Where Is He?

The next thing I knew I heard voices. They were shouting and yelling. I wanted them to shut up and go away...just let me sleep. Hands grabbed me and lifted me up.

There was a male voice near my ear and he was saying something. My name...? I couldn't understand him. And I didn't care enough.
A name was at the edge of my mind, nagging me. What was it...? I was jostled and my head fell back from the man's chest.

Name...

Name...

Name...!

My eyes snapped open and darted. I looked up and saw black hair. Gray. His eyes where bathed in shadows. I moved my gaze and my eyes fell onto...I tried to focus my vision.

Gajeel. He was carrying something. I narrowed my eyes and what I saw made my blood turn to ice. Natsu was laying limply in Gajeel's arms.

His scarf, now red from blood, was swinging in the still frosty air. Something was nagging me about that scarf. Relief flooded through me. He was safe now. Wendy would come and be able to heal him.

My vision became fuzzy and I tried to focus my vision again. I needed to see him, to keep my eyes on him, if I didn't...I was afraid that he would fade away. He's gonna be okay...he has to be...he's fine...

Nobody was talking. Everything was silent. I opened my mouth to...Scream? Sob? Curse? I didn't know. I never got the chance. Before I could do anything else, I blacked out.

****

I woke up with a start.

My whole body ached. I turned my head to my right and saw Wendy next to me, asleep on the other bed. I slowly sat up and I winced when hot pain shot through my side. I looked over at Wendy, "Wendy..." I choked out.

She stirred then slowly lifted her head with a yawn. She blinked her eyes, looked at me, and a big smile crossed her face. She leapt up and threw her arms around my neck. "Freya-chan! Your awake, I'm so happy!" I winced when she hugged me, but I smiled anyway.

"Oi, Wendy...How long have I been out?" Wendy released me and looked down at me with a worried expression. "You've been out for two days."

I nodded slowly, "Okay." I looked around the room at all the other beds. They were all empty. I looked back at Wendy with a confused expression on my face. "Wendy, why is Natsu not here?"

Wendy froze and she just stared at me. I tilted my head at her, "Wendy, did Natsu already leave?" Wendy lowered her eyes and didn't meet my gaze when she spoke.

Her voice was soft and shaky, "Freya-chan...Natsu-San's not here." I blinked. "Then where is he?" Wendy slowly lifted her head and tears were running down her face. "Freya-chan, what's the last thing you remember?"

I thought back. I closed my eyes tight and I told Wendy what I remembered. "Natsu and I were fighting. We had just defeated our last enemy. Natsu turned and smiled at me...then he fell." I paused to swallow back the sudden wave of emotion that washed over me. "Umm- I ran over and I saw that a Dark Wizard had stabbed him. I killed him."

I choked on the thickness in my throat. "He was so still. I tried stopping the bleeding when another Dark Wizard grabbed me and threw me. He hit me with magic and all I could do was watch as he stood above him. Then he was just gone.

"I went back to Natsu and- and I tried healing him." I sucked in a shaky breath. "I think it worked...I guess I passed out after that. The next thing I knew Gray was carrying me. I remember looking over and seeing Gajeel carrying Natsu." I looked at Wendy, "That's it."

I sat up further and leaned back into my pillows. "He's okay now, right? Can I see him?" I asked hopefully. Wendy suddenly broke down. She covered her face with her hands and began to sob into them. "I'm s-so s-sorry, Freya-chan! So...very...sorry."

I reached out and grabbed Wendy's hands. As gently as I could I pried her hands away from her face. "Wendy, where is he?" Wendy sobbed harder but she opened her mouth and told me. "He-he's gone, F-Freya-chan..." My whole world seemed to stop with those simple, heart shattering.

My breathing.

My heart.

Everything just stopped.

I stared at Wendy, unable to speak or move. Her words kept spinning around in my head. They...they didn't make any sense. I wasn't processing them. My brain was refusing them. "W-what?" My voice broke. Wendy continued to sob and she didn't answer me.

Then the words just clicked.

"You're lying!" I yelled as tears formed in my eyes. Wendy flinched, I had never yelled at her before, but she shook her head, "Freya-chan, todays h-his funeral... It's g-going on r-right now." I covered my mouth with my hands as my eyes widened with horror.

