#ft spoilers

At first, I was hoping that Lucy would catch up with Natsu and go with him - for both their sakes; Natsu needs the emotional support and Lucy has had to say goodbye to too many people - but now that I think about it, I think it’s better for her to stay behind.

1. He’s going to be living very roughly. When they’re preparing to leave, Happy points out they don’t have much to leave with, and Natsu says they’ll figure something out. I’m sure that Lucy could handle it (considering that she traveled on her own for a while before joining the guild), but I don’t think Natsu wants to bring her along when he’s not sure there’ll always be something to eat or shelter to sleep in.

2. As Yaushie said in this post:

“After all that, Natsu must be feeling pretty useless and until he is satisfied with himself or his abilities, he will continue to feel useless. His reasoning for leaving is sound and understandable. Bringing Lucy when he feels like he can’t protect anyone, let alone her, who is PRECIOUS to him, makes much less sense.”

3. Lucy has a home that she’s has to continue paying for. The landlord lady was nice already once and it wouldn’t be fair to expect her to hold the apartment for her. Natsu knows she wouldn’t want to get behind on her payments and lose the place she’s grown emotionally attached to. It’s not so easy to just pick up and leave for a long time like that when you have obligations/bills/etc like that.

4. Other people in the guild need Lucy now. Like, Wendy. She’s very close to Lucy and has a sisterly relationship with her. With all that she just went through, she really needs Lucy’s love and compassion. And, Erza, too. Lucy is her best female friend and confidant. With Natsu, Happy, and Gray gone, it’s just Lucy and Erza left from their team there.

5. Lucy is probably in the position to do more staying behind. The best thing Natsu can do right now for everyone is get stronger. But, Lucy, has other strengths she can put to use. She can help take care of the other guildies. Maybe she can team up with Levy and research Acnologia.  Perhaps she’ll form a goal of her own, such as finding out more about her mom’s death and/or “The One Magic." If she went with Natsu, she’d be limited in what she could do.

As to the method of how he broke the news, I wished he’d told her in person, too. But, leaving someone is really hard. We already know that Natsu has a hard time sharing his feelings and is reserved. He doesn’t like people to see him cry. And, he doesn’t like to see people cry. Especially Lucy. So, this was the easiest way to break it to her. I understand this.

Plus, now that I think about it, as someone who has also been told goodbye in a letter (well, she also told me goodbye in person and gave me a hug, so it’s not quite the same), it’s nice to have something physical like a letter to hold onto. To look back at and read when you’re particularly feeling their absence.

She’s upset now, but Lucy is strong. Natsu knows this. I think once she calms down she’ll understand and put herself into taking care of everyone while waiting for him to come back. After all, it’s not actually "goodbye”, but “See ya.”

She’ll see him again in a year or so…right Mashima? RIGHT!?

Mavis regains her consciousness, and wearing clothes she created with her magic (illusion) she walks towards the tavern (I assume she’s heading for the guild).
-Zeref is there, and he looks puzzled

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- Natsu carries Lucy on his back (piggy-backstyle)
- In their location, there are different trees as well as August and Brandish. August also thinks that Brandish is not a war criminal.

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- Gray is in a wasteland where he is looking after Erza.
-Juvia and Wendy are looking for Gray and Erza but they can’t find them. Wendy calls out, but Gray doesn’t hear her voice.

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- The guild members who were in the tavern (guild) are now closer to the north and its reinforcements, with enemy troops in the immediate vicinity.
- Irene’s purpose for using her magic was to make things quicker for Zeref by reducing the distance he had to travel (relocating parts of the land elsewhere).
- In the confusion, Gajeel meets Zera…

The battlefield has turned into chaos, now a light to illuminate the way is…

Chapter 491: Mother and Child