Chapter 25: Pain in the Heart

POV: Meredy

I stared at the ground Natsu was standing over just a second ago, unable to move because of shock. He jumped, he freaking jumped off a cliff without any hesitation, just for Lucy. Damn it! I can see it. I can see how Natsu has feelings for Lucy the same as she has. Why can't they see that?

Then I felt something roll down my cheeks, I touched it. It was wet, tears? Then they kept coming. I just had the fact that Lucy could be dead by now sinking inside my head, and that didn't sound good. My friend, possibly dead; doesn't sound good one bit, in fact, it is the worst.

My knees felt weak, forcing me to kneel down on the ground while tears fell continuously.

POV: Natsu

As I fell into the dark cold waters, hopping off the rigid and rocky wall I used to get down here, my body immediately swam involuntarily as fast as I could, the adrenaline running through my veins made my body move faster and my heart to race, desperate to not waste even a second to save Lucy. Every second counts. I still had tears coming down my face but since it is dark and I am swimming in the cold waters, it can't be seen.

I reached Lucy's floating body and immediately, I turned her face to me, observing her. She looked paler than she already is naturally, she has a large long cut running along her right arm, it was deep and small amounts of blood were still pouring out from it. I can see multiple bruises beginning to form all over her body. I immediately checked her pulse, placing my shaking right middle and fore fingers over the left side of her jaw and to my horror, there was no pulse. She-she can't be dead, right?

"Lucy. Lucy! Come on, don't fool with me. Stop pretending to be unconscious and holding your breath," I talked to her while slightly shaking her shoulders, trying to assure myself that she will be fine, somehow forcing myself to chuckle. She didn't budge.

"Come on! Lucy! This isn't funny, stop joking around now…please," I talked while shaking her shoulders with much more intensity, my voice getting louder and sounding weirder as another lump forms in my throat, making the tears gather again in my eyes.

I gathered what's left of my hope, expecting her to wake up and laugh at my face, telling me that this some sick joke. I wouldn't care if she was laughing at me, at least I would know that she is alright. But right now, I have a feeling that is not happening.

"C-come on Lucy! S-stop it. Th-this isn't funny. P-please, just…I-I-," I tried once again but I was cut off by my tears falling again. Reality is sinking into me bit by bit. "-need you here," I continued my sentence, reality already sank into me and I was full on sobbing and crying. I hugged Lucy's body as tight as I could possibly muster, this can't be happening, this just can't be happening. This is just some sick joke she is playing, this has to be. I was really forcing myself to believe, that little bit of hope left inside of me is what is keeping me from thinking that this is not something serious.

But if this was all a fake, then why is the pain…in my heart so real and so intense? It's like I was experiencing the worst kind of pain, killing me slowly but painfully. It is eating me alive. But there's something there inside me, something unfamiliar, making the pain thousand times worse than it is already is but I can't figure it out.

For about a minute, I just floated there crying and sobbing, while hugging Lucy, or dead Lucy, as tight as I could. Then I started thinking of what to do, until I came up with the first thing I have to.

Seeing as climbing out of here to the ground will be best for both of us, I decided to do so. Since I can't waste time climbing up through the rocks of the cliff, I decided to just do it my way. I lighted both my feet with as much fire as I can muster, making me go upwards like a rocket while I cradle Lucy in my arms, careful not to drop her.

After a minute, we were already at the top of the cliff, I standing on the ground with Lucy in my arms. I carefully laid her down on the ground, just in front of a sobbing Meredy. I was also sobbing, seeing my partner die in front of me and I can't even do anything to help her.

I did promise her that I would watch over her for hours just so she would never leave me but I never thought that she'll leave me like this. Guess I broke another one, again. For that, I feel stupid and ashamed; I don't even know if I can show my face again to her. She gave me a second chance and again, I broke it.

"She's dead," I muttered, giving Meredy the information. Her eyes widened in horror and shock before focusing it on me, her mouth hanging slightly open. She wasn't buying it, well I couldn't even bring myself to believe it either but the facts are quite obvious and can't be hidden, she's already gone and I can't do anything for that. What's gone is gone no matter what.

My eyes felt watery again then in a second, tears were back again; I actually thought I was already drained from my tears. It continuously fell from my face, not planning to stop.

I just nod at her, telling her silently that it was true. She really wouldn't believe it so she squat to check it for herself. She then placed the same fingers I did on the end of her jaw, checking her pulse. She stayed there, trying to feel any pulse from her. The only way to know if she was alive was to check her pulse because checking if she was still breathing wouldn't determine it because my eyes were shaking and the sea breeze was blowing.

She then looked up at me, her face returning to normal and I saw…relief plastered on her face. What?!

"How did you confirm she was dead?" she asked, emotionless.

"I-I ch-checked her p-pulse, here," I said with a shaky and raspy voice, pointing at my jaw where I checked her.

Then what she did after surprised me more than I can ever be. She chuckled in relief and happiness. Yes, CHUCKLED.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" I shouted at her in frustration and anger. How can she laugh at a time like this?!

She then walked towards me and hit me playfully in the back of my neck, smiling.

"You really are an idiot Natsu," she told me.

She was chuckling, relief in her face. I stared at her, shocked. This is so confusing.

"Huh?" was all I could say.