Song: The Lonely Road
By: Adrian Von Ziegler

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~Natsu~

I was home but wasn't happy to be here. In the small apartment that I shared with Lucy and Happy, it felt like my entire world was locked in place. It was the same just as I left it when I went to train for three months and went to Aria for two months. Have I really been away from Magnolia for almost half a year? It was unbelievable until I arrived and was hit with the smell of the canal and restaurants I used to go to on a daily basis. Even my nose was overwhelmed by the smell of home since I've been away for so long.

Of course, going by to the apartment wasn't easy my first night. When I wanted to just lie down after my exhausting travel I was kicked out due to the rent not being paid for the last five months, even after I told her I would be away for a while. So, I spent the night at my old house, and I didn't get any sleep. The following day I took as many job requests that I could and was able to scrounge up the jewels that were needed to pay overdue rent. Since then, I've been home, waiting for the next sign to tell me where I'm supposed to go.

It's almost been one week and nothing has happened. The tug of the second missing shard hasn't appeared and Lucy's heartbeat isn't getting stronger. Even when I found her first missing shard it wasn't enough to help her. I should be with her right now at the Guild Hall, but seeing Lucy will only remind me that I can't do anything right now. I'm at a loss as is everyone else. Hades, regardless of not being able to walk through the Abyss anymore, has been working endlessly with Gramps and anyone else that's smart enough to know what can help. Meanwhile, I've been hiding in the covers of the bed I use to share with Lucy. Not doing one damn thing to help her out of this situation. I must be feeling depressed right now because I don't have it in me to even get up. Happy comes and goes through the window to give me any updates on the problem they're still speaking of, but for the last two days, it's all been the same. If I can't feel the tie with a shard of Lucy's soul, then we're looking in the wrong place. Hades told me he felt Lucy in all the Realms at one point, but there are some Realms I am not able to reach. Even with the Balance in my hands now how can I shift to the Fifth Realm? Lucy told me only Gwen can freely move with the exception of being able to carry one person. Not even having the Balance can help me.

I heard the window open telling me that Happy came back for the day. "Natsu? You awake?" His small voice asked when he sat down next to me. I rolled over and nodded after rubbing my eyes. "Yeah. I tried to sleep but I only stayed up some more. How's everything going with the guild?" Happy shifted in his fur. "It's a little chaotic, to be honest. The vitals Lucy is showing isn't getting better, in fact, it's becoming worse." My eyes fell to the covers. "But, Levy and Hades may have an idea that they're working on!"

"Oh?" I mumbled. Happy bobbed his head. "Yeah! They're discussing ways that may be able to help find your ties to Lucy's torn soul. All we need to do is help trigger that into action and then we can keep moving forward." I didn't say a word to the Exceed but just shrugged my shoulders and pulled the covers even closer to me. "Is that so?" Happy's eyes looked at me with concern. "Um, Nat-zu, can I be honest?" The blue Exceed jumped up to his feet. "You've been sulking worse than usual! I haven't seen you out of this bed in days, and I'm pretty sure you haven't had an actual meal since you came back from Hargeon! While everyone else is staying day and night at the Guild Hall, you've been here, doing nothing!" I cut my attention to him. "You really think I haven't noticed that?"

"Then why don't you do something about it!?" He yelled. I've seen Happy this angry only once at me, and that's when I told him to stay at the Guild Hall while I had to go fight Lucy to save EarthLand and the Five Realms. "Happy, there are some things even I am unable to do. Being there, seeing Hades right now, seeing my Luce in that state..." I hid the lower part of my face with the sheet. I didn't want my Exceed to see me struggle to hold back a sob. This entire year I have been a crybaby, which is why I will not show any tears to anyone anymore.
I am not a cryer. I am not weak.

"It's best I stay out of everyone's way rather than sit there and sulk." Happy hit me with his tiny paw, which didn't affect or hurt me whatsoever. "Then you're a coward! The Natsu I knew would never stay in bed and allow others to solve problems for him! The Natsu I knew would be at the head of the table throwing out the dumbest ideas a person has ever heard until he managed to make one good plan! The Natsu I knew would pull himself out of this state he's in and help save Lu-shee!" I rolled my eyes before switching my position to be looking away from Happy. "If you're going to say meaningless things then can't you go stay the night with Wendy and Carla? You're getting on my nerve." I could feel Happy's eyes on me, deciding whether or not to kick me in the head. Eventually, I heard the window open. But before I knew Happy was gone, my dragon hearing was able to listen to Happy mutter something under his breath. "You don't love Lucy any more..."

