Lucy charged past the red headed woman that was meant to be keeping her in place, storming out of the tent, angry tears streaming down her face. Nothing made any sense anymore, what were these damned dreams trying to tell her?!
The blonde broke out into a heavy run. She rushed passed the rebels of the camp as they stared at her in bewilderment.
The girl rushed into the cover of trees, dashing into the only tent she wasn't allowed to be.
There he was. She knew he wouldn't be happy that she was here, but she wasn't going to leave until she had what she came for either.
Earlier that day…
Lucy wasn't sure how to feel as she sat at Levy's bedside. The girl hadn't woken up since last night and to say it reminded her of her nightmares was an understatement. Recently, they had been getting even more vivid than before. She could still hear their screams ringing in her ears.
Levy hadn't screamed. She just trembled and cried and it was almost worse. Her eyes were so far away, as if she couldn't quite wake up from a nightmare.
Was she having one now, Lucy wondered. Guilt washed over her. The last thing she had said to the girl was awful things. Whoever attacked her, if they had done anything worse, Lucy feared she might not have gotten the chance to apologize.
Natsu had waltzed right passed her without an explanation and she wouldn't forgive him for that, but she had to worry about that later. She was fortunate Erza and Mira had mutually agreed to let her visit Levy. With nothing else to do but sit and read, Lucy wanted to sit and stay until Levy woke up. It seemed only fair, considering she did the same for her. Lucy wanted to cry as she remembered all the little things Levy had done for her since she got here. She stayed until she woke, she spent time with her to make her less lonely, and she let her out in the forest, running the risk Lucy could run. Levy had been there and she stupidly shut the girl out.
Lucy stared at her hands. Gajeel had been by a few times as well. He never stayed for long, just long enough to ask what how the girl was doing before he ducked out and went back to wherever he spent his time. But he had been by enough times just overnight that she was starting to wonder if maybe it was more than just checking up on a comrade. Lucy smiled at the thought. Despite everything, she was glad Levy had found someone who cared so much for her.
Lucy hadn't gotten much sleep last night and it had nothing to do with her nightmares. However, now that the situation had died down some, she could feel her eyes drooping from exhaustion. Lucy realized they were just about to close when someone lifted the canopy and came in. Lucy jumped and looked over to see Mira smiling apologetically.
"Sorry, did I wake you?" She asked softly. Lucy shook her head.
"No, it's all right. I don't really want to be sleeping right now." Lucy admitted. Mira walked over and sat on the other side of Levy's bed, staring sadly at the blue haired girl.
"…She didn't want to keep anything from you, you know." Mira started. Lucy didn't need to hear it, she'd already figured that much out as well. "It was Natsu's decision."
"I know." Lucy whispered. Mira stared at the blonde haired woman.
"He's not what you think. He has a lot on his plate and sometimes has to make stupid decisions when it's the right thing." Mira said. Lucy clenched her fist in her lap.
"Two wrongs don't make a right." Lucy stated. Mira sighed.
"And I agree wholeheartedly." Mira paused. "We weren't planning on your arrival until later… Levy wanted to make sure you got here. Once you did… we were planning on telling you everything… but after everything that happened, we thought it best to let you calm down and kept it a secret." Mira said.
"Why are you telling me this?" Lucy asked.
"So that when you do find out you'll know we only had the best intentions." Mira explained. "Including Natsu." Mira looked back at Levy. "I can't tell you everything now, maybe when you find out I won't need to," Mira looked at her own hands. "But when all is said and done, would you please not hold a grudge, at least for Levy's sake. She's been the most torn up about this than anyone." Lucy didn't take her gaze away from Levy. Lucy wasn't sure she could forgive them, at least not Natsu. She understood it was all his decision, but all these secrets scared her, and like a frightened animal she lashed out.
With a sigh, Lucy murmured her answer to the general.
"I won't promise anything, Mira, but I'll at least try." Mira relaxed slightly out of relief and stood up.
"You don't have to go back to your own tent, but you should plan on getting some sleep soon. You look ready to fall out of your chair." With that Mira left the tent. Lucy sighed, knowing that her words were true.
Lucy stood from her seat, laid down on the bed next to Levy's and hesitantly closed her eyes.
Layla looked back at Lucy, her doe eyes filled with fear and urgency.
"Quickly, Lucy, we haven't got much time." She told the young girl.
"But mama, where's daddy and Michelle?" Lucy asked, tears coming to her eyes as she knew he mother was scared.
