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Chapter 12: Leaving

As Lucy slept, she had nightmares about her bad times.

"I'm working right now, Lucy!" Jude Heartfilia yelled as she tried to give him a rice ball.

"You're weak and you can't do anything!" Natsu said.

She suddenly woke up in a cold sweat. Her eyes got watery and she started sobbing. A bright light shone and Natsu was there.

"Lucy, why are you crying?" Natsu asked, confused.

"I had a nightmare," Lucy replied.

Natsu sat down next to her, turned her head around and touched her forehead with his.

"You've got nothing to fear, Lucy. I'm right here, and I made a promise, a promise to protect you," Natsu said.

Lucy smiled, and dried her tears. She hugged him.

"Thank you," she whispered, "Tomorrow, I'm going to go to the Celestial Cave, I'm going to save you," A determined look crossed her face. She then fell asleep with Natsu beside her, like a dream catcher, because when she's with him, no bad dreams come her way.

The next day, Lucy plans her way into the cave. She pulls out a map.

"This is the Celestial Cave! Levy, Erza, Mira, and Lisanna, please help me plan!" Lucy yelled across the guild. The mages gathered at the table.

"Maybe, using the speed armor, speed through the demons," Erza suggested.

"Hmm... maybe, if you use a giant plasma orb, you can disintegrate all of the monsters," Mira argued.

"Maybe, you can just use your sun magic to burn them," Levy said.

"I've got it! Why don't we combine all those techniques!" Lisanna shouted.

Lucy smiled, "That is a great idea, Lisanna!"

The Take-Over mage blushed, "No problem, Lucy!"

"Open! Gate of the Flames! Natsu!" Lucy yelled, as a bright golden light shone throughout the guild.

"Hey, Lucy!" Natsu greeted.

"Hey, Natsu, maybe if you want to hang around the guild for a while, you can," Lucy said.

Natsu ran up to Gray and started arguing with him.

"Natsu, can I talk to you?" Lisanna asked.

Natsu shrugged, "Sure,"

Lisanna dragged Natsu outside the guild hall, and said, "Always stay by Lucy's side. When she has a trusted friend next to her, she gets stronger,"

Natsu scratched his head, "The thing is, on this mission, she can't summon me, so, that can't work out,"

Lisanna furrowed her eyebrows, "Then think of a way! Go back into the guild! Lucy needs you!" She pushed Natsu into the guild.

When Natsu looked around, Lucy wasn't there.

"Oi, Levy! Where's Lucy?" Natsu asked.

Levy looked up from her book, sneaked a glance at Gajeel, and said, "She's already on the train to the Celestial-" she got cut off as Natsu left the guild to go catch up to Lucy.