Chapter 4: Dreams

.

.

.

Everything was black...He couldn't see anything...

"Natsu...," a voice called out to him. The voice sounded so familiar. "...Natsu...?"

He looked around. He was in a forest...There was a blonde haired girl sitting on a rock, next to a tree. However, she was facing the opposite direction so she didn't notice him. Was she the one who called out to him? Just who was this girl...?

"...He really did forget me...," her voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "He never really cared...It was...," she broke off, sobbing. ...She was crying...

"I thought our relationship was never going to break...I thought...I thought," she sniffled. He felt like he should walk up and hug her...Comfort her, but he just couldn't.

"Maybe it was my fault," she said, "If I never became friends with him, I wouldn't have caused him any pain. I wouldn't have caused myself pain." He couldn't stop himself...He snapped.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN?" He shouted, startling the girl. She turned around to face him, tears in her eyes. Her eyes widened at realization of who he was. "Its...Its not your fault!" He yelled. He didn't know why he said that, it just felt like the right thing to do at the moment.

"Its not your damn fault! Everyone goes through pain! Emotional or physical, damn it!" He shouted. The girl stared at him with shock evidently shown on her face. "Just be strong...I know your strong...I...," his voice became a whisper. Why was he even talking to her? He didn't know her...

"...Natsu...," she whispered. But, why did she seem to know him? Wait...She said...Forget...

The girl smiled warmly at him. "You're right, Natsu...I'll deal with the pain. I'll become strong enough, so I will be able to deserve being friends with you. ...To make you remember me...I'd do anything," she whispered. Before he could reply, everything was turning back to black.

"LU-!" He was cut off by another voice.

"NATSU! WAKE UP!" The blue cat shouted, tugging on Natsu's clothes. Natsu groaned before opening his eyes.

"Ha...Happy?" He muttered, sitting up.

"Aye! Let's go to the guild now!" He chimed. Natsu nodded and ran off to get ready.

"Lu...? Lu-what? Damn...I almost remembered her name...," Natsu thought.

She stood there, in the forest...The last place she saw...him. She didn't expect to ever see him again, but here he was, standing right in front of her. Little Natsu, just the way she remembered him. Her eyes started to water, but she managed to smile at him. Did he finally remember her?

"...Natsu...," she whispered, running as fast as she could towards him. "Natsu!" She shouted, tears falling from her eyes. He was here...He was back...She always hated herself for leaving him that day. She should've stayed and helped him remember, but no...She ran off. It was both of their faults, but mostly hers. Its not his fault that the man cast that magic on him, to cause him to forget her. She could only hope that he wasn't mad at her. And even if he didn't remember her, she would stay with him this time and help him remember. Natsu turned around and her eyes widened when she noticed that he was glaring at her! She stopped dead in her tracks...This couldn't be, right? He wouldn't be mad at her...right? Right?

"Who the hell are you?" He asked. Lucy smiled. Oh, he just didn't remember her. Its okay though, she would help him.

"I'm L-"

"Oh yeah, that girl from years ago. The one that yelled at me and then ran off crying," he snorted. Lucy's eyes widened. No...No, this can't be...He couldn't be angry with her...

"N-"

"You have NO right to speak my name, girl," he growled.

"B-But!" Lucy cried.

"Lucy!" A voice exclaimed, "Calm down! It was just a nightmare!"

"G-Gajeel...?" Lucy whispered, looking around. Oh yeah, it was just a dream...She was with Gajeel, in an abandoned house.

"You okay?"

"Yeah...I'll be fine. Sorry for waking you," Lucy said, noticing it was still night.

"No, I was already awake," Gajeel said.

"Oh...," Lucy murmured and laid back down.

"So, how's Levy?" Natsu asked.

"She's gonna be fine. She's sleeping right now though," Gray said.

"At least that dark guild got taken care of," Erza said, surprising both mages.

"E-Erza!" Natsu and Gray exclaimed.

"I believe it was you, Natsu, who destroyed their guild. Am I correct?" Erza asked.

"Yeah," Natsu said.

"They got what was coming to 'em!" Gray chimed, "But I could have done better."

"Pfft! Ice freak doing better? In your dreams," Natsu laughed. "I've done the best." They were about to start fighting, but Erza stopped them.

"Are you two fighting?"

"N-No! We're just...," Natsu exclaimed.

"...Just h-having fun," Gray finished.

"Good."

"So, where are you heading?" Lucy asked.

"...I don't know...," Gajeel sighed.

"How about...we join a guild?" Lucy asked. Gajeel thought about it for a minute before agreeing. "What guild?"

"How about Phantom Lord?" Gajeel asked.

"Isn't that a dark guild?" Lucy asked.

Gajeel shrugged, "So?"

"You want to join a dark guild?"

"Yeah?" Gajeel replied. Lucy sighed, but then agreed. She couldn't go to Fairy Tail, they've already seen her...It was too late now.

"Let's get going then," Lucy said, standing up. She gathered her things and left the house. Gajeel followed after her a few minutes later. "Ready?" She asked. He grunted in reply and they headed off. As they walked, Lucy looked down at her right hand, where her guild mark used to be. It was gone...But she already noticed that. She was going to move on...Finally. She smiled at the thought of moving on...She was no longer a part of that guild. She wasn't alone anymore. She had Gajeel, and she had herself, but she always had herself. They finally arrived at Phantom Lord. Lucy would have preferred joining a different guild that was not a dark guild, but whatever.

"You sure?" Gajeel asked her.

"Its your choice, I'm just following. I have a guild I am going to join one day, just not today. Oh, and you're coming with me," Lucy smiled.

"Oh great...I have to spend a lifetime with you," he teased.

Lucy rolled her eyes and replied, "Hey, its better than spending a lifetime alone." Then, she playfully punched his shoulder. "C'mon, let's go in now."

"Yeah," Gajeel said as they walked forward and pushed open the dark guild's doors.

-End of Chapter-

Here's your update! Hope that was fast enough for you. Thanks for the advice and reviews!

Review, please! Thank you!