Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 132 - Natsu vs Larcade

Natsu was so focused on Larcade that he didn't even hear Lucy coming up behind him. He turned sideways to her, so he still had Larcade and E.N.D. in his field of vision, if only peripherally.

"You okay, Natsu?" Lucy asked.

"I'm alright," Natsu said. "I'm sorry about what happened before, really. I'm going to make it up to you."

"Can you really take him on your own? We're all here."

"We can fight, Natsu," Erza said.

"I know," Natsu said. "But Erza, I think you know better than all of us that we're going to need everyone here in tip-top strength for what's still coming."

"Even you!" Lucy exclaimed. "A—and we have to find out what happened to Happy!"

"Oh, trust me, we're gonna," Natsu said, clenching his fist. "Once I get my hands on Zeref, Happy's coming right back. He's gonna wish he never messed with the little guy."

"Natsu, please," Lucy said. "You're absolutely sure?"

She grabbed his hand. She was trembling. Not afraid for him, but maybe of him still. He still saw her desperate expression through the flames as his magic threatened to kill her, as he was ready to pounce and rip through her to get to Erza or Gray or Wendy.

"We...we just can't lose someone else," Lucy said, closing her eyes, bowing her head.

"Someone else?" Natsu asked as a chill ran through him.

"That card-reading woman sacrificed herself for your guild," Larcade said. "Spared all of your lives, including your own, Natsu."

"Cana?" Natsu cried and searched for her.

Gone.

Cana was...gone.

Flames shot around Natsu.

"Yeah, Lucy," Natsu said, and turned once more to Larcade. "I'm absolutely sure I'm going to pulverize this guy."

"Then we have to get going," Erza said.

"Erza," Lucy said, spinning. "We—I—"

"Lucy, I trained specifically to beat this guy," Natsu said. "Remember? I'm not going to let any of that go to waste."

Lucy let go of Natsu's hand. "Then meet us at the palace, you hear? Help us take down Zeref."

"Definitely. Erza? Good luck. Your mom's one tough cookie."

"Don't I know it."

Erza indeed led the group. There was a passageway through the buildings that they could take. Everyone followed, including Romeo. Wasn't he on Tenrou? And if Master Makarov was around, what about Laxus and the others? Tayaka? Yukino was with them—

"Hey, eyes up," said the only one remaining after Fairy Tail took off.

"Yeah, sorry," Natsu said. "Just wanted to make sure everyone else was okay."

"Cana did a stupid thing, but I can't say I'd have done any different," Gray said. "Ain't that what we're doing here, anyway?"

"Basically," Natsu said. "But we're going to make sure her sacrifice means something. We won't let her down."

"No way in hell," Gray said, cracking his knuckles.

Larcade watched the others go. With a sudden burst of speed, the fake E.N.D. moved toward Fairy Tail, but was stopped by a wall of ice and then blasted away by Gray, who gave pursuit, ensuring all routes to Fairy Tail were sealed off.