Chapter Six

Her Curiosity

I pressed my lips together, stifling my laughter as Erza roughly pushed Natsu's leg from her personal space. It stayed on his side of the shared seat for a few moments, before it flopped back into her lap. Natsu's snores grew in noise the moment she opened her mouth the growl at the sleeping dragon.

"Natsu, get your leg off me."

But seeing as Natsu had been asleep for the last two hours, he didn't hear her and just opened his mouth, a rumbling noise leaving his chest that made me smile a little. Erza's eye twitched madly, before she glanced over at me, shaking her head with a look of annoyance clear on her face.

"I apologise for his lack of manners, Lucy."

I didn't want to tell her that his behaviour had kept me entertained this far, and just smiled sweetly, shaking my head in dismissal.

"It's fine, Erza. You can't really do anything about it… short of amputation." Her eyes twinkled at my words, and she sighed.

"Don't tease me Lucy, I have day-dreams of cutting off multiple limbs off Natsu's body."

I giggled as she shoved his leg off her lap again, "How is the bracelet going?"

Her question made me look down at the accessory in question, holding up the silver cuff to inspect it. The charmed bracelet sat delicately on my wrist, held together by a small 'O' shaped clasp. The steady stream of counter-magic was almost invisible to my senses, unless I really looked for it. Designed and created by Eileen, it was attempting to keep my magic - which had soon seen through the lion-facade I had created and the form dropped like wasted shreds of silk - controllable enough that I had ten or so minutes to alert and get somewhere that I wouldn't cause destruction on a global basis.

She had also given me a few journals, of other magic-kind beings, that had trouble handling their power at first. Natsu had looked skeptical that the idea of a book could teach me control, but I was willing to try anything.

"It's… okay. Sort of uncomfortable." And it was.

For some reason, my magic reacted badly to pure light-based kind, even though I was supposedly more light than dark. Even though Erza and I were happy to secure a link of friendship and family affection between us, she had commented on my magic being harsh, and spine-prickling. Eileen had the funny idea that it may be trying to assert it's dominance.

Seeing as my magic, was me, and I wasn't seeking dominance, that wasn't likely.

"It's just your magic reacting to a different, unfamiliar magic constantly being routed through your body. You should get used to it."

"I'm hoping I won't have to." I tell her truthfully before asking curiously, "Have you ever been to the Vapids?"

She nodded once, "I went when I was much younger. Lord Zeref called a meeting for some reason and I accompanied my mother."

"What's it like?"

She smiled apologetically, "I wouldn't know much about the culture, or the people. My stay there was only a few hours, and I was kept in my room, away from most. The magic there is plentiful though."

"What do you mean?"

"Once you enter Vapid lands, you have to play by their rules and laws. One of them is the free-power act. It means, all beings over the legal age, have to declare their power. Whereas, if you enter my Kingdom, or Natsu's, we don't force people to show us their power limitations."

"What happens once people show them their overall power?"

"Lord Zeref claims it is safer to protect against powerful enemies of his state and no one dares tell him no, but unfortunately, once you declare your power, your clothes change."

"Your clothes change?" I sound distinctly unimpressed, because well, I am.

Erza laughs, "Yes. The lower your power, the more skin you show. The higher your power, the more clothes you have a right too."

"That's archaic and more than disturbing."

She simply shrugged, "They are demons Lucy, power-plays such as that, go hand in hand with their kind." I open my mouth to tell her that power-play or not, I'm not stripping down just because I am not as strong as the next person. Besides, I have more questions.

What is the rating of power that decides what you get to wear and what you don't?

Is it considered an act of treason to refuse to show your power?

Or just a really fantastic insult?

But these questions would have to wait because the carriage hit a slight bump and Natsu's leg, that had been resting precariously off the seat, flopped onto Erza's lap. She growled and threw him to the floor. I winced, waiting for his pained cry but another snore alerted me that he was still sleeping.

I was beginning to think Natsu could sleep through anything.

