Lucy burst upright with a loud gasp. The room was dark and unfamiliar. Her head was pounding. Happy slept at the foot of the bed but she knew without even looking that Natsu wasn't here. It was just too cold.
She looked down at her wrist and found a bracelet of thick Jade beads, they felt cool to the touch, almost soothing. A large jade stone hung from her neck as well. Lucy frowned, these were as unfamiliar as the room and the bed she sat in. She lifted a hand to touch the pendant.
Happy opened one eye then both snapped open wide when he saw her hand. He jumped up and shouted, "Don't take those off!"
Lucy stopped just short of touching the necklace but didn't remove her hand. "Why can't I take these off?"
Happy shivered. "Something bad will happen. . ."
The pounding in Lucy's head increased. She pressed her palms against the sides of her head to try and contain the pain. "Happy, I don't understand. How did we get here?"
He frowned at Lucy's confused expression and shook his head. "Let me go get Levy. . .or Freed. . .they'll know. I don't really understand what's going on either. I'm just a cat."
Lucy didn't like his answer. He was dancing around her question. "Did you lose your memory too? Where's Natsu?!"
Happy looked sick. He looked down at his feet and curled his tail around his toes. "We don't . . .we don't know. . ."
"You don't know?!" Lucy cried. Her eyes and nose began to water. She was in so much pain and she was so disoriented. Where were they? Why would Natsu just desert Happy here? Why did he desert her?!
Happy avoided her gaze. "I'm sorry Lucy. He said he wanted to get rid of the monster so you would be safe."
"The monster? What monster?"
Happy seemed confused. He started to cry and it distressed Lucy even further. Why was Natsu out looking for a monster? Was he on his own? The last time they had spoken he had been so strange and the time before that so cold and distant. Was he mad at her? Had he abandoned her because of something she had done? Lucy looked up and saw that her panic was increasing Happy's misery. The little cat was just as lost as her. She took a deep, calming breath, then gently reached out and took Happy's paw. "Happy, where are we?"
Happy swallowed, "On Tenrou, in some large mansion."
Another deep breath. Lucy wiped her eye. "Why did we come to this place?"
"Something destroyed Juvia's home. The inn wasn't safe and all the townspeople were already here."
Lucy struggled to keep her tone even when she asked, "But Natsu isn't here? He left us?"
Happy nervously rubbed his paws. "Well, he's on Tenrou but he ran into the jungle. Laxus is very mad."
"Laxus is mad?" As she calmed her breathing, the pain in her head began slowly subsiding.
Happy nodded. "He made sure Bixlow was alright and then he took off after him."
"Where's Gajeel and Wendy?"
Happy shrugged, "Probably in their rooms or getting something to eat. Everyone was pretty tired Lucy."
It was good to hear that everyone else was here too. Lucy's panic began to subside. "And what happened to Bixlow?"
Happy became visibly uncomfortable and he looked down at his tail again. Lucy tried an encouraging smile but Happy never answered. Instead he swallowed hard and flew out of the room. He called,"I'm gonna go get Levy. She knows what to do, she'll explain everything. Just leave the jewelry on!" just before disappearing into the hall.
"Wait! Happy!" Lucy screamed after him but the exceed did not return. She called out "Hello? Anyone?" but the hall was silent. Lucy's window showed a small empty courtyard.
Lucy frowned down at the bracelet. It wasn't so bad she supposed. The set was pretty and looked nice on her skin, keeping it on wouldn't be a hardship. What concerned her was Natsu. After so long of his constant presence, his absence was devastating. She didn't know why, she just knew that she needed to find him, she needed to know he was okay. How could he leave her like this?! Her headache returned with a vengeance.
She threw off the covers and stood, her legs wobbled slightly from lack of use. With Happy gone, she didn't know who to call for. No Natsu, no Mira. . . Should she call Freed? Evergreen? Her head started to pound even louder.
