Date: 1st July X798

Mid-June and July in Magnolia were the months of subtropical heat waves, shockingly humid afternoons and soulful melodies of cicadas. The heat would bounce off the streets, and cause an illusion of wavering images. They were one of those days when a neckerchief wasn't such a bad idea – a day when the perspiration would surface on your forehead, your cheeks, the bridge of your nose, and run in rivulets down your face until you became sodden. They were one of those days when even the well turned-out dandies could not conceal the massive sweat pits on their sophisticated dress shirts. Furthermore, they were one of those days where every single bird, leaf, cloud, town inhabitant would succumb to the dastardly talons of indolence. Temperatures could even exceed as high as 35°C, high enough to give such sensitive people as Lucy Heartfilia heatstroke.

However, for some unascertainable reasons, the weather on this particular date was none of these. As a matter of fact, it was strangely pleasant and cool with a constant breeze. Usually the Sun would be the cruel mistress who'd beat down on her slaves – the people – in her own relentless way but instead, today she was acting kindly and humble towards them. As soon as dawn descended, she rose in a magnificent pool of roseate and crimson and gold, spilling fingers of light all over the land and boasting her beauty through the scudding clouds.

This was all very astonishing, yet also very appeasing. Was God feeling generous and light-hearted today, so much that He wished to do humanity a favour? Or perhaps the wind pushed the warm front to the other side of the country. Or, as foolish as it sounds, could it even be a sign of good omen for the future?

Answers and opinions and rebuttals flew back and forth… and of course, no one ever knew for certain why the weather was the way it was on the first day of July that year of X798. All the same, the citizens of Magnolia were overjoyed. Never have they been blessed with such beautiful weather. The streets were once again teeming with life, vivacious with movement and spirited in jollity. Flowers of the season tilted their smiling faces towards the sun while the sunlit clouds drifted across the perfect blue sky. Ponds were bathed in a golden hue by the gentle sunlight, the water in it as clear as crystal.

However, truth expresses itself in the saying: "All good things must come to an end". By late afternoon, the fiery red orb of light had begun to sink beneath the horizon yet threads of luminescence persisted in the empyrean, intermingling with the rolling dark clouds. It first dyed the heavens tinctures of copper, followed by a deep rich vermillion of the finest wine, succeeded by subtle shadowy sapphire, until all that was left of the sunset was a pallid amethyst. Even that had to melt away as it was overpowered by stygian darkness which blanketed the sky, studded by the tiniest of stars and the sleekest of faraway galaxies. Meanwhile, in the grand auditorium of Fairy Tail, two prominent members of this renowned wizardry guild were celebrating the anniversary of their birth. For many years to come, it would become a predominantly noteworthy, significant event preserved forever as an unforgettable memory.

To rejoice this special occasion, a surprise jointed birthday party was thrown for little Niyala Fernandez and Lucy Heartfilia. The capacious guildhall was festooned with colourful balloons and streamers. Tabletops layered with trays of the most delicious food and drinks lined the walls, delicacies capable of making one's mouth water: a whole roast deer with sprigs of rosemary threaded through its antlers and stuffed with bacon and rye bread, marinated Glenloth chicken, grilled trout with lemon (to be appreciatively enjoyed by Happy), smoked sausages and a pineapple glazed ham, mounds of fragrant wild rice, potatoes and diced pumpkin smeared with butter and spices baked on hot stones, countless cheeses that went with baskets of crackers and bread rolls shaped as seashells, and all sorts of varieties of salads and side dishes. A tureen or two on each table contained either hot soup or hearty casserole. Three benches that were dedicated to desserts had on them lemon tarts and rhubarb crème brûlée and orange blossom cakes and minted strawberries fresh from the garden and meringues so beautifully shaped it was a pity to eat them and apple strudels served with ice-cream as well as decadent chocolate bonbons that oozed rum cream when bit into. Drinks for the children ranged from orange juice to candy apple punch, whereas the grown-ups socialised around a waterfall wine chiller and champagne fountain that sparkled with flames.

What a charming affair it was! There were so much food, so many people – family, relatives and friends of members of Fairy Tail who were invited to this birthday bash, in addition to a number of curious passers-by who were just as enthusiastically received by the hosts.

