Lucy's POV
Blinking, I sat up, my head dizzy. Everything was so bright, and I felt like I was seeing stars. Rubbing my eyes, though, I was surprised to find that I was seeing stars. Looking around the bright, golden lit area, I notice something in the distance. A falling star. And it was headed straight for me. Panicking, I scurried back, bracing myself as the star exploded into dust. Coughing, I stayed on the ground, peeking through my hands to see a tall, bright figure emerge.
"An angel…" I whispered subconsciously, and as the dust cleared, the figure stretched out wings of pure white, leaving me mesmerised.
"Correct," the kind voice sated, holding out a hand to me which I hesitantly took.
"W-where am I?" I asked, feeling for my surely broken neck, only to find it unharmed.
"You're in heaven, not dead though, so do not fret, child," the angel said, calmly as I stared into his piercing blue eyes.
"Child? You look to be about the same age as me," I commented, having somewhat collected my wits.
"That is because we are immortal in the name of the Seraph. I am actually hundreds of years old. You may call me by the name of Acrophil. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Heartfilia," Acrophil bowed a little, his long blonde hair creating shadows on his perfect face. Taking a deep breath, I began to form more questions in my head.
"W-why am I here?" My voice came out small and tiny, and I didn't like it one bit. Gulping, I looked to him as he began to speak.
"We sensed that you were in the hands of a demon, so the heavens sent me to fetch you. We are eternally grateful for what you have done," his voice boomed, leaving me confused.
"What do you mean? A demon? Grateful?" my head was spinning, and I shifted into a cross legged position. Acrophil got a sad look in his eyes, but he reverted back to his happy expression just as fast.
"If you remember, about 63 years ago, you battled against one of the sons of Lucifer, in which he had gone by the name of Kukyo in the human realm, I believe. He had somehow gotten his hands on the crystal of immortality, a gift from up here down to the humans to repair damages after the war. You were able to defeat him and restore the crystal into its true form, the stars that give guidance to Earthland. We are extremely grateful for cleaning up after our own mistakes, Miss Heartfilia," the way he said it sounded so heartfelt, but it seemed as if it had lost its meaning over time, as if he had repeated it too many times to count.
"One last question, Acrophil. How do you know me?"
"We've been through this process before, Lucy. Not that you would remember. Anyhow, as a token of our gratitude, we are able to grant you one wish, anything that you could possibly want," Acrophil stated, bowing once again, his eyes seemingly staring into my soul. Immediately, though, I knew what I wanted to wish for.
"I wish to reverse time," I breathed out, looking down at my hands.
"Back to the time where Natsu was just Natsu, and I was just Lucy,"
".."
"I was able to piece everything together. Natsu was the demon you were talking about, right? During Tartaros, I overheard everything, but didn't understand at the time. He's END, awakened by his brother, Zeref, to be the demon lord. His instinct to banish good overcame his true self, leading him to…" I gulped, not being able to finish. A cool hand was placed on my shoulder, and it soothed me.
"Color me impressed, Miss Lucy. Now, close your eyes," He said sadly. Following his orders, his fingertips touched my eyelids briefly, and he put his hands on the top of my head.
"Your wish will be granted… However, this will be the last time…" He murmured.
Last time..? My memory failing me, I couldn't make the connection the humble storybook gifted to me decades ago.
Light filled my vision, even with my eyes closed, and I blacked out again.
Waking up, I found myself outside, and apparently on a bench. Sitting up, I looked to see a magazine on my lap, titled Sorcerer's Weekly. Something in the back of my mind clicked as I watched the famous pinup model Mira of Fairy Tail on the pages. Looking at my blank hand, I felt a burning passion fill me. I need to go to this place. My heart clenched, and a voice boomed in my head.
'The cycle will end as evil is banned to the deepest corners of hell'.
At that moment, memories flooded me, memories of Fairy Tail, of battles, enemies, allies, friends, and adventures. Memories of magic, fun, family, and trust. Memories of hurt, sacrifice, sadness, and pain. Memories of hair the color of cherry blossoms, scarf made of dragon scales, and strongest dragon slayer in Fiore.
Smiling to myself, I felt happiness all throughout my body. I couldn't exactly get the name off of my tongue, but the feeling of burning love was there.
Natsu's POV
I woke up, clutching my head. Gray looked at me, snorting.
"Finally up, huh Princess?" he retorted, but I didn't say anything back.
Lucy. The only name echoing in my head. Golden hair, chocolate brown eyes, radiant smile, the love of my life, and the one I killed. Why did I kill her? What happened to me? We were living the perfect life… and I ruined it. Why did this have to happen? Who am I really? What really happened that day? Guilt filled me, as this unfamiliar familiarity was all I saw. A tear slipped down my face, and Gray peered worriedly at me.
"Lucy… Where's Lucy?!" I shouted at him, and he looked at me, confused.
