Hey there friends, NaLu week is back, and so am I with more angst. Oops.
Day 1: Gift
"Lucy!"
The Celstial Mage turned sharply, golden hair whipping about her shoulders. The rose-haired Dragon Slayer was racing toward her, his eyes as fiery as the magic he possessed. "Natsu?" Lucy called, her voice hoarse due to the pain her missing arm had left. The dragons screeched in the background, threatening to deal them the same fate as so many of their guild mates. Natsu stumbled toward his partner, his various wounds slowing him down. What could he be calling to her for, she wondered? Hadn't he just sent her away?
"Lucy, wait!" Natsu stopped in front of her, nearly plowing her over. "What is it? What's wrong?" Lucy asked, panicked. Natsu panted, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. "Gajeel," He choked, tears welling in his sharp eyes. "He's..."
"Dead."
Lucy finished the sentence for him, her own eyes watering, mourning the loss of another dear friend. "That's it, Lucy," Natsu whispered, his voice cracking. "It's just us. Me, you, and Levy. I don't stand a chance without the other Dragon Slayers. We're done for." Lucy glowered at him, partially out of fear and partially because she felt she'd been insulted. Was she not strong enough to take the dragons? She and Yukino had made a deal, if one of them were to die, the other would take all the keys to close the gate. Lucy had all twelve, so why didn't Natsu believe she could save them? "What about me?" She snapped. "Don't I stand a chance? And Levy? You always talk about how strong Fairy Tail wizards are! Levy and I are just as much a part of this guild as you and Erza, or Mira, or Laxus! I have all twelve keys, together, the three of us could win! We could fight them, and I'll close the gate! Even if we've lost everyone else, for their sake, we should at least-"
"I can't lose you, Lucy!"
Lucy stopped, taken aback. "There are only three of us," He continued in a whisper. "I'm not strong enough to take the dragons on my own, and Levy's magic isn't built for combat. I know she could hold her own, but without the others, god knows how long the three of us would last. Besides," He chuckled bitterly. "If I let Levy die, Gajeel would kill me a second time once I got to the afterlife." Lucy stared at her best friend, speechless. He'd never been like this. Natsu had a warrior's heart; he refused to give up even in the toughest of times. Why now?
"And you..." Natsu rested his forehead on hers, brushing her hair out of her eyes. "I can't lose you. I won't." Lucy's eyes widened when he pressed his lips to hers. It was gentle, and somewhat weak because of both of their current states, but at the same time, it held a passion that Lucy knew was Natsu's alone. She closed her eyes, pulling him closer as he entwined his fingers with hers, cupping her cheek gently with the other hand. When he pulled away, she saw that he was crying, but smiling at the same time. "I love you, Lucy. That's why I can't let you do it."
Lucy nodded, tears streaming down her pale, bloodied cheeks. "I love you too," She whispered, leaning in to kiss him again. She was stopped, however, by the earth-shattering roar of a dragon. Natsu winced, pulling himself farther away from her. "You have to go," He shouted, gripping her arms tightly. "But Natsu, I-"
"No buts! I already told you, I can't lose you." As the Dragon's taunted them with their screams, Nats unraveled the muffler from around his neck, wrapping it haphazardly around hers. "Natsu, what-?"
"It'll protect you," He said, placing another swift kiss on her mouth. "Think of it as a parting gift." Lucy could only nod, holding tight to the fabric of his vest as she cried onto his shoulder. "Keep on living, Lucy. For the guild. For me," He whispered. "Find Levy. Wherever Gajeel took her, she's safe there, I know she is," He looked her dead in the eye, holding her close to him. "You two have to live."
He kissed her one more time, on her forehead this time, before turning and charging toward the dragons. "Here I come, you damn bastards!" He shouted, flames engulfing his fists. Lucy sobbed hysterically, unable to hold herself back anymore as she watched the man she loved run straight to his death. "I'll protect us!" She shouted, only hoping that he could hear her. "No matter what it takes, I'll save our guild! I promise, I'll find a way to change our future!"
She turned to flee and find Levy like he'd asked of her, her eyes squeezed shut tightly. As she heard a strangled cry of pain, what would surely be his final scream, followed by the vicious roar of a victorious beast, Lucy clutched the scarf, his parting gift to her, holding onto it as if it was her lifeline. Anger overtook the blonde as the smell of blood, his blood, filled the air. "I promise," She muttered, though no one was there to hear it. She would not let Fairy Tail die out in such a way.
Even if it killed her, she would change this future.
Okay so I the prompt barely came through in this, but I couldn't think of anything else. I was going to do something about Lucy's birthday (July 1st, happy birthday to my one and only queen!), but I did that last year, so I had to try something else. I also wrote this on the spot so it might not be as good, but I tried! I hope you all liked it, I'll be back with more tomorrow :)
