Chapter Twelve

"On that note…" Lucy saved Levy from blushing or having to explain the meaning of that gesture. She looked at Wendy. "What more can I do to help?"

"Just keep her and Erza calm and still. I need to look at their brother. Once I examine him, I can start on the last part of healing them."

"Okay. That you." Lucy nodded and watched as she carefully moved to Levy's side. Lisanna was still crying and Lucy had to take a deep breath and walk away. Natsu was instantly beside her and looking at her in concern.

"I"m fine. It's just…hard. When you can't help." She said and he nodded and wrapped his arms around her. She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. She dropped one of her arms and wrapped it around his waist. He growled softly and she closed her eyes.

"Lu." Erza's voice made her lift her head and look over. She was motioned over and she started to step away but Natsu grunted and kept his arms around her.

"Quit sulking." She whispered and he let her go. She walked over to her friend. Erza grabbed her hand and Lucy leaned closer to her.

"How do they look?"

"Mira is worse than you, and her injuries look infected. Elfman is really bad. It doesn't look promising." Lucy was honest and Erza bit her lip and shook her head. Lucy understood the pain. People perished too easily in the world as it currently was and it was always heartbreaking. Especially when families were broken apart.

"What's happening with the Dragis?"

"They're trying to figure out how we've survived. And I think also how human women don't die every month."

"Yeah they didn't seem to handle that too well."

"Better than some human men." Lucy waggled her eyebrows and Erza smiled despite herself. She looked over. "Where did that fuzzy blanket come from?"

"Natsu has a stash in his hover craft."

"They have what now?" Erza asked and Lucy quickly explained what the Magi-Hovers were. Erza nodded and sighed. "Sounds like heaven. A room of nothing but soft blankets."

"I don't know if the others have it…it could just be a Natsu thing. The idea of Laxus in a fluffy pile of blankets puts me in stitches."

"Me too." Erza giggled and rested her head against Lucy's. She sighed. The pain from the poison felt like she was being set on fire in a line down her body. She looked over at Mira and shook her head. The girl looked around her age, maybe a little older. She shouldn't have been in a position where a dragonoid could get to her. It just wasn't fair.

"Hey ladies." Cana joined them and ran her hand around Lucy's neck and brought her forehead to her own. They shared a moment. "Have you eaten recently Lucy?"

"I had a can of spaghetti-os on the roof before Natsu found me."

"Good." Cana nodded and patted Erza on the leg. She went over to the other girls who were slowly coming out of the stacks and sharing food. Kinana and her roommate walked over to Rouge and Sting who carefully leaned back as Lucy glared at them over the girls' shoulders.

"Hello." Kinana smiled at the Dragis males. "I'm Kinana and this is Yukino."

"Hello." Yukino smiled shyly and held out a can of Vienna Sausages. "It's not much but we thought we'd share. Since you all are helping us."

"Thanks." Sting blushed and looked at the can and carefully curled her hand around it. "But you keep your food. We have rations, so you don't have to sacrifice for us."

"Oh…of course." Yukino blushed and looked at her feet. Kinana smiled at Rouge who grimaced and elbowed Sting.

"But maybe…we can share? We can share some of our food and see if you like it?"

"Sure." Kinana nodded and he disappeared. She gasped and looked around. Sting chuckled and both girls looked at him.

"He can travel by shadows."

"Wow." Yukino looked at him and then back down at her feet.

"Its okay I guess. I can travel by light."

"Light?" Yukino asked and he nodded. "Whats that like?"

"Its just…being…free." He said and concentrated on thinking of the best way to describe it. "Light moves in ways I can't in this form. And it's warm."

"That sounds nice. Ever since the dragonoids came I feel like we've been forced into the dark. I miss having light after sunset. Well…more than what candles give off."

"Like this?" He asked and held up his hand, and five little balls of light erupted from the tips of his fingers. He made them dance and she giggled, clapping her free hand against the can of meat.

"That's so amazing."

"Show off." Rouge chuckled as he appeared. He held up a few containers. He motioned to a table and the four sat down.

"Are they going to be okay? Eating whatever that is?" Erza asked and Lucy tilted her head and Natsu nodded.

"Yeah, I ate some of it the first time I met Natsu."

"Good." Erza sighed heavily.

"Erza, rest. If anything happens, we'll wake you." Lucy encouraged and Erza nodded. She closed her eyes and rested her head in Cana's lap. Lucy waited until her friend's breathing evened out before she walked back to Natsu. He didn't wrap his arms around her, instead he picked up a blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders. She gripped it and smiled, as she crossed her arms over her chest with the blanket tickling what skin the suit didn't cover.

"What's wrong?"

"Just…worrying." Lucy said as she looked around the library. She watched as Wendy finished doing something to Elfman before she went to her boxes and picked up three items. She placed the end of each one over the chest of the wounded and then stepped into the middle of the space between them. The opposite end of the contraptions she held in her hands.

"Watch Wendy," Natsu whispered and put his hands on her shoulders. "…and the worry will go away."

