AN: A day late, but oh well. It's another longish one, hope you all enjoy it. =]

I realized I'm getting tired of calling Polaris' followers, Polaris' followers and dark mages. So if anyone has an idea of what their cult name should be let me know via review or PM! Thanks.

Rogue's POV

Still the prickly bastard I remembered. I thought as Gajeel was beckoned away by Makarov. But something was different about him… he actually sounded concerned about Lucy. I didn't even think that it was possible for Black Steel Gajeel to care about someone else besides himself.

Everyone shouted greetings to him as he walked past them. It was extremely weird to see people happy to see him instead of terrified. I had to admit that I felt a sliver of fear course through me when he had slammed through the door, but that disappeared when I saw the Exceed appear from behind him. He's a Dragon Slayer; of course he'd have an Exceed of his own. I shouldn't have been so surprised. But seeing one unexpectedly just brought back all of the pain of Frosch's disappearance, and I became angry that Gajeel's was with him while mine was missing and most likely dead. Ridding myself of thoughts I hadn't let myself think of since we had gotten back to Fairy Tail I turned away once they had gone to the storage room and returned to the table where Sting was laying on top of, staring at the ceiling as if it held all of the answers.

"So that's the terrifying Black Steel Gajeel that made you have nightmares for months after we had met?" Sting asked without drawing his attention away from the ceiling. "No one appears to be afraid of him... except you." Sting snorted, getting a kick out of my brief spike of fear.

Halfheartedly punching his leg I sat down with my back facing him so I could look down at the guild. "He's changed. He's actually accepted here, without a trace of fear from a single person. This is the complete opposite of Phantom Lord. Everyone respected him and welcomed him out of fear, I don't think a single person liked him for him, besides my stupid ass self, but even though I looked up to him I still feared him like everyone else. Even Jose feared him, but he hid it magnificently.

"You should have seen what he did to those who crossed him, it was terrifying."

"So you've said before." Sting said rolling his eyes at me.

My retort was silenced when I heard a sound come from Lucy's room as she adjusted in bed. Popping my head in I was surprised to see her eyes open, and a small smile on her face.

It was terrible seeing the poison's effect on Lucy. After her failed attempt to call out one of her spirits she had been unable to use much of her magic without risk of passing out. Even having her maid and that pesky lion pop out was more difficult for her, and usually left her panting, exhausted and depressed. Physically she has few changes but they were getting worse with each passing day. Her once golden spun hair was dull and flat, nothing like it had been. As for her skin it had become nearly translucent with how pale she had become. Each and every bruise and cut was visible, and stood out like a sore thumb, making a faded bruise look just as bad as a fresh one.

The worst part was that her body had begun rejecting any form of food yesterday, every time she swallowed something it just came right back up, causing her more pain. Luckily Wendy, under Porlyusica's tutelage, devised a pill that provides the necessary nutrients for Lucy, a pill that dissolved immediately once swallowed, leaving Lucy's body no time to register the foreign substance and upchuck it. If this continued she would become a rail thin stick.

"...Rogue...Rogue…" She said with a soft giggle, when I jerked out of my thoughts suddenly, realizing she had been trying to get my attention. Holding out her hand she beckoned me to her side. "Not there." She said when I was about to sit in the chair by her bed. "Here." She patted the space beside her as she tried to scoot over to give me more room to lie down.

"Are you sure Lucy? I'd be perfectly comfortable in the chair."

"I know, but there's something I wanted to talk to you about, and I'd like it better if you couldn't run from me once I said it." Giving me another soft smile, I knew I couldn't resist her, but was wary of the upcoming conversation. Once I was sprawled out beside her and facing her she grabbed my hand with one of hers and laced our fingers together. "I'm sorry about Frosch, Ro-" she stopped when she felt me trying to jerk my hand away from her only to have her tighten her hold on it. I hadn't talked about Frosch's disappearance with anyone… not even Sting and definitely not with anybody else from my guild. I knew it was on their minds when I caught them staring up at us, but I didn't care. I wasn't ready to talk about it, even with Lucy.

