Ch. 3- Rescuing Lucy

Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima

Story and OCs © Me

"C'mon, Haru! Can't you make Blue Fang run any faster?!"

"Natsu, he's doing his best!"

Natsu growled in frustration as he, Haru, and Happy rode on Blue Fang's back, heading toward the Phantom Lord Guild's Headquarters. The silver wolf panted as he ran as fast as his legs could carry him as well as his riders, knowing of the dire situation at hand. After getting another one of those thugs to talk, they learned that Lucy was highly likely being held captive there. Natsu actually had to set the guy on fire to get him to talk, to Haru's worry.

She had never seen her brother so angry that he would go THAT far in his interrogations to get the information he needed. It actually scared her, just a little, but she would never let it show in front of him. It was almost as if Natsu was a totally different person, even more so than he was in battle. However, she decided not to worry about that, for now. Right now, they had to focus on saving Lucy and getting her back home.

"Those Phantom Lord bastards...!" Natsu growled. "They're not gonna get away with this!"

"I can't believe that all this time, Lucy was actually some rich girl," said Haru. "Then again... we didn't really ask."

"Who cares, anyway?!" Natsu asked, causing his sister to gasp silently as she glanced back at him. "Rich or poor, she's still Lucy... and there's no way I'm gonna lose her!"

Haru's eyes widened, and even Happy seemed surprised by that statement... and at that moment, Natsu seemed to realize what he had just said before he shook his head in an attempt to correct himself.

"I-I mean... we," he said. "We're not gonna lose Lucy!"

"...I understand, you know," Haru said, causing her brother to look at her, even though the back of her head was facing him. "You're worried about her... and so am I... but we're gonna save Lucy, Natsu. You're not gonna lose her."

'You already lost Lisanna...'

"Hey, look! I think I see it!" Happy exclaimed, causing the Dragneel Siblings and Blue Fang to look up and see a huge building up ahead.

"There it is!" Haru said. "Phantom Lord's Headquarters!"

"Hey!" Natsu said as he pointed up at a tall tower that had to be at least 8 stories high. "L-look up there! Isn't that...?!"

As Haru looked up, she gasped in horror upon seeing that it was none other than Lucy... standing on the window's ledge with her hands tied behind her back.

"W... what is she doing?!" Happy asked.

"Don't tell me...!" Haru whispered in horror. "She's gonna jump!"

Natsu gasped before he growled and jumped off of Blue Fang's back, then ran as fast as he could. So fast, in fact, that he left a trail of fire behind as he sprinted... and at that moment, Lucy jumped off the ledge, plummeting full speed toward the ground... and at that moment, she could only think of one thing to do.

"NATSUUUUUUUUUU!"

"LUCYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

Haru gasped as Blue Fang braked to a stop, just as Natsu leapt into the air and caught Lucy in his arms, then maneuvered himself so that he would crash right through the brick wall, taking the full brunt of the impact while Lucy remained safe. They tumbled for a moment before finally coming to a stop... and still, the Celestial Spirit Wizard was on top of the Fire Dragon Slayer, who heaved a sigh of relief.

"I made it just in time..." he groaned... his voice muffled by Lucy's bosom.

"Thanks, Natsu," Lucy smiled, gratefully.

"Lucy, are you out of your head?!" asked Haru as she, Blue Fang, and Happy approached. "What were you thinking, jumping from an 8-story building?! You could have been splattered all over the ground!"

"I know," Lucy began, "but... somehow... I knew Natsu was nearby, so I took a risk."

A pause... before Haru sighed and pulled a knife, with which she used to cut the blonde's binds. After that... she pulled Lucy into her arms.

"I'm so glad you're safe," the Beast Wizard whispered. "When I found out you had gotten captured, I was so worried!"

"I'm sorry, Haru," Lucy replied.

"Never mind that," Natsu said as he looked up at the building behind him. "So, this is Phantom Lord's HQ, right? What do you say we go in and start bashin' some skulls?!"

"Natsu, we have to go home!" Haru argued.

"Yeah, you heard Erza!" Happy added. "We gotta retreat!"

"Who cares?!" Natsu questioned. "Are you guys that afraid of Erza?!"

"That's not the problem!" Haru countered. "Natsu, Master Makarov and Elektra are seriously injured, not to mention Macao got hit in the eye, Nab has a fracture, and who knows how many others got hurt in the battle! We have to go home!"

"No way!" Natsu spat. "I'm not tuckin' my tail and runnin' away! If anything, I'm gonna beat those guys twice as hard as because of what they did to Gramps and Elektra! Especially that damn Ironhead! Just wait until I-"

Suddenly, he was interrupted by the sound of sniffling, causing him and Haru to turn to see Lucy... who was trembling as quiet sniffs escaped from her.

"Lucy?" Haru asked in concern.

"What's wrong?" Happy asked. "You got a tummy ache or something?"

"...I'm sorry..." Lucy whimpered. "I'm... I'm so sorry...! This all happened because of me! The guildhall getting destroyed... Levy, Jet, and Droy getting attacked... everyone risking their lives and getting hurt... it's all because of me!"

"...Lucy..." Haru whispered.

"But even so," Lucy began, "I... I don't wanna leave! I love this guild"

Haru's eyes softened before she glanced at Natsu, who looked down at the blonde girl as she sobbed with an expression devoid of blame or anger. Instead, he only held sympathy for her. Without a word, he walked over and put his hand on her shoulder, causing her to look up at him, tears flowing from her eyes.

"It's okay," Natsu assured. "You're not goin' anywhere... you're one of us."

"He's right," Haru replied as she smiled at her. "You're part of our family, Lucy. You always will be."

"Aye!" Happy agreed

"Natsu... Haru... Happy...!" Lucy sobbed. "Thank you...!"

Natsu smiled gently before he carefully helped Lucy to her feet.

"Come on," he said. "Let's go home."

Soon, the three young wizards and cat had all mounted up on Blue Fang's back and were making the journey back home. However... the war was not over, just yet.

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