Whew, finally done! Honestly wasn't expecting this to be such an ambitious project, but nothing's ever simple with me, haha. It's been great hearing everyone's reactions -plus seeing that my angst was actually impacting- and I hope this ending lives up to expectations!

(The tense swaps from past to present halfway through too. I know some people find that jarring so I thought I'd give you a heads up- interpret the ending as you wish. ^^)

Even the Devil Was Once an Angel

~Bonus Prompt 2: Skin and Bones~
.:The Second Time Around:.

In the year that had passed since Natsu's original departure from Magnolia in hopes of training to better protect the guild and all his friends, the once thriving town now stood in shambles, very few buildings having survived the Tartarus incident, and even less having been rebuilt. It was definitely a shadow of its former self, and the silence that filled the area only cemented all that had been lost.

The ruins of Magnolia were very cold the day Natsu finished constructing his tributes toward his fallen friends, and he was a touch grateful that he remembered to grab his beloved scarf before leaving the Devil's Cradle and venturing off to pay his respects. He had no choice but to bury everyone on the island…but they deserved a better resting place than that, and in the back of his mind, he knew they all would have wanted to go to Fairy Tail one last time.

So in the cleared rubble on the very edge of Magnolia, on top of where the number one guild in Fiore used to stand, Natsu built everyone an individual monument as tribute to their lives, and he put personal touches with each one. Gajeel's was made of steel, Wendy's was decorated with pinwheels, Droy's had thriving green plants growing around it, Lisanna's had animals imprinted in the stone, Erza's was adorned with twin swords, Gray's was glistened with ice from Mount Hakobe as it would never melt, and with Lucy's he took great care to engrave all of the Zodiac constellations, a meticulous act that had taken him ages…

Every tribute was unique…just as they all had been in life.

He could feel the tears welling at his eyes again –it was commonplace these days- and he lurched when he remembered the day Gramps had first brought him into Fairy Tail, instantly knowing he would love the place. He recalled running out into the streets and taking in everything the town had to offer- and it was a pretty big place too, with something new around every corner! The view from the hills on the outskirts was beautiful, there was always something to do even at the heart of the city, and the people within were so nice and made the whole place feel alive…!

"…mm…mm…"

He tried with every muscle in his body to prevent himself from breaking down again, and he tried to keep in mind the words Igneel always told him whenever he was sad…but his cheeks became damp and his legs were about to cave anyway.

"I-I'm sorry, Igneel…I c-can't stand up and walk this one off…"

He felt thoroughly nauseous as he collapsed to the ground, digging his fingers into the dirt on the very spot where Fairy Tail once threw their wild parties…and his stomach knotted when he realized he sat out on the very last one they'd ever have. Salt in the wound, that was…

As he knelt unworthily in front of Lucy's homage, Natsu sensed Happy latching onto his arm, the cat's face unreadable but quivering as he again offered Natsu limitless comfort. Through blurry eyes, Natsu's heart couldn't help but ache for the Exceed, who felt the need to console him every time he had a breakdown, and Natsu hated being a burden like that. He already shouldn't be alive…being constantly reassured when he was never going to feel better was just too much.

"Happy," Natsu juddered, his face buried in his knees as his whole body shook. "You c-can leave, you know…I w-wouldn't resent you for it…you shouldn't be around m-me anyway…"

"No, I'm never going to leave you!" Happy exclaimed without missing a beat, voice wavering with every word. "You've been with me my whole life, Natsu...I've never had a day without you! I don't want to lose my first friend-"

"But I killed the rest of your friends! I slaughtered your family!" Natsu howled, grabbing his head and sinking even lower. "I don't understand…! How can you tolerate being near the one who destroyed everything you hold dear?!"

"That wasn't you," the cat swallowed, clutching Natsu's arm tighter. "And if…if I leave you now…you'll never be happy again…"

Natsu hiccupped, peering over at Happy who was wearing a watery smile.

