A/N Hey guy so this chapter is like two days after the Strauss sibling's mission ended and will have flashbacks. So yeah thanks for reviewing and I don't own Fairy Tail!

I will.

I will.

I will.

The words tore through Lucy's head as she stumbled in the rain. Two of the three Strauss siblings had just come back from their mission a couple of days ago with the worst news ever.

"She's gone. We tried to protect her but we couldn't." a sobbing Mira had said as she sank down onto the wooden guild floors. Elfman stood behind her with guilt written all over his face.

"It was all my fault." The silver haired male said mournfully.

That was when Lucy stormed out, dragging Ursula with her. The exceed was somewhere close but was also too distraught to care about much anything. Now they were ambling through Magnolia's forest. Lucy didn't know where she was going but any place was better than the guild. The guild where her best friend had been for so long. The guild with her brother in it: the brother who lost the girl he loved. She couldn't stay there any longer. She was a leaf and the wind was carrying her away again. No one would miss her.

"Where should we go?" Ursula finally asked.

"I see a cave. We should train for a while and prepare ourselves. I don't want anyone I love to ever get hurt again." Lucy said firmly before marching off in the direction of the small carved landmark. With a sigh, Ursula followed. That was her job. Follow. She would follow her partner anywhere.

-888-

"Two years. She's been gone for two years. Both of them have." Natsu stated glumly from his spot at the bar. He was now sixteen years old and a strong young man. His companion at the bar smiled thinly.

"I'm sure Lucy is fine. If she wasn't I would know." Mira said reassuringly to pinkette. She was once a spunky goth but over the two years she mellowed out and became the bar maid.

"How?" He squinted suspiciously and only then did Mira realize what she said. Before Lucy and Ursula had left the exceed slipped a communication lacrima in Mira's pocket with a note that said it was for emergencies.

"My womanly willies." Mira joked it off while wiggling her fingers. Natsu shot her a disgusted look before taking his flaming chicken leg and walking over to Gray. Mira shook her head and was about to go back to cleaning down the wooden bar when a scream pierced the air. Everyone turned toward the doors with alarmed looks.

"What are you waiting for brats?! Go find out what happened!" Makarov barked out and immediately Natsu was off. Gray and Erza followed at his heels and the three reached the park on the west side of Magnolia. Tied to the biggest oak tree was Levy. Jet and Droy were beaten on either side of her. On her pale stomach was a guild marked written in blood.

"That's the Phantom Lord symbol." Erza said gravely. Her two male companions were still in shock when the rest of the guild came.

"Take them to the infirmary at once!" Makarov roared. Natsu, Gray, Elfman, and Macao grabbed Team Shadow Gear before rushing off. Soon only Mira and Makarov were left.

"I have waited two years and that has been long enough. Our members have now been injured and I know Lucy will be able to help. Can I finally call her?" Mira asked the Master while pulling a pink lacrima from her pocket. There was never a day where it wasn't there.

"Fine. I miss one of the calmer brats." Makarov said but was still smiling. After receiving his permission, Mira flipped the lacrima on and saw Ursula's face.

"Hello! What happened?" Ursula asked worriedly. From behind Ursula, Lucy walked forward and into the lacrima's screen.

"We are under attack and need your help." Mira said bluntly.

"Who got hurt?" Lucy asked seriously.

"Team Shadow Gear. Levy, Jet, and Droy." Makarov chimed in. Lucy's fists clenched and her eyes were shadowed.

"Okay. I'll be there in twenty minutes." Lucy said before the lacrima disconnected.

"Twenty minutes. She was only twenty minutes away this entire time?" Mira asked to herself in disbelief.

"We should get back. Will this be a surprise?" Makarov asked with a twinkle in his eye.

"Of course." Mira smiled deviously and raced off to the guild.

-88-

"It's been two years. Are you ready?" Ursula asked with a grin.

"Sure." Lucy waved it off and walked up the sidewalk until she reached the Fairy Tail doors. Everything about the place screamed happy but the energy was somber.

"Then let's enter." Ursula replied calmly and the two entered. Heads swiveled to see the mages. A faint whisper broke out among the crowd.

"Luce?" Natsu finally addresses the girl in the doorway. Gone was the tiny, flat-chested, and muscle-less preteen. In front of them stood an average height, big chested, and beautiful woman.

"It's me. Now who attacked Team Shadow Gear?" Lucy asked calmly. Mira stepped forward with a light pen and began to write in midair.

"The guild Phantom Lord. They have numerous members and most aren't that strong. The only ones we need to worry about are Element Four and Black Steel Gajeel. These five are the fiercest warriors and practically run the guild. We are breaking into their headquarters tonight." Mira explained. From her spot in the middle of the guild hall Lucy nodded.

"Then let's get ready," Lucy said before heading back to the door. "I assume my dorm at Fairy Hills is still under my name?" She questioned.

"Of course." Mira told her and Lucy smirked as she left the guild hall.

"Damn she's changed." Gray thought aloud.

"She seems more aggressive but less defensive if that makes any sense." Erza agreed.

"That's what time does I guess. It doesn't heal our wounds but it changes us enough to move on." Mira said thoughtfully. Everyone else looked at her with slight pity before going to get ready.

It was time for a guild battle.