The world slowly awakened as the sun peeked out from below the horizon. Birds fluttered about searching for food for their young. Dew drops laced the grass in complexity 'til the weight grew too large for the blades of green. The daily star rose up into the sky and peeked through the windows. Through one window, Lucy opened her eyes to the blinding light, immediately regretting it.
"I don't want to get up!" Lucy argued with herself. She blocked the sight from her eyes before flipping onto her other side away from the light. Lucy lay there debating whether she should get up today. Maybe today will be the day I don't do anything and I just go back to sleep. Moments of little movement passed.
"Not today." Lucy groaned, pushing herself up from the bed.
People across Magnolia were now awake with energy. Bakers scurried around their kitchens baking loaves of bread, layered cakes, and other scrumptious tidbits. Each delicacy made carefully by the hands of an artisan. Mothers and fathers awoke their children for school and then quickly head off to work. Librarians, teachers, and even wizards filled the streets, passing each other. All going different directions. Children then roam the streets begging the cooks for a small treat. The cooks gave in to their mischievous ways and nudge various goodies to the children.
Among the hustle and bustle of the morning, Lucy traveled through the crowds of diverse workers. Stand owners offered food, trinkets, and odd items such as a rabbit's foot or a bunny tail. Lucy kindly declined their offers and eventually arrived at the guild hall. As she walked through the guild she realized something was missing, but couldn't figure out what.
"Hi Erza, how are you feeling today?" Lucy asked the redhead. Erza's head lay on the table as she attempted to cover her eyes.
"Oh nothing much. Just regretting all that drinking I did last night. Now I've got a bad headache." Erza replied without glancing at the blonde. Wendy sat down next to Erza.
"You know I can use my magic to help your headache if you want." Wendy insisted to the pained girl.
"No I'm fine, there's probably someone else who needs it more than me." Erza replied sitting up.
"Then make sure to drink plenty of water. It'll make you feel better." Lucy then remembered what happened the previous night. "Do you guys know where Natsu is?"
Wendy and Erza stared at the Celestial Mage with puzzled expressions. Erza smirked, "Why do you want to know, Lucy?" The blonde blushed at the statement. She hadn't told anyone about her feelings for Natsu, but the girls' suspicions were raised long ago.
"What are you talking about? I was just asking where he is!" Lucy shouted. Embarrassment now colored her face an even darker shade of red.
"I think it's amazing that you have feelings for him!" Wendy gushed, going off into her dream world. Lucy's heart began to pick up a quicker beat.
"No! I don't have feelings for him! We're just friends!" Lucy's face now rivaled Erza's hair and she prayed the other girls wouldn't notice, but they took note and did not push the subject any further.
"I haven't seen him since last night." Erza replied. The redhead motioned Mira to come over to the table.
"Yes, Erza?" Mira smiled. Her long white locks falling over her shoulders. Erza ordered a water and Lucy took the chance to ask Mira the same question, but she had the same answer as Erza.
"Don't worry, Lucy. He's probably just sleeping at home." Mira smiled while placing a glass of water in front of Erza. Lucy nodded but felt conflicted. Sure, Natsu seemed to love sleep, but he never made it to the guild late.
"We should go check on him… you know, just incase." Lucy reasoned. Erza stared at the Celestial Mage. A tint of fear filled the blonde's eyes and Erza found that something was wrong.
"Okay, we can drop by if it'll make you feel better." Lucy slightly blushed but agreed with the plan.
"I can't believe those two still haven't cleaned this place." Erza muttered under her breath. It was exactly how Lucy left it last night. Except, somehow the uncleanliness seemed worse.
"Natsu!" Lucy yelled into the dark home. No answer came from the abyss. Lucy glanced to Erza. She held an annoyed look upon her features.
"Natsu! Let's go!" The redhead grunted. Still no answer. Worry began to pour into Lucy's heart. Something was wrong. Erza sighed in anger before stompping into the dark mumbling curses under her breath.
"Wake up, Natsu!" She screamed, opening the window that Lucy was oblivious to before. There in the blinding sunlight lay no one. No one occupied the swinging hammock. The Celestial Mage's heart dropped to the floor.
"Oh God," she began, terror dripping from her words, "he's… gone."
Splotches of blood began next to the hammock and trailed out the door where they disappered into the woods. Lucy stared at them in shock, fear, and worry. Her knees dropped from below her. Her fingers were numb.
"Lucy! Are you okay? Come on we need to go to the guild! Lucy it's going to be okay!" Erza comforted the nonrespondant blonde. Erza began to think of some way to help the situation. "Got it."
Erza: Help! Please! We're at Natsu's home and we need help now! Natsu is missing! Lucy needs help too! Someone just please come help us.
She waited and waited. Hopefully, someone would pick up on the telepathic message. She resent the message through her mind. Yes, it had been a while since they had used it, but it was worth a shot. Finally a voice shot through her mind.
Warren: We are on our way. Hold tight.
Erza sighed a breath of relief. She picked up Lucy and carried her outside. She sat her down on the grass and waited. Silent tears began falling down the Celestial Mage's cheeks, but she didn't notice. She couldn't see past the vision of the blood on the floor.
A/N: Random chapter that I happened to finish over the three day weekend! From now on, I will hopefully be posting chapters over the weekend. Thank you once again for reading!
-Beth (◕‿◕✿)