A/N: Everything is awesome!

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima.

Chapter 9: Crushing Conversation

Lucy was twisting and turning uncomfortably in her bed because she was having another nightmare about her dad. It wasn't always she remembered what happened in her nightmares but it would still cling to her like an uncomfortable blanket afterwards. This time it was all a blur mainly consisting of random images and dialogues, but that seemed to make it even more terrifying. Mainly because she couldn't pinpoint what was going on, because it was all fragments shouting at her at the same time Why... why did this happen? Please this already happened, the past can't be changed, so why... please make it stop... Dad? What are you doing here? Stop... Please...

She woke up screaming, bathed in sweat while taking unsteady breaths to calm her racing heartbeat. Unconsciously she clenched her hand and held it against her chest as if it might soothe her somehow.

"Lucy? Are you okay?" she looked down to stare at Happy who was looking at her with concern.

"Sorry, I was... having a nightmare I guess"

"Oy! What's wrong?!" Gray yelled as he barged in through the door, ready to attack anything that looked remotely as an enemy.

"Lucy was having a nightmare" Happy said in a low voice while staring at Lucy.

"Ohh..."

"It's okay... I'm fine... go back to sleep" Lucy said in a low voice as she turned to look at Gray "it'll be morning soon, you should get more sleep... it was just a dream... nothing to worry about..." her voice was trembling, and she was sopping every other second to prevent snot from flowing freely out of her nose.

"Yeah right you're fine..." he snorted "... and I'm the fairy that magically removes cat poop from the litter box. Here" he reached his hand towards her.

"Wh... what?"

"Just take it, okay"

"Oh, mm... kay?" she said before grabbing his hand.

"Now go back to sleep... I'll keep you safe"

"But... aren't you tired?"

"It's okay" yawning he sat down on the floor "I don't mind sleeping like this"

"You sure?"

"Yeah"

"Mmm..." Lucy actually felt more relaxed having him there "... thanks"

"Don't mention it... you know, Ur used to hold my hand whenever I had nightmares. At first I was too stubborn to grab it. You know it wouldn't be manly to do that... but eventually I learned how much it matters just having a hand to hold on to. How are you feeling?"

"Better... actually... thanks"

"See? Damn I'm tired... see you tomorrow"

"Yeah see you tomorrow"

This is fucking bullshit! Natsu thought while panting and hanging heavily in his chains. There has to be some way out of this... something... please... just... anyway... he tilted his head slightly at the sound of footsteps and knew that the silhouette was back before even seeing it.

He barely got the chance to raise his head towards the creature before he felt something hard smack his cheek, making him hiss in both pain and anger.

"Ohh you're awake?"

Natsu growled furiously before spitting the blood that had gathered in his mouth out on the floor.

"So you're back?"

"Lucy is fun to play with"

"Fuck you" he growled while staring at the thing who was still copying Lucy's appearance.

"You don't believe me do you? What if I told you that I met that annoying blue cat of yours and that dude who likes to strip. Mmm... Gray I think they called him"

"You're lying..." his voice cracked making it painfully obvious that he was having doubts.

"Mmm... but it was nice of him to comfort her when she was having a nightmare. The two of them... aaaaall alone in her big bed underneath that weird pink coloured bet sheet. Seriously why pink? And what's with those weird heart shaped things on it?"

"Tsch..." he snorted turning his head in the opposite direction, trying to ignore the creature. It's a lie, it had to be. Besides those bed sheets could be common for girls to have...

"But what's with all those plushies she has? It looked like the twelve celestial spirits?"

Growling he turned his face towards her again. It couldn't be...

"How?" he snarled through gritted teeth.

"Shadows... they are endless and everywhere. If I wanted to I could go to her like this" she snapped her fingers "Besides I can almost hide my presence if I want to. I don't have to reveal myself unless I want people to notice me"

"Why?"

