Normal POV

Laxus zapped himself inside the guild hall and fell to his knees, cradling Lucy in his arms. He was panting as he was dangerously close to depleting his magic. He knew that he was going to need to rest for a few days.

Lucy however was too busy trying to wrap her head around the events that had happened just before Laxus showed up.

"I don't know if you remember me, Lucy-nee, but my name is Lamy."

I stared at the person in front of me. "Lucy-nee? I don't have a sister. And only Wendy-chan is allowed to call me that." I snapped at her. My emotions were running high and I found myself angrier the longer I was stuck in the place.

The girl began to tear up and sniffle at my words. "But… We're friends! Nakama, right?! You really treat your friends this way?!"

I snarled at her. "Shut up! I don't even know you!" I felt the darkness within me crawl up and try to take over, disguising itself as anger. I let it erupt and consume me. I grabbed the girl by her throat and slammed her against the wall. Her eyes were hidden by her hair but her smirk said it all, yet her words confirmed it.

"Master Zeref told me to unleash your dark side by any means possible. It seems it was easier to draw out than I thought."

I threw her to the ground and screamed at her to shut up. "I'm a fairy!"

Lamy laughed. "No, you're a dragon with demon blood in her veins. You were meant to be in the Dark, so why fight it? You'll find it's quite fun here."

I remained silent.

"I'll give you some time to think it over. I'll be back in the morning." With that said, she left me alone.

Lucy was breathing just as heavily as Laxus was and she didn't realize where she was until she was picked up by Gray. He was carrying her up to the infirmary as Natsu and Gajeel were hoisting Laxus there, too.

Once she was set down on the bed next to Laxus's, she thanked Gray with a small smile. She had just a second to collect herself before Makarov approached her.

"Lucy, how are you, child?" Makarov asked with a voice that spoke with that old man tenderness a grandfather would have.

Lucy didn't answer right away. She had been asking herself that exact question for a few days now. Eventually, Lucy shook her head. "Never mind me. Did you get my thought projection?"

Makarov nodded. "Yes, although it was difficult to understand, we have contacted the other major guilds around Fiore."

"Even Raven Tail?" Lucy asked, seeing the glint in Makarov's eyes.

Sighing, he answered. "No, I have not. I will not trust a dark guild to help us. For all we know they could be a part of this abomination of a plan Zeref has in store for Fiore. I cannot risk that many lives."

Lucy smiled sadly and looked over at her unconscious Dragon Slayer who was being watched over by her two sons. "You are the Master, and I must respect your decision, however much I may disagree with it."

"I do hope that we win this, for your sake, Lucy. I believe you've suffered the most out of all of us." Gray said, taking a seat by her bed side.

Reaching over, Lucy squeezed his hand, much like she used to all those years ago when they were all still a team. "I don't care about that, Gray. I just want everyone to be happy. Besides, I don't think I suffered. It was more like a test of faith in you all, rather than a period of suffering. Sure, it may have been hard, but it wasn't unbearable. I'm just happy were all together again."

Soon, Freed and Bixlow came in and sat between Laxus's and Lucy's beds. Freed sat next to Lucy while Bixlow sat down next to Laxus. Gray and Bixlow eventually got into a heated debate over who was stronger and eventually got kicked out by Wendy, who came in to check on Laxus and Lucy. Freed remained silent, as though he was trying to find the right words to say, which was very unlike the rune mage. He was one who always chose his words carefully and elegantly, something Lucy always admired about him.

Once Wendy left, Freed looked down at his rapier. "Say, Lucy?"

"Yeah, Freed?"

"Do you actually think we'll be able to when this? Things are looking very hopeless for us. We also are down you and Laxus, also that brother of yours. I don't think we'll win. Things don't look very good for us." He took a deep breath. " I was talking with Captain Lahar… He was telling me about all the squads he had sent out to their deaths, he had one squad commit suicide for no reason! We should just stay at home and spend our last days with our loved ones."

Lucy frowned and wished she could slap Freed. "Do you really think we all will just back and wait for our deaths?! Do you think Mira will go down without swinging?! Are you going to just accept your death, as Mira puts up a fight!? What good are memories if you're dead, Freed?" Lucy glared at him. "You should fight because you want to make more memories."

Freed was almost shocked by her anger. He had forgotten that she was involved in this personally. "Lucy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"

"No, Freed. I don't think you understand. If I don't fight this, everyone I care about will be ripped apart by my hands. That includes you."

Laxus stirred, bringing all attention onto him. He groaned. "Could you two shut up? I'm sleeping here."

Lucy laughed and earned a smile from Freed.

Sorry this update took so long! I was going to wait on the next Manga Chapter to come out, but decided to hold off. Anyway, Drop me a review okay?

-Jay