The Champions Ring (Nalu)

Heal First, Fight Later Pt. 1

I stared at my spoonful of this goop they call food. The nurse said it was supposed to be potato soup, but I don't think potato soup is supposed to be green. I watched as the slime slid off my spoon, back into the bowl.

This shouldn't even be considered edible.

"Natsu!" I spit out my orange juice when I heard that very familiar voice. I looked in the doorway to see a infuriated pink haired woman standing in the doorway.

No! Anything but her!

I waved awkwardly, stratching the back of my head, "Hey mom."

"Oh Natsu!" She ran over to my bed, engulfing me in one her famous bone crushing hugs with her tears falling onto my chest.

I tapped on her shoulder, "Umm mom? Still recovering," I said, desperately gasping for air and for her to get off my injuries.

"I'm sorry baby, I'm just glad your ok." She put her hand on my cheek, caressing it like she always does when she's worried about me, "but it still doesn't change the fact that you're in this hospital! What happened this time Natsu? And don't tell me it was another one of your famous falls," She crossed her arms.

There was no way I could tell my mom that I was fighting in an underground fight Club. That's something I'm going to have to take to the grave.

"Some guys jumped me on my way home."

"Is that so?" She raised her brow.

I gulped, nervous she wasn't buying it, "yeah. I took a quick stop at the gas station before coming home and these group of guys came after me and tried to get some money out of me."

She sighed, "I knew I shouldn't let you walk home by yourself." She put her head in her hands, "this is all my fault. I'm a horrible mother."

"I-It's ok mom." I rubbed her back, "It's not your fault. I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time."

"But I am. It's my fault we don't have food on the table all the time. It's my fault that we don't have any money, and I don't know how we're going to be able to afford this. It's my fault that you dropped out of high school..."

"Mom!" I yelled, turning her body toward me. Her eyes widened at my outburst, "Stop it. None of this is your fault. We're just going through a rough time right now. We'll get through it like we always do. It was my decision to drop out, not yours, so don't ever blame yourself for that." I wiped the stray tear coming from her eyes, "I'll find a way for us to get by."

She chuckled, "that's the thing Natsu, I don't want to just get by, I want better for us. I want you to finish school so I can send you to college, I want you to have a better future, but you getting into trouble all the time isn't helping."

"I know. I'll make this right mom."

"If your father was still here he would know what to do," She whispered.

We both heard a knock on the door, "mind if I come in?"

My mom turned, her face lighting up, "hi Erza!"

"Hey Mrs. Dragneel." She came in, sitting in the chair on the opposite side of my bed.

"Oh I totally forgot to tell you Erza was in town," Mom said.

"I figured that out earlier," I said, sipping some of my orange juice.

"I stopped by earlier," Erza said, turning to mom, "we grabbed some breakfast and talked for a little bit," She smiled.

"That's great! I'm sure Natsu is happy that you're back in town." Mom looked down at her watch, "I have to go guys. Work is killing me," She said, stretching, "you should come by for dinner tonight Erza."

"I would love that," She smiled.

"Great!" Mom clapped, "I'll see you tonight." She kissed my cheek, "and I'll see you tommorow Natsu."