CHAPTER 1 . . . A Bad Dream
Natsu woke up with a strange feeling in his belly. Not hunger or pain, but a heavy, uneasy sensation pulling at his chest. Something was… off. He couldn't explain it. Glancing around, everything appeared to be in its usual place: Happy snoozing in the hammock next to him, and his collection of trinkets from past missions scattered about. Everything was normal—yet different, somehow. Maybe it was the air? Something he ate?
He sat up, brooding, trying to pinpoint what was wrong. After several minutes of staring blankly into space, he gave up. With a frustrated sigh, he swung out of bed and decided to get on with the day.
Outside, the sky was still dark, the faintest hint of light creeping over the horizon. Today was supposed to be a big day: Team Natsu had a quest lined up that promised a hefty 250,000 jewel reward. He grinned, thinking of the feast he and Happy could buy with that kind of money. Maybe Lucy would finally stop whining about her rent for a while. Lucy…
Natsu froze mid-step. Dread slithered into his chest, pulling at it violently. Why did he feel like something was wrong? Like she was in danger? He shook his head as he tried to push the feeling down. Turning to Happy, he gave the blue cat a gentle shake. "Oi, wake up. If we're gonna make it, we gotta start early."
. . .
And so, Team Natsu trudged their dreaded path to the train station. Erza led the group with her usual commanding presence, head held high and ready to conquer the day. Meanwhile, Natsu's incessant whining grated on everyone else.
"Do we have to take the train?" Natsu groaned, dragging his feet.
"How else would we get there, you idiot?" Gray snapped, earning a snicker from Happy.
Natsu either ignored or failed to register the insult, too consumed by his hatred for trains. "Can't we just walk?"
Wendy chimed in with a tentative, "That… doesn't sound too bad…"
Carla sighed sympathetically. "I'm afraid it's the only way, child."
Lucy added, "It'd take way too long to walk. We're supposed to be there in two hours—not even Erza can walk that fast," she said, glancing at the redhead leading the group.
As Lucy spoke, Natsu's motion-sickness dread faded momentarily, replaced by that strange, heavy feeling. His gut churned again like it knew something he didn't, and the hairs on his skin stood upright.
"Lucy," Natsu muttered. "Do you ever feel like… somethin's off?"
Lucy glanced at him, puzzled. "Right now? Yeah, you're acting weird. You're never this serious."
"I'm serious. Somethin' doesn't feel right." His face darkened, grave, and distant.
"Are you sure you're not just hungry?" she teased, but some amusement had melted from her expression.
Happy nodded. "Aye, I'm starved, too!"
"No, that's not it. Don't ya ever feel it when… things are normal?"
Lucy paused, thinking. Her gaze eventually returned to him. "I guess, maybe…"
Before she could elaborate, the train station loomed ahead. Natsu's dread shifted as his focus landed squarely on the inevitable misery of the train ride. Erza pivoted to face the group.
"All right, everyone. Ready to go?" she asked.
Everyone but Wendy and Natsu nodded enthusiastically. The two of them let out long, melodramatic groans instead.
. . .
Their mission seemed simple on paper: Retrieve a stolen weapon from a thief. But when they met the wizard, things grew complicated.
"This sort of weapon is no ordinary object," the wizard explained gravely. "It's dangerous—too dangerous to fall into the wrong hands. I've set a trap for the thief tonight – you must retrieve it then."
This piqued Natsu's interest. "If we get it back, can we keep it?" he asked eagerly, only to earn a swift smack from Erza.
"Absolutely not," the wizard snapped. "Even I cannot wield it."
Gray frowned. "Why do you have a weapon you can't use?"
The wizard sighed as his eyes averted. "It's not mine. It's for the state. I can say no more."
Erza's eyes narrowed. "If it's so powerful, should anyone have it? Even the state?"
The wizard's expression hardened, his tone unwavering. "I can say no more."
The room fell silent until Wendy hesitantly spoke. "Excuse me, sir. I don't mean to be rude, but… you seem strong. Why can't you get the weapon back yourself?"
The wizard's gaze softened at Wendy's question. "The reward is justified. This task is neither safe nor easy. Young one, I suggest you do not take part."
Natsu bristled. "Hey, she may be little, but she's way stronger than you think!"
Carla nodded. "She's more capable than she looks."
The wizard regarded Wendy for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "I trust your companions to decide what's best for you. But," his gaze lingered on Lucy, "don't say I didn't warn you."
Lucy stiffened, unease flickering across her face. She clasped her arms together as if she were trying to shield herself. Natsu's stomach churned and tightened uncomfortably again.
. . .
