Natsu's POV

August Tenth X793

Nine Months Since Lucy Left.

His fists were in tight balls as he glanced around the guild hall, he watched as people flocked around the youngest take over mage, a woman he used to call his best friend until he heard the truth.

He'd been the only one to hear.

Eight people and three exceeds were gathered around a table, all slightly glaring at everyone who neared them.

Laki, Cana, Gray, Erza, Levy, Gajeel, Wendy, and himself had returned to normal, the only ones who knew the truth of what had occurred the past year.

His guilt ate at him day and night and he really wanted to go smack some sense into Lisanna for what she had done.

But he knew she was suffering already, her body told the tale of upcoming departure, her smell reeked of death, he knew Gajeel and Wendy smelled it to.

He couldn't think straight anymore, he was torn between helping his dying friend even though she'd caused this catastrophe or just watching as she withered away into dust.

He used to be someone who cared deeply for his nakama, his family but after what he heard only a couple weeks ago...He didn't know who he was anymore. Deep down he was sad over the state of his childhood friend, he cared for her deeply as if she was his own sister, he didn't want her to die, but she had been the cause of Lucy's tragedy, she'd made them do horrible things that caused his blonde haired best friend to leave the guild she loved.

How could he forgive that.

'Salamader, calm down or you'll roast us alive' a steely voice said from in front of him, he hadn't noticed but his temperature had skyrocketed and his current companions were sweating, except for droopy eyes of course.

'Sorry' he said as he lowered his temperature, it was hard to control when he got overly emotional. He glanced at Erza who was giving him a knowing look, he wondered if she knew about the conversation gramps had, had with Lisanna.

He watched as her eyes moved over to the youngest take over mage and a frown made its way to her face, she knew, why else would Erza be looking at Lisanna like that? Had she known from the very beginning?

He really missed his blonde friend, he wanted desperately to find her, to tell her how sorry he was that he hadn't been able to protect her from this, but he knew better than to sniff her out, gramps had told everyone that she needed time, that she would be the one to decide when to see her old friends again, he'd have a horrible punishment in place for anyone who disobeyed him. Natsu shivered at the thought of what that punishment would be.

The table that held the eight mages made passerbys choke on the depressing and angry aura, he knew what each one was feeling, guilt, sadness, rage at not being able to do anything about it. He felt it all to of course.

He hoped wherever Lucy was that she was getting better, that she was happy with whoever she was with, and also that, that person was taking care of her, protecting her...

Picturing her sad made his heart tear apart again, he just couldn't stand when she was sad, but before he'd always been by her side to make her happy again, and that made his very being hurt, not knowing how she was, if she was happy or sad, there was simply nothing he could do.

The letters they'd received had done little to reassure him of her happiness, nothing could replace seeing a happy Lucy, a letter was nothing compared to that. He tried his best to be happy, as her previous letter had wanted, but it wasn't any good, he was filled with immense sorrow, and nothing could ease that pain.

'Brats, my office. Now' he turned his head to see his tiny master pointing at the table where he sat, slowly everyone got up and walked up the stairs. For some reason it felt as if he was walking straight into a war zone.

'Why'd you call us here gramps' he asked as everyone got situated, this office was really to small for the number of people it currently held. Levy sat in Gajeel's lap to make space, and he just couldn't help but chuckle at the red faces of both mages.

'I need to tell you something, I don't know how you'll take it...' the old man said, his voice was grave and he seemed to be trembling in...anger?

'What is it old man' Gajeel barked, Natsu could already tell where this was going, they were about to be told of who casted the curse, even though he already knew, and he was pretty sure Erza at least had her suspicions.

'The curse, I know who the caster is' gramps said, his voice lowered as if he didn't actually want to discuss the topic.

'Well who is it so we can beat um up' Gray asked, his anger flaring full force. 'Your not going to like the answer' he thought to himself as he gripped the back of the chair he was standing behind.

'Before I tell you, you must promise not to do anything irrational' gramps stated in a very serious tone, everyone nodded their heads in agreement, well after Erza glared at everyone they nodded their heads.

'Its Lisanna...' Makarov whispered so quietly that he almost didn't pick it up, he noticed Gajeel and Wendy stiffen but the rest looked confused, they hadn't heard.

'Come again' Levy asked as she cupped a had over her ear to hear better.

'I said...It's Lisanna, she was the caster'

Sting's POV

August Tenth X791

Sting jumped up and down on the diving board for a brief moment before diving into the refreshing water of the guild's pool, it was almost the middle of August and they had been caught in a heatwave, his duties that included paperwork would have to wait until night time, there was just no way he could be in his office during the day.

He resurfaced and heard clapping coming from the shallow end where Lucy was sitting in the water by the steps, she held up both her hands scoring his dive when she got his attention, he grinned at her as swam closer.

'Hey Luce, water feels good today huh' he said as he reached her, she nodded enthusiastically.

'Yeah it does, it's hotter then yesterday as well' she said as she leaned back a little bit.

'You say that every day, silly girl' he chuckled as he splashed her playfully, she squealed as the water hit her and splashed him back.

'Do you have paperwork to do tonight' she asked as they both calmed down again, he nodded with a pout on his face.

'Yeah, sadly, it seems that Yukino and Rogue went overboard on one of their missions, the town's mayor requested a three page apology and one thousand jewels for damages' he said, he thought of what he should put in a three page apology, all they did was blow up a small park.

'Three pages? That's kind of overboard' Lucy laughed from beside him. 'I could help you, you know' she added on after a moment.

'Nah, it's not your job, it's mine, I couldn't push my paperwork on you' he said as he pulled her onto his lap to kiss her nose.

'You wouldn't be pushing it on me, I offered, silly' she smiled as she leaned down to grab his lips with her own.

'Fine, but only this one time, okay' he said, putting on a serious face to which she responded by giggling slightly.

'Nope, I'll help you with it forever' she sang, her voice sounded like bells as it rang through his ears, and then reality hit him, he didn't want to do paperwork forever.

'I really hope the paperwork lessens over time' he gulped and paled slightly as he imagined a sixty year old him sitting behind a desk with a stack of paperwork before him.

'Ah, it never will, the younger generation will take over and destroy everything they touch, thus giving us more paperwork' she chuckled and put emphasis on the word, 'us' he smiled softly at her.

'As long as your with me, I might be able to manage' he said slowly, almost whispering as he leaned close to her ear, nipping it when he pulled away again.

'I'll be by your side forever and always' she whispered to him.

A smile full of love was stretched across her face as he looked at her, their gazes never breaking from the others.

God how he loved this woman.