chapter nine: possession

"Coming through!" Sting said, walking past where Lucy was sitting with a full tray of food in his hands.

"Sting, that's an awful lot," Lector said.

"It's no use, he won't listen," Rogue told him. He had an empty tray under his arm.

"Guys, really, I'm okay," Lucy said. "Let me help out."

"No way, we got this," Sting told her.

"Rogue, come get this order!" Rufus called out from the kitchen.

"On my way!" Rogue called back. He turned to look at Frosch and Lector. "Stay here with Lucy, okay?"

"Of course. You don't have to worry," Lector said.

"We'll make sure she's okay!" Frosch told him.

"Hey, Lucy," Natsu said, bringing her a drink. "On me."

"Aw, thanks Natsu."

"Don't mention it."

Natsu walked over to Sting and Rogue. "So how's stuff been going?"

"She's been good so far. Nothing like the other day," Rogue said.

"Okay. That's good." Natsu looked back at Lucy. She was laughing at something Lector had said, and Frosch had climbed into her lap. "If you guys feel anything off, let me know."

"Got it," Sting and Rogue said.

"Natsu! Order up!" Rufus said. "We need to get these orders out, you guys."

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Natsu said, hurrying to pick up the order.

"We're awfully short-staffed for such a busy day, aren't we?" Sting said.

"At least we have some people here helping though," Rogue said.

"You guys, I'm always available to help," Lucy called out.

"Don't worry, we'll be okay," Rogue told her. He walked back by her with a tray full of food. "I need a break."

Lucy stood up. She was wearing the traditional 8-island waitress outfit and had her order book in hand. "Tell me which table to take it to and I'll take over for you!"

Rogue couldn't tell her no. He pointed out the table to her. "That one right there."

Lucy picked up the tray and walked over to the table. She greeted the customers with a smile and gave them their food. Rogue laughed.

"Lucy, I thought we told you we'd be okay?" Natsu said.

"Relax, she's filling in for me while I'm taking a break," Rogue told him. "And besides, we do need a bit more help so I thought why not?"

"Someone slipped five hundred jewel into my pocket!" Lucy said.

"That's not fair!" Natsu said.

"Where's Gray and Erza? I thought they'd be here helping us out," Sting said.

"Gramps sent them and Wendy on some secret mission today. So it's just us," Natsu said.

"That's so not cool," Sting answered.

"Where's your other two members that are supposed to be here? Orga and Yukino?" Natsu asked.

"I sent them on a short mission of our own. They should be back soon," Sting said.

Rogue came over to them. "Have you guys seen Lucy?"

"She was over there just a minute ago," Sting said.

"You smell that?" Natsu asked.

"It's the same scent that was around the other day at the train station!" Rogue said. He ran outside. "Lucy!"

"Are you saying that the same person who attacked her is here again?" Natsu asked, following him.

"I'm not sure, but the magic is familiar!" Rogue called back to him. "We need to find Lucy!"

They ran down the street, Rogue in the lead. They passed the Fairy Tail guild hall and kept running until they turned onto Strawberry Street. They saw Lucy walking dazedly into her apartment, and hurried to catch up with her.

"Lucy!" Natsu said, grabbing her. "Lucy, are you okay?"

"She seems to be possessed," Rogue said.

"Why did you guys just run off without telling us?" Sting called out to them, catching up. Happy, Frosch, and Lector were with him.

"Oh no! Lucy!" Happy said, landing beside her. "Is she okay?"

"I don't know. It seems as if something is trying to control her," Rogue said.

"But we healed her! Wendy and I healed her!" Sting said. "She should be okay!"

"Shame. You guys came looking for her. I had hoped to get her without interference from you three, but it seems that will be impossible," someone said from behind them.

Natsu turned around, but no one was there. "Who are you?"

"You will find out, in time. Now, do you have the heart to attack your friend?"

"What?"

Before Natsu could react, Lucy's fleuve d'etoiles lashed out around his wrist. He looked down at it and back at Lucy. "What are you doing, Lucy?!"

"Lucy!" Happy said tearfully. "Can you hear me?"

Yes, I can hear you! Lucy thought desperately. But I can't control my actions!

I can't attack Lucy! Natsu thought. I just can't!

"What's going on?" Erza asked, running up to them, Gray, Wendy, and Carla with her.

"Sting, Rogue, what's going on?" Rufus asked, appearing then with Orga and Yukino.

"Lucy!" Natsu said. He pulled on his end of the fleuve d'etoiles but it didn't give. He was stuck.

Lucy yanked on her end of the whip and Natsu crashed face first into the ground. He looked up at her from the ground. This isn't Lucy. Something has taken over her mind. I can't hurt her, but I have to help her.

"Lucy, I know you're in there," Natsu said. "I know you can hear me! Fight back!"

I am in here! Lucy thought. I am fighting back!

Natsu braced himself against the lashing of her fleuve d'etoiles. He barely heard the others in the background; it was just him and Lucy, and she wasn't even herself. He wasn't going to hurt her. His feelings for her ran too deep for him to do that. He looked up at Lucy as he tried to catch his breath; the relentless lashings were draining his energy.

"Someone please stop this," Wendy begged tearfully. "I can't stand to watch it anymore!"

"Natsu, you have to fight back!" Gray said.

"I'm not going to hurt her! Something may have taken control of her mind, but that's still our Lucy and I won't hurt her!" Natsu yelled.

Lucy raised her arm, whip in hand. Natsu braced himself for another barrage of attacks, but they never came. He looked at Lucy and saw that she had tears rolling down her face.

"She's crying," Happy said. "Maybe that means that she's coming back to normal?"

"Lucy, can you hear us?" Erza asked.

"Of course she can hear us," Natsu said. He stood up unsteadily; his energy was low and he was out of breath. "She's still in there."

I can hear you, Natsu! I can hear everyone! Lucy thought to herself. I never wanted to attack you, Natsu.

"Please… help me…" Lucy whispered.

"Lucy…" Natsu said.

She collapsed to her knees on the ground in front of him. "I'm so sorry," she sobbed.

"She needs medical attention," Rogue said. He was pale.

"Let's take her back to Fairy Tail," Erza said.

"Yeah, maybe someone can help us out," Gray said.

Natsu picked up Lucy, who had passed out. His body hurt, but his heart hurt more because he couldn't do more to help Lucy. "Let's go."