"Stop lying to me!" I screeched, I jumped out of bed, ignoring the pain that my wounds made, and before Wendy could stop me, I ran. I ran out of the room, out the Guild, and to the garden where I knew he would be. I was running so fast that everything around me looked like a big white blur.

My feet felt like they were going to freeze off and my breath was puffing out in front of my face in a thick white cloud. My wounds were screaming in protest and my body throbbed and roared with pain. And yet I didn't care and I didn't stop.

I could hear Wendy's little foot falls behind me and she was screaming my name. I didn't stop. I kept on running. I rounded the corner to the garden at break neck speed and I stopped dead in my tracks.
I saw all my friends...they were all wearing black, their heads were bent down, and they were all sobbing. I barely heard the Master of Fairy Tail's voice as he spoke of one of our fallen.

I stood there, staring with shock, and horror clearly written across my face. My eyes shook as I scanned them all. Searching...just for a flash...a little glimpse...of cherry blossom. I never found what I was looking for.

I shook my head hard and took a small step back.

This-this wasn't happening. I didn't
understand...Natsu...my Natsu...he couldn't be...gone. There was no way. I-I healed him...I healed him!

I stared dazedly up at a giant, red Dragon statue, with his mighty wings outstretched protectively. It's strong jaw was slightly open. Revealing razor sharp teeth and two longer canines that gleamed in the pale light. The Dragon's head was tilted back proudly and its black eyes bored into me. It was like it was speaking to me. It was as if the Dragon knew that this was all my fault. I wouldn't have anyone to look over or protect if you hadn't come here. The red Dragon statue seemed to growl. This is your fault. All your fault. It hissed.

"I know." I whimpered up at it. "I know..." I snapped out of it when I saw the casket that was beneath the massive Dragon statue. Laying across the casket was Natsu's scarf. I...I healed him...
Without a sound I staggered toward the casket. My eyes never left the wooden object. He was not in that thing. Natsu was not gone! He couldn't be...

He-he saved me. He had pushed me out of the way...he was still here!

I would show them all! I would show them...that there was no reason to cry. That they all should be smiling and laughing, like Natsu always was. He was never sad. He was always laughing, smiling, and carefree...that's how everyone should be.

Lucy was the first to notice me, Levy was beside her, and she called out my name.

He was protective...

Lucy grabbed my arm and tried to hug me.

He was happy...

I wrenched my arm away from her and continued to move forward in some kind of trance.

He was caring...

I heard my friends crying and sobbing.

He was energetic...

I walked past them without looking at their tear stained faces.

He was loyal...

I stopped at the foot of the casket and I stared down at it, but I didn't really see it.

He was loving...

I then laid my hand down on top of the casket.

He protected me...

The tears fell, slid down my cold cheek, and dropped onto the wood, darkening it, just like the snowflakes had already.

He saved me...

Natsu's beloved scarf had been laid out on the casket, it had been cleaned of blood, and snowflakes had already dampened it.

He became my best friend...

Natsu would be cold without his scarf...

And slowly...

Why would they leave it out here...? He needed it, he never took it off, this meant everything to him...

Day by day...

I slowly reached for it, my hand was shaking as my fingers touched the soft fabric. He had given this to me...I put a hand to my mouth as a sob burst from me. Natsu had given this to me when he told me that he...that he loved me.

I had found myself falling in love with him...

I never said it back...

I
Never
Got
To
Tell
Him

A scream rose up in my chest and shattered the still night air around me. I cried and cried, clutching his scarf close to my chest. I fell to my knees in the snow, before the proud, all seeing Dragon who's eyes seemed to hold infinite knowledge. I rested my forehead against the cool, smooth wood of the casket that held half of my broken heart hidden inside of it.

He wasn't supposed to leave me...

I barely heard soft footsteps padding toward me in the snow. Then I felt a small paw land on my shaking shoulder. With tears still trailing down my face, I turned my head slowly, to see Happy there. His blue ears were flat against his furry blue head. His big eyes were shaking and his own tears were still sliding down his face.

