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Natsu P.O.V
It won't stop, the pain is radiating all over my body as I kneel onto the ground. I was able to find a spot to sleep in the forest, but the pain started to come all of a sudden. My eyes are throbbing from this process causing the veins in my eyes to bulge. I feel something overcoming one eye and I don't want to know what. I hear something from afar like small footsteps. I get up quickly ignoring the pain and run as far as I can.
"Is this what E.N.D is?" I whisper painfully
I clutch my side to feel my ribs are breaking, but they're doing something else, they are fusing to get to make room for my heart and lungs. My heart is growing rapidly as well as my lungs, which explains why I can run faster. However, it's cut short when my back lets out a loud crack causing me to bend over in pain.
"AH" I scream violently
"Is someone there?" A voice ask
I hear someone coming and I can't move from where I am due to the immense pain I'm experiencing, so I start dragging my body across the ground. I hear footstep getting louder followed by a loud gasp. I turn around to see a man wearing black loose fitting pants with a button up black and orange cotton jacket. He's wearing black Japanese clogs. His hair is spiked up with red tips at the top and his bangs are not letting me see his eyes, but they look bright, no sliver gray.
"Hey, are you okay?" The man ask and I stay frozen. He's walking closer towards me, I can see he has a Kanji on his back. The closer he gets, I see that he's fairly tan.
"Stay where you are!" I shout as I glare at him. His facial reaction is unwelcoming but I ignore it. I push my body off from the ground painfully, but I got up. I look up at the moon, it's glowing brightly in the night sky.
"You look like you need medical attention immediately." The man say worriedly. I look away from the moon and look at the man.
"Worry about yourself!" I growl and he stays where he is and eyes my shoulder.
"You're from Fairy Tail?" The man ask as he points at the mark on my shoulder.
"What?" I question ignoring the pain in my joints.
"Yeah, you have a guild mark on your shoulder. Do you know where the guild is?" The man ask
"You're asking the wrong person. Leave me alone." I demand as I turn my back, I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"You shouldn't go out there in your condition. You need medical attention!" The man shouts
"And you need to stop asking pointless questions." I shout as I turn to slice him with my nails. He dodges quickly and stands from afar. I look at my nails and they have become sharp talons.
"People say my stubbornness will get me killed one day, but so far it just makes me stronger." The man says as he starts to requip "Guardian of the Mystic Gate" the man adds.
He is wearing a red and black headband with a similar outfit he had before, but instead it's purple and red with tribal designs running around the armor. He is carrying a large purple and red staff in his hand now. I am in the mood to fight, but I need to get rid of him so I can find a place to sleep.
"If you walk away, I'll spare you." I reason but he gives me a smirk
"And give up a challenge, never." The man remarks as he dashes towards me quickly then pelts my side with his staff, my ribs are screaming as I turn around feeling rage fueling my body now.
"You're going to regret doing that." I warn as run towards his direction.
"I don't wish to fight you, but to help you. However, you started this fight and I'm going to end it." The man declares as he grips onto his staff harder then throws his arm back and brings it back quickly, a portion of his staff detaches and acts like a whip. It pelts me again on the same side and I glare at him.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" I shout as I spew fire at him and he dodges it, but a part of his arm got burned by the flames. I run towards him before he uses his staff again then punch his in the face.
He is caught off guard then resumes to collect his composure to side sweep me with his staff. I fall to the ground as he then maneuvers his staff on top of my face then brings it down forcibly. I roll over to the right side quickly to miss it by an inch. I set my hand on fire to then deliver a punch to his stomach, he drops his staff and I corner him to a tree with my fist ready to strike.
"I gave you a chance to leave and you didn't take it." I growl but he smiles as he grabs my shoulders tight and slams his head against my head. I recoil which gives him enough time to grab his staff.
He extends his staff again to have it slam against my other side and with a swift movement, he slams my other side. I drop to my knees trying to catch my breath, but this isn't over yet.
"I am willing to stop this nonsense if you are willing to admit that you need help!" The man shout and I couldn't help but laugh. A sense of darkness envelops me, it could be from the night or the transformation, but I want his blood on the ground.
