Chapter 1 - Hidden truths

LUCY'S POV

"ERR! ERR! ERR!" Buzzes my alarm. I softly "Smash" The snooze button. As I was stretching up, I noticed it wasn't bright outside, which was odd. I tucked my curtains to the side and saw dark skies, which were dropping rain down. I sat up and scanned the sidewalk from my window. No one was in my sight. I'm guessing that everyone is staying inside. There's usually a couple of people around walking on the market side though.

I sat up and walked into my shower. When it rains, it's usually cold here. So i turned my shower a bit hotter than I normally do. I remove my pajamas and break into the shower room.

"I'll try today." I looked at myself in the mirror, determened to take on what was about to happen. "I'll try hard!"

I dressed up casually, but more covered up because it was raining outside. I plucked the umbrella out of the nearby vase and headed outside.

I opened the door and unsheithed the unbrella. I closed the door behind me and locked it before i step into the curtain of rain. Thankfully, there wasn't as much wind, but there was a lot of thrain though.

As I was walking along, I saw no lights on in the stores, which made the town seem inactive, even though Magnolia is a really lively place.

I found the Fairy Tail guild hall as I was browsing around the town. I walked into the doors and sighed. Usually, there's a lot of noise in the guild hall. Today, since it was raining, not as much of the main people are there.

I creaked the door open and entered. I stomped my feet on the carpet to dry my feet and put my umbrella away. Then, I made my way towards the bar, where an S-class mage stood in her usual place.

"Good morning Lucy!" Mirajane smiled. She's always in a happy mood, no matter the weather conditions, which made me smile a bit.

"'Morning Mira." I sighed. I sat into my usual spot and hung my belongings to the chair rest. "Can I have a strawberry milkshake, the usual, please?" I asked Mira politely.

"Comming right up!" Mira said. She immedietly went to work. I examined her as she placed ingredients into the grinder. She turned it on, and went over to another side of the bar, where she took out more ingredients. She stopped the grinder and poured the mix into a tall glass cup. She then placed a bit of toppings and a cherry on the top of the milkshake, and delivered it to me.

"Thank you, Mira" I smiled at her.

She smiled back, "Any time Lucy."

I took a look around the near-empty guild hall while I was drinking my milkshake. I scanned around and looked back at the mission board. The mission board was surprizingly empty for some weird reason. Their were even people waiting for a mission, which was even more surprizing. I saw movement from upstairs, so I looked up to see what it was. I saw Makarov roaming the top floor, when I noticed another mission board up there. I decided to take a closer look at the second mission board, because i've never seen this before.

I got up from my seat and climed the stairs to the second floor, where I met eyes with the master.

"Hey... Lucy" His old voice groaned.

"Hey Master..." I noticed his expression on his face, which looked depressed.

"Whats wrong?" I asked him.

Makarov sighed as he hopped up to the guardrail and sat down, "I don't like weather like this. It makes everything depressing."

"Ah." I responded. "What's that mission board over there?" as I pointed to the gold and red mission board.

"Oh that? That's the S-class mission board." He said.

My curiosity got me. "Can I take a look?"

Makarov looked at me oddly, "Your not thinking of going on a request, are you...?"

"No!" I exclaimed, "I'm not Natsu! I don't go on strong missions!"

Makarov laughed, "Alright, Go take a look."

I made my way to a weird part of the guild hall. I've never been here ever.

I looked at the mission board. There were rewards ranging from 250,000J to 1,000,000J. Although, there were only 6 requests on the board. I took a look at one of them...

HELP! Invasion of the dark guild Swift Falcon. Need assist.

750,000J Reward.

"Wow" I whispered to myself. "I would buy a small house if i were to somehow get that reward."

"Your funny" A familular low female voice bellowed over me.

"EEK!" I screamed. I turned around, and there was Erza standing there, smiling at me.

"By the way, I forced Natsu and Gray to go on a request." My jaw dropped as Erza casually then walked over to the S-class mission board. She plucked the mission paper that I was read.

"Hmmmm..." She read the paper sharply. Then, she walked over to Makarov with the request. She showed him the paper, and walked off downstairs to Mira.

