Hey again guys :) Thank you so much for all the feedback, it's helping me keep the story right :)

I hope you like this chapter :) It was hard for me to write and I have no clue why :) I just couldn't put it into word but not to worry, I got there in the end. :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail (It's magic is credit to the amazing Hiro Mashima), only the my ideas and love for the show.

Chapter 13
A Message from Home

Lucy P.O.V

"I think we should set up camp before we head into that," Erza commands gesturing to the forest. I jump of the plank that lets us off the boat and walk up beside her. The light is fading, making the tree's cast an ominous shadow across the beach.

"I agree," I say, shivering. Without the sun, it get's pretty cold here. Natsu walk's past, handing me is white scarf. I blush and take it, wrapping it around my neck. "Thank you." He nods' continuing to carry the bags off the ship. I breathe in deeply, revealing in the burning wood smell coming off the fabric. His warmth seeps into my bones, banishing the chill.

"I'll find us a spot. You wait here," Erza says, striding off up the beach. Sand flies under her feet, casting a soft dust about the air.

"Lucy, can you give me a hand?" Levy calls and I turn to her. The sight makes me giggle. In her arms are about ten books, all very large and very heavy. She ways from side to side, the tower of book's reaching well above her head. I rush over and grab a few before they cascade to the ground.

"Thank you, Lucy," she pants, blowing a lose strand of hair out of her eyes. Her bandanna is slipping slightly, allowing her spiky clue hair to spring free. She looks a bit crazed.

"Are you okay, Levy?" I ask, tiling my head and frowning at her.

"I spent five hours looking up way to reverse transformations defeat dragons and make the cure," she pants, as we walk over to the are the boys have set up for our stuff. "I only found a few things and they where not helpful."

"Like what?" I ask, placing the books on a rocks. Levy places hers beside mine and turns to face me, tapping her chin with her finger.

"Transformation can only be taken away by the castor or due to the castors death," she says. My shoulder slump; I doubt Zeref would change Natsu's uncle back and we are not likely to be killing him any time soon. "Dragons can only be defeated by the power of a elemental spirit and where are we meant to find one of those. They don't kill the dragon, simple paralyze them until the death of their creator, their reversal from evil or the end of their transformation. As for the cure, well I have no clue."

"I think I might know," I say, staring off at the ocean. "Though, I'm not entirely sure yet, so don't hold me to it. It's just a feeling."

"It's better than nothing," Levy laughs, patting my shoulder. "Come on, we should help the guys."

I nod and follow her. Picking up a few bags, I carry them to the place we dropped the books off, thinking all the while. How I know what to do with the cure id beyond me. I just feel like when I have those leaves, I'll know. But there is also something else I think. Something my mother never told me and something that is vital the the cures success. I frown and rub my head. I can't quite get it, I just know it's right.

"You okay, Luce?" Natsu asks, striding past me with four boxes in his arms.

"Yeah, I'm good," I say, running to catch up with him. "This is a beautiful island, isn't it?"

"Sure is," he reply's, grinning. "I hope Erza finds a good camping spot. I'm so tired I think I might just fall over right now." I giggle.

"Me too. The past few days have been hectic. I just want to relax for a while." Natsu nods, dropping the boxes on the sand. "You doing okay?"

I sigh and look down. I haven't really had time to be sad lately. But now, when I think about it, the pains still there. Bubbling away in my chest, stabbing at my heart. I shake my head a look up at Natsu.

"No, but what can I do?" I whisper. "Being sad and depressed will get me nowhere. I need to keep going because I know that's what my Mother would have wanted. She wouldn't want me to live the rest of my life sad. She would want me to be happy."

"Good," Natsu says, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I was worried you would go all isolated on us and we don't want that."

"Yeah," I say, looking away towards the ocean again. It's so beautiful and peaceful looking. Hard to think a whole different world lives under there. "I want to go swimming when this is all over. I haven't been in a while."

