Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail
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Ravens and Fairies, Dragons and Princesses (Epilogue)
"YEAH! LET'S PAR-TY!" Natsu exclaimed as he jumped around in joy. Fairy Tail was in the midst of celebrating their victory. Everyone was shouting in joy, drinking, and brawling as was the norm of Fairy Tail after a victorious battle.
"Be careful, Natsu, you're still injured!" Wendy exclaimed.
"Yeah, Flame Brain, take it easy!"
Natsu was in his usual clothes again and out of the infirmary. All the bandages covering his wounds were gone except for the one around his chest where the dagger was at.
"I'm fine!" Natsu groaned in annoyance. "It's just a scratch!"
Gray smirked, "sure. I bet you won't last more than a few seconds in a fight!"
"Oh yeah?! Wanna test that theory, Snowflake?!"
So began another brawl, but this one ended quickly when Gray socked Natsu in the gut and he yelped in pain.
"I warned him…" Wendy sighed.
"They are a rowdy bunch, aren't they?" Layla appeared next to her.
"Oh! You're Majesty!" Wendy bowed respectfully.
Layla giggled at her formality as Wendy blushed nervously. "You're still here?" Carla, in her arms, asked, "I thought you had gone back to Crocus?"
"I'll be going back tomorrow to clean the mess Ivan had made. It's too late at night for me to leave now."
"Will Lucy and Levy be going with you?" Wendy's face became disappointed.
"No," the widowed queen shook her head. "She and Levy will be staying here for a while. However, I will need them to come back eventually."
"But I thought Lucy and Levy were going to become members of Fairy Tail?" Wendy raised an eyebrow.
Layla then mimicked her by raising her eyebrow as well, "who told you that?"
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"Owwww…" Natsu groaned, walking out of the crazy, partying room into the more peaceful area. "Dang Ice Princess!" He mumbled while rubbing his gut before looking up. He gasped, "WHAT THE HECK?!"
There stood Gajeel and Levy, making out in a corner.
"AH! NATSU!" Levy exclaimed, pushing the iron dragon slayer away in embarrassment with a red face.
"WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?!" Natsu shouted.
"Gihi! Hey Salamander," Gajeel said. "I bet I could make out with my girl longer than you could with yours."
"DON'T ENCOURAGE HIM, GAJEEL!"
Natsu smirked, "challenge accepted, Metal Face."
"WHY WOULD THIS BE A COMPETITION?!"
"Lucy, come here," Natsu turned around when she didn't answer. "Luce?"
"She didn't come in with you, Idiot!" Gajeel said.
"Actually, I haven't seen her all night," Levy commented.
"What?" Natsu raised his eyebrow worriedly before turning around and running out the door, "I'm going to look for her."
"Don't forget to bring her back here so I could show you how better I am at this!" Gajeel shouted after him.
"GAJEEL!"
Natsu ran through the hall and into another room. "Lucy?!" He ran his fingers through his hair, "don't tell me she's been kidnapped." His muscles tensed in realization and a bit of anger before turning around to run into a different room.
Then it hit him: Vanilla, mixed with rose, with a hint of coconut.
He stopped in his tracks and turned around at his favorite scent: Lucy's. Like a dog being called by his master, Natsu followed his nose up the stairs and outside onto a balcony where she was.
It was dark out and the stars shown overhead, but they were faint thanks to the city lights that Magnolia produced. Lucy was leaning against the stone balcony fence looking at the view and it seemed she didn't notice him.
Natsu appeared next to her, leaning against the fence as well with their arms touching. Lucy turned to him before smiling and looking back at the city. "Hey."
"Hey," he replied. "What are you doing out here?"
"Nothing…just thinking and getting away from the noise."
"What are you thinking about?"
Lucy hummed, but didn't answer, causing Natsu to move closer to gain more of her attention. "Lucy, what's wrong?"
Lucy sighed, "it's nothing really…I just…I really wanna join the guild."
"What are you talking about?" Natsu raised an eyebrow as he unconsciously ran his fingers through her hair. "You're a member now."
"I don't have the mark yet."
"Let's go get it then."
"No, you don't understand." Lucy sighed again, "the war is over…but that doesn't change anything." She turned to him, "I'm still a princess…I still have duties and I can't join Fairy Tail. I'm really happy Ivan's gone, but I'm still who I am. I'm never going to be completely free-"
"Don't say that," Natsu took her shoulders and turned her to face him completely. "There's gotta be a way. You can't just give up like that."
"I'm sorry," she turned away. "I can't help it."
"Don't lose hope. You're Lucy of Fairy Tail."
"I want to be that person…but I can't."
"Then I'll make it a 'can'."
"Natsu-"
"I love you, Lucy," he caressed her cheeks, causing her to look at him again. "I want you to be apart of this family, officially. Everyone here does. We'll figure out a way."
"A way for me not to be a princess anymore?" She raised her eyebrows, not believing him.
"If that's what it takes."
"I…have a hard time believing."
"You believe in me, don't you?" With one hand still on her cheek, he took her hand in his and set it on his beating heart, soothing her thoughts.
"Of course I do," Lucy replied.
"Then you'll join the guild; I'll make sure of it. Maybe you won't join tomorrow or the next day, but one day, you won't be a princess anymore and you'll be a Fairy Tail Wizard."
Lucy was silent for a moment, then smiled, "alright, I'll hold you to that promise."
"Don't you dare let me forget," Natsu pulled her in for a hug, "which I won't."
"Don't worry, I won't let you…and I love you too, Natsu."
Hooking a finger under her chin, Natsu kissed her shamelessly.
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I'm crying right now…it's the very end of my story…*sniff* However, I'm very excited to work on my next projects. I give this project a…maybe a B+? I don't know. I hope you enjoyed the entire story and thank you all so much for reading.
-zEllie