The sky was clearer then it had been in days though the soil was still damp underneath her feet. She could hear the dampness and the sound it gave to her footsteps with every one she took. Still, Lucy couldn't help the feeling that all she had done since she left her home was a colossal waste of time.
She hadn't slept in a decent bed in what felt like forever. She hadn't had a proper bath and she missed Natsu. She missed him so much that it hurt to think about. What had kept her going was the fact that she truly believed she would be able to protect him. Find the person who killed her family and do away with them quickly then return home and live a happy and carefree life.
All she had was a cryptic message from a stranger, aching feet and a hand full of dead ends. All of it was just a waste of time and energy.
"Lucy, are you okay? You aren't acting like yourself". Lucy felt Gray's hand on her shoulder and couldn't help but smile when she seen the look of concern etched into his and Erza's faces.
Well, maybe not all of it was a waste of time.
"Yeah I'm fine. Just A bit disappointed I guess. The fact that I miss Natsu and Happy doesn't really help much either".
"Tell ya what. After we go to the castle and sort out everything, we will go on more adventures like this. We will bring Natsu with us and we will travel every town we come across until we find out the truth about what happened. Sound good?" Gray and Erza both smiled at her and her chest swelled with so much love for her new friends that it leaked from her eyes.
"You guys are the best. I'm so glad I met you both." Lucy forced the words passed the lump that formed in her throat and threw her arms around both of her new friends.
Nope. Not a waste of time at all.
"So what are you going to do when you finally see your demon again".
"I'm going to tackle him and Happy into the biggest hug ever."
"I still can't believe you have missed your cat so much". Erza shook her head but the soft smile didn't leave her face.
"I miss my whole family. I miss Levy and Gajeel and Zeref too."
Erza and Gray once again shared a look that Lucy didn't understand but before she could question it Erza spoke again.
"You haven't really spoken about them much. We hardly know anything about any of the, save for Natsu."
Lucy shrugged her shoulders. "Talking about them just makes me miss them more. You will both love them though. I can't wait for you to meet them".
The three fell into a comfortable silence for a while as they walked. Although Lucy couldn't quite understand why her stomach felt so strange.
Natsu clenched his fist and tried desperately to control the shaking of his body and the quickness of his breaths. Tears burned in his eyes and his head was throbbing as he tried to make sense of everything he now knew.
His brother. His own brother had destroyed everything he held dear, over and over and over again.
He wanted to scream but controlled himself. He needed to be smarter this time. He needed to beat his brother at his own twisted game.
He couldn't beat him in a physical fight. His new memories had told him as much. In a battle of wits Zeref had the upper hand.
There was one thing he had this time that he didn't have any other time. He knew what Zeref was planning. He would hold that knowledge and use it in any way he could.
Zeref didn't know that he knew. He could play dumb. Pretend that he knew nothing then strike when his brother didn't expect it. He had to win this time. If he didn't then he would just end up back at square one being Zeref's pawn with the next rebirth of Lucy. The thought left a sour taste in his mouth until he threw up. Nothing but bile.
He heard the click of his door. The only warning he had that someone was entering his room.
"You're finally awake. How do you feel?" His brothers words almost sounded concerned but his expression was calculating. It was assessing, looking for any dishonesty.
"Like shit honestly. How long was I out for?" He couldn't be caught out for lying if he didn't lie.
"Over a month. You worried me a lot."
"Do you know why, because honestly sleeping for a month doesn't seem normal to me." Natsu pushed down the urge the lunge for his brothers throat.
"No. Now that you're awake we can run some test. Can you walk?"
Natsu tried to stand up but his legs felt so weak. "I'll be able to soon. Just let me stretch for a minute. Has... Has Lucy come back at all?" He hoped she hadn't. He'd rather she never came back if it meant she would be safe.
"No. No she hasn't. I'm sorry. We need to run these test to find out what is going on with you and Gajeel is still searching for Lucy." His brother held our his hand and Natsu took it, wanting nothing more then to crush it with his own as he was pulled from the bed.
