They next few days turned into a blur. Natsu and Lucy, busier than bees, dove into the daunting task of preparing everything. The morning after they had made their decision had them running to the doors of the guild just before the brink of dawn. They managed to catch Laxus, key still twisting the lock on the doors. He and Freed had stared at them, still too bleary eyed in the early morning to be surprised that Natsu and Lucy had almost beat them there.
That tiredness quickly disappeared when they heard the news.
The announcement was made to all of Fairy Tail later that same day. The walls and rafters shook with uproarious excitement. Natsu and Lucy were swarmed by a crowd of their friends, eager and willing to offer them their services. There was much to be done. Tasks were given to their guildmates, and the work began.
Jet and Warren were in charge of spreading the word, finally delivering the invitations that had been waiting on Lucy's writing desk at home. Between all of their destinations, they were to report back to the guild and give an estimation for how many of their friends from different guilds were expected to come. The answer by the end of the second day had been crystal clear – all of them.
Levy and Juvia made sure that the guild was ready for the big day. Neither Natsu nor Lucy followed a faith of any kind, so they wanted to have the ceremony within the guild hall instead of Kardia Cathedral. It only seemed fitting that the place that had been their home would also be the place where they were bonded together. The pit was cleared of all tables and chairs. At the center, a large two-tiered pedestal was placed, intricated and sturdy thanks to Laki's Wood-Make magic. She also had a hand in the making of the curved benches placed around it, lined up with each other in two rows that radiated from the stand. Four aisles cut through the seats, compass points among the labyrinth of wood. Levy and her band of cleaners mopped, scrubbed, and polished the inside of that hall until it sparkled.
Mira and Lisanna, with the help of Droy, picked the flowers. All assortments of bouquets were grown in the blink of an eye with every imaginable color and shape. The colorful flora dripped over the benches, hung in strings from the rafters and windows, sprouting from the ledge over the bar - anywhere they would grow. Even the sign outside blossomed, vibrant poppies capturing the rainbow within the guild. It was overkill. Lucy couldn't have been happier. By the time they were done, the guild smelled so sweet, the dragon slayers were sneezing.
Erza was in charge of food. Juvia wanted to assist her, but she had been promptly turned away at the door to the kitchens. Erza worked out of a kitchen in the restaurant district of Magnolia to complete the large order – an order growing larger everyday as the guest list got longer. Erza refused to tell Lucy what she was cooking, but she promised that it would be a feast to remember. The secrecy made the bride nervous. She trusted Erza, though, and left the woman to her work.
Wendy and Gajeel approached Lucy and Natsu on the first day. Natsu had greeted them like they would were it any other day, but the two dragon slayers seemed apprehensive of the couple, ashamed and embarrassed. Gajeel nudged the smaller girl, encouraging Wendy to speak.
"I... We just wanted to say," the girl sighed. "That we're sorry, Lucy. For the way we acted. We were scared. During war, we almost lost everything. I didn't want to believe that Natsu," she turned to the man. "That you could somehow be anything like that. But I see you now, and I realize how ignorant that is. You're my friend, Natsu. You're... you're like my brother. So, I just want you to know… I'm here for you. No matter what."
Lucy grinned, brimming with pride. Wendy had truly grown up. Natsu smiled, gratitude bobbing in his throat. Lucy took his hand. She knew what this must have meant for him - to be accepted as he was, truly and wholly, with love without fear. Wendy looked to Gajeel, raising an eyebrow expectantly, a soft elbow to the rib.
"Same goes for me, too." Gajeel smirked. "Except for all that brother crap. You and me are rivals till the bitter end."
Natsu hugged Wendy, the small teenager barely coming up to his chin. He pressed his cheek to her hair, sighing heavily.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," he said, strong hands cradling her. Wendy smiled into Natsu's chest. Looking to Gajeel, Natsu raised a hand. Snickering, Gajeel squeezed his hand - then yelped as Natsu pulled him into the dragon slayer hug. He groaned. Wendy and Natsu laughed.
"This is so adorable," Lucy and Happy chittered.
