Hey!
I am so tired and my body is aching! But it's finally done; Duke of Edinburgh silver, *check* completed!
I felt bad I left you with that cliff hanger and decided that no matter how horrid and tired I feel, I was going to write you a chapter, it may be short, but I hope you appreciate it! I didn't have time on thursday night to write you one, so I hope this makes up for it. Plus I got my ten reviews :P
It's Lucy's point of view today, and because I sang it for three days while walking fifty kilometres, the chapter name is from The All American Rejects song, 'Move Along' (AN: I don't own the song, it's an amazing one though :3)
I don't really have anything else to say in my tired state apart from sorry the chapter is a bit rubbish I haven't spelt properly in days, soo...
Enjoy :P
Chapter Twenty Six-
When all you got to keep is strong
"Lucy-sama!" Sting had grabbed my wrist, dragging me to the clearing edge before talking hurriedly. I could see the bruises darkening on his skin and the sweat which plastered his blond bangs to his forehead. "Get out of the clearing, go! There's a trodden path through the long grass, follow it and keep running until you come to Clover Town."
Panting, I follow the path through the long grass, pushing it out of the way with my hands. Beneath me, my worn, brown suede boots compress the grass to the ground further, defining the path more as I run. My lungs are burning and I can feel the sweat rolling down my face, but I refuse to stop. I can hear his laughter. Echoing. Bouncing off of the trees around me.
"No! I'm not leaving, I wont leave Natsu! He came for me, you both did, I wont just run away, I can't leave him!"
"You have to leave, now!"
He had growled lowly, eyes narrowed. I could feel my frustration growing, I didn't want to run away. I didn't want to leave him.
Tripping on a gnarled tree root protruding from the dirt, I hit the ground. Falling down with a thud I cry in pain, wincing as I push myself up on shaking arms. Looking down at my leg, I notice a bloody graze on my knee where the skin has been grated away leaving instead a painfully red mark. Sucking in my pain, I continue running, I can't stop now.
"I'm not leaving Nats-"
"Listen to me!" Sting grabbed the upper half of both of my arms, shaking me roughly as his blue eyes pierced mine. His patients had been wearing thin, evidentially, it had finally snapped. His words were quick, but firm. "Natsu-san will be in more danger the longer you stay, because he'll be worrying about you. You will both be safer if you go now, follow the path. Leave. He'll be safe, I'll make sure of it."
Tears slip from my eyes as I run, streams caused by both the pain in my leg and in my chest. A worry which is eating away at me, never satisfied and always gnawing away. I speed up my pace as I hear Rogue's voice, and then Natsu's. I work against my protesting legs and ask more from my already over worked lungs. Keep going, Lucy. The trodden path, it's for Natsu. It always had been. Grunting, I speed up as much as I can, the conversation I had shared with Sting still fresh in my mind.
I trembled, staring at the crazed man before speaking quietly.
"Do you promise?"
There was a short pause before Sting had released his grip from my arms, stepping back.
"I promise I will keep Natsu-san safe. Now, run."
Of course, as soon as I began to run, a horrid feeling of betrayal crawled up from my stomach into my throat causing me to gag. I had never left Natsu alone to fight, ever. And he had never left me. Beaten, bruised, tired or simply unable to go on with the knowledge I'd survive for sure, I never gave up. I never left him.
I had stopped dead in my tracks, breathed, and turned around and started running back to the clearing. Towards the pink haired man who had run this path to save me from the Shadow Dragon Slayer.
Suddenly, I hear Rogue's voice. Cruel and cold, his words making my blood run cold causing me to force my already burning muscles to work harder so my legs will carry me faster. My pulse is quicker than it has ever been, and my heart is drumming against my chest at such a rate I can hear it in my ears.
"Now, Natsu Dragneel, it's time for you to die."
A few more steps, hold on, Natsu!
Breaking through the tree line into the clearing, I release a battle cry as I run towards the black haired Shadow Dragon Slayer, not considering my actions and rather following my heart. Hurtling as fast as I can, all my power and weight, speed and feeling at heart put into my actions. Natsu is on the floor on his back, Rogue above him with a showed dagger pointed towards Natsu's heart. Sting trying to push himself up just past Natsu. I briefly see Rogue's gaze avert from Natsu in reaction to my banshee like cry, eyes growing wide at my presence. His look similar to Natsu's at my sudden appearance. He barely has time to say my name in a questioning tone before I slammed into his body, pushing him back with as much force as I can.
An odd 'mpph' sound passes his lips as the weapon he had been holding moments before is dropped and evaporates into the air in front of me. He stumbles back as I try to slow myself, finally coming to a stop moments before Rogue does. Quickly side stepping, I subconsciously block Rogue's path to my Dragon Slayer who is still on the ground behind me, not allowing him to take any shots at him while he is down. I have effectively made myself Natsu's shield, one full of love and passion.
"I wont let you touch him." I pant, shaking my head and extending my arms. Rogue's face pales at my action, eyes locked on my form as my chest heaves trying to suck in as much oxygen as humanly possible. All I have to keep, the only person I have to love as more than one of my Nakama, is behind me. He is strong, and reckless and a little dense, but he is who he is and I wouldn't have it any other way. Now, when he is in need of help, I am here to save him. To be the strong one.
Standing straighter, I declare my next words proudly, my eyes never leaving Rogue. " I wont let you touch who I love. If you want to kill Natsu, you'll have to kill me first."