She stood up, slightly crouched and dusted off her pants, "I'm going to keep Ultear company, and contact Jellal. Will you be okay in here with… him?" Her voice drifted off menacingly, and I glanced over at the aforementioned male, watching in amusement as he snuggled into the wood flooring of the carriage we sat in.

"Yes, I'll be fine." She nodded, satisfied with my response and opened the carriage door, whilst we were still in heavy, ground-swallowing movement. She gracefully climbed out, hair whipping around her features before disappearing completely.

I basked in the peaceful quiet for a few moments before jumping when Natsu spoke.

"I thought she'd never leave. She's a seat-hog. Probably a bed hog too, but Jellal is too whipped to say anything." Natsu got up with a manic grin, stretching to the best of his ability before plopping back on the seat, turning sideways and spreading out his legs.

"Have you been awake this whole time?"

"I was mostly dozing, but for the last ten minutes, yes."

I shook my head at him, "You just like to aggravate Erza."

"Aggravation is one of my key personality traits. Courtesy of my father." He winked at me and I felt my stomach flutter alive with something needy and warm.

"I don't believe that." I said after a moment, hoping he didn't notice the red tinge on my cheeks, "Igneel is nothing but a patient, and kind King."

"You haven't seen him when somebody eats his food."

"Would that somebody be you?" I question teasingly and he looks away, a smirk planted on his lips as he stared up at the ceiling.

"No, of course not."

Yeah, right!

I stifle my giggle, and focus on the task at hand, which is to discuss the Vapids with Natsu, since he was now awake and I was more than curious. I watch as he stretches again, muscles tensing then relaxing languidly over the street. I tilted my head at the oddly graceful movement, searching my brain for the word that came to mind when I saw him do that.

"Have you ever been to the Vapids?" I ask when I come up empty handed, and he closes his eyes for a second, before replying.

"Yes, I have."

"How old were you?"

"The last time… Around thirteen." He murmured, eyes glancing over to me and I frowned.

"That's young. You probably stayed in your room like Erza did."

Natsu smiles a little, "Nope. I met the demons there. Well, a few of them would have died by now but the younger ones might still be around."

I widen my eyes at him, excitement and curiosity making a lethal cocktail inside my body, "Really? What were they like?"

He closes his eyes but replies to me, and I can't help but notice how… tense he looks. Well, not exactly tense, but definitely less relaxed then he was before.

"Demons are selfish, absorbed creatures with severe insecurity problems. It's a constant surprise the Kingdom hasn't gone up in flames." He mutters, and I tilt my head at him, trying to figure out his sudden mood. Perhaps Natsu didn't like talking about demons…

"I heard Lord Zeref is a pretty good leader." I state, as a way of pulling off the topic of demons and turning into something more political. Not exactly the best choice conversation starters, but I didn't want to make Natsu more uncomfortable.

He sighed, slowly sitting up and pinning me with a dark, scarily blank stare, "He's a dictator. He's also a dick. But, with how the Vapid's used to be run, I guess that's what they need."

"Did he earn his spot by force?"

Natsu shrugged, "He was legally the next prince in line for the throne when his… parents died. Once they did, all demon-kind pretty much tore each other apart to get the throne, and kill him." I listened, amazed at Natsu's knowledge about the demonic history of this land. Tragically, when the treaties were signed to allow demon-kind to stick to themselves, there was a clause that all books on their previous history be destroyed, and scholars to avoid teaching anyone. By the time I was interested in that dark mystic place on the North-East of our map, nobody would tell me anything.

"What happened then?"

"He abolished the title of prince and royalty. Killed a few hundred lesser demons. After ten years of blood-shed and an all out civil war, he managed to kill the right guy. Took down the head of the snake, I guess. The revolution stopped, he appointed six demons to uphold and threaten people into following the laws he had made."

"I don't know much about demon laws. I know they are different to ours, but I've never been in a country or land run solely by dictatorship."

