#levy and juvia friendship

[fairiesheart]

If there's one thing I wish Fairy Tail gave me more of, it's the friendship duos we got in the main series, like Lucy and Cana, Erza and Mirajane, Lisanna and Juvia, Natsu and Gajeel, and others.

Or even have some new friendship duos and trios like Lisanna with Gray and Cana??? Or Elfman, Erza, and Levy?

I'm literally open for any new trio/duo or just seeing more of the established friendships outside of the respective main groups 😭

[cecenyss]

You know people complain a lot about how NaLu never sails but I don’t think that we appreciate Fairy Tail as a series where romance basically never happens.

The only ships I can think of being portrayed as explicitly romantic—even if they never actually happen they’re clearly meant to be interpreted as romantic—are Gray/Juvia, Elfman/Evergreen, Jellal/Erza, Levy/Gajeel,,,, literally wracking my head and I can’t think of anything else. Which yeah four main ships sounds like a lot but there are so many characters in Fairy Tail they introduce new people every arc and most of them come back later. All of them have fans that adore them. And these are the only real ships I can think of.

Maybe Erik/Kinana? But I don’t remember ever seeing that confirmed in the anime. I think it might’ve been said in 100yq but idk I never got very far.

Anyway my point is romance is basically never the main focus and that’s such a breath of fresh air. And the ships that are there never really feel like they’re just there to be ‘in love’ their relationship always has some weight to it

Gruvia is is I think the worst of them and even then Gray means a lot to Juvia in a real way outside of her nonsensical obsession with him, he chased the rain away and that’s significant.

It’s just like,,, idk. Media is always so romance focused and it’s so nice to have something that isn’t. I think that’s why I keep going back to it

[emiebritonstudio]

"Because of you, I laugh a little harder, cry a little less, and smile a lot more !"

"I'll be there for you When the rain starts to pour I'll be there for you Like I've been there before I'll be there for you 'Cause you're there for me too" - I'll be there for you -

Friendship is the most popular theme that you can see in Fairy Tail. So it's natural that this American series can match so well with Fairy Tail. You don't think so? If you're not certain, look at my version of the opening of Fairy Tail in "Friends" Style !! 😍😍

[rose-void-789]

I see this take going around a lot that the reason why ships in Fairy Tail are mostly f/m is because Mashima does a good job at writing women and gives them a good bit of screen time, but also, I think it's simpler than that. He just pairs them up.

The weird thing for a lot of media is that, as many m/m or f/f friendships we get, we rarely get m/f friendships. People will ship anything, but the biggest ships will be those with substance. It's harder for everyone to get interested in a dynamic that has little to no development. That has been thrown to the sidelines to just make an appearance to remind the readers that there is a women in a man's life that matter. Fairy Tail doesn't do this. Natsu and Lucy are the core of Fairy Tail. Their friendship is seen through the whole show, even if you don't ship it, it's hard to not understand their importance to one another. Gray and Juvia are put to fight together in many arcs. If she wasn't pinning after him, people would still ship them due to them always being paired up. Jellal's whole arc is paired with Erza. Levy is paired with Gajeel, and Elfman and Ever are paired up in Tenrou, and both women are an important part of their story later on. Hell, Erza is always around Natsu and Gray; if she weren't intertwined with Jellal, she would be shipped with any of them. Popular queer ships in fairy tail follow this to. Freed and Laxus' relationship is so complicated and intertwined that they are often shipped together. Sherria and Wendy are shown together a lot that it got interested people in their dynamic. It's so simple, just give your male character a female character they spend a lot of time with. That is important to their plot, but for reason we don't get these pairs in a lot of shonen. Men are paired together, having these complete, interesting dynamics. Same with the women in these shows. Especially ones that do get development and scene time, they still don't get it with the main character or their supposed love interest, instead getting bigger, deeper story arcs with the women around them.

[mangaloversolar2000]

Fairy Tail: More Than Just "Cringe"—Why It Deserves More Love

Wanted to write this since I saw a bunch of people hating on fairy tail and then I found out they didn't even get past like chapter 5 lmao.

Fairy Tail is one of those manga that people either passionately love or loudly criticize. Over the years, it's been called "cringey," overly cheesy, and full of predictable power-ups. But here's the thing—those very qualities are what make Fairy Tail such a special series.

Sure, the story leans heavily on themes of friendship and unwavering bonds, sometimes to an exaggerated level. But isn't that part of the charm? Fairy Tail isn't trying to be a hyper-complex, morally grey epic. It's a celebration of the things that make shonen manga exciting: emotional battles, epic team-ups, and characters that genuinely care for one another. The fights may not always be strategic masterpieces, but they carry emotional weight that resonates with fans.

The world-building, from Magnolia to Tenrou Island, is rich and vibrant. The guild system creates a sense of community that makes readers feel like they're part of something bigger.

And the characters? Love them or hate them, there's no denying they have distinct personalities that make them memorable. Natsu’s fiery determination, Erza’s unshakable strength, Lucy’s growth from a hopeful newbie to a formidable wizard—all of it contributes to a heartfelt journey. Each major character has depth beyond their initial introductions, with clear motivations and evolving dynamics over time. And when it comes to romance, the series takes a refreshingly natural approach. Instead of forcing pairings for the sake of fan service, the ships in Fairy Tail feel earned. Relationships like Gajeel and Levy, Juvia and Gray, Jellal and Erza, or even Natsu and Lucy (while left ambiguous) develop organically through their shared experiences. These bonds don’t appear overnight—they’re nurtured through challenges, victories, and personal growth, making them feel real and meaningful.

Yes, Fairy Tail has flaws. The power of friendship can sometimes feel like a Deus Ex Machina. But is that really such a terrible thing? Plenty of series rely on power boosts for their protagonists—Fairy Tail just embraces the emotional aspect more. And honestly, in a world full of cynicism, a story that reminds us of the power of loyalty and bonds is refreshing.

So before dismissing Fairy Tail as just another "cringe" anime, take a step back and appreciate it for what it is—a fun, emotional, and wildly entertaining adventure that isn't afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve. Sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.

[bumblebeehug]

I'm starving for nalu angst content. Please feed me?

i shall feed you with some of the best angst i can muster<3 thank @zuzu-fairys-tail for prompting this tihi

For the sake of Love

Summary: Natsu makes a mistake that drives him away from Lucy, but when he returns, he's forced to face the aftermath. Notes: This fic works as a stand-alone, but makes direct references to "Unrequited Love" Part of this series Ao3 - FF.net (original version)

***

Natsu had never thought about love as something he would experience. He had seen other people express it, claiming that their life didn’t start until they met their significant other. He heard them talk about needs, desires, communication and other otherworldly things – otherworldly, he called them, because couldn’t this apply to anyone? Why did it have to be a specific person? Why them?

He once asked Gray about this. He mentioned his relationship with Juvia, how they had been going steady ever since the team got home from the hundred years quest, but that he couldn’t understand where their original relationship had gone. Their yandere-tsundere act, their genuine friendship – had he really given it up for the sake of “love”?

“They cohabit,” was Gray’s curt answer, clearly disgusted having to talk about feelings with an idiot like Natsu.

No matter how much Natsu pressed him after that, Gray wouldn’t elaborate. Cohabit. He asked Levy for a definition, and came to the conclusion that that’s what he and Happy did. Lived together, spent time together, cared for each other. Except, he wouldn’t marry Happy even if he stood at gunpoint, so Gray couldn’t have been serious. He kept the real information for himself, the actual secret behind normal love and romantic love – what they meant and what differentiated them.

Before Natsu met Lucy, he was going through a troubled period in his life. He had spent so much time alone ever since Lisanna died. His home was dusty and empty, any time he spent in Magnolia was spent at the guild hall, and even his time there was limited to when he was between missions. And those missions then – they would last for weeks at a time, and anytime he found a lead on Igneel, he would follow it, resulting in more time spent away. It could go days between his last conversation with humans, though luckily he didn’t go anywhere without his blue furry pal.

Then Lucy entered the picture. If Natsu hadn’t been talking a whole lot before, now he barely got a word in edgewise. Except, he didn’t dislike hearing her chatter away like there was no tomorrow. It filled his brain, the empty space that normally made his loneliness echo throughout the night. Lucy was a breath of fresh air in comparison to speaking to anyone else in the guild. They all knew him for his losses – losing Igneel, losing Lisanna – but here he had a girl who didn’t define him by these things. She valued Natsu for his current self, the one she had met in Hargeon, who was strong, friendly and reliable. He appreciated this – he didn’t have to feel out of place when he entered the guild. Plus, she was easily impressed by all he had to offer. It was almost too good to be true.

After her, the world shifted. He was once again finding joy in the simple things. Jobs became more intricate and engaging, and even when the reward was butchered he’d always leave with a good feeling in his stomach. He enjoyed hearing her explain plants she saw on the way home from the job, and though he never enjoyed trains, he felt at ease knowing she wouldn’t leave him on it. Lucy became his ground pillar, the safety line that kept him from falling. Soon enough he found himself looking towards her every time he outdid himself. He wanted to know that she had seen, that she knew how far he had come. And the best part was that every time he searched for her eyes, she was already looking at him. Her support was unwavering.

At least, that’s what he thought. Lucy was always going to be there, searching for him, aiming all her attention to Natsu. He believed that her door would always be wide open for him, and if it wasn’t, he’d be granted an open window – something that told him that she wanted them to connect. For years, that was true. He had landed in the fact that he loved her presence, and she loved his. That their friendship was beyond just friends – soulmates would be more accurate.

But Natsu felt inadequate. Like he was failing at being a normal human. He had been haunted by the fact that he never was seen as any other guy – he was always a dragon, a demon, or in some cases a dunce. Truthfully, he didn’t want that. So one day he took a look at himself, and at other guys his age, and did a comparison. What was it Natsu did wrong, where did he fail as a human?