"Lucy? What are you talking about? We don't have a Lucy in the guild. You're going bonkers, man. Maybe you should-" he started, but I pushed him to the side. HOW DARE THAT BASTARD FORGET HER! WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHing! She's here. She's not dead. She can't be dead. I got puzzled stares as I bolted out of the guild, and I glared them all down. I was able to get outside, breathing in fresh air, but was pushed to my knees by a force so strong, it seemed even stronger that Master Makarov's magical energy.
"Your sins have been forgiven," a voice boomed. Looking around, I saw nobody, and I held my head in my hands at the piercing pain that soon followed.
"The demon will be extracted, and all will be well, child," the voice echoed, and I looked up, only to see a figure so bright that I couldn't even look at it without surely being blinded. None the less, I squinted at him, only to have to look away moments later.
"Take care of her. Child of the stars, she is. She's important. Remember that," a burning, yet cool sensation filled my back, and I turned my head, only to see demon wings sprout from my back, then fade into dust. The sensation went away, and I staggered to my feet.
Lucy's POV
A key I didn't recall having jingled, and I looked at my belt, only to have it glow brightly. A figure emerged, covered with shadows, and obviously male. As the shadows passed, my voice came out uncertain.
"Zeref?"
"He's been purified in the name of the heavens. Tch. I almost had you there. I'll get revenge, at one point," he said in a cold voice, different from the one he shared when I was with him a long time ago. I watched as he began to deteriorate into dust, drifting off into the wind. Hearing footsteps, I turned around, coming face to face with a blue haired man, a mob of girls swarming around him.
"They call me the Salamander, miss. Would you care to be mine?" he asked charmingly. Slowly, I felt my consciousness drifting away, and my feet dragged towards this 'Salamander'.
"Salamander…" The unfamiliar name rolled off my tongue. It was weird, yet familiar, and directing it towards this strange man seemed so wrong. Out of nowhere, though, a flash of pink blinded me, and I was released from the spell that previously held me. Blinking, my eyes darted towards the new man.
Slowly, they widened, and I reached out. Natsu.
His bangs covered his eyes, but as he lifted his head to look at me, he broke into a smile, tears falling.
"Lucy…"
I had gotten used to the pain of not being loved, of being called weak, of that feeling of helplessness that haunted me around every corner.
I took a shaky step towards the familiar dragon slayer, taking in his appearance.
I had turned that pain into strength, though, but I never really grew strong, because I was the same in his eyes. The only pair of eyes that really mattered.
My other hand raised, stretched out towards him.
And during that time, I had evolved, facing new challenges, and overcoming different struggles.
I discovered I didn't need to be strong.
I found that I was fine the way I was.
But, I thought to myself.
'Would everything stay the same if I hadn't faced this pain?'
'This suffering?'
Does it still really matter?
I got so used to this pain, that…
I forgot what it felt like to be truly happy.
I ran into his arms, sending us both to the ground.
"Natsu…" I whispered as he held me against his chest.
"Lucy, you're not dead…" Closing my eyes, I savored the sweet moment shared between us. Failing to notice the background of everything starting to blur, our hair floating gently in an undetermined wind.
Pulling away so I could look at him, I felt the warm feeling slowly drain, and be replaced with something new.
Another chance.
Without any control over my body, I moved backwards, picking up my magazine, and sitting back down on the bench. I saw the flash of pink disappear behind the bushes, but I didn't care.
A new beginning.
My eyes skimmed over the pages, my interest piqued.
A new ending. A gift from the heavens.
But, once again, it had been tinkered with by the devil. As for the consequences…
would it be corrupt?
My head snapped up to a rustle in the bushes, closing the magazine. I was surprised to see a boy stumble out, a windblown scarf wrapped around him and a blue cat on his shoulder. Seeing his distressed self, I couldn't help but laugh at his expense.
Natsu's POV
I heard laughter, the sounds of bells tinkling in the wind filling my ears. Turning, I saw a girl around the same age as me, with beautiful long hair, and a radiant smile. What a… familiar smile… Walking over, I ran a hand through my hair, smiling.
"Yo! Have you seen a dragon anywhere around here, miss?" I said cheerfully, and she face palmed.
"Tell me, why would a dragon be here in Magnolia, in a small town?" she said, rolling her eyes, and I realized what a stupid mistake I had made.
"His name's Igneel, by any chance, anyways," I commented blankly, scratching my head, at a loss as to what I should do in this awkward situation.
Lucy's POV
Noticing the mark on his shoulder, I inhaled sharply. Looking down at my blank hand, I slowly put it on his arm.
"You… Fairy Tail?"
"Yup!" He grinned, flashing a thumbs up at me, as the cat busied himself with chewing on a piece of fish he got from Mavis knows where. Mavis?
"The name's Natsu, Salamander of Fairy Tail, a bunch know me as!"
"I'm… Lucy,"
Natsu's POV
Lucy. A name that rolls off the tongue. I like that. I like it a lot, actually. I felt my smile falter, though, and I began to tear up. Reaching for hand to shake it, I felt her cool palm against mine, the way our hands fit so perfectly together.
"Hey," she suddenly called out, causing me to stop staring at our intertwined hands.
