Chapter Text
“Scarmiglione is Fiore’s greatest guild!”
Another year of the Grand Magic Games. Lucy watched on with disinterest. The results were as expected. It was more about politics now than real skill or strategy.
Jason, her co-worker, exclaimed in delight. “Lucy, it was just as you had predicted! Coooool!”
Lucy narrowed her eyes. “Sure, they’re tough…but I wouldn’t go as far as calling them Fiore’s best…”
Her heart constricted. Definitely no where near the best… Because the best is…
She shook her head, trying to rid herself of those thoughts again; it would only dampen her spirits even more.
There was a commotion going on in the arena. A mysterious challenger in a cloak has stepped on to the arena. Lucy senses tremendous magic power from the person and immediately instructed Jason to start evacuating everyone from the stadium and to gather wizards to fight against the intruder, sensing great potential danger.
The intruder released immense magic, heating the entire stadium. He quickly went on to challenge the winners to a battle.
“What is this immense heat…” Lucy exclaimed in disbelief. And then it hit her. “Wait a minute… heat?”
Proving her suspicion, his hood fell back to reveal a familiar pink-haired face, with that crazy grin that she hadn’t seen in ages, fists engulfed in fire, as he shouted, “I’m all fired up!”
“N-Natsu…?” Lucy couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Long time no see, Lucy!” A familiar feline voice spoke behind her. She turned around to see the blue Exceed, smiling at her happily.
“Happy!?” She called out in shock. “What’s going on?”
“Yes, Natsu really wanted to fight whoever won the championship…” Happy explained with a resigned sigh. “But as usual, he has gone overboard…”
Meanwhile Natsu had defeated everyone in his path. Either they were unconscious or running away naked, calling him a ‘monster’.
“His heat power is crazy!” Lucy said as she watches in shock, unable to believe what incredible power she was sensing from Natsu. Not that he was not powerful before… Lucy knew him to be one of the most powerful wizards ever; and he only grew stronger each day.
As the dust settled, Natsu spotted Lucy from the arena. He stared in shock for a few moments, until finally breaking into the biggest smile ever, which Lucy always thought of as sunshine. “Hey! It’s been a while, Lucy!”
She watched him back, her lips shaking a little, trying to find her voice. She smiled softly, saying, “Natsu.”
A voice inside her dared to whisper. Fairy Tail is not gone yet…
She smiled as she saw Happy and Natsu come out of the palace free of restrains, grinning naughtily as the guards told them to never come back here again.
“Ah!” He spotted her and came running to her. His hair had grown a lot than his usual hairstyle. Happy, flying next to him, said, “There you are, Lucy!”
“I can’t believe they let you guys go!” Lucy exclaimed. Thanks to the king and princess being fond of Fairy Tail for helping them during the whole Eclipse gate fiasco, Natsu was let off without being charged of assault and damage.
Lucy sighed in relief. Looks like he hasn’t changed one bit. She giggled to herself.
Happy looked at her suspiciously, snickering. “Why are you smiling at yourself, Lucy, that’s creepy!”
Lucy smiled even more so, feeling nostalgic, remembering how Happy used to always tease her. “I was just thinking that you both haven’t changed one bit.”
Happy looked visibly taken aback, expecting Lucy to retort with either anger or sarcasm. Natsu noticed this quietly too.
“So, Lucy,” he said, “Did you come by to watch the games on your own?”
“Why didn’t Fairy Tail compete?” Happy asked her.
Her smile faltered ever so slightly before she answered. “Well -”
“Hey!” A gruff voice exclaimed beside them. The members of the guild that won the games, who Natsu had defeated back in the arena, were kneeling down next to them. The red-headed guy in the middle asked Natsu to be their big brother so they could make more money.
“What do you even mean…” Happy said.
“You guys don’t learn, do you?” Lucy told them sternly.
“I don’t know why, but you guys…” Natsu started to say, before his face changes to a scary expression, his voice gown down a few pitches. “Really bother me.”
They instantaneously fled, screaming, “Please forgive our rudeness!”