"If for nothing else…at least let me be a reason for you to carry on. If you feel like you don't wanna call me your friend anymore, then okay…" The blue Exceed trembled, his next words coming out more forceful than ever before. "…but I won't ever leave, and I'm always going to call you my friend no matter what!"

Happy abruptly found himself being smothered in Natsu's arms, going perfectly still as Natsu sobbed harshly into his ear. He'd never heard the dragon slayer cry like that before, and Happy couldn't even imagine the amount of misery Natsu was experiencing to bring a desperate wail like that out of him. Happy dropped a few more tears himself as he did his best to wrap his paws around Natsu, but even the gesture alone was plenty.

"Th-thank you, Happy…" Natsu stuttered out, sniffling afterward. "I don't know w-what I would've done if you weren't here…"

"Don't think about that, Natsu," Happy hummed in return. "I am here, and that…that's what's important."

"I know…but I don't know if it's gonna be enough." Natsu's grip around Happy tightened, all the monuments before him serving as glaring reminders. "I…I feel like I don't wanna live anymore…how can I, when I took away so many other lives?!"

"Natsu…"

Natsu broke down even more if that was possible, and Happy had to pull away before he was fully crushed under Natsu's strength. A reassuring paw remained on Natsu's knee, but that couldn't stop the torrent of tears pouring out. Happy only whimpered, wishing there was more he could do. But right when Natsu was about to lose it completely, another hand appeared and landed softly on his exposed shoulder, a thumb brushing over his guild mark.

"If it's another shoulder you need to cry on…please, feel free to lean on me…and I, too, will lean on you as well…"

The tranquil voice was so soothing that it temporarily halted Natsu's waterfall of sadness as he looked up to see who had called out to him. Wide jasper eyes and flowing blonde hair greeted him, along with a calming smile beaming down upon him.

"Master…Mavis…?"

The ghost's overwhelmingly warm presence filled the whole area as it normally did, but her form seemed more washed out than usual. Both Natsu and Happy were surprised to see her, but she calmly took her place beside them like there was nowhere else she needed to be.

"Shhhh," Mavis soothed, lowering down to his level and kneeling next to him. "You don't have to tell me anything."

"Wh-what? N-no, First Master…I…I destroyed everything you ever worked for! I destroyed Fairy Tail! I killed-!"

"Don't torture yourself…I already know." Mavis' eyes were glistening, yet she refused to frown. "Even from so far away, I could hear the sound of my little fairies crying out, including yours…and I couldn't help them this time."

Natsu dabbed at his eyes as he faced Mavis, hardly deserving to be in her presence to begin with, but he asked his budding question anyway.

"What do you mean…?"

"Well..." She tenderly placed a hand to the ground and gained an ambivalent expression. "…it's a secret that's only told to the Masters of Fairy Tail…"

"W-Well, Natsu was sort of made Master before all the bad stuff happened," Happy mewled quietly, unsure of whether or not he should have brought it up. Mavis blinked inquisitively before glancing back at Natsu, who had shamefully turned away. After a few contemplative moments, Mavis reached for the side of his head and turned him back to face her, smiling delicately.

"…a reasonable choice indeed. You're very noble and your belief in nakama runs strongly through you."

"N-Not anymore…my Flames of Emotion are gone…" Natsu forced out, shaking his head. Mavis tilted her head and raised an eyebrow.

"And just because you no longer possess your Curse, you no longer draw strength from your forged bonds and love itself?"

"S-Stop…don't…" She could sense Natsu shivering; the words had reminded him too much of some of the last things Lucy had said, and being right in front of her tribute didn't make things easier for him. The pain he felt was palpable, and Mavis could only simper regretfully at she patted him peacefully.

"But Seventh Master, I think you should hear this, and it is fine if your cat knows as well," Mavis continued softly, and Happy looked around nervously. She threw him a sympathy grin. "…tell me, have you ever heard of Lumen Histoire?"

