All Lucy could see was darkness...it engulfed her vision, sucking away all light. Lucy embraced the darkness, wanting to accept it. 

Dying...seemed pleasant to Lucy in her current state of mind. She was in so much pain, and she just wanted it all to end...to not have to deal with her emotional scars or the physical pain. 

Lucy craved an end...was that so bad? She would die a hero, and could finally be at rest. But, even as she thought it...she knew she couldn't. But...it was so tempting. To just let go, and let time tick past without her.

"Lucy...!" A voice yelled. Lucy's head swished around, trying to locate the source. All she saw was a blanket of darkness, sparing nothing from its inevitable cloak.

Suddenly, a crack in the darkness shone through, blinding Lucy for a split-second. The golden light slowly shadowed her whole body, and she realized she could make out a figure through the opening in the darkness...it was Laxus, tears pouring down his face.

Happy was beside him, blubbering loudly, nearly choking on his own sobs. Lucy felt her heart drop. Sting was on his knees somewhere behind them, his knees splattered with blood, and his hand clutching one of the chocolate chip cookies.

She felt indecision cloud her judgment. She was so ready to die...but were they ready to let her go? Lucy immediately knew the answer. They, would never, be ready to let her go.

Lucy struggled to move towards them, her hands reaching out, grasping at even a whisp of the light. 

"Laxus...!" She cried desperately. No matter how far she reached, she could never seem to get to them...it was like it was inevitable from the beginning. Her hands couldn't even ghost over his.

The light began to fade away, seeping back into the darkness. Panic poured through her veins, and she ran, pushing past the darkness. As the light drifted away, she felt some unknown will to live rise within her. She propelled herself into the air, and her hand just barely grazed the light.

Suddenly, she wasn't in the darkness anymore...it was the opposite this time. She was in a completely white space, with nothing in sight. Lucy swiveled her head. What had happened?

Pictures began to materialize, and Lucy shuddered with horror. She watched as all her past memories, both the good and the bad, were shown.

The memories were encased in giant crystal-like stones, projecting her worst memories, and scars. She stared flabberghasted, unsure of how to respond. She slowly padded over to the first window to her past. She laid her palm against the cool surface, her eyes locked on the sobbing form of a heartbroken blonde girl. Lucy grimaced, watching the girl try, and try again to get her team to notice her. The girl was desperate for love, trying to hold on to friends who obviously didn't care about her...and in the process, she got her heart crushed. Lucy hated that she was, and had been, that girl once. 

"I was so pathetic..." Lucy whispered, hands clenched at her sides.

"No, you weren't." 

Lucy swiftly looked towards the voice and stared. Lucy abruptly smiled softly, with tears of joy brimming her eyes.

"Laxus!" She ran towards the bulky man, her arms outstretched. But, when she reached him, she just sailed right through. The image of Laxus chuckled and shook his head.

"I'm just a figment of your imagination, Blondie." 

Lucy rubbed her head from where she fell and managed to pull herself to her feet.

"Imagination? So you're saying I'm trapped in my mind?" 

"Yes. You're in the dangerous area between life and death..." He said seriously. 

"Now, you just have to decide...are you ready to die? Are you going to give up and let go? Or are you going to keep fighting?" Laxus asked sharply. Lucy stared at him, not knowing how to reply.

Laxus walked over to the memory cases, stopping in front of one. Lucy quietly approached him. It was a memory of Lucy crying into Laxus's shoulder because she had been kicked out of her team. Lucy looked at her feet. 

Laxus noticed her expression and lifted her chin gently. She looked him in the eye and saw nothing out of the ordinary. He looked, acted, and sounded like the real Laxus...

"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Lucy," He whispered. She shook her head. There was plenty to be ashamed of. 

"Laxus...I was an idiot...a complete crybaby. I...I didn't deserve to be on Team Natsu...they were right, that whole time...these memories...they hurt. I can't stand who I used to be..." She muttered lowly, her eyes downcast.

Laxus inhaled sharply.

"You did deserve to be on team Natsu! Sure, you weren't the strongest, but you were definitely the smartest! You were nothing but kind to those imbeciles..." Laxus bursts out. Lucy sighs, her head low. He was right...but her kindness hadn't made a dent in their decision to cut her from the very team she called friends.

"And...Lucy, memories haunt us all. Don't you think my mistakes haunt me? There's nothing to be ashamed of when you see your old self. You were amazing then, and you're even more amazing now..."

Lucy cautiously strolled away from him, walking up to another memory. She had been balling her eyes out into a white-scaled scarf, and a fluffy fur jacket. She approached another one and saw herself crying into Jellal's arms the night she decided everything was too much. But, the next one she saw, she didn't grimace or bite her lip. She actually smiled. It was the day she met Sting and Rogue. As she walked down the hall of memories, she saw both good and bad. But, she knew that was normal. Bad memories plague everyone. But, the positive ones help balance it out.

When Lucy got to her last memory, one of Laxus weeping over her dead body, with Sting and Happy sobbing, Lucy punched the glass case. The crystal shattered, scattering across the marble white floor. Blood leaked from her shredded fists, and Laxus, or the image of him, looked at her. 

"This is not how I'm going to die. I refuse to have this be my last memory!" Lucy shouted.

Laxus smiled, and slowly but surely, began to fade away.

"You've made the right decision...Stay strong, Lucy..." He whispered before his entire body shimmered into nothing. Lucy's body began to melt away as well. She closed her eyes, thankful to Laxus. He was right. She shouldn't be ashamed of her past. It was what made her who she was. And she wouldn't trade it for the world.

