Sorry for the short hiatus, things got in the way and i really wanted to make sure this chapter was completely finished before i released it. I hope your all still liking it. Thank you to all those who have been following my stories and a special thanks to Copperreign12. Thank you for sticking with me, for these last couple years.
"I don't ..think he's ever gone this fast before." Concerned, she gripped his jacket harder as they came to an abrupt stop. Opening her eyes, she saw Happy and Nashi standing in front of them. "Mommy, daddy!" "Natsu, Lucy, are you guys okay?!, Lucy, your face is white as a cloud" "I'm fine Happy, my wound just re opened some" "Yeah speaking of which, let's take a look at that"
Setting her feet on the ground, she stood up while Nashi and Happy ran over to help. "I'm fine baby, I promise" Lucy said comfortingly putting a hand around Nashi's cheek. "She's in pain but she's not letting it show…you are my hero mommy" Proudly , she smiled at her mother putting her hand on top of Lucy's. Throwing his jacket off, he gave Happy a pat on the head then went to removing Lucy's jacket.
"Easy Luce, easy" he said hearing the intense breathing sounds she made pulling her arms out of the jacket. Happy and Natsu's eyes widened when they saw her bandages. "Your wounds reopened Lucy, we need to rebandage them" Leaning forward onto her knees, her head hung letting some sweat run down her cheek onto the ground. "We don't hhave ..time Natsu, we need to keep moving"
"Those bastards will pav" "NATSU!" Out of the corner of his eye, Natsu saw a cloaked figure holding an unusual, marked gun aimed right at them. "Found you" a low feminine voice. Not wasting a second, he grabbed Lucy back up, about to run when the click of the gun went off. Time seemed to slow down in horror as they watched the bullet hit Natsu in his back. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Lucy screamed "NATSU!" Going to his knees, he bit his lip trying to muffle the overwhelming pain when his eyes gouged out. "DADDY!" "Nashi, STAY BACK!"
Releasing her grip, Lucy looked over Natsu's shoulder to see smoke coming out of the bullet. "Wwww..hhat the fuck bullet is this!" "It's a fire bullet. It releases our flames into his body, where I shot him, he won't die but he will suffer endless agony. Serves him right for what he caused" "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!"
"Naatssssu.." Happy trembled seeing Natsu shriek as he started trying to claw his at his back. Keeping Nashi with him, he agonized over what to do. Outraged at the woman's answer, Natsu gave Lucy a push back and without hesitation before she could even react, he had taken the woman's gun and shot two bullets into her. "You fool that wont.." were the last words she spoke and fell lifelessly to the ground.
Unfeeling, he pulled the knife from her heart shaking the blood off. "We're done Lucy" "Done with what?" "People. From now on, by no means are we setting a foot inside a town anymore. We stay in the woods, sleep in the woods, eat, everything.! We will stay there until we find a place where no one will find us" " You make it sound like I have a problem with it…I don't Natsu." She said firmly. "Good...Ahh!" he cried going to the ground turning on his side unable to make a sound or cry out. "NATSU!"
"Lucy" "HAPPY, GET HIM TO THE WOODS NOW!, GO!" Snatching him up, he raced down through the trees with Lucy and Nashi right behind him. "Mooommy! Is daddy going to be okay?..Mommy!" she yelled thrashing about in Lucy's arms.
"Stop Nashi Dragneel, right now!" Terrified, she went silent hanging onto Lucy's shoulders as she ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Reaching the center of the woods, Happy stopped. "Happy, drop him now!" Obeying he dropped as Natsu landed in Lucy's arms. "Luuce..wha…what are you dddoing?" "Sorry Natsu" Roughly she dropped him onto the ground shoving him on his side ignoring his cries despite how much it hurt her.
"Daddy" .Nashi squeaked terrified going to reach for him. "Nashi! Don't touch him baby" she warned making her back off. "Lucy! Don't you dare" "Natsu, if I don't do this, you are just going to continue to burn inside, I have too!" Done arguing, she reached into the wound when heat blazed over her fingers. "AHHHHH" "LUCY" "NO HAPPY, STAY BACK, I CAN DO THISS" "But your hand!" "IT WILL…BE..FIIINE!" "MOOOMMMY!" "LUCY!""
"LUUUUUCE..SSTOOPPP!" "III..gg..I GOT IT!" she bellowed yanking her fingers out. Throwing the bullet to the ground, she stomped all over it burying it then fell to her knees. "Lucy!" grabbing her hands, he started rubbing them quickly.
"Happy, now! Go get water!" he ordered. Nodding rapidly, he grabbed a bucket and shot down through the trees. " Naatssuu..bbuut" Shaking his head, he said "I'm fine Luce. The pain is gone" "No, no" Luce, look at me" Struggling through the pain, she looked in his eyes and felt the calmness in them. "See..I told you baby..I'm fine" Loosely nodding, she screamed as Happy came rushing back. "NAAATSU, I GOT IT!" Dropping the bucket in front of them, he went to Nashi and took her in his paws to comfort her as tears soaked his fur.
