Song: As my Last Ember
By: BOOM

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~Lucy~

"Solantir!" The Fifth Realm was dark, soulless, and lifeless. With Gwen gone it seemed the Realm perished with her. The only source of light I had were the stars and the blue moon hanging above me as I searched frantically for the old Dragon. My arms wrapped the clothes into my chest as I flew high above the trees that used to glow with color. "Solantir where are you!?" My voice carried to what seemed to be the edge of the Realm. It felt smaller than before the last time I was here. I couldn't understand how I could not find Solantir. He was a Dragon for Gods sake! How can I lose a Dragon that large? My heart grew in desperation as my fingers clutched Gwen's clothes. I landed on a floating island gazing at the view before me.

This Realm changed. It was no longer bright and beautiful. I feared Solantir ran away because of the Realm he and Gwen once shared was gone. Gwen lived here with him, shared memories that only the two can ever talk about. Now that I was his connection, he must loathe me for allowing Gwen to take her life for mine. Why did I think Solantir would want to help me!? I closed my eyes and fell to my knees before hunching over. "Solantir," I cried, shaking. "I need your help. Please, I can't do this without you. I need you!"

"I am here Lucy." My head turned behind me to see the great Dragon himself. Though with the little light shining around us, I could clearly see the Dragon's face and his eyes. Solantir's eyes were no longer blue like Gwen's, but were now brown like mine. Solantir seemed more tired, fatigued and heartbroken. "I was always here, but you could not see me until now." I slowly brought myself up on my feet. My steps took me to the Dragon when I stopped a foot away from him. "I thought it was you who did not want to see me." Solantir looked away as he closed his eyes. "I believe we both wished to not see each other. Both for different reasons." His deep voice whispered shamefully when he looked to the sky. I hugged the clothes tighter into my chest before sighing. "Do you hate me even more now?" I spoke without thinking and covered my mouth in surprise. Solantir returned his gaze to me when I took a step away. "Because you've seemed to have never liked me when we first met! Now that Gwen's gone...I know you must despise me." The Dragon somehow smiled. "My child, I have never hated you, not even now do I hate you."

'What?'

"But Solantir, we haven't spoken since her death. Gwen..." My voice cracked from saying her name. "she sacrificed herself and passed you to me. We now have to stay together for eternity and yet I can't even speak to you. It feels like...like I'm..." I trailed away from speaking. As my lips trembled Solantir extended his tail until it was behind me. "Like you have taken my Hatchling's place." I nodded. "Yes, I feel I am only taking her place since she's gone. She was your daughter Solantir, and you lost her because of me..." Once again tears fell down my cheeks. As I could only stand there, Solantir used his tail to pull me closer to him. "My child your troubling thoughts has blinded you. Though it is true, I did not like you when we first met. Not because of what you were, or because of your destiny. It was because when I saw you, I knew it was only a matter of time before I lost her. My Hatchling, Gwen, always understood of her destiny. Gwen has searched for you the moment her fate was shown to her. I knew of her fate as well, and for as long as I had her under my wing I feared the day I would confront you. I never hated you Lucy Heartfilia, I was terrified of the fact Gwen would no longer be with me."

"So...you've been mourning. That's why we haven't spoken, because you and I are struggling to move on." Solantir hugged me with his shoulder and tail while I still held the torn clothes. "No my dear. You are struggling from moving on. I may have been with Gwen longer, but I was prepared to lose my Hatchling. You lost Gwen without notice, and you are still grieving over her." My eyes widened from Solantir's words. I wanted to deny them to show the Dragon I was strong. But every word he said, was true. "How do you move on from losing so much Solantir? Even if Gwen was meant to die that day, every second I blame myself for not being able to stop her. I've lost so much...and losing Gwen has made the pain more unbearable to hold."

"The pain of losing someone never wavers away. As I said I was prepared to lose my Hatchling, and yet I miss her. I am not struggling unlike you have been. It may be because I am not necessarily alive, or that I too have lost so much. I have lost my children that were actual Dragons when the war for mankind befell on us. I had to make the decision of killing half of them, and sending the remaining of my children to slumber." Solantir gazed to the stars as he seemed to relive that moment in time. He too has suffered as I am now. "I'm sorry." The Dragon shook is head. "Do not apologize my child. This was before even Magic was born. You were not even created when the war happened. However Gwen was there, and I couldn't allow the humans and my Hatchling to be used as necessities for my kin. My children were blinded by power and wished to play God. They were burned to death by my fire, and still, suffer even after death."

