The Lost Dragon Slayer

Chapter 3: Awakening

The Lost Dragon Slayer

Chapter 3: Awakening

Lucy looked out of the hotel window to see the rain coming down heavily. Wendy was still asleep in the bed next to her, Mest having gone out to gather some breakfast for the trio. Gray and Erza had left a few hours before to go searching once again for Natsu, taking both Happy and Charla with them to help in the search. She could only hope that they would be able to find more clues through this heavy downfall.

With a huff, she shuffled back over to the bed, her leg still complaining over the weight she was putting on it. It had been over a week now since she had woken up to find Natsu gone. A week he had been from her side. Each day that passed was another pang in her heart. She could see what it was doing to her guild mates as well. Gray was quieter. Erza didn't have that spark in her eyes. Wendy was clingy to both herself and Charla on a day to day basis. She couldn't tell what Mest thought, but knew he didn't believe in her words when she spoke about Natsu still being out there. However, the one that concerned her the most was Happy.

He was distant. He wouldn't make the jokes she was used to about calling her fat, but the most concerning thing was that he wouldn't eat unless told to. He stopped asking for fish, instead he opted to look out the window. During the night, Lucy would curl up with him only to hear him whimper and cry himself to sleep. She never realized just how much the small cat was dependent on Natsu.

Settling herself back into the hotel bed next to Wendy, she ran her fingers through the small girl's hair. She let her mind wonder back to what Charla had spoken about just a few days ago.

-

"I had a vision the other day that I need to discuss with you all." Everyone looked up from their current sulking to face Charla who was wrapped tightly in Wendy's arms.

"Is this about the one you had on the day of...?" Erza trailed off, not being able to complete her sentence. She didn't want to mention the day that was dragging in everyone's mind.

Nodding her head, Charla continued, "It is. I had a very serious vision that is very concerning. It involved Zeref."

Gray's head sharply turned to glare at Charla, a cold radiated off his body that made Lucy shiver from her spot next to him. "Why didn't you bring this up earlier? Anything concerning that man should be top priority." Lucy widened her eyes at the hostile tone Gray had in his voice.

"I thought it would be better to ponder about it before I set the details all on you." Charla glared right back, but didn't let his words bother her. "As I was saying, I had a vision that involved Zeref, or in this case, he was called Emperor Spriggan." Seeing she had everyone's attention, she uncurled herself from Wendy's grasp and walked to the edge of the bed. "If my guess is correct, I would bet that the Alvarez Empire is under Zeref's rule. This alone is concerning... however, that wasn't what shocked me the most."

"How can anything be more concerning than Zeref running his own kingdom? Everyone will be on his side – this is almost a suicide mission now knowing what lies in wait for us!" Gray's hands tightened on his pants material that bunched up around his knees – his fingers were turning ghostly white due to the high strain he was causing them. He glanced to his side, seeing Lucy facing him but smiling gently, her own hands touching his lightly. Seemingly disgruntled, Gray apologized.

She nodded and cleared her throat, "The more concerning thing was that there was another figure within the room with him. Zeref called him the Prince of Alvarez, and his brother." This made everyone within the room stiffen or gasp in reply.