Rescue Mission

No One's POV

With the help of Lucy, Natsu tied up Imitatia to a chair from the kitchen. They both decided that it would be best to get as much information about their situation as they can get out of her.

Natsu was being very cautious sense this... thing had eyes on hurting Lucy. He stood, stalking over the limp body in a chair, watching for any movement.

I won't let anyone touch a hair on her body, He told himself, mentally.

It felt like minutes went by with no movement. He looked around the room, only now realizing, Lucy was not in here anymore.

"Lucy? Where did you go?" He asked, aloud.

He got no response.

Natsu sniffed around and found her scent trail. She went outside? For what and why??

He was about to go to the door when it burst open because of a pi**ed off Lucy, holding a large bucket of water.

Relief washed over him but was soon replaced with confusion. Why does she have a bucket of water??

Lucy wasted no time to put her plan in action. She raised the heavy bucket over her head and stomped over in front of Imitatia. Next thing that happened was the bucket tipping and drenching the unconscious villain in questioning. The cool water woke her up in an instant. Lucy's plan worked!

Imitatia sputtered, "Wha- wha- h- happened?? How d- did I- I get-?"

"You got here because you f***ed with the wrong person," Lucy interrupted, with the most intimidating stare Natsu had ever seen.

Imitatia sank in her chair, clearly scared. Lucy smirked at what she accomplished. But she, of course, didn't stop there. Natsu and her's goal in tying her up was to get answers.

And answers she will get.

*Time skip to after Lucy's amazing interrogation*

They got all they needed. Imitatia was practically an open book to them at this point. Clearly, Imitatia was not skilled with being captured and, only, somewhat good at fighting.

Here is what they found out:1. Mindy was taken only a few days ago.2. She was taken and kept in the basement of the Heartfilia mansion.3. She wasn't getting tortured. Mindy was simply taken there so their was only one Mindy around. Aka, Imitatia.

And, finally. 4...

Her dad thinks Lucy is his wife.

That... blew her mind.

I mean it makes sense, why he is so desperate to get me back. He wouldn't want me anyway. In the end, all he cared about was my mom, his wife.

When Imitatia told her this, tears threatened to escape her eyes. She breathed in heavily, trying to prevent them from falling.

Natsu senses her distress and came up behind her. He laid his comforting hands on her shoulders to show her the support she needed right now. His thumbs massaged her shoulders to ease its tenseness.

Lucy calmed down in his touch and gave him a quick nod as a 'thank you'.

They got everything they needed to go and find Mindy. But Lucy was scared to face her father. Natsu feared for Lucy's safety.

Natsu made sure Imitatia was tied good and knocked her out once again. She won't be waking up for at least 6 hours.

The air between the two was awkwardly quiet and tense. Until, of course, they made it to the mansion.

——————————————————Natsu and Lucy snuck behind a bush near the mansion. They needed a plan.

Lucy whispered, "I know a way inside without being noticed. There is a cellar door in the back of the house and- NATSU WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" She tried her best to stop Natsu that, was now, already busting down the front doors.

So much for having a plan...

Lucy speed walked to catch up to him. He had already made it inside, searching for Lucy's "father".

Natsu sniffed the air to catch any familiar scent. That was when he caught Mindys.

"I got Mindys scent," Natsu told Lucy, quietly.

Lucy nodded to Natsu as a way to tell him to go find her. He did so, leaving Lucy to confront her father. She knew exactly where he would be.

His office.

She climbed the familiar stairs up to his office. A feeling of deja vu hit her. She remember when she was chased by her father, up these exact stairs, only a couple months ago. The memory stopped her in her tracks. She, unknowingly, lifted her hand to the scarred arm.

Her chest filled with anxiety with every step she took.

Then, she felt a hand go over her mouth.

Her heart skipped a beat for one moment before realizing it was just Natsu. He put a finger to his lips, saying to be quiet. She listened and Natsu dropped his hand.

Natsu has already found Mindy and she was fine. It was weird because she wasn't tortured or anything. Maybe a few bruises, but that was it.

