A/N: Hi, and sorry for the wait! I rewrote this at least four times and it wasn't coming out like I hoped, so I took a break from it for a while. I'm not totally happy with it, but if you enjoy this final piece of the story, then I did my job right. Anyways, please read and review, and if you have any questions or comments, feel free to PM me!

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. That honor belongs to Hiro Mashima.

Lucy awoke to the soft golden glow of sunlight filtering through her curtains and the chilly autumn breeze filling the room. She sat up in bed and rubbed sleep out of her eyes. Despite the fact that it was a beautiful morning, today was a day she had been dreading for a while. Today was her wedding, and she was anything but thrilled. She didn't want to get married to that man. Maybe she was judging Ichiya too harshly. Maybe he was actually a decent person. But if the handmaidens were to be believed, he was actually quite disgusting…

She forced herself out of bed, the cold air in her bedroom making her shiver. The mouthwatering scent of breakfast sitting on a table across from her bed was her only motivation to move. She ate slowly, contemplating the past two weeks.

She was only in Magnolia for a week and a half; she did not expect to return home with news that she had been missing for a month and a half. Her father had found her in the garden, unconscious but unharmed. He wasn't concerned for her safety. No, he was worried that his future fortune would disappear. There were only two weeks until her wedding day, and every day that passed had been as dismal as the last. Her father had expected her to follow his every order; he failed to realize the change that overcame her. She was bolder and more confident than before, and her newfound rebellious streak clearly annoyed him. She had to admit that letting herself go was quite liberating. She had released a lot of stress in the past two weeks from that alone. She had stopped worrying about her father's opinion of her and developed her own persona. Once, what he said might have mattered to her. Now…his opinions were worthless. It was an exhilarating feeling, disobeying authority to follow her own rules. If she didn't know better, she would have thought Sirina still possessed her.

She thought about Magnolia, a place her mind wandered to frequently over the past couple weeks. She missed the friends she made. Right now, the monarchs were probably trying to distribute territory since the Red Kingdom's defeat, Gajeel and Levy were either married or were going to get married, and Natsu…well, she always wondered what Natsu was doing. She missed him most of all. She thought about him every day, unable to erase his presence from her memory. Every thought she had of him, heat shot through her body and the distance between them felt infinite. Missing him was unbearable. She had come to realize, since leaving Magnolia, that she had fallen hard for the man. She wished he was the one she would marry today instead of Ichiya. If she had realized her true feelings for him sooner, would she have stayed in Magnolia with him and the others?

Stop it, she thought. He's part of a world you left behind. This is your home, not Magnolia. Get over him and live up to your responsibilities. But the image of Natsu still assaulted her brain day in and day out. She tried to convince herself that coming back was the right choice. At first, she thought it was; she had responsibilities here, and she was taught never to abandon them. She felt that she needed to return for the sake of duty and she wanted to see her mother's grave again. But she was lying to herself. She missed Magnolia. She missed the people and the world itself. It was more of a home to her than Earthland. She told herself she did the right thing, but she knew it was nothing more than that; just a mantra she repeated to convince herself. Now, the only reason she wanted to stay was just to say goodbye.

Her handmaids rushed into her bedroom, carrying a dress, undergarments, shoes, makeup, and jewelry. Lucy sighed. She really was not looking forward to today. She let them dress her, too lost in thought to stop them.

Lucy examined herself in the mirror after the handmaids had finished with her, frowning as she did so. She wore her mother's wedding dress. Or it was, once upon a time. Her father, upon Ichiya's request, had altered the dress in such a way that it was no longer recognizable. It hurt Lucy's heart to see her mother's beautiful dress, elegant and flowing with long lace sleeves, torn apart and remade into a tiny scrap of clothing. The dress rose mid-thigh and was low-cut, showing off more cleavage than she was comfortable with. She wasn't sure whether to pull the dress up or down to cover herself a little better. The lace sleeves were now replaced by straps; what remained of the original sleeves now lined the bodice. The dress was paired with four-inch heels that made Lucy's feet ache just looking at them. She winced. Maybe the handmaids were right about Ichiya, after all.

A knock sounded at the door, and her father barged in without waiting for a reply. He scanned her, as if to make sure she was presentable. Lucy fought the urge to roll her eyes.

"Lucy, my child," he said, "Don't do anything to screw this up for me. You know just how important today is, so be a good girl and do exactly as Ichiya says."

