Lucy was finally told what had happened to Natsu. This is one of the chapters I like how it turned out. Ahuna is making it more impressive.

Thanks sereneskydragonslayer for the review. I realise I had been lacking interest in writing these days. Two more chapters to go before I end this season. I don't know when I will start writing Season 4. Maybe it will be soon or maybe it will be long time before I finally touch it. Perhaps more reviews will motivate me.

Chapter 18: Lucy's Pain

The sacred island of Fairy Tail, Tenroujima was infiltrated by an unknown person. Upon knowing this, Master had gathered all the A and S Class mages. He decided to apprehend the intruder as a mission to prep the A Class mages for the upcoming national S Class exam. It will be good training and preparation for the exam, and for the title as S class.

The A Class mages were excited. This was the first time Master had actually set up a mock exam so that at least the mages who were yo be taking the S Class exam for the very first time would have a taste of what would it be like. All the S Class mages would be participating and it would be beneficial to learn from those with experience for the exam. This time round, Master intended to increase the chance for mages of Fairy Tail of passing the exam.

Lisanna invited the youngest S Class mages of the guild, Wendy and Tsuna to share their experience to pass the exam. She had also invited some of the A Class mages, Gray, Juvia, Elfman and Lucy for the sharing session.

"I don't have any secret for passing the exam. I passed because of my healing magic which only can be mastered by talent and hard work". Gray nodded in agreement. He tried to master healing magic which he failed miserably during his school days in the magic academy.

"My secret is no secret. I just wanted to marry Ciel. She was my motivation in passing the exam. You guys need to learn from me and the exam is no sweat." Tsuna exclaimed proudly.

Lucy whispered to Gray beside her. "He is yapping about it again and he doesn't get sick of it. If we need to get married in order to pass S Class, I think we can stay single for the rest of our lives." Gray disagreed as he thought this could be a motivation for all of them. They just need a goal which would push them to their limit.

"I think you can use that as your motivation but as a fellow competitor, I will not give you any concession. I will definitely pass this year." Gray sent Lucy a challenge.

Lisanna supported her head with her hand on the table as she observed the group. Gray had taken the exam many times but had always failed. Tsuna passed at his very first exam while Wendy passed because of her rare ability. She wondered if she would be able to pass. She went overseas to study magic in order to gain a better standing as a candidate for the exam. There were only two candidates who could pass the exam each year. According to Charles's predictions, there would be one who passed with his rare ability and the other on his power. However this year, she could not predict any further.

"Weird. Am I seeing things which already had happened?" Charles scratched her head and she looked at Tsuna's direction.

"Charles? Are you okay? Don't stress yourself" Wendy asked in concern.

Lucy did not take the exam seriously at all. She did not care for the exam. Is becoming an S Class mage so important to them?

"I think that's the dream for all mages." Lisanna said after hearing her opinion.

Lucy returned from an easy mission the next day. She did not care about the S Class exam. With her ability, despite being an A Class herself, it would take another few more years before she would be on par with Gray and the rest. Training a few more years before taking the exam was not that bad right? She wished her Brother-in-law would stop boasting about him passing his exam to marry her sister. He had the potential to be an S Class even without her sister. He was from the famous Dragneel Clan after all.

Lucy was talking with Plue and she wondered why the guild made a big fuss about a trespasser who merely passed by the sacred island of Fairy Tail, to the extent of making his capture as a mission for the S Class mock exam. She felt like the person would leave after he was done with his business, or maybe he just merely stopped there for a while before continuing his journey. Lucy was still talking by the time she reached home and opened the door.

"Welcome home!" A raven-haired topless mage greeted Lucy.

"TREPASSER!" Lucy attempted to throw her luggage on the trespassing Ice Mage. "Why did you come here uninvited? This must be the reason why there are so many scandals about us!" Lucy wanted to throw Gray out and she was making a big fuss out of it. She did not care about his purpose for coming here or whether he was just stopping over.

"Wait, Lucy! I didn't come here alone!" Gray raised his hand to defend himself from Lucy's kick.

"Lucy, where do you keep your toner?" A lady with scarlet hair appeared in bathing towel asked. "Erza too?"

"Did you think my place is a hotel, both of you?" Lucy had wanted to ask when she saw Happy hanging around with her Plue. "Not the gossip-minger as well? Did he come to gather scandals?"Lucy sweat dropped. This time round Gray two-timed her with Erza or something.

Lucy sighed. She decided to go straight to the point. "Why are you both here to visit me at this hour?"

Gray turned to her direction and replied, "It's about the S Class mock exam. You know there is a trespasser intruding our Tenroujima right?"

