So I'm only going to do the author note thing once. This is one of half a dozen ideas running through my head. Hopefully there will be some surprises along the way! Updates will probable be very sporadic, but I will do my best! Feedback is appreciated, and I'll try to respond to anybody that does have comments or questions. I have idea for a pairing for this but it may change a few times before we get to that point.
Obviously I don't own Fairy Tail. Only time I'm gonna mention that fact.
Thank you to anybody who takes the time to read this!!!
No one was in much of a mood to party after the defeat of Tartaros. Even Natsu was somber as they all took in the damage to Magnolia and what was left of their guild. There was rubble and debris as far as you could see, very few building had made it unscathed.
Lucy Heartfilia had a heart heavier than most as she picked her way through the wreckage back toward her apartment. She had lost one of her spirits, one of her first and closest friends. She felt as if there was a whole in her, that would never be whole again. She clutched the broken key even tighter in her hand, afraid to let it go even though it held no magic now.
When she finally looked up, she found herself standing in front of where her apartment should have been. Most of the building was a collapsed jumble of brick with some of her belongings sticking out here and there. She slowly started to pick her way up the massive pile to see what she could salvage. She was at a loss to even know what to try and save or what to even miss.
"Princess, I'm here to help," Virgo said softly as she opened her own door to the Celestial realm. A few seconds later, Leo and Capricorn were also opening their gates to help the girl that was slowly allowing reality to set in.
The tears started making their way down Lucy's face. Unable to process the thoughts running through her head she quickly sank to her knees.
"Lucy, shhhh, we're here for you. It might not be okay right now but it will be. Let's focus on one thing at a time. Do you know of anything you want saved right now?" Loke asked as he pulled the sobbing girl into his chest.
After a few more minutes of crying and a few hiccups later, the blonde finally raised her head and looked out over what was left of her life. She immediately saw the decorative box that held the letters to her mother, that gave her brain the kickstart it needed to start processing what the lion had asked.
"I want moms pictures, the letters to her, the little golden box that was in the back of my closet with my savings in it, and some clothes." Thinking those were the most important things to her, she really couldn't see the point in ripping the whole mess apart just to find useless things like pretty rugs or a pillow. No, she'd make due with the bare minimum for now.
"I'll go fetch them princess," the maid said as she burrowed into the ground. Loke kicked some larger chunks of wall over as Capricorn slowly made his way over to stand beside her.
"What will I do now? I don't have a home anymore. I wasn't strong enough to protect Aquarius. I just don't know what to do." Yet again the tears were pouring from the girls eyes.
"Fairy tail is your home Lucy, it's where your heart is. This was just a place you slept. There was nothing you could do to save Aquarius. She knew what she was sacrificing. Any of us would have made the same decision. Now you just need to hope that one day you'll meet again, after all we Celestial spirits are hard to get rid of. No matter what hardships come your way, we will always be right here," he said, laying a hand on her shoulder and giving it a squeeze. Capricorn dismissed himself after seeing her shoulders and spine straighten with resolve and the determination put back into here eyes.
Once Virgo had retrieved the items requested, Lucy found a secluded corner and changed into cleaner clothes. There was some dust but after being in a destroyed building, who could complain? Virgo offered to take the items to the spirit world for storage, and giving her contractor a reassuring hug, departed.
"I'll accompany you back to the where everyone else is. Then we'll come up with a plan for you to get on your feet again," Loke told her as he started dragging her down the road. He was honestly afraid to leave the girl alone. He knew she'd put on a brave and collected front and would push her own problems to the back of her mind.
A short walk later found them standing outside the remains of Fairy Tail. There wasn't much left of it, just the doors and the front walls holding them up. Everyone was gathered around, not really talking but not wanting to be alone either. For once Natsu and Gray weren't fighting, instead they sat on opposite ends of the group from one another with somber faces.
Loke looked around at everyone's faces and knew whatever they'd hear next would decide the plan of action for Lucy. He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her over toward Natsu and Happy.
"Natsu," Loke called, "what's going on?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing. I think me and Happy are fixing to head home," the pinkette said as he stood and motioned Happy that they were leaving. He walked with his head down and didn't even acknowledge Lucy or anyone else as he made his way down the road.
To say the celestial mage's feelings weren't hurt would be a lie. She'd lost one of the most important things in her world and her best friend just walked out on her without so much as a word. She decided she'd give him time to get home and she'd follow him.
She lost track of everyone that checked up on her and everyone she checked up on in the next little bit. It was getting dark when she finally got away and started making her way toward Natsu's small house near the forest. Loke put off a slight glow that lit up what few shadows there were, and soon enough the house came into view. However, there were no lights and she couldn't hear her boisterous teammate anywhere.
"Maybe he's by the river fishing?" Loke prompted seeing the beginnings of a bad situation starting. "Why don't you go have a look and I'll peek in the house and see if there's a note?"
Once the blonde was out of eyesight Loke made his was into the house. He knew what he'd find before he even looked around. There was only slight traces that Natsu had been here recently and those pointed to him being in a hurry. With a quick scan of the area, he found a hastily sealed envelope with Lucy's name on it placed on the counter. The lion spirit's heart dropped because he knew what would be in the letter.
"They're not down by the river. Did you have any luck finding anything?" Lucy called as she walked back up the drive. Her heart started beating a bit faster once she really looked at the way Loke was sitting and the forlorn look on his face. He didn't even say anything to her, just held out the letter.
With a questioning look Lucy began to tear into the envelope. With every word she read her heart dropped lower and lower into her gut. The tears slowly began to brim over her eyelids and before she realized, Loke was catching her before she dropped to the ground.
Natsu had left.
He said he wasn't strong enough to protect the ones he loves. That he's leaving for a year to train, and not to worry about him. How could he do that? They were supposed to be partners. They were supposed to be family and he left her behind when she needed him the most. The only consolation to this was that he'd told her she could use his house for as long as she needed.
"C'mon Luce, let's get your face cleaned up a bit and we'll figure out a game plan," Loke said as he put his arm around her shoulders and turned her into the house. He knew she was hurting but he also knew that dwelling on all of this would only be bad for her. He vowed right then that he'd do whatever it took to see her smile again.