"I can't let what happened to your kin allow the same fate onto Natsu." Solantir and I looked at each other. "Natsu the son of Igneel, and your soulmate. Is he alright?" I shook my head. "No. He was touched by your flames Solantir. He's...he's trapped to where I can't reach him. I must know if there is a way to save him." The Dragon's dull brown eyes softened. "Lucy, how can you heal him when you can't even heal yourself?" Solantir's eyes looked down to Gwen's clothes. "Like Natsu's soul, you are trapped as well. You are trapped by anger, grief, and pain. If you cannot heal yourself, then you cannot save Natsu." My jaw clenched when I backed away from the Dragon. "How can I heal when there is nothing left!? I may have a soul again, but that's all I am! An immortal soul to forever suffer from loss!"

"You heal by accepting they are gone, Lucy. If you wish to continue to relive the moment your loved one passed, then you will never move on. You must accept they have moved on. You must accept that it is time for yourself to move on. Only then, when you accept, can you begin to heal." My fists clenched as I stared at the grass. The tears streamed down my face harder when I hiccuped. I could see Gwen in my vision, smiling with those dull blue eyes staring at me. Her silver hair dancing in the wind as her laugh echoed in my memory. "Gwen..." I sobbed when I felt Solantir gazing down at me. "If you wish to save Natsu, you must begin to heal. It's time for you to let Gwen go..."

"I can't let her go! She was a piece of me Solantir! Gwen was the reason I could feel again, that I can control the Balance! How can I simply just let her go!?" The sobs grew worse, and before I knew it I was on my knees hugging what was left of Gwen. To even think I could let her go was impossible. "She was also a piece of me as well Lucy. I felt her leave me just as you did. I felt the same way you did when Teral left you." I gasped from hearing my lost Exceed's name. It was the same way like this, only the first time was far worse. I didn't understand at that time but Teral was a part of me. He completed me, and then he was gone before I could thank him. "Now Natsu has a piece of you. And you have a piece of him, Lucy. For you to be able to heal Natsu your soul must be strong!" I felt Solantir's snout touch my head when the Dragon sighed. "Listen to me closely Lucy."

"The connections of souls are incredibly rare, and fragile even with the strongest bond. The two partners will always feel one or the other's pain, both physically and spiritually. You share your pain as if you both are one soul. Natsu can now grasp the Balance Lucy. He can easily use the Darkness and Light if he ever realizes this. And my dear, I am sorry to say this, but Natsu shares your curse too. The soul connection ties the Unforgivable curse to him as well because a piece of your soul resides in his soul."

No...that can't be true. Natsu is...immortal? I took his life from him with no warning. How selfish can I be? How could I have done this to him? "Oh Gods, this can't be happening."

"There is more Lucy." I brought my eyes up to the Dragon. "You can save Natsu from my flames. Do you remember when Gwen moved from her soul to yours to see how damaged you were? You can do the same now for you and Natsu. However, you cannot do this until your soul is fully restored. If you can safely move from your soul to his, you can find Natsu and free him from the white flames." The wind blew across, picking my hair up when I understood what the Dragon meant. "The only way to save Natsu..."

"Is by accepting they are gone Lucy, and to forgive yourself of any doubt and grief."

All the people I have let down showed before me. My adoptive parents having to raise me, when I was never even their child. Seraphina and Talon, the first Light Goddess that gave up her life just so I would live, after what Hades told her, as Talon died beside her. Teral, my Exceed that took the death blow I was meant to receive. Now Gwen, sacrificing her life so I would continue to live. All these people I have never been able to let go after everything they have done for me. All this time I have blamed and hated myself because I was the cause of their death. I finally knew what Gwen meant as I mourned Future Natsu's death...

"...it doesn't matter how many people have lost their life for you, it only matters why they gave their life for you to keep living...."

In the end, you knew you would be one of those people Gwen. You wanted me to move on and to stop dwelling in the past. You wished for me to be free from the grief of losing so much. This was the battle within me, wasn't it? Not the Light or Darkness. Not even the Balance. The battle in me was against myself. "I..." I trailed back to the edge of the floating island, holding the clothes close to my chest. "I'm listening now, Gwen." The blue moon began to shift into a soft yellow as the stars disappeared speck by speck. The trees below me softly grew life back in them, and the Realm was growing ever so bigger. One last time I stared at Gwen's clothes and heard her laughter in the distance of my mind. I imagined her running up to my parents, Seraphina, Talon, and Teral. Gwen was hugging my mother tightly with her clear, crystal blue eyes looking back to me. She was smiling even after death. And like Gwen they were all waiting for me, watching over me like angels. Gwen was in a better place and was happy, just like the rest of my loved ones.

