I knoooow I said this would be 3 parts originally, but of course I could not contain myself. This probably is the opposite of a problem, though. :p At this point I'm not sure if it will end up being 4 or 5 parts, tbh, it depends.

Either way, thankyou so much for your amazing enthusiasm for this fic, it makes me so happy!

(And you should totally check out the art for this fic bc there's been more and it is AMAZING ;3; )

As always, reviews absolutely make my day and give me boosts of energy and motivation! -3- You're all amazing!

"Would you like some more tea?"

Natsu nodded, holding out the wooden cup Lucy had handed him earlier. Steam rose in small clouds as she poured the hot liquid into it, the scent of herbs (peppermint and sage, and even a hint of berries) filling the air.

Lucy's home was small, but offered everything the heart desired. It was cozy, the small fire that danced happily in the fireplace warming up the air and casting a soft light as far as it could reach. Hidden behind bushes and built into the oldest and largest tree of this forest, it felt safe and homely, a strong magical aura lingering all over.

Even the largest of trees, of course, would not have been enough to serve as a house, but the spirits had their ways of tweaking reality. Rather than bending it to their will, they gently asked, and reality complied all by itself. And so when Lucy had led Natsu through the little, beautifully carved door, he had pointed out in wonder that the inside of the tree expanded impossibly further than its exterior allowed. Lucy had smiled, busy lighting some candles to aid the fire that burned steadily in her fireplace.

The darkness that resided here was natural and soft, nothing like the shapeless evil that stalked the forest, patiently waiting like a starving snake; unmoving, lurking.

They sat on the ground beside a low table, wooly blankets covering their feet as they drank their tea and exchanged smiles and curious glances.

They had barely met, but the silence they were sharing felt comfortable and peaceful.

Two bowls of vegetable stew, accompanied by some dry bread, was all Lucy could offer for dinner, but for Natsu every experience was new, and every taste a delight.

"I'm sorry I can't offer you a better meal," she apologized, lowering her gaze, "Times have been a little rough. My pantry is not as full as it used to be. The land gives less now."

"But this is awesome!" Natsu protested, heartily biting into his slice of bread and littering crumbs everywhere.

It did not escape Lucy, however, that his eyes kept flicking over towards the crackling fire beside them, his gaze curious – and hungry. Maybe he didn't even notice himself. She wondered…

Little breadcrumbs stuck to his lips, and he licked them away absentmindedly, completely focused on the fire now. Lucy followed the direction of his gaze, watching the flames blaze and curl, their shape and colour in steady change. She felt its warmth on her skin, heard the comforting crackling as it ate away at the logs. Natsu's stomach rumbled, then, ripping both of them out of their trance.

"Hey… Natsu," Lucy started slowly, studying the little flames that had suddenly erupted in his hair, "Could it be, the fire… Do you want to, uh, try?"

Natsu blinked at her in confusion, cocking his head.

"Well, you seem to be something like a fire spirit," she clarified, "Maybe you need to feed on flames too?"

His eyes widened curiously, leaving her face to stare at the little fire again. "It looks kinda tasty," he agreed, "Smells good too."

Lucy smiled fondly, amused by his unsure behaviour. "Why don't you try it?" she nudged again, and this time he scooted closer to the fireplace.

Leaning his head forwards, he inhaled loudly, and she could have sworn he started drooling a little. Then, gingerly, he reached his hand forwards.

His fingertips touched the flames, which promptly licked along his skin.

They did not seem to hurt him, and he curiously moved his hand first over the flames, letting them tickle his palm, and then dipped it lower. And suddenly Lucy could not distinguish his hand from the flames around it. It was as if it was fire itself, mingling with its element and returning to its essence.

The fire slowly spread up his wrist, and for a moment Lucy was scared: scared that the flames might take back what was theirs, that they might take Natsu from her and leave her all alone again.

But he pulled back, and his arm returned to human form, albeit the flames in his hand continued burning. It was as if he was gripping them, as if they were actually tangible. They seemed to be, for him.

