Emotional support (NaLu edition)

Original post: February, 2018

Most potent relationships featured in many series, despite their differences in dynamics and characters, share some common traits.

One of these traits is a consistent and natural development, based on a chain of meaningful moments; other being constant stress on their relationship; the combination of these elements resulting in a solid chemistry. Some of you already know how this goes

The important thing to remember is that when writers play their cards right, such elements can help characters to organically develop an emotional attachment to their potential partners. Thus making their relationship, as well as their potential, far more compelling, believable, and attractive.

This is a significant part of what makes NaLu a potent relationship. Take a look at how Lucy little by little became attached to Natsu to the point they were incredibly close in a matter of months. In fact, she was the one who motivated Natsu to do what he never did before: form a team. It becomes clear Lucy was already having an effect on Natsu.

From the very beginning to the Phantom Lord arc Natsu also left an impression so strong that Lucy naturally displayed a remarkable faith/trust in him. Just by hearing his voice she threw herself from a building fully confident Natsu would be there to catch her.

When she was feeling down because of the trouble the guild was going through. Natsu himself kept reassuring Lucy she still had a place with them at Fairy Tail, this bit of emotional support kept building up an attachment to both the guild, as her new family, as well as to Natsu himself.

As they kept going through several adventures and spent more time together, the connection between them became so strong that supplemental material pointed them out at each other’s closest companion, something that still remains true to story and characters

Natsu already felt so close and comfortable around Lucy that he even slept in the same bed, much to her embarrassment of course

But this didn’t scare Lucy away, she still drew closer to Natsu to the point she didn’t even consider taking missions without him, as the “Watch Out for that Guy!” Omake revealed.

In this regard, some omakes played a significant role in putting their development into context. Take for example something we already analyzed: The “Rainbow Cherry Blossom” Omake

Lucy was unable to go and see the rainbow cherry blossoms because she was sick. Instead of enjoying the festival like the rest of his guildmates, Natsu decided to make a great gesture to fulfill her wish of seeing the rainbow cherry blossoms, by uprooting an entire tree just for her

He would later do something similar for Lucy during the 2nd movie. However, at this point, it’s easy to understand how Lucy became so attached to Natsu. This level of closeness it’s what allowed a couple of interesting moments to happen during the battle against Kain and later against Hades.

When they fought Kain and Natsu was temporarily immobilized, Lucy refused to run away from a superior fighter (Kain) and was willing to face death with a smile rather than abandoning Natsu because in her own words: 

“It’s More Fun When We’re Together”. She bravely stood her ground before an overwhelming foe, just because she got to be with Natsu…

Of course, they survived and the battle gets a comedic climax. Nearing the end of the arc, when a bigger team faced Hades and everything seemed dark and hopeless, Lucy’s first instinct was to hold onto Natsu. While scared she sought the person that always made things right for her.

Now, this moment worked for both characters involved for Lucy’s presence reignited his will to keep fighting, which would motivate Lucy and the rest of the team to stand up too. They gave each other the support they needed to go on

This is revisited during the 1st Fairy Tail movie: when Lucy is devastated at the loss of her new friend, the first person she goes to look for some relief and comfort is Natsu himself:

This is further expanded on during the GMG arc where we see how much of an impact they have on each other’s character

One thing that makes NaLu so attractive it’s the fact that all of this build-up makes each character faithful to one another. Actively providing emotional support, and growing closer because of such gestures, is part of the charm of a potent relationship

Something a lot different from what shippers promote: some of them even go as far as portraying Lucy as someone who would cheat on Natsu while being in a relationship with him; and/or Lucy going after Gray or Loke looking for pleasure. And one thing Lucy proved over and over again is that she can be loyal and faithful to someone she cares for very deeply

On the other, there are those who claimed that Natsu wouldn’t care if cheated on him. But according to the manga, he would care. Let us recall the special “The Day of the Fateful Encounter”, even though it was ultimately retconned the story and the portrayal of the characters all come from Mashima

Cana told Lucy she would have a fateful encounter. During the day Lucy meets a boy who later invited her to dinner. Natsu and Happy were preparing a special surprise for her in their next job so when Lucy refuses to go Natsu gets depressed. When Mirajane told Lucy of Natsu/Happy plans she decides to go with them rather than having a dinner with a guy she just met:

The change in Natsu’s expression (at the prospect of Lucy choosing him over that unknown “appointment”) and Lucy’s joy at realizing Natsu was her fateful encounter are the highlights of the ending

So the emotional development in NaLu, as well as their chemistry, prove that they would be faithful to each other and supportive of one another no matter what