"Because it's more fun this way" giggling she grabbed Lucy's whip and in a quick movement used it to lash his chest, earning a pained scream to escape Natsu's lips "Don't you think?"

"... I don't care. You just... said that you visited Lucy. That means she isn't in this cave but outside and doing well" he smirked defiantly towards the creature.

"Mmm ohh well" she hummed "Maybe she is? Maybe she isn't? It's pointless anyway, because you can feel it, can't you?"

"Feel what?"

"How your sanity is slowly breaking apart. Just like a tiny crack in glass that suddenly escalates until it finally shatters into a million pieces. You're not sure of what's reality and what's an illusion. Your heart desperately keeps struggling"

"And who's fault is that, huh?" he growled in anger.

"Does it matter? Question time!" she pointed her finger accusingly towards him "Why are you so confident in your abilities, hm? Why do you think that you'll eventually save her?"

"Because I will. If she needs me I'll be there" narrowing his eyes he stared at the girl who rolled her eyes before slapping a hand against her forehead.

"Oh dear! You know you're such a romantic idiot!" snarling she removed the hand to point at him again "You really think everything can be solved by your own hands if only your heart is in it don't you? Are you that self-centred? Do you truly believe that you can save everyone like some silly hero in a fairy tale? Hm? That you'll get the princess in the end and live happily ever after? Well

NEWS-FUCKING-FLASH" she yelled while flicking her finger on his forehead "This isn't a fucking story! This is reality. Life isn't about good and evil it's about whether or not you can have any influence"

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Well haven't you ever lost something important to you because you were insufficient?"

"Tsch!" he snorted in despise.

"Yes you have! And that's because you can't predict everything! You can't control life or it's contents! You gain power to prevent bad things from happening but can you honestly say that you're so good that you can control everything? Hm? Are you some sort of god who can rescue everyone you hold dear, just because you believe it in your heart? So let me ask you this. When Igneel left was that a good thing or a bad thing? Lucy's father dying before she got to talk to him, was that a miracle bound to happen? See? It's not that simple"

"It has nothing to do with this!" Natsu roared in anger.

"It has everything to do with this! You think this Lucy is precious to you but can you prevent her from leaving you? Hm? If she wanted to travel far, far away one day how would you prevent her from doing so?"

"What the fuck are you playing at? She would never leave in the first place. But if she had a reason to... leave... I wouldn't prevent her. She's an individual and she has the right to do as she likes"

"Ohh you're hilarious! And here I thought I was the insane person in here. Listen to you! You don't believe your own words! But it doesn't matter... no... all you need to know is that you're useless. If I wanted to I could have killed Lucy quicker than the blink of an eye. And what could you do? Scream about it? That reminds me, didn't I kill her earlier, where you couldn't do anything? Hm? You know I shouldn't have to explain this to you. I know you and I know that you've been thinking about all the negative aspects I'm telling you"

"Shut... the hell up!" he roared as images started appearing inside of his mind.

"No! She died in here! And you couldn't do ANYTHING about it!"

"I said SHUT THE FUCK UP!" he screamed with all the power he could muster, leaving him heaving for air as he stared towards the woman in front of him. His throat hurt like hell, but he didn't really register it. No, something had sparked inside of his mind making him somehow lose his hold on reality.

"Ohhh... and what makes you think I would shut up, just because you hiss like a kitten, hm? You know what? I don't think you truly grasp what I'm saying. Because you're dense!"

"So what if I'm fucking dense! It doesn't matter what you say because you brought me hope, didn't you? You clearly implied Lucy is safe so tell me why the fuck I would even listen to you, huh?"

She snickered teasingly while swaying her hips "Hmm... because I can make your worst fears come true. You know that don't you?"

"They're just fucking illusions"

"Well... real or not, it still hurts doesn't it?"