"Can't somebody just tell me what's going on?" She cried out to her empty room. Frustrated and afraid, she fell back on the bed. She pushed her palms into her eyes and began to weep like a lost, little girl.
A hand on her shoulder startled her out of her misery. She looked up at Leo's shining face and jerked away so fast that she almost fell off the bed. He caught her with a grin and asked, "What has made you so sad my princess?"
Lucy scooted out of his hold. "Leo you scared me! You can't just suddenly appear like that."
Leo only grinned wider and scooted closer to her on the bed. "I couldn't hear my lady in such distress and not do something. What troubles you?"
Lucy looked down at her lap and wiped her tears. "Natsu, they can't find Natsu. I need him," she whimpered desperately, shocking herself. It seemed an extreme sentiment but in this strange place, with all these new people, he had become her piece of home. She needed him. Besides, Leo had said he was her servant right? He had saved her before so didn't that mean he was someone who could be relied on? Could he help?
Leo tilted his head, "You mean the fire dragon?"
Lucy wiped her nose. "Yes, Natsu the fire dragon."
Leo sighed, "I suppose if my company is not enough."
Lucy had to bite her tongue to keep from groaning. "No Leo, it is not that. It's just I am worried about him."
"So it will help the princess to know that the fire dragon is safe? It will make you happy?" Leo asked eagerly.
Lucy gave an exaggerated nod. "Yes! Leo, I just need to know where he is and that he's alright."
"We can do that!" His smile twisted mischievously, "And actually my princess, I have great news! You have another servant already outside of the walls. If you call to him, he will find the fire dragon for you."
Lucy frowned at his smile and her brain struggled to determine whether Leo was actually trustworthy. He had come to her from a song taught by her mother, one her mother taught her to sing any time she felt scared or lonesome. That had to count for something.
His mischievous smile was replaced with a wrinkled brow. "My princess I swear, he will help you find your dragon. All you have to do is call him."
Lucy looked to the door, she wondered how long it would be until Happy returned. She wondered if Happy would return. Everything seemed so quiet and dark. She looked back at Leo's sparkling face. He appeared sincere now, he said he wanted to help. "Okay Leo, what do I need to do?"
Leo smiled and leaned forward to grab her hands. He stopped momentarily, glancing down at her bracelet. With a tight smile he said, "What lovely jewelry you have on, I'm sorry I didn't notice before." Then instead of grabbing both of her hands, he only took the unadorned one.
"Happy says I have to keep them on," Lucy explained.
"Oh?" Leo asked with a raised brow.
"Yes, now how do I do this? Happy will be back soon if we need help."
"Oh no, we don't need any help. Just us is fine. Perfect really." Leo scooted closer, his face bright with an excited smile. "Now just repeat after me. . ."
Jellal wheezed and practically fell through the front doorway of Erza's home. He wasn't sure how he got there, the pain in his head had been so excruciating that all he could do was run blindly from his estate. The farther he got, the less his head ached and by the time he could finally see again, he was at her door.
He supposed it would have to do until he could come up with a plan. He hoped Erza would forgive him for intruding on her personal space. He fell into her armchair in front of the cold, empty fireplace and rested his head in his hands. His pain was better but his face was still a dull throbbing ache. He didn't understand what was going on.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, the pain disappeared. Jellal slowly sat up straight and wrinkled his brow in confusion. Why the sudden change? Was he safe now?
He sank into the chair with a relieved sigh when the pain didn't immediately return. He would sleep here tonight. Then come morning, he would find one of his smaller boats and slip away. He knew there was a good chance he might die at sea but staying here was endangering Erza and all his staff. The farther away he went, the better off the people who mattered to him would be.
He snapped to attention when a gentle voice cut through the silence of the house. Suddenly his heart felt as if it would beat out of his chest and a burning sensation spread from his heart into the nerves of the right side of his body. Eyes wide with terror and restrained agony, Jellal looked down at his arm and gasped at the sight of veins of iridescent blue, lacing their way down his right arm. The burning twisted down his leg and up his throat. When it reached his right eye, he fell to the floor and released a scream that he was sure woke the whole island, but at that point he was too disoriented from the pain to stop it.
