Natsu woke up in the hut the next morning. He had spent the night in there again. But there was one obvious difference, of course; Lucy wasn't there with him. And she may never be with him again.
He didn't feel like seeing anyone at the guild. To be perfectly honest, he didn't really feel like doing anything. Who knows? Maybe he would get over it eventually. Maybe he would be able to face everyone at the guild. But in that instant, he had someone he needed to see.
It wasn't hard to guess where she was. He had sen her several times at the river when he first arrived at the guild. "Lisanna," he called out. She turned around and he saw her vacant eyes and tear-stained face.
"How did you find me?" she whispered, turning back to the river.
Natsu slowly walked up from behind her. "It wasn't too difficult. You always used to come out here when I first joined the guild."
Lisanna smiled sadly. "You remember."
"I used to come out here a lot too," Natsu said. "I would listen to the river and... I don't know, it calmed me down, I guess."
"One time you even joined me," Lisanna recalled.
Natsu smiled. "Yes, I did. It was a lot like right now, actually. You were sitting here with your feet in the water. You looked so sad. So I just... had to join you."
Lisanna nodded. "Yes. I remember. You came up and sat next to me, but you never said anything."
Natsu didn't reply. He simply gazed off at the sun which was rising higher and higher in the sky. It was Lisanna who finally broke the silence.
"Does everyone hate me now, Natsu?"
Natsu sighed and sat down next to her. "Lisanna, I know you're not a bad person. You would never hurt someone intentionally. So... why? Why did you do that to Lucy?"
"I was jealous." Her voice cracked just the tiniest bit. "I was jealous of Lucy."
"Huh?" This surprised him. "W-why?"
She looked down at her reflection in the water. "I just... she made friends so easily. It was like she just walked into the guild and everyone instantly loved her. You know, I've always had to struggle to get people to like me. And the fact that she didn't even have to try... I don't know, it made me angry."
Natsu narrowed his eyebrows. He understood was she was saying; Lucy has this charm to her that made everyone adore her. But she still shouldn't have done that. Lucy didn't do anything to her.
"So I acted out of anger, and jealousy, and rage," Lisanna continued. "I know what you're thinking. I should have waited a few minutes. I should have calmed down a bit first. But, before I knew it, the phone was in my hand, and I just..." She sighed. "I'm sorry, Natsu. I know saying that doesn't change anything, but I truly am sorry."
Natsu took a deep breath. "I can't forgive you, Lisanna. You didn't do anything to me. The only one who can forgive you is Lucy herself."
Lisanna looked at him. "I understand that. But I hurt you too, Natsu. I tried to get out of it. I tried to call Mr. Heartfilia back and cancel the whole thing, but he threatened my family. He told me that he would kill Mira and Elfman if I didn't try to break you and Lucy apart."
Natsu's eyes widened. "Kill? He would go that far?"
"Maybe not," she said. "Maybe he was jus saying that. But I couldn't take any chances."
"And what do you mean by breaking us apart?"
Lisanna shrugged. "I guess he didn't want Lucy to struggle. He didn't want her to fight back. He thought that if I broke you two up, she would want to come home, and it wouldn't be too much work. I don't know for sure, though, I'm just guessing."
"But you didn't..." Natsu started, confused.
"I did," she confessed. "I stole the egg."
"What?" Natsu gasped, astonished. "But it was back at the hut later that night."
Lisanna smiled a little. "Well, that's because I put it back. I knew it was the right thing to do, and I never wanted to do it in the first place. Anyway, Mr. Heartfilia just... showed up. And took Lucy away. It all happened so fast."
"Oh. I see," was all Natsu could manage to say. He turned away, not wanting to look at her.
"I can't have you hate me," Lisanna said pleadingly. "Will you ever forgive me?"
Natsu looked at her sharply. "I told you. I'm not the one you should be asking to forgive you. You hurt Lucy, not me."
Lisanna gave him an increduluos look. "We both know that's not true, Natsu. You're hurting too. I can tell."
"So what if I am?" Natsu stood up abruptly. "I'm still in no position to forgive you. If you truly want to redeem yourself, then bring Lucy back!"
"I can't!" Lisanna screamed. "Don't you get it? It's just like Master said. Her dad has custody over her. There's no way he's letting her go with us."
Natsu looked down. "Stop," he whispered sadly. "Please, don't say that."
Lisanna sighed. "I'm sorry. I know you didn't want to hear that. Honestly, I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Lisanna. It's true. I'll probably never see her again."
"Never say that." Lisanna stood up and looked right at him. "This entire thing is all my fault. So that's why I am the only one who can make things right again. And, besides, if I don't, Lucy will never forgive me. Neither will you."
Natsu looked at her with a confused expression on his face. "How are you going to make things right again?"
"I don't know yet," she answered truthfully. "But I'll find a way. That's a promise."
She then turned around and ran deep into the woods.