Pulling her hands into the water, he kissed Lucy screaming through her pain. "It won't leave a scar baby, I promise" Clenching her teeth, she groaned as her energy ran out. Going to her side, he started rubbing her back and asked caringly "is the pain lessening at all now?" "Ye..yes..ffinally" exhausted she started leaning to one side as Natsu caught her and gently laid her down.
"Stay with me" she mumbled. "Of course Luce" With his hand, he waved Nashi and Happy over. Frantically they ran over and snuggled in with them. "Are we safe daddy?" she asked cradled in his arms. "Yes baby girl. We are safe". Seeing him settled for a moment, she took a chance and closed her eyes as everyone followed suit. Days passed by and sleep was hard to come by.
At least for Lucy and Natsu, they laid awake at night listening for any sound that might be the cult, one of their followers or an old enemy. Nights weren't easy for Nashi either. "Mmommy..no..no..Dadd…DADDY!" Thrashing in her sleep, her hands began to glow alarming them. "Nashi!, Nashi, baby dragon, wake up it's daddy" Shaking her arms, he saw how freaked Natsu and Happy. "Shit, If she doesn't." then her eyes flashed open.
Her eyes glazed with terror. "MOMMY, DADDY!" "We're here baby, we're here" Rushing, Lucy took Nashi into her arms and rocked her back and forth rubbing her head as she kissed the top of it. "I promise you baby, we are right here" Grabbing her hand, Natsu rubbed his thumb along the top of it comfortingly. " I..I had a nightmare daddy." "What was it sweetheart?" Panicking, she shook her head furiously. "Nashi, baby it's okay, daddy and I are right here..just breathe." Watching her taking a deep breath, Lucy said " you alright?" looking at her to see if she was covering anything up.
"Yes mommy. In it, yyou and ddaddy. Happy. All of us..we were taken by those bad people. Ha..Happy and I .." Seeing how hard it was for her to continue, Happy walked over and put his paws around her shoulders comforting her.
Sensing he was there, she felt she could go on. "We were ssepparated..and you two.. Mommy, daddy…YOU WERE BURNT TO DEATH!" she shrieked sobbing into Lucy's chest. Not feeling any sadness, Natsu grabbed her hands making her look up at him "Nashi Igneel Dragnee, you listen to me baby girl right now. Nothing is going to happen to us. Not to me, not to your mother and not to Happy. Nothing is going to come between us. That damn cult isn't going to lay a hand on us. I swear on my life and as a dragon slayer I am going to keep our family safe...all of it" Giving Lucy a look, she nodded in agreement.
"Do you believe me?" he asked straightforward making sure she heard him. "Yes daddy" "Good, let's all try and rest. I'll go hunt for food later on" While her nightmares lessened somewhat, her fear remained as well as Natsu and Lucy's. They walked through different parts of the country staying in the woods away from people. "Naatsu, baby it's been a week since we've had anything but fish. Surely there has got to be a bigger animal around here. We've been walking around through these woods for weeks" Lucy whined placing her hands on her stomach as she laid herself on the ground.
"If I have to eat another fish, I swear I will puke" "It's no problem for me heehee" "Shut it you stupid cat!" "Sheeesh, Luce just get near the fire and I'll be back before you know it." Rolling her eyes, she chuckled and dragged herself over to the fire.
"Iggy, come here baby" she called longingly holding her hands out. Happily, she walked over and snuggled into Lucy's arms. Natsu watched for his heart filled with joy seeing his girls showing signs of happiness when him and Lucy barely smiled much anymore but wanted to keep Nashi happy and innocent. Refocusing he walked away and deep into the woods.
"Been almost a month, it's gotta be.. but there hasn't been a damn trace of that group.. not one. Which I guess should be a relief. Lucy's hardly smiled since, well hmph, no I can't say anything..there hasn't been a reason to smile" Lost in his thoughts he failed to notice the mountain lion sneaking up behind him. Having been woken up from sleeping in a tree, it had slinked down and was tracking Natsu for it just thought prey. Locking its eyes on him, the cougar leapt into the air and just as she was about to pounce on Natsu's head, he turned without a single show of fear blasting the cat with heat sending it flying into the air screeching like a rabid animal. Blasting it with another flame blast, the cat dropped down dead.
Accomplished and proud, he put his fists on his side smirking. "Well thanks kitty, you just granted my wife's wish. Heh" throwing the cat over his shoulder, he walked back and surprising her when he dumped it in front of her. "Here you go Luce, something other then fish" "Yes! But we aren't eating it raw right?" she asked with a straight face.
