Ok so I didn't really get a whole lot of reviews for the last chapter. I'm not complaining, just wondering if I did something wrong... if I did, please tell me. I really wanna thank those of you who have stuck by me since the beginning of this story (and other stories, if I may add). Also... I am so sorry for not updating lately! school started two months ago and already I have a crap load of projects... so to make up for it, i'm going to try to make this one longer!

BTW... italics mean thoughts and when the troll talks.

DISCLAIMER- Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail. I, unfortunately, do not own anything about it. If I did, oh the romance in that series would be going on by now.

A sound soul

Dwells within a sound mind

And a sound body

She couldn't handle it. Not at all. Lucy has been an official group with Natsu, Erza, Gray, Juvia, and Jellal for two weeks now. They were driving her fucking INSANE.

Ever since Lucy got released from the infirmary a few days after they were told about the group, they have been working on a Resonance Link. Basically, it was when Natsu, Erza, and Gray had to work together, along with their weapons, and create a link that makes their bond and strength stronger or something like that.

Lucy couldn't give a damn about it, though. But she had to because Natsu, idiot that he is, gave her the puppy face and, idiot that she is, fell for that damn puppy face.

Never again, she promised herself.

They have been working on the link for about three hours now, and they still couldn't get their souls to synchronize.

"This is taking fucking forever!" Lucy's echoic voice was heard. Natsu looked at the swords blade and found anger, annoyance, and hunger written on her features. He sighed.

"Lucy calm down-"

"Don't you dare fucking tell me to calm down, Natsu Dragneel. Why can't we take a damn break" Lucy demanded. Natsu was about to answer, but Erza beat him to it.

"First off, Lucy don't yell and don't say so much curse words. We get that your frustrated, we all are. And second, Lord Death Makarov told us to get the Resonance Link perfected by this weekend. So we can't just take breaks."

"Erza, surely we can eat something, right?" Jellal asked his meister.

"Yea! Yea! I even brought some food with me!" Lucy exclaimed.

"That sounds fair, right Erza?" Gray asked. Erza sighed, clearly outnumbered. She shook her head yes and Lucy, Jellal, and Juvia changed from their weapon forms, and Lucy went to get her food.

Lucy ran as fast as she could humanly go. When she made it to the tree that she hid the food in, she took her time going back. It's been two weeks since I had that dream, Lucy thought. Ever since that day, she hasn't seen or heard from the little troll.

And lately it seems as if her emotions have been slowly deteriorating. Like she's become a doll, almost. Could this be the madness that Zeref was talking about? Lately, it's gotten so bad that she's had to keep her emotions in check, though it's been hard too at the practices.

What if she ends up like Michelle? Or worse yet, like Midnight? He was psychotic! Michelle was no better and she had a shit-load of black blood coursing through her veins. Lucy doesn't want to end up like them...

"Lucy"

Lucy jumped and looked in front of her only to see Natsu. Did he follow her? Did he see the stressed expression on her face? Will he question her about it?

"Natsu. Hey, what are you doing here?" she asked.

"You've been gone for a long time and we were starting to worry so I came to check on you" he replied. Lucy smiled slightly and walked past him.

"Thanks for worrying about me, your such a gentleman" Lucy sarcastically said. Natsu glared at her and she couldn't help but laugh. Silence enveloped the two but it wasn't an uncomfortable one. Finally they reached the small, poorly made training ground and Lucy prepared the snacks.

"Hope everyone likes cucumber" Lucy said. Natsu looked down and realization hit him.

"These are what you made when we first became partners" Natsu spoke out.

"And?" Lucy said, looking at Natsu with an annoyed look. He opened his mouth to say something, but thought better of it. He shut his mouth and the group started eating.

It was hours after the group had finished eating and Lucy Heartfilia was still aggravated at the useless group she learned to call...friends. Given, they have made process in their resonance link, but it still wasn't perfected to perfection. Actually, Lucy decided, it was like a medium-rare steak. It wasn't done all the way but it was getting there.

Yummy... steak, Lucy thought as they tried another time for the resonance link. Lucy looked over at Erza and Gray ( she couldn't see Natsu, he was holding her...remember) and their weapons. They looked so concentrated and here she was looking so... bored and thinking about food.

That's it...I have to try harder. Their making me look like a friggin slacker. Maybe if I try, we can get it over with and leave, Lucy thought and closed her eyes. Seconds passed and she started feeling a strange pull. It was like her body was out of itself and she was floating. She noticed her friends, also in a ghostly form and went towards them. When she entered the circle, a strong force blew them back a few inches.

The rest of the group opened their eyes and looked around. They seemed to not notice that Lucy hasn't been here as long as they have yet.

"Looks like everybody's here" Erza said, looking at each of her comrades, her gaze lingering on Lucy a bit longer. Erza noticed the blond's absence the whole time, but she's pretty confident that no one else did.

"Looks like we completed the resonance link" Natsu stated, a hint of pride in his tone. Everyone smirked a bit at that comment, knowing it was true.

