Chapter 100:

Year X796

Natsu sat on the bar, legs crossed and long fingers wrapped around a steaming mug of coffee. Mira sat on a stool beside him, talking with Ultear who stood on the other side, cleaning glasses.

The dragon turned god looked over the guild hall, a smile lifting the corner of his lips.

Arthur was waving animatedly his arms around as he told Wendy and the cats a story that probably involved a very embellished version of his last mission. The young man sported a rather thick beard, hair short, and green eyes shining excitedly. Wendy stood only an inch shorter than him, long hair tied in a thick braid. Carla sat in her human form next to Wendy and Happy lied sprawled on Wendy's hair.

By the look on Laxus' face, Gray was doing a rather good job at annoying him. The raven head was poking him with an ice stick and from what Natsu could see Fried was the only thing standing between Laxus and a new hole in the wall.

Makarov was talking with Asuka, the young girl looking at the book Makarov used to teach her to read and Natsu blinked at the familiar scene. Half of the people his own age that arrived at the guild as a child were thought how to read by him. Alzack sat on a chair at their table, head resting on his hand, a lazy smile on his lips, and a cigarette in his other hand.

Romeo stood by the mission board, looking deep in thought and completely unresponsive to the very talkative Warren.

Erza was making her way through a piece of a strawberry cake and Jellal was happily sipping his tea. The blue-haired man, maybe sensing eyes on himself, looked up and a second later turned to Natsu. The two pairs of eyes met and they smiled briefly at each other from across the room.

There were new faces in the guild. Mages who joined from all across Fiore in the last few years. He knew them all, and made a point of meeting everyone and learning all of their names because sooner or later they will be gone and he didn't want to stand in front of another grave and look at the names that he should know with no recollection of what they looked like or sounded like.

"Are you alright?"

He blinked, looking at Mira who looked at him with a curious, slightly worried expression.

"Yes, of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You had that look on your face," Ultear supplied, eyebrows raised.

He snorted, looking away from the two and back at the sea of people. The size of Fairy Tail now sometimes felt frightening. "Just thinking"

"Uh oh," Gray announced his presence as he plopped on a seat next to him and Natsu eyed him from a corner of his eye, noting the already forming bruise on one eye.

"You want a matching pair?" Laxus asked with a laugh before Natsu could and the dragon prince grinned in agreement.

"I don't think violence is always the answer," Fried said, trying and failing to sound serious.

The way he eyed Natsu made the dragon prince scold his features into the most deadpan expression he could muster. "You know I would never"

"Thinking about what?" Mira asked after a short laugh, going back to her original subject even as she curiously eyed the already impressive black eye on Gray's face. She probably didn't see the two earlier and had no idea what happened nor what caused the bruise. But she was a part of Fairy Tail long enough to know better than to ask questions.

Natsu paused, remembering his earlier thoughts, and with them, his good mood evaporated, "Just... things. Fairy Tail grew a lot in the last few years"

It was frightening to be responsible for so many people. But it was still Home. It was still Family.

The skeptical look on everyone's faces told him they knew he was avoiding the subject. They were ready to needle him until he was willing to share and every last one of them knew it wouldn't happen. They had similar conversations in the past. Even so, they never stopped trying to get him to talk about it. He was as grateful as he was annoyed by their worry.

He looked at them, already feeling exasperated but before they could start the interrogation the interruption came in a form of a very ecstatic Gajeel who burst through the front gate with enough force to nearly rip them from their hinges.

He stood there in the suddenly silent guild, the widest grin Natsu ever saw on his face.

"I'M GOING TO BE A FATHER!"

Natsu was not prepared for the explosion of sound that followed but even with his ears ringing as much as they did, he was pretty sure in the resulting shout his was still one of the loudest.

"It's gonna grow a lot more in the coming years I think," Mira said, laughing and Laxus nodded, grinning.

It wasn't until well past midnight that Gajeel made his way to Natsu, a good portion of the guild passed out or too drunk to stand. Levy trailed behind him, the two holding hands as they avoided the sprawled members that no one bothered to move from the floor. They haven't really managed to talk before, Gajeel and Levy the center of attention of the entire guild and with every member ready to talk to them Natsu was happy to sit back and wait until the things calmed down a bit.