Birthday girl Niyala pranced about the guildhall showing off her new party clothes, cherry-red curls inherited from her mother more vibrant and feisty than that of fire donning her small head. Everywhere she went she was met with compliments of how pretty she looked and fussing by all the lady guests. The significant other sharing this delight, Lucy, gracefully swept the perimeters of the expanse in a dazzling shell-pink ball gown, greeting the arrival of new guests who congratulated her on her engagement, offering polite conversation to her betters and laughing away with friends. The adoring eyes of her fiancé never left her face, which flushed with good humour and liveliness. His attentive gaze followed her every footstep, the ever-changing shape of her plump lustrous lips, and every single movement of her graceful limbs. All he could think to himself was that he would never meet or even see anyone so beautiful – and not just traditionally beautiful, but beautiful through her heart and through her soul.

She glowed brighter than any star in the sky, than any woman in the world.

Just then, on the spur of the moment, Natsu recalled the speech he gave on the night of his proposal – the one which pronounced his undying love for her. These private thoughts triggered a deep blush which reddened his cheekbones and, contrariwise to a soft pink like a healthy outdoor afterglow, it was unquestionably beet red. To conceal this, Natsu decided to take a sip of wine but no sooner had he raised the glass to his lips did he spy Niyala hiding nearby, trying to suppress a laugh. This only made him turn even redder, until his entire face became crimson and hot like a sweltering oven. Finally he gave up denying his feelings and sauntered over to the sweet little girl, and together they tittered at their own joke.

Wiping tears of laughter from his eyes, Natsu crouched down and placed a hand on her head. "Don't tell anyone about it, okay?" he said.

"I won't," Niyala chirruped, but her eyes shone deceitfully.

He knew he couldn't place any faith in her. The young man raised his eyebrows. "I don't believe you. How about a pinkie promise?" he grinned and held out his large square hand.

Niyala only pouted. "But it was so funny – I want to tell everyone at school tomorrow!"

Natsu attempted a severe face but failed. "Alright, alright… You win, kid."

To Niyala, Natsu Dragneel was both an adored uncle and confidant to whom she divulged all her secret thoughts. Despite being their daughter, she had inherited neither her mother's grave, rigid personality nor her father's infrequent outspokenness. In fact, she and Natsu were so similar she might as well have been his daughter rather than Erza and Jellal's child. Niyala was small for her age but her sense of adventure, her free-spiritedness, her headstrong nature, her frequent short tempers, her reckless behaviour and her laidback temperament might have suggested otherwise. Perhaps it was her long, unruly, fiery red mane of coils and ringlets that did it. Not even Erza's stern discipline could coerce her into brushing it to keep it tidy, as an obedient young lady should. And those big blue eyes…! Flecked with every shade of colour and claiming their position in the carefully sweet face, they were turbulent, lusty with life and idiosyncratic of charm and charisma.

She smiled her trademark toothy smile in return, one which she inherited from Natsu. "And how about I tell Auntie Lucy about it, too?" Niyala grinned.

Now Natsu's face became grim and stern. "No, don't you dare utter a word… or I'll…"

"Hee, hee… Or, what?" she teased.

"… Or I'll tickle you!"

Niyala let out a hysterical shriek and tried to escape, but Natsu was quicker and grabbed her in his big strong arms and began tickling her belly and under the chin. They were making such a spectacle that Erza found it necessary to make an appearance to snap at them and demand silence. With Niyala still spluttering with laughter in his arms, Natsu spotted Lucy standing out from the crowd and biting her lips to keep from bursting out laughing herself. Blushing, the pair exchanged smiles.

"Everyone – it's time for cake!" a familiar, soothing female voice broke in.

All heads turned towards Mirajane, her younger sister Lisanna and good friend Levy McGarden as they exited out of the kitchen in their evening-dressed self. They were followed by two volunteers pushing a round table on which sat the most beautiful birthday cakes anybody had ever seen. More fitting for a wedding than a birthday party for a young girl and a woman turning twenty-six, they were a sight for sore eyes and immediately became the centre of attraction in the room. For fourteen days and nights, the three women as well as a number of Lisanna's apprentices had spent a great deal of time in the guild's kitchen organising details of the cake and proposing ideas and then labouring away at its preparation and decorations.

