Chapter 15: Echoes of the Heart

The grand and quiet palace in Alvarez was filled with tension as Lucy lay in her room, awaiting the birth of her child. It had been a grueling nine months since she left Fairy Tail, and every moment had been a battle—both physical and emotional. The palace doctors and Brandish had done everything in their power to help Lucy, but her condition had only worsened. Her body, once so full of energy and light, had grown fragile. Even her lifelong struggle with motion sickness had intensified, making her days unbearable.

But through all the pain, Lucy had endured. She clung to the love she and Natsu shared, to the life they had created together. The thought of their child—their proof of love—gave her the strength to keep fighting, even when her body felt like it was failing her.

As she lay there, she whispered to herself, ["Natsu, if only you were here… you'd tell me everything will be okay, that we can get through this. I just wish… I could see you one more time."]

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly brushed them away, steeling herself. ["I have to be strong… for both of us."]

Now, with only two days until the baby's arrival, the weight of her decision pressed heavily on her heart. The doctors had warned her that labor would be dangerous, that her weakened state put her at great risk. Even Dimaria, who had unexpectedly become something of a friend during Lucy's time in Alvarez, stood by her side with a rare expression of concern.

["Lucy,"] Dimaria said, her voice low and urgent. ["You need to understand the risks. If you go through with this… there's a chance you might not make it. You should consider other options. There are ways to save your life, even if it means—"]

["No!"] Lucy interrupted, her voice shaky but firm. Her eyes, though tired, burned with fierce determination. ["I won't give up on this baby. This is Natsu's child—our child. I don't care if I die… I want this baby to live. I want the child to know how much we both loved them. Even if I'm not there, I want this child to have a future. I have to do this, Dimaria… no matter the cost."]

Dimaria's expression softened for a moment, a flicker of something close to respect crossing her face. ["You really are stubborn. Just like that idiot dragon slayer of yours,"] she muttered, shaking her head. ["Fine. But if you're going to do this, you better fight like hell."]

Lucy managed a small, tired smile. ["I will. For Natsu… and for our child."]

Meanwhile, back in Magnolia, the Fairy Tail guild was slowly returning to some semblance of normalcy, though a lingering sadness hung in the air. It had been nine months since Lucy had vanished, and in that time, many things had changed.

Juvia and Gray, as well as Erza and Jellal, had finally married. At first, they had hesitated, unsure if they could find happiness with Lucy's disappearance weighing heavily on their minds. But it was Natsu, of all people, who had urged them to go through with it, reminding them that Lucy would want them to be happy. Now, Juvia was seven months pregnant, and Erza six. The guild was thrilled at the prospect of new life, and though it didn't erase the sadness, it brought a little joy back into their hearts.

Laxus and Mirajane, though not officially married, were a couple in every way. The guild often teased them, but Mira would just smile and say they didn't need a ceremony to prove their love. Laxus would simply grunt in agreement, though the affection in his eyes was unmistakable.

In the midst of these changes, Makarov had finally stepped down as guild master, officially passing the title to Laxus. The transition was seamless, and under Laxus's leadership, the guild remained strong. But even as everything seemed to fall into place, there was a shadow of sorrow that lingered—one that no one dared speak of, especially around Natsu, Erza, Wendy, or Happy.

The strongest team in Fairy Tail wasn't the same without Lucy. They still took jobs together, but her absence had created a void that couldn't be filled. The bonds between them, though still strong, felt strained, as if they were all keeping secrets from one another. Gray, now protective of Juvia as her due date approached, took smaller jobs, as did Erza under Jellal's gentle insistence. Little by little, life moved forward, but it never felt quite right.

And Natsu… Natsu was no longer the man he had been. His once infectious smile was rare, his boisterous energy subdued. He no longer picked fights with Gray, and his wild antics had all but ceased. Without Lucy, it was as though a part of him had withered away.

----------------------------------------------

One afternoon, as Elfman, Freed, Bickslow, Evergreen, and the others gathered for drinks and laughter in the guild hall, Natsu suddenly stood up, his body tense and eyes wide with alarm. His senses, honed from years of battles and adventures, were screaming at him. Something was wrong.

Wendy, noticing his distress, rushed over. ["Natsu, what's wrong? Are you okay?"]

Gray, sensing the shift in the air, approached as well. ["Calm down, man. What's going on?"]

["I don't know…"] Natsu's voice was strained, his fists clenched. ["Something's wrong. I feel like… like I need to be somewhere. I don't know why, but…"]

Gajeel, who had been watching from the bar, set down his drink and spoke up. ["Could it be Lucy?"]

All eyes turned to Gajeel, and he shrugged. ["Dragon slayers have strong instincts when it comes to people they care about. If something's wrong with her, you might be able to sense it."]

Natsu's face darkened, and he shook his head, almost as if trying to deny the possibility. ["No… it can't be. It's probably nothing…"]

But even as he said the words, his heart raced with fear. Deep down, he knew Gajeel was right. Something was happening with Lucy, and she needed him.

["Nothing is wrong,"] Natsu said, his voice growing more frantic. ["She is safe and nothing will happen...it's not our problem anyway"]

The guild fell silent, a heavy sense of unease settling over them. Though they tried to remain calm, Natsu's agitation was contagious, and soon, everyone was on edge, silently praying that wherever Lucy was, she was safe.

But as Natsu clenched his fists, his mind raced with worry, and he sent a silent plea to the universe: "Please, Lucy… stay safe."