The Burn of Beginning | E.N.D.

09: Who is in Control?

"Anger and agony are better than misery. Trust me, I've got a plan. When the lights go up, you'll understand."

-Pain, Three Days Grace

~

Lucy was done. She was just done. She couldn't believe Gray actually tried to kill Natsu. It wasn't right. Gray looked as if he hadn't a care in the world when he created that sword of ice. And Lucy, Lucy couldn't move. She couldn't do anything. Seeing Zeref there was also a surprise. Though, she supposed since Natsu had pretty much been kicked out of Fairy Tail, he'd go to the person he knew he might still be able to trust. They were brothers after all. 

But when Gray charged, Natsu looked like he had merely given up. He didn't run. He only stood there as if waiting for the inevitable to happen. Natsu was willing to die. That didn't seem like him at all. But then again, losing family could do that to a person.

She sat outside the guild, wondering what she should do. Half of her wanted to apologize to Gray for slapping him even though she knew he deserved it. And the other half of her wanted to drop everything and look for Natsu herself. After a while of thought, she was interrupted as Erza and Happy joined her outside the guild. 

Erza spoke up first, "I should've tried to stop him. I should've done something. But I couldn't move. You will never here me say this again but it's good that Zeref intervened."

Happy flitted over their heads, Natsu's scarf still wrapped around his neck, looking on with concern.

"It was all our faults. We had the chance to stop Gray but we didn't. It's merely a fact..." Lucy replied, "I've decided I'm going to find him. Maybe if I go by myself I'll be able to convince him to come back to the guild."

"You may try, but I have a feeling that after what happened Natsu might not even want to come back." the red-haired mage sighed, "But it's always worth a shot."

Happy unwrapped Natsu's scarf from around his neck, handing it to Lucy. She smiled at the blue cat and stood up confidently, "I'm going to find Natsu. Keep Gray here and don't tell anyone where I'm really going."

The Exceed nodded, asking, "Lucy, can I come with you?"

"I think you should stay here with Erza, Happy. I don't know what might happen and I want you to stay safe. I won't be gone long."

On that note, Lucy headed off to her apartment, to pack for the journey. Erza and Happy returned to the guild, hoping to try change Gray's mind about his desire to kill Natsu.

×•× (1 day later)

Natsu felt considerably better than before. His spirit was light and his playful attitude made Zeref more excitable as well. Zeref talked more with him, whether it was about the past or what it would be like if Zeref wasn't cursed. After the run in with Kuro's mages, the pair had become more careful. They covered their tracks and didn't go into any towns. They also stayed mainly in the woods, straying away from the most used paths and access roads.

Natsu pushed all his worries out of the way and the looming presence of E.N.D. he often felt during the day had completely vanished. He knew it was still dangerous to remain close to Zeref for such a long period of time but he honestly no longer cared. Sure, he wasn't quite sure how things would turn out but he had to keep hoping for the best, right?

And now, they stopped to rest. A small cave rested near a river, the ceiling merely hanging over their heads as if protecting them from and overhanging rain or bird poop. They could wash their feet in the cold water and rest their eyes for a while. It was the perfect place to just sit and relax, the blue sky staring down at them, trees rustling their leaves in the wind.