reference — fairy tail manga hiro mashima (vol. 38 chapter 324)

It was expected for the wizards of Fairy Tail, and company, to have raging hangovers the next day. They had all spent the night celebrating, dancing, cheering, drinking, and toasting to a certain comrade of theirs.

Mirajane took in the sight that greeted her. "Oh my. Are you sure we even have time to watch the next film?"

Cana, whose face was heavily pink, only raised a glass with a cheeky smile. "Aye!"

Everyone else took their respective seats. Although, Natsu made sure to stay close to Lucy, Happy even cuddled close to her. They were making up for lost time for that year.

Mira set the lacrima ball down once again. She quickly scurried off to where her siblings were in time to see the title of this video.

Future Lucy Dies

Just then, Natsu fell off his chair. He slumped on the ground as all color left his body. His jaw was slacked in disbelief. "This is torture."

Happy was beside him in an instant. He patted his best friend's head in a soothing manner. "It's alright, Natsu. Everything is okay."

A second later, Happy also fell to the ground. His blue fur somehow turned ghastly white. He held up a hand, silently calling for help, "Eh? Did I lie to myself too?"

Lucy approached them, giggling as she did so. She quickly scooped up Happy into her arms, to which the blue cat responded by nuzzling his head deeper into her chest. Lucy held out her hand to the man who was still sprawled out on the floor.

"You two are such dorks," Lucy chuckled.

Natsu grumbled but lifted his hand anyways. He followed his partner in sluggish steps, groaning about how unlucky he was at the moment.

"Come on. It can't be that bad," Lisanna remarked. "Now hush, the video is playing. Aren't you excited, Natsu?"

"Yay," Natsu commented dryly.

The scene starts with Future Rogue. His hair is divided into two colors; his ebony strands covered half of his face whilst his white hair is gathered up into a ponytail. There's a tattoo on the left side of his face and a scar running across his nose.

Cana slammed her mug onto the table, effectively catching most of the wizards' attention. "Gotta say, tiger," The Card Mage said with a sultry wink, "I like that look on ya."

From beside her, Gildarts frantically shook his head. "You're not supposed to be thinking about boys til' you're a hundred years old."

The brunette scowled in reply. She downed the contents of her whiskey before replying to her overprotective dad. "Yeah, well, I'm not as innocent as you think. I've done many things. And when I say many, I mean many."

With those words, Gildarts Clive managed to drop dead to floor, twitching here and there. "My baby girl," He choked out sadly.

Sting cleared his throat. "Is it just me or did the most powerful wizard of Fairy Tail get defeated by a girl?"

Cana snorted. "Funny, right? It's so fun to mess with him. Well, not as fun as teasing Lu other there."

"Hey!" Lucy exclaimed from the other side of the room, arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed but a serene smile on her face.

Rogue stared at the lacrima vision, attentively studying his future self. He turned to Yukino. "Do you think I should grow my hair out like that?"

Minerva was the one who answered. "Please don't. I prefer this one now."

The noirette turned his face away, hiding his blush. "Okay," He muttered.

"Rogue?" Natsu calls out. His face is full of scars and wounds from the many battles during the past hours.

"You mean from Sabertooth?" Wendy asks. She's in the same state, exhausted and drained of magic energy.

"You're saying you come from the future?" Lucy questions. Bruises litters across her face and along the top part of her chest where her vest is supposed to be.

Another Lucy comes into view, she's cloaked but her golden hair is conspicuous. "Somebody other than me?"

Macao coughed, spitting out a few drops of his alcohol. "There are two Lucys now?!"

Wakaba groaned. "I should have went with them, damn it!"

It's not really a surprise when the two veterans' mugs of beer are set on fire. When they swiveled around to glare at Natsu, the pinkette only raised his nose and whistled playfully.

"Oi!" Macao called out. He pointed to his glass which now crumbled to ashes. "What the hell, Natsu?"

Natsu shrugged. "Didn't do it."

Lucy stood in front of him, hands on her hips with a stern glower. "Natsu, apologize to them right now!"

The Dragon Slayer huffed before dramatically facing his elders. "What she said. 'M sorry."

Macao grinned devilishly before coughing into his sleeve. "Whipped."

