"Don't deny your feelings for him anymore."
Her own voice keeps ringing in her head. This was what her future self told her before she smiled and disappeared into the night sky. The relief from the pain she clearly once bore was so palpable in her future self's eyes Lucy was taken aback: did something happen to Natsu the first time? Something so horrid that it made herself realize she never ever wanted to lose him?
She looks up and takes a glance around the guild hall. For the past half hour, random peals of laughter sounded out from behind where she sat at the bar counter. Yup, life was resuming its way back to some sort of normalcy. Right now, Natsu was being his usual self entertaining the crowd of mages surrounding him.
She takes a hard look at him. Beneath that foolish character lies a pure heart that values camaraderie even more than his own life. It was also a steadfast and loyal heart that she has always loved and admired.
Ah, but this is difficult, Lucy heaves a long sigh. Being new to love herself, she didn't know if what she feels for Natsu was love or merely strong platonic affection. She thinks back to all the times they hung out together, all the times when she was in trouble and he risked his all to save her. Till now, she was moved that Natsu would actually miss out on the chance to participate in the final phase of the Magic Games in order to go rescue her from the Kingdom. Could it be, I mean something to him?
"Lucy! Happy says he's hungry; let's go fishing!"
"Gahh! Natsu!" Lucy was startled out of her thoughts of him. Seeing him so close with his arm around her made her a little flustered, suddenly.
"Geez, why should I come along? It's not even my favorite food."
Even as Lucy says that, she finds herself getting up and waving goodbye at Mira by the counter, following behind the Salamander and his flying cat.
Could I bear to lose him?
"Natsuuuu, have you gotten one yet? It's been 2 hours!"
Lucy couldn't help it. She was bored, and tired, and a little hungry now, but Natsu and Happy were just silently observing their rods in the waters.
"Shh, Lucy! Don't be so loud! I felt a tremble a while ago but your sudden outburst must have scared the fish away! It'll be your fault if we have nothing to eat for dinner!" Happy complains.
"Lucy, just a while more, eh? I'll cook you a nice big fish all to yourself, I promise."
Natsu looks at her and flashes her his signature big grin. That big grin that she realize she adored really much.
"…Huh." She responds. Wordlessly, she watches him, a contented look on his face. He… really loves hanging out together. Even if it's just sitting around doing nothing. What about me? I –
"I FEEL ONE IT'S COMING!"
For the second time that day, Lucy was startled out of her thoughts. She looks up to see Natsu digging his feet into the ground but that was no use – he was creeping nearer and nearer to the edge of the river. Whatever was at the end of the rod, it must be one hell of a catch.
"Natsuu! You can do it!" Happy shouts out, abandoning his own rod and punching the air in morale support for his buddy.
"Hurrrhhhhhhhhh-AHH!"
The creature in the river was forced out of the water by Natsu's sheer strength. Although, now that it has surfaced, Lucy didn't think it was that good an idea.
The monster was huge. The fishes in this river they always fish at were normally larger than most fish found elsewhere, but this, this was something else altogether. At least 5 times bigger than the usual, this marine beast also seemed much more ferocious, maliciously chomping its jaws while flying –
Right at her.
"Gu-wahhhhh!"
"Lucy, watch out!"
Before she knew what was happening, Natsu had pushed her out of the way and was head-butt right in the stomach by the fish. With a grunt, he flies back into the trunk of a tree, slumping onto the ground. With a monstrous roar, the fish-beast clamped Natsu by his torso and dragged him into the water.
"Natsuuuuu!"
But too late. Suddenly, all was still.
"We gotta save him!" In a panic, Lucy jumps into the water. Natsu, Natsu! However, before she could get used to her surroundings, she felt herself being pulled out of the water, and dropped unto the bank.
"Lucy, calm down! It's Natsu we're talking about, he'll be fine!" Happy tries to reassure her. "Besides, that thing looks dangerous! You might not be able to protect yourself, much less Natsu!"
That's right, it's Natsu. He always manages to pull through at the end.
"Yeah, Happy, you're right. He'll be okay…"
15 minutes later.
Natsu had not reappeared.
"What's happening down there?! Is he okay? Did he die? Omg, Natsu is dead, he's dead!"
"LUCY CALM DOWN!"
"Ah, I know!" Happy exclaims, "Why not sent Aquarius down to check things out?"
"That's right, Aquarius!"
"Geez Lucy, you really need to pull your head together!"
"Gate of the Water-bearer, I open thee, Aquarius!"
"What is it now, little girl?"
"Aquarius! Natsu got taken down the river by a huge fish! Please go down and save him!"
"Hmph, Natsu huh? Isn't that guy a tough idiot? He'd be fine. Now don't you dare disturb me; I'm on a date with my boyfriend. My boyfriend."
With that, Aquarius disappears into the water.
Lucy collapses onto the ground in despair. Natsu! Stupid Aquarius! To think she'd forsake me for her boyfriend! Boyfriend, huh? Must be nice…
Just as she was at her wit's end, an explosion rang up over the waters. Lucy lifts her head to see a tsunami of fire coming out of the river. The silhouette of a person carrying a huge object over his shoulder emerges from the flames.
Natsu. Albeit a battered-looking, soaked one. His clothes were slightly torn around the torso area, but it was Natsu alright. With a triumphant smile.
"Natsu!"
"Happy! Lucy! Wah that took quite some time, huh! But as promissssed, this fish is for you, Lucy! Though I doubt you can finish it all, this damn fish – why don't we shar –"
Before he could finish his words, Lucy lounges forward and envelops him in a hug.
I could never bear to lose him. Ever.
"Natsu. Thank God you're safe!"
"Lu-lucy?"
"Hold on a minute. You had me worried!"
"Pfffft Natsu, she lllllllllllikes you!"
I like him? Do I?
"Lucy –"
She pushes him away and clears her throat.
"C'mon let's eat, I'm hungry!"
They settled down by a tree and sat around their dinner. Natsu happily beckons her over to bite off at the best part of the fish – the stomach. She feels her own stomach flip.
Maybe.