Book One, Fairy Tail - Outcome

Chapter One - (Prolauge) Let his Soul Rest

Natsu...my beloved younger brother. He finally understands.

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The day Fairy Tail had found him, was the day everything shattered. It was the death of not only a loving comrade and friend, but also everyone in the guild.

     Lucy huffed, she would not stop until she found her friend. By her side, Gray, Erza, Happy etc., were also running hard, determination sewn onto their expressions.

But even after stabbing through them and into their souls, anyone would find the worry and fear that lay deep within them.

Lucy stopped in her tracks when they came upon a clearing. Once she spotted a tuft of dirty pink hair she immediately took off running again.

Lucy slid on her knees, briskly placing her hand on Natsu's cheek. He had taken damage, half of his face was bleeding, as well as his mouth and nose. Cuts, bruises and scrapes were littered around his limp body.

Lucy held her breath, as she leaned onto Natsu's chest to listen to his heartbeat. To her dismay, there was no pounding.

Making sure, she placed two fingers on Natsu's neck and wrist...nothing. At this point, tears had sprung in the corners of Lucy's eyes. She placed her hands in front of Natsu's nose for one last test.

      There was no breath.

"Natsu!" She cried.

Erza knelt by her side, preforming the exact same tests with the same results. Erza's eyes were wide as she came to a shocking realization, "...no..."

Lucy cradled Natsu's head in her arms and sobbed loudly. Lucy's strongest friends, Erza and Gray, were bawling as well. Louder and with more emotion then the blonde wizard had ever seen in them. Happy was on top of Natsu's chest, tear's dripping onto the fire-mages beaten abdomen.

"This can't be possible..." murmured Gray. "...no..."

At this moment, the only thing could be heard besides the slight wind. It was the sound of crying and pained shouts.

It was an hour, at hour of crying before everyone thought they had no more tears to cry.

Erza finally moved from her spot and checked Natsu's opponents pulse. She hesitated before standing straight, "He's dead."

"Natsu...did it...?" Gray sniffled. "...he killed Zeref...?"

"But...was killed in the process..." Lucy choked.

The journey home was far from exciting. Once they had gotten back to the guild...the news came out.

Mourning had immediately started. Everyone cried, even the toughest members like Gajeel. Wails filled the guild.

Erza and Gray were reminded of Lisanna's death, but this was worse. Not one person had just a sad look on their face. Tears streaked everyone's faces. Natsu had helped everyone in the guild out in some way or another. None of them expected Natsu to be gone so quickly.

The Strauss siblings all bundled up in a trio and cried. Romeo hid his face in his father's shoulder, soaking it with his own tears.

Levy fell into Gajeel's arms and began to weep. Gray wrapped his arms around Juvia, and they started crying themselves.

Days passed quickly, and many, many people mourned. Zeref's body was taken to an unknown location, while Natsu's lifeless form was carried in a coffin, the top still open. Igneel's scarf was placed around Natsu's neck.

The clouds in the sky signified it was going to rain soon. After everyone had said their final goodbyes, the lid was slid over the top of the coffin, and Natsu was buried. His gravestone was large in the field of grass. Words of complement were engraved on the grave.

Flowers were placed on the ground next to his grave, and everyone began to speak about him.

Tears were mixed with rain as Makarov Dreyar spoke, "Natsu Dragneel wasn't only a great asset to Fairy Tail...but he was a working, loving, caring, protecting, ardent...the list of words could go on. He has assisted everyone in Fairy Tail, and others..."

As rain poured, and Makarov spoke, Erza was given a reminder of when she had experienced what would have happened if she had died. When she witnessed her funeral. This was much like it. It tore Erza apart to know that she would never ever be able to speak to Natsu again.

Gray stood out in the crowd, wearing bright pink. He and Natsu had come up with a deal. If one of them died first, the other would wear bright pink and girly clothes to their funeral.

Gray kept his promise, though, he never thought it would actually happen.

      Where was Natsu truly? Was he really gone? The truth would be discovered...someday.

To be continued in Chapter Two: The Past to Haunt Us