Once upon a time, there was one girl. Her hair was blond, and silky on the touch. The light breeze that blew made it move gracefully behind her.

"You ready, Lucy?" A pink haired boy signaled for her attention.

"I'm ready!" She smiled in his direction as they soon vanished into the distance.

-

Lucy sat on a hard rock, on top of a hill. Just staring into the never ending horizon.

The yellow ball of fire changed to hues of orange, and then almost tangerine. It merged with the sky. The clouds were cotton-candy, as though they blushed at the warm touch of the sun.

Silhouettes of birds flew home across a sky that was now magenta. The mauve of the dusky sky intensified, and in just a while, the biggest star had set, giving way to a thousand others.

She was lost in her thoughts. They were twisting and turning; almost suffocating her with their oddly loud whispers.

"Don't sweat it, everything is going to be alright." He said with a grin and gently rubbed the top of her head.

"You're probably right, like always.."

She let out a long and heavy sigh before her eyes began sparkling.

One tear, two tears, three.

Why him?

Why not me?

"Why'd you protect me and not yourself?" Celestial mage spoke to the sky.

"What kind of a question even is that?" Someone grumbled behind her. Lucy's eyes widened as the voice sounded way too familiar.

"Natsu..?" She whispered, not believing her own eyes.

It was him. Her best friend, and soulmate. He was standing right in front of her.

Her legs reacted on the impulse and she ran towards him. She was longing for so long to hold him again.

Lucy was about to wrap her arms around him when she noticed something; she was able to see through him.

She let out a slight gasp as the new tears replaced the old ones. She covered her mouth as her throat burned.

"Yeah, as you noticed I'm not here to stay. I just came to say a proper goodbye.." he sighed and looked at the ground.

"You know how much I love you, right Luce? I'd sacrifice everything I have in an instant if it meant for you to be okay. I don't regret jumping in front of you on that mission. I'd gladly do it again if I had to. Lucy, you need to let me go, you deserve to be happy- "

"No! I can't! Not without you, Natsu! You're everything to me!" She cried out as she desperately tried to hold his hand but it went right through.

"Lucy, listen to me- "

"No, Natsu, please! Stay here with me, with the guild! We need you..."

"Ah.. my time is almost up."

"You can't go.. You can't leave me alone again! I'm so lost without you, please Natsu.." she begged as the tears stained her face.

He smiled sadly with sparkling eyes.

"I'll always be with you, Luce.." he said before his body disappeared once again.

"I know that..." she sobbed for few more moments before getting on her feet and looking into the sky.

She placed her palm on her chest and smiled gratefully into the sun that has almost set.

"I love you, I love you so much.."

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who would've thought? i made it, i actually managed to squeeze something out of my brain. it's a Christmas miracle

i wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year!! ❤️