I pulled the clothes out of my chest and held it above my head. With my eyes closed and tears gone, I released my grip and felt the wind taking what was left of Gwen somewhere beyond my reach. "Goodbye, Gwen. I will never forget you, but I am ready to move on." Solantir's head caressed my shoulder. "You are already healing Lucy. Go, save your soulmate before he is lost." A small smile took form on my lips. I turned to Solantir and hugged him tightly. "Thank you..." I whispered as Solantir used his head to hug me back. "You are my daughter now Lucy. Though Gwen will always hold a place within my heart, you now stay in my heart as well." I pulled away and extended my angelic wings out. "Thank you Solantir. You have given me hope when I thought I was lost." The Dragon bowed his head and closed his dull brown eyes. "You and I are one soul now. We both have given each other hope." I flapped my wings until I was airborne. "Will I hear from you again?" Solantir nodded. "You can always find me, Lucy. I am, after all, your soul. Farewell, my child. Never stray from your true path." A portal appeared behind me as I flew through it. "See you then, Solantir."

The portal closed.

~~~

I marched through the entrance doors with newfound strength within me. My guildmates looked in my direction and had joy in their eyes. "Lucy, you're back!" Mirajane exclaimed with glee. Gray came up to me with his hand in his pockets. "Natsu is still asleep while you've been gone for most of the day. Happy is still in there watching over him." I thanked Gray and walked back to my soulmate's room. When I found the door I went straight in as Happy sat next to the sleeping Natsu. "Lu-shee?"

"I'm back Happy. I'll return to watching over him while you eat fish in the Main Corridor." Happy's eyes went up. "Fish!?" Not a moment later Happy took off leaving only me and Natsu. For some time I just stood in place, watching Natsu's shallow breathes leave him. Only I could save him from the torment of the white fire. My soft steps brought me to Natsu when I sat down next to him. As Gwen did, I took Natsu's hand in mine and closed my eyes. "Where are you?" I whispered, pushing myself from my soul to his. I had to find him, I had to free Natsu. What felt like minutes passed, and the breath I was holding exhaled. I opened my eyes to Natsu's calm face. "Let me protect you for once! Please Natsu..." I gripped his hand tighter, biting my lower lip in concentration. With my eyes sealed, I pushed harder to find Natsu. 'I will save you Natsu. Help me find you...'

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"Lucy..." My eyes opened only to see white flames in front of me. I covered my face from the heat as the wind whipped my hair back. I heard him. I heard my Soulmate calling for me! "Natsu!" I yelled walking straight into the flames without fear. I knew Solantir's fire would not harm me, but I was terrified Natsu was burning alive as I could only helplessly search for him. "Natsu where are you!?" I screamed when the fire grew larger in Natsu's soul, torturing him without the power to extinguish it. I know I heard him! I must find him! "Natsu please!" I begged until the flames consumed me. I was in no danger, but my clothes were burning even though I wasn't in my body. I wrapped my arms around my chest and marched through the fire. My hair was flying around my face until I saw a silhouette in the distance. The person was hunched over, holding himself as the flames devoured him. I saw the salmon hair, and because of that, I screamed in agony. "NATSU!"

Natsu's head shot up from the sound of my voice. Half of his face was seared with blisters and flesh showing without skin. I saw Natsu completely bare when he weakly stood up on his feet. "Lu-cy..." He reaches out to me, and could only take a step before plummeting to his knees. I sprinted and caught him before he fell. I cried into his shoulder not even caring that we both were practically exposed. Natsu wrapped his arms around me and tucked my head into his chest. "I'll protect you. The flames...they'll..." Natsu couldn't even finish his sentence before he cried from the pain. I pulled away and placed my hand on Natsu's cheeks. "Listen to me Natsu, I'm not in danger! I'm safe from the flames, and you will be too once we extinguish them!" Natsu shook his head. "No Lucy...you aren't safe. I'll protect you..."

"Natsu you're not listening!" Fire swept the ground and washed over us. As my skin was safe Natsu was blistered until his flesh fell off his bones. I screamed at the sight, but my Soulmate used himself as a shield to protect me. "I swear I'll keep you safe!" My eyes stared at only the fire. Natsu has forgotten his own self, he is in such pain the only thing keeping him sane is me. He needs to fight against the fire, or else he is lost! "Natsu..." I cried, hugging him tightly. Natsu hugged me back with his skin back to normal. He gazed into my eyes and wiped away my bloody tears. "It's okay Lucy! I'll keep you safe." My hands rested on Natsu's chest as I closed my eyes. "Natsu, forgive me." A moment later I pushed Natsu away and got back on my feet. I backed away bringing myself into the center of the flames as Natsu reached out to me. "Lucy come back! You'll get hurt stop it!" I felt the heat on my back and halted. The panic in his eyes made me want to run back to Natsu, but first, we both must save his soul from the flames. "You can't save me until the flames have died! Help me Natsu!" Natsu stood up and reached both of his arms out to me. "It's suicide, Lucy! We can't get rid of the fire, I can't fight against it any longer!" I bowed my head in guilt. I knew doing this to Natsu will hurt him emotionally, but it was the only way to bring him back, and to save his soul. "I'm so sorry."

