A/N: Hello again! I present the third and last part of this very short turned super long drabble! I suppose it's a three-shot now, huh... Do you think I should post this story as a completely separate story? Please me know!

Okay, so in this part, the guild holds Natsu's funeral of sorts. About the gravestone inscription... could anyone give me some feedback on that? I'm feeling a bit iffy; I'm not sure if it's decent or not. Thanks.

I am sorry about the lack of dialogue in this story. I promise I don't usually write like that. I think. There's a lot of reflection in this chapter. :)

Just a note: if you guys want a time frame, this would have taken place before the Tenrou Island arc. Also, the characters might seem a bit OOC in this; you have to keep in mind that Natsu is dead and this short story thing consists mostly of reflection of Natsu as a person.

Let me know if there are mistakes!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, including the characters and their characteristics.

It was a relatively nice day when they said their goodbyes. The sun was shining brightly and the wind blew softly. Brilliant green leaves fluttered in the gentle breeze. Flowers of all colours were in full bloom. It was a beautiful scene.

Yet, however perfect it was, it greatly contrasted the sombre mood of those present. All of Fairy Tail stood around an ornate gravestone, holding in tears and stifling sobs. They didn't dare to cry so loudly, because it wouldn't be what he would have wanted. He would have scolded them and yelled and screamed at them to pick themselves up and get on with their lives, to stop crying so much for him. Then he would have tried to comfort them, to tell them it was all okay, that he wasn't dead as long as they kept him in their hearts and remembered him. He would have ordered them to help each other up and keep moving forward. He wouldn't have wanted them to be like this.

Erza clearly remembered the vision she had when she decided to sacrifice her life to save her friends at the Tower of Heaven. Natsu had done just that, yelling at everyone that she wasn't dead, and kicking the flowers away. He… he had always believed. But this time, it wasn't about believing. He really was dead. They saw his physical condition deteriorate before their own eyes. Erza choked back a wail of grief. How could they still believe?

Gray stood with a hand pressed tightly against his eyes. That flaming bastard was actually making him cry for him, damn it! He was probably floating around somewhere right now, laughing his ass off. Of course Natsu would do that. Somehow, that thought didn't make Gray irritated. It almost brought a small smile to his lips. Almost. Instead, tears escaped from behind his hand and rolled down his face, splattering on his shirt. His shirt. Natsu would be shocked to know that Gray had actually kept his shirt on the entire time. Natsu… he, however annoying that flame head was and however much Gray hated his fire, he couldn't hate the way it burned so brightly and kept everyone alive, when everything was lost. Gray couldn't hate the way Natsu's irritating grin, complete with fangs, brightened up the room in an instant. He also couldn't hate the way Natsu was always looking for a fight nor could Gray hate the he made fun of him. He couldn't hate any of it, because it was all Natsu, who was, in the end, his brother in all but blood. And now that brother was dead, and along with him, his best friend.

Happy stared at Natsu's gravestone. Natsu's gravestone. He was… Natsu was really gone this time. He wouldn't jump back up and laugh at all of them for falling for his joke. He couldn't, because his body had been cremated. Natsu, his best friend, his partner, his foster father, his hero, was gone. He was gone. What was Happy supposed to do now? How was he going to make fun of his and Lucy's relationship now? Who was he supposed to plan pranks with? Who was he supposed help in battle? Who was he supposed to go to when he got hurt? Who was he supposed to turn to when he was sad? Natsu was gone. There was no one left for Happy. The partner he had been with his whole life was simply gone. Happy stared, not fighting back the tears welling up once again. Natsu was gone. There was nothing left.

"Natsu… come back, please…" Happy cried, his lost tone carrying over the entire crowd.

Wendy cried softly, face hidden behind both hands. Natsu, the person she looked up to the most, was now ashes, his body burned by the element he so loved and treasured. Natsu was like an older brother to her. She admired him not only for his determination and power, but also his love, his fierce loyalty, his bright smile, and his uncanny ability to uplift everyone in desperate times. He was her role model. She wanted to be able to do what he did. She wanted to be just like her big brother. But now that brother was dead. Natsu was dead, and the closest thing she ever had to a blood family since Grandine was gone with him. Who would encourage her now? Who would ruffle her hair the way he did? Who would be the fun, silly brother that he had been? Who? There was no one to take his place, even if she had wanted there to be. A large space had been left when he died and taken part of her heart with him. It was a space no one else could fill. Wendy kept crying. There was nothing else to do.

"Natsu-nii," she whispered, "thank you for everything. Thank you very much." The hearts of those who heard her broke just that much more.

Natsu Dragneel was gone, and with him, he took the heart and life of Fairy Tail. He took their happiness and left only crushing grief. His presence was gone, and with it, the guild's spirit. It would not be the same without him. There wouldn't be a daily brawl. There wouldn't be the lively bickering. There wouldn't be anything but silence and tension in the space that he used to fill. Maybe, for a while, they could go on like usual and pretend he went on a mission. But how long would that façade last before crumbling? Exactly how much time would pass before they couldn't deny the situation any longer?

They couldn't ignore the fact that the one with the brightest presence out of all of them was simply gone. He had been too much a part of the guild for that. The death of a family member couldn't be just be brushed off. It cut deep into all of their hearts. Even the Master stood, not ashamed of the tears glittering on his cheeks.

