Chapter 6: The hearing

LUCY'S POV
Huh? Where am I? How did I get here and what was I doing just now? I groggily opened my eyes a bit, everything's fuzzy. Then suddenly all my memories came flooding back in an instant.

"NATSU!" I stand up and look around me frantically, for any sign of him but all I see is that I'm in an expensive looking ballroom and I'm standing in the dead center of it.

"I'm I?" I ask hesitantly knowing but not wanting to face reality.

"Yes you are Miss Lucy Heartphilia" a deep voice responded back. I look up to see an elderly man that is probably around master's age and sitting in a judge's seat.

The man clears his throat and spoke up again, but this time he's reading the papers in front of him "It says here that you were killed by a magic force?"

He quizzically looked to me, I start to sweat "Y-yes sir" I gulp "and if I may ask, what's happening here- well actually to me?"

He eyed me again "we're seeing where you go in your after or rather where you deserve to go, you know heaven or hell. Whatever you call it now a days."

My heart starts to thump loudly "Oh and it won't do you any good if you were to lie, we can always tell when someone is lying even if they're the best. We've done this long enough"

I nod showing that I understand "ok, we shall proceed" he looked down at the papers once again "was there a reason why you jumped in front of the spell willingly?"

My throat is dry "y-yes s-sir, I did it t-to protect the person that I l-l-l-love" I can feel my face starting to burn red.

"Hmmm" he starts to pets his beard "ok, have you killed anyone, if so how many and your reasons?"

I speak up louder "I haven't killed anyone sir!"

"What is the thing you regret the most right now?"

That's an odd question, but what choice do I have but to answer it "The thing I regret the most is... Not being able to say goodbye to my friends, but even so I accept my fate! I have no regrets in my life whatsoever! "

The guy smirks "oh? Ok one final question" he puts his papers down and looks at me intensely "If you could go back in time would do it again? Would you die for the cause that you believe in and are willing to do anything for your beliefs? Your comrades?"

I look him directly in the eyes with my most determined look "that's not even a question sir, I wouldn't want my death any other way. The way I died was one of the highest honors I could ever have...for the right cause and for my guildmates- the people I hold dear.. I'd do anything"

He smiled widely now and laughed, "you are a rare one Miss heartphilia and I think you are worthy to be open to the gates of heaven" I smile in relief "now if I may ask what is the name of the person you love"

"Natsu! Natsu Dragneel! He's the one I will always love no matter what." His face became serious and he stepped down from his seat, what his deal with Natsu? Is something wrong with him?

He was walking towards me and reached his hand out "For reasons I cannot explain to you in this moment, I hereby relieve you of all your memories of your past life"

I step back before he can touch my head "What're you doing?"

"For heaven and its allies, I strengthen your troops with this promising girl-"

"STOP I DON'T WANT THIS!"

"Lucy heartphilia" His voice echoes throughout the room and his hand was a mere centimeter away but was interrupted by the opening of the doors, I turn my head... NATSU!

I yell in the direction that he's being dragged by a couple of guards "NAT-" I was about to run towards him but everything went black. Natsu please, forgive me if I forget. The last thing I hear as he removes his hand from my head is "I grant you the name Lucia Heart, and one day you will understand."
NATSU'S POV
"NAT-" huh? Who called me? Lucy? I open my eyes and sit right up, I look to my lap. No Lucy! Where did she go?

"Are you perhaps looking for Miss heartphilia?"

I look at the old guy who's giving me a nasty glare "Who are you and what have you done with my Luce! And you can't say she wasn't here because I can smell her still!"

He bangs a hammer that echoes in the room and hurts my sensitive ears. I try to cover my ears but soon realize that my hands and legs are in chained. I stand up and rub my ears "Lower your voice Mr. Dragneel! I will not allow such a tone in my courthouse! Speak when you're told"

I stiffen, I get a strange feeling that I should obey him? Was this his doing because I sure as hell would never obey such a prick.

"I will answer your question about Lucy once we're done, now answer my questions truthfully and precisely"

I nod my head "Now you're cause of death was from...well it seems as if it was a suicide" Death? I died? "Yes Mr. Dragneel you are dead as are the rest of us" he looks at his big stack of papers but only pulls out 2, what's with those papers? "Do you know what really interests me is that you let yourself die? Why is that? I mean there were a number of ways that you could've survived from the blood loss and the poison, you know that too don't you?"

I look at him "It was because I had no reason to go on anymore. My purpose was taken"

"Purpose?"

I nod my head trying not to show my fear, why does this guy intimidate me so much? I can feel myself start to sweat a bit. "Yes, my purpose to live was Lucy"

He scoffs "My my, Miss heartphilia said the same thing about you, but-" he pauses and says with a serious looking face that terrified me more than Erza herself "Do you know what the difference is between you and her?"

I shake my head no "She died for a cause, she sacrificed herself and proven herself worthy of a spot in heaven and as for you" his voice started to get rough "you threw away your life, you put her effort to try and save your life in vain. A petty suicide, you have no right to be in heaven or be with Miss heartphilia at all!"

"WAIT A MINUTE YOU CAN'T DO THAT! I NEED HER AND SHE NEEDS ME YOU CAN'T TAKE HER AWAY!"

He slams his hammer 3 times "THAT IS ENOUGH! I CAN AND I WILL! You are hereby sentenced for the rest of your existence in the depths of hell and I take from you, everything! Your memories!" I can't talk my mouth won't move! "Your name!" My body won't move either I can't fight back "EVERYTHING!" He slammed his hammer again but just once and it sounded like thunder, my ears started to ring.

I felt something claw at my legs I look down, "AHHHH!" What are they! I feel fear that I've never felt before, what is this? They look liked people, but it looked like all their skin was burnt off and soaked in blood

"STOP PLEASE! HELP ME!" I can feel all my memories starting to fade away, "NO PLEASE JUST LET ME HAVE ONE MEMORY OF HER!" I can feel their hands pulling me further into the ground "I PROMISED HER I WOULD PROTECT HER FROM HERE ON OUT! I CAN'T BREAK THAT PROMISE!"

I reach out my left hand in hopes that somebody will grab it "I'm sorry Mr. Dragneel, but that luxury is only given to the worthy. If it makes you feel any better I erased all her memories as well so she won't miss you or even remember you either... She'll be in good hands"

My entire body is now engulfed in these THINGS! My hand, the only part of me that was still not dragged down yet, but I can see the hole shrinking as they pull me further down. Closing, and all the light turning into darkness "NO!" With my last memories of my living self I remember Lucy's smile, scent- her dying face. With all of my might I roar "LUCY!" Before my entire existence is swallowed up by this...hell.