Hello my dear readers.

Sorry if i come out with one-shot again, but i hope this will calm your anger down for waiting my story like "The Seventh Fairy Tail Master" or "Natsu Second Chance"

Hope You Like it...!

One last note, I'll took a break for at least one week from now.

Erza's Nightmare

Summary : Natsu finds Erza terrified in their hotel room. What's wrong? Can he pull her away from her worst fear that she feared would become reality?

Disclaimer : I don't Own Fairy Tail, Hiro Mashima does.

The night was falling slowly on those fine, summer days. The moon shone bright in the darkened sky, providing the least bit of light into the empty streets. The Hotel was silent as all visitors had withdrawn to sleep, except one.

Natsu Dragneel left a tired sigh.

He had gone out with Erza to the job, as they did since their going date. He enjoyed himself as much as he could; destroyed a dark guild with his new girlfriend and went to eat at fancy restaurant, although Erza decided to go back to hotel earlier.

And the outing was finally over.

He glanced at the clock; 2 am. "Shit! Is it that late? Better get back to bed.." He groaned silently. The hotel was quiet; everyone had retreated to their comfy beds to rest for the night, and he figured he might as well do the same.

Natsu opened the door to his and Erza room, marked with the notable '777', and slowly stepped in. Everything was dark, save for the dim light the moon outside provided.

He glanced at the bed. "Erza must be asleep."

Right then, he heard the slight creaking of wood, and his head whipped to the direction of his bed.

"Erza—" his eyes widened as they scanned the figure of a girl curled up on the blanket, shivering and moving. He looked closely, "Erza?"

His voice was barely a whisper and he received no answer. Frowning slightly, he walked quietly over to his bed, peering over the sleeping girl.

She was shaking.

Her hands were clutched tightly onto his pillow, holding it as if it were her life itself. She was flipping around slightly, her head whipping from one side to another.

The man above her was frustrated.

"What's wrong?"

Looking closer he saw tears on her eyes, and he felt a sudden tug at is chest.

"Erza…" he whispered and reached a hand to her face and quickly halted when she gritted her teeth, muttering words he couldn't comprehend.

xxx

"Rrraaaaaaarrrggghhh…..!"

The so familiar roar of dragon echoed into the rainy sky. She and Natsu were surrounded. The Dragons were fierce and tactful in their attacks that managed to injure and exhaust both Fairy Tail's mages. The scarlet-haired knight looked up at her comrade.

He coughed and spat a few mouthfuls of blood, steadying himself on the ground as he focused his vision. The Dragons were coming closer. His body was ready to fall apart, but he wouldn't give up. His resolve built up for him to protect her. He was holding his ground for her sake.

"If it is for her, I don't mind throwing my life away."

The larger Dragon roared yet again, the rest slowly backing down and allowing space. Natsu tighten his fist. So it's a fight just between you and me, huh? Even in his injured stare he cracked a wild smile. Bring it on.

As if it had heard his thoughts, the Dragon launched at him.

Erza screamed his name the moment Natsu fist crashed with the claws of the creature, but he paid her no heed. He needed to get her safe. He needed to protect her.

He and the beast jumped, continuing their fight in mid-air. "Karyuu no Hoko(Fire Dragon's Roar)!" Natsu fired a large amount of fire from his mouth, burning off the Dragon's left arm. It screamed out in pain and flailed as it fell unceremoniously on the ground.

Dirt rose and covered both opponents in a dark shadow. Natsu closed his eyes. "Where are you?"

The Dragon moving gave out its position, and Natsu didn't waste any more time. "Karyuu no…" he was prepared to launch his final attack, but a bone-wrecking pain shot on his side.

"Gah!" He turned his head to check on the wound, never noticing the pair of red eyes stalking him.

"NATSU!" Erza was getting worried. The cloud of dirt was up for too long.

She stood up and ran to him, gripping her Benizakura until her knuckles turned white. However, she never took another step forward as sharp objects pierced her body and arms. "Arrrrgggh!" she screamed in agony.

"Natsu!"

His sensitive ears perked up at the sound of her pained scream. Erza! His head whipped to her direction, and when the dirt finally cleared off his onyx eyes widened in shock.

The Dragons had gotten her.

"ERZA!" he leaped and ran to her, until he was blocked by the enormous Dragon's attack. "Shit!"

"You're not going anywhere," the Dragon barked. "Not until your corpse drops off my claws!"

"In your dreams you increasingly annoying bastard!" Natsu roared and sent another Karyuu no Hoko at it, but his attack was dodged easily. "What!" Suddenly another wave hit him as he got slashed across the back.

"NATSU!" he heard Erza screaming distantly, and she, herself was covered in attacks by the remaining Dragons that held her captive. She didn't want to break his concentration. Not by screaming anymore in pain. So she kept her mouth shut and bared with it for a while.