The smirk on Rogue's face disappears instantly. His blood red eyes are focused on something.

"Why?" Happy makes his presence timidly known.

"You swept the Royal forces away to save us?" Loke, in his crisp suit and sharp glasses, seems to be wary of the newcomer.

"You've changed somehow," Natsu comments.

Gray snickered. "Obviously, you fire breathing idiot. Did you just notice their different hair styles now?"

"You wanna go, ice queen?" Natsu roars. But before he could leap from his seat, Lucy pulled him down and forced his attention back to the screen.

"What did you come from the future for?" Carla asks. She raises her voice, urgency clear in her tone.

Future Rogue tilts his head a little to the side, his terrifying demeanor not diminishing one bit.

"To open the door," He says."You mean Ecplise?" Lucy presses the matter further.

"Eclipse can be used in two different ways. The first is to move through time. The second is a weapon. The Eclipse Cannon. It's the only way to defeat ten thousand dragons."

"Defeat ten thousand dragons?" Future Lucy exclaims.

"Then that makes things easier," Natsu proclaims, his lifted morale lighting a fire in his eyes. "We're on the same side, right?"

Natsu stared at himself at the lacrima vision. He slumped onto the counter. "Naive, naive, naive, idiot. What a fool you are."

Gray raised an eyebrow. "Well, I'm not gonna argue with that logic."

"Shut up," Natsu said whilst his face was squished against the wooden surface.

"Yaaay! We can defeat the dragons!" Happy shouts as he jumps up and down in glee.

Happy let his wings disappear in order for him to dramatically crash on the space beside his rose-haired friend. "Naive, naive, naive, idiot. What a fool you are."

Carla sighed, a teasing smile plastered on her whiskered face. "Well, I'm not gonna argue with that."

Wendy clasps her hands together, obviously pleased that they acquired a new ally. "You've come to save the future, right?" She asks to make sure.

The blue-haired Dragon Slayer choked on her glass of water. Her face are flustered as she shook her head. "I was so innocent back then."

Levy chuckled as she pinched the little girl's cheeks. "You're still innocent now."

Gajeel smirked from his spot. "And you're gonna stay that way until you're practically a thousand years old."

"Eh?!" Wendy failed to hide herself as she subtly glanced at a certain wizard with black hair and had the ability to conjure different colored flames.

"No. . . It isn't so simple as that," Future Rogue mutters. His gaze seems to be focused on something — someone.

"I came from seven years in the future. In seven years, the world will be ruled by dragons. Not even ten percent of the humans will survive. Of course, even Eclipse won't have the power it has in this time."

Lucy gasps in shock. Natsu stares at him with wide eyes. Loke is surprised as well.

"We must stop the dragons here and now. Or our world will end." Future Rogue continues.

"So we open the door and blow them away, right?" Natsu grins as he flails his arms around. "That's simple enough!"

Gray stared at his guild mate in bewilderment. "I'm not sure if I should be amazed, scared, or just plain sorry for you."

Erza nodded, a blank expression on her face. "I suspect all three, Gray."

Natsu pouted at his friends all ganged up on him. "So mean, so mean. I hate you all."

Lucy snuggled up to his side. "You don't really mean that, do you?"

Coughing, Natsu's cheeks turned as pink as his hair. He realized how close they were at the moment. "Erm — well, not you, of course. They're the idiots here."

"Ho?" Erza towered over him, one sword in hand. "Care to repeat that?"

"No—Nothing!" Natsu squeaked pathetically.

Yukino giggled. "Does this happen quite often?"

Lisanna excitedly bobbed her head up and down. "You don't even know the half of it. On a normal day, we spent a couple thousand Jewels for repair!"

Orga's eyes widened. "And your Master is just okay with it?"

Mirajane chuckled at their reactions. She whispered to them, "He sometimes wreck the guild himself."

Orga shook his head. "Crazy. The lot of you."

"Being crazy is a man!" Elfman jumped up from his seat, one hand pumped up in the air.

Laki took a sip of her cold beverage as she nodded in agreement. "Indeed. I think there are words that normalcy cannot simply express. Poetry is most beautiful when a person isn't in their right mind."

Lector wrapped his arms around his fellow feline, sniffling. "I'm scared of them."

"Fro thinks so, too!"

