Chapter 17

Natsu's P.O.V.

Days passed. Then the days turned to months. Three, to be exact. Three months without Lucy. Life was agonizing, the worst pain I'd ever felt in my whole entire life- I hated it. I barely slept at night- if I slept, I had to see her face, and my mind was cruel. I was terrorized with a dying Lucy. Every dream was different. Sometimes, she'd be drowning. Sometimes, burning. Other times, she was being tortured. Each one brought me a little closer to the brink of insanity. Our search parties always failed. The worst part was, I could no longer feel Lucy through our bond. Currently, I sat in her apartment sobbing. The last thing I'd done to Lucy while in person was yell- and then she'd mind-linked me just to tell me not to come for her. I constantly wondered what Lucy's kidnappers were doing to her. Or... or if she was still alive. Just when I was about to break and give up all hope, a group burst into Lucy's place. I looked up to see Gray, Erza, Gramps, Gildarts, Cana, and Wendy running over to me.

"I-" I began, but was cut off.

"Lucy's been spotted!" Gramps practically screamed at me. I just froze, in shock.

"W-where?" I asked, stiffening. What cruel joke was this?

"Aclyphia- apparently, she was walking around with a group of guys-" A growl ripped out of my throat, and I stood.

"As in willingly?!"

"Well... we're not sure, Natsu." Gray said, shuffling his feet a little.

"Then I'll find out for myself." my voice was cold- enough to make Gray flinch. Had Lucy willingly been with these people?! She'd- no... she'd never just stay with them...

"Natsu... they say she had marks on her back," my eyes shot up and locked with the speaker's- Erza's. Her face was pained.

"What type?" I barely got my voice louder than a whisper.

"Like...someone's taken a whip to her." That ruled out her walking with them of her own accord, didn't it? I felt something inside of me break. They'd beaten her?

I don't know what happened- one moment I'm in her room talking to them, and then the next I found myself running through Alcalyphia being followed by the six who'd informed me of Lucy's whereabouts. It didn't take long to reach the place where she'd been spotted- and my breath caught in my throat. Standing outside surrounded by four guys was my mate. My Lucy. Except she didn't look like my Luce... I didn't care. Summoning fire to my hands, I knocked the guys out and grabbed her. Her keys sat at her waist.... as did her whip. There was no reason for me to not take her straight back home. I hugged her to my chest, unaware of anything going on.

"Lucy I-"

"STOP. LET ME GO!!" She started screaming and thrashing, ripping away from me with big tears in her eyes.

"Luce- you're okay now, I've got-"

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY FRIENDS?!" She was crying now, and she ran to the four guys shaking them.

"Noah, Bane, Zeke, Chase.... wake up." Lucy was feeling for a pulse, frantically checking on them. One of the guys lifted up- a guy with dark green hair- and she hugged him.

"Bane!" He hugged her back, and frowned.

"Hey, Luce. Why're you crying?"

"Y-you and the others- you were blasted with magic from him," Lucy pointed at me. The guy who I now knew was Bane looked up at me.

"You... you made Lucy cry?!" he stood, winds wrapping around him and thunder crackling. "How dare you!!!"

"She's my friend!" I shouted before I could stop myself and ran towards him. We exchanged a few blows until Lucy started holding her head and muttering things.

"Friend...Fairy Tail..."

"LUCY, YOU'RE NOT IN THEIR GUILD ANYMORE. THEY KICKED YOU OUT." Bane yelled, knocking me aside and running to her.

"I..." Lucy began, looking up at him bewildered. Then, her eyes moved behind me- to Erza and Gray.

"Strongest team..." I suddenly realized what had happened- she'd been brainwashed to forget us, pretty much, and to think we'd kicked her out of the guild. I ran and grabbed her away from him again, making our eyes meet.

"Lucy- think about it. We didn't kick you out of Fairy Tail. In fact, you're one of the most distinguished wizards in it. We're your family, your home."

"Luce, please." Bane's voice cracked. "Don't believe him." She turned to him, crying harder.

"But- but you, and Zeke...Noah... Chase... you guys are my family.... aren't you?!" her voice was desperate- like she already knew as she asked, that it was not so.