The battle was fierce, but didn't last long. For some weird reason the Dragon was faster than him. He chased it around and managed to land a few hits, but still it was pointless. He was so concentrated on the fight that he didn't get a glimpse of himself.

Erza was frowning so deeply her brows would unite. He was so beat up and tattered, it was a wonder he was still standing. "Or is some strange conscience that keeps him moving?" She had to get out of here fast. She had to help him!

"No no, you're not going anywhere missy." One Dragon cackled and slashed across her chest. She opened her mouth but no voice came out of it. Before she knew it she was trembling so hard, her body shaking in dangerous spasms as helplessness and panic started to overwhelm her. She had to go to Natsu. He wouldn't last long. "Natsu..! "

He had lost vision of the Dragon for a while, his head whipping in various directions in search of it.

"Where the fuck are you?!" He had tried to keep his senses sharp and track it down, but it was so difficult.

Natsu couldn't process the situation much. His mind was elsewhere. "Erza... I have to protect Erza!"

He glanced at her being beaten and slashed, and he never realized it was his biggest mistake.

Until now.

"Natsu!"

Erza managed to look up at her companion once more. His eyes were determined, but his jaw was clenched tight and his brows furrowed. She was about to talk when something black appeared behind him sneakily. Red eyes flashed momentarily before the black shadow moved swiftly towards the young Dragon Slayer.

Her eyes widened, pupils dilated as adrenaline coursed through her. Her mouth opened to warn him, but when she managed to scream his name, the mage set before her would be carved into her mind forever.

She couldn't protect him.

He was about to turn when he felt the most crushing pain he had ever felt in his life. He didn't know what it was, but when he drifted his eyes low, it all made perfect sense.

It wasn't that the Dragon was faster. He had gotten slower. His vest and pants were tattered; blood spilling from open wounds and scratches. His onyx orbs however widened when he finally took notice of a pair of large talons impaling through his torso.

Erza gasped and her heart jumped at her throat. "No… No…!"

"Nat- Natsu!" she yelled in panic, trying to free herself from the Dragon's grasp. "Natsu!" she was desperate to reach him. "Natsu!"

He couldn't really progress the sounds around him. The only thing he could feel was fear, along with this incredible pain. His body didn't listen to his brain's commands, and instead he fell down.

Everything was set in slow motion.

Erza was screaming out to him; finally managing to get free from the Dragon and finishing them off with her sword. As soon as she turned to him, he was on the ground, surrounded by a pool of blood.

His own blood.

"Natsu.. Natsu..!" her voice was muffled by something, he couldn't really hear it. His vision, too, was blurry.

The woman above him turned him around and looked into his eyes. He slowly cocked his head to her direction. "R-Run… Erza…" his voice was breaking.

She shook her head, "No! I'm not going anywhere without you!" her hand reached his cheek, flinching when she realized his skin was starting to get cold.

"Natsu! Stay with me! Don't you… Don't you dare die on me! Natsu!" her panic got the best of her. She was shaking violently, her tears never stopping to shed.

"Erza…." His eyes never left her face, until he couldn't see anymore.

His ears never ceased listening to her soft, but breaking voice, until he couldn't hear her anymore. His heart continued to beat for her sake, weakly as it was, too, falling apart, until it didn't beat anymore. His breath, ragged and low, never stopped taking in her scent, until it, too, fled from his body.

"No… No! No!" she yelled to him, only to receive no response. "No! Natsu!"

Tears flowed from her eyes endless as she gripped his pitch black waistcoat tightly, burying her head into his chest. "No, Natsu… No…"

Her mourning didn't last long as the large Dragon stepped forward, his form enormous as it stood before Natsu and Erza. She looked up frightened; never before had she felt such fear in her life.

She was a Titania, for Heaven's sake! She was to prove she was brave enough, powerful enough to be a Wizard Saint. But now.. She was a weak girl, frightened by the monster under her bed.

The Dragon laughed and launched its claws towards her, snapping her out of her thoughts. Out of instinct, Erza hugged Natsu's cold body, willing to protect at least him.

"He wasn't lost, no!"

However, the target wasn't her. Gripping her comrade's body, the Dragon pulled him violently from her, and she stumbled on the ground. Natsu…!

The sight she witnessed moments afterwards would be engraved in her mind forever. Her eyes widened in pure shock and surprise watched intensely as the humongous beast pulled his body, seeking to break the spot that joined his torso and his head. "No! Stop it!" she cried with fear.

A crack echoed among the rain and everything stopped moving.

Blood spilled from the headless corpse as it was tossed to the side, while the head rolled slowly before her.

Erza could hear the Dragon's maniacal roar of laughter, but it didn't concern her to the least. She focused her gaze to the lump before her, her body shaking violently. His lids were slightly open, his onyx irises staring at her direction, dull and lifeless. Blood was running from his cold, dried lips, cold and crimson as well.