"However, seven years ago, in other words, now. . ." Future Rogue says darkly, he shields his crimson eyes by closing them.

"There was one who stood in the way of the door opening. That person kept the door from opening. And the Eclipse Cannon never fired at the ten thousand dragons. That person set the world on the path to destruction."

"I have come back to assassinate that person," Future Rogue mentions, he seems calm with the fact that he has to take a life. "That is why I'm here."

Laxus grunted, bringing his beer to his lips. "Of course, he is. Can't go a day without someone trying to kill one of ours."

Kagura tilted her head. "This is a regular occurrence?"

Kinana came around to set down the iced tea in front of Kagura. "More than anyone could realize."

Millianna stole the drink before Kagura could lay a hand on the glass. The cat-loving girl frowned. "And you just rush off without even considering the dangers?"

Kinana smiled. "Well, most of the times. Natsu is usually the one who runs away on impulse. The others have to restrain him in order to form a plan."

Lucy snorted, a couple of bar stools away from them. "Only for him to end up completely ruining the plan."

"Luce!" Natsu whined.

"How awful!" Carla voices her disgust. "Can't you just talk that person into not standing in your way?"

"There is no reason to kill anyone," Panther Lily reasons like a pacifist.

"That's my cat!" Gajeel proclaimed to the whole guild.

"With a great amount of time converging on one point, there are no words that can alter it," Future Rogue explains, though by everyone's uneasy looks, he calms no one.

Future Rogue continues. "Even if persuasion were effective, that person would still attempt to shut the door. It is fixed."

"Fixed?" Lucy echoes.

The Tiger's next words are chilling to the bone. "One cannot run from destiny. Those meant to live will live. Those meant to die will die. Those meant to close the door will close the door. No matter what, as long as the person is alive to do it."

Rogue shuddered. "That's harsh."

"But isn't that reality?" Minerva said.

Mirajane shook her head. "We are the only ones who can make our own destiny. We hold the pen. It's up to us only. And no one else."

"You're not making any sense to me," Natsu interjected with a subtle sigh. "But anyway, who is that person you're talking about?"

"You!"

Shadows appear from Future Rogue's hand. The darkness swirls into a weapon made to kill but no one seems to move, somehow frozen in time.

Future Rogue urges his attack forward, meaning to pierce the heart of his victim. He growls as he reveals the identity of the one who is meant to close the door.

"Lucy Heartfilia!"

The aforementioned blonde pressed a hand to her heart. She let her head hand low. "Oh, no."

Natsu gripped his hair tightly. "It's starting."

Gray patted his rival's back. "It's gonna be alright, Natsu. Lucy is right over there. The nightmare is over, don't you worry."

"Thanks." Natsu groaned.

Wendy sucked in a deep breath. "I'm not sure if I can go through this again."

Carla closed her eyes. "Me too."

A lighthearted laugh came from Hibiki. "You get yourself into a lot of trouble, don't you, Lucy?"

"I guess," She shyly answered.

The blonde wizard is stuck in her spot, feet rooted to the palace floors. Her eyes are wide and thorougly confused. "Huh?" Is all that comes out from her lips.

The tip of the shadow blade rushes past Natsu. The pinkette finally moves upon realizing the seriousness of the situation. He turns to catch the weapon, trying to stop it from hurting his precious partner but ultimately fails.

"Lucy!" He yells her name desperately, almost like an urgent prayer.

"Oi! Move out of the way, blondie!" Laxus's hands tightly curled up into fists. Sparks of lightning cover every inch of his body.

"Lu-chan! Move!" Levy pleaded with all her might.

"Lucy-nee!" Romeo called out, purple flames covering his fists.

Lisanna jumped up from her seat, worry evident in her blue eyes. "Lucy! Watch out!"

"You have to get out of the way," Ren muttered. "It's not like I don't want you to get hurt or anything."

Sherry gasped. "I'll ease everyone's burden. I will take care of Lucy's funeral. For love!"

Lucy's heart swelled three times it's capacity. She found it endearing that everyone still fussed over her even though she was right there. "I'm still alive, you guys," She waved at them.

Juvia began to wail, incoherent words tearing from her throat. "Lucy-san, don't die!"