Natsu glumly shook his head; Mavis' fingers glided against the ground again.

"…it was a magic lacrima made of pure Etherion that encased my physical body. It served as Fairy Tail's ultimate weapon, for it was Fairy Tail's light; a beacon of light that shines no matter how dark the days becomes. Yet when the guild was destroyed, it was buried…Sixth Master almost used its power to put an end to Tartarus, but it wasn't needed, and sometime in the following year, the room that housed it collapsed. This prevented Lumen Histoire from being activated…and also hindered my own power…"

Mavis was stoic, but even Natsu could see that this fact upset her, as it explained why she'd been unable to help everyone on the Devil's Cradle.

"But why are you telling me this…?"

"Because, Seventh Master…" She brightened up again, which caught Natsu somewhat off guard. "Even though Lumen Histoire's role as a weapon has failed, it's true that it remains Fairy Tail's everlasting light…while it is a light that goes unseen, it still exists. You did not, and could not ever, snuff that out."

"That doesn't make any of this okay!" Natsu insisted, his voice cracking. "I don't understand how Happy can even be near me…how can you think so highly of me…when I killed so many without a second thought!?"

"You did it to kill Zeref, didn't you?" Mavis whispered quietly, though it was more of a statement than a question. "…you honestly did what you had to. Zeref once said that there'd be a one-sided annihilation…I said Fairy Tail would stop him…"

The Fairy Tactician paused, looking ghostly troubled.

"…yet I never anticipated that we could both be right."

She fell silent after that, Natsu catching the hesitance on her face. Taking a small breath, he made a daring claim.

"Zeref…you were friends with him, huh?"

"…everyone needs a friend, and with his Curse taking away any and all life he came into contact with, the least I could do was give him something to love that he couldn't kill." Her hands fisted in her lap. "He then taught me more advanced magic…and gosh, I owe him a lot…"

Mavis glanced discretely at Natsu.

"He also spoke often of someone he lost once, and everything he ever did was to bring them back…but somewhere along the way Zeref lost himself and even that pure-hearted goal turned to darkness. I would have liked to help him, but I didn't quite agree with his ideals. I think he knew what he was doing was wrong-"

"But he couldn't stop himself," Natsu whispered hoarsely, pulling his knees to his chin and wrapping his arms around his legs. Glumly, he plopped his head forward and stared off into the distance. "…are you upset that I killed him too?"

Mavis' eyes went flat, and the faintest of frowns creased her cheeks.

"It is always regrettable to lose a life, and many more would have been lost had he been left alive…but I, personally, do not think he was evil. He was not a bad person." Her gaze flickered towards Natsu. "And neither are you."

Natsu opened his mouth to loudly protest, but found it being shut by Mavis covering it up and staring intently at him, desiring to get her point across. Happy's ears pressed to his head as he shuffled behind Natsu.

"While what happened was exceedingly unfortunate…you are not an evil person. In your heart, you held no malice nor an intent to kill, only taking on your demonic form to save the many." She was gravely serious. "It was out of your control, Natsu, and you have done so much good in your life already…does one day of horrible tragedy make the rest of your life meaningless?"

"No…YES…this is different!" Natsu was so out of sorts that he didn't know what to do with himself, resorting to gaping at the ghost trying to reason with him. "What I did is unforgiveable, and it shouldn't be justified…!"

Mavis relented a bit, sitting calmly as he gave his piece. "…and how do you feel you should rectify your mistakes? By dying?"

"I…" Natsu started off boldly, but after running the question through his head again he slumped dejectedly. "…I don't know anymore. I'm starting to feel like Zeref with all this questioning of life, death, and where the line between good and evil blends…and I really, really don't like it…"

Happy's face fell as he leaned into Natsu, feeling inadequate in improving the dragon slayer's mood, but all he could give was his support. He fretted knowing that it just wasn't enough, but he had to admit that it was nice when Mavis patted his head, assuring him that the gesture was indeed appreciated. She beamed at him, then turned back to Natsu, who was still gazing at the horizon where the bold sun was starting to set in the distance. Half the sky was streaked with brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows, almost like a painted fire…while the rest of the sky was navy and sprinkled with stars, giving off a great celestial display.

