Hey everyone! Finally got to update Our World! I actually wanted to get some constructive criticism from you guys: the readers. The reason why I think I struggle with updating this (besides time management) is that I'm really overly critical of my writing and I think one of my major flaws is the flow of my writing. The transition between paragraphs and sentences most of the time seems really choppy to me; so, if any of you wouldn't mind putting in a little time to help me out, I'd really like to know any tips you guys have on how I can improve! Becoming a better writer allows me to provide you all with better storytelling, so anything you all think I can improve on is welcome! Again, I'm looking for constructive criticism, so please no bashing.

Thank you to reviewers: Ushindeshi, Guest, Forbidden-Hanyou, CathJorda, Guest, its-actually-kate, TheSevenFairyDeadlyTailSins, artistofthemind, Marie086, and Dark Shining Light!

All of your reviews truly make my day and bring a smile to my face. Without further ado, here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

"Three, two —"

CRACK.

The sudden blossom of pain forced a short yelp from Lucy's throat. The foreign feeling of her body easing the tension from her shoulder on its own intrigued her, but the cooling balm sensation it provided had her sighing in relief.

From his position at her side, Natsu delicately released his grip on her arm. "Hurts less when you don't expect it," he said apologetically.

Lucy didn't respond, much to his disappointment; rather, her attention was purposely focused on the young healer in front of her.

"Do you feel any pain?" Wendy asked as she moved Lucy's arm in different directions experimentally. Her patient shook her head. "Good. Your healing factor seems to be in working condition. I don't think you'll be needing a sling. Miss Porlyusica?"

The old healer nodded in agreement. "Just don't go running into the border anymore, stupid girl. We won't have time to worry about your pesky bruises when real lives are at risk," she sniffed.

"Thank you," Lucy whispered. Porlyusica glared one last time before leaving. Natsu petulantly stuck his tongue out after the older woman. Wendy giggled at his childish antics and the young man ruffled her hair playfully in response.

Leaning his arm against the shorter girl's head, Natsu acknowledged the blonde, "Don't worry about Porlyusica. She's like that with everyone. Except this one right here." He wrapped his arm around Wendy's neck and gave her a noogie with his other hand, missing the amused look on Lucy's face as Wendy squealed and tried furtively to escape his hold.

"Anyway, you know where Lucy's stayin', Wendy?" Natsu finally released the small girl and folded his arms behind his head.

"Mirajane said your accommodations will be in one of the available yurts on Strawberry Street," Wendy said to Lucy, wanting to include the blonde in the conversation.

Natsu nodded in understanding before pivoting on his heel to leave the med-bay. "Sounds good. Could you show her where it is Wends? I got a small errand to run outside," referring to beyond the campgrounds.

Wendy chirped excitedly in response and Natsu made one step towards the exit before a slight tug on his vest halted him. Turning, he found Lucy clutching the fabric of his clothes in her hand, an imploring look shining in her brown orbs.

She had reached out without thinking. The only thing truly going through her mind being that Natsu was leaving her. She was surrounded by unfamiliar people. Unfamiliarity brought confusion and, by default, danger. While she hadn't known him long, Natsu was familiar. And he was leaving. Lucy hated to admit that he made her feel safe and secure — he, and his scent of firewood smoke — but she hated being left alone in an unknown place even more.

'Don't leave', her mind unconsciously telegraphed.

Understanding dawned in his onyx eyes and Natsu turned to kneel in front of her, placing a reassuring hand atop her head. "Don't worry," he assured, "You can trust Wendy."

'I'll be back,' his voice seemed to echo in her mind, and Lucy was placated by what she believed to be her own thought's reassurance. She nodded almost imperceptibly and Natsu flashed her one last wide grin before he stood to his full height and left without another word.

" —and across the canal is where we have our vegetable and strawberry field gardens, hence why the street being named Strawberry Street." Wendy pointed across the canal from where they were walking along the cobblestone road. The small girl leaned in close, cupping her hand against her face like she was sharing an important secret. "It was Erza who requested that a whole field be dedicated to planting strawberries. She also contributed to the naming of this street, too."

