"Shit! This isn't good!" Ice mage shouted while attacking a fire god dragon. Its body was covered in flames. Not even Natsu could eat all of them.

"I cannot fight against this thing! It's burning all of my armors!" Scarlet haired warrior yelled in annoyance. As much as she swung at the beast it was useless. She felt useless.

Lucy was carried by Happy in her Aquarius star dress. She casted a spell called Aquametria onto the thing, Natsu ate as much flame as he could and Gray shot ice burgs at it, but none of it was enough.

"Lucy! Summon Aquarius! She can help us with her powers!" Natsu snapped. As soon as blonde heard that name her eyes spread out and her heart felt heavier.

Memories of her key breaking filled her mind as her expression dropped.

Dragon slayer saw the shock register on blondes face before she could hide it. He found it weird but couldn't confront her about it right now.

- later -

"That one was the toughest of them all, no wonder it was the last one.."  Gray sighed and dropped to the ground on his back, finally able to grasp a bit of rest.

Just like the rest of the team, they all sat around the fire on a breezy night. But the silence was casted upon them. All of them had the same thing on their minds except Lucy, but non had the courage to say anything about it. Until..

"Luce, what happened earlier? Why didn't you summon Aquarius? She could've helped us big time." Fire mage commented while crossing his arms. Ice mage also got up from his position, everyone waited carefully for Lucy's response.

"I... uh.. I-I'm really tired you guys, I'll skip the talk for tonight. See you all in the morning." Her voice was shaky, like she was on the verge of tears, and Natsu noticed. His chest suddenly felt heavy from guilt, he definitely chose a wrong topic.

Celestial mage went into her tent and closed it shut as the rest of the team was left confused.

"She didn't summon Aquarius since Tartaros, I wonder why..." Erza muttered to no one in particular.

"Maybe they had a fight.." Fire mage suggested.

"I don't think so.. Lucy isn't the type of person to be mad at someone for such a long time, besides it still wouldn't be a reason to not summon her in need." Gray commented as others nodded in agreement.

"Then.. should we ask her in the morning?"

"I dunno.."

All of them soon went into their tents, but Natsu stayed out for a bit longer just to admire the beautiful stary night. That was, until he heard someone's tent opening.

He looked down from the tree bench and noticed his blond friend.

Why's she going out this late?

Since it was a dark night and who knows what could've happen to Lucy on her unusual walk, Natsu decided to follow her in her tracks.

After awhile of just quietly following her he noticed she stopped by the lake. Blonde sat on a dry grass and admired the view.

She let out a heavy sigh before pulling out a necklace she always wore.

Fire mages eyes widened when he saw what it was. A broken key of the water barrier.

"They have no idea how much I wish to summon you, Aquarius.. I miss you so much.." a tear rolled down her face as she looked at the sky, clenching the broken key in her palm.

"I hope you're okay out there somewhere.."

Natsu looked down in shame before he jumped off of the branch. He walked over to the sobbing blonde from behind and sat beside her.

As soon as she noticed him she attempted to wipe her tears but the boy stopped her.

"Don't.. just let it out.." he whispered and put her head on his chest. She was broken, shattered really, robbed early of the tape and glue necessary to put her soul back together. Her heart, poorly stapled shut, was beating but without a piece of it.

The boy placed his chin on her head and wrapped his arm around her lower back, pulling her closer while gently rubbing her arm. Despite the heaviness in her stomach, it fluttered at the feeling of her body pressed against his.

However, he felt devastated, how could he never notice that something was wrong?

It felt like death just the same as bereavement and in quiet moments it choked the breath from his body and short circuiting his mind.

After Lucy's sobs quieted down, the boy finally gathered some courage to speak.

"Why didn't you tell me..?" He sounded heartbroken, his voice was serious and.. angry in a way.

Since he didn't get a response he looked down at the girl only to find her sound asleep. Natsu growled silently because of her tearstained cheeks. He promised himself to protect her from ever feeling like this again, and he failed.

- the next day -

"I congratulate you all on fulfilling this task. It wasn't easy and you'll be remembered as the only people who tried and succeeded in completing a 100 years quest! Your master will be very proud, congratulations!" An old man with gray beard spoke as team Natsu gathered in the place their job started.

"Thank you very much on your kind words, sir." Erza spoke gratefully. Gray and Natsu just kept dancing with their feet on the ground, waiting for the old man to mention reward.

And Lucy, she just stayed quiet.

"I see you boys are very impatient, I believe it's time for you all to get your reward, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes, thank you!" Boys yelled and earned a kick from Erza. They whined for few moments before finally stopping.

The man walked off into a different room to prepare for completing their wish.

The reward was that every member was allowed to ask for one wish from the man, and he would grant it. It was easy enough.

