Hey Guys,

As hoped for, I was able to get the next chapter done by the end of the weekend. The next couple of chapters will be a bit odd when it comes to Natsu's section, as he is recounting both the rest of the day and his long-ago memories of Lucy. You'll see what I mean when you get there. Anyway, as always, hope you enjoy it.

- Singed.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.

Lucy

Lucy paced nervously around the parlor as she listened to the giggling and murmured discussions coming from the large communal dressing room. Lucy would have loved to be in there, socializing with her bride's maids as they tried on their dresses for the last time before the big day, but they had promptly kicked her out.

"Hey," she'd exclaimed as Mira and Erza pushed her back out the door.

"Sorry Lucy, but as the bride, you get to be the center of attention on the big day. Your bride's maids would like to be the center of attention for just a short time today," Erza explained.

"Huh?" Lucy responded.

Mira giggled. "We want to surprise you silly! Just wait and when we're ready to come out, you get to see us for the first time." Erza nodded as if that was what she had just said.

"Okay… just let me know." The door was shut and Lucy was left alone. It was true, she hadn't seen any of the girls in their dresses. She had picked out the color and the dress, but each girl had come in on their own to buy her dress and get fitted. Still, Lucy felt a little left out and she was the bride!

Oh well, there really wasn't much to do except wait. She perused the racks and even found the dress her bride's maids were trying on now. It was a soft summer sky blue with a fitted bodice, a-line skirt, and thin straps at the top. It would flatter all of them well, from the busty to the flat.

"Okay, Lucy!" She quickly hurried back and waited in anticipation. Maybe being surprised was a good idea.

"Okay, come out!" She called when she was settled in her chair.

"Close your eyes first!" Cana yelled, already sounding a bit slurred. Honestly, if she showed up drunk to her wedding she was going to receive an earful.

"Okay, they're closed!" She called and she could hear them shuffling out.

"Okay, open them!" Mira exclaimed and Lucy almost fell over in shock. Except for Levy and Wendy, no one was in the right dress. Mira had the right color, but her straps were missing and her chest was basically popping out. Cana's not only had the straps missing, but she had shortened the skirt so much that she would flash everyone if it rode up even the slightest amount. Erza's was the worst though. Straps missing, skirt far too short and fitted and she had changed the color. It was now silver, the color of her armor.

"Well, what do you think Lucy?"

"Ummm, well I was expecting everyone to be in the same dress."

"Well, they all started out the same," Mira said, "but a few of us decided to make choices that fit us better."

"Yes, I can see that." Lucy fell silent, not sure how to handle this. Sure, she'd known that the tradition of having everyone in the same dress was dying off. Usually, the bride just asked that everyone find a dress of the right color. But Lucy had wanted symmetry. It was what she had always dreamed of as a little girl. Now her dreams and expectations were being forcefully changed … again.

"Lucy," Wendy called concerned. "Is everything okay?" Lucy shook her head to clear it, but in doing so released her emotions which brought a few tears.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just have a lot to do today." She turned before anyone could see her cry and she grabbed her purse. "Everyone looks beautiful. I just have to get going. I'll see you guys later." With that, she basically raced out and practically ran to her apartment. She locked the door behind her and sank to the floor, crying.

She knew it was stupid to be crying this hard over dresses. She also knew that the stress of the week was slowly getting to her. But still, it was her wedding! It was her vision! They could all do what they wanted when they got married, but not on her wedding day! This just caused her to cry harder and lay down. They were just dresses and she refused to lose friends over it, but still, she couldn't help but feel angry at them for being so self-absorbed. If she were in their shoes, she'd have done as the bride asked. But, if she were being very honest, she was a little angry with herself. A part of her was demanding that she march down there and tell them how it was going to be. Sometimes, she hated how passive she was with those she considered a friend.

Standing, she went to her desk and sat. She had another letter to write. Then she'd rewrite the one she'd penned in the dress shop.

Piece 13 – Wishing I was Someone Different

Dear Natsu,

I've had a very trying morning. I won't lie, as I write this my eyes are sore and puffy because of all the crying I just did. I hate how even at my age I still cry when things aren't fair or I'm sorely disappointed. You'd think I'd be used to it by now. But on missions or out in the world, I've come to expect it. It seems that I am still unaware of the danger it poses amongst our friends and situations I was in charge of.

But, the reason I tell you all this is because sometimes I wish I was more like Lucy from Edolas. You know, she'd never put up with her friends disappointing her or being too worried to stand up for herself. I won't lie, sometimes I wonder if you wouldn't like that too.