Seeing the tears spilling from him again, Mavis abruptly stood up, her bare feet floating just above the ground as her dress blew gently in the breeze of the evening. She leaned over slightly and tipped Natsu's head upwards, doing her best to give him the brightest smile she could manage.

"Natsu, darling, a life for a life only brings more death…I know you're hurting, and you may hurt for a very long time, but you can heal, as long as it may take. Let the pain you carry for your loved ones be your punishment, and just because you harbor that burden doesn't mean your life has to end… Life is fleeting as it is, and you are a better person than to throw it away because of something beyond your control."

"F-First Master-"

Mavis let him go and drifted a little higher, the waning sunlight in the distance serving to illuminate her translucent form. Her smile was sad…but it was still a smile.

"I've watched a massacre destroy my whole island, and I was left with only one friend to my name…despite how they treated me, losing all those people at once was the most terrible feeling I ever experienced, and it scars my heart even after death…so I know your pain, I really do…"

"It wasn't you that killed them though," Natsu muttered miserably, but it sounded like he was starting to pull himself together. A light, quick hum escaped Mavis as she twirled blithely in place.

"True, but I lived with the pain of their loss, and I took it all on for myself so that at least through one person, their memory would live on…" If Natsu didn't know better, Mavis seemed to be absolutely radiant, giving off a warmth comparable to a summer day. "You don't die for your friends…you live for them…and how are you supposed to live for your friends if you're not living yourself?"

Natsu and Happy could only watch with reverence as Mavis glided about the ruins of Fairy Tail, gently touching the ground every once in a while and sending golden sparkles into the air, making them glisten in the diminishing sunlight. Just through her graceful, buoyant movements alone, the whole place seemed to come alive, everyone's monuments shining in the light Mavis gave off.

"You must remember, each end can be a new beginning, and for every thing that is destroyed, something new is created…" she said softly while spinning about, that delicate smile permanently on her face. "Even the devil was once an angel…even the purest evil came from only good…"

She drifted by Natsu again, playfully brushing her hand over his pink locks and giggling childishly.

"If you were truly evil, you wouldn't be feeling all this regret for your friends…if you were truly evil, you wouldn't care at all. There's still room in your heart for you to love and be loved, once again…"

Her hair danced around like ribbons of faded gold, her melodic laughter being impossibly contagious as she threw her hands to the sky. Happy was awestruck, and at this point even Natsu cracked a small smile, though his eyes still watered. Mavis descended in a flurry of sparkles as she placed her hands on Natsu's shoulders once more, beaming upon seeing a far more positive response out of him.

"I firmly believe you can pick yourself up from this…be like a fiery phoenix; rise from the ashes, and begin your life anew! You've got the strength and the heart to do so!"

"I'm not…" Natsu wasn't quite as upset, but he still frowned and shrugged slightly. "I-I don't know-"

He was interrupted when Mavis suddenly hugged him, pulling him closer and holding him as well as she could. It was strange, being hugged by a ghost- her touch was light as if she wasn't really there, but he could feel it just the same… He knew she had trouble sensing temperature; he wondered what the hug felt like to her, and if she needed it just as much as he did.

"Please, Natsu…don't punish yourself by dying. Rectify this by living as they and I would want you to. Don't you think you owe them that much, given that they went out for your sake?" she begged quietly, attempting to hold him tighter. Natsu was speechless, but what she said next sent a chill down his spine. "There's still so much left in this life that you have yet to see…tell me, do fairies have tails, Natsu?"

He was taken aback by her question, and there was subtle hint of awareness on her face when she pulled back to be face to face with him.