When the three mages disentangled, Wendy asked about what they could do to help. Lucy sent the girl off to assist Erza, knowing she could use as much as she could get. Gajeel was assigned as part of Gray's team. Wendy dutifully turned to report to her post, leaving the couple with a smile and a wave. But the smile Natsu gave her in return… didn't quite reach his eyes. Even Gajeel, as oblivious as he could be, could tell that something was a little off with the Salamander. But neither of them said anything. There was too much to do.
Gray, Elfman, and now Gajeel oversaw the nonessential, but still important details. They needed a liquor license, for instance. All of the drinks served in the guild hall up until now had never been stronger than 12% – explaining why Cana drank so much. But they were going to pull out all the stops for the wedding and the guaranteed party afterwards. While Gray went with Freed to take care of that, Elfman and Gajeel arranged the queue of music. They would let Gajeel play the calling songs and the aisle marches as long as he swore not to sing.
The city of Magnolia could feel the excitement of their guild in the air. Their high spirits put everybody in a helpful mood. When friends began to show up from out of town, they were welcomed like family. As every room of every inn was rented out, innkeepers let friends of the bride and groom stay with a discount. Some of the citizens would ferry food from Erza's kitchen to the guild hall, stored away and kept preserved with magic until the big day. Others stopped by to offer their assistance as well, gladly accepted. Instantly, the preparations that might have taken the guild members alone all week to finish now only took a few days. The wayward Fairies returned, Gildarts and Mest finally coming home in time to help.
It was going to be a grand ceremony.
Natsu and Lucy stayed by each others' sides, only separating when Natsu had to meet with Master Bob to finish tailoring his suit. All big decisions were brought to them, and they trusted Levy, Erza, and Gray to handle the minor details. They were constantly running to and from the guild, going where they were needed. Happy scrambled to keep up, never far from Natsu's shoulder. If one team was short-handed, they stepped in to help. There was hardly a second for them to sit down as they ran errands and heeded every call. If their guild was willing to do so much to make their wedding day perfect, it only seemed fair that they do just as much.
Natsu, jaunty and blithe throughout it all, continued to grow stronger as the days passed... and yet, their friends could still tell that he wasn't all there. Everybody was thinking it, but nobody said it: that he was changing his mind. It couldn't have been farther from the truth, but it was better they believed a small rumor, rather than know that Natsu had cried himself to sleep in Lucy's arms at night. In all of the commotion, nobody had asked about the bandage on Natsu's arm.
Finally, everything was set. As the sun set on the fourth day, Lucy and Natsu stood alone in the guild hall. Taking in the marvel that Fairy Tail had become, Lucy squeezed Natsu's hand.
"This is really happening," she whispered. "We…we're finally going to do it."
Natsu turned to his fiancé, the shadows on his face deep within the light of the dozens of small paper lanterns that hung from the rafters.
"Come on," he said, stepping toward the door. "The sooner we fall asleep, the sooner we can wake up."
Lucy nodded, her fingers heavy with fatigue. But when he took her hand, she resisted his pull. Natsu looked to her, waiting as she took in the room around them. Tears sparkled quietly in her eyes.
"Hey," Natsu looped his arm behind her. "What's wrong?"
Lucy took a shuddering breath, wiping the gloom from her cheek. "It's nothing. I just… I wish that my parents could be here. I wish they could have gotten the chance to meet you."
Natsu sighed and smiled, pulling her into his arms. "Yeah. Me too. You think they would have liked me?"
Lucy huffed a laugh. "My mother would have loved you. Though, my dad would have been skeptical at first. You're not exactly the entrepreneurial heir he'd always wanted... but I know he would have come around eventually." Resting her face into his shoulder, she asked, "would Igneel have liked me?"
Natsu thought for a beat, distant memories in his eyes.
"I think you would have been scared of him," Natsu said. "But then, I think that you two would find that you actually have a lot in common."
