"Well, I'm doing good." Natsu said as he played a few strings on his guitar as he sat in his apartment.
"Really? You're feeling better about this whole thing with Lucy?" Zeref asked as he thought that was a good thing to hear.
"Well, I'm not having weird mood swings." Natsu said. "I'm not miserable about it when I think about it." It sounds like Natsu has made great progress in recovery. "So why do I still feel lousy? Every time I think about how things went between me and Lucy, I still feel awful." He's near recovery, but it seems like he still has some work.
"Maybe it's because you don't like how you and she left things." Zeref said as he sat down next to him. "Natsu, you're a good person that hates it when he hurts people. Emotionally at least otherwise you wouldn't fight like you do with Gray."
"Do you think Lucy will ever come back? It's been weeks and we haven't heard a thing from her." Natsu said. "What if she really doesn't want to come back to the band."
"I'm sure that deep down that she does because you were all great friends." Zeref said. "It's just that emotional wounds take a lot harder to heal than physical ones. She just needs time."
"You're right." Natsu said. "You think she'll ask to come back by the afternoon? Is that plenty of time?" Zeref just laughed off his little joke.
"Come on. Let's go meet up with the others." Zeref said as the two of them got moving.
...
Lucy
These past few weeks haven't been easy for Lucy. She's glad she got Miguel out of her life, but she just doesn't know what to do anymore. She just sat in her band and was actually playing one of the band's songs on her keyboard. Mrs. Heartfilia heard her and saw her like that.
"Lucy?" Mrs. Heartfilia said and got her attention.
"Hey, Mom." Lucy said.
"That wouldn't happen to be one of Fairy Tale's songs you're playing, are you?" Mrs. Heartfilia asked.
"I'm just trying to pass the time." Lucy said. She claims that what she's doing, but her mother knew her daughter better than that.
"Lucy, I know you miss being in the band. I know you want back in." Mrs. Heartfilia said as she sat next to her daughter and wrapped her arms around her. "Why don't you just call them and ask to be let back in?"
"You really think they take me back?" Lucy asked.
"Of course." Mrs. Heartfilia said. Lucy figured they would, but something held her back from doing that.
"No. I quit because I wanted to. I'll be fine." Lucy said. Mrs. Heartfilia wasn't too sure about that.
...
Fairy Tale Studio
Natsu and Zeref entered the studio. The others were already there and it seemed like things were getting back on track.
"Hey, Natsu. Feeling good now?" Erza asked.
"Yeah. Sort of." Natsu said.
"Natsu still feels upset about this whole thing with Lucy." Zeref said and that caused Gray and Gajeel to groan. "Don't groan. My brother is hurting."
"Natsu, we all miss Lucy, but it's time we moved on." Gray said. "It doesn't seem like Lucy is coming back. If she ever does decide to come back, we'll deal with it then. In the meantime, we need to go on like everything is normal around here."
"I get it." Natsu said. "I just feel bad about how Lucy and I left things. It was pretty bad what happened between us."
"We get it. Everyone has regrets, but we can't let that rule over us." Levy said. "We just have to hope for the best. In the meantime, I've got some good news. The movie is all set for the premiere." All of them were excited about that. Even Natsu can't feel down from hearing good news about that.
"Are you serious? It's done? It's all set and ready to go?" Gajeel said.
"Yeah! The premiere has been set and it's going to hit the biggest theater in the city within the next few days." Levy said. "Tickets are being sold and it's amazing."
"You bet it's going to be amazing." Erza said. "I can already here the cheer and the applause of the crowd. Us being on the big screen, the thrill of being on stage, it's all enticing."
"On stage? There's no stage in the movie theater." Gajeel said.
"Just let her have it." Gray said.
"I can't believe we're going to actually be on the big screen." Natsu said.
"We have another performance going on and we're set to perform after the movie." Levy said. "Natsu, I'm leaving it to you to decide what songs to perform."
"Got it." Natsu said as he ran out of there and went to find the stuff needed for the coming performances.
"Okay. He's happy. Let's try to keep it that way until we can figure something out." Levy said.
"What do you mean?" Gajeel asked.
"Don't you remember?" Zeref asked. "Lucy's in the movie as well. Her character dated Natsu's character and those two break up as well. How do you think Natsu's going to feel after seeing that?"
"Good point." Erza said. "Natsu's feeling good about himself again. This movie could ruin that."
"He might be happy at the moment, but as soon he realizes what's going to happen in that movie, we're going to be right back where we started with him." Zeref said. "So we need to figure something out that won't let that happen."
"Well, what about Lucy herself?" Gajeel said. "She is in the movie. She probably has a free pass for the premiere. You think she's going to be there?"
"Maybe. That could be a problem as well and neither one of them will end up having any fun at the movie." Gray said.
"We'll deal with Lucy if she actually does come to the movie. Let's focus on helping Natsu." Zeref said and all of them agreed to that. As for Natsu, he's still feeling good about the upcoming premiere. Natsu is working on trying to find the right songs for the next few performances. As he was working on that, Lucy was actually coming by the building. She was actually going to try and talk to them with the upcoming premiere. As she opened the door just a little, she saw Natsu there and she got all nervous. They haven't really talked since they parted ways.
"Natsu..." Lucy whispered as she wasn't sure what to do. She saw a smile on his face and that had her back off. "He seems happy without me being there." She couldn't bring herself to go. As she was leaving, Natsu heard a sound and turned to the door and caught a glimpse of her.