"You think this is a game? I hate to disappoint you, but this is a fight you're going to lose." I whisper as I look up to see his face, it's calm, but his eyes show fear. In his eyes, I saw mine, one of them is black with a red pupil.
"You're confident for someone who fell down a couple of times." The man quips. Something came over me as I pounce on top of the man then pin him to the ground with my talons. I sink them deeper into his shoulder until I hit something hard, it's a bone.
"The Devil is right in front of me." The man whispers as I remove one of my hands from his shoulder then raise it to strike a punch. He forcibly strike his knee in my leg then slugs me at the left side of my face. I slash his torso with my free hand, he lets out a muffle groan then shoves me off. He clutches his shoulder tightly to suppress the bleeding.
"The Jesters Illusion." The man shouts as requips again. He has a closed long black and red jacket with a high collar that separates a red hood with tight black pants and shoes. He has some shurikens hanging from his waist and in one hand he has a kunai and in the other a dagger.
"Let's dance, Devil." The man barks as he glares at Natsu.
"I'll lead." I tease angrily as he rushes to the man, but in a swift and calculated manner, the man stabs me in the chest with the dagger. I recoils and hold my wound.
"You dirty.." I grunts as I tries to do my Fire Dragon's Roar but nothing came out.
"A cut or stab from my dagger will temporary halt your magic. I guess you're going to have to find another way to fight." The man taunts.
"All I need is my talons to rip you apart." I threaten
I run towards him quickly then roundhouse kick his side. He removes one of his shurikens then flings it in my direction, I catch it with my hand easily and aim it towards his face then I fling it. He dodges it and heads towards the forest. I follow him, I have his scent but he is nowhere to be found. I stand still listening to my surroundings, I hear movement from above.
"Fire Dragon King's Roar!" I shout but my magic hasn't return yet. I look up to see three shurikens heading towards my direction at rapid speed, I leap of the area, but one of them slashes my ankle deep. The man then appears in front of me and kicks me under my chin. I flew to the other side, I spit of a small amount blood from my mouth and glare at the man.
"Have you had enough?" The man ask. Suddenly a surge of fire swims through my veins, I crack a small smile.
"Fire Dragon King's roar!" I shout as a wave of fire escapes my mouth and hits the man. He lets out a brutal scream as the flames lick his armor. Once the fire dies out, the man was gone.
"Stubbornness kills." I mumble as I limp away from the scene to find a place to sleep.
Lucy P.O.V
My body is still trembling from what I just read, it can't be true. Natsu can't be E.N.D, he's not a villain or feared, unless you're fighting him. He's the one who introduced me to this guild without a second thought and gave him a family that cares for me. He isn't what they said in the books, he isn't a demon and he isn't a monster! He couldn't have died because he's here living and breathing, but he can't be that old? I look down to see Happy quiet as he looks up to me with pleading eyes.
"Lucy, this is a fake, right? This is just like one of your story." Happy reasons as he starts to get teary eyed. I shake my head to fight the tears as I clutch the letter in my hand.
"The guild is closed now, so we'll tell them tomorrow." I declare as I get up from the floor.
"Do you think they'll take it well?" Happy ask as I get spare clothes and a set of pajamas.
"I don't know, Happy." I mutter as I enter the bathroom to take a quick shower before I head to Natsu's house. I remove my clothes then head inside the shower, I turn the dial and sit on the floor as the water falls down on me.
There is so much information to process within the short time span and delivering the news won't be easy for the guild. I scrub my body with soap then I rinse off the soap. I catch a glance at my guild mark, I feel a wave a serenity and warmth all over my body because I know that our guild will find a way to save him. I turn off the shower and get dry, I put on a pair of short with a plain shirt and sandals then leave the bathroom. I found Happy looking at the window while I pack some toiletries and my pajama's in my bag.
"Ready to go?" I ask
"Aye," He says as he opens my window then uses his aera.
"Uh, what are you doing?" I ask as he flies towards me then wraps his tail around my waist.
"Going to my house, right?" Happy answers as he flies out of my apartment then closes my window.
"Happy, we could just walk there!" I exclaim as I hold my bag.
"Nope, that'll take too long, Lucy!" Happy explains as he flies to his home. I know he's doing this so he can be there if Natsu shows up, I let out a small smile.