Natsu looked at the two, a glass of bourbon in his hand. He raised it when they were closer,

"Congratulations, you two"

Levy beamed at him, cheeks tinted pink, looking incredibly pleased with the situation. Gajeel was grinning as he took a seat next to him and nudged him with his elbow, "You trying to get drunk?"

He tilted his head to the nearly empty bottle of the bourbon at Natsu's elbow and the dragon prince gave an exaggerated put-upon sigh. "If only I could"

Gajeel nodded solemnly in agreement before he proceeded to take the bottle from Natsu and raised it in a toast. Natsu eyed the stolen bottle with narrowed eyes before smirking and raising his glass, "To new parents"

Gajeel grinned, raised his bottle and Natsu was certain he waited for the dragon prince to take a sip before he spoke, staring at Natsu, "To the godfather"

Natsu choked on the bourbon, nearly spitting it straight into Gajeel. The struggle to not do that resulted in it dribbling down his nose and he gasped when he managed to swallow it. Blinking at the watering of his eyes and the burn in his nose he looked at Gajeel who nearly fell over himself in laughter.

He did his best to glare at Gajeel but the dragon slayer's words did something weird to his insides and the half-hearted attempt at the glare soon dissolved into a rather tentative smile.

"Are you serious?"

Gajeel snorted and Levy quickly answered, "Of course. If you are willing, that is"

The smile turned into a grin that was quickly mirrored by Gajeel and Levy. "Yes," he huffed a laugh, "I might be willing"

Might be willing. Something about it made him laugh heartily. Or maybe it was more accurate to say it was the joy of the situation that was making him laugh.

"Fuck," he gasped briefly when he stopped laughing, grinning from ear to ear and not even bothering to try and suppress it, "I'd be ecstatic"

"Shoot," Mira muttered under her breath, staring at the small mirror in her palm, the other hand pinching a small lock of hair.

Natsu blinked, shifting slightly in his seat to have a better look at her.

"I think I'm going gray," she explained with a sigh as she waved her hand. The mirror disappeared with a poof of white smoke.

He raised an eyebrow, hoping it conveyed the absurdity he felt at that sentence and he must've done an adequate job because Mira huffed.

"You've been grey as long as I've known you," Gray informed her from his own seat at the table. The ice mage hadn't even looked up from the menu, and either ignoring the glare Mira shot him or not noticing it he continued, "And I've known you for almost 20 years now"

The three fell silent for a moment at that and then both Mira and Gray groaned.

"Now I made myself feel old," Gray muttered unhappily. "And we're sitting in an actual restaurant. Frankly, it's not helping"

"You're not old," Natsu told them flatly because 30 was definitely not old and they were being unnecessarily dramatic.

Gray opened his mouth, ready to say something that Mira deemed inappropriate because she elbowed him in the ribs.

"First, ouch," the ice mage glared at Mira who blinked innocently back, he looked back at Natsu a moment later "Second, easy for you to say -"

Mira elbowed him again.

"Stop that!"

"Stop what?"

Natsu huffed a laugh as Ultear looked at the three with a raised eyebrow, Juvia' own eyes curiously looking over them from where she stood behind the time mage.

"Gray was about to put his foot in his mouth, I saved him from it," Mira told them in a matter-of-fact voice that had Gray spluttering, "I was not"

Juvia grinned, "Knowing you, Juvia wouldn't be surprised if that was the case"

Gray made a far too dramatic groan after that, clutching at his heart, "You too, Juvia?"

Natsu huffed another laugh, ignoring with practiced ease how everyone lit up at the sound like they never heard it before. Laughter still curving his eyes and lips, he looked at Mira, "You know Mira, I'm not fragile"

Ultear took a seat next to him and Juvia sat next to Gray.

"You're not," Ultear agreed easily, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she turned to look at Gray, "But Gray is. And it's hard to scrape someone off of a wall"

Gray blinked at her, before he scowled (pouted) and crossed his arms over his chest. "This is bullying. I am being bullied. Are you seeing this Natsu? This is bullying, as the Guild master you should stop this"

"Of course," he told him dryly and pointedly looked at his menu that sat on the table.

Gray's mouth opened slightly and he blinked, before he laughed as well, unable to keep up the act any longer.