"Lucy!" Natsu said as he was shocked to see her. He hurried over to the door, but didn't see a sign of her anywhere. He was starting to think he just imagined things. He went back to the music, but now he was thinking about Lucy again and didn't help as he looked over the songs he wrote for her.
"Thinking about her again?" Natsu looked up and spotted his brother.
"Yeah." Natsu said. "I know I'm not doing myself any good, but I just can't help it. Just a moment ago I thought I saw her. Maybe Gray's right. Maybe I have to accept the fact that Lucy isn't coming back. I know some of us do believe that, but we don't really know that she is."
"It's going to be okay, Natsu." Zeref said. "If she does come back, great. If she doesn't, you'll pull through." Natsu was having a real hard time with the whole fact that Lucy is really gone.
"No! You know what, I don't accept this." Natsu said. "Lucy should come back. She needs to know that we want her back. There's just got be a way to convince her."
"I get it, but what can you do? It's not like you can force her." Zeref said. "I'm starting to worry you're going to go insane from this, you're going to keep doing the same thing an expect a different result."
"I know, but I just can't get her out of my mind. There's just got to be a way to reach her." Natsu said. He looked around and spotted a song that might be able to help. "Maybe this one could do the trick."
...
Lucy
Lucy just sat around in her room. This whole thing hasn't been easy for her and she just isn't sure what to do with herself.
"Hey." Mrs. Heartfilia said as she came in. "I heard your band is making an appearance on a talk show if you're interested. Everyone's talking about that upcoming movie. They should be on now."
"Thanks, Mom." Lucy said. Mrs. Heartfilia left Lucy alone with her thoughts. The more Lucy thought about it, the more she wanted to see them. So she pulled out her computer and brought up the talk show that her mother was talking about.
"If you're just joining us, I'm coming to you live with Fairy Tail joining me. I'm Phillis Margret and here's the band."
"Thanks, Phillis." Natsu said as he and the rest of the band sat on her set.
"So you're big movie is coming up. Are you all excited?" Phillis asked.
"Big time." Gajeel said.
"Of course, it won't really be the same with one member of the band missing." Erza said.
"Right! Lucy. I take there's still some drama in the band because of that. I take it you all miss her." Phillis said.
"Yeah. That's why we haven't even tried to find a replacement." Natsu said. "She's more to us than just another member of the band. In fact, if you don't mind, we like to get to the performance."
"Sure." Phillis said. Lucy wondered what they were doing as she saw all of them set for their performance and it looked like there was going to be a slideshow behind them.
"This song is about how that one person is always on your mind no matter how much you try to move on from them." Natsu said. They started playing the song and there was series of recorded moments of the band going on. It reminded Lucy of all the great times she had with them.
(Natsu)
Wait a minute
What just happened?
Where did you go?
One moment you're here, the next you're gone
So where are you?
Please come back
I've met a million pretty girls
They've got nothing on you
Cause you're always on my mind
So I need you by my side
It ain't easy to move on
The scars on my heart never heal
So I need you here with me
(All)
I may meet a million people
But you're the one that's on my mind
You're always on my mind
You're in my heart
(Natsu)
I might meet a lot girls
(All)
But you have my heart
(Natsu)
It ain't easy to move on
I just can't let go
The show goes on, but it's hard without you
I try to be strong, but I can't do it
Without you here, I can't hold it
So please come back
I need you here with me
Cause you're always on my mind
So I need you by my side
(All)
I may meet a million people
But you're the one that's on my mind
You're always on my mind
You're in my heart
(Natsu)
I may meet a lot of girls
(All)
But you have my heart
(Natsu)
Oh-ho!
You're on my mind wherever the wind blows
So please don't go
Please come back
I'm not the only one
You're needed with us all
So help us when we fall
You have my heart
You're the only girl on my mind
(All)
I may meet a million people
But you're the one on my mind
You're always on my mind
You're in my heart
I may meet a million people
But you're the one on my mind
You're always on my mind
You're in my heart
(Natsu)
I may meet a lot of girls
(All)
But you have my heart
That may have sound like a love song, but it wasn't. It was a song about how the whole band loves and miss Lucy and they want her to come back. Seeing the clip show that went on behind them helped as well. Lucy got up from her bed and she couldn't hold the tears back anymore. She left the band because of how things went between her and Natsu and thought things were better without her, but she can see she was wrong. Mrs. Heartfilia was walking by, but she heard her daughter.
"Lucy?" Mrs. Heartfilia said.
"Mom, I made a big mistake and I don't know how to fix it." Lucy said. Mrs. Heartfilia hurried and held her daughter as she cried and let and let it all out.
...
The Band
As the show was coming to an end, the band was packing their stuff. It was a great song and their fans wish them well.
"Think Lucy was watching?" Natsu said.
"I'm sure she was." Gray said. "It's bound to get back to her."
"Yeah, but Natsu, Gray was right about one thing." Erza said. "If Lucy still doesn't come back, you need to learn to let her go or else you're just going to keep torturing yourself."
"I know. It's just hard because..." Natsu said, but it was hard to finish.
"We get it. You love her, differently than how we love her." Erza said. All of them were trying their best to support him, but something needs to happen to help Natsu. Something HAS happened.
"Guys!" Levy called as she came running to them. "I just spoke to Lucy. She wants back in the band."