Lucy's POV

After Felina had destroyed the King, herself, and the lava monster princess that Natsu and I had fought, Phaedra and all the surviving princesses had all leaked out a noxious green smoke from their bodies and collapsed. Levy and Freed had also been severely injured in their battles and I had sustained several injuries of my own. For hours, it was like the entire country had died with their king because none of the people had come out of their homes to investigate. Wendy had used her magic until she was in danger of damaging herself trying to heal all of us. Only Mest was able to convince her to stop before she drained herself, but she had been sobbing since she hadn't been able to wake either Phaedra or Levy.

Her exhausted pleas for help seemed to reach the hearts of a few of the townspeople because slowly a handful of women and men began trickling out of their houses. I had been half-conscious from my wounds and depletion of magic after my battles, but I remember being surprised when an older woman walked directly up to Mirajane. With a slightly accusing expression, she had begun talking to her in a heavily accented version of our language.

The last thing I remembered was Natsu lifting me into his arms to follow someone who was going to guide us to the infirmary. Then I passed out. When I woke up, I found myself inside what looked to be the palace with Happy curled up on top of my stomach and Natsu was laying down beside me on the bed with his arm draped over the both of us.

The memory of when I had helped Natsu in his battle against the lava monster came back and I thought back to how Natsu had spun me around and then I had kissed his cheek. I could feel my cheeks warm up at the recollection but as I listened to Natsu's peaceful breathing right next to me I couldn't remember ever feeling safer than this moment right now. As dense and easily distracted as Natsu was, I still loved him and I hoped that someday he would understand that.

Trying to be discreet, I slowly moved my hand to rest it on Happy's back and stroke his soft fur. Happy let out a contented sigh and curled up even more into a ball on my stomach, still fast asleep. To my surprise though, Natsu's arm twitched and he blinked sleepily. I held my breath, unsure of what his reaction was going to be when he woke up to find us in a very couple-y position. For a second I considered closing my eyes and pretending to be asleep, but I really wanted to know what had happened after I had passed out so I kept my eyes fixed on his face.

Natsu hadn't lifted his eyes up, but I was surprised when his arm flexed and tightened around me, pulling me a little closer to him and pressing my shoulder against his bare chest. I could feel my face growing red at the unexpected show of affection and was about to reassess my desire for answers when Natsu yawned lightly and lifted his head a little bit, blinking sleepily as he met my eyes. I laid there silently, waiting to see his reaction. He didn't seem to realize that anything was different for a second, but then his eyes widened and he bolted upright.

"Luce!" he said, grabbing my face between his rough hands and looking more relieved than I had ever seen him before.

I attempted to smile between his hands, which were smooshing my cheeks, and then something happened that I never would have expected in a million years. Natsu slid his hands down so his fingers were cupping the back of my head and before I could even blink he had leaned his face down and pressed his lips forcefully against mine. Shock and disbelief raced through me and, just for a second, time seemed to completely stand still.

Natsu's mouth opened slightly and I felt him bite down gently and a little possessively on my bottom lip, which pulled me out of my numb shock. Throwing caution and confusion to the wind, I wound my aching and sore arms up around Natsu's neck, pulling him closer to me and accepting his kiss. A small growl rumbled through Natsu's chest which sent shivers down my spine as he pressed himself more firmly against me and deepened the kiss even more.

I don't know how long we would have stayed like that, but I began hearing small, strangled gasping sounds which were not coming from Natsu or I. Realizing who else had been laying on me, I pushed Natsu off and Happy sucked in a gasping breath of air. He rolled off of my stomach where he had been getting squished to death just moments before and flopped face-first onto the bed between Natsu and me.

"Oh, Happy! I'm so sorry!" I cried out, patting his back gently as I tried to calm my own racing heart. Natsu shifted so that he was sitting cross-legged and looked straight at me without a shred of embarrassment or apology in his demeanor.

"Are you feeling okay, Lucy?" Natsu asked seriously, looking me up and down as if he was expecting me to suddenly start bleeding at any second.