Natsu grunted in defiance while glaring daggers towards the girl. He wouldn't be caught so easily. Sure his mind was more fragile, because he had been there a long time and it was true he had been exposed to horrible things. But he wouldn't bulge. No, he would claw his way through this no matter what. Especially since the fucking-Lucy-wannabe gave him hope. It wasn't like some huge revelation had been invoked, but it was enough for him to smirk in defiance towards the creature.

"Tsch!" she spat before raising one of her hands "I see you still don't understand. You will though... oh yes! Evidently I've been too modest and kind to you! You'll learn... the deepest darkest fears... the pain you can't escape even if you try. You want hell? I'll give you hell!" her eyes was sparkling red for a second as shadows suddenly seemed to rise from the ground, spawning around her like black waves.

"Yes you'll learn" the shadows around her twisted and turned, becoming long snake-like figures towering all around her small frame.

"What the fuck are you planning?" Natsu hissed.

"Ohh you'll see... and when you do it'll be too late, because in the end you'll fail. Just like everyone else!" some of the snake-like shadows inched over her arms before stopping at her hands, which was pointing at him.

"Goodnight Dragneel... this might be the last time we see each other" as she uttered that sentence the shadows shot at him, wrapping him like a dozen of ropes. It didn't take long for the shadows to capture his whole body, making him tremble from the uncomfortable feeling. Just like the other times it felt like darkness was trying to suppress him, overwhelming his senses with a sense of dread. It was cold and suffocating. But for some reason he still struggled. He wouldn't let this thing get the best of him.

"Good... fucking... night!" he roared feeling the shadows overwhelm him, covering everything in black.

"Ugh!" Natsu exclaimed as he felt his body flatten against something he presumed was the ground.

The impact knocked the air out of his lungs making him pant as he got on his hands and knees.

Where the fuck is this? He wondered before taking a look around. It looked like the fields outside of Magnolia? What the... his eyes widened in confusion as he turned his head frantically.

"Huh?" confused he got into a standing position, surprised at how light he felt. Like he didn't have any wounds?

"Huh?!" he gabbed in surprise while looking at his body. It was unharmed? How? Who? What?

Confused he started sniffing a few times to see if it might give him some answers. It smelt like... well fresh air but there was also a faint scent of other people. Yes, and he knew their smells quite well. But it couldn't be...

Turning around he saw a cat observing two people who seemed to be fighting verbally with each other, and sure enough it was the people he had identified with his nose.

Bullshit! He growled, igniting both hands as he stomped towards the group. When he was close enough he saw Gray turn towards him with a surprised look on his face.

"What the fuck are you doing, idiot?" he asked with an annoyed look on his face "Can't you see we're in the middle of something?"

"Shut the hell up!" Natsu roared making Lucy and Happy jump slightly in surprise.

"Seriously this doesn't concern you" Lucy sneered towards him before turning her head towards Gray again "This is our fight"

"What fight?" Natsu asked looking at the two of them staring at each other.

"You should leave... you don't want to see this" Happy said in a sad voice "Go... go now!"

"And get stabbed in the back the moment I turn around? I don't think so!" Natsu glared at the cat for a second before turning his gaze towards Lucy and Gray who was still staring at each other, like they wanted nothing more than to rip the other person's head off.

"If you insist..." the cat sighed "But you can't interfere... this is the curse... of the past"

"What..." surprised he watched as the cat spawned his wings, flying up to his face and gently placing a paw on his forehead "... are you doing?"

His body seemed to stiffen all of a sudden, making him immobile. For fucks sake not this again! He growled trying to move his body, but nothing happened.

The cat seemed sad as he removed his paw and in a swift move landed next to him on the ground.

"Remember I warned you..." Happy whispered "... now watch... watch the story unfold"

Confused Natsu turned his eyes towards the cat who was glaring towards Lucy and Gray, who was arguing again. For some reason he couldn't make out what they were saying, but it had to be something cruel because both of them had hate written all over their body language.

Lucy was growling and suddenly he could hear their voices again.