The original idea was to make a six-tier chocolate hazelnut gateau, enough for the guests to share around and eventually take home. However, Levy pointed out that not everyone may be fond of chocolate and instead, suggested on creating six separate cakes distinctive in its own flavour and decoration to suit the guests' individual tastes. In the end, each dessert pastry was carefully positioned on its own platform of a luxurious crystal waterfall cascade cake stand from Lisanna's café bakery.

Starting from the bottom was an elegant lemon thyme cake, with alternating layers of lemon curd and vanilla buttercream, and then decorated with rich golden icing, candied citrus and sprigs of mint to top it off. The second was a twist on the childhood indulgence of S'mores, combining a graham cake with chocolate ganache, fluffy marshmallows and buttercream. Its Swiss meringue frosting exterior was then toasted and decorated with chocolate curls for extra appeal. Following that was a stunning ombré rosette cake with layers of red velvet sponge and then sprinkled with pink sugar dust. This was then succeeded by an absolutely dreamy and sophisticated coconut cake, iced with coconut frosting, generously covered with a handful or two of coconut shavings and finally bedecked with a champagne-coloured satin bow at the base. Next up was a cinnamon spiced apple cake drizzled on top with luscious caramel sauce, as bourbon-laced brown sugar buttercream oozed in between. And last but not ever least, the topmost was a double tier vanilla and almond cake with the bottom tier enclosed in edible silver leaf and adorned with a single sugar magnolia to honour the name of their beloved town.

Three of Lisanna's employees, inconspicuous in black apron and black trousers, arranged a total of thirty-two candles in the cakes as well as sticking a few ordinary-looking sparklers as final touches. The minute the last one was ignited, voices high and low began crooning the chorus of "Happy Birthday to You". Holding hands and closing their eyes, Lucy and Niyala both whispered a wish and it was at that moment, while all the candles were being extinguished, a shooting star suddenly made a great triumphant leap across the heavens, while leaving behind promises of fulfilled dreams and happily-ever-afters. But that was only just the beginning of the fun because with a click of a finger, the lights above dimmed and the sparklers began to burn, emitting sparks of all colours of the rainbow… igniting minerals crafted to resemble flowers sparkling at high speed in the hollow darkness.

Everyone's mouth fell open in admiration as they observed such a wonder. But, of course, the sparklers could not last forever. With a final hiccough of flashes, they ultimately came to an end and again someone clicked their fingers in the midst of the applauding frenzy and the lights flickered back to life. Blinking under the sudden brightness, the party-goers cheered once more while the person responsible for setting ablaze the sparklers had either disappeared, or simply did not wish to make himself known. Before long the assemblage was shouting out requests for cake and, congenial as the hostess she was, dear Mirajane began to cut and distribute slices of the dessert amongst the throng. They were so delicious that they were wolfed down with great gusto and in a short time there were requests for seconds and thirds.

Soon everyone was back to their own business. In one corner and surrounded by a cluster of children, Niyala tore open her presents under the strict reminders of manners by her mother. She would gawp at every new toy, magic item and knickknack revealed from its bed of wrapping paper. Gratitude was expressed politely, much to Erza's visible approval. A few teenaged girls huddled on a bench engrossed in gossip about this recent love affair or that scandalous breakup of a couple they knew. The adults continued on with their conversations, while the matrons assisted Mirajane and Lisanna in cleaning up the remainders of cake. Not far off, Gray and Gajeel were trying to break up a fight between Bacchus and Gildarts who, after being unable to hold in the sight of his son-in-law getting fresh with his beloved daughter (although the couple had seemed perfectly fine just exchanging looks of such off-putting sloppiness it would have made a cat sick), began attacking him without considering its wisdom.

Kana kept shrilling at the top of her voice: "Da-ad! What the hell is wrong with you?! Will you please just stop acting like such a complete IDIOT?"

Gildarts could only answer: "I will not permit this drunken excuse for a man touch my daughter!"

To which the young woman snapped: "For God's sakes, Father, Bacchus is my husband! It's not like he's sexually harassing me!"