Natsu was fairly certain he had never felt more ill at ease and more inadequate than he did in that moment. He didn't look ill at ease. His expression was a picture of confidence and he was relaxed and he –

"You're not holding a wet tissue paper"

Arthur's voice came straight from behind him and the little shit had been trying to startle him for a better part of the year now. Needless to say, his attempts were unsuccessful but annoying. "I am well aware of that"

Mira was not wrong that there would be new members of the guild soon enough, Natsu mused as he looked back down at the newborn in his arms. The little human didn't so much as twitch in his hands and Natsu had to admit he expected the baby to start screaming the second it was placed there.

Yet here she was, sleeping peacefully.

"She's far more precious than wet tissue paper," Levy told Arthur with a laugh. Gajeel nodded, face grave like the conversation was deathly serious.

"Oh, give her here," Mira cooed, standing beside Natsu with her arms outstretched expectedly and unexplainably Natsu felt his fingers tighten ever so slightly around the blanket. He looked down at the child for another moment before gingerly handing her over to Mira, at once feeling like he was allowed to breathe again. Ultear cooed with Mira the second the two got their hands on the child and Natsu looked at them, the scene searing into his memory.

He was infertile, they knew that much. If it was a result of the dragonification, the more recent change, or if he was born that way was a mystery but the fact remained. They will never have a child of their own. It didn't bother him as much as it probably would, he didn't think he would be a good father but he knew the two women wanted it.

As if reading his thoughts, Arthur draped a hand over his shoulder, the younger man several inches taller than him, and grinned at him. Natsu didn't even realize his lips parted before he was already grinning back. They won't have their own children but blood had little to do with the family.

"Did you already decide on a name?" Natsu found himself asking, looking at Gajeel and Levy. Levy looked almost startled by the question before she turned to look at him and her cheeks went red. Raising an eyebrow at the odd reaction, he turned to look at Gajeel who was looking away, refusing to look at him, his own cheeks tinted red.

The dragon slayer mumbled something and now every eye in the room was on him.

Natsu felt tensed. They didn't… they wouldn't.

"What was that?" Arthur asked, straightening, a smirk on his face.

"Lucy," Levy finally said and Natsu barely restrained himself from showing the relief. Arthur laughed, "With the way you looked at Pa, I thought you named her Natsu or something"

Natsu shuddered.

Levy laughed, "No, no. We just… It felt right. She's our little sunshine and Lucy was a ray of sunshine as well"

Gajeel nodded, "It felt right"

Natsu knew that Gajeel didn't really know Lucy all that well but neither did Natsu and he knew the two were right about Lucy having been surprisingly bright. A stubborn optimist, one could say.

A fool, Acnologia would say.

He chuckled at the thought, nearly voicing it before he thought better of it. Gajeel and Levy probably wouldn't be happy with him calling their child a fool.

Mira cooed again, gentle fingers ghosting over the baby's face. The baby blinked at her, awake, and without a warning, the white-haired woman placed the baby back into Natsu's hands.

"That's your godfather, Lucy"

Lucy blinked at him, scrunching her tiny nose in distaste and Natsu laughed at that, "Yeah, I know there's not much to look at"

She blinked again before a big toothless smile spread over her lips. Natsu blinked at her, surprised by the sudden change in the demeanor before smiling softly, "Hey there, Lu"

Erza had never been the one for subtility. Nor did her patience leave much to be desired. It was this and quite a few other things that should've told Jellal that this would happen. Natsu would lie if he said he wasn't surprised but it was more because of the timing than the actual action.

Erza had gone and knelt in the middle of the guild hall, decked in her best suit of armor, shined and polished, presenting Jellal with a box.

Jellal sat right beside Natsu so Natsu had no trouble seeing the man's face.

He quite nearly lost it there and then. Good thing he had a lot of practice in keeping a straight face.

Jellal had been dragging Natsu to this corner of the guild for days now, trying to plan a perfect moment to propose and asking the dragon prince his opinion. Presenting ideas only to find flaws in them before Natsu even said anything. The dragon prince bit the inside of his cheek, he told the man not half an hour ago that if he didn't do it sooner rather than later Erza will do it for him.

Jellal opened his mouth, no sound coming out and Natsu almost laughed again. Instead, he scolded his face into a perfect emotionless mask as he leaned against the table, elbow on the table, chin on the palm. "I do believe now is a good time to tell you, I told you so"

Erza was probably too nervous to respond to that if the way her entire frame was frozen yet shaking was any indication.

