🎄 Merry Christmas, my dear readers! 🎄
I want to sincerely thank every one of you who follows my stories, leaves comments, favorites, and supports my work. As a small way to give back, I've prepared a special extra chapter as a Christmas gift for you.
This chapter is my way of showing gratitude for every read, every theory, and every emotion we've shared along the journey. You bring these stories to life far beyond the words, and that means more to me than I can put into words.
May this Christmas be filled with peace, inspiration, and joyful moments. Let's continue this adventure together, with many more chapters, arcs, and emotions waiting for us in the year to come.
Thank you for being here. Truly. ❤️
Merry Christmas and happy reading! ✨📖
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As they walked along the narrow trail leading them back to the city, the night air of Magnolia enveloped them like a cool cloak, carrying the scent of damp earth and wildflowers blooming under the moonlight.
The stars dotted the sky like forgotten jewels, while the distant song of crickets filled the comfortable silence that had settled between them.
Lucy bit her lower lip, her heart still racing from the whirlwind of emotions stirred up at Natsu's house. She couldn't stop thinking about the two weeks he had spent with Juvia. The persistent images conjured by her fertile imagination refused to quiet down, planting doubts that refused to be silenced. She needed to know if anything had happened between them—not just out of curiosity, but to quiet the jealousy that still burned in her chest like embers hidden beneath ashes.
Finally, gathering her courage, she broke the silence with a voice she tried to keep casual, though it came out a little higher-pitched than intended.
"So… about those two weeks with Juvia? Besides the trips and the weird food, what else did you two do? I want to know all the details…"
Natsu walked with his hands stuffed in his pants pockets, his scarf swaying gently in the breeze. He glanced up at the sky for a brief moment, as if organizing his thoughts, before answering with that carefree ease that—without him realizing—made Lucy's heart beat faster.
"Besides what I already told you…? Well, I also learned a few new spells. It was a good distraction…"
He decided this was the perfect moment to reveal it. Now he had the perfect excuse.
All he had to do was say he had learned them during those two weeks, without going into too much detail or overacting. Just enough to sound plausible.
During the trip with Juvia, on the nights he stood watch while she slept, he had always told her he was training new magic.
Unknowingly, she had become his perfect accomplice.
Even though she had never actually seen him train, the story held up. The little lies, repeated naturally, had become solid enough to pass for truth.
And now, they were truth.
If anyone asked, he had Juvia to back him up.
And it would work.
Lucy blinked, slowing her pace for a fraction of a second before quickening again to keep up with him. He learned new spells? That simply didn't sound like the Natsu she knew.
The old Natsu was pure instinct; he trusted what Igneel had taught him and rarely showed interest in complex techniques or prolonged study. He was the type to solve everything with flaming fists and a wild grin—too impulsive to sit down and learn something just because he wanted to. For him, "training" had always meant brawls at the guild or missions that pushed him to his limits. Not… voluntary learning.
The revelation hit her hard. Lucy frowned, trying to process it.
"New spells? You? Like… you never seemed interested in that before. I always thought you preferred to improvise in the heat of battle, without worrying about complicated techniques."
He shrugged, and the casual smile returned to his lips.
"Yeah, I know. But after everything that happened…the loss of Happy, the island, all the time we lost…I figured it'd be good to keep my mind busy with something different. Stay occupied, you know? So I wouldn't think too much…"
Lucy felt a tightness in her chest at his words—a strange mix of empathy for his pain and genuine surprise at this new layer of maturity. He really had changed more than she had imagined. And without realizing it, the desire to get to know this new version of her "first love" took over her thoughts.
"I get it… But what spell did you learn? It's gotta be something fire-related, right?"
Natsu shook his head and, for a moment, stopped walking. He turned to face her fully, a mischievous glint appearing in his eyes.
"One of them was Erza's Reequip…" He shrugged. "She taught me once, a long time ago, but I never really practiced it. Figured now was worth giving it a try…"
Lucy's eyes widened, and her jaw nearly dropped.
Reequip…? Erza's magic, capable of summoning armors and weapons from a dimensional space with near-surgical precision? That required control, focus, discipline—exactly the opposite of the impulsive old Natsu she knew. He could barely sit still for five minutes without starting trouble. How in the world had he managed to learn something so refined?
In their world, it was common knowledge that every mage possessed an internal "magic container" capable of storing Ethernano particles, the source of all magic. The ability to use magic was innate in many people, but the type and limits of that magic were not set at birth. She herself had learned her own magic from her mother…
So-called common magics could be learned by any mage willing to train. With study, practice, and often the guidance of masters or the aid of grimoires, an ordinary mage could reach impressive levels. The limits were generally tied more to creativity and persistence than to any innate "talent."
Rare magics, however, followed different rules.
The arts of the Dragon Slayers, for example, were innate—taught directly by dragons, who altered the bodies and very magic containers of their pupils. Lucy vaguely remembered Happy mentioning that Natsu's body had been modified by the magic he learned from Igneel. Gajeel… Wendy… all of them.
