[Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Fairy Tail world, which is trademarked by Hiro Mashima.]

I reached a wall with a scene in The Darkness Within. I see what I want, but I'm having a hard time describing it (getting it) on paper. I decided I need another tale to distract me before I start pulling at my own hair. Something angst-filled, despite it being a favourite topic among Fairy Tail fanfiction writers. Shouldn't be too long, but it'll be a few chapters. I'm mostly trying to fill the spaces between chapters, providing a new perspective/twist to the existing story while remaining true to what happened in the manga. Maybe I'll succeed. Maybe I'll fail. But, it'll be a fun journey, yeah? .M.

"We leave something of ourselves behind when we leave a place. We stay there, even though we go away. And, there are things in us that we can find again only by going back there."

- Pascal Mercier [Night Train to Lisbon] -

.01. The Return

He meandered through the cobblestone streets, slowly and quietly as the citizens of the bustling town moved around him. Covered by the heavily tattered cloak dirtied from his travels, he was ignored easily by those too busy to notice one of their renowned wayward citizens had returned home. With a deep inhalation, he let the scent of Magnolia fill him. The aroma of town life filled his lungs – of fruit, of flowers, and of people. Here, he was home. His feet carried him through the streets as he made his way up the familiar hill. It had taken him longer to get to his destination, the maze of new streets grating at his memory.

Excitement bubbled with anticipation. In his mind, he replayed his return over and over, his imagination vivid enough to fool his senses for a few seconds. He would kick the heavy wooden double doors with his usual gusto, his flames dancing around him, and the noise would pause momentarily before he would be greeted by a resounding cheer. There would be the clattering of mugs, the sloshing of the bubbly libations that would release the distinct thin mist of hops into the air. He would shout out to the frightening redhead to fight him – unless she was eating dessert, no, most definitely not if she was eating dessert – and he would throw a resounding punch at the icy cold, most likely naked, pervy ass of a wizard. Beyond the scuffle that would no doubt be in the center of the vast hall, he would spot the golden hair of his partner and he would throw his muscular arm over her shoulder. She would stutter as pink would flood her cheeks, and she would grin radiantly in his direction. It would be as it always was, only better – because now he was stronger and truly capable of protecting those who were dear to him.

His legs carried him faster up the slope, his excitement fueling the sprint to the top. The energy vanished once he reached the very top of the hill, and he felt his stomach drop in a swirl of emotions he couldn't quite place. His lips thinned with confusion, and he felt his nails dig into his palm as he held his hands in tight fists by his sides.

Quietly, he stood in front of the rubble of stone and mortar in the cavernous pit that was once the towering guild he had called his home. Time had started to heal the destructive scene, with life flowering over and between the hard surfaces of the once proud building. Moss and grass grew over corners of stone and wildflowers littered between the cracks. His eyes glanced left and right as he hoped to find any evidence of the life he had once known. He walked closer towards the debris and stopped to read the ornately carved placard posted. "For Fairy Tail. May their adventures lead them home again," he muttered into the wind.

With a furrowed brow, his fists pulsed steadily, tightening and releasing as he tried to contain the surge of emotions that were raging through him. The hem of his cloak floated on the wind as he kept his feet planted in place as a torrent of confusion and denial began to swirl in his mind. A deep resounding ache began to brew within the pit of his stomach, pumping adrenaline into his limbs. He spun on the balls of his feet, his cloak wrapping around him as he turned abruptly and ran down the gentle slope of the hill. He maneuvered through the streets that were now a confusing labyrinth of familiar and unfamiliar streets as he made his way through town. He ran towards the canal – surely, it would still be there? – knowing that it would lead him to his old sanctuary. His legs carried him swiftly to his destination, and he stopped in front of the pleasant apartment building he had grown to call his second home before his departure. He looked up expectantly, pushing away worry of another disappointment. He crouched low before leaping high into the air to land on the window's ledge and pushed the window open with an excitement of memories still fresh in his mind. His ears prepared for the surprised shriek and his body jerked ready for the powerful kick.

The silence overwhelmed him.

He dropped unceremoniously off the window's ledge, his feet hitting the hard floor instead of the bed that was once located under the window. He walked deeper into the apartment and pulled on the memory of warmth and laughter that once filled the now empty flat. He took a deep breath, hoping to grab at the scent of honey and vanilla, but only the scent of emptiness filled his nostrils. It smelt of wood and carpet, of dust disturbed by his intrusion. Dust particles floated on the still air, lit by the sunshine that filtered through the window behind him. The fragrance of her had long disappeared and all his senses told him what he had already known as soon as he saw guild abandoned – that she had left long ago.

Sighing, he removed the cloak's hood and ran his fingers through the mess of pink hair on his head. He scratched at his skull, trying to remove the irritation that prickled just under his skin. He had returned to nothing. He dropped to the floor and crossed his legs and gripped his knees with his hands. He released a small puff of hot air as he tried to dissipate the gurgling discomfort in the pit of his stomach. They were no longer here. She wasn't here.

He let his eyes drift around the room, and his gaze fell to the open door that led to the bathroom. A small smirk appeared at the corner of his lips. The memory fresh in his mind – of steam billowing from the room as the fair haired celestial wizard clad in a simple towel, with her hair dripping over her shoulders, stepped into her apartment only to screech in indignant surprise at his presence on her soft pink bed. His eyes flickered to the kitchen, where their many meals replayed itself in his mind. He could almost see the empty dishes piled high on the table as she stood nearby, an expression of joy in her eyes despite the line of annoyance that graced her lips. Natsu felt his heart beat skip as the churning in his stomach made him uncomfortable in his own skin.

"Natsu?"

He heard his feline companion land softly next to him, and Natsu turned his head to peer at his friend. The blue of Happy's fur stood out brightly against the monotone colours of the empty apartment. "Guess no one's around, little buddy," he muttered, his tone void of the mirth he had felt before entering the city.

Happy remained quiet, choosing not to say anything about the empty apartment. He finally spoke after several minutes of silence. "Our house is still standing," he paused, hoping Natsu would respond to break his silence, but continued when he didn't. "She cleaned our house."

Natsu couldn't stop the smirk. "That weirdo."

He laughed. "Yeah, it's dusty. But, she definitely cleaned." Happy bit down into his lower lip as soon as he said those words, knowing that Natsu was thinking the same words that he himself was thinking but refused to say – she cleaned before she left. Even before leaving Magnolia, she had thought of them. He let the silence linger until he couldn't take it much longer, asking carefully, "What do you want to do?"

Shaking his head, he stood up and covered his head with the hood of his cloak again. "Might as well head out to Crocus for the Grand Magic Games," he told Happy. "Maybe we'll catch someone from the guild there, and they can tell us what happened."

The exceed released his wings and lifted himself up to perch on Natsu's shoulder before willing his white feathers to disappear. "Aye, sir," Happy responded with dull joy.

He moved back onto the window's ledge, turning his head only slightly to look at the empty space one last time before closing the window, and jumped down into the streets. Quietly, Natsu started to wander the streets that were once familiar to him. Time had been kind to Magnolia, and one wouldn't have known of the dark destruction that took place only a year prior had it not been for the signs of heavy construction that was still taking place. He stopped to take in the changes, noting businesses and homes that didn't exist before his departure. His nostrils filled with the smell of paper and baked goods, and he looked up to find himself standing in the middle of the street he no longer recognized, a new bookstore to his left and a small café to his right. The scent reminded him so easily of his partner, though it missed the warmth of her presence and the essence he could only deem to be uniquely her. The loneliness he felt during his wandering gripped him firmly, and Natsu finally found himself lost in the place he had always known as home.