total frenzy as she thought about all that had been revealed to her that night, but one question bothered her most of all.

Whose voice spoke to them just now?

FAIRY TAIL

The infirmary seemed bleaker than it did the day Nalu first woke up in it. The light of the moon cascaded down through the window onto Nalu's bed. Wendy had healed her wounds but Makarov thought it best that she remain there for the night. He had the woman in the mask taken down to the dungeon to be interrogated the next morning so she had nothing to fear.

But that didn't help her. She couldn't find it in her to sleep after what took place by Lucy's apartment. It was too much for her to take in all at once. Nalu sat in her bed, hugging her legs to her chest. She thought about everything the masked woman had said to her.

The One.

The 100.

The Voices.

Why can't things ever make sense? Do this and you'll turn back to normal, Natsu laughed. Lucy didn't respond like he hoped she would. She hadn't said a word to him since she broke down on Strawberry Street. He didn't like remembering that moment where Lucy was hurting and he felt helpless. He hated thinking about all the things she revealed to him and how scared she truly was. He needed to do something.

Luce, about what happened at your apartment, I wanted to-

Don't say anything Natsu, she interrupted, let me speak first. Natsu didn't respond, meaning she was free to continue.

I want to apologize Natsu. I can't imagine how uncomfortable that must have made you. This whole thing has been uncomfortable. I also want to thank you for putting up with all of this. Not a lot of guys would be able to handle this the way you have.

You don't have to thank or apologize for anything Luce. I'm always here for you, no matter what.

Silence once again overtook their mind. Nalu tightened her grip around her legs. The more Lucy thought about what happened that night the harder it became not to cry all over again.

It's just… I'm so scared right now. I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like I'm trapped with no way to escape, and even though we somehow got away from those "doctor" guys, I still feel like they have a hold on us, like they'll never let us go. They'll just keep looking for us, and trap us all over again. Treat us like that creature and the woman from today. I don't know if I'll ever be free from-

Lucy stopped. The world around Nalu froze. Lucy didn't know exactly what happened, but in a split second, something changed.

Slowly, Nalu brought a hand up to her lips. She touched their smooth surface tenderly. They felt warmer than they did before. It wasn't drastic but it was noticeable. It happened so suddenly, but it felt good; it felt right. In a way it reminded Lucy of-

A kiss?

Lucy, nothing is going to happen to you. I'm not going to let them take you again. I promise you that I'm going to free us from them and this body, and when I do I won't ever let you go.

Nalu sat in silence. Her hand slowly fell back down to her side. With Natsu's reassuring words, Lucy finally found it in her to sleep. Nalu unwrapped her legs and lowered herself back into bed. She pulled the covers up and engulfed herself in the soft sheets.

She lay there for a few moments, reflecting all that had been said between them. Lucy went back through time, to the apartment, to the sleepover, and finally to the night this all started and the question Natsu never answered. Whether he would ever give her a direct answer or not, Lucy decided that the unsaid that night could no longer be left unsaid. So with all the courage she could muster, she said it.

"Natsu," Nalu whispered aloud, "I love you."

A small smile spread across her face, her eyes drifting shut.

"I love you too, Lucy."

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I DID IT! I DID THE CONFESSION! I know there was a lot to process from this chapter but trust me, all will be revealed in due time. I hope this made your day! Review! Favorite! Follow!