Kon'nichiwa, minna~ ♥ I knew I was going to be able to publish again, haha!  Here is chapter twelve; I hope you all like it! ^.^  I dedicate this chapter to MonkeyDNatsu, because of the complements you have given me on my stories. c:  Thanks so much, it means a lot!  I hope to be able to update some more tomorrow, but I have Volleyball from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. ;m;  I don't know why we do this so late!!  Well...Feedback is very much appreciated, and until next time~!

яу-¢нαи, тнє иαℓυ ωяιтєя ☆

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"Her fever's gone down.."  Caren replied softly, stepping back to give Lucy some space.

Natsu was the only one in there, spare Happy, Wendy, and Carla.  He watched the ground as Caren put her supplies away, silent for once.

Caren turned to Wendy.  "Do you think you can muster another healing session, Wendy?"

Wendy hesitated, but after a minute she nodded.  "Of course."

Walking over to Lucy's bedside, Wendy stuck her hands out, hovering over Lucy's body.  Wendy's hands started to glow, shining blue light onto Lucy's sleeping figure.  She stirred slightly, but was then sucked back into a deep sleep full of fever and heat.

After about ten minutes, Wendy took a breath, breathing in deeply as she pulled her hands away.  By this time, Natsu had left, and it was only Carla and Wendy.

As Carla was watching Lucy's face while her own was sad, the silhoutte of the two figures flashed through her mind again, causing her to gasp softly.

Wendy heard, of course.  "What is it, Carla?"

Carla blinked, swallowing heavily.  "It's nothing."

Were those mysterious people responsible for Lucy's illness?

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Lucy remembered - as she was dreaming - the darkness she had been in when everyone was in the Endless Forest.  Everything from start to finish had completely replayed itself.  From entering the forest, being caught in the wilderness' vines, to being rescued by Natsu.  However, Lucy felt as if there was something missing; like a memory she needed in order to remember something important.  It was like her memory had been slightly decieved, but at the same time Lucy couldn't feel anything out of the ordinary.

But as Lucy got to the end of her stay in the darkness, something she didn't remember from reality played through her head.

"Do you wish to be powerful?  Powerful enough to be able to protect your friends?"  The voice asked, shaking Lucy from her deep trance.

Lucy was sitting down now, her arms wrapped around her knees and her forehead resting on her arms.

"Power...to save my friends?"  Lucy asked, bewildered.

"Yes.  I can give it to you, but for a price."

Lucy scowled.  "No!  I don't want it!"

"What?"

"I said I don't want it!"  Lucy exclaimed.  "I'll get stronger on my own, and not become a burden but a strong mage instead!  And I certaintly won't do it with false powers!  I'll use my true ones!"

There was a small moment of silence, and the air seemed to thicken mysteriously.  Lucy found it hard to breathe.

"If that is so, then I shall weaken you."  The voice replied, and Lucy felt a pulse race through her body.

Her eyes clouded, but Lucy put her head back into her arms.  A moment later, she lifted her head.

"Let me out of here!"  Lucy exclaimed, frustrated and broken.

However, she had no memory of what transpired.

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Lucy opened her eyes to be laying in a soft bed, the ceiling of the boat staring back at her.  Her throat was dry, and she felt a pounding headache throbbing through her skull.  Her body ached, and she felt stiff in every joint she possibly had.

"W-What happened?"  Lucy murmured, her voice hoarse.

Happy appeared in her face.  "Lucy!  You're okay!"

"Happy..."  Lucy murmured, turning her head slightly to look at the cat.  "Where's..."  She started, but couldn't finish.  Thinking seemed to make her head hurt even more.

Happy looked to his left.  "Look, Lucy!  Natsu's been sleeping here all night!"

Wondering what in the world Happy was talking about, Lucy managed to turn her head sluggishly to see Natsu sleeping in the chair next to Lucy's bed, snoring loudly in his sleep.

I slept through something that loud?!  Lucy wondered in her mind, sighing mentally.

