Ch. 6- Hope

Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima

Story and OCs © Me

WHAP!

Gray grunted as he felt Erza's palm strike against his cheek, leaving a stinging red mark while Lucy, Haru, Happy, and Blue Fang winced. He was lucky she actually took off her gauntlet before she smacked him.

"I hope you're satisfied!" Erza shouted as she slipped her gauntlet back on. "Honestly, Gray, I expected better of you! I've never been more disappointed!"

"...I said I was sorry..." Gray grumbled.

"I'm not the one you should say sorry to!" Erza spat.

"She's right, Gray," Haru said. "Natsu's the one you hurt, not us. I get that you're frustrated that we can't get home right now, but we've only been here for a day! Don't take it out on him."

"Aye, you big meanie!" Happy agreed while Blue Fang barked and growled.

Gray looked down at the ground, his face softening into one of shame.

"...Okay... maybe I did go too far," he said. "It's just... I just don't get why he's so obsessed with finding this Igneel guy!"

"Well, Gray, think of it this way," Haru said. "What if Ur were still alive and she went missing out there? I bet you'd be searching all over the world for her, wouldn't you?"

Gray opened his mouth in an attempt to counter her argument... but then he sighed as the words died in his throat... because he realized that Haru was right. If it was really his mentor and motherly figure that went missing, he would definitely leave no stone unturned until he found her.

"You see, Gray?" asked Haru. "That's how it is for Natsu. Yes, Igneel was a dragon, and nobody's seen a real, live dragon for ages... but from what I heard from Natsu, he loved and cared for him as if he really was his own son." Her eyes softened with a glint of sadness. "He's the closest thing to a real parent that Natsu has... so that's why he just can't stand the idea of Igneel abandoning him!"

"Gray," Erza began, "imagine how much it hurt Natsu when you said that Igneel was fed up with him. Is it any wonder he got so angry?"

Gray furrowed his brow as he cast his eyes to the ground.

"We'll talk about it later," said Erza. "Let's just rebuild the shelter."

As the others got to work on finding some strong enough logs and palm fronds... but as they did, Lucy looked in the direction where Natsu had gone.

"What's up, Lucy?" Haru asked.

"Oh!" Lucy said. "Uh... nothing... just... I'll be right back. I have to use the bathroom." With that, she soon trekked off into the jungle... while Haru had a knowing smile on her face.

"Why didn't she just go here?" Happy asked.

"Stop being weird, Happy," Haru said with a glare.

XXX

"Natsu?" Lucy called as she looked around, pushing apart ferns and bushes. "Natsu! Where are you?"

She didn't have to look much longer for him, for she spotted the Dragon Slayer sitting on the edge of a cliff, staring out at the starry sky. The Celestial Spirit Wizard gave a soft sigh of relief as she walked over and sat down beside him. At first, he didn't seem to acknowledge her... until he momentarily glanced over at her before looking back up at the sky.

"Hey, Luce..." he muttered.

"Hey," Lucy said in a soft tone. "What Gray said was really uncalled for... I'm sorry about that, Natsu."

"...I knew," Natsu said, causing Lucy's eyes to widen. "I knew that it might have been another rumor... but I just wanted to be sure." He heaved a heavy sigh. "Gray was right... it's my fault that we're stuck here."

"That's not true, Natsu," Lucy replied.

"We came here only because we heard a dragon might be here!" Natsu countered. "And even if there was, it probably wasn't even Igneel, after all! This was all just one big waste of time!"

Lucy visibly flinched at his shout, causing his eyes to soften before he sighed.

"...Anyway... even if Igneel was here," he said, "Gray's probably right about that, too." He sniffed a bit as he wiped a hand across his eyes. "What if it turns out that Igneel abandoned me because... he just didn't love me?"

Lucy's heart sank, feeling as though she should say something... anything to help cheer him up... but for once, she was at a loss. Since the day she met Natsu, he was also so cheerful and nonchalant... but seeing this vulnerable side of him made her realize that he was just as human as everyone else. Deep inside that tough-talking, boisterous exterior... there lied the heart of a little boy who just wanted to see his father, again.

What could she say?

As Natsu continued to stare at the sky... he suddenly felt something wrap around his left arm, causing him to look over at Lucy, who was leaning against his shoulder with her arms wrapped around his bicep. She didn't look at him... and yet, the soft expression on her face seemed... reassuring him, somehow. It was like she was telling him "It's okay. I'm here for you."

Before he knew it, Natsu's eyes began to well up before he found himself leaning against her head with a quivering lip.

"...I miss him...!"

With that, he choked out the sob that he didn't even realize he had held back. It was quiet, but it was there, and it racked his body as another sob followed. He wrapped his arms around his knees and buried his face in them, even while Lucy still held him... her own eyes tearing up, though she was trying to keep herself from crying, too.

She needed to be strong... for him.

'Oh, Natsu...' she thought. 'I know how you feel...!'

After a little while, Natsu finally stopped crying... and then he glanced over at Lucy, who glanced up at him.

"Feel better?" she asked.

"...Yeah," Natsu whispered. "Thank you, Luce."

Lucy smiled and nodded her head at him, still holding onto his arm.

XXX

"There," Erza said as she looked at the completed shelter. "It's finished."

"This should keep us dry in case it rains out here," said Haru.

As for Gray, he just remained silent, still feeling ashamed for his outburst at Natsu earlier. It was true that the Ice-Make Wizard and Dragon Slayer didn't get along at times, but he never meant to hurt his feelings like that. No matter how frustrated he was, that wasn't any excuse.

"Natsu!" Happy exclaimed, suddenly, causing the others to look up and see Natsu and Lucy emerge from the underbrush.