It didn’t take long to notice it. Almost every guy his age had been with, or currently was with, a partner. Not in the way Lucy was a partner, though he often referred to her as such, but in a dirtier way. There was jealousy, touching, tasting and biting, not always confined to a private space, seeing as he had noticed all this just in the guild hall. Jet had yet another girlfriend fuming with anger as she ran out of the bar area – she had apparently had enough of being compared to Levy. Natsu didn’t actually crave that sort of love, but he still couldn’t help but search for it.

The day he met her, he was on a solo mission. Happy and Lucy were visiting the Exceeds, but Natsu wanted some extra money for food, so he’d gone alone on a quest to catch some dark wizards before they got their hands on a sacred jewel from the village. It was walking distance, the pay was good, and Natsu would get to let off some steam: it was the perfect mission. What he didn’t know was that within that group of wizards, there’d be a mage with the most captivating looks.

Her light blue hair and fierce, deep green eyes had him captured. Not captured enough to avoid him from defeating the group, but enough to make him feel like he couldn’t help but to try to talk to her. Surely she’d come over to the good side if they had a good heart to heart? Natsu was confident that all she needed was some TLC: a warm shower, a proper conversation, and a soft bed to sleep in.

That night, Natsu did things he’d never done before. She had kissed him, and to his initial surprise, he had kissed her back. The small voice in the back of his mind, worrying about Lucy, was quickly pushed away. This was what he wanted – he had waited for a moment like this for years. A chance to hop on the train to being a normal guy, someone with girlfriends, exes, an emotional life. So under the sheets they went: he believed their activities would come to an end after this, resembling something of a “one night stand” as he’d heard people call it.

Man, was he wrong. The lust that awoke within him suddenly felt untamable: he needed her to satisfy him. It was years of pent up longing, though he still wasn’t sure for who he had longed. She seemed quite satisfied with their relationship though. Their sessions were intense, only lasting a day a month, so whatever they had could be kept a secret. Lucy and Happy didn’t have to know.

But soon enough, the two of them came to talk before and after their meetings. They’d talk about anything at first: the weather, recent news from the area, things that had happened on missions they’d gone to – she had listened to his advice way back then and started up as a novice witch, freelancing her way around while she got used to the good side of the wizarding world. Natsu was thrilled, because now he could share his struggle: they were both equally destructive in their ways. Between sessions they’d find themselves comparing ways they destroyed towns: Natsu still winning by a landslide, though to be fair, they weren’t yet exactly on common ground. She had many years ahead of her to sharpen her tactics – if getting more destructive was part of it, then so be it.

Natsu loved her ways. He found himself thinking this quite often. He loved how she laughed, how she moved, the things she did. Never having felt this before, he quickly got swept away by the intensity. Suddenly he met up with her multiple times a week, not even to do anything dirty – just to talk to her. She seemed to share his sentiment, not really initiating any major sessions unless the mood was really there: she was clearly interested in him back. When Natsu realised this, he thought he’d finally gotten back the good karma he’d collected over the years, that the universe owed him.

Before he could ask her out properly though, he felt like he had to stop this secrecy. He hated not being able to tell Lucy about things, and it felt weird that she knew everything about Lucy, while she knew nothing about her.

The plan was to just kindly drop the ball in Lucy’s lap. He’d tell her about her, keep his description of her short and clean, and then she’d slowly get used to the idea. It’s not like he didn’t know how special their relationship had been lately: they’d kept up the husband-wife act, she allowed him to share her bed, though nowadays he longed for her smell in it (he couldn’t tell Lucy that of course), they ate almost all meals together, and still went on missions. The only difference was that he was starting to like the idea of doing these things with her as well. And even he knew that he couldn’t have both: he couldn’t have his cake and eat it too.

His confession to Lucy hadn’t gone as he’d planned. He had taken her to this diner across Magnolia, made sure they took the long way there so they could enjoy their company a bit before he put his big news out there: in hindsight he realised it must have led her on. When they sat down, Natsu could barely contain himself. As soon as drinks were ordered, he grabbed her hands, sparkled in his eyes, and dropped the bomb.

“Lucy, I think I’m in love.”

As soon as he said it he let everything about her spill out. He couldn’t stop talking, it felt like he was in a daze: it felt so incredibly good being able to talk about this. To Lucy nonetheless. In fact, if you asked him then and there, he’d tell you he was in his version of heaven – and that being said knowing how great sex with her was. This, however, didn’t compare. Him and Lucy, no secrets, and he was in love. He’d be dancing on the table if the establishment was slightly less refined. So he talked and talked, about midday blue hair and eyes green as the forests from his childhood: and he didn’t see the way Lucy pressed her lips into a thin line, how tears threatened to build up in her eyes, or how her heartbeat got heavier. These were all things he would realise once he arrived back home, but wouldn’t be certain if it he’d just imagined or not.

If Natsu could go back in time and change how he had told Lucy, he absolutely would have, without a doubt in his mind. But that was only because in hindsight, he realised that Lucy might have harbored deeper feelings for him. He hadn’t realised it at first, dense as he often could be, but it was apparent once he took his usual trip to Lucy’s apartment just to find her doors locked, her windows closed and her blinds drawn. It was weird, caught Natsu off guard, and left him with a gruelling, dull ache in his chest. Did he prompt her to do this? Not wanting to draw any hasty conclusions, he went back every day the following week. Surely he’d catch her going outside to get groceries one of these days? But to his terror, she didn’t.

When he asked the guild about Lucy’s whereabouts, all he got was curt, dismissive answers. In a way, that answered his question: he was the cause of this. Even Happy had turned against him: he now spent most of his time in Lucy’s apartment. Natsu couldn’t blame him: he hadn’t told him about her until right after he’d gotten home from telling Lucy. Happy was Natsu’s oldest friend, so it was natural he’d hold a grudge if Natsu didn’t tell him about important things in his life. But that he’d be cooping up at Lucy’s place was the thing that set his theory in stone: Lucy must have had a crush on Natsu. There really wasn’t any other explanation. Happy was attached to Lucy, sure, but there had to be some sort of resentment from Natsu not going out with Lucy instead of the girl. Happy could be territorial in that way – he didn’t want new people to come and steal away Natsu’s attention.

For months things were weird in the guild. Natsu never knew how reliant the guild was on his and Lucy’s team: without them all working together as usual, it was like the mood in the guild hall had gone grey and stale. Natsu focused on solo missions, secretly doing them with her so he could get any extra help he might need. Sometimes it bugged him that Lucy wasn’t the one with him, but he brushed it off as just not being used to teaming up with someone who didn’t have the diversity of 15 different celestial spirits close by. Though it happened that he’d feel annoyed when she ignored clear instructions once again, causing double the amount of damage that was necessary for the mission. He suspected he was learning how it must have been working with him all these years.

Natsu couldn’t help but act like a busybody when it came to Lucy. He had promised himself to stay out of her business, but when he heard that she was looking thinner, he worried she didn’t have enough money for both rent and food: soon he started slipping a couple of thousand jewells to her landlady. Just so she’d keep her eye on Lucy for him.

One day he saw her there, in the guild, at the table with Levy and Cana. Before she noticed he was there she looked almost exactly like she used to: radiant, happy, gorgeous. The second she laid her eyes on him, her entire aura changed. With it, her normal appearance seemed to fade away as well. Suddenly he saw every pore in her face, felt her ragged breath in the air, noticed deep under eye bags contrasting the paleness of her skin. Her cheeks were sunken in and her muscles deflated – had he done this to her?

That’s when he started with the sympathy-smiles. He felt as stupid doing them as she probably felt receiving them, but before he could get out of it, it had become a habit. He’d draw the left side of his mouth, his lips pressed together as the corner of his mouth tried to turn into something of a smile, though it’d fail every time before it had a chance to turn upwards. Everytime he did it, he’d hear her swallow hard, smell tears in her eyes, and he’d feel the burning eyes of any fellow dragon slayers in the room – they all blamed him.

Natsu wasn’t sure he enjoyed living life like this. He loved her, without a doubt: they had finally become a couple, enjoying their date nights to the fullest. But even though he considered her a kindred spirit, he felt like something was missing. He wanted some contrast in their relationship. They could talk about something, find a word they didn’t quite understand, and then… silence. Silence where Lucy would kindly take her time and explain the word, its origin and how it was used: often with a couple of synonyms as well. That was how he even knew the word synonym. It was all thanks to Lucy.

Once, when they were thirty minutes into an intimate session, Natsu accidentally called out her name. Not her name, but Lucy’s. A faint whisper, right by her ear, making her jump out of bed quicker than he’d ever seen her move before.

“What did you just say?” She was grasping at her clothes, gathering them from the floor, distraught painted all over her face. “Lucy?”

Natsu fell over in bed, hurrying to cover his goods with the blanket.

“I- I don’t know. I didn’t mean to,” he tried. It was in vain, he realised, as he watched her blue curls swoosh with her very violent shaking of her head.

“No. It’s- it’s too weird, Natsu. I’ve known that you’ve loved her for a really long time, but I was stupid to think I could make you get over her.” She had tears prickling the corners of her eyes, though it looked like she was keeping them in check for now. She’d probably let them out as soon as he was out of sight. She tended to do that. Cover up any sign of weakness in case Natsu’s opinion of her would change. Maybe it would. He wasn’t so sure of himself anymore.

“Love? I don’t- not with her,” Natsu pressed his lips into a thin line, like his mouth had grown accustomed to recently. He never seemed to do his signature grin anymore: there was always something stopping him.

“How couldn’t it be love, Natsu? You always talk about her, you’ve preached to me how she changed your life! You’re one of the most romantic people I’ve ever met, but you were never romantic with me. It wasn’t me who you uprooted a tree for. It wasn’t me you turned into a demon for.” Her bottom lip quivered. “I know you want to love me. Maybe you do. But it will never compare. I’m sorry. Let’s end this here.”

