User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 445: The Ugly Fairy, Review./@comment-24228963-20150718064255/@comment-9595671-20150718185239

I agree, the story makes it seem as both Lucy and Natsu are the protagonist, or just Lucy with Natsu as a decoy protagonist that's not killed off early to fool us but as a distraction to Lucy being the real protagonist.

It wouldn't surprise me if the final fight ends up like this, it seems more interesting that facing Acnologia because at this point it seems like Acnologia's set as the final boss. So a surprise like this is something I'd find interesting.

And I do think while Happy does have a high chance, it seems like Lucy and Natsu's bond has just kept growing and most of us are pretty sure they'll end up together. By then maybe Lucy might reveal she loves him and that ends up doing what Happy can't to make his human side prevail.