I sat up ready to tear Happy a new one, but he was gone. My heart was erratic by what he said and it angered me to my very core. "I don't love Lucy anymore?! Dammit, the reason I feel this way is because I love Lucy too much!" I kicked the sheets off me and screamed into my hands. For this entire week, I've been at a standstill only having the strength to breathe. No one can understand what I'm going through and what I am feeling. I'm so angry, angry at everything and everyone. I hate Daniel, I hate Hades and I hate what Lucy has done. She has kept so many secrets from me only to let the man that created her to tell me the truth. Every single thing I thought I knew has been a coverup for the big picture. Lucy and I are immortal, we share the Balance, the Gods want her gone, we are connected through our Souls, and she is a being never been seen before. Lucy isn't human, but she is? She has emotions like a human, which means her love for me is real, right?

Right!?

"DAMMIT! DAMN THE GODS!!!" I kicked myself out of bed and smashed the bedposts. The wood cracked in my knuckles as splinters bit through my calloused skin. Feathers jumped into the air until they gradually fell around me, the covers were torn to shreds and springs popped out of the mattress. I destroyed the bed, our bed. It was the only thing that made me feel closer to Lucy. When we argued over stupid things, or when she was still a Half-Soul, this bed was our haven. It's where we talked things over as we held each other. This was our place that we shared kisses and sentimental conversations...and I just destroyed it.

"Why did I do that? Why...why did I do that to our bed?" I repeated over and over resting my fists over my temples. I don't even remember falling into the Balance, but I did. I felt the surge of power overwhelm me that I had to release it somewhere to feel better even for a second. I fell to my knees picking up the ruined pillow Lucy always used. If I stuffed my face into the fabric I could faintly smell her warm, sweet scent. It was almost gone, just like she will be if I don't do something about it. But what could I do now? I'm messed up and out of control because of my distance between Lucy. Even if I were sitting next to her, my Luce was somewhere else. Her Soul isn't with me which is what I needed to be sane. "Gods, Lucy, I miss you so much." I wept, hugging the pillow close to me. There's been a gaping hole in my life without her here, even if she was less than a five-minute walk to visit. Lucy's body is nothing but a shell now. Hades wasn't lying when he said I would feel insane without her here. The Souls Connection has done a drastic impact on me, but it wasn't the Souls Connection that made me miss Lucy. Before any of that happened I would miss Lucy even if she was gone for a day or even an hour at the least. Lucy owns my life, and if she wanted to crush it she could. She already has since she left me that night. Though the half of Lucy's Soul I have is trying to be free from me, I still have it because of her immortality clinging her to live. I shouldn't be here sitting and waiting for something to happen. Nothing will happen if I just sit idly by and watch from a distance. I want to help save Lucy and bring her home once and for all.

I promised myself to find a new bed to replace the one I destroyed, then readied myself to go to the Guild Hall. After straightening the wrinkles out of my vest and tightly wrapping my scarf around my neck, I locked the window and left through the door. The old landlady stood with her hands on her hips, but her eyes looked at me with concern. "You're causing a ruckus."

"I know. I'm sorry." I said dully. The landlady huffed through her nose before placing her hand on my forearm. "I didn't realize that she was sick. Tell me when Lucy gets better alright?" So everyone thinks Lucy is just sick? I figured Hades would make sure of that. If word spreads that Lucy is "dead" then that could bring unwanted guests to the Guild. It was just Fairy Tail that knew the truth... "Of course. It'll just be me awhile, however, because...Lucy's..." I tried to swallow the knot in my throat. "Hush boy, I understand completely. Take the time you need to be with her, but after she's on her feet again you'll owe me for any late fee." The old landlady let her hold go as she returned to being a scowling, scary old lady. I showed her a thankful smile before leaving to go to the Guild Hall.

Somehow it was sunny today. The water in the canal was a pristine blue as the sun made it seem to dance. People all around me were talking, some laughing, living as if it were any normal day for them. But it was normal for them. These people have no clue that the one person that keeps their lifestyle the way it is on the brink of death. How could I forget that if Lucy dies, then so does Magic? The Balance will collapse which is the very reason Magic exists and why there are even three realms that hold Magic. It helped us connect to the Celestial Spirits and to grow more as a society. What would happen if we lost Magic? What would any of us do without it?

The Guild Hall was in front of me before I even knew it. Unlike the usual bickering I'm used to hearing before I enter, it was quiet with only the vague sounds of discussions between my comrades. I didn't waste another second when I pushed the wooden door open. The Guild was scattered conversing with their group, some even having books or journals opened. It became promptly quiet when I walked in. "Well, look who finally decided to show up?" Max asked leaning in his chair. Some people shushed him as I only continued forward searching for Hades or Gramps. Erza came forward looking concerned. "Hey, are you alright? We haven't seen you since Hargeon."