The blonde smiled. She realized how lucky she was to have such a weird, beautiful family.

And then it hits someone.

Gasps are scattered across the guild hall. Some closed their eyes, some held their breath, and some just clung on to someone else for emotional support.

Future Lucy throws herself in front of the current Lucy. The weapon which appears to be a sword imbedds itself in the heart of Future Lucy, leaving no room for survival. Her cry of pain rings throughout the room.

Natsu tore his gaze away from the lacrima vision. His hands tightly grip onto Lucy's waist. "I can't watch this part," He mumbled, voice cracking.

Happy held his paws over his ears. "I hate what comes next."

Lucy ran her fingers through the soft pink strands. "It's alright. I'm here. You guys saved me."

Erza paled. "I'm starting to wonder if we got sent this videos in order to be traumatized."

Suddenly, the ferocious redhead turned to the blonde wizard with a sword proudly in the air. "Lucy! From here on out and for the rest of the week, you are temporarily stripped from your right to go on jobs! No more injuries for you!"

Lucy scoffed. "Don't you think this is going a little far?"

"Nothing is too far when it comes to her," Gray answered. "And I agree. This must be some kind of premonition or something. Why else would this be shown to us?"

"Lucy!" Erza boomed.

Lucy squeaked in fright. "Yes, ma'am! No jobs for me for the whole week!"

Future Rogue is surprised to see a doppleganger. Natsu stares at the sight with furious eyes and mouth hung agape. Lucy still can't seem to move. Even Wendy is paralyszed from how fast everything happened.

"Gahhh!" Future Lucy shrieks. Blood splutters from her mouth as she collapses to the ground with a thud.

Millianna took a sharp breath. "This is too sad."

Kagura bit her lip. "It seems something precious always gets ripped away from you."

"The sight of Lucy-san's death is not appealing." Eve winced.

"Men! The parfum of death is a rotten one!" Ichiya proclaimed knowingly.

"Wait. . . Hey, you just. . ." Lucy stammers, most likely unable to believe the situation.

Happy's usually bright expression turns solemn. "Lucy!" He begs.

Beside the cat, Natsu is still unable to move. But his silence is bleeding terror within the atmosphere.

"There are two Lucys?!" Future Rogue says in surprise.

Lucy rushes to her future self. She lets Future Lucy lay in her lap, hoping to ease her discomfort. "Hang in there!"

Lucy!" Happy calls out yet again.

Future Lucy summons her strength for her last words. She's panting erratically by now. "I. . . never. . . shut. . . the. . . door. . ." She croaks out softly.

"I know! I would never do it either!" Lucy whimpers.The sword is pratically crawling deeper into the blonde's flesh.

Lucy can't help but let out a few sobs. "Why would you protect your younger self?"

"You are. . ." Future Lucy coughs out, "Me. . . in the past. If you died. . . I'd vanish. . . any. . . way. . ."

Future Lucy's chesnut eyes soften, somehow looking angelic despite being on the brink of of death. "It's weird. . . you know? Watching. . . myself. . . watch. . . me. . . die. . ."

"It's weird for me too! So don't die, okay?!" Lucy shouts her request, desperate and scared.

Though there's crimson liquid trickling down her chin, Future Lucy manages to smile, like she always does. "It's. . . alright."

Wendy covers her mouth, tears are streaming down her face. Loke is terribly still, probably haunted by the possible death of his master and friend.

"People I never. . . thought I'd see. . . alive. . . and now I meet them. . . again."

Future Lucy has tears pooling within her brown eyes, most of them trailing past her cheeks. She looks up at the ceiling. "Just. . . that. . . made. . . me. . . so. . . happy. . ."

There's a puddle of tears where Juvia sat. Her nose was red and her eyes were completely blotchy. "Juvia's heart is about to break!"

Erza's face contorted into an expression of utmost pain. She clutched at her blouse, right where her heart was. "I can't seem to breathe."

Gray wiped the snot away from his nose. "Jellal mentioned something about the cloaked person watching during the games. It must have been the Future Lucy."

Juvia sobbed hysterically. "I hoped Lucy-san saw how hard Natsu-san fought for her!"

Levy was tucked under a certain grumpy man's arms. She was filled with nervous cries as well. "I don't think my heart has ached this much. I can't take it! I can't take it!"

