So new fic. Instead of our favorite blonde is left behind she leaves to become stronger after the loss of Aquarius. She has some inner demons to fight such as guilt and her constant reminder of her selfishness. It will start slow but I won't promise if it will be a Nalu since lately I've been reading fics with Lucy and other men. Like Laxus and Gray. It's just yummy! I won't reveal too much so read it and tell me your thoughts. They are more than welcomed. This is just the beginning. ^-^

-Oby Abel-

Prologue - Until we meet again

Lost. She felt like she had lost everything. Her childhood memories, the happiness she had as a child. Her mother. She felt so lost. The broken gold key in her hands just broke her in every way possible. Sadness, anger, guilt and loss. That was what she felt.

Anger because fate was so cruel that Aquarius had to be sacrificed. Sadness because even though they had a love-hate relationship she had been Lucy's first friend and mentor. She was her mother figure when her own mother had died. Guilt because it had to be her that was sacrificed and not herself. She was weak against the demons and couldn't do anything. And loss, because Aquarius could never come back to Earth Land. She was stuck in the Celestial World.

It hurt her so much and she felt shame of her emotion running beserk and dark. This was not what Aquarius or any of her friends would want of her. She had saved everyone and that was what mattered. But she couldn't stop her emotion going haywire. So she had decided. She will leave and come back when she was stronger.

It had been the day after they defeated Tartaros that she left a letter in the ruins of her house. She knew it was the worst she could do – to leave without a goodbye – but she was just too much of an emotional wreck that she had to.

Of course she knew she had to console Natsu and the others Dragon Slayers after they too had lost someone important to her but this once she had to be selfish. It hurt but she had to do it if she could call herself a worthy mage of Fairy Tail.

"Goodbye friends. We'll soon meet again." She muttered to the bright sky as she walked father away from what she used to call home. She was sad and felt like a coward who ran away from her problems and perhaps she was but she needed to do this. It was for herself to heal – heal the broken pieces of her heart after the loss of her mentor and spirit.

She looked behind her and held her hand of in a L shape while smiling sadly. This was her goodbye but she knew her friend and family would be fine. She had fate in them all.

Happy and Natsu both held grim expression when they entered the blonde's apartment. They had to tell her of their departure to train. Natsu felt obliged to get stronger so he could avenge Igneel and the other Dragons. He had to defeat Acnologia.

Happy held an envelope in his small paws and lay it on the bed of their favorite Celestial Spirit mage. He felt sad and guilty that they had to leave her behind because they knew her and knew how bad she would take the knees.

Natsu looked around the apartment. Half of it was destroyed because of the battle but he could still smell her scent all over it. He glanced at her bed that was dusted with debris and what not and smiled. Let's steal her comforter and pillow and then she'll always be with us, he thought and did exactly that. The smell was strongest there.

Before they moved out he noticed an envelope laying neatly on her table. It was not his because first, it looked to fancy and he did not do fancy and secondly it had her smell all over it. Happy noticed his partner look at something and looked too. He flew over to the table and held the envelope.

Dear Natsu and Happy was written on top of it neatly. Both looked at each other alarmed. Why had she written them a letter? Had something happened to her? They turned their attention back to the envelope. Natsu grabbed it and hurried opened it up.

Dear Natsu and Happy,

I'm sorry. I really am. I should be there to console and comfort you, Natsu, but I am selfish. I know you are hurting and it hurts me to see that your crushes and hopes crash after finally meeting Igneel after so many years of searching. It broke my heart. I should be there for you but I can't. You may not know and probably no one from the guild knows but I had to sacrifice a friend to save you all. I had to sacrifice Aquarius to summon the Spirit King.

Natsu's eyes widened and looked at the teary faced Happy. Neither knew that their partner too suffered from a loss and that it was indeed her that saved them from destruction. If not for her sacrifice they wouldn't be here no more. It pained him to know that she was suffering alone and he felt guilty that he planned to leave her.

He forced himself to read the rest of the letter though his heart clenched and tears were beginning to form. They both had suffered.

Now the only remains of her is her broken golden key. I can't stop crying seeing the key. I feel no magic from it and it had lost its golden shine and now looks dull. It hurts. She was my first friend, believe it or not. She helped me grow after Mama died and became me second mother and now she is gone. The guilt and sorrow of losing her hurts so much that I am leaving. I need to become stronger physically, magically and mentally. So that is why I am selfish and left. This is something I have to do alone and cope with alone. Selfish, I know but I can't drag you or Happy with me and see my misery when you suffer too. I know how it is to lose a parent. I lost two. But I know you will be alright. You are strong. And I know you two will look out for each other. So now it is time for me to be strong. Until we meet again.

Yours,

Luce

Tears began to flow down and drench the letters. Lucy left them. She actually left them. First it was sadness then came anger but then guilt. They were about to do the same to her. Leave with a letter and then leave her alone.

"Until we meet again." Natsu spoke. His eyes blurred but his mouth formed a small smile. He had fate in her. She was and will forever be a Fairy Tail mage.

"Aye. Until we meet again Lushie." Happy was still crying but he too had fate in the blonde mage. She was their partner and he believed that they will meet again. All of them stronger than ever.

Both held their hands up in an L shape up towards the sky while walking away from the fallen city.

"Until we me again Luce." Natsu uttered with a smile yet again.