It was cold.
I opened my eyes and stared at the gray sky, the dark clouds quickly skidding across the night sky. I shivered and looked at the snow beneath
me. "It's... it's not white..." My voice was quiet and weak. The snow burned a vicious scarlet color. My blood. I coughed and closed my eyes,
tired, ready to sleep. I breathed out and my breath clouded in front of my face. 'It's not a bad place to die...' I thought to myself. Someone
shouted my name. I opened my eyes a fraction and looked at the horrified man, who was now holding his hand against my wound. "It's over
now, we can get you back, and we can take care of this and-" "Please stop..." I murmured. I smiled at him. "I'm happy." He blinked tears away
and pressed snow to the wound. I winced. "Can you..." I swallowed painfully. "Can you sing me a song?" He bit his lip and opened his mouth
but no words came out. "I can't sing." He said finally. I closed my eyes for a moment and sighed. "Please... anything." He held back a sob and
opened his mouth again. I looked at the clouds. They had cleared. The stars shone brightly, wanting me to join them. "Ue o muite, aruko,
namidanga kobore, naiioni, omoedasu, haru no hi, hitoribochino yoru..." He sang in a shaky voice. I smiled and looked at his face. It was
streaked with tears. "D-don't cry, Gray..." He stopped singing. "But Lucy-" I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "Just keep singing..." I strained.
He looked around as he sang, looking for Erza, Natsu, or Wendy. No one did. They were too far away, and I was already to far to save. Gray
finished his song a few minutes later before breaking down and crying into my neck. My arms wrapped around his. A soft feeling crept over
me, the pain fading away. I felt like I was waking up from a dream, that moment of half consciousness where you feel nothing but complete
bliss. I laughed quietly. Gray looked at me as he sat up. I smiled at him, feeling my soul waver a little bit, sadness of leaving entering my
heart. "Gray, I-" "Lucy!" I turned my head toward the voice. Natsu, Erza, Wendy, Happy and Charle were running towards us. Gray clutched my
hand as I shuddered. Natsu collapsed to the ground beside me and went to grab me, but Gray, sensing me twitch in anticipation for the pain,
slapped his hands away. Natsu growled. "You bast-" "Stop Natsu!" He drew in a shaky breath and said. "She's leaving... there's... there's
nothing we can do..." Natsu looked frantically around at Wendy, who instantly ran over to check my wound. "Guys..." I murmured sadly. Natsu
stroked my forehead as tears rolled down his cheeks. He knew I was almost gone. I was struggling to keep my eyes open. Wendy shook her
head and cried. "Nothing. The wound was too deep and there's poison already in her system." Erza opened her mouth to protest defiantly but
I cut her off. "You guys... please listen..." I coughed and blood dripped from my mouth. Erza hesitated before kneeling down beside Natsu and
touching my hair for comfort. "Natsu," He looked into my eyes. I smiled. "Thanks for finding me, that day in Hargeon... I'd never had a friend
before, and you helped me find the best life I could've wished for..." I touched his arm and hugged him gently. Blood seeped from my wound
as I sat up. Erza went to push me down again but I grabbed her shoulder. "Erza, you're like a sister to me... either that or my mother. You
taught me to never give up... thank you..." I hugged her as well and turned to Wendy. "Wendy..." I croaked. She burst into heavy tears. I wiped
them away and muttered. "You showed me that despite what happens, you can move on. I know that you can teach these three idiots to do
the same!" I smiled. I kissed her forehead. I looked at Charle and Happy. I gestured for them to come. They came to my side and I lifted them
into my arms. "You guys, have helped me so much over the years, and I'm sorry that I can never save your butts in return. I love you guys." I
squeezed them and gazed at Gray. His head was down and his eyes were shadowed by his beautiful black hair. "Gray..." He looked at me. 'I
have no regrets...' I thought. I lifted my head and touched my forehead to his. "Luce..." "Gray, please move on... I know you have the strength
to do so..." My eyes dropped and I trembled with the effort to stay sitting up. "Please live your life to the fullest..." My own strength was
fading. "And say what's on your mind... like I am now..." My hand dropped. "I love you." My strength left and I fell. Gray caught me and lay me
down. I looked at their faces for the last time. "Please tell the guild I said goodbye..." I looked at the stars. "The sky is endless... even if it takes
me forever to find you all in the next life, I'm... I'm sure I will... our hearts are bound... this bond is unbreakable... just remember... the sky... the
sky is..." My eyes closed. The world faded. "Endless." Gray's voice reached me. "We'll find you Luce, just wait for us..." I smiled one last time
and my last breath left me, my soul escaping into that sky I'd always wished to be part of.