Gajeel stopped in Lucy's doorway and frowned. "What the fuck are you two doing?"
Lucy looked up at him in confusion and pulled back her hands. The man next to her was harder to read because of the luminescent quality of his face, but Gajeel could tell he looked irritated. The chanting had been so haunting, Gajeel was sure that the magical spirit was doing something he shouldn't be.
Leo returned his gaze to Lucy and said, "I suppose that will have to do."
"Wait, what about Natsu?!" Lucy cried, but it was too late, the man was gone.
"I don't think you can trust that guy," Gajeel grumbled.
"That's rich coming from you," Lucy snapped.
Gajeel flinched slightly then crossed his arms. "I didn't say you should trust me either. I'm just sayin' you should be a little more on guard. This isn't some kinda field trip here, no one's gonna make sure you get home safe 'cept yourself."
Lucy glared at him. "Where is Natsu? I want to see him."
Like he would know. Gajeel chuckled, "You got a little thing for that rabid animal?"
Lucy stood and took a step in his direction. "No! Something is wrong! I can feel it, I need him here! I need to make sure he's okay!" she cried.
Gajeel worried his brow. Lucy was really starting to freak him out. He wished he was home with his TV and a six-pack. He longed for familiar shadows and enemies that made sense. With a deep sigh he said, "Laxus went after him. I'd think if anyone could get that idiot back, it would be Laxus." Then he added under his breath, "not sure that he'll be conscious though."
"What happened to me?" Lucy asked.
Gajeel swallowed deeply. This is what he got for following his curiosity. When he heard the strange chanting he should have kept walking. Should have minded his own business. Now he was stuck trying to find the words to explain something he didn't understand himself. "That sun god or whatever is inside you. She gave us a sneak peak"
"Chronos?" Lucy asked with a tremble.
Gajeel pursed his lips. That probably wasn't sensitive enough. He almost wished he was out in the jungle with Laxus. "Sure?"
Lucy pointed to the bracelet. "And what does this do?"
Gajeel scratched his head. "Keeps the monster in?"
Lucy sat back on the bed. "Oh god, I don't think I can do this."
"Do you have a choice?" Gajeel asked.
Laxus swallowed and took a step back. "Natsu, I'm just trying to tell you. The thing is dead. There's nothing left to punch!"
Natsu kept coming slowly, a growl rumbling in his chest. Laxus wanted to scream in frustration. He had been so close to a real night's sleep and Natsu had somehow dragged him into hell.
"He's more powerful than you," whispered Seilah. "What will you do now lightning dragon? Run with your tail between your legs? Accept death like a man and leave me to reap the benefits?"
"Where are you, you hateful bitch?" Laxus shouted, searching the tree canopy above.
"Who knows? In the shadows? In the trees? Perhaps I'm only in your head. Maybe you carry a piece of me with you everywhere," Seilah offered.
Laxus cursed and spat at the ground. Seilah was just toying with him. He needed to focus on the threat in front of him. Natsu was snarling and drooling now, the idiot had lost it. Even more concerning was the fact that the bones and ashes were moving behind him. Was the beast regenerating?
Laxus lifted his fists in front of himself and lit them up. If they didn't have Natsu, they didn't have anything. He was going to have to bring the monster home.
His attention was drawn away for a moment by the sound of galloping hooves. Laxus took a surprised step back as a man on a horse of light came pounding between them. Half of the man appeared to be blue neon smoke, the edges commingling with light of the horse he sat on. The left side seemed normal, the arm hanging limply and bouncing with the gait of the horse. As the horseman passed by, a net of light covered Natsu and pulled him from his feet and after the horse. Laxus watch in disbelief as the man disappeared dragging a shouting Natsu behind him.