The blonde by her side gave no indication of having heard her. Instead, she continued walking at a steady pace, head bowed, as if in a daze. Wendy's smile slowly disappeared and she copied Lucy's example of walking in silence.

"I get it, you know," Wendy finally said, "wanting to leave. Sometimes it can feel like you're trapped in a cage; like you're a prisoner… but Fairy Tail isn't like that!" Her exclamation startled Lucy from her thoughts and, since they started their trek, she finally looked down to regard the young girl.

"I'm sorry," Wendy apologized, cheeks reddening at the stray looks cast her way. "It's just… Natsu felt the same way once… about leaving."

"He said that the guild mark lets you leave," Lucy said. Wendy's eyes lit up with excitement and she nodded her head enthusiastically, thrilled the blonde was finally speaking to her about something.

"Yes! Many of Fairy Tail's residents aren't part of the guild and make a living through the many establishments built within the camp, like the market. However, guild members take jobs organized by the Council — which are, most of the time, conducted within human civilizations. A guild mark establishes a person as part of a guild and lets them come and go across the border," she concluded, flashing her own blue guild mark on her shoulder.

Lucy nodded in understanding before Wendy stopped them in front of one of the yurts along the road. "Here we are!"

The outside was much like its adjacent counterparts with white walls and a small porch and patio stairs leading up to the entrance. Inside was much more impressive. A tiny kitchenette was situated in the immediate left-hand corner, a small furnished sitting area located across from it to the right. Further in was a writing desk and chair, a lofted bed with quilts above it. A bathtub-shower and a small sink with a sliding wooden wall for privacy in the last corner. The middle of the floor was covered with a pristine-white furred rug and hanging from the ceiling beneath the skylight was a hanging grid entwined with vined plants and fairy lights.

"Myself, Mira, and a few others helped decorate it for you while you were asleep. We thought you might like a more modern look," Wendy said with glee as she watched Lucy walk around the small home in awe. "We also picked out some clothes you might like, but we can go and exchange some of them for new ones down at the market, later, if you want." She bounced over to the wardrobe closet and pulled open the cabinet doors and drawers to reveal an array of colors and fabrics.

For the first time since Wendy had met her, Lucy cast her a dazzling smile. A real smile. "Thank you, Wendy, truly," she said.

"Of course." The teen smiled. "Would you like to go down to the guild hall? We can grab a bite to eat. And I can tell you more about how you can get a guild mark!" She added, knowing the topic would interest the blonde.

Lucy perused her new quarters one last time before nodding. "Sure."

"Great!" Wendy clapped her hands and made for the exit before stopping. "One last thing, Lucy. I didn't tell you about Natsu to make you feel guilty. I told you to let you know that there are people who understand what you're going through and are willing to help, myself included. So, please, don't push Natsu away. He tends to think with his heart more than his head and his heart has told him that you're worth looking out for. Just… give him a chance, okay? He might just surprise you." Wendy smiled one last time at the blonde before opening the flap and leaving. It took Lucy a second to contemplate Wendy's words and just how mature the young teenager was before following after her.

"Yes...I understand. Thank you….goodbye." Makarov lowered the phone with a deep sigh and leaned back in his chair.

Rubbing at his temples tiredly he groaned, "I'm getting too old for this job." If he received another call about more money the guild owed for damages he was going to pull out what was left of his hair.

"That hasn't stopped you from continuing to refuse retirement." Mirajane placed a steaming cup of tea on his desk with a smile.

"Oh, Mirajane! Your undeniable beauty is a welcome reprieve for this old man's aging heart," he cried, "How is our new guest fitting in?"