Natsu made a little noise in the back of his throat, and closed his eyes, features relaxed but I noticed how his fists clenched. I bit my lip, a little worried that I had pried too much. But I couldn't help it, I was going to ask these people, for their help. If I knew more about them, I could try and make it a peaceful visit, despite their previous history and secluded nature.

"How about this, we'll play twenty questions. You ask me whatever you want about demons, and the demon law, only if I can ask you about anything in return."

I blinked for a moment before nodding, "I don't see any harm in that. Do you want to go first?" I didn't really know what sort of questions he had to ask me, in fact, I completely dismissed the idea that he would want to know anything about me. But if he was willing to tell me what he knew, then I guess tit for tat was the best way forward.

He leaned back a little, and shook his head, "You go first."

"Okay. Who decides if a law is passed or not?"

Natsu tilted his head, "There's no passing. Lord… Zeref, has advisers but he doesn't need to listen to them. He can simply write down a law, demand it be followed and it's legal." I almost flushed at how stupid my question was, but his eyes held only understanding. I think he knew it boggled me that one person could have that much power over his people. Almost all the countries in Fiora were run by royalty, but the public had a say as well.

There were rules upon regulations, with little side-notes and pleas on every corner.

I glanced over him, trying to convey with my eyes that even though I was confused, I had caught the way he said 'Zeref'. It was full of malice, an ugly noise that I was incredibly glad it wasn't directed at me. He raised his eyebrow a little back and we had a mini-staring match before I cleared my throat.

"Your turn."

His lips quirked at my unwillingness to turn away, and let him intimidate me. He licked his lips - which didn't distract me, no it didn't - before stating, "I heard nymphs specialize in one form of art when they are growing up. Even though you aren't a nymph, I am willing to bet you are trained in something."

"That's not a question." I willed myself to be calm, and not get embarrassed.

"How do they decide what you specialize in? Some sort of blood ceremony?" I breathed a laugh, taken by surprise that he didn't ask the question I had guessed he would ask. I'm sure he did that on purpose.

"No. When nymphs are born, the month they are born, declares them what art they are most suited too. August, poetry. January, sculpting. Sort of like that."

"When were you born?"

"It's my turn to ask a question, Natsu." I scolded playfully and he sighed, rolling his eyes but the movement was fond. I couldn't quite understand what made Natsu so relaxing to be around. It was like we had known each other for years.

An instant connection, my mom had said when Erza and I met for the first time when we were kids. It had meant loyalty, true friendship, and safety in that presence. It was one of the reasons I was so close to Erza growing up, our connection was like we came from the same womb sometimes. Eileen and my mother had speculated that it was because of their own link, that made us predestined to love each other like sisters.

"Go on then, Princess Lucy." He dipped his head in a self-serving bow and I stifled a giggle, noticing that the moment was oddly graceful, in an unexpected sort of way.

Did that make any sense?

"How strict is Zeref as a leader?" I question curiously and Natsu seems to think about it for a few seconds before answering.

"He's harsh. There's no room for mistakes there, Lucy. The slightest submission on his part, or mercy, can be perceived as weak. The Lord of the Vapids, cannot be seen as weak." I absorb the information quietly, wondering how big a difference is between a 'strict' leader and a 'harsh' one. My Father was a strict King, but he still exercised restraint and mercy.

So, does that mean Zeref has no restraint or mercy?

"So what art did you learn?" His question pulls me out of my thoughts and I summer up an embarrassed smile.

"Dancing. I was born in the month where Summer melts to Spring, and got stuck with it."

"Are you any good?"

"I can dance, yes. But I was never really good at it from the beginning. The talent was supposed to come naturally, I managed to do it through hours of training and a very strict instructor."

Natsu smiles a little, and the look relaxes something tense and painful inside me, "Bitter about not being a ballerina?"

"Bitter about not being funny?" I shoot back saucily and he laughs, leaning back with an entertained smile before waving his hand's out in front of himself in a 'come-get-me' gesture. I'm assuming he means with a question and not with my own body. I feel my cheeks flush pink at the image that thought conjures and an amused look begins to creep into his lively green cat-eyes.