"Why should I?" Lucy retorted. She was getting sick of being told to "do exactly as Ichiya says". She wasn't a dog to be trained for a master, she was a human girl. And after seeing powerful queens ruling kingdoms on their own and lower-class women holding kings in the palm of their hand, she wasn't about to listen to men who only saw her as an object for trade.

The back of her father's hand rushed towards her face, but Lucy easily caught his wrist. Her reflexes had gotten better since Magnolia as well. The disbelief written on her father's face was priceless. She smirked in satisfaction. "You should think before you act, Jude." She released his wrist and left the room, leaving him speechless in her bedroom. Lucy felt the tears burn behind her eyes, threatening to spill over. She held them back. She was so tired of being here. She wanted to go home, back to Magnolia.

XXXXX

Natsu watched the wedding with a heavy heart. He had known Gajeel for years, having grown up in the White palace. Gajeel, as Natsu recalled, was an arrogant fool who thought he was the only one who mattered. Everyone, including him, thought he would never find a bride. Which was why it shocked the royals when Gajeel announced that he was marrying a glorified commoner. Many of the monarchs in the kingdoms, with the exception of Freed and Mira, disapproved of the arrangement—he should have married a woman of noble birth—but Gajeel brushed off their opinions and got engaged to Levy anyway. He had finally found someone who he loved more than himself, and someone who loved him unconditionally in return. It was true love, Mira had gushed.

All the talk of true love, and Natsu was alone. He watched solemnly as Gajeel kissed Levy passionately, cementing their bond for each other. He looked away. It's not like he wasn't happy for them—he really was—but the memories of Lucy bubbled to the surface of his mind. He wasn't the only person at the wedding without a date, but everyone he knew had someone on their arm or on their lips. Gray and Juvia sat near the altar, holding hands and sneaking loving glances at each other. Elfman and Evergreen sat apart from each other, but anyone could see they cared deeply for each other. Even Wendy laughed and smiled along with one of the servant boys, Romeo. Natsu stared down at the checkered marble floor, biting his lip. He stood up and weaved his way through the throng of cheering people, all having someone in their life whom they held dear. He doubted they were dead or gone. Once he left the room, he leaned against a pillar, closing his eyes against the stinging pain.

"You miss her, don't you?" a quiet feminine voice inquired. He didn't turn around; didn't need to. Mirajane came to stand in front of him, her sapphire eyes filled with worry. "If you want to talk about it, you know I'm here. Please, just don't hold it in."

"It's fine," Natsu mumbled, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "Don't worry about me. There's nothing to worry about."

"Yes there is! You can't brush me off when you're clearly hurting! Just talk to me! Do you really want what happened with Lisanna to happen all over again?!"

Natsu walked past her, ignoring her words. It was because of Lisanna that he wasn't going to talk to her. He saw how much it hurt her to talk about her deceased sister. He wasn't going to put her through that pain again. He heard her voice echoing behind him, but he left without saying a word. He needed to be alone for a little while.

XXXXX

The wedding was held just outside the front door of the manor. The seats were packed with guests, all eager to watch the beginning of a happy ending as if it were a fairy tale. Ichiya stood at the altar, his eyes scanning the ladies in the crowd. The wedding was supposed to start half an hour ago, but the bride was late. Jude Heartfilia clenched his fists, his suspicions solidifying. He stood up from his seat and disappeared into the manor.

Meanwhile, Lucy had barricaded her door. She scurried around her room, stuffing her favorite clothes and possessions into a bag. She didn't need much; there wasn't much here she cared enough about to take with her. She had taken off her wedding dress and jewelry, opting to wear a pale yellow sundress that belonged to her mother. She had no intentions of going to the wedding, and she was going to leave Earthland while her father was preoccupied. She checked her room once more in case she missed something. She noticed a picture resting against the nightstand and breathed out a relieved sigh. It was a picture of her and her mother in the garden, both of them smiling wide for the camera. Lucy smiled and slipped the picture into the bag. She would have been devastated if she had forgotten that. A fist pounding at her door alerted her to her father's presence. She quickly opened her window and, after scanning the perimeter, climbed down the roof to the ground below. She ran across the lawn, keeping an eye out for anyone who might follow her.

She trudged up a hill, her final destination before leaving Earthland for good. On top of the hill stood a headstone, elegantly carved out of marble. Lucy's eyes brimmed with tears immediately after gazing upon it.

