Time has a funny way of telling a girl she's out. After being sucked into Edolas, my life changed. It was truly bittersweet. My sister and brother, and everyone else in the guild, were different. I guess I was too kind. Now I think back…I really shouldn't have stayed. I should have told them the truth, which would have broken their heart. But the moment I walked into the guild, after so much tears shed for me, so much hugs given to me, and so many assurances that they'll always watch over me from then on…I was wavered and became weak with compassion. At first, I thought, just one more day…then I'll tell them the truth and go home.
One day turned into two.
Then a whole week.
Before I knew it, six years had passed in the blink of an eye.
My memories of Erza, Gray, Cana and many other friends in my old guild became rusted slightly. What was the shape of Erza's special sword? How many times did Gray show up butt-naked in front of me? Did Cana really drink eleven gallons of beer on New Year's Eve? But however confused, scared or rusty my memories became…there was one…no. Two. People I never forgot. Those two people were always kept in a special corner of my heart that age would never reach. A place where time never tarnished, and the tides of passed-by years never swept away. They were Natsu and Happy. The thought of the "real", not Edolas copyright version of them brought tears at night to my sleepless eyes. How many times had I paced around my room, ripping at my hair in debate with whether I should return or not to Natsu and everyone?
But, as time passed, I learnt to love my new, but familiar to the eye, guild mates. I became attached to them. I knew that I had dug a hole too deep for me to climb back out. I knew that I couldn't return anymore to my old friends. I knew I was too weak to admit the truth to Mira-nee and Elfman. Their eyes had flooded with tears when they saw me…and when they did, what I saw in their eyes were genuine relief and affection that I had somehow survived a "fall". For once, Mira-nee hugged me openly and kissed my forehead.
And so, I made the best of it.
Even though I caught myself several times asking where Happy was, because he didn't exist in Edolas.
Imagine how I felt when they reappeared in front of my eyes six years later, and took me back. Back to the Erza, Gray, Cana, and Levy I knew. Truthfully, I was sad. I had adapted to the life of Edolas. I enjoyed seeing Gray covered up and Levy fighting with Lucy. These were but minor things, compared to what I had in store for me next.
That after six years of dreaming and imagining me and Natsu reuniting again…After wondering in my bed at night what I would first say to him…after dreaming of how he would hold me tightly and tell me how worried he was…Instead…
I see him laughing and having fun a stunning blonde with curves I never knew could be developed on a human being.