Here's the fourth chapter. I feel so sad when I think of this story. This story… was one of the finest I've written. And now its coming to an end. One more chapter, guys, and this story is about to finish. Hope you've liked it so far and that you'd love this one too. Please let me know by reviewing.
Chapter-4 Let's go Back
"What was it? Did I really see him cry?" thought Lucy as she nodded in reply to his question. She got up from her sleeping position and walked up to the entrance where he was sitting. She sat opposite him near the entrance. She was scanning him for any trace of tears in his eyes but he didn't seem to look in her eyes. He was stealing them from her. Looking here and there, in and out, trying in all ways not to look at her.
"Did she see me cry?" he thought. He never wanted anyone to see him cry. He always wanted to seem the Happy Natsu he has ever been lest they should be worried about him.
Lucy examined the entire cave. Natsu saw something was wrong with her. Did she figure out? No way! He didn't wanted her to. However, Lucy was very smart. It was difficult to hide things from her. What if she finds out? He wanted to see that she doesn't cry but now he is himself so tearful. Tears threatened to fall from his eyes. Still he held them back. Lucy would feel sad even if any of her nakama were sad. That's how Lucy is. He knew that. If he cries, she will too break into tears. Then, the whole purpose of their mission will be foiled.
"Is something wrong, Luce?" asked he, with a fear in his mind.
"Oh, It's nothing. It's only that it's so cold outside. I am freezing. If only Happy wakes up fast, we could go to the Snow valley village. Then, I'd feel somewhat warm…" she said, not mentioning anything to him. She smiled at him.
He actually felt so relieved at that smile of her. It was like Heaven come down to earth and he let a grin form across his face.
No sooner did Happy wake up, than they left for the Snow valley village. The shortest path was through the snow pass between the chilling mountains. One could actually freeze to death. Lucy summoned Horologium to sit in. However, it was merely half the way when Horologium had to return, leaving Lucy out in the cold. She was shivering; actually, you could say she was freezing. Natsu saw her shiver. Without even thinking for a while, he took off his muffler and wound it round her neck. Lucy's eyes widened at the sight as a slight blush formed on her face. She never expected such a thing from him. Even Happy was dumbfounded at first but then realized that he wanted to keep her comfortable through the mission.
"Here you go. Now, do you feel better?" he questioned with concern.
"Yes, I appreciate it." Said the blonde giving a heartwarming smile of hers.
He smiled back at her, wishing that her smile never left her.
Dusk fell when they made it to the village. It was a small village located in the Snow Valley, thus making its name. Cladded by snowy white mountains on all sides, it has a small green hill on one side providing the passage to the main city. One can have the most beautiful sight at night while watching the night star studded sky through the snowy mountains. It provides the most beautiful sight one would have ever seen in his lifetime at night.
Since it was already evening, they had no other choice but to stay for the night. All three of them were quite worried. Tomorrow was their big day. Could they keep their promise?
They decided to keep their worries for the next day and sleep for that night. However, Lucy couldn't sleep. Her eyes threatened not to close. If she fails to keep her promise, that would be a great failure as a celestial spirit mage- not being able to keep a promise made to her own mother.
The night sky was clear and twinkling with stars. Lucy couldn't help but gaze. She got up and walking all the way to the top of the small green hill, she sat there, gazing at the stars. Natsu woke up, all of a sudden only to find his nakama missing. Chasing her scent, he reached the top of the green hill.
"If you'd be out at this time of night, you'd easily catch cold, you see," said a voice from behind. It stalked her.
"Natsu, you idiot, you'd never leave me alone, would you?" she said, turning her head back to see her nakama making his way to sit beside her. She smiled at him.
"You know, we hardly get to spend time together so why should I leave you alone?" he said without thinking as he lay beside his nakama.
Lucy's face turned pink at this. He smiled at her. Her thoughts ran on his smile. That made her smile. Soon she turned sad. Natsu noticed the change of expression.
"Hey Luce, Why are you so sad?" Natsu asked.
"It's because of you, idiot." She said.
"Me? But what have I done? I'm sorry if you're hurt because of me", he said.
"The previous night… you were crying, weren't you? I saw tears in your eyes. That's what made me sad," she said. She shooked her head.
He thought she'd figure out. Knowing Lucy for a long time, it was no surprise.
"That cave… Isn't it your home?" she asked him.
He nodded in agreement. Then, He shook his head too. His muffler was still wrapped around Lucy's neck. She rose her head to see the stars. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes but she held them back. She had one memory of her mother:
Lucy's mother was lying on the bed. The doctors already told them that she couldn't be saved. Lucy didn't turn up ever since she knew her mother couldn't be saved. She locked herself in her room, refused to eat and drink. Her mother was so worried. Seeing that her daughter didn't turn up for two days, she decided to make her way to her. She got off the bed in spite of the doctor's warning.
"She's my daughter. She needs me more than I need the treatment," she said. She was a strong willed person. So was her daughter.
"Lucy!... Lucy, my child… mommy's here… please open the door… mommy's worried about you. My dear daughter, Lucy please open the door…" she was crying.