"…well, if you don't know the answer, then the adventure isn't over yet, huh?"

Natsu started trembling again, staring solely at Mavis as he fully began to cry, but the weeps were nothing like the arduous sobs from before. The tears tumbling down his cheeks now were more out of reprieve than any sort of despair. He slowly leaned forward, returning to Mavis' embrace as he shuddered, hoping to let all of his remaining grief this time. Well, maybe he wouldn't get rid of all of it at once –that was a process that could last forever- but just for this one moment…he only wanted to feel better.

"My time here is running out, Seventh Master," Mavis whispered. "Lumen Histoire may thrive on, but I in this form can only last so much longer…yet I refuse to leave one of my own in inconsolable pain…"

"M-Master…?" Natsu sniveled, noticing that Mavis was fading by the second. She only smiled at him though, keeping a firm hold on his shoulders.

"Fairy Tail is always going to be in your heart; you know that I and everyone who loved you shall carry on within…but I'm leaving, and there's only one thing to do."

Natsu's eyes widened slightly as she held his head in her hands, shining brightly even as she continued to pale.

"…One, you must never reveal any sensitive information about Fairy Tail to outsiders, as long as you live." Natsu's lungs tightened when Mavis started reciting the send-off, eyes almost begging her to stop. She let him go and started to back away. "Two, you must never use the clients you met through the guild to achieve personal gain."

"N-no, don't say it…Don't say that last part!" Natsu wailed, falling to his knees and clutching at the warm rubble of the ground. Mavis had tears in her eyes herself, the last rays of the sun shining straight through her as she departed.

"Three, though our paths may differ, you must always live your life with all your might. Never must you consider your own life to be insignificant. Never in your life must you forget the friends you held dear…"

"...I won't…!" Natsu screamed into the ground, fisting the soil as his clenched eyes squeezed out his final tears. "I wouldn't dream of it…!"

"I know you won't," Mavis hummed, spinning around and trotting along the night's wind. The sun had finally finished its descent in the sky, and only the stars above were left to light the world. Her voice was harmonious as she began to sing, not a trace of sadness evident in her tone. "There will be painful times… sad times…but I'll be with you through thick and thin; you are never alone. The hopes we carry are matched by the number of stars twinkling in the night sky; the rustling of the wind on our bodies are premonitions for what's to come tomorrow. Now, let us take a stroll… to the melody from the song of the fairies…"

As she walked off into the distance, Mavis vanished into thin air, but her last words echoed on the whisper of the winds.

"Look towards the future…for it's brighter than your past."

Happy sat patiently as Natsu spent a little more time letting everything out, finally sitting up on his knees and wiping his sleeve across his eyes. Happy hadn't heard Mavis' last request…but Natsu did.

"…okay," he sniffed, brushing off what would hopefully be the last of his tears. "…I will."

Natsu took a deep breath, then pushed himself back to his feet. His face remained considerably damp, but he managed to lift his head high and confidently adjust his shoulders. With Happy at his side, he was able to walk on, his work in Magnolia complete. He didn't know what he was going to do next, nor did he need to know right away, but he couldn't quit living…because he had a future he needed to see, for others' sakes, and for his own.

"Speak of your future…" Natsu whispered, a slight smile on his face. "…and that shall become your will to live."

XxX

A girl runs through the streets of Hargeon, her blonde hair whisking about behind her in wild excitement. She's heard that there is a famous Salamander –a user of Fire Magic- in town, and she really wants to see him, as she aspires to be a wizard herself. She pushes eagerly through the crowd, noting a lot of ladies gathering around, and tries to elbow her way to the front.

She stops, and she finds a young man quite literally eating fire from someone's barbeque. As he burps contently and laughs lightly afterward, she notes the other more bizarre things about this man's features: he has a one-sleeved coat, a huge traveling pack on his back, a healthy pair of fangs, and his hair is the strangest shade of pink…! Er, salmon, maybe-?

