Alright, after this chapter, I can only write the subsequent ones when I'm at home as they are more complicated to write quickly. Did anybody expect this? Even though Oracions Seis characters are going to play a minor role but they are quite important to explain Brain's motivation later.
Natsu is portrayed as a weaker character but he will develop. The story is built around him.
Chapter 12: An Angel's joke
"Gray, what are you doing? Shouldn't you be going to Tower of Heaven with Tsuna? Why are you guys fighting here?" Lucy shouted at him after being annoyed at his behaviour, to have his foot on Tsuna's head. Before he scolded her for not meeting up with Erza, she might as well take this chance to cover up her blunder.
"I'm currently settling things with this boy. Please don't disturb me, woman. You know I can't see eye to eye with you." Gray responded darkly and he continued trampling on the boy. Lucy summoned Sagittarius immediately to stop him with his arrows. This was too absurd. Gray would not do that to Tsuna no matter how much he disliked him right? That was so unlike Gray.
Lucy turned her head to see Tsuna. He was in agony. Lucy heart ached to see him lying on the raft unable to do anything to defend himself. This was not right. That was so unlike Tsuna. Tsuna would not be weak on something like this on a raft, on transportation. Lucy sweatdropped. Lucy came to a realisation that he was not Tsuna but Natsu.
*Flashback*
Natsu was separated from Wendy and Brain who were moving faster than he was. He fell for the trap when he was trying his best to keep up with them. It was very inconvenient not to be able to use magic.
Natsu was forced to face Jellal's underlings alone on the way to catch up with Brain and Wendy who flew off with Charles, an exceed like Happy. Charles was a female white exceed. She was Wendy's best friend just like Happy was to Natsu.
Natsu had lost too much power by then and was no longer able to even spit fire. He realised he had finally become a normal human without magic. Natsu could no longer keep up with them. Taking out his Sealed Flame Blade, he decided to try his luck but he was taken out quickly instead and was sent off flying. How pathetic can he get?
He got up in pain after crashing down at somewhere unknown. At least he seemed to be safe now with no one coming after him. He realised he had lost his only weapon from the battle. He was going to get it from Jellal for losing the sword when he learnt about it. Natsu stood up and tried to look for direction. Sliding down a slope, that was when he found Gray who was unconscious floating on the river. Natsu was did not expect to see Gray. He hobbled to his side to check on him. Little did he expect that it was a trap and he was not Gray. By the time, he realised it was a trap when "Gray" flashed him an evil expression. It was too late. He found himself on the floating raft of which to his horror, his weakness, a transportation.
*End Flashback*
"Lucy…" It took him great effort to even greet Lucy before he puked again.
A lady in white came into view. Her outfit made up of white feathers. She was known as Angel, one of the members in the famous dark guild Oracion Seis.
"Isn't that a member of a light guild? Gemini, you have gone too far with your trap. We are here to pick Brain up, not too pick a fight." With that "Gray" reverted to its original forms, they were transformed from Gemini, a Celestial Spirit that is one of the twelve Golden Zodiac Keys.
"We are sorry." They danced around where Angel stood.
Angel looked at Lucy suspiciously and she spoke up, "What are you doing here? Don't you know it is dangerous here?"
"You have gone too far with your joke." Lucy cried in response pointing at poor Natsu who was puking hard on the raft.
"I'm sorry. I'm just following instruction to deter unauthorised people from passing through, especially normal human and a little kid like him. I will retreat for now, you can take him home." Angel left waving her hands and left the scene.
Lucy was hopping mad in anger. How rude can she get? Lucy turned to Natsu who was calling for her to help him while puking.
"Lucy…"
It pained Lucy to see Natsu suffering like this in agony. She struggled through the river to reach for him. "Natsu, I'm coming to get you now."
When Lucy was about to reach his hand, the rope which connected the raft with the rock snapped and Lucy fell on top of Natsu from the impact. The raft was washed away with the flow of the river, it was a current. Soon they reached where end of the stream was. Lucy watched in horror that they had reached the top of the waterfall.
Looking at poor Natsu whose head was spinning from the motion sickness, she recalled the promise to herself. She had lost Natsu once, and this time she was not going to let go of him. With that, she tightened her hug on Natsu as they fell from great height.
"It's ok, Natsu, I will protect you."