Then Laxus didn't hesitate. He ran forward to the swirling pile of ash and skeleton. He roughly tore away the skull and shoved it under his arm. The rest of the pile collapsed. Laxus turned on a dime and sprinted after the man of light. He wasn't about to lose Natsu now. Seilah remained silent, Laxus hoped she would stay that way.
Gray open his eyes to Juvia's glare and a sharp slap across his face. When the shock and the pain from the sudden assault subsided, it was replaced with an intense throbbing in his head. Gray squeezed his eyes shut tight and pressed the sides of his head with his palms as if pushing his skull back together might numb the pain. It did not. "What the hell Juvia?" he rasped.
"Did Gray-sama make Juvia risk her life on the treacherous sea just so that he could recklessly throw his life away without interference?" she snapped. The sharpness of her tone hurt more than the slap, Gray groaned and attempted to roll away.
Juvia grasped his collar and lifted him up in the bed. "You belong to Juvia now Gray-sama, you don't die unless I say so."
Gray opened his eyes just wide enough to take in her tear stained face. "I don't belong to you."
Juvia's brows pulled down sharply. She pulled him closer so that their noses almost touched. "Juvia had to face monsters not once but many times. Juvia took on a passenger that grew fire from her head and threatened to sink Juvia's ship with the weight of her magic. Juvia came home to her house destroyed and her last crew member murdered. Juvia held up her end of the bargain but Gray-sama did not, therefore Gray-sama is now Juvia's property."
Gray tried to pull out of her hold but he was still so pathetically weak. "We didn't agree to that Juvia, it wasn't the deal."
"Juvia doesn't give a shit about the deal," Juvia hissed in his face. "Juvia has lost everyone, everyone except Gray-sama. Juvia can't. . . Juvia can't. . ." She threw him back so that she could roughly scrub her face.
Gray fell to the pillow. It was soft and fluffy but it didn't cushion his fall, instead it jerked his neck painfully. He lay still and closed his eyes. "I feel like shit Juvia, could you get me some water or something?"
To his surprise, Juvia kissed him firmly. She whispered, "Gray-sama should learn to pay attention to his surroundings." Then without sparing him another glance, she stood and left the room.
Gray looked at the table next to his bed and found a glass of water and some crackers that would be easy on his stomach. He pulled himself up and gulped down the water faster than he should have. He attempted to stand and found himself a little bit more wobbly than he liked. He sat back down and ate a few crackers, then finished the glass of water. He snapped his fingers and was pleased to find a few ice crystals in his palm. His magic was returning.
He stood and stumbled towards the door. He would find real food and then Erza. He needed to be ready for what this island threw at him next.
Levy was so enthralled with the book in front of her that she hardly noticed when a soaking wet Cana appeared before her. Cana tried to sneak past, thinking a shower and a clean set of clothes might make her look less terrifying. Unfortunately her damp, dirty skirt caught on a book cart. As she took a step, the cart came with her and the wheels gave an irritating squeak.
Levy looked up and screamed. Cana, still on edge from the happenings of the evening, screamed back.
"What the hell Cana?!" Levy panted.
"Why are you asking me that? You're the one who started the screaming!" Cana retorted. She staggered over and dropped into the chair next to where Levy was standing. She was just so tired. Being startled had sapped what remained of her energy.
"Where the heck have you been? We've been looking everywhere!"
Cana shook her head. "I don't think you would believe me if I told you."
Levy raised a brow. "Are you kidding me? There are monsters coming out of the sea and the jungle, the goddesses I thought were ancient myths are both very real threats, and Elfman is now a frozen beast! Are you really going to try and tell me I won't believe where you have been?"
"I met mother," Cana said quietly.
Levy took the chair next to her. "What?"
"I met Mother Veta." Cana held up her arm and showed her new markings. "I guess you could say that she's with me now."
"Just great," Zera droned in Cana's ear. "Let's just tell the whole universe about what happened. Wonderful plan moron." Cana swatted the fairy away.
