At first he did't notice it. But as he lowered his head in suspicion of the stillness in the air, he staggered back at the sight of the red liquid on the ground.

The color swirled in his mind, making him feel light while curiousity aroused in his mind. His glistening eyes followed the line, almost forcefully, like it had a mind of its own as some would say. The red liquid however, was still flowing through the tiny cracks on the ground.

His eyes widened, the strings around his heart tightened like someone violently pulled them. He saw a sight that would give him nightmares for the rest of his life. 

A blonde wizard; stellar mage lied down in a pool of blood.

The blood didn't gush in a constant flow, but in time with the beating of Lucy's heart. At first it came thick and strong, flowing through her stomach. She felt the blood move over her hand, the thick fluid no warmer or cooler than her own skin. After a few moments more the blood was still leaving her rapidly paling flesh, but the pulse was slower, weaker.

Natsu quickly snapped out if his trance and rushed to her side. His hands were shaking so much he could barely hold her body.

"L-Luce.. what happened?!" He shouted desperately, his sight becoming blurry.

"N-Natsu.." She was too weak to move; she could barely speak.

Lucy coughed out blood as it stained her clothes.

His hands were red. Stained from her blood, he was becoming lightheaded.

Natsu felt like the world was slowly disappearing in front of him. His lungs were burning and his heart kept hitting his chest so hard he thought it would break his ribs and rip apart his skin.

"She's gone, isn't she?"

Just then, everything turned black.

-

"AHH!" Natsu shouted as his hand reached out from his sheets. The cold sweat slid down his body.

"Natsu? What's wrong?" Blonde whispered before her eyes landed on him and noticed his appearance. She sat up in a blink of an eye and began rubbing his back.

"Was it that nightmare again?" She asked in soothing voice. He gave her a nod as an answer before putting his head in his hands. His heart kept racing and thumping.

"I'm so sorry, Luce.." he kept apologizing, every single night.

"Hey.. I told you already, I forgave you, it wasn't your fault.." she spoke while rubbing a big scar on her stomach.

"But.. we lost her.. Nashi's gone because of me!" He cried into his hands, feeling too ashamed to even look into Lucy's eyes.

"We're going to get through this.. just give it time.."

"How could you forgive me so easily?! I'm nothing but a monster!"

"Because you didn't mean to do it; you weren't in control.." she forced a smile.

Nights went by, one by one. The horrifying image of that day never left their minds; it was forever placed there.

But you know what they say: time heals every wound. They just needed to hope that would come true for them too.

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so rushed but hope you like it!