Thus, there were three paths to power: constant training and study, direct transmission or implantation of power as with the Dragon Slayers, or access to ancient, lost knowledge preserved in forbidden grimoires and forgotten legends.
Any mage could become extraordinary in the end. The true limit was almost always willpower.
And still…
It was shocking that Natsu had chosen the most ordinary path: study.
Erza herself had once commented on how hard it had been to teach him to read.
Natsu nodded, his smile widening as if he had been waiting for exactly that reaction.
Without warning, he extended his hand toward her and murmured softly:
"Command T: Fairy Size…"
Before Lucy could react, a soft golden light enveloped her body. The world around her suddenly seemed to grow—or rather, she was shrinking.
In the blink of an eye, she was fairy-sized, floating for a brief second before landing on the open palm of his hand. The ground was absurdly far below, the trees looked like giants…and Natsu was enormous.
He held her carefully, as though she were something rare, fragile…precious.
Her heart raced, a blush rising quickly to her cheeks as she tried to process what was happening.
"W-what?! Natsu! What did you…how…?!" Her voice came out high and thin, almost like the tinkling of a bell, as she looked up, wide-eyed, at his face.
He laughed, and the vibration echoed gently through his palm to her tiny body.
"Relax, Lucy…" he said, still smiling. "It's just a size-altering spell. 'Command T.' I bought an old book in one of the towns we passed through and taught myself. Thought it might be useful for getting out of trouble…or, well, for having a little fun…"
"You learned that from a book? By yourself? Natsu, that's…that's incredible! But it's also dangerous! What if something went wrong?!"
Lucy's eyes widened in surprise. Had he always had this kind of talent? As far as she knew, learning a new spell just by reading a book was extremely difficult and took a lot of time. Yet Natsu had mastered it in only two weeks. And he had also learned Erza's magic… Had he always been this gifted and just needed the right motivation to study?
Even with all those questions hammering in her mind, Lucy set the subject aside for the moment. Standing on his palm, she felt her face grow hot, a light blush coloring her cheeks…
"…Relax, I've completely mastered this spell. I've tested it enough to know it's safe to use on someone—I can even use it in battle without issues, okay?!" Natsu gently pressed his finger against her tiny face and explained, "So don't worry about it and just enjoy the experience of being so 'small'…"
His finger lightly pressed her minuscule cheek—a simple gesture, yet so unexpectedly intimate that Lucy froze for an instant, as if the world had stopped around them.
The warm surface of his finger was larger than her entire head at that size.
The touch was gentle and careful.
And still, it sent a wave of heat through her tiny body, an instant blush covering her whole face, a hot red that reached her ears.
And finally, the classic:
"Na–Natsu!!!"
Her voice was filled with indignation and embarrassment.
"H–how do you expect me to relax and enjoy this?!" She protested, spreading her tiny arms as if scolding a giant—which, technically, she was. "This is serious! Messing with my body like that without warning, making me this ridiculous size—this isn't something you just 'enjoy,' Natsu!"
She spun around, trying to take in her new size, her blonde hair swaying like a golden thread.
The indignation lasted…three seconds.
Because when she once again registered the size of his hand beneath her feet, the careful way he held her, and the utterly calm expression he directed only at her…
Lucy looked away…
"And you don't have to…hold me like this…" she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. "It's embarrassing…"
Natsu raised an eyebrow, clearly amused but not mocking her the way he would anyone else.
"Huh? But if I don't hold you like this, you'll fall."
Lucy froze.
Her imaginary wings of dignity disintegrated in that instant.
"Th–then…put me down on the ground!" she demanded, even knowing she would probably trip spectacularly trying to walk at that size on the uneven path from Natsu's house to Magnolia.
Natsu tilted his head, as if considering the idea.
"Hmm… I don't think so." He smiled with that new carefree manner that both irritated and flustered her. "You're way too small. You'd trip on the first leaf."
"I know how to walk, Natsu!"
Lucy shot back, puffing out her tiny chest with wounded pride.
He laughed again, and the entire palm vibrated beneath her feet, making her lose balance and plop down seated in the middle of his hand.
"D–don't laugh at me!"
She protested, blushing even harder.
"I'm not laughing at you…" he corrected with the direct sincerity that always disarmed her. "I'm laughing because you really are adorable like this."
"A–ADORABLE?!" Lucy exploded, her thin voice reaching a pitch completely unsuited to any serious argument. "Stop saying stuff like that! Change me back to normal! Right now!"
She crossed her tiny arms, puffed up with indignation but glowing with embarrassment.
Natsu sighed, giving in.
"Fine, fine… here we go."
And before she could react, he murmured:
"Command T: Normal Size."
A golden flash enveloped her, and in the blink of an eye, Lucy instantly returned to normal size.
Only too fast.
Fast enough that she felt her body about to plummet straight to the ground.
"KYAAAAA—!!"
It was an automatic, loud, desperate scream—
But she didn't fall.
Before her feet had fully left the spot where the spell had repositioned her, Natsu's arms caught her—strong, warm, and enveloping—exactly like a groom carrying a bride.