"We have to concentrate again to go back to reality, the link is creating a barrier so we cannot be harmed and the enemy won't be able to hear what battle plans we discus. When we practice more, we'll be able to do it right there and not in this cordial form" Erza explained.

"That would be convenient. I hate being vulnerable in any way" Lucy said. And she meant it, too. Their subconsciousness' are in one world and in the other, their body's are exposed.

"How do we get back?" Gray asked.

"We concentrate" Erza replied.

Four days have passed since they first got the resonance link down. In those four days, they have practiced it to utter perfection. Now, the day her team and Levy's team has been dreading has finally arrived.

Mission time. The groups would be going to the same location, but what made it tricky was whichever group diminished the kishin egg, would get a special reward. Iran, Makarov decided, was where the group was going to go.

"You all will be going after Mohammed Bijeh. He confessed to the raping and killing of sixteen young boys plus two adults. He trapped their souls and it's your jobs to free them" was all the master had said. After the briefing, he shipped them all off to their destination and they were on their own until the job was completed.

Makarov also decided who the team leaders for each group were in the debriefing. For Natsu, Erza, and Gray's team, Natsu was appointed leader, mainly because of his soul perception. In Levy, Laxus, and Romeo's team, Levy was appointed leader. Again, because of the soul perception. As the leader's of their respective groups, Natsu and Levy decided to split up and search for clues then meet back up at the town square.

It wasn't that hard for Natsu's group to find information, honestly. Between Lucy and Erza scaring people half to death into telling them, they got all they needed within ten minutes.

"Okay, so Moham has been seen around the graveyard very original, if I may add, and that is where we will most likely find him" Lucy concluded in the whole ten minutes of endless babbering.

"I see you found the same information, Lu-chan!"

Lucy turned around and saw Levy and her group of circus entertainers, not that her group was any better. Lucy decided it was all about the hair colors. Pink, blue, red, black. Silver, and blond... anywhoo! Lucy quirked her eyebrow when she saw Laxus and Gajeel with mean expressions. They must have done the same thing that Erza and herself did.

Gajeel must have noticed the eyebrow quirk, "Gee-hee. You thought right, bunny girl."

Bunny girl? Lucy thought but quickly discarded the nickname. Besides.. she could say worse things right now.

"Well? What are we waiting for! Let's go, then and kick some ass!" Natsu excitedly shouted. Natsu received a lot of supportive agreements but none were coming from Levy's team.

"We are supposed to be competing, remember?" Lisanna "kindly" reminded them. Lucy swore the look on her face is what makes so undeniably...horrid.

"At least she doesn't have it all the time"

"What was that Lucy?" Erza asked.

Shit! Did I really just say that out loud?

"Oh nothing of importance. Just talking to myself" Lucy replied. Erza didn't seem to notice the secrecy in her voice. If she did, she didn't show it.

After much discussion about what the two groups should do, they decided to split up and go with the original plan.

Compete

But, Lucy decided, it was fun- the challenge. Friendly-ish rivalry was healthy. When Natsu and Co. arrived at the graveyard, Natsu's soul perception immediately picked up on Mohammed.

"He's over near the west side of the graveyard" Natsu said. Lucy looked over and shivered. It was the darkest part of the cemetary. It brought back memories that she wanted to forget.

"Let's hurry before Levy's team catches up" Jellel said. Everyone nodded their heads and ran in the direction Natsu was running.

Two minutes later, the group was where Mohammed was supposed to be. Except... none of them could find him.

"Where is he?" Juvia asked.

"No idea" Gray responded. He looked at every corner, but still, he couldn't find Mohammed.

"Well he's here. I can feel him" Natsu sharply said.

"I didn't say he wasn't here, ya moron" Gray retorted.

"What'd you call me, ya bastard?"

"Stop it!" Erza yelled, saving Lucy the trouble, "We won't get anywhere if you two keep fighting."

Natsu and Gray seemed to deflate after Erza's speech. They knew she was right, but they couldn't help it if the other was annoying.

"Hey, guy's, I hear something... or someone" Lucy said. Not strangely, it was the weapons who paid more attention.

"Us too" Jellal spoke for himself and Juvia. Their meisters stopped talking and startled to listen, finally, Erza heard a rustle in the branches to their left.

"Guy's. Don't act too soon, but their is movement on our left in the bushes" Erza muttered.

Lucy, Jellal, and Juvia nodded their heads and turned a small part of them into their weapon. Juvia turned her index finger into the barrel and her thumb acted as the trigger. Lucy and Jellal turned their arm from the elbow down into their sword forms.

Luckily, the cause of the rustling didn't notice.

"On my count, Juvia shoots at the bush. Then, when it shows itself, Lucy and Jellal act. After you distract it, we will charge in and you will fully transform. Are we all agreed?" Erza asked. Everyone shook their heads.

"One...two...three...GO!"