Lucy watched as the girl started to growl, possibly chant, and a light emitted from her clasped hands. The light went into the contraptions and flowed through to the ends that rested on the injured humans. The glow started off small and then slowly got brighter. All conversation stopped, and the air got heavy. Lucy watched as Wendy started to wobble on her feet and saw the widening of Laxus' eyes. She didn't think. She jumped from Natsu's grasp, dropping the blanket and putting her hands on Wendy's shoulders.

"No!" Natsu shouted but it was too late. Lucy gasped as energy and pain hit her like a freight train. Her hands felt like they were about to blister. But at the same time, she could hear Wendy's soft voice, but it sounded slightly distorted.

I don't have enough energy…I didn't think it would be this hard…but I can't choose one not to save. I need to keep…pushing.

Lucy bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes, tightening her fingers on the girl's shoulders. Please, stars above, take my energy and give it to Wendy!

Wendy gasped, her eyes opening as the light got dramatically brighter. Erza shot upright, the base fell off of her as Cana wrapped her arms around Erza's shoulders. Natsu stared, his hands clenched tight. He'd never seen Wendy's healing light get this bright. And Lucy's hair, the strands that had escaped her braided hair, was lifting and twirling in the air around her. Her suit had steadily grown from pale pink to a bright red, streaks of black were moving up her legs from her feet. Her skin was shining like a light was coming out of her, basking her in gold.

This energy…this raw power…it's helping tremendously! Wendy's voice flowed through Lucy. If it can hold out, I'm sure I can save these two.

Holy celestial stars, please help us save these two! Grant us your light and power. Lucy prayed, focusing on the hope that Mira and Elfman would be healed. She opened her eyes to help herself focus, but as she did, she heard something, like a strong wind. She turned her head and looked up at the windows from the third floor. The starlight was coming through like a spotlight. As it hit her and Wendy, it felt like she was being bathed in the heat of a sauna.

Sky Goddess! Wendy gasped as the starlight engulfed her. This power…it's unlike anything I've ever felt.

"Oh!" Mirajean shot up and Lisanna grabbed her, pushing the base off of her sister. Mira's eyes swung towards the light, widening. Wendy's hair was standing up on end and had changed from blue to pink and her skin was turning a bright florescent white. Lucy's skin was golden, her hair turning a mix of platinum and gold as it floated around her. To Mira, who didn't know either, it was like looking at angels descending from the Heavens in a blaze of glory. She turned her head and saw the light engulfing her brother. "Elfman!"

"He's going to be okay Mira!" Lisanna was crying. "They healed you, so I believe they can help big brother Elf."

"Lucy!" Levy whispered worriedly as pain flickered caroused Lucy's face. Her suit was shifting wildly. The red trying to push the black back down while the black tried to rise higher up her body. Suddenly she screamed in pain as she was physically thrown away from Wendy and she would have hit the bookshelf if Natsu hadn't jumped in the way to soften the impact. His arms wrapped around her as they fell to the floor. The starlight immediately went out and the library was incredibly dark. The only light now being from Wendy to Elfman and it was fading.

Wendy gasped as she dropped her equipment and sank to her knees. Her hair had returned to blue, but she was broken out in sweat. Something that had never happened before.

"Lucy?" Natsu's voice was strained and everyone looked over. Wendy's eyes widened. Lucy was also drenched in sweat but she looked pale. Her hair was a mess, her suit was mostly red, but there was black inching up her legs. Natsu was shaking her gently.

"Wha…" Wendy's throat was sore. "What happened?"

"You nearly fell and she grabbed you." Gray said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and helped her to get to her feet. He led her over to Lucy and Natsu. Levy was there, a cup of water in her hands and a shirt in hand to use as a rag.

"Why didn't anyone stop her?" Wendy asked horrified.

"She moved too fast." Gray said and shook his head. "By the time we realized what was happening, she'd grabbed you."

"I'm so sorry!" Wendy started to cry. Levy looked up at her.

"Don't apologize. You helped Erza and Mirajean and Elfman seems to be coming around." Levy wiped at Lucy's forehead. "Her grabbing you helped you hold out for the last twenty minutes…"

"She held onto me for twenty minutes?!" Wendy looked at Gray and then swung around to look at Laxus who nodded. She turned back to Lucy. "Impossible."

"Why is that?" Erza asked as she slid off of the desk. She felt better than she had since the invasion.

"When I use the mass casualty healing spell, my skin heats up to that of a dying star." Wendy's voice wavered. Levy picked up Lucy's hands which were pink but only mildly warm to the touch. Lucy groaned and her nose scrunched up and her eyes clenched.

"Lucy?" Natsu called her name and her head rolled to face him. Her suit had pushed the black down completely. The red was even starting to slowly change back to the soft pink.

"…plate…num…bers?"

"What?" Natsu looked confused. Lucy groaned and shook her head slightly.

"Anyone…catch…that truck's plate…numbers? Owww."

Levy started to laugh and she draped herself over her friend. She pushed up and looked at Natsu who was still unbelievable confused. "She's saying it feels like she got hit by a truck. A big moving vehicle."

"She should be fine." Cana said and he looked from Levy to her. Wendy leaned over and touched Lucy's forehead. She closed her eyes and after a few seconds opened them.