"F-Freya..." Happy sobbed out as he fell into my arms. With another loud cry, I grabbed the Exceed, and held him close to me, as the snow continued to fall, and our friends sobs grew louder.

Natsu...please...come back to me...

He was my first love...

He was my everything...

He was...mine...

I stayed, with Happy in my arms, on the snowy ground, in front of that casket. Slowly, my friends began to leave. Everyone had cried and nobody had stopped crying. The only ones who stayed were, Gray, Gajeel, Levy, Lucy, Erza, Loke, who had showed up soon after I had arrived, and Pantherlily. At one point, I don't know when, someone had put their jacket around my shoulders. It didn't really matter. I couldn't feel the cold anyway. I was numb. Completely numb.

Happy was still in my arms, he wasn't asleep, his eyes were wide open, and he was staring off into the distance. Probably picturing a smiling and goofy boy, running around, not having a care in the world.

That's what I was picturing.

I watched a white snowflake float to the ground with dazed eyes. I was waiting...I was just waiting for this nightmare to finally be over. To wake up, to blink open my eyes, turn my head, and be greeted with a dazzling, bright, closed eyed smile that could cheer anyone up.

But I never woke up.

I never saw that smile.

I never saw what I wanted to see.

I never heard what I wanted to hear.

I only heard the deafening silence.

I glanced over at Natsu's scarf. With slow and jerky movements I brought his scarf closer to me. I closed my aching eyes and pressed the scarf to my face. I inhaled and tried to pick up anything, just a small wisp, of his scent.

My eyes flashed open.

I slowly brought the scarf to eye level. This...this wasn't Natsu's scarf...

I stood so suddenly that Happy let out a surprised sound. I heard him ask me something but I was beyond hearing what was happening around me. I narrowed my bloodshot eyes at the casket that I had been staring at for hours. Something...something was off.

My heart was thumping against my chest rapidly as I continued to stare down at it. Natsu... Before I could think better of it I gripped Natsu's scarf tighter and ripped the casket open.

There were shouts behind me and someone wrapped their arms around my middle. My breath caught in my throat and my whole body seemed to be frozen. My eyes were still glued onto the casket as the person dragged me back. I went willingly. "What the hell are you doing?!" Gray said in my ear.

I didn't say anything, I was still staring at the casket, Natsu's scarf was still clutched tightly in my hands. I saw Happy a few feet away from the casket, staring at nothing, his eyes full of grief and sadness. Gray dragged me further away and then let go. He turned to face me and stopped dead when he saw my expression.

I was smiling.

Really smiling.

Then I started to laugh, while I was laughing, tears ran down my face. My heart soared and I hugged Natsu's scarf tighter. Gray grasped my shoulders and shook me a little. "What the hell, Freya!"

Still smiling I looked at Gray, "Gray, Natsu's not dead. He's not dead!" I said happily as tears still ran down my face. Gray let go of me, "Freya, I know you're in shock..." I narrowed my eyes at him. "Look in the casket." I said while jerking my chin toward it.

Gajeel, who had been watching the whole thing, grunted, and walked toward the casket. He stopped near it, closed his eyes, and his eyes darted to look inside the casket. I saw his eyes widened for a fraction of a second then he turned his head toward me.

"The Little Fairy is right, the Salamander...is not here." Gray stared at Gajeel for a moment then he turned to me, a look of pure shock was written across his face, "W-what? Then where the hell is he?!"

I frowned as I looked down at Natsu's scarf, "I don't know," I smirked as new hope filled me.

"But I sure as hell will find out."

"Wait, how did you know that Natsu wasn't here? How do you know that he's alive?" Lucy said while tears still ran down her face, Loke had his arm around her shoulders. I looked down at the scarf and cocked my head to the side.

I held the scarf up and blinked at it. I reached up to my neck and grabbed my necklace. Blue flames shot up from my hand that held my necklace and engulfed the scarf from view.

"That's how I knew." I muttered as the scarf turned to ash in my hand.

I looked at Lucy and said with a blank face, "Natsu's scarf is fire proof...and it didn't smell like him. Someone put a spell on it to trick us." I pointed to the casket, "Someone duplicated Natu's body to make us believe that he was dead."

