Chapter 1

The opening of the guild doors alerted Lucy to their arrival at the guild. The blonde had been tucked away in a secluded table finishing the revisions on her story when her curious nature made her look up. The fire dragon slayer was arguing loudly with the ice make wizard while Ezra was moving her suitcases out of the hall.

"Lucy...are you okay?" Brown met brown as Lucy met the concerned gaze of Levy. "I know that argument you had with them is still bothering you, but I think that it'd be best if you talked to them. Everyone's worried."

Lucy gave a small smile in response. "I think a few more days and then I'll do it."

"You've said that for the past few weeks." Levy replied.

"I've been busy."

"Lucy your drafts are all finished. There are no mistakes in your writing anymore. You're just stalling."

Lucy's smile slowly vanished with every passing word. "I don't see why I have to start the conversation. If they want to talk they can start it."

"But Lucy..."

The blonde shook her head. "I'm not ready yet, Levy. Let's just leave it at that."

"I..." The fight seemed to drain out of the bluenette. "Alright Lucy."

"You're welcome to read this if you want." Lucy gestured to the manuscript on the table next to her.

"Lucy...don't take this the wrong way, but I don't feel like reading your stories." Levy said her voice growing colder. Lucy looked at her confused. "It's just...I don't know how to explain it. They aren't good. I want something that entertains me."

A strange feeling began to form in the pit of Lucy's stomach. Disappointment? Hurt? It was hard to put an actual description on it too. Levy's words seemed to be harsher than they usually were.

"I'm just going to go now." Lucy snapped out of her thoughts as Levy turned and walked away to rejoin her group of Gajeel, Pantherlily, Jet, Droy, and Wendy who were engaged in a conversation with Team Natsu. Lucy nodded and pretended not to notice how Levy's steps began to pick up the pace, or how the tension left her shoulders as she got further away. Lucy definitely didn't see the smile that grew as she walked away either. The blonde turned back to her stack of papers specifically the one that was about her rent.

She hadn't been behind per say, but the distance between her and the rest of the guild had slowed the number of jobs she'd take. There was always enough to pay the rent-barely. Lucy laughed a little. A little argument had been the cause of a rupture in Fairy Tail's normalcy.

The guild known for its loudness had gotten quieter and with that the sounds of Gray and Natsu's arguments seemed louder. As did the laugh that came from Lucy.

"You think it's funny, Blondie?" Gray snapped at her.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Lucy answered. "I was laughing at myself."

Gray raised an unamused eyebrow. "And what's so funny about you?"

"Nothing you'd find interesting." Lucy looked away. "Please put some clothes on."

"I-" Gray stopped when he looked down and noticed the absence of his clothes.

Honestly. His anger at his stripping habit was only funny for so long. She wasn't in the mood for it right now. Natsu said something and a brawl between the two broke out again. Something caught Lucy's interest.

Is it me or is their fighting more...aggressive than it usually is?

Gray seemed to be aiming for Natsu's vitals while Natsu's fists of fire were more concentrated and burned a lot brighter. The heat could be felt by her and she was on the opposite end of the room.

Shouting began erupting everywhere in the guild hall with minor brawls beginning to break out. She didn't see it happen but Natsu was thrown in her direction and collided with her, sending the two of them to the ground with a loud thud. Natsu's flame covered hand landed on her writing and the fire quickly spread to it. The salmon pink haired dragon slayer gave no indication he heard Lucy's dismayed shout other than a disgusted look at her before returning to his fight with Gray.

Just give up writing, Lucy.

Look Blondie, it's been fun, but you're pretty weak.

Weaker than Happy. A least he can fight.

You mean not get hurt every time we take a job.

Yeah that.

You should take a job on your own Lucy.

Or at least get stronger.

That'd be too hard for her to do.

You cannot even be considered a love rival. Love Rivals are supposed to be strong.

Maybe if we take away her keys she'll start training.

Lucy's pent up emotions finally broke through. As tears left her eyes she stormed out of the guild. The sounds of the fights behind her let her know that nobody noticed her let alone cared that she'd left.

Why are they acting like this? Just because of one bad job?

She felt something gently tap her shoulder.

"Excuse me-Oh! I'm sorry." A red haired woman apologized. Her brown eyes seemed startled to see Lucy trying and she reached for Lucy's hand as if to hold it and comfort her.

"No it's fine." Lucy pulled her hand away and wiped the tears from her eyes. "What can I help you with?"

"We're," Lucy now just noticed the two kids that were on either side of the woman. The young girl on the right had a smile and waved to Lucy. The boy on the left didn't look at her and seemed more focused on the guild building. Both had dirty blonde hair that became brown the closer it came to their tips. "Looking for a festival here."

"There's no festival here."

The woman looked surprised. "This isn't Nisenoi?"

"No," Lucy smiled. "This is Fiore. Nisenoi is further north."

"Oh no!" The woman pulled both children closer to her. "Is there anyway we can get there quicker?"

"There's a train that should take you to it." Lucy replied. "It leaves soon though so you should hurry."

"Oh thank you so much! You should come to Miss..."

"Lucy."

"Pretty name." The boy on the left muttered. The girl on the right stared at him then at Lucy then the guild hall that still held the boy's attention and humphed.

"Now now," The woman pat the young girl's head. "Don't get jealous." The woman looked back at Lucy and smiled. "You should come, Miss Lucy. It might cheer you up after the terrible thing the guild just did to you."

"It was just regular rough housing." Lucy replied trying to copy the pleasant feeling that seemed to radiate off of the woman.

"I understand, but to burn your book, Miss Lucy? Those Fairies must have limits! I wouldn't stay in that guild a second longer if they did that to me. I just-"

"I need to plan for the train ride." Lucy cut the red haired woman off before the tears returned. "I would like to join you, but I don't have anything for the train ride."

"Oh. I understand." The woman's brown eyes shone with mirth. "I hope to see you there."

"Same to you." The three people walked on while Lucy walked the opposite way. Her strides had slowed slightly and the blonde found herself once again balancing on the side of the canal humming a song to herself.

I wonder what the festival would be like. I've never even heard of Nisenoi. I wonder if it's as big a deal as that woman made it out of be. Come to think of it...do I even know their names?

Lucy stumbled and almost fell into the water. She thought she heard something plop in the water but when she looked nothing was there. Some fish began swimming by in the canal-nothing new.

"Be careful not to fall blondie!"

"I won't!"

"I hope so!"

Wait...when does the train leave? Lucy stopped for a second, then hopped off the edge and ran to her apartment.


So...I decided to add new things to the re-write. The first few chapters will be Lucy leaving Fairy Tail and meeting (not joining) Crimson Empire. The guild members of Fairy did act out of character for a reason-I didn't make them all jerks just for her to join a new guild and get revenge. There is a reason for this kind of behavior from Fairy Tail.

Also, sorry for the late update. This chapter would have come out sooner but I went to visit some friends and have been busy. One of my friends now has a channel-their name is Pavo Astrum, check them out!

Anyway, that's enough from me. I hope you liked this chapter and I hope you'll enjoy the re-write!

~Mirai