Hello everyone!  Here is the next chapter, I hope you like it!  I have Track practice again early in the morning, so I won't be able to update till later~  Just thought I'd let you all know! ^^  I dedicate this chapter to kitcat5510, I hope you like my story!  (That is if you're reading it, haha)  Anyways, I hope you all are liking my story so far!  Feedback is very much appreciated!!  Until next time,

「Ry-chan」

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Lucy was in the city now.  She had ran from the guild and to the city, hoping to find a good hiding place there.

But she didn't want to hide; she wanted to help her friends.

Clenching her teeth from wondering what to do, Lucy looked around as she walked through the crowd.  Everyone was being ordinary, going about there buisiness like a normal day.  Commotion was heard everywhere, whether it was people buying things or laughing; just talking while walking back home.

Lucy stumbled upon an alley, and her face turned curious and idealistic once she realized she could try and hide there.  Pushing past people and running across the street, she moved away the clothes hanging from the lines and worked her way inside, the noises becoming slightly muffled as she let the clothes fall back into place like a curtain.  Sighing, she leaned against the cobble-stoned wall, placing her sweaty hands on the cool surface.

I feel like such a coward...  A part of her told herself.

But I was ordered to go...even though I wanted to stay and help.  Another half of her thought.

Sighing again, she let herself slide against the wall and down to the ground.  She pulled her knees up to her chest, and wrapped her arms around them, resting her head in the small space she created.

I hope Natsu and the others are okay.

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A few minutes passed, and Lucy looked up, feeling something watching her.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Standing all the way across the alley was Adamantalia, Red, and Zeke.  They were smiling evily, their faces shadowed and triumphant.

"Found you."  Zeke murmured, his eyes black slits.

Lucy jumped up, her eyes still wide as she backed against the curtain.  "W-What happened to Natsu and the others?"  She murmured, possibilities running through her mind.

Zeke took a single step forward, but it was Adamantalia who spoke.  "They were terminated."

No way!  Lucy abruptly turned, swinging past the curtains and back into the open street.  I have to go to them!

"Watch out!"  Lucy exclaimed, trying her best to push through the crowd of people.  I should'nt have left in the first place!  I am a coward!

She felt slightly more invigorated once the people cleared up and she could run to her full potential.  Still panting slightly from her previous run to escape, Lucy felt her keys jingle against her side.

Should I use them now?  She shook her head.  I have to get to everyone first and help them!

She suddenly gasped, feeling something sharp slide past her shoulder and slice into her skin.

"A-Air?!"  She exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise and confusion.

Ignoring her new injury, she thrust her head upwards, seeing Zeke kneeling over the side of a building, watching her as if it was pointless to escape and they would catch her anyways.  Adamantalia had her hands on her hips, looking as if she was bored.  Red had a satisfacted grin on his mouth, and his hand was in the motion of lowering to the ground.

So Red was the one to fire that...?  Lucy thought, her eyes shaking.

She turned, running off again but slightly slower.

She reached the path to the guild, and looked behind her to see none of them there.  That should have made her more relieved, but in reality it made her more nervous and freaked out.  Taking off down the path, Lucy heard a whistling noise, and cried out as another one of those wierd air swords slammed into her neck.  Without warning, her body went completely limp, and she rolled across the ground, crying out loudly in pain as the air was knocked from her lungs.

Shaking with pain while she layed on her side - facing away from the way she just came from - she heard footsteps slide across the dirt and towards her.

"Remember Zeke.  Coven doesn't want us to kill her."

Without answering, Zeke picked up Lucy by the back of her collar and painfully thrust her to a tree, where she hit it and slid to the ground, her head falling low.

Zeke dropped to his knees and lifted Lucy's face with his hand, examining her like she was an object.  "Yes, I know not to kill her, but I do need to show her."

'Show her'?  Lucy thought.  Show me what?!

Zeke chuckled lowly, smirking as his eyes flashed and he brought his other hand up from his side.  "In order for you to be the Junsuina, you must know our objective and help us obtain it."

That word again..  Lucy thought, her eyes twitching in pain as a smear of blood fell from her mouth.  She clenched her teeth.  "I won't help you with anything.  Ever."

Zeke's smile faltered slightly.  "We'll see.  Since you hold Star Mist, you have no choice but to follow."  He pressed his hand up against her forehead, and Lucy's eyes widened.

And just a moment later, she let out a air-piercing scream.

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Natsu was the only one who could hear Lucy's terrified shriek.

It was so faint; so far away he was surprised he could hear it.

But the noise; the noise Lucy was making made his heart plummet; she was in obvious pain.  His ears burned with the knowledge of hearing Lucy's scream, and fear and worry erupted in his chest.

Along with a burning fury.

Lucy must have been coming back to help them and been chased by the three bastards who had ran away from the fight.  He had been struggling to break free before, but now he was raging, roaring loudly as he worked to break free from the stupid curse.

"What is it Natsu?!"  Erza exclaimed, jolted by Natsu's sudden fury.

Natsu's eyes were small black dots of rage.  "Lucy!  I can hear her screaming!  She needs us, now!"

Everyone stared at him, wide eyed, as he managed to pull himself to his knees.  But he was forced back down, the earth cracking with the force of the blow.  Growling with a fierce determination, Natsu continued to try again, refusing to give up.  Lucy needed him; he needed to go to her!  Her screams told him that much!

Roaring with frustration, Natsu slammed his foot on the ground, pulling himself up with all his might.  When he was able to get into a low crouch, he pushed with his final strength.

It felt like something shattered; the curse was lifted and Natsu sprung up, along with everyone else.

"T-The curse was broken!"  Wendy exclaimed, staring at her hands.  "N-Natsu--"  She turned to thank him, but he wasn't there.