The town's girls all horde around the apparent Fire Mage, and something clicks in her head. Could this be the Salamander? This goofy-looking guy who's treating all these people like they're old friends? That guy whose welcoming smile alone is enough to make someone's day? Someone that simple-minded couldn't really be such a strong fighter…right?

His face-splitting grin is prominent as he politely tries to make his way through after angering the owner of the barbecue, waving everyone off and hastily trying to make an escape. The girl pouts her lips and shakes her head –no, perhaps he isn't who she's looking for after all.

With a sigh, she continues on her way, clutching her pink purse and heading down the street. The pink-haired boy passes by her as he flees, going in the opposite direction…but then he catches her out of the corner of his eye. His onyx gaze slices through the crowd, landing directly on her and nothing else, and it's like time stops. She senses someone staring at her and immediately turns around, feeling her face grow hot from being scrutinized so harshly. That wide smile on him has vanished, leaving only shock and…disbelief?

The two stare at each other for the longest time, as if the rest of the town has suddenly stopped existing. He walks toward her, somewhat inquisitively, but his curiosity is fleeting and he greets her just like she's anyone else. The girl can't help but be intrigued by his warm nature, and eventually finds herself eating at a nearby café, his treat…along with his talking blue cat, which isn't as weird as it sounds.

She and the cat eat everything in sight with the utmost gusto, but he doesn't, far too distracted by the heavy de ja vu he's experiencing. She doesn't mind his deeply contemplative stare anymore -he bought her food, after all!- but she can't help but wonder about his motives.

But he doesn't give a name, nor does he ask for hers. He simply wants to know whether or not she's a wizard.

"…I'm trying to decide on a magic to learn so I can join a really strong guild in Fiore," she explains through the mouthful of spaghetti she shovels into her mouth. "I'd like to practice something a little rarer though, cuz I hate to see good magic die out you know…"

"Mm hm," the boy muffles distantly with a spark in his eyes, leaning his cheek on his hand as he listens to the girl tell her tale. He almost expects her to say that she ran away from her rich and imposing family, but alas, such isn't the case. It's silly of him to even think of that. But as she goes on and on about her passion for "rare magic", a smirk worms onto his face as he reaches into his pocket and spins something shiny around on his finger.

"…well, if you're interested, I may have a suggestion," he offers, and she hears the cat gasp in surprise afterwards. She blinks at him, then turns to the smirking boy practically dangling a ring of keys in front of her. Immediately she's captivated, but she has no idea what they are…yet there's something strikingly familiar...

"They're Celestial Keys," he explains, catching her questioning look. "If one becomes a Celestial Wizard, they can make contracts with Celestial Spirits and open their gates, and they can do incredible things. Very few wizards of this type are left in the world, so I thought you might be interested."

"Whoa, cool!" the girl shrieks, gently reaching for a silver one labeled the 'Little Dog'. "But I…these look pretty special. I couldn't just take them from you…you're very nice, but I've only just met you..."

Yet they've talked so long she feels like she's known him her whole life...and not only that, but she trusts this goofy stranger.

"Well, they're nearly useless to me, so I tried giving them to the Celestial Wizard of Sabertooth, but…she felt she couldn't live up to the standards of their previous owner." The boy's face twitches just the slightest bit. "Their previous owner was my best friend, and she loved these spirits like they were her family, treating them as equals to herself…and I want them to have that special bond with someone again. I know that's what she would have wanted."

"I-I see," the girl stammers, unsure if she'd be fit for such responsibility. Still, a question niggles her mind. "U-um, pardon me for asking, but…what happened to your best friend?"

The cat, who is currently chewing on a fish, immediately goes rigid, while the boy nervously fingers the keys. A thick silence falls over the trio for a few seconds too long, and yet, the boy still finds it in him to wrench a tiny smile on his face.

