Prologue

Natsu Dragneel

I opened my eyes and saw nothing but water, blue water that filled every field of my vision. I tried to move, but every attempt only brought pain shooting up my body, it felt as though every bone in my body had cracked. Thankfully I could still turn my head, so I looked around. To my relief, I saw no sign of Acnologia, all I saw was the inky darkness that was slowly floating towards me. I thought that was good, that meant he was dead. I looked forward and was shocked to see my blood had begun to seep into the water. I craned my neck ever so slightly back forward and saw that my blood had begun to soak through my clothes, and that they were now all stained blood red. The magic I had used, it had been so strong that even my body couldn't handle the sheer power. Even if I made it out of the sea I would have to inhale a forest fire in order to heal. I sighed, allowing the useless oxygen in my lungs to escape and watched as the bubbles floated to the surface, as the clock of my life slowly counted down.

I decided that I should say whatever I wanted to now, seeing as in a few moments I would die and never get to say it, and I wanted to die with a clean conscience.

"Everyone" I said, bubbles escaping from my lips and words blurring in the cold sea water "I'm glad I got to know you. Gray, I know we argued a lot, but you were my closest friend and I'm glad I got to meet you. Erza, I wish I could've beaten you in a fight just once, but I'm glad I got to meet you and was able to be your friend, keep smiling and I hope things work out between you and Jellal. Lucy... I never got to tell you how I felt, how I really felt. I'm sorry- *cough*cough*- that I was never honest with you, that I could never tell you how much I really loved you."

That was all I had to say, with that off my chest, I closed my eyes and felt the warm mixture of salt water and blood wash over my body. My last thoughts were on Lucy, and I decided that there were worse way's to die a hero's death. But as I floated down, a voice in my head screamed in protest.

"That's it? Your just gonna give up?" It said

"What choice do I have? I can't get to shore, and even if I did I'd die of these accursed injuries." I told the voice

"Pathetic, if you die here who's gonna find Igneel?" The voice asked me

"Igneel..."I thought "...father"

"More importantly, if you die who's gonna beat Erza, Gildarts, Mirajane, Laxus, Jellal, Gray, and Gajeel? Who's gonna take care of Wendy?...Who's gonna tell Lucy that you love her?" It said

My eyes snapped open, the voice was right, I had to try. It doesn't matter if I succeeded, I had to try. With all the strength I could muster, I turned my body so that I was pointed skyward, and tried to create a fire jet at my feet, but I didn't have enough magic power left to create even a spark. So I ignored the pain, that began to swim through my veins the same way I swam through the sea. Forcing my arms and legs to kick and pull my body towards the glittering sky. Then at last I broke through the surface, gasping for air that I had given up ever breathing again. I breathed and took it all in, I was still alive for now, still able to go on. With those thoughts in mind and heart I forced myself to ignore both the pain the slow blood loss, I paddled to shore.

"I have to tell her." I said, forcing my limbs to move despite their aching protests "I don't care if I drop dead right after saying it, I-have-to-tell-her!"

At last I reached the shore line, and collapsed right there on the beach. I was finally out of the water. I panted, ignoring the pain each breath brought me. I struggled to move, only for my arms to give way, half way through pulsing my body up. My body lay in the sand, my vision blurring, my breaths getting shorter, and my blood falling all over the beach, staining the sad red. I couldn't help but laugh with the last of my strength. If only I had a little fire to eat, I could've told her... I could've told her that I loved her. That was my last thought, before the darkness took me, and even then I tried to stand. Defiant to the end.

Hey... hey...

"I hear a voice? Is this it? Am I dead?" I thought

"Hey, he's waking up!" a voice exclaimed

Slowly, my eyes opened "Where am I?" I asked, gorgily, blood spilling from my lips

"Fairy Tail." A voice said as my vision cleared

I opened my eyes and saw that I was in fact in Fairy Tail, surrounded by my friends "Everyone... gah!" I exclaimed, grasping my head

"Don't try and move just yet." Wendy said "We found you on the shore covered in cuts, if we had come any sooner you'd have died."

"I see... thank you." I said, grimacing "What happened to Acnologia?"

Everyone seemed shocked at this question but they answered "Vanished." Erza said

"That's good, his body is probably far down under the sea." I said, trying to stand "Dead."

This confused them even more, but I ignored them "Tell me, where is Lucy?" I asked

The crowd parted and Lucy walked forward "How-" She started

I interrupted her, embracing her in my arms and getting blood on her clothes "Lucy...Before you say anything I need to tell you. Its the only reason I pulled myself to shore.." I paused so that I could look her in the eye "Lucy Heartfillia... I love you."

Stunned silence echoed around the room as I closed my eyes and leaned forward to kiss her. But just before our lips touched, someone punched me in the face. I tumbled across the room and hit the bar, blood erupting out of my mouth as my body hit the table. My vision began blur again, but I shook it off, and tried to stand, my legs trembling uncontrollably.

"What was-" I started

"I don't know who you are, but you've got a lot of nerve." a voice said

I could just barely make out the image of flickering flames in a clenched fist "Lucy, do you know this guy?" the owner of the fist that punched me asked

"No, I've never seen him before in my life." She said

Shock flashed through my body "Lucy? What're you saying? It's me, Natsu!" I shouted

"Impossible" the voice said as my vision finally cleared "I'm Natsu Dragneel."