Wendy was frantically trying to wipe the tears that stained her cheeks. "I don't want to see Lucy-san hurt ever again. I don't want to lose a friend."

Happy is visibly trembling as he reaches for his friend — no, best friend. "Lucy, no. . . Don't die. . ."

"I. . . don't belong. . . to this age. . . no, not. . . even this. . . world. . . The me. . . of this world. . . should stay. . . with her friends. . ."

Future Lucy turns to the side, eyes focusing on the feline beside her. She lays her hand on his head. "Don't. . . be sad. . ."

"Sure I'm sad!" Happy shouts with all his might, a volume surprising for someone as tiny as he. A waterfall of tears comes pouring from his eyes. "I don't care what world you come from. . . I don't care what anybody says, you're Lucy!"

"You're Lucy!" Happy yells again with utmost determination. "You're my friend! Any friend would be sad about that!"

Happy runs to Future Lucy's side. He hugs her tightly, clutching her robe like he never wanted the blonde to go away. Future Lucy brings him into her arms with no hesitation. They hold on to each other, silently begging for more time with each other.

From one corner of the room, there was a similar sight. Happy wrapped his little arms around Lucy as she let him listen to the lullaby of her heartbeat. Natsu was watching them with a content gleam in his eyes.

"Happy, it's alright," Lucy cooed. She smoothed the wild blue fur. "I'm alright. We're alright. You and I aren't going anywhere."

Happy nuzzled his head deeper. "You promise that you won't leave us even though I tease you all the time?"

"Of course," Lucy answered without any hesitation. "I promise."

"You can't break that promise, you know?" Natsu told her gruffly.

Lucy nodded with a meek smile. "I know."

"I don't think I've ever seen Happy so in despair like that," Erza commented from afar. "I never thought that she was so special to him."

Gray coughed. He rubbed his eyes as his gaze drifted to the little trio who now had a cuddle fest. "It's like they became one small family."

Erza grinned happily. "Knowing how attached they are to each other, I'd say that there's huge chance of that being correct."

Lisanna pouted. "Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. This is too much heartbreak for me in two days. I hope tomorrow is more fun and lighthearted."

"I feel like there's a slim chance of that happening." Lucy chuckled bitterly.

Future Lucy lifts her head. "Could. . . you show me. . . your guild mark?"

"Huh?" Lucy is confused but does what her counterpart asks anyway.

Two right hands appear into view. Both are from the same person. One hand is adorned with a pink insignia. The other is bare, missing the most vital part.

Future Lucy traces the guild mark. She smiles once more.

Lucy stares at both their hands with shock. "Your. . . right hand, it's. . ."

Laxus grimaced. "What the hell happened?"

Lucy squirmed under his fierce gaze. "We suspect that my — well in the future — was somehow torn off or something."

The blonde girl cradled her right hand close to her chest as she sighed deeply. "I just wished that it wasn't the one with my guild mark. I couldn't deal with life if I could never see the insignia again."

"Oh, that's horrible!" Levy slammed her tiny fists on the table. "It's like we need to lock you up in a tower so you'll never get hurt again!"

Natsu sprung to his feet. "That's a good idea!"

"No, it's not!" Lucy yelped.

"Natsu! Look! They just gave me the Fairy Tail mark!"

The Fire Dragon Slayer trembles, not out of fear, but out of rage and bloodlust. He remembers it so clearly. The light in her eyes and her happiness at that moment. How dare they take that away from her?

Darkness envelopes his eyes. He's angry, he's livid, he's frustrated, his hands are itching to blow something up, to avenge the girl he's come to call special.

Future Lucy's eyes flutters shut. She looks so peaceful. "I wish I could've gone on. . . another adventure. . ."

"Protect. . . the. . . future. . ."

And with that, Future Lucy takes her last breath.

Natsu turns his face to the other side, shielding his reaction. Lucy covers her face with her right hand, tremors wrecking her fragile body. Wendy presses her hands tighter, tears are flowing from her eyes and she doesn't do anything to stop it. Happy screams out loud, desperately begging for his best friend to come back. Loke stares ahead sadly.

"She doesn't realize she closed the door," Future Rogue remarks.

