Tears of guilt streamed down Lucy's cheeks, and she hurriedly wiped them away.
"This isn't what I wanted... I just wanted to stay here..."
"I... love Fairy Tail more than anything."
"Lucy?!" Happy panicked at once. He flew to her side, frantically waving his little paws.
"Why are you suddenly crying?! Don't cry, Lucy!"
Watching Lucy bow her head and cry into her hands, Natsu blinked. The fury that had been burning inside him instantly subsided.
He strode over to Lucy, looking a little lost.
In the end, he simply patted her head awkwardly, turned his face away, and muttered:
"What are you talking about? If you want to stay, then stay!"
Still sniffling, Lucy raised her head in bewilderment. "...Huh?"
"Exactly." Happy flew in front of her and nodded emphatically, looking perfectly serious. "If Lucy leaves, who'll call us out on all our nonsense?"
"What are you saying, you stupid cat?!"
Lucy laughed through her tears, her cheeks flushed as she scolded him in a tearful voice. She felt considerably better.
"Lucy."
Erza stepped forward and rested a hand gently on her shoulder. "Where you come from has nothing to do with whether you're one of us."
She shot a piercing look at Gajeel, who was bound to the wooden stake, and declared firmly:
"The ones who should apologize are those scheming to hurt our friends, not you."
"That's right!" Levy had jogged over at some point and grabbed Lucy's hand.
"You haven't done anything wrong, Lucy! Besides, we're all fine, aren't we? Don't take the blame for someone else's malice!"
"Levy..." Lucy looked at her, deeply moved, her eyes stinging fiercely.
"Right, it's not Lucy's fault!" Troy and Jet chimed in.
"Rich young lady or commoner-" Elfman clenched his fist and shouted, "Anyone bearing Fairy Tail's Guild Mark