"Are you inviting me to join your team for this exam? I think you can count me out. Even thought I'm part of your "strongest team", I'm not interested in taking the mock exam as I don't think I'm up to it yet. Erza, why don't you give Gray your valuable advice in how to pass the exam?" Lucy raised her hand and explained her rationale in case she annoyed them.

Little did she expect that both Gray and Erza were making themselves as home. Erza was relaxing on her bed and Gray was reading something at her desk. "Aren't you making yourself too comfortable here?" Lucy asked in an inaudible voice timidly.

"No, you are definitely coming with us, Lucy." Erza spoke up. "Opps! I'm sorry, Requip!" She noticed herself being rude in bath towel and requipped into her pajamas.

Erza sat down as she continued in a serious tone, "I believe Master had thought it through for this mission. He must have done some precaution before deciding on it. If not, I don't think he will give us the permission to handle this. We believe that our target is the Dark Mage, Zeref. Master noticed the dying of plants on that island which had given us clue about the trespasser. Both Jellal and Tsuna were involved as well. Jellal had admitted that he asked you for help to check up on Tsuna's secret and you have already learnt of his family background and his clan mission which is to destroy the dark magic, Zeref. That was the magic the boy we met back at Cait Shelter which possessed the ability to take lives. Jellal have been watching Grimiore Hearts which was the Mastermind behind the awakening of Zeref again. He believe they will be making their move very soon. Hence, we need to move before them. Zeref was awakened as a result from many years of their experiments; of course they would want it back. I'm taking responsibility for it since it was my fault all these things is happening. If we encountered the boy you met at Cait Shelter, we have to bring him back."

"Stop reproaching yourself, Erza. If you think you are responsible, what about us? Lucy and I were at fault for letting him go in the first place. I had spoken to Lucy, your childhood friend, Leo and he agreed to help us when he heard about you and his affair. He will be participating in this mission as well."

"Why does this mission got to do with me? Lucy asked feeling puzzled.

"This is serious matter, Lucy. You have to come with us for this mission as you are most likely the only one who can save him if he have already lost himself. Things wouldn't have come to this if both of us hadn't let him go that day at the Tower of Heaven. He would not have fell on to the hands of the enemies as an experiment subject and he would not have become the vessel of the dark magic. We didn't know all along that the enemy's target had been him all along and Jellal had been blaming himself since that day he found out the real identity of Zeref's vessel. We didn't realise at all. I don't want to keep this matter from you. It has been confirmed that Natsu is still alive but in another identity as the legendary dark mage. An extremely dangerous existence". Gray was talking so much in one shot that Lucy was unable to digest it. All she had in her mind was to stop Gray from reading the novel she had been working on.

"Give it back to me! Eh? Did you just mention Natsu?" Lucy asked before she even noticed herself. An image of a black-haired boy she met at Cait Shelter came into her mind. He had appeared before her to save her from Angel's attack when she lost control.

"Did Gray just say he is Natsu?"

No wonder the boy knew them when he appeared before them. No wonder he bid farewell to them and wishing for their happiness. No wonder her heart ached whenever that boy came into her mind. She had wanted to approach him but he stopped her that day. Because he was cursed so he was unable to get close to them. Because he cared for them, he stopped them from getting close to him. Natsu was still Natsu. His feelings of wanting to protect his loved ones have not change even a bit. Tears welled up in Lucy's eyes as she landed on her knees shocked in realization.

"Why? How can people do this to Natsu? What's their motive? Why did they curse him? Did he do anything wrong?" Many questions popped into her mind. Tears finally fell down her cheek. To think she did not realise the boy was Natsu all along. Why dare she? Why did she have to be afraid of him? Natsu must be suffering alone while they were having a high life going from one adventure after another. What should she do now? How can she save him?

"Lucy…" Erza noticed she was crying. She kneeled down in front of her and held her shoulder and allowed Lucy to cry on her arms. She rubbed the back of her head as she consoled her, "I'm sorry Lucy. I didn't know your feeling for Natsu if it wasn't for Gray who told me about it. I didn't know you are also suffering from the loss of someone you love like I did. I kept to myself because I didn't think anyone would have understood how I feel when I thought I had lost Jellal. That is why I will invite you along for this mission."

"Yes, I believe we will be able to find a way to save him. Together, we will find Natsu and bring him home." Gray added as he looked to her direction and gave her an assuring smile.

Lucy pushed Erza away and wiped off her tears. She nodded her head furiously. "Yes, we will find him! Natsu, I will find you and this time round, I'll never let you go!" Lucy declared in determination.

Erza smiled at Lucy at her new born determination and encouraged, "As long as we are united, nothing can daunt us!"