His strong, warm arms fit perfectly against his chest.
Her body stopped with a gentle jolt, without any impact.
Lucy's eyes flew open, completely petrified.
Natsu was so close.
Close enough for her to feel the warmth of his skin, the familiar scent of fire that always clung to him, and the steady beat of his heart.
She blinked, her mind blank for several seconds.
He had held her like this before, but this time it was different. Ever since she had started seeing him as a real man—someone more mature than before—and since she had finally accepted her own feelings for him, that simple gesture carried an entirely new kind of emotion.
And then…
The blush exploded across her face.
Heat surged so quickly through Lucy's cheeks that she was sure she was glowing brighter than any light spell she had ever seen. Her heart pounded against her ribs, and for a moment she simply froze there, nestled in his arms as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Natural for him.
A whirlwind of emotions for her…
"L–let go! Put me down!" she managed to blurt out, though her voice came out shriller than intended. Her arms moved belatedly, pushing weakly against his chest. "I… I'm fine! You can put me down now!"
Natsu raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing everything and—annoyingly—not commenting on it.
He just smiled.
A small, calm…almost tender smile.
"Okay, Lucy. I'll let you go now."
And he did so with a gentleness that only made things worse for her. He lowered her slowly, keeping a firm hold until her feet fully touched the ground. Even after that, he kept his hands close, as if expecting her to stumble—which, given her history of tripping and losing balance, wasn't impossible.
Lucy straightened up with a snap, turned her face away, and crossed her arms with a defensive rustle of irritation.
"I… I only screamed because you surprised me! It's not like I was scared or anything, so… don't get any weird ideas!"
Of course she was blushing to her very soul.
Of course he noticed.
But Natsu didn't comment. He just scratched the back of his neck, keeping that light smile—the one that seemed to say "I know you."
Lucy cleared her throat, trying to salvage the tiniest shred of dignity.
"A-anyway! Let's go, we're already late for the guild!" She spun around quickly—too quickly—and nearly tripped in her haste, but caught herself before he could grab her again. "And stop looking at me like that! Hurry up!"
Natsu chuckled softly, a short, satisfied sound, and started walking beside her with his usual carefree steps.
"Okay, okay… I'm coming."
He quickened his pace a little to stay at her side. His scarf fluttered in the wind, and Lucy stubbornly kept her eyes forward, pretending she didn't notice his familiar scent…
The rest of the walk from the cabin to the city passed in a lighter, almost natural rhythm, thanks to Natsu's unexpected initiative. Clearly sensing that Lucy was on the verge of combusting from her own embarrassment, he changed the subject in the simplest way possible: he asked about the missions she had taken since they returned to Magnolia from Tenrou Island. The casual, straightforward question broke the built-up tension between them like opening a window in a stuffy room.
Lucy latched onto the topic immediately, her face still warm but grateful for the shift in focus. She began listing the jobs she had completed with Levy and a few other guild members: caravan protection missions, rescuing a village mascot that had wandered into a cursed forest, the mess involving a book collector who wanted to hire Fairy Tail just for local media attention, and even the smaller contracts she had taken solo to keep up with rent.
With each story, she regained a bit more of her composure. The natural flow of conversation eased the emotional storm that had been raging in her chest since the moment he shrank her with his new spell. Her voice returned to normal; her gestures became more animated; and little by little, she stopped staring fixedly at the road and finally looked at him properly.
And that was when she noticed.
Natsu was listening.
Not just with the basic attention he always gave close friends. He was listening like someone who genuinely wanted to understand, who cared about the details. He didn't interrupt with over-the-top enthusiasm, didn't derail the conversation to talk about a past fight or some weird smell he'd picked up in the woods. He simply walked beside her, occasionally commenting when she mentioned an interesting challenge or a client's praise, and subtly encouraged her to keep going.
The feeling was strange…
Almost like talking to a different person.
Lucy noticed it several times during the walk—the more controlled posture, the calmer way he observed everything, the sincere yet less impulsive way he reacted to each of her stories. It was the same Natsu she had known for years, yet he had simply stopped being a boy and become a grown man…
Curiosity quickly overtook her earlier embarrassment. With the emotional tension dissolved, she started asking him questions too: about details of his travels, the towns he had visited, how the new training was going, what he planned to do now that he was back. And as he answered, Lucy realized this version of Natsu might always have been there, just sleeping beneath the impulsiveness that had dominated most of the time…
It felt natural, then, for the conversation to flow all the way to the end of the path—no awkward silences, no hesitation. Just the sound of their footsteps on the trail, the nighttime insects, and the steady exchange of words between two companions who, at last, seemed to be truly reuniting.
It wasn't long before the illuminated outlines of Magnolia appeared through the trees. Lanterns hanging along the streets were being lit, reflecting on the river that cut through the city, and the typical evening laughter echoed from afar. When they reached the already noisy Fairy Tail building, it felt as though, despite the short walk, a great deal had changed between them…
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