P.S: Italics are for thoughts. Mostly Lucy's thoughts really in this case. Either way, enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 1: Leaving From Betrayal

Lucy's P.O.V:

I sighed once I entered the guild, nobody greeted me, again. The guild was as rowdy as always; Natsu and Gray fighting, dragging other members into their brawl. Mirajane was wiping cups and beer mugs behind the counter, Levy and Team Shadowgear went on a mission yesterday, Happy was probably hunting for fish for Charles, who's visiting Porlyusica with Wendy, and Lisanna was just sitting at the bar. She was staring at the fight with a smile on her face, I walked over towards her, taking a seat.

"Hi, Lucy! Morning!" Lisanna greeted and I felt my lips turning into a small smile.

"Good morning."

"You're going on a mission today?" Lisanna asked and I nodded.

"My rent's coming up, I need to go to as many jobs as possible."

Lisanna was about to say something else, but Mirajane tapped my shoulder, forcing me to look up to her.

"Do you want anything, Lucy?"

"A strawberry milkshake will do, as usual."

Mirajane then glance at Team Natsu, where Natsu and Gray were hugging each other, trying to convince Erza that they were the best of friends and that they weren't really 'fighting'.

"Just give them some time, it'll all be alright at the end," Mirajane stated with a sad smile. She stalked off, still holding a dishcloth and a wooden mug, while Lisanna stood up and looked at me. "I'm just going to help Mirajane, the members are drinking twice as much alcohol compared to yesterday."

"Go ahead," I replied before walking towards the missions's board. The available jobs are mostly escorting someone safely to a certain location, try to dispell a hex or rune, and capturing a band of bandits. My eyes continue to scan the board with wary eyes, then I spotted a mission that would surely cover my rent. So I grab it and race towards Mirajane, who has just finished making my strawberry milkshake.

"Thanks Mira. I would like to do this mission please," I handed the white parchment paper to the white-haired barmaid.

"Please find our village's stolen money and defeat the mages that stole it. Reward: 120,000 jewels," Mira read it out loud then she crinkled her forehead together in worry. "Are you sure you'll be able to handle this Lucy?"

"Mira, I've been training for a while now, I'm sure I can handle this," I explained.

"Alright then," Mira began to relax a bit as she stamp the paper before handing it back to me. "Still, please be careful and come back soon."

'Maybe I won't come back,' I thought, then I shook my head. I won't just get up and leave with all of my friends not knowing, well friends that notice me. I turned around and noticed that Team Natsu is gone, the table they occupied a few minutes ago at the center of the guild is empty. A plate clean of crumbs of strawberry cake from when Erza was eating earlier is on the verge of shattering to the ground since it is on the edge of the table.

Not caring about the team right now, I was about to go home and pack up a few things for my mission when I heard a low growl, quiet but loud enough for me to hear coming from who know's where. I raise my eyebrows and look behind my shoulders to see the back door slightly open. Sunlight poured in from the gap and another hush voice sounded from behind it. Curious, I went over to the door, my instincts told me to find out what's happening, but my heart is telling me to just turn back and prepare for the job. I wish I knew which one was right but hearing Natsu's voice made me gulp, it was more serious than I've ever heard before. Natsu isn't the kind of guy that would act seriously, unless absolutely necessary like in an emergency or in a fight. This proves that it's Team Natsu that's talking and probably Natsu made that growling noise earlier. I peek through the door, getting ready to run if Natsu, Gray or Erza would notice me.

"What do you think?" Erza started. She was staring at the two other boys, waiting to hear their response.

"I think we have a point here," Gray mumbled, he barely made eye contact with Erza when he spoke. 'What are they talking about?'

"Sure," Natsu said with intensity. At this case, he's so into what they were discussing about before I came that I'm starting to feel he won't detect me eavesdropping.

"Natsu?! Seriously?" Gray exclaimed. He seems pretty shock, his mouth was slightly agape.

"Well, Luce is weaker than Lisanna, so yeah, we could just kick her out of Team Natsu. It won't be such a huge loss," Natsu explained. That shattered my heart into a million pieces, my eyes were stinging from sudden tears that's starting to well up inside my eyes. It feels as if I was tied to a thick wooden stake being burned slowly by a scorching fire. It was painful, so painful to hear that from your own comrades. You could burn me alive, you can stab me with a knife, you can smash me against a concrete wall and make me jump off a cliff, but it's nothing compared to how I felt right now.

A single tear fell from my left eye and landed on my cheek, I quickly wipe it away. I'm not going to look weak. I saw that Gray and Natsu were talking to each other with voices that grew more vicious by the second.