"Of course, not Luce, Jeeze. You think I'd let you eat raw meat and get sick..Dont' give me that look , I wouldn't let you eat raw meat Lucy. Neither you nor Nashi. Come on Happy. We're going to find a long stick for a spit" Not giving him a choice, he grabbed Happy's tail. "Natsu! Come on let go" he whined bouncing against Natsu's back. The girls chuckled as Nashi came and sat between Lucy's legs.
"Mommy, your hand." "What about " her lip dropped seeing the Fairy Tail emblem pop back up. "What made it come back?" turning her head, she looked at Lucy for her answer. "I don't know baby, might have been the heat from your dad's injury. Can you go get me your dad's bag Iggy?. He's got the lotion in there for my emblem." Seeing the bag, Nashi got up off the ground and walked over grabbing it and once Lucy grabbed the lotion, she went and set it back down.
"Thank you baby" "Hey, what's going on Luce?" asked Natsu coming back with a long stick on his back and Happy no longer upside down but flying beside him. "Nothing, just covering the emblem back up. I think the heat or whatever got to it." She answered barely looking up to meet his eyes concerning him. Dropping the stick over the fire, he grabbed rope and the cougar off the ground. Tying it up, he spun the stick then went and sat down next to Luce.
"Hey, you alright? Your face didn't look so good" "I'm fine. Just didn't want a reminder. It's supposed to remain covered, until we decide we want them back but that heat melted it off" Taking her hands, he kissed the tops of them and placed them in his lap. "Don't worry Luce, we will get something to cover for your hands. I'm sure we can find some gloves"
"That would involve going into town Natsu. How are we going to do that. We made it a point to stay away from people. Not to mention. I'm not even sure we have the money to get the gloves" throwing her hands into the air, she laid back onto the ground as Natsu sat there with a stone face. "Well if we don't have the money, there's only one thing to do. We'll have to take them." Nashi' and Happy's heads popped up hearing the tone Natsu used then looked at Lucy who didn't so much as bat an eye at the idea of stealing.
"When do you want to do it?" she asked. Sniffing the fire, he got up and spun the cat around a few times making sure it was getting cooked on all sides. "We can go after this, leave Happy and Iggy here" "No!" Nashi cried before Natsu could say anything else. "Igg" Running over to Natsu, she gripped his leg and clung to it. Natsu's heart shattered seeing her face as she cried "daddy, please don't leave me behind. Let me go with you and mommy please. I promise I won't get in the way. Just please! I don't want to be alone" "Nashi" said Lucy. "Pleeease" she begged tightening her grip on Natsu's leg.
With an eye roll he took in a deep breath, he released it and got down to the ground eye to eye with his daughter.
"Alright Nashi, you can come with us, but you have to stay right next to us, understand? That means you go absolutely nowhere" His sternness no longer surprised Nashi. Quickly processing what he said, she replied "yes daddy. I will stay with you and mommy" Pleased, he smiled a fang baring smirk then lifted his nose into the air. "Smells like dinner is ready, whose up for food?"
"Me!" everyone answered. "Alright..well shit, didn't think about this. I have nothing to cut the cat up with." "Natsu, come on, your telling me that you and Happy never had this problem with how many jobs you guys went on. I mean even when we go with the team, you two don't have a problem" "Well that's the thing Luce, we had our team and more hands to help with food and paying for it. We are on our own out here and as for me and Happy. He only ate fish so it was just me eating the meat and I don't have a problem eating it with just my hands"
"Here, see if this works" she said handing him the dagger. "Tch, I'm a dumbass, yeah that should work just fine. Thanks Luce" "That's what I'm here for" she said with a positive smile. Using the dagger, it took Natsu no time at all to cut up the meat and pass it out. Eating fish, Happy looked over everyone curiously. "Times have changed for sure, weeks ago, stealing would have never crossed his mind nor would Lucy have allowed it. She would have kicked his butt for even thinking it. I wonder what Erza or Gray would think if they could see us now. I really need to stop thinking about that" he looked down at the ground as he admitted the truth to himself that he didn't want to face.
"If Natsu was serious about running and he usually is about that stuff then until this enemy is gone or gives up, we will never return to Magnolia, let alone Fiore. He isn't going to take a chance of them finding us, He never has. Starting now, I just need to accept it" Set in his decision, he continued to eat his fish. He would be right there with his family through anything and everything. They had never let him down; he wasn't about to let them down especially since they had Nashi to protect now.
Once they had all finished, they tossed the carcass and packed up their stuff. "Are we coming back here Natsu?" Happy asked. "No, we need to keep moving. Unfortunately, we are still near too many people and that means chances of those bastards being able to find us so we need to make this fast got it?" he said directing it at everyone. "Yes"
"Let's move" Swiftly they raced through the trees until they came to a clearing. Peeking out from behind the trees, they saw a town. "I just thought about something. Are you two even dressed to go into public?. It's not like we have showers out here in the woods." Stated Happy.
