The air in the palace was thick with tension. Lucy's labor had begun, and though the palace doctors worked diligently, they couldn't hide their growing concern. Her body was frail, and the strain was more than any of them had anticipated. Every passing second felt like an eternity.
Lucy's breaths came in sharp, shallow gasps as she gripped the bed sheets. She was trying to be strong, to fight through the pain, but it was becoming harder with each moment. Brandish stood by her side, her usual composed demeanor faltering as worry etched itself into her features.
["Lucy, you need to conserve your strength,"] Brandish whispered, her voice uncharacteristically soft. Her hand gently brushed Lucy's forehead, attempting to ease the tension. ["I'm doing everything, I can to keep you stable, but you have to hold on."]
Lucy nodded weakly, though her eyes remained unfocused, staring at the ceiling. Her thoughts drifted to Natsu. She could almost feel his presence, as if he was with her in spirit. His warmth, his laughter, the way he had always been by her side. It was all she could cling to now.
"Natsu…" she whispered through the pain, her voice barely audible. "I wish… you were here."
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Meanwhile, back in Magnolia, Natsu paced frantically outside the guildhall. His senses were on high alert, his gut twisting with an unshakable feeling of dread. Every fiber of his being told him that something was terribly wrong. He couldn't explain it, but he knew—Lucy needed him.
Wendy watched him from the doorway, her face pale with concern. ["Natsu, are you sure you're okay? You've been acting strange since this morning…"]
Natsu clenched his fists, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. ["I don't know what's going on, Wendy. It's like I can feel something… something bad. And it's getting stronger."]
Gray, leaning against the guild's entrance, crossed his arms as he glanced over at Natsu. ["And You really think it's Lucy, don't you?"]
Natsu stopped for a moment, his fists trembling. He didn't want to admit it out loud. But deep down, every instinct in him screamed that Lucy was in danger. He couldn't shake it.
["Yeah… I do,"] Natsu finally whispered, his voice hoarse.
Erza, standing a few feet away, exchanged a glance with Laxus, who nodded slightly. Without a word, Laxus pulled Erik aside and gave him a small mission, whispering, ["We're not done yet. Search for any leads on Lucy. Don't stop until you find something."]
Erik nodded in silence and dashed off, disappearing into the shadows of the city.
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Back in the palace, Lucy's condition worsened. Dimaria stood near the doorway, her arms crossed, but her usual indifferent expression had melted into something more anxious. She could see the toll the labor was taking on Lucy, and though she had no love for Natsu or his guild, she found herself silently hoping Lucy would pull through.
["You're stronger than this, Lucy,"] Dimaria murmured softly to herself, her voice barely a whisper. ["You have to be."]
Brandish, still by Lucy's side, was doing everything she could to regulate the strain, her magic working overtime to keep Lucy's body stable. But even she knew that it was more than just her magic—Lucy needed strength from within.
As the hours dragged on, Lucy's energy waned. She could barely keep her eyes open, her body trembling from the exertion. Brandish's face was pale, sweat beading on her forehead as she continued using her magic.
A sharp cry broke the tension, filling the room with the sound of new life. It was the cry of Lucy's child—a healthy, beautiful baby. The doctors carefully wrapped the baby in soft cloth and handed them to Lucy, whose eyes fluttered open weakly as she gazed down at her child.
["It's… our baby, Natsu,"] she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath. Her fingers gently brushed the baby's tiny face. [I did it…"]
Tears welled up in her eyes as she gently cradled the child against her chest. But as she looked at her baby, a deep exhaustion settled over her. Her body felt heavier than ever, and despite the joy of seeing her child for the first time, she knew something was wrong. Her strength was fading.
["No…"] Lucy whispered, her voice shaking. ["I… I have to… I have to hold her…"]
But her vision blurred, and the room seemed to grow darker around her. The last thing she heard before everything went black was the faint sound of her baby's cries and the distant, desperate voice of Brandish calling her name.
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As Lucy gave birth in the palace, the weight of her struggle reached across continents, connecting with Natsu in Magnolia.
Back at the guild, Happy's ears twitched as he sat huddled with Carla and Lily, his little paws trembling. ["I'm worried, Carla… I'm scared something bad is happening to Lucy."]
Carla gently placed a comforting hand on his head, though her own concern was clear. ["We must stay calm, Happy. Lucy is strong. You know that."]
Lily, sitting beside them, tried to reassure him as well. ["She's right. Lucy's not alone. She has people with her, just like we're all here for her too."]
Erza and Wendy stood by Natsu, watching him intently. Nastu had been on edge all day, more so than usual. Suddenly, Natsu stopped pacing. His body tensed, and his eyes widened, as if something had struck him deep within.
["What is it?"] Wendy asked, stepping closer. ["Natsu, what's wrong?"]
Natsu's breathing slowed, his heart racing in his chest. He didn't know how to explain it, but for the first time in hours, a sense of calm washed over him. He could feel Lucy's presence—faint, but there. It was as if she was calling out to him, telling him everything was okay.
["I… I think Lucy's okay,"] Natsu said softly, surprising everyone around him.
Gray raised an eyebrow. ["What do you mean? You were just freaking out a second ago, and now you're calm?"]
["I don't know,"] Natsu muttered, shaking his head, ["It's just… my gut. I feel like she's okay now, like something good happened."]
Erza exchanged glances with Wendy and Gray, unsure of what to make of it. ["Are you sure, Natsu?"]
Natsu smiled, though the worry hadn't completely left his face. ["Yeah… I think I am."] He bent down and hugged Happy tightly, the little Exceed's worries melting away in the warmth of Natsu's embrace.
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Back in the palace, Lucy lay unconscious, her body still and cold. Brandish worked frantically to stabilize her condition, but the strain had been too much. The doctors moved quickly, their faces etched with worry, but even they feared the worst.
The baby's cries echoed through the room, a sound of life amidst the uncertainty.
Dimaria, watching from the side, folded her arms tighter across her chest. ["She'll make it,"] she muttered to herself, though her voice betrayed her doubt. ["She has to."]
Brandish, her face pale and worn from exhaustion, didn't stop her efforts. ["Come on, Lucy,"] she whispered through gritted teeth. ["You've come this far. Don't give up now."]
The room fell silent except for the soft, steady rhythm of the baby's breathing. Lucy's chest rose and fell slowly, her body motionless.
Far away, in Magnolia, Natsu still held onto that faint spark of hope—an instinct as strong as his flames.