Lucy sighed, looking at their retreating figures. “Sheesh.” Although, she did feel that the aura around Natsu was different than before. More…potent. Not to mention... Natsu looked ripped. He always had been strong, and now even more so. Just what kind of training did these two do?
She turned to Natsu and Happy, suddenly finding them on the ground, holding their stomachs.
“What’s wrong with you guys now?” Lucy asked them.
“H-hungry…” Natsu groaned.
“Haven’t eaten in days…” Happy muttered with his face planted on the ground.
“Then let’s get something to eat together!” Lucy suggested. “It’s been a while anyway. My treat!”
That jolted them back to life, and they started kneeling and bowing to her, calling her a goddess.
“Stop that! You’re embarrassing me!” She shouted at them. She thought back to the first time they had met, a similar scene had happened. A bittersweet feeling of nostalgia hit her.
In the restaurant, she watched in horror as the two devour their food (and her money) as if they hadn’t eaten the whole year! As she inquired what they have been upto the past year, Happy went on to complain about Natsu, how he didn’t even have a plan when they started on their journey to train. Lucy giggled fondly as she listened to Happy animatedly explaining Natsu’s shenanigans. Apparently, Natsu had eaten some suspicious-looking mushrooms, and under the influence of those mushrooms, he went on to retrieve a stolen fish from a group of people who took it from Happy, and then went a little overboard while getting it back. Unfortunately for Happy, Natsu ended up burning the fish in the end!
Happy, almost in tears, pointing at the unaffected Natsu (who was busy devouring his food) said, “What was the point of getting it back? He just burnt it to a crisp!”
Lucy grinned looking at the pair of them. She had forgotten this feeling… This sense of belonging and peace she always found with them.
“Isn’t he terrible, Lucy?” Happy complained.
Lucy laughed heartily. “Well, that’s Natsu for you! He hasn’t changed at all!”
Natsu muttered. “I have no memories of this… Anyway, I’m going to take a toilet break now that I’ve eaten so much!”
“I’m not done, Natsu! Come back!” Happy called out. Of course the pyromaniac doesn’t listen.
Lucy sighed, smiling. “You guys really haven’t changed at all. It’s kind of a relief!”
Looking back at Lucy, Happy continued with his story. “Then you know what he said after destroying my fish?”
“What, what?” Lucy indulged, still smiling.
“After he beat them up, Natsu said something in his sleep,” Happy said. “That he’ll teach a lesson to anyone who doesn’t cherish their friends!”
Lucy’s smile dropped in a moment, hearing those words. “Friends…” she muttered under her breath.
Happy continued, having not noticed Lucy’s forlorn expression. “I feel the same way too, but what kind of friend burns another friend’s fish to a crisp!”
When she didn’t respond, Happy noticed her expression and asked in concern, “Lucy? Is something wrong?”
She quickly covered it up with a smile and shook her head. “Nothing at all.”
Happy looked at her worriedly. “Lucy…”
After Natsu came back, they finish another round of food and then head outside. As they walked around the city, on the way to Lucy’s apartment, Natsu and Happy shared a look as Lucy walked in front of them.
“Natsu…” Happy said quietly, nodding towards Lucy.
Natsu nodded, his expression serious. “Right.” He called out, “Hey, Lucy.”
Lucy stopped and looked back. “Hmm?”
Natsu and Happy stopped as well. “Did something happen?” He finally asked.
Lucy tried to smile but her expression is troubled.
Natsu took a few more steps toward her. “What’s up with you…you seem kinda down.”
“It’s true. You’ve been acting weird, Lucy,” Happy agreed.
She gave a sad smile lowering her head, not meeting their gazes. “You haven’t heard, have you?”
They gave her blank expressions, clearly unaware about what had happened.
“Fairy Tail,” she said, “Disbanded.”
Looking at their shocked expressions, she led them towards two benches.
They couldn’t speak for several moments as they settled down on one of the benches.
“Fairy Tail… disbanded?” Natsu repeated in a low voice.
“Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?” Happy repeated, like a broken record, the shock proving to be too much for the flying blue feline.
“It happened the day after you guys left,” Lucy explained gently.
“But… why?” Natsu asked.
If only I knew why… Lucy sat down on the bench opposite to them. “I have no idea either, Natsu.”
