Lucy POV:

Its been nearly a year since we've been in SAO, its crazy how much my old life seems to be disappearing from me. Lots of the guild members have been feeling the same, we fight on the front lines with everyone else but it feels like out life IRL is the fake one. Not this one. The guild is beginning to gain status amongst the other guilds, we've even been compared to the Knights of the Blood Oath guild some times. We've been known for our tactics and awesome combat skills, I've been doing my best to keep the member's spirits happy and it seams to be working. Last christmas when everyone came to the guild for christmas dinner I gave them all something precious.

-Flashback- 

We all take one gift each and then sit at the long wooden table that is filled with food.

"Please open your gifts everyone." I say smiling slightly.

Everyone opens their gift and the guild hall is filled with sounds of confusion.

"What the heck is this Master Lucy?" 

"Its something that will remind you of the guild, see our family is like a chain. Every member is a link in the chain and when one is missing the whole thing will fall apart, just like the links in a family. These things will make us stronger and then not even the highest floor bosses will be able to stop us, wear these links with pride because you are all....Proud Fairy Tail Members!" I yell and everyone cheers and tucks into the amazing food.

-flashback end-

I take a hold of Kiko's hand and we walk slowly down the streets, she keeps gazing around and pointing to things while we walk.

"Kiko pick up your feet please, I just bought those shoes for you!" I say huffing slightly.

"Sorry mommy...." She says slowly and picks up her feet looking like a little soldier.

I laugh at her and then pick her up, placing her on my back while she giggles uncontrollably. As we make our way back to the guild hall I notice its beginning to get dark, Kiko is falling asleep on my back so I walk a little faster. I reach the guild hall just as Penelope is turning down the lights for the night.

"Hey Penelope, how were they this afternoon?" I ask placing some groceries down on the bar.

"They were ok, two broken tables and seven broken chairs. All the members who caused damage have sent written apologies to your message box and have put them on your desk too, has Kiko fallen asleep?" She asks smiling at her.

"Yeah, could you take her to her room while I fill in some paperwork? Come and see me once she's settled." I say sighing.

Penelope takes Kiko from my back and holds her in her arms, giving her a soft kiss on the cheek she then takes her to her room. With a soft sigh I walk to my office, we've had another increase of members joining the guild so there is a bomb of paperwork to fill out.

"How does Master Makarov do it?!" I say slamming my head on the table, only for it to come up with an 'Immortal Object' symbol.

"Master may I come in?" Penelope asks knocking on the door.

"Sure..." I say and sit up smartly.

Penelope walks in and then takes a seat opposite me.

"Kiko is fast asleep and cuddling with her panda teddy, what was it you wanted to ask me Master?" She asks me smiling softly.

"Well..." I start but am cut off by a loud ping noise. "Hold that thought." I say and check my message box.

Hey Lucy, how's the guild going? Also would you be able to help me on a small request? I'll explain everything when you arrive, I'm on the 55th floor. -Kirito.

Sighing I pick up my sword and then smile slightly at Penelope.

"Can you hold down the fort for me please? One of my friends has asked me to go on a quest with him, also tell Kiko I'll bring back some strawberry cake with me when I come back." I say and she smiles at me.

"Safe trip Master Lucy!" She yells as I run through the door.

I run to a teleport station and tell it to send me to the 55th floor, in a flash of blue light I'm standing at the teleport gate of the 55th floor. I begin to walk and then change into my armor, its been a while since I've worn this out in public because I normally wear it for boss raids and meetings. I turn on my tracking vision and follow Kirito's green footsteps, they lead me to an Inn just at the edge of the forest on this floor. I keep following the footsteps and then come to a door, knocking it I wait for him to answer.

"Come in Lucy!" He yells from inside.

I walk in and notice someone familiar sitting on the bed in the room.

"Silica!" I say smiling at the girl.

"Wait a sec, you know each other?" Kirito asks me.

"Yeah she came to my guild when we were first getting started, how did you two meet? Also, where is Pina?" I ask glancing at Silica.

Tears fill her eyes and Kirito nudges me.

"Thats why I asked you here, Silica was attacked in the Forest of Wandering and Pina unfortunately was killed." He explains. "We were going to head to floor 47 to collect..." He starts but I cut him off.

"The Pneuma Flower?" I ask confused.

"Yeah, Kirito said that it would bring Pina back! Will you help us Miss Lucy?" She asks me shyly.

I walk over to the bed and sit next to her.

"Of course I'll help you, I know how much Pina means to you. Just like how much Kiko means to me, hell even that blue fur ball Happy IRL." I say giggling slightly.

Kirito and I leave Silica to rest up for the night, he leads me to his room which has two beds in it. He got it because he was going to ask me to come along for some reason, I walk into the bathroom and change into my pyjamas. A white vest top and blue shorts, walking in I notice Kirito is wearing a pair of black shorts with a black t-shirt.

"Hey Kirito, why don't you use some brighter colours for a change?" I ask sitting on my bed.

"Not my style, so Lucy how's the guild been doing?" He asks me leaning against the wall.