Lucy considered that. She and a dragon had a lot in common, huh? Sighing against his chest, Lucy wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Sometimes it's hard, looking in the mirror and seeing my mother's face," Lucy yawned, a beat of weariness Natsu could feel through her bones. Shaking herself, Lucy looked up at him through her lashes. "But I suppose that's better than never knowing what she looked like… to not know who your family is."
Her words sparked an image in Natsu's head. The memories that lied dormant in his heart, the vision of the picnic in the valley, a life he only lived for a short while. The faces of his mother and father were clear in his mind's eye, familiar strangers he never knew. A strange mix of peace and longing stirred within him.
"I don't remember much about my mom and dad," Natsu spoke softly. Lucy tilted her head, listening. "My real ones. But I do know that my mother was beautiful and kind. She smelled like… like rain, and apples." It felt odd to be praising a woman he had never met. "She looked like Zeref. But when I think about her, I feel happy."
Lucy was silent, trying to imagine this woman who had once loved Natsu as much as she did. She looked up at the dragon slayer.
"What about you? Who do you take after?"
Natsu gazed into Lucy's eyes, dropping his head till his lips hovered just above hers. For a little while, Natsu let the passion hang in the air. When he kissed her in the dim light of the lanterns, he could taste the stars on her tongue. The guild was empty of all except for Laxus and Mira, chatting idly at the bar. Mira nudged Laxus, silently pointing at the couple as her face lit up with glee. Laxus watched, smiling softly. Natsu sighed, letting Lucy's love fill his empty spaces. Their lips fit so perfectly together, two pieces of a puzzle, a lock and a key. When Natsu drew away, the exhaustion that he had been warding off from the past few days finally settled on him. By the way Lucy's eyelids drooped, he could tell she felt the same. Natsu took her hand and led her away, beginning the walk home.
"I look like my father," Natsu said. He realized that he had never actually said that out loud before.
The day could not have been more perfect.
The gathering began at noon. Members of other guilds far and wide arrived at Fairy Tail, dressed to the nines in pearls and diamonds. The atmosphere was electric, old friends reuniting in joyous revelry. The guild bustled even more than usual as people of note from Saber Tooth, Lamia Scale, Blue Pegasus, and one or two members from other guild allies gathered together for the first time since the war. Fairy Tail played a gracious host, welcoming and open. The guild hall filled with the voices of its guests, bright and animated as bodies clamored to find spots on the benches. Though the actual ceremony wouldn't start till about mid-afternoon, there was no way any of them were going to take the risk of being late and not getting a good seat.
Gajeel sat on the stage, playing simple stand-by tunes on his steel guitar, a light-hearted background noise that set the mood. From where Levy could see by the entrance, he was quietly mouthing lyrics to himself. She, Wendy, and Juvia greeted their guests as they walked through the door. So many faces, familiar and friendly, had already passed through.
"Good to see you're looking well, Juvia."
Juvia smiled at the voice, eyes quickly finding her old admirer. "It's good to see you too, Lyon. I'm glad you two could make it."
Lyon and Chelia stepped through the doors, both donning exquisite formal wear.
"It's been too long," Chelia giggled as she and Wendy embraced.
To this day, Lamia Scale remained Fairy Tail's closest ally. Wendy would often make trips to Margarite, to spend time Chelia and help the god slayer regain her magic. Lyon and Gray had started a tradition of taking pilgrimage to their master's grave every winter, to honor her memory and respect their time-worn bond. As far as they all were concerned, they were each honorary members of the other guild.
"Is Gray around?" Lyon looked over the crowd. "I heard we was chosen to be best man."
"He's busy helping Natsu," Juvia replied. "The wedding party has been here since early this morning getting ready."
"Who is the maid of honor?" Chelia asked, eyes alight with anticipation.
"It's supposed to be a surprise." Wendy whispered, leaning closer in secrecy. "But I think I have a pretty good guess."
It didn't take long for the large hall to fill with people, just enough of them to leave a comfortable amount of space. The flowers kept the air fresh and the weather was just perfect enough to leave all the windows open, letting a cool spring breeze balance out the warmth. Finally, at a quarter till three, the doors of Fairy Tail closed.