I walked over to Makarov as Erza and Mira were discussing. "Man. I wonder what she uses for the reward..."

Erza heard me and shouted, "Armor!" She gave me a thumbs up as she left the guild into the rain without anything covering her.

I sighed. Not realizing I was whispering, I said this, "I wish I was strong like her."

Makarov looked to me surprized. Makarov then realized Lucy wasn't paying attention to Makarov, so Makarov opened his ears to hear Lucy.

"Damn." I whispered, "Strong. I wish I was as strong. Not letting my teammates down every time I fall. Holding those tears back..." Ironic because a tear fell down my cheek at that moment.

"Lucy." Makarov said. I flinched in surprize that he was there, but then noticed he heard myself talk. "Just remember, being strong isn't a talent. Being strong takes a lot of work. You can be like Erza anytime."

I looked out the window to hide my tears, because I hate crying over the things I want to be.

"Lucy, Look at me." Makarov said. I turned around and faced him. Letting the tears slip right out.

"I think i've let you guys down..." I said. "Think back to the grand magic games. Without my keys, I'm super vunerable." I sobbed between reasons. "Think even back more, when phantom lord attacked us. All that I can do is watch." I cried harder, enough to catch attention of fairy tail members. "During the tarotarus attacks, the reason I won that battle with Jackal is because the celestial spirit king handed me down a power."

Makarov sighed, "Lucy, stop hurting yourself mentaly."

I cried harder like an idiot of course. "Lucy... Step into my office." Makarov said. He opened up the door and let me in.

I sat down infront of his desk, still crying. He stood on his chair, with crossed arms and a face that was thinking.

"I'll tell you what," Master broke the crying streak that I had. I lifted my face up and wiped my tears out. "I'll help you get strong."

"Huh?" I gasped softly, trying to hide my greedyness and excitement. This was an offering from the master. I'll have to accept it.

"I-Uh..." I stoped crying for a bit.

"That caught your attention, didn't it." Master smiled. I looked to the side to hide my embarrasment.

"Alright, here's what i'm thinking to do." Master said. He hopped off the chair and went to one of his bookshelves. He then took a book out and handed me galeforce glasses.

"This is a book about the basics of magic." Master noted as he handed me the book. I put on the glasses and started reading the book.

"Woah" I said in amazement. This was basically an all in 1 book. It showed how to control elements of magic. It noted that this was a freestyle book, meaning you get to decide the moves that you put down.

"Alright" I put the book down. "What are you going to do?"

He sighed and hesitated, "Let you train away from fairy tail for one year."

I was speachless. Away from my friends, the world basically.

"Wait. How would I do that?" I asked him.

"Let you travel around the contry. Easy as that." Makarov said.

"Huh? Just travel around and hope I find something?" I scratched my head.

I tried to come up with a reason that would counter with that, "Thats..."

Now that I think of it, I do like traveling around, but with them though.

I sighed, Be a weakling right now, or do the impossible.

"Fine. I'll do it." I stood up from the chair.

Master opened his eyes wide, "Wow, surprized your determend after all that crying."

"Ergh..." I growled at him.

"Alright. I'll give you 50,000J for you to travel around. I want you to send me messages every once an often. Keep me updated about anything. If you don't send a message within 1 month, We will hunt you down."

I closed my eyes and imagined the future. I see myself beating up everyone somehow, but managing to still be stable. I imagined me standing up for myself in physical fights. Me versus Erza? Oh man, I see that happening right now.

"Right" I opened my eyes. "No regrets." I said as I turned for the door, eager to see whats ahead of me right now.

"Lucy" Master said as I was walking out.

"Hm?" I peaked out the door before departing.

"This is a you and me secret. Were not telling anyone, unless it's the time to tell."

"Right" I nodded. "Love you master."

"Love you too, my child. Good luck." He said.

I closed the door and walked down, passed Mirajane like she wasn't there. I exited the door and took a look back at the guild hall, then made my way out. The rain stopped, but it was gloomy outside. I didn't care though. I'm about to go on my first ever solo adventure.

End of chapter 1