"Its been doing great! All the members are having fun posting requests on the board and we've even had people from the towns posing them as well offering COL and EXP points, lots of jobs have been letting the members learn new skills like blacksmithing and archery skills. But what about you Kirito? How's the life of a Solo Beater treating you?" I ask pulling the sheets over my legs.

"Not too bad, money's good because I don't share with any party members. But I hear Asuna has joined a guild too." He says pulling his friends list up.

"Really? Which one?" 

"Knights of the Blood Oath." He states showing me her profile. "She's even become the second in command of the guild." 

"Wow..." I say sighing.

"So Lucy, the real reason I asked you to come was because...."

Natsu POV:

I walk to the request board and look for a job that will give me a good amount of money, glancing around I notice some people wearing white coats coming into the guild hall. I walk over to them and they greet me with a sad face.

"Hello, we're looking for the master of your guild." One of them says to me.

"He's in the infirmary right now, he's talking with a friend." I say pointing to the guild's infirmary.

"Thank you sir." He says taking his hat off to me.

The two of them then walk to the infirmary while I walk over to the bar, Mirajane greets me with a smile and passes me a plate of curry and rice.

"Thanks Mira, who where those guy's?" I ask her tucking into the food.

"I don't know, maybe they are healers for Lucy? Porlyusica said she's finding it harder to keep her magic level's stable. Her magic is almost gone." She says sighing while she cleans a glass.

We sit there talking for a while and then the two men walk from the infirmary, shaking hands with gramps they then walk out with not a word to anyone. Master sighs and then strangely Porlyusica walks out of the infirmary with a suitcase and her potions box.

"Wendy, help Porlyusica take those things to her home please.." He says sighing.

"Yes master." Wendy says obediently and then helps Porlyusica to walk home.

"Whats going on gramps?" Grey asks.

"My children, we can't keep doing this." He starts. "I know you all want Lucy to stay here so we can keep her healthy, but the problem is it would seem we are doing more harm than good." 

"What do you mean master?" Erza asks putting down her cake.

"Lucy's magic has been fading slightly every day this past year, Porlyusica has tried to keep her magic levels stable but despite her best efforts nothing is working. We are transferring Lucy to a hospital that has been created for the 72 members of the public who are inside the game with her, she leaves tomorrow morning." Master finishes drinking a tankard of beer.

"WHAT!" Everyone yells and the guild is filled with cries of protest.

"You can't take Lucy away!"

"What will happen to her without us?!"

"THATS ENOUGH!" Master yells, tears fill his eyes and he speaks again. "My dear ones, this is the only way we can ensure Lucy stay's healthy inside the game. I know that this isn't what anyone wants, but we have to think of whats best for Lucy." He says sighing.

"Master?" Erza asks. "Is it true there are 72 members of the public who are trapped in SAO? I thought only a handful of people managed to get their hands on the game and gear." 

"I don't know how people managed to get their hands on the game, but what I can tell you is that there were 150 players from Fiore when the game was launched." Master says and I storm off to the infirmary unable to hold my temper anymore.

I walk into the room and notice the curtains have been drawn and Lucy is lying motionless with the soft beeping from the gear on her head, I walk over and glance at Lucy. Her hair has gone pale and so has her skin, from a year of no sunlight and no washing her hair. She's lost her shine so she doesn't really look like Lucy anymore, I sit next to her and hold her cold stiff hand. She'll be in a hospital soon full of other players like her.

"Hey Lucy, sorry about this but master is sending you away. He's sending you to a hospital which knows how to treat you and will be able to take care of you..." Tears fall from my eyes. "Why did you do this to me Lucy, if you hadn't picked that stupid job. If you hadn't agreed to go in! Its your fault!" I yell dropping her hand. "Why did you do this to all of us Lucy!" I yell finally and storm out of the room.

Grabbing a job request I don't get it stamped but just walk right out of the guild hall, everyone looks at me shocked and some look at me angrily. Erza walks to me but I send a ball of fire directly to her chest causing her to fly back into the bar, shattering it. Happy comes flying after me and sits on my shoulder silently, I walk away from the guild my anger burning until it fizzles out.

"Natsu, are you ok?...." Happy asks me.

"Just don't talk to me for a second ok?" I ask him trying to keep calm.

Erza POV:

I stand up from the broken bar and watch Natsu storm out, sighing I let him go and decide to spend some time with Lucy. Walking into the infirmary I decide to open the curtains to let some light in, I then pick up a brush and begin to brush all the hair I can.

"Hey Lucy, lets get your hair looking golden again shall we?" I ask smiling slightly. "Ignore the things Natsu said he was just having a tough time with the news master gave us, its going to be weird not having you here in the guild hall where we can just drop in and talk. But don't worry, I've been taking care of your apartment and I've even been spraying your perfume to keep your scent there for when you wake up. I've been impressed with how you've been doing in the game, but if you can hear me I have some pointers. You need to upgrade your sword, use something long and thin to give you more flexibility and it will also help your agility." I say with tears falling from my eyes. 

Grey walks in and places a hand on my shoulder.

"Just come home soon Lucy, we really need you here..." He says and we walk out leaving her soft face glowing in the sunlight.

"Please..."