"So, how should we start?" Natsu asked, watching Lucy sitting on the ground as she studied the book.

"Well, for starters... I'm gonna need my key." Lucy hesitated. Natsu saw the fear in Lucy's eyes as she looked at her key inside the display case.

"If it's too much, then we don't have to do this." Natsu said, crouching down to meet her eye level.

"No. I can do this. I just can't lose control. I just have to... Not get scared and kill you." She mumbled the last part.

 "Ok, well, first let's get you mentally prepared before we try this. I think that'd be better instead of going in head first."

Lucy nodded in agreement. She closed her book and leaned back to catch her breath.

 "Ok... Ok, give me the case. Let's get this-"

 "Lucy!"

 Both Natsu and Lucy looked over at the front door and saw all the girls standing there.

 "What are you doing here?! Now of all times!" Lucy said, once again mumbling the last part.

 "We're here because we all agreed to pick out prom dresses a week in advance so that there's more variety. Seriously Lucy! We agreed this in freshman year!" Levy said; the girls all nodding. Lucy slouched, looking at Natsu who looked back at her.

"What's Natsu doing here?" Juvia asked.

"He's staying with me right now. He's having family issues back home." Lucy said, quickly lying without hesitation.

"Oh, well then why not have him stay with one of the guys? It's not safe for a girl to be living with a guy." Erza said. Natsu glared at her.

"I'm not a pedophile if that's what you're implying." He shot at her.

"Natsu, calm." Lucy sighed, placing her hand on his arm. Her took a breath then pulled away.

"Don't touch me." He said, walking out of the room and up the stairs. Lucy watched him all the way, worried about his mood and feelings more than a dress.

"So you coming Lucy?" Levy asked. Lucy stood up, not looking at any of them.

 "What do you have against him? Why can't you just let him live a free life? Why can't you just care for him, after all he's been through? After all of the discrimination and abuse he's endured, why do you treat him like he's a criminal?" She asked.

"We don't have anything against him. Really. He seems like a nice person, but he is new and we don't know him." Erza said.

"So get to know him! Get to know the things he likes. Get to know the things he hates. Get to know his personality. His strengths and weaknesses. Because I can assure you, that he's just as human as you. That I'm... Just a human as you." Lucy said. None of them said anything.

 "I'll go dress shopping when I have time. You all are free to wait, or go now. Just leave."

Everyone stood in silence. Soon enough, the girls left, leaving Lucy standing alone.

I'm going to fix what my ancestors did. 

She went to the garage and took out a hammer. She walked back into the living room where Natsu was, looking slightly guilty.

"Lucy, I'm sorry about- Lucy... What are you doing?" He said, looking at the hammer in her hand. Without saying anything, she walked over to her key, and broke the case, immediately having her magic pour out and be absorbed by her.

"Wasn't that the only case that could hold magic in?" Natsu said.

"Seven days until Prom. I have a time limit, remember?"

 She turned around and picked up the book.

"There's no time to wallow in fear."