Love and Resolve

The golden light around Lucy finally faded and she stood there in a field of grass and nothing else. Then she hears a voice. A sweet Familiar women's voice. One from her past which she almost completely forgotten.

"Lucy, darling."

Lucy turned to see the figure the voice was echoing from. Tears pored down her face as she bit her lip. "Mom"

Lucy couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her mother, Layla Heartfillia right in front of her,standing with her hands gracefully together, resting on that beautiful pink off the shoulder dress with white ruffles that Lucy loved her in as a child. She staggered forward worried Layla would vanish.

"My sweet Lucy I've missed you so very much. You have grown into such a fine woman." Layla said while tears creeped to the corners of her eyes as she stretched her arms open to embrace her daughter.

"MOM!" Lucy ran and embraced her mother as tears streamed her face and she gasped for air between sobs."I've missed you so much.I felt so lonely after you died."

"Shhhhh,there there my love."Layla rubbed Lucy's back trying to comfort her and assure her that this was really happening.

Minutes passed and then Lucy's tears finally stopped and then the reality of the situation set in "Mom how is this possible?Whats going on?AM I DEAD!?"

Layla smiled a laughed a little,"No my dear your not dead."

"Then how?...and where are we?"

"So many questions," Lucy blushed slightly, "I will answer them eventually, but first Lucy tell me, do you love Natsu Dragneel?" Layla grasped her daughters hands lightly as she peered questionably at her face.

"WHAT!WHATS THAT GOT TO DO WITH ANYTHING!" Lucy blushed hard as her mother looked at turned her head slightly and spoke In a flustered voice,"Natsu he's a friend he's part of my guild, he's nakama, he's family..." She trailed off as she looked downward a little sad from the quick remembrance of the situation at friend was soon to disappear and she had no clue how to help him.

Layla saw the twinge in her daughters eyes and knew the pain she must be a meal smile she started to talk again still holding onto her daughters hands,"This is a space between the living and the dead not necessarily limbo though. it's a plane residing between earth and the heavens." Lucy looked at her mother confused waiting for a further explanation."This plane is primarily used by the spirit king in order to connect the two worlds in a neutral a place where celestial wizards go to either become part of the stars or go to even, or reside here until they made a for emergencies it acts like a gate between the two sides. That's why your her,to gain information you need to know in order to save your celestial king brought you here and allowed me to be the one to talk to you."

"I don't get it what is it I need to know?"

Layla smiled faintly at her distressed daughter,"Lucy do you remember he story of Draco and the princess?"

"Yes of course I do buts what that have to do with me?" Lucy asked raising a eyebrow.

"The river is a real thing the story it's self is and his princess existed."

"Wait so the celestial river of life exist!?Wait can it help Natsu somehow?If so tell me! I'll do anything!" Lucy inquired desperately.

Layla looked at her daughter with glossy eyes and tightened her hands around her daughters." Lucy do you love Natsu? Just reflect on your feelings for a minute before answering," she continued before Lucy could say anything."You know the story, Draco was dying,so the princess begged for a cup of the river of life tosa e was granted her which but in exchange for her was revived but in e end he was reunited with her in can save Natsu."

"How..." Deep down Lucy already knew the answer.

"E.N.D. must be killed before he is fully order to do so, Natsu Dragneel must die with once both are dead you can bring back Natsu with the river of life.E.N.D. would not come back to life for when he dies the celestial king will trap his soul in the spirit world the price to pay...the price to pay is..is.." Layla's tears started to make her studded as she tried to finish her sentence,

"The price to pay is with my life," Lucy smiled knowingly and looked solemnly at her mother.

"So as asked before do you love Natsu,the stronger the feelings toward a person, the stronger the bond between them, the better chance of the river working."

Lucy looked deep in thought as her mother continued to stare intently at she love Natsu? The silly dragon slayer who almost destroyed Hargeon the day they met. The clueless goofball who has always been the one to save her and catch her when she started to remember thoese time when she was kidnapped by phantom lord and jumped from a tower only to be caught by first mission together infiltrating Duke Everlues time she was sick and couldn't go to the cherry blossom festival so like an idiot he uprooted an old sacred tree and sent it down e river for her to see.A stupid idiot but a thoughtful and sweet remembered the time he took care of her when she fell drunk at the hot springs and when he held her as she cried when her friend the Phoenix priestess finally was able to after time it was him to hold her and come to find protected her without fail,wanting nothing in return only flashing that huge gri. Of his whenever he saw was her friend,her she thought the more the answer became clearer to was strong and handsome and oblivious to romantic ideals but she Lucy Heartfillia Loved Natsu Dragneel.

"Lucy darling?" Layla's voice interrupted Lucy's thoughts and brought her back to reality.

"Yes...I..I Love Natsu,with all my heart." Lucy once again began to cry realizing feelings she had yet to uncover till had the worst timing ever."Mom I wanna save Natsu..I want to save the man I love.."

Layla hugged her daughter tightly knowing what her decision was ready to exchange her life for his. she was ready to die for her love."Lucy my dear," she said as she held her in her embrace,"I have watched over you sense I died.I saw your grow up I to the wonderful woman you are now.I saw you fight with all your being and though I was not physically there with you! I was there.I was there for all the tears,the smiles,the laughs all of it..I watched with my heart filled with joy knowing you found the place you belonged made amazing new friends and even got a second chance at family.I know after I died life was rough for you but I know now it was probably the best hing to happen to you. You have become strong,independent, you followed your heart and filled it with so much love and compassion, I couldn't have asked for a more mature and beautiful so are not Lucky Lucy Heartfillia,you are Lucy of fairytail."

Lucy's hug tightened around her mother when suddenly she herd Natsu scream in face jerked up at her mothers and she saw her mom knew it was time to part. "Mom,I love you."she hugged her one last time.

"I love you go and take this." Layla handed Lucy a vial of what looked like stardust water knowing what it was."When you give this to Natsu, the exchange will be made.

Lucy took the vial and put it into the pocket of her black looked at her mom and said,"See you soon." And turned and walked away.

She once again was enveloped in this time when it died down she was standing back by the broken wall.

"Lucy!" Levy called over to her running to meet her friend. she could tell levy was worried and had been looking for her for quite a while.

"Luce we were worried about you I was almost about to go get the gang and start a search party," she stammered hunched over trying to regroup her self.

Lucy smiled and looked at her dear friend."Levy there's something I need to tell you and I'm not sure how to tell you."

Levy looked up in obvious concern and placed a soft hand on her friends shoulder. "Hey whatever it is you can tell her for you." She gave Lucy a reassuring smile.

"I this..your not going to like."

Levys concerned face deepened as she stared at Lucy."Levy your going to want to sit for this."

Extras:

Hey there me again oh my the feels right ugh I feel mean somehow!anyway hope you enjoyed-quitesunshine-