She hummed, "Besides this morning's incident, Lucy's taken her new position fairly well. She has a strong spirit; not many can claim to have remained….mentally intact after the events she's gone through. She's already adamant about joining the guild and becoming a full-fledged member, though I would advise against granting her request so soon." She frowned before continuing, "Wendy has already shown her a majority of the town and her quarters. They're both having lunch in the guildhall now, and Natsu has mysteriously disappeared for the moment."

Makarov nodded in understanding. "That boy is going to be the death of me," he sighed.

"I'M HOME!" Natsu entered the guild with a mighty roar. His family threw him greetings left and right as he made his way to the bar, but not before catching sight of a familiar blonde head seated at one of the tables. With a quick detour, he was weaving his way around flying people and tables towards where he could see Lucy and Wendy each munching on slices of sandwiches.

Plucking a slice from Wendy's plate, Natsu flopped onto the bench across from them. "Yo! Miss me?"

Lucy looked shocked to see him, slight panic reflecting in her eyes before it morphed into relief. The latter made him preen in happiness and he smiled wider.

"Natsu!" Wendy scolded him for stealing her sandwich. Natsu plopped the rest of the food into his mouth and swallowed with a loud belch to spite her, and smirked at her appalled expression. Next to her, Lucy covered her mouth, attempting to disguise her giggles as a sudden coughing fit. The attempt was in vain but Natsu didn't bother to comment on it, not wanting to put her under the spotlight.

"Whatcha guys talking about?" He asked instead.

"Lucy was asking about how she could join the guild," Wendy said with excitement.

Just like that, the light in Lucy's eyes dimmed and she seemed to wilt under the young girl's words, staring at the table like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"That's awesome!" He exclaimed, hoping to bring her spirits up once more. "Once Gramps gives you the go-ahead, let's be partners! I know how to get all the awesome jobs, so you got nothing to worry about."

Lucy merely nodded with a quiet "yeah" while Wendy shot him a quizzical look.

Natsu merely waved the girl off. Missions allowed him to search for Igneel and he couldn't afford to have a partner slow down his quest for the large dire wolf — other than Happy. Partners took communication and time. He was the type of person that was always on the go: take one mission, search, come back, rest for a day, and repeat. At least, that's what Wendy had thought.

Wendy curiously peered up at the blonde next to her, wondering how Lucy had brought about this change in who she considered her older brother.

"How did your errand go?" Lucy silently asked.

Natsu perked at the question and smiled a wide-grin smile. "Great! Nothing I couldn't handle. Just a quick errand." He was purposefully being cryptic but the blonde didn't seem to mind or question it as Mira joined them at their table.

"Hello, Lucy. Wendy, Natsu," she greeted before focusing her attention on Lucy. "While enrollment to begin the process of obtaining guild membership would normally be done by myself, the master would like to have a word with you before you are allowed to participate, Lucy since your circumstance is so unique," she said.

"R-right." Lucy hastily stood from her seat.

Mira frowned and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Don't feel rushed in wanting to join the guild. The most important thing you should be doing right now is learning to adjust."

"N-no!" she said hastily with a shake of her head. "I want to join the guild."

Mira's frown deepened and she asked, "Lucy, are you sure you're alright?"

"Yeah...fine." Natsu frowned at her meek response but remained silent.

Mirajane eyed the younger woman with another critical glance before smiling softly. "Alright. This way."

When both women were out of sight, Wendy sighed, "I don't think Lucy's adjusting well to Fairy Tail."

"I know how she feels," Natsu said absentmindedly.

"You would, wouldn't you?"

"Natsu! Natsu, stop! You're scaring me!" A small Wendy screamed.

The dark-furred wolf ignored her and continued to scratch and claw at the invisible shield. The smell of singed fur saturated the air and blood began to stain the barrier as the wolf's nails filed down to skin. Frustrated growls left the dark-colored beast and he paced in front of the border once, twice, before sitting down on his hindquarters, waiting.

This happened so often it was routine. He had turned up on Porlyusica's doorsteps injured beyond belief so often that he just gave up going, not wanting to endure another beating and scolding by the medic, Makarov, and his friends afterward. It wasn't like his wounds didn't heal on their own, it just took longer, which meant he had to wait before he could attempt to escape again for longer than he would have liked.