"Fascinating. . ." Levy breathed out as she looked closely at Cana's arm. She looked up at Cana and smiled wide. "This is wonderful news! So she's going to help us?" When Cana nodded, Levy bounced in place. "That means we might actually have a chance! What do we need to do?"
The small flame of hope that Cana had begun to gain from Levy's excitement was quickly snuffed out. She turned her head and rested her chin in her palm with a frown. "We have to get Chronos and Seilah close enough that I can take hold of both of them."
To her surprise, Levy didn't look the least bit perturbed. Instead Levy started flipping through the pages of her book. "I think we can do that! It won't be easy but there is a way!" She paused her frantic searching for a moment and turned to Cana with a sigh. "I can't tell you what a relief this is. The only ritual I could find in here to seal the goddesses would require both medallions, and unfortunately we don't have one . . ."
"The one Elfman took?" Cana asked.
Levy nodded. She turned a few more pages and smiled. "Here we are. This is the ritual we can use to trap Chronos."
"Wait? How did we get the other medallion?" Cana asked.
"The group who went to the mainland has returned!" Levy cheered. "Isn't that fantastic! They have all four travelers and Chronos' vessel. It was like Mother Veta blessed us herself."
Mavis' voice rang in Cana's head. "I really didn't do much. You all are so wonderful! All it took was a push in the right direction."
Cana ignored Mavis' words and smiled wide at Levy. "Mira is back!"
Levy froze. She opened her mouth slowly then snapped it shut again.
Cana's heart sank. "Did she . . .did she not come back?"
Levy shook her head and Cana's heart sank further. "How could she not come back?!" Cana exclaimed.
"Freed says we were too late, Seilah has already arrived," Levy said quietly.
"Which means?" Cana asked in a whisper.
"She overtook her, Mira is gone."
For a while Cana couldn't say a word. All of the Strauss' were now gone. Her entire surrogate family gone. The ache of loneliness that she had buried so long ago was creeping its way out of its hiding place. Cana bit her lip in an attempt to curb its shaking.
Levy pulled up a chair in front of her and took Cana's hand. "Cana we will get her back. Okay? Tomorrow with your help, we will send this threat away. We will persevere in this, I promise."
Cana laughed humorlessly. "You can't promise that Levy and you know it. They're all gone, what if they never come back?" Cana sniffled.
Levy smiled sadly. She pulled Cana into a gentle hug and said, "Then we will still have eachother. You'll still have me, and Erza, and Gray. And we'll do our best to make sure their loss means something."
Cana wished Levy's words were enough to erase the despair she felt inside but instead they opened the floodgates. Levy let her cry until she was all dried up. Then she pulled away with a warm smile and said softly, "Let's not think about that though okay? Let's plan for success. We will get Mira back, we will send these deities back where they belong, and we will save our precious home."
Cana wiped her eyes and attempted a smile back. "Of course we will. I know that. I'm just crying because I'm so tired." She forced a laugh and added, "Mira's way too tough to go down that easy. She's probably working on tearing Seilah apart from the inside even as we speak."
Levy laughed softly, "Yeah, she probably is." Then she stood and took Cana's hand to pull her up out of her seat. "Let's get you cleaned up and in your bed. Then you can tell me exactly what happened under a comforter with a cookie in hand."
Cana let Levy steer her towards the door. "Make that cookie a nightcap and we have a deal."
As they walked down the hall, Cana heard Mavis say softly. "See this is why I love you. Such warm, hopeful creatures. You all are the greatest thing I ever made." For once Zera reserved her comment.
Natsu groaned at the sky. Everything hurt. He felt like he had just gone ten rounds with the heavyweight champion of the world, it was a struggle just to open his eyes. When he finally did, he was confused to find the wall of Jellal's estate looming above him. Wasn't he supposed to be back at the altar?
In a sudden panic, he threw himself forward and shouted, "Lisanna?"
