"Hey papa, look what I found!" Eight-year old me shouted, carrying a small, blue orb in my hands. "Congratulations, Lucy, you found a soul!" A tall pitch-black figure wearing a skull mask exclaimed, clapping his giant, white gloved hands. "How come it's not in it's body?" I asked, stroking the soul in my hand gently. "I'm afraid that it has passed away, Lucy. But don't worry, I can send it to where the other souls go!" The figure said. He took the soul from me, and it disappeared. Mama came out into the garden, holding a toddler in her arms. He had black hair with three white stripes on the left side, and bright golden eyes. "Momma, I found a soul and Papa helped it move on!" I cheered, running up to her excitedly. "That sounds wonderful!" Mama said, placing the toddler in the grass. He slowly walked towards me, arms out. "Luce! Luce!" He shouted, tripping and falling into my arms. "Mama did you hear that? Kid said my name!" I cheered. Mama gave me a smile, but I could tell that she was sad. "Mama, what's wrong?" I asked. Mama was about to answer, but then suddenly...
Lucy's POV
"Miss, the train has reached Magnolia station." A woman said. I stood up and dusted off my skirt. "Thank you!" I called as I ran out off the train, pulling my suitcase behind me. I had just gotten back from a one-week mission, without Team Natsu. I have been going on long solo missions for the past year. Why? Because two months after the guild was reformed everyone had been ignoring me, all except for Juvia, Wendy, Gajeel, Levy, Mira, Master and the exceeds. Team Shadow Gear had offered me a spot, but I said no, believing that Team Natsu just needed some time. But after awhile it became painfully obvious that Lisanna had taken my place. So I just kept going on solo missions. My last mission Mavis had given to me herself, saying that I had to report to Master Makarov's office as soon as I got back. And so here I am, standing outside of his office, knocking gently on the wooden door. "Come in." I entered slowly, not sure what would happen next. Master was sitting at his desk, writing out what I can only assume was another apology. "I'm back from the mission First asked me to take." I stated. "Which mission?" Master asked curiously. I handed him the request. His eyes seemed to widen, the relax. "And you went on your own? Without Team Natsu?" He asked. I cringed, but then replied. "Yes. Is there something wrong?" I asked. "No, nothing's wrong. It's just that this is the missing S-class mission. It was supposed to take three months to complete, and you finished in one week." My eyes widened. "Why would Mavis send me on an S-class mission, telling me to report to you after I got back?" I asked. "Well, since we never chose an S-class wizard for the last trails, I took it upon myself to select one." Mavis cheered, appearing behind me. "But why me? Technically I wasn't even chosen for the S-class trails, I was Cana's partner." I said. "While that may be true, Cana isn't the one who just came back from an S-class mission by herself, completing it in a week and coming back without any major injuries, is she?" Master asked. I didn't know how to respond. "Lucy Heartfilia, from this day forward, you are officially an S-class wizard!" Mavis cheered, throwing her arms in the air. "Please hold out your hand." Master instructed. I held out my right hand. Master placed a small orb in my hand. A magic circle appeared beneath me, another one under the orb in my hand. It changed into a golden key, the handle shaped as the Fairy Tail guild mark. In the center there where two large S's. "What is it?" I asked, carefully examining it. "This is a special orb that determines a wizard's rank as an S-class wizard. Like Guildarts, you have an SS-class rank. It will disappear and reappear at the owners will. It is impossible to lose or break. Congratulations Lucy." Master said. "Thank you!" I cheered, locking Master in a death hug. A sudden surge of immense pain shot through my body, causing me to drop to the floor clutching my stomach.
Makarov's POV
Lucy dropped to the ground clutching her stomach in pain. For a moment her eyes went from their cheerful, bright gold color to an emotionless, blood red. "Lucy, what's wrong?!" I asked in panic. The pained look disappeared, and the shaking stopped. She stood up, looking unfazed, and walked towards the door. "I'm fine. Just a little tired from the mission is all." Lucy said, her head turned away leaving me unable to read her expression.
Lucy's POV
As I walked through the guild hall, passing by my friends made my body scream in pain, but I chose to ignore it. After all, I'm probably just tired, right? "Hey bunny girl, how was the mission?" Gajeel asked, leaning against a post with his usual grin planted on his face. "It was okay. I'm a little tired, so I'm gonna head home. See ya later!" I called as I dashed out the door, leaving a confused Gajeel behind. When I got home I took a shower, and dropped in my bed, not caring if I was positioned properly. I was quick to doze off, leading to yet another strange dream...
