Star-Crossed (A NatsuXLucy Fanfiction)

Chapter 6

Lucy's P.O.V.

I'd like to say I did amazing on my job. I'd like to say everything went according to plan, that it was one of the best days of my life. But I would be lying. Everything that could go wrong, did. First off, we all got separated. I was alone. I fought, something- something indescribable. I can't tell you a single thing about it, in detail. What I can tell you, is that it was big, and that it breathed poison. For the first half of the battle, I did pretty good- but towards half the way into it, the thing opened its mouth and breathed out something that smelled like burning flesh- it was probably mine. Upon first contact, my skin blistered, my lungs burned, my eyes watered and lost focus. I collapsed on all fours, raising my arms above my head in attempts to guard my face from any further infliction. This didn't work the way I had planned. Instead, my arms acquired an angry rash, the skin cracking and bleeding. I cried out in pain. Every second that passed, the pain intensified. It got to the point that I thought I would pass out. Just as my eyes were closing, I saw Erza and Gray on the ground, face down. ''Oh gods...'', I thought. "Don't let them be dead." I forced myself to stand, despite the searing pain filling me to the brink. I shakily summoned a roar of stars, comets, and asteroids, which sent me back, soaring through the air three hundred feet.
My blood rushed through my ears, my heart beat blocking out any outside noises as I saw double everything. The monster had disintegrated into a pile of lime yellow dust in its place. Or, at least I think it was yellow. A moment later, my vision was coated in red. I could just make out someone coming towards me. Natsu. Suddenly, my vision cleared. I could hear again. I could breathe, again. Happy flew straight to me, while Natsu stooped and helped me up. The world did a 360 and I would have fell backward if he didn't put an arm around my waist, steadying me. We made our way to Erza and Gray, who had been knocked out. They came, too, and immediately fussed over my damage. I laughed in relief, to see that my friends weren't dead. Then, all four of them stilled, looking at the pile of monster dust.

"You," Erza pointed at me, then the pile. "Took down that thing?" I blushed in embarrassment, seeing as I barely managed it, but nodded. A huge grin spread across her face, and she crossed her arms in an approving way.

"Way to go, Luce." I thanked her, but thought of something.

"I need to train more- take the S-class wizard exam."

"What? Why?!" Gray exclaimed. I gestured to the condition I was currently in. His jaw clenched.

"Lucy, you did what none of us could. I, an S-class wizard. I got knocked out." Erza said, wincing slightly at the memory, but then went back to smiling. "I can't make the decision for you, however I think that you should do it. Becoming an S-class wizard is a big deal." Erza said, then her and Gray, along with a fish-craving Happy went off somewhere, leaving me alone with Natsu.

"I-"

"Let's go get you cleaned up." Natsu interrupted me, and we walked towards a small stream. There, he helped me to sit down, and told me to take off as much as I could. I left on my tank top and skirt, but my over clothes and shoes came off. I also sat my keys on the pile, and allowed Natsu to help me into the water. It stung at first, okay, more than just stung. It sat me on fire, being in the water. Through my watery eyes, I looked down to see the poison leaking out of my wounds. I shuddered, disgusted, but massaged the cuts on my arms and hands to rid my body of the filth. Once I was clean, Natsu got me back on dry land, starting a small fire with logs and sticks from nearby trees. I closed my eyes, feeling much better than a few moments ago. I took a deep breath, and sat up immediately with a fit of coughing. I held my hand to my mouth until it stopped, but something had splattered on it. I pulled it away, only to be welcomed with a handful of blood. Natsu was at my side the very second.

"Luce." he whimpered in concern, and rinsed the blood out of my hand. Then, he helped me to dress, putting my keys on my belt loop. When it came time for me to stand, my legs gave out. Natsu hooked his arms around me, and picked me up. I let my head fall on his shoulder. Natsu placed a kiss to my forehead, and quickened the pace. Within a minute, we met with our friends. Gray and Erza walked over, while Happy laid on Natsu's head. Gray placed a cool hand to my forehead. Looking at Erza, they nodded as if they had a mental conversation going on.

"What is it?" Natsu asked, while looking down at me. I frowned slightly. Did he want me to answer that?

"The poison has her with a fever. We should probably get Lucy back to Magnolia and put her on bed rest. Let it run out of her system." Natsu clenched his jaw and nodded. He placed his lips to my ear.

"I love you," he whispered. I managed a small smile, before my eyes flitted closed and my mind faded into the welcoming darkness.