Lucy watched open-mouthed as he held them up in front of his face, poking his tongue out to lick at the fire like a cat would lick at a bowl of milk. He seemed to like what he tasted, because the next thing she knew was that he had stuffed his whole fist into his mouth.

A happy little moan left his lips, and he sighed as he licked the flames off his fingers hungrily.

"Seems like that worked," Lucy chuckled to herself, watching as a large grin spread across Natsu's face when he turned to look at her.

"That was amazing! You're a genius, Lucy!" he called, reaching out to grab her shoulders. The robe she had lent him slipped off his shoulder, but he didn't seem to care or even notice, beaming happily. He really did remind her of a flame.

She smiled back, feeling her whole face warm up in a way that no normal fire could have accomplished. Really, she hadn't felt this carefree and hopeful in a long time.

The gears in his head were turning, she could see it in the way his face slipped in concentration, eyes staring at nothing for a second. Then a triumphant grin quite literally split his face in half, and his eyebrows rose playfully.

"I'm all fired up now," he cackled, and Lucy joined in on his laughter before she knew it.

It rang loudly in her small home, filling it with life and happiness. It was as if the tree was breathing in their joy, and giving back manifold. The space seemed a lot brighter than it had when they'd first entered together not too long ago.

Sighing and blinking away small tears of laughter, Lucy took her spoon into her hand with new vigour, savouring the taste of the stew she had cooked for two. It was a curious thing, but food really did taste better when shared.

Now Natsu, having discovered the joys of food in all its (unexpected) shapes and sizes, was busy taking turns sipping from his soup and sinking his hand into the fireplace.

It was a sight to behold, and Lucy had become so happy watching him, being with him, that for this small moment in time that she had forgotten all about the problem that had been ever-present in her mind for a much too long time.

There was a darkness lurking in the forest, something evil that was stealing the light and reigning with fear and terror, and she couldn't fight it on her own.

A now familiar shadow overcast her face, her smile clouding. Yes, she was safe from the danger, and happy for now – but many weren't. Maybe they would not be for much longer either. The darkness was stealthy, slow but relentless, and sooner or later, if no one stopped it, it would swallow the forest whole.

Natsu noticed her change in mood, eyeing her carefully.

It could hurt him, too. She could not let it snuff out his fire. He was under her protection like every living and breathing thing in this forest. They all were her friends.

And so she made a decision.

"Natsu," she started, "I haven't told you about the forest yet. I said I would."

The boy perked, curiously scooting closer and pulling the blanket further up his legs. Then he stopped half-way, offering it up to her too.

With a little smile, Lucy silently accepted, draping the blanket over her legs. And so they sat beside each other, shoulders and thighs touching comfortably, as Lucy began her tale.

"This forest used to be a happy place. I grew up here with my mother, who was the spirit guardian before me. Everything I know, I learned from her. The woods were full of life and laughter, and we were very happy looking after the forest together. But she got sick, very sick. And… not long after she died, the light began to fade. It was as if something was weakening it, devouring it. And along with the darkness, this feeling of… hopelessness and fear came. I don't know what it is, I don't know what's waiting in the darkness, or if the darkness itself is alive. But it scares everyone and everything; it takes my friends. I haven't seen anyone in a long time. Even the plants, the trees and flowers… it doesn't exactly kill them, but… they're sad, and depressed. I can hear them crying sometimes. The forest is hurt and it hurts me too."

Pausing to steady her hurt voice, Lucy took a shaky breath.

"And I couldn't stop it from happening. I tried, I really did. But this is why, now… I have to stop it, no matter the cost. I waited far too long. I couldn't do anything, and I hate it. But… there's a way. It has to be possible."

Determination took hold of her face as she balled her fists at her sides, and Natsu, still silent, gave her a questioning look.