"You've changed..." she said while grabbing her whip "... you're insane!"

"Oh really? What makes you say that?" he grinned wickedly as he brought his hands together ready to attack.

"You're trying to kill me!"

"Yes... I have to. It said so... if I don't... we'll both die"

"What are you talking about?"

"It told me so... the voice... that I have to kill you" Gray looked sad for a second but that feeling was soon replaced with fury as he started firing ice towards the girl.

"Stop it! What the hell do you think you're doing Gray?!" Natsu roared trying again to struggle against the thing confining his body but it was a futile effort "Oy! You listening?!"

"He can't hear you..." Happy facepalmed before continuing "I told you... you can't stop this"

"Like hell I can!" he roared but his voice seemed to drown as both Lucy and Gray started screaming, engulfing themselves in their battle against each other.

It wasn't an unfair fight as some people might have presumed. Lucy was quick on her feet using her whip to counter attack and make some visible wounds on Gray, whenever she was close enough. She didn't use her keys which was odd, but Natsu didn't ponder on it because she seemed capable given the circumstances. But then again she wasn't invincible or could avoid every attack because Gray was really good at using his own momentums to stab Lucy with his ice whenever he could.

Natsu felt horrible watching the fight escalate because it was clear as daylight that they were both putting all of their effort into killing the opponent. The aura's around them was filled with so much hatred and pain it made him feel uncomfortable, wanting nothing more than to end it.

Lucy smirked for a second as she found an opening and used her whip and successfully managed to wrap it around Gray's neck.

"Tsch!" the ice mage growled trying to remove the whip with both hands, because it was suffocating him "Re... move..." he was snapping for air but he couldn't get sufficient air to enter his lungs "... please..." dropping to his knees he reached one of his hands towards Lucy "... please...".

Lucy seemed surprised for a second but in a quick movement she removed her whip, making Gray stumble forward, heaving for air.

"Thank you... I'm so sorry..." his voice was shaking "I'm sorry..." he turned his head towards her. Tears was streaming down his face and his lips was trembling "I'm just so confused..."

Lucy smiled gently as she walked towards the crying boy.

"It's okay..." she said while wrapping her arms around him ".. we'll figure it out somehow. I have faith in you, you're just confused that's all"

"Yeah..." he returned the hug "... but... I can't... it has to stop..."

"Shhh... we've been through worse things haven't we..."

"Ye... yeah..."

"I love you..."

"I love you too sis... that's why I have to do this" exhaling he used his hand to quickly throw her whip away, before making ice spawn underneath Lucy, capturing her legs to the ground.

"No..." she tried struggling against the ice but she couldn't move her legs "No... don't..."

"I'm sorry..." Gray whispered in a dark voice before creating a huge sword of ice, holding it in front of him prepared to make the killing blow.

"No.. no stop this!" Natsu yelled again but could only watch in horror as Gray raised his arm ready to strike at any moment.

Time froze in that instant, capturing the scenario like a picture in front of him.

"What...?"

"If you could..." Happy said as he suddenly appeared in front of Natsu again "... would you stop this?"

"Of course I would!"

"I can help you..." the cat looked sad for a second "... but it might have consequences"

"What consequences?"

"Nothing mayor... it might hurt your body, because it will put a lot of strain on you"

"Is that all?" Natsu narrowed his eyes in suspicion towards Happy.

"Aye"

"Then do it! If it can prevent her from dying, then I don't care"

"Even if this is an illusion?" the cat crooked an eyebrow "You would make that choice?"

"Yes! Illusion or not I don't want to watch her die again"

"Very well..." Happy placed his paw on Natsu's forehead once more "Finish it"

Natsu could feel the restraints on his body slowly vaporising, making him smirk towards the cat.

"Ohh I will"

"Good..." the cat started laughing hysterically for a few seconds "... this will be fun..."

A shiver went down Natsu's spine as he watched Happy's eyes turn red for a second, before vanishing leaving nothing but thin air.

