Chapter 13

Did you know that rhinos are just plus size unicorns? Yes? No? Just me? Oookaayy.

Here we are at chapter 13! I'm getting my new laptop tomorrow, which is suuuppppeeerrr exciting! It will be nice to have something better to write on. Me and my squad are actually considering starting a rock band. Idk if we'll go through with it but keep an eye out for….um, we actually we don't have a name yet. But we'll totally be world famous and everything. Maybe even open for some obscure band in some coffee shop somewhere.

So if I don't update, it'll be because my squad and I are rocking out in my garage, kay?

I just got caught up on the anime of Fairy Tail, and then the Manga, so I really don't know what to do except wait for the next darn chapter. At least now I don't have to worry about reading spoilers.

Here's Chapter 13.

Lucy's POV

A crash. A roar. The smell of black smoke billowing through the open windows, covering me with a fine layer of soot. Everything about this moment is awful, reminding me that we are fighting a hopeless battle.

I wish this were over. They've been fighting out there for less than fifteen minutes, and I'm so scared that I can feel my knees shaking. He's not well enough to fight. Natsu is going to get himself killed.

The window cushion feels rough beneath my clenched hands. Just outside, Natsu sends streams of flame into the small group of soldier mages that have showed up.

When I heard the knock on the door this morning, I knew. They'd finally come for us. It'd been two days since the last attack, and I had been both expecting and dreading this. Thankfully, Natsu rested up, but stubbornly refused to do anything but fight, with his flames and his two fists.

It's him against a group of four skilled mages, some of the ones who hooked up with the army during the Great Dragon Purge. I've never seen them, but from what I've gathered, Natsu's got his hands full.

I watch in dread as they spar back and forth. At one point, it looks like Natsu is wrapping it up. Two of them are lying on the dust-covered ground, not moving. He's going all out, fighting like he could go on forever. If only that were true.

Then, through the window, I watch, helpless, as one mage plunges his sword straight through Natsu's gut with a sick sound. My dragon lets out a gasp of pain, buckling over and coughing blood onto the packed dirt. I whimper, covering my mouth with both hands to keep from crying out.

Natsu gasps for breath, and his face contorts in pain. Much to my dismay, the mage smirks, almost casually, and pulls a foot back to deliver a kick to the new wound.

Natsu screams in agony, and I cringe. I have to stop this now.

I race down the stairs, stumbling once but getting back up. I reach the front entry-way with every intention of throwing myself between the enemy mage and Natsu, but before I can dash out into the fight zone, Natsu looks back over his shoulder, making eye contact for a long moment.

There's something there that makes me stop in my tracks. I want to go to him, that's the only thing on my mind right now. But he shakes his head slightly, telling me to stay put.

With a yell, he pushes himself up off the ground, holding his stomach with his left hand. His breaths are coming more heavily now, and I can see the sweat dripping off of him from here.

"You can't stay down, can you? Oh well, more fun for us." The second mage smiles cruelly.

Natsu lets out a growl, and with it comes a roar of white-hot flame. The mages step back, not expecting such a powerful attack at this point. To my dismay, they don't seem to even be singed, but Natsu isn't done.

Natsu lets his hand fall from his wound, both fists now blazing. He wastes no time going after the mages, and it's as if he was never hurt in the first place. He's swinging punches, yelling something that I can't make out.

It takes a few moments, but after a well-placed punch knocks the first mage out cold, hope swells in my chest. He'll be fine now.

Or so I thought. It only takes a minute or so for the blood loss to start taking affect, and Natsu is showing signs of fatigue. He stumbles once, regaining his balance just in time to be hit over the head with a heavy branch. This mage uses nature magic, and the roots that he summons out of the ground quickly wrap themselves around Natsu's arms, torso, and legs.

He burns through the first few roots, but soon enough they come too thick to be affected by the flames. As they tighten, the mage smiles, and I feel a new wave of fear wash over me.

"What is this? This ain't fighting fair! Get your plants off of me!" Natsu shouts.

I cringe, seeing the last mage's expression. His black eyes glitter maliciously, and I know that there is nothing anyone can do to stop him now.

"This is the end of the line, dragon. I've always wanted to slay one of you. It was a good fight, but I guess it's time for me to return the princess to her father." He sneers, pointedly glancing in my direction.

Natsu squirms, bending his neck to look back at me in the doorway. "Lucy! Get out of here!"

