"You WHAT?" Natsu asked, jumping up from his chair. He quieted down after a disapproving glance from Master. I sighed. I should have expected this.
"I wished that I could take everyone's pain away," I said, forcing myself not to sound guilty. I hadn't meant for it to turn out like this. I didn't even know what Granting Wish did when I thought it! Erza and Gray didn't look very surprised.
"And you were just going to stay like this and not tell anyone?" Natsu asked. I nodded sheepishly. "You should never have jumped in front of me! I could have taken that hit and been perfectly fine!"
Why was he acting so strange and cold? It's not like I purposely threw myself into danger and begged for this to happen. I was trying to PROTECT him. Although I kind of understand, if he were the one jumping in front of me, I personally would have just been relieved he was alive. I'd yell at him, but then everything would be ok. I wouldn't make him feel bad for trying to save me.
"Natsu!" Erza yelled. He flinched in fear. I shook my head sadly. This was starting to go downhill. Master noticed the tears building in my eyes.
"Natsu, go wait outside," he commanded.
"But—," he argued.
"Go," Master said again. Natsu stormed out of the room angrily and slammed the door behind him.
"Why is he so mad at me? I just didn't want him to get hurt!" I groaned, burying my face in my hands. Cold fingers rested on my shoulder in a soothing manner.
"He's just being an idiot, like always," Gray tried to console me.
"That aside, what do you want to do?" Master asked.
"I don't think reversing the curse is possible. It's not like I'll ever be strong enough to kill a dragon, even if I wanted to," I said. Master nodded.
"Erza, Gray, could you go check on Natsu? Make sure he isn't destroying the guild again." They nodded and left silently without complaint. When he was sure they were gone, he continued. "I will allow you to stay like this for the time being until we can figure out what to do. I know you are strong enough to live through this, but it will not stay for long. I will look into matters and try to help." I nodded in thanks.
I would be fine. I wanted to do this. It will hurt like hell, but at least I'd be helping my friends for a while.
"Let's go let the guild know." I nodded and hesitantly followed him down the stairs. I let my bangs cover my face so nobody would see how I really felt in my eyes. Master tore down most of the papers on the request board, earning many gasps. He stood on the bar behind me and began his speech.
"Listen up, brats. From this moment on, until this matter is fixed, there will be no more difficult jobs taken, and NO MORE FIGHTING. Am I clear?" Master yelled to the guild. Most people nodded with confused looks, while others stared in anger.
"Now, let me explain. A few days ago, Lucy and her team were stacked by a wish made named Cleo. Cleo had defeated everyone single-handedly, and Natsu was the only one left standing at the time. Lucy jumped in front of him the next time Cleo attacked." Everyone stared at me now. I couldn't see them, but I felt their eyes burning holes in my head. "The specific technique he used was a form of Ancient Magic. He read the person's wish and made it come true. Lucy had wished that she could take away all of her friends' pain. Cleo twisted her wish, and now none of you will feel any pain. Only Lucy does. When one of you gets hurt, she takes the damage on her body." Gasps ran through the crows. Levy pushed forward and hugged me. I kept my eyes trained on the floor. One by one, everyone put a hand on a spot they'd been hurt since I was attacked. I'd felt most of them, although they were mostly just little pinches that disappeared a few minutes later.
"It was stupid. It's Lucy's fault she has this curse now! She shouldn't have jumped in front of me!" Natsu muttered from the back of the group. Everyone glared daggers at him. Happy flew up and peaked under my hair at my face.
"Natsu, you made Lucy cry!" he accused. Natsu didn't say anything. I hardened my eyes and rubbed my tears away with my knuckles. Staring up at my friends for the first time, I gently twisted out of Levy's arms and walked straight to Natsu. The people split apart easily to let me through.
"Lucy' I didn't mean—," at least he had the decency to look ashamed. My hand made a pleasing smack when it made contact with his face. His head snapped to the side, exposing a bright red handprint. A second later, it disappeared, and by the looks my friends were giving me, it was now on my face in the exact same place. I ignored the sharp sting. It was worth it to see him finally realize how hurt I was.
"Idiot," I spat out, and ran from the guild.