"Oh, there you are!" Haru said as she went up and hugged her brother, who returned her embrace for a brief moment before she went to go hug Lucy next. "You two were gone for so long, we were getting worried!" She then looked to Natsu... and that's when she noticed the dried tear stains on his cheeks. "...What happened?"

"...Nothin'," Natsu replied as he walked to the shelter. "I'm okay, now."

Haru blinked in concern before she smiled at him, then looked to Lucy, gratefully.

"Thank you," she whispered, causing the blonde teen to nod her head in reply before she headed over to the shelter.

"They totally like each other, don't they?" Happy asked, only for Haru to pinch his ear. "OUCH! Hey, Haru, let go!"

As Natsu prepared to lied down, Gray approached him from the right, scratching the back of his head.

"Err... hey, Natsu," he said. "I just... I wanted to say..." He heaved a quiet sigh. "I'm sorry, all right? I crossed a line. I never should have said what I said and I apologize."

"...Gray?" Natsu asked, causing the raven-haired young man to look him in the eye... and soon after, he grunted as he felt the Dragon Slayer's knuckles connect to his jaw, causing him to stumble back while Lucy, Happy, and Haru winced.

"That's gotta hurt...!" Happy murmured.

"There," said Natsu. "Now we're even." With that, he soon went to lie down while Gray rubbed his jaw.

"Okay... I had that comin'," he said while a chuckling Erza put her hand on his shoulder.

"That just means he forgives you," she said before she went to join Natsu, followed by Lucy, Haru, and Happy, and after a moment, Gray shrugged before he went to join them, as well, lying down behind Erza. Of course, Blue Fang attempted to get in with them... but once again, his size proved to be a problem. Before anybody could stop him, the shelter toppled over and collapsed in a heap of sticks and leaves, much to the group's exasperation.

"Blue Fang!" Haru scolded while Blue Fang whimpered, apologetically.

"Dammit!" Gray cursed. "Not again!"

"Should have seen that comin'," said Natsu.

"Aye..." Happy muttered in agreement.

"We're not gonna get much sleep tonight, are we?" asked Lucy.

"All right," Erza spoke up. "Let's try this again."

XXX

After a while, everyone was finally asleep under their respective shelters, one made for Natsu and the others, the other made for Blue Fang, who was lying curled up next to them. The only sounds that could be heard were their soft breathing or snoring, as well as the sounds of any jungle creatures that spent their time awake at this hour. The sounds were actually rather peaceful, though, almost as if they were helping the group sleep.

However, Blue Fang's ear suddenly twitched as he heard the sound of a snapping twig, causing him to raise his head, eyes wide open in alert. Within seconds, he was up on his paws and trotted across the camp to investigate the sound, and as he sniffed the air, he growled viciously before he started to bark, awakening the others.

"What's going on?" asked Lucy as she rubbed her eye.

"Blue Fang, hush!" Haru called, but the silver wolf continued to bark, relentlessly.

"What's gotten into him?" Happy inquired.

"There's something out there," said Natsu, causing the others to turn to him and notice his serious expression. "I can smell a lot of different scents and can hear their footsteps."

Now fully alert, the group quickly stood up with Erza brandishing her sword.

"Whoever you are, show yourselves!" she demanded.

"You don't know who you're messin' with, do you?!" Natsu asked as he set his hands ablaze. "We're Fairy Tail wizards!"

"If you want a fight, we'll gladly give you one!" Lucy added as she held out her whip... but then, Blue Fang suddenly yelped in pain, and before anyone knew it, he toppled over and collapsed on his side.

"Blue Fang!" Haru cried as she ran over to her wolf, and that's when she saw something sticking out of his shoulder, right where the muscle was: a simple dart with feathers for its tail.

Before Haru could process what happened, she cried out as she felt a sharp prick in her right arm, causing her to look down and spot the same dart... and before she knew it, she quickly slipped into unconsciousness.

"Haru!" Lucy cried.

"Sis, get up!" Natsu urged as he grabbed the Beast Wizard and shook her. "Come on, sis! Snap out of it!"

"OUCHIE!" Happy cried as he felt something pierce his bottom, and before anybody could say "yellowtail tuna", the little blue cat passed out as well!

"Happy!" Natsu shouted.

"Gray, quickly!" Erza called. "Form a shield around us before-" She didn't get the chance to finish before she was also hit by a dart, right in her thigh, and try as she might to fight off the effects, she fell unconscious, as well, and Gray was hit not long after, right in his left shoulder, causing him to pass out, too.

It was just Natsu and Lucy, now, the former growling as he looked around, trying to pinpoint where the next dart would come from... and as his nose twitched, he gasped before he turned to Lucy.

"LUCY, LOOK OUT!" he shouted as he suddenly leaped toward, causing her to gasp in surprise as he pushed her out of the way of another dart... this one hitting Natsu in his right shoulder blade, causing him to grunt in pain before he collapsed onto the dirt, as well.

"Oh, no, Natsu!" Lucy cried as she dropped to her knees and shook him, trying to rouse him from his unconscious state. "Natsu, get up! Please! Get up- AGH!" She felt a stinging prick in her left arm... her body swayed... the world began to blur around before it finally went black, her body landing against the dirt with a thud.

As the Fairy Tail wizards lied there, several mysterious figures emerged from the underbrush.

"So these are the trespassers?"

"Hmm... they don't look like much. Are you sure they're really a threat?"

"The pink-haired one somehow set his hands on fire. I don't know anybody who could do that."

"It doesn't matter. Any outsider is a threat to our way of life. Take them back to the village... and let the Chieftess decide what we should do with them."

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