Her eyes shimmered that beautiful brown that reminded him of the stars that he slept under every night on his journey.
Her bright, and radiant smile that he loved so much rivaled that of the sun that rested over the world during the day. Raising up every morning in hope of a promising new day.
Her hair as light and shimmers like silk being carried away by the wind that he and his blue partner traveled through almost daily, heading to a new journey.
Every Day he'd reminded himself of his exuberant partner. Whether or not he wanted to think of her, someway or another his mind would drift off and think about her and her many genuine qualities. He'd come to terms of his feelings of love towards the celestial mage, but decided not to tell her right away. Today, exactly one year after he left that dreaded letter on her table, he was returning home.
He was less than a few miles away to the town of Magnolia heading to his home, the Fairy Tail guild to greet his family he missed so much. He missed the guild so much. How it reeked of booze, the fights that would break out under its roof every day, and the bustling noise of miscellaneous conversations and laughter that rang throughout the hall. Oh, how he can't wait to have a few plates of Mirajane's delicious fire chicken.
'But first, I'll go see Lucy! I should go and apologize,and maybe get a haircut from her crab guy!' He thought enthusiastically as he raked a hand through is now overgrown pink hair. As he reached the peak of the hill that gave a magnificent view of Magnolia, he spared no time looking out to the town and sprinted to the bustling city.
The citizens of the town were acting a bit out of the ordinary when the pinkette and his cat friend sprinted past. They gave looks of shock and...sorrow? 'This is weird,' he thought, 'Probably because I was gone so long.'
He finally stopped a few building away from her apartment, so he can let his buddy, Happy, catch up to him, and also so he can catch his breath. Exhaustion wasn't the cause of it, though. Far from it, actually. It was the fact that he was sprinting and his heart was about to beat out of his chest due to the excitement he was feeling to see his blond friend.
'Geez I've been so looking forward to seeing everyone, I didn't even this what Lucy might try to do to me. Will she lecture me? Yell? I don't know. But, as long as I'm not on the wrong side of her Lucy Kick, I should be fine. I hope.' he gulped, ' Maybe she'll go easy on me If I don't go through her window this one time'
"Let's go Happy!"
"Aye, Sir!"
They ran into the entrance way, and dashed up the stairs only to be stopped by her landlady at the top. She looked a bit older (if actually possible) but finally decided to ditch that atrocious outfit that only Lucy can pull off.
"She's not here," she said plainly. Natsu and Happy stopped mid step and glanced at the old lady.
"Then where is she?" Natsu asked.
"I don't know." The pair give her one more quick glance of suspicion before continuing their way to her room.
They finally reached her door, and wasted no time coming in. Natsu slammed the door open, nearly ripping it off of the hinges.
"Lucy! We're Home!" Happy shouted across the apartment.
"Lucy! How are ya!" Natsu bellowed after. They waited a little waiting for a response from their favorite blond, but nothing came. He and Happy searched her entire apartment; Her kitchen, bathroom, bedroom. Happy made extra sure that she wasn't hiding my looking through all her undergarments just in case. Eventually they met up empty-handed.
"Natsu? Maybe Lucy's at the guild." Happy concluded, completely unaware of the pink laced panties on his head.
"Oh yeah! Let's go!" Natsu flung the undergarment of his partners head, and they both jumped out of the window, heading towards the guild.
They both raced to the location of the guild. Optimism and joy overflowing their emotions as they were thinking what they'll do once they barge into the guild doors like they used to. They rounded the last corner to the guild only to see...
Nothing.
Nothing but rubble and litter everywhere. Natsu and Happy stopped in their tracks once they saw what was before them.
"Natsu," Happy's eyes began to water, "Where's the guild? They were gonna rebuild it, weren't they?"
"Yeah," Natsu clenched his fist, looking down to his feet that were leading him to the center of the debris, "They were." A single tear escaped from his eye.
'What? Where's the guild? Where was everyone? Erza, Gray, Wendy, Gajeel? Everyone? Where are they?! Were we attacked again? No, I've would've heard something when passing through towns. Or, Did they just not rebuild it? Or did they rebuild it somewhere else? Yes, that has to be it!'