Jellal only managed to blink at him, somehow managing to look offended in that one blink while keeping the incredulous look on his face.

Utterly amused, Natsu continued, "I do believe you are meant to answer her. Hopefully, before she gets a stroke"

Erza did apparently register their conversation because the mage nodded rather aggressively.

Jellal blinked, finally pulled out of the stupor, and rose from the chair he sat on. Natsu watched, eyebrows raising into his hairline as Jellal pulled a box of his own and knelt in front of Erza.

"I wanted to do this… I don't know how but I know I wanted to ask you the same thing. Erza Scarlet. Will you marry me?"

And now they both were kneeling there, frozen and shocked with Natsu in the middle. Depending on which angle one looked at them it might look like they were proposing to him, Natsu mused, noting the way that the entire guild was now looking at them, no one really sure what to do or even what was going on.

"I am sorry to tell you this but I am taken," Natsu finally told them, voice as dry as a desert, when no one moved. The two looked at him with enough surprise that Natsu knew they forgot he was even here.

But it was enough to get them both moving. Erza jumped to her feet, Jellal close behind her, and the two closed the small gap in an instant, kissing deeply, and Natsu all but rolled his eyes at them. Took them long enough.

"Yes," Jellal said finally when they broke apart and Erza sniffed, eyes watery and she nodded as well, grinning from ear to ear.

Natsu fought off his own grin, standing up from the table, intent on giving the two some semblance of privacy. As much as one could have in an overcrowded guild hall.

Erza looked at him over Jellal's shoulder mouthing a thank you as he passed behind him and Natsu shrugged. He'd hardly done anything.

He made his way to the bar. The guild, realizing what happened, had already started becoming louder. Reaching the bar he took a seat, his back turned to the wall as Ultear wordlessly pressed a glass into his hand and knocked the glass she had in her own hand in a toast. "It was about time the two did this"

"Jellal bought that ring nearly eight months ago," Natsu told her after a moment, a satisfied smirk on his lips when he saw Ultear's eyebrows rise in surprise. "What took him so long?"

"Never was a right moment, according to him"

Ultear laughed at that, "Of course, there wasn't. He always was one for theatrics, especially when it came to Erza"

"Good thing Erza finally got a ring of her own. I was on a brink of madness because of him"

He wasn't sure if it was in the way he said it or if Ultear just knew him well enough but the woman was now looking fully at him, eyes open wide. "You didn't?"

"Didn't what?"

"Tell her to do it?"

Natsu laughed, "I did no such thing," smirking he continued, "I just… encouraged her to do it. Didn't know she'd actually do it"

Ultear's eyes narrowed in suspiciousness and Natsu felt his smirk turn into a grin. He really didn't know it. But Erza had never been the one for subtility. Nor did her patience leave much to be desired.

She often thought of the days long gone. Of what happened in '91 and of the life before Tenrou. It was probably the memories of the life before Tenrou that were the most painful. Bittersweet. A time when everyone was alive and the biggest fear was property damage. That afternoon in Hargeon when they met Lucy. The fall into a dimension not their own and meeting Natsu Dragneel, finding Lisanna after they all thought her dead. Memories when Mira didn't need a crutch just to walk. And after Tenrou. Annie and Arthur. A time when Arthur had both his hands. Even before that, memories of the day that Natsu joined the guild.

"Umm..."

"M-my nam-name is Wendy Marvell"

Memories of something that she knew will never be there again.

Wendy sighed, her chin resting in her hand as she stared out of the window, thinking. Brooding - Carla called it. Wendy was inclined to agree though never out loud. All of 19 years old and felt like she was 50. At least she thinks people who are 50 feel this way.

The situation between her and Natsu improved in the last few years. The man was capable of holding a grudge like no one else she knew but at the same time, it felt like he forgave people at a drop of a hat. She felt a small smile, bittersweet as it was, work its way on her lips as she thought of that.

**memory**

"Wendy, can we talk?"

Natsu's voice was calm but even after all this time, she could see the uncertainty, in the small twitch in his finger, in the way he was angled slightly to the left instead of facing her completely.

