Natsu's Last Proposal

Chapter 8: He's Dead

"We should go look for him, it's been four days already! I'm getting really worried," Lucy cried.

"Natsu-san's probably just taking his time walking back here instead of taking the train, you shouldn't worry too much," Wendy comforted the distressed bride-to-be. "If he doesn't come back by tomorrow night then we'll go out and look for him and Happy."

"O-okay Wendy."

—-The Next Day—-

"It's strange, Natsu should be back by now, it's been nearly a week," Erza pondered, staring outside at the setting sun.

"That's why we should go look for him, that idiot's probably gotten himself into trouble again," Gray grumbled. He didn't show it, but he was getting a little worried for his friend as well.

"We'll head out tomorrow," Lucy said, "There's no way I'm staying behind, no matter what you guys say or do."

"Fine," Erza said. "We leave on the first train tomorrow."

—-Tomorrow Morning—-

Lucy was worried sick the entire train ride to Habitsu and the others kept having to calm her down.

Halfway through the train ride, she pulled a Natsu and Lucy had to run to the window to hurl. She had a vicious headache and kept having to get up to relieve the contents of her stomach all the way until they pulled into the train station.

But Lucy insisted that she was fine, just worried, and refused any of Wendy's attempts to help her.

Gray, Erza, and Wendy exchanged a look. This isn't like her, they all thought. Lucy never gets motion sick.

They finally got off the train and trekked through the underbrush to get to the cave where the dark mage that Natsu was supposed to defeat supposedly resided.

"I'm picking up Natsu and Happy's scent, but it's very faint," Wendy whispered, biting her lip. Something about the cave, the air unnerved her. It tasted rotten.

It tasted like something had died.

"There's no sense in just standing here, we should go in and check on them."

They all raised their defenses and crept in, ready for a surprise attack, but none came.

The air was still and the four of them could hear nothing...nothing except a low moan that came from the back of the cave.

A moan that sounded a lot like Happy.

"Happy!" Charle flew towards him, panicking at the sight of his limp body laying on the ground, terrifyingly still.

"Charle, move back a bit, I'll try and heal him," Wendy reassured her.

Charle, trembling, backed away.

"Natsu..." Happy whispered, finally able to talk again thanks to Wendy's help.

"What about Natsu?" Erza asked calmly.

Happy's eyes shot open and they filled with tears. "Natsu's...gone."

"What?" Lucy panicked. "Happy, what do you mean 'Natsu's gone? How could he be gone? He came with you didn't he? He should be here!" Her voice rose an octave with each syllable, the worst possibility coming to mind.

"Natsu, was weakened by Akui's weird black sword and then he was thrown into a pit. I heard the guy say it was Hell...then the ground spit out his scarf, but no Natsu," Happy's voice trailed off, the truth of the horrific events finally sinking in.