Chapter 8

" Do you want to?" Zen asked thoughtfully. Wherever she goes, he goes. He knew that she was only asking to get his opinions on leaving. That must be her solution to her problem - to leave. However, he wasn't going to influence any of her decisions. She must make them herself.

Lucy nodded. " These past days, I've been trying to decide whether to stay with Fairy Tail, leave temporarily or permanently, and stay with you...and if possible, him, instead. I've been curious since you told me, about Alvarez Empire."

" And your choice?" Zen asked, raising a curious eyebrow.

" I've thought about it thoroughly. If I stayed then I would only bring them continuous harm; but if I left temporarily then I could train with you to get stronger, and defend myself from those who want my power...but the same thing would happen again." She murmured the last part, her words brimming with sadness.

" Same?"

" The hearts would draw one another like magnets until the the two bearers of the heart meets face to face, go against the force and a continuous pain would strike your heart, possibly causing your death. I don't know, I've never reached that stage before. That mere fact that I've discovered gives me hope that Zeref's always nearby, like he's always watching me from someplace faraway from what my eyes could see. That's why I've decided that the best choice for me would be to-"

" - You don't have to choose right now. I'll bring you to Tenroujima, what happens next is your problem, your choice. If you choose to stay with us, then we'll gladly have you. But if you chose Fairy Tail instead..." he trailed off, leaving it at that. With one sharp turn, he opened the door and walked out. " Let's go, Onee-chan?"

Lucy pursed her lips, her mind left deep in thought. What was he supposed to say? This single question left her mind racing for answers. Finally, curiosiy got the best of her, and she decided to ask with great reluctance. " What... What would happen if I chose to stay?"

Zen turned his head slightly, but returned his gaze to his front in a jiffy. He started walking again, this time with a slower pace than before she sprung her question. When Lucy thought he wasn't going to answer any further, she suddenly found herself alone in the path they have recently taken together. The boy she was conversing with had suddenly gone missing.

" ...Zen?" she nervously called out to no one in particular, hoping he would somehow appear behind a tree and call back to her; but no one did.

" Zen?" she repeated, hoping this time someone would really reply. She wasn't feeling up to a hide-and-seek in a forest. Zen had lead her there, the place where he left his small ship, property of the Dark Council, when he went to Magnolia. But where exactly was her guide?

On her third call, a familiar voice replied- one which surely must have came from Zen. It wasn't his usual nice tone he used when talking to her or to the other Fairy Tail members. Instead, it was dark and icy, leaving the listener tense and afraid, which is what Lucy is exactly feeling currently.

" I'd rather not speak of it. I don't think you would like the answer. Don't worry, we wouldn't kill anyone of your nakama, but then again, it depends on the mood. It's certainly better for you not to know."

" Why?" Lucy demanded, having enough of the confusion and curiosity which clouded her minds." Why won't you tell me?"

" We're not the saints you've thought we are, Lucy-nee. Although miles behind from my brother, I too, did unforgiveable crimes punishable by the law—heck, I might as well be named the Devil's right hand. You're a smart girl, you can conclude what could happen. That's all I can say. If you follow the stone path, you'll end up on a shore with the small ship I used to sail here. I have a map with your destination in there. Take it, go to Tenrou, and decide for yourself. "

" What about you?" she asked, still not able to locate his exact location. " Aren't you coming with me? Don't do this, Zen. Come with me. You're also my friend." she pleaded, trying to stop the tears which invaded her eyes.

" I'll appear when you need me. Until then, I won't do anything to influence your decision. That is the farthest kindness I can ever give you. Please make up your mind, Lucy-nee." The aura he held when he was speaking soon disappeared, leaving no traces for Lucy to know whether he was there or not.

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

" Was that really necessary?" Gray turned to his partner who recently took down a monster with one swift punch, given that he had used his Lion Brilliance to end the fight early.

Loke smirked in return, " Ah, I could only imagine how would my sweet master react when I've valously defended her from the ugly monster!"

Gray sighed, knowing fully well about Loke's womanizing capabilities. " I wish Lucy was here. If she was then we wouldn't have to guess the path we would take, we could just follow her around and jump out when they find the first master's grave."

" Gray." Loke patted his shoulder, having appeared in front of him in a blonk of an eye. All the traces of playfulness disappeared, only seriousness ensued. " Lucy needs you."

" Me?" Gray pointed to himself in confusion. He got plenty of reasons in his head why someone would need him, but in Lucy's current state? He doesn't think he's of any use.

" All of you." The Celestial spirit cleared out which made a lot more sense to Gray. After all, his only (self-proclaimed) fault was that he was useless when it came to touchy situations. " I can feel it. She's slipping away from our fingers little by little, even our moments as her Celestial spirits are counted, and so are your days together." Loke's hands trembled at this while his scornful eyes glared on the ground beneath them.

" What are you saying, Loke? You know the reason why she lashed out at Cana last week, right? Tell us. We need to help our nakama."

" She doesn't need helping, Gray. What she needs is saving. She entered a troublesome thing, more than you can imagine, and now she's..."

" ...floating behind you." The ice-mage murmured, a bit distracted on the sight he found.

" What?! Don't talk as if she's dead! Although I do think Lucy's my guardian angel if ever she'd... that's not the point. Gray! How dare you—?"

" That's not what I meant! Oi Loke, look behind you, on the shore!" Gray pointed out. True to his words, a familiar blonde-haired woman lay on the rocky sand accompanied by the sweet tingling of her Celestial Spirit keys, probably begging them to help their master.

The blonde girl's eyes fluttered as her eyes tried to adjust to blinding light which she woke upon. A small moan left her lips while she stretched and groggily sat up, still unaware of her surroundings. Finally, blurred figures turned clear and she couldn't help but to jump back in shock.

"...Everyone." she breathed.

The first one she saw were Natsu and Gray who were just recently towering over her face, then Loke, Master, Happy, Elfman, Evergreen and the last one who was, " Cana." she whispered when their gazes met. She wanted to coop up in her apartment once again, and save herself from the embarassment of hurting her nakama. She was a Fairy for crying out loud! A Fairy's greatest taboo is to hurt their family, something that she didn't hesitate in doing. But. She gripped her fists and summoned all her courage. She needed to face this. Nothing can be changed if she kept running away.

She raised her head a little, only to see that Cana was still staring at her. " Cana, last week was, I —" she stammered, not exactly knowing where to start. She wanted to apologize for many things, but she can't do it while not spilling about her past, the curse which people run away... the curse she didn't mind having. Once she spills, there's already a chance that she'll lose the only people who have treated her as a family. She couldn't bear that. Not after everything they went through.

" —I can't do this." she finished, bowing her head in disappointment for herself. " I'm sorry. That's all I can say. I'm leaving." She turned on her heels and begun to run