Maybe she was right. Natsu watched her as she pulled on her pants and her shirt. He didn’t feel like stopping her from leaving. He didn’t like seeing her cry, but he wasn’t ready to do anything in his power to stop her. Though, his resolve on crying girls had been weak since some time back, considering that he didn’t drop everything in his life to stop Lucy from doing it. He’d become very similar to guys he had no respect for: he hated this.

When she was almost out the door, she stopped a second. Just a split second, hoping that he’d run forward to stop her. A quick glance over her shoulder: he looked like he was in his own world. She wasn’t sure he had ever really cared about her. In her eyes, they were practically kids, just swept away in the heat of the moment. His short obsession with her had only been a quick infatuation in comparison to what he had with Lucy. Everywhere they went, on every date, every topic: Lucy had seemed like a third party in their relationship. He spoke of her like she was the greatest person in the world, and though she couldn’t help but harbor a tiny bit of resentment for her, she also knew that Lucy must be a pretty amazing girl if she had managed to capture a flighty guy like Natsu.

__________

Natsu stayed at that hotel for a couple of days. He’d only told people he’d be gone for the night, back in the morning again, but they didn’t come looking for him despite his brief disappearance. He still couldn’t completely grasp what he’d done, but with every hour in that bed, the place he’d called out for Lucy instead of her in the depths of his passion, he found himself deeper in his realisations: he had fucked up.

He laid in unrest under the tan covers of the hotel duvet. He’d spent the last six months in his life in a daze, and now everything was rushing back to him in waves of regret, making him feel ill. He didn’t know how to fix this: life had turned upside down. He had messed up so badly, leaving his perfect life with Lucy and the guild, for a brief period to feel like a normal, shitty guy in puberty. Was it worth it? Destroying years of intimate friendship, breaking up the best team Fairy Tail had ever seen, leaving Happy behind to have irresponsible fun with a girl he barely knew?

He appreciated the time he’d gotten to spend with her, he really did, but it didn’t compare. Nothing gave him the sense of satisfaction that he’d reach from succeeding at a really silly prank in Lucy’s house. She didn’t give him the butterflies Lucy had given him when she traced flowers on his shoulder in the dead of night. 

Natsu was still confused. The relationships he’d experienced were so vastly different: but didn’t he do everything right? He gave the nasty love a chance, to save his love for Lucy from the dirtiness. He thought he’d juggled the two of them, one would fill his body’s desires and the other his soul’s. Lucy wouldn’t have to see him as the horrid person he really was behind closed doors. She got to see everything else: his happiness, sadness, everything that made him the person he wanted to be. Surely she wouldn’t accept him if she knew the dirty dreams that would leave his underwear soaked in the morning. He didn’t accept that version of himself: how could she?

When he stood up from his fetal position in his bed, and finally went to the bathroom to wash his face, he didn’t recognise the person looking back at him in the mirror. It was him, technically. Pink hair, sharp, monolid eyes, pointy teeth. But he had wrinkles between his light eyebrows, his mouth couldn’t curl into his normal grin: his eyes didn’t follow his commands. He pulled at his cheek. Those lips had kissed her more times than he could count. They felt dry, and looked pale in the reflection. These weren’t lips allowed to kiss someone as important as Lucy. No, he was completely inadequate. His hair was choppy, after having tried to cut it back to his normal lengths with a pair of kitchen scissors. Cancer wasn’t able to help him with that anymore, but he missed how soft his hair could feel after 5 minutes under Cancer’s care.

His neck looked thin and stretched out, faint marks from passionate kissing the night before, still left on the sides. For some time he’d at least be able to cover it up with his scarf. His eyes continued to scan what the reflection showed him: his bronzy skin had a gray tint, his hair looked duller, and then those eyes. A bit red from not getting any sleep last night, but more importantly: they had completely lost whatever sparkle they had before. He wasn’t sure when he’d last taken a good look at himself – maybe this dullness came from the break up with her, but honestly? Deep down he knew he’d lost it months ago. It was like the horrible actions he’d consistently made had slowly desaturated him, leaving him an empty shell of what he once was. There was a time when he was proud of what he saw: he was righteous, tough and had a fiery determination – where had it gone?

He threw his scarf back on and went back to bed. Could he really deal with Lucy when he came back? Would she let him talk to her? He wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t. But in a way, he thought he owed her at least the truth. He wasn’t completely sure what the truth was yet: if it was his love for Lucy he wanted to convey, or his regret over his past actions.

The thoughts churned in his mind like a storm that refused to settle. He turned in bed, his body refusing to settle. Soon enough the night was there again, coming back to taunt him: keep him up at night and make him reflect on the life that had led him up to this. It was all his fault. He had to gather himself though. Not able to figure out where to start, knowing this couldn’t go on. He owed Lucy something – an apology, a confession, or maybe just the clean cut, yet gory truth about what a mess he had become. Even if she slammed the door in his face, even if she never spoke to him again, he needed to face her. He needed to fix at least one broken thing in his life, even if it wasn’t repairable.

Morning light streamed in through the thin hotel curtains. It painted the room in soft, warm tones that felt at odds with the cold knot in his chest. Natsu sat on the edge of the bed, hands clasped tightly together as if trying to stop them from shaking. He’d never felt fear like this – not when he faced dragons, dark guilds, or any of the countless battles he’d endured. No, this was different. This was the fear of standing in front of someone he loved and knowing he had ruined everything.

His scarf felt heavier on his shoulders as he adjusted it. It smelled faintly of ash and campfire – a comforting remnant of the person he used to be. He clung to that thought as he forced himself to his feet. Every step toward the door felt like dragging a mountain, but he kept moving. He didn’t pack anything; there was nothing worth keeping from this place except the lesson it had burned into him.

The guild would notice his return soon enough, and he had no illusions about the reception waiting for him. Anger, disappointment, maybe even indifference – he wasn’t sure which would be worse. But none of it mattered. His focus wasn’t on Fairy Tail, nor on repairing his reputation. He wasn’t coming back to make amends with the guild. He was coming back for Lucy.

As he stepped out into the bustling street, the cool morning air hit his face, and for the first time in days, he took a deep breath. It didn’t cleanse him, not really, but it steadied his steps. He didn’t have a plan, and his words were as jumbled as his thoughts. All he had was the drive to see her, to stand in front of her and let her see what he couldn’t put into words.

Because if there was one person in this world who could look at him, broken and lost, and still see something worth saving, it was Lucy. And for that, he owed her everything.

__________

The streets leading to Lucy’s apartment felt eerily familiar, but every step carried a weight he couldn’t shake. Magnolia was alive as always – shopkeepers setting up for the day, townsfolk chatting – but the world seemed muted to him. His thoughts drowned out the noise, focusing only on the path ahead. He didn’t dare to look up, in case he’d see any familiar faces. The shame and guilt he dragged along him surely made his face look contorted, ugly and fake.

He stopped in front of Lucy’s building and tilted his head up. Her window was closed, curtains drawn. Was she even home? The question almost made him turn around. But his feet refused to move, as if the ground had anchored him there. He couldn’t run anymore.

The staircase felt steeper than usual as he climbed to her door, the wooden railing creaking under his grip. When he finally stood outside her apartment, he stared at the engraved number on the door, a number he’d never thought twice about before. Now it felt like a barrier, daring him to go through with this. 7. The number that had haunted him throughout his life: sometimes as an omen, other times as a sign of luck. He wasn’t sure what it represented today, but he knew he’d been blind for its positive connections for too many years.

His fist hovered near the door. For a moment, he hesitated, his knuckles shaking slightly. What if she didn’t answer? Worse, what if she did? What would he even say?

Natsu gritted his teeth, swallowed the thickness in his throat as his stomach protested in turmoil, and forced the thoughts away. He’d come this far; there was no turning back now. Taking a deep breath, he knocked firmly on the door.

The sound echoed in the narrow hallway, louder than he anticipated. For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of his breathing. Then, faint footsteps.

The doorknob turned, and the door opened just enough for Lucy’s face to peek out. Her expression was unreadable—neutral, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of surprise.

“Natsu?” she asked softly, her voice cautious. Her face was tense, like she was forcing away whatever her feelings tried to express through it.

He opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat. Her gaze was steady, and for the first time in months, he felt like the world had stopped moving. He hadn’t seen her face this close in months. He didn’t know if he wanted to laugh or cry. It was her, his Lucy in the flesh. No, not his Lucy. He couldn’t call her that anymore. He hadn’t been able to for a long time.

“Hey,” he managed to croak out, voice low. He fidgeted with the edge of his scarf, trying to find the courage to say what he’d rehearsed in his head on the way here. “Can we… Can we talk?”

Lucy’s eyes searched his face, and whatever she saw there made her pause. She stepped back slightly, the door opening just a little wider. The air from her apartment leaked out, filling his nose with the wonderful nostalgia of their past life together. His heart ached. He had missed this so much.

“Yeah,” she said, after what felt like an eternity. “Come in.”

Natsu stepped inside, his heart pounding. He looked around, seeing her books stacked in neat piles and her celestial keys resting on the coffee table. Everything was just as he remembered, yet it felt like years had passed since he’d been here. He didn’t see any signs of the life they had lived together in there: the space he’d been given once to put his shoes in the hallway was filled with a pair of her sneakers. He didn’t see his coffee cup anywhere, waiting for him to return for it. The extra chair by the dinner table was gone as well, likely to distract her from the space it held for Natsu.

Lucy closed the door behind him and crossed her arms, leaning against it. “So?” she prompted, her tone guarded but not cold. How was she so calm? No, that wasn’t fair of him. She was probably experiencing the same internal emotional whirlwind that he was: she had just been able to practice hiding it.

Natsu took a deep breath. His fists clenched at his sides as he met her gaze.

“Can… we sit?”

Lucy hesitated for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if trying to decide whether she wanted to let this conversation happen. Finally, with a small nod, she gestured to the couch.

