This story is set after the Dragon Eclipse Arc. Spoilers for any of you that has not watched FairyTail 2014 episode 24.

(Re-Cap) After Future Rogue is defeated by Natsu, everything goes back to normal and the King of Fiore has a celebration in their honor. All the guild's fight for Yukino's place in their guild, Natsu appears to have stolen the King's crown and Princess Hisui has been given her punishment to wear the pumpkin head.

One- That fuzzy kind of feeling.

The clouds faded in an instant as the sun came out, greeting the world with its shimmering glow. Lucy, Wendy and Erza were the first ones up on this bright morning, packing their things away and with the help of Happy and Carla, had placed their bags on to the cart ready for their journey home. It had seemed that many of the others were now riding off in their own carts.

"I'll see you back home ok Lu?" Levy waved off to her friend as she climbed onto her own cart along with Gajeel, Lily and Laki. Lucy watched her beam a heavenly glow as she sat beside her crush, shutting the door close. Erza stood beside her, smiling as they took off down the road.

"We should get going as well" she states, placing her hand on Lucy's shoulder. "Shall I wake the others up, or will you?" she smirked evilly at the thought causing Lucy to cringe. Erza would probably tip ice cold water on them or do something equally cruel.

"I will" to this Erza nods, before turning her attention to Wendy who was struggling to pull one of her bags to the cart. The little sky dragon slayer squirmed as she yanked the bag tightly on the handles, sweat building up on her forehead. As Lucy runs off to do her allocated duty, Erza continues to pile the heavy bags to the back of the cart ignoring the driver's annoying complaining about having too much load.

"I'm so glad this is over" Wendy pipes up as she hands Erza the last bag. "It's been fun and all, but I'm glad that the eclipse is finished."

"So am I" the redhead announces as she opens the cart door. "You get seated in the cart, the others shouldn't be long." Erza orders, signalling for the young girl to sit inside. Wendy does as instructed, and climbs onto the cart, sitting down on the soft red fabric seats. She giggled to herself as she peered out of the little window, revealing their hotel that they had been staying at.

"As long as they're alive, the ones destined to close the gates will do without fail"

"You're losing me, who's this dude you're talking about anyways?" Natsu asks.

"It's you" Rogue's words pierced his ears as he swarmed a ball of shadows in his hands. "Lucy Heartfila" Natsu watches this, his body unable to move as a stream in shape of a dagger fires directly for the blonde. Her eyes widen as she allows it to come towards her.

"LUCY!" there was nothing he could do, as he bolted for the shadow, letting it move between his fingers. His heart clenched, a tightness building around his chest as he landed to the ground, his eyes not leaving the black dart heading towards his friend. But once it hit, Natsu's world crashed. He gaped at the sight, as Lucy's future self had flung herself forward, taking the blow. Her eyes brought tears, as she fell to the hard ground before Lucy collapsed beside her. Happy calling her name and running to her side. He didn't save her. He couldn't. From this point, Natsu stood up, his legs trembling and his eyes stunned. He failed. He failed to protect Lucy, his best friend. Was he really so helpless? He felt like he had betrayed her? Let her to die in his line of sight. But even that sight was too much to bare. Lucy had draped over her future-self, tears falling down her puffy cheeks while Happy cupped her hand, pulling it to his face.

"Hang in there" Lucy begged.

"I never…closed the gates" her future self admits, struggling with her wound.

"I know you didn't! I would never do such a thing!" Natsu's teeth clenched, holding back his emotions. He couldn't bear to watch the death of his friend. Not now, not ever. He listened to the two Lucy's talking, before a moment's silence. Happy screaming out his tears as she cups his face, trying her hardest to smile.

"You can't die Lucy" Happy cried.

"I'm…not from this time. No I'm not even part of the people of this world. The me from this world…lives on with her comrades" Future Lucy whispers. "So don't be sad"

"That's impossible! No matter what world you're from, whoever you say you are. Lucy is Lucy!" he screams. "We love you, you're our comrade. There's no way we won't be sad" slowly, she pulls him into an embrace and Natsu watches from afar. His insides burning from the memory. Happy was hysteric, sobbing loudly into her chest. If only Natsu could do the same. But he had to stay firm, he had to stay strong. His main objective now was to get his Lucy out of here and away from Rogue. Rage built up inside of him as he gritted his fangs hard, hearing them crunch. What had this Rogue done? He had murdered Lucy? His Lucy! No one will ever lay a finger on her!

Don't worry Luce, I'll protect you. I'll make sure no one will ever harm you and take you away from me. I swear it on my own life.

"Natsu, get up!" he pauses, looking back at Rogue. "Natsu, come on already" slowly, the pink-haired boy opens his eyes, allowing the sun light to shine into his eyes, slowly revealing a Lucy figure in front of him. He stares at her for a moment, blinking as she slowly looks over at him, her eyes in perfect line to his. "Come on sleepyhead, get up. It's time to go"

"Lu..cy" he mumbles, observing her brown hazel eyes. He brings his hands to his face and rubs his eyes roughly before looking at a clear view of the blonde celestial spirit summoner sat beside him.

"Oh good, you're up. Come on, the carts about to go" without warning, she pulls him out of the bed, using all her strength to do so. He sniggers at this, watching as the floor became closer and with a thud, he whacks the ground with his face. Happy flies in, smiling wider as he greets his two friends and lands on Natsu's head.