"I could be better," I admitted glancing away to avoid her gaze. Erza reached for me until she withdrew. "Look Natsu," she began saying. "we've been trying to search for anything related to Souls Connection and the Balance. There isn't a lot of information since this has never been seen but only once. And that being said it was a long time ago that documentation looks to be scarce to find." The scarlet mage maneuvered my face to look at her. Erza was smiling. "But we have found help. No, actually. Help found us during this time of need."

"What're you talking about?" I asked. Erza pointed to Gramps's Office. "Take a look in there. If you're wanting to find Hades and Master they'll be in there. Along with the help we need as well." I thanked Erza when she returned to her husband's side. I completely forgot that Erza and Jellal were actually married. After everything that happened, it slipped my mind that Erza, one of the few people I feared, was married. I knew I would have to apologize for ruining their wedding at one point. It was bad for me to begin by proposing to Lucy on their wedding night. I went up the stairs ignoring the glares and pitied eyes that were on me. Some of my guildmates are angry I've done so little, whereas the others know I'm suffering worse than all of them. I feel as though I'm missing, only walking while in a deep dreamlike state. Before going in I knocked on Master Makarov's door. "Come in." I entered greeting two familiar faces. Gramps was sitting behind his desk, clear of paper. Hades was behind him leaning over while pointing at something, and then there was someone else. It was a lady in ragged clothes holding a very long wooden staff. Her grayed hair was in long braids that rested on her shoulders, and her back had a large hump like a camel. "Old lady from the trial?" I said appalled that it was her that was helping us. "When did you get here? Wait why are you even here?"

"It seems he has finally pulled himself out from the covers." The old lady announced getting up from the chair. She turned to look at me, those beady eyes still sewn shut by the thread that holds them. There was a scowl on her face that showed me she looked pissed. "You, are a sad little boy." I closed the door with a slam. "Excuse me?" I muttered with a snarl. Hades extended his hand out. "Giver, please-"

"I don't want to hear a word out of you, Bringer. You're the reason we're stuck in this situation in the first place!" Hades closed his mouth, lowering his arm. The old lady scowled even harder at me. "Are you gonna stand there and keep doing nothing?" I moved forward until I was in front of her. "Why would you be helping us? I thought you worked with the Council. You know, the one that tried to kill Lucy?"

"The Council are beneath me boyo. They exist because I created the order of the Council and Saints." I rolled my eyes. "Well, you should've done a better job."

"Natsu!" Hades yelled. The Giver raised her hand to silence Hades. She was quiet for a moment until she spoke. "I can not control the corruption of mankind. The Council and Saints are meant to bring justice to those that deserve so. It is not my intention to bestow the title to one that has a dark heart. Mankind's fall is their ignorance and lust for power. Just like Raphael, for example. When I first met him he was just a wizard with a kind heart, but throughout the time being the first ranked Council, he grew more hunger for the power he had." The old lady withdrew her hand back to her side. "You blame me for the destruction of your kind?"

"I blame you for not saving Lucy!" I screamed when I clenched my fists to control the untamable power of the Balance. "That other first ranked Council member stole Lucy in front of me! He violated her before my very eyes and took her away! You should have known that was going to happen. How could you not see he is filled with the worst kind of corruption any human has!?" Hades looked away when I noticed he was biting his lips. As if he was trying to stop himself from speaking. "Don't Hades." The Giver warned. "He has yet to understand the true meaning of why I had no choice."

"Then why not tell me for the Gods sake?" She was silent until she shook her head. "Just like Hades, I swore a vow. I cannot speak of the secrets that are yet to be unveiled. You must understand, Natsu. Hades is a Bringer, and I am a Giver." I rolled my eyes. If I knew this old bag was going to be in here I would have stayed home. "That is impolite of you to think."

"How'd you know what I'm thinking?" The Giver leaned more into her staff. "Just like Lucy, I hold the Sight. Only my Sight is far more superior compare to hers, but because of my Sight, I can read your emotions, mind, and soul. You are in disarray." Obviously. "But, I can somehow teach you the basics of Sight. You were lucky to find her first missing shard due to the tie you have with her Soul. But that isn't going to help you every time. If you learn the Sight, you will be able to find the shard much easier and faster; that is if you wish to learn."

