Summary: Theory based on the most recent chapters of the manga from Chapter 534 onwards. Natsu's life is no longer bound to Zeref's…..but it has to be bound to someone for him to still be living.

Pairings: implied brotherly Zeref/Natsu, implied Zeref/Mavis, Happy/Natsu friendship, and Natsu/Lucy

YouTube Prompt: A Natsu/Lucy video to 'Miracle' by Shinedown.

Natsu stared down at his dead brother's body numbly.

He wasn't really sure how to feel about all of this. On one hand, the war was finally won, the bad guys were all in prison, and the darkest wizard of all time was dead for good. But on the other hand, their home was in ruins (AGAIN), Natsu's life and identity has been completely turned over on its head, and the dead evil wizard was his older brother who had apparently moved heaven and hell to ensure Natsu would live.

Mavis, who was really nice, also loved Zeref lots and died right by him.

So Natsu couldn't help but feel he should be really sad but at the same time he was really glad which made him feel guilty and cross and confused.

So instead of crying or punching or whatever, he just stood there numbly as he looked upon Zeref's serene face. He seemed like he was sleeping rather than dead.

"It's like a weird weight has finally been lifted of our shoulders," Happy commented as he hovered by Natsu's shoulder, "that we can all finally breathe again."

Natsu ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah…." He mumbled his agreement.

"Zeref is finally dead….Zeref is finally dead!" Happy repeated in a panicked voice as he snapped his head to look at Natsu. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Happy suddenly screamed causing everyone to jump. His eyes bugged out as he pointed at Natsu. "Natsu you're still alive!"

"What the hell, Happy?!" Natsu yelled back. "Of course I am alive! Why wouldn't I be?!"

"Zeref's dead!" Happy waved a paw manically at Zeref's body. "I was there when he told you that by killing him you'd kill yourself! You were tied together by that book! So why aren't you dead?!" a look of utter terror crossed Happy's face as he flinched away from Natsu. "Are you secretly a vampire?"

"You've been reading too many of Lucy's really weird books," Natsu scowled, "I am not a vampire."

"Then how are you still alive?!"

"Oh," Natsu scratched the back of his neck sheepishly, "Well I think," he said hesitatingly, "that Lucy did something."

"LUCY?!"

"Yeah," Natsu flushed slightly, "you know she was rewriting bits of the Book of END to help me in my fight against Zeref?"

"Yeah," Happy nodded, "it was really scary. The magic rebounded on her."

"Of course it did!" Natsu glared at the floor furiously. "She had only gone and did the most dangerous thing ever by replacing Zeref with herself. She's lucky it worked! She could have burned herself from the inside out!"

"I don't think you're the one to talk about making stupid reckless decisions," Happy observed dryly. And then his eyes widened in realisation. "Are you telling me," He whispered excitedly, "that you and Lucy are bound together?!"

"Yeah…."

"That if you die, then Lucy dies too?" Happy pressed. "And if that books gets damaged it'll hurt both you and Lucy?"

"Yep!" Natsu grinned. "Which is why Lucy has the book super protected in the Celestial World now."

"Phew!" Happy puffed out. "That's good to know because knowing you. You'll accidentally burn it to cook dinner on."

"Oi!" Natsu barked indignantly. "I would not! Lucy would kill me if I burn a book!"

"Never stopped you before," Happy muttered darkly. There is a moment of silence as Natsu bristled with irritation at that particular barb. Happy is ignorant to it though as his eyes widened in realisation and a gleeful look took over his face. "Ne, ne, Natsu!" Happy cried out cheerfully. "Does that mean you and Lucy are stuck together till death do you part?"

"Don't be silly Happy!" Natsu said. "We're now stuck together even in death. Nothing can part us now."

"So like a super-marriage?"

"Like a super-awesome-marriage," Natsu agreed with his biggest, cheekiest, grin, "Yosh!" he pumped an enthusiastic celebratory fist in the air. "Now Lucy has no choice but to let me in her apartment."

"And she can't kick you anymore!" Happy pointed out gleefully. "Because then she'll accidentally hurt herself!"

"No," Natsu pouted, "I already tried that. She gave me the biggest Lucy Kick ever and it had no effect on her whatsoever. I have a feeling this binding thing is totally bias in her favour. So unfair!"

"The war has only been over for twenty minutes," Happy said exasperatedly, "what did you do to deserve a Lucy Kick already?!"

"She wouldn't let me share a shower with her!"

Happy sweat-dropped at that.

Humans are so weird!