Hiya! So, it's been a while. I wrote this story like a year ago and now, oh boy, well here we are! I hope you enjoy the story! Reviews would be nice! Well, here we go!

Lucy Heartfilia had always loved books.

She considered herself a book-lover and quite knowledgeable in many different genres. She wasn't an expert but she appreciated all styles and types of books that she read. It didn't hurt that she also wanted to be an author.

Lucy was protective of her books; knowing which ones meant what to her. The ones that made her cry, or made her laugh hysterically. Every piece of literature she had was somehow important. She never really hated any book. Sure, there were some that she didn't care all that much about, but never once did she ever really find a book that made her say, "I hate this book."

Never once in her life had she said that.

But as she stood in her room, staring at her pile of books, she felt something horrible. She couldn't figure out was wrong with her.

"So many books."

"You're such a weirdo, Lucy."

"Aww! C'mon, let me read that story you're writing!"

"Don't be so mean, Luce! It's kinda interesting."

Lucy screamed. Her body moved on its own. She grabbed her precious books and threw them into a pile. She started tearing the pages out of them and then moved toward the kitchen. She grabbed a lighter that sat on the counter, ran back to the pile and tossed the lighter into it. Fire shot every which way; consuming every book she had ever read, owned, and loved.

She threw in the remains of any book in her collection.

"I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!"

She watched the fire burn brightly before something returned her to her senses. Lucy ran to the bathroom and filled a tub of water. She ungracefully tossed the water on the fire, effectively stopping it from spreading. But the damage had been done.

The tub landed with a thud; Lucy collapsed to the floor along with it. Then the sobbing began.

Large, fat tears streamed down her cheeks. An ugly, gross sound escaped her mouth. She reached out to the pile of ashes. Her outstretched hand lightly touched the top of the pile, scooping up a tiny bit on the tip of her finger.

Once again, Lucy screamed. It was strangled and full of pain. Anger directed toward herself now. The blonde's hands flew up to her hair; pulling frustratingly on it. Pain distracted her for a moment. Heavily panting, Lucy looked at what was left of her room and her books. There were scorch marks on the walls and it seemed as if the flames had licked her curtains and part of her bed.

Flames that were nothing like his. Scolding hot rather than being warm and friendly. Flames that destroyed everything rather than the ones that started a playful fight. They weren't his flames.

And she hated that.

"You have to do it, Lucy."

She didn't want to do it.

"If you burn it, it's all over."

She didn't want to remember the look in his eyes as he said that.

"You have to let me fight him. You need to let me fight him."

The lonely and sad look he had…

"I'm doing this for Fairy Tail."

The slight bit of regret in his voice…

"I'm doing this for you, Lucy."

He didn't want to do this.

"Trust me, Luce. You have to let me go."

And in the end, she did.

Because even though Lucy was trying to buy time, trying to find a way to save him, she couldn't.

She would have all the time in the world now but he wouldn't. It was that damn book's fault. If it hadn't connected the lives of them, he would still be here.

"Don't cry, Lucy. Save the tears for when we win."

They had won and she was crying. These weren't happy tears. Because this victory had cost her the life of her best friend and now he was never coming back.

"I always come back."

But not this time.