"Rogue, stop, you have to listen." Waiting for me to stop struggling to get away from her she pulled on my arm, indicating that she wanted me to scoot closer to her. Not wanting her to hurt herself even more by moving so much, I reluctantly did as she silently asked. "I'm sorry that Frosch is lost, but I believe she and Lector are still alive. If they weren't you would have found their bodies in the wreckage. There is no reason for anyone of those mages to take a corpse. You can't give up just because the task seems impossible, their counting on you."

"Are you done?" I asked emotionlessly. Watching her carry on some internal debate I waited, wanting this conversation to be over and never mentioned again. I had never been without Frosch for this long since I found her and it was killing me. Some part of me wanted to believe that what Lucy said was true, but good things rarely happened to me, and finding Frosch alive would be too good to be true. Sighing when I saw her mouth open and close without any words being spoken I gently fell onto my back and looked to the ceiling. "I know you want to believe that they are still out there but it's not likely and even close to being impossible. If they had been able to get away, let alone survive they would have returned to us already. But they haven't so that's that."

"Oh Rogue..." She choked out, looking at me with tear filled eyes.

"Lucy no, we're done with this conversation… please." I could see that she wanted to argue, but seeing how much pain I was in, and how tense I was she relented and simply nodded. Putting her arms around me as much as she could; she brought me closer to her until my head was resting on her shoulder. We laid like that for a while in silence, until she took a deep breath and looked down at my face before placing a gently kiss atop my forehead.

"I know I'm not getting any better Rogue… no matter how hard you all try to hide it; I can see the hopelessness in everyone's eyes, especially Wendy's. But there is something else you all need to worry about. We still don't have all of the Jeweled keys, you should all be focusing on finding them and when you do have them all find Yukino, and her sister. Maybe together they can do whatever needs to be done to get rid of Polaris once and for all."

"This conversation is no better than the last, Lucy. No one cares about anything else at the moment; all they want to do is make sure you get better. And you will get better; it's just a matter of time. Your master has asked Lamia Scale to loan us their healer, with her powers mixed with Wendy's we're sure to get the poison out of you, and if that fails, Natsu, Erza and Gray are on their way to the council to borrow Cobra so to speak, so he can suck the poison from you. We aren't completely without options." I said, squeezing her tighter, not willing to let her go.

"If only you could have this much conviction when it came to Frosch, Rogue." She sighed in frustration. "If your plans fail then promise me that you'll do as I asked, and find the keys and Yukino and Sorano. Actually we should find them first. With Julien's group of loonies running around they could be in trouble."

"Our plans will work. So there's no point in talking about your plan."

"He's right Lucy-nee." Wendy said, poking her head through the door, before fully entering.

Lucy's POV

Rogue, I'm sorry but do you think you can get me some ice water from downstairs? I'd like to speak to Wendy alone for a bit.

He gave me a concerned look, before shifting his attention to Wendy giving her the same look. "Yeah, sure no problem." Before he could leave the bed I placed a kiss on his cheek in thanks, and possibly something more. I wanted so badly to tell him how I felt, but it wasn't fair to him, not while I was dying. Watching his exit wistfully I felt the all too familiar sting of tears and turned to see Wendy waking up to my side of the bed.

"...you should tell him Lucy. He'd want to know."

Startled I laughed nervously. "Ha ha. I don't know what you're talking about. You've been spending too much time with Mira.

"The reason I wanted to talk to you is I want you to tell me, without holding anything back, how I'm doing. No one has been upfront about my health since a week ago. Do you all think that I can't handle it? Or that I'm going to do something to speed along the process? I understand you're all worried about me, and that you're doing what you think is best, but hiding things from me isn't helping. "

"I-I'm sorry Lucy. I'm not trying to hide it intentionally; I'm just not sure what's happening and what's causing it. I've looked you over thoroughly but I've seen nothing to explain the pain you're in or why you're body has begun rejecting food.