He stumbled but he still managed to walk. He suspected that, had he been human, he would have been able to take a single step.
He followed closely after Zeref, debating hitting him in the back of the head but deciding against it. He needed his strength back. He needed more time.
"Where are we going?" He tried not to sound to suspicious but even he could hear the mistrust in his own voice as he spoke.
"To my lab, to run some test."
"You've never let me in your lab before."
"You've never suddenly fallen asleep and been unable to wake up before."
As he followed after his brother his legs screamed at him to turn around and run away. Every muscle in his body felt tense. He was like a cornered animal. When they arrived at the door he had to force himself to walk through the threshold. He wished he didn't.
As soon as he stepped inside Zeref locked the door behind him.
"I need to you step inside that tube Natsu." Zeref pointed to it... The thing that held all Natsu's worst memories and stole them away.
Natsu could feel the sweat dripping down his forehead as he held his fist at his side.
"No thankyou. I don't think I need any tests after all." His heart was racing and his hands twitched.
Zeref smiled maliciously. His eyes looked wild and cold and his teeth sharper then they had before. "I knew it." Then he pounced, like a lion would towards it's prey.
"Are you sure you don't mind stopping when we are so close?" Erza said as they walked into the pub.
She couldn't believe how different it felt from the last time she had walked through the doors. Last time she was nervous and scared and ready to travel alone. Now she was returning home.
"I don't mind. It's better to take a quick break than to pass out on the walk because we let ourselves become too dehydrated. It's only for half an hour right?"
The three of them sat at a table and ordered their drinks. Only Erza ordered actual food in the form of strawberry cake.
"Oh sweet deliciousness, how I have missed you so!" She exclaimed dramatically after the first bite. Lucy couldn't help but laugh, despite the feeling of unease that coursed through her body.
"You back bunny girl?" A gruff voice spoke from behind her. "You know I've been looking for you. You haven't been easy to track."
"Gajeel!" Lucy smiled but the demon did not seem to be as happy to see her as she was to see him so she just coughed and continued. "Yeah I am back. Just having a small rest before going to the castle."
"Not good enough. You are coming to the castle now." He growled at her. Why was he acting this way? They were friends and he was looking at her as though she was the worst thing to ever exist. He reached out to grab her arm and she pulled away.
"No. I will go home when I want to but you do not get to boss me around. Why are you behaving this way?"
"I said we are going now. You can either come with me or I can make you."
Gray looked as though he was going to stand but Erza beat him to it, standing between Lucy and Gajeel as she did.
"She said she will go to the castle and she will. In half an hour after we have all rested and gained our strength back. I suggest you wait for her there." Erza spoke firmly but with every word her body language spoke danger. She was a dangerous person and would not leave any room for argument.
Except Gajeel always loved to argue.
"Or what?"
"Listen buddy." Gray started and Gajeel interrupted to inform him that they were not buddies at all but Gray just continued as though he hadn't spoken. "You have no chance against the three of us. I highly doubt you would stand a chance against even one of us. Go wait at the castle and Lucy will be there soon. Or you can keep being a dick and we will just take longer and run the risk of Erza beating you senseless."
Gajeel looked like he was about to argue, then his shoulders slumped and he let out a sigh.
"Do you promise me you will be there within the hour? Would you swear it on Levy?" Something in his face told Lucy that there was more he wanted to say. Something in his eyes told Lucy that he was- for whatever reason- completely desperate. She didn't question it, she knew if she did she wouldn't get any answers anyway.
"I promise. I am coming home, the walk here was long and exhausting. We just want to rest before we get to the castle. You know Natsu, the moment I get home he is going to want to hang out and going flying and do all sorts of things. I'd rather not be dead on my feet for that."
Gajeel nodded and walked away.
"You said he was your friend right? He doesn't act like one." Gray whispered, returning to his seat.
Lucy shook her head, staring at the door that Gajeel had just walked out of. "Something is going on. Gajeel has always been rough around the edges but... the vibe he was just giving off. Something just isn't right."
