22: rave in the grave.
When Lucy stood up, she accidentally dropped her wine glass and it shattered into a thousand tiny pieces on the floor.
She stared at the shards as the puddle of red wine slowly expanded. The wine reminded her of blood. Erza's blood...wait! Don't think like that!
She heard the front door unlock. Quickly, she ran over to the door. "Natsu! How's Erza? You found her, right?"
Natsu, who had just walked through the front door, was holding a bag from a store that sold fried chicken. Since he had been out in the rain, his white dress shirt was practically see through at this point and his hair was dripping with water.
"Wait, let's dry you off first," Lucy said, taking the bag from him.
After Natsu had showered and changed to a net of dry clothes, the both of them sat in the living room and ate the fried chicken Natsu had bought. Lucy had made hot coffee for Natsu in order to help him warm up. It was still raining but the thunder and lightning had stopped.
"So...did you find Erza?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah," Natsu answered.
"And...?" Lucy asked.
He shook her head.
Lucy gasped. "So...she's..."
"Jacob got to her," Natsu answered.
Lucy buried her head into her hands. "No...that's gotta be a lie."
"She found where the Oracion Seis have their cult meetings so she was chasing them down. But, Jacob came in and killed everyone. Everyone was dead by the time I got there," Natsu explained as he dug into his pockets. He pulled out the Gemini, Aries, and Scorpio keys. "These were with Erza so I guess she took them from Angel to give to you."
Lucy looked up and studied the keys in his hands. However, she wasn't able to do it for long. She started to sob over the death of one of her closest friends.
Natsu put the keys on the table and pulled Lucy into a hug. "I'm sorry I didn't make it on time. But don't worry. I've killed him"
As he rubbed Lucy's back in reassurance, he stared at the window. The deal was that he kills Angels and gives me her keys. If Angel is dead, Yukino will be more willing to give me her keys. So then, I'll be able to give Angel and Yukino's keys to Lucy. Once that happens, I'll let Jacob run free. But him dragging Lucy to the Underworld was not part of the deal. I made sure I gave that bum a slow and painful death.
"I should have been there," Lucy mumbled.
"What do you mean?" Natsu softly asked.
"If I was there, then I would have traded my soul. Erza would still be alive and I'd be in the Underworld," Lucy answered, sniffling.
That's why I had to kill Erza. Not only did she hear me talking to Jacob, but I knew that you would trade your soul for Erza's in a heartbeat. Since I was the one who killed her, Erza is officially in the Underworld. Jacob won't be able to bring her back. Trading your soul is now useless, Natsu thought before answering Lucy. "But will Erza be happy about that?"
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked, scooting back a little so she could look at Natsu.
"Erza cares a lot about you. She would be upset if she finds out you traded your soul so she could live," Natsu answered.
Lucy frowned. "But I still feel bad though. It's supposed to be me."
Natsu wiped her tears away with the hand that killed Erza with a single flick of a finger. "You should be saying thank you instead. She got Angel's keys for you. Don't let her death be in vain."
With Angel dead, Yukino has no reason to keep her keys so she'll give them to you. Erza's death was definitely not in vain. If she wasn't killed at the scene, I wouldn't know any other way for me to convince you to accept Angel's keys, He thought.
Lucy placed her hand over Natsu's hand that was now resting on her cheek. "Thank you, Natsu."
Natsu smiled warmly at her. "You don't have to thank me. Just know that I'll do anything for you."
"Yeah...it's my fault for doubting you," Lucy said.
"You doubted me?" Natsu asked.
Lucy glanced at the white scarf Mirajane had given her that was sitting on the couch next to the couch they were sitting on. "You'd never do anything to hurt or betray me, right?"
I mean, I kinda just did. I killed your friend, Natsu thought before answering her. "Luce, have you seen be do anything to hurt or betray you?"
Lucy moved closer to Natsu so she could cuddle with him. "No, you haven't." Then she sighed. "I wish Erza was still alive though."
"She's in a better place now," Natsu told her.
"We are gathered here today to mourn the death of Erza Scarlet."
Gray clouds covered the sky as the rain fell. A gospel singer let her voice fly as the guests all dressed in black opened their black umbrellas. It was a few days after Erza's death.
Juvia was balling her eyes out and Cana was rubbing her back in reassurance. However, even she was crying. Lisanna was kneeling in front of Erza's casket. Levy was trying her hardest not to cry as she held her umbrella over Lisanna to shield her from the rain.
Mirajane was standing next to Natsu and Lucy. "Who knew that the morning we spent with you at Gray's penthouse would be the last time we'd see her?"
"Mira, I'm sorry. She died because of me," Lucy whispered.