"I... I'm fine, Natsu," I said, avoiding eye contact with him and most definitely avoiding looking at his lips as I continued to pat Happy's back. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Almost three days," Natsu responded with obvious concern in his voice and I looked up at him in shock.

"Three days?" I responded in disbelief.

Happy lifted one little arm up weakly from the bed giving out a shaky, "Aye, sir," before flopping it back onto the mattress and resuming his impersonation of a dead fish.

"How is everyone else?" I asked, glancing around at the simple room that looked like it might be a servant's quarters since there was a strange dress that looked like a version of a maid's uniform hanging on the wall.

"Phaedra and the other princesses all woke up, but they were put under arrest," Natsu said with a frown and my mouth dropped open in shock.

"Arrest?!" I echoed in disbelief and Natsu nodded.

"Phaedra was able to make a deal with the people that they would care for all of us and there is going to be a trial tomorrow when the leaders of the desert people get here to decide what to do about the princesses. The people here seem super confused," Natsu said, frowning heavily and folding his arms.

Honestly, I was sure I would have been confused too if I were in their shoes, but I hoped that things all resolved soon so we could take Phaedra and go home.

"What about Freed and Levy? And Wendy?" I asked, still avoiding looking at Natsu's face. Honestly, I wasn't quite sure how to react to what had just happened between us, especially since Natsu was now acting like it hadn't happened. Had my brain imagined the kiss? But Happy was still acting like he was coming back from the verge of death so I couldn't have imagined it.... Right?

"Freed is recovering," Natsu said with obvious hesitance in his voice. Steeling myself, I peeked up at him and was surprised to see worry in his face. "Levy... is awake. But something happened to her spine."

"Her... spine?" I responded, feeling fear beginning to form a pit in my stomach. Natsu nodded uncomfortably and cleared his throat.

"Wendy has tried everything but since she woke up she... hasn't been able to move her legs." Happy slowly pushed himself up to sit on his bottom but his face looked dejected and sad as he hung it down with his ears folded against his skull.

"She's paralyzed?" I choked out, the pit in my stomach becoming a solid mass of disbelief and guilt. I should never have told Levy about Phaedra. Just as my guilt felt like it was going to swallow me whole, I felt a furry paw rest on my leg. Glancing down at Happy, I saw that he was blinking back tears but he was trying to give me a smile even as his cheeks were trembling.

"Wendy said that Porlyusica could heal her. Phaedra promised that as soon as the trial is over for the princesses she would make sure they let us all go home so Levy can be healed," Happy said bravely.

I could feel my own eyes begin to swim with unshed tears and I breathed in deeply, trying to keep them at bay. A squeak from the mattress alerted me to Natsu shifting his weight and then I felt his muscular arms wrap around me. I sniffled desperately, trying to keep from crying, as Natsu gently rested my forehead against his neck. Happy hugged my arm and I wrapped my free one around Natsu's waist as tears dripped down my cheeks.

Erza's POV

The day after Lucy woke up the leaders of the Tribe people made their way into the capital city of Tarzish without fanfare. From what I had gathered, Prekt's people had once been a completely nomadic nation, traveling from oasis to oasis throughout the year to survive. But when the cactus fruit that created a juice comparable to water was discovered to grow near the coastal parts of Prekt many of the people broke off from their nomadic traditions. They created the city of Tarzish, which was recognized as the main seat of power in the country. Although now with the king dead and the princesses suspected of treason, it was left to the tribal leaders of the nomads to hold the trial.

I had tried to visit Phaedra to get a sense of what to expect and whether we needed to plan another rescue attempt, but the guards had refused to allow me passage. Not wanting to do anything to jeopardize us leaving peacefully, I decided to concede for now and take my frustrations out with some extra swordplay practice.