"What will you wish for?" Blue haired mage whispered to her exceed as curiosity got the best of her. But Carla only shushed her, telling her to be patient.

"Now, who wants to go first?" He asked.

"Can I go first, mina-san?" Little blue haired girl Wendy asked politely. Everyone gave her a confirming nod as she walked in front of everyone.

"What is that you wish for, little girl?"

"I wish.. to have bigger breasts. Like Lucy-san and Erza-san.." she spoke quietly as her cheeks turned crimson color, embarrassment taking over her.

With few hand movements a blue circle of dust surrounded a tiny girl. After everything cleared she looked down and noticed her boobs were a bit bigger, not too big like other girls, but just enough for her body. Almost like Chelia's.

"Woah.. thank you so much, kind sir.." she bowed down and walked back to the group.

"Me now! Me, me!" A blue neko yelled excitedly and flew to the man.

"Idiot." Carla commented under her breath.

"I wish to have enough fish for a life time!" Happy exclaimed happily.

The man made one hand movement and one fish fell into Happy's little paws.

"What is this? This is just one fish.." he whined as tears came to his eyes, he was clearly disappointed.

"What the hell man?! Grant Happy's wish!" Natsu shouted before stomping forward but the old man signaled for him to stop.

"Bite into it, please." He said and Happy did as he was told. As he was chewing a part he bit off appeared again like he never even tasted it.

"I-It.."

"Yes.. you can eat it how much you want but you'll never finish it." He said. Cat's eyes lit up and he gave the man a tight hug while crying the tears of joy.

-

"Only two left. Who will go first?" Natsu and Lucy shared a glance before the blonde gave the boy permission to go first. He nodded and walked up.

"Tell me your wish, son."

"My wish is to see Igneel one more time." He stated and within seconds, a big red dragon appeared in front of him.

His heart fluttered from happiness.

"D-Dad..." he stuttered.

"Hello, my boy."

"I just wanted to thank you for everything you did for me as a kid since I never got a chance to do it.." Natsu spoke and shared a hug with his father before he disappeared into the air.

"Are you okay?" Blonde wizard put hand on his shoulder as comfort. The boy turned around and smiled at her, reassuring her everything was alright.

"Well... seems like you're the only one left.."

"Y-Yes.."

I could wish for Aquarius, for her to come back... for me to see her again..

...

"Lucy, are you okay?"

"Yeah.. I'm fine.." she spoke and walked forward. She looked at the man in the eyes and said:

"My wish is for all my friends to be happy, so no harm ever crosses their path. All of them have been through enough, that is what I wish for.." everyone's jaws dropped at Lucy's words but the old man just smiled and nodded.

"Stop! Don't grant it yet!" Fire mage suddenly shouted.

"Luce, you can't do this, it isn't fair! You can ask for the key, that's  more important then us!"

But Lucy didn't look at him nor turn around and just let the man cast the spell.

-

"Why, Luce?"

"Why what?"

"Don't act like you don't know. Why didn't you ask for Aquarius' key? You could've have her back right now and-"

"No.. I'll find her key on my own." She glanced over her shoulder at Natsu and smiled determinately.

He was stunned for a second but walked over to her and placed a soft kiss on the side of her head as they stared into the sky.

"You definitely changed.." he spoke, his words made blonde to look up at him.

"Huh?"

"You're nothing like the girl I met in Hargeon all those years ago. You were spoiled and a crybaby who always needed to be saved.." Lucy felt offended by his words so she pouted and looked away.

"Let me finish."

"Hmpf.."

"But like I said you changed, now you're so much stronger. Mentally and physically. Not only you can take care of yourself, you can also take care of everyone around you, you became my and everyone's savior. Your will to bring back your friend on your own is a very nobly thing to do and I can't think of anyone who would do it beside you. It makes me love you even more.. You became so selfless it worries me.. because I know you'd jump in front of anyone to save them, not even giving a single thought about what would happen to you. It frustrates me y'know.."

As he finished Lucy stared at him in awe. She was taken back by his words so much it made her tear up.

"Natsu.. I don't know what to say.. I love you so much!" she cried out while hugging him close.

Fire mage snuggled her in, "You're the only person I know that gives indefinite hugs."
The boy snickered, "Well, where else would I rather be?" In that moment his arms squeezed tighter and Lucy breathed with more relief, her body melting into Natsu's embrace as every muscle lost its tension.

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this wasn't exactly sad, but i wanted to write something like this for quite some time.. it's been a while since i wrote something this long..

i'm sorry if i'm posting too much, i'm finally on my summer break so i have time to spare! jeez i hope you don't lose interest if i post so much..

hope you enjoyed this!