Levy's eyes widened and she slapped a hand over her mouth. Lucy was staring at me in complete disbelief. Gajeel's jaw was clenched tightly along with Lily's. Gray, Loke, and Erza had pretty much the same expressions on their faces, rage. "Who would do this?!" Erza asked, her face was twisted up in rage. I glanced at her, my own rage rising up in me.

"I think I have a pretty damn good idea."

I looked at Gajeel and jerked my head in his direction. "Oi, Gajeel, fancy going on a little trip with me?" Gajeel smiled and did that little laugh of his, "Where we going?"
He said as he walked over with his arms crossed.

Erza and everyone else looked at me too, waiting for my answer. I smiled as Gajeel came to my side. "We're gonna raise some hell." Gajeel snickered, "Sounds like fun."

Erza nodded and turned to the rest of the group, "Alright, here is what we are-"
I caught her off, "No, Erza. Gajeel and I will be doing this alone." Silence followed after my words. "What?" Gray said. I tilted my head, "I just need one person. Trust me, I would already be half way there, but I need help on this. I just need one other person, to many people with me will make people suspicious and then they will began to ask questions." I paused before continuing.

"I know these places like the back of my hand...I've been there before. I know what questions to ask and I know how to get to the right answers." I took a breath and faced my friends. "I'm going to bring him back. I'm not coming back without him."

This was a promise I would never break.

Erza, Gray, Lucy, Levy, Loke, and Pantherlily looked liked they were all about to argue, when a soft voice said, "Okay, Freya, please bring Natsu home..." We all looked at the little blue cat who was facing away from us. He was staring at that casket still.

I nodded my head slightly in Happy's direction, "I promise, Haps, I promise." I looked back to the others and I saw trust shining in their eyes.

"Be careful, Fey-chan!" Levy cried as she ran over and hugged me. I closed my eyes and hugged her back. After a moment I released her and she set her hazel eyes on the Iron Dragon Slayer, "Don't you dare come back hurt, you baka!" She told him as she looked up at him and crossed her arms. He laughed and patted her head, "Like I said before, Shrimp, nothin can knock me down."

Erza stepped up in front of me and smashed my head against her suit of armor, "Come back safe and I shall tell the Master what's going on." I nodded the best I could.
Gray was next and he had his hand on his pockets as he smirked at me, "Bring that dumbass back, got it?" I nodded, "Got it."

Lucy and Loke came up to me next, "Please, bring him back...and be careful." Lucy's voice quivered but she forced a smile on her face. "I don't like when Lucy is sad," Loke sad as he pushed up his glasses, "So bring him back and make her happy again." A little smile danced on my lips as I promised Loke that I would.

Gajeel was saying goodbye to his cat as I made my way over to them. Pantherlily looked up at me with his paws crossed. "Freya, look after Gajeel will you? He can make stupid decisions sometimes." A tick mark appeared on Gajeel's forehead at his Exceeds words. I let out a breathy chuckle, "Okay, Lily, I'll keep an eye on him." I said this as I slapped my hand onto the Dragon Slayer's shoulder. Gajeel 'tsked' and turned away. "Damn cat." I heard him grunt out but I could hear no ill will in his words. Lily rolled his eyes and then looked back up at me, "I wish for the both of you to be safe." I crouched down to the cat's level and patted his head. "We will."

I got up and turned around to look at my Guild Mates. They were all looking at me with shinning eyes. They trusted me. They trusted me to bring their Guild Mate home. I would not fail them. I spun on my heel and with Gajeel at my side, left the garden with my head held high, and a determined look in my eyes.

I would not fail.

I would bring Natsu home.

I was apart of Fairy Tail after all and
Fairy Tail never gives up.

Author's Note: Minna, this was a very emotional chapter for me to write. Even I shed tears when I was writing this chapter. I don't know if this hit you in the feels but I still hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Freya is gonna go and kick some ass.

Nobody goes and takes something that is precious to her away...not without facing the consequences.

I would love to hear from all of you in the comments. Tell me how you all felt!

See you soon, minna! Arigato!