"I'll wake him up!"  Happy exclaimed happily.  "It's morning anyways!"

Lucy looked out the window, and indeed saw that Happy was right.  The sun's morning rays filtered through the window, and also through the door frame and onto the floor.  The sea rocking was like a lullaby, and Lucy started to see how she had easily fell asleep.

But what had happened?  She still couldn't remember...

"Luce!"  Natsu exclaimed, grinning broadly that she was awake, finally.  "You're okay!"

"What happened?"  Lucy murmured, and Natsu had to strain to hear her.  "The last thing I remember is talking to you guys, and the next thing I know..I'm--"  

Lucy coughed, and Natsu and Happy tensed.  

"--in here."  Lucy finished, feeling awful.  Was she sick?

"Lucy, you fell over the railing and almost drowned!"  Happy exclaimed.

Natsu nodded, his face neutral.  "Ah.  And after that, you instantly got a high fever.  You've been out all evening and all night."

Lucy didn't remember that; but she did remember a brief glimse of being on the deck with everyone hovering over her.  Is that what had happened?

"Caren said that someone put a spell on you, and that's what made you sick."  Happy replied.

Natsu face was sour.  "And she said it was also after you ate those berries!  Why did you lie and say you were fine?!"

"Natsu, calm down!"  Happy replied.  "Lucy didn't know, remember?"

Lucy looked away.  "No, I didn't.  And I wasn't lying; I hadn't felt anything except the stomach ache when I ate it the night before."

Natsu stopped, sitting back down in the chair.

"Happy..."  Lucy murmured, her voice gone hoarse again.  "Please, I need some water."

"Aye!"  Happy exclaimed happily, flying out the door and heading straight for the kitchen.

There was a small silence, the only thing interrupting it being Lucy and Natsu's breathing.

"I'm sorry."  Natsu replied, and Lucy looked at him in surprise.

"I'm sorry,"  He repeated, looking at the door.  Half of his face was still shaded from the morning shadows, concealing half of his expression.

Lucy looked at him in surprise.  "For..what?"

"For yelling at you.  We're nakama; I shouldn't yell at family."

Lucy smiled in amusement.  "Family fight sometimes, Natsu.  But I didn't even take it as a fight so..."

"You scared me, you know."  Natsu replied, looking at her with a silly criticizing look. 

Lucy paused, surprised.

"I've been having a nightmare lately,"  Natsu replied.  "And you die in every single one of them..."  His face was sad when he looked at Lucy.  "I was worried it was going to come true."

Natsu expected Lucy to laugh, but she did something different.

She sat up, forcing the pain away as she looked at a surprised Natsu.

"I won't go away, Natsu.  Not unless you want me to."  Lucy replied, grinning.  "And even then I'll put up a fight!"

"Of course I don't want you to die!"  Natsu looked at her with mocking horror.  "How could you say that?"

They laughed, and Lucy felt like she was going to throw up.

Not a good combination.

Deciding to lay back down, Lucy closed her eyes, waiting to see if Natsu would say anything.

"By the way, do you think I know more about fish than Happy?"  Natsu asked, grinning.

Lucy groaned.  "Not this again!"

Natsu laughed, enjoying the fact that sometimes it was fun to annoy Lucy.

There was another small silence.

"I guess...I should apologize too."  Lucy replied sadly.

"Eh?"  Natsu replied, completely surprised.

"I should have been a little stronger, and not've fainted.  But..I didn't know what was going on at all."  Lucy sighed.  "Sorry I worried everyone...again."

"We're all just glad you're okay, Luce."  Natsu replied, grinning broadly.

"Lucy!  I've got your water!"  Happy exclaimed, flying back inside.

Lucy sighed with relief, sitting up and taking the cup thankfully.  "Thank you, Happy."

Happy nodded, landing on the bed next to her.  After Lucy drained the cup, she felt much better, and laid back down to rest.  The next day, she would force herself to move on and onto Farwell Island, even if she was still sick.  She wouldn't weigh her friends down; not after how far they'd come.

Especially since they had a long way to go.