"They… they'll be meeting us somewhere else. Please, Lucy, hurry, or we'll be late." Layla guided her daughter through the halls and Lucy saw more and more people surrounded I grape juice.
When a burning rafter fell from the ceiling Lucy screamed and Layla stumbled back.
"No… We're trapped…" Layla murmured. Lucy stared at the rafter for a moment longer before looking into the large archway they had stopped in front of. She was about to ask why they couldn't go through there when a shadow in the fire caught her attention.
"Mommy… I thought you said Horses weren't allowed inside." Lucy said. Layla snapped her head and a second later pulled Lucy behind her.
"They're not…" Layla said lowly. Lucy hardly ever heard that tone and knew that someone was in trouble.
Suddenly the flames parted and a man walked through.
"Layla, how wonderful to see you. And the little princess too, wonderful." They snickered. Layla let go of Lucy's hand and pulled something form her hip.
"Get out of my home you abhorrent brute." The woman seethed and lifted something in her hand. Something purple lashed out and knocked the object out of her grasp. Lucy heard it land with a metallic clatter as Layla was knocked in the other direction, her back hitting the burning rafter. Lucy saw the man begin to walk towards her mother and ran between them, holding her arms out wide.
"Stop hurting my mommy!" She demanded. The man scoffed.
"Retched child." He waved his hand and a burst of flame rushed toward Lucy. She crossed her arms in front of her and the flames burned and licked at the flesh on her arms, making her scream and cry and fall to the floor.
"Lucy…" Layla struggled out as the man began to walk towards her again. He lifted a pointed object above the woman and used his foot to roll her on her back.
"You're death will break Jude and make him submit. Then I'll make him watch as I burn you and your daughters at the stake before tortuously killing him as well." The man said tauntingly. "Good bye, milady Heartfilia." Lucy heard a man's scream of anguish as the pointed object cut its way through the woman lying on the floor.
Lucy jumped awake, her heart pounding, her breath coming out in pants. That was way too vivid to be a dream. Lucy jumped out of bed and raced out of the tent, right passed an unsuspecting Erza. She could care less if the woman tried following her, she had to find him. No more secrets, no more games, he was going to tell her one way or another and she would not let him be until he told her everything her knew.
She passed the training area first and hunted around for him there. When he didn't show himself she left and checked his tent next. She knew it was rude to barge into a man's tent, but she didn't give a damn. His tent was an absolute mess. Books and clothes were strewn about, leaving hardly any room to walk, but it was still missing the man she was looking for.
With a huff she left the tent again, coming face to face with Erza.
"What are you doing?" She asked, irritated. Lucy's look darkened considerably.
"Where is he?" She said slowly. Erza sized her up briefly before stepping aside.
"He's in the war tent." She said calmly. Lucy rushed passed her and sprinted through camp, hearing the murmurs of the rebels she passed. She could care less. There would be no more secrets, no more lies, and no more things to be torn apart. That man would answer any and all questions she had.
As she reached the war tent she didn't break her stride until she was inside and he was in her sight.
Natsu Dragneel, leader of the rebel army and his generals were standing around a table with some sort of sculpture on it. She could look at the details later, for right now her eyes were locked in on his as she glared angrily at him.
"I want answers and I'm not leaving until I have them, do I make myself perfectly clear, Dragneel?" She spat his name out with the last sentence. He held her gaze a moment before fixing her with a challenging glare of his own.
"Sorry, I'm busy, come back later once you've—" Lucy marched forward and slammed her hands on the table the sculpture sat on top of.
"Damn it, this is not up for negotiation! You tell me what I need to know and you do it now!" Lucy demanded, making everyone cringe from her raised voice. All except Natsu. He held her gaze a moment before his eyes met Gajeel's and he motioned for him and everyone else to get out.
As soon as the all left he met the girls gaze once more.
"You tell me everything that's going on right now and you even dare hide anything or lie to me." Lucy demanded lowly.
"Where do you want me to start? With the fact that the men who attacked Levy were hired by your beloved king? Or that the true royal family of Fiore was usurped… Princess Heartfilia?" He asked and Lucy froze.
'What did he just call me…?'
A/N: I told you I'd murder you. I know I'm totally trolling you guys but it's so much fun! I get more Reviews that way and they are Hilarious! Plus it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Expect the next one soon! God, I love writing. REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
P.S.: When this is done I'm planning on a making a little credit reel and posting it on youtube, but I need pictures to do so. If you guys want, you could draw fanart for this fic and give me a link to find it. I'll post the link on my profile and credit you in the credits. I can't wait to see what you come up with!