“Sure,” she said, her tone clipped. “Go ahead.”

Natsu moved toward the couch but paused before sitting. The cushions were the same ones he’d sprawled out on countless times, but now they felt alien, like he didn’t belong here anymore. He glanced over his shoulder at Lucy, who had yet to move from the door. She watched him silently, her arms still crossed.

“You can sit too,” he mumbled, his voice faltering.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but after a moment, she pushed off the door and walked over, sitting in the armchair opposite him instead. The distance between them felt vast, and Natsu couldn’t tell if it was the physical space or the emotional wall she had carefully raised.

“So,” Lucy said, breaking the silence. Her tone was sharper now, though not unkind. “What do you want to talk about, Natsu?”

He fidgeted, running his hand through his messy hair and pulling at the fraying ends of his scarf. Words fought to form in his throat, but they all felt wrong, inadequate. He lowered his gaze to the floor, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I wanted to say I’m sorry.”

Lucy let out a soft, humorless laugh. “For what?”

Her response caught him off guard. He looked up, startled, and found her staring at him, her expression unreadable but her eyes sharp.

“For… ya’ know… everything,” he said, his tongue feeling thick and clumsy. “How I let our relationship get all… messed up.” His fists clenched on his lap. They felt clammy. “I didn’t know how to deal with stuff, and I – I hurt you. I know I did. And I’m sorry.”

Lucy didn’t respond immediately. She leaned back in the chair, her fingers tracing the armrest as she studied him. He hated how he’d lost the ability to read her. Either he didn’t know how anymore, or she had decided that he wasn’t allowed to: that he would handle her emotions too poorly. He didn’t blame her.

“You’re right,” she said finally, her voice quieter now, tinged with a sadness she couldn’t fully mask. “You did hurt me. I’m embarrassed to admit that, but you… you really did.” She crossed her arms over her stomach, like she was trying to protect it from Natsu, like he’d dig her insides out if left unguarded. “Do you even know what that felt like?”

“I-” His throat tightened, and he looked down again, unable to meet her gaze. “I’m sorry, you gotta understand that I’m bad with words, I-”

“Do I?” She cut in, her voice cutting his heart open. “Do I always have to understand? Because honestly, Natsu? That’s not fair.”

He looked up at her in dismay. She looked like she was fighting tears. Did he really make her feel like this? He wanted to die. Gulping hard, he shook his head.

“N-no. Of course you don’t. That’s…” his voice mellowed out. “... my fault.”

Lucy didn’t answer. She was still waiting for his explanation – why he was here, why he’d found another girl and now didn’t seem to have her in his head anymore. She was still so confused.

“I don’t think I can give you an explanation you want to hear,” he shamefully laid out, observing Lucy’s cautious body language. “I’ll try, but… I’m not even sure where to begin.”

“How- why? Why her? Where did it all come from? Because… back when you still hadn’t met her, I thought the two of us were heading somewhere.” The blush on Lucy’s cheeks could have been from embarrassment or fighting off angry tears: Natsu couldn’t tell. And hearing these questions, he understood that he didn’t have an explanation at all. Because those questions were all without good answers; only words that didn’t carry any weight to them could even begin to describe Natsu’s explanation. Still, he had to give her something.

“I’m not sure when it started, or what got into me.” He felt like a child, trying to face the consequences of his mistakes head on. “I was so happy and content with what we had, it was so perfect. But I… Well, I’m not perfect. I wanted to have an outlet of some sort, and I knew from around the guild that the need I had- or, I guess, still have, is dirty. I couldn’t do that to you.”

Natsu wasn’t sure how Lucy was taking this. He didn’t dare to look at her, in case she was looking disgusted. His eyes were pinpointed to a stain on the coffee table. That’s how he felt: stained and unwanted. Still, he kept talking.

“So when I met her I thought I had the chance to relieve that need. She was nice, pretty and funny, and she seemed to be on board with that initial plan. But I quickly got greedy and thought that I could have you both. Then it got so intense that it all just escalated, and before I knew it there was no turning back. I had a girlfriend and she wasn’t you.”

His ears were making a buzzing sound. There was so much regret inside of him that his senses got dull, and no matter how much he tried to listen for Lucy, he didn’t hear her. She felt out of reach.

“I just… wanted to feel normal,” he concluded. “Everyone else experienced romance, I was… jealous, I think. But I didn’t dare to approach you about it back then. You’re so… perfect. I’m disgusting in comparison. I have impure desires, and I thought that… maybe, just maybe, I could handle those on the side, while still being with you. I never wanted our relationship to change. It’s always been too important, too pure. I didn’t want to jeopardize it.”

Natsu shifted uncomfortably on the couch, his fingers gripping the edge of his scarf like it might hold him together. He opened his mouth to speak, then shut it again, glancing down at his hands as he twisted the fabric tighter. He had nothing more to tell her. He’d opened his heart for her, and now his foot tapped against the floor in an uneven rhythm, filling the silence Lucy was yet to break.

“Did…” Her voice cracked. “Did you love her?”

Natsu froze at her question. The air in the room had already felt thick, pressing down on him with all the weight he’d just put out, but now it felt suffocating. He opened his mouth to answer, but the words felt like they were stuck in his chest. Did he love her? He thought he did at the time – hell, he was sure of it. It felt like the right answer, the right thing to say. But now, at this moment, the truth was much harder to pinpoint.

“I-” Natsu’s voice caught, and he slowly shook his head. “I thought I did. I thought I loved her... at first. It felt like... like something real. Something I’d never felt before.”

He finally dared to look up at her, and caught her gaze just as it softened, but her arms remained crossed, as though holding herself together against the uncertainty in his words. 

“But you don’t know now, do you?”

“I... don’t.” He ran a hand through his hair, frustration building inside him. “It’s hard to explain. With her, it felt intense, and passionate... like I was... alive, you know? But it wasn’t the same as with you. Not like this.”

Lucy leaned forward slightly, her eyes watching him with careful understanding. “Natsu,” she said gently, “forgive me if I’m wrong, but I think that that wasn’t love. I think… that it was infatuation. Maybe lust. It probably felt intense because it was new, and because you were looking for something you thought was missing. But… I don’t think it was love.”

Natsu stared at her, his chest tight as he absorbed her words. “I... I thought I loved her,” he said quietly, his eyes darting to the floor. “But maybe you’re right. Though… now I don’t even know what love really is.” His voice trailed off.

Lucy exhaled slowly.

“Natsu,” she began, her voice quiet but firm, “I understand you felt something for her. But... lust isn’t something you need to hide or be ashamed of. It doesn’t make you a bad person. But it’s not love.” She paused, her expression unreadable. “Love... love is deeper. It’s not just about attraction, it’s about connection. About seeing the worst of someone and still choosing to be there. I don’t think you understand that yet.”

Natsu’s eyes flickered down, and he clenched his jaw. 

“I know it’s different with you,” he said quietly. “I thought I loved her. I... did love her, I guess. But now... I’m not even sure what that was..” Taking a deep breath didn’t help calm his frustration. Why was this so damn complicated? “With you, I always knew it was different. I knew that what I felt for you wasn’t like what I felt for her. It wasn’t just about the physical stuff. It’s always been… more. But I was scared... that I’d ruin all we had.”

“What left is there to ruin though, Natsu?” She was soft spoken, but frank. Natsu knew she was right: he knew his rendezvous meetings with her had crumbled the relationship that he had hoped he and Lucy could keep. He messed up.

Lucy’s arms tightened across her stomach, her face softening but still distant. “You didn’t need to be perfect, Natsu,” she told him, her voice colder than before. “I never needed that from you. Didn’t you think to ask me what I wanted?”

Before Natsu could stop himself, he felt his eyebrow rise a notch. Lucy cleared her throat.

“I’m going to be honest. I didn’t know you valued purity that high. If I’d known, I’d gladly talk to you about it, help you through it. Lust was never the impure thing: our guild mates were the ones treating it as such.”

Natsu swallowed. He still wasn’t sure he had understood her. Lucy catched on quickly, and continued her explanation.

“Look; sex isn’t beneath me. It isn’t dirty – it’s neutral at the least, wonderful, loving and fulfilling in most cases. I don’t blame you for being confused, but what you did, how you treated both sex and her was wrong. Keeping that up wasn’t fair to her or me. But most importantly,” she reached out and poked on his left pec, “it’s not fair to you.”

That poke had felt like an arrow, killing the voice that had been justifying his actions up until now.

“I know,” he said, voice raw, like every word was a struggle. He didn’t dare to hide his shame. Why hide anything, when the cards were out on the table like this? “I know I screwed up. I just... I couldn’t deal with it. I couldn’t face it.” His fists clenched at his sides, the tension in his shoulders tight.

Lucy’s expression softened slightly, but her eyes were still wary. Instead of removing her hand from him, she softly cupped his face. Already he felt like she was purifying him, her touch holly.

“You’re facing it now though. That’s more than I can say that I’ve done. I’m sorry for not catching… all of this… earlier.” She took an airy breath before she continued. “You haven’t ruined everything though,” she added slowly, her tone quieter. “But if you don’t stop running, I don’t know what’ll be left to fix.”

Natsu’s breath hitched, and for the first time, he felt the weight of her words sink in. He leaned forward slightly, into her hand.

“I’m not perfect, Lucy,” he muttered, voice rough with regret, but there was a determination in his eyes. “But I want to try. If you’ll let me.”

Natsu’s words hit her like a physical blow, but Lucy swallowed the sting before it could show. She tried to steady herself, to push past the tsunami of emotions that was threatening to wash over her, but her chest felt tight. He was so honest, so vulnerable in a way she hadn’t seen in what felt like forever. It was painful, but somehow, it was also… so familiar. It hit her: she had missed him.