“Where’s Gramps?” Natsu asked, suddenly getting angry. “I’m going to bash him! No, I’ll rip out his hair!”
“Leave his moustache intact, at least!” Happy supplied unhelpfully.
Lucy thought that there was no way going around the bitter truth. “Master has gone missing.”
“What about the others? Erza? Gray? And what about - ”
“They’ve all gone their separate ways,” Lucy replied, cutting him short.
Again a few moments of silence as Natsu tried and failed to comprehend this. “I-I can’t believe it. Does no one care that the guild’s… gone?”
Lucy’s expression darkened slightly as she looked down at the ground. “I wouldn’t say that,” she said quietly.
Natsu stood up with his fists ready to fight. “Well, I would! They should’ve opposed it! Laxus or someone could’ve taken over as master!”
Something inside of Lucy snapped when she heard that. Still not lifting her gaze, she spoke quietly, “Do you really think you have the right to say that though, Natsu?”
“Eh?” was all Natsu could say as his fists fell to his sides, visibly shocked at her quiet outburst.
“You didn’t stop to think about the guild either. Just ran off on your journey without talking to…anyone.”
The fire dragon slayer was left speechless. He sat back down on the bench, realising that he had nothing to say in his defence.
Lucy still had much to say, so she continued. “I wanted to speak to you both after everything that happened with Tartaros, with the dragons…” Natsu’s face faltered further at the mention of dragons. “I wanted to speak to you about Igneel… about Aquarius…”
Natsu didn’t interrupt. Happy continued to look at her with a worried expression.
Lucy realised what she just said. I ended up saying too much. I don’t want to upset them. She looked up after a few moments, meeting their gazes with a small, guilty smile. “Sorry about that… I know you guys had reasons of your own to leave.”
Natsu, still unable to say anything, was taken aback by her apology. He could see the hurt and pain clear on her face, in her eyes, which she tried to hide behind her kind smile. It pained him to see the sadness in her eyes.
She looked up at the sky. “I’m sure it’s the same for the master and everyone else…”
Unable to take the silence any longer, Lucy suggested that they head back to her place now, to which they agreed. She felt guilty, upsetting them like that, as they barely spoke much on the rest of the way.
That changed once they saw how big her house was, and just as she started to instruct them not to trash her place up, Happy started sharpening his claws at the wall with a determined expression while Natsu found some snacks and started chewing on them messily all over her carpet, all the while Lucy screaming at them to stop.
She summoned her celestial spirit Cancer to give Natsu’s hair a trim, and he was back to looking like his old self again.
Natsu, as expected, got too comfortable and removed his clothes save for his pants. Lucy's eyes widened slightly as she noticed new scars on his body... and the broadness of his shoulders, the tightness around the muscles in his arms and abdomen, the suspicious bandage around one of his arms.
Natsu and Happy were excitedly talking about taking a bath in her bathtub, when he noticed her observing him. It made sense, since it had been a long time since they met each other. Even he had been observing her, noticing that she seemed quieter than before, her laughs less enthusiastic, her smiles with a tinge of sadness in them... As for her body, Natsu could sense immense magic from her like never before. She didn't seem like the sweet, soft girl he had met for the first time back in Hargeon. The woman in front of him was taller, held herself more confidently, her arms and legs toned and strong.
As he and Happy took a nice hot bath in her tub, Happy invited Lucy to join them. She blushed at the idea, thinking why in the hell would she get into the bath with Natsu, and screamed, “No way am I doing that!”
They spent the night eating - of course - and Natsu and Happy sharing stories from their travel in the last year. She was relieved that they were back to speaking like normal. She was surprised at her outburst earlier - she hadn’t meant to say things like that. Now that they were back, the past year had already started to fade. Instead of dwelling on the sadness and loneliness she felt in that time, she wanted to focus on the present. She just wanted to be with her dear friends again.
She smiled fondly as Happy cuddled her on her lap while telling her their story about meeting Gildarts in the forest, just seeing them banter like before. For the first time, her house in Crocus felt complete.
After that, they played games in which Natsu lost to Lucy several times, to which he repeatedly demanded a rematch until he won.