But Gildarts did not or pretended not to hear. "Watch carefully, Kana!" he smirked. "Just watch Papa carefully as he clouts some sense into this son of a bitch!" To Bacchus, he shot a look of pure hatred and seethed: "I have had enough of your groping and cuddling, you fiend! If you're a man, then take it out on the battlefield!"

"Alright… After you, Dad," scorned Bacchus. "On second thoughts, I think you should take a break. After all, you're already over the hill. Do you really think you can fight me in your condition?"

Some of the women winced at the impudence in Bacchus' words. But it was true. Gildarts was now in his late fifties and recently he lacked the energy to do the simplest of things.

"You bastard," Gildarts growled. "I'll make you take those words back!"

But when the Crash Magic Wizard tried to muster up some power, he realised that he really was no match for someone whose own power was at its height during his youth. Gildarts collapsed onto the floor panting, and Mirajane and Kana rushed over to help him.

"You see?" the Quatro Cerberus Wizard went on. "He's helpless!"

"You are disrespectful, to mock your elder so!" a rather plump middle-aged woman spoke up in the crowd.

"Huh? Who're you to tell me what to do, you fat interfering pig?"

"Oh, how dare you!"

"Be quiet, Bacchus!" snapped his wife. "Can't you ever keep your mouth shut? Why do you have to go around upsetting everyone… and my father out of all people?"

It was rare for Kana to turn her anger out at him and for an instant Bacchus was taken aback, but he turned disdainfully towards the beverage counter and gulped down half a bottle of bourbon whiskey.

"Ugh, I've had enough of this crap," he grumbled, hiccoughing twice. "I'm beltin' outta here." With that, Bacchus turned his heels and left through the door. Realising that it was all a fuss over nothing, everyone returned back to what they were doing.

Kana heaved a sigh. "Really, he's just so difficult to live with sometimes."

Mirajane smiled understandingly. "Kana, don't worry too much about him. I'm sure the two of them will soon get along."

"Like hell I will, with that son of a bitch," Gildarts said roughly, getting to his feet. He turned his imploring brown eyes to his daughter. "Oh my darling Kana… My poor darling Kana. Papa doesn't even know what you see in that bastard. Why did you have to marry him in the first place? Papa could've found you a better bloke, a far better person to look after you."

"Bacchus treats me well enough, Father. Besides, I married him because I truly love him – and the first time he, you know… kissed me, I felt that we were kind of, meant to be. Just like you and Mother."

Gildarts shook his head, reflecting on his own courtship with his deceased wife and on the vanity of human hopes. "Alright, alright… I understand," he sighed after a while. "But I advise you, daughter. If that asshole ever makes you cry, come tell Papa and Papa will smash his head in for you."

"Um… not that it's totally necessary, but thanks anyway," Kana said tentatively. "And don't worry, I'll look after myself."

"Oh my goodness, I almost forgot!" Mirajane said suddenly.

"Huh? What, Mira? What did you forget?"

"The highlight of tonight's party," she winked. The beautiful silvery haired woman excused herself and then edged her way through the throng and found Natsu talking to her brother and her younger sister's husband, and proceeded to whisper something in his ear.

Natsu widened his eyes. "What, do I still have to? C'mon Mira, there's no need for that anymore, right?"

But Mirajane put on her fiercest, most determined face. "You mustn't give up, Natsu! This is a way of showing Lucy how much you care, how much you –"

"Doesn't she already know that, Mira?" her brother-in-law Laxus said, with his eyebrow raised.

Then, Elfman pointed out: "After all, Big Sis, the two are engaged."

Mirajane pouted petulantly, and for a moment Natsu thought she looked a lot like Niyala. She shook her head. "No, it has to be tonight! Natsu, you promised me you'd do it. I spent a lot of time placing all the pieces together just to give you and Lucy a super romantic evening!"

Defeated, the salmon haired man covered his face with one hand. "Ugh… Fine, whatever, I'll do it."

"Oh, thanks so much! I just know you're not going to let me down. Look, I promise you won't regret this! It's going to be the most beautiful night for you and Lucy before the wedding! After all, something hot and steamy is going to happen between you two later on, right?"

