Bound by Fire and Stars [Rewritten NaLu Fanfic]

16. Bonds of Flames and Starlight

The quiet after the battle felt heavier than the battle itself. The air was thick with exhaustion and relief as they stood in the dim, scattered light of their remnant powers. Lucy's heart was pounding, the remnants of adrenaline still coursing through her. She looked up at Natsu, words tumbling through her mind, but none seemed to make sense.

She bit her lip, finally speaking up. "I mean... I know I shouldn't have run off like that, and you probably think it was stupid and reckless, and maybe it was, but I couldn't just let them—"

"Lucy." Natsu's voice was softer than she'd ever heard it, his tone halting her rambling.

But she went on, her hands gesturing wildly as she continued, "And, well, maybe I could've been stronger—no, smarter! Or faster. I mean, I really thought I could handle it, but I—"

"Lucy." His tone was even softer now, and there was something new, something warm and unguarded in his eyes that made her words stumble and trail off into silence.

Before she could blink, he'd closed the space between them, his arms wrapping around her in an embrace that was fierce and gentle all at once. Lucy froze for a moment, her breath catching in her throat, and then she slowly relaxed, leaning into the warmth and solid strength of him. His chin rested lightly against the top of her head, and they stood there, unmoving, surrounded by the quiet stillness of the forest.

"Don't leave me again," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, rough around the edges.

The words cut through her, laced with more emotion than she'd ever heard from him. She felt her heart swell, the weight of his words settling deep within her. She didn't need to see his face to know that he meant every word, that this wasn't just relief from the battle but something he'd been carrying all along.

Lucy took a shaky breath, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over. "I'm not going anywhere," she whispered, her voice trembling but steady.

They stood like that, wrapped in each other's warmth, the world around them fading until it was just the two of them. A silent understanding passed between them, a bond forged in quiet moments and shared battles, something deeper than either of them had put into words, yet unmistakably clear.

The aftermath of the battle felt surreal, the air still tinged with the remnants of magic and energy that crackled softly in the dim light. Lucy leaned against a tree, her heart still racing from the confrontation, but a sense of peace began to wash over her. Just then, the familiar flutter of wings broke the silence.

"Lucy! Natsu!" Happy's voice rang out, bright and filled with relief. He zipped into view, followed closely by Erza, who strode with purpose and an air of unwavering strength.

"Happy! Erza!" Lucy called back, her heart lifting at the sight of her friends.

Erza's sharp gaze softened when she took in the scene, Natsu's fiery hair slightly tousled, Lucy's weary but relieved expression. "I'm glad to see you both safe," she said, her voice steady yet warm. She stepped closer, examining them both for any signs of injury. "What happened?"

Lucy took a deep breath, trying to shake off the remnants of fear. "We defeated Orion. It was... intense. But I'm okay."

Happy flitted closer, his eyes wide. "And the other celestial wizards? Are they okay?"

Erza nodded, her expression serious. "We evacuated them. Once we realized the danger, we acted quickly. They're safe, back at the guild."

Relief washed over Lucy, and she felt the tension in her shoulders loosen. "Thank goodness," she breathed, feeling a rush of gratitude for Erza's leadership. "I was so worried about them."

Natsu stepped forward, his usual bravado returning. "Yeah! We made sure no one else got hurt. That's what we do, right?"

Erza smirked, a flicker of pride in her eyes. "Exactly. But you two... You shouldn't have faced him alone."

"Hey, we had each other!" Lucy chimed in, glancing at Natsu, her heart swelling at their shared strength. "And I had Plue and Ursa Major. They helped guide me."

Erza raised an eyebrow. "Ursa Major? The key you retrieved?"

Lucy nodded, smiling faintly. "Yes! It showed me what I needed most." She felt a warmth in her chest, remembering the bond she had felt with Natsu during their battle.

Happy flapped his wings excitedly. "That's amazing, Lucy! You're so strong!"

Lucy's cheeks flushed at the compliment, but she was interrupted by Erza's serious tone. "We need to regroup and assess any further threats. If Orion was hunting spirits to maintain his power, there may be others like him."

Natsu clenched his fists, determination flashing in his eyes. "Then we'll hunt them down too. No one messes with our friends."

Lucy nodded, feeling that familiar fire igniting within her. "Together, we'll protect everyone."

"Let's head back to the guild," Erza urged, glancing toward the path leading out of the forest. "We need to debrief and ensure the safety of our members. They need to know we're all right."

As they made their way through the forest, the mood gradually shifted from the heavy weight of battle to a more relaxed atmosphere. Natsu, ever the instigator of mischief, suddenly stopped and turned to Lucy, a playful grin spreading across his face.

"Hey, Lucy!" he called, his voice teasing. "Do you remember that time I almost burned your favorite book because I thought it was a giant marshmallow?"

Lucy narrowed her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. "How could I forget? You were trying to roast it over a campfire!"

Happy burst into laughter, his little belly shaking. "And you freaked out! I thought you were going to blow a gasket!"

"I had every right to freak out!" Lucy protested, crossing her arms with mock indignation. "That book was irreplaceable!"

Natsu shrugged, feigning innocence. "What? It wasn't my fault it looked so tasty!"

Erza chuckled softly, shaking her head at their antics. "You two are impossible. Sometimes I wonder how you manage to keep out of trouble."

"Simple! We just create our own trouble!" Natsu declared, his enthusiasm infectious.

Just then, a small rustle in the bushes caught their attention. They all turned to see a rabbit peek out, its nose twitching curiously.

"Hey! Look at that little guy!" Happy exclaimed, flying closer. "He's so cute!"

Lucy knelt down, extending her hand cautiously. "Come here, little friend."

To everyone's surprise, the rabbit hopped forward, sniffing her hand before nudging it with its nose. "Aww, see? He likes me!" Lucy cooed.

Natsu's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I bet I could catch it if I wanted!"

Before Lucy could react, Natsu lunged toward the rabbit, but it darted away, disappearing into the underbrush.

"See? That's why you never chase rabbits," Erza chided, but there was a hint of amusement in her tone.

"Next time, I'll be faster!" Natsu proclaimed, determination etched on his face.

Happy laughed, flapping around Natsu's head. "You just wait! One day you'll catch a rabbit, and it'll be the most epic victory ever!"

Lucy shook her head, chuckling. "You two are hopeless. Maybe we should just stick to hunting down spirits instead of rabbits."

"Hey! I'd make a great rabbit hunter!" Natsu protested, pouting dramatically. "I just need to practice more!"

As they continued their journey, Lucy couldn't help but feel grateful for these moments.