"Lucy, wait!" Natsu called after me. I didn't. I just ran, and ran, and ran, until I was deep in a forest and had no clue how to get back.
Erza's PoV
After Lucy left, everyone was either afraid to move, or afraid to stop moving. Half the guild stood in shock, while the other half paced the hall, muttering to themselves or planning ways to fix this. There were a few (including Happy, Master, Gray, and Levy) that stared at Natsu like they were going to kill him. I didn't blame them. I was doing the same thing.
It's not uncommon for Lucy to occasionally dish out a powerful Lucy Kick, but this slap was definitely different. She packed all of her sadness and rage into it, making my heart twist sadly to see her face. She hated doing it, but it had to be done.
"I am such an idiot," Natsu whispered, taking the words right out of my mouth.
"Yeah, you are. You didn't notice that what you said hurt her! Lucy thought you understood why she did it, and now you blame her for this!" Gray spat out.
"It was a stupid thing to do! She was already hurt. I could have handled it myself!" Natsu argued.
"You dense flame brain! That's not the POINT. She did it because she loves you! Everyone with eyes can see that!" Levy yelled. Natsu froze.
"Get your ass out there and find Lucy, or else," I threatened. Natsu nodded and took off to who knows where, Happy flying right behind him. When they were gone, Mira rounded on Levy angrily.
"He was supposed o figure that out himself!" she almost yelled.
Levy shrugged. "At least he knows now. He can do what he wants with that information."
Lucy's PoV
Natsu is such an idiot. Does he really not realize that I was scared, and it was just an impulse to jump in front of him? I didn't want him getting hurt because of me! That's already happened enough! Everyone always gets hurt because of me. But they don't have to anymore. Now I can take all their suffering away from them for now. At least, until we find a way to turn this curse around.
Erza was right, in a way. I'm not helping anyone with this. Pain makes people stronger, and with nobody feeling it, they're never going to grow. They'll turn cocky and ignorant.
"Lucy!" Natsu yelled.
"Lucy!" Happy mimicked him. I ducked being a tree. Why was he coming to find me? If he lectures me about what I did, I won't be able to stop myself from ripping his head off. And that wouldn't be good for me.
It was so unfair! How was I supposed to make myself feel better when the person I slap can't even feel it?
Warm arms wrapped around my waist.
"Found you!" Natsu said, as if we'd been playing Hide and Seek like children. I have to admit, he had guts. I tried to keep my anger from seeping out. I promise I did. Ah, screw it. I rammed my elbow as hard as I could into the stupid dragon slayer's stomach.
"Ouch!" I coughed. The air was knocked out of me and I leaned heavily against the tree I'd been previously hiding behind.
"Lucy!" Natsu said, reaching out for me again.
"Don't touch me," I said.
"I understand you're mad, but-,"
"I'm not mad. I'm pissed. YOU ACT LIKE I WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN. I JUMPED IN FRONT OF YOU BECAUSE IF I HADN'T, YOU'D BE DEAD RIGHT NOW. THAT ATTACK HURT LIKE HELL, AND YOU WERE ALREADY IN ENOUGH PAIN. I MADE THAT WISH TO TAKE IT AWAY, AND TO TAKE AWAY ERZA AND GRAY'S. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WOULD COME TRUE. AND YOU TREAT ME LIKE THE BAD GUY!" I shrieked, venting my anger. This would have to take the place of not being able to hurt anyone. Natsu stood there silently.
"Are you done?" he asked patiently. I screamed in frustration. Natsu wrapped his arms around me and didn't let go when I squirmed. I punched him, kicked him, slapped him, anything I could to get him away from me.
I knew he couldn't feel any of it, and I was only hurting myself, but I didn't care.
"I'm sorry for making you feel like this, Luce. I promise I won't be so stupid again. And I promise I'll help you break this curse," he said into my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I relaxed into his arms slightly. I could almost hear him smiling, if that makes any sense.
"I haven't forgiven you," I said, pulling away. He grinned his giant toothy smile confidently anyway.
"They llllllllliiiiiiike each other," Happy purred from the branch above us.
That's all for today! Have a nice weekend, Fairies!