"Enough! We need to make a decision! But I've got to say I think it is also best to kick Lucy out of the team," Erza said and the two males stopped, this time, they didn't bother acting like they were true friends. Erza... Why? I always think you're my own sister...

Before anyone of them could say anything else, I sprinted from the door towards the master's office upstairs. Mirajane and Lisanna stared at me with confused and worried faces as to why I'm running like my life depends on it. Believe it or not, it's true.

"Lucy, where are you going?!" They both called out after me, but I didn't reply. I was scared that if I open my mouth I would start sobbing and act as if I'm the damsel in distress. I've been protected, cared and shielded like I'm a fragile little princess for a very long time, and I'm done with that.

Soon, I was upstairs, I speed walk to Master Makarov's office, hoping to reach there in less than half a minute.

"Where are you going?"

I stop dead in my tracks, my hand is balled into fists, I swear if I keep tightening my grip blood would start pouring out from my palms and fingers.

"Just to see Master."

"What for?" Laxus added. He's sitted on a chair near the second floor railing, his team was nowhere in sight.

"It's not important," I let out. I let out a silent whimper and I hoped that Laxus wouldn't hear it or just ignore it and let me go my way.

"You look like you're going to have a breakdown and about to punch someone to death," Laxus snickered, but there was sympathy in his voice.

'I will if you don't let me go to the office,' I wanted to shout at him. "I'm just going. Leave me be."

"Hey-" But I cut him off by running into Master's room, shutting the door behind me with a bang.

Master was sitting on his desk, in his hands are complaints of Fairy Tail's rowdy guild 'activities' as the council calls it. He almost immediately look up when he heard the door shut.

"Oh Lucy. What is it?"

"I-" I could barely say what I was about to say, but finally I let the words flow out of my mouth in a calm, but hushed tone. "I want to quit the guild, it seems as if the members don't need me anymore."

A moment of silence filled the room ancould now Master's face is a mixture of shock, surprised and grief without looking at him, instead I was staring at the floor.

"What?!" There he goes. "Why- You want- You want to leave...?"

"Yes."

"Tell me who doesn't want you anymore Lucy," Master said. He seems angry, like he wants to rip someone's head off.

"Promise you won't... 'Punish' them?" I asked. Even though Team Natsu thinks I'm weak, I still care for them, even if it's just a little bit.

"I won't. Promise," Master stated after a few seconds.

"Team Natsu- particularly Natsu says I'm weak and that it won't be so much of a loss if I'm kicked out of the team."

"That Natsu! He'll regret what he said eventually-"

"No!" I stretch my arms and wave my hands in denial. "He's- he is right. I've been training but I guess it wasn't hard enough..."

"Lucy! Never think you're weak, you're the strongest celestial- no, one of the strongest people I've ever met!" Master was now standing on top of the table and jumped down to the hardwood floor.

"How? I bet everyone here can easily defeat me," I commented.

"You need to stop thinking like that Lucy," Master made his way over to me.

"But still... I want to leave. To get stronger, improve my abilities."

Master sighed,"If that's what you really want... Come here."

I followed him towards the desk and he motioned for my hand. I slowly gave it to him, staring at the pink guild mark. Master Makarov wave his hand atop of mine and a peeling, but other than that nothing, sensation occurred. The guild mark faded into the air in a flutter of golden sparkles, it feels strange to not have the symbol anymore. I wipe the back of my right hand with my left, tears threaten to fall, but I push them back again.

"Remember the rules, Lucy," Master said.

"I remember, you discussed it with me last time."

"Good," Mast- Makarov's face was sad, full of agony, and it makes me want to cry,"We'll miss you here. You'll visit sometime right?"

"I think so, but not often," I said.

"Good luck in your journey, my child. And remember, if you have any problems, feel free to contact us."

"I'll keep that in mind," I smiled a small smile and turned to leave when Makarov called my name. He ball his hand into a fist and extended his thumb and index finger outwards, it's the farewell sign.

"I'll miss you guys too," I muttered under my breath and did the same action with my now plain right hand. I knew I'll miss the brawls, the jokes passed between the guild members, the laughter, the warmth of being with those who I care for since the very beginning. Most of all, I'll miss everybody I know, the people who I'm going to left behind.

But I'm going to start a new life, to become what I wished to be. And I know I won't regret it...

Author's Corner

CrystalDT Angel: So how about my first chapter? I've got lots of exams this semester, so I won't update much. Anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter of my first fanfic. See you!