"She's exhausted. Everything is depleted. But there's no lingering injuries or damage. She's just….expended."

"Thanks the Flames of Igneel." Natsu whispered and stroked Lucy's face. He looked around and picked her up. He looked at Levy. "Can you help me?"

"Of course." Levy scrambled to her feet. Natsu directed her to the pile of blankets he'd dropped. He explained what he wanted to do and she nodded and grabbed most of them and they walked down a quiet aisle. She laid out the blankets and worked on making a nest. Natsu growled when he was satisfied and he settled Lucy into it. He covered her with the blanket he had wrapped around her earlier. She sighed into the fabric and he closed his eyes and let out the breath he had been holding.

The two of them turned and returned to the main group. Mirajean was sitting up and Lisanna was hugging her while crying. She was stroking Lisanna's hair as she looked around the open floor of the library. She didn't know who the individuals around them were, but she felt safe. For the first time in a long time. Her eyes met the dark eyes of the tallest male in the area and she froze. He stalked over and she stiffened. He was large, muscles bulging onto of muscles. And what looked like scales were all over his body. The scar over his eye making him look menacing as he glowered at her and her sister. She remembered the leader of the last militant group they'd been staying with. He'd look at Lisanna like that when she cried too much for his liking.

Before she could tell this monster of a man that she'd quiet Lisanna down, he grabbed the material from the table behind them and dropped it over Lisanna's shoulders. Her younger sister hiccuped and looked up at him, wiping her face with her hand. He dropped his hand onto her head and gently ruffled her hair.

"Its okay to cry; holding it in doesn't do anyone any good."

"I'm sorry. I'm just so relieved."

"It's understandable. We are also happy that there was no losses tonight." He looked at Mira. "How do you feel?"

"Great." Mirajean wasn't lying. She wasn't fatigued, she didn't have any aches or pains, and she felt like she was ready to go out and take on the world. She hadn't felt this good in years, even a few before the dragonoids had arrived. She looked over at her brother.

"Why isn't Elfman up?"

"His injuries were more severe." Wendy's voice made her look over at the young girl. "But he should be waking up soon. I couldn't one hundred percent heal him though. Right at the end, I ran out of energy."

"More like you both exploded out of energy." Kinana muttered as she walked over to Mirajean. The girl looked at her. "Are you hungry? We have some different things. Soup, canned chicken, fruits and vegetables. And the Dragis have some weird stuff that tastes good."

"Soup?" Mira couldn't remember the last time she'd had warm soup.

"Uh yeah…We have mushroom, chicken noodle, tomato and Italian Wedding soup."

"Italian wedding soup?" Mira's voice was small but hopeful. Kinana smiled brightly and patted the girl's arm.

"I'll go heat this up." Kinana walked away and Mira followed her with her eyes. Her gaze landed on Erza and Cana who walked over with cups in their hands. The red head held out an extra cup to her which she took.

"Who…are you all?"

"We're the last girls from the Mavis Dorms over at MU. The rest are Dragis who have come to find human survivors and get us off world to save us from the dragonoids."

"Off…world?" Her eyes drifted to Laxus and he raised a brow and she looked back at the two girls.

"So Lucy said when she explained who they are." Cana quipped. "Pinkie over there has been hanging off of her like a bad rash as it is since they met. He hasn't eaten her so far."

"My hair is not pink!" Natsu snarled and Levy giggled into her cup at how offended he sounded. Gajeel chortled and snarled when Natsu looked over at him heatedly.

"Sure it's not." Cana shook her head. Mira smiled sweetly and looked down at Lisanna. Her sister was leaning against her, breathing deeply and evenly. She wasn't sure how long she had been out, but she was relieved that her sister was okay. Her attention shifted to the young blue haired girl who was leaning away from her brother.

"Wendy?" Laxus' voice was strong and the bluenette looked up at him. She smiled.

"He's sleep peacefully. Once his body decides its slept enough, he should wake up like normal. He has a scar now along his face. But it's not as drastic as yours."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He sniffed as if offended and her mouth fell open as she tried to find the words to explain it. Before she could say anything, Elfman leapt from the table with a roar. Everyone scattered and took defensive positions.

"Elfman!" Lisanna and Mira shouted in unison and he spun around. Laxus shifted in front of them, eyeing the large male with weary suspicion. He had seen Dragis come to after being healed by Wendy and be in a blood rage because that was how they were when they went down. The human male was large, probably the largest one he'd seen since landing on this planet.

"Mira-sis? Lisanna?" His voice was gravelly. Mira and Lisanna ducked around Laxus and they wrapped their arms around Elfman's waist. His arms wrapped around them and to everyone's surprise; he threw his head back and started to cry. "Your both okay! Oh thank goodness. I was worried I'd failed to protect you both."

"No Elfman…you saved us from the black dragonoid…but we nearly lost you." Mirajean cried and sobbed into her baby brother's neck. The scar, while evident on his face, was almost pencil thin. She could still see his eye and that was all that mattered. Besides him being alive.

"You killed the dragonoid, and kept us safe." Lisanna added and smiled through her tears. "And we're all still together so that's all that matters."

"He killed it?" Laxus asked, bringing their attention back to him. "How?"