Time seemed to fly by - after a few more games, they noticed that Happy was already dozing off on Lucy’s lap. She smiled and tucked him in to a small makeshift bed by the couch.
Calling it a day, she started to retreat to her bedroom when Natsu stopped her. “Lucy.”
“Yeah?” She asked.
He didn’t say anything, just stared at her intently, few sweat drops forming over his brow.
Lucy raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her hips, leaning forward. “Natsu, what is it?”
“It’s nothing.” He still stood there, as if in deep thought. It frustrated him in moments like this; when it came to his friends and battles, he knew just what to say. But right now, he was out of words.
Lucy’s look of suspicion slowly melted into a gentle, knowing smile. “I’m fine, you big dummy. I’ll see you both in the morning, alright?”
Natsu nodded solemnly. "I missed you, Lucy. It wasn't the same... without you..."
Her eyes widened at his admission. She realised he usually refers to himself and Happy, but this time he said 'I' specifically, like he was personally talking about his feelings alone, that they both had missed her but he had also missed her... Despite herself, she felt her cheeks warming up. Natsu, on the other hand, just gazed at her with that honest, intense gaze of his. "I... I missed you too, Natsu."
He started to raise his hand to... he didn't know what. He stopped it and brought it to the back of his head instead. "I'm going to try and sleep now."
She nodded with a small smile and walked away as he went to lie down on the couch next to Happy.
In the middle of the night, Natsu laid with his eyes wide open, despite the tiredness in his body. This was the first time in ages that they had a comfortable place to sleep, and yet he couldn’t find himself to rest. When he turned to look at Happy, he found that Happy had woken up and couldn’t get back to sleep either.
“Happy,” Natsu called out.
“Aye.”
“The guild’s gone…”
“It’s so hard to believe…”
Moment of silence.
And then, with a determined expression full of mischief, Natsu stood up and said, “Alright! Let’s go scribble on Lucy’s face while she’s asleep!”
“The markers are ready to be used!” Happy exclaimed ecstatically, holding up markers in his paws.
They snuck into Lucy’s bedroom and found her sleeping, unsuspecting of intruders in her bedroom. She had specifically forbidden them to enter her bedroom, which made them want to do it even more so.
They discussed and planned to start with a moustache, and then thick eyebrows and nose hair, when something behind Natsu caught his attention.
They approached the wall together.
Natsu looked at it in wonder. “What in the world is this?”
There was a map of the country, with details, pictures, newspaper clippings, photographs of different members of Fairy Tail. Right down to meticulous details of where everyone was or could be. Natsu stared at every detail in awe…and something tugged at his heart. He looked back at Lucy’s peaceful sleeping face.
“Lucy…” he said her name softly, walking back towards her and kneeling next to her face, the markers forgotten. He thought back to what she had said earlier in the day, the pain he had seen in her face, heard in her voice. When he saw her standing at the stadium, he almost couldn’t believe it was her, in the flesh. He had spent many days thinking about how she was doing, what she was doing, and had always assumed that she would be fine back in the guild house with everyone. He couldn’t deny how hard it had been to be away from her after being together nearly every single day since they had met. He had missed her deeply. Despite his determination to get strong, he and Happy always felt like a part of them was missing.
His head starts to flood with all these feelings and memories.
Ever since he first met her, he knew instantly that she had a good, selfless and kind heart. He knew that Lucy was the right person to join Fairy Tail, and even wanted her as his quest partner. And her scent… The more he spent time with her, the more that scent gave him a sense of safety and home. It was something he couldn’t shake off. It always gave him peace and calmness whenever she was near. After a long year of training, being in her presence was like a dream, a warmth, a comfort that he didn’t know enough words to describe.
They shared a deep bond. He could always tell when something was bothering her. And she always looked out for him too. That was something even he didn’t see coming. Of course, he had always regarded Erza, Gray, Gajeel and others as equals who would undoubtedly have his back in tough moments. But with Lucy, it was different. Even in the direst circumstances where there seemed to be no hope, having her next to him gave him strength when he needed it the most. She understood him… beyond words.
