Chapter 21, everybody!

Chapter 21 - The Future

The guild sits in silence as each individual processes Lucy's tale. Some like Wendy, Levy, or Mira, cry. Others like Laxus, Makarov, or Gray, sit in silence. After taking a moment to breathe, Lucy concludes her story.

"After that, I didn't really know what to do. I had been ready to return, but I couldn't really face anyone after Aiera's death, so I just stayed at the temple for a couple of months. I wanted to be alone, so I sent Yukino back to Sabertooth on Pegasus and just sat in Aiera's room by myself for a couple of days. It took Loke, Capricorn, and Taurus to finally get me outside. When I finally decided to leave, I went to Crocus first. I reunited with Hisui and told her my story as well as got a map for Magnolia. I did some exploring for a while and when I was done I came straight here, and that gets us to where we are now."

"So Lucy, my child, what about Aquarius? What will happen to you?"

It's Makarov who asks the first question. The guild is at a lost for words as to what to say to the blond who sits before them. There were many sad events in Lucy's journey but the fact still remains that, when she dies, she'll become Aquarius. Lucy places a hand on her heart as she responds.

"Well, you could arguably say that, a golden key has been placed within my heart. When I die - however I die - my magic and the magic placed within me by the ritual will combine and absorb my body. My body with disappear and in its place will rest the new golden key to the water bearer."

Lucy feels Natsu's arm around her waist tighten to the point of squeezing her. He had been quiet throughout the entire story, but Lucy had been able to guess his emotions by how he tightened his grip or loosened it at certain parts. When she was discussing her training and her fight against the 4 Sabertooth members, she even got a grin out of him, as a sense of pride in her. Now though, this grip is new. He had tightened his grip when things got sad or difficult in her story but it was never to this extent.

"Natsu, are you alright?" The guild has gone to murmuring amongst themselves about Lucy's story. Levy seeks comfort in Gajeel along with Wending who is held in Romeo's embrace. No one notices how that fire dragon slayer shakes.

"Are you really going to give away your life like that?" Lucy turns back to Natsu after she had been observing how family's reactions.

"Hm?"

"What about all your happiness?"

"Natsu what are you talking about? I want to do this, it isn't out of a sense of duty. This is my happiness."

"BUT WHAT ABOUT US!"

Lucy is caught off guard by Natsu's exclamation and the rest of the guild turns to look at him. He continues but lowers his voice as he sees the reaction Lucy had to his yell.

"What about us? When we pass on, you'll be left alone. And what about yourself? The only other celestial mages we know who actually care about their spirits are Yukino and Hisui. If you go to Yukino, then we won't be able to see you again! You can't just leave us Lucy!"

Natsu's head falls and his fists clench and shake. The rest of the guild watches in silence as Lucy shifts in her seat and wraps Natsu in an embrace. She speaks very softly to him, but it can be heard by everyone in the room.

"Relax Natsu. I'll deal with whatever master I'm contracted to, plus I don't have to contract with the first person who opens my gate; I can choose."

Natsu looks back up at Lucy while in her arms; his body begins to relax. Lucy continues reassuring Natsu, feeling him calm down.

"Besides no matter who I'm contracted to, I'll always keep an eye on Fairy Tail. I promised that I'll make sure that the next generation of fairies will have a future full of adventures, even your child."

"You mean our child."

"What?"

Lucy deadpans as Natsu returns her embrace and then gives her a kiss on the lips. Lucy sits within the kiss, in shock and blushing to the point that her face is the same color as Erza's hair. The guild's mood lightens up, as the two mages are then applauded and Cana can be seen collecting money out of the corner of Lucy's eye. Finally, Natsu separates from Lucy and she sits there staring at him - still in shock.

"Natsu, do you really mean th-"

"Luce. These past three years have been unbearable without you. I started training so that I would be able to face you when you returned and so that I had something to preoccupy my mind. However, my thoughts never drifted far from you. 'How is she doing? How strong has she gotten? Has she fixed the key yet?' All of the questions I had involved your growth and I knew I had to grow too, or else I wouldn't be able to keep with you. I'm so glad you're back!"

Natsu embraces Lucy once more, this time with tears falling from his eyes. Lucy returns the embrace and rubs his back as tears begin to well up in her eyes as well.

"Natsu. Don't worry, I'll never leave you again. I love you."

The two sit in silence as they embrace each other, and soon time moves on. The two mages began to date, and a year later, they became the second couple of the guild to wed. Gajeel and Levy wed a month later, followed by Gray and Juvia three months later. The guild had a glorious period of time right after Lucy's return where the mission board was almost always empty because everyone was always on missions. The income of the guild skyrocketed, but at the same time, so did the damages that they had to pay for.

Makarov was practically ready to retire, but a small amount of peace came when Natsu and Lucy announced they were pregnant. The two began to take it easy with missions and separated from the newly reformed Team Natsu. Once Lucy became too big to go on missions, Natsu and Happy went alone to keep an income. Lucy had moved into Natsu's house which was given an expansion by Loke, Taurus, and the guild.

The guild has lived in peace in the only way Fairy Tail can, however, the peace will be disrupted when a new addition joins the family.