I take no credit to the franchise or the characters. Only the story is mine. Thank you!
It had been a few months since the guild disbanded. Lucy was currently working in Fiore's capital as a model for Sorcerer Weekly. Being close to the journalists like Jason really helped her to keep tabs on her friends. Though, knowing where they were and that they were safe didn't help ease the pain she was still feeling. The battle with Tartarus left scars on everyone both physically and emotionally. From lost friends to broken limbs, everyone was hurting in some way. Despite this, everyone was trying to move forward. Lucy didn't expect anyone to remember her birthday with all the pain, but there on her Welcome met were three letters with HAPPY BRITHDAY!Written on them. One from Levy, Gajeel, and Pantherlily; one from Erza; and one from the Strauss siblings. Nothing from the missing Natsu. Why should anything come in with his name written on it?
Lucy took the letters and sat down on her brand new couch with them. She took her letter opener off the side table and slipped it under the fold of the first letter and carefully cut in open. Inside was the note from Levy, Gajeel, and Pantherlily. It read:
Happy birthday, Lu!
Sorry I couldn't come in person to tell you this, but work has been piling up ever since the arrest of a new dark guild. My only day off in the next month is the day after your birthday, so I'd love to meet up then. I even have a present for you. We can meet at the café beside your apartment at 7:30. Does it sound like a plan?
Sincerely, Levy
At the bottom, was a sloppily-written sentence.
Happy birthday, Bunny Girl. -Gajeel and Pantherlily
It brought a smile to Lucy's face. She held the letter to her chest and let out a sigh, slowly frowning again. She thought of her time in Fairy Tail when Levy and herself went out for coffee and gossip every Saturday. Now, they only met up once a month. She inhaled though her nose, earning a whiff of ink and lamp oil coming off the paper.
Lucy decided it was too much and set it down. She waited a few minutes and opened up the next letter. This was the one from Erza. It had smudges of dirt here and there and was ripped a little at the top. This one read:
Happy Birthday
Love, Titania
Lucy didn't expect anything more. She loved Erza and how simple she was. It was enough from her. The blonde mage finally picked up the final letter. It smelled heavily of Mira's perfume. She always loved how Mira smelled. Cinnamon and vanilla. Mmm.
Happy birthday, Lucy! Love from Mirajane, Lisanna, and Eflman Strauss!
it had read.
A steady stream of tears fell from Lucy's eyes as she set down the final letter onto her coffee table. She loved getting the letters and all, but it just made the fact that the guild was disbanded way even heavier on her heart. And Natsu. Damn him. He couldn't even send a letter to show her he was alive. If they ever saw each other again, Lucy would make sure he would endure Hell like she had. But for now, Lucy would go to bed, in pain. She wouldn't wake up to find a rouge pinkette and blue cat in her bed. She wouldn't wake up to a beautiful view of the Magnolia River. She wouldn't rush through breakfast and run to the guild. She'd be alone.
She'd be all alone.