My muscles were burning by the time I had finished practicing with the heaviest weapons in my arsenal, and I sent them all back with a sigh. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I turned around and saw Wendy leaning against the side of the palace, looking like nothing more than an empty shell of her usual cheerful self. Her eyes were unfocused and staring out into space and I wasn't sure if she even knew I was even here. I slowly walked over to her, requipping my sweaty workout clothes into my normal skirt and armored shirt.

"Wendy?" I called out softly. She didn't even blink and I felt myself frown deeply as I sank down and sat next to her, leaning my sore back against the stone walls of the palace.

"Hey, Wendy," I said with a firmer voice and while gently shaking her shoulder. Wendy's head lolled to the side and her brown eyes flicked up to look in my face. They looked glassy and I was shocked at how tired and ragged she looked. Her normally pale skin had a gray tinge to it and I realized for the first time that Shararu was nowhere to be seen, which was incredibly odd.

"What's wrong, Wendy?" I asked, taking one of her small hands and rubbing it gently between my own.

"Erza-san," she said, sounding more tired than I had ever heard her before. "Nothing is working, Erza-san. I can't heal her..." Wendy's voice trailed off gently and the most concerning thing for me was that her eyes were completely dry. As if she had cried a year's worth of tears already and now she was empty.

"Levy will be alright, Wendy. You've done all you can do and now we just need to get her back to Porlyusica-san. She healed my eye, so she can definitely heal Levy's legs," I said firmly, taking both of Wendy's hands into my own and squeezing them tightly. Wendy shook her head sadly, her eyes still oddly vacant and I couldn't help but think the girl seemed to be in a numbed state.

"Paralysis is really difficult to treat. And the longer we wait the harder it will be... But we can't leave Phaedra-neesan either... I just feel so useless," Wendy said in a monotone voice, her body still as limp as a boiled cabbage leaf.

I looked down at the small girl beside me and felt my heart break. Wendy cared so deeply for everyone around her, and she always took things so hard when she felt like she had failed her family, especially after what happened with Cait Shelter and how she had lost her entire family in a moment. I knew that she was fiercely loyal to everyone in Fairy Tail and seeing Levy in such a state must have been the last straw for the sensitive girl.

Knowing that there was nothing that I could do or say that Shararu or Mest hadn't already tried, I just took a deep breath and pulled Wendy into a hug. She didn't move to return my hug but I felt her forehead bump onto my shoulder, which made me wince since I was wearing my armor over my shirt, but Wendy didn't move away. With a sigh, I began to slowly rub Wendy's back after tugging off my gauntlets.

"Even if Levy never walks again, do you think she would blame you?" I asked quietly, stroking Wendy's back.

"She should," Wendy whispered and I shook my head slowly, continuing to rub small circles along her back.

"But do you think she will?" I asked. Wendy didn't respond for a while, but after a few moments I heard her softly expel a breath that sounded like "no".

"That's right. I visited Levy earlier today and even though she's a little scared, she said that she doesn't regret coming to help Phaedra," I said, continuing to rub Wendy's back and I began to sway us back and forth slightly, trying to use the motion to pull Wendy out of the numbness that seemed to have overtaken her.

"But I'm a healer. I should be able to do something," Wendy said with a small hitch in her voice, which was the first sign of real emotion I had seen since the conversation had started.

"You have done something. You healed everything you could heal and you gave her hope that Porlyusica-san can help her. And even if she can't heal her, what will she really lose? We'll all still love her whether she can walk or not. She can still use her magic without her legs. And do you think Gajeel will suddenly leave her because she can't walk now?"

Wendy shook her head quickly and I couldn't help but chuckle. Gajeel hadn't left Levy's side for longer than it took to go to the bathroom since she had been given a room in the servant's quarters to stay in. A total of three songs about how much more convenient it was that Levy couldn't run away from him now had been written and horribly performed for anyone unfortunate enough to come visit Levy. He had even come up with several inventions so that he could carry Levy around on his back for the trip home, although he had teased her constantly about being small enough to fit in his pocket.

"See? So even if worst comes to worst, Levy will adjust and be able to cope. She may even be able to use her magic to give herself temporary legs. Who knows?" Wendy slowly moved back and I released her, allowing her to sit back and look up at me with sadness sparking in her eyes.