Later that night, the team waited in the wizard's tower, each stationed in different corners of the uppermost floor. Erza and Happy watched one side, Wendy, Carla, and Gray covered another, and Natsu and Lucy were huddled near the center.
Natsu's unease hadn't faded—it had only grown stronger. It had suffocated him, and he couldn't shake it. Something was going to happen. He could feel it. His eyes kept darting over to Lucy, making sure she was still intact.
"I won't let anything happen," he muttered under his breath, clenching his fists.
"Natsu? Are you okay?" Lucy's soft whisper startled him.
"I… I don't know. I've felt weird all day," he admitted.
Lucy's expression softened, and she patted his back. "I think I know what you mean. That wizard… he gave me the creeps."
"Yeah…" Natsu trailed off, lost in thought.
Lucy smiled, her tone light and reassuring. "We've been through worse. No way this will stop us."
Her words and smile comforted him more than he expected. "You're right," he whispered, the sinking feeling easing.
"I hear footsteps!" Happy suddenly hissed.
Everyone tensed. Erza shifted into battle mode, Wendy stiffened, and Gray summoned blades of ice. Lucy reached for her keys, quietly summoning Taurus's power, while Natsu's sharp eyes locked on the door. Flames flickered at his knuckles. He'd be able to handle whatever was about to go down.
Suddenly, the world went white. Everything went silent except for an irregular screeching that pierced through the room. Natsu felt like he was falling through an infinite space. Then, he suddenly felt like he met the ground – hard.
A scream tore through the air. Lucy's scream.
As Natsu's vision returned, his blood ran cold. Lucy lay crumpled on the floor, crimson pooling beneath her. A chunk of her side had been blasted off, sizzling at the edges. She was still as she stared at her wound with wide eyes – before another scream clawed its way out of her throat. Her body convulsed and her hands moved to cover her wound, as if she could hold herself together. Bile crept its way up Natsu's throat.
He helplessly searched for Wendy. She could fix this – she had to. When he found her, she stared at Lucy in horror. Her eyes whispered what her lips failed to: It was too late.
A hooded figure loomed in the center of the room, a malevolent grin visible beneath the shadows of its hood. Its eyes were red and piercing – they seemed to lack any sense of remorse or hesitation. Only hunger. Only bloodlust. Only death. Its fingers were abnormally long and jagged – like it could dissect flesh with its fingertips. One hand twitched savagely, preparing to tear Lucy into shreds. The other held a small, white orb.
The scene felt so familiar. It was like a nightmare he had as a child, but one that he could no longer remember.
"You bastard—" Natsu roared, flames igniting around his fists, but before he could charge, the world went white again, and so did his mind.
This time, he didn't hear a scream—just a sickening gurgle. When the light faded, he slowly turned, reluctantly looking at Lucy.
Her hands clutched her neck, blood spilling through her trembling fingers. Her lips were parted, as if she were about to whisper something. Her eyes met his, wide with terror— begging for help — then they dimmed. Her convulsions came to a stop. Silence penetrated the air. She collapsed, lifeless.
Natsu froze. He couldn't breathe. His mind screamed at him to move, but his body refused. "Lucy—" he choked, reaching for her, but it was too late. This couldn't be real. His stomach churned with nausea. His eyes began to glaze over with tears, his vision unfocusing.
Everything blurred. Time slowed as a raw, primal feeling ate him alive. Flames engulfed his body as he turned toward the hooded figure. The air around him distorted unnaturally as the flames violently consumed the atmosphere.
The thing's wicked grin only grew larger, widening further than humanly possible.
"You…" His voice was a low growl as he charged.
The world went white once more. A pain erupted in Natsu's chest. Then, nothing.
. . .
Natsu jolted awake, damp in a cold sweat. His chest burned and heaved as his heart slammed against his ribcage. He scrambled to look around. Everything was as before—the hammock, Happy, the faint morning light creeping in.
No Lucy.
"Happy! Happy!" Natsu shook the Exceed awake, trembling.
"Ahh! What the hell, Natsu?!" Happy groaned, rubbing his eyes. His irritation quickly faded as he discovered the urgency in Natsu's face. "Natsu? What's wrong?"
"Is Lucy okay?" Natsu's voice cracked.
Happy frowned, confused. "Why wouldn't she be?"
"She… she just…" Natsu started, his voice faltering. "There was a guy… with this white thing…"
"Natsu, what are you talking about?" Happy asked, staring at him like he was crazy.
Natsu froze, his heart pounding. His eyes darted around the room again. Everything was as it should be. Could it be that it was just a nightmare? No, it was too real. But then, why was everything so… normal?
"Have we left for the wizard's mission yet?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Happy yawned. "No? We're still here."
Natsu's stomach dropped. What was going on?