These next 3 chapters are pretty short, so I'll be posting an extra chapter on Wednesday. I'm glad that you all are still reading! Please remember to keep the reviews coming!

Chapter 20

Voices and faces faded in and out of his mind. Memories of his life flashed in front of him—growing up with Igneel, entering Fairy Tail, Happy hatching from an egg, meeting Lucy…. Lucy. He suddenly remembered Lisana's tombstone. When she had died, he felt so helpless. He had sworn to himself that he would never lose another friend. Yet he had allowed it to happen again. He could see Lucy's wide unseeing eyes in his mind. He clamped his hands to his head, trying to block out the images. They faded into blackness. Natsu ground his teeth together. His chest felt tight and a heavy weight pulled down on him. He hurt—everything hurt.

Suddenly a booming roar echoed in the darkness. The hulking shadow of a dragon with glowing eyes loomed over Natsu. Hesitantly Natsu lifted his head.

"Natsu," a deep voice came from the dragon. "What's the matter with you? Succumbing to despair so easily."

Igneel?

The dragon's mouth curled back revealing its sharp fangs. Igneel snarled. "You call yourself the child of Igneel? Now stand up!"

But how? Natsu's voice echoed in his mind. I don't know what to do. I can't even protect the people important to me. My precious nakama were…Lucy was…. He clenched his fists, arms shaking.

Igneel lowered his head, his scaly muzzle close to Natsu. "Your emotions give you strength—never forsake them. But you mustn't let your feelings get the better of you. Don't lose faith in the power you possess! Now stand up and face that silly fear of yours!"

Igneel….

"Natsu, you are a Dragon Slayer. Never forget the pride that comes with that title. Now stand up!" Igneel roared.

V* V* V* V* V* V* V* V* V* V* V* V* V*

When Natsu opened his eyes, everything was dark. He recognized the old wooden ceiling of the house in the woods he shared with Happy. Moonlight streamed in through the open window, casting eerie shadows in the dark room. Happy sat up, his eyes watery.

"Natsu! You're awake!"

"…Happy?" He blinked. "What happened?"

"Erza and Wendy brought you back to our house when they left Hargeon. Everyone was beat up pretty bad…." Happy looked sad at the thought of everyone's injuries. "And you and Lucy were hurt so bad. You've been sleeping for days."

Natsu sat up quickly at the mention of Lucy's name. He winced, gasping past the crushing pain in his ribs. He hadn't realized before how badly his body hurt. He realized that he was covered in bandages.

"Lucy…how's Lucy?" he asked quickly.

"They took her to the guild. Porlyusica is watching over her, but I don't know what's going on."

He tossed off the blankets and swung his legs over the side of the bed. As he put weight on his feet, his legs shook. His body felt as if it had been ripped apart and hurriedly put back together. Happy hopped off the bed.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

Snatching his scarf from the bed, Natsu staggered toward the door. "I have to see for myself."

"But Natsu…." Happy flew beside him as he started out the door. "You're still hurt pretty bad. Porlyusica and Wendy said you need lots of rest."

"FORGET WHAT THEY SAID!"

Happy flinched at his sudden change of tone. Natsu stumbled into Magnolia. The entire town was quiet. Everyone had gone to bed a long time ago, making the night feel even lonelier. It took longer than normal for him to reach the guild. He opened the door, the unusual silence of the guildhall greeting his ears. He could hear footsteps on the second floor. Natsu glanced up to see Wendy coming out of a room upstairs. Wendy was also bandaged up, but her injuries hadn't been nearly as bad as his. With Porlyusica's help and some of her Sky Dragon magic, she was looking better than she would have.

"Eh? Natsu-san?" she asked, surprised. Her voice echoed in the empty guild hall.

Charle walked up beside her, her arms folded. Her white fur almost seemed to glow in the dark room. "And Happy too. What are you doing here so late?"

"Natsu wanted to—"

"Lucy!" Natsu said quickly. "Where's Lucy?! Is she okay?!"

"Well…Lucy-san is here," Wendy said. She averted her eyes. "But she's…."

Natsu staggered toward the stairs. Happy flew up beside him, not sure of what to do. Wendy hurried down the steps to meet him.

"Natsu-san, wait! You're still hurt and you really need to rest!" She gently touched his arm. "Please, lie down."

"Not until I see her!" he growled. "I need to know…I need to know how bad it is."

"Wendy," Charle said.

Looking up at the white Exceed, Wendy was at a loss for words. Charle nodded to her. Wendy sighed and took Natsu by the hand.

"Alright," she whispered. "Follow me."

Wendy led him up the stairs to the room she had just left. The floorboards creaked as they walked. Wendy opened the door. The room inside was dark. Natsu could make out the shape of someone sitting in a chair beside the bed. Wendy hurried to the window and pulled the curtain aside so they could see. Moonlight filtered into the room, lighting up the bed. Lucy lay motionless in the bed, Porlyusica sitting beside her. Her injuries were fewer than what he remembered, but they had been bandaged and were slowly healing. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully, but Natsu couldn't feel her magic presence at all. He could hear her shallow breathing. It felt like something sharp stabbed him in the chest.

"Lucy…."

Porlyusica looked up at him. She sighed, looking back down at the unconscious Lucy. "You should be at home resting."

Shakily Natsu approached the bed. He couldn't tear his eyes from Lucy's sleeping face. "How is she?" he asked, though he was afraid of her answer.

"Natsu-san," Wendy whispered.

"Not well." Porlyusica didn't even look at him. She shook her head. "All of her magic power being used up instantaneously like that…it's enough to kill a person. I'm amazed she's even alive."

His legs gave out beneath him and he sank to his knees. Natsu's body trembled as he knelt at Lucy's bedside. Tears leaked from his eyes, rolling down his cheeks. It was all his fault…everything was his fault. If only he hadn't insisted they search the castle ruins last time, during the wyvern incident. If they had left things as they were, Lucy wouldn't be lying there. Natsu covered his face with his hand, his face contorted with anguish.

"Natsu-san…?"

"I couldn't protect her…" he whispered. "I swore I wouldn't lose anymore of my nakama! After Lisana died…I swore I wouldn't. That I'd protect them. But I couldn't even do that…I'm so useless…."

Wendy rested her hand gently on his shoulder.

"Lucy…I'm sorry. It's my fault," he cried. "It's all my fault…I'm so sorry…."

Porlyusica sighed. "Go home. I don't need you making a scene here. And I don't want you collapsing from overexertion."

Happy slowly approached him. "Natsu…."

Wiping at his tears furiously, he nodded. "Let's go home, Happy. We can't do anything for Lucy…we should let her rest."

"Aye, sir."

Chapter 21 will be up on Monday!