Chapter 4

Mistakes, Diagnoses, and Disturbing News

~Lucy~

As they made their way through the city, Lucy, Natsu, and Erza talked, and joked around. Lucy did not want to be mean, but things seemed more peaceful without Gray. Maybe it was because he and Natsu got in so many fights. She couldn't help but wonder why he had been so nice to Juvia last night and this morning. Maybe he fell in love? Or was he just being nice out of pity? She wasn't sure, but now was not the time to be thinking about that.

As they arrived at the outskirts of town, the restaurant came into sight. It wasn't anything special, your usual run-down but full of character restaurant.

As she approached the door, Lucy said a silent prayer. Dear Mavis, please let things go well.

Upon entering, Lucy set her eyes on a horrifying sight: Wendy and Gajeel.

"What are you guys doing here?" Natsu questioned, full of suspicion.

"Girly and I are about to head out on our quest!" Gajeel answered. "We jumped at the opportunity. Salamander won't be the best dragon slayer of Fairy Tail anymore."

"Impossible! This is our quest!" A startling burst of anger erupted from Natsu.

How could Wendy and Gajeel have signed up for the same quest she had unless someone had forgotten to let Mira know they were taking the quest…"Oops…" Lucy mumbled. That someone had been her.

"Alright, what happened?" the flame mage inquired as he rolled his eyes, clearly not pleased.

"I uh…" Lucy stuttered. This was turning into a disaster! The thing she had come up with to make the situation better had taken an unpleasant turn for the worst.

"Come on, out with it already!" Natsu's angry eyes seemed as if they were about to erupt in flame. He walked toward Lucy as she shook in terror. This side of Natsu, only his enemies had seen. Why wasn't anyone coming to her rescue? She looked around to find that Gajeel was busy arguing with Erza and Gray over whose quest it was. Wendy stood silently behind Gajeel scared of the angry faces.

Lucy turned her focus to Natsu once again. His face was only inches away from hers. She wanted to cry. Her back hit a wall. "N-n-n-natsuuuuuuu…." Her lips quivered as a few droplets escaped from her eyes.

His expression softened, momentarily escaping from their trance, but hardened back just as fast.

"I forgot to let Master know that we were going to the quest!" The words quickly escaped Lucy's lips as she raised her arms to protect her face, traumatized and on the verge of peeing her pants in fear.

"Dumb girl," Natsu said angrily, as he backed away, a displeased frown plastered on his lips. "You beg and plead me to go on a quest with you that I didn't want to do in the first place, then drag me all the way across town only to find out that we weren't even doing the quest anyways!"

Lucy slid to the floor, her strength having left her out of relief "Sorry…" she ran her hand through her hair.

Erza, having finished her spat with Gajeel appeared in front and reached out her hand. "Come on, let's get you back to the guild."

"Ah, O-okay."

"Natsu," She turned to her istener, "You shouldn't be so harsh on Lucy."

"Are you feeling okay?" Wendy asked, "You aren't usually like this. Maybe you should go to the doctor."

Natsu rolled his eyes and left the restaurant.

~Gray~

Gray returned to Lucy's apartment with some cold medicine he had bought from a convenience store and went to go check on Juvia. She was sleeping peacefully. He didn't know why he was being so nice to her. She was really annoying at times. Maybe it was the way she looked so cute and helpless when he took her in his arms, all frozen and cold. Maybe it was how she looked so fragile and pale, it made his heart beat; he couldn't help but want to hold her, keep her warm, and protect her. What could he say? It was a guy's instinct.

After checking on her, he sat on the non-chewed couch and wondered what the rest of his team was doing.

~Lucy~

Lucy and Erza followed Natsu out of the restaurant and all the way back to the guild. Mirajane spotted them and gave a look of concern. Lucy wobbled over to her and sat down.

"Oh, Lucy! What happened?" Mira rushed around the counter to help steady her friend.

"I forgot to let you know which quest we were going on and Wendy and Gajeel beat us to it." Lucy replied.

"Something more than that happened! You look so shaken up!"

"He got really mad… more than words can describe." Her body froze, remembering the sight.

"Lucy," Mira's warm voice returned her to reality

"I-I don't know what to do. We practically had to beg him to go on this quest. What makes you think he will go with us to another one?" Lucy looked Mira right in the eyes.

"Oh dear," Mira said, "I think it would be best to ask Wendy to look at him and after that, call it quits for today."

"That would be good," Lucy agreed. She had realized about half way back to the guild that she had left her celestial keys at home. "I wasn't prepared anyway." She put her head on the table. "I feel so stupid." She said, "I guess I'm not with it today."

"You look tired," Mira told her. "There's a secret bedroom hidden on the second floor. Why don't you take a short nap?"

"That would be great." Lucy said as Mira escorted her to the hidden bedroom. Lucy laid on the bed, closed her eyes and began to dream.

