Disclaimer: All rights of Fairy tail go to Hiro Mashima!

Currently taking examinations but found some time to write! Yay! It's a small chapter, but I hope you enjoy it ;)

"So, while the others are searching for the cute blonde stranger, could you please talk to me already?"

The sudden question surprised Juvia. They had been walking for what seemed to be half an hour into the city without any trace of Lucy yet. She knew this would come up. She had been avoiding anything but small talk in fear to have to explain. Gajeel insisted she'd go with him for the search and now the hard part was coming.

"Gajeel and Juvia are also searching, right?"
"No, we're in the opposite direction of where her scent comes from. It's fading little by little since we left the house. We won't find her here."
"So why did Gajeel go this way? Couldn't Gajeel tell Juvia sooner?"

Gajeel shifted his weight and crossed his arms while staring down at the blue haired woman in front of him. He was serious. She knew why he wanted them to be alone. She knew what he wanted to talk about. Juvia's mind went back to that time. Her biggest regret of her life up until now. The moment she discovered what she'd done… and the realisation she couldn't undo it. And now Gajeel wanted to know how and why…

"Juvia. Tell me. What happened that day?"

"You left. No message, no word. What happened?"
"… well if Juvia won't find Lucy here, Juvia will choose another direction."

When Juvia tried to pass Gajeel, he held her by her upper arm. She looked up at the only man she ever trusted in her whole life and he looked sad. As though he suffered from not knowing what went wrong. Not knowing how they could return to old times. She couldn't say it. If she would, he wouldn't understand. He would hate her. He wouldn't want to see her ever again, even though they were like brother and sister to each other a long time ago.

"Gajeel, don't. Don't let Juvia say it."
"I won't judge. I want to hear it from you."

Juvia untangled her arm and stood in front of her friend. Every man in the world had disappointed her. Every single one of them except Gajeel and Gray who had shown her kindness. Gajeel was different as he was no love interest of her, he appeared to be family when she had none.

"Fine. Juvia will leave if you never want to see Juvia again after this."

She took a deep breath and arranged her thoughts. From where should she start? How could she explain her situation in a short summary? He would never want to see her again… Memories flashed by and her eyes started filling up with water.

"When the troops of the Alvarez Empire overwhelmed Juvia that day, Gajeel was out of range. Jellal had a solution. Back then Juvia… Juvia thought the village was already evacuated. Gajeel… it's Juvia's fault that Levy… and Lisanna… It's Juvia's fault. Juvia performed a unison raid with Jellal … Juvia has taken Levy's magic. Juvia has stripped it away with the magic from all the dark wizards like it was the same kind…"

She was already crying. Gajeel stood there, not moving at all and she couldn't handle it anymore. She buried her face in her hands, hoping he would be gone if she stopped crying. Tears flooded her hands, gasping for air she let it all out. The guilt, the loneliness, the pain, it was too much. She couldn't hold it in in front of him.

"... Jellal was too strong for Juvia. He depleted Juvia's magic. Juvia now has a mild form of Magic Deficiency Disease. The emperor can help Juvia… if Juvia does this one last job ..."

Juvia looked up and to her surprise she saw Gajeel, still standing on his original spot. She didn't know what he was thinking and tears streamed over her cheeks. She couldn't handle it if he would become angry, but it was his right. She stole the magic of his woman so she doesn't blame him for being mad at her. Juvia tried to dry her tears and the feeling of arms around her surprised her. Gajeel hugged her close to him.

"It's not your fault Juvia. It's the fault of the man who gave the order. Levy is fine, she can't use her magic anymore but every year her magic recovers a bit more. Is this the silly reason you didn't visit? You crazy emotional Juvia. Still as fragile as always I see."

The tears started flowing again.

Gray walked further in silence. Adrenaline coursed through his veins. Wendy only stopped to smell the air and then she led him further and further in the forest. He didn't ask any questions. They were a waste of time and Lucy needed them. It was his fault for causing this in the first place. Only because he didn't trust Wendy to help before. So he wouldn't stand in her way this time. She knew more than him and he recognised that. It was only his nature to distrust people. Everyone needs something from you when they're friendly. They can prove you wrong, but in most cases that diagnose was correct. They didn't talk about his stupidity. Wendy didn't explain why the medicine was forbidden magic and what it can do to you. He focused on the search. Tried to ban all thoughts, but they came back. Where was Lucy? Was she scared? Cold? All alone? Did someone attack her? Wendy stopped his train of thoughts.

"She's not far anymore, we could find her by the morning."

Gray nodded in her direction, but she wasn't looking at him so he managed a small "ok". Wendy stopped and he nearly bumped into her. She abruptly turned around and managed a frown.

"What were you thinking anyway? I haven't talked about it because we had to find her, but she's my patient and your meddling got her in this lost state in the first place."
"I… I thought it was the only way to make her nightmares go away."
"That's all? You haven't used this before like this?"
"No, only before she went to sleep. It works."
"You know why that flask is forbidden magic?"

"It gives you the freedom to use your magic, without the limitations. No, let me rephrase that… it's… more like your magic uses you, not caring about your limitations. Your body can get worn out, but your magic does what you want to regardless."
"So you mean-"
"Yes, Lucy can have severe injuries and don't even feel it. That's why I was angry with you."

"Let's go, she's this way."

Gray swallowed by the thought. He hoped Lucy wouldn't go as far as her mother went with her magic, or he would never be able to forgive himself for it.

Natsu was so angry with the ice bastard he burned the grass as he ran towards that sweet strawberry smell he got to know recently. It was the only thing keeping him sane and kept him from burning a tree or two. That popsicle did something to her and he didn't even get what. He only knew he had to find her and keep her safe. It was a strange feeling. From the moment he saw her, something told him that he had to stay with her. With all that is going on, it would be better if she stayed as far away as possible but he didn't want that. She already got beaten up by Jellal. What else was he getting her into? It didn't matter. He had to find her and then she could decide what she wanted to do. Her scent was getting stronger and he fastened his pace. He stopped at a river and saw the tracks she didn't bother to cover. So she was no spy or something, otherwise she would know this kind of stuff. He followed her tracks and arrived at a cave. There were no other tracks yet. She most definitely went in there and didn't come out. He didn't hesitate and went in.

Thank you for reading!