I know she did not mean it, but the inevitability of it all was certain. I did not blame her, or him. When your childhood love suddenly reappears, what else should've I expected?
Don't get me wrong, it still hurt. Even more so when he came and told me the team didn't need me anymore, and I was kicked off. To make room for her, for Lisanna. She apologized non-stop for 'accidentally' taking him away, but I knew she couldn't help it.
Ever since she came back, everyone simultaneously forgot about me, even Wendy, Juvia, and Gajeel, who hadn't even known her before. I had tolerated it all for awhile, but there's a point that I decided that I needed to leave. I was coming back from solo missions barely alive, with much assistance from Loke, one of my celestial spirits.
I was going on all of these solo missions, but wasn't getting any stronger. I tried to go on harder missions, but I still wasn't getting any results. I could barely pay my rent, and was late almost every month.
I left fairy tail to train. I didn't tell master, because guild mates leave to train all the time. I packed up all of my things, and talked to my landlady. She was very generous and would try keep my house off the market until I came back.
I walked to a wooded area nearby, I didn't want to stray too far from the guild, for now. I kept walking for awhile, and noticed that it suddenly got very dark, but it was still the middle of the day. I looked upwards and saw the sun still high up in the sky, through a thick fog that had settled over me. I dropped my bag that I had slung over my shoulder, and looked around. I couldn't see a thing. I heard a snap of a twig around me and whipped around. Someone was looking at me through the trees. I stepped back.
The figure rushed over to me, and I fell onto the ground. I saw a flash of silver in his eye, then a hard punch to the head rendered me unconscious.
I opened my eyes, and found myself kneeling in front of a large throne.
"Lucy." I heard the voice of my mother, and I looked up. She was running towards me, and she embraced me as I was sitting, shocked, on the floor.
"Mother?" I looked up into her eyes. She stroked her hand across my face. She had not passed away, she explained to me. She was a queen, unknown to me, and had returned to her throne. She apologized for leaving me, but was proud of how I had grown.
She had known that I wished to be stronger, and requested for me to be brought to her. She scolded her guard for his methods of acquiring me.
Fortunately, she was acquainted with most of the dragons, and had convinced some of them to guide me in getting stronger.
I scraped through a year of rigorous training, it was harder for me because I had not learned young. Painful too.
I had learned six types: Fire, Air, Metal, Light, Shadow, and Celestial. It took me two months to learn each. My mother sent me back, and I would have to continue to master them on my own. She also sent her guard that brought me to her, Jasper, as an escort.
Jasper does not fancy me much, but he still accompanied me back to Magnolia. To me, he was very scary looking. He had dark gray eyes, and dark hair. He always wore dark clothes, and always had a murderous look in his eyes.
Walking through Magnolia, I had realized that a lot had changed. Some new stores had been built on the edge of town, and some trees planted. I saw a person in his teens running down the road, as he got closer, I realized it was Romeo. He had gotten so big.
He was running backwards and tripped. I caught him and set him back up on his feet. He looked at me for a second, and smiled. He did not recognize me.
"Thank you." He said politely. I smiled back and he ran back from the way he came. I cocked my head to the side.
Jasper, somehow sensing my confusion, explained to me that a year in the other world meant six in this one. I gaped at him and groaned. I kept walking forward to the guild. I put on my black cloak, flustered, and tried to out-walk Jasper, to no use.
And now, I find myself standing in front of the guild, shaking nervously. These people haven't seen me for six years. I hadn't changed much, only my hair was longer and I was more muscular.
"Are we just going to stand here, or go in?" Jasper says impatiently. I open the doors slowly, and when it opens all the way, all conversation that had been going on before ceases. Everyone turns their heads to the door, where I had just walked in with Jasper trailing behind me. Everyone stares at me for awhile, until Jasper nudges me towards the bar, towards Mirajane.
"How may I help you?" She asks.
"I would like to join the guild." I say. The room is still dead quiet.
"I would like to join also." Says Jasper. He pulls out a chair for me and himself. She gets the stamp out and stamps both of us. My guild mark had long ago faded. I get the mark on my stomach right above my left hip bone, and Jasper gets his on his back, by his shoulder.
Before I had a chance to order something to eat, a certain pink-haired dragon slayer bursts into the door.
"You all aren't going to believe this! I saw Lucy!" He yells. Everyone gathers around him, asking where and when. Jasper gives me a questioning look. I slowly pull my hood up over my head and look at Jasper. I put my finger to my lips to tell him to keep quiet.
Nastu plops down next to me, oblivious that I was right next to him.
"I was playing a game with Romeo and I saw her walking through the town. She was with a tall, creepy looking guy," Jasper growled quietly, "Her hair was really long and she was wearing a black cape." He holds his hands up to measure out the length of my hair.
Everyone looks at me, and soon, I can feel his eyes following their gaze. I feel a tug on my hood, and pull it down tighter. I look up at Jasper, and he's not even paying attention to my predicament. I sigh, and remove the hood.
"L-Luce?" He stutters. He leans towards me and pulls me into a timid hug. I pat him on the back and pull away.
Everyone stares at me with amazement.
"Lucy!" They all yell and I get smushed against the counter in a very large group hug. Jasper, in the process, gets pushed off of his chair and is sprawled out on the floor.
Everyone asks me questions about where I went, and I lie, telling them that I went to some island. I decided not to mention that I had met dragons, and trained with them.
"Lucy, fight me."
"W-What? Nastu what're you-," He grabbed my arm and the whole guild follows us to a cleared field area. Everyone stands a good distance away from us.
"N-Natsu, I don't know if this is such a good idea!" I yell from across the field. I don't think he heard me, because he was charging at me with fire around his fists. I sighed and charged back at him.
He swung at me with full force, but I block his attack. I also conjure magic around my fists, but not with fire. I deliver a punch to his jaw, making him fly backwards. He does not get up for awhile.
"What kind of magic was that?" Master walks up to me.
"Dragon-slayer magic." I said quietly. Everyone stares in amazement.
"Where'd you learn how to do that?" Natsu asks, already back on his feet.
"I.. taught myself?" I say, unsure anyone would actually believe me. Jasper scoffs behind me. I glare at him.
To celebrate my 'coming home' the whole guild set up a party. I look around, everyone is having a good time. I meet eyes with Lisanna, and I get the deadliest glare in all eternity. Juvia comes up behind me.
"Has nobody told you?" I jump.
"Juvia! Don't sneak up on me like that! It's nice to see you." She smiles at me, and we go to sit down.
"Natsu and Lisanna had a big falling out."
"What? Why?" Nobody had filled me in.
"Master asked where you were, Natsu freaked out and spend weeks looking for you. Lisanna was very mad, and asked Natsu why he wouldn't stop looking." At this time she leaned closer to me, so that no one could hear us. "In front of the whole guild he yelled 'because I love her, Lisanna'. That happened two years after you left."
"Nice job Lucy, you stole someone's man." Jasper shows up, after eavesdropping.
"I didn't mean to. Besides its been six years, I'm sure he's over it by now." Jasper rolls his eyes and sits back in the booth.
"He's been staring at you the whole three hours we've been here." He whispers in my ear. I blush, and punch him in the arm.
After midnight, I make Jasper carry me home. Being the responsible adult he is, he didn't have one drink. I however, had more than I can count. Even though Jasper couldn't stand me, I can trust him to take care of me. I direct him towards my old apartment, but as I had expected, it was already occupied.