final chapter enjoy
Natsu is heading back to his car after a few hours of training.
His mind is still wrestling with the reality that his next opponent is Gray, of all people.
Sitting in his car, his mind wrestles with everything that led up to this point.
Especially after he tells everyone, Gray is his next opponent.
Especially Ultear, he hopes she can keep it together, being in the same space as him.
She says she'll be fine, but he can't help but be skeptical of her words.
Now he must call up his dad and brother about gray.
Sitting in the front seat of his car, he pulls out his phone calling his dad first.
"Hello, Natsu. What is it?" Igneel said.
"No easy way to say this, but my next opponent is gray!" All he got was silence.
After full minutes his father finally found the words to continue.
"You sure you're up for this again?"
"Yeah, I'm ready this time!" He said with conviction.
"Good. I assume you'll tell Zeref shortly?"
"Yes, if that's all. I'll talk to you later."
"Ok, good night, son."
"You too, Dad." He calls up his brother next, not looking forward to the conversation.
"What's going on, Natsu?" His brother asked from his end.
"No easy way to say this. Gray is my next opponent!"
Two seconds later, Zeref went on a massive rant about Gray and what he did to Natsu before it ended abruptly.
"Zeref!" He heard the all too familiar voice of Mavis on the other end.
She was followed by another rant by her to Zeref.
"Sorry about blowing up on you and bringing up bad memories, brother!"
"It's cool, Zeref, and thank you, Mavis."
"Your welcome, Natsu!"
Natsu wonders what is more surprising, the two rants he heard or his phone still working afterward.
As he walks in the door of his home, he's greeted by his aunt and cousin waiting for him in the living room.
"Yo," he said, taking his seat on the couch.
"More training?" Wendy asked.
"Yep, I have to prepare myself even more than Zancrow!" He said with a sigh.
Natsu's tone can only mean one person. His next match is against Gray, of all people.
"Does Ultear, no?" Grandeeny asked.
"Yes, she says she'll be fine, but I can't help but be skeptical of her words." This gets nods of understanding from the mother-daughter pair.
"No use worrying about now," he responded before sleeping upstairs.
As weeks went by, he trained harder than usual. He is eternally grateful Jellal can dish it out as much as possible.
As a result, he bulked up a noticeable amount, which intimidated a few of his classmates.
Before he knew it was the final night before his fight with Gray.
Natsu just got home from more training. He, of course, went a little light on training to conserve his strength.
When he steps through the front door, he notices the house is too quiet for his taste.
He sees his aunt and cousin in the kitchen preparing dinner. Natsu notices a look of concern in their eyes.
Then it clicked for him. They're trying to distract themselves in the lead-up to his rematch with Gray.
He walks into the kitchen. "So what's for dinner?" he said, hoping to lighten the mood.
This gets a squeal from the mother-daughter pair. And a light chuckle from Natsu.
"Don't scare us like that!" his aunt shouts.
"Sorry, I'm hungry!" he said, trying to stop himself from chuckling.
"We decided on ramen for dinner."
"Sweet!"
The time between learning his next opponent flew by in the blink of an eye for Natsu.
He sat in a room alone, waiting for the announcer to call him to the octagon.
He is mentally and physically prepared to fight Gray.
He's soon called in. He walks into the ring and gets blasted by countless flashes of lights as he steps into the ring.
He mentally prepared himself for Gray to walk into the octagon.
Natsu takes a moment to see his surroundings. He first notices his friends and family.
What he sees disappoints him greatly. They all sport a nasty look in their eyes when Gray is called to the octagon.
To his relief, the only exception is Ultear, who expressed concern, no doubt, for Natsu and her mental health.
Standing across from each other, what Natsu saw confused him incredibly.
It wasn't arrogant. Malice or malevolence on Gray's face was desperation. It's clear to him The gray he ran into weeks ago wasn't standing before him.
The ref stood between them, glancing at both of them. "Alright, fellas, I want a good clean fight!" the ref said.
The two tapped gloves as the starting bell went off. Natsu didn't hesitate.