He looked at her, letting out a sigh. Raising his hand, he gently caressed Lucy’s head and then her cheek. She snuggled further into his hand, to which Natsu gave a soft, pained smile.
All he wanted was to protect his friends. All he wanted was to protect Lucy.
Back when Lucy who had travelled from the future, was killed by Future Rogue, he had felt pain like never before. He vowed to himself that he would never let anything happen to Lucy ever again. He could never lose her like that. And then, during their fight with Tartaros, Lucy had saved everyone. He knew back then, looking at Lucy’s distraught expression that day, that she had done something extremely severe and painful to save everyone.
The day they decided to leave on their journey to train, they had seen the broken key that belonged to her celestial spirit, Aquarius, lying on her desk. She never even mentioned it, how much she had to give up to save the guild that day. That was just how Lucy was… selfless and brave. There was so much kindness in her that she herself does not realise.
He remembered back to the moment when Igneel had emerged from him - his father that he had been searching for years, right in front of his very eyes. In his periphery, he could see Lucy looking over at him in immense concern. There were two humongous dragons fighting right in front of her, they were in the middle of a battle for their lives against a vicious guild of demons right from Zeref’s books, and all she had been concerned about was how he was doing in that moment. She probably hadn’t realise it back then, but her just being there for him, watching over him just in case he needed her… It had meant so much for him. And more than talking about what happened with Igneel, that had been enough for him.
He was grateful for her, more than he could ever show or say. That was why… that was why he had to get stronger. She was one of the most important people in his life. He realised during that fight just how much more he needed to train and become stronger, in order to protect her.
But in that process, he ended up making her deeply sad and alone this entire year.
“I am sorry, Lucy,” he whispered softly, careful not to wake her. “We won’t leave you like that again.”
“Aye,” whispered Happy in agreement, holding back tears in his eyes as he looked from Lucy to Natsu.
Gently, Natsu leaned in to kiss her on her forehead.
With that promise, he and Happy walked out of her room, a plan already forming in their minds as they shared a secret grin.
The next morning, Lucy found the entire royal army waiting outside her house.
Her eyes almost fell out of her face. “Huh? What is this… Why is an army outside my home first thing in the morning?!”
Behind her, Natsu was scratching his head, saying, “They’ve tracked us down already…” to which Happy just said, “Aye.”
“This is your doing?!” Lucy screamed in disbelief.
Without missing a beat, Natsu grabbed her hand, took her in his arms and jumped out from the window, with Happy right behind them, as Natsu screamed, “Let’s run for it!”
After jumping onto the ground, he ran with Lucy in his arms, the army close at their heel behind them. Natsu reluctantly let go of her so that she could run on her own.
As they ran for their lives - not for the first time - Lucy asked him what he had done. He gave a self-satisfied and adorable grin, saying, “I signalled Fairy Tail’s revival!”
Happy pointed somewhere above them, and then Lucy saw it - the Fairy Tail emblem and the words ‘Fairy Tail’ written in flames - right on the front of the palace.
“It’s all good! That type of fire goes out right away!” Happy explained helpfully.
“First of all that's vandalism, but that’s not the issue here!” Lucy said as she ran beside them. “How can you just declare Fairy Tail’s revival?”
“Because we have faith that we can,” Natsu explained gleefully, the smile not once leaving his face. “We have to get everyone back together and revive the guild!” He looked back at her with a reassuring grin.
Lucy could not believe her ears as she stared at Natsu.
"And we have loads to catch up to as well, right?" he asked. "And adventures to still go on together!"
Happy giggled happily at Lucy, while Natsu’s smile widened even more, seeing the light come back to Lucy’s eyes that were now shining with unshed tears. “Come on, Lucy!”
It was the same as back when they first met, when he had told her to come to Fairy Tail. Fate.
Lucy, feeling overwhelmed at what Natsu had proposed, could just say, “Yes!”
Natsu grabbed her hand once again as they ran away together with Happy flying next to them. He smiled to himself. This was where he belonged. With Lucy.
All I want is to be with you. Unbeknownst to each other, the same thought came to both their minds.
Natsu, Lucy and Happy faced forward as they ran to their next big adventure.
After a year apart, in this moment right here, they truly felt complete.