"Whatever spelled poison that was embedded in you is hidden extremely well and is absorbing your magic."

"Wendy, I didn't mean for you to freak out. " I said patting her wringing hands. "I'd just like to know what everyone else knows about my health. Now for the main reason I sent Rogue away. What are the chances of this healer and Cobra of safely getting rid of the poison?"

"They can do it, we just have to let them try." She said hopefully but not at all certain.

"Upfront Wendy."

"But they can do it. I believe they can!"

"Wendy, I need to know the chances so I can plan accordingly. I'll need to get my affairs in order, set up a will, find a home for my keys, and see if someone else can defeat Polaris in my stead. I NEED to know the truth."

Covering her mouth she let her tears spill forth and tried to speak. "Ev-even if Lamia Scales' healer can heal the damage to your organs, she'll have to locate and remove the spelled poison and if Cobra could sense the poison and remove it, he, like the Sky God Slayer would most likely have the spell transferred to them and go through what you're going through now."

"..." So basically I would be killing them in order to live. "Does master know all of this?"

"No...Laxus and Porlyusica thought it'd be best to keep it amongst ourselves for the time being."

"Thanks Wendy. I think I'd like to be alone for a while, get some rest you know?"

Nodding her head she went to the door with her head bowed. "I-I'm really sorry Lucy-nee."

"No need to apologize Wendy, it's not your fault."

Waiting until she had gone, and the sound of footsteps on the stairs faded away I grabbed my pack out from underneath the bed and rummaged through it for my lacrima pods. Find them I leaned back against my pillows to catch my breath before putting them on and pulling out the screen.

"Lucy? Is everything alright? Why are you calling and not Mira or Master?" Ezra said looking worried.

"Lucy? What's she doing calling. Erza is she alright?!" I heard Gray and Natsu in the background, as their heads peered over Erza's shoulders to look down at the lacrima.

"Haha everything is fine. Actually it's better than fine, the healer showed up a while ago and with the help of Wendy cured the poison. There's no need for you to get Cobra. Just come home so we can party!" I said with a huge smile.

"Awesome!" Gray and Natsu said at once, high-fiving above Erza's head before disappearing.

"That's amazing Lucy, I'm glad you're better. We'll see you in a couple of days. Get some rest you still look a little pale."

"Will do Erza! Love you guys, be safe and don't destroy too much on your way home." I smiled and waved before ending the call. I'm sorry you guys.

Wiping my face with the sheets I sat up straight and readied myself for the next call.

"Lucy! Good news Chelia just got back from her mission and we will be there tomorrow."

"Hi Lyon! I'm glad I caught you in time. Wendy and Porlyusica made an antivenin and I'm on my way to recovery. So you don't have to travel all of the way here."

"Oh, I was looking forward to seeing my beloved Juvia...and Gray. Maybe we will still come over and visit."

He doesn't know about Juvia and Gray... "Why don't I call you when they get back? Their off on a mission right now with the rest of my team."

"Oh, okay. Thanks Lucy! Glad to see you're doing better!" Lyon said before the screen went blank.

Now for one more call. Entering in the contact info I waited. "Hi, I don't know if you remember me but my father was Jude Heartfilia. I was wondering if you could help me draw up a will...yes, yes I know that I'm a little young to be doing so, but I'm a mage and you never know what'll happen...mhmm mhmm that's great! I'll see you on Friday then just give me a buzz when you get there and I'll let you in. Thanks you...goodbye." Now to figure out how to get to my apartment. I thought as I laid down to rest my eyes.