He goes in hard and fast, getting a handful of punches before sideways kicks.
Gray blocked the kick, internally cringing at the power behind Natsu's attack.
It's clear to him that the Natsu he beat so easily no longer exists. Instead, it is replaced by a hardened MMA fighter who can back up his words.
He takes the chance to get a few hits on Natsu, and to his shock, Natsu doesn't even flinch.
He tanked his blows like they were nothing. The remainder of the round showed Gray the gap in strength.
While he's been living it nicely and relaxed since their last fight, Natsu has been preparing for this rematch.
He can't dwell on it too much. He needs the prize money from this match.
He'll have to pull something out of his ass or hope Natsu gets sloppy.
They trade blow after blow; Gray's attacks barely phase Natsu. Gray, on the other hand, is looking worse for wear.
Just as Gray goes for another punch, the bell rings, ending round one.
Natsu quickly glances at his group, and their faces haven't changed. He looks towards Gray's side only to see a familiar head of blonde hair.
It was Lucy with the same look of desperation as Gray. He pays more attention to her he gets a big surprise.
If his knowledge of human reproduction is correct, Lucy is pregnant. She's past the first trimester.
"I planned to drag this out a little more, but this complicated thing," the bell went off finally round two.
They tap their gloves, with Gray trying to get a few good licks in before Natsu ends things for good.
He dodges one of Gray's punches before putting everything he has into his next punch.
He nails Gray across the face forcing him to the ground. The ref goes to check before calling a knockout.
Natsu glances at his group with a look of disappointment before glaring at them. He sent a small smile to Ultear.
Then they realized their distasteful behavior leading up to and during the first round.
They all shared nervous expressions hoping Natsu would forgive them. The look of disinterest told them he could have been more impressed.
He let out a sigh as he went to check on Gray. To his relief, his eyes fluttered open as he gripped his face.
Getting a glance around him, he notices a medic beside him. It was all he needed to know he lost to Natsu.
Natsu stands above him with a hand held out. He reluctantly takes it, getting pulled back to his feet.
Lucy sighed in relief, seeing Gray back on his feet. Unfortunately, the gravity of his loss quickly set it.
Placing a hand on her expanded stomach, tears went down her cheeks.
Seeing Lucy's tears, Natsu sighed, knowing what must be done.
The ref announced that Natsu won the match and most of the prize money.
Gray just got checked out from the medic with casual clothes on leaving the locker room.
Just as he's about to round the corner to the entrance hall, he sees Natsu resting against the corner.
"Hear to rub it!" he spat.
"No, I saw Lucy once round one was completed," he hands him a small envelope.
"What is this?"
"My cut from the prize money,"
"Thanks, but no thanks. I don't need your pity." Gray pushed Natsu's hand away.
Natsu quickly grabbed and pinned him against the brick wall.
"This money is my gift to you. Hoping you grow up. Your kid's going to need it, Gray. I sure did!" he lets Gray go rounding the corner.
Gray stands there a minute contemplating Natsu's words as he stair at the envelope.
"Natsu!" He hears the familiar voice of Lucy. Looking around the corner, he sees the two standing across from each other.
"I'm sorry for what I did to you, Natsu!" she said with her head down."
"I've moved on, Lucy. Now it's your turn," he said, walking past her.
Gray walks up to Lucy, showing her the envelope, shocking Lucy before glancing at Natsu again.
She runs up to Natsu, hugging him from behind. "Thank you!" He carefully frees himself from her grasp.
"Being a new father or mother doesn't excuse you from being a dick. Always remember that," he said as he walked away.
They see him greet his girlfriend Ultear, who crabs me to his arm as they leave the building.
Gray stood by Lucy's side, putting his arm around her waist, both shedding tears of regret for their actions towards Natsu.
They silently take Natsu's words to heart about growing up and moving on from the past.
Walking outside to his car Natsu and Ultear stood before their friends and family, who all sported guilty looks in their eyes.
"I'm very disappointed in all of you, especially you three Ur, Igneel, and Grandeeney!" he said with a neutral tone.
"We're sorry, we got caught up in the past knowing your two history with Gray!"