“I missed you,” she finally whispered, voice thick as she still held back tears. “But I didn’t just miss you, Natsu.” She hesitated, her hands unconsciously tightening into fists at her sides. “I missed… us. I missed the stupid little things we used to do. And it hurts. God, it hurts. Because every time I saw your face after everything, it felt like... like my heart was pulled in two.”

She looked like she was searching for something in his eyes, something that confirmed that he understood what he’d done. Not until her thumb slowly dried a tear off his face, did he realise that he had started to cry.

“I didn’t know how to keep going without you in my life. And now... I don’t know where we’re supposed to go from here.”

The silence that followed made it ring in Natsu’s ears. He stood still, the guilt in his chest growing heavier with each word. He wanted to speak, to apologize, but nothing felt like it could make up for the emptiness he had left behind. How could he explain to her that he never meant for it to go this far? That he had been terrified of facing what he felt for her?

“Lucy,” he started, taking a shaky breath. He only now realised he’d been holding it. “I messed up, badly. I was scared of... everything. Scared of not being enough for you, scared of being too much, scared of losing what we had. I didn’t know how to deal with what I was feeling, so I... ran. Tried to find it elsewhere. I know that doesn’t excuse anything, but I never wanted to hurt you. I didn’t know things would end up like this.”

Lucy carefully observed him, her expression unreadable for a moment, then she sighed. “Natsu, I get that you were confused,” she said, her voice quieter, more guarded. “But you still chose her. And that’s not something I can just forget. I wanted us to do so many things. But you weren’t there. I know I’m partially to blame, because I didn’t approach you either, but… you weren’t there for me.” Her shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of her own hurt sinking in. “I just... I don’t know if I can go back to that. I don’t know if I can trust that you won’t… replace me again.”

The tension between them thickened, and Natsu swallowed hard, his stomach twisting. He opened his mouth, but the words wouldn’t come. He hadn’t known how to be vulnerable before; he didn’t know how to start now, not with the mess he had made of everything.

Lucy continued, her gaze still wary.

“You weren’t perfect. I didn’t need you to be perfect, Natsu. I just needed you to be here. And you weren’t.” She let out a shaky breath, and for the first time, Natsu saw the pure agony in her eyes, the raw exhaustion of someone who had been holding on for too long. “I don’t know if I’m ready to try again. I don’t know if you’re ready, either.”

The words stung more than he’d expected. He had wanted to make it right, to find a way back to her, but he didn’t know if she could ever feel the same way again. For all he knew, this was the end for them. The real end. Still, he wasn’t ready to let go. Not yet.

“I want to try,” he said, his voice low but firm, his eyes never leaving hers. “I’ll prove it to you. Please.”

The silence between them stretched, thick and suffocating, like it was waiting for them to figure out how to breathe again. Natsu’s chest was tight, his heart hammering in his ribcage like it had never known stillness. His hands clenched at his sides, unsure of what to do with all this feeling that had nowhere to go. Lucy’s gaze stayed fixed on him, the distance between them too much, but too little. She didn’t pull away, not physically. But her eyes were guarded, like they always were now, like she was still trying to keep herself safe. Natsu wasn’t sure what he was doing, but the need to reach for her, to close the space, was so overwhelming he could barely think straight.

His breath hitched, and before he could second-guess it, his body moved forward, drawn to her like he had been all those months ago. There was a hesitation in her eyes, a softness to the way she looked at him that he hadn’t seen in so long. It was like she was still here, in a way he hadn’t expected. That didn't make everything okay of course. She was still hurt, still unsure, but there was something flickering in the way her lips parted slightly as he moved closer.

And then he kissed her.

It wasn’t anything spectacular. It wasn’t smooth or fluid or anything that could undo the mess they’d made. It was desperate, almost clumsy, two people trying to find something familiar in a sea of unfamiliarity. His lips brushed against hers, too hesitant at first, like he was afraid he would break her if he pressed too hard. But the feeling was there, just underneath everything, unrefined. The taste of her, the touch of her, something that felt so real it almost made him dizzy. 

Maybe, if he lingered long enough, could he transfer all the words he wanted to say to her, but couldn’t because of a lack of vocabulary; let her feel the emotions he did, as he was more than willing to receive hers. Maybe this kiss could spackle their cracked relationship.

When they pulled away, the world around them still felt heavy to Natsu’s disappointment. Lucy didn’t look at him at first, her gaze somewhere far away. But when she did, her eyes were a mix of things – of confusion, of hurt, of something that looked like relief, all tangled together.

“I’m not... not ready,” she whispered, voice trembling, tears filling her eyes. “I don’t know if I ever will be. But I can’t... I can’t pretend like I don’t feel something, too. I don’t want to let go.”

The words stung, sharper than anything he expected. But it wasn’t rejection. Not really. She wasn’t telling him to leave, to forget everything. She was telling him that they were both still stuck in this. She was still afraid to fall into it, but she wasn’t pushing him away.

Natsu’s throat tightened, and for the hundredth time today, he couldn’t find the words. The guilt of what he had done – of hurting her – was still heavy, suffocating, but at least there was a chance now. A chance to do something different, to prove that he was willing to face whatever came next, no matter how hard it was.

“I don’t know what happens next,” he murmured, his voice rough. “But I’m here. I want to try. I won’t... I won’t give up on us.”

Lucy’s breath caught. There was a flicker in her eyes, a tiny thing that reminded him of the way she used to look at him – soft, but strong, and maybe a little broken. She didn’t know what to say, either, but she could see the sincerity in his eyes, the unwavering determination there, and something in her, something deep inside, softened. She didn’t have all the answers, but she knew one thing: she wanted this.

“I’m not sure either,” she said quietly, her voice calm now, steady. “But I know we can figure it out. We’ll work through it. Together.”

And in that moment, Natsu felt the weight of her words, the promise layed out in front of them. They weren’t whole yet, they weren’t where they used to be, but the foundation was still there – strong, despite everything. They had something real.

And as they sat there, just a little closer than before, Natsu realized that maybe the future wasn’t so uncertain after all. They had a long road ahead of them, sure, but they’d walk it together.

[monkeyfunky333]

You know what annoys me the most about fairy tail, it’s the fact that fairy tail has so many amazing characters yet it uses none of them. Levy, Jet, Droy, Gajeel, Juvia, Max, Reedus, Warren, Wakaba, Maco, Romeo, Bisca,Laki, Alzack, LISSANNA . AND DONT GET ME STARTED ON ELFMAN AND THE THUDER LEGION. THEY ALL had so much potential to be amazing, well-done, and deep side characters but now they are just used as a jokes and punching bags for the main cast and villains.

It just annoys me so much that fairy tail is so focused on “family is everything” and “the power of friendship”. YET WE KNOW ALMOST ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT HALF THE PEOPLE IN THE GUILD. ITS SO CONTRADICTORY. HOW IS THE MAIN THEME OF THE ANIME GOING TO BE THE THING IT DOES WORSE.

I know that these characters are just side characters but they are important to the theme of fairy tail. If the characters in the guild were more fleshed out we would be more attached to them. For example, when the Tenrou Island team “died” for seven years and came back I had no reason to really care about the characters who were left behind. We knew nothing about them and we have no connection to these characters whatsoever, so why should I care. The guild members in fairy tail should’ve been the first side characters to be truly fleshed out and familiar to us, but I think after the time skip and the introduction of many new characters due to the grand magic games, we were already too far gone.

And it’s so sad to see the contrast between the characters at the start of the series and at the end. I remember watching the first few episodes and thinking that Macco, Jet, Droy, and Warren were cool characters and I was interested in getting to know more about them. Not only that, but when these characters were introduced, they were introduced as strong, respectable mages, but when you compare them to how they are now where they constantly used as jokes for being weak, are dumbed down, or are used as a cliche. It’s just sad to see such wasted potential.

Maybe I’m looking into it too much but it always bugged me. And I always noticed that whenever I wanted to rewatch Fairy Tail episodes it was always episodes before the time-skip. I have no joy watching any Fairy Tail episodes or arcs after the timeskip. (except for maybe grand magic games but even that is a stretch)

I just think there’s too much focus on team Natsu and not on fairy tail as a guild. I just wish that when other characters were showcased, they were showcased well and not as some sort of joke.

[moltensmusings]

Okay you know what. What are some of y'alls favorite headcanons for Juvia or Levy? Any headcanons. Fashion, hobbies, friendships with other guild members, etc. Non romance content is preferred for this but I won't turn away ship content.

[starcrossed-loserz]

OKAY SO if *I* was the one to pick the eclipse celestial spirit matchups this is what I’d choose and some reasoning for some

Inspired by the person watching ft fr this time. Thanks :

Natsu — Aries (they have thru some dialogue a slight friendship, where Natsu was unwilling to punch that one demon when they absorbed her, but was fine attacking Taurus)

Juvia — Aquarius (they canonically get along, both water magic users, they even have the same eyes! I feel the fight would eventually stop and they’d take comfort in eachother tbh with some similar traumas. Aquarius losing Layla and probably having horrible celestial spirit mages at some point in her life before the heartfilias, Juvia generally not being treated very nicely for the rain she caused.)

Lucy or Gray — Loke (Loke has an established relationship with a non celestial spirit mage character and that’s Gray, but also there’s the fact he promised to protect Lucy and him being one of her “main” spirits. So either or really).

Cana — Scorpio (sure why not, plus alcohol is said to be poison and a lot of scorpions are venomous so some irony I guess…?)

Erza — Sagittarius (Archer vs Knight, two kinda stereotypical “classes” for fantasy, plus a challenge for erza as Sagittarius specializes in range whereas erza tends to be closer. He could assault her with arrows from massive distances probably. They kinda seem like both his canon eclipse and his base would get along with Erza, I kinda like their normal matchup).

Levy — Capricorn (Lucy’s best friend vs the Heartfilia’s bodyguard, Lucy’s new family vs her blood ties I guess, plus both are placed as being quite well read from what we know of Capricorn.)