"We nursed you back to health- we protected you from Slade's group..." he said, weakly. Lucy went still.

"I... I took a job. To take down your guild. You kidnapped and tortured me... right?" her voice wasn't angry- it was just extremely sad, like her world was crumbling.

"Luce... we didn't know you back then. But we became friends- we're family now. Please," he reached for her. I watched in horror as she reached out for him. I just let her go, not knowing what was going on. She ran to him, hugging him as they both sobbed.

"I- please tell me that it's a lie." She pleaded.

"I won't do that to you," he said. His voice was as soft as a whisper.

"Bane...you and the guys. We are family." He kissed her forehead, rocking her back and forth.

"I know, Luce. Nothing will ever change that."

"I wanna stay with you," I felt my heart breaking. Here she was, choosing them over us. That's when Gramps stepped in.

"These...four gentlemen, are welcome to join Fairy Tail." Lucy's head turned so quickly, I thought her neck would break.

"M-master?" Her voice was questioning. Her eyes cleared- was she finally remembering. She pulled away from Bane, and ran past me to Gramps, hugging him.

"Lucy, I've missed you brat."

"I...can they really join?"

"I see your struggles. As your family, I will do anything to ensure your tears can be dried." I watched her kiss his cheek, running back to Bane.

"Bane!" Lucy called. He stood, and receipted her. "You and the guys- you'll join, right?"

"Lucy, we don't belong there. You do."

"I won't go back without you guys," she stated, frowning. I felt so lost- here was my mate, telling another guy she wouldn't come home without him. I forced myself back, and I think Gildarts and Gray got the memo, because they both grabbed me. Cana and Wendy, along with Erza slowly walked towards Lucy. Lucy didn't notice. Wendy placed a hand on Lucy- and I watched as all the scars and cuts healed. I think it healed her memory, too, because she whipped around.

"Wendy!" She cried out, pulling the small dragon slayer into her arms. The other guys sat up, groaning. Lucy forgot all about Wendy and turned, practically jumping to each one of them.

"Zeke!" She said- a black haired dude with blue eyes.

"What about me, Luce?" Teased a guy with flaming red hair. He looked about fifteen- pretty young. She giggled, throwing her arms around him next. "Noah!!!"

"Chase is alive, too!" A boy with brownish hair, short and clean cut said grinning cheekily. Lucy just opened her arms widely, and the four boys joined her in a group hug. I felt a pang in my chest. I watched my mate explain to them what had happened since they had been knocked out.

"You want us to join a guild?!" Noah exclaimed. Then, he looked over at Cana, blushed, and nodded. "Well...I'm in."

"Aw, Noah has a crush, Noah has a crush~" Chase chirped in a sing-song voice, pinching the red haired boy's cheeks. They seemed so...normal.

"Stop teasing him!" Lucy scolded, slapping away Chase's hands and pulling Noah behind her protectively. Chase shrugged.

"He's my little brother. I can tease him all I want." She stuck her tongue out at him, and stood, pulling Noah with her.

"I can't very well let him join all alone, so I'm in too." Chase announced standing as well. Lucy jumped happily, then looked at Zeke. He puckered his lips.

"Lucy, we're rogues. Your guild won't want us."

"Ahem. I'm the Master, and any friends of Lucy are friends of Fairy Tail." Gramps said. I felt like slapping him. DID HE WANT HER KIDNAPPERS AROUND HER OR SOMETHING?!!

"Please, Zeke. Bane." Chase fluttered his eyelashes. Lucy and Noah snickered at it, earning a dirty look from the guy. She shrugged, while Noah smirked.

"Lucy-"

"Join." Lucy commanded.

"We-"

"Join." Noah chanted with Lucy this time.

"I don't-"

"Join~" Soon, Noah and Chase and Lucy were all three chanting for the two stubborn guys sitting on the ground to join our guild. Did she not care that she hadn't seen me in three months?!

"FINE. HAPPY?" Zeke and Bane climbed to their feet. Lucy climbed on Bane's back, while Noah climbed onto Zeke's. Chase walked between the two groups laughing. All five approached our group of seven.

"Welcome to Fairy Tail," Gramps grinned. Life just kept getting better and better...