She felt her eyes widen. Because if anyone should be uncertain if anyone should be worried it should be her. She hadn't talked to him in what felt like months, certainly not anything meaningful. Not since he woke up from the three-day coma after the fight with Ankhseram and she made sure he was alright. Somewhat guiltily she realized she hadn't even tried to talk to him. They gave each other some space without maybe even realizing it. Though knowing Natsu he was quite aware of it. This was probably his attempt to extend an olive branch.

"Wendy, do you want me to leave?"

She blinked, realizing she hadn't answered and she quickly nodded, speaking, "Yes, of course!"

Something odd flickered over his face and Wendy nearly cringed as she realized what she said, "No! I mean. Please sit down. Yes, I want to talk and no I don't want you to leave"

It was amusement that was now on his face as he took a seat on the other side of the bench. They were in Magnolia's park, empty due to the early morning and Wendy wondered if he sought her out or if it was a coincidence that he stumbled upon her. But if it was a coincidence she doubts he would've tried to talk to her.

They were both quiet now and she suddenly wished Carla or Happy were with her. She remembered a time when she and Natsu could spend days alone or with the cats. No awkward silences or misunderstood answers.

"You wanted to talk?" She asked, if for nothing else than to break the silence.

He cleared his throat, and she turned to face him better as he nodded, looking back at her with piercing black eyes.

"Yes," he spoke at length. "I wanted to apologize"

Well, that's not something she expected to hear. She spluttered, "Wha-what? Why?!"

She seriously couldn't wrap her head around it. If anyone needed to apologize it should be her. She did, of course, but it never felt enough, it never will be enough. She said as much and he gave a somewhat strangled chuckle.

"Maybe. But it's not your fault," he said and she opened her mouth to protest but he corrected himself before she could speak, "Not just your fault. And you're a child. It hasn't been... it isn't fair of me to hold what happened entirely against you"

"I might be a child but I'm still capable of my own decisions," she said with a frown. Not sure why she was even arguing with him about this.

He nodded, not even giving it a second thought. "You are," he looked at her, something unreadable in his expression, "but I think that a year of the silent treatment is enough of a punishment for it"

And then he added, voice quiet, "You're doing a good enough job of punishing yourself without my help with it"

She wanted to deny it. Couldn't get the words out.

"You are my sister," he continued, looking away now, "and well... I just wanted you to know that I forgive you. If it is my forgiveness you even want"

There were no words she could use to describe how much she wanted to hear him say that. How long she wanted to hear that.

She was moving before her brain even managed to tell her it might not be the best idea, flinging herself into his arms. He sat there, frozen as she sobbed against his chest, burying her head against him. It wasn't until several seconds later that she felt his arms circle around her shoulders, pulling her closer in a tight hug. And that broke whatever control she had over herself, sobbing hard enough she had trouble getting enough air.

Crying because he died, crying because no matter what she will always bear some responsibility for it, crying because of what happened to him. What happened to them.

"Why?" She wasn't even sure what she was asking. Why what.

He huffed a laugh that sounded strangled like someone pulled it out of him with pliers and his voice sounded hoarse as he answered, "Life is too short to stay angry"

**present**

It would be a lie if she said she didn't think about that day often. She wondered if Natsu thought of it as often as she did.

"Why the long face?"

She blinked, looking up in time to see Natsu take a seat on the opposite side of the table. She was so lost in her own thoughts she didn't hear him approach.

"Ah," she paused, watching as he raised an eyebrow at her, waiting for her answer, "Just thinking"

Natsu chuckled at that, "I can see that much… Penny for your thoughts?"

She smiled at that, waving a hand through the air as she leaned back, "Nothing important. Really"

He looked at her suspiciously, eyes narrowed like he could hear her thoughts if he tried hard enough. Natsu looked away at that moment, clearing his throat, one hand rubbing the scarred side of his face.

"Well," he spoke before she could say anything else, "You can always talk to me if you need to. You know that"

She smiled at that, nodding. She knew that. And that knowledge left her feeling warmer instantly. Natsu smiled as well and a moment later reached into his back pocket, pulling out a slip of paper.

Wendy blinked, looking at the job placed in front of her. It took her a moment to realize what he was trying to say. And the shock must've shown on her face because he smiled again.