Gajeel's POV

"What's the matter Gajeel? Why do you keep interrupting me when I'm getting dressed?" Rea said with her clothes sticking to her freshly showered body and a towel wrapped around her hair. At her outburst, she had drawn even more attention to herself and to me, as I heard people whisper amongst themselves about her being to young for me. Perverted idiots. I thought sending a nasty glare to Wakaba and Macao. Satisfied when they instantly shut their traps and returned to their own business I watched as Lily flew her to the table I was at since she didn't have any shoes on. Setting her onto the bench across from Levy and I she looked around the guild, waving to everyone who continued to glance our way. When she had taken in enough of the guild she leaned over to probe the wrap that she had put on my arm several days prior.r

"Fuck, warn me first." I said when she none to gently tore the wrap off to check how it was healing.

"Oh stop you're winning. It could be a hell of a lot worse than it is, you could have lost your arm if I hadn't known what to do." She said sitting back down after giving the now stinging wound a couple of squeezes. "You said you had a healer right? I'd have her close it up as soon as she can so you can avoid any nasty infections."

"Yeah I'll get right on that." Brat. Moving my arm experimentally I took it off of the table and placed it in my lap, discretely rubbing the skin around the wound.

"Now you wanna tell me why I had to cut my shower short, and forego shoes to get here so quickly?"

"It's not safe being alone, even here. Someone attacked Lucy outside of the guild, even though everyone was here. Turns out that the knife he used had some sort of poison coating on it." Looking up at her almost inaudible gasp, I watched as her already pale skin, became even whiter. Her bruises that were barely visible to the normal eye now popped out, drawing the eaves droppers attention, and causing them to gasp at the amount of cuts and bruises that littered her body.

"...what kind of poison?" She whispered, almost as if she was afraid to ask.

"What does it matter?"

"It just does. What kind was it?" Her voice rising with each word as she yanked the towel off of her head and released her soaked red tresses, not caring that they sprayed water everywhere.

"We don't know that. Wendy and Porlyusica, our healers have yet to identify it." Shrimp said from the seat beside me. Shutting her book after she placed one of her many book marks between the pages she had been reading, she put it down of the table with her hands clasped on top of it. "Hi, my name is Levy."

"Rea." Rea said quickly without even looking over at shrimp. Her eyes remained glued to me. "I need to see her...now."

"Tch, what's the rush? It's not like she's gonna go anywhere anytime soon."

"My mother went through the same thing, or so my spirits told me. They put a spell on her that sucked all of her magic from her once they had captured her and she refused to give them my location and that of the mud encrusted key. She told me that the key needed to be protected so we could give it to the King's chosen one, Lucy. All of our spirits have been on high alert since word of Celestial Mages' deaths passed through our communication channels. We had noticed a few of our neighbors were missing but we had no idea that they had been killed.

Anyways, the spelled poison they used on my mother and the others from my town is incurable. My spirits warned me to not let them cut me when I got out of their prison, for that reason. If Lucy has what my mother had, she will die a slow and painful death as her magic is sucked out of every inch of her body, leaving nothing but an empty shell of what she once was. If that happens we are all doomed, because there is a reason the King chose her instead of anyone else; no one can compare to how powerful she is." She said staring me dead in the eye, showing me how serious she was.

"Lu-chan..." Levy choked out covering her mouth to stop her sobs.

"Fuck. Come with me." I said before grabbing her bicep and dragging her away, nearly lifting her off her feet the whole way across the guild and to the bottom of the stairs. "Freed! Get your ass down here and remove these runes! I need to take this one up to see if Lucy has is the same thing as what killed her mom."

"But Laxus-sama said-"

"I don't give a shit what that Lightning Prick said, this is the best thing for Lucy, not keeping her locked away from someone who might know what the hell she's going through."

"What's all this racket? Lucy is trying to sleep." The black haired mage said glaring daggers at the two of us. "Go away Gajeel we already told you, you can't come up here."

"Even if it means finding out what's wrong with Bunny Girl?!"

"Who's 'Bunny Girl'?"