She dreamed of Lisanna; finally getting to meet the younger sister of Mira and Elfman that everyone talked about. She dreamed of all the things they would do together. They would go on quests together, going shopping, going out to eat with Natsu.

Natsu. How upset he must be to have lost someone so dear to him. She began to dream of Natsu. How they met, how he saved her from the fake salamander, how she treated him and Happy to a meal, how he brought her to Fairy Tail and fulfill her lifelong dream by letting her join the guild. She dreamed about all the places she and Natsu went to together, all the battles they fought together.

Then her dream changed again. She dreamed about hanging out with him, the two of them going on dates, kissing. She and Natsu kissing? Ew.

"Lu-chan!" A light force shook her. "Lu-chan, wake up!"

Lucy gladly opened her eyes. Her dream had turned into something absolutely disturbing.

She was face to face with Levy McGarden.

"Levy?" She sat up and rubbed her eyes as her friend sat at the foot of the bed.

"Wendy did some tests with her healing magic. On Natsu, I mean." Levy looked concerned and Levy was never concerned unless it had to do something with Gajeel, which mean it was something big.

Lucy grabbed her friend's scrawny shoulders. "What's wrong with Natsu?"

…

Lucy's eyes widened shock. What could have caused that? Such a problem could make him lose his ability to continue life as a mage.

"Lu-chan…" The blunette frowned at her own actions. Lucy could tell that being the one to tell her Natsu's problem had twisted Levy's heart in a knot.

"Levy, you don't have to feel bad." She told the solid script mage. "Things will get better. You don't have to feel bad about telling me." She reached out and embraced her tiny friend.

"Eeeeeeeeee!"

Lucy shot up. "Natsu!" A wave of panic splashed upon her face. Had he found another victim? She looked at Levy, who wore the same expression as she.

Lucy threw the bedroom door open, so fast that it shattered into wooden shreds when it hit the wall. But did Lucy care? No. One of her guild mates lives could be in danger and the person threatening their life was her best guy friend; Natsu. The balls of her feet slapped harshly against the floor as she practically levitated through the hallway. Lucy burst into the bar screaming frantically, eyes wide in fear, "Where's Natsu?"

Confused eyes, belonging to all of her Nakama, gazed upon her in silence. This meant two things. One: Natsu was not the one to cause the commotion. Two: They didn't know.

"I think he's in the bathroom." She heard someone mumble.

Lucy wiped dripping sweat from her forehead in relief. No one was hurt.

Droy walked up to the bathroom door and knocked. "Hey, uh Natsu? You almost done in there? Lucy wants you." then after a second added "and I really gotta go!"

Ignoring Droy, Lucy surveyed the scene for the person who had screamed so loudly.

Cana was sleeping on a table next to a giant barrel, Mira was cleaning the table, Gajeel in a conversation with Pantherlily; Erza was giggling over a piece of paper. All was in order. Wait. Erza giggling over a piece of paper was definitely out of the ordinary.

She made her way to her target.

"Hey, Erza, what's up? Got a coupon for a free cake or something?"

"I got a letter from Jellal!" Lucy raised her eyebrows. Since when did the council let prisoners send letters? She snatched Erza's letter and looked at the envelope. It was authorized alright. Maybe he had special permission.

The red haired mage quickly opened the letter and read it. "He says he wants me to come visit him. He wants to make up for all the dangers he put everyone in and he also wants to regain his memories of before he turned evil," she announced.

"I still don't trust him," Natsu said, emerging from the bathroom.

Erza discarded Natsu's comment, but not before sending him and icy glare, and walked toward the door. "I am going over to the council prison right now to see him!" she smiled cheerfully, and left.

"Gosh," Natsu said bitterly, "Who thought some jerk could totally change Erza into a mushy love freak!"

"NATSU!" Lucy yelled, "That was mean!"

"What do I care?" Natsu huffed, "I'm getting out of here. I need to go check up on Happy. I'm sure Charle doesn't feel like babysitting him all day."

Just as Natsu was about to leave, Elfman busted through the doors. He looked panicked and out of breath.

"Mira!" he gasped, "Someone has been tampering with Lisanna's grave!"

Hello lovely readers! Sorry it took so long to update this chapter. I mean, this is supposed to be my main fan fic. Any who, those who were reading book one of my amazing series The Return of Lisanna before I started revising, know that I did change some small minor details to make the story flow a bit better.

So, what did ya'll think of this chapter, hmmm? Lucy makes a mistake and Natsu goes crazy on her! What could his problem be? I mean, this is serious! Natsu's life as a mage could be in danger! Find out next chapter!

Thank you BreadStarz, Skylar, Dog's Paw Burning In Hot Ash, bluecrushsurfergirl, guest, and Slivermist for reviewing! It means so much to me!

I'll work hard to get the next chapter out!

-ashlieswifty