Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or it's characters.

Chapter 14

Determination

"He'll never be accepted here." Alzack said coldly.

Lucy started shaking and raised her hand...

She slapped him.

"YOU IDIOT! FAIRY TAIL ISN'T FAIRY TAIL WITHOUT NATSU AND… and…" Lucy gulped, "I can't be a part of it without him!"

Lucy then erased her guild mark, tears streaming down her face, and she ran out to find Natsu.

Lucy sprinted after Natsu, tears still streaming down her face. Where is he?! She thought frantically. He didn't teleport away did he? "NATSU!" She cried out.

Natsu sat at the edge of town, softly crying. Rain beginning to fall down around him. His family, his friends didn't want him… He hurt Biska… What right do I have to be there? I knew that I wasn't safe… I knew this would happen… but, I stayed anyway… I'M SUCH AN IDIOT!

As Natsu continued to beat himself up he heard a voice in the distance, underneath all the rain, and quickly picked it out as Lucy's, "...Natsu…"

"Lucy…" Natsu whispered. She's the only one who still knew me… I don't want to hurt her, but I really don't want to leave her either...

As if on autopilot, Natsu slowly stood up and started walking towards Lucy's voice.

Natsu heard her call out again, "...Natsu…" He walked faster. "...Natsu… Natsu… NATSU!" As her voice got louder, Natsu began to sprint as fast as he could towards Lucy.

He didn't know why he didn't just teleport there, but maybe it was because he growing to hate this magic.

Natsu started calling back to Lucy, "LUCY!"

"NATSU?!" Lucy shouted in response.

"LUCY!" Natsu shouted again.

"NATSU!" Lucy replied happily calling out to him.

Finally Natsu could see her up ahead and kept running for her as she ran towards him and they collided in a hug.

Natsu was still crying softly not knowing why he ran all the way here when just his presence could easily hurt one of the people he cared about most.

"Lucy…" Natsu said, "I don't want to leave you…"

"You idiot…" Lucy whispered, "I won't let you leave me."

"But I hurt Bisca! What if I hurt you too?!" Natsu cried.

"You won't hurt me and Bisca will be fine; she has Porlyusica with her." Lucy reassured him.

Silence fell and they eventually unlocked from their hug. As they let go of each other Natsu held her hand still, not moving as she leaned on him, while they sat on a bench. He looked at Lucy and he saw her face was painted with faint distress. Why? What happened? Was it me? Natsu thought worriedly. He looked around taking careful observation. Only then did he notice. With horror on his face Natsu quietly asked, "Lucy… what happened to your guild mark?"

Lucy's smile faded for a second, but quickly returned, "I can't be a part of Fairy Tail without you Natsu…"

"Lucy you didn't have to go that far!" Natsu cried in dismay.

"But I wanted to…" Lucy replied, "I'll only rejoin once you can rejoin Natsu."

Natsu looked at her in awe and thought, She's so strong… and I've… I've only been being weak this whole time… Lucy is the strong one… she didn't run from this… I have to shoulder my own weight… I have to be strong for her!

Natsu took Lucy's face in his hands and turned her to look Lucy square in the eyes.

"Natsu what the-!" Lucy was then cut off by Natsu, "I'm going to be stronger now Lucy, so please… stop shouldering my burden."

Lucy shook her head and touched his warm hand that was on her face, looking warmly at Natsu, "I can't do that… I'm going to carry it with you whether you like it or not."

Natsu thought for a second and then grinned warmly and said, "Fine. As long as you stay safe Luce."

"Such a worry wart Natsu," Lucy laughed, "So unlike you."

Natsu blushed and pouted, "I'm allowed to be worried…"

Lucy giggled and stood up. Natsu looked up at her.

"Let's go Natsu!" Lucy said.

Natsu nodded and stood up as well, "Were should we go?"

"We should probably keep looking for that spell book for... Can you still smell the robber's scent?" Lucy asked.

Natsu shook his head, "No the rain washed it away, I think. I still can't smell too well."

Lucy sighed, "Well we have to start somewhere. He might have sold it to a dark guild or a library…"

"I don't know if we're ready enough to take on a dark guild maybe we should go with the library…" Natsu said looking at Lucy worriedly.

Lucy huffed, "Are you doubting me Natsu?"

"No!" Natsu said trying to defend himself, "I just think I should get stronger first before we take on a dark guild!"

"Oh that's it!" Lucy said grinning, "Tired of being weak? Well we could work on that first I guess."

"Thanks Luce!" Natsu said happily, "Though you didn't have to add in that comment about me being weak…" Natsu mumbled.

"Sorry Natsu!" Lucy said giggling. Getting less silly Lucy stated, "Well I guess we should go out into the mountains then."

