Fairy Tail: Falling Towards the Chaos

Chapter 27

"We are hereby suspending the S-Class Promotion Trial,"

The men rioted at the news, and Master was left to try and placate them. Lucy sat a ways away from them, on a log, resting her sore ankle that Wendy had thankfully healed. It was no longer broken, but it was quite sore still. Happy had gone off with the other exceeds and Natsu, body bandaged up much like hers, had planted himself right next to her. The two sat in silence, the events of the trial had sucked the energy right out of them.

From the appearance of Laxus to the defeat of Grimoire Heart; in Fairy Tail, there was truly never a dull moment.

Especially not when Lucy caught a glimpse of Cana pulling Gildarts to the side. She smiled to herself. Maybe there was some good in the madness that went down.

"Natsu, maybe you should get some extra healing from Wendy," Lucy mused, turning her head to look at the Fire Dragon Slayer. Her pink-haired companion was silent, head wrapped in a large bandage with gauze. She glanced at his torso, which was bare save for the two bandages across his chest and one draped from his left shoulder.

His gaze was directed at the commotion created by Elfman, Gray, and Gajeel before his eyes shifted to meet her own.

Lucy grinned meekly, pushing herself to stand on her feet, careful of the weight she placed on her healing ankle. She grabbed Natsu's calloused hand and tugged insistently.

"C'mon, let's go walk around, maybe we can find Wendy?" Lucy suggested, his hand clasped between her own. His gaze was unrelenting, and she felt a little nervous with the silence that seemed never ending between them. She gasped as Natsu pulled her down to him, slotting into his lap perfectly. The blush that rose to her cheeks made her face feel as though it were on fire. Natsu sighed, circling his arms around her. After what happened at the guild before they left for the trial, anytime she was near Natsu; she felt jittery and flustered.

She placed a hand on his forearm, looking up at him curiously, while simultaneously willing the blush to go away.

"What is it?" She asked quietly, and she watched as all the tension in his body relaxed at the sound of her voice.

"I have something to tell you," Natsu murmured, and his ears flushed with pink. Lucy gaped, was Natsu nervous?

As she opened her mouth to speak, Natsu's body suddenly tensed up and the gentle cradle of his arms became a cage. His head shot up, eyes raised to the sky, nose twitching.

Then, she heard it. The deep screech of a creature travelling through the sky.

"What the hell is that?!"

"It's so loud!"

"A-a cry of a dragon," Wendy supplied nervously as she, too, looked towards the sky. Gajeel came to stand beside her, fists clenched.

"Over there!" Lily's shout cut through the confusion of the crowd and Natsu hastily helped Lucy to her feet, conversation over before it even started, as they both looked towards the direction he pointed in. In the sky, a dragon of black and deep cyan soared above the trees of the island. Lucy's fear was overtaken by fascination at the sight. A dragon.

"It's the black dragon of the apocalypse," Master stated.

"Acnologia." Natsu scowled, as if summoned, the black dragon dove down; crashing into the earth. There was a pause before the dragon roared loudly, uprooting trees and destroying the landscape of the once peaceful island.

"Everyone, run!" Gildarts advised, throwing an arm towards the direction of the ship, but everyone was frozen; rooted to the spot they stood. It wasn't long before he attacked again; striking and destroying everything in sight.

"Is this for real?!" Elfman shouted, getting pushed back by the intense wind of the attack. Natsu grabbed Happy's tail as he flew past, thrown by the blast, clutching Lucy close to him with his hold on her elbow. Freed and, Bixslow scrambled out of the way as the dragon threw his head towards them.

Natsu gritted his teeth, holding the two most precious people to him close as everyone tried to pick themselves up off the floor. Lucy trembled in his hold, the fascination had worn off and all that was left was fear. Master took a stand, shucking off his colourful Hawaiian shirt in a show of strength.

"Natsu, Erza, Laxus, get everyone to the ship," Master commanded, activating his magic. His body gradually transformed into his giant form; ready to fight the large beast that stood in front of him. He charged, swiftly moving to hold the dragon in a headlock.

"Master, please stop! Come with us!" Erza urged.

"Gramps, this is crazy!" Gray shouted before Laxus pushed his shoulder back.

"Do you wish to disobey me?! My last order?!" Master cried out, voice raw with emotions.

"We are getting out of here, now," Laxus pushed Gray again, urging everyone to start moving and if anyone saw the stray tear that fell from the lightning mage's face; no one said anything.

Everyone started to run.

Everyone except one.

Natsu stood motionlessly, watching Master get slammed into the side of the mountain like he did earlier by Kain. Happy had already flown off and despite Natsu loosening his hold on Lucy, she grabbed his hand tighter instead. His face was unreadable, but Lucy already knew what he was going to do.

She knew Natsu would never leave Master behind. He truly has changed.

"Go," she encouraged, and he took off.

Lucy had no idea that it would mean they wouldn't return home. At least, not for a very long time.

To be continued...