Hey!

I hope you are all good today! I just realised this morning I have my physics exam in eight days and I have not yet finished learning the syllabus to the said to be hardest GCSE you can do... *Stress release writing* But yes, that rather worries me... A lot :\

Anyways, we have a chapter from Natsu's point of view today, and things seem to be getting more interesting!

As always,

Enjoy :3

Chapter Nineteen-

You'll understand why

"Stupid. I'm fucking stupid!" I hit my head against the bar top once more, ignoring the hushed voices from the other mages dotted around the guild. Continuing smashing my head against the wood, I ignore the throbbing pain in my head. Instead, hitting harder, trying to hurt myself more than the ache in my chest is hurting me. "Why did I say that? Why did I just assume that?!"

I question myself, growling as I hit my head against the bar top once more with a loud thud.

"Natsu!"

"Fuck!" I bellow, stilling my movements after I hear Erza sternly shout my name. My forehead pressed against the wood and sending a chill down my body. I can feel tears streaming down my face now, leaving hot trails down my cheeks and dripping from the tip of my nose. A whimper escapes my trembling lips, almost begging my treacherous heart to end it's torture. My chest is aching, heart beating so fast it hurts, and I feel as if I have been stabbed but not allowed to die. Rather, kept alive to live through the agony.

I hate this feeling, the feeling of despair spreading throughout my limbs with no way of stopping it. I had felt it when Igneel had left me alone, leaving without a good bye or reason why. But now, the pain over hurting Lucy and causing her to cry, overwhelms me. I have fought so many times, beaten the shit out of people who caused tears to fall and stain her perfect face, but now I am the cause of those tears.

I hurt her... I hurt Lucy, I hurt who I love, I made her cry...

"Shit..."

I mumble to myself, balling my fist but simply placing it against the bar top, unable to break anything further or hurt myself more. I can't find the strength to smash and burn my frustration and pain away. I simply want to cry, limbs limp and breathing ragged. So I do, breaking down in my seat at the bar, head firmly against the counter as I shed my bitter tears until I stop. Unable to cry any longer, I simply sit and sniff, my pink hair clinging to the side of my face from the sweat and tears. All around me now, there is a deafening silence to the point you could hear a pin drop.

"Natsu-san?"

Suddenly, I am disturbed from my silent depression as I feel the young, blue haired Sky Dragon Slayer place her small hand on my shoulder, her voice full of concern. I can feel her hand tremble slightly, see her dainty features etched with worry from the corner of my eye.

"Yes, Wendy?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah..."

My lie is little more than a mumble in response to her tentative words, not wanting to face her, or anyone, really. I now my eyes are blood shot, and nose running. I don't want to face everyone like that, especially after they heard my outburst and Lucy's response. Mainly, because I know she is right.

I did run off and leave you behind, Lucy. I did act like I don't care. Why did I do that? I care for you, I care so much... So why did I do that, why was I afraid when I had you by my side?

I know I'll have to face everyone again, and that I need to set things right with Lucy again. I need to tell her I am sorry, that I didn't think and I never do. That I did what I did; ignore her, leave her and make her cry, because I was afraid she would reject me. That I wish I could change how I acted. That I feel something for her which terrifies me...

Sighing, I lift my head from the bar and wipe my nose with the back of my sleeve before rubbing the moisture around my eyes away with my finger tips. The first face I meet is the one of my childhood friend, who smiles awkwardly at me, a look of sympathy spread across her features.

"I pushed her away."

"You were both angry, don't worry. It'll be okay, Nat-"

Before she can finish her sentence however, the sound of the guild doors being thrown open with enough force to cause the wood to hit against and ricochet off of the walls resonates around the guild. I watch as the petite, white haired woman jumps at the sound, before turning to the doors, along with everyone else in the guild. That is when the muttering begins. The hushed whispers and a few chairs scrapping as people get to the feet. Turning my stool, I see the person my Nakama have responded too.