"Happy. Were going home. Someone had to of left a note or something for us." He wiped the tears off of his face, and put on a mask of determination, trying to hide his worry from his little buddy.
In a futile attempt to stop his crying he finally managed to respond with a whispered, "Aye."
Natsu hopped off of the rubble and ran to his and Happy's place, Happy close behind, desperate for answers.
They busted into their home and dropped their bag on the floor. They searched everywhere for a message of some sort from their guild mates. Eventually, both their eyes settled on a neatly wrapped letter with their names written neatly on the front, settled on their living room table. Happy flew over Natsu's shoulder as he tore open the envelope and opened the letter. Immediately he recognized the writing to be Lucy's from all the times he and Happy had read through her stories. He began thoroughly scanning the words on the page.
Dear Natsu, and Happy,
If you're reading this, you've finally returned home. I'm glad. I miss you both so much and I wish I could greet you on your arrival. Unfortunately, I wish this was an exciting return at the guild with all our nakama. But, since the guild disbanded, everyone has gone their own way. So, you see, a cheerful arrival like that is near impossible now. I don't even know where everyone has gone. All I really know is that Gray and Juvia set out on their own journey, Erza went to do some personal training of her own, and Mira, Elfman, and Lisanna left to find a way to make a living. Cana, she's the only one I've been able to keep in touch with. Other than that, I don't know. I Don't know where Levy-chan is, Wendy, even Laxus, but that was kind of expected. But, that got me thinking. Everybody's gone their own ways to get stronger somehow. I think it might good to begin my own journey. To become stronger. I've always felt a bit weak when we all went on missions together. So I guess now would be a good time as any to make myself stronger. So when we return, when can go on more journeys together, even though we can't pick up missions at Fairy Tail. We'll think of something. after all, it's more fun when we're together, right? Anyway, sorry for rambling. Hope to see you two soon!
See Ya Soon!
Love Lucy.
Natsu sat down on his hammock. Bangs covering his face and hands on his face as he registered what he had just read. Everyone has gone their own way. Lucy, Gray, Erza, everyone. And the guild was disbanded. How could master even think of doing something like that? Was he mad?
'Why?' He thought, 'Why like this? why now?! There's no one left. only me and Happy. Even Lucy's gone!' He let out all his held tears, and let out a sob. No reason to hold back anymore. Happy walked to the letter that sat in front of the pinkette's feet, and clutched in into his tiny chest. He finally realized what was happening and started crying as well. They're alone. With only each other. What can they do know?
They stayed in silence for a while after that. The occasional sob echoing through their quiet house. They both didn't say anything. Just laid their, thinking. Thinking of what to do now. Should they join a new guild? No, that would be betraying his family. but, how would they find work then? The two have only known fighting their whole lives, so doing something other than that was out of the question. Eventually, a loud growl coming from his exceed friend pulled him out of his train of thought.
"Sorry." Happy spoke.
"It's alright, little buddy. I'm hungry, too." He stood up. Trying to put on a brave face as good as he can for his friend. Igneel had always told him to stand up when things went bad, so that's exactly what he'd do. He grabbed Happy and nestled him into his arms, and headed out to the closest food place they can find, which ended up being a bar near the entrance of the woods.
As they entered, Happy escaped from Natsu's grasp and headed to the main bar area and scanned the menu. Natsu walked over to him to see what he'll be having as well. He nestled down onto the stool next to a brunette nursing a mug of ale.
"Excuse me, miss!" Natsu called the bartender over.
"What will you be having today?" she asked as she whipped out her order book.
"We'll have one whole chicken please, so fish, and water. Right Happy?"
'Happy?' The brunette questioned. 'Can it be?'
"Aye."
'It is, isn't it? Well, one way to find out.'
"Coming right up! The bartender strutted off to the kitchen to get their orders.
The brunette took a large gulp of her ale, and looked over to the pair seated next to her. Her eyes widened.
"N-Natsu? Happy?" They looked over to towards the voiced that called their names, and were stunned.
"Cana?!"