Time seemed to unfreeze simultaneously with him gaining control of his body, making him sprint towards Gray as soon as his legs allowed it.

"Stop!" he yelled while raising an ignited hand, ready to strike when he was close enough.

"Ohh... I'm so sorry" Lucy looked sad as she turned her head towards the dragon slayer "You made the wrong choice"

"Yeah..." Gray sighed heavily "... he did..."

"What?" Natsu questioned as he tried stopping his attack, but for some reason his body wouldn't listen "What?!" his eyes widened in horror when his legs suddenly made him jump into the air.

"You'll kill us without mercy..." Lucy smirked slightly "... and you can't stop it. It's too late"

"History repeating, huh?" Gray was smiling sadly as he turned his head towards the girl.

"Yes" she answered in a low voice.

Fuck! This was the last reasonable voice he heard, as he started an ongoing circle of attacks that rained down on his friends. It was similar to a slaughterhouse and unfortunately Natsu couldn't prevent it from happening. No, instead he was captured inside his body, watching in pain as his own hands and his surroundings was covered in blood.

Natsu was crying and screaming in agony at the things happening inside of his skull. For him it felt like hours had gone by, but in reality it wasn't that long. Of course he didn't know that nor did it truly matter.

Sighing the creature impersonating Lucy stared at the dragon slayer as he kept twisting and turning, trying to prevent the mental images from happening.

"You made the wrong choice... they all do..." her voice was sad but her eyes never left the boy who screaming in pain "... so did I..."

After a while Natsu's body seemed to freeze, before it started falling making him dangle in his chains, heaving for air.

"It's over..." she walked over to the dragon slayer and grabbed his chin, forcing his face upwards.

"Yeah..." whispering she glared into his blank and rather dead eyes, who was seeing nothing but the painful images still rummaging through his mind ".. it's done... game over"

The girl took a deep breathe as she fetched a bottle, grabbing his chin once more "I'll finish this with dignity... relax... this will help" her voice was gentle as she started pouring the liquid into his mouth.

Of course Natsu didn't really register it because he was occupied with other things at the moment. He did feel it though. How the liquid inside of his mouth ran down his throat into his stomach. It felt like ice, but then a again there was this weird burning sensation to it, warming his mouth and throat, making it prickle and tingly as if he had swallowed something containing glass.

"Your future might not be yours alone, but no matter how many obstacles you encounter, like me, it will make you stronger. Well it's either that or you die".

The creature sighed as if in pain before grabbing Natsu's handcuffs and unlocking them, making him fall hard towards the ground.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered in a fragile voice, and this seemed to wake something inside of the dragon slayer who turned his head towards her.

"Survive... conquer your own insanity..." she said while slowly vanishing "... and live... prove me wrong and live... be one of the first to survive these caves... and find her... this Lucy... and tell her how you feel... it might not be too late... if not ... it's game over"

A/N: This chapter is way more cruel than the original version, but as a reviewer pointed out Natsu needed something more to make him snap. Truth be told I agree (I'll continue this in the next A/N).

So yeah I know I'm implying the horror he experiences but I couldn't type that specific part in detail, because that would be too morbid. Even after my standards...

Random fact: I'm not an expert in psychology but I still think Lucy having nightmares about her father's death is highly plausible. I base this on my own experience because I still have these creepy nightmares about my mom and dad being alive, even though they died half a year ago.

So yeah, I know it's individual but without going into detail, he was her only remaining relative so I think it's more than likely that it affected her somehow. I mean if she doesn't have any reactions other than her crying when she learned about his death, then she would be inhuman and not in contact with her emotions. Because of course it hurts losing someone and that pain won't go away, just because you want it to.

So compared to Lucy I don't think she would necessarily share that pain with others, because she might not want to burden other people. It's selfish but I could imagine she would be like that.

I hope you had a nice weekend! :)

/Hejmdal