(Guys before I start this chapter as you can tell there is a new cover on his book. PLEASEEEEEEE WITH ALL OF MY HEART THANK alanaCowdery FOR THIS COVER AND GIVE HER ALL OF YOUR LOVE BECAUSE MINE ISN'T ENOUGH TO SHOW MY GRATITUDE FOR HER! Alana thank you again for the hundredths time for making this beautiful and exquisite cover for me. I wish to have this amazing talent as you but I think it's only yours to keep.❤️ So this Nalu chapter goes to alanaCowdery for being an amazing friend to do this. Go check her books out because she is a billion times better writer than I am. Trust me, you'll love her. Now here is this chapter Natsu...)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Natsu's P.O.V)

"Adroath we need more men in order to have a chance to win this war." Erza exclaimed while around the meeting table. "The people of Aria does not know what the meaning of war even is! When the first war came upon Lady Seraphina, she evacuated the entire city because she had created an army only made to fight!"

"But Lucy isn't here and she may not know how to summon the army! We need to start training the men Adroath!" This argument has been going on for hours with Erza insisting needing to have an army ready while Adroath says we already have one that is waiting and ready for battle. At this point all I want to do is sleep. "You wanted help from us Adroath! In order for us to help you and Aria, we need to begin teaching the citizens how to fight."

"I forbid you and your comrades to even show Aria your fighting techniques! Until Lady Lucy returns I stand against your plan. End of discussion!" Adroath stood from his chair and limped out of the room. Erza sighed and sat down with her hand in her chin. "That man is stuck in the past. If Lucy doesn't return in time then we are all doomed to die by the hands of the Dark Ones." All of us shifted uncomfortably in our chairs not knowing what to say back to her.

"I say we all get rest and continue on subject tomorrow. We're all exhausted and worry for Lucy, but if we are going to plan on winning a war then we need to rest our eyes for this." Wendy explained with her head down and facing the table. No one spoke another word until Erza sat up from the table. "I think you're right Wendy. Let's all go to bed and continue this tomorrow."

I left the room and began walking slowly to my room. Happy laid on my head already sleeping and was waiting to be in bed. "Natsu-nee?" My thoughts were interrupted by the small voice behind me. I turned my head back to see Teral a couple feet away from me with his head down. "Without Lucy-nee; I can't sleep. So with your permission, may I sleep with you until she comes back?" Teral hasn't been his happy and cheerful self ever since seeing Lucy being taken away. Teral only sits and listens to what's going on and never speaks until a subject about Lucy comes in. "Sure. I don't mind and I don't think Happy will either. Come on little buddy." Teral came and sat on my shoulder while I continued onto my room.

My room looked just the same as it did to Lucy's room when we were in the rental house in Aria; only it was three times the bigger size with a king size bed and a fireplace. I took my vest off and crawled under he covers with the two exceeds on the other side of the big bed.
"Natsu-nee? Is it alright if I call you that? It reminds me of Lucy-nee and Seri."

"Seri?" I asked to Teral. "I called Lady Seraphina 'Seri'. Lucy-nee reminds me of her so much and you...you remind me a lot about Talon. He and Seri took care of me when I was a hatchling and I grew up to know them as my adoptive parents. But four years later I died when saving Seri from the Dark One. My spirit laid in the forest where I became a guardian and watched over Aria until Lucy-nee came." That explains how Lucy got an exceed then. "I don't care if you call me that Teral. Let's just get some sleep to get ready for tomorrow." My eyes closed with me immediately falling into a deep sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I could hear the crying in the distance. The sound was very broken and sounded so fragile and delicate to where you can't touch it. I knew I was in a dream with me wanting to find Lucy. I knew the crying was Lucy.

"Lucy~?" The atmosphere reminded me about the Abyss. I was nowhere only to see the color of darkness. This place felt so unreal while the crying made me want to go and find her. I am in a dream. I know that I am.