I don't move. I don't reply. I can't think of what to do. What will stop this mage from hurting Natsu any further?

The mage looks at me, grinning, and waves a hand. More roots shoot up from the ground, piercing Natsu's body and enlarging the pool of blood already gathered beneath him. His eyes go wide, and he stifles a gasp, but he doesn't take his eyes off me. "Get….Away….Lucy…."

No. I can't leave him. He'll die. He'll die anyways, whether I stay or go. I feel so powerless now, because it seems that no matter what I do, he dies. I can't stop it.

Unless…

I was offered a deal by my father. Natsu's life, in exchange for my submission. I rack my brain as fast as I can, panicking as the mage takes a step towards Natsu.

I made a deal. I can stop this now and go with him, and he won't hurt Natsu anymore. But with his injuries, he'll be left to die if no one does anything.

I can't leave, I can't stay. What do I do, what do I do, what do I do?

There. The idea pops into my head like a glorious ray of sunshine, giving me a small sliver of hope. I can save him.'

The mage makes an upward motion with his hand, and a thick root grows straight throw his abdomen, where he was already healing from his other fight. Natsu groans in pain, too weak now to do anything else.

"Stop!" I say boldly, walking rapidly toward the mage. "I'll go with you."

"Is that so?" The mage says. "I didn't realize you had a choice."

"Well, I do. I can make it hard for you, or I can make it easy for you. But if you leave Natsu alone, I'll go and I won't put up a fight. It will make you look better, at least." I tell him, putting all my confidence into my voice to keep it from trembling.

"Is that so." He says, dropping his hand.

Natsu blinks several times, struggling to stay aware. "Don't…."

"I'll go with you willingly, in twenty-four hours. That is my proposal."

Twenty-four hours. That will buy me enough time to get Natsu some medical care and make sure he's okay before I leave forever. I owe him that much.

"Twenty-four hours? So you can run away?" He asks.

"I won't run. I want to be done with this. I will keep my word." I tell him.

I can save him. This is the only way.

He looks thoughtful. "Oh, very well. You ruined my fun, but I just might get a promotion out of it. I will come back, the same time tomorrow."

Abruptly, he recalls all of his plants, dropping Natsu to the ground like a rag doll and walking away as if taking an afternoon stroll. I waste no time dropping to my knees, rolling the dragon prince over onto his back.

"Natsu? Oh, Mavis, this is bad." I exclaim, surveying the damage. His eyelids flutter slightly, and his breathing sounds awful. Did he puncture a lung?

"You'll be fine, let me just get Porlyusica. She can fix this." I say, more for myself than for him. I don't know if moving him is safe or not, so I don't know how to manage any of this. There's so much blood, everywhere. It's a wonder he has any left in him.

I look back towards the castle, judging the distance between here and the nearest bedroom. Could I carry him that far?

I start to stand, but his fingers brush against my wrist weakly, an attempt to grab my hand.

"Uh—Natsu?" I breathe, trying not to think about the fact that Natsu could very easily bleed to death right here.

"Stay. Please." He murmurs, his chest heaving slightly as he coughs up blood.

I hold onto his hand, forcing a helpless smile. "Natsu….."

That's when I hear Happy's voice call out like the trumpet of the Calvary. "Lucy? What's going on?"

The cat flies out of the castle, eyes going wide. "Oh My Gosh! What happened?"

I look up at the cat, relieved. "The last mage was too powerful for him. Go get Porlyusica. Hurry!"

He nods through tears, flying off.

I'm left alone again with Natsu. His eyelids are fluttering to a close. Maybe it's unreasonable, but I panic, fearing that if he goes to sleep now, he might not wake up.

"Come on, stay with me!" I cry, shaking his shoulders. "Stay awake, Natsu!"

He coughs again, weary, but awake. "Still here."

I take a deep breath to calm myself down. "Okay." My voice trembles.
"Okay. We need to get you inside. I need to stop the bleeding, and there's such a high risk of infection—Mavis, what if Porlysica can't make it here fast enough to heal your internal injuries?"

Natsu grunts, taking a shallow, rasping breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't beat 'em this time."

"Nevermind that! Can you stand? Here, lean on me. Let's get you inside." I say firmly, pushing back the tears until he's safely in bed and resting up.