The look makes me think he can see right through me, and I heat a little more.

"Erza told me about the law of declaring your power once you enter their lands. If you refuse, is it punishable by death?"

"For someone who grew up in the Vapids, yes. Especially if they've hit a new power plateau and remained quiet about it. However, this is your first time here, and you are royal, if you aren't comfortable, you can just tell him no."

I sincerely doubted that was true.

"Does he get told no often?"

An ironic spread across Natsu's features and he lilted smoothly, "More than you might think." I opened my mouth to ask him about the hidden message in his words, but he wrapped one ankle around the other and asked his question instead.

"What are the Star lands like?"

The question throws me, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it was because I had come to terms with the fact, that if I couldn't control myself, I might never be able to return there again. Maybe it was the reminder of Virgo's death and my fathers horror. The thought of my father, whom still was hunting for me, made my stomach turn in a tight bubble of pain and anxiety.

I felt the white, cloud of power rise up, intent on protecting me and closed my eyes, trying to focus on calming myself down. It lingered along the walls of my mind, slithered from my soul where all magic began and ended. A pang of pain made me raise my hand and press it to my head, shuddering a little as a ghostly, cool almost wet sensation slithered up my spine.

I was beginning to understand the differences of the screams that built up inside me. What caused them, how my body reacted and what my power would feel like when it began to crawl up me. Seeing as I had been incredibly lucky to avoid being around a person dying for the days spent at Fary-Vella, the memory of the first scream was distant. I knew it had been painful, demanding I take the soul to where it belongs, but I could not remember the pain, nor what I was feeling when it was about to happen.

The second scream, the scream of Threat, also had been scarce to make an appearance. I hadn't felt threatened much and I wasn't up to asking someone to threaten me just to see what it felt like. But, when an officer of a small town, just west of Fary-Vella stopped the carriage and did a 'routine-check' I had found myself shaking. It was like a billion pins and needles, running along my arms and legs. Pinching at my insides, demanding I release my voice and protect myself. The power had been ready to lash out, to annihilate anyone in our path that could cause us harm.

Luckily, Erza scared him off and Ultear had torn away from him like a bat out of hell.

The third was the one I was most familiar with by this point. The 'emotional' scream. Admittedly, this one was frightening. I had never realized how hard it was to wear your heart on your sleeve until it had the chance of hurting people. It was like any emotion I had that was on the darker side of my psyche, had the prospect of causing irrefutable damage. If I felt a pinch of sadness, or anger, it would soon become tidal wave unless I controlled it. The bracelet helped, despite the uncomfortable sensation, it almost soothed my wild power, but it would need to be charged by Fae magic daily or it would stop working.

And then what?

The image of the forth scream depicted, rushed through my head and fear stomped inside me, causing my heart beat faster. I bit my lip and settled on closing my eyes, taking long, slightly shaky breaths in and out.

"What do you need?" Natsu's voice swam through my panic, and I squeezed my eyes closed tighter, rasping out.

"The drink."

I felt him shuffle and the sound of him rustling through one of the bags before a solid cool surface touched my skin. I took the bottle and opened my eyes, noticing how the lid was almost off. I lifted it to my lips and drank it down quickly, the purple liquid disappearing in all but a manner of seconds. The warm comforting feeling spread through me, sating my need for touch as the chemical reaction inside my body made me forget about the fear.

I shakily handed it back to Natsu and turned side-ways on the seat, closing my eyes so I could lie back. I pressed my hands to my head and a small giggle left my lips, the drink having taken the edge off sufficiently. Eileen was right, she did make very potent mix.

"You good?" Natsu sounded amused, and I nodded, biting my lip to keep myself quiet.

"How many do I have left?" I ask him, still holding my palms to my head and he replies softly.

"Three."

