Price To Protect The World

Chapter 9

Lucy cracked her eyes open and the first thing she did was be thankful that she was actually waking up. The next thing she did was actually take a breath since all of her breath had been stolen from her by the pain. This pain was nothing like she had ever felt before but she pushed her way through it and got onto her hands and knees. Sweat was gathering on her brow and she had to use the side of Lamia Scale's guild building to get to her feet but she managed it. Seeing something glinting on the ground she reached over and picked it up. When she bent she nearly toppled straight over but she managed to grit her teeth and she stayed standing. Huffing she put what she picked up in her pocket before taking a step forward. Then another. And another. Soon enough she was continuing to walk, slowly but she was. Normally she would have gone straight back to hunting down demons and dragons but this time she decided that she would find the first portal head back. Her spirits were bound to be exhausted and panicking and she really needed some medical help if all the pain she was in was anything to go by. That was her plan anyway.

"You have surprised me, I never realised that you would be able to pull off what you did," the voice sent a shot of terror through Lucy. Why was he back? Standing there as if he had done nothing, was Zeref.

"What do you want this time?" Lucy snapped. She was in no mood to be polite and she was in no state to be fighting either.

"I thought I would simply let you know that you have impressed me, Lucy Heartfilia, therefore I am going to be pulling my demons back for a little while."

Lucy narrowed her eyes, there was no way that he would simply decide to do something like that without something in return.

"Don't get me wrong, they won't be gone forever just a little while. Until I can understand just what you'll do with this new power of yours. So until then take care" and with that he was gone. Lucy hadn't even been able to respond before he was gone. Not trusting that he truly was gone, Lucy quickened her pace. She had to hurry before Zeref changed his mind and gave her position away to both dragons and demons. If she was to fight now, she wouldn't get away unscathed. Finally after what felt like hours Lucy found the return portal and jumped through it. However as soon as she was in it, she felt her vision go black. The pain that she was in had just tripled and she couldn't take it so she felt herself pass out again. Hopefully the portal placed her in a forest or something away from people.

-

With a groan once again Lucy's eyes opened and she was surprised to see someone next to her. It wasn't just anyone, it was Sting from Sabertooth.

"You're awake now. Hold on, I'll go tell the others." And before Lucy could stop him, he raced out of the room. Lucy put her arms under her and forced herself to sit up even when the pain was almost crippling. It was only once she was sitting up that she realised that she was in the school infirmary.

'Please, please, please don't tell me that I appeared on the school grounds in front of everyone,' Lucy pleaded. With whom, she had no idea but she had to try.

"Lucy!"

Without looking she knew who that cry belonged to and she only had seconds to brace herself before Loke had wrapped his arms around her.

"Are you okay? What happened? Talk to me, I never answer please. You were in so much pain and then, then" Loke was speaking a million miles an hour. Lucy simply reached up and pulled him close so that Loke's head was on her chest, right over her heart so that he could hear the beats.

"Idiot boy! Don't just throw yourself at someone that is injured" Porlyusica yelled as she entered the room. Sting, Rogue, Gray, Lyon and Wendy were following her.

"Lucy-san are you feeling better now?" Wendy asked worriedly. She walked over and her hands started to glow as she used her healing magic. She had been called by Porlyusica when Lucy had been brought to the infirmary. Most of the wounds had been healed but the amount of damage had been severe and she didn't have enough magic to heal them all.