Gajeel/Pantherlily — Gemini (Gemini were dehumanized by Sorano to a degree and tbf this is mostly headcanon but Gajeel too. Gemini have a childlike wonder to them that could bounce off of Gajeel. I don’t mind their canon matchup).

Wendy — Cancer (Cancer canonically does Wendy’s hair for her, they probably have some level of trust normally. Plus a fast cutting sword-esque fighter vs the wind dragon slayer just seems cool to me.)

Erza/Lucy — Virgo (not entirely sure for Virgo but the knight vs the maiden would be interesting, or the canon lucy vs Virgo if gray got Loke. If erza stays with Sagittarius tho I’d posit Mirajane, idk it could work surprisingly well).

Elfman — Taurus (canon, Elfman’s trauma and the myth of the Minotaur could actually create some interesting dynamics, both the young minotaur and young Elfman almost being seen as a monster).

Yukino — Pisces (Pisces was seen as her main spirit p sure for a while so like. Yeah, she probably has a deeper bond with them? And then the mother/son and Yukino’s own family dynamics would be interesting to see compared.)

Lisanna — Libra (This one is more cause idk where else tbh for her, but like. Lisanna being one of the center points of these two different worlds and Libra being the balance. Idk)

I lost it. Umm this is only going off of who was canonically there for eclipse celestial spirit arc tho!! Id have it different for if it could be any characyets :3

[selenedoesntdraw]

Fairy Tail Annoys Me So Much

You know what annoys me the most about fairy tail, it’s the fact that fairy tail has so many amazing characters yet it uses none of them. Levy, Jet, Droy, Gajeel, Juvia, Max, Reedus, Warren, Wakaba, Maco, Romeo, Bisca,Laki, Alzack, LISSANNA . AND DONT GET ME STARTED ON ELFMAN AND THE THUDER LEGION. THEY ALL had so much potential to be amazing, well-done, and deep side characters but now they are just used as a jokes and punching bags for the main cast and villains.

It just annoys me so much that fairy tail is so focused on “family is everything” and “the power of friendship”. YET WE KNOW ALMOST ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT HALF THE PEOPLE IN THE GUILD. ITS SO CONTRADICTORY. HOW IS THE MAIN THEME OF THE ANIME GOING TO BE THE THING IT DOES WORSE.

I know that these characters are just side characters but they are important to the theme of fairy tail. If the characters in the guild were more fleshed out we would be more attached to them. For example, when the Tenrou Island team “died” for seven years and came back I had no reason to really care about the characters who were left behind. We knew nothing about them and we have no connection to these characters whatsoever, so why should I care. The guild members in fairy tail should’ve been the first side characters to be truly fleshed out and familiar to us, but I think after the time skip and the introduction of many new characters due to the grand magic games, we were already too far gone.

And it’s so sad to see the contrast between the characters at the start of the series and at the end. I remember watching the first few episodes and thinking that Macco, Jet, Droy, and Warren were cool characters and I was interested in getting to know more about them. Not only that, but when these characters were introduced, they were introduced as strong, respectable mages, but when you compare them to how they are now where they constantly used as jokes for being weak, are dumbed down, or are used as a cliche. It’s just sad to see such wasted potential.

Maybe I’m looking into it too much but it always bugged me. And I always noticed that whenever I wanted to rewatch Fairy Tail episodes it was always episodes before the time-skip. I have no joy watching any Fairy Tail episodes or arcs after the timeskip. (except for maybe grand magic games but even that is a stretch)

I just think there’s too much focus on team Natsu and not on fairy tail as a guild. I just wish that when other characters were showcased, they were showcased well and not as some sort of joke.

[theguildawards]

Term 1 2024 Winners!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the first term 2024 hosted by The Guild Awards! The mod-team is excited to see so much amazing fanwork and their creators recognized, as well as the love shown for this fandom!

Without further delay, here we are!

Winners of The Guild Awards for Term 1 2024

Best Action/Adventure Fiction: "Molten Steel" by @mavikiu (tumblr/AO3) Best Alternate Universe/Reality Fiction: "Bull In a Crystal Shop" by Buniibebe (FFN) Best Canon Fiction: "Taming the Beast: Living Nightmare" by @dawnwynters (tumblr/AO3) Best Angst Fiction: "Finding Hope" by @creaticare / ChaoticKori (AO3) Best Dark Fiction: "Power of the Underworld" by @genavere (tumblr/AO3) Best Drama Fiction: "Even the Dragon King Has Feelings" by Don_Cheadle (AO3) Best Humor/Parody Fiction: "Fairy Tail Textfics" by @multi-verse-mania (tumblr) / Multiverse_Mania (AO3) Best Oneshot (tie): "what does it all come down to? (love? love)" by @forwantofacalling (tumblr) / Fireflower34 (AO3) and "once upon a time, five" by Ostensibly_Functional (AO3) Best Character Portrayal: "Making Friends" (Gajeel) by FairyDell (AO3) Best Romance Fiction: "All Treats, No Tricks" by Be_dazzled06 (AO3) Best LGBTQ+ Romance Fiction: "Every Good Thing in Life (Leads Back to You)" by allayrose (AO3) Best Serial Fiction: "Heart Shaped World" by Myahud (AO3) Best Ficlet: "untitled" by @caissa-scribbles Best Friendship Portrayal: "once upon a time, five" (Team Shadowgear + Gajeel) by Ostensibly_Functional (AO3) Best Completed Fiction: "The Era of Shadows and Sunshine" by RomanticHawthorn (AO3) Best Action/Adventure Artwork: "Super Late But Happy Gruvia Day!" by @hollie-artz (tumblr) Best Alternate Universe/Reality Artwork: "It's Lisanna's turn to be badass" by @pencilofawesomeness (tumblr) Best Canon Artwork: "dan lucy your bobbies" by @boxonarock (tumblr) Best Angst Artwork: "manga redraw🫣" by @azriaann (tumblr) Best Dark Artwork: "rogue on the battlefield" by @celestialrayna (tumblr) Best Humor/Parody Artwork: "Happy Valentine's Day!" by @riveluart (tumblr) Best Kiss Artwork: "happy february to them" by @lav3nder-bees (tumblr) Best Romance Artwork: "Untitled" by @bakutenshi (tumblr) Best LGBTQ+ Romance Artwork: "untitled Fraxus Week prompt" by @bluessom1 (tumblr) Best Character Artwork: "Levy bout to fuck shit up" by @phoenix-before-the-flame (tumblr) Best Duo/Pairing Artwork: "Gajeel + juvia = besties" by @anniechuuu (tumblr) Best Group Depiction Artwork: "Levy and her boys" by @riveluart (tumblr) Best Manga Coloring: "Fire & Lightning" by @fairy-edits (tumblr) Best Redraw Artwork: "Screenshot Redraw of the Raijinshuu + Laxus" by @sheltered-uno (tumblr) Best Overall Artwork: "Levy all soft and glowy" by @mavikiu (tumblr)

Congratulations to all the winners! Your awards are ready! Please send one of the mods or our ask box your preferred email address so we can send them to you!

And thank you to those who voted for the Roulette Category for next term! The Roulette fanfiction category for next term will be: Best NSFW Fiction. This will be defined as: Sexual Content/Smut with plot. Both one-shots and specific chapters from multi-chapter fics are accepted in this category. If coming from a multi-chapter fic, a link for that specific chapter is required and must include content depicting an act of sexual nature. (i.e.: intercourse, masturbation, heavy petting - etc.

As this term comes to a close, The Guild Awards will be taking a short hiatus. This time is always spent reviewing the process and seeing what can be revamped for the next term. We also love hearing from the fandom (ie: YOU!) for suggestions regarding any changes or additions.

We will officially be back in full swing on October 1st! We will still be around in case you have questions or concerns, but please take this time to read new fanfiction and find new fanart.

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You can also keep up-to-date with all current fandom events by checking out the @ftguildevents page!

As the day gets closer to the start of the next term, we will be keeping everyone in the loop when it comes to changes and updates. We hope everyone has a lovely summer! Thank you again for making this such a fun experience! See you soon!

~ The Guild Awards

[patentedsun]

Rapid fire Fairy Tail rewatch thoughts. May or May not expand upon each point later on.

THIS IS LONG AS HELL BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN TO SHUT UP.

for reference, I've reached tartaros so far. I am aware of the canon happenings after that tho.

The female cast is so good idc what anyone says obviously the fanservice is awful BUT I will say, in the earlier arcs, it actually felt decently balanced because of Gray's whole stripping shtick + Natsu's cunty vest wasn't particularly modest either LOL.

Erza is such a wonderful character. I've seen comments that she goes downhill like 100yq onwards but. Um. 100yq characterisation.... that's a whole post of its own.

I never expected to like Lucy so much. idc that it takes her like 200 episodes to win a fight solo because when she FINALLY DOES IT WAS THE BEST MOMENT OF THE SERIES BY FAR. characters who's defining traits r kindness and compassion <33

Interesting how Lucy is the traditional shounen protag (underdog, skills develop overtime) because the rest of team Natsu sans Wendy were all like ... already kinda OP established mages even at the beginning.

I know there are debates ab who really is the protag and imo the narrative skews towards Natsu more BUT. it's bizarre how unexplored he is for a main character. Like yes he is my favourite character other than Lucy but his inner psyche is barely explored it's so weird. He doesn't really have a character arc either??? I'll expand on this more once I finish post tartaros (lolll not looking forward to that) and once again it seems like he's completely regressed from what I've seen of 100yq.

I fucking love all the ships.

I don't agree with comments that Natsu can't be traditionally romantic. Like, I definitely don't think he would ever have the natural inclination to be that way as a part of his character on its own. BUT considering iconic rainbow sakura moment I fully believe he would do whatever it is that would make Lucy happy. And if that includes red roses and candlelit dinners he would absolutely try his best.

Nalu moments r seriously. so good.