Up on the stage, Gajeel's quick fingers finished off a riff on his steel guitar. Everyone was seated, their chatter filling in the silent spaces. The curved benches within the pit were the first seats to go. Members of Fairy Tail graciously gave their guests priority over the best seats in the house. They were filled in as needed from there, everyone gathering into the main hall till it was packed. Friends peered out over the banisters of the higher levels, looking down at the venue. There were no chairs, but the viewpoint was just as good. Unlike any other day where the mages would have squabbled among themselves to get a front row spot, today they all worked together, letting shorter members stand in front of taller ones. Looking out at the crowd that had gathered, Gajeel smirked. With one final strum, the time for waiting was over.
He found Levy's face within the pit, her head titling in a firm nod and eyes glowing with anticipation. Levy's excitement yielded to confusion for a brief moment as she watched Gajeel removed the steel guitar from his lap, reaching into a different case. The instrument he pulled out could only be described as a hybrid between a harp and an acoustic guitar, with two necks and fifteen strings strung like ribs across the polished wood. Levy gaped at the absurd contraption, wondering just exactly where he had acquired the thing and – more importantly – how Gajeel was supposed to play it with only two hands.
Very well, was the answer to that.
Talking ceased as the tone changed, all eyes drifting to the stage. If anybody else was as dumbfounded by the instrument as Levy, they hid it much better than she did. Fluttering notes filled the air. Gajeel closed his eyes, letting the music move him through a slow ballad. His hands worked the instrument masterfully, plucking the strings with a precision and grace that only came from years of practice. His strumming hand would move up from the guitar to kiss the strings of the harp while his other hit the chords on the neck. The resulting sound was a full, rich tune that carried throughout the entire guild. Gajeel had become a one-man orchestra. The captive audience fell into the music with him. The melody changed. A man appeared at the end of the south aisle.
Laxus marched through the sea of faces, his head held high with the regality of his rank. He wore the white coat of the ten-wizard saints, the blue and silver medallion embroidery flashed as he stepped up to the top tier of the pedestal. Resting his hands in front of him, he was an intimidating sight, his wild hair smoothed and greased. Beneath his coat, he wore a dark suit, sharp and professional. Laxus smirked, winking at the proud faces of the Thunder Legion beaming down at him. The melody changed again.
From the east and west aisles came the best man and maid of honor – Gray and Erza. Wendy's small voice chirped, "I knew it."
They were the very pictures of elegance and class. Gray, his beard trimmed and hair neatly brushed, sported a white jacket suit, black trimmings and edgings accentuating his physique. He appeared taller and skinnier, a gentleman and bachelor. Underneath, he wore a black dress shirt and white bowtie. Erza's flowing gown swept around her, shaded a light lavender. It was sleeveless, her arms dripping with flowing cuffs, floating along her elbows in light wisps. Along the bodice of the dress and scattered on the cuffs were small crystals, almost invisible until the twinkled. Layers of light silk danced around her as she walked. Her red and silver hair pulled way from her face into an elegant cascading braid. Simple diamonds sparkled on her ears and at her throat. The two of them stepped onto the lower platform of the pedestal, nodding confidently to each other and to Laxus.
The melody changed one final time, a familiar fugue that danced lightly from the strings. Everybody rose to their feet. From the rafters, Carla and Pantherlily flew down, their paws full of white and yellow petals. They gently released the flowers, falling upon the ceremony like gentle snow. The air hung thick with anticipation, waiting.
Natsu stepped into the guild hall. Eyebrows were raised, a few mouths fell open. Somewhere in the audience, Master Bob was congratulating himself.
The suit was finely tailored, the fabric reflecting darkly with a glossy sheen. As he moved, the light highlighted the angles of the jacket, illuminating the subtlest blending of dark red within the cloth. The small hints of color defined his body in a way that no black suit could. It was as if a volcano has given him it's majesty. Though he wore no neck accessory and left the top buttons of his crimson silk shirt undone, Natsu was no less refined. His scarf swayed against his thighs, tied around his waist under the jacket. The black hairs on his head had been concealed, a colored-spray that Lucy had to bargain him into. Though most of the guests were reluctant to admit it, but Natsu cleaned up good.
