H. Mashima created Fairy Tail and its characters.

Headaches and Reveries

Part III

Lucy stood in the center of the courtyard, gripping her cloak tightly about her. Her eyes darted from left to right, trying her very best to remain calm. She kept her hood so it covered her eyes in just the right way. If everything went according to plan... well, she didn't want to dwell on hypotheticals.

Guards suddenly surrounded her, pouring out from practically every doorway leading into the spacious courtyard. Three days had passed since she had discovered Natsu missing and the ransom note from the king that sucker punched the rebels in the gut. So, here she stood, offering herself for Natsu. She bit her lip, fearing for her life and Natsu's as well. Not to mention Erza and everyone else. The sun beat down on her hooded figure, and she could feel the sweat on her hands and neck. Things had to go perfectly. They had to.

"My Queen, is it truly you?" The pinched voice boomed across the area, startling Lucy. Before she uttered a word in response, guards and knights had parted a way leading up to the castle itself. A man covered in rich, red cloaks and glittering jewels took a step toward Lucy. His dark hair fell oddly over his sharp, gray eyes. Something about the way he stared at her scared Lucy. The would be queen quieted her fears and gulped.

"It is I, your Majesty, Lady Lucille- your Queen." Trying her very best to sound as regal as she thought Lucille to be, Lucy deeply curtsied.

"Rise my queen. We have a hanging to witness." Lucy's eyes widened; that was not the agreement. The tone in his voice alarmed her. Something was wrong. She threw off her overcoat, revealing to every man present that she wasn't who they thought she was. Since she had been kidnapped by Natsu, her overly long hair had become more of a nuisance than Lucy thought necessary. She had Erza cut it just below her ears: something no royal would dream of doing. Her soft arms and legs had hardened through all the physical strain being a rebel had brought on, and the way she held herself told anyone with a trained eye that she was quick and agile. She tensed and readied herself to attack.

"I thought as much-" Before he finished his sentence, two armor clad men grabbed Lucy's arms, roughly. Her shoulder screamed at her for a split second, and the pain cleared her head long enough for her to cry out.

"ERZA! NOW!"

The men that had been lying in wait for this call sprung to action. To put it frankly, all hell broke loose. In the confusion of the battle that had broken out inside the castle, Lucy jerked free of her captors and put her mind to work. She painted the outline of the castle's dungeons where Natsu was being held in her mind's eye and was off.

Erza and Gray, who had been disguised as the king's royal guard, kicked and punched their way through stupified soldiers. The red head gave Lucy a quick nod before drop kicking two men at once, whilst simultaneously dodging a flying battle axe.

'Kudos to you,' Lucy thought to herself, impressed, as she ran towards the oak doors that would lead her into the maze that was King Taos' dungeons.

Making turn after turn, Lucy thought her heart might hammer itself out of her chest. Adrenaline fueled her legs and she prayed that she hadn't taken any wrong turns. The thoughts of Natsu from the last three days had kept her restless and fidgety. The dimly lit corridor she was currently in opened up the further she went. To her, she felt like she had been lost in the dungeons for hours. What if she was too late? What if Natsu was-

An anguished yell pulled her from her thoughts.

She ran as fast as her legs could take her to the chamber at the end of the hall. Barreling through the door with all of her strength, Lucy slammed into the man standing closest to the door, his back turned. She tackled him, mid-sentence. Lucy pulled out her dagger, the very same Natsu had used to free her with all those months ago, and pressed it flush up against the dark headed man's throat.

She didn't move. Neither did the king.

"Where is he?" She spat, her voice trembling in fury. The color had drained from Taos' thin face. He then smiled, sickeningly.

"Dead, my queen. You're too late." He swiftly motioned with his eyes to a body lying twisted on the ground. Red, red blood had splattered over everything. Lucy's resolve shattered as she saw the mangled mess of a body had pink hair.

The noise that ripped itself from Lucy's throat was not human. Tears ran rampant down her face as she turned on the king. She didn't think, then, as she slammed his head into the ground. The man lost consciousness, and a trickle of blood leaked onto the stone floor. As she lifted the dagger to finish him off, a pure memory forced its way back into her mind.

Natsu was there with her teaching her how to use the dagger to defend herself. He had gently put his hand on hers and corrected her hold. His fingers lingered longer than necessary as she blushed. Natsu's gutteral laugh was infectious, as she felt herself smiling.

"Promise me, Luce." She looked up into his eyes with an arched eyebrow.

"I'll always be there for you; don't you dare bloody that dagger." She rolled her eyes.

"Then what's the point of you teaching me? What if you aren't there, huh? What if I-" Before she could finish her argument, his lips silenced her's. Natsu pulled away and held her face in his hands.

"I will always be there."

Her raised arm, ready to deal the final blow, began to shake. How could she break his promise now? There was no way in hell she could go back on a dead man's word. The dagger clattered to the ground, and Lucy raised herself to her feet. She stumbled and fell towards the salamander. She picked herself up and crawled to Natsu. She sat in Natsu's blood, clutching his body. It was cold.

She had to clean up this mess, before the others came. She reasoned with herself; it wouldn't have ended any other way. And now she was stuck in another world, without her Natsu. Her Natsu.

The stupid, useless, good luck charm that hung limply around her leg hadn't worked. Natsu was dead.

Lucy pulled it off of her and felt a new wave of unexpressable sorrow rip through her. She placed the piece of cloth on top of Natsu's head and upper torso. She couldn't stand to see those eyes glassy. Tears dripped from her chin onto Natsu's hand. She had weaved her fingers through his as she cried. She heard faint footsteps and shouts come down the corridor. Her cries intensified.

The sound ricocheted off of the walls, silencing the oncoming party and voices.