I sigh, knowing that we won't be at our first destination for another five days. And that's if we don't get stopped or redirected along the way. The conversation with Eileen before we left swims to the front of my head.

"I didn't have enough herbs to make more than five. One per day should leave you with only a day or so without it."

When I had asked what she suggested I do for the last day, in case of something happening and I urgently needed the potion, she had given me a small, slightly youthful smile.

"You do have a dragon prince whom has offered companionship…"

I had told her no to that idea fairly quickly, simply saying that the potion would keep me satisfied enough. She had laughed softly and gave me some confusing, oddly affronting advice.

"There is a difference between being sated, and being full."

"No there isn't. Sated literally means full." I had replied in a rush, not liking the knowing look in her eyes and she had simply laughed, deciding to change the subject.

"What are you going to do for the last two days?"

"Die." I mutter childishly, refusing to listen to Eileen's riddle that was echoing through my mind and Natsu made an amused, gruff noise in the back of his throat, but didn't push the issue. I was thankful. All I wanted to do was sleep, and the potion had done it's job, leaving me flushed with endorphin's.

Unfortunately, just as I was between dozing, and slipping into a deeper sleep, the door to the carriage opened and Erza swept herself in, eyes looking over me worriedly. I immediately sat up, a pain in my stomach making me wince but I ignored it.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"My mother just contacted me. The medic she had asked to make the balm for your stomach injuries got the mix confused. It's only a temporary relief, honestly, it's lucky it has lasted this long." I blinked at her words, puzzled. It had been five or so days since we left, and I had felt fine. My stomach still had the large claw marks, and I had noticed they weren't exactly healing - but the lack of pain had made me assume it was fine.

"How do you feel?"

"I feel fine. It hurt a little when I sat up but that's it. Are you sure the medic didn't do the right mixture?"

"She told Eileen that she had prepared this mix that we give Fae-kind when they hurt themselves out in the fields. It's supposed to stop the bleeding, and give relief for only a few days. But since Fae heal themselves…"

"You wouldn't need the added healing to the mix. Damn. What happens now?"

"Ultear and I have discussed, we will stop once it hits dawn. There is a small cabin that Jellal owns only a few hours away, on relatively quiet property. When we arrive, we will leave you and Natsu there and go collect the ingredients from the local village. Do you think you can hold out until then?"

"I feel fine Erza, really. I'm sure I can handle a little blood and pain."

I pressed my teeth together, my hands holding the side of my stomach where a pulsating hurt made my body tight with pain. There was a slight sheen of sweat on my forehead and neck, and I focused on trying to ignore the pain.

We hit a slight bump and I felt my stomach spasm. The throbbing ache increased and I made a small noise of misery in the back of my throat. When I opened my eyes - I hadn't realized I had closed them - Natsu was in front of me, green eyes concerned and full of emotion. He lightly touched my leg, the heat of his fingers soothing me slightly through the pants I wore.

"I need to see how bad it is. I smell blood."

His voice left no room for argument, that same soft, demanding tone that made my resolve to be a big girl wither. I tentatively, with shaking hands, grasped the bottom of my shirt, and lifted the smooth silk-like fabric. I didn't look down, knowing that once I saw the wounds, it would only hurt even more and I was dealing with my suffering quite well so far.

But I did watch him.

His eyes widened just a little, and then slowly, red started to bleed into green from the pupil, like veins full of warm lava, mimicking the sunset with how it started orange and turned deep red. My heart pounded away inside of me, partly from the adrenaline of pain and partly from his reaction to my wounds. I closed my eyes again and remembered in the library, how he had healed my fist with just his mouth and tongue.

A shiver slithered up my spine and the movement brought more pain instead of the usual trembling pleasure I was accustomed too. It spread along my stomach, making another noise of distress leave my lips and his eyes snapped from my wounds to my face. Whatever he saw there, made him growl and for a second, I thought I saw his canines elongate into sharp fangs.

