Fiery Light

Chapter 4: The Disappearance of Starlight

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN FAIRY TAIL. IT BELONGS TO HIRO MASHIMA-SAN

At the empty valley
Igneel's POV

I was in my human form playing with fire under a shady tree when I heard a stick cracked from behind me. "Lunaria, I know you're there. Come out." I told to the blonde headed girl. She came out from the bushes with a cute pouty face. "Aww... Just when I thought I could scare you for once." She whined as she took a seat next to me. I blushed a bit when I saw her pouty face. I hope she didn't notice that I blushed. She then took out an apple from what appears to be a basket. "Where did you get that?" I asked her as I watched her take a bite of the apple. "I grew them of course!" She exclaimed and took another bite. "You grew them? When did you find the time to do that?" I asked her as I make the fire I was playing to the shape of the insignia of the guild that Natsu joined. "There's always time for everything! Want one?" She answered and offered me an apple. I took it since I was a bit hungry. "Thanks." I said then took a bite of the red apple. Not bad.

"Meow~ Meow~" A kitten meowed at me. I just glared at it. "Can't you see I'm eating? Go play somewhere else." I said to the kitten but it just keep on scratching at my pants. "Shoo! Go away." I pushed it away but it climbed on my hand and bit it. "What do you think you're doing?!" I shouted as I tried to get it off me, but it won't budge. Lunaria, who was beside me all the time, giggled. "What are you giggling about? Help me!" I asked her, but she shook her head. "Sorry, Igneel. I have my hands full of cats and kittens as well." She stated as she sweatdrops. Cats and kittens are all over her! I looked back at the kitten that is now on my lap, cuddling at me. I picked it up. "You sure don't know how to leave people alone now, don't you?" I said to the little kitten, earning a small meow from it.

"Well I guess you can stay..." I said to it and put it back on my lap where it curled into a ball.

Lunaria's POV

I never knew he had a soft spot for kittens. I guess that's one more thing to add into his personality list. I bit into my apple as the cats and kittens argued on who would sit on my lap. I giggled. Then, something came to my mind. Right... I forgot about that... I looked at Igneel who just finished his apple. The happiness that shined on my face disappeared. I looked back at the cats and kittens, sad about what's going to happened.

"What's with the long face?" I heard Igneel asked, making me turn to him. "Oh, it's nothing... Just wondering about things..." I reassured and tried to give him my usual cheery smile but failed miserably. "You're lying." He stated with a stern voice. My lips were sealed. He saw right through me. "What's wrong? C'mon, tell me." He said but I just looked down. "It's nothing really. You don't have to be worried." I tried to reassure him again. "STOP LYING TO ME, LUNARIA!" He shouted at me, scaring the cats away and earning a shocked look from me.

"You always had that cheerful smile on you. Your eyes always shined, filled with happiness. But today, you're different. You smiled but not as much as you used to. Your eyes didn't shine like it always did. So tell me, Lunaria! What is weighing your mind?" He asked after pointing out my flaws. A tear slipped from my eyes as I looked away. "You'll find out soon." I said and quickly stood up. "What do you mean?" He asked but I walked away. "Where are you going?!" He shouted but I didn't listen. Then a felt hand on my wrist, stopping me from taking another step forward. "What are you hiding from me, Lunaria?" He asked in a stern but worried voice. I looked at him with my tear filled eyes, shocking him. His grip on my wrist loosened and I took the chance to release myself and ran away. Using a bit of magic, I made it so he won't be able to see me. I saw him as frantically shouted my name as he looked for me. Tears fell non-stop like a waterfall.

"Good bye, Igneel..."

In the middle of the night

Igneel's POV

Nightmare

Everything was in ruins. The forest was on fire and dead animals were everywhere. A bloodcurdling scream was heard. It was.... LUNARIA! I got up and quickly ran towards the direction of her voice. But my legs were injured badly. I tried to turn to my dragon form but I couldn't. "What?" I couldn't even spread out my wings! Then, I heard it again. That horrible scream. I looked up and saw something that would haunt me forever. It was Lunaria, mutilated yet still alive in the claws of the Black Abyss Dragon, Acnologia. "How does it feel to see your beloved in such horrible pain, Igneel?" He asked as I watched as he tore Lunaria's right arm, earning another scream from her.

"STOP! Please! Stop hurting her!" I shouted as I watched her scream, unable to help. I tried to get up but there were chains binding me to a nearby tree. The chains were slowly burning my skin. I screamed in pain. I heard him laugh his maniacal laugh. "It feels nice to have your skin to slowly burn, doesn't it?" He asked in a wicked tone as I tried to hold back the pain. "It must have hurt you having to watch little Lunaria here bleeding to death. Don't worry, I'll put her out of her misery right NOW!!!" He said and raised his claw and clawed Lunaria right before my eyes. "LUNARIA!!!!!!"

End of nightmare

I immediately woke up from my nightmare, heavily panting. I have a bad feeling... I need to check on Lunaria! I quickly got up from the grassy field and dashed to her home. When I reached my destination, I pounded on her door. "LUNARIA! OPEN THE DOOR!" No answer. "LUNARIA, OPEN THE DAMNED DOOR BEFORE I BREAK IT DOWN!!!!" Still no answer. "You leave me no choice then. With on powerful strike the door was done and I ran to her room. No one was there. I searched her home as I shouted her name. Nothing. No reply. I frantically looked around when my eyes landed on a note that was left on the table near the fireplace.

Dear Igneel,

I'm deeply sorry for my rudeness earlier. My mind was a bit messed up about a few things. I'm sure you're wondering why I'm not home. Well, it's because.... I left. I'm sorry for not telling you when asked me to, but I hate goodbyes. They're painful. So I couldn't say it. I can't tell you why I left, it'll make things worst than it is. Please don't look for me. It's better this way. I'm sorry for everything I've done and thank you for all the wonderful memories we shared together. Farewell, Igneel. I love you.

Love,

Lunaria Starlight

End of Chapter 4