Lost Magic

AN: Song in the media is "Just a Dream"

Natsu's POV
In Lucy's hospital room

I stare at Lucy. "What?"

"I said, who are you?"

"W-what are you talking about Luce?" I chuckle nervously. "I'm Natsu." She blinks. "Natsu Dragneel. Your best friend."

Lucy shakes her head. "Sorry. I don't know anybody named Natsu."

My eyes widen and my mouth falls open. "What? But that not possible! We're best friends!"

She looked at me hard. "Sorry. My memory's kinda hazy. But I don't remember anyone named Natsu." I just continue to stare at her. "But I think I'd remember someone with hair as strange as yours." She laughs. I want to laugh with her, but I can't.

"I don't wanna be rude, but is pink your natural hair color?"

I feel cold inside. "... It's salmon," I whisper.

"What?"

"Nothing." I put my head in my hands, wondering how such a great day had turned into this nightmare of a life. Lucy doesn't ... remember me. She doesn't remember me.

"Hey Luce! Let's go on a job today!"

She doesn't remember meeting me.

"Thanks!" I stare up at a blonde girl smiling.
"Huh?" She holds her hand out to me.
"I'm Lucy, nice to meet you!"

She doesn't remember crying as she hugged me tight.

"Eclair was smiling at the end."
"Natsu..." A crying Lucy stares up at me.
"It'll be fine. We're here for you!"

She doesn't remember refusing to leave me even though she could've been killed.

"Running away by myself? No way," she says. He pulls her up by her head. She smiles through the pain. "It's always more fun when we're together!"

She doesn't remember her future self.

"I wanted to... have more..." future Lucy's head falls. "...adventures..." Her hand falls, lifeless. "Protect... the future."

She doesn't remember telling me the words I had wanted to hear for so long.

"Natsu, I-I love you!"

Tears slowly streak down my face. She doesn't remember. I laugh, but it isn't happy. It is cold and emotionless. "You don't remember me. Who would've thought? That day had started out so well. If I had known what would happen, I would've never let us go on that job."

"The one with a monster? In Sari?"

My head jerks up to look at Lucy. "Y-you remember that?" I start to feel a glimmer of hope.

"I had talked with Levy right before. But I don't remember what happened after leaving the guild, though. I left with Happy and someone else. I just can't seem to remember who... they're just a shadow."

And just as fast as the hope appeared, it disappeared. She really doesn't remember me. "So, you remember everyone from Fairy Tail?"

"Yeah," she replies.

"I'm the only one you can't remember." It feels like my heart is being shredded into a thousand pieces. She doesn't remember me at all. In her memories, I am only a shadow. A background character.

I stand up. I can't take this anymore. A bitter laugh escapes my lips. My body may not be dead, but my heart is.

"I need to go." I turn and practically run through the door passing by everyone as they stare at me in shock and confusion. I hear people calling my name in worry, but I keep running.

When I get outside, I keep running. I don't know how long I run, but I eventually end up at the park. The sun is setting, causing an orangish glow to fall over everything in sight. I walk over to a bench and sit, holding my head in my hands as silent tears escape my eyes.

Levy's POV
In the hospital

"What was up with him?" Gajeel asks.

"I'm not sure, but he seemed upset," Gray replies.

"It probably has something to do with Lucy." We stare at Erza. "What? He just came crying out of her room. It makes sense."

"But Lucy would never intentionally hurt Natsu," I argue.

"That's true, Levy-san, but it may have not been intentional." Juvia puts her hand on my shoulder.

"Juvia's right," Master says. They're right, I know that. But still ... what could've happened?

"I think I'll go check on her," I say.

"Ask her about what happened," Lily says.

"Okay. But someone should go after Natsu."

"I'll go," Gray says.

"Um, Gray-san, no offense, but I don't really think you're the best person to go after an emotional Natsu-san," Wendy says worriedly.

"Don't insult Gray-sama!" Juvia exclaims.

"Don't worry Wendy," Erza says. "They might not seem like it all the time, but they are friends."

"Um, okay, if you say so, Erza-san." Reza smiles at the small girl reassuringly.

"Oh, Gray, wait until I find out what happened. Things will be easier if you understand."

"Got it. Just be quick."

I smile at them all and I turn and open the door. I cautiously walk into the room. I spot Lucy lying on a hospital bed, confusion clear on her face as she stares at the ceiling.

"Lu-chan!" Lucy turns her head toward me and her eyes brighten as she sees me. She smiles and I smile back.

"Levy!" I go over to her and hug her lightly, remembering her injuries. I release her from the hug. I'll ask her about Natsu in a bit. I want to talk to her, she is one of my best friends, after all.

"We were all so worried about you, Lu-chan! When we heard about what happened from Natsu, we all rushed over to the hospital as fast as we could."

Lucy blinks. "Natsu?"

"Yeah, Natsu Dragneel. Your pink haired best friend."

"Oh, him!"

"Yeah..." Why did Lucy look like she didn't know who I was talking about? Could this have something to do with Natsu running away? "Um, Lucy?"

"Hm?"

"You do know who Natsu is, right?"

"Yeah, he's that guy who came in here before." Lucy taps her chin with her finger. "You know what? He said something about being my best friend, too! I wonder why?" Lucy continues to tap her chin as my eyes widen in shock.

"L-Lucy, y-you do remember meeting Natsu... right? B-before today?" I stutter, still unbelieving I heard her correctly.

"Um, no. I've never seen him before until today."

A tear streaks down my face as my mouth hangs open in shock.

"L-levy! I'm sorry! Did I say something wrong?" Lucy tries to console me, but my thoughts drown out her voice. Lucy remembers me, so she probably remembers the rest of Fairy Tail, too. But Natsu ... she doesn't remember him. Tears continue to stream down my face. Natsu is hurting right now, and I know that no one can do anything.

I can't even imagine what he's been feeling: the grief of Lucy almost dying; the joy of knowing she was alive; the unbelief and shock of being told that your best friend doesn't remember you. No, wait. They're not really best friends anymore. All those memories, good and bad ... gone.

To her, he's a stranger.

To him, she's everything.