Lucy couldn't believe her eyes. There stood Natsu, her boyfriend, in front of her. He was fully healed, his Fairy Tail mark was back, no cuts on his left arm, no x-shaped scar on his chest, and no bloody hair. She reached for his face, cupping his cheeks gently, making sure he was real. After a while Lucy hugs him tight, to which the fire mage happily returns. They stayed in that position for a while until Lucy broke the silence.
"P-P-Please tell me t-t-t-this is real, that this i-i-i-isn't another d-d-dream…" Lucy pleaded while stammering. Natsu smiled guiltily and started stroking Lucy's hair, comforting her, letting her know that he is real and that he's back. He then breaks the hug and cups Lucy's cheeks gently, making her look at him.
"This is real Lucy. I'm back and this time for good. I will never leave you again and that's a promise I intend to keep." Natsu said while smiling at her. Lucy couldn't hold her tears back and decided to let it all out. Lucy cried into his chest and as she cried her heart out, Natsu heard her muble something that he couldn't quite make out.
"What was that?" He asked with tears begging to escape but kept them locked away.
"I said," Lucy looked into his onyx eyes before continuing. "Don't you ever do something that crazy ever again!"
"Lucy I-"
"PROMISE ME!" She hugged the fire mage tight, not wanting to let go.
"I promise you." He said while hugging Lucy as tightly as she was. "I-I-I-I thought I w-w-w-was never going t-t-t-to s-see you again. I thought I lost t-t-the love of my life. I'm sorry Natsu! I'm sorry for forgetting you. I'm sorry for almost loving someone else! I'm sor-" She couldn't finish, his lips were gently pressing against hers so she couldn't help but kiss him back. Lucy felt pure happiness flow inside her heart while kissing her loved one after three long painful years of mourning and depression. He broke the kiss after a while.
"Lucy, didn't you hear me? There's no reason to apologize. Lucy, I love you with all my heart." Natsu said before kissing her again. This time she broke apart.
"Lucy, I promise that I will never do something so life threatening ever again. I'm here for you and never will I leave you. So please stop crying, it breaks my heart to see you cry, especially since I'm the reason your crying."
"But Natsu, these are tears of joy! I'm just so happy right now!" Lucy said while smiling with tears streaming down her face.
"Okay. Hey Lucy, how about we head to the guild? I'll tell you how I came back to life when we get there."
"Okay." She said while wiping her tears. Natsu picked her up and carried her bridal style, carrying her all the to the guild.
-Fairy Tail Guild-
Everyone in the guild was ready to go to Natsu's grave, until the doors kicked open and revealed the fire mage himself! With Lucy in his arms. All the mages were in complete shock. Some of them started to tear up while others just had their mouths open. They all started to murmur to one another till Macao decided to ask.
"N-N-Natsu? I-I-I-Is that you?"
"Yeah. Your really alive?" Wakaba added in.
"Yeah." Natsu said while nodding his head and putting Lucy down. After a few seconds, Mirajane, Elfman, Lissana, Erza, Happy, Wendy, and Romeo ran up to him to hug the guy.
"WE MISSED YOU!" Mirajane said.
"WELCOME BACK NATSU-NII!" Romeo said.
"NATSU-SAN! YOUR BACK!" Wendy said.
"MY BUDDY NATSU IS BACK!" Happy said.
"COMING BACK TO LIFE?! NOW THAT'S BEING A MAN!" Elfman yelled out.
"DON'T YOU DARE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAIN!" Erza warned Natsu.
"NATSU!" Lissana said.
"Okay! Okay! I missed you guys too but…!"
"But what?"
"TOO TIGHT! TOO TIGHT! CAN'T BREATHE!" Natsu said while suffocating. They broke the group hug.
"Sorry."
"Natsu."
"Hmm. Ah Gramps!"
"Welcome home my boy!" Makarov happily said.
"WELCOME HOME NATSU!" The entire guild yelled, happy to see the fire mage.
"Thanks you guys! It's great to be back!"
"Natsu."
"Yes Lucy?"
"You said you would tell me how you came back to life."
"Now that you mention it, Natsu my boy you should tell us." Makarov said.
"Mmm. I'll tell you but you might wanna sit down since it will take me a while." Apparently the Dragon's Eye had a secondary power. It could bring back the life of either a dragon or a dragon slayer. Gray spent the last three years at Mt. Hakabe and found the ancient spell used to activate the power but at the cost of his life. The ice mage decided that giving his life up to revive Natsu was a way to show repentance towards him and Lucy. As soon as Natsu came out of his dragon statue grave, Gray turned into a spirit, and explained to Natsu everything that has happened in the three years he's been gone. He apologized for what he did three years ago. Natsu forgave him for what he did but still hated him for attempting to steal Lucy from him. Gray expected this and accepted his answer. Before the ice mage descended into the afterlife, he asked Natsu to pass on a message to Lucy and to the Fairy Tail Mages. He wanted them to know that he truly was sorry for the trouble he caused. The guild listen contently and decided that it was best to forgive and forget, after making such a selflessness decision.
"Well It's good to have you back Natsu!" Erza said and then grabbing Natsu's head to have him hit her armor.
"THIS CALLS FOR A PARTY!"
"YYYYYYEEEEEAAAAHHHH!" Everyone celebrated for the return of their dragon slayer. The party lasted until midnight. But before the party ended…
"Hey Lucy?"
"Yes Natsu?" Lucy asked. Then Natsu held her hands in his, making her blush.
"Lucy, I need to be certain of something. Do you fully remember me?"
"Of course I do."
"Then you remember how much I love you then?"
"Yes."
"In that case." He leans in to kiss her, which Lucy happily returns back.
"I decided that if there was a way to come back to life, I would ask you this question."
"And what question would that be?" Natsu smiled at the question, before getting down on one knee and pulled out a black box.
"I love you and I want to be with you for the rest of my life." Natsu said as he opened the box, revealing a diamond ring. (After Gray left, he headed towards a jewelery shop that was near the Love & Lucky guild and brought a ring). Lucy started to tear up, with her hands covering her mouth. She couldn't believe how this day was turning out. First she sees her beloved alive and well, then she got to kiss her loved one again. And now he is proposing to her.
"Lucy Heartfilia, I Natsu Dragneel, offer you my love, my protection, my very life now and forever. I promise you that I will never leave you nor make you cry. I also promise you that I will never do anything to cause you pain and sorrow. So will accept my proposal and marry me?" He asked while holding up the ring in front of her. Everyone was in awe, watching the fire mage propose to Lucy.
"Natsu….Yes! Yes I will!" She said hugging him while crying at the same time. Natsu put the ring on her ring finger.
"I love you Lucy, with all my heart."
"I love you too Natsu." They leaned in and kissed each other passionately. The guild cheered for the couple, happy that not only did they get back their dragon slayer, or that the celestial mage was happy once more, but that Natsu and Lucy are getting married.
-Outside the Guild-
Looking from behind the open doors, Gray was watching the whole time. He smiled knowing that he set things right, and started to disappear slowly.