The Darkness Inside

by Bookworm850

Betrayed, lonely and a little bored, Lucy takes a job. But she doesn't come back as the Lucy we all know and love. And she doesn't come back alone. Can Team Natsu get the old Lucy back? And who's this new guy she's brought home with her?

10. Chapter 10: Grovel

A/N: Just a really quick one, the thought just came to me and I wanted to share. Enjoy your emotional turmoil.

Chapter 10

Grovel

Days passed, months even and Lucy's hatred never seemed to fade. Team Natsu began to believe that this was their penance, that after all they had done this was how they were to repent for past sins.

We deserve this, they thought. We had no idea, didn't even want to think of it and now because of our selfishness Lucy has become a monster.

The guild, though still restless and rowdy had lost some of its vigour. The tenants seemed less enthusiastic, the drinkers less joyful. Lucy's malcontent had polluted the guild, she continued on her missions and enjoyed the company of Laxus and Gajeel but she gleefully watched as Team Natsu seemed to shrink in vitality. She knew the only reason they had bounced back so often was because they could beat the problem and then it would go away, but she was not going away and she made sure they remembered that.

Juvia, from her faithful station close to Gray watched the change, saw their feet drag on missions and the playful banter drift into silence. Until finally, after watching Gray suffer and grieve under the weight of Lucy's unrelenting need for revenge Juvia confronted her. Marching up to Lucy as she made her way home, Juvia backhanded her across the face yelling with glistening eyes.

"Who are you to judge them so harshly! What excuse do you have to be so angry at the world and all the people in it that you have the right to judge! Yes, they left you. And yes, we understand that it hurt but you cannot continue to punish people for human nature." Tears streaming and throat catching, she continued "We have all suffered at the hands of people we loved. We have all lost someone dear. What right does your pain give you to make the rest of us suffer? Why do you, of all people get to vent your rage on those undeserving. It was Natsu that broke your heart! It was Natsu that left you behind. Blame him." Sobbing she clutches her throat and kneels on the ground.

"Just- blame Natsu!"