Hello everyone, and welcome to my story! And as cliché as it is, it is another one of those 'Lucy-ran-away-to-get-stronger' stories. Yeah, sorry about that. But anyways, to make a few things clear, the story picks up after they return from Tenrou Island and it completely ignores the 'Key of the Starry Sky' arc and so on.

So yeah, enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its characters, settings, or plots.

'W...Where am I?'

The streets and buildings of Magnolia were all painted a dull grey, as if all life and happiness had been sucked dry from them. There were no people around on the streets, and all the doors seemed to be shut tight, as well as all windows...The sky itself was also void of all color, and the sun that was supposed to be shining down with warmth seemed to have left me feeling completely cold.

I wondered around aimlessly, hugging myself as I wondered around the lonely streets. I didn't dare to speak out, feeling as if my voice had gone out of my body as well. I continued to walk down the lonely streets, wondered what had happened, when in the distance, I saw a large man who wore a cape that covered his head and most of his body.

"Hello?" I wanted to call out to him, but my voice never came out. Shaking my head, I began to job towards him, hoping to reach him before he decides to walk off. As I did, I noticed that he wasn't alone, and in fact, he seemed to be in a lively conversation. As I drew closer, I saw the person who he was talking with. I came to a stop about three yards away from them, and I gasped. The man in the cape seemed to be shaking his head, and the person in front of him had her lips in a tight frown.

"I lost everything," said the man, "but I found a guild that can help me get back on my feet. All I need is a bit of money, maybe a hundred thousand jewels..."

The girl pursed her lips and folded her arms over her overly-developed chest, "I don't have that kind of money."

The man laughed heartily, looking at the girl as if she were joking. However, her simply arched eyebrow made his laugher come to an end. He seemed to straighten his back, and I flinched as the next words came out of his mouth, "Don't be ridiculous. You are a Heartfilia! The heiress to my corporation! What do you mean you have that kind of money?"

"Exactly what I said!" the girl replied coldly, her eyes shining bright, "I am broke! And even if I did have money, why would I give it to you? What have you done in my life to deserve my help? Ever since Mom died, all you've done was ignore me, yell at me to leave you alone, and neglect me! Now, you expect me to give you money? Is that the only reason why you're here?"

'No... Please stop!' I tried to say, seeing the other girl shake in rage as the older man took a step back in shock. I tried to step forward, but my feel felt like cement, and I could barely lift a foot.

The man straightened his back, his voice calm, but cool like steel, "I came to see you of course, but I expected something in return."

I felt tears stream down my face as I reached my hand out, trying to grab the girl's hand as she rose it to her side, saying as that girl's own tears fell, "Remember what I told you the last time we met? I don't want anything to do with wealth or fortune... that's brought me nothing but heartache. Now, I don't want to ever see you again. Leave!"

The man raised his hand to say something else, but the girl yelled, "Leave!"

I desperately fought to say something, but I couldn't move. Suddenly, my surrounding area seemed to dim and disappear, bringing forth a new place, one I've never seen.

It was a small room, colored white with a single window on the far end of the left all. A candle shone on the opposite corner of the window, and next to the candle there laid a bed. On that bed laid a seemingly older man. His cheeks and eyes were sunken, and his skin was a deathly pale. Every once in a while he would tremble, as if wanting to cough, but he didn't have the strength to.

He drew in a ragged breath as he muttered, "Seven years... Seven years..."

More tears fell rolled down my cheek as I stood next to the bed where that old man laid. His hair was a dull blond-like the color of withering hay. His hair fell down to his chest, along with his beard. As I looked down on this old man, he seemed to have tears in his eyes.

Shakily, I lifted my hand and reached out to grab his, but before I could reach it, he coughed, making me pull back in shock. More tears rolled down my cheeks as I saw this old man fall into a coughing fit, pain etched in his face as he couldn't even lift his hands to cover his mouth. After he had finished, he opened his eyes, tears also rolling down his sunken cheeks, "I... couldn't see...you again... But...I'll always...love you...Lucy..."

With that, he closed his eyes and let out a ragged breath, and he moved no more. I stared at that lifeless body in shock, bringing my hands up to my mouth. I felt like I was hyperventilating, as if nothing had existed except this man and myself.

"No... No! Papa! Papa!"

"Papa!"

With that scream, Lucy shot up from her bed, reaching out in front of her. She shook uncontrollably as tears streamed down her face. Bringing her hands to her eyes, Lucy mumbled to herself, "It's okay... It's okay... It was just a dream..."

After a couple of minutes, Lucy managed stop her shaking and stop the tears that were on her cheeks. Blinking away any remainder of tears that tried to escape her eyes, Lucy sighed, "It's been a month and that dream still haunts me. Then again, maybe I deserve it."

Resisting the urge to lie down, Lucy forced herself up and stretched. The usual shine that used to be in Lucy's eyes weren't there anymore as Lucy got up from her bed, running and hand through her blond hair. Taking in a deep breath, the young Celestial Wizard looked at her desk, where a single, rectangular present that was still wrapped and a letter still sat on her desk. The last items she received from her father, who had passed away two months earlier. Looking at the item brought tears to Lucy's eyes, but she couldn't bring herself to put it away. It was a reminder that, in the end of the day, Lucy's father did care about her-despite Lucy being cold the last time they saw each other.