Nobody answered. Natsu looked to his side and found a man laying on the ground next to him. Natsu squinted his tired eyes to see more clearly. The world began to spin when he found the burns all down the man's right side. He had done it again. He had lost control. What was the point of this power if he couldn't control the beast that accompanied it?!
He pulled himself backwards until he was able to sit up against the wall and let his head fall back. Natsu closed his eyes tight and combed his fingers through his hair and pulled. He bet he hadn't stopped Lisanna's torment either. Without realizing it, he would set the world on fire and she would be trapped there watching. He really had become a hopeless failure.
A crashing came from the jungle in front of him and a mixture of two familiar scents. Natsu opened his eyes and lolled his head forward just in time to see Laxus appear out of the wall of trees drenched in sweat, covered in scratches and panting like a dog. Natsu managed a cock-eyed grin, "You look like shit."
Laxus' nostrils flared as he blew out a deep breath. "I suppose I should be glad that you're back to your old self."
Natsu noticed the object under Laxus' arm. He narrowed his eyes. "Why are you carrying somebody's head?"
Laxus held the skull out in front of him and frowned. "Huh?" He tilted his head and his frown deepened. "It didn't look like this when I took it."
"Where did that come from?" Natsu whispered. He slowly pulled himself to his feet.
Laxus was still frowning at the skull. "That big cat you beat to ash. This was its head. I don't get it, I swear it didn't look like this when I took it."
Natsu walked over and took the skull from Laxus' hands. Holding it in his hands, he knew. His body drooped with sorrow. "This is Lisanna's."
Laxus pulled his head back, wrinkled his brow, and gave a confused, "Huh?"
Natsu turned the skull to show Laxus the face. "This is Lisanna's skull!"
Laxus scratched his neck. "I swear I just took it from the cat. After you got dragged off, that thing was reforming. I didn't have a lot of time to come up with a plan so I figured it couldn't do as much damage without a face."
Natsu frowned down at the skull and repeated back, "Dragged off?"
Laxus pointed to the burned man on the ground. "By him. I guess he lost his ride."
Natsu turned to look at the man again. "Is that when I did that to him?" he asked pointing to the man's burned right side.
Laxus shook his head. "I don't think you did that. He already had something on the right side of his body when he picked you up, he was engulfed in some sort of blue flame."
The man gave a pained cough and shifted. Natsu finally noticed the blue hair. "Jellal?" he asked, though he was sure Jellal couldn't answer.
Laxus' eyes went wide. "You mean the owner of the freaking village we're staying at?"
Natsu ignored the question and walked over to crouch next to Jellal. He shook the man by the shoulder. "Hey, you still in there?"
Jellal coughed again and opened his left eye. "Natsu?" he rasped, then his eyes scrunched tightly shut in a pained expression.
"Let's get him in," Laxus said. He pulled Jellal up roughly and slung the man over his shoulders. Jellal coughed and groaned but made no other protest.
Once he had Jellal's body properly situated, Laxus turned and headed towards the entrance of the estate. Natsu considered just dropping where he was but Laxus turned back with a sharp, "Are ya coming or not?" and Natsu realized he wasn't going to be able to rest just yet. He stumbled after Laxus without a word.
The moment they made it to the front gate, Jellal's servants surrounded them. One took Jellal from Laxus, the others demanded answers. With a tired sigh, Laxus accepted his fate and began telling the events of the night. Natsu was pushed aside and forgotten, so he used to opportunity to slip into the house. In the dark, cool, quiet of the hall, Natsu realized he was still carrying Lisanna's skull. He stood there staring at it, slack-jawed with exhaustion, not quite sure what to do.
"Are you okay Natsu?" Natsu looked up and found a disheveled Levy, watching him with a concerned expression.
Natsu closed his mouth and looked back at the skull. He wasn't okay, he was completely done both mentally and physically, but he didn't really want to share that with Levy. So he told her the most pressing matter on his mind. "I don't know what to do with this."