Heat filled the carriage, heady, potent with power and it brought goose-bumps to my cold, shivering skin. Tears prickled to my eyes, but I kept my focus on him, watching in amazement as invisible paintbrushes drew lines onto the skin around his eyes, morphing into scales that began to darken as a red colour. His hair also grew, longer, slightly darker, the strands normally tousled and sticking up, falling around his eyes and his neck in messy waves.

It made him seem older, somehow, more powerful. And later on, I would realise, his half-form was as beautiful as he was.

But instead of focusing on him, the carriage hit another bump along the road and it brought forth another searing jolt of torture, as I finally smelt the rich, copper of my own blood, seeping through the shirt that I had dropped to cover my wounds. I whimpered quietly, struggling to gain control, knowing if I screamed, I would not stop.

Natsu snarled at the noise, crouching down a little further, and balancing on the top of his toes. His stance was almost predatory and it make my heart stammer around weakly in my chest. His eyes were narrowed at my shirt, as if it had done something to him personally. He looked so angry.

I hated it.

A whine left my throat before I could stop it, the noise high and attention-grabbing. It caused Natsu to look back up at me, shuffle closer and respond with a softer, deeper growl. Instead of frightening me, or stunning me, the noise made small hairs on my body stick up. The pain was extraordinary, leaving the nerves around my stomach in a quivering mess, but that noise soothed something inside me.

That same something he had unknowingly healed a few days ago, when healing my hand.

I pressed my hands to my stomach, keeping pressure on the bleeding but leaned forward, closing my eyes as I whined again, softer this time, mostly on purpose. His forehead touched mine, the slight roughness of his scales, causing a sensation to play along my skin. He was warm, I was cold.

Natsu's noise brushed against mine softly and that same soft, soothing growl met my ears. It vibrated along my skin, the heat in the carriage lessening little by little, until it was more comforting, and appeasing. It settled around me, almost wrapping in a warm, calm embrace.

I rubbed my forehead against his, and he murmured under his breath, in that same foreign language which was all deep and all tongue. He moved his head and I whimpered, wanting him to continue speaking and stay near me.

He soothed me with another growl, and I dimly wondered why the noise was so damn soothing. Perhaps, it was a dragon thing.

His head returned to my cheek, nuzzling his way down to my neck and he breathed softly against my skin, the intimacy of the situation making me shudder. We weren't touching each other with any other body parts, but this was so… sensual.

Why?

I ignored the question, baring my neck a little and he muttered to me softly, the words full off emotion and I struggled to remember them. He was so fluent in this other language, that is was almost a stream of words that just flowed like music around us. I also realised that this was my first time seeing Natsu in the light when his half-form was coming out. I sort of hoped he didn't pop wings and ruin the carriage.

"I like that." I stated, my voice hoarse and he stopped speaking, pulling back to look at me closely.

"Like what?"

"When you talk to me. In that language."

He stilled, gazing at me in surprise and I press harder on my wound, but wonder why he looks so… shaken. I remind myself to ask him later, when my hands aren't beginning to get wet with the amount of blood that is seeping through.

"How much longer Erza?" Natsu still stays crouched but his eyes watch me, and I can see the silent answer to my statement. He's shocked, puzzled and a little… something. That last emotion was so fleeting, so hidden that I couldn't pin it.

"Soon." She called back and the carriage swerved as Ultear cursed lightly. I clutched my stomach, breathing a feeble sound of agony. Natsu flinched and bared his teeth a little, as if the sound of me in pain, hurt him.

"Make it now."

She shouts back an agreement and the carriage moves faster, but it's an odd sensation. I'm sweating, the pain is searing through my abdomen and I feel tears swimming in my eyes. It's a wonder I haven't started bawling yet, or worse.

Natsu keeps close to me; ripping through a bag to look for some cloth to bind the wound. I gasp when he peels the soft fabric away from the wound, the blood drying and making it stick to my skin, tugging on the senses agonisingly. A few tears slip from my iron-grasp, and he lifts his hand, brushing his thumb against my cheek whilst making soft, deep soothing sounds.