Natsu blushed awfully hard. "Not that it's any of your business!"

"What is it, what is it?" said her little brother excitedly, like a child on Christmas morning. "Are you planning to sleep with Lucy later? T-That's… Sleeping together is incontrovertibly manly!"

Laxus laughed. "Don't try to deny it, Natsu. It says it all over your face."

"J-J-Just shut up about it, you guys… Damn it, Mira. Did you really have to bring that up, too? It's our first time, for Christ's sake."

The woman stifled a giggle and Natsu could only sigh in defeat. Despite her adult age, Mirajane still behaved like a teenager. She was the only person in Fairy Tail who hadn't changed a bit – she was still bubbly and overconfident and a gorgeous yet meddling matchmaker. "Well, I guess I have to go now. Need to start the preparations. Bye!"

The Lightning Dragon Slayer ogled at his fellow guild-mate. "Wait a second… You still haven't slept with her? What the hell are you waiting for?"

"I'm not waiting for anything! I just couldn't find the right moment to… do it. That's all."

"Then, is she still…?"

"Yeah," Natsu nodded, his eyes closed.

"Man, I don't…" Laxus shrugged uncertainly. "I mean, does she even know you're going to get her laid tonight?"

"Hell, no!" Natsu said. "Mira ordered me to keep it a secret from her. She's the one who set this all up, you know; to make it seem like some sort of a gift. I told her that it can wait, but…"

"Yeah, yeah," said Elfman, rolling his eyes, "we get it. Just remember to keep us up-to-date with the details tomorrow."

"Dude, you've got a wife," Laxus reminded him automatically.

"Dude, so do you."

"Yeah, but the difference is that I have zero interest in Natsu's sex life."

"You got it wrong! I only want to know how manly Natsu could be in bed with his one and only Lucy," Elfman admitted.

Laxus looked at him disbelievingly. "Right, whatever… So, Natsu, are you still going to ask Lucy for that thing?"

The said young man took one meaningful gaze at his wife-to-be, who was standing not far off from where he was and chuckling at one of Levy's humorous anecdotes of her husband Gajeel's weird compulsive behaviour at home. Never before had Natsu been uncomfortable to do anything. He always approached matters as they were – directly and without hesitation. So what the hell was the matter with him today? And why was he suddenly bashful and embarrassed to speak to Lucy Heartfilia, his fiancée, out of all people?!

"I… I can't do it," he stammered.

"What's this all of a sudden?" Laxus wanted to know, not trying very hard to hide his impatience. "Why can't you?"

"Maybe I should leave it for next time –"

"You're not acting like a man!" Elfman broke in critically. "A man should not be afraid to do anything! Just GET over there already!" Having said so, the heavily built Take Over Wizard exerted such a gigantic force on his back that Natsu ran stumbling all the way in Lucy's direction and collided into her, causing her to drop her glass of wine… fortunately, though, not on her dress. Instead, the crystal goblet plummeted to the floor and broke in two, spilling what little was left of the liquid.

"N-Natsu…" Lucy groaned as she tried to get up, although his weight upon her made it impossible. "What are you DOING?"

"Sorry, sorry!" he apologised hastily, jumping onto his feet and pulling her up. "It's Elfman's fault – he pushed me."

"Geez," said Lucy, giggling at Natsu's nervous state of being. "It's okay, just be careful next time," she continued, giving him a small kiss on the cheek causing him to go all pink in the face. "Did you need anything?"

"Well, um… I was just… uh, hoping if I could have the pleasure of a… a dance," he murmured.

"I beg your pardon?"

Lisanna intervened, chuckling mischievously. So this was Big Sister Mira's plan all along, she smiled to herself. "He asked if he could have the pleasure of a dance!" she said loud enough to be heard by every person in the guildhall.

And it did because suddenly they all started expressing their encouragement and approval by giving a big round of applause. Lucy, on the other hand, was so surprised by the unexpectedness of Natsu's request that she became still as a stunned mullet.

"Isn't that great, Lu?" said Levy happily, settling her hands on her best friend's shoulders kindly. She whispered in her ear: "Go on, go on… this is your chance!"