"Nonono, don't say that," Mirajane said, hugging Lucy.
Suddenly, Juvia fainted. A bunch of people ran over to see if she was okay.
"Guys! Stop crowding around her! We need to bring her inside!" Cana cried.
As Juvia was carried inside by Cana and some officers, Jellal, the one who had organized the funeral, walked over to the front and took off hit hat so he could say something.
"I've known Erza for a very long time. We were both orphans so we grew up together in the same orphanage. Nobody wanted to adopt us but it didn't matter. When I was going down the path of darkness, she was the one who dragged me out. Erza always had a strong sense of justice. She didn't care who you are, all she cared was if you were doing the right thing or not. The Oracion Seis have always been causing trouble and I made her go on so many all-nighters in order to catch them. She succeeded, but it costed her life. The nights after her death, I'd lay awake at night and tell myself, 'I shouldn't have sent Erza after them. That way, she'd still be alive.' Today, even though she is no longer with us, she is a hero. If it wasn't for her sacrifice, the Oracion Seis would still be going around killing innocent people." Jellal bowed. "Thank you for taking time out of your day to honor Detective Erza Scarlet."
Everyone clapped at the end of Jellal's speech. As they did, a famous guest arrived. There were body guards on either side of her and they were holding umbrellas to shield her from the rain. Mirajane, who was still rubbing Lucy's arm in order to calm her down, immediately recognized the guest. "Wendy!"
Lucy looked up and recognized the famous guest as Wendy Marvel. So did Levy and Lisanna.
Wendy made her way over to the casket. "I cancelled the rest of my tour the minute I heard what happen." Her voice started breaking. "I should have been here..."
"Don't blame yourself," Lisanna told her softly. "She was the one who wanted you to live your dreams the most. Remember when she forced you to become a trainee?"
"I remember. That was the worst we've ever fought," Wendy said.
Levy chuckled. "That was the only time you two fought."
Wendy sighed. "I didn't know I wanted to be a singer until after I passed the auditions."
"And she was so proud of you when you debuted only after 5 months of being a trainee," Lucy said softly, putting her hand on Wendy's shoulder.
"I wish...I visited more..." Wendy said.
"There are so many things we each wish we could have done. But, what's done is done. It's going to be hard, but we need to make an effort to move on," Mirajane told the girls.
"It's still hard to believe that she's gone though," Levy said as she helped Lisana stand up.
Mirajane held her arms out. "Hugs?"
The girls came together and did a group hug.
Natsu, who was awkwardly standing to the side, debated over whether he should say hi to Wendy or not. As he did, someone appeared next to him.
"I did what you wanted," the person said.
Natsu faced the person and saw that it was Gajeel. "You knew Erza?"
"Nope, but Levy does. I only came here since I figured you'd be here," Gajeel answered.
"Why?" Natsu asked.
"Why I thought you'd be here? Cuz you're always with Lucy," Gajeel answered.
Natsu stared at Erza's picture. "You got Zoldeo's key?"
"Duh," Gajeel answered. "Yo, you know what I had to go through just to get that fucking key?"
Natsu was about to say no but Gajeel answered anyway.
"That idiot fucking ate the spirit, making him and the spirit one! Can you believe that!? So for days, no, weeks, I had to torture him just for him to spit out the spirit. I couldn't just kill him cuz if I did, the spirit dies with him! Then that spirit gave him healing powers and shit! Uggggg it took so fucking long! Thankfully last night, he finally spat out the thing but I killed him after doing all that cuz he was honestly getting on my nerves!" Gajeel pulled out the Capricorn key. "You better be grateful!"
Natsu decided to annoy Gajeel for fun just like he used to do. "Eh. Woulda been better if you hurried up."
He knew he had succeeded when Gajeel sent him a death glare.
Gajeel looked like he was about to go off on him but something clicked in his mind. "Wait. Funerals are Bloodman's thing..."
"What about Bloodman?" Natsu asked.
Gajeel shivered. "The both of us got history. Ima leave before he shows up."
When the funeral ended, it was nighttime and it was drizzling. The guests were outside of the graveyard and were on the sidewalk as they waited for their rides and said goodnight to each other.
"I wonder if it's going to snow? Temperatures are below freezing right now," Wendy wondered out loud as she rubbed her hands together.
Natsu, who was waiting for Lucy to finish her conversation with Levy so they could go back to the penthouse, overheard Wendy. He walked over to her and smiled. "Long time no see! I heard you're famous! I had no idea that you were into that singing stuff!"
Wendy squinted her eyes at Natsu. "Sorry, do I know you?"