Happy walked beside him, donning a small blue suit in his human form. He looked like a child next to Natsu, the top of his head barely reaching the dragon slayer's thigh. His blue hair had been combed down, though the ears on top of his head stubbornly stuck straight up. In his hands he carried a folded piece of white cloth.
Natsu stepped up to the top tier along with Laxus. Happy took his place with Gray and Erza. Natsu turned to Gray and smiled, offering his hand. Gray beamed, grabbing Natsu's arm and pulling him in for a quick hug. Gray could feel Natsu trembling beneath his touch.
"You got this, buddy," he mumbled to Natsu. Natsu sighed against his shoulder, nodding.
Standing beside Laxus, the two dragon slayers shared a nod. Gajeel's music slowed, an elegant and graceful lullaby. Natsu, and everyone else, took a deep breath.
Lucy came around the corner, standing at the end of the north aisle. Time stood still for Natsu. Gray whispered in his ear, reminding him to breathe.
Everything about Lucy and her presence as she began her slow march down the aisle was just…captivating. Like Erza's dress, Lucy's gown rolled around her in satin waves, light and extravagant. Her arms ghosted behind lace cuffs, streaming down to her wrists. Crystals studded her bodice, a dusting of light that shimmered with every move and sparkled like a cloud, as if the stars themselves had descended from the sky to grace her with their beauty. Accents of light blue hugged Lucy in all the right places. Her golden hair was rolled into a neat bun atop her head, a small veil following her like a spirit. Her face, though, was a work of art - a natural blush on her cheeks and the light of the guild tinting her brown eyes a warm amber. In her hands, she held a modest bouquet of white and blue flowers.
Stepping up to the pedestal, Lucy joined Natsu and Laxus on the top tier. Her dress trailed over the edge. Erza, being the dutiful maid of honor, carefully collected the folds of the dress and swept them aside.
Lucy looked up at Natsu, meeting his staring eyes. Her heart thumped in delight, the light of something in his features that she hadn't seen in what felt like a long time – joy. His happiness stole her breath away.
Gajeel carried the moment, rifting through the last few bars of the calling song. With a flourish over the harp, a euphoric chorus rang through the air, resonating until it faded away. Gajeel opened his eyes, grinning at his handy work.
The circle was complete.
Laxus cleared his throat.
"Well, for some of us, I think this day has been a long time coming." He spoke clearly and loudly so that everyone could hear. "But never seemed to come soon enough. Yet, here we are, with welcomed friends and family, to celebrate the joining of these two souls." Laxus smiled at the bride and groom. "Natsu and Lucy, I have watched you two grow up together within the walls of this guild, and I have seen how much stronger and better you make each other. If ever there were a truer testament of love, then your story would be the winning title. After all, it's not every couple that can say that they've lived through time-travel, at least three world-ending catalysts, and a war together."
Natsu and Lucy shared a grin, Laxus' words sparking memories.
"Natsu," Laxus continued. "Although you might be an annoying pain in my ass sometimes, I can't deny that you've come a long way since you came here all those years ago. Both of us have changed a lot since then – we're both men now, with responsibilities and duties to uphold. I'm… I'm glad that I'm here to see the man you've become."
Laxus clapped him on the shoulder, a gentle squeeze of companionship. Then he turned to the bride.
"Now, Lucy, you didn't join us till later in your life – you didn't have a childhood here, or find yourself within these walls. But as soon as you stepped through our doors, you knew you were home. I bet you had no idea that all these crazy things were lying in store for you, but you seized each moment and made them yours. Looking at you now, I don't think you would have wanted it any other way. I'm glad that you chose Fairy Tail to be your home."
Lucy squeezed her bouquet, smiling at Laxus. The master laid his hands on their shoulders, speaking lowly with words only meant for them. "If gramps could only see you both now."