The door opened and the little blonde hug her mother tight enough not to let her go .She loved her so much. She would die without her she felt. Her dad didn't care much about her. It was only her mother she had. She was too precious to lose.
Layla carried her all the way out of her mansion. It was winter and it was cold outside. Lucy was shivering in her mother's arms and held her more tightly. Layla managed to console her and soon Lucy loosened her grip. She was not ready to let her go yet. Then, Layla decided to tell her something.
"Lucy, I've written this for you…:
Fate has it that I go far,
Whenever you want me, just think of a star.
My dear daughter, please abide.
Wherever I shall be, I shall always be on your side." She said.
"Lucy, my child, if you ever miss me or you are ever in any problem, look at the stars. I'd be always watching you from above. I shall always be on your side, Lucy"-
Still the blonde girl didn't want her mother to go.
"That day what you've told me, I never understood… until now… You're watching me from the sky and that's the reason why I cannot cry," Lucy thought.
"Natsu, you really do miss Igneel, right?" she said. "You really miss him so much that you want to find him. You really love him, don't you?" she continued.
Natsu looked up to her. It was the first time they ever had a conversation like that. Then it struck his mind for the first time in three days that tomorrow was the day when Igneel left him years ago. He was all tearful now.
Lucy smoothed his hair to calm him down.
"You can cry now if you want. I won't tell anyone," she said, putting on a mischievous smile.
"What do think of me- A cry baby? I am going to find Igneel no matter what," he pouted, letting out a chuckle. This calmed her.
He then gave his goofy grin, which assured that he was fine. She smiled at him. Even the so happy Natsu wasn't an exception to his feelings for his father. They both shared the same pain, the same feelings. Tomorrow was a big day for both of them. Thinking of tomorrow, Lucy again became sad.
"What's the matter now?" questioned the salamander.
"It's nothing. I've been missing the guild so much in these two days. I wish I was there tomorrow. Can we go back to the guild tomorrow, Natsu? Please…" Lucy pleaded.
"But..." Natsu muttered.
"Please, Natsu, Both of us share the same pain. I miss my mother so much and you miss Igneel. However, when I'm back at the guild, I seem to forget all the pain, all worries… I'm actually happy at the guild… Scolding gray as he strips off his clothes, being with Erza, Mirajane and Levy, all the noise in the guild… everything makes me forget my pain… I'm happy back at the guild… I want to go back… Let's go back, Natsu", she pleaded him in the best way possible.
Natsu gave a lot of thought. He wanted her for another day. However, her appeal… he couldn't ignore it.
"Okay then, if you are happy, I'll take you back to the guild. We'll go back," said he, with a smile on his face.
This made the blonde smile.
"Natsu, thanks and I want you to know I shall always be on your side if ever you feel lonely," said the blonde smiling.
Suddenly, they heard a booming sound. They looked around to find what made it but they were horrified at the sight- It was an avalanche. Snow was coming from all sides. It would definitely submerge the entire village. If they don't get the people out, they'll all be frozen to death.
Lucy used her ability of multiple summons to summon Loke, Virgo, Capricorn, Scorpio, Taurus, Gemini, Aquarius(there was a lake in the village- a hot spring you can actually say; later Lucy was punished by Aquarius for summoning her through hot water) and Cancer to rescue people. She asks some of the spirits to slow the speed of the snow. Natsu wakes up Happy and both of them rescue the villagers. Successfully all of them are rescued.
"Here you go kid," said Natsu to a small kid he rescued. The kid runs to his parents after thanking him.
"I guess that's all, Natsu" says Happy.
Natsu looks around to see if everyone is there. However, he has a feeling that someone is missing. He couldn't shrug that feeling off.
"Happy, Where's Lucy?" asked Natsu.
The blue cat looks around to find no sign of the blonde celestial mage.
"I guess Lucy is still in the village" said Happy.
"Happy, take care of the people here. If possible, call for help. I'll go and save Lucy," said Natsu, running off into the village following her scent.
Chasing her scent, he reached the centre of the village where he found her. Obviously, She was drained of her strength due to the multiple summons she made.
"Lucy… you alright?" asked Natsu.
Lucy was startled to see the salamander. The snow was reaching the village at high speed. There was no way to stop it.
"Natsu, why did you come back, you idiot?" she shouted.
"I had a weird friend to save, you see. I couldn't leave her to die frozen", came the reply with a goofy grin.
"Natsu just go back, would you? Or else we'll both die here frozen under the snow," said Lucy, worried about him.
"I'm not leaving… I'm not leaving without you," said Natsu.
The snow gathered speed. All their efforts to stop it or slow it down were in vain. They hadn't much time left and there wasn't any place to escape.
That's it for this chapter… Leaving many questions for you to think… Will Natsu and Lucy survive? How? Will Lucy keep her promise? Find out in the final chapter(tears threaten to fall down my eyes)- Chapter-5 Tears, they're precious to me.
Let me know if you like the chapter. Just review or pm me