Wendy, who had been one of the first to catch on to his bad habit, found a way to intercept him before he went into hiding and licked his wounds. It wasn't a sanitary method of healing, she had said.

This time was much worse than the other times she had sought him out. Blood dripped from his maw and paws, and burns across his body had shed fur and peeled away at his skin to display bloody muscle and tissue underneath. Being a rising healer with just the bare knowledge of healing magic, Wendy fought hard to not dive behind a bush and empty her stomach at the image Natsu made.

It wasn't supposed to be this bad. The worst she had ever had to heal was minor burns and the occasional bruise; never anything like this.

And he didn't even care! Sitting there, waiting for her to heal him just so that he could hurt himself again! He didn't care how much this affected her or how unhealthy this was! He didn't care!

"No," She rasped. Natsu tilted his head in confusion, growling slightly in impatience. "NO!" She screamed, "I'm not going to help you hurt yourself! Igneel wouldn't want you doing this, either! If you're going to just keep hurting yourself this way then you should deal with the pain that comes with it!" With tears in her eyes and her heart, she turned and ran.

Wendy ducked her head in shame. It had happened a long time ago but she still felt guilty for reminding Natsu of his past mistakes.

A rough hand tousled her hair. "I really was an idiot back then, wasn't I?" Natsu playfully leaned his weight against Wendy's head and she slapped his arm in response.

"Nah, some might argue that you still are," Wendy chortled.

"Hey!" The playful chokehold Natsu captured her in didn't stop Wendy's bright squeals of laughter from filling the guild and his heart.

"I want to join the guild."

She said it with as much conviction as she could muster, hoping that the confidence in her voice might convince her of her resolve as well.

Makarov flashed her a wide grin. "That's great news, my dear. I'm sure Fairy Tail will be thrilled to have you. All future members must pass an evaluation before becoming full-time members, as I'm sure you have been told. However, because of your situation, I would like to request that you allow Gray, Gajeel, and Levy to assist you in becoming more comfortable with your new abilities before attempting the assessment."

Lucy's nose wrinkled at hearing Gray's name and asked instead, "How long until I can take this assessment?"

"As long as it takes for your mentors to approve your capabilities of handling yourself in the field."

She frowned at the thought of possibly never earning her guild mark before peering at the old guild master curiously. "You're not going to tell me it's too soon to join?"

"Should I?"

Lucy shrugged helplessly. "It's just… Mirajane…"

"Ah. Our resident den mother some would say. Mirajane is wise beyond her years and has room in her heart for everyone. She means well. But, no. If I have learned anything in the past few years it is that you cannot cage a bird who dreams of flight. You can only hope that, while they might fall along the way, you'll be there to help lift them up when they need you," Makarov's eyes aged in that instant, gazing out to something only he knew the details of. "Some are unfortunately more fiery than others," he chuckled.

Lucy thought back to Natsu's excitement of wanting to be partners and Wendy's words back at the yurt but then thought about the people of Magnolia and everything she was forced to leave behind. "I'm breaking out of this cage," she said firmly.

A smile graced his old features as Makarov nodded, not at all insulted by her referencing Fairy Tail as a 'cage'. "Then fly, Lucy. Fly as high and as far as you dare to go."

She nodded, partially shocked with the understanding in which the guild master took her words, and turned for the door.

He was still smiling even as a new voice from the corner said, "You sure got your hands full."

"Mest," Makarov greeted, "How much paperwork has the Council come to unload on my desk now?"

A dark-haired man with a double-crossed scar stepped out from the shadows, the Council's insignia stitched into his white cloak and nodded towards the closed office door. "A new recruit? The Council hasn't received any new membership forms."

"Lucy is still in training. Her registration papers will be handed in if she passes her assessment exam as is traditional for all guilds and members," Makarov stated diplomatically.

