Lucy's POV
The first walked up from behind me, but I kept my eyes trained on the image before me.
"What…?" I was able to utter the single word, before sinking to my knees. Holding my hand to my mouth, I stared wide eyed at my dead body; this was one of the most horrifying moments of my life. Am I dead?! What's happening?! I don't want to die..! As a few tears started to build up, they were abruptly stopped when I heard the First start to speak.
"Lucy, you aren't dead. However, to save Fairy Tail, you have made a great sacrifice, for that, I thank you deeply," turning my head, I stared blankly as she bowed to me.
Staying silent as she rose her head, my fear doubled as I saw the grim expression that she wore.
"That stone is a gift from the heavens, a gift of eternal power, of immortality. It ended up in the wrong hands, though, and was taught evil. And now that you have tinkered with it with the light of the stars, along with the evil of Kukyo's death spell… there was a reaction," she said the last few words in a small voice, and I continued to stare at her willing her to go on.
"You… became immortal."
I sighed a breath in relief, knowing that I would be able to still live my life with Fairy Tail.
The First stayed silent, looking down, and I turned my head to look back at the screen, which was slowly fading into gold dust. She held her hand out, and everything seemed to reverse itself. I wasn't stabbed, but instead-
Before I could see what happened next, my vision turned black, and I heard the First's chilling voice from above me.
"I'm sorry… Please be strong, for a painful road lies ahead of you…" were the las words she whispered. I saw Master actually looking at me, and he looked away, brows furrowed. I reached out to him, wanting answers, and knowing that he could provide them. He was the Master that welcomed me, accepted me, and he was the Master I had looked up to for all this time. My hand faltered, though, and my vision started to swim in circles. Falling limp, I caught a glimpse of my golden hair falling with me, and thought of my mother.
I woke up, everything a bright white. Blinking a few times, I recognized myself to be in the infirmary. It was only moments later, though, that I saw Wendy hovering over me, while Master stood off to the side with Mirajane, who was worridedly clutching a clipboard.
Before anyone couls say anything, I waved them off.
"I'm fine; my magic is at its usual level, I don't feel any pain, and any wound that I have can be healed by Virgo. For now, would you mind leaving me to rest?" I said in one breath, although I knew that I just really wanted some time to think to myself. Wendy nodded, and she filed out, along with Mirajane. Master followed, but that was only after as he threw something to me. Before I could question him, he was out of the room, and the door closed, leaving me all alone. I looked at the object in my hands. A book. The perfect thing to get my mind off of things.
Closing my eyes for a split second, I let my hand run over the intricate designs of the cover.
"The Immortal Princess," I said aloud to myself. Turning to the first page, I smiled at the familiar sound of the crisp pages rustling against each other.
Once upon a time, there was a young girl who was adored by everyone. However, she was self conscious, and considered herself weak, so she went out to train herself. Eventually, she was able to become stronger, only to have her heart broken, seeing that her prince had seemingly left her. Through this, though, the pan made her become even stronger, and she learned to get used to the heartache.
Frowning at the context, I flipped a couple of pages, and continued to read.
The girl's power was wanted by many, but one particular man had strived for it. He wanted to fix the past, to accomadate to himself, thinking that it was the right way to avenge the death of his mother. So, he had kidnapped the girl, but she put up a fight. Over and over again they fought, but the girl ended up being trapped in the end. One day, though, she had gotten the upper hand, and was able to return home to her family. They welcomed her with open arms, and she was content as she was with her friends again.
Going to the next page, I found myself lost in the book, relating to it.
She didn't know, though, was that she had dragged her family into the whole ordeal, the one thing that she didn't want to do. She hid all of her pain with a smile, but her mask was slowly cracking.
As the girl was unlocking an unknown power, the strange man came once again, with his corrupted gift from the heavens. The girl and her family fought ferociously, but the man was slowly winning. Frightened, the girl could only watch as her family was slaughtered, but she had realized a new solution. If she were to destroy the gift from heaven, the man would fall. There were dangers with handling the stone, though she those aside, only wanting to save her family.
She used her magic, colliding with heaven's corrupt ideals, but all the while, a spell of death was cast, and the magic's clashed. The girl's soul was altered, and she had become immortal.