There in the door way is a slim, muscular man with hair as blond as Lucy's, jutting outwards in every direction. There is a thin white scar visible above his eye, diagonally going up his forehead. An earring is adorning his ear. As he steps forward into the guild further, I spot his white Sabertooth stamp on his left shoulder, instantly, I respond similarly to the rest of my Nakama by jumping from my stool.

He's friends with him, Rogue.

"It's the Light Dragon Slayer from Sabertooth... Sting? What's her doing here?"

Levy questions quietly, before Gajeel steps in front of the blue haired Solid Script mage pushing her back slightly and silently, his arm extending into a long, thick iron rod.

"Oi, what are you doing here?"

I hear Gray question, standing ready to Ice-Make a weapon at a moment notice.

"State your intentions."

Erza demands, as she is engulfed in a brilliant light before reappearing in her Purgatory Armour, also ready to fight if the situation arises.

Upon seeing their fighting stances, he raises and eyebrow, ignoring their threatening stances and questions. Instead, the Light Dragon Slayer turns to face me, as he does, I notice his movements are hurried, he seems to be breathing heavily as if to signify he has been running.

"Natsu-san, you need to come with me now."

"Why?"

I question, my voice harsh, stepping away from where I had been sitting, I light my fists as I approach the man.

"Because that blond friend of yours is in danger."

As I hear his words, I freeze. Confusion taking over for a minute. I don't realise that I have asked another question until I hear the man before me answering it in his deep voice, yet his words are almost frantic. Hurried, although still strong.

"Lucy's in danger?"

"If we don't stop Rogue, then he will make Lucy-sama his mate. Whether she agree's or not. I don't want him to mate with her, we only get one for life. But I can't stop him alone, he already got the better of me once." I watch as he averts his gaze, shamed that he was gotten the better of before he looks back at me. "I need help, and since she's your partner and if she rejects him, in his current state, he will hurt her, I came to you."

It takes mere seconds for me to feel my muscles tense at his words. Fear floods my body as what he has said finally sinks in. Mate? Igneel told me about Dragon Slayers mates, how we get one for life, and from that moment he or she is the Dragon Slayer's. They are bonded for life. If Rogue is going to mate with Lucy then I'll loose her. I'll loose her for good. At this realisation I feel my heart beat like a drum, my pulse so high I can feel my veins throbbing against the inside of my skin. My breathing catches and I find myself staring at Sting.

"Where are they?!"

"I have an idea to where he would take her, but we must hurry."

"Then lets go!"

I shout, running for the door. At my movement, I hear Gray's voice once more.

"Then we're coming with you!"

"No."

Sting's voice stops me in my tracks, I turn to stare at the back of his blond head. His gaze on Gray, Erza, Wendy, Happy and most of the rest of the guild who have all stood ready to help save Lucy.

"Why the hell not, bastard?!"

Gray yells at the man as he throws his shirt to the floor, leaving his chest bare. His question earns a hurt filled 'Love Rival' squeak from Juvia, but is quickly forgotten as the rest of the guild asks the same question Gray had just posed the the Sabertooth mage. Elfman's yells of 'being a man', Levy's sobbing how she needs to help her best friend, to which Jet and Droy echoed her as they usually do. Laki declaring that Lucy is part of our Nakama and we will help her, even Bickslow, Everdeen and Freed have joined the arguing. However, their yells and protest are all quickly ended by Gramps, who has appeared on the bar top in front of where Mirajane is standing with worry and shock painted across her features.

"Silence brats!" Staring at the blond haired man, Gramp's asks the question everyone had been demanding, but in a calm, level tone. "Why must only Natsu accompany you to save Lucy?"

I watch as the blond haired man turns to face Gramps, now half of his face visible to me.

"Because Natsu-san is the only man who can rival Rogue's current feelings for Lucy-sama. The only difference is, Rogue's feelings are fuelled by a dragon's compulsion to find a mate. Natsu-san's aren't."