Hey guys, I'm back :) I'm so happy with all the positive feedback I'm getting for this story; it's these things that make my love writing.

GoldenRoseTanya: Thank you so much for all your reviews :) I know, Lisanna annoys me too and I'm writing the story. I like her in the anime but she had to be annoying for this story to work.

MrPotatoChips: I shed a tear writing it :( I hate doing this to my characters but it's what the plot needs so it has to be done, plus all the best stories are sad. Natsu and Lucy are soo cute together, I know! I love their chemistry in the anime! ^^

blackballistae and AdelaideChrome: Thank you so much and I hope you like this new chapter :)

Rose Tiger: I know, again I hate doing this to her but its for the good of the story :(

You guys are all amazing and I love you all. Also to the reviewers of my last chapters, thank you thank you thank you :)

Now on with the story I guess!

Chapter 5

A Mother's Love

Lucy P.O.V

I'm totally positive I'm dreaming. There was a couple of things that made that obvious to me. The first was that I'm standing in a field. Sure that sounds normal, but this field is not like any in Fiore. It stretches on for miles, seeming to have no end, and meeting the sky at the horizon. Still sounds normal? Well how bout this then. The sky is not blue. It's a shade of purple I have never seen before, with violet swirling clouds and no sun, yet light streams from somewhere I can't see. The other point is that my mother stands before me.

She's dressed in a pale gown; it hugs her figure and falls to the ground in a cascade of white and cream. Her blonde hair, always to neat and proper, hangs loosely at the sides of her face. Her brown eyes survey me with a sad tenderness and her lips form a half smile. I whimper, falling to my knees. I think back suddenly to a few hours ago, when disaster struck.

Flashback

Mother went into a full coma about an hour ago; before that Porlyusica said she was only unconscious I didn't even know there was a difference but apparently there is. I can't decide which on is worse. If she where unconscious then she would wake up but then I would have to face the fact that I would loose her when she seemed to alive. In a coma, she could never wake up and pass away in her 'sleep'. I guess the latter is better. She won't have to wake up and be in pain. I hope it's better. For her at least.

I'm still curled up against Natsu, tears running down my face. Gray's hand is clenched in mine and he rubs soothing circles on my palm with his thumb. Natsu whisper's word to me that I don't really hear but know that they are nice and that he is trying to comfort me. I'm about to say I'm fine when I cold hand seizes my heart.

I jerk up and stare at my Mother. Her pale face is paler than it was and I cannot detect a hint of breathe on her chest. She's still. Too still. I fall off the chair and onto my knee beside her bed, grabbing her hand. The chill of her skins causes me to sob and a search her wrist of a pulse. I almost faint when I find none.

Natsu is beside me in an instant, shouting at Gray to get Porlyusica. I don't even look up, I stare at my Mother's face, a hint of a smile apparent on her delicate and full lips. No. No no no no no! I hear people running into the room. Feel hands on my shoulders and arms, pulling me away, but I fight them. I claw my way back to my mother, throwing my self on the bed and sobbing uncontrollably into her stomach. She can't be gone. Porlyusica said days, not hours.

Warm hand's encircle my waist, pulling my against their owner's chest. I hear voice, rough with emotion, whispering into my ear. I don't want their pity. I don't want their comport I wan;t my mother. I scream out in agony, pain ripping through my chest, leaving a hole in my heart, and everything goes black.

Flashback end

A soft hand caresses my hair and I look up, blinking through my tears. My mother -my beautiful, amazing mother- kneels beside me, tears falling from her bright brown eyes. I launch myself into her arms and she hold me there, crying both tears of joy and sadness. Why is my mind doing this to me? Isn't it enough I just lost her? Now, I will have to say goodbye all over again. After a moment she pulls away, grasping my shoulders.

"Lucy, you have to listen to me," she states, staring into my eyes, so much like hers. "We don't have much time and I can only speak to you for a few minutes." I squint at her, confused. This isn't like any dream I've ever had. It seems more urgent.

"Huh?" is my very eloquent reply.

"Lucy, you have to find the cure," Mother almost shouts, looking at me desperately "They are going to take your father next. He won't stop until the royal line is wiped out and the world plunged into darkness again. Just like in the war."

"Father? What do you mean? Who's going after him?" I babble, struck by the sudden twist in the dream. I didn't think I had this much imagination. "Weird dream I'm having." At this my mother groans in exasperation, something out of character for her. She's usually so patient.

"This is not a dream, Lucy," she shouts, throwing her hand up in defeat. "I managed to break through the barrier between the dream world and where I passed on to. Find the cure and save your father. You are our only hope, my sweet girl." As she says this, she begins to fade. I gasp and reach out, only to grab air.

"Go to the Drakan Forest," Mother's voice says, as she disappears. "There is a tree, with red leaves, that blooms all year. It's leaves will heal your Father, for he will fall ill. It will be dangerous but your friends will help. Be careful, Lucy." Her body vanishes, leaving behind nothing but a faint whisper.

"I love you, Lucy."

Wendy P.O.V

I've never seen Natsu this annoyed. I sit with Romeo (who's the nicest person I've ever met), watching my brother pace the floor of his room. Her pink hair stands up on end, even spikier than usual. I frown at him, taking in the dark patches under his eyes and his ever twitching fingers. He's stressed. I can't feel it. I hop up and grab his hand.

"Natsu," I say my tone commanding "Calm down, Lucy will be okay. She's just lost her mother, you have to understand that she will be fragile." Natsu blinks at me before frowning.

"When did you get so smart?" he says, his tone confused. I giggle and shrug, pulling him to sit on his bed beside Romeo and hopping onto his lap. His arms wrap around me automatically, like they always have, and I lean onto his shoulder.

"You need to sleep," I says, hugging him. "Your no good to Princess Lucy if you pass out, now are you." He shakes his head, falling back on the bed and taking me with him. I squeal and roll of, sticking my tongue out at him. He simply grins. Better, though he still looks sad.

This is the weirdest thing of all. Natsu is never sad, not even when his pet Lizard ran away. He just moped about but ended up cheerful again. I know the cause of his sadness, his worry. It's the Princess. She's effected my brother in a way I never thought possible. He's worried about her. The only other girl he's ever known was Lisanna, and even she only got the cheerful side of him. She never saw the soft, comforting side of him like I have. Or that Lucy has seen.

I motion to Romeo and we leave, telling my brother to get some sleep. I glance over the window, looking for Happy, Natsu's blue (odd colour I know) cat. I grab him and place him beside Natsu, who snakes an arm around the cat and secures him to his side.

I was wrong, there is another person that has seen Natsu's soft side. It;s the side he present to Happy all the time. Happy is the one thing Natsu would die for, me being second, and I understand that. I would die for Charles, my white cat, in a heart beat.

Stupid right? It's just a cat you may think. Your wrong though. We Dragneel form bonds with our pets that not even we understand I smile as I look at Natsu and Happy. Their more than wonder and pet, they are partners and friends. Nakama.