I'm back with chapter 41! Please R&R and I shall see you at the bottom of the page.

POV: Lucy

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

"Lu, are you alright," Levy asks from across the table and I look up into her worried gaze.

We're sitting alone outside of school in one of the picnic tables while we each wait patiently. While Levy waits for Gajeel to get out of tutorials I am waiting for my ride home which still hasn't gotten here.

Levy reaches across the table and takes my hand in hers while her frown deepens, "You've seemed a bit out of it today since this morning and your eyes were really red during our second class as if you had been crying. Did something happen?" she asks while tightening her hold on my hand.

Shaking my head I force a smile at the bluenette to reassure her that nothing was wrong, "It was nothing and I'm fine," I mumur while trying not to pull my hand out of her gentle hand, "I was just yawning so much this morning that my eyes began to water. I was just tired is all."

"You shouldn't have come back to school so soon Lu," Levy scolds while finally releasing my hand, "If you're not feeling well you should have just stayed at home to rest some more. As much as we all miss you here I'd rather have you at home resting than overexerting yourself. I'd feel more at ease if you were at a hundred percent while at school."

"No one is ever at a hundred percent at school Levy," I complain, "And I'm perfectly fine, really. I just wasn't able to get much sleep last night, but I promise that by tomorrow I'll be in tip top shape," I joke while saluting making the short girl giggle, "Besides, I'm tired of being at home all day. Laxus is driving me crazy by being after me all the time giving me hardly any time to myself. This morning I had to sneak out of my own house while he wasn't looking so that I could come to school."

"So he doesn't know you're here?"

"Probably not, unless he's already searched the whole house and caught on that I'm not there. I'm pretty sure that he's already had a heart attack at my disappearance along with my grandfather who also didn't know that I came to school."

Levy laughs and I smile, the first real smile in days, as I thank the heavens for this light and cheery atmosphere. Unfortunately it doesn't last long as the front doors to the school crash open revealing two overzealous teens having a heated argument that I can't quite hear. The boys make their way towards us still locked in their argument and it isn't until they're right by the table that they notice that Levy isn't alone.

Gajeel looks at Levy then at me before looking down at his girlfriend again giving us a smal, "Hey" before he wraps his arms around the tiny girl's waist. I cringe when I see his arms circle around her abdomen as dark memories threaten to surface while I try to push them to the back of my head. The memory from Balsam village is not one I'd like to particularly think about at the moment. Especially when the couple look so happy with each other.

"Did you guys finish your work already," Levy asks completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere that surrounds us like a thick fog while both boys nod.

I look over at the pink haired teen who's gaze is set on me and I can't help but recall what he had said to Mr. Justine this morning.

"Can't you see that I'm tired of sitting back while the girl that I love is being destroyed before my eyes when I could be doing something more for her?"

The girl I love...

Tearing My gaze away from Natsu, I hear a loud car horn cut through the awkward silence making us all look towards the front gate of the school to find a black sleek car parked outside. I quickly gather my things before stepping out of the picnic table, "My ride is here," I mutteras I sling my messenger bag onto my shoulder, "I'll see you tomorrow Levy," said girl nods while giving me a warm smile as I nod at the guys before retreating away from them while throwing a short, "Bye," over my shoulder before quickening my pace.

Once I'm out of the school's grounds, I climb into the dark car and close the door without looking back towards the trio who no doubt are still watching me. My heart is pounding in my ears as the car slowly drives off down the street heading deeper into town while the driver remains silent. I watch through the tinted windows as building after building passes us by and we stop once in a while when we hit stop signs or when the lights turn red overhead Eventually when I've finally calmed my racing heart I turn to look on over at my most unlikely ally as they continue to drive steadily down the streets of Magnolia.