"Thought you might be interested in doing a job with me"

She blinked again, eyes widening before she looked around again, expecting Arthur or Ultear to be around. "Just the two of us," he explained, the smile turning into a smirk, and then as an afterthought he added, "and the cats I guess if they are willing"

She couldn't remember when was the last time this happened. Probably before he became a guild master. He rarely left to go on missions anymore as it was, rarer still he went with someone. She found herself smiling wide enough that it hurt.

"Give me a moment to grab my stuff"

The things between them will probably never be the same. But they were good.

There used to be a point in time when he couldn't stand to be in the same room as Natsu. Couldn't stand the thought of him. Now he couldn't imagine a life without him. The closest thing he will ever have to a brother.

Laxus sometimes wondered when did that happen. It wasn't even really that important. He was just glad it ended up the way that it did. He smirked at the thought, amusement bubbling in his chest. And really, it could've ended very differently. At that particular line of thought, he laughed.

Fried blinked from where he sat next to him, looking up at him from his drink. "What's so funny?" He looked at himself, self-conscious a moment later, "Is there something on me?" and Laxus couldn't help but laugh again. "Nah. Just thinking about how Natsu almost killed me back in '84"

Fried blinked again at that, looking up at him like he lost his mind, "I'm not sure how's that funny"

Laxus shrugged, picking up his own cocktail and swirling the olive in it with the toothpick. "Just... where we were then and where we are now"

Fried still didn't look amused, the green-haired man rolled his eyes instead and looked away for a second. He stayed serious for another long second where Laxus suddenly wondered if he said something wrong before he saw a smirk work its way on Fried's face. "It is an improvement, certainly"

Laxus laughed again at that, "A considerable improvement"

He raised his glass slightly, tipping it towards Fried's, and the man happily obliged, a soft click echoed as glass met glass. The two looked at each other, smiling.

"I'm shocked he didn't kill you, truth to be told," Fried said with a blink, looking down at his drink. "That makes two of us," Laxus agreed easily, huffing a laugh, "But if I remember correctly, I have Mira to thank for that"

Fried hummed under his breath at that, taking another sip of the cocktail before glancing at Laxus with a smile, and there was something open and earnest on his face that Laxus couldn't quite place. "You're right, remind me to thank her for that"

Sitting in the living room of a house he grew up in never felt more awkward. Arthur could count on the fingers of one hand how many times he had a conversation with Acnologia. Which was probably why the two of them sat in complete silence now. He wasn't even sure why the dragon king was here. Well, that wasn't entirely true. Probably the same reason he was here. Family dinner, Mira called it. A nuisance, Acnologia called it. Arthur could settle on awkward.

Natsu was still in the guild and Arthur couldn't help but wonder if the man was even aware Acnologia was here. He didn't mention anything today so Arthur was fairly certain the answer was no. Which begged the question, how did Ultear and Mira get Acnologia to come. Or was it a coincidence?

"Are you trying to drill a hole in me, Arthur?"

He didn't even realize he was staring at the dragon king and Arthur could feel his ears turning red so he looked away quickly, a finger scratching through his beard. "Ah, no, no. Just got lost I thought is all"

Acnologia was still staring at him. And there was something very weird about Acnologia, the king of dragons sitting in his living room. "Hm," was all the dragon king said after a moment before he looked away and Arthur was certain they will return to the awkward silence but Ultear choose that moment to appear in the doorway, blinking in shock when she spotted Acnologia. "Acnologia?" She did little to hide the surprise.

"Acnologia?"

Natsu must've been right behind her because he was in the doorway in the next second, eyes immediately locking with Acnologia's, and the dragon king gave something that could've been a wave and could've been a salute.

Natsu blinked, eyes snapping to Arthur in the next moment and Arthur gave him his best 'don't ask me' look.

Mira came from the kitchen then, grinning, "It's been a while since we all sat down together so I called him over"

Natsu blinked again, obviously not sure how to respond to that. He turned back to Acnologia, a skeptical look on his face, "You came here for a dinner?"

Acnologia shrugged, "Apparently"

"Is Igneel coming? Or is he here already?" Ultear asked, looking around the room and Natsu nearly laughed at the pinched look that appeared on Acnologia's face. "It's nice to see you too, Ultear," the dragon king told her with a sniff, standing up as he said it.

