Broken Book 2: Lucy's Return

Chpater 13

Natsu approached a small stone hovel deep in the forest, Lucy still held tightly in his arms. He sat down in the furthest corner overlooking the door and continued to hold her in his lap. Slowly guild members began to arrive and sit down quietly in different areas, all glancing towards Natsu and the sleeping Lucy. After an hour everyone had finally arrived. They slowly began to discuss among themselves "Why does she look so different?" "Is it magic?" "Is that really Lucy?" "Natsu says that's Lucy, so there can't be any mistake." The master cautiously approached Natsu who hadn't moved since entering. He knelt down and examined her closely while Luke, Erza and Jellel stood nearby and the rest of the guil became quiet. "This is most certainly Lucy, but her magic and appearance have changed so drastically. I sense Zeref's magic. If I were to guess, they probably tried to force her life back into her using a spell from one of Zeref's books. The dark magic seems to have caused an imbalance within her, this was probably so they could control her for their purposes." "Is there anything we can do?" Levy asked quietly watching Natsu stroke her hair. "Yes, Lucy will be fine. Let's first get her back home then we can begin the treatment." Levy smiled, and cried in relief. Everyone quietly filed out of the hovel and made their way home. Exhausted from the battle, but luckily with minor injuries.

At Lucy's House...
Natsu held Lucy in his arms and sat down gently on her bed. She turned over, and buried her head into his chest trying to take in more of his warmth. Master, Jellel, Erza and Luke were the only others present, and watched as he held her carefully, like holding a glass doll. He looked at her lovingly, with clear exhaustion covering his face. When was the last time he'd even slept properly? Luke was the first to break the silence, approaching the bed and pulling the vile of Natsu's golden blood from his pocket. "Natsu, we can't delay this any longer. She's not all the way here. In order to return her to normal, in order to save the Lucy we all love, you have to perform a mating ritual.".