The sun was nearly at the sky's peak. People had already filled the streets, spreading the rumors of Fairy Tails return. Whispers passed a long that many of the members had joined the counsel and others have completely disappeared. No one knew if things were going to ever get back to the way they used to be. Ever since Fairy Tail had disbanded, Magnolia had been quiet, very quiet it seemed. The frequent roars and laughter from the frivolous guild was something that completed the town. Now it is as ordinary and quiet as any other.
Some of the towns people had already noticed a few of the guild members passing through. Everyone seemed delighted to see familiar faces. Maybe things were going to return to the way they used to be. Or so the town began to believe. Eriza had already began forming networks and missions to find everyone. Lucy had already done the bulk of the search, all that needed to be done was to contact them. Of course, there were some who were still missing. Some were easy, being apart of another guild and such.
It was almost time for everyone to meet up to discus their next move. Everyone was already inside the guild, waiting. Eriza and Gray were already hovered over the large map, pins on everyone's location. Wendy and Juvia sat watching. Juvia, though, had only eyes for Gray, whose shirt was already off. Of course Natsu was late as ever, over sleeping they thought. Yet it was odd to see that Lucy was late. Really late. Everyone didn't want to begin until both had joined them. It would be better if Lucy was there to inform them of her research over the past year. It was just last week they had finally returned to Magnolia. This was their first time really getting to look at the map.
Creaking of the guild door swung open, allowing light to sweep inside. The windows had fabric on them and some were boarded since it had been abandoned. Because of that, little light came inside. Natsu let the door shut behind him before he walked to the table with Happy. No one was upset he was late, it was only planning after all. Although Natsu could see they were disappointed to see that Lucy was not behind them.
"As glad as I am to see that you made it, I was hoping that Lucy would be with you..." Eriza sighed.
"...I thought she was with you..." Natsu yawned caused by a recent nap.
"Is she still sleeping?" Wendy began to find a reason why their blonde friends had yet to join them.
"Maybe she went Fishing!" Happy drooled, wishing for his own gourmet fish.
Eriza shook her head. "If she were to go anywhere, she would of told us. Especially if it meant skipping this meeting...Lets check her house, for a start..."
It didn't take the group long to make it to the apartment. Her window was open and her curtains swayed from the outside wind. Inviting themselves in, they could tell that Lucy was not home. Every light was shut of and the apartment was completely silent. Everyone started to search the house for any hints, but of course curiosity always got the best of them. Natsu and happy though, invited themselves to her kitchen.
"Everyone!" Wendy called out, with a small slip of paper in her hand.
Handing it to Eriza, Wendy waited for her to read.
"She said she left for her old estate...why would she go back there?" she wondered.
"It's July already?" Gray said, glancing at the note. "Ain't today when her mother passed away? She must have wanted to see her parents since she has been away for so long..."
"You think its okay for her to be alone?" Carla asked the group of mages.
"We should accompany her!" Wendy suggested. "I bet she would be happy to see us!"
Everyone had agreed to take the long ride to the Heartfilia estate. Despite the fact that they would arrive so late. Just one minute flew by once the train started to move and Natsu was already leaning out of the window. Windy tried to treat his nausea, in vain. Almost the intire ride there, Natsu was complaining about the ride. Saying that he would never ride a train again. Everyone made small talk about their year apart. How Wendy and Carla joined Lamia Scale and everyone's mission's to make ends meet. The old guild mates were laughing and talking like they were never separated. Fairy Tail will always be Fairy Tail, nothing will ever change. Fairy Tail was something more than just their guild name, it was a bond, a permanent stamp. Had things truly changed?
The long train ride seemed like minutes and they were already facing the Heartfilia estate. It was dark out and the moon shone of the cobblestone road to the large mansion. Fireflies danced to the sounds of crickets over the beautiful flower gardens. Everyone had wondered if she had already gone to a hotel in the next town. Yet it was too late for her to of walked back to the train station. It was even later for them to find a place to stay and Natsu was still recovering from the train ride there. Upon walking to Lucy's mothers grave marker, as well as her fathers, they noticed a small flower sitting below it.
"oi!" Natsu called their attention. "Its open..." Gestured to the mansion and made his way inside. It was completely dark inside. The air reeked of dust and abandonment. No lights were on, even the power had been shut off. Natsu used his flames as a flashlight to help guide them. Through out the mansion, many of the old photos were taken off the walls and furniture was covered with dusty white sheets.
"Are you sure she is here?" Wendy asked, peeping into an empty room.
"The door was open, might as well check... and if not we can stay here for the night..." Eriza told her.
Wendy shivered at the mention of sleeping in such a creepy place. Cobwebs hung from the walls and ceiling, there were even spiders and other bugs lurking about the long hallways.
Approaching the large double doors of the large office, Natsu noticed the doors to had been opened. A small hint of light squeezed through the doors from the moonlight shining in. A soft whisper echoed from the other side, familiar and warming. Pushing on the door, the voice became louder for everyone else to hear.
"When I'm alone in this cold night, I think about no one else but you. It's still too painful for my heart to bid goodbye, so I suppress my longings for you and go to sleep. Through the same repeating days, I was healed by your smile countless times. Because I want to see you, I think of excuses, and although I don't want to bid goodbye, I think about the end...Let's make a promise, that on our path from this point on, we would always be smiling. Your voice... Your arms... The days when we cannot meet.."
Natsu stared into the room, listening to the song floating in the cold air. The other stood behind him, in awe. A silhouette stood, looking out the windows at the bright moon in the dark night sky. The silhouette turned and faced the door. Natsu's flame grew brighter and highlighted the blonde hair of their fellow guild member. Tears threatened to fall down her cheeks. No one had words to exchange. Even Lucy could do nothing but let them look at her.
Black markings covered her pale skin and her eyes were no longer a warm chocolate brown. Now they were a bright red and cold. She was not surprised to see her friends. It seemed she expected it more than not. They were members of Fairy Tail after all, going around, doing as they please. Always barging into her home. Lucy laughed, knowing it was just like them. Her laugh threw everyone off, who were not so high spirited.
"I'm sorry..." she said, trying to hid her smiled. "This is hardly the time to be laughing, but I can't help it! You guys haven't changed at all!"
"What happened to you!?" Natsu asked her sternly. He knew something was wrong, very wrong.
Lucy's smiled faded away and she looked down at the markings on her body.
"I have always wondered why my mother had died at such a young age, my father never would tell me..." she sighed, leaning on the large windows. "She was strong, a powerful and kind mage...I knew so little about her because my father sheltered me from everything, but now I have come to realize the truth...Now that I know the truth, it saddens me to know I can't go back."
"Well we can stay and help you work things out like always!" Happy said, trying to sheer her up.
Lucy glared his way with her piercing red eyes. He stepped back and let her cool down. She was obviously bothered by something, she was not acting like the Lucy they knew. Noticing their hesitation, Lucy took a breath leaning off of the large windows. Everyone had concern in their eyes, wanting to help her some how. There was little they could do, and yet, they wanted to console her to return the Lucy they knew.
"I'm sorry Natsu.." she breathed to herself.
"I am saying goodbye...I am leaving Fairy Tail!" She announced raising her right hand, scarred over with black.
~I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its contents~ please comment and don't be afraid to say any of your thoughts :) thank you!