"Erza's getting impatient you guys. She says if you're not in the cart in one minute they will go without you" Happy tells them, mocking Erza's voice.

"I guess she really means it. Come on Natsu, let's go" quick enough, Lucy bolts on ahead running through the door with Happy taking flight beside her. This brought a smile to his face as he slowly sits up, dusting himself off and re-calling his memory which was now becoming an ongoing dream. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it meant something.

"Is he coming or not?" Gray snaps, as Lucy climbs into the cart. She takes a seat beside him and rolls her eyes at the grungy look he pulls as Natsu follows suit, running towards them and pouncing into the cart. "What took you so long dragon breath?" he growls.

"I've only just got up, cut the slack will ya?" Natsu groans as he takes a seat beside Wendy, beside the window just as Erza shuts the cart door close. Once everyone was accounted for, the moving vehicle begins to move, causing Natsu to slowly turn green.

"Shall I cast Troia for him?" Wendy questions, as she looks to Erza. The redhead says nothing, her focus too much on her thoughts. She had wondered where Jellal and Meredy had gotten to, since they were nowhere to be seen. She had heard rumours from the night before about Ultear disappearing during the battle once the déjà vu had occurred. It was quite obvious that she was the one who had casted it, so she wondered if they were searching for her.

"Just do it for him Wendy" Lucy replies. "I don't want him throwing up on me anyway" she looks to the side of her and grumbles as Gray sat still and tense. His arms crossed over his chest and his eyes looking straight ahead. Was he also thinking deeply? Lucy shrugged the feeling off, looking back to Wendy who was now lightly pressing her hands over Natsu and performing her motion sickness spell. She heard Carla tut to herself, sulking on the girl's lap. Happy had done the same, laying comfortably in Lucy's, to which the blonde didn't mind. She had now had respect and more love for the cat ever since his emotional speech about her future self. He loved her, cared for her. With a sweet smile, she slowly brushed her hand through the cat's fur making him purr delightfully.

"So Lucy…" Carla spoke. "I wanted to talk to you about something"

"Yes?"

"You know what happened on future Lucy's night, on July 7 correct?" Carla looked down in shame as Lucy attempts to nod. Her eyes drift to Natsu, who was now relaxed and was thanking Wendy for her assistance. "How was it that only you survived?"

"I read my journal. It seems that…" she looks away, blushing by the thought as now Wendy and Natsu were also looking at her for the answer. "My best friend had gave his life to protect me" this caused Natsu to twitch. "My diary, it said he had come to my suffering and continued to fight on. He claimed that he was not going to give up but there was a mass amount of these dragons and they fired at him, all at once. In the book, it says she saw his body, lifeless with his arm hanging over the rocks making him visible for her to see" Lucy pauses, looking down. "I don't…want…to talk about it anymore" she bit her lip, patting Happy's head and avoiding Natsu's glare. Carla quickly apologised, feeling her distressed tension. Wendy awed at the story, looking to Natsu with great respect. She had knew he was caring, but to physically give his own life up for Lucy, for any of his friends was extremely brave. It made her realise why future Lucy was so overwhelmed to see him, when she opened those doors of the deep prison. How her body lit up with astonishment when she looked down at him. Wendy smiled softly, looking at the silent ones in the cart. Erza was now drifting to sleep with her hand as a pillow, Gray was in deep thought with his eyes completely shut and Lucy was looking down saddened as she imagined what her future self had witnessed. It was only then when Natsu spoke out.

"Hey…" he clasps her hand, causing Lucy to look at their hands entwined. "I told you before, nothing's ever going to happen…not on my watch"

"How can you say that? When we have so much more to come" she bit back sadly. "I saw myself, in a meadow. The rest of the guild were gone…dead, in an afterlife. Gray, Happy, Wendy…you. All of you were dead" she growls low. "Then so was I" she shook her head, not wanting to continue. "If you ever try to protect me, to save my life…promise me you'll live too. I don't want to be alone"

"I won't let ya be alone Luce"

Wendy remains quiet along with Carla. The two of them witnessing the bond that the two friends shared. The young sky dragon blinked a few times, looking back to Natsu then to Lucy. The two of them in a trance.

"Promise me Natsu"

"I promise" As soon as the words escaped his mouth, he felt a strange fuzzy yet warm feeling from the pit of his stomach. A feeling that he had felt on that night of her future's death. It pierced him, tickling his heart and making his ribcage cave inwards. He grumbled at this, releasing her hand and clutching his chest. He didn't make it as obvious to the two girls, but to Carla, she had noticed it. Her eyes digging into his soul as she watched his body torture him. With a deep exhale, the pain was released and he let out a calming sigh of relief.

"Are you feeling ok Natsu?" the white cat questions, puckering her brow in suspicion. He smirked at this, sticking his thumb up at the cat and slouching back in his chair.

"Course I am, why wouldn't I be?"

She glared at him at this point, ignoring his laid back attitude. He was lying, she could sense it. But what was really wrong with him? She didn't know. But she didn't press on the subject, after all the rest of them in the cart were too busy with their own deep thoughts. It just meant for her, it was going to be a long ride home.

Just for you guys. I don't own FairyTail or any characters. However I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Hopefully the next one will be up soon. Chao :D