The Demon and The Princess | NaLu

Chapter 37 - Natsu vs. Lucy

He quickly took down another troop, the mages following slowly behind. He was accelerating up the hills and towards the head quarters where Lucy was waiting. He had no control over what he was doing, just shoving and burning soldiers out of his path. The only sane piece of him was his conscience. Which was never really sane. It laughed whenever a "weak" soldier was taken down. He was at his strongest and it feared the once power army. 

Lucy was able to spot him from where she stood on the hill side. He stood out like a sore thumb. He was blazing orange and red and quickly making his way through the walls of people. Lucy tried to calm herself down. She took deep breaths and tried to distract herself but would still end up shaking and having her heart beat loudly from her chest. She held her sword in her left hand and held on to her gate keys with her left. 

She didn't know what to do. She didn't want to fight Natsu, or any of the mages for that matter. But it was her duty to do so, she couldn't back down. This was her family's battle and she was to end it. Lucy watched as Natsu's demon form came closer to her and she stepped forward, fidgeting with the hem of her coat. Before she knew it, he was standing right in front of her. Demon and all.

He didn't fight her at first. He stood his ground and looked her up and down. She stood feet away from him and she could the heat resonating off his body. Even in this form, he didn't look as strong as he once was. Even now, possessed by poison running through his veins, she knew he was still Natsu Dragneel. He wasn't END or a monster sent by the devil to plague the kingdom with death. He was her Natsu and that was all she cared about. That he was him.  

"Lucy," he said. His voice was low and rough. And in a way, broken. He smiled, "I can't allow you to live after everything you caused."

"I wouldn't expect you to," she attempted to say. Her words came out quiet, they could've been mistaken for the wind that blew the rain drops across the battle field. 

"Have you ever fought a demon before?" He asked, "It's an eye opener. Let me show you." He charged towards Lucy, knocking her into the forest and pushing her up against a tree. Soldiers who were close by came to aid her. 

"This is my fight," Lucy said, "let me handle this." 

Natsu smirked, "Brave girl, aren't ya?" He threw her to the side. He turned to the soldiers, "I don't want to worry about you disobeying Your Highness's demands." He lit up his hand and charged. The soldiers ran and screamed. Natsu was able to take out two, burning their torsos and scalps. He turned back to the queen and walked towards her. 

Lucy pushed herself off the muddy ground and locked eyes with Natsu. I'm sorry, his voice said, I'm so sorry, Luce. He tried to control himself but his body wouldn't listen. He grabbed her neck and pushed her back to the ground, burning her. She screamed in pain and the demon laughed. 

Stop, you're hurting her!  He wanted to cry out, but he only mad matters worse. His demon form did whatever it could to cause her pain but made sure not to kill her. He wanted the death to be slow and painful. Within minutes she seemed to be covered in cuts and burns. It was then he noticed, she wasn't fighting him. She was letting him take control over her. She was slumped over a tree stump, her breathing was soft and quiet. 

"Why aren't you fighting me?" He asked. She wouldn't answer him, she only starred at him. Her brown eyes were half lidded and her mouth was partially open. She looked as if she were dead. "Answer me!"

"I. . . I can't let myself cause you anymore pain."

"Like you could hurt me," He scoffed. 

"I have, not physically," She started. "I've given you mental scars. You've been broken down and I hate the fact that I was part of it." Natsu rolled his eyes. 

"That's great, now fight me already," He went towards Lucy again. He punched her in her stomach and she went further into the forest. 

"Natsu, I know you're there!" She shouted, "I'm sorry, for everything. For coming into your life." She was hit again and flew into a nearby lake.

"For having you worry about me." He ran towards her. 

"For messing up the guild,"

Don't apologize.

"For complaining all the time,"

Lucy. 

"For being sad when I didn't need to be,"

It's okay. 

"For causing you pain," 

Stop.

"I'm sorry for what I've done to you and the guild. I don't expect you to forgive me." 

There's nothing you need to ask forgiveness for. The demon pulled Lucy out of the lake and stood her up on her feet. They were inches apart, the heat radiating off of him was drying her up slightly. 

"Alright, Your Highness," He said mockingly, "You can say one more thing." Lucy though for a moment and did the one thing she'd been wanting to do to him for a year. 

She kissed him. 

The kiss was soft and hot. Of course, he was hotter than she remembered him being. She rested her hands on his chest as she felt him stiffen up. The kiss said everything she had been bottling up inside of her for the past year. It was simplest way she could think of  to say it all. As she felt herself get weaker, she felt him becoming cooler. His arms wrapped around her back and pulled her closer to him. She felt tears come down her face as she opened them. The markings were gone and the strong heat was as well. She felt the last of her energy leave her body as her eyes locked with Natsu's. 

She knew this was her end as she fell to the side and lost consciousness Natsu was able to hold her and safely bring her down to the soft, wet ground. He had control again, the demon was gone. Her uniform was torn and the worn edges were mixed with dirt and blood. He propped her head up and rested her body on his lap. He shook Lucy's shoulder attempting to bring her back. 

"Lucy, Luce, c'mon open your eyes. Everything'll be okay. Please, open your eyes. Don't die on me." Her pulse and breathing were still there, but they were faint and disappearing. 

"C'mon, Luce, please don't go. I don't know if I can go through that again. I love you so much, please don't leave me." Soldiers found him and tore the two apart. He wasn't arrested, the mages had won due to his reckless efforts. He watched her be carried off as a soldier held him back. 

"Her highness must rest," was all he said. That night was a silent victory celebration. Natsu was left alone watching the golden moon light up the night. 

*** (using my school Chromebook, not usual dots I know)

Author's Note:

So I decided I should post this the same day as chapter 36 because that chapter turned out pretty good in my opinion and I wanted to let you guys read more as a Thank You gift. This story only as at most five actual chapters left and I wanted to thank you guys now along with in the final author's note. So thanks for;

All the support (obviously)

Getting this story almost to 39k reads 

Reading and commenting

And for not getting mad when I only updated like 5 times over the summer 

The next update will be September 26th at the latest!

~Lucy (lucythegirl)