~
Not caring, her prince was returned to her, and they lived happily, blissfully unaware of the consequences of the girl's immortality. They lived together, but the girl knew something was wrong when she had her youthful skin, whereas her husband was growing old. Under the magic of illusion, however, she too aged. Over this time, she had earned the thanks from the heavens for ridding of their corrupt gift, and had received a wish. Not knowing what to use it on, the girl continued to grow old. One day, though, the man revealed that he was a demon, and the girl, once again frightened, used her wish.
'I wish to return to the time where he was really there' she said to the heavens, and so time was reversed. She had traveled to the exact spot in time where she had met her prince. The boy recognized her, as if she was from some other life of his, but the girl was once again, unaware, her memories wiped as a small price to pay for the wish.
She didn't know, though, that this was her fifth time continuing the loop, and this time, heaven couldn't adhere to her wishes. Each time, something was changed, and heaven decided it was time to stop. And so, the girl's memories returned, as did the boy's, and lived together, for the last time, smiling happily together until the end.
Closing the book, I held it to my chest. I would have time to revisit the skipped pages later, so I gingerly stood up, feeling power pump up through my veins. I felt the cool floor against my bare feet, but I didn't care, and I continued until I was stopped in front of the infirmary's curtain. Looking at my hands, I realized that my limiters had broken off, probably during the fight, and I shook my head. No reason to hide. I put my hand on the curtain, moving it slightly. I've changed, but I won't ever really change. I pushed the curtain aside, and I unexpectedly felt tear prick the corners of my eyes as I watched all the faces of my family turn to look at me. Natsu started to run at me, and I smiled at them as they shouted and chorused.
"I'm back!"
"Lucy!" Natsu reached for me, hugging me. Hugging back softly, I let the silent tears spill, my happiness flooding through me.
"I'm sorry that I worried you…" I whispered, and he hugged me tighter, only to be pulled away by Gray, who was glaring at him.
"Yo! Don't hog her!" His eyes softened as he turned to me, and he hugged me as well, I returning it. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Juvia chanting 'LOVE RIVAL', but I also spotted a hint of relief reflected in her eyes. I cringed as Erza smashed me into her breastplate, but laughed at her antics as she hurriedly apologized, insisting that I smack her in some way.
"I'm back!" I yelled one more time, relishing in the fact that nothing had changed. As long as I can live with my family like this… I'll worry about immortality later, I thought to myself as my book disappeared into the spirit world.
"This calls for a celebration!" Cana said, raising a mug full of beer. Wakaba, who was beside her, laughed, slamming down his own mug.
"You just want an excuse to drink!" he exclaimed, and Cana scoffed.
"You wanna take me on?" She slurred, glaring at him as she got a refill. Wacao returned the glare as he got another mug of his own. In a few seconds, they were chugging down beer. Sweat dropping, I watched as everyone erupted into one of their usual brawls, this being a usual party standard for Fairy Tail. Requipping into another outfit, I hummed happily. Walking over to the bar, I decided to go out of my safe zone, and, feeling frivolous, ordered some champagne.
Holding the pretty glass carefully, I took a sip, watching as everyone was drawn into Natsu and Gray's brawl, though they were all quickly eliminated as Erza put an abrupt stop to the fight. Closing my eyes, I felt the familiar presences of my friends all around me.
I used to be alone… An image of me as a child standing alone in a ballroom flashed before me. Slowly opening my eyes again, I studied the smiling faces of everyone around me, and couldn't help the warmth going through my body. It's a nice feeling… having others with you. I took another sip, letting the flow of the party take me over.
Natsu's POV
Everyone was pretty much wasted, so, not bothering to pick another fight, I scanned the area for Lucy. She wasn't here, so I used my nose, sensing that she went outside. Following the scent, I found her in a field of flowers, staring up at the stars of the night sky. Standing behind her, it didn't take long for her to notice me.
"Natsu…" her breath mingled with the smell of alcohol, and she had a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Lucy…" I said back, and she stood up, but stumbled a bit. Supporting her with my arms, I frowned.
"Luce, I'm glad you're back…" I whispered, and enveloped her in my arms.
"Natsu…?"
"Being away from you… it just hurt so much. Seeing you lying there, bruised and bloodied, bcause you were protecting us, it just hurt so damn much. I hated that feeling of uselessness. I was so worried…" I voice my real feelings, holding her tighter.