As the Council provided guilds with paid missions, they also archived information of all the "employees" they hired. If a member carried their guild's mark, information on everything from birth certificates to supernatural classification was recorded within the Council Archives. No one was exempt.

Mest hummed as he circled the tiny office. "Have you heard of the Magnolia incident? The Council has begun to repopulate the area. From what we understand, Tartaros was in the area."

"Yes," Makarov agreed, "Quite sad what happened. Tartaros is becoming bolder by the minute, but that's not really what you came to talk to me about was it?" Makarov no longer wished to be baited and cut to the chase.

"I'd be careful with who you affiliate yourself with, Makarov. Whispers of Zeref's name have only grown louder and his following grows with it. The stiffs at the Council won't admit it but they're scared, and they're looking to tie up any loose ends." Mest finally turned to face Makarov. "Just watch your back. Lullaby has gone missing."

Makarov barely had the chance to blink before he was finally left alone in his office, brows furrowed deeply in worry.

After thanking Wendy for her hospitality and bidding her goodnight, Lucy allowed the entrance curtain to fall close before sinking to her heels, clutching her head and attempting to take deep, steady breaths.

The urge to cry out in frustration tugged at her mind and when she felt a scream begin to crawl up her throat she bit down on her lip, tampering it. What came out instead was a hoarse choke.

The meeting with Makarov had not gone exactly as she had hoped. While the guild master's reasoning had been sound, being denied immediate membership was frustrating. However, she found herself grateful for not being denied the chance at membership at all.

Per Makarov's request, she had enlisted the help of Natsu and Wendy to find and request the assistance of her mentors: Levy, Gajeel, and Gray. The former two had easily agreed to train her, the long-haired vampire, however, had required a bit of persuasion from the blue-haired witch but accepted, nonetheless. Gray was much more disconcerting. While Natsu complained and whined about not being able to overlook her adjustment, Gray had rolled his eyes and eventually caved if only to get under the other werewolf's skin of being able to do something he couldn't. He had done so with great reluctance and arrogance.

While it was no surprise that the werewolf seemed to hold a strong dislike for her, Lucy didn't particularly feel the need to care. She didn't need him to like her, just to teach her what she needed to know to pass her assessment. That was it.

Forgoing a shower, Lucy climbed up to her loft bed on shaky legs. She was too emotionally and physically exhausted to think about trying to do anything but sleep. As she pulled herself up the rest of the way, she almost fell right off at the sight of a familiar violin and bow resting on her pillow. Scurrying across the bed on her hands and knees, Lucy trembled as she brought the violin up to cradle against her chest, running her hands lovingly across each star and constellation carved into the wood.

A choked laugh escaped her as a familiar heat burned behind her eyes and blurred her vision. Unbridled joy filled her core at having a piece of her home with her and she continued to silently laugh and cry as she rocked back and forth. Lucy had been among unfamiliar places and people for what felt like days. Her own body was unfamiliar to her now, her present physiology making her feel like she had been turned inside out but now, she had regained a piece of herself. A piece of her soul.

She coddled the violin like it was a newborn, surveying it for any damage or imperfections. Counting off each individual star and speck in her mind, she frowned when her fingers came across smooth wood where the constellation of Aries the Ram had once been.

Lucy didn't have long to dwell on it when her ears picked up the light clacking of clawed feet on the outdoor patio. The moonlight from outside reflected a large shadow across the curtained opening and Lucy held her breath in fear. The vibrations of her pounding heart could be felt through the wood of the violin with how tightly she was clutching it to her chest. For a long second, neither she nor the creature moved, until its shadow began to shrink into itself as it nudged aside the entrance, looking to gain entry.

Lucy cursed Fairy Tail's incompetence of installing proper doors that actually locked and searched the interior for an exit or a weapon. However, she was much too terrified to do anything but hug the instrument in her arms for comfort, much less wield a weapon.