Natsu tries to get to his feet, stumbling, and I slip under his arm, taking a great deal of his weight. He can barely support himself, and I stumble through the castle, almost dragging him into his own bedroom. I look back, cringing at the trail of blood leading up the stairs and through the halls. Shaking myself to clear it form my mind, I put Natsu down on the white bedsheets.

He collapses right away, exhausted. If his prior injuries were bad, these are ten times worse. He's draped over the mattress, staining everything crimson. I can't bear to think what might happen if his injuries are as truly bad as they look.

Finally, Porlyusica arrives, after what seems like hours. Her expression is unreadable as she ushers me, protesting fervently, out of the room.

I go across the hall into my room, plopping down on the mattress with a frustrated sigh. Porlyusica is here, so Natsu is fine now. But how long until he decides to go get in another fight? The idiot doesn't know the first thing about self-preservation.

I felt tears threatening to fall earlier, but now they won't come. Natsu will be fine, I'm sure Porlyusica will patch him up, good as new, but I won't be here to see it. I'll be miles away from here by then.

I made a deal, didn't I? In twenty-four hours, that mage will be back to take me to my father. And Natsu will be safe.

Very, very angry with me, but safe. That's all that matters.

I don't know how much he understood back there—he was half-conscious when I made the deal, so whether he understands what is going on is a question yet to be answered. I'll have to tell him sooner or later, but I'll let him rest for a while first.

I lie there for quite some time, staring at the stones in the ceiling. What is going on in that other room?

Restless, I finally give in, making my way back across the hall to the closed door on the other side.

I crack it open silently, peering in. She isn't using medicine, like I thought she would. She has placed several magic circles all over his sleeping form, muttering incantations as the soft lavender light illuminates her face. I watch, stupefied, as his cuts and gashes slowly knit themselves back together. I've never seen such magic at work before, and it fascinates me.

To think, this is what my father is trying to extinguish.

An hour later, Porlyusica finishes, sweat dripping from her brow. She sighs, as if finishing a long day's work, and watches for several moments as her patient sleeps soundly.

I open the door quietly, not wanting to wake the dragon slayer. Porlyusica sees me, and a frown crosses her face. "I told you what would happen, didn't I?"

I sit on the mattress beside him, avoiding her gaze. "I know."

"He's a good young man. Maybe too good, sometimes." She adds. "He loves you."

I pause. "I know."

Porlyusica exhales, fixing her disheveled bun on the top of her head. "I always did think you two would make a good pair. But…well, I think it's time for you to leave."

"I know. I've already arranged for that." I respond numbly.

"Good. You're a smart girl, Lucy. Your mother…she would be proud."

I nod, watching Natsu's chest rise and fall. It's amazing how quickly she healed him. It's as if there isn't a trace of injury left.

"I only stopped the blood loss and sealed all of his injuries. He'll have severe bruising by tomorrow, but nothing worse. Give it a few days' time and he'll heal, but if I know Natsu, he'll come after you." She muses.

"They're coming back for me tomorrow. And I can't stop him from trying to break into the castle and getting himself hurt again."

"Yes, well, if that's the case, then I might have something." She says, reaching into her magic bag, out of which, as she explained earlier, she can summon any commonly available magic item, including medicines. She withdraws a small vial of red liquid, and a seemingly normal pen. She hands both to me, and I stare dumbly at each item.

"The vial holds the nectar of the red lotus, which induces paralysis. The pen can only be used once, and it lays down a containment spell using ancient runes." She explains.

I blink. "Umm…"

She lets out an irritated sigh. "In simpler terms, any person given the full vial of nectar will be paralyzed for a week. The pen's containment spell will prevent people from leaving an area, or entering, for that matter. It will protect him while he is vulnerable."

"Oh." My voice sounds small, and I instinctively take Natsu's hand.

"He'll be fine for a week, the nectar will slow his body down so that he won't need food or water. And after that week, he'll be able to move again."

I swallow hard, a knot of dread forming in my stomach. That's the last thing I want to do.

"I know it isn't easy. But you need to be strong for all of us. The world isn't a place where everyone gets what they want." She says, almost gentle. "If you return to the palace, you may be able to turn the tide and reverse your father's actions."

I say nothing, staring at the objects in my hands as she takes her bag and leaves. I sit there for a good long while as my brain whirs, trying to come up with another solution. But no, this is the only way to stop him from coming after me, at least for a week.