"But, it made me realize something. That I can't live without you, and that you're more than just my best friend. You're a part of me," I continued, feeling her hesitate in my arms.
"So," I went on. "I finally realized, that after all this time," I stared into her eyes, pulling away a bit.
"I love you,"
Her eyes went wide, and she blushed even more, but I could tell that it wasn't from the alcohol.
"N-natsu, I-I" she stammered, twirling a piece of her hair. Eventually, she took a deep breath, and looked up.
"The sky sure is pretty, isn't it?" she noted, looking at the stars with fondness in her eyes.
Eyes trailing upwards, I found myself lost in the stars. Plopping myself down on the grass, I sat cross legged. After a few minutes, I turned to her.
"You didn't answer me," I stated, and she looked confused.
"Do you love me?" I asked simply, and she looked shocked again. Then, after a few moments, she spoke up, nodding.
"Of course I do, i-idiot!" she whisper yelled, smacking me on the arm. I looked at her for a moment, but a grin slowly spread across my features. Throwing myself around her, I started to laugh.
"Then, you're mine, right?" I shouted, and she smiled up at me, hugging me back.
"Obviously, idiot!" she chorused. Linking our hands together, I smiled at her once more.
Lucy's POV
Just like Natsu, to be straightforward and direct. He laced his hands with mine, and I squeezed back.
"I love you, too…" I repeated, almost to myself, as I glowed with happiness. Our hands together, like pieces of a puzzle, just felt so right. Our eyes meeting, us together, under the stars, just felt so satisfying. Love's a wonderful thing, isn't it? I lightly touched his salmon hair, a shade I've gotten used to, thanking the universe that I was able to meet this dragon slayer.
"The adventure continues, though, isn't that right?" I murmured what he had said to me so many times, and he smiled, jumping up.
"I'm all fired up now! We still have to party!" He started running dragging me along as laughter bubbled up from inside of me. Yes, things were as normal.
My feet hitting the pavement, my hair flying behind me, and the glimpses of Natsu's scarf of scales fluttering in the wind, it all felt so natural, as if this was meant to be.
-I remember I took everything for granted.
The guild neared, and we could hear the boisterous mages from where we were.
-I wasn't careful.
Kicking down the guild doors in his usual manner, Natsu entered another brawl, while I sparked up some conversation with Wendy.
-So I got hurt.
I watched the pink Fairy Tail mark on my hand grow radiantly.
-I regretted my actions.
My eyes scanned the crowd, smiling at the familiar faces.
-I should've known that it wouldn't have lasted.
"These guys sure are crazy, huh?" I remarked, noticing how Gray strippd down to his bare skin, with Wendy covering her eyes, Juvia fangirling in a corner.
-I wish that I could've turned back time, just to relish the time more, just so I could appreciate it.
Sighing in content, I leaned my elbows back on the table, giggling at a woozy Mavis who was trying to balance on the ceiling beam.
-It was all perfect, at the time.
Forming the Fairy Tail signature mark, an L shape, I raised my hand, shouting.
"Let's amp this party up!"
-Then it all went awry.
"Damn right!" Slurred Wakaba, who had obviously lost the drinking competition he was currently in, seeing that Cana was still chugging down wine at a fast pace.
-I had been tricked, but fate was still cruel, after all.
Touching my keys and feeling their calming presence, I ordered a drink, my throat being parched from the alcohol I had previously consumed.
-Why didn't I do anything?
I locked eyes with Natsu from across the room for a moment, and I grinned, him returning the gesture before he was pulled back into the fight by a very drunk Gray.
I thought nothing of it. I took it all for granted, and forgot something that would come to haunt me later. I was hurt, and I kept this on for too long. But, time and time again, I ignored the signs, and just lived as carefree as I was. I should've been more careful, I should've calculated the risks before I got hurt. But no, here I am, in an endless loop, with no way out. I haven't gotten stronger. If I was strong, I wouldn't have gotten hurt, I wouldn't have been afraid, I wouldn't have been stupid and gotten stuck here. What's the point, anyway, if I'm just a toy? Immortality… a fate worse than death, indeed.
The prophecy has already begun.