Gray shot up out of the hospital bed with an audible gasp as beads of sweat dripped down his face. He huffed while smoothing back his hair. "It was just a dream." He sighed in relief. He stared down at his shaking hands and then at Juvia.
As if she could feel Gray staring at her even in her sleep, she slowly opened her eyes, fluttering them until they adjusted to the light.
"Hmm..?" She muttered as she pushed herself against the bed to prop herself onto Gray.
Rubbing her eyes, she mumbled sleepily, "What's wrong, Gray?"
"It's nothing." He smiled at her reassuringly. "Get some rest, you need it." He placed a hand on her cheek and then let it slide down to her hand. Juvia's face turned as red as Erza's hair.
Gray chuckled at Juvia's reaction. He'd never tell her, but he secretly did things to fluster her on purpose because he loved her reactions.
"You know I-" He began but immediately stopped, whirling his head towards the window.
"That can't be..." Gray muttered, his eyes going wide. He flung off the bed sheets and ran towards the window.
"No..." He uttered, his voice trembling in absolute terror.
"Gray...?" Juvia asked cautiously, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, but not fully getting up.
"Shh..." He hushed her, releasing his iron grip on the window sill. He knew what he heard and felt. He grabbed Juvia, pushing her back onto the bed, and then taking off, his shirt fluttering in the air behind him.
"Gray!" Juvia exclaimed, scrambling out of the bed after him.
"Stay here, Juvia!" He commanded, his voice carrying a hint of desperation. "It's too dangerous!" He burst out, the hard, terrified look in his eyes made Juvia halt in her steps.
"But Gray..." She whispered, a hand covering her mouth as tears started to form from her eyes.
"Stay. Here." He stressed, she didn't need to be brought into this mess any more than she already was.
He walked up to her, gently clasping her by the shoulders, his eyes boring into hers. "I'll be back. Promise." He reassured her before spinning around and bolting for the outskirts of Magnolia.
Gray stumbled from the pain of his fresh wounds. He brought his trembling hand to his side, feeling something sticky. Bringing his hand up to his face, his blood glistening in the light, trickling down his hand as it did gravity's biding. He smirked as he muttered bitterly, "At least I'm alive. I can settle my score with that pink haired pyro. For hurting the guild. And especially for hurting Juvia." His face furrowed in anger. "I'm coming for you, Natsu!" He bellowed, his new found motivation giving him a burst of energy.
He finally reached the edges of Magnolia and a blinding light swept the field. It rivaled the one he saw through the window. He flung up his arms to shade his eyes from the light.
"Woah..." He uttered in awe as he slowed down to a gallop. The heat was excruciating, his cold body being the only thing that kept him from being burned into a crisp. He'd know those flames anywhere.
Then, like a freight train, a roar so loud hit him and he doubled over, clutching his ears in pain. "Agh!" He blared, gritting his teeth in hopes of suppressing the pain.
Natsu whirled around on his heel, desperately clutching onto his scarf, his chest huffing, trying to recover the air he lost from the roar.
Gray's face fell as he was taken aback by Natsu's expression. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Natsu's face was flushed red, caused by the roar he managed to produce. One that could rival a dragon's. Gray thought, grimacing.
He stood before Gray, looking at him, but Gray knew he didn't see him. It looked like he was in a daze, eyes fogged up, void of any emotion. And then, like the passing wind, it all changed in a snap.
Agony flooded his eyes and his chest began to heave, his grip on the scarf turned his knuckles white. He grit his teeth in anger and desperation, growling in the process as he fell to his knees and pounded the scarred Earth. The scarf fluttered at the momentum of Natsu's fists.
A yell full of sorrow and distress echoed throughout the field, "LUUUUCCCYYY!" The anguish laced through it made Gray cringe.
Tears dotted the earth as they slid down Natsu's face and he held back sobs. Gray could see Natsu visibly trembling.
"Natsu!" He called out to his friend, cautiously walking towards him.
Natsu didn't budge, rooted to the spot by the trauma of it all.
"Natsu!" Gray called out again, kneeling beside him, resting a hand on his back. "What happened!" He demanded.
Natsu glanced at him from the corner of his eye and tried to form a coherent sentence, but all he could mutter was Lucy's name.
Gray's mouth immediately went dry as Natsu faced him, grasping Gray's clothes as if he was an anchor for reality. His eyes were swirling with pain and the corners of his mouth trembled into a deep frown as he squeezed his eyes shut.
Gray grabbed Natsu and pulled him to his feet, which in turn made Natsu grab onto Gray's arm with an iron grip. His face turned almost demonic. "I'm going to kill that fucker." He growled through gritted teeth and Gray's skin broke out into goosebumps at the malice and fury that backed up Natsu's words.