"I'll take you," Natsu says, looking at the ocean too. "I know this great little beach, near where I live. It's surrounded by trees and the sand is so white, its amazing. The sea is calm all the time, because the rocks surrounding it keep out the worst weather and the water is so clear, you can see the fish swimming around your feet."

"Sounds amazing," I whisper, staring at him. He smiles lightly.

"It is," he says simply. "It's my favourite place to go. I taught Wendy to swim there and it's where I found Happy."

I wish I had a place like that but the palace and the surrounding grounds are all I've ever known. I was never aloud down to the village. Now that I think about it, this is my first time away from home. I'm overcome by a sudden homesickness. It sweeps into my heart and I almost choke, fighting back the tears.

"I never had a place like that," I murmur. "I never left the palace grounds. I was always there. I never got to see the world ir the ocean."

"Then how did you learn to swim?" Natsu asks, incredulous.

"The lake in the palace grounds," I say. "It had clean, crystal clear water and my mother would always take me swimming I asked, not matter what the weather. We would climb out blue and freezing, but we where happy."

Natsu suddenly pulls me into a hug and I rest my forehead on his shoulder. He's warm -freakishly warm- but it's nice. I press my head closer and breath in his scent. It's the one from the scarf' burning wood but with a undercurrent of earth or something. It's nice.

"What about you?" I whisper into his chest. "How are you doing after seeing you uncle?" His shoulders move as he chuckles.

"Confused, angry and sad, I guess," he answers. "I'm not really that bad though. I didn't know him that well. I'm more sad for what happened too him and what he has become."

"That makes sense," I say, pulling away. I smile at him and he grins back. "Thank you, by the way. For being there for me."

"I'll always be there for you," he says and I blush. "You don't need to worry about that."

I smile at him before turning and walking back to the others. The are beginning to lift out things off of the sand and carry them away. I notice Erza standing a little way off, on a flat rock area just of the beach. That must be our camping ground. I notice Lisanna standing staring at me and smile at her. She doesn't react, except for the small narrowing of her eyes.

I shiver and look away. Something really doesn't feel right.

Erza P.O.V

Once camp is set up, I ask Lucy to get out the lacrima ball that Mira gave her to contact the palace. She pulls out an ornate box with a silver clasp. You can tell it's royal just by looking at it. The box is a deep brown wood, with pearls and diamonds inlaid into its surface. A delicate pattern winds around the sides in silver paint and it stands on four silver feet; shaped like waves.

"Here," she says, handing it to Levy. "I have no clue how to work it but I'm guessing you do."

"Sure," Levy says, nodding, "give me a second." She pulls out a pair of red glasses and slips them on, unclasping the box. A sudden blue light emitting from the box causes us all to gasp. Inside, nestles in a bed of blue satin and lace, is an orb of silvery crystal about the size of a baseball.

Levy pulls it out and taps it twice, causing it to swell to four times it size. She rests it on the sand in front of her and kneels beside it. Tapping it again, she stares intently into the glass. Mira's voice emitting form it startles us all.

"I am so happy to hear from you," she practically squeals We crowd around the ball, so we can all see Mira's face in the crystal. She beams at us and jumps up and down.

"Mira, calm down," Lucy laughs, smiling at her friend. "How's everything going?" At this Mira's face falls.

"Not great," she says, frowning. "Your father hasn't come out his room in days, Lucy. The whole kingdom is worried about him. The Dragneel have taken over the political and business worries, while Lady McGarden has taken over talking to the people. Lady Ur has been helping the Loxar's attend to the castle and it's staff, as well as Lord Loxar helping Lyon with the army. We're getting there but it's hard."

"Wait," Gray says, pushing forward. "You let Lyon command the army."

"No," Mira answers grinning. "He's helping assign them to different areas. All the technical things. It's Makarov's job to command the army."

"Good," Gray says, visibly relaxing. "That would not have ended well." He sits back, allowing everyone a good view. Mira turns away for a moment before looking back and grinning.