"The papers you asked for are in the glove compartment," they say while breaking the silence as I look down and pull on the small lever under the dashboard revealing the small compartment that holds a manila folder neatly tucked into the small storage area along with a few other papers, "There shouldn't be anything missing, but you should check through the papers just in case I didn't get something," I do as they say and scan through the small stack of papers cringing a bit at the information written on the clean white.

"It's all here," I say after I've checked every single paper and revising the map that was included, "Thank you for helping me," I then whisper as I close the folder and tuck it safely into my messenger bag before I sit up to be greeted with a long stretch of uncomfortable silence.

We drive around for a few more mintues before the car parks on the side of an empty curb in front of a lively looking floral shop. The driver then turns towards me in their seat with a serious look in their deep brown eyes after they turn off the engine and I can quickly feel my hands turning cold from the lack of the heater. The driver then points a finger right past me and I turn around to look out of the window to see at what they are pointing at. Across the street I see a tall burgurgundy brick apartment complex and watch as a few people walk in and out of the front door every so often.

Beside the building is a small cafe and a quaint looking hardware store that make the building look cheery and welcoming from where I can see. If I didn't know any better I'd think it was just another building in Magnolia.

"Is this it?" I ask while looking back at my driver who nods.

"The door you're looking for is just down that side ally between the hardware store and the apartment building," my companion says and I look over at the unnaturally dark ally that they are pointing at. Unlike the buildings which have such a bright and welcoming air to them I can't help but shiver at how ominous the ally seems to be, "The people you are looking for are in the building's basement. The layout of the basement is in the map I put in the manila folder so you shouldn't get too lost down there." I nod as I stare at the creepy looking ally feeling determination build up inside of me, "I suggest that you go during the day when everyone is at school so that you won't get caught sneaking around where you're not supposed to be."

Nodding, I look back at my companion s I ask, "How do I get in," As they sit back and start the car's engine again making the heater blast warm air.

"There's a single door with unmistakable symbol over the door. All you have to do is knock three times in the middle of the door and it should open easily," I'm surprised at how poor their security system is, "You shouldn't have much trouble once you're inside, but just make sure not to take too long once inside. You'll never know who might just show up at any given moment and the last thing we need is for you to get caught."

I nod understanding completely, "Thanks again for helping me," I sigh while closing my eyes tiredly, "I don't think I could have done any of this without your help."

"You shouldn't thank me, if not you should be angry with me just as much as the everyone else," I open my eyes and watch as their hands grib the steering wheel even tighter, "Don't think that I didn't notice how you were ignoring everyone at school today or how you kept on glaring at Natsu every time he looked at you," I look away at the mention of the pink haired teen while feeling my cheeks heat up a bit in both anger and embarrassment, "I'm pretty sure that if you this attitude up they'll all get suspicious."

"Let them, I'm tired of acting like everything is fine when it clearly isn't," I mutter while crossing my arms across my chest stubbornly.

"Either way you should still be careful with the way you approach people now," they say as they park the car in front of the gates to Fairy Hills, "You don't need to get hurt any further just because you couldn't hold in your temper."

"I'll be fine," I say as I open the door of the car to get out but their hand stops me just before I even get a foot out through the door.

I look back and watch as my driver ducks their head with a bit of shame filling their downcast eyes, "Lucy, I'm sorry that I can't help you out any more than finding out a bit of information for you. I'm keeping just as much from you as they are, if not even more, and you're still trusting me,"

"I don't care about that," I say making them look up at me surprised, "It doesn't matter what you've kept from me because at least now you're trying to help me out while everyone else continues to shield me like a baby. I don't care what you've told me or haven't told me because what you've given me is enough for now. The rest I have to find out on my own."

Squeezing my shoulder a bit tighter they ask in a trembling whisper, "Are you sure you want to go through with this? I mean, I know that it was my idea for you to infiltrate their headquarters and look for answers on your own, but won't this be far too dangerous?"

Smiling, I take their hand in mine and squeeze it in reassurance, "I'll be fine. Besides, what could they possibly do that is anything worse than what's already happened to me?"