Looking away from the present, Lucy patted her cheeks sharply, "I can't just stand here forever. I have to get to the guild soon. Maybe today could be the day that I can actually enjoy myself there..."

Going to her bedpost, Lucy grabbed her belt that held her Celestial Keys, and from there, she pulled out a Silver Key. Lifting it over her head, Lucy called out, "Gate of the Canis Minor! I open thee! Nikora!"

A bright flash of light enveloped the room, and when the light faded, what stood in front of Lucy was a snowman-looking Celestial Spirit who was shaking nervously. Smiling softly, Lucy knelt down and opened her arms, to which the small Spirit ran to while saying, "Puu-puun!"

Enveloping the small Spirit in a hug, Lucy replied, "It's nice to see you too Plue."

Releasing Plue, Lucy stood up and began to go around her room, picking up different items as she said, "I'm going to take a bath so that we can go to the guild later. I know you haven't seen Happy in a really long time, so I think it would be nice for you two to catch up. But as I take a bath, can you make my bed for me please? I promise I won't take long!"

"Puu-puun-puuun!" Plue replied, lifting its tiny left hand and raising it in the air. Lucy giggled, "That's the spirit! I'll be right out!"

With that said Lucy entered her bathroom and began to organize her items on the sink. Going to the tub, she began to fill it with warm water, and soon the bathroom began to steam up, slightly fogging up Lucy's mirror. As Lucy worked to get the bath water just right, she carelessly moved her left arm and knocked over some bottles into the bath.

"Agh!" Lucy yelled as she thursted her arms to grab the bottles, but some of their contents were already in the bath water. Lucy tsked as she read the names of the bottles, "Hmmm... Well, both of them are just bath ointments. They do carry some magic components, but nothing too strong. Plus, it's been seven years. Maybe the magic effects died down already..."

Shrugging, Lucy placed the bottles away and began to strip herself from her pajamas and entered the bath. Closing her eyes, Lucy allowed herself to relax into the water, not noticing the bubbled giving off a slightly blue glimmer. Opening her eyes, Lucy looked to the ceiling, "Seven years... It's been that long that we were trapped. Acnologia..."

Lucy shuddered as memories flashed before her eyes. 'The pitch-black dragon soaring over their heads, chasing them as they ran across the island…Everybody's determination to fight it…The Master trying to hold it at bay…Everybody holding hands as the dragon unleashed it's attack, and Mavis, the first Master, using her incredible magic and great flashes of light and color. Then, there was nothing.'

Shaking her head, Lucy murmured, "It's been hard to adjust... I just can't believe how much everything has changed... How much people look down at Fairy Tail now. How weak they see us as."

Lucy clenched her fists under the soapy water, a sorrowful expression on her face, "Yet... Everybody in that guild is strong…Everybody... except me."

Bowing her head and allowing her bangs to cover her eyes, Lucy began to remember all the times where she felt like she had contributed nothing to help save the day. Every battle seemed to flash before Lucy's eyes, every single adventure she had gone through with her team, and in every memory, Lucy would notice just how weak she is to the rest of them. She didn't have the physical strengths of her partners, nor their magical capacity. In fact, it seems like all Lucy is useful for is getting in the way.

Forcefully shaking her head out of those depressing thoughts, Lucy closed, "But... even with all my mistakes, I'm getting stronger, right? The guild... Natsu... they promise to always be a family to me, no matter what! So, why am I worrying?"

Even as those words left Lucy's lips, she didn't feel like she completely believed them. Shrugging to herself, Lucy took in a deep breath and placed her head under the water. After about a good fifteen minutes and trying to make herself feel relaxed, Lucy stretched her arms and got up, reaching for her towel. Quickly drying herself and wrapping the white garment around her chest, opened the door to her bedroom and walked in.

She saw that Plue had also just finished making her bed, and the small Spirit jumped when he had heard the door open. Lucy smiled as the Spirit looked at her, but her smile faded as she watched Plue jump in shock, lifting both of its hands in the air. "What's wrong, Plue?"

"Puuun-puuuun! Puuun-puuuun!" Plue replied urgently, still jumping in shock.

"W-What?" Lucy watched as the small Spirit jumped off the bed and ran to the full body mirror in front of the bedroom door. Plue continued to jump while using one hand to beckon Lucy to the mirror. Hesitantly, Lucy walked towards the mirror and gazed at it. What she saw was just the towel wrapped around her figure.

'I-I'm... invisible?' Lucy thought to herself in shock. Then, she let out an indignant scream.

And that about does it for the first chapter! I'm gonna be truthful and say it now, but the beginning of this story is gonna be a bit slow, but it'll pick up in the few chapters to come.

Anyways, I'll probably be posting another chapter next week. I'll see you all then!

~Anna