"Let's just say she's dancing with the stars…or, perhaps, living in the sky with diamonds..."

She gets his message and blushes on the spot out of embarrassment. "...oh, I see. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"It's...fine. It's been a while since I spoke of her. It's sort of nice to reminisce…" His grin is wide, but it's melancholic. "And hey, it's not all bad...She was like a star, you know. Even though she's gone...her light continues to shine bright long past her time. It's the same for everyone we lose in this world…"

The girl beams at this positive philosophy as the cat pokes at the remains of his fish.

"He liiiiiiked her," he quips quietly, yet there wasn't a hint of teasing in his tone. It was genuinely serious. The girl looks over at the boy, and he only nods softly in agreement. The cat then leans in and nudges the girl's arm, attempting to lighten the mood. "And aside from her, the other three things he enjoys are food, fire, and fighting!"

The girl laughs gently at this, and as the two of them poke light fun at their now mutual friend, the boy can't help but admire this mysterious girl silently. She's so similar to her, and yet there's something alluringly different. Not that he expects to ever see her again, but this resemblance…it's uncanny and it scares him, but this girl is her own person, looking for her own start and a little adventure, just like she did. And he…he could give her that new start, just like he did for her.

And it's in that moment does he realize that all the wishes, hopes, and dreams…they didn't have to die with her, or them. He originally wanted to rebuild the guild for, if nothing else, her, because of how much it meant to her…

There isn't a reason to let all that go now. Everything old could be new again…

"Heh, look at you…you're all skin and bones," he says with amusement, interrupting her intense debate with a playful chuckle. She raises an eyebrow before poking contemplatively at her wrist- maybe she is a little scrawny. "I'd say you need to join a guild to really strengthen yourself up. It'd also be a great way for you to learn some magic- even Celestial Magic, if you're up for it."

"You…mean it?!" the girl squeals, clasping her hands together. His smile only grows. "Could you…really get me into one?"

"Of course, and not only that…" The ideas are festering in his mind like wildfire- he always was ridiculously impulsive. "...we can start one completely anew together, and it'll be nothing short of the best Fiore has ever seen!"

She's incredibly surprised at this, and can't help but tilt her head curiously. His lip twitch in bemusement- she used to do that too.

"But…if we were to create a guild from scratch…what would we call it?"

His toothy grin is impossibly large as he twists about in his seat to show off the red fairy tattoo stamped onto his right shoulder, proudly giving it a pat before flexing his muscles.

"…I was thinking Fairy Tail would be a good name. After all, it represents an endless adventure...and that's what life is all about, right?"

She doesn't even need to say anything- her eyes are already sparkling in agreement, and the grin that spreads across her face is enough of answer. With fire in his eyes, he gently clasps her hand in his and whisks her out the door –he doesn't pay for the meal, earning him another opportunity to run from the law like old times- and beams over his shoulder.

"Come follow me…and join Fairy Tail!"

She's speechless, but he happily answers her unspoken questions.

"You said you wanted to join a guild, right?!" His skin tingles from the feeling of warm nostalgia coursing through him. The beginning signs of tears pinprick his eyes, but she doesn't notice. "…so let's go!"

The blonde's big, chocolate eyes shimmer before she releases his hand and throws hers into the air, an excited and spirited laugh echoing into the starry night sky- she's ready for anything. The cat happily claps his paws and shouts "Aye sir!" for the first time in a very long time. The boy's smile is permanent and it almost hurts his cheeks, but he wouldn't have it any other way, as he is finally ready to fully live life again…

And he knows that all his friends –his family- are watching over him from wherever they are now, probably muttering to themselves about how he never changes, or teasing him for his 'taste in women', or knowing that he's going to be just fine from now on…

And he would bet every jewel in his pocket that she's giving him her classic loving head shake and her own bright smile, always keeping an eye on him through the night's stars...

…and also silently hoping that he doesn't randomly break into her apartment this time.