"Your not real...your not here." Her voice echoed through the area with her broken voice. I went to search for Lucy with her tears becoming louder. Lucy had her legs in her chest with her hands over her head slowly rocking back and forth in a rhythm. "It's just the hallucination. I'm all alone in this nightmare. All alone with them." Lucy whispered mostly to herself. Almost like she wanted to convince the truth. I crouched in front of her to see horrible black spots over her left arm with her eyes a dark Crimson color. "Lucy! Lucy did they do this to you? What happened?!"

"No ones here. It's the curse that's making me hear this. It's just the curse." Lucy wouldn't budge in her state from experiencing whatever she's going through. "You're not hallucinating Lucy," I pulled her into my chest to feel her stiffen from my touch. I wrapped my arms around her to put her in a protective hug. "I'm right here with you." The quiet sobbing slowly stopped with her tiny hiccups. Lucy brought her eyes up to meet mine. "Natsu? Is that really you?"

"Yea Luce; It's me. What happened to you in the Midnight Realm?" Lucy held a horror expression with reflection-less eyes. "The Midnight Realm...is far worse than I imagined it."

"What do you mean Luce?" I asked to my terrified comrade. Lucy was beginning to shake from the fear. "One day in the EarthLand Realm, is a year in the Midnight Realm. I've only been gone for an entire day, but to me it's been for longer with the torments, sessions, questions, and to not know what's going to happen tomorrow. I'm so scared to wake up when this dream is over. If you really are Natsu, then I don't want to wake!"

My hand found its way to her head with me comforting Lucy while I listened to her intently. "We're doing the best we can Lucy, but for us to get to you then we would need the permission of a Dark One to open the portal for us. And I don't think anyone would do that for us to save you."

"I figured that out when you said it." All was silent with only the sound of our breathing. "How's everyone else Natsu? Is Teral doing well and helping you guys?" My mind flooded from today's meeting with still not having an army and the lack of man strength to win this war. "Erza wanted us to teach Aria's men how to fight before you return. Adroath on the other hand wants to wait for you until you can 'bring' your army out of its hibernation I guess?"

"You mean the 'Guardians of the Light'? Well if I do come back then I could give it a try and make the second commander come forth. But until then I'm sorta not able to help until I get out of here." So it is possible and having a high chance of still winning this.

'If' Lucy somehow escapes the realm.

"How are you going to escape Lucy? I bet they have dark magic restraints that can't allow you to use your magic." Lucy sighed with defeat and rubbed her arm. "You're right about that. I have very little chance of escaping there grasps if I keep having restrains on me twenty four hours everyday. If you have ideas then don't be scared to inform me now!" I didn't even know I was going to share a dream with Lucy! Maybe if I was told, then I might would have.

"Sorry Lucy, but I don't." Before Lucy could speak a sound of the world crumbling apart was heard. "I guess one of us is waking up! I'll do my best Natsu to try and get myself out of this. And no matter what happens to me or Fairy Tail, we'll still always be together!" The dark abyss was glowing brighter with a warm feeling to it. "I'll tell the others that you're doing fine! Don't forget that Fairy Tail will always be by your side!"

I watched as Lucy began to vanish with a sad and small smile on her face. "Take care of Aria and the people until I return!" Lucy faded with the shadows moving away from the warm light around me. "We will Lucy! Stay strong no matter what happens!"

I could no longer see but white with the sound of birds singing and the little snoring exceeds. "Luce?.." My hand was in the air reaching for her but to see only the ceiling of my room. "Was that, a dream? It felt so real..." I dropped my hand back on the bed and turned over.
"I hope you were really with me, Luce."
I again closed my eyes to have a few more hours of a dreamless sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Not much but I at least finally updated. Anywho I won't be able to update for a bit because of 6 Weeks Tests and my mom having her SCDS Surgery so there may not be an update for a couple of days...guys I'm really sorry but I have to focus on school and my family. That doesn't mean I hate you or going to forget you guys! Trust me the only thing on my mind is Wattpad other than Family, Friends, Nalu and other ideas for this series. But until then, I need to lay off for a few days. I'm again so so sorry but will be back in no time flat! I promise you that! As always guys...LOVE YOU ALL❤️)