This chapter was a lot of fun for me. Cobra should appear relatively soon in the plot - I'm thinking in the next chapter or the one after it.

I've concluded that the shopkeeper doesn't need a name. She's just Shopkeep.

I hope y'all enjoy this update!

Once more, Lucy found herself swathed in fabric to hide the scales spreading across her skin. This time it was the top sheet from Wendy's bed instead of a towel, but Lucy still felt the sting of humiliation. Wendy's inability to heal what was wrong with her skin had certainly been a shock – this was the first time since Cait Shelter that Lucy could recall the diminutive dragon slayer being unable to help someone with magic.

Exhausted by her efforts to help Lucy, Wendy hovered a few inches off the ground, Carla carrying her at Lucy's side. Juvia led the impromptu party's way, making sure their path through the dorm's hallways was clear of early risers. There had been a near miss with Mirajane, but other than that so far they hadn't seen anyone else. It paid to be cautious, however.

It wasn't long until they were clear of the dorm and headed down the trail that led into the woods. Fairy Hill's seclusion and proximity to the forest worked to the group's advantage, and soon Lucy was able to drop the sheet. Her new scales gleamed in the dawn light streaming through the trees – the hues warm and very pretty despite how little Lucy desired to possess them.

She didn't really blame Juvia for this mess she now found herself in. It had sounded like an honest mistake, really. Lucy couldn't say that she wouldn't have done something similar – especially given her history in that department as well. The similarities between her escapade with the unintentional invisibility potion were not lost on her. She'd been convinced that that potion would help her skin as well. Really, she understood completely.

Though it did sort of make her wonder about why the contents of skin care potions in particular were so very prone to mishap and misuse.

Also, seriously what kind of shop would cater to something for inducing scales? And that that would be the shop Juvia happened to enter, then coincidentally spill the purchased potion on Lucy? Lucy may have considered herself lucky, but clearly it was not good luck in this instance.

Hopefully Porlyusica would be able to help her out. Wendy had reasoned that because it was a potion that caused the problem, the elderly healer would be better equipped to help Lucy. She had more experience with brewing and the side effects of potions. Though she might be more than a little annoyed by the early call, Lucy was unwilling to wait any longer than necessary to deal with her predicament. Wendy's medical opinion was in agreement with that sentiment; she knew that it was far easier to remove potion effects early on as opposed to after they had "set."

After about fifteen minutes of walking, the group spied the reclusive old woman's cottage through the foliage. Smoke from the chimney curled into the morning air – sharp against the clean smell of the morning dew-laden greenery.

Carla set Wendy down upon the ground in front of the wooden steps leading up to the cottage's door. Wendy ascended them without much difficulty – her magic and stamina having recovered somewhat along the way thanks to Carla and the clean air provided by the trees. She pricked her ears, relieved to hear movement within the building that indicated that Porlyusica was awake. Raising her hand, she knocked three times upon the grain of the door.

An unintelligible grumble arose from the other side, followed by shuffling noises. "Who is it at this ungodly hour?!" The grumpy voice of Fairy Tail's healer passed through the door clearly enough to be heard by the entire group, who exchanged nervous glances over Porlyusica's poor mood.

Undeterred by the irascible disposition of her mother's Edolas counterpart, Wendy answered, "It's Wendy, Granny. Something went wrong with a potion for Lucy, and my magic isn't working to fix it. We need your help."

With an exasperated sigh, Porlyusica unlocked and opened the door. The pink haired woman looked out over the group of mages, raising an eyebrow when her gaze alighted upon Lucy and her rosy gold scales. "Well that's something you don't see every day," she commented. "Come on in, then. Don't stand around like fools."

They sat around the small table in the cramped cottage as Wendy related all that had happened thus far and what she had done in her attempts to rectify it. The entire time, Porlyusica's eyes never left Lucy and her scales. It was the first time Lucy had ever seen the healer's eyes light up with curiosity instead of disdain. She couldn't help but shift nervously under the weight of Porlyusica's scholarly regard.

