So I got my first review last night, and just wanted to give a hearty thank you to the reader (you know who you are)! Thank you so much, and reviews are always welcome. Once again, I own nothing Fairy Tail related, only my OCs.

Natsu awoke on a bed, sore and cold. Cold was a different feeling; he usually, obviously, felt comfortably warm. What was wrong?

"You awake, boy? Take it easy; you've pretty much been hit by a train. You a mage?"

He tried speaking, but his throat felt raw. The man nodded and handed him a glass of water which he drank greedily. Feeling a bit better, he tried again.

"Yeah, I'm a fire dragon slayer. Where's Lucy?"

"Who?"

"The girl Celestial Spirit Mage with me. She's blonde, busty, and carries a key ring with her that summons strange-looking spirits."

"There wasn't anyone with you. We found you half-dead on the hill nearby, alone. I assume you came from the train? Well, there were no survivors but you, boy. The train exploded; I'm positive the only reason you're alive is because you had that protection charm in your hand. "

Natsu wanted to punch the guy across the face for suggesting that Lucy was so weak, but nevertheless, fear gripped him. She couldn't be dead. Lucy could not be dead. The man sat down on the bed next to him, sorrow written on his face.

'I didn't want to tell you this now, but I can tell you're never going to stop asking. You said she carried keys, right?"

He nodded slowly, the fear growing.

"They found a girl matching that description about half a mile from you, complete with the set of keys in her hand. They shipped her body back to Fairy Tail; she didn't survive the night. I'm so, so, sorry."

No. No, no, no. There was a refusal to comprehend that pervaded common sense which casued him to jump out of the bed and throw the man against the wall.

"You lie, bastard. Lucy would never die like that. She's so much stronger than everyone, stronger than me, even. I need to get back to Fairy Tail."

"You're not going anywhere, boy. You've been cursed, see?"

For the first time, Natsu examined the hand that was gripping the man's throat. It was beginning to smoke, and the man sweated slightly. He was burning this man! Quickly, he let go and backed away. The man rubbed his throat and regarded Natsu critically.

"Now, I would like you to summon that fire magic of yours."

Natsu held up a finger and summoned the flame. He almost staggered when it didn't work. Nothing happened. He searched for the familiar thrum of magic power, but found nothing, as if it had never been there in the first place. By all rights, with such a deficit of power, he should be dead.

"You've lost your power, boy. That witch on the train cursed you, and now the only time you can use your magic is when you're touching someone, whether you want to or not. You're a danger to everyone close to you. I wouldn't suggest you go back to your mage guild with no magic and a curse attached. I'm willing to let you stay here, but you're going to have to wear gloves and long clothes. I don't want any burns just for taking care of you."

It was entirely too much. He sagged back against the bed and went back to sleep.

Fairy Tail was quiet for the first time in years. No drinks were shared, nor fights fought in the normally rambunctious guild. Four people were absent from the fray: Wendy, Gray, Master, and Natsu. Everyone knew what had happened to Natsu, though. His scarf had been lying not far from her broken body, stained with magic and blood. He had to be dead to have left his two most important things behind. A scream issued from the door leading to a back, one distinctly feminine and full of pain and sadness. Erza flinched in horror, the first sign of life in the guild hall. The Master walked into the hall, no sign of any emotion on his face.

"She is broken, but she will live. Her left eye is blind, her heart is weak, and almost all her ones are broken, but she will live. I require a team to investigate this and find any trace of Natsu possible. Any volunteers?"

"I will go."

Erza and Gray had spoken at the same time, but neither was shocked. As two of a broken team, they felt obligated to take this mission for the sake of their honor and the lives of their friends. Slowly, the hands of Levy, Gajeel, Lisanna, Cana, Wendy, Juvia, and Romeo rose above the rest, and there was no protest. Master looked into the eyes of each volunteer, scanning for doubt. Naught but determination and revenge shone in their souls.

"You will be recalled to the guild in 3 months. If no trace is found by then, he will be pronounced dead and we will hold a service. Find our brother."

The mages immediately departed for the train station while Master and Mira stood side-by-side. Mira placed her hand on Master's shoulder, worry emanating off her usually calm figure.

"How is she really? Her mind, I mean."

"Go see her. I cannot explain it myself."

Mira left his side, biting her lip in anticipation. She walked into the dim room, taking not of Lucy's still figure on a bed in the center of the room. A bandage covered her eye as well as most of her body. To Mira's surprise, Lucy was awake.

"Lucy? How are you?"

Lucy's head rotated slightly to rest her dead gaze on Mira. Mira had to hold back a gasp at the lack of luster in Lucy's normally-bright eyes.

"I'm fine. I have better things to do than be wallowing in self-pity."

Mira couldn't help it; she cried for her friend. On a normal occasion, those words would have been full of inspiration and life, motivating and cheerful. Coming from this Lucy, Mira understood that Lucy truly had died. Lucy Heartphilia was no more.

Sorry for the depressing ending, but it's necessary for the timeskip I'm about to use. I hated this chapter SO MUCH. I wanted to smack myself in the face for doing these terrible things. Anyway, adios, and I will be updating soon!