"I'm not worried about the others Lucy, I'm talking about Eisenwald. Just because they're locked up doesn't mean that they can't hurt you further."

"What can they possibly do?" I ask and the dark look in their eyes has me somewhat regretting the question.

"They can tell you the truth Lucy," they say with a wavering voice, "And sometimes the truth can be far harsher than a simple lie." I look away knowing that what they are saying is true, but it didn't matter to me. I need to find out the truth no matter how much it hurts in the end because there is a sure chance that I can lose the rest of my sanity.

"I have to do this," I say as I release their hand and they nod in understanding.

"Please be careful Lucy," they say as I they pull back away from me.

Climbing out of the car, I look back and smile while nodding, "I will," I answer as they turn back to the steering wheel just about ready to drive away, "And Yukino," said girl looks up at me with eyes glossed over with worry, "Thanks again," and with that I close the door and make my way towards home with determination filling up the emptiness that's been inside of me ever since I set foot in Magnolia.

When I get to the gate I turn back and watch as Yukino's car drives off down the street towards her own home. Out of all the people that I know I would have never expected my adoptive cousin to be the one that would help me out. She had gone to me when I had been in the hospital and had cried her eyes out while apologizing to me repeatedly. She wouldn't tell me why she was crying but had instead said that she would help me find answers by giving me information on the people that hid in the shadows of Magnolia. She had said that the only people that could help me were the ones being held captive in the headquarters of the people who were in a group called Fairy Tail.

Yukino told me all that she knew, or at least all that she would actually say, and promised to help me with whatever it was I needed. After having her avoid me since I got here I found it kind of strange that she would help me, much less talk to me, but she insisted that it was because she was afraid to reveal too much to me. In the end I took in her offer for help because there was nothing more that I wanted than answers.

Becuase of Yukino I was a step closer to finding out my answer and to uncovering Magnolia's secret.

No, Fairy Tail's secret.

Cheese and crackers was this chapter hard to write. I literally spent all day trying to figure out how I would put this chapter and I kept on changing it when something wouldn't please me. At first I had wanted it to be Loke that would help Lucy with this plan, but ended up switching him with Yukino because she knows something that Loke doesn't. Anyway, because I spent all of today on this chapter my brain is a bit fried. Next chapter should be more interesting because Lucy will be infiltrating the Fairy Tail headquarters and hopefully she won't get caught... or will she?

Anywho, the next chapter should be coming out tomorrow, hopefully, if not expect two chapters on Wednesday!

Shout Outs

Great thanks to my Fabulous Followers...

- Johnny Spectre

- Prehistoricbroz

- HazelDragonNora

And To all of my Fantabulous Reviewers...

- FanFictionLeon = I hope we get a Nalu moment. They are my OTP and seeing that they've both gotten stronger makes me even more excited for what's to come. I'm so excited for next weeks chapter because Juvia is coming out! I wonder what she's been up to in the past year. Also, yes I do like leaving my stories in cliffhangers. Yes, Lucy remembers everything that's happened to her.

- ScarletRoseAngel = I'm glas you liked it and yes, Lucy will find out more soon!

- MeGustaZeref = No, everyone else thinks that her memory has been erased again but she actually remembers everything. That's what the last chapter (38) had been about. She was crying because it's too much to take in.

- BeastlyTick59 = Tell me about it, this chapter was hard for me to write and I'm not all that satisfied with how it came out, but hopefully you liked it. Try reading some books or looking at pictures. That sometimes helps me when I'm stuck.

- HazelDragonNora = I'm really happy to hear you excotement towards my story. So many questions indeed and they will surely be answered soon!

Well that's all the shout outs for today.

If you are enjoying my story please follow, favorite, and review - remember, reviews are a writers candy - and if you have any questions or ideas you'd like to see put in the story you can also PM me and I'll gladly add it in the story.

Until next time my lovelies.