A Star Removed from the Sky

The Caster Revealed

Lucy couldn't find the nerve to speak, nor the words to get herself out of this situation; she was in shock, and more than anything, she was scared. The look in Natsu's eyes was one she'd only seen whenever he was facing an enemy: there was no mercy in his eyes, he thought she'd done something to one of his friends. That was what made Natsu stronger and more serious than ever in a fight. She'd always felt sorry for those who were on the other end of his rage whenever he was like this, but she'd never imagined it would be her one day.

He was waiting for a response from her, his fist ablaze in front of her. She gulped and looked at him in the eyes, shaking from the intensity of his gaze. "Natsu... what do you mean what have I done-"

"Cut the bullshit! That's a Zodiac key, and it belongs to a friend of mine. The only way you can get their keys is if they give them up or you forcibly take them by... by..." The anger in his eyes intensified, and she knew what he was implying. The three ways to break a contract between a celestial wizard and a spirit were if the wizard was arrested, released by the wizard, or... or if the wizard were killed.

"These are my keys Natsu! It's me!" Lucy was desperately trying to fight back the tears in her eyes and mask the fear in her voice. He was like this for her sake, he would never do anything to hurt her. She repeated this in her head and tried to reason with him. He had to recognize her, he had earlier! All around in the audience she could see people seeming to come to realization, especially those who held Fairy Tail banners. Lucy was still wearing her gloves, hiding her Fairy Tail mark, but if she could convince Natsu to let her remove them, she could turn this situation around.

"You're lying, you're NOT Lucy! I would know, I've been looking for months! I don't know where she went or why or what's keeping me from her, but there's one thing she left behind, and it's led me to your guild!" Lucy tried to interrupt him, but he was tired of hearing excuses.

The audience was on edge, some confused as to why they weren't finding, and others slowly coming to the realization of who Lucy was. The announcers were just as confused, trying to keep up commentary that made it interesting. The timer was ticking away, and while it looked like a fight was breaking out, it wasn't the magical one they had hoped for. In fact, they didn't remember setting up this battle at all, they were supposed to save Natsu for the last battle on the final day... how did he end up first?

"She left her smell behind, at the guild, in her apartment, in my own house! I came here on a hunch hoping to find her, only to hear a new guild has all twelve Zodiac keys in their possession. Ten of those keys belonged to Lucy, and yet when I went to that guild, I didn't see any keys, only a group of friendly wizards. I almost fell for it too, but then I could smell her in your guildhall. You must have done something to her! For someone claiming to be her, you don't smell anything like her!" Natsu's anger escalated.

Lucy was confused, there was no way Natsu's nose could be off, it never had been before, and yet he couldn't recognize her when she was right in front of him. "What- that's not possible! It's me Natsu! I'm Lucy, I'm a Fairy Tail wizard you met years ago in Hargeon! These are MY keys, my friends! You said you liked my smell; how can you not see it's me?"

Natsu flinched for a minute. Those words were just as he... as he remembered! Things were coming back in pieces, small bits of information about her. This girl was right, Lucy called her spirits her friends. It was one of the things we respected about her, she cared for her spirits instead of using them like tools. She was kind-hearted, and sweet, and nice; it was what made him what to form a team with her when they first met... in Hargeon, like this woman said.

Mira's warning echoed in his mind. The people who had infiltrated the guild had left with inside information on every member. This woman knew about Lucy, knew about him. Mira was right, this was who he'd been looking for. This was the one who would lead him to where Lucy was. But just in case... he had to check something.