I pack my things that night, weeping silently as I neatly fold my clothing and place it in the big chest at the foot of my bed. I take very little, just the things that hold memories. The dress I wore when we danced at the engagement ball, the little glass fairy on a necklace, things like that. I don't want to forget the time that we shared together.

It's not like I'll be needing them anymore.

After I'm done packing, I take a walk around the castle, reminiscing about all the things I was able to do here that a girl of my rank would never have been allowed to do. Natsu and his friends gave me a life, if only for a few months. For that I am grateful.

It's dusk by now, the sun setting in the west. It's beautiful, and I find that oddly infuriating. Nothing should be beautiful. My world should be black and white now that I face a life just as bleak. But no—it's horribly, sinfully beautiful.

I go to check in on Natsu. I won't tell him anything yet, because I want him to rest easy. But the moment I step in to his room, to find that he is awake, he sits up and crosses his arms, glaring. "You're not leaving."

I hand him a glass of water and a slice of bread, telling him to eat. When he refuses, I shake my head and sigh. "Natsu, where did you get that idea?"

His expression is the same: stubborn determination. "You made a bargain with him, didn't you? He's coming back tomorrow to take you away."

Well, there goes my plan to break it to him slowly.

I don't meet his eyes. I can't face what I might find there. "Natsu...it's not an easy decision for me to make. But I...I have to."

"You don't! You shouldn't have to go back, not after everything we went through to keep you hidden!" He counters. "If you go back there, you'll marry Cobra. And I sure as hell ain't gonna let that happen!"

"That isn't something either of us can control." I say softly. "I'm sorry, Natsu. My father offered me a deal. You'll be safe, you'll be able to live out the rest of your life in peace. And as for me-I'm sure I can manage."

He is silent, clenching his jaw in frustration. I sit down on the bed, screwing the cap off the poultice that Porlyusica left behind.

"Give me your arm." I tell him, and he complies. I unwrap the bandages around his forearm, where the skin was rubbed raw from the plant magic. The poultice smells faintly sweet, mingling with the pungent scent of medicinal herbs. I wrinkle my nose as I spread it over his skin and re-wrap clean bandages around it.

He watches me work, not wincing or showing any sign of discomfort at all. I can see the gears in his brain working, trying to come up with something that would convince me to stay.

"Lean forward. And hold still, you're moving too much." As I finish tying the knot, I wipe my ointment-covered hands off on a clean rag,

"What about me? What about Fairy Tail? We need you." He grunts as I move on to his torso, which is black and blue beneath the bandages.

"You did just fine before I came here."

"You're here now. You can't just leave. Not after everything-"

"Natsu, there aren't any other options!" I snap, unable to focus. "Don't you realize that more than anything, I want to stay here? I love this life. I've already tried to convince myself to stay, and it hasn't worked. You're only making it harder for both of us. It's better if you can just move on already."

"I can't move on! You don't get it, Lucy. I need you. If you leave, I'll be left alone. I love you. Dammit, Lucy, why don't you get that? I wouldn't nearly get myself killed for someone who didn't matter."

"But you shouldn't have to get yourself killed!" I reply with equal fervor. "You've always been the one protecting me. But this time, it's my turn."

"I don't want you to protect me!" He counters, grabbing my hands in his. "I want you to stay. If I'm alive and you aren't here, there's no point."

"Yes there is. Stop being so dramatic." I turn my face away, feeling tears threatening to fall for the hundredth time today. "You have your friends."

Natsu's eyes are alight, fired up with passion and desperation. "They aren't you."

"But they're your family."

"You're apart of that family too." He says softly.

That's the last straw for me. I break down, sobbing into my hand. All the stress of the past few days has finally caught up to me.

Natsu shakes his head, pulling me in close. "Stay." He whispers against my forehead. "We can work something out. This doesn't have to be the end of us."

I lean my head against his chest, crying. Am I really strong enough to just walk away from this?

We stay like that for quite some time. I let him hold me, grateful for the time that we have left.

Because tommorrow, it will all be over.

The sun rises the next day, bringing with it a sense of finality. This is it. This is the day it all ends.

My last morning in the Dragneel Estate.

An hour before the scheduled time, I drag my chest down the stairs and set it outside the door. On a whim, I pull out the necklace and latch it around my neck.