"Mama, where's Kid and Papa?" I asked, tugging on her skirt. Mama pulled me into her arms, crying. "I'm sorry Lucy dear, but Papa and Kid aren't with us anymore!" She said, crying even harder. "But why not? Aren't they coming back? Why are you crying, Mama?" I pried, looking up at her. "Remember when Papa told you that he helps souls pass on? Well, Papa and Kid's souls have passed on too." Mama explained. "Mama, where did their souls go?" I asked, tears of my own forming in my eyes, threatening to fall. Mama didn't answer, instead she just continued to cry with me, rocking me back and forth.
"Lucy dear, I have something important to tell you." Mama said. I had been in the garden, watching the camellia blossoms lose their petals. "Do you remember that nice man named Jude?" Mama asked. "Yes, why? Is he coming to visit again?" I asked, picking a camellia and giving it to Mama. "Actually, Jude has asked me to marry him. He'd like to play with you. Is that okay?" Mama asked, putting the camellia in my hair. I took Mama's hand and led her inside, leaving the other camellias to silently fall alone.
"Jude, Jude! Will you play with me, please?" I asked. "Of course Lucy. And call me Papa." He said. "Okay, Papa! Let's go!" I cheered. Mama joined us too, and together we played ball.
Mama and I had gone on a long trip to a place Mama said was called a Celestial Temple. There we could see the stars. Mama said that ever one hundred years a special spirit came down to Earthland, granting the wizard who finds them one wish. "What is it you wish for, Layla Heartfilia?" The spirit asked. "I wish, that my daughter and I, along with everyone who ever knew them, would forget everything about the Grim Reaper Lord Death and our son, Death the Kid. In place of Lord Death will be Jude Heartfilia, making him remembered as Lucy Heartfilia's birth father." Mama said. "Very well. Layla Heartfilia, from this day forward your first and only husband. Lucy Heartfilia, from this day forward, you are the first and only child of Layla and Jude Heartfilia." The spirit said, a bright light blinding us.
Three Weeks Later, Natsu's POV
"Hey guys, why don't we go on a job?" I called out, catching the attention of the rest of the team. "Yeah! Why don't we bring Lushie?" Happy suggested. "But why, we've got Lisanna!" I said. Happy however had already flown up to the second floor, picked Lucy up, and dropped her down in front of us. "Happy, we don't need a weakling like her coming with us. Besides, she's not even on the team." Gray pointed out, and for once, I agree with the stripper. Erza nodded. "Happy, I know you want me to go on a job with you, but I already have a mission. I promise to take you on a super special S-class job as soon as I get back, okay?" Lucy said. "And how are you gonna do that? You aren't even an S-class wizard!" I said. I seemed to have hit a mark on Lucy, because she sent me a glare. "For your information, I am an S-class wizard. And for another thing, whether or not Happy wants to go on a job with me does not concern you, even if you did raise him!" Lucy yelled. "Is that so? Then why don't you show us your seal?" Erza asked, clearly annoyed. "Gladly." Lucy said. She held out her right hand, a magic circle appearing above her guild mark. A golden key with the Fairy Tail guild mark and two S's appeared, landing in her palm. Erza, Gray and Lisanna's eyes widened, while Lucy and Happy just smirked. "How can you possibly be a SS-rank wizard?! We haven't had a trail since the Tenrou incident, let alone anyone actually passing!" Erza fumed. "As it turns out, a guild master can choose a candidate of their own and send them on an S-class mission. And if you complete the mission the master can decide if you've passed. And that's exactly what I did." Lucy said. "But when?" I asked. "If you had decided to stop ignoring the person you called your 'best friend' and 'team member' for the past year, you would have noticed that three weeks ago! You would have also noticed how many back-to-back solo missions I've been going on as well! But I guess I just don't matter anymore, do I? Once you find the original, a replacement just doesn't matter, does it? I hope that I played the part as Lisanna's replacement well enough for your standards, because I honestly can't see any other reason for the guild to just forget about me like a broken sword in the back of Erza's re-quip! No wait, I'm sure the sword gets better treatment." Lucy shouted, storming out the doors. The entire guild was listening to the argument, and every single person had a guilty look on their face. Including Laxus and the Thunder Legion. Lucy was right. We haven't even talked to her since the guild reformed, and I definitely haven't been treating her like the best friend I claimed her to be. "You know how when we heard about how Lucy was treated back when she lived with her dad, and how you treated him like an enemy? Well, you all, minus Wendy, Gajeel, Levy, Mira, Juvia, Carla, Pantherlily and the masters have been acting the same way." Happy said as he flew after her. His words sunk in deep. Like her father did.