I took a step back and was engulfed into the fire. The fire, however, was not hurting me, but Natsu wailed in torment to watch me stand in the flames. "NO! LUCY COME BACK, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME AGAIN! LUCY! LUCY~!!!" Natsu fell on all fours and the moment he landed a powerful wind blew out and extinguished the white fire until it was only me and Natsu. I stood there in awe because of Natsu's love for me. I did so little to aid Natsu in killing the flames, but the distraught of losing me again, and the love he has for me killed the fire in his soul. I walked forward until I was in front of Natsu again. My Soulmate was weeping at my feet while shaking his head. "Lucy... Lucy no!" I got on my knees and placed my hand on Natsu's head. "Natsu, I'm okay." The salmon haired wizard brought his eyes up to me. All of a sudden I was wrapped in his arms as he sobbed into my chest. "I thought I lost you again! Lucy you idiot why did you do that!?"

"It was the only way to bring you back. Look what you did, you extinguished the flames!" Natsu picked his head up and glanced around. There was no fire, only the two of us. All that was left now was to heal Natsu's soul. "How did I do that? I was trapped here for so long. I was burning eternally, but seeing you in the fire...it made me snap back to reality. All I knew was that I had to stop the fire before it could hurt you. How are you unscathed?" I took Natsu's hands and helped him back on his feet. Around us was a white void that was shattered like glass. The ground shook as more cracks grew. Natsu was scathed and scarred from the fire. "It's a long story. I will tell you everything but first, I need to heal you before it's too late." Natsu looked into my eyes, and nodded. "Do what you must. Just, never do anything like that again." I smiled warmly, and gently placed a kiss on Natsu's cheek. "I promise I'll never do something like that again." Below us the ground sealed under our feet as if it mended itself. For a moment I was confused until I knew how it was done. "Natsu," I put my attention back to Natsu's eyes. "may I kiss you?" I asked placing my hand on Natsu's face. The Dragon Slayer gasped as he blushed. He looked away until he nodded. "You don't have to ask you know?"

"If I ask every time just to see you blush like that, then it's worth it." I pulled Natsu into my lips, moving my hands down Natsu's chest and around his arms as the world around us was mending. The large cracks shrunk to no longer existing while the burns on Natsu faded to only a red mark. Still holding our kiss I grabbed Natsu's hand to hold onto. We pulled away still close to one another and holding hands. I looked around not seeing any cracks nor burns on Natsu. "You're healed, but I don't understand what I did to help you!"

"Because you're with me." Natsu spoke softly into my ear while pulling me into a hug. "I finally have you in my arms. I kissed your soft lips once again, and now I can keep you safe without worrying about anything harming you. You healed me because I have you, Lucy." Tears prickled my eyes as I could only smile. "Natsu," I whispered until I hugged him closer. "I love you..." With Natsu now healed from the flames, I felt myself returning back to my soul. Before I left, Natsu kissed my right temple. "I love you too."

I was pulled back until I snapped my head up. I was back in the bedroom holding Natsu's hand. My clothes were on me again as it was still nighttime. I sat up fixing a strand of hair that was in my face until I felt movement. My attention went to Natsu clenching his eyes until he opened them. Our eyes locked, as we gazed into each other longingly. Natsu said nothing, when he eventually smiled. "You saved me." I returned a smile. "You saved me first idiot." Natsu tried to sit up until he held his rib. "Are one of my ribs broken?" I put my hand over his and sheepishly nodded. "Yes, you only have two broken bones now, one being your rib and the other is your left arm." Natsu lied back down and sighed. "Then I guess you'll just have to come to me." He smirked with his eyes calling for me. I giggled at him and lied down beside him without hurting his rib cage as I rested my head on his right shoulder. "You don't need to tell me twice."

After sharing one last passionate kiss, we both fell asleep due to extreme exhaustion. For the first time, in a long time, I got a full night's rest.

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After this there will be one more chapter, and a bonus chapter for some people that I think will really~ enjoy my little happy bonus.

Did you guys like the Nalu? I always love writing the Nalu moments.☺️

As always my Lovelies...love you all!❤️