They sound animalistic, but instead of frightening or confusing me, it tugs on a baser instinct and I can't help by close my eyes, trusting him to wrap the wounds and take care of me. I hear the sound of fabric ripping and it makes me flinch, but I continue holding the silk shirt up, baring my stomach to him.

"It's not worse, but the balm has completely faded." He tells me softly, "That means it's bleeding as bad as it was when it happened. The bandages we packed won't help much, so I'm going to bind it with clothing instead. Okay?"

I nod, not trusting my voice as he orders quietly, "Shuffle forward a little." I do so without a noise, staring at the top of his head as his arms go around my back, and I feel the press of fabric being held to my skin by his warm hand, fingers brushing the skin of my back.

"This is going to hurt."

It already hurts.

"Just take a deep breath in. I'll try to be quick."

I do as I'm told, as he smoothly, tightly wraps the cloth around my abdomen. I let out a moan of pain when the material shifts and rubs against the wound, my stomach spasms with the ache and throb. He doesn't stop until he's wrapped it around twice, adjusts it just as the carriage slows to a stop.

He pulls back just as Erza opens the door, finding him on his knees in front of me, and my shirt lifted up to reveal my stomach which is now covered with the thick tear of clothing. She opens his mouth but one glance at me quickly shuts it.

"She's bleeding again. If we don't give her something for the pain soon, she'll go into shock." His words are furry to my ears, muffled as if I'm under water and from the amount of cold-sweat that is sticking to my skin, it feels that way.

"Pick her up, I'll open the house for you both and then Ultear and I will go get the ingredients. I believe my mother packed some pain blockers also." Natsu leans up to do what she's asked but I shake my head, taking a deep breath in as I tremble.

"I-I can walk."

"Lucy…" Erza begins, her tone soft but stern. I ignore her, shifting slightly, closing my eyes as a shot of agony rips through me. It makes me shiver but I slowly scoot towards the carriage door, where Erza stands.

"Are you going to m-move?" I rasp, and she frowns.

"Let one of us carry you, Lucy. You have nothing to prove but your own foolishness."

She doesn't get it. She thinks I'm doing this because I'm weak and want them to think I'm strong. Honestly, I don't care what they think of me at this point. But I do know, that I need to walk. I need to feel my legs move, even if it causes me pain.

Because it tells me that they are there, and they are working. They've been numb for a while now, and it frightens me. I look down and they look fine, but there's something terrifying about not feeling your limbs and not knowing if they work.

"Move. Out. Of. My. Way." I grind out between my teeth, my temper showing for a moment. She's wasting time. I just want to get inside, and lie down. Maybe try and sleep through the pain, like I had done before.

Erza steps to the side, thankfully and I have the urge to apologize for my attitude. I remind myself to do it later, when I'm not bleeding and in torment. Hurt radiates through me as I grasp the small railing to outside, slowly lifting myself up.

My legs tense and stiffly move out of the carriage, the small drop to the ground making me stagger. Erza steadies me but once I'm able to stand on my own, she takes a step back as if she understands now. She grabs two of the bags from the inside, before leading the way.

I fist one hand against my side while the other presses to my wounds. If I had known that lion claws would hurt this much, I would have attempted to conjure my power into a lion cub instead. The thought amuses me and urges me to follow her. I can barely make out the surroundings, the pitch darkness unnerving me, but only a few yards away, a small porch light is illuminating a door.

I can hear Natsu following me, or maybe feel it. Natsu doesn't make much noise when he moves, unless he's trying to be purposely sneaky. Then he's like an elephant in a china cabinet. I wonder if my slow pace is irritating to him, but push it from my mind. My steps are stiff, staggering around like a young foul, my breathing hard as the world spins.

Once I get to the wooden stairs, I grasp the railing and pull my self up each step slowly, as Erza opens the door and charges the light lacrima. The small cabin glows to life with her power, beautiful golden tones sparking in every room as it travels around.

