I need a hero

THIN CITIES NO. 3 - Brittle Beginnings, Cerulean Ends

this is, honest to god, one of the funniest ads ive seen in a long time.

Okay so I feel like a lot of people in the Fairy Tail fandom are feeling like Natsu and Lucy have barely had any progress in 100 years quest, let alone barely any moments together and that at this point it wouldn’t “make sense” to put them together. I’ve even seen people say Mashima would really have conjure something good up for it to make sense but here’s why I disagree…

Let’s start here:

Natsu’s Jealousy

I actually love that this is becoming clear as daylight now in 100 years quest 😂

I know there’s people that felt that Natsu had jealousy moments in the original Fairy Tail like with Dan or other small situations but personally for me, there was never any clarity with those situations that he was actually bothered or jealous. But here it’s extremely obvious!

Natsu gets so angry when Elefseria gets in between Lucy’s chest, even trying to get him out.

The idea of Lucy being “tortured” or seen in that way by others literally pisses him off so bad it sends him off to save Lucy and Happy himself. Also at this point, everyone in FT is so aware of how protective Natsu is of Lucy, that Sting and Minerva are getting a kick out of making up scenarios just to get a reaction out of Natsu 😭😭😭 He doesn’t even know he’s getting teased lol

And last but not least Natsu fighting off (or should I say burning off) a group of guys trying to hit on Lucy????? Hello????? This man does NOT want to see her with anyone else unless it’s him please… from what I recall there’s been plenty of people that have flirted with Lucy in the original series and I don’t remember it bothering him like it does now!

We NEVER got super clear moments where it was implied that he was protective and jealous in this way.

I love seeing this side of Natsu 😂

Mutual Attraction

That look in Lucy’s eyes (pic in the top right corner) is always going to be dead giveaway on how she feels about Natsu, as we’ve seen that sparkle in her eyes many times in the original Fairy Tail.

I believe in the original Fairy Tail there’s been plenty of moments where it was obvious that both Natsu and Lucy find each other physically attractive, but as I’ve said I feel like in 100 years quest it’s becoming more obvious. And more so on Natsu’s part.

It’s more clear that Natsu’s growing more of a desire to have a romantic/sexual connection with Lucy instead of just a friendly one. (him realizing it is a whole other thing)

I mean like what is this 😭 He doesn’t even trip out at the idea of him and Lucy having kids or being together in other universes??? (oh don’t you worry I will be discussing that as well)

Oh Natsu…what I would give to know what goes through your mind or what your thought process is because why are you so cool and collected about this lol.

Maybe the theories of him thinking him and Lucy are already together are true… who knows.

Lucy’s Denial & Acceptance: I won’t say I’m in love

Okay let’s start with the left slide. As we’ve established, at this point every character in Fairy Tail is well aware that there’s something more between Lucy and Natsu, everyone just loves teasing them and Natsu and Lucy don’t even deny it anymore! Y’all remember the early days when they would😂

As you can see though, Lucy shifts the conversation a bit, not denying that she has feelings for Natsu, but more so that she feels sorry for the other girl because Natsu’s not interested in romance…

Because Natsu has not flat out made a love confession, and she truly believes he doesn’t view her in that way or is even interested in those things, it’s obvious to me that she’s just kinda pushes her feelings to the side and accepts that’s just how things are. (I also very much believe she’s afraid of looking “dumb” and being rejected, hence in the earlier og Fairy Tail chapters when she thought Natsu was going to ask her on a date and she got dressed up for nothing lol)

Which side tangent but omg these 2 are such dummies together because Lucy, anytime Natsu gets too close to her, close to her face, and even that one time he tried kissing her, she literally freaks the f out 😭

Like miss girl you are making him think you aren’t interested either!!!

Now for the second slide, I’m actually surprised that I didn’t find many people talking about or maybe I’m the only one that perceived it as a Nalu moment ??? Guys hello she’s literally reminiscing on her and Natsu’s last moment in her apartment before the quest and she’s blushing. I thought it was an interesting choice that Mashima decided to include that, but to me it shows that that moment was a big deal to Lucy, the hug and what Natsu said about them being together forever from here on out… AND

Let’s not forget that Natsu was going to tell her something important and then decided nevermind…

What could it be and will we get to find out?

Together in Different Universes

So the first alternate Fairy tail universe that Team Natsu come across on 100 year quest is “Fairy Nail” (right slide) where those versions of Natsu and Lucy are actively hooking up at the guild and perhaps into some kinky foreplay too.

Lucy catches them in the act and gets incredibly embarrassed and even has a hard time facing Natsu😂

What I find interesting is what Fairy Nails Erza says afterward

“ That’s one aspect of love”

Then later on in the chapters, Team Natsu find themselves in Edolas again, where Lucy finds out Edolas Natsu and Lucy got married and had a child. She gets extremely flustered, and when she finds herself alone with Edolas Lucy, she just straight up asks her how her and Natsu ended up together. girl why do you wana know huh. Edolas Lucy basically encourages and gives Lucy hope that her and her Natsu will figure it out…

Hello guys Mashima is dropping the hints all throughout the series!!! (in my opinion lol)

The fact the Lucy was curious and bold enough to ask! It’s going to get to a point where neither of them can deny what is happening between them and I think her being brave enough to ask how they got together was something to make note of.

Lucy’s always on Natsu’s Mind

This isn’t a new development at all, just showing you all that Natsu STAYS thinking about Lucy, even considers her advice, and has her parents (that he never got to meet) in his heart??? crying

In Conclusion

I would say that 100 years quest has brought us more clarity on how they are both viewing eachother, and that’s the part I think people are missing.

There is no longer denying that Natsu’s jealous of the idea of someone else being with Lucy.

There is no denying the mutual physical attraction between the two.

There is no denying that every other character is seeing the love that they are dense to see or recognize themselves.

Mashima HAS been building their development in this series.

And let’s say that even after reading all this you feel like this still isn’t enough, or your comparing it to gruvia or other ships in the 100 years quest…

You guys, all of Lucy and Natsu’s development IS in the original series. We literally watched them became strangers, to friends, to BEST FRIENDS and now there is something brewing in the air that Lucy is to afraid to confront and we aren’t even sure if Natsu is AWARE of what his actions imply but WE (the audience and all characters of FT) know that they both feel the same way about eachother, it literally is just a matter of saying it out loud now.

I’d argue that they don’t even need more “development” they just need to CONFESS 😭

You guys also have to remember that Mashima is the one writing this, this is SHONEN MANGA, they are both the MAIN characters, of course it’s going to be dragged on lol

That all being said, would I expect some sort of realization between the two/ love confession, or a kiss after all this… yes BUT as I said Hiro Mashima is the one writing this. So to all my fellow nalu lovers, I say this with all the love in my heart… let’s hold out hope but manage our expectations 😭❤️

ANYWAYS THAT IS ALL, TO MY NALU SHIPPERS, I FEEL LIKE I KINDA GAVE YOU HOPE WITH THIS POST BUT I ALSO WANTED TO KEEP IT REAL TOWARDS THE END BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW HOW MASHIMA IS LOL

BUT ALL IN ALL, WHETHER WE GET A KISS/CONFESSION OR NONE AT ALL,

THERE IS NO DENYING THEIR EVOLUTION AS A PAIRING IN THIS SERIES.

twitter dump 5 (nsfw warning under the cut!) a couple of these are forgotten favorites of mine