Mindy said to Natsu, "I am fine, Natsu. Go after Lucy and be by her side." He didn't object and went back to Lucy.

Lucy's eyes soften at seeing Natsu. Truth be told, but she really needed him with her.

"I will always be here by your side," Natsu said with full sincerity.

Lucy's heart fluttered in that moment. A sense of safety rushed over her, making her feel reborn and much happier. She grabbed his hand they went towards her dad's office. Natsu blushed at the hand that held his and his heart fluttered just as Lucy's had done moments prior.

They made it to his office and found it wide open. He was expecting us? Both of them thought.

Their steps in were cautious and quiet. Trying not to let their presence be known. They were half way in the room when the door behind them slammed shut. It was so loud Lucy's heart almost flew out of her chest. It startled Natsu too, but not as bad.

A dark, low laugh rang out, "So, Layla. You left me for this pink headed idiot? What a shame... I tried so hard to get you back, but it seems pointless now! You have been seduced by this man!? How could you do this to me?" He seemed psychotic, and definitely not in his right mind. Lucy knew that already, but it pained her to see her father this way. Instead of the fear and anger she once felt towards him, she felt only pity and sorrow.

"F-father?" She managed out through her surprisingly dry throat. "I am s-sorry that mom is gone, but we need to let her go. She can't rest in peace knowing you will be this way because of her! I- I'm not her. I'm your daughter! Can't you see me as that and not m-mom?! I loved her too, ya know! We could have grieved her loss together..." Lucy was all choked up, now. She could not say anymore. She hoped what she did say would get to the real him, so he can snap back into reality.

The tone Lucy used seemed to make him flinch, slightly. Lucy thought, Am I getting to him?

Jude blinked a couple of times and almost tripped on his two feet. He seemed as if he had waken up from a long nap. Natsu ran over to help him sit in a chair.

"Thank you," he mumbled. Lucy just stared at her father and her father stared back. They were both processing the moment that happened. Natsu stood by Lucy, being there if she needs him.

Jude cleared his throat before saying, "I'm sorry, Lucy. I was so blinded by rage and sorrow that it drove me mad. I- I can't believe I thought you were Layla!" He put his face into his hands to cover the oncoming tears. Lucy now was crying along with him.

"I know, dad. When I saw you for the first time in weeks, it broke my heart. I finally understood how you were suffering. I forgive you." Lucy forgave her father instantly which shocked the two men in the room. Jude thanked her profusely and said a few more apologies.

Natsu, through all this time, thought he would have to fight her father to protect her. But Lucy managed to fix the problem through talking! That astonished him.

Natsu eventually got the all clear to leave the two of them alone to catch up. He found Mindy waiting at the front door.

He finally had the opportunity to ask the one and only Mindy Yamiko the question he wanted answered. She snickered at his question. She thought it was hilarious at how dense he was.

"Do you really want to know?" She asked.

He nodded profusely.

She looked up the stairs and around him to see if Lucy was around. Mindy leaned in close to his ear and said, "Youu like her~!" Natsu stepped back with shock and realization.

No wonder I wanted to have a date with her! It all makes sense now!

Natsu was no longer dense about his feelings.

Mindy mentally slapped her head, he was so dense.

Lucy came down the stairs then, with a smile of relief and happiness gracing her face. Natsu loved to see her finally free and happy.

"Where to, now?" Natsu asked, not knowing where they wanted to go. He didn't care as long as Lucy was there.

Mindy had an idea, "Why don't we go back to our apartment building then head over to a place that I called for an interview? It's called Fairy Tail.  They were hiring a cook, and I called to see if the position was available. When I last talked to the nice woman, I would get an interview." She proudly smirked at her amazing plan.

Lucy was ecstatic! She had heard of the guild known as Fairy Tail and had always wanted to join it. The only problem was, she didn't know how that worked. Now, she can go with her friends and join together!

They agreed to the suggested plan and two weeks later, they were right outside the town known as Magnolia.