His face was bruised and scratched from the fight, but his expression didn't indicate any pain, even if he was no longer there.

A few shaky breaths later, a trembling hand reached out to the fallen head.

It stroked his bloody pink locks, still soft even after the violent pull.

It traced down his cheekbones and cheeks, wincing at the level of coldness.

The hand pulled him closer.

She cradled him to her bosom, holding tightly as if it would bring him back to life.

She sobbed pathetically when she realized she had failed him.

Failed to protect him.

"NATSUUUUU"

XXX

"…AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!"

"Erza….Erza! Hang on, Erza! What happened?!" He was shocked to hear her frantically screaming like that.

She was having violent spasms spread across her body, her eyes wide.

Her lungs burned.

Her heart was on the verge of ripping through her chest.

Her blood ran cold.

"Erza!"

Soon after she stopped screaming she flailed her limbs around, not allowing him to touch her.

He climbed onto the bed and stilled her as he climbed above her. He didn't give up trying. "Erza!"

Suddenly, she stilled on her spot.

He remained silent as she blinked rapidly and focused her gaze. His face was above her, staring deep into her frightened eyes.

"N….Natsu…?" her voice was barely above a whisper, and he strained his ears to listen to it.

"Erza, oi! Hang on!"

Her eyes were red and puffy, dried tears marked her face as she questioned again. "Is.. Is that really you..?"

His breath hitched in his throat for a moment, before he recovered and answered calmly, "Yes. Yes, it's me."

She hitched and shot up, wrapping her arms around his chest, holding him for dear life as she sobbed loudly into his chest. "I.. I thought you had left me forever!" she cried and gripped him harder, "I thought.. I thought you were gone for good!"

He watched her for a brief moment before wrapping his strong arms around her trembling form, holding as tight as she did. "Shhh, it's okay, I'm here." After a good ten minutes of constant sobbing and crying, she managed to calm down.

"I was so scared.." she began, her hands still clutching Natsu's clothes, "We were surrounded… We couldn't escape.." she took a deep breath before continuing, "The Dragon was too strong for you, but you still fought. You still.. Struggled.."

Natsu tightened his grip on her, his hand going through her scarlet locks softly; a slight attempt to assure her that it was alright. She didn't have to fear anymore.

"…The Dragons had captured me and they were beating me.. You did so much as glance back at me, but then the Dragon got you.. and.." her voice was breaking.

Natsu panicked.

"Erza.. you don't have to—" she cut him off by shaking her head. She had to do this.

"It stabbed you with my Benizakura.. and threw you in front of me. You died before my eyes, Natsu.. But.. it was not over. Oh no.." she laughed mockingly, "It was so not over."

The pink haired teen gulped silently. "Was there more?"

Erza noticed his stiffened form, but continued nonetheless, "The Dragon suddenly grabbed you and.. and…"

"Erza.." Natsu stopped her. He couldn't hear anymore of it. He wouldn't.

She looked up, her eyes blinking with new tears. It hurt so much remembering all of this. "Yes..?" her voice shattered once again.

"Don't worry. It was just a dream. Things like that won't ever happen, you hear me? Ever." His tone was soft but firm.

He let himself fall back down on the bed, taking the scarlet knight with him. They both lay there on their sides, her head still buried into his chest and his arms still wrapped protectively around her form.

When her trembling ceased, he softly kissed her lip and looked down, "You should get some sleep."

Her hold on him tightened considerably as a chill ran down her spine, "I don't want to."

Natsu pulled her slightly away, "You're tired. Your eyes are red, puffy, and barely keep themselves open." He was frowning like a father scolding his child.

"I'm scared." She whispered innocently, and he realized she was still trembling with fear.

He couldn't blame her; anyone would be afraid to go back to sleep after such a horrible dream. His lips curved upwards, "I'll sleep with you."

Her brown orbs widened and her head snapped up to his face, "You will?"

Natsu nodded, "Of course. I can't leave my beloved Erza Scarlet like this now, can I?" He offered her a cheeky grin.

Erza smiled back and once again found sanctuary in his embrace. Natsu calmly stroked her back and soon he pulled her up for a soft kiss.

He pulled the thin layer of sheets above them, protecting them from the chilly night breeze.

"Don't worry about your nightmares anymore." He whispered as she nuzzled into the crook of his neck.

"Why?" she whispered back, curious to his answer.

He leaned down and locked his gaze with hers; his eyes determined. "I'll chase them all away and I'll burn them into dust."

Erza settled and smiled, her eyes closed as she listened to his harmonic heartbeat. "Thank you, Natsu."

Said man smiled and pulled her close, "Anything for you, my love." He kissed her hair, "Anything."

The End