Bwahaaaa! Sorry it's short. Please just bare with me.


Chpt 299

The guild had settled down and many had passed out at their spots. The only people awake in the inn were Natsu, Lucy, Levy, and the stressed-out bartender; Gajeel and Makorov still somewhere outside.

"Guess it's time for … some sleep," Natsu yawned as he stretched, getting off his stool and heading to the stairs. Lucy got up as well, looked back at the bartender, and sighed.

She placed a few jewels on the counter before rushing up to Natsu's side.

"Goodnight, Lu-chan! Natsu!" Levy yelled from her seat. She had decided to wait on Gajeel before heading off to bed.

"Goodnight," the two replied in unison as they headed up the stairs and into their room.

In their room, four beds were neatly covered in sheets, four night-stands laid on the sides, and two closets in the corners. Natsu and Gray were to share the left side of the room, Erza and Lucy on the right. However, since Erza and Gray were out for the count downstairs, two beds stayed empty.

Natsu stripped down to his boxers when he heard Lucy squeal. He turned to see that the stellar mage was staring directly at him, face red.

"What. Are. You. DOING?!" Lucy threw one of the pillows from Erza's bed at him.

"What do you mean?" He asked, an eyebrow rising. "I'm getting ready for bed…Are you alright? You don't smell right."

Lucy stood in her place in shock. She had forgotten the pink-haired idiot had a very intense sense of smell.

She collected herself, stuttering, "It's probably because I was at the infirmary for so long." She imitated the blonde mage's smile she had seen during the games.

Natsu seemed anxious, but just scratched his head and smiled weakly. "Yeah, I guess…" The girl changed into the nightgown she had found in the dresser, ignoring the fact Natsu was still in the room.

He sighed and jumped into his bed. "Alright. Goodnight, Lucy." He closed his eyes and nestled into the blankets.

"…Natsu?"

Natsu opened his eyes, waiting for her to say something, but nothing ever came. He sat up and noticed Lucy now right next to him and his nightstand.

"What? Are you scared or somethin'?"

When she didn't answer, he pulled his feet out of the sheets and onto the floor, turning his body towards her.

Suddenly, she dropped onto her knees and hugged his waist. "W-woah!" Natsu's eyes popped out of their sockets.

It stayed quiet in the room for a while, Lucy's arms around Natsu, his in the air, not knowing where to go. Once he regained his composure, he smiled and placed one hand on her shoulder and the other rustling her hair.

"Since when were you afraid of the dar-" Suddenly, Natsu and Lucy could feel the presence of what felt like Zeref's. 'No way,' the blonde imposter thought. 'He's not supposed to be back yet!'

The door to their room banged open, receiving Natsu's and the blonde's attention as a masked person and Jellal rushed into the room. "Jellal!" Natsu exclaimed, a little shocked to see him here.

Lucy's arms tightened around Natsu's waist. 'Crap! Gotta make this quick!'

Her arms loosened quickly before bumping her whole body against Natsu's. Natsu's eyes widened, mouth agape. Pain coursed through his body, hands trembling.

He looked down as Lucy pulled away from him, noticing a blade covered in blood following her. Looking lower, he saw the source of his pain, a tear right through his lower abdomen.

"L…Lu…cy?" Natsu felt his body fall forward before he hit the ground.

"Natsu!" a familiar female voice seemed to echo through his ears. He opened his eyes, only seeing a blurry ground, and Lucy's bed. He tried blinking his eyes into better vision, but they just continued to blur. He noticed the ground creak beneath him and Lucy's foot making its way around him and the bed.

"Who are you?!" the familiar voice roared.

'Crap,' Natsu thought. 'I…feel like crap. What's going on?'

Afterward everything went black.