3rd Person's POV

Clover looked up at them. The normally very happy and always smiling nymph, was now looking at Erza with a frown.

"I'm afraid I can't really tell you that. It isn't my place."

Erza nodded her head. Natsu turned his head away from the other wizards. He could tell that they didn't just wander in the forest. They were looking for something, and he thinks that they found it. Clover looks at Natsu.

"Natsu, while you're here, do you wanna just get it over with?"

Gray, Happy, Lucy, and Erza were confused as to what the Nymph meant by that. Natsu nodded. Clover turns to Gray.

"I'm gonna have you take the same, uhhh, medicine, that Natsu takes."

"Medicine? What for?"

"Uhhh, well, you see, don't worry about it, just know that you only have to take it once and be done."

She smiles at the Ice wizard and leaves the area. This was a chance for the fairies to talk to Natsu. Lucy walked closer to him.

"Natsu?"

"Hmm."

"Can you tell us why those... kids, treated you like that? Kashi and that kid in the village?"

Natsu stared at her. His face at a resting frown. He looked down at his hands.

"They don't like me. They are afraid of me."

"Why is that?"

"They fear me for something I can't even remember."

"If you can't remember it, then how do you know that it even happened?"

"They tell me..."

"What even happened that made the treat you like that?"

"I... Well, I..."

"Why won't you stick up for yourself?"

"Lucy, you are overwhelming him with questions."

"Gray, we may not have the chance we have right now to figure out what happened."

The blonde wizard, who still looks like a ghost, turned the ice wizard who is still an ice golem. Both of them paid no attention to Natsu. Erza sighed and looked over at the pink haired boy. Erza could see the boy trembling. Something was wrong. Why was he shaking like that? Erza couldn't read his expression, but she was cautious. Happy looked at the we person who he saw as family. With a worried voice he called out his adopted father's name.

"Natsu?"

This got the attention of the others. They turned that attention to Natsu. Lucy started to walk toward him. As she did so, Clover walked back into the room. Clover's eyes widened.

"Get back! Now!"

"Huh?"

Lucy looked over, confused at Clover. As she did Natsu lunged towards Lucy and pinned her to the ground. Happy, Erza, and Gray froze from shock. Lucy was petrified from the sight of her friend's expression. No remorse, no holding back. He looked crazed. He had unfocused eyes starring right at her. Saliva dripped from his opened mouth. A low growl escaped his throat. Happy looked horrified to the sight before him. The small blue cat only had fear strike him. Erza quickly summoned a sword, her best weapon. She didn't know what to do. Strike her friend and possibly kill him, or don't and Lucy may get hurt. Clover extended her hand out toward the vine plants and then toward Natsu. The vines reacted to her silent command and extended toward them. The vines wrapped around Natsu's face, covering his eyes. He started to freak out when he lost sight. He grabbed at the vines, struggling to take them off. Lucy quickly got away from him.

"What just happened?"

"Natsu, you need to calm down. Listen to me. Please."

Natsu continued to struggle against the vines before stopping. His whole body was trembling. Clover walked toward him.

"Natsu? Can you hear me?"

Natsu slowly nods his head.

"Can you hear her?"

Natsu hesitates for a moment before turning his head.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

She gets right in front of him and hands him a small cup that was filled with a green liquid. Natsu took the cup and drank the liquid and gaged. Clover sighed.

"Natsu I-"

He cuts her off.

"Did I hurt anyone?"

"Wha-oh. No, you didn't."

Natsu just nods his head. Clover hesitates before having the plants loosen so he can take the vines off his face. Clover goes over to Lucy.

"Miss, are you okay?"

Lucy looked at Natsu and he had his gaze go to the ground and he turned his head. Lucy recognized that that was the look of guilt. She looked back at Clover.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just... surprised-"

"What happened here?"

Natsu and Clover stiffened. They turn to the voice and see a tall blond girl wrapped in pink bandages. She was followed by a smaller black haired dressed in blue, a big, heavy and muscular silver man, and a smaller male with a hoodie over his head.

"Mamii, what brings you here?"

"We came here because we heard that humans were brought into the village."

The mummy answered the nymph. Her gaze fell on Natsu. Gray was keeping a close eye on her and swore he saw her face full of sadness, but it was gone the next second.

"I was told the humans were with him."

She points to Natsu. Clover's expression changes to anger.

"Taku told you, didn't he?"

"So, what if he did? Natsu knows that humans aren't allowed here."

"If that were true, you would have kicked Selshu, Taku and Natsu out a long time ago."

"Taku's home is here. Selshu visits us for he has grown fond of us. Natsu is bound to the territory. These other humans shouldn't have come here. Have you forgotten what the humans did to us? Years ago, we fought to protect Elfenland from the war against humans. Natsu keeps saving humans and from time to time he lets them stay. He knows not to do that."

"He does that because he is lonely."

The male with a hoodie over his head scoffed.

"He has all those birds to keep him company."

Happy felt a chill go down his spine. He didn't like the aura this male was giving off.

"Aki, please, you mustn't compare them to companionship. He should be able to come here!"

Aki growled. Erza saw a look of sadness and guilt flash in his eyes.

"He is dangerous. We can't have anyone get hurt... We can't have him take someone else from us."

Natsu looked down. Clover glanced over.

"He... he hasn't attacked anyone in a while... Maybe don't be so harsh on him this time?"

"I did attack someone..."

Mamii looks at Natsu.

"When?"

"J-just a few seconds ago..."

He hesitates before point to Lucy.

"Her... I nearly hurt Lucy."

Mamii glares at Clover. Clover avoids her gaze.

"James."

The muscular silver man walked toward Natsu and gently pushed on his back, telling him without words to walk. Natsu looked at Clover.

"I'm sorry. Just... help them."

Gray went to stop them, but Clover used the vines to hold him back. Without another word, Aki, Mamii, James, Natsu and the girl were gone. Clover teared up.

"Oh spirits... they're going to kill him... aren't they..."

Erza summoned one of her swords and held it close to Clover's face.

"You have some explaining to do."

Clover looks down and nods.

"Alright... I will tell you everything you wish to know."

A/N: So... I am aiming to complete this story on November 17. This was the day that I started this story in 2018. I am really happy and sad that I am coming to the end. Especially since I know what is gonna happen. Let's just say the worst is yet to come. :)

~Zolf

Posted: 9/3/2020