"Can I join your guild?" I was at a loss of words for a second, but, regaining my composure, I put on my usual smile, and started to run, dragging Lucy along behind me.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" I shouted over my shoulder, only to see her momentarily confused expression shift into that familiar smile again. Turning around, I felt something in my gut boil, and, as my feet hit the pavement in thuds, I thought about how the guild would be like with a new member.
"There are so many new friends you'll make: especially me, I'm the awesomest," I filled in the windswept silence.
"You'll make friends like me, Erza, Gray, and-" I cut myself off short, my eyes widening. Lucy. No, that's not right.
"Luce,"
"Natsu?"
Yeah, that makes sense now, I thought to myself as memories flooded through me. Looking back at the blonde, I felt the tears in my eyes begin to fall. Stopping, I felt her tumble into my back.
"Luce," I breathed out, turning around. She looked surprised at my sudden gesture, me grabbing her shoulders.
"Don't you remember me?"
Lucy's POV
"Don't you remember me?" As he held me, the warmth seemed so familiar, so recognizable, yet so unknown. I hesitantly wrapped my arms around Natsu, and the awkwardness from before disappeared. We both closed our eyes, savoring each other's familiar company.
"Look," I started, my voice shaky.
"I don't really know who you are, but…" a burning feeling bloomed through my chest, an old feeling I hadn't felt in a while.
"I know I'm supposed to be with you," he blinked away his tears in surprise. Taking his hand gently, I felt another unfamiliar key glow. Looking down, a name automatically registered in my mind: Igneel.
Looking back at Natsu, I held my breath, but slowly began to walk.
I don't know what's happening, but I know I should go with him.
I don't know who he is, but I know I should trust him.
I don't know what this feeling is, but I know I should embrace it.
Before it's too late.
That's right.
Now, I can be happy, right?
We walked hand in hand, teary eyed in the presence of a stranger. I looked at him, and he looked back.
"You don't…" he began, clutching his scarf with his other hand. He stopped once again, not allowing me to continue forward. Before I knew what happened, though, he grabbed me once more, our lips moving against each other.
Warm…
My eyes widened as we parted for breath, and I looked into his onyx eyes. Faint pictures formed in my mind, pounding in my head.
No one's POV
As the kiss stirred emotions inside the girl, the heavens tried to force them to spread.
"We'll do make her wish come true," Acrophil stated, commanding the other angels.
"Break the seal!" he barked, going to his panel, watching Earthland from where he hovered.
"He's trying to suppress her!" Xerotile shouted back, focusing his energy.
Back on Earthland, the young woman held her head, more memories flooding through.
"If she forgets, then everything will happen again! He's trying to take control once more!" Acrophil yelled, and all the angels, including himself, focused their energy, trying to fight off the evil forces below that were trying to take control of the girl's confused mind once again. The forces that were trying to force the girl into her secluded state, the way she was before, only to have the damned cycle continue, eating away at the both of them as the heavens weakened in their forces.
The blonde mage was finally able to form coherent thoughts, though, and her vision was only but filled with memories of the pink haired man and her family.
"Natsu," she choked out, his name rolling of off her tongue smoothly now.
"I remember…" She grabbed his hand more tightly, and the two leaned on each other as they walked on their path.
"Of course you did…," the pink haired mage called Natsu remarked, smiling weakly.
However, as the power of friendship had guided them before, defeating all of their enemies in their determination…
Now, a new force, even stronger than the bond they once shared, has arisen…
Love.
Hand in hand, they walked, and walked, and soon, they reached the guild of Fairy Tail.
"I remember that it started from here," she said fondly, her eyes trailing the large structure.
"No, I think that it started before we even met," the man said cheerfully, his energy level boosted. Confused, the woman cocked her head to one side, wanting an explanation.
Seeing her confused expression, he began to elaborate.
"I mean, I think it was fate for us to meet,"
"But, haven't you always said that you didn't believe in fate?" she questioned, looking back at the familiar symbol on the waving flags. Fairy Tail.
"I think it was fate to be pulled apart, but it was my fate to burn destiny into a pile of ashes," he said, turning his head.
"Because," he continued, looking into the girl's chocolate brown eyes.
"I'm here with you right now, and you're here with me right now, and we'll be there for each other forever,"
"You're right, this is our new beginning, after all,"
"Whoo! I'm all fired up!"
"Silly, come on, let's go- oh wait! Do they remember me?"
The man thrust the doors open, flinging the girls concerns to the side. Natsu smiled, his hand outstretched as he looked back at the blonde.
"Come on, Luce! The adventure continues!" he shouted.
Lucy, prying her eyes away from the staring mages inside, smiled, taking his hand, as a few small tears formed in her eyes.
"Mn!"
The End.
Sorry that this chapter was late, I wanted to put some extra effort in. I would like to thank all of you who have been patient with me, have gently prodded me on my mistakes, and have supported my story up until the end. This has been a pleasure to write, and I will definitely be writing again. If you hadn't been there, I would've been dilly dallying, but now, I've grown just a tad bit more in my writing, and you are the cause of all that. I am extremely grateful to you for taking just a little time of your day to read this surely mediocre story. Until next time,
~FatedGateway.