"What even is the Sight? Lucy used it when she needed to hide her eyes, but something like this, finding shards of a soul, she's never been able to do that before." Hades moved around the desk until he handed me a book. "This, Natsu, is older than any book ever written. This was written by the Giver herself, telling the lore of the Sight and its properties." He opened a page then pointed with his finger.

The Vision of the Gods.

"What does this mean?" The old lady took the book back then placed it back on the desk. "It means you will see how the Gods see. The Sight is how the Gods see through their eyes. It is how they see us."

"You're saying I'll see how the Gods see things? But I thought it was Magic that was able to make this happen."

"Magic can enhance the power of Sight. Unlike the Gods, who do not use Magic, I have used Magic to strengthen my Sight. The Gods can see the Souls of their children, but they can not read them. They can't feel what you feel at any certain moment or peek inside your mind. It's how I was able to watch Lucy's life before me due to the power of my Sight." The Giver used her staff to push the closed book closer to Gramps. "Do you even know why I am even called a 'Giver,' Natsu Dragneel?" I hesitantly shook my head. "The Gods use my strengthen Sight to be able to see visions of the future. There are many paths and countless possibilities. I give them these paths to help them closer to their goals. I have seen good and bad endings for the fate of the Five Realms. But every vision has a connection, and it all writes back to Lucy Heartfilia."

"Lucy?" The Giver nodded. "She is tied to the fate of the Five Realms. It will be her decision that will save us all or that which she will be the destroyer of it all." I turned away. "Stop it! Stop saying whatever it is you're saying! This is the Five Realms we're speaking of old lady! And if what you're saying is true then what's a vision that she isn't a part of the fate of this thing!?" The Giver stared, though her eyes were sealed shut by the leather threads that lock her eyes closed. She didn't say anything. Nothing. "There isn't one," Hades concluded. "It all comes down to Lucy, Natsu. She will either save or destroy us. But if she isn't there, then we have already lost."

"Lost...what..." Hades grew silent. "We- we cannot answer. I and the Giver swore a vow-" I threw the chair into the wall. "I KNOW YOUR STUPID VOW BUT I WANT ANSWERS!!!" The burning sensation of the Darkness crawled my left arm, whilst my right illuminated a pure, gentle glow of the Light. "If you want to help so much then forget the vows and tell me everything. For starters what is it that's to come! And for the Gods sake, why must it involve Lucy of all people!?"

"You already know that answer, Natsu Dragneel." The Giver whispered not even fazed by my outburst. "Though we are unable to tell you of what is to come, you know why it involves your soulmate. She's not even an actual human. Sure, she carries human traits, she even looks human. Raised by human parents and learned the ways of human life, but is she even a human?" The Giver used the other chair next to her to sit. My heart, still moving faster than I could handle, I tried to concentrate on returning to normal. I didn't want to use the Balance and its powers; it's too easy to fall into its hold. "I don't understand..." The old lady smiled. "Of course you don't. She didn't either since she was blinded by emotions. She was and still is in love. You, her family and friends, is the reason why Lucy cannot and will not accept what she truly is. Listen boyo," She urged me to come closer. I kneeled to where our faces were leveled as I crouched. "The child I took under my wing was protected if the Council were to try and execute her again. Other than that, Lucy had to grow through pain and loss; just like any other human being. In a way, she is human. She bleeds, she cries and laughs. All of these the Gods are unable to do. However, she is also the Guardian of Light and Darkness; the Balance. The sole reason of how Magic exists. Lucy's soul was not created, but was a stolen trace of a soul and mended it to be hers. You of all people should know emotions can aid one when it comes to fighting for the person you love dearly. If you want to know why the Gods wish so badly for her to be erased, it is because they fear her. Lucy has emotions, Magic which they do not have, and two powerful entities that can be overly powerful if they ever become one. All of these traits the Gods do not have."

"But what would that make Lucy? If she isn't a human, a Dark One, or Light Goddess, then what the hell is she?" The Giver shook her head. "Sweet child, there is only one being that can create Souls. The Gods created every living thing, except one...person. That person made their own soul out of the corruption of a pure Light Goddess, and changed it to be their identity." The old lady caressed her calloused hand over my jawline then pushed my chin up to face her sewn eyes.

"You are in love with a God, Natsu Dragneel."

Lucy...is one of the Gods? How could I be with a powerful entity like Lucy? What would Lucy even do if she ever finds out? "She's...she's a God. So, that means Lucy is beyond capable of overthrowing them if she wished to." At last, the old lady agreed. "Exactly. All the Gods started, all they have planned is in peril with Lucy being alive. The Realms they made are in danger of being consumed by the Midnight or StarLight Realm if Lucy wished for either one to devour a Realm. That is what her intention was when she was a Dark One for some time."