"What happened." Gray demanded again.
"Lucy's dead!" Natsu yelled in frustration, angry that he was forced to admit it.
Gray stood there dumbfounded for a second before he ripped his arm out of Natsu's grip and got into a fighting stance, holding both his arms out in front of him. He had an even bigger score to settle now.
"Natsu, you idiot!" He yelled, his face contorted in rage, eyes narrowed to only pin points. "Ice Make, Lance!" He let all his hurt lash out into his spell. His heart pounded in his chest, there's no way that Lucy was dead. She couldn't be.
Natsu saw it coming but he refused to let himself budge even an inch. He deserved everything that Gray was about to unleash at him. The Lance hit him head on and he went flying, landing into one of the ditches that his second Fire Dragon's King attack left carved into the Earth.
Gray jumped onto the mound above him. "Ice Make Hammer!" The enormous hammer came crashing down onto Natsu, driving him into the dirt.
"She was our friend! How could you let yourself lose so much control! You're pathetic!" He spat that last sentence out with venom in his voice.
"Ice Make Battle Axe!" He yelled as he brought his hands back and then flung his balled up fist towards Natsu, sending a wave of ice crashing into him.
Natsu cried out in pain as he went tumbling across the ground a good couple of feet. He slowly rose up, pushing off of his knees and then swaying as he tried to balance himself. He faced Gray again. "Is that all you got?!" Natsu challenged, breathing heavily, blood trickling down his face.
Gray's face was taken aback in shock for a second and then it contorted back into rage that could rival Deliora's. "Ice Make Arrows!" He drew back the arrow and aimed it at Natsu's shoulder. With a wiz, it hit the mark, ice crystals exploding everywhere.
"That's for Lucy!" He shouted, anger deepening his voice.
He drew back another arrow and shot again, hitting his other shoulder. "That's for Erza!"
"And this one's for Juvia!" He shouted, pulling back another arrow and releasing it with an extra push of magic. It landed right above Natsu's heart, shattering against his skin.
Gray huffed, all out of breath and propped his hands on his knees, his bow and arrow fading away.
Natsu still stood with his face downcast. "Are you done?" He asked sadly.
"Far from it. I was just getting started." Gray huffed, as he smirked at Natsu. "But it'll have to wait." He said pointing behind Natsu.
Loke was striding towards them, his Lion Brilliance attack brighter than ever. His face was just as ferocious as a lion's, the threatening aura radiating to where they were standing. He paid no attention to Gray, his eyes that were darkened in rage were only set on Natsu.
Both Natsu and Gray raised their arms in defense against the brilliant light. When the light finally faded, Loke stood in front of Natsu, only a couple of feet away.
"Regulus Impact!" He yelled through gritted teeth. Another bright light was summoned that quickly formed into the head of a lion, engulfing Natsu.
Natsu skidded on the ground, sending dust flying everywhere. Loke strided towards him, grabbing him by the front of his shirt, bringing their faces only mere inches apart. He glared at Natsu with murderous eyes. "If you ever put Lucy's life like that in danger ever again, I will personally find that book and destroy it with my own hands, ending you." He threatened menacingly. "Do you hear me?" He seethed through gritted teeth, gripping the shirt even tighter.
Natsu nodded his head, shocked by Loki's demeanor and the power that coursed through him. He'd never seen Loki so angry before either. And then, it hit him, his eyes widened in shock.
"Lucy's alive?" He blurted out. "She's alive!?" He yelled happily, a grin spreading from ear to ear, brightening up every part of his face.
"Hmph." Loke huffed, dropping Natsu with a thud.
He stared down at Natsu who had a dumbfounded grin on his face. Natsu turned his head around and yelled at Gray, "Lucy's alive!" His eyes were full of excitement and relief. "She's alive..." He mumbled to himself, his voice cracking. When the shock wore off, he looked up at Loke and commented. "You're strong."
"Love makes me stronger." Loke stated matter-of-factly, pushing his glasses up his nose. Then he broke out into a small smile of relief, "Thank the Celestial Spirit King that I made it in time."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ayoo! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! In all honesty, I should of named it "Everyone Gangs Up On Natsu and Beats the Crap Out of Him!" But anyway, to the person that commented about Lucy's death and about one of her celestial spirits saving her: Great minds think alike. ;D However, I do apologize that it is short...
But if you did enjoy this chapter, favorite and comment pleeeease. Also, I'm very curious, what do you guys think will happen next? Not that I'm looking for ideas *cough* *cough* Ahaha, just kidding guys, I have it all planned out, I'm just curious... and tired. Spent a few nights trying to write this chapter. Anyway, I'm just rambling now, so toodles! xoxo