Ultear paused at that, turning to look back at Acnologia but Natsu spoke before she could, "It's nice to see you, father"

Acnologia huffed but the dragon king moved and gave Natsu a decidedly awkward one-handed hug before he patted him on the shoulders. "Obviously. It's always nice to see me"

Natsu huffed a laugh. "Yeah," his voice was dry as a desert, dripping with sarcasm, "You're a delight"

"I'll pretend you actually mean that," Acnologia informed him and the dragon king moved to the kitchen, the rest following him.

It was that time of the year. That time of the year when everyone was in good spirits, ready to sing and drink and do shit, and that time of the year that Natsu was fairly certain he will never be completely comfortable with, no matter what happens.

It was the time of the Fantasia Parade.

And as a guild master, he couldn't just up and leave. He couldn't even just be on the sidelines. No, as a guild master, he needed to organize everything, he needed to be seen. Technically he could simply not organize it but even he knew the importance of some traditions, and really, Fantasia Parade did have a certain number of memories tied to it. Not necessarily happy memories but certainly important ones.

The streets of Magnolia were empty. Which was not surprising given the early hour. It was five in the morning, the sun barely even started showing itself and the air had a pleasant freshness to it that was bout to disappear by the time noon came around. The main street was already ready for the parade, colorful flags fluttering in the wind and a good portion of the side streets were ready as well, waiting for the finishing touches.

He reached the guild soon enough, hand reaching into the pocket as he pulled out a key, turning it in the lock and as he entered the guild, he forced his face into something calm and collected and not the frown that was there since yesterday.

He blinked as he entered, staring at nearly a dozen people already milling around. Jellal noticed his entrance first, waving from the support beam on the ceiling he used as a seat while he hung the flags on it. "Morning, master," he said with a grin and Natsu nearly grimaced. He never liked being called by the title and Jellal knew that all too well.

"What are you all doing here already?" Natsu asked instead, looking around. Gajeel was doing his best to break his neck, hanging upside down on another beam, hanging the flags. Erza was shouting at him to straighten them. Laxus and Arthur were working on untangling the lights as they pulled them out of the box and Wendy, Carla and Happy were hanging them up as the two untangled them.

Erza stopped her shouting, turning to look at Natsu with a look that said it should be obvious, "Decorating the guild hall"

"I can see that"

"We knew you'd be here early so we decided to help out," Wendy told him with a grin. Natsu huffed at that, "You know you didn't need to do that. You should still be asleep"

"So should you," Gajeel replied without missing a beat. Natsu gave him an unimpressed glare. They knew well enough he barely slept at all. He didn't need to. But he wasn't really in the mood for that argument and really, it was a nice thought even though unnecessary.

"Well," Natsu said in the end with a sigh, "Thanks, I guess"

"Jeez, don't sound so grateful," Arthur muttered, arms full of wire, and Natsu watched as Laxus tugged one end, successfully managing to tangle Arthur into the wire.

"Don't hurt yourself," Natsu told him instead, chuckling as the shadow mage cursed before elbowing the dragon slayer who still pulled at the wire. Shaking his head, he looked at Erza who was apparently in charge of their impromptu help organization. "Where do you want me?"

Erza blinked, surprise clear on her face. "What?"

"What do you want me to do?"

Erza blinked again and Natsu raised an eyebrow in question, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Oh," she spoke, at last, looking around for a brief moment before shrugging, "Make yourself a cup of coffee and sit back," she smiled, "We got this"

Sitting back while others worked around him was never really something Natsu was comfortable with. "Are you sure? I could -"

"Coffee for everyone?" Gajeel spoke from above and Natsu looked up. The dragon prince had moved to stand by Erza as he spoke to her and the dragon slayer was now directly above him.

Natsu paused. That's not what he meant. "I'd prefer tea," Jellal shouted from his spot and Natsu realized that apparently, his job was taking care of drinks. "So… Tea for Jellal and coffee for everyone else?"

"Oh, cocoa for me!" Happy called out, the blue cat was hanging upside down, tail in the wires as Carla worked to free him and Natsu shook his head in amusement. "And tea for me," Carla said with a smile.

"Alright," the god said, moving away from Erza and walking to the bar.

It wasn't until several hours later that the rest of the guild showed up and by then the guild looked ready for the parade.

Natsu sat at the bar, not even realizing a smile worked its way on his face as he looked at his guild. At his family.

The Fantasia parade was not entirely a happy memory but it was an important one.