By then, it's a half-hour till my twenty-four hours is up. Taking a deep breath, I climb the stairs, retrieving the Lotus Nectar from beneath my bed.

Natsu has been resting, mostly because I didn't really give him any other option. He groggily sits up when I walk into his room with a tray of food, looking like he's wishing the slab of bread were a thick, juicy steak.

"He'll be back soon. You should go hide." He says, obediently taking the tray in his hands.

"I'll be fine, I know what to do." I say. And I do know what to do. Just...maybe not what he's expecting. "Eat."

He nods, gulping down the glass of water. I watch as the last drop leaves the glass. It's all okay now. He's safe, with that glass of water. I take a deep breath of relief.

He burns right through the bread and soup I brought up. I notice his movements are beginning to slow-very slightly, it will come into effect all at once.

I sit on the bed, feeling incredibly guilty for doing this to him. I lean forward, wrapping a hand around his neck for a kiss. He returns it, placing a gentle hand on my cheek. I'll miss this. I'll miss him. I'll never be able to love Cobra, not like this

It's then that it hits him.

He goes stiff, falling back onto the bed. "Wh-what?! Lucy! What's going on!?"

He struggles to get up again, but by now, his limbs are frozen. "Lucy! What did you do?!"

I look on sadly. His body goes still, but his chest is still heaving, the effort of movement proving to be an exhaustion. His green eyes are wide and scared, betrayal written over his face.

"I'm sorry, Natsu. This was the only way. You would've come after me otherwise." I say, looking at the carpet. "I'm sorry. I truly am. It'll wear off in a week, and you won't need food or water during that time."

"You can't do this!" He protests. "You can't do this!"

"I'm sorry." I say numbly. I lean forward to place one last, deep kiss on his lips. He gasps as I break away, staring up at me with mixed emotions. Harsh rage, hurt and betrayal, but beneath it all, is concern. Concern for me and what I'm getting myself into. I stand up and avoid those eyes, knowing that I'm leaving everything behind. I don't think my heart will survive this. "I love you, Natsu. No one can change that."

"LUUUUUCCCYYYY!" He roars, and I cringe. I can hear him shouting even as I draw the containment line around the doorframe. The tears are spilling off my cheeks like drops of rain falling to the ground. I know, as I sit on the doorstep to wait, that I'll never see him again. The pain in his voice almost makes me run back inside to beg forgiveness, but I couldn't, not with the containment spell around the castle. This needs to be done.

His roars have depleted, which I guess means that his vocal chords finally froze up. I dry my tears, take a deep breath, and square my shoulders. It's time for the next challenge. I can do this. I am strong.

The mage arrives promptly; I can see him strolling up the dirt path. He's whistling a happy tune-as if he's trying to mock me-with his hands in his pockets.

I stand to meet him, giving him the coldest glare I can muster. "Good Afternoon."

"Is it? I know I'm having a good afternoon. I don't see why you would having one, though." He chuckles to himself.

I don't laugh.

"Well, that aside, I have a transport prepared for us. Come along." He says with an emotionless smile.

I don't move. "My things."

He looks at me, incredulous. "Your things? Your highness, don't be ridiculous. You won't be needing any of those. You'll have a much better wardrobe when I return you to your father."

"But-" I start. I don't know why, but I'm desperate to keep those things.

He interrupts me right away. "None of that! Come!"

I sigh, looking back at the castle sadly. I can't let these emotions control me. I'll need to be strong if I am to be of any influence in the palace.

Natsu will be fine. He'll move on, he'll find someone else who can make him happy. And I'll have the memories, to haunt me for the rest of my life. Maybe I can make something of my life in Bosco. I don't really see how, but it's possible. Maybe Cobra isn't so bad.

Who am I kidding. I'll never be as happy as I was here.

It takes hours to reach the royal palace, which is a hundred miles away. But even then, as I step through the grand, ornate doors of my glorified prison, I still hear the betrayal in Natsu's voice.

There you have it! Goodbye, Lucy. :'( :'( :'(

Ummm...yeah...so that's it...

Have a great life everyone! Don't make stupid decisions. Seriously. Just don't. Reviews are always lovely. :)

Oh, one more thing. So the rock band thing is coming along but we have no idea what to call ourselves, so I need ideas. And since you peeps are the internet, well, who better to ask? If you have any cool rock band names, let me know! It would be sooo helpful!

Ok bye.