Natsu no Omoi

Part 4

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"*Jii-san!" Natsu yelled as he skidded into a stop inside the guild. Everyone turn to look at him. A few, like Wendy and (curiously)Gajeel, fell off from their chairs in surprise. Some look alarmed, others, seeing it was only Natsu, just shrugged and went back to whatever they were doing.

"Salamander!" Gajeel yelled angrily as he stood up with as much dignity as he could muster after falling off his chair. "What d'ya think your doing, you fire-breathing--"

But Natsu ignored him and zoom away towards the old man on the beer hall.

"*Jii-san!" He yelled again, grabbing the old man's shoulder and making him turn around to face him.

"Natsu.." Makarov, the guild master of Fairy Tail, look up at Natsu. "What do you--"

"Tell me where Yami Gate are located!" He demanded urgently.

Everyone in the guild fell silent. A few look disturbed with just the mention of the guild's name.

"Why are you asking, Natsu?" asked Makarov. "You're not thinking of picking a fight with another dark guild, are you?"

"No!" Natsu yelled. "L-lucy... They took her.." he said shakily.

"WHAT?!" three people exclaimed behind Natsu. He turn around and saw Erza, Gray and Wendy looking alarmed about what he said.

Wendy ran towards Natsu. "Natsu-san, is this true?" she asked anxiously. Carla, Wendy's Exceed, look grim beside her.

Natsu look down. Gray and Erza followed Wendy. Erza stare at Natsu. She patted his shoulder and said in a soft yet urgent voice.

"Tell me what happened."

Right on cue, Happy, Natsu's Exceed, flew inside the guild, tears flowing in his big eyes. In his hands is the note that the Yami Gate had left behind. He landed beside Natsu.

"N-natsu.." He sobbed. "W-we-- Lucy.."

Wendy knelt down and hugged Happy soothingly. Erza took the paper from Happy's hand and read it together with Gray.

"Why-- why does this always happen to Lucy?" Erza said angrily.

"First the Phantom Lord, now this?" Gray muttered quietly, but his voice held the same anger as Erza's.

"We have to save her," Natsu said quietly. He turn back to Makarov. "Jii-san.."

"I know," Makarov's jaw were clenched and his fist were balled up tight."Another one of my children.."

Erza patted Makarov's slowly balding head(because of the stress that they're causing for him. ) "Master, leave this to us."

Makarov sighed. "Be careful.. their one of the strongest Dark Guild out there."

"We'll help too!"

All of them turn around and saw the entire guild before them, Lisanna, Juvia, Cana and Mirajane in the lead. All four girls look ready for battle.

"No," Natsu said. " You all need to stay here and protect the guild."

"B-but--!" Lisanna started protesting.

"Listen!" Natsu yelled. "Do you want our guild to be destroyed again?!" No one answered him. Natsu took a deep breath. "Do what you can to protect the guild. Me, Happy,Erza and Gray will go save Lucy."

"I'll go too!" Wendy chimed.

"Wendy.." Carla knowing Natsu won't hesitate to let a child go with them, started protesting. But Natsu surprised her.

"No, Wendy. This is too dangerous for you," he said.

"But I can help!" Wendy exclaimed. Tears form in her eyes. "Please let me save Lucy-san," she pleaded.

"Wendy, I can't believe i'm saying this, but he's right," said Carla.

Wendy ignored Carla. She grabbed Natsu's arm and look up at him. "You always told me that I should do everything that I can to help my friends. That's what it means, being a Fairy Tail wizard... I want to help save Lucy-san. Natsu-san.. *Onegai!"

Natsu stare at the little girl in front of him. She stare back at him, her chin tilted stubbornly and her eyes determined. He sighed.

"There's no point in arguing," he said. "We've only got a few hours to save Lucy. Fine! You can come with us--"

"Salamander!" Carla exclaimed angrily while Wendy smiled triumphantly.

"--Ans Carla too," he finished, ignoring Carla's angry outburst. "Everyone will saty here and protect the guild."

Erza nodded. She stood up and started planning with the team.

Panther Lily, Gajeel's Exceed, walk next to Carla, frowning at the group warily. "Why do they look so scared about that particular guild?" he asked. Being just a new comer to guild and Earthland, He doesn't know that much. "They already defeated two of the strongest Dark Guild at the Baram Alliance, right?"

Carla glared at Natsu angrily before answering Lily's questions. "The dark guild, Yami Gate guild, is not included in the Baram Alliance. They are what we call independent guild. They tend to work "alone" rather than associate themselves to other guilds," Carla sighed. "That guild have a horrible reputation. T-they kill anyone that they want to kill, without hesitation. And the most horrible part of their "work" is that they hang their victim's dead body on the gate of the victim's guild."

Lily look affronted. "G-gate?"

Carla nodded. "No one ever escaped from Yami Gate. No victim ever makes it out alive," she look down. "Let's just hope Lucy will be the first one that will."

Lily sighed and nodded. He look at the "Rescue" group. Natsu look so serious, Lily couldn't believe he's the same Happy-Go-Luck Natsu that he know. Lucy seems to be so important to him. Happy have the same expression in his face. Erza, Gray and Wendy all look grim yet determined at the same time.

Carla got up as the group prepares to leave. Wendy called her and she flew towards her, looking very pissed.

"*Gambatte, minna..." Liuly muttered uneasily as he watched the group leave.