Ultear is in the lounge-room lighting a fire and I sag against the open door-way, my knees almost giving way to the pain. I'm secretly a little proud by this point, my legs work and I walked all the way to the door by myself.

I'm such a big girl, my sarcastic thoughts only distract me from the pain and I feel a hand gingerly touch my shoulder. Natsu is there, beside me, eyes alert and fixated on me.

"Do you need help to lay down?"

I think about it, before nodding, as Erza steps forward, letting me lean my weight against her as they both move me to the beautiful deep brown long chaise. It's texture is soft, very soft.

"I don't want to bleed on the couch, you should get some towels." I tell Erza as she tuts me softly, our previous conversation all but forgotten.

"Don't think about that. Ultear and I are going to go get the ingredients. The local inn should still be open, and they sell what we need. Natsu, there's some pain relief in the bag over there and some tea in the kitchen. We'll try to be as quick as we can."

"Oh, take your time, there's no rush," I joke breathlessly, before sucking in a painful whine as my stomach flexes and spasms once more.

Erza laughs, but it's tense and I can tell, she's worried, "Don't fall asleep Lucy. Okay?"

"Hmm, okay." Honestly, I don't think I could fall asleep. This agony was the sort to keep me awake for hours.

Natsu makes sure I'm comfortable before heading into the Kitchen to make me some tea and Erza leaves, Ultear following her obediently. It leaves me alone for the first time in what feels like ages. I close my eyes and focus on my breathing.

In and out.

In… and out.

But the pain is almost unbearable. So much so, that when I open my eyes to try and find something to focus on in the room, they slip closed immediately. Darkness shrouds me, and I hear a clatter of something as my eyes roll to the back of my head.

Annnnd I'm back! Sorry for the later than usual update guys, I got swamped with real life but now I can finally give you a set time when this will be updated! Previously we just came out every time I got enough reviews/every week.

But now, the schedule is that this will be updated every Sunday, without fail. Of course, sometimes I'll post a day early, but hopefully, it will never be late.

That doesn't mean I don't enjoy your comments, I do! But it was getting a little much, and honestly, I didn't think this book would get so popular so quick.

So, in this chapter, you learn some things about Zeref (oooo), you get to see D-Natsu (dragon-natsu) a little more intimately and blah blah blah.

Question Time!

Are they seriously not going to have a happy ending? Etc etc Guyyyys, chill. I thought you knew me. I'm an asshole. I'll say anything for a reaction ;)

Is the linking some sort of oath/commitment thing? That is a great way of putting it! Yes, it's essentially that.

Do the links come with perks? Yes. You will learn that later but for the time being, since the links are new; they aren't exactly the strongest. Think of an infant at this point.

Are they going to run into more creatures? Yee! ^^

Why do you keep making us wait? Because I'm evil. Oops!

Will Gray fight Lucy? Will Gray fight Natsu? Which side with the North Glaciers be on? Do you want me to spill the plot right hERE. CAUSE I WILL. DARE ME, I DARE YOU. ;)

Will Acnologia be bad or good? Can confirm. He is a neutral muffin when I go to introduce him

Is it just going to be Lucy's POV or is there Natsu as well? I am planning *ahem* a Natsu POV chapter but in the current time-line, I'm not sure when it'll happen!

Did Natsu just trick Lucy into being his mate or not? Can confirm, not. There is a special something between Natsu and Lucy but it's not that sort of mating book. Do not look for your stereo-typical 'oh he's my mate!' because just… no?

Will main characters die in this book? Yes…? Maybe…? I could go two ways at the moment .

You guys have some incredible theories and honestly, some of you get close but so far, no cake.

I want to shout out Sydneste whom coined the term 'NymShee' for Lucy. I like that. A lot. Probs won't call her that in the book but still, I like it. Good work. Have a Natsu.

I will see you guys next Sunday (or sooner since I already have three damn chapters written out ahead of time).

As always guys, stay fresh!

xo freshprincess