A Dragon Slayer's Love

-2-

Lucy's heart stopped. His body was on its side, broken and bleeding. His usually alive and fiery eyes were closed.

He had a broken off spike wedged in the right side of his abdomen, cuts everywhere, a gash in his left calf as well as a deep cut on his head.

Lucy's eyes clouded over with tears. She and Happy ran over to the dragon slayer's body and fell to their knees beside him.

"Natsu! Please wake up!" She screamed as she cradled Natsu's body in her arms, the water from her eyes dripped and ran down the blood covered face of her best friend. Happy laid on Natsu's stomach, his eyes filled with tears, his usually light teal coat, was now wet and darkened with his best friend's blood. Suddenly coming back to reality, Lucy frantically searched for Natsu's pulse, her heart seemed to finally beat again when she established that although it was weak, there was a beating heart in his body.

After about 20 minutes or so, of sitting and crying, Lucy glanced up at the threatening sky.

"Well, I suppose we'd better get you under some shelter, don't need a fire wizard becoming cold from the rain, do we?" Lucy sniffed, wiping away her tears and standing with renewed determination, Happy following in suit.

Happy had regained his energy in their rest(if it could be called that) and had the ability to carry Natsu's body by his coat front while Lucy carried his legs. Together they brought him into a small cave nearby the battle scene. Lucy quickly grabbed the pack that Natsu always brings on every job, and she laid the blanket flat on the rough cave bed. Happy gently lowered Natsu onto the newly made bed, Lucy held the dragon slayer's head and when the rest of his body was settled down, she guided the mop of salmon colored hair gently onto the pillow made from his pack.

Thankfully, Lucy always reminds Natsu to bring bandages and first aid supplies before every job, due to his prideful way of thinking, he is quick to dismiss the fact that he could let anyone get hurt or heaven forbid, he himself is injured. Taking out the supplies, Lucy began to evaluate the extent of Natsu's injuries.

"Happy." Lucy broke the silence between them.

"Lucy?" The blue exceed looked to the girl. Lucy took a breath before continuing.

"You need to fly back home immediately. Natsu is in a very bad condition and he needs Prolyusica's magic as soon as possible." Lucy hated to part the two friends, especially in a time like this but in this dire time, it was necessary. Happy opened his mouth to argue but let out a sigh and nodded slightly while a tear fell from each of his eyes.

"It's about a day and a half flight home, with my strength levels. . . and at best another day or so back carrying that lady, so. . . don't let him die while I'm gone, Lucy." Happy stated through sniffles. Lucy gave him a reassuring smile and nodded. Happy's white wings spread out and he jumped into the air and flew out into the darkening night.

Please be safe Happy, and hurry back, Lucy prayed while watching the opening in hopes of seeing Happy well on his way, but obvious that he was out of sight, Lucy turned back to the man in front of her; his breathing had become ragged and labored and his eyes moved ever so slightly under the cover of his eyelids.

"You're gonna be okay Natsu because. . . we need you to be, I need to be." Lucy took a few breaths before beginning work on patching up the injuries before her.