Chapter 2: Exit Stage Left
A/N: Chapter two! OMG not even a day and I already have people following my story…ok just the one but still that's amazing to me, so shout-out to DazzTugz for following the story and to IamDivergentForever for favoriting my story! So without further ado, here is chapter two of More Than Meets the Eye.
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Magnolia- X793 (3rd Person POV)
"Whaaaat!" the guild members who were present asked in utter disbelief, "Loke are you sure?" asked master Makarov, "This is a very serious accusation you are making and one I will not believe unless there is very good evidence." He said as his tone showed the seriousness of his words.
"I know what I saw!" Loke yelled angrily, "And I saw that bastard beating Lucy like she was some sort of punching bag! If you don't believe me then I'm leaving to deal with him myself!"
"Wait Loke!" Master pleaded, "Please tell everything you saw, then we'll decide what to do."
"Ok, ok… but your going to have to give me a minute to calm down," Loke said taking in a deep breath, "Ok I'm ready." He said a few minutes later.
FLASHBACK TO ABOUT HALF AN HOUR AGO (Loke POV)
As I walked and talked to Aeries about how far we have come in these past few years I suddenly saw Aquarius running towards me and ask quickly and worriedly, "Hey Leo how's Lucy doing right now?!"
I stopped to look at her confused when I felt an odd feeling and knew she was in trouble. 'Oh no, what's going on? Is she in trouble? Where's Natsu and why isn't he protecting her?' "Aries I have to go Lucy's in some sort of trouble! I'm sorry!" I said as I began to channel my magic to open my own gate.
"It's ok Leo, quickly go and help her!" Aries said looking very distressed and worried.
"Yeah hurry up and save her, do your damn job 'leader'!" She said, the last part as sarcastically as she could at the moment.
"I am, and how did you know? Your key is no longer working and the contract is void." I asked as I almost had the necessary energy to open the gate.
"I just did, gods know I've felt the feeling way too often. Please take care of her I can't anymore, please help her!" She pleaded, almost begged which wierded me out seeing the prideful mermaid beg for something, "But don't tell her about this just tell her that you felt her in trouble!" Ah there it was, her never-ending pride.
"Of course," I replied smirking, "She probably never believe me anyways." I said as I finally had the necessary energy to pass through the gate. "I'll be back!"
I passed through the gate and found myself in Lucy's apartment, the window was open and I could hear her screams, "LUCY! I'm here to save you my beautifu…." I began but immediately froze as I saw the scene that was laid out before me. There laid Lucy barely conscious, wearing only her underwear, and blood, her blood, everywhere on her floor with a man above her punching and kicking her mercilessly, coldly, callously, with no intention of stopping. Then my eyes moved up and saw something that my blood curled and my anger reached a new height, I saw pink, unruly, bedheadish hair and immediately I knew who it was. "N-n-n-n-Natsu?!" I yelled "What are you doing?! Stop now!"
And stop he did, but only to unleash his trademark roar at me, barely missing as I dodged, rolling out of the way. "What are you doing?! Why?!" I yelled and had to roll out of the way of his flaming fist. "Regulus grant me strength! Regulus Impact!" I yelled and pounced onto… nothing as I saw him booking it out the window and away from the house. "Come back here! Dammit!" 'Oh no, Lucy!' I turned and saw that she was barely hanging on and quickly scooped her up and ran towards the guild, thinking all along the way of the best way to kill a dragon slayer was.
END FLASHBACK(back to 3rd person POV)
"And now I'm here. So unless you wish to stop me, I am going to skin an idiot alive." he said as a menacing aura glowed around him, as he shook from the rage.
"And I can corroborate the story as well." Said a new voice as they all turned and saw Virgo enter the guild, "I was with hime when he began his assault of her and went to grab big brother, but he was already gone before I could find him… Wendy-san allow me to help, I came of my own volition and used my own power to pass through the gate so me staying here won't harm her." She said as Wendy nodded and the two began to work on her.
"Loke," Master said as an evenly menacing aura exuded from him as well, "I believe you, and as such will join you, anyone else who does as well is asked to join us, it is time to avenge our nakama and deal with a now ex-one." He said as everyone in the guild who actually had the courage to face Natsu came along, the mob consisting of Cana, a now thoroughly pissed, demoned up Mirajane, Elfman, Evergreen, Jet, Droy, Loke, Caprciorn who opened his own gate, and Juvia.
Lisanna and Levy looked on in horror and disbelief, unable to move or speak as the others left and marched to Natsu's house. Gajeel stood in his corner with Pantherlily and said, "Somethin' don't smell right here. There's something we're missing here, no way Salamander would hurt bunny-girl." He said as the group filed out and left, " Let's follow and see what's going on." And with that the duo were off as well, and followed at a discreet distance.
The Mob marched and at some point had gotten their hands on pitchforks and torches(like that would actually help) and made their way to Natsu's house. The mob then reached his house and Makarov, who led the mob now, banged on the door and bellowed "Natsu! Come out here at once!"