"Ya- ohh oooww!" Natsu said cutting himself off as a stinging pain shot through his head.

"Natsu!" Lucy shouted worriedly.

"Don't worry. I'm fine!" Natsu said wincing, "I'll be right back."

Lucy sighed and Natsu reappeared a little while later.

"Alright now that you're back let's go. Want to teleport there?"

"No." Natsu said shaking his head, "I want to use this magic as little as possible."

Lucy frowned at the fact of walking, but quickly put on a happy face as she wanted to support Natsu's decisions.

As they walked…

"Sooo Natsu are you just gonna practice dragon slayer magic while I sit in a corner or something?" Lucy said sarcastically.

Natsu chuckled, "Hmm… you could train too… or…" His eyes lit up, "OH I KNOW! You could be my opponent!"

"What?!" Lucy asked in disbelief.

Natsu explained, "While I hate to admit it, I'm pretty weak strength wise right now so you could probably take me on." It would also really hurt my ego if you beat me though… Natsu silently added to himself.

"I mean I guess it's worth a shot." Lucy said optimistically, pumping herself up.

Natsu lit his hand on fire, but that was the most he could manage. She could definitely beat me. Natsu sighed inwardly.

Back at the guild hall…

Romeo awoke in the infirmary, feeling better from his sickness. He turned on his side and saw Bisca laying in the bed next to his.

What happened? He thought groggily.

Romeo heard Bisca groan.

"Bisca?" Romeo asked in worry. Bisca whimpered and her eyes opened.

Romeo sat up, "What happened?"

"Something with Natsu…" Bisca trailed off.

Just then Alzack walked into the infirmary and saw that Bisca was awake.

"Bisca!" Alzack shouted happily as he ran over to her. He gingerly leaned down and hugged Bisca while saying, "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Alzack where's my Dad?" Romeo asked.

"He's back in the main hall, want me to get him?" Alzack asked.

"I can do it." Romeo said shaking his head.

"But you were very sick are you sure you can walk?" Alzack asked worriedly.

Romeo hopped out of bed, a little wobbly, but still able to stand, "I'm good." Romeo proceeded to run out of the room.

Alzack gave an exasperated sigh.

"Alzack…" Bisca said smiling. However she quickly frowned, "Where's Natsu?" The last things she remembered were concerning.

Alzack sat Bisca up and sighed, "Bisca… I'm I'm sorry, but I made him leave… and Lucy followed him and I… don't think they're coming back…"

"Why would you do that!?" Bisca exclaimed in shock.

Alzack tried to explain his actions, "He brought you back hurt blubbering about how he didn't mean to do and it made me so angry that he hurt you! I just-"

Bisca cut him off, "Alzack I don't remember that clearly, but I think I only got hurt because he pushed me away to protect me. There was something… wrong… with him, with his magic."

"I'm such an idiot!" Alzack yelled.

"Alzack we can fix this." Bisca said calmly, "We just have to find him."

Alzack nodded determinedly. Bisca tried to move, but cried out in pain, "AAUGH!"

"Bisca!" Alzack shouted in worry, "Don't try and move!"

"My leg… is it broken?" Bisca asked panting.

"Not just that! Some of your ribs are broken too!" Alzack cried, "Porlyusica came and treated you earlier, but she said she could fully heal them and that you needed to stay in bed for at least a week."

"Dammit." Bisca said.

"Listen I'll go look for them." Alzack told her, "Maybe you could stay here and send out requests to other guilds. Though many are still looking for the Tenrou team…" Alzack trailed off.

"Alright. Just go find them… Lucy is an important part of Fairy Tail and Natsu could be too if we give him time; he cares for us." Bisca warmly.

"I'll go now then, just stay safe." Alzack said.

"I promise." Bisca swore.

With that Alzack headed into the main hall to gather others to help look.

Back in the forest…

"How much farther do you want to go Natsu?" Lucy asked.

"At least until we can't see Magnolia anymore. I know the rain is annoying, but the less damage that this magic I have can do the better." Natsu said seriously.

Lucy sighed, "True." This rain cold though… "Ah wait!" Lucy exclaimed, "I have horologium!" Lucy quickly pulled out his key and shouted, "Open gate of the clock constellation, Horologium!"

Lucy now sat inside inside horologium as he spoke for her, "'That's better' the lady says."

"No fair Lucy! It's still cold out here!" Natsu said pouting.

Lucy grinned and stuck her tongue out.

Meanwhile…

A man spoke to himself, "Time to find his majesty..." I heard rumor he is somewhere in the Kingdom of Fiore... I will start there.

A/N: OH MY GOSH I HAVEN'T POSTED IN FOREVER! Please forgive me ;-; I don't have a good excuse!