Chapter 29: I Love You

Natsu couldn't think properly. His world was crumbling around him. He couldn't comprehend that he has to kill Lucy in order to destroy the Eclipse. He couldn't get himself to do it.

"Quickly, Natsu! Before it's too late!"

Lucy was glowing brighter than before. Natsu looked up at Lucy.

"No… I can't…."

"You have to Natsu! Or else the world!"

"But… if it's a world where you aren't there… I don't want t-"

"NO!" Lucy shouted at Natsu. "Don't you DARE think like that! Think of Happy! Think of Igneel! Think of the guild! Think of everyone who lives in this world! If you don't do this now, the world they live in will end!"

Natsu looked down onto the ground. He let his tears roam free down his cheeks, showing so much emotion for the first time in his life.

He heard something close to him. He turned his head, and saw Erza, Gajeel, Laxus, Jellal, Mirajane and Vincent fighting against the dragons.

"There's too many! We won't last long!" said Mirajane.

"Don't give up yet! Shouted Vincent. "There's still hope!"

They kept attacking and attacking the dragons, either knocking them away or throwing them to the ground.

"How close are we to the Eclipse, Vince?" Mirajane asked. She didn't get a reply. "Vince?" she looked back and was horrified.

"VINCE!"

Vincent fell to the floor. Mirajane went over to pick him up.

"Vince! Wake up, VINCE!"

"I'm here" Vincent grumbled, but through gritted teeth. "But I can't fight anymore… sorry" he said sadly.

Mirajane hugged him. "It's ok, it will be all right"

"If you don't do this now, our friends will die, Natsu" said Lucy, looking at the commotion. "Do you want your friends to die?"

Natsu shook his head. But he continued crying.

"I'm sorry, Lucy… right now, my head is thinking of you, more than anything. I can't lose you, I don't want to lose you. I… I…"

Natsu felt a touch of warmth on his cheek. He looked up; Lucy descended so she can touch Natsu's face. She was crying as well.

"That is why we need to protect this world. This world holds our memories together. The day when we met, the day when I joined the guild, the days when we went to jobs together. All of our memories reside in this world"

Lucy went in to hug Natsu tightly. "If this world is destroyed, those memories will also disappear. They will cease to exist. I don't want that to happen. I want our memories to live on in this world. Please don't let those memories disappear"

"If I meant anything to you, Natsu, please do this for me. For us. For our memories in this world"

Natsu hugged Lucy back tightly. He did not let her go for a minute or two. He was trying to remember everything about Lucy; her scent, her voice, her smile.

Natsu let go of Lucy, where she levitated into the air again. He nodded to Lucy, and started gathering all of his magic. Scales started to show up on his face. He entered his Dragon Force Mode.

Lucy nodded, tears flowing freely, putting on a sad but sweet smile. She lifted her arms up.

Natsu gathered all of his magic energy within one point. A mixture of Flame, Lightening, and Dragon Force came around Natsu.

"Dragon Slayer Technique!"

Natsu screamed in pain. Tears were flowing freely down his face. Lucy looked at Natsu, she was smiling. Natsu was never going to forget that smile.

"I love you, Lucy"

"I love you too, Natsu"

"Crimson Lotus: Flaming Phoenix Blade!"

The Dragon Slayer attack hit Lucy in full force. She did not change her expression; she still kept her smile towards Natsu. Lucy was engulfed in light, and disappeared. She was no more.

The attack channeled through her to hit the Eclipse. The Eclipse started to crack at places; the dragons realized and started to panic. They started to fly away. However, they were too late.

The Eclipse exploded. It shattered into pieces, flying everywhere. There was a loud explosion; Natsu was engulfed into it. The dragons that were near the explosion were caught into it and burned to death. They let out their last screams, and fell onto the ground.

In the sky, Acnologia saw Eclipse explode. The dragons around him started to glow.

"It is over" Acnologia declared.

The dragons around Vincent and the Fairy Tail mages started to glow.

"What is going on?" said Laxus.

"The Eclipse… it's been destroyed" said Vincent. He stood up straight away and started to run towards where Eclipse stood.

"Wait Vince! Your wounds!" said Mirajane, running after him.

The dragons around them started to disappear. The dragons roared; they knew they were returning to their own time.

"Goodbye" beomed Acnologia.

Soon, all the dragons disappeared. They returned to their own time 400 years ago. The world was saved.

Natsu was slumped on the ground where he hit Lucy with his full magic power.

"Natsu!"

Vincent ran towards the Fire Dragon Slayer. Natsu didn't move an inch.

"The Eclipse… you destroyed it" Vincent said with a happy tone. But when he looked around, his expression darkened.

"Where's Lucy? What happened to her!?"

"NATSU!"

Vincent looked around. Happy flew into the opening, screaming Natsu's name.

"Natsu, you ok?"

Natsu didn't answer. He still had his eyes closed. When he opened his eyes, he made everyone freeze in fear.

"What… what is this cat doing here?"

Happy stared at Natsu with a shocked expression. "Natsu?"

"Who's Natsu? And… how is a cat able to speak?"

Vincent was shocked. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Na… Natsu?"

Natsu looked back at Vincent. His face was blank; it did not have any emotion going through it.

"Who… who are you?"

Vincent stared at him.

"Wait… where am I?" asked Natsu, looking around. "What happened here?"

"Oh Natsu…" Vincent held his hands in his face, tears streaming down his face.

The battle between Devil's Eye and Fairy Tail had truly ended. Fairy Tail emerged victorious. But it came at a terrible price.

Who actually won the war? Who really lost something that they can never replace. Sadly, no one could answer that. None of the Fairy Tail mages, or Vincent, could.

Two Years Later

Kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.

Natsu Dragneel was waking up from his slumber. He was dreaming; the same dream that has been haunting him for two years since that day. He was in a mist, not knowing where to go. A voice is calling him. It keeps repeating his name. He knows that voice; he doesn't know how, but he does. Inside his heart, he knows who that voice belongs to. But he cannot remember.

Just as he was reaching out for that voice, the alarm goes off. Natsu groans, and hits the alarm.

"Not that dream again…" Natsu mumbled. He stared blankly into the wall. "Who is that voice?"

He thought for a bit, but shook his head. He was never good at thinking.

He got ready, and went out to school. Magnolia High School for Beginner's Magic.

It's been two years since the fateful day. Natsu resided to become a normal person; but on this day, his whole life would change again.