When I first saw you with her in Edolas, I was jealous. Yes, jealous. Once again, a road sign that should have led me down to obvious conclusions, but no I still refused to see what was plainly written on my heart. I wasn't blind with jealousy or anything. You didn't treat her as more special than me, but I could see her attraction to you and compared to the Edolas you, who could blame her. No offense. He was kind of a stud muffin in his car, but take him out of it and he needed a good dose of self-confidence.

Still, it hurt that you seemed unable to answer which one of us was who in the hotel and there seemed to be a special comradery between the two of you when I found you guys. I know that nothing was there and sometimes I wonder if she and the other Natsu ever became a thing. It kind of seemed obvious to me that even though she was more willing to punch him than kiss him, they were special to each other. Just like us, I guess.

I just wish that sometimes I could be a different person. I'm sure you're reading this and wondering what has gotten into me. You'd tell me that you fell in love with me and if I were a different person we wouldn't be married today. That is true, I know that if you were a different person I'd probably never have fallen for you. So no, I wouldn't change you if I could and I hope you feel the same, even though I know I'd change a few things in myself if I could.

Love,

Lucy

Lucy sealed the letter and placed the number 13 envelope into the box. Number 12 was an easy letter to rewrite and she even fixed some of her grammar and changed some wording here and there, but otherwise, it was the same. She was just placing it into the box when her window burst opened and Natsu came barreling in.

"Lucy! What's up?" He said bouncing up, smiling like the sun. Lucy just smirked at him and shook her head. No, if he could smile at her like that then no, she wouldn't change herself even if she could.

Natsu

Natsu sat down later that night, confused over his day. Honestly, it had been one of the worst and happiest days of his life overall. Not having taken his lacrima with him, he hadn't been able to do any recordings throughout the day, but he was home now and he supposed he should get a few done before he went to bed. Tomorrow would be its own animal and he didn't want to get too far behind in his recordings if he could help it. He grabbed it from its place on the table and took it over to the couch. Sitting, he turned it on.

"Hey, Luce,"

"Well today, today was not quite as planned. I had gone to your apartment to spend time with you. There you were, sitting at your desk, so beautiful in the sunlight. I was happy to see you and was about to ask if you wanted to go for a walk when I smelled the tears. You had been crying and I was going to kill whatever had made you so sad. You assured me that it was nothing, but I could hear you weren't really telling the truth, but you sort of were, so I decided to let it go. You asked if I wanted lunch and I agreed, letting you change the subject and offer me food to take my mind off of killing something."

"That was when you startled me. You looked at me like you were ready to punch my face in and you said. 'Yeah, then make your own lunch and mine too, while you're at it!' I was stunned and I stammered out a 'Yes ma'am,' and ran for the kitchen. I heard you laughing and I turned to see you follow me in."

'Don't worry Natsu, we'll do it together. I was just trying something.'

'Did it work?'

"You looked off into space a little and shook your head. 'No, not really. Don't worry. I'll be staying me from now on.' While we made lunch, we chatted, but I could tell your mind was elsewhere, and to be honest, so was mine. I was thinking about that sudden change in your personality. I'd seen it somewhere before and I'd thought that maybe it was from you, but no. It was from your Edolas version."

"I still remember the first time I saw her, scary, intimidating, and dressed completely in black. I remember thinking that black wasn't your color, but other than looks, you two were nothing alike. I got along fine with her and everything, but that first night, I realized that if I got stuck there forever and never found a way to save the guild, which at the time I thought included you, we'd never be what you and I had. I could never call her Luce. It wasn't just that she acted so differently from you, it was that she was different from you. Some essential quality that makes you Luce was gone. Even your smells were different, though I didn't use my super nose at the time. I don't always like to show it off."

Natsu stopped talking for a moment, lost in his memories. That time in Edolas had been scary for many reasons, but one of them was simply the thought of never seeing many of his friends again. He had Wendy and Happy, but the rest were gone and when he thought of Lucy being trapped in the lacrima, he had gotten teary-eyed. The rest only caused him anger, but Lucy had caused him grief.

"Anyway, when we ran into you later, I was so happy, more happy than I had ever bee. Not just because it meant you weren't taken, but also because it meant that if that was to be our new home then I'd at least have my best friend there."

"Anyway, I'm going to stop this one and go to the next recording. But yeah, you are who you are Luce and I'm so glad for it."

Natsu signed off and stretched. He needed to get his thought together for the next one, but first, a snack.