"There's this legend. Beneath the forest, the spirit king sleeps. There is a gate that can summon him, and only the spirit guardian can open it. I know the story, and I know the gate exists. My mother took me to see it once, when I was younger, and told me to remember it well in times of need. If I can open it, and summon the spirit king…" Lucy's hopeful voice lost its drive, slowly dying down to a whisper, "But it's in the deepest part of the forest. The darkness has taken over there, and no one dares go near it anymore. I can't get there. I tried, once, but what's a little light against an ocean of darkness?" she asked, lips trembling. "I can't sustain the light for long, not even around here."

Natsu nudged her gently, and Lucy sniffed.

"I can barely leave my home anymore," she admitted sadly, twiddling her thumbs, "It takes a lot of strength."

She sighed, giving him a sad smile. It remained quiet for a moment, the little story drawing to a close in the silence, even after Lucy had stopped speaking.

"So this is why I have to go." Lucy nodded to herself, smiling grimly. "You can stay here, you'll be safe. But this is something I have to do, I owe it to everyone. I will protect all of you. I will see my friends again, together with you. Thankyou Natsu." She smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You gave me new hope."

Natsu blinked at her as if, while certainly having listened closely to her story, he was not really able to see her problem. "I don't understand."

"What do you mean?" she asked, confusion mixing in with her sadness.

"I don't understand," he repeated, "You have me now."

Lucy's eyes widened, mouth opening but no words leaving her lips.

"I'm a flame," he said with a proud smile, as if he had just now decided what he was and how he would define himself, and was happy with his awareness, "I can light the way if you lead it. Together we can get there, can't we?"

"You… would really do that?" Lucy asked in disbelief. "You don't have to do this for me. It's dangerous."

"But I want to!" he protested happily, breadcrumbs falling off his hand as he lifted it into the air enthusiastically. "You helped me, so I want to help you! Besides, you're really nice."

Lucy did not want to protest, really, even if she probably should have.

Natsu was a flame, and he would gladly lend her the light she needed. Tears welled up in Lucy's eyes, happy tears, and this time she did give in to her joy and exhilaration. Leaning forward, she hugged the cloaked boy, pressing him flat against her chest as if she never wanted to let go.

Maybe she didn't.

His hands were warm just like the rest of him, slowly settling on her back. Lucy felt him sigh against her, his body relaxing. He smelled of smoke; the good kind. She didn't see his face, but she knew he was smiling; she could picture his expression.

"I think your mother was a nice person," he suddenly spoke against her, "because you're such a nice person too."

It was such a simple statement, but it made her heart swell to the point she thought it might explode any second. She buried her face against his shoulder, inhaling deeply.

"I wonder what it's like to have a mother, or a father," he said more solemnly, and Lucy found her heart breaking all over again, in an entirely different way.

"I'm sure you can find a family here," she replied softly after a moment, "This forest is big, and once we save it I can introduce you to many of my friends. Many spirits reside here, and they are all very lovable in their own way. I even know a fire dragon spirit; I think you would love him. Families come in many different shapes and sizes, and sometimes unexpected people can become as important to you as a mother, a father, a sibling or… something else. The only thing you need is love, really."

"Love…" he echoed. "I think I know what that is. It's the warm feeling in your heart."

"Yes." She smiled.

"Can you be my family, too?"

He pulled back, eyeing her seriously; expectant and hopeful.

"Yes," she said again, smiling from one ear to the other, so hard it almost hurt.

"Good." He nodded, seeming satisfied with her answer. "That means you'll stay with me forever."

He yawned, then, stretching his arms over his head and opening his mouth so wide she could see the little fire burning in his throat.

Lucy giggled softly. She felt as if a fire was burning inside her, too.

Sleep was tugging at her eyelids just as it seemed to do with Natsu, who was already about to fall asleep, it seemed, curling against her side. Lucy blushed again, but shook her head.

It was warm and safe here beside him, and she deserved a good night's sleep.

She had a feeling she would wake up more rested than she had been in months.

And so they fell asleep beside each other, close to the fire and huddled into soft blankets.

Soft, rhytmical breaths mingled with the occasional sparking of the fire and breaking of logs, a soothing sound in the quiet of night.

Tomorrow, they would embark on an adventure.

But tonight they slept peacefully, happy to have a new friend by their side.