Taking a deep breath, Markarov turned to his guild, back facing Natsu's grave. He was silent for a moment before beginning. "As you all know, we're here because Natsu… Natsu is dead." His voice had a slight shake to it. The Master swallowed thickly before continuing.

"Natsu Dragneel was a mage of Fairy Tail. He was a loud, obnoxious, destructive, impulsive, a little arrogant, confident and insufferable brat. He was always battle ready, prepared to fight anyone over anything. However, he was also caring, loyal, devoting, loving, empathetic, passionate, understanding and encouraging. While Natsu might have been oblivious to some things, he was a genius when it came to battle strategies. He lived and breathed anything even remotely related to fighting. He was one hell of a dragon slayer. He had a brilliant personality, a charming and blindingly bright smile, always an upbeat attitude and a positive outlook on all things. He was sometimes a little aggressive, a bit too daring, a tad too bold, but it all matched who he was, the hot-headed, reckless teenage boy; the fire dragon slayer. He was sometimes just as volatile as the fire he ate, just as explosive, just as fiery and just as warm. Our fire dragon slayer."

"Natsu, the boy known throughout all of Fiore as Salamander, burned brighter than any person I have ever seen. His fire burned bright for anyone. To those he loved and cared for, his family members – the guild, his fire was always warm and welcoming. It burned with the inviting warmth of love without fail."

"His constantly bright disposition lit up the room, immediately brightening the atmosphere with contagious cheerfulness. He had such an uncanny ability to uplift anyone in the darkest and the most desperate of situations. He made overcoming impossible situations seem almost natural. He always loved a good challenge."

"However, this last obstacle was one mountain he could not climb. Natsu valiantly fought a losing battle with himself. Even until the end, his fighting spirit remained unchanged. He gave this last battle everything he had and refused to give in. In the end, though his body succumbed, his spirit didn't. He fought to the very end. So typical and so Natsu."

"Though he's gone, Natsu will remain in all of our hearts. We will keep alive the memory of him. We will keep on living like he would want us too. We'll all keep alive his legacy. We will each take on a part of his role, to fulfil the space he left behind. He won't ever be forgotten, because he was family; he was a mage of Fairy Tail."

Markarov turned to face Natsu's grave. They all stood in silence for a few minutes as the wind blew around them, and gave their own eulogy in silence.

Natsu's grave was quite beautiful, to tell the truth. The cast shape of the grave stone was a perfect flame. A dragon was curled around base, as if guarding the fire. Its eyes glittered with a bright red sparkle and its jaw was open in a roar, sharp stone fangs jutting from its mouth. The detail of the dragon's body was fine; every scale had been carefully outlined. It could be called a masterpiece. The words on the gravestone matched the design; the letters had been carefully etched into the stone in neat rows.

Natsu Dragneel

Prince of Fire

Son of Igneel, King of Fire Dragons

Died x790

In memory of a loving brother, a surrogate father,

A trustworthy team mate, a precious family member,

An honest friend, a perfect partner,

A beloved son, a capable fighter and above all,

A hero.

Natsu Dragneel, "Salamander", the moronic fire dragon slayer.

May he, the blazing hero, rest in peace.

Minutes later, the Master slowly walked to stand directly in front of Natsu's grave stone and picked up a clear jar half filled with his ashes. He turned back and held it out to Happy. "It's time."

They grabbed a handful of his ashes, each of his team members. They went to stand at the edge of the cliff, dangerously close to the edge. It was how he would have stood. The wind picked up, whipping their hair around and blowing away the tears rolling down their faces. The rest of Fairy Tail solemnly stood behind them, tears glittering on their faces as well as they said their silent goodbyes.

Lucy stretched out her arm, holding out her fistful of ashes. This was it. They were letting him go. Setting him free. Lips tightly pressed together, she fought back another wave of emotions and slowly opened her hand. One by one, the others did the same. The fierce wind blew the particles from her palm into the wind currents. She watched as the dark grey ashes retreated from sight, carried by the wind to the ocean.

"Goodbye, Natsu." Lucy whispered, in a soft, teary, heartbroken voice.

Just like that, he was gone. Lost to the wind.

Later, months later, after she had finally gotten back on her own two feet with the help of the guild, Lucy would remember that last phrase Natsu had whispered. She would remember his last sentence, said with his last breath. She would fall to her knees in her bedroom, and bury her head into her folded arms, and cry a river of tears of regret and guilt.

Her heart would break once again, when she had finally put it back together and learned to live without him, that missing puzzle piece. She would be hit with all those emotions and feelings she had locked away after he was gone, and would crumble under its intensity. She would break once again, and would stay broken for a long, long time.

Lucy would be so heartbroken. She would cry, and nothing would be able to save her from her emotions. She would kill herself slowly with the pain of loss and regret. But, after, she would eventually walk again. She would remember what the warmth of the sun felt like. She would remember how bright the light was. She would never forget the pain, but would become stronger because of it. She would not cry anymore, but move forward, for his sake. She would make him proud. She would live her life to the fullest for him. She would smile her brightest smile every day, because he hated to see her sad. She would never, ever taint his name nor would she dishonour all that he was and had done. She would always keep alive his morals and values. She would keep close to her heart the thought of him.

Lucy would forever treasure the words he had said with his last breath.

"I love you."

A/N: So... I hope that turned out okay. I just really, really wanted to end it with "I love you"... yeah... Hope you enjoyed reading!