"Are you sure?" she whispered.

"Yes, I am," I said firmly, smiling down at her. Wendy's lips turned up in a shaky, less than certain smile, but it seemed like her numbness had at least faded away.

"Thank you, Erza-san. You always know what to say," Wendy said, this time with a more believable smile, but her eyelids were beginning to droop from exhaustion.

"You should take a nap," I suggested gently, reaching out and running my fingers through her bangs affectionately.

"What if I miss the news about Phaedra-neesan?" Wendy asked with a frown, even as she rubbed her eye with obvious sleepiness.

"They won't hold the trial until tomorrow, so you have plenty of time to take a nap. Even if they do announce something sooner, I will come and let you know right away, alright?"

Wendy opened her mouth, looking like she was about to argue, but instead, a huge yawn took over her and once it had finally finished she grinned at me sheepishly.

"Okay," she conceded. I stood up, reaching a hand down to help her to her feet, and we walked back into the palace together.

Mirajane's POV

The feeling of a gentle but large hand stroking my head slowly woke me from my unintended nap. Blinking the sleep out of my eyes, I stretched my shoulders and back out like a cat and I heard a gentle chuckle coming from above me. Unfolding my arms which my head had been resting on, I slowly pushed myself off the edge of Freed's mattress and smiled over at him. He was nearly healed after several healing sessions from Wendy, but a few of the deeper gashes were still wrapped in white gauze to keep germs from getting in and infecting them.

"Good morning," Freed said happily with his one visible eyebrow cocked up jokingly. I chuckled and reached out, taking his hand in mine.

"Morning. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. I would have gotten up to find some food but I didn't want to wake you up," he said with an adoring smile that sent a small thrill of happiness through me.

Neither of us really knew when we had decided that we were going out, but from the moment Freed had woken up and given me a quizzical look I had been right beside him as much as I could. Holding hands and cuddling up to him was extremely comfortable and natural as if we had been a couple for years. I could tell that several of our Fairy Tail friends were shocked by our sudden relationship change, but everyone seemed happy for us.

It felt wrong in a way, to have found so much happiness when Levy had been so severely hurt and Phaedra was locked up in the dungeons with all the rest of the princesses. But the woman who had sold Freed and I cloth, while we were investigating a few days ago, had turned out to be the wife of the general of the King's army, who was temporarily put in charge until the Tribal Leaders could come to the city to lead the trial. She had introduced herself as Zimar and listened to our story. After hearing us out, she took us all under her wing, letting us stay in the servant's quarters of the palace until the trial could be held and it was decided if we were free to go.

She was the only one allowed to go down to the dungeons and she had been able to pass messages between us and Phaedra every once in a while. Zimar was very kind to us. She made sure we had all the medical supplies we needed to treat our wounded friends, and that we always had plenty to eat and drink, although it was normally the sweet cactus fruit juice rather than water. I was incredibly grateful for the older woman, and I knew that whenever we left this place I was going to miss her a good deal.

"Are you alright, Mirajane?" Freed asked, squeezing my hand in his and causing me to smile.

"Yah, just thinking about the trial. I hope everything goes well," I said quietly. Freed nodded his agreement and then pulled the corner of his blanket down to free his legs. I let go of his hand so he could stand up and I smiled when he walked over to me with only a slight limp and held out a hand for me. I took it and allowed him to guide me up to stand in front of him. Instead of turning to head to the door as I had been expecting though, he bent down and pressed a soft kiss to my uncovered forehead.

"Everything will be alright," he whispered against my skin, and I closed my eyes, drinking in the security I felt with him so near to me.

"It'll be alright," I echoed quietly.

A/N Hey guys! Thank you as always for reading! Sorry, this was kind of a slow chapter, but I hope you enjoyed seeing a few of our favorite couples <3 Who is your favorite couple in this fic so far, by the way? I'm really curious ^.^