"Lucy!" Natsu's yelled, immediately running over and grasping her in his arms.

Rage and sorrow overtook him as he gazed upon her. Her once beautiful eyes were now blanketed in blood, and so was her stunning hair. Picking up a strand of it, he sniffed it deeply.

It smelled like her. And Lucy smelled like home to him. She would forever be home to him. Whenever he was afraid, he thought of her and how he would survive and live for her. His beautiful constellation; oh how she shone! When her hair hit the light, he swore she was a star. Her whole being was wrapped in ethereal light, and she was as bright as the sun. She was powerful yet beautiful, and he wanted so much to just hold her forever.

But now he was holding her in his arms as she lay dead. This was never what he intended, never what he wanted. He only wanted to protect the one person he loved the most, and now she was gone.

"No..." he said, tears forming in his eyes and flowing onto his cheeks. Rapidly they fell, and he let his tears fall.

A roar came out of his mouth that was louder and full of anguish. Natsu felt his fingers turn into claws, and his teeth lengthen into points. Emotions of pure rage overtook him, and his eyes narrowed to slits.

With a growl, he placed Lucy on the floor to rest. A single tear fell out of his left eye and wiped it away with a claw. Ever so gently, he leaned over to kiss her on the forehead.

"I'll be back, Lucy," he told her, his voice a hoarse snarl, and went off to find the man who did this to his love.

Zeref. The bastard had killed the woman he cared about most. And now he was going to have hell to pay.

He had to protect her. Even though she was dead now, he still had to fight for her. Hopefully he would never have to do this to fight for his love ever again. He lost her once... he never thought he would lose her once more.

Now, as Natsu prepared himself to fight, he knew just one thing: the END was near.