It almost felt like the parade was the beginning. And in a way it was. Transforming into a dragon for the first time certainly, was a feeling he won't forget for as long as he was alive. And now, years later he can see that it wasn't even the greatest thing that happened on that day. It was possibly the first time he admitted he needed them. Not out loud. Barely even to himself, but he realized then that life without Fairy Tail was not possible.

Life without these people was unimaginable. Because they were more than friends. More than family.

It crushed him, knowing they will all die and he will… not. But in moments like these, he could ignore it. He could sit back and watch as Arthur and Gray bickered about parade order. Could watch as Erza and Levy talked, Lucy in Levy's lap about family. Could laugh at the stupid joke Gajeel told Laxus and Jellal on the other side of the guild. Could smile at Wendy as their eyes met from across the guild. Could nod in respect to Makarov who was sitting in his wheelchair not far from the bar, laughing with Asuka. Could relax at the warmth in his side from where Mira sat pressed against him and squeeze his hand around Ultear's as she leaned towards him with a kiss.

They won't be here forever.

He returned Ultear's kiss and looked at her frowning face in confusion. The woman's frown eased into something sorrowful as she reached out, cupping his cheek with her hand and running a thumb under his eye and he realized with a start that there was a tear trailing down his face.

He smiled at her, thankful that she didn't say anything, and squeezed her hand tighter, leaning closer himself for another kiss.

His throat closed and he bit the inside of his cheek, looking away and willing away the tears. His eyes turned to the open doors of the guild and stopped, staring.

Mavis stood there, bare feet on the stone floor, blonde hair moving in the unseen breeze. She was looking straight at him, a small smile on her face. The world around them came to a stop and Natsu could swear he saw a shadow of feathery wings and antlers behind her, light nearly blinding around her coming from the outside.

"Nothing is truly immortal"

He blinked and Mavis was gone and the world was moving again and the light was gone. Ultear must've noticed he suddenly tensed and so did Mira because they were both looking at him with alarm, worry, and shock on their faces.

It wasn't until he drew in another shaky breath that he realized he was sobbing now. Bawling really. And he should be ashamed probably – he didn't doubt he will be embarrassed later, what with the attention this was drawing. And Ultear and Mira shaking him and trying to get a response from him didn't help.

But he couldn't really respond now. There were no words for it truly. There was no way he would ever be able to explain it to them. The relief nearly made him collapse. Because Mavis was right. And hadn't he said those exact same words to her all those years ago.

Everything will be alright.

Nothing is truly immortal and everything will be alright.

He will be alive for a long time still. But he will see them. Sooner or later.

Because that was the way of things.

And he must be giving the people around him some serious reason to worry about his sanity because he wasn't only crying but laughing as well.

As long as he's alive he will have Fairy Tail. Because Fairy Tail was family. And when he moves on, they will be waiting for him.

Fairy Tail is special.

It truly was.

He laughed again, breathless and ignoring every last one of the worried looks he was getting, closing his eyes and for the first time in years, it didn't hurt to breathe.

Because everything will be alright. He wanted the others to understand that. He needed them to understand. Needed to tell them how great it is.

"It's going to be alright," he said then, laughing and he knew that in a way he knew the sky was blue and the sun rose in the east.

Nothing is truly immortal and everything will be alright.

THE END.

This was surprisingly hard to write. I've been writing this mostly on a train on my phone, not gonna lie, because I couldn't catch enough time to do it otherwise so if you see any mistakes let me know, I've read it twice already but I might've missed a few things.

That being said… well. This is it, everyone. At least for now. There are no words to describe how I feel right now. I started writing this story before I started High school. I'm nearly done with my Bachelor's degree now. From Jun 2015 to Jun 2022. Damn. I sometimes thought I'll never finish this. I never planned on abandoning it, don't get me wrong, but the more I wrote the more there was to write.

I'm grateful to everyone who stuck around long enough to see this to its end. It was certainly a journey.

I'm sure some of you wanted to see something else in the epilogue but truthfully, I have never been a fan of the endings where the main character settles down and has a normal, nice life. A happy ending sure but not the end. If that makes any sense.

Anyhow. Thank you all for all the reviews, favorites, follows. I read every last one of these and it always brings a smile to my face.

Well. That's all folks.

Please review and thanks for reading :)

The end of the Story of Black dragon's child.