Natsu Sighs. "I forgive you. This time, same for the rest of you!" they all shake their heads in agreement.
"So Natsu, let's see how much you won from your fight," Elfman lightly elbows Natsu's side.
"Sorry, don't have it-"
"It takes that long to give the winner's prize money-" Elfman would have continued but was cut off by Natsu.
"I gave it to Gray. He will need it a lot more than me!" the three adult trade looks. There are only a handful of reasons Natsu would give Gray his prize money.
"Why would you give it to him of all people!" this time, it's Zeref speaking.
"Zeref!" This time it's Mavis with a murderous aura silencing the black hair MMA fighter. Getting chuckles from everyone.
"For me to know and you NOT to find out!" he said, heading to his car with Ultear at his side.
The two got in his car and drove off, leaving everyone in the dust. Most of them are irritated, wanting to know Natsu's reasoning.
Seeing the kid's disgruntled look, the three parents decided to walk away to let them all cool off.
Being far enough away, Igneel spoke, "So it wasn't my imagination after all."
"What did you see?" his sister asked with suspicion.
"I noticed Lucy earlier, and Natsu's action proved what I saw wasn't my imagination. Lucy is pregnant," this gets nods from the other two.
"Well, you two raise one hell of man if I do say so myself," Ur said with a smirk. The two smiled proudly before shifting to Zeref and Mavis in another pointless argument.
Igneel, let's put another sigh as his eldest son gives him no end of headaches.
"All right, everyone, it's getting late, and I'm tired after a stressful day!" Igneel shouts, getting a nod from everyone.
With his peace spoken, they all went home for the night.
Being two hours away, Igneel zeref and Mavis stayed with grandeeney.
When they got home, Natsu's car was pulled in front of Ur's house. The two parents check in them to see the two tangled up on the couch, still fully dressed, to their relief.
Weeks went by with the school year coming to an end. This was when Ultear realized Natsu would be returning home to Alveraz.
This predictably left her distraught that the most significant thing to come into her life will be gone.
She managed to hide these feelings from everyone initially, but soon she became distant From Natsu.
To the point she wouldn't ride home with him anymore.
Unfortunately, their classmates took this wrong and started spreading rumors that they had sex and broke up afterward.
Natsu wonders what is going on with Ultear. Chatting with his cousin and the girl, they have no idea.
Right now, he sits outside during lunch, spending another day pondering what happened between him and Ultear.
"Natsu?" he looked at the voice to see Wendy standing awkwardly before him.
He made room for her to sit down beside him. "What going on?" he asked.
"Just a little sad you'll be leaving when the school year-end," she said with a slight frown.
"I know I'm gonna miss you too-" he would have continued. "That must be why!" he continued.
"Natsu, what are you talking about?"
"Sorry, I can't talk. I just remembered something important," he said before bolting off.
Wendy is perplexed at Natsu's drastic action of running off to who knows where.
"Just hope he's not late for class," she told herself.
Unfortunately, Natsu never came back to school for the remainder of the day.
It was late when he finally came home to see the concerned looks of Wendy and Grandeeney.
"Natsu, where have you been? Just up and ditching school, do you know how worried we were!" his aunt shouts, getting into his face.
He raised his hand in defeat. "Sorry for ditching, but something essential needed my attention."
"If you only have a few more weeks of school left, it's back to Alveraz!"
"Funny, I wanted to talk to you about that."
"Spill it!" he came clean with where he ran off to and several phone calls he made to go back home.
"Oh, it's that all. Why didn't you say so," his aunt giggled Natsu sweat drops, seeing his aunt's fantastic ability to assess any situation and form the perfect response quickly.
"I have to speak to Ultear right now."
"No!"
"What, why?"
"Natsu, it's ten at night. No doubt she is asleep, and before asking, it wasn't a question you are waiting till tomorrow. Do you understand me, young man!"
"Yes, aunt grandeeney!" he said in defeat before heading upstairs.
Unfortunately for Natsu, the desire to speak with Ultear drives him insane. To the point, he didn't get any sleep at all that night.
