I'm aliiiiveee. Sorry for another super late chapter (also short but I felt the need to post what I have so y'all knew I didn't abandon it) I don't discontinue stories I just disappear for a random amount of time. So next chapter is definitely the end, but it'll probably be just as short as this one. The remake will be posted maybe a couple months after this is done, I'm working on a collection of one-shot collab and I'm also working on improving my art since that right now is the most important thing for me. I've decided against forensics (It's interesting but not my thing)and decided on animation and illustration. I'm also working on a comic project, the plot's simple but it's mostly for art practice and maybe a time killer. I have a few other NaLu stories (4) that I'll be working on in a while, I've got a couple chapters done. Even though I'm nowhere close to finished on the other stories I'll probably post them here soon. Who knows...

[Haven't proofread this chapter at all so apologies for mistakes that will definitely be there somewhere]

Anyways enjoy~

Chapter 16:

Fleuve d'étoiles

When we exited the tunnel we were in the forest. I could here the fight from here, although it was slightly muffled from the distance. The woman who lead me here kept walking.

"Where are the others?" I asked. No one was here. I was pretty sure we took the same route.

"We took a slightly different path," She replied not sparing a single glance at me.

'I guess I was wrong' I thought. "Where are we going?"

"My Gods child, do you question everything?" She grumbled.

"Well I can't just follow a stranger."

"And yet you're doing just that."

I huffed, stopping in my tracks and crossed my arms in defiance."I could be back there helping him. If being with you isn't important than I'm heading back."

"Like I said, you cannot fight that monster. You'll just get in the way and die a horrible death."

I gritted my teeth. All I ever wanted was to prove myself. Becoming a knight with Erza and Mira and any other woman in the tavern was my goal. I wanted to protect our town; but I can't even do that, not against this.

I thought things would get better, but they only got worse. What with Natsu's whole ordeal and now this fight that I won't be able to join.

I just wanted to be happy.

I wanted us to be happy.

"Why do you wish to fight so badly?" She questioned. Her eyes have grown soft.

"Because if I don't, everything I've done up until this point will be pointless. If everyone dies then everything we've done is all for naught. I want to change our small town. Even if it's just a small step, at least we'll get somewhere at least something will change. And maybe...just maybe I can see him smile again." For real. I whispered my last sentence, but she heard it and a smile graced her lips.

That warm fuzzy feeling I got when he actually smiled for the first time was something I wanted to feel always. I don't want that feeling to end.

It was simple really. I've been pushing it around until now but I've noticed. That warm feeling I got. It was love. It started out small, but right now it's exploded. I've only noticed just how much I felt for the Dracian since I've finally left his side. Left him in the midst of a battle and I have yet to find out how it will drag out.

"My name is Porlyusica. A medic in my small but growing group.I have something to show you. Maybe you'll find a way to rally your friends." She said turning around and started off again.

I followed after her, and although she couldn't see my face I smiled,"I'm Lucy. Lucy Heartfilia. Nice to meet you Porlyusica." [ugh, I should've ended the last chapter here. Someone punch me.]

FTFTFTFT

The thick walls of tree's finally subsided and we came across a large clearing. The blades of grass were short here and covered quite a large scale of land. Purple and yellow flowers grew in bunches every few feet or so. No patches of dirt was to be seen. It was quiet. The battle in town couldn't be heard, but the earth rumbled every now and again. The area remained peaceful otherwise.

"So what did you want to show me?"

The woman grunted and shoved me out of the way muttering something along the lines of "Don't just stop in front of people,"

Yet she didn't bother to answer my question, and frankly I wasn't sure why I bothered asking. I followed her a few feet forward and stopped when she stopped. The ground shook and threw us forward a bit. However I unfortunately face planted into the ground.

'I should be glad this isn't concrete but I'm not.' I groaned as I pushed myself onto my knees and rubbed my face.

"Clumsy girl, get up." Porlyusica grunted as she raised her hands to form a circle around her mouth. She shouted rather loudly and honestly it didn't surprise me one bit, what with her complaining about everything I did, I took her as the yelling type.

"It's fine, You can all come out." Her voice didn't carry with this open space and yet the small group of people that I had just noticed walking out from behind me, had heard her anyway.

They were all wearing the same coloured cloak, a beautiful wine red with golden lacing at the bottom.[can't remember what it's called lol¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ] Some were tattered and others looked perfectly clean as if they were just bought from the store. Each of them looked around the same height and yet their ages varied. However no children were present.

"This is a few of our people."

I glanced at her, confused. However, before I could ask her she beat me to it.

"They're Dracian."

"But-"

"They're suppose to be dead right?" She started walking over to the group, "These are the ones who made it, the ones who fled and survived.I, myself, am not one of them. Just a simple healer who decided to accompany them in their travels." She explained.

"This is great!" I exclaimed far louder than I had intended, "They'll be so happy."

So happy they'd probably start crying.

"We brought something for you." A member from the group said.

"You want to help them right?" Porlyusica added, "Then use that."

She pointed to the object in the Dracian's hands. I took it without question and examined it. A simple whip.

"A whip? I have one already, how's this going to help me?"

The woman sighed harshly and shifted the weapon in my palm, pointing to the bottom of the whip.

"This whip is called Fleuve d'étoiles. This jewel here is a lacrima filled with the power of celestial beings. According to the dragons, the celestial beings use to walk the earth with us, they use to have a pact of sorts with humans. This is one of the many weapons they left behind with their partners."

"Why would they have weapons…" I thought allowed.

"Dragon wars child. Ages before any of us were born." She responded,"Anyway, you won't be able to deal damage to a dragon with this weapon. This weapon is more of a support type. A regular whip would be torn to shreds by the dragons might, this however will hold strong. You can use this to slow down the enemy so your friends can get in some good attacks in. However, it won't hold for long. It may not break but the dragon will eventually be able to worm it's way out of its grip, so be careful. Worst case scenario, this method won't work twice. So you guys better do as much damage to it as quickly as possible."

'Somehow I doubt we'll be able to finish it off that quickly. I'll have to tie it down the first time and if it manages to free itself I'll have to use it to pull it back or at least stagger it. I don't necessarily have to keep it in place, I just need to keep it from causing too much damage to the others.'

"Do you understand what to do?"

I nodded.

Aid them, and when we're done I'll take them to this place.

"Hold on guys, I'm coming." With determination I sprinted back towards the tunnel.