Levy halted her progress towards him and pointed to what he was carrying. "What is that?"
Natsu held it up and answered simply, "Lisanna."
Levy turned her head and side-eyed the skull with a perturbed brow. "That's . . .that's Lisanna's . . .that's her head?"
Natsu nodded and Levy paled. Her entire body shook and she took a step back. She swallowed deeply before asking, "Did you dig that up?"
Natsu wrinkled his nose at the absurd suggestion. "No, of course not. It was . . ." he sighed, even if he could handle giving a play-by-play right now, it wasn't as if he could remember it. "It was at the altar," he lied. "I couldn't leave it there." He frowned down at Lisanna's skull, she was probably disappointed. He should have just said Laxus found it, that would have been the truth at least.
Levy breathed an audible sigh of relief. Then she smiled softly, "You know what? You look tired." She untied the bandana from her head held out her hands with it draped across. "I'll take it Natsu. I'll have Meredy put it somewhere safe until we have time to return it to her resting place."
For a second Natsu considered keeping it with himself, but it wasn't Lisanna, it was just a piece of the body she left behind. He hoped that by taking this Laxus had somehow freed Lisanna from the monster she had become. He hoped her spirit could finally move on.
He handed over the skull mumbling "Thanks." Levy gingerly received it, careful to only touch it with the bandana.
When she had it securely in hand she said, "Get some rest Natsu, tomorrow is going to be a long day. Meredy said we are free to use any of the rooms in the west end of the building. It shouldn't be hard to find a place to rest your head."
"Alright Levy, goodnight," Natsu said with a weak wave.
Levy nodded, "Goodnight," then she turned and deserted him in the front hall.
Natsu didn't know where to go but he sure as hell wasn't going to mill around the hall. He turned and walked, hoping that he was actually heading west. Somehow he eventually found himself in one of the back halls. It was quiet and devoid of life except for one room that smelled like home. Natsu staggered to it and carefully opened the door. Lucy lay in the bed, her eyes knitted tightly shut as if she had to fight to keep them closed. Happy was curled up peacefully in her arms. Natsu hesitated in the doorway for a while. This probably wasn't the best place for him to be. He knew he should move on to any of the other empty rooms but he couldn't get his feet to leave.
Lucy's eyes looked swollen from crying. Natsu wondered if everyone had given her a hard time when he disappeared. The sight of Happy soothed Natsu's guilt a little, at least he knew he left Lucy with one ally. He remembered how terrified he had just been waking up to a half-burned Jellal and he wondered if Lucy felt the same when she awoke here. Had she blacked out? Did she remember what happened to Bixlow?
Natsu stepped into the room and quietly shut the door. With great effort, he stripped off his dirty shirt and pants, and left them on the floor. He stretched his arms and back in an attempt to soothe some of the tightness that plagued him. Luckily most of his aches and pains would feel better come morning, it was one of the benefits of the power he was cursed with. Unfortunately, due to his power, he wasn't even sure where most of his wounds came from. His brain searched frantically for memories of what caused the massive wound in his shoulder or the deep scratch on his face but came up blank.
Natsu padded softly across the room and stared at the empty side of the bed and the back of Lucy's head. Could he just climb in? He hadn't been very kind during their last few interactions. Really, he hadn't been very kind since he met her. She deserved better than his company. He had been bitter, and full of self-doubt and self-pity. Somehow she had forced her way in and become the closest friend he had next to Happy and he had done nothing to deserve it. Still, that place next to her seemed like where he belonged.
He didn't want to chase ghosts anymore, he couldn't live like this. He wanted to be happy again, he wanted something good, something bright in his life. So what if his power had drawn him to her. She wasn't Chronos and he wasn't the fire dragon, they were Natsu and Lucy. There was nothing false about his feelings for her. He liked Lucy, just Lucy. He liked her because she was smart, she was spirited, she was kind. Had the world brought them together any other way, he would still feel the same.
