I'd like to apologize for the previous cliffhanger. It was just . . . too irresistible.

Thanks to Purple Duck (adorable name, that one), Footster26, OmeletAnnisaXD, MaJorReader619,wingedmercury, what lovely little nonsense., and SabrinaKiara. Your reviews make me happy! I love you all!

Oh, and MaJorReader619, Lucy's mom died when she was a kid. Basically the illusion made Lucy remember the time when her mother was dying, but the part where she got stabbed was just made up.

I'm sorry this chapter took so long. My tests are coming on the 18th and I've got this science project and my partner isn't very cooperative. Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter Seven.

Silence.

Blink. Blink. Blink.

More silence.

After eight seconds of even more silence, a certain pink-haired Dragonslayer finally exploded.

"AAAAAHHH! WHY does this have to be so confusing?" Natsu screeched at Keiko — erm. Michelle.

Likewise, the rest of the group gawped at her in open bewilderment.

"Eh?" said Lucy, Levy, and Wendy.

"But you died!" said Gray and Happy.

Erza quickly got rid of her bout of confusion and recovered enough to summon her Intimidating Aura Level XX1. "Explain," she thundered dangerously.

Poor Keiko — erm. Michelle — practically wilted.

"I . . . uhm . . . uhh . . ."

"Erza-san," Wendy whispered. "I think you should put your sword away."

Erza blinked and looked down at her three-foot-long sword, which had miraculously appeared and positioned itself in front of Michelle's face.

"Ah. I apologize," she said, and sheathed the sword. "But you still need to explain."

"Well, when the Staff was used, it was true that the magic backfired. However, it didn't actually kill me. My physical body died, but my soul was transferred into another body," Michelle tapped her head. "This body."

"But how's that possible?" Lucy asked.

"I don't know." Michelle said thoughtfully. "I don't suppose we will ever understand how the Staff works."

"So then Ryuu . . . is your father . . ." Levy said.

Michelle's face shadowed. "After my soul was transferred, I passed out. I woke up the next day and heard about my father. The other people said he was mad and dangerous. They were all very vague and didn't want to talk about it, but I finally managed to coax it out of them. I figured out what the Staff did to my father. I moved away from my house and never saw him again. I couldn't. I couldn't bear to see him in his state, so I lived in another house on the outskirts of Hargeon. The citizens — as I've told you — had their memories wiped clean of the incident. No one remembered me. No one bothered asking who I was.

I stayed there for three months. I couldn't bring myself to see my father, but I couldn't leave either. Hargeon was — is — my home."

Wendy squeezed the older girl's hand and Lucy patted her back sympathetically.

"Mi-chan, I'm so sorry," Levy whimpered. Gray muttered something from behind that resembled "I know how you feel."

"I don't get it." Natsu announced.

"Idiot." Erza knocked him out and stuffed Happy into a convenient backpack.

Michelle choked out a watery giggle.

"But that means —" Lucy gasped, "we killed your father! Michelle-chan, we didn't know! We're so sorry!"

"Ah . . . I suppose it couldn't be helped . . ." Michelle sighed. "I'm kind of grateful you put him out of his misery. Someone had to do that . . ."

"But Mi-chan! Aren't you mad at us?" Levy wailed.

"Um . . . not really . . . my father should be in a better place now," Michelle said uncertainly. "Um, should I be mad?"

"No, no," Erza said hastily. "Anyway, Michelle-san, go on with your story. Your soul was transferred, you moved away from your house and still lived in Hargeon, but why didn't you tell anyone that you were Michelle? Even though their memories were gone, you could at least get someone to believe you."

"I didn't want to . . . I was afraid . . . if people knew who I am, they could send someone after me," Michelle started shaking. "I was so selfish! I didn't think about the other people of Hargeon, I didn't think if hiding my identity could put them in danger — I was selfish!"

Lucy looked on helplessly as a few tears ran down Michelle's face.

Surprisingly though, Gray was the one who stepped in. "What you did was perfectly reasonable. You were trying to protect yourself. The citizens of Hargeon didn't get into trouble, so it's all OK."

Erza looked at Gray approvingly.

Michelle sighed. "If you say so. I'm sorry I kept this away from all of you."

"That's OK, Mi-chan," Levy chirped.

"Michelle-san, I am going to ask you for another favor," Erza interrupted. "I'm guessing that when your soul was moved, another side effect was that the Staff gave you a stronger mind. I want you to use that ability to point us in the right direction, using this necklace."

The glittering blue necklace hung in front of Michelle's face.

"Natsu and Wendy could only smell its scent and trace it to the person who wore it last," Erza continued. "However, with your stronger-than-average mind, you might pick something up."

"I . . . I'll do my best, Erza-san!" Michelle reached for the necklace and wrapped her fingers around it and closed her eyes.

A faint thrumming resonated in the air.

Lucy gasped in surprise. The same pale blue glow surrounded Michelle now, the same glow that she saw when Michelle lifted the illusion.

A few tense minutes passed, and the girl opened her eyes.

"You are to go . . . and find Grimoire Heart."

Next chapter will be longer, I promise.

Anyway, review please! Now our heads aren't spinning anymore, yes? I hope not.

Here's hoping I ace my tests!

-- TheAliensDidIt