"Lucy! Thank God you are back!" Lucy turned her head to see Cana running towards her from the bar, carrying a strange book.
"Can we not just sit down in peace?" Gray mumbled as Cana sat at the table.
"I have been here every day hoping you would come in." Cana mumbled as she looked around. She looked tired.
"You'd be here every day anyway. I know how much you love an ice cold glass of alcohol." Lucy giggled and tried to lighten the mood but Cana only shook her head.
"Haven't been drinking. Couldn't risk losing this." Cana nodded to her book, held tightly to her chest.
"Cana, what's wrong?" Lucy placed a hand on her friends shoulder and realized she was shaking.
"I have been having dreams. Terrible dreams that always feel so real... I done some digging and found this book".
Before Lucy could ask any questions Cana set the book on the table and opened it. To a picture of Lucy and Natsu walking through the village, holding hands and laughing.
Lucy touched the picture and smiled.
"I don't even remember this being taken." She really didn't. She didn't even know any photos of her and Natsu together existed.
"You wouldn't. That book is over sixty years old."
"That's impossible. The photo must be fake." Lucy's brows pinched together and her lips pressed tightly.
"It's as real as I am." Cana whispered firmly. "I don't know what's going on but I am not stupid and I know you aren't either. In all my dreams you end up being stabbed by a demon. I can never see his face and I can never make out a where you are but I seen the knife go through your stomach and you fall to the floor. I'm worried about you."
Lucy sat silently as she considered Cana's words, her stomach churning. She felt more confused then ever As she tried to piece together all she knew. The photo, the dreams that she had and the dreams that Cana had too.
Maybe she was living on borrowed time after all.
"We need to go to the castle. I'll talk to Zeref and he will help us. Cana, can you keep the book safe? In case I need to look through it again".
Cana nodded and Lucy stood up to walk from the bar with Gray and Erza following behind her. The walk was silent until the castle came into view. Then Erza spoke.
"Lucy I need to tell you something. Zeref isn't who you think he is and I think he is the demon who stabs you in that girls dreams".
Lucy halted. "Cana. And no. Zeref is family, he would never hurt anyone especially not me".
"Lucy... We have been lying to you about our intentions. Zeref has hurt people. He turned the man I love into a demon and he tortured me. He is a monster and we are going to take him out."
Every word felt like a knife through Lucy's heart. Her friends. Her knew family... It was all a lie. Her tears and anger followed the heartbreak.
"You're lying! Zeref if my brother... You!" She point her finger from Erza to Gray and back again. "You were both using me! Lying to me!"
"Lucy, please try to understand what we are saying. We think Zeref means you a great amount of harm. He kidnapped you for crying out loud! He might have even been the one who killed your family. We want you to help us. To fight along side us". Gray reached out an arm to touch her shoulder but she pulled away.
"No. I won't let you hurt any of my family! I won't let you step foot into that castle!" Lucy shouted and went to reach for her keys. Before she could grab them Erza hit her on top on the head. Dizziness overtook her and her vision faded. She could feel arms around her stopping her from hitting the ground.
"I am so so sorry Lucy. Please forgive me." Was the last thing she heard before she lost consciousness completely.
A/N
Sorry for the long time it took me to update. For anyone reading this who doesn't follow DDTTS I will provide an explanation. As many of you may know, the country of Australia is currently riddled with fires. They have torn through the state's of NSW and QLD and most of them are not controlled
Well I live in NSW.
The air at the moment is thick with smoke.
I am one of the lucky ones who hasn't had to evacuate but it's been touch and go. I have bags packed and ready just incase I need to leave without much notice.
The sky is grey. Even during day time. When it isn't grey it looks red.
People have lost their homes and their lives and our Prime Minister is incompetent.
So please my beautiful readers, forgive my lack of updates, your patience is honestly so appreciate. I have been trying and writing is an amazing distraction but my internet isn't the best and my country is burning. I'm heartbroken and scared.
I love you all and wish you all the best and to any readers in Australia please stay safe.
Lots of love and well wishes to all of you xx