"You told me the Sight can help me find the shards of Lucy's soul. How can you teach me?" The Giver used her long fingers to close my eyelids. "First, you must stop relying on your human eyes to see what is in front of you. To see through the eyes of a God you must relinquish your eyesight. I lost my eyes and sowed them shut to never see through them again. At the time when Lucy lost her eyesight, she also unveiled her Sight. Now that you are connected through the Gods because of Lucy, you are qualified to open your Sight." I opened my eyes, blinking until the blurriness was gone. Gramps finally spoke. "Natsu, the vitals Lucy is showing, Porlyuscia estimates that her heart will stop before the end of the month. You have less than two weeks to find the shards of Lucy's soul." Gramps grabbed the delicate book in his hands, turning the page with a gentle touch. "On this page, it took the Giver more than a millennium to fully unlock the powers of Sight. How did Lucy lose her eyesight?"

"It's a long story Gramps, but the short of it Lucy was trapped in a twisted version of the nightmare that started all of this. It was her first trial to be able to unlock the Light Goddess within her. She fought what I believed was an evil version of herself, but we realized it was her conscious that was trapped. Well, the conscious of the Dark One that is." My hands kneaded each other gruffly. "That, whatever she was, took away Lucy's eyes. One eye was because of torture, the other was while they were fighting."

"Giver," Gramps started still looking down at the book. "when you mean losing his eyesight, do you mean he must sacrifice his human eyes to unlock the Sight?" Oh no. If I have to sow my eyes like that old bag I'll take my chances with the invisible tie I still can't feel. The Giver actually chuckled before shaking her head. "No Makarov your child's eyes will be safe from my needle and thread. He, however, will have to have his eyes closed until he is able to unlock the Sight in him. We must place him in a small, dark room that even if he opens his eyes his brain will still believe they are still closed. He mustn't be fed-"

"Wait you won't feed me!?" The Giver continued. "And he mustn't be given anything in the room. No bed, no books, nothing but himself. After I sewed my eyes I stayed in a cave that was blocked from sunlight and anything that could disrupt me longer than humans were alive on EarthLand. I didn't have a bite of food or a drop of water. Only when you unlocked the Sight in your mind and soul is when you'll be let out." I hated this idea. Is there a stronger word for hate? "I really, really hate this idea of yours old lady. What if I'm stuck there longer than I need to be?"

"I have no choice but to give you a time limit. Other than guide you to have self-control of your hunger and ease your state of mind, the only person that can unlock the Sight inside you, is you Natsu Dragneel." Gramps placed the book back down on his desk as his narrow eyes looked at me. "If you don't want to do this Natsu I understand. We can only give you up to five days until we have no other choice but to continue using the tie between you and Lucy to find the missing soul shards." I sat still for what felt like a long time thinking over my options given to me just now. If I can somehow unlock my Sight then I can find Lucy's soul shards faster than ever. But then again, I may not be able to get my Sight. I would possibly be wasting five days that I could use to search for Lucy as I'm fatiguing away in a pitch-black room. "Giver," The old bag looked at me. "what choice should I make? You've seen this, haven't you? What should be my decision?"

"I can only tell the possible futures to the Gods. But this, Natsu Dragneel, is only two decisions that which you must choose from." She didn't help me whatsoever. If that old lady has seen countless possibilities of the future then she could at least help me go the right way of what to do. I was starting to overthink my choices. "Natsu," My eyes went to the voice that called me: Hades. His lavender irises were soft yet fearful of what was to come. Hades and the old bag knew the right choice, but they couldn't tell me what it was. "just follow your gut. Whatever feels best that's the choice you should make. Don't panic over this." Hah, easier said than done.

But, having the Sight can be an advantage.

"I'll be in solitude for five days. Five days only and nothing more." The Giver nodded. "Very well then. Prepare yourself boyo, this won't be as easy as it seems. You'll begin to hear things and your thoughts will go out of control. Hunger and thirst will distract you from unlocking your Sight. This is a battle between mind and body. Are you sure this is what you want?" I nodded, finalizing my decision. "Yep. Lock me up in a box for five days and let's see what happens." The old lady smirked. "Heh, I like his attitude." She stood on her feet. "Get me the mage, Freed. He will be locking your Dragon Slayer in a box of utter darkness." I couldn't be wasting time anymore sulking. This was my only shot at finding Lucy's missing soul before she is erased forever.

"Just hang on a little while longer Luce. You'll be awake again real soon."

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Here's a long chapter to those in quarantine. Stay safe Lovelies, and stay home if you can help it.😘
As always...love you all!❤️