"Psh, we're fine Happy and that lake is our shower. We just don't happen to have soap but we're fine" answered Natsu. "Besides our clothes aren't too bad, and we still have some in our bags. Okay, Nashi, time to be quiet" said Lucy grabbing her hand. "Aye" they both answered. Silently, they walked out going in and out through crowds of people. "What do you suppose the name of this town is mommy?" she whispered up to her. "I don't know Iggy, but we can't think of that right now. Come" she said abrupt pulling Nashi's hand directly behind her with Happy right behind her.
Relieved they weren't getting any wary or suspicious eyes on them, they slipped into the first store they saw, where they did get some eyes on them. Wearing a black outfit with his muscles , black boots and red jacket , Lucy was in black pants and a light gray long sleeved shirt with combat boots, they walked into a store where the women wore fancy dresses, and the men wore nice shirts and pants.
"Well..so much for not sticking out" "Shut it Happy!" "Oops. Sorry guys" he said quickly covering his mouth with his paws. "Excuse me" Natsu said leading them roughly getting through the people seeing what they were there for. "Here Layla, gloves for you" he said handing her a set of leather black ladies' gloves. "These are nice" she commented rubbing her fingers in them.
Happy to see a slight smile on her face, his cheeks tinted pink as he warmly said " then they are all yours baby" Elated, she took the gloves and went to the front to pay for them. The lady at the front desk looked disgusted at Lucy but her attitude dropped when she saw Natsu approached up beside her.
"You got a problem lady?" " Those gloves are expensive, I hope you know that" "Hmph, how much are they?" he sniped. " 130 jewel" she said with a chesire grin. "Natsu" Lucy whispered. Leaning into his ear, she whispered "we don't have that. We only have 50. That's not enough" Nashi and Happy looked back and forth between them wondering what was about to happen.
"Layla.." his dark tone getting her full attention. "You remember what I said before?" Shaking her head, she slowly reached back for Nashi's arm who figured what was about to happen. Eyeing Happy, he nodded quickly and started for the door.
"You aren't leaving the store with those gloves sir" stated the woman. "Hmph lady, you don't know who I am" and in the blink of an eye broke the glass counter in front of the lady. "RUN NOW!" he shouted as they shoved past the gawking eyes of everyone standing there(Mahou Hatsudou Fairy Tail soundtrack Vol 1). Finding a corner, they watched as what looked like guards or armed soldiers come through the store and surround Natsu.
"Heh, you guys really think you have me trapped in here?" "You have nowhere to run boy, just put down the dagger and come with us" "Ha, this dagger, this is nothing. I don't even need this" he said putting it back into his pocket.
"Your out of options" one of them boasted then saw Natsu smirk. (End song) Peering from around the corner, Lucy and the other two watched but couldn't see inside. "Lucy, what do you think is happening?" "I don't" her words were cut off as a blast of fire was shot through the front knocking the soldiers to the ground. "Well that answers that question." Said Happy.
Breathing heavily, Natsu brought his shoulders back and released his fists. "Just let us have the damn gloves, nobody needs to get hurt" he said trying to be reasonable but the soldiers refused to listen. "Aim your guns at him!" the captain shouted alarming Nashi.
"Daddy!" "No Iggy!, stay here!. Happy" "Got it" he said taking Nashi's arm holding her back. Putting the gloves on, she walked and stood at the ready in case Natsu needed her. "Aim!" As the guns released their safety and clicked, he got into a defensive position showing no sign of fear. " READY…AIIM..FIIIRE!" "DAAAADDDDY" "NAAATSUUUUUU" An explosion of bullets showered down making it so Happy and Nashi couldn't see a thing as Lucy ran into the fight.
"LUCY!" MOMMY!" The dust cleared through the panic as everyone ran frantically to Natsu and Lucy on top of some of the solders backs with their arms around their throats. "We told you to just let us go!. Why did you have to make a big deal out of it." He asked the captain as Natsu squeezed the neck of the soldier.
"Because we do not tolerate that here in Crimson city!" "Well unfortunately that means it's going to come to this" he looked at Lucy who understood turning their heads to the captain as they cracked the necks of the soldiers they were on and jumped off them letting them hit the ground. They stood there completely blank of emotion facing the captain who backed his men off.
"You don't look sorry at all, you bastards" Looking at each other, they turned around and walked away but not before Natsu turned his head to the side where the captain could see it. "You have no idea how we feel. Just remember you could have avoided it..over gloves" Turning his head back around, they continued to walk in complete silence over to Nashi and Happy who said nothing. Grabbing Lucy into his arms and Happy taking Nashi, they took off back towards the forest.