Leaving to become stronger

Part Two

Team Natsu was able to reach Acalypha and went straight to the museum from where the artifact was last seen.

They've heard from the client that the rod was taken by a dark guild for summoning.

They've gathered some rumors and learned that the rod was taken to the middle of the forest.

One villager confirmed that there was some activity that's causing some disturbances to town from the forest's direction. They took the villager's suggestion, as it was the only lead they have.

"You know I have a really bad feeling about this." Lucy said while shaking in fear, as they've entered the dark forest.

The rest remained silent, looking for any signs of movement from the surrounding.

Once they've reached an area with smokes, they saw some bandit-like wizards sitting idle as if waiting for orders.

They caught sight of a rod. No it wasn't a rod. It was a crooked but golden staff. It has silver linings on the side and mini jade on top.

'Of course! I knew it was familiar! It's one of the elements of the broken tree!' Lucy whispers as they were hiding behind a shrub.

'It's called The Enchanted Twig! I've read it before! If you touched the crystal on that staff, it would apparently show you things that may happen in the future. So cool, right?' she added still whispering.

They all nod in understanding and tried to come up with ideas on how they can grab the staff to complete the mission.

"I got one. Someone distract them, and the half follows the one who guards the stick." Gray suggested, softly.

"A diversion... Good thinking, Gray!" says Erza quietly.

Gray smirk victoriously towards Natsu's direction, earning a death glare from him.

"Lucy and Wendy follow the staff, then Natsu and Gray will distract. I'll be the one to stay here for more of them, since it seems they're still waiting for some more people." Erza concluded.

"Yosh! Let's go!" Natsu screamed and blew fire all over the place.

"Stop showing off, flame brain! Ice Make: Lance!" Gray exclaimed.

This stunned the enemy temporarily, and Team Natsu attacked in advantage.

Natsu and Gray stunned every enemy, and attacked them quickly.

Erza took out all approaching enemies coming to the scene.

Lucy and Wendy took the staff from the defense group who was guarding it.

Lucy created an Earth Wave and Wendy used dragon force, which caused the staff to be thrown mid-air.

Lucy caught the staff and accidentally grabbed the top end.

When the rod was caught, she immediately got dizzy and it made her stagger.

She felt that her knees weaken and she's about to pass out.

'Lucy-san?' a blue hair girl running towards her, seems to say.

It was the last thing she was able to hear, before completely blacking out.

Everything was pitch black.

Then it came to her like a flash of lightning.

Lucy clutched on her chest, feeling suffocated.

And she was suddenly brought to an unfamiliar place.

It was complete darkness.

It wasn't an unfamiliar place, after all.

It was...

Fiore...

Fiore is covered in blood.

Then at her right side, there was an ongoing battle.

Something caught her attention, on this certain battle.

A huge monster was going to tackle her.

She stood there confused.

Natsu covered for her just in time.

Natsu provoked the monster, to distract its attention on her.

Natsu looked like he was completely out of magic.

She watched as Natsu was attacked back and forth by the beast, not responding back.

'He must've exhausted himself to the point of having no power left in him.' she thought in horror.

She ran towards him to fight, but was only shock to realize, that she couldn't even hold him.

She felt as if she's on a different dimension. Her hands could not touch Natsu at all. It was overlapping him.

She watched in fright as everything turns red.

She could see blood dripping from his head.

She just stood frightened and anticipating what could happen next.

She watched in horror as she just witnessed how Nastu protected her from death, and she couldn't do anything about it.

Next thing she knew, Natsu's no longer waking up.

"That's because you're too weak..." A voice came from nowhere, keeps on telling her.

"You can only watch... That's what you always do..." the voice pressed.

"Yamete... Onegai..." she pleaded, but the voice keeps on telling her that she's too weak.

"You're weak" It continues, provoking her.

"YAMETE!" she screamed in pain.

Lucy woke up panting and crying.

As she tries to catch her breath, everyone just stared at her in confusion.

She held her head, while tears streaming down her face.

She saw that the enemies are down.

"Lucy?" Natsu says worryingly, approaching her.

She flinched when she heard his voice.

"O-Oi... Lucy? What's going on?" Gray asked, cautiously.

"N-nothing..." she says quietly sobbing, and still shaking in fear.

They all watched her with concern written all over their faces.

She tried to calm herself down and gave the staff to Erza.

"Just make sure you don't touch that crystal, Erza." she said blankly, as she watched her hands shook.

Erza nodded in reply, but she was still concerned of Lucy's strange actions.

Lucy stood up, wiping her face and silently walked before them.

"That's never going to happen" she vowed silently, to herself.

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Next Chapter: Her Resolve