"Yo Lucy! Good timing! I need you to go report on something cool!" Jason yells out to me as I walk into the office. Jason is my boss now, and I intern as an editor in training at Sorcerer Weekly!

"Morning Jason-Senpai! What's the scoop?" I ask him in reply. Ever since the battle against Tartaros, things have changed. Master disbanded FairyTail with no clue as to why, everyone went their separate ways. I switch back to Jason who is rambling.

"Huh?"

"I need you to go to Magnolia to report on life after FairyTail. Are you okay with that considering your history with the guild? The harvest festival is coming up and FairyTail isn't hosting it." I look to the floor.

"Lucy… If you feel uncomfortable about going that's okay, I'll-"

"I'll do it. I'll go to Magnolia its fine Jason. I need to get over it anyways, the guild is gone."

"That mark on the back of your hand… Well it really is a shame, it was a great guild, Lucy."

"Yeah, it really was." Jason gives me a sheet with everything I need to report on, pen, notepad and so forth. I sigh in despair, things are different and that's the way it is. FairyTail is gone, there's nothing I can do to change that.

I get home and dump my things on the table, pulling out the notes for tomorrow's trip. Magnolia is only a train ride away. Why am I so nervous? I stretch and stand up, walking over to my bedroom, shutting the door behind me I look towards a big pin board, with paper and string all over it.

"No news on Natsu and Happy today huh. Erza is staying low for the moment. Where is everyone? And what would I even do if I found them, everyone has gone their separate ways, and it's not like I can say FairyTail has returned." I look at the board. I really do want to see them all, but I just don't have the courage to go. Sighing, I turn to the wardrobe, undress and grab a towel. I still need to pack my bag for two days. I have a long day ahead off me, and I can feel that something is going to change.

The nostalgia that hits me when I walk into Magnolia is astounding, like a huge weight has been placed onto my shoulders. More like my insanity, it's being pushed to the very edge. I push on anyway and walk towards the final battleground. Where everything was lost.

I stop at flower stall to buy a bunch of flowers before continuing my walk. The bunch of orange and red lilies complement each other and I'm sure the receiver will like these. As I walk closer to my destination I can see scattered ruins, bricks, tentacles. My breathing becomes heavier with the anxiety that is slowly seeping into my mind, there are too many bad memories here.

I now approach a pile of bones and dust, and everything comes back, the pain, the suffering. The losses of our loved ones.

'No! Aquarius is not dead!' My determination pushes through and I stand next to the corpse of a dragon.

"Hello. I am Lucy. I am Natsu's partner, or I was at least. Our guild is gone now, master disbanded it after the… tragic events. My resolve is to learn a form of slayer magic, so I can protect my family, so I can protect Natsu…" I place the delicate bouquet of lilies next to Igneel. Sobs escape my lips and I collapse next to Igneel and cry, gripping Aquarius' broken key in my hand.

"Lucy...I see the determination in you, and you want to protect my boy! Well, he can take care of himself. He needs someone like you, and after the time I saw you two together, he really cares for you. Tragedy has stricken you dear child, and your resolve is interesting."

"I-Igneel!?"

"I give you the remainder of my magic power, and give you Fire Dragon Slaying magic. Use it well, and when you find Natsu give him a good smack on the head!"

"This is unbelievable, I am honoured, T-Thank you! Thank you!"

"Use it well, Lucy Heartfillia…" Igneel's bones begin to slowly fade into particles of ethernano.

"I will! Don't you worry!" I feel a heat coursing through my body, a familiar feeling. 'I know what to do now!' "I'm all fired up!" I explode in flames. 'This is the power of the Flame Dragon King!'