"You don't remember? It's me, Natsu Dragneel," Natsu said.
"I'm sorry. I don't know a Natsu Dragneel," Wendy answered with a bow.
Natsu frowned. "You sure?"
Before Wendy could answer, Lucy appeared next to Wendy. "How long are you gonna stay?"
Wendy thought about it. "Maybe 3 weeks?"
"Okay. We should plan a night out," Lucy said.
"Wait, why aren't you going to Fairy Hills?" Wendy asked.
"I'm temporarily kicked out until the Lucky Lucy Heartfilia thing dies down," Lucy answered.
"I think it will very soon. The news of the death of the Oracion Seis is all over the place. Then, I have paparazzi following me everywhere I go," Wendy said.
"You're right," Lucy said.
"When you move back in, I'll give you all of the souvenirs I got you!" Wendy said.
"You bought me some souvenirs!?" Lucy asked.
Wendy smiled. "For you and the others"
"Then I guess I'll have to move back in immediately! I wanna know what you got me!" Lucy cried.
Wendy chuckled before she said goodbye and joined the rest of the girls.
"I thought you and Wendy know each other?" Lucy asked.
Natsu sulked. "I thought we did too."
Lucy looked at the cars. "I'm gonna call a taxi."
"Wait. I have Zoldeo's key," Natsu said.
Lucy faced him. "You do? How?"
"Gajeel," Natsu simply answered, taking the Capricorn key from out of his pocket.
Lucy took the key and admired it. "So I have 10 keys now."
"All that's left is to get the last two keys and you can see your mom again!" Natsu said with a smile.
Lucy studied the key. Then she sighed and shoved it into her coat's pocket.
"What's wrong?" Natsu asked.
"Is it worth all of this?" Lucy wondered.
"What do you mean?" Natsu asked.
"My mom is dead. I should accept that instead of going through all of this trouble just to get 12 keys to open the gate of the spirit realm to talk to her. I mean, Erza died trying to stop the Oracion Seis and get Angel's keys for me. I need to figure out how to summon a spirit first but I still don't know how to do that. I went back home for answers but trouble was waiting for me there. My dad died and I made a deal with Jacob that I should have never made. Then there's this whole mystery surrounding my mom's death..." Lucy trailed off.
She had remembered Brandish telling her to make sure that Natsu isn't present when she opens the gate. When she looked up at Natsu, she noticed that he looked confused.
"There's a mystery?" Natsu asked.
Lucy cleared her throat. "Just, what I'm trying to say is that so much has happened. Maybe...Erza would still be alive if I hadn't started this whole search."
"You're still blaming yourself for her death?" Natsu asked.
"Of course I am. It's my fault that she's dead," Lucy answered.
A car next to them honked its horn. The both of them jumped and faced the car. Then they recognized the person in the passenger's seat poking his head out the window. It was the vice chairman of Sabretooth, Rogue Cheney.
"Get in. It's cold," Rogue simply said before sitting back in the car and sliding up his window.
Natsu and Lucy glanced at each other before entering the backseat of the white car. Immediately, they were hit with the warmth of the heater.
"I like you better, Rogue! You're nothing like Sting!" Natsu cried, closing the car door.
"Don't get it twisted. I still don't like you," Rogue simply said.
"But...why you letting us sit in your car?" Natsu asked.
The one sitting in the backseat, Minerva, grabbed a shopping bag and handed it to Lucy. Lucy looked inside of it before gasping and dumping it out. Rufus and Orga, who were still the size of chipmunks, fell out of the bag.
"Ow! That hurts!" Orga cried.
"I hate being tiny!" Rufus cried.
"I remember you!" Natsu cried, pointing at Rufus.
"Unfortunately," Rufus mumbled.
Minerva then handed Lucy a small blue box with a white bow on it. Lucy took the box and opened it. "Wait, there are Pisces and Libra's keys!"
"Yukino said to give them to you. She doesn't see the reason to keep them since Angel is dead," Minerva answered.
"Oh," Lucy said, feeling guilty. She never got to save her sister.
"Also, Orga and Rufus, the tiny men, told us that they will be able to return to their normal sizes if Yukino teaches you how to summon spirits," Rogue said.
"Really?" Lucy asked before remembering Brandish's last visit. "Oh yeah."
"Wait. When did this happen?" Natsu asked.
"A few days ago. A member of the Spriggan 12 came in to stop them from killing me. She shrunk them and told them that she'll return them to their normal sizes if they get Yukino to help me out," Lucy answered as if it were nothing.
Natsu glared at Rufus and Orga. "The two of them tired to kill you?"
"Yes. If Lucy stays alive, more lives will be lost so killing her is the best option," Rogue answered.
