HI! Sorry that I haven't uploaded for over a year! I'm really busy with school cos I'm in VCE and need to study hard to get into UNI. I finished this one shot on exchange - Germany! 2016 is my senior year on HS so I apologise in advance for not uploading! Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!

~BM

Disclaimer: I own no Fairytail.

It has been 6 months since that dreaded day. I try to keep it at the back of my mind but whenever i'm alone, I can't help it. Fairytail was supposed to be a new chapter in my life, some light amongst the dark. Being a novelist, I guess I should have known that not every new chapter leads to better things, sometimes it leads to your hearts destruction. Ah, the power of hindsight, the things we would do to go back in time and change things. But the problem is, where did it all begin? How far back do we need to go to rewrite the past and change the future? To be honest I don't know, nothing seemed wrong till it all came crashing down. That chapter of my life is coming to a close. The real question is, what will be the start of my next chapter?

Flash back ~ 6 months ago

I push open the large doors of the Fairytail guild hall.

"Good moring minna!"

Instead of the usual loud noises and daily brawls, I am greeted by a disturbing silence.

"Minna?"

I look around. Everyone appeared frozen in place, seated or standing around the hall. Mira at the bar, Gajeel in the corner with Levy, and Team Natsu standing in the middle of the hall with Lissana. Everyone was staring at either Team Natsu with shocked and horrified expressions, or me, with expressions filled with a mix of shock, worry, concern, anger and fear. I turn to look at Natsu about to ask whats going on but stop when I see his expression. It was hard and serious, no emotion was betrayed. Our eyes made contact and it felt as though his eyes were boring into mine.

"Lucy."

He said as he started to approach me. I started to feel an emotion I had never associated with Natsu before. Fear. The way he was looking at me, the silence of the guild, and the fact that he used my full name and not his name for me, Luce. He walked forward towards me until our faces were inches from each other.

"We're kicking you off Team Natsu. Lissana will be taking your place."

I stood there, rooted to the ground. Had he really just said that? I needed to ask him, I needed to know why.

"B But why?"

"Because," he stated simply. "Your weak, pathetic and useless. Why would we have someone like you on the team when we can have a strong, beautiful, loyal, smart and caring girl like Lissana?"

I couldn't move. I needed to get away from here, find a way to escape without letting them win. Without letting them see how much it hurts. I stepped to the side, and walked straight past him, and everyone else in the guild. I kept my head held high and my back straight. I reached the request board and took a quick glance around before taking one that seemed of medium level. I then walked straight out of the guild, showing no emotion as everyone's eyes followed my movements. I exited the guild and managed to keep my calm exterior for another full five minutes before running to the park with tears streaming down my face. I climbed to the top of a tree before siting down on a branch and crying my eyes out. How could they do this to me? How did this happen? What did I do? When did it all go wrong? Thousands of questions spun around in my head. I was too lost In my own thoughts to register that the whole day had come and gone, and the first stars of the evening were being revealed in the sky. I turned my head to face them.

Looking at the stars had always given me courage during difficult times in my life, and I once more drew courage and hope from them. I would show them that I wasn't weak or useless. I looked at the crumpled piece of paper in my hand. I would handle this job myself, it was moderately hard so if I can complete this successfully then they wont be able to call those things. I looked back up to the stars with newfound determination.

I woke up the next morning and was ready in record time. I was going to take this seriously so there was no point in making sure I looked immaculate. I was going for a practical look, I had all my hair back in a ponytail, keeping it out of my eyes. I had a simple pair of jeans and black top with a leather jacket. I grabbed my belt, whip, keys and the flier so I could find the client later before heading to the station and getting on the first train to Apple Orchard (A.N I just made that up, it doesn't exist in Fiore as far as I know).

I checked the flyer again as I walked down the main street, ensuring I had the right address. I rang the door bell and it was answered by a middle aged woman who looked as if she had been through a rough time lately.

"Can I help you?" she queried.

"I think it's the other way round, I'm here to accept a job request you sent out?"

"Oh! Come in, come in!" she stepped aside and allowed me through. "My name is Annabelle, and lately there has been reports of a dark guild staking out the highway into town and robbing those who come by. Could you please defeat them and hand them over to the authorities?"

"Absolutely, I'll try to have this completed as fast as possible for you!"

"Thank you!" she calls after me as I exit the house. I start to walk over towards the area that the dark guild is supposedly occupying, keeping my hand near my keys so as to be prepared for an attack.