"There's someone here who wants to speak to you Natsu," she says. She steps aside to reveal the smiling face of Wendy Dragneel, who claps at the sight of her brother face.

"Natsu!" she shouts. "I am so happy to see you! How are you? Are you hurt? Have you been eating properly Is Happy with you? I miss you so much! Do you miss me?" I gape at the little girl, awed at how fast she's talking. Natsu laughs and grins at her.

"I'm happy to see you too. I'm fine and no I'm not hurt," he laughs. " I'm been eating fine. Yes, Happy is with me and of course I miss you. Now calm down and say hello to everyone." Wendy beams then looks at everyone in turn.

"Hello, everyone. How are you?" she asks, eyes shining. We all tell her we are well and her eyes land on Lucy and she yelps. " Lucy! I miss you too. Are you okay? Is Natsu being mean to you?"

Lucy does something that makes us all smile. She laughs. A genuine, shoulder shaking laugh. I smile down ar her, happy to know that she still had it in her to laugh. The Dragneel's really have been a blessing. Happy, Natus's blue cat, jumps onto her lap, pushing his head against her stomach and curling up. She smiles down at him before looking at Wendy.

"I'm fine, Wendy," she says, smiling. "I miss you too and no, Natsu isn't being mean to me. He's actually being very nice."

"Good but let me know if he's mean" Wendy says, serious. "Daddy says boys should not be mean to girls; it's not gentleman like."

"I will don't worry." Lucy smiles at the little girl, her eyes shining. I have a feeling Lucy and Wendy will be good friends for years.

"Oi! That's not fair," Natsu yells, pouting. Lucy pats his head and smiles, causing him to grin.

"We're just teasing," she says lightly, looking at him. He nods and looks away. I think I see a faint dusting of pink on his cheek.

"Wendy, can I speak to Mira again?" I ask, leaning over to look at her.

"Of course, Erza," she says, smiling. "Goodbye everyone." She slips away and is replaced by Mira.

"She's so cute," Mira chirps and we all nod. Then she turns serious. "So what's happening with you guys?"

I fill her in, excluding Natsu's connection to Acnologia. We discussed it and decided that Lord Igneel would tell everyone if he wanted to when Mira reported to him. She doesn't interrupt occasionally making small noise of shock or anger. Her eyes stay wide and her hand clasp firmly in front of her mouth. When I finish, she blinks at me for a few seconds before answering.

"An actual Dragon?" she mumbles. "Are you serious?" I nod and she groans. "This just gets better and better, doesn't it?"

"I know what you mean," Lucy says, pulling her knees tightly to her chest. "Feels like the whole world is against us getting this cure."

"Zeref certainly is," Levy grumbles, cupping a pile of sand in her hands. Gajeel frowns at her tone and shifts closer to her.

"You'll get there though," Mira says, looking optimistic. "You have to." We all nod and smile at each other.

"We'd better get to bed," I finally say. "We shall contact you in a few days if we can Mira. Goodbye and take care."

"Goodbye everyone," she reply, smiling at us all. "Good luck and be careful."

"We will," we say in unison before her face fades away. Levy taps the lacrima so it shrinks down and places in in the box, clasping it shut.

"Right, bed everyone," I say, standing up and stretching. "Tomorrow we look for the cure."

Everyone nods and heads off towards their assigned tent. I follow Juvia to our shared tent and think about tomorrow. It would be a long day.

Lisanna P.O.V

I sit in the darkness away from the tents, clutching my head. It hurts and I can feel pressure building up there. It's like my mind is breaking and I almost cry out in pain. Everything flashes.

I pound the glass mirror, smirking when I see it give way and crack slightly. I was going to get out of here and not even Zeref can stop me.

Lucy P.O.V

It's only when I'm almost asleep that I notice something. Natsu's white scarf is still wrapped around my neck. I smile and tug it closer, breathing in his smell.

Slowly, I drift off into a dreamless sleep.

So there we go :) I through a little Nalu fluff in because who doesn't want Nalu fluff :D

Till next time :)