A dark nose was the first thing to push into the room, closely followed by a black snout and head. The wolf roved its head around the interior, stiffening when he made eye-contact with her. For the second time that night, Lucy felt her heart burst with joy at the sight of those familiar features.

"Coal."

He was fast to back out of the tent.

"W-wait!" She cried. Placing her violin down, she hurried down the ladder, tripping on one of the rungs and landing on her side painfully. "Coal, wait! Please! It's me! Lucy!"

The dark shadow did not reappear and she curled into a ball on the floor. "Please. Please, don't leave me alone." She couldn't hold it in any longer. A sob burst out from within her.

She must have looked so pathetic at that moment, laying on the floor in a blubbering mess over some wolf, and yet she couldn't help wishing the past week had never happened. She wished her life hadn't become what it was now. She wished she didn't have to take a stupid test just to be allowed the chance to go home. She wished Levy had never found Coal and taken him away. And a part of her wished Coal had run and stayed away that first time so she wouldn't have to suffer through the pain of someone leaving her again.

Light padding once again approached and entered the room and a large, furred body slowly crept over to her fetal form, situating itself on the floor at her back. Lucy wordlessly turned on her side and hugged the wolf tight, soaking up the heat he provided like a sponge. Rubbing her cheek against him, she inhaled deeply and allowed his scent to wash over her.

Firewood smoke.

And just like that, the moment was shattered and dread filled her with cold realization. She knew that scent. Pink hair flashed behind her eyes and she shook her head roughly to dispel it.

"No!" Lucy tightened her hold around Na-Coal. She shut her eyes firmly and shook the images of a wide grin and onyx eyes from her mind. The smallest amount of peace she had found was slipping right through her fingers.

"Please," she cried hoarsely, "Let me pretend. Just for tonight. Please."

Let me pretend everything was just a bad dream.

Coal didn't struggle to escape her and Lucy quickly cleared her throat roughly before he could change his mind.

"Lay down your head and I'll sing you a lullaby

Back to the years of loo-li-lai-lay

And I'll sing you to sleep and I'll sing you tomorrow

Bless you with love for the road that you go"

Voice cracking at every turn, Lucy pushed on, stopping only when the song was finished and she had lulled herself to sleep. Troubled thoughts temporarily purged from her mind.

He hadn't meant to be caught checking up on her. A selfish part of himself had wanted to know if she had liked the gift he had brought back for her but seeing her this way because of him — because of what his current form meant to her — hurt worse than one of Erza's punches. He was such an idiot.

Even as Lucy sang now he felt ashamed for thinking her melodic voice was still the most beautiful sound he had ever heard, even in its anguished stated. Her magic seeped off of her in slow, lazy waves and smelled of the salt of her tears mingled with what he had come to associate her magic with: stardust.

It was difficult to form an explanation of what stardust actually smelled like; it was a wide grassy plain that he could tumble through and never tire for ages. It was the fresh smell of new rain and dewy honeycombs but, more than that, it was the vastness of a clear night sky illuminated only by the stars and the natural beauty of the world beyond they resided in. The smell of Lucy's magic took him to that unbelievably magical place.

And in a blink of an eye, he was back, lying on the floor of Lucy's yurt and cushioned beneath the now sleeping blonde. Turning his head as much as he could with Lucy's arms wrapped around his neck, Natsu saw the blonde's upper half was awkwardly propped against his side, the rest of her body splayed out on the floor. Natsu rotated on his side carefully so that the blonde would be lying comfortably on the carpeted floor beneath them with his larger form wrapped around her.

They were so alike in so many ways, he thought. Natsu could understand the loss of a parent — a home — and the desire to cling to anything familiar when surrounded by unfamiliar surroundings. He pictured his scaled scarf that was more than likely now possessively nestled beneath a blue cat. He and Lucy both held mementos from individuals of their past that they clung to, and seeing her struggle so like himself years ago motivated him that much more to help her let go and accept this new part of herself. Even if he had yet to do as much, himself.

See you in the next chapter!