"I am, Rogue." Lucy said leaning against the doorway and breathing heavily. "Why is there a rune wall up?" She asked before going into a coughing fit, that ended with a faint smell of blood wafting through the the air. When she looked down at her hand I could see that she was startled by the trace of blood that was there but she quickly put her hand behind her back, making a fist as she did so, trying to hide the evidence of how badly the poison was affecting her. Even though Lucy went from startled to acting as if nothing had happened so quickly I could tell that the mage that had defied me was not falling for her ploy. He was about to say something when Freed beat him to it.

"We felt it necessary to protect you from being overwhelmed with visitors, and any possible attacks Lucy-san." Freed said walking to Lucy and giving her his arm to escort her to the closest table and helping her sit before taking a seat next to her.

"That's silly. Why wouldn't I want to see everyone and I doubt anyone is going to get past so many Dragon Slayers, not to mention a God Slayer. Take it down immediately... please." She said as an afterthought, giving Freed a stern, yet apologetic look for issuing him an order. Even when she could be dying she tries to care for everyone else.

"...but Laxus-sama-"

"Should have consulted me before making any, well anymore, decisions regarding my safety. Just because I'm sick doesn't mean I don't want to see anyone. And we have already deemed I'm not contagious so there is no reason to keep me locked up like this." Lucy, seeing that Freed still looked torn between her logic and Lightning Freak's orders came up with a compromise. "If it makes you feel better you can tell Laxus that I threatened you with tears if you didn't do as I asked... from experience he has no functioning power when there are emotional girls around him." She said giving him a conniving wink.

Blushing at the wink, and the thought of his precious leader having a weakness Freed wrote a few runes in the air, before sweeping them towards the rune wall and everyone watched as the runes fell away. Once the wall was gone I was overwhelmed with a surge of depression and concern from the two unknown mages, and the Thunder God Tribe. Turning to look at Bunny Girl, I sensed nothing but acceptance and a hint of sadness.

Rea, impatient to check out Lucy jerked her arm from my grip and took the stairs two at a time, how such a short person could do that well and comfortably was beyond me, but it was sure as hell funny to watch as she teetered up there. Rea didn't even introduce herself before she was all up in Bunny Girl's space, mumbling inaudibly to herself she pulled something out of her pocket. "Open gate of the Little Lion! Leon!" Lucy, was entranced as a boy appeared, who was about Rea's height and had a familiar head of hair. "Leon, is this what mom looked like when you saw her last?"

I held my breath, waiting for the spirit to answer. If he said yes then the chances of us finding any sort of cure for Bunny Girl was shot, and she'd die. But if by some miracle Leon said no, then we had a chance. "I-I-I'm sorry Master... it is." He said bowing his head and scooting closer to Rea.

"Thanks Leon. You can g-"

"Wait, please." Lucy half shouted holding out one hand, while her other went to her waist. A second later Loke appeared, rushing to Lucy when she swayed in her seat.

"Lucy, you're not supposed to call on us remember. It's too dangerous."

"I know, but this was important." she said with a faint smile as she pointed to the frozen spirit.

That's why the hair looked so familiar. I thought comparing the two brothers. Now that I was seeing them together, I don't know how I could have missed it before. Leon was of course shorter than Loke, but that was the only huge difference. They both had the mangy mane of orange hair; Loke's was longer than his brother's though. Other than that the only difference between them was their clothes and demeanor.

"Nii-chan?!" The boy whispered, tears springing to his eyes, then freely down his cheeks. "Nii-chan!" He cried before running to his brother, stumbling over his own feet as he went.

Loke stood still as a stone still shocked as the puny arms went around him.

AN: Let me know what you thought. Please and thank you!

artificialartofficial: *pats back* It's okay, you'll survive. Thanks! As I've said before I'm not a fan of writing fighting scenes but I'm trying to make them better!

BronzeDove: I'm glad you like Rea! I was going to kill her off, and make the rescue fail, but I felt like having a Celestial Mage actually survive the dark mages would be better for the story. Plus I like her too! lol

Wendy unfortunately cannot cure her. =/