NaLu analysis: Warmth and Comfort

 

Original post: March, 2021

This post is an impromptu analysis made in response to a recent conflict within the Fairy Tail fandom in which a GrayLu wanker, a fan translator, and a nalu stan made a mess that the anti-NaLu crowd and NaLu haters in general may use against the pairing

This anlysis seeks to disprove their arguments and defend NaLu, using the author’s works as well as logic and reason

One of the arguments that popped up more often is Lucy not feeling comfortable with her relationship with Natsu due to their more “fanservicey” interactions…

…this one is actually interesting; while Lucy indeed gets flustered because of these accidents, they’re not something that negatively impacts her relationship with Natsu, and they don’t shape her outlook on Natsu’s character. In fact, after Natsu tried covering Lucy’s breasts with his hands during the final act of the GMG arc, we get this scene:

Amidst a difficult battle, Lucy (with a dreamy expression on her face) reaffirms her faith in Natsu and his capability of pulling them through. She never claims Natsu is not reliable or trust-worthy, she believes in him even after the fanservice, and through their bond, he provides her with comfort and relief.

One perceptive reader once commented that if Lucy were to feel uncomfortable with Natsu and the moments they share, she would keep her distance instead to drawing closer to him. And the manga shows she was even reluctant to go on missions with someone else…

…because she felt bount to Natsu. To put it in other words, while the idea of teaming with someone else felt odd, teaming up with Natsu felt right to Lucy. Instead of feeling uncomfortable with Natsu, she feels attached to him.

Another argument popped up due to what a shallow shipper later called a “joke.” This time is the claim of Lucy seeing Natsu as something disgusting, with one the biggest argument being Natsu’s house. Lucy cleaned up the place, and before doing so, there were a few scenes that showcased why Lucy warmed up to Natsu’s place…

…the way Natsu took care of all the memories they made along the way.

Some probably didn’t realized it yet, most of these claims fall apart when you look at this relationship through Lucy’s perspective.

There were more arguments thrown around, some were based on alcohol intoxication, which leads to controversy for obvious reasons. Others were around not forgiving Natsu for the choices he made, even if Lucy doesn’t hold any grudges and still grows closer to Natsu. Almost like Natsu is neither worthy or deserving according to shippers

But, given how many NaLu fans actually back up these claims, I have to point out the hypocrisy of shippers once again.

NaLu has a lot of scenes focusing in “fanservice,” while Jerza and Gruvia also have similar moments, Natsu and Lucy get them more often. This fanservice sometimes is celebrated in the fandom, such as when Natsu suddenly felt “so good” when he had Lucy wrapped around him…

…but, thanks to the recent conflicts within the fandom, shippers are now using fanservice scenes against Natsu, after celebrating it not so long ago. So, here’s a reminder to those who forget how Mashima portrayed Natsu and Lucy multiple times in Twitter:

Still, we shouldn’t forget how the manga portrayed their chemistry and consistent bonding…

…which is based on the weight and the impact of the moments they share as well as meaningful gestures nurturing a potent relationship.