Natsu frowned down at the wound in his shoulder. He really shouldn't climb into bed with it, it was still open and oozing. He searched the room and found a table with a pitcher of water, a wash basin, and a few cloths. It wasn't ideal but just the idea of searching the halls for the bathroom or someone to help exhausted him. He poured water into the basin. After washing his hands and his feet, he moved onto his shoulder. Natsu winced as he cleaned the cut, the cloths were soft but the wound was tender. When he had finished, he fashioned a pad out of one of the cloths and held in on while clumsily attempting to tie it on with another cloth, but he couldn't seem to find a way to make it work.
"You came back," said a voice behind him. He turned around and Lucy was sitting up in bed. She rubbed her eyes and blinked, then frowned at his sloppy first aid job. "Can I help you with that?"
Natsu looked down at his shoulder and back up at her. "Don't worry about it, I got it." He went back to struggling with the cloth that was clearly to small to get properly in place.
Lucy gave a huff of frustration and slid out of the bed. "You are hopeless I swear." She bent over to dig through her bag on the end table next to her bed and came up with a bandage.
"Always prepared huh?" Natsu said softly.
"Of course," Lucy said with a weak smile. She untied the useless cloths from his shoulder and set them on the table. Then she lifted the last one and sighed mournfully at the sight of his wound. "What happened to you? That looks horrible."
"Don't worry about it, it's fine. I barely feel it now," Natsu lied. Lucy looked up at him with an expression that clearly showed she didn't believe him, but instead of saying anything, she bit her lip and started wrapping the bandage around his chest and shoulder. As she worked, a tear slipped down her cheek. Natsu began to feel uncomfortable in the silence. "Did they leave you alone in here the whole time?"
Lucy looked up at him again, then returned her eyes to the bandage. "Umm, no. Wendy and Chelia have been busy helping out but Happy has been here, as you can see. I met Levy, she is very nice. Oh! and Gajeel kept me company for a while before that."
Natsu couldn't believe his ears. "Gajeel?"
"I'm sure others were through while I was still out but I'm not sure who." Lucy blushed slightly before adding, "And Leo was here, for a little."
Something about that made Natsu feel irritated. "Leo? The spirit from the beach?"
"Yes." Lucy securely tied the bandage and straightened it. "I was worried about you." She looked up at him, then quickly pulled her hands away and directed her attention to the hem of her shirt. She looked so sad, it was heartbreaking.
"I'm sorry," Natsu blurted out. Lucy looked up at him in surprise and he rambled, "I should have waited until you were up, or better settled. I wasn't thinking straight when I got here. I haven't been thinking straight for a while. . . ah hell Lucy, you shouldn't be worrying about me. I haven't given ya much of a reason to."
Lucy's lip quivered slightly then she threw herself forward and hugged him tightly. For a moment Natsu just stood there flabbergasted until finally he lowered his arms and gently hugged her back. It felt nice, it felt warm. He hugged her a little bit closer and closed his eyes. He wished they could stay like that forever but exhaustion was making him weak. "I'll go see if there's a bed next door so I can stay nearby."
Lucy looked up at him. "Why? Can't you just stay in here with me?" Her cheeks reddened when she realized the implication of her request. "I mean . . .it's just I'm scared . . .tomorrow's going to be so . . ."
Natsu smiled down at her. "Nah, I get it, you don't have to explain. I'll stay."
It was sweet relief to finally see her bright smile. Feeling a little bit braver, Natsu said, "And don't worry 'bout tomorrow. You're strong, you're gonna do just fine and I'll be there with you. We're gonna fight this thing and we're gonna win."
Lucy chuckled lightly and shook her head. "You say it like it's so simple."
And maybe it was. Maybe he could fight the beast inside if he just hung on to something worth fighting for.
Thanks for reading, just a few more til the end! Sorry updates have been so few and far between lately.
Thanks kccb16 for checking things over for me.
And last but not least thanks to those who left a review!
kurahieiritr JIO, wordslinger, and Ikathy