Lucy's eyes peeled open with a wince.

********************************************

Laxus clutched the bleeding form of Lucy to his chest. His mind was in shambles, and he stumbled to check for a pulse. Nothing. He tried again. Still nothing. The tears that were just drying, came back, full throttle. He just...he couldn't believe it. Lucy was...dead. The girl he loved had died, and there was nothing he could do about it.

He rocked back and forth, not sure what he was supposed to do now. She had been his second chance, his reason for living. She had made him feel happy...and wanted. Now, what was he supposed to do? 

Laxus appeared strong, always so broad-shouldered and calm. But, right now, Laxus felt anything but strong. What's the point in being strong if you can't protect the ones you love?!

Sting was laying on the ground, staring blankly at the corpse of Lucy. She had taken a hit, for Lector. And he knew, she had done it for him. She...Sting broke into another sob. It was all his fault. He had let her die...

"Lucy!" Wendy cried, racing over to the fallen blonde and Laxus. Happy had flown off to get everyone at the guild, mostly Wendy in hopes of healing the water dragon slayer.

Wendy quickly felt for a pulse, and nearly hyperventilated when she felt nothing. A bloodcurdling scream ripped through her throat, as she sobbed over Lucy's bloodied and bruised figure.

Erza, Gray, Natsu, Mira, Juvia, Lisanna, and Levy stumbled onto the room, with the others of the guild right on their heels.

"No...Lucy..." Erza mumbled, a tear slipping down her face.

"Lu-chan!" Levy had screamed, raising towards the fallen girl.

"Luce!" A heartbroken roar sounded from Natsu, as he rushed towards her as well.

"Lucy-chan....is dead? No. No! That can't be true...this has to be a mistake!" Juvia wailed, her tears already becoming entire rivers down her face. 

Lisanna held Mira, as Mira cried. Secretly, Lisanna wasn't all that upset Lucy was dead. But, even Lisanna felt bad about the way Lucy had met her fate. The burn marks scarring her body meant Lucy had gone through extreme pain.

Jellal's eyes widened when he finally raced into the room. Lucy...was dead? He couldn't believe it. He felt tears prick his eyes, and for once, he decided to let his tears run freely. She...she looked like an angel, lying there. He laughed bitterly since her nickname was Hell's angel. What a cruel fate...

Everyone in the room seemed to stand there circled around Lucy, mourning for what felt like hours. Laxus had Lucy in his arms, while Wendy had laid her head on her chest. Natsu had snatched one of her hands, and Levy had grabbed the other one.

Suddenly, Lucy moved.

"Ugghhh. Wendy, get off! You're squashing me!" Lucy choked out weakly. Everyone perked up at the noise. Wendy sat up instantly. 

"L-Lucy! Y-You're okay!" She exclaimed, rushing to start healing her. Laxus stared down in shock, at the smiling girl in his arms.

"O-Of course I'm okay! I couldn't die yet..." Lucy coughed up more blood. 

"Lucy..." Before Wendy finished healing her, Lucy's gaze was drawn to the isolated boy laying alone on the floor. Sting's eyes bore into her.

"Sting..." Lucy stared at the blank-eyed boy in front of her. She struggled to her feet, ignoring her friends' protests that she should relax.

 "I'm...I'm so sorry Lucy...it was my fault you got hurt. I-I was too weak! I couldn't protect you!" Sting whispered, his eyes tearing up again.

"It wasn't your fault Sting! I chose to save Lector because he's my friend...and because, I didn't want you to be sad...but I realize now, by sacrificing myself, I made you sad. But...I don't regret a thing...."

"Lucy...I just..." He started.

"Sting...it's okay. Don't dwell on something like this...you're one of my best friends, and I'd do anything for you...so don't beat yourself up over something like this. Everything is fine now...so there's no reason to be sad." Lucy smiled and offered her hand to Sting, who was crumpled on the ground still.

He shakily took it and rose to his feet. She stumbled a bit, and he took one of her arms and wrapped it around his shoulders, supporting her weight. Laxus raced over and took her other arm.

"Thanks, guys...I really appreciate it," She said, wincing as she walked.

As they walked back to the hotel, Rogue, Frosch, and Lector joining the Fairy Tail group, everyone got caught up with what had exactly happened.

"So...Lucy-chan really sacrificed herself?" Juvia asked, leaning on Gray's shoulder.

"Yeah..." Rogue replied, his eyes trained on the limping Lucy, relying on Laxus and Sting to move. It was a miracle she was able to move at all. It must be just sheer willpower.

"Lucy's so brave..." Levy muttered admiringly. Gajeel grunted in agreement. 

Jellal still hadn't spoken to anyone, even Erza. It had hurt a lot to see Lucy in such a state. She had done so much for him, and he had come to view her as a strong, independent woman, who could take on any challenge. But above all, he saw her as a kind-hearted person, who's heart ruled their head. She had saved him when he was in that damp, dark cell and had taken him in when he had nowhere. And, above all else, she had become his friend. And that was something that he hadn't taken for granted.

***********************************************

Lucy awoke to the smell of washed linen and cleaning products. She swiveled in her bed, looking at where she was. Her memory was fuzzy, and she couldn't quite seem to remember how she had ended up there.

A door suddenly squeaked open, and Lucy stared at the person who had entered her room. It took her brain a second to recognize the person.