Standing tall, Laxus puffed out his chest, declaring, "and now, it is an honor to officiate this marriage before the witness of all who have gathered here. May we have the rings?"
Happy stepped forward, his eyes bright as he lifted the cloth in his hands up to Laxus. Taking the parcel, he unfolded it to reveal two rings. They were mirrors of each other, one crafted from white gold and laden with burnished gold edgings, and the other being the opposite of that. Turning to Lucy, Laxus presented them to hear, gleaming and new. Handing off her bouquet to Erza, Lucy delicately took the ring of burnished gold in her fingers. Confidently, she turned to Natsu, nodding at him as he gave her his hand to hold.
"Natsu Dragneel," she started, voice steady and clear. "With this ring, I swear to always be the home for your heart. I will keep you close to my heart, and it is there that you will forever be. No matter the consequences, I will never betray you. Instead, I will build you up to greater heights, and support you through all of your endeavors. I will be the light that you seek when all is lost in darkness." Lucy took a shuddering breath, happiness shivering through her hands. "I will laugh with you and cry with you, till the ends of our days. And though all the powers in the world can try to make me, I promise I will never leave you. I take you as you are, Natsu, and who you will become. This I vow to you."
The ring was cool against his skin, heavier than it looked. Natsu twisted his hand, taking Lucy's as she slid the ring onto his finger. Tears brimmed in her eyes, threatening to fall. Natsu's heart jumped. For a moment, there was only her and her radiance, a beacon for the things he cherished and loved. A slight nudge from Gray, and he remembered where he was. Taking the white gold ring, Natsu gently raised her hand.
"Lucy Heartfilia, with this ring, I swear to always be the rock for your soul. I will make you strong, and carry you through when you can't be. I will ever harm you, or let harm be done to you. Instead, I will protect you and fight for you till my dying breath. I will be the warmth that you seek when you feel cold and alone. I will struggle with you and triumph with you, till the ends of our days." Natsu looked up at Lucy, her eyes shining like golden hope. "No matter how far life may take me away, I promise I will always return to you. I will share in your dreams as my own, and strive to see them fulfilled. This I vow to you."
He slid her ring onto her finger, a promise fulfilled. Natsu and Lucy starred, minds rushing and blank as their fingers intertwined. Their rings chimed softly against each other. Gray, Erza, and Happy gazed up at them, swept away in the weightless bliss of their love. The audience held their breath, smiles waiting.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife," Laxus declared, throwing up his arms. "You may now kiss!"
Cupping his cheek, Lucy and Natsu kissed for the first time as a married pair. Their friends leapt from their seats, an explosion of cheers and cries that could be heard from outside. Natsu and Lucy were deaf to it, far away in their own world. Their troubles were forgotten, a sense of completion filling in the knotted tangles of their stresses with comfort. Lucy sighed as their kiss broke, pressing her forehead against her husband's, her best friend, and gazed into his eyes.
"We did it," she said softly. "There's no turning back now."
Natsu chuckled. "Yep. Looks like you're stuck with me."
Turning to the cheering crowd of their friends, Natsu and Lucy raised their joined hands together, presenting their rings for all to see. Gajeel, back on the steel guitar, struck up a fast paced tune. Hands clapped along to the beat as the newlyweds stepped down from their podium. Joining arms with Gray and Erza, they all took off down the west aisle and disappeared into the back of the guild, laughing as they went. As their friends and family watched them leave, Laxus spoke up once more.
"The reception will be held in the courtyard outside," he announced, scooping Happy into his arms. "There should be plenty of food and drink for everyone. Thank you all so much for coming!"
A/N: Okay! This was so much fun to write! A couple things to note: 1: If you are unfamiliar with the idea of a circle wedding, I highly suggest you look it up! It's a pretty neat concept. 2: Yes, the harp-guitar instrument is a real thing. They sound amazing.
Thank you so much to everybody who had reviewed and followed so far! Don't be afraid to give me criticism, as long as it's constructive and professional.
EDIT: This chapter has been heavily edited for grammar and content. 10/21
As always, read, reveiw, and enjoy!