I totally see why Juvia stans don't like gruvia. But unfortunately I like them. And I've slightly rewritten them in my head so that juvia doesn't get completely flanderized LOL.

the Natsu Erza Gray sibling relationship goes soooo hard.

Just in general there's something beautiful about the way Fairy Tail handles it's numerous platonic and romantic relationships. Nothing feels secondary yk. Everything is given its due time (except maybe NALU goddammit).

I LOVE THAT FEMALE CHARACTERS HAVE DEEP COMPLEX RELATIONSHIPS IRRELEVANT TO THE MALE CAST. Lucy and Levy, Lucy and Yukino, whatever combination between Erza Lucy Wendy, Lucy Flare, Wendy Shelia, Wendy Carla etc

Even when the relationship involves a man in some kind of way like eg Lucy Cana or Erza Kagura it's still not like... in a bad way. The friendship itself is still there, it's just that the inciting incident tends to involve a dude.

Speaking of Lucy having so many deep female friendships is a big reason why I like Nalu so much lol. Like I literally do not care ab ships in media but fairy tail.... just has that something...

Love how often everyone changes outfits.

This show desperately needed a mini arc somewhere with just Natsu Lucy Happy going on a low stake job, where Natsu actually opens up ab his emotions and his relationship with Igneel.

Needed more Natsu and Igneel flashbacks in general.

Wendy triple combo abandonment issues are not talked ab enough holy shit. Grandeeny, Mystogan and then her entire guild???!

Lucy's relationship with her dad was objectively so well written. I skipped starry skies arc sorry the pacing was destroying me so I can't speak on that. But everything else was just BEAUTIFUL.

The fact that she returns to him just to tell at him. The fact that he comes to her with money problems and she STILL stands her ground. The fact that it's HIM who has to better himself and earn HER forgiveness.

Even after it seems like they're on ok terms, Lucy mentions in tenrou that they don't keep in contact, which is soo... realistic...

and then his death... Shout-out to Natsu who actually is emotionally quite mature (as the author himself seems to have forgotten) and dealt with it wonderfully. He gave Lucy her space, he let her vent, he stopped Happy from interfering too much. + Lucy being conflicted ab it and clearly grieving what could have been instead of what was. sighhh. .

idc ab no deaths but I do wish they didn't do fake out deaths as often. Because when actual loss sticks, it's done super well imo. Ultear, Aquarius, I haven't hit this part yet but Igneel... (yes I'm ignoring 100yq)

the episodic fillers r INCREDIBLE.

Rogue and Frosch are so special to me.

Wish they expanded on Jellal and Meredy's relationship a bit more it seems quite wholesome.

I love Virgo.

Really hate the muted colours Ft2014 onwards, but I do like that Lucy's hair became blonde and not yellow.

Pacing 2014 onwards was GOD AWFUL. I WAS SO SAD because I think the story beats in eclipse arc is actually super good but it was DRAGGED OUT SO MUCH nothing had the impact it should've.

Snow fairy, FT, Masayume chasing you will never be forgotten.

Lucy underutilizes Gemini so much it drives me mad. They were terrifying under Angel so like... cmon...

idc what anyone says GMG and edolas were top tier.

Edolas Natsu X Edolas Lucy... yes

objectively speaking gajeel is a top tier character too

Someone pointed out that Natsu didn't reallyyy hang out with anyone other than Happy pre canon and it changed my life. Every time I notice him and Lucy casually hanging out now I start screaming.

HAPPY IS SUCH A GOOD CHARACTER IDC. His edolas character arc was incredible, his relationship with Lucy is just as (if not more) fleshed out as his one with Natsu and that's part of what makes them such a great trio.

Whenever he goes LUUSSHIEEE . my heart ...

OST top tier no notes

the writing was actually so tight up until GMG part 2

I generally don't care ab the powerscaling issues but laxus v jura... no.

The anime kinda fucks up his face a lot but manga Natsu was genuinely soooo adorable in every single panel (once again IGNORING 100YQ).

Wendy also great character arc.

Sting's whole design is SO GOOD and ten years too early. the fur lined vest, the crop top, the one dangly earring, the scar, the loose fitting pants, good God now that's a Look.

Seriously I love Nalu so much...

That's all for now folks. If you want me to expand upon anything just lmk bec believe it or not all of this is a summary.

[allaboutlucyh]

My Top 5 Lucy Girl Friendships:

1.) Lucy & Juvia

2.) Lucy and Cana

3.) Lucy and Mira

4.) Lucy and Levy

5.) Lucy and Brandish

[fttwts]

what're your opinions on popular ft ships? you can talk about any you like i'm just curious which ones you like and which ones you don't. specifically laxus and gray tho 👀

inspired by your post about erik / kinana !!

If by popular you mean the big 4 then I don’t like any one of those sorry 💀

I shortly summarized why i don’t like Jerza a while back

Gajevy is kinda boring and it developed forcefully and out of nowhere, one day Gajeel was hanging the team shadow gear to a tree and the next day Levy had already forgiven him and was crushing on him like girl stand up

+ I hate how Levy’s character went from being important in the earlier seasons and actually having a personality to being reduced to a love interest once Mashima decided to pair her up with Gajeel for some reason

As for Nalu, it’s not that i don’t like them, I just can’t see them as more than friends. This may be a little petty but i think the two main protagonists of a manga about friendship shouldn’t end up together in the end. Kinda crushes the whole point lmao

And then there’s Gruvia man…

They could’ve handled it way better if they’d just put in the effort. Instead, we got the obsessed stalker trope… and apparently everyone’s ok with that. Sigh.

“It’s canon now” i don’t care, being canon doesn’t make something immune to criticism and saying that Gruvia is just straight up bad writing is common sense i fear

Juvia’s character’s only purpose is to be in love with Gray. No other personality trait whatsoever. Take her out of the story and nothing would really change except for some of the ‘comic relief’

Mashima literally had to force Gray’s personality into doing a 180 in 100yq for him to start liking Juvia

Since you asked which ships I like, I suppose you mean the popular ones and not the rarepairs, I have way too many of those lmao.

My favorite ‘popular’ ship with Gray is Graylu; I like Gratsu too but not that much for it to be one of my favorites

I have a soft spot for Nali since i’m a sucker for the childhood friend trope

I also like Lolu a lot

You asked for Laxus too, but I don’t like any of the popular ships involving him. I don’t see the point in Miraxus even existing except for the amount of heteronormativity in this fandom, and Fraxus doesn’t really do it for me. They’re cute tho

A bunch of the ‘crack’ ships I like can be seen in some of my posts lmao

Btw i’m not shading on anyone who likes the big 4 or any other ship i mentioned, this is just my opinion and everyone can ship whatever they want :)

[pencilofawesomeness]

Funnily enough, now that the OS arc draws closer I'm actually starting to think about the Tenrou arc more.

Here is what I assume will happen : Zeref will be on Tenrou Island during the trials despite Acnologia knowing that it's a regular haunt of his, either because A) Acnologia went days/weeks before to check Tenrou, before he went into hibernation, but Zeref wasn't there at the time and arrived in the meantime, or B) Zeref lost track of time. (Or C) he somehow decided this was an appropriate time to see Natsu - to be fair Tenrou does protect FT members from death...) Now the interesting thing to think about is who will figure out that Zeref is on the island, when will they do so, and what will they do with that knowledge ?

The "who" obviously depends on who will take part in the trials, be it as examiners, candidates or partners. For the candidates : I assume Natsu, Gray, Mest, Cana and Levy will still take part. Freed and Juvia's circumstances are a bit different from canon due to the Battle of FT not happening, but I still think they'll be nominated (actually maybe Freed was already a candidate in X783?). Elfman won't be there, but I'm actually thinking Erik should be a candidate (I'm actually not sure why he hasn't been yet - is he asking the master not to have him complete with his siblings for the title? Does he not want to be S-Class for some reason? I would have assumed Erik would be nominated before Natsu or at the same time, not after). As for partners, Happy, Loke, Lucy and Bixlow will most likely accompany the same candidates as canon. I guess Lisanna might go with Juvia again, but you might also have Juvia develop some new friendships. Actually I think a Juvia and Evergreen team might be nice. Bonus if they fight against Erza in the first round. Erik would go with Cubellios (or maybe with Wendy, if your unison raid art was related to that arc, but I don't think he would 'cause Sting (and Rogue) would be jealous). So the most uncertain partners are those with Mest and Levy. Mest might not be able to use the "Mystogan's pupil" excuse again, given that Mystogan is less of a loner here; that plus her protective elder brothers has me doubt he would ask Wendy. But it's not like I have a better idea for a partner either. As for Levy, well she might go with Jet or Droy, but she might also pick Lisanna, if Juvia goes with Evergreen? I feel like their proximity to the dragon slayers probably made them better friends than in canon. Finally, for the examiners, I'm assuming that Mystogan will be in Edolas and Acnologia sleeping, but that Laxus, Jellal, Gajeel, Erza, Mira, Gildarts and Makarov will all come. Mira could stay behind this time, but I'm thinking she won't. They might also bring Wendy along for emergency treatment if she's not Mest's partner (though I don't think they usually bother, so maybe not).

Now my assumption is that the trials will be the same as canon. So first the S-Class examiners come to the island. Gajeel might be able to tell that Zeref is there (dragon senses + having encountered the guy a couple times), or maybe Laxus, but it's not a given. Also I'm thinking that the magic of the Tenrou tree/island might be overwhelming enough that it partially hides Zeref's presence. Then, all the way from the ship, I don't think that Natsu or Erik, who might have a better chance at feeling his presence, would be able to tell (especially behind motion sick). Trial starts : Mests teleports with Wendy, Freed throws up a barrier, Levy and Evergreen rewrite it. Mest, Freed and Levy pick the same routes they did before. Juvia now has an option that was closed last time - the Mira route, though here it's Gajeel waiting instead. For fun, they go the Erza route again. Then comes, in order, Natsu, Erik (or maybe Erik then Natsu?), Gray and Cana. Natsu being less fight oriented, might not pick the E route again (where Laxus is waiting). Or actually, he might go with "G for Gajeel" and fight Freed and Bixlow. Erik, hearing people and thus knowing the options between fighting Laxus / fighting Mest and Wendy / fighting Gajeel, would probably pick Gajeel. Then Grey and Loke go against Mest and Wendy, Lucy and Cana against Laxus. (Damn, actually maybe Gildarts should still fight - no, it makes no sense unless there's extra candidates, he's overpowered). Anyway, everyone is focussed on the first task so most likely not noticing Zeref. Except maybe Erik.

