He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (GrayLu)

Chapter 2:

Lucy's POV:

I let out a soft gasp in surprise. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to be the decoy because I want to help the others, but...he called me Luce. He hasn't called me that since a few days after Lis came back. Does that mean he won't ignore me anymore? I guess that being the decoy is still helping everyone. And if I say no and something happens to them, I'd never forgive myself and they would all hate me.

So this is peer pressure. I thought.

I put on my best smile and said, "yeah okay!"

Natsu's POV:

Yes! I knew it would work.

The girls' POV:

Natsu you idiot! Lucy can become a main target after this mission if she's a decoy! You even pressed her to do it by using her old nickname.

Gray's POV:

Lucy...no... w-why would you do this? You'll get hurt...

Lucy's POV:

I went to where the rogue mages were standing. I walked by normally, but they suddenly attacked me. I half expected it, so I dodged. By instinct I reached for my keys, but then remembered what Natsu had said the other day.

Flashback:

"Hey Lucy wait up." I turned around to find Natsu running up to me. I got a little excited since he's barely talked to me in weeks. "What is it Natsu?" I asked, putting my brightest smile on for him. He can make me smile during the darkest times. "I have some advice for you. Wanna hear?" I nodded and he continued.

"Stop hiding behind your spirits. It looks like you depend on them too much, and it will make people think you are weak. Use your whip more, or that Urania Metro spell thingy. I forget the name, but whatever. Hope you take the advice. Your spirits might get hurt if you keep summoning them a lot and it would be your fault if they did."

He walked away. I didn't know I would hurt my spirits if I summoned them too much. I wanted to cry, but figured that I already looked really weak, so I held it back, not wanting to give people another reason to think that.

He's right though. I depend too much on my celestial spirits. I need to relieve them of the pressure of protecting me, by protecting myself. I always thought that I've been fighting alongside them, but now I see that I've been letting them do all of the work. I'm a horrible celestial wizard, and a bad friend, for letting them do it alone. I should train more without them so they don't carry that burden. Then they can relax.

End of Flashback:

I fought my instinct and instead reached for my whip. I yanked it off from my belt and snapped it, ready to fight. I will not use my spirits as shields. I will NOT burden them, I thought.

I felt Loke's and Capricorn's magic in my body without me using a star dress. That meant that they were trying to open their gates by themselves. I can only feel the zodiac spirits' power when they try to open their own gate. It's because they are stronger and use more magic power than the silver keys do. Since I am connected to my spirits and their keys, I forced their gates closed just as they were about to come through.

Damnit guys why can't you just let me do this, I thought angrily to myself. Was I summoning my spirits too much that they felt the need to protect me even though it burdens them?

I shook those thoughts out of my head and focused on the fight. I didn't have time to change into a star dress so I used the next best thing, which was my whip. I wrapped it around one of the mages' leg and swung him into another. I did the same with 4 more guys and they fell down like dominoes. But more kept coming. I thought Natsu said that the job was to take down a COUPLE rogue mages, not a GUILD of them?! I waited for the attack team to swoop in and help me, but no one came. I became surrounded by the mages.

I looked around frantically, trying to spot one of my team members or a way out of this mess. I knew my limits, and I definitely could not take out an entire guild by myself. Especially when my magic is this low. I kept forcing my spirits' gates closed whenever they tried to open them. I considered using Urano Metria, but if I did, I would surely black out from exhausting my magic power. Unless everyone showed up soon, I could see no way out of this except to fight until I drop, which would not do me any good.

I noticed that the townspeople were gone. I came to the conclusion that the team must have gotten them out of range safely. I was glad, but it shouldn't have taken this long to do it. I hope they didn't get hurt.

Suddenly my vision became clouded. I could see black spots, and then everything went dark. I tried to get up but my body wouldn't let me. It felt familiar, and I realized that it was a spell, which must have been from a rogue mage. I knew I couldn't do anything, so I let the darkness take over me. Sleep suddenly sounded good right about now.