(Switch to Natsu POV)
I woke with a jolt hearing the banging on my front door as Happy flew into my room scared and yelled "Natsu what did you?! There's a mob outside and they seem really mad!"
"What? What are you talking about…" I asked as I heard the yells now and wondered what could it have been that I did, I padded over to the door and opened and was immediately greeted with a fist to my face, "OW! WHAT THE HELL?!" I yelled and saw master and others come into the house and throw me outside, "Oi, what's goin' on here?"
"Don't play dumb Natsu, you know what you did!" "Yeah! How could you do that to poor Lucy?!" "IMMA KILL HIM!" came their cries as another attack, from Elfman I think as he yelled something about being a man, and I was forced to roll out of the way and replied, "What are you guys talking about? What did I do?" I asked.
"YOU BASTARD HOW DARE YOU PLAY INNOCENT" Loke yelled as he lunged at me as I dodged again, "You beat her like you did and feign innocence? How despicable!"
"WHAAAT?! NO WAY! THERE'S NO WAY I WOULD EVER HURT HER!" I cried indignant, 'What's going on? Is this some sort of nightmare or something? That has to be it!"
"Don't lie you Bastard I saw you do it with my own two eyes and so did Virgo, so stop playing dumb and fight us! Or we will just kill you!" Loke threatened and launched his Regulus Impact at me which I had to twist my body to avoid, but was unable to avoid master's fist as it swatted me down to the ground.
I groaned and realized the truth, 'they are going to kill me! Holy shit they're tryna to kill me! I gotta get outta here fast!' I then activated my lightning-fire mode and used the increased speed to dash away while launching my lotus technique, temporarily blinding them and stopping them from following after me. I ran and ran and ran until I was on the outskirts of Magnolia and was on top of a large hill looking down on Magnolia, tears filling my eyes and silent sobs wracking my body as I looked back at the place I used to call home. 'No, no this can't be happening right now. Why? Why me, life was finally looking up and now this?!' I continued to sob but did so quietly as I did not wish to be heard by the mob that was undoubtedly searching for me. I turned around one last time and looked back over my old home and promised to myself, 'Wait for me Luce, I promise I will come back sort this out and then do what I wanted to do.' And with that he turned around and began to leave Magnolia, the place he had called home for so long and where he thought he would always call home, heading west towards the next town.
(Meanwhile with the mob, 3rd person POV)
"GODDAMMIT! SOMEONE FIND HIM!" barked Loke as the mob began to disperse and look for Natsu, as they had lost him in that last attack, "WHEN I FIND THAT BASTARD I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!" Loke yelled irritated that he lost him and had nothing to show for his efforts.
"Hmmmm, yeah something is definitely up here, no way the old man would just snap and give the kill order on Salamander. Hmmm what do you think Lily?" Gajeel asked his exceed partner.
"I'm not sure but you've done this kind of thing before and felt bad about it later as I have myself, so would agree that he didn't do it? His innocence was genuine and he was thoroughly confused by the turn of events, no?" Lily asked as he noticed Happy coming their way, "Happy! Do you know if it's true or not? Did he really hurt Lucy?"
"I-I-I don't know, I-I-I went a-a-a-a-and hung out with Charle today and just got back before, before…" He replied before the emotions of the night caught up to him and he began to ball his eyes out muttering "d-d-d-did he?" over and over and over again.
Sighing Gajeel could only think and about what he knew and his gut said, no more liked screamed no, he didn't do it, but his brain pointed to the facts and said that he did do it and that he should join the hunt. His internal debate continued until he reached the guild and walked inside where he saw those who did not follow along with the mob sat floored as Loke was retelling them the story and asking them to help join the hunt, with Warren offering to connect everyone together telepathically so they could be more efficient. When Loke saw Gajeel he asked "Oi, Gajeel where were you? You know what nevermind," he said after he saw the look Gajeel shot him, "Could you help us look for him?"
"Alright, if I see anything on my mission tomorrow I'll let you guys know." He replied and was then off to prepare for his mission, all the while still debating the facts and wondering what the truth was. For now he would wait and gather the facts and wonder what the truth really was.
A Few Days Later (Lucy POV)
I groaned as I woke up, my entire body aching from the pain and my brain telling me to stop moving, as Wendy said "Lucy-san! You're awake! Please stop trying to move you might reopen the wounds!" remembering everything that had occurred I hoped that this was merely a dream and that I would wake up soon, Natsu next to me and cuddling with me as he would mumble a good morning. "Lucy-san, what do you remember?"
"N-n-natsu attacked m-m-me… Please tell me I'm wrong, please!" I pleaded, but saw my world crash around me as I saw Wendy look away, a look of deep sadness on her face, and in that moment I fell back to unconsciousness, unable to fully comprehend the reality of what had occurred. I hoped that I would wake up and see it was just a bad dream, but knew that deep down inside that it wasn't, right?
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A/N: WOOF! I'm pure evil! Poor Lucy, and poor Natsu! Oh the feels that were invoked! Don't worry the next chapter will be out soon enough, probably tomorrow, especially if I get some love from you guys! So remember READ AND REVIEW! Any and all criticism is welcome, Adios!