She suddenly felt a gentle squeeze and a hand behind her neck.

"That's not something I ever want to wake to again, sweetheart. Ever." His raspy voice held no sorrow in it and his breath warmed her neck as he leaned into her.

"...N-Natsu. You...!" This couldn't be right. He was cold. Natsu was cold, and ripped apart. Lucy rubbed her eyes and focused on the rebel. He was alive, if not a little cut up and shaky. But, it didn't make any sense! She had put the stupid purple cloth on him and-

Everything clicked.

Natsu gingerly picked up the blood soaked cloth and his eyes widened.

"This was Queen Lucille's... part of her dress, of course! Magiked for her every whim." The blush that marred his looks set off something inside of Lucy.

"You wanted me to be alive so badly..." A smile lit his darkened face.

"... My God," Her sobs wracked her surprisingly little frame as she clutched both of Natsu's hands.

"You're alive," She murmurred to herself, tears falling on Natsu's chest.

"Only for you," was the reply she got.

When Lucy and Natsu had been discovered in that dingy dungeon, the rebels rejoiced. All around, cheers rose up. Taos was defeated and the tyranny no more.

Before any of them could utter another joyous word, a lone soldier ambled into the room- effectively silencing everyone. No one moved for a moment, and then angered yells erupted from the rebel's group.

Erza quieted them with a wave of her arm.

The man said nothing as he turned to her. She smiled gently. He took a step towards her and she encased him in her arms. The soldier returned the gesture, as strongly as she had. As Lucy looked him up and down, she realized it was the same soldier who had tried to protect her from the original rebel attack so long ago.

"Lady Luci- Lucy!" The blonde looked up just in time to see a blue, flying cat careen into her chest.

"Happy!" The feline hugged the girl as sloppy tears spilled from his eyes.

"I'm so glad you're all right!" the cat bellowed. Lucy nodded and held him tightly. When she looked back up, the strange soldier with intense eyes was holding a sword.

"It's wonderful to hold it again." His voice was melodious and deep. He suddenly turned to Lucy and smiled.

"Thank you, my good lady. I believe introductions are long overdue; I am Lord Taos."

At this, everyone in the room balked.

"I am the real Lord Taos. I've been on a journey for the past ten years... I didn't realize my absence would lead to all this violence and hatred. Least of all slavery. You see, the man who is lying on the ground here is actually my cousin. The dirty rat stole my name and title the second I was out of the country."

Questions shot across the room.

"Why in the world doesn't anyone remember you, or your face?" Levy questioned him, dying to know. The man stepped back and kicked his would be cousin in the side.

"This miserable man and his wife were amazing mages. The things they could do astound me, even to this very day. They must've placed a spell on all the land, erasing my entire being. Lucille ran away the first chance she got when she found out I had come back, disguised as a soldier. In her place stands that woman," he gestured to Lucy. "I hold no grudges with the rebellion. I'd like to sort this out civily. Preferably without anymore bloodshed." His explaination made sense to Lucy... but...

"How the heck can we believe you?" The man looked into the crowd and then looked to Erza.

"Erza will give you her word that I truly am Lord Taos." Everyone turned to the red headed warrior. She stood next to the man and grasped his hand firmly.

"This is, without a doubt, Lord Gerard Taos- King of all Borders!"

As the crowd surrounded Erza and Lord Gerard, as he later told everyone he prefered that name, Natsu squeezed Lucy's hand tightly. Her attention was immediately all his.

"You okay?" she croaked, her voice tired from crying. She helped him stand, and once he got his footing, he turned on her.

"There's something... I need to tell you." He frowned, but whether it was from pain or embarrassment, Lucy would never know.

"What?" Her reddened eyes searched his own and he brushed her fair hair from her face.

"It's me."

Her silence gave way to her confusion.

"'It's you'.. what do you..." Her irritated eyes widened. She could suddenly hear Gray's voice clearly from that night by the fire.

It's about time you told her, Natsu.

"...You are... You are-!"

"-your Salamander," Natsu finished. His strong arms wrapped tightly around Lucy.

"Natsu Dragonil?" He nodded into her shoulder and she wrapped her arms around him with equal intensity. Once he loosened his hold on her, she brought her hands to his face. She smoothed his hair to the side as his calloused hands soothed the back of her neck. She shivered and felt him move closer. He kissed the side of her mouth, and she hungrily-

"LUUUUCY! NAAAATSUU!"

Lucy's eyes snapped open and the light from the early evening's setting sun nearly blinded her.

Happy flew straight for her chest, whining about something. Lucy laughed as the cat missed her completely, hitting the tree that provided just the right amount of shade for a warm afternoon. However, it was no longer that warm afternoon. Lucy shivered and realized that a certain salamander was sound asleep next to her. She rubbed her eyes and stretched.

"Holy crap, that was a crazy ass dream..." As her azure eyes wandered over Natsu's sleeping form, she found herself longing for that dream to be reality. The way he had kissed her... Shaking her head the second she felt tears coming on, she reprimanded herself.

'It's really ridiculous to cry over some stupid dream.. What the heck am I doing?' She lied down again, willing her saddness to disappear. She suddenly felt Natsu move closer to her, pulling her into his open arms. She quickly closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep and that she hadn't been crying.

She died when he scoffed.

"You're a terrible actress, sweetheart." Lucy's eyes shot open again and studied Natsu's for a split second before he kissed her.

"I'll be here."

Oh dear Lord, I am probably the biggest dork in the entire history of dorks. But I love it! I'm getting better at longer stuff. Maybe this means something... Like I'll be a writer someday! Haha, yeah right. I appreciate the reviews; criticism is what I strive for. I think I like how this ended up. Goodness, I feel so exhilirated. :D Gimme more ideas!

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