He was already gone.

"Erza, Gray!  Go help Natsu!  We'll stay here and help the injured!"  Mira exclaimed, and Wendy looked at her with surprise.  "You too, Wendy!"

"Are you sure, Mira?"  Erza asked, turning to her.  "Won't you need help?"

Mira shook her head.  "Lucy is the one who needs help!  You guys are the most obvious to go; now hurry!"

Gray, Wendy, and Erza nodded, running after Natsu along with Carla and Happy.

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Oh god, what was Lucy seeing?

Despite the searing pain that flew through her, she felt her vision go gray, and she started to see...something else.

Fire raged in Magnolia, flames licking the buildings around her.  Screams erupted in her ears, and suddenly the image changed to the biggest monster she's ever seen.  It was pharaonic; it cascaded above the clouds, as big and rough as a dragon.  It trampled across a desert, fire erupting from its skin.  It didn't look like a dragon; just a monster.  It had three tails and wide wings; the only thing dragon-like on it was the torso.  The head was a different story; it looked half mechanical half mutant creature.

It pointed its head into the air, and a column of black fire erupted from its jaw, making at least a ten mile wide column of magic.  The black magic then started to expand into the sky, and drop like meteors.  Explosions erupted everywhere except on Lucy, and she watched with terrified eyes as the creature bent and swept its head towards her, preparing to devour her.

Right before it could the image flashed away, and she was sent to another image.

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Zeke was watching with disgusting approvement as Lucy continued to thrash on the ground, taking in the omens and future sightings.  When he decided she had seen enough, Lucy opened her eyes.

She was leaning on her knees, and was shaking violently as sweat dripped down her brow, tears in her eyes.

"All those people...."  She barely murmured; so soft Zeke had to strain his ears to hear her.

Her tears spilled over, and she was too scared to look anywhere except the ground; too terrified that she might see another image.  She couldn't move; she was in shock.  Lucy felt a cold knowledge of whatever that thing was pooling over her, and her eyes were still wide as her tears fell.  She didn't show any other emotion except fear, and didn't dare move her eyes from the ground she was looking at.

"Had your fill?"  Zeke asked, seemingly bored.  "Now you see, what we are trying to accomplish.  We want to bring back that being."

Those visions..the fire...it still licked at Lucy's skin, seeming so real.  They want to bring that back?!  No!  Even though her mind was starting to think, her body was still shocked.  "T-Those p-people...!"

"In order to do that, we have to make sure you are not in the way."

Lucy managed to look up at Zeke, her tears still falling.  "W-Why would you want to bring something like that here?"

Zeke smirked.  "I am not obliged to answer your question, Junsuina."

Lucy felt her shoulders - no, her whole body - start to shake.  "Why would you show me something like that?!"  Even though she tried to yell, her voice came out a muffled whimper.

"For suffering."

Lucy felt more tears spill from her eyes, and felt the terror and sadness of the people being killed running through her body all over again.  She had seen complete destruction of Fiore; something no one should ever see.

Feeling the tears from her eyes falling to her thighs and onto her clenched fists, she closed her eyes, leaning over so shadows covered her face along with her hair.

"We've broken her."  Red replied, his arms crossed with pleasure.  "Time to take her to boss, then.  She has no barriers up now, so we can use her for the resurrection."

"Not yet."

Red looked at Zeke with surprise.

Zeke was staring at a ruined Lucy.  "She should have time to think this over."  He said in a sly voice.  "Lord Coven will understand; it will just drive her farther from her friends.  An easier target too; she will eventually leave them to go off on her own."

"If you say so, Zeke."  Red replied, shrugging his shoulders.

Zeke pressed his palm back onto Lucy's forehead, who was still shaking violently.  "Until next time, Lucy Heartfilia.  There is one more thing I want you to see before we go."  Forcing another image into Lucy's mind, he felt her go rigid.

"Enjoy the pain."

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"Lucy!"  Natsu exclaimed, bursting through the trees.

He spotted her, sitting on her legs on the ground.  Dust clouds swirled around her, as if something just left.  He guessed it was Zeke Loris; he was positive it was.

"Lucy!"  Natsu exclaimed again, jogging over to her.

He plopped to his knees, putting a hand on her left shoulder.  "Luc-"

He saw the tears falling down from her eyes, and started to notice the intense shaking her body was repeating over and over again.

Worry plastered itself onto Natsu's face, along with confusion.  "Lucy?  W-What's wrong?"  A thought popped into his head, and he growled.  "Oi!  What did that bastard do to you?!"

"Not everyone..."  Lucy muttered, even more upset than before.

"What?"

Lucy sobbed.  "Not you guys too!"

No strength left, Lucy collapsed against Natsu's shoulder, sobbing.  Surprised, Natsu looked down at her, and then saw her wounded shoulder and her haunted eyes.

"Natsu!  Lucy!"

Erza, Gray, and Wendy burst through the trees; Happy and Carla too.

"What's wrong with Lucy?"  Erza asked, stopping a few feet away.

Natsu shook his head, fury in his eyes.  "Darkauroral did something.  I found her crying like this a little bit ago..."

Wendy bent down and examined her closely, her face half serious and half scared for her friend.  "She's in some incredible shock."

"Did she see something she shouldn't have?"  Gray asked, his face strained.

Erza shook her head, not knowing what could've happened.  "We'll have to ask her when she calms down.  Natsu, can you carry her back?"

Natsu looked at Erza in surprise, but then nodded.  He felt guilty about seeing Lucy like this; and he was still a little shaken from the scream he heard from her just awhile ago.  

"Sure.  C'mon, Lucy.  Let's get you somewhere safe..."