Lucy frowned. "...really...?"
It made sense to her. There were a lot of deaths that were indirectly tied to her. She didn't want to admit it thought.
"Make it make sense," Natsu demanded.
"it does. You're just in denial," Rogue answered without facing Natsu.
"Let's just go," Lucy said, grabbing Natsu by the arm.
Natsu sighed. "Fine."
"I really hope Miss Lucy Heartfilia gets into an accident," Minerva said as Natsu and Lucy exited the car.
Thanks to his super hearing, Natsu heard that. Lucy sensed that he was about to go off on Minerva so she grabbed his hair and forced him to bow. She also bowed. "Thank you for the keys. I'll call Yukino so we can plan a day for her to teach me how to summon a spirit."
"Okay, that's nice and all, but when do we go back to our normal sizes?" Orga asked.
"When Brandish decides to turn you two back," Lucy answered.
"What!?" Rufus cried.
"Minerva. Let's leave," Rogue said with a sigh.
"Wait! Don't leave yet! We have to keep on begging or we might actually be tiny forever!" Orga cried.
Lucy closed the door and the car drove off.
"He and Sting piss me off...!" Natsu grumbled.
"Let's walk home," Lucy said.
Natsu immediately forgot about his annoyance. "Yes! Please can we walk home!?"
"I just said that we're walking home," Lucy answered, shoving her hands into her pockets.
As they walked, Natsu noticed that Lucy was shivering. In order to warm her up, he grabbed on of her hands and put it into his jacket's pocket. Lucy looked up at him.
"I saw people do this in a drama," Natsu told her.
Lucy snorted. "You're so cheesy!"
Suddenly, it started to snow. Lucy held her other hand out and watched as a snowflake melted in her hand.
"Hey. Did you know that there's some urban legend that says if you confess your love during the first snowfall, you and your lover will be together?" Lucy asked.
"So that explains what everyone's doing," Natsu said
Lucy looked around and saw what Natsu was talking about. Couples that were around them were making out. Some were doing it as if their lives depended on it. Lucy then felt awkward. We're the only ones who aren't kissing.
"You wanna do the same thing?" Natsu asked.
"Do...what?" Lucy asked.
"Punch lips," Natsu answered.
"Wait, did you just say punch lips?" Lucy asked, holding back a laugh.
"Yeah. They're technically punching lips," Natsu answered seriously.
Lucy couldn't hold it anymore. She started laughing. "I'm weak!" She kept on saying as she laughed.
Natsu watched Lucy with a smile on his face. Lately, she's been frowning. It's nice to see her laugh once in a while.
Lucy stopped laughing and smile at Natsu. Then, she frowned.
"What's wrong?" Natsu asked as they stopped walking.
Lucy's eyes were wide. "Why..."
"Why what?" Natsu asked, slowly starting to panic.
With a shaking finger, Lucy pointed at him.
Natsu looked down at his hands and saw that they were turning into fire colored dust particles that were scattering in the wind. He continued to look down at himself and saw that it was not just his hands. His whole body was turning into the dust particles.
"Natsu...!? What's going on...!?" Lucy asked.
"Nothing! It's nothing!" Natsu cried.
It was obviously something. Unfortunately, he had no idea what that something was. Why the fuck am I turning into dust!? How do I make it stop!? He wondered out loud as he struggled to stay calm. If he panicked, Lucy would definitely panic and she won't smile anymore.
"Then why are you turning into dust!?" Lucy asked.
I wanna know the same thing! Natsu thought before giving her a different answered. However, when he proceeded to give her an answer, he vanished.
Lucy was left behind with his fire colored dust particles that were flying in the air. She looked around. "N-N-Natsu...?"
She started running and she pushed people out of the way as she ran. "Natsu! Where are you!? Is this some joke!? Please tell me that this is a joke!"
She soon stopped running and dug her fingers into her hair. Tears were threatening to fall but she forced herself not to cry. "Don't leave me!" She yelled.
The snow was still falling around her and people were walking by, going about their lives. Everything was normal, except for the fact that Natsu had literally vanished into thin air.
Random Fact: I have some family in Texas who are one of the millions without power. I hope they and everyone else who are affected by this horrible winter storm will be okay
Wassup!? It's ya gurl sugarsugarrush!
No lie, I'm actually hella proud of that cliffhanger I pulled off on chapter 21 hehehehe
Reviews:
MaraDragneel3113- Lol
Copperreign12- Thank you very much!
Alright, so question time: Did Natsu do a good thing by killing Erza? I'm really interested in what you guys think
Time to end this! Don't forget to PM me or leave me some reviews! Later, yo!