"Hold still," Porlyusica commanded with a snap in her voice. Lucy immediately stilled as she was ordered. "Now hold out your arm for me to look at." When Lucy complied, Porlyusica took the limb into her wrinkled hands. Her fingers ran gently over the scales, pressing into them in places. They gave under her touch, soft and supple. "Does that hurt at all?"

Lucy shook her head. "No, it doesn't. But I can feel the pressure from your fingers."

"Is that all you can feel? How is the sensitivity compared to your skin?"

"It's… I don't know," Lucy admitted. "It's weird. Maybe a little more sensitive? But I can't feel the air the same way. If that makes any sense."

Porlyusica nodded and lowered Lucy's arm to the table. "I've learned a great deal about potions and their ingredients over the years," she began, leaning back in her chair. "But I have no idea how to produce an effect such as this. I mostly concentrated on healing elements, rather than transformative ones."

Despair crept through Lucy, tears welling in her eyes over her situation. That was it. If Porlyusica had no ideas, and Wendy's magic wouldn't work, then she had no choice but to accept that this didn't have a quick fix and she would be stuck like this for an indeterminate amount of time. There was still Erza's hunt for the potioneer, but Lucy wasn't holding out too much hope on that front.

A click of the healer's tongue brought Lucy back to reality, and she stared up into an expression filled with annoyance. "Don't give up just yet," Porlyusica admonished her. "I don't know of a potion that can cause this. Lucky for you, however, I have seen a curse do exactly this before. You have a much tamer version of that woman's predicament. You only have a few scales to contend with."

Porlyusica stood up, and walked over to her storage cupboards. After rummaging through them for a few minutes, she produced a phial. She returned to the table and passed it over to Lucy. "This might not work on you," she cautioned. "As curses are a little different than ordinary magic, let alone the kind that brewing produces. But this potion has no side effects, so it's worth a try."

Eagerly, Lucy unstopped the bottle and downed the contents. It tasted vile, but it was worth it if it could cure her affliction. She waited with bated breath, hoping that this would be all she needed.

But nothing happened.

"Hmph." Porlyusica breathed out heavily through her nose. "I suppose we'll have to come up with a different solution, then."

Lucy sighed heavily, beginning to wonder where Erza was and what was taking her so long to find the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper sighed and tutted at the newspaper. Really, Fairy Tail just never quit with their shenanigans, did they? Trying to reroute a river that had changed course due to flooding was beyond the scope of mortals, and it was a wonder that the situation hadn't ended with more than a collapsed cliff and now three new river branches. She thought she recalled them destroying an entire harbor town once, too, with a giant wave. That had been a number of years ago, though.

A hiss echoed in the station as an approaching train's hydraulic brakes engaged. She calmly folded up the newspaper, and laid it beside her on the bench for the next person. Above her head, the station master's voice filtered into the space from the staticky loudspeaker, announcing the train's obvious arrival. Was there any point in such an endeavor when the station was vacant? She could only wonder. Regardless, this would be the one heading in her desired direction. So she picked up her rolling luggage, and hauled herself to her feet.

Confidently, she strolled up to the doors, and passed her ticket to the waiting conductor. After he inspected it, he nodded, and she entered the locomotive.

Stowing her luggage in the netted bins above her mercifully empty compartment, she then settled down into her seat. Springing for a little privacy would become a blessing further along, once the train picked up more passengers. There was quite a ways to go, and a large number of stops along the way.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a flurry of activity. Turning, she stared out the window as two young men and a fiery haired woman swarmed into the train on the opposite platform. Must be in a hurry, she decided. Maybe they were Fairy Tail mages, late to a job. The thought made her chuckle, as she watched it pull out of the station heading in the exact opposite direction of her own. Good - they managed to catch it in time. Given Fairy Tail's propensity for disaster, she could only feel relief that they were going nowhere near her vacation destination.

After a moment's consideration, she turned away from the window and opened up the informational pamphlet that had been given to her along with her ticket.

Now... when would the dining car be open...?