Prologue
He makes his way towards her in the rain. Thunder booms and lightning flashes across the sky. Rain pours down from the heavens, as if they're crying for him.
When he reaches her, he looks at the pool of blood she's lying in. His hands shake, and he wants to scream, but he doesn't. He wants to cry, but he doesn't. He wants to run away and wish he didn't see this, but he doesn't. Instead, he kneels and puts her head in his lap. Her eyes flutter open.
" Natsu, " She breathes, her brown eyes staring into his green ones.
Despite the pain and sorrow he feels he forces himself to smile. " I told you I would come, " he says. " I always come. "
" Yeah. That is true. " She coughs, covering her mouth, and her hand comes away red. She takes a shuddering breath, and says what he didn't want to hear. " I don't have much time. "
" Hey, don't say that. You'll be fine. "
" I have to ask you something. "
" Go ahead, " he says gently, wanting her to rest and save her strength, but knowing she wouldn't listen.
" Will you marry me? "
His eyes widen. He wants to laugh but knows she is serious. He looks at her, the only person who truly understands him. Smiling again, he declares, " Of course I will, Lucy Heartfilia. I'd love to marry you. "
She smiles softly. " Thank you. " Something presses into his hand. Looking down, he sees a pendant. A gem is tied to the string. He looks back at Lucy, who pants, " A…A parting…gift… "
He shakes his head, tears springing to his eyes. " Didn't you hear me? You'll be fine! "
" Natsu…I…love you… "
" I love you, too! "
Lucy smiles, her hand resting on his cheek, her eyelids fluttering shut. " Don't cry…Smile…for me, Natsu… " A second later, her hand falls to the ground, limp.
She's gone.
The rain soaks into his clothes, the cold settling into his bones. He feels hollow inside, a darkness filling the space in his heart where she once occupied it.
He lets the tears fall, mixed with the rain. His sadness is joined by anger, anger at his failure to protect her.
Lucy is gone.
He promised her he'd always protect her.
Lucy is gone.
He should have been there for her.
Lucy is gone.
Lucy is gone.
Lucy gone.
Lucy gone.
Lucy gone.
Gone.
Gone.
Gone.
Gone.
GONE.
He screams, his wails mixed with the thunder. A flood of pain and despair rolls over him, and he drowns in it, the world fading away until only his sorrow remains, enveloping him and shielding him from everything else.
He cries until there are no more tears to shed, When he's done, he watches the rain wash away Lucy's blood. When the blood on the ground is gone, he picks her up. She looks like she's asleep, as if at any moment she'll open her eyes and laugh at him for crying like a baby. But he knows that she'll never wake up again.
He's going to make that damn witch pay for cursing him. It isn't fair. That witch could make him suffer, but why bring Lucy into this? She didn't do anything to anyone.
No matter what happens, no matter how long it takes, he will find a way to break the curse on him. Even if it takes one hundred, five hundred, or a thousand years. He'll break it, and then they'll be free.
I promise, Lucy, he vows silently, tears slowly falling, unseen. I'll free you, no matter what.