He watches the time on his alarm clock like a hawk waiting till morning. As soon as the clock turned seven, he raced downstairs out the door.
From prior experience, Ur is usually up about this time and is probably the only one who can bring Ultear downstairs.
Standing on Ur front porch, he knocks on the front door six times.
Ur opens the door to see Natsu standing in front of her.
"Ultear is not in the mood, Natsu" He quickly noticed the Ur's sad expression.
"Please bring her down here. It's important!" he said with conviction.
Ur recognized the look too well, like her deceased husband when he set his mind to something.
"Fine, I'll bring her down here, but if she doesn't want to talk, that's her decision." he nods at this.
Natsu is waiting on the step of their front porch, resting on a support post.
The door opens, revealing Ultear still in her PJ. Looking into her eyes tells him she has been crying recently.
"Natsu, I don't want to talk to you!" just as she turns away, he lightly grabs her arm, pulling her towards him.
"Please, it's important."
"Fine" He carefully leads her toward the sidewalk.
"I'm sorry for putting you through this. I didn't realize my leaving after graduation would affect you this bad."
"It's fine. All things come to an end." Ultear pulls away.
"But not this!" Ultear eyes widen at his words.
"I'm such an idiot for taking this long." he takes a deep inhale and then exhales.
"I'm not going back to Alverez after graduation. I'm staying in Fiore to be with you, Ultear. Because I Love you!" he said with his trademark smile toward the girl that stole his heart.
"R-really, but what about your dad, brother, and everyone else?"
"Well, my dad, in his infinite wisdom, planned for me to stay after meeting you!" he said the infinite wisdom in air quotes.
Ultear broke into loud hysterical laughter with a few stray tears down her cheeks.
Natsu brought her to a hug locking lips with her before separating and putting their forehead together.
"Well, you be happy to know I Love you, Natsu," she instigated another kiss. He pulled her flush to him in a hug.
Ur watches the two from her front porch embracing each other, knowing Natsu isn't leaving Fiore City after graduation.
She hasn't seen her daughter this happy in a long time.
She noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Looking at it, she was shocked to see her deceased husband looking at the two before glancing at her.
She shakes her head, ensuring her eyes aren't playing tricks on her. She looks at him once more, only to see he's gone.
A small smile graced her face gazing at the two once more, silently thanking her husband for looking after their daughter from a better place.
"My love, your work is done."
That Monday, all the tension between them disappeared, Wendy and the girls were happy Natsu, and Ultear got past this rough patch making their bond stronger than ever.
"Natsu!" Mira said
"Yeah, Mira, what is it?"
"What happens now with your MMA journey after beating Gray?"
"Since I'm over 18 and about to graduate, I'll be able to participate in the UFC."
"So, are you going to?"
"I told the guy I'd think about it."
"What's not to think about it? You would be a pro, make lots of money, and possibly become a celebrity!"
"Being a celebrity sounds cool and all. But if I do, I can kiss my private life goodbye. If I go into UFC, there won't be an off-season, so when I'm not recovering from a fight, I'll be training more than I am now."
"So that's maybe for now?"
"Yes."
Before Mira could pry further, the alarm signaling the end of lunch went off.
Before they knew graduation day was upon them, both Natsu and Ultear graduated from Fairy tail high, ready for what the real world had planned for them.
Natsu and Ultear dated three years after high school before Natsu dared to ask Ultear to marry him.
She said yes, of course. Later that year, they made it official. That night the two shared a magical moment that could never be replaced.
Nine months later, Ultear gave him the most incredible gift life can give someone, a family of their own.
Ultear lays down, breathing heavily as her husband, Natsu Dragneel, sits beside her with a massive smile.
The nurse carefully hands her a tiny pink bundle to the new mother.
Taking her in hand, she gazes down at their daughter. The defining feature is dark pink hair.
"Time for names!" Natsu said
Ultear started brainstorming possible names before finally settling on one.
"Welcome to the world, Meredy!" Baby Meredy smiled upon hearing her name.
that's it for this chapter hope you all enjoyed
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