Other option : rather than keeping the same structure as canon (3 fights with S-Class mages, 2 duels, 1 lucky road), all 6 S-Class mages are possible opponents, + 1 or 2 lucky roads (depending on if there's indeed 8 candidates, since I'm not really sure all of them will participate), or Acnologia also comes along and it's 7 S-Class fights + 1 lucky road. I might actually like that option better, it also gives GH a real reason to use the Dragonsgrave pollen, but then Acnologia would sniff out Zeref immediately so there's that downside.

Anyway, back to my first theory, Gray and Levy obviously pass. I would bet on Natsu passing, but in essentially a 2 vs 1 fight (with Freed having the time to write rune traps) it might be a difficult fight. Juvia probably fails, Cana might pass against Laxus for the same reason Natsu passed against Gildarts. That or they outsmart him and use transportation against him, but I wouldn't bet on it. Cana failing in the first step would be very ansgt-y, and a good reason to have her and Lucy wander around the island because she doesn't want to be go back to the camp where the S-Class mages (including Gildarts) are. For Erik I think it will depend on whether he is actually trying to make it to S-Class or not (similar to Jellal previously), and/or if he has something to prove against Gajeel for some reason.

So for the second task : Gray, Levy, Natsu?, Cana?, Erik? are qualified. Mest and his partner wander around the island, Juvia and Evergreen go back to camp. There's the question of whether Freed and Bixlow leave like they did the first time - but back then it was with Gildarts, who in my version has yet to play a role in the trial, so it doesn't make much sense. Laxus and Gajeel (and possibly Erik if he fails) being dispatched the find the wayward Mest (and Cana?).

So who finds Zeref first, during the second part of the trial (which might be modified so that Gildarts / Mira / Jellal have a role to play, or they're part of the 3th challenge) ? Well, canon events would say Natsu. I'll argue Erik will either find him first or hear Natsu finding him and come to check on the situation and/or warn one of the examiners (Laxus/Gajeel/Mira). Another option, if they get eliminated, is Lucy and Cana, just, Because. Obviously Natsu arrives before they get - well, killed, as much as is possible with the Tenrou protection. Question is, at that point, does Zeref leave? I would say yes, but he didn't in canon... then again the context was different. It would be fun if Natsu / Erik took advantage of the situation and asked where Mavis' grave is XD.

Then GH arrives and all hell breaks loose. They're looking for Zeref who isn't on the island anymore, the dragon slayers except Erik get taken out by Dragonsgrave pollen, Fairy Tail is panicking over Zeref supposedly being on the island but for different reasons, and some secrets probably get dragged up in the process. Plus the Mest/Council stuff. (I wonder if they would try to fire Etherion on the island as is threatened in canon. It would actually be pretty fun to have Etherion fired only for Acnologia to block/eat it. A bit less fun but also interesting would be for Etherion to be the reason Fairy Sphere is used - with Acnologia, Sting and Rogue being left behind in the 7 years skip. Hopefully that wouldn't kill Loke.)

Anyway, definitely lots of potential with this arc as well!!!

🐧

Fascinating, I love seeing people guess ahead. You got a few things, but I won't say what lol.

I will answer one thing though, because it has come up a few times, but really the main reason Erik isn't S-Class is because he doesn't want to be. (Does this make him a tiny bit of a hypocrite after Jellal's trial? Perhaps lol, but that's part of the fun.) Not really for self-loathing reasons though, but mostly because he thinks it'll be a huge hassle because of the popularity aspect. (Aka Mystogan's biggest regret lmao.) He's avoided getting nominated at all so far because the people who know him know he doesn't care and from a larger perspective (like Makarov's), he doesn't really do much as far as solo quantifiable jobs go. At least not enough to make it known. (He can do some ultra-impressive group takedown for a job and come back and downplay it so well lol.) But. Lately Erik has been impressive on main a bit more, so :)

[phopollo]

*getting on my hands and knees* Please I would love to know more about your fairytail rewrite, I have also just decided to do a rewatch of it and I am dying for more content/more people to talk about it with (also i love your designs so far and especially the focus on my girl Juvia... would love to know your ideas for both ex phantom lord guys actually)

AKFNWKG OMG HI YOU DONT UNDERSTAND HOW HAPPY THIS MAKES ME

GAJEEL & JUVIA MEAN SO MUCH TO ME, BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A DUO, AND I WAS SO SAD ABOUT HOW THEYRE TREATED IN CANON (especially Juvia,,, she was my favorite, but she got done so dirty when they stopped allowing her to he her own character outside of loving Gray,,,) SO IM ELATED YOU WANNA KNOW MORE ABOUT THEM, BECAUSE I THINK ABOUT THEM SO MUCH

So!!

I'll start with them as a duo

While members of Phantom Lord, none of the Element 4 were really like.... friends per say, but Gajeel and Juvia had the closest thing to being like........ friendly coworkers of all the relationships among them. Juvia was kind of the only one Gajeel really respected, and Juvia recognized thar Gajeel treated her with as much respect as he could, so she reciprocated (think like,,, verbally acknowledging each other as they passed in the halls, but calling each other by last name)

After joining Fairy Tail, in the immediate aftermath, everyone was still a little cautious of them for understandable reasons. So they kind if unintentionally cling to each other, because..... yknow. They're the only ones not giving each other the side eye, so it doesn't feel like they have to claw through a wall of tension to just hold a simple conversation

The turning point for them into actual friendship is when people start to give them more of a chance! In particular, on a day that Fairy Tail is getting A Bit Rowdy(tm) in the guild hall, and Gajeel turns around, expecting Juvia to have his back, and shes.... she's not there........... and now that he thinks about it, it's been a bit rainy today............... so he gets a little worried and goes looking for her, only to find her hiding in the bathroom because she got a bit overwhelmed and overstimulated because she's never had so many people approach and try to talk to her all at once and never been involved in a brawl like that that wasn't an actual like, fight, and she just...... she needs a minute. So. Gajeel sits with her a bit, because. Yknow. It wouldn't be worth it to go out there and pick fights with everyone and have fun if she's not also going to. It's just not as fun

They get a little awkward sitting there in silence and Gajeel gets antsy. He looks at himself in the mirror, and then down at Juvia and her perfectly styled hair. He goes "Hey wanna help me wash my hair?" And she kind of. Stares at him for a few seconds.

(Bonus doodles of when I was initially thinking about this but never planned to post bc my hand writing is ILLEGIBLE)

So Gajeel takes care of his hair now (very important about him and his character and the change in his hair style between Phantom Lord and Fairy Tail)

And after that, they accidentally become Natsu-And-Lucy-But-Cool-Tones

And they're very silly, and I love them very much

Whoops, that on its own was a little longer than I intended, but I'll still go into them individually too

Gajeel;

His insecurity about falling behind the other dragon slayers is a little more prevelant-- he just kind of always feels like he has something to prove

An important part of the Rewrite to me is thst there's the opportunity for characters who didn't really seem to interact as much get the opportunity to, so I'll also put out there thst Gajeel forms pretty tight bonds with Wendy, Erza, team Shadow Gear as a whole not just Levy, and the Strauss siblings

I don't think he really knows what he actually likes to do in his free time. He kind of just tags along with other people doing things they like to do

He's roughly very similar to how he was in canon. A lot of the work I've done on him has been more just smoothing out the edges and adjusting his behavior to reflect the people I've declared him the closest to

Juvia;

It's so important to me that she gets to be a character outside of being in love with Gray. She does still have a crush on him, and she's not super subtle about it, but she's also like.... she's capable of being a normal person around and about him. They are genuinely friends above anything else

She had no idea how to talk to anyone. Cana and Mirajane were lowkey her saviors when it came to learning how to interact with other people and not be a complete freak, so she's super tight with them in particular

In canon, we were shown both thst she made her own Teru Teru Bozus, and that she knit Gray a scarf once. There's also a couple other things we're shown that its never explicitly state she made them, but I feel like the implication is there. So I'm taking those and running with them-- I'm making her a really crafty person, and she loves and takes a lot of comfort in doing things like sewing, knitting, and crocheting, and that's something she notably does in her free time-- especially since she doesn't just do them for the sake of doing them, she almost always makes something for someone (got a little drawing about this incoming actually)

We only really got to know the bare minimum of Juvia's backstory-- that her parents are dead, she was taken in by her uncle who did his best to help her and her rain problem by seeking out water and ice wizards, and then he also died while seeking help for her-- so I've expanded on it a little and made some minor changes! Longest story short; her father died in a workplace accident before she was born, and her mother died during child birth, which is what lead to her being taken in by her uncle. As much as he loved her and was doing his best with her, he also kind of always resented her and blamed her for the death of his sister (her mom) even though it really was not her fault. Juvia sort of always recognized this, but also as a traumatized child, blamed herself, which lead to the intensifying of the rain around her as she got older and understood things better. That's when her uncle started looking for other water wizards and ice wizards to try and help stop the rain. He went out one day to meet with one, and he never came back. Juvia doesn't know if something happened or if the resentment finally built of too much and he just up and left, and that's something she's never going to get closure on. It definitely still plagues the back of her mind and affects the way she acts now, even if she thinks she's moved past that point in her life.

Woah

That was a lot, sorry akfbskd

I hope this was at least some of what you wanted to hear about them!!