"What about the damn door?!" Lucy grits out, voice coarse from all the yelling and crying. "I would never do such a thing! And still you. . ."

"You don't think so. . . now," Future Rogue tells her. "But in a few hours, you will close the door!"

"I will not close the door!" Lucy stands her ground. "Here you go with all that talk. . . What are you really after?"

Future Rogue's lips pull back to a deadly scowl. "You are fated to close the door! As long as you are alive. . ."

"The future me already said she didn't close it!" Lucy slams her right hand on the ground. "And I trust myself!"

Future Rogue's hand is summoning another whirlwind of shadows, another spell designed to kill. "There is no truth in your words! Destiny has decided everything here!"

"Then I'll burn that destiny to ashes!" Natsu threatens animalistically. His hand is covered in flames that is enough to melt the whole palace.

He takes one step forward, his hand ready to initiate the first attack — anything for the sake of his friends. He rushes to Rogue without any hesitation. "Nobody is going to steal Lucy's future from her!"

Future Rogue deflected the attack but barely.

The words, "protect the future," echoes in Natsu's mind. And that's all he needs to move forward.

Natsu's face comes into a view. He looks like he's dropped all of his humanity and exchanged for the soul of a demon. A single tear runs down from his right eye. There's a red sparkle that glimmers in his left eye. The way his expression is so unreadable is what brings out the monstrosity, the complete terror in the room.

"I promise you that!" Natsu vows sincerely to one girl.

Cana fanned herself with a lazy smirk. "Is it just me or is it so much hotter in here?"

Lucy squeaked nervously as she covered her heated face. "Shu — Shut up!"

"Aw, Lu," Cana pouted sarcastically. "Do you not like me pointing out that your boyfriend is hot as fu—"

"Cana!" Lucy yelled with wide eyes.

"Don't worry, Lucy!" Natsu pulled her in for a tight side hug. "I'll always protect your future!"

Sherry clapped her hands. "Woah! That's love! That's one of the sweetest things I've ever seen."

Ren coughed from behind her. "Your fiancé is right here."

Mirajane stood up from where she briefly fainted. She deviously pointed to a certain blonde and pinkette. "I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! I am planning the wedding! What do you guys think of Summer?"

"I call bridesmaid!" Lisanna piped in.

"Me too!" Levy announced cheerfully.

Gajeel shook the earth with the volume of his laughter. "Damn! I knew the Salamander was whipped, I just didn't think he'd be this whipped! Great speech, man!"

Natsu ducked his head as he lamely threw a ball of fire at the metalhead. "Shut up!"

Romeo snickered. "Natsu-nii's whipped! And overprotective too!"

Cana wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead. "Yo, Lucy. How hot are Natsu's flames of emotions?"

Happy flew in the air. "Oh, my! You liiiike each other!"

Rogue cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention. "Just a question. If someone were to kill Lucy, what would you do to them? Just a quick question for an experiment."

"Oh, boy." Sting facepalmed. "We're in for it now."

"I'd burn them to crisp," Natsu growled. His eyes turned feral once more.

"I'd let them fall beneath my blades," Erza answered darkly as she polished her swords.

Gray cracked his knuckles. "I suppose a few Ice Geysers could take them out."

"Aye!" Happy agreed. He stood proudly on the counter, his little tummy was tucked out as he placed his paws on his hips.

"And for my punishment, I'd let them feed me fish!"

note1 — my fingers are numb, lol. i enjoyed writing this one as well. hope you all liked it!

note2 — to everyone who read this, favorited, followed, and left a very kind review, i thank you from the bottom of my heart. you all are so so amazing. and i have a surprise (spoiler alert: i'll be updating weekly-ish now better content) so please stick around!

note3 — this is set a few years after the alvarez arc. (those who haven't read the manga yet, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh!)

(spoilers ish)

I CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT EPISODE TO BE ANIMATED BECAUSE A CERTAIN HOT HEADED BEST GIRL IS COMING BACK (i cri)

note4 — have a wonderful day everyone! be kind to yourselves! be kind to those you see! eat three meals a day because mavis (wink) knows how busy the humans are nowadays, am i right? all in all, i pray that you guys have a wholesome year!

note5 belated valetines!!! (self promo: i has fluffy stuff in my other books!