Lucy's blush seared through her cheeks and for a minute she thought her face was on fire. She suddenly felt awkward, demure, and coy, and even went as far as attempting to hide her rosy features behind her slim fingers. The blonde haired woman knew that every single pairs of eyes were looking at her – all eagerly waiting for a reaction, a response, like a predatory beast.

At long last when she had managed to recollect herself, she answered with that tender smile of her lips and gracefully accepted his invitation.

Thus, while the world surrounding them turned pitch-black and the murmuring of the admiring onlookers died down into a faint whisper, Natsu smoothly escorted her to the middle of the assembly hall, their every movement followed by a beam of spotlight which enveloped them in a flood of mellowness. Before they could position their arms, the velvet curtains on stage drew apart to reveal Mirajane in a lapis lazuli evening gown that brought out the cyan of her big blue eyes. She was clasping a microphone to her breast. But where was the orchestra, the instrumentalists? To answer that question, the Celestial Spirit Lyra appeared beside the former S-Class Mage with a poof of smoke to mark her entrance. They did not bother with words, or an introduction – they simply gave the couple a quick grin before Lyra commenced her performance. The melody was so heavenly it could have triggered tears in even the ungodly of men.

Smiling, she swept him her finest and lowest curtsy, and he acknowledged her by bowing low also, one hand on his frilled bosom. He placed his hand on her waist and her heart began to pound, a much rougher rhythm than the beautiful crooning emerging out of Mirajane's lips and the flowing tune of Lyra's harp. Pulling her in what seemed like an embrace, Natsu closed his eyes as her body fragrance – an enticing earthy combination of ocean spray and sea salt and sage and driftwood – filled his nostrils. He held her close, so close, her body moulding into his as if they were made for each other.

They were made for each other.

It was almost like there was no one else in the world at all, no walls keeping them in… and all that was left in the universe was just them two, slowly dancing in complete harmony with the romantic melody. With his arms around her waist, she could sense the hard muscles underneath those black sleeves and the buttons of his suit pressing into her breast. A warm tide of feeling, bewildering, frightening swept over her, carrying out of her mind the time and place and circumstances. She wanted to say something – anything – but each time she opened her mouth, she felt the callousness of his large square hands against her petite waist and sighed with content.

Inching her nose a little nearer to his neck, Lucy breathed in his scent which was nothing not all like her father's, who always had a hint of tobacco smoke lingering about his person. In fact, Natsu's scent was so much more exotic: she could recognise the brand of cologne he used – one of her favourites – intermingling with the outlandish aroma of charcoal flames and cinnamon. Slowly she moved her hands up to his neck and rested her head on his chest. Her bare cheek was cool from the breeze that entered through the window, yet the rhythm of his beating heart brought all the heat back to them. Carefully, he pushed a loose lock of hair behind her ear, smiling such a genuine smile that it made her weak at the knees… but thank goodness he was there to support her!

She is an angel – she is the most beautiful angel there ever was, every beat of Natsu's quickening heart whispered to him, and she is mine.

Embarrassment and awe flowed into her and stiffened her spine as she glanced up at him, her flawless skin glistening under the spotlight and her burnt sienna eyes with their long sooty lashes tilted at the ends glittering with an emotion so intense she couldn't even work out what it was. Then slowly he moved her away – she watched him, confused – but within a second he had twirled her around like a ballerina, pushing his front into her back, still moving side to side. The audience sighed with appreciation, but Natsu and Lucy did not hear them.

He nuzzled his nose into her neck, taking in her feminine perfume and realised that he could never have enough of it. Heart thudding hard inside their chests, Natsu proceeded to envelop his arms around her body, firmly but tenderly so as to not pain her. This was what they both longed for – to be in each other's arms, together, alone and without a care in the world.

Poignant tears of happiness seeped out of her closed eyelids and ran down her cheeks as Natsu whispered in her hair: "I love you… I love you so much, Lucy… Always, forever."

She only smiled into his shoulder. "I love you, too, Natsu. Always, forever."

There was no need to describe the bliss they both felt, then, because it fluttered inside their hearts like an emerging butterfly that was the epitome of their eternal love for each other.