"Hi mom," she said shakily, kneeling down on the soft carpet of grass to place a hand on the headstone. "I'm leaving. I just wanted to you know that I'll miss you, and…and…" Lucy's voice faltered as tears streamed from her eyes and sobs burst from her chest. Her shoulders shook with the force of her grief. Even though her mother died years ago, talking to her like this never got easier. It was as if it was her funeral all over again. Lucy calmed her breathing, her violent sobs turning into soft hiccups. She brushed away her tears as she stared at her mother's grave. "I'm going to miss you so much. I wish you could be here with me right now. Life has been so stressful here, and that's why I'm leaving. I love you, mom." Without another word, she stood up and brushed the grass from her knees. She took one last look at her mother's headstone before leaving the hill.

The garden wasn't too far away. In fact, when she climbed down the hill she had already reached the entrance. She looked around before entering—there was no one around. She entered the garden and made a beeline for the ancient oak.

She reached the tree when her steps faltered. Someone was leaning against the trunk. Did her father anticipate her coming here? Was it a guest looking for peace? Her anxieties faded when the man turned around and smiled at her, his tawny hair glinting in the sunlight.

"Leo!" she cried, sprinting for him and pulling him into a tight hug. She hadn't seen him since the war, and she was relieved to see that he was alright.

"Hey, princess," he sang, a large grin upon his face as he pulled away. "You're finally ready to return, aren't you?"

"How'd you know?" she asked him incredulously, then mentally smacked herself. Of course he would know; the Celestials respond to her call. Though she didn't realize she had called…

"Ready?" he asked her, extending his hand to her. She smiled happily and took his hand, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

"Yes," she cried, taking Leo's hand. Together, they jumped through the Gate. The wind flew past her face and a scream ripped from her throat. The seconds felt like hours until they finally reached the end of the Gate. The room still looked the same as before, much to Lucy's relief.

"Thank you," she told Leo, pulling him into a brief hug.

"No problem, princess. I'm glad I could help." The air around him shimmered, and his body gradually became transparent. "Goodbye, Lucy."

"Bye, Leo!" she called before he faded away completely. She turned to the ornate door in front of her, a sense of deja vu overcoming her. She gently pushed it open and her eyes widened at the sight in front of her, instantly recalling the stories her mother used to tell her. Magnolia was no longer a wasteland, and its true beauty stunned her. Verdant green grass covered every inch of the ground, while a mosaic of flowers dotted the lush carpet. The trees were in bloom, the aroma of flowers and fruit thick in the air. Animals scampered across the earth and birds soared the clear blue sky above. Magnolia was alive once again; the prophecy fulfilled. Lucy traversed the path cut through the grass. It might look a bit different now, but she knew exactly where she was. She relied on past memories and instinct to guide her, and sure enough, she found herself at a small hut. She had seen this place in her dreams many times before and didn't hesitate to knock on the door. The last time she stood here, she was cold, wet and confused. Now, she arrived here with a purpose. The door creaked open and a certain blue cat appeared.

"Look, if you want Natsu, he's not—Lucy!" The cat leaped at her, wrapping his paws around her neck. Lucy giggled and hugged the cat back. "I missed you!" he cried, tears welling in his eyes.

"I missed you too," she told him. "Is Natsu not here?"

"No, he's here," Happy answered. "He's just not in the mood for visitors today."

"Who are you talking to?" said a voice that sent waves of heat through her body. She met Natsu's shocked eyes, electricity coursing down her spine a moment later. "Lucy?" he asked in disbelief. A wide grin spread across her face before Natsu ran to her and embraced her, months of loneliness overtaking both of them. "You're back," he whispered, his voice raspy with tears.

"I'm happy to finally be back," she said with a laugh. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she wiped at them roughly. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, Lucy," he said. Their faces were only inches apart. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her lips and smell his intoxicating scent. She was debating whether or not to close the distance when the choice was made for her.

Natsu closed his mouth over her own, the warmth of his lips burning her from the inside out. She instantly responded, grasping his silky pink hair and deepening their kiss. She only stopped to take a breath, feeling lightheaded from the lack of oxygen. Natsu chuckled softly and leaned back in to resume their kiss. Lucy didn't stop him.

They pulled away, their cheeks flushed. Lucy looked into Natsu's eyes and could see the love that his obsidian orbs held for her. She smiled softly at him and enlaced her fingers with his. She loved him just as much; she wouldn't have returned if she didn't. "Would you like to come in?" Natsu asked her somewhat timidly. She nodded and let him guide her into the house, shutting the door quietly behind them. Arriving in Magnolia again was the start of a new life for her, but falling in love with Natsu was something she had been dreaming about for years, and being here with him made everything she went through worth it.

With him, she was finally whole again, and that was all she ever wanted.

End