Juvia did exactly as told. She made a sharp turn to teh left and shot her bullet. After it, Mohammed jumped out of the branches. Lucy and Jellal jumped into action and slashed at it, temporarily distracting it. Then, Natsu, Gray, and Erza yelled out, "TRANSFORM" and it was their stage now. The meisters caught their respective weapons and acted.

Natsu landed on the ground and jumped back up again. When he was close enough, he slashed at Mohammed and barely grazed his chest. Erza came right after Natsu and aimed for the creature's right arm, Erza came in too fast and caught Mohammed off guard and in one, swift motion, cut off his arm. After Erza moved out of the way, Gray pulled up his gun and aimed for his chest. Gray fired but Mohammed dodged out of the way just in time and instead of a gaping hole in his chest, got a good chunk out of his right side.

The creature howled in anger, with a new determination to get rid of them. Mohammed jumped up and with the flick of a wrist, batted Natsu and Erza to the ground on top of Gray.

"Bastard's strong, Natsu. Be careful" Natsu looked at Lucy's reflection in the sword and nodded, a newfound urge to get the job done a fast as possible. Natsu got up, Lucy in hand, and charged at the creature. He jumped into the air and, as if Lucy knew what he was thinking, both yelled,

"SOUL RESONANCE."

When the resonance between the two was complete, Natsu jabbed the blade down, and extended it, except...

someone else deflected it.

When Nastsu landed on the ground, he looked over and saw Gajeel with his arm in his axe form, retracting the blade.

"You prick. I had him" Natsu spat, anger and annoyance on his features.

Gajeel grinned evilly, "Gee-hee. This is a competition fire-for-brains."

Natsu growled. He picked Lucy up and extended her blade, then swung at Gajeel, slicing Mohammed's right arm off in the process. Before Natsu could get anywhere close to Gajeel, however, Erza was in front of Natsu. She lifted her foot, them slammed it into Natsu's gut.

"Rival or not, Natsu. Don't hurt Nakama" she firmly said.

What was up with Natsu's behavior? He needs to cool his jets, Lucy thought.

He does? I think he needs to act more wilder

Lucy widened her eyes. That was the troll's voice...

I see you remember me, Lucy. Good. I was worried you forgot all about me

Lucy was panicking. She could feel madness overtaking her whenever he was around.

But that's the fun of it, Lucy. Succumb to the madness. And bring your friends with you. The more the merrier.

NO!, Lucy thought. "Natsu" she said. Natsu looked down.

"Not now, Luce" was all he said. Lucy started freaking out. The only thing she could think of doing was changing back.

Lucy transformed back into her human form, but it was ten times worse. Her knees buckled and she landed onto the ground. Calm down, just calm down, Lucy thought.

"Lucy, whats's wrong?" Natsu asked, worriedly. She looked up and widened her eyes.

"Natsu!" she screeched. She pushed him out of the way and turned her arm into her sword form. Mohammed was charging at them, hand straight up as if he was planning on driving it into Natsu's stomach. Lucy brought her blade up and Mohammed didn't have any time to dodge. He landed on her blade, the tip coming out of the other side of his chest. But Lucy wasn't the only one who reacted the wat she did. Lucy looked over to her left.

Lisanna was there, her own katana out and embedded in Mohammed's throat. His body evaporated and in it's place, was Mohammed's soul. What Lucy didn't expect, was the soul shifted its way towards Lisanna.

She must've pierced him right before me, Lucy thought.

"Damn it, Lisanna. Why'd you do that? We had him first, you can't just butt in" Natsu said. Lisanna looked heartbroken after he said that. Suddenly, Lucy felt a need to defend her.

"She was doing the same thing as me. She was protecting you" Lucy said as she gpt up. The madness stopped spreading temporarily. Lucy went to walk by herself. But Erza, she noticed, was following her.

"What's up Erza?" Lucy turned around. Erza was the only one there. She must have left Jellal with the others, Lucy thought.

"Whats wrong Lucy? And don't lie to me. I know a lier when i see one. Does it have something to do with the cut you got from Michelle and Midnight?"

Damn she's quick to catch on, Lucy realized then sighed. It as no fun bearing this all be herself anyways.

"Yes. Midnight... he's made from Michelle's blood, kinda. She has black blood. And when she cut me, her black blood was inserted into my bloodstream. She's mad, Erza. And not the Madness is taking over me."

Erza was shocked. A normal person would be freaking out over something like this. But Lucy... she was calm and going through this alone?

"Is there some way to fix it?" she asked. Lucy shook her head.

"No. Please Erza. Don't say anything to the other's. I don't want them worrying about me" Lucy pleaded.

Erza wanted to say no. She wanted so badly to say it. But she knew it was fruitless. Instead, she shook her head.

"Alright. But now you have someone to talk to about it. So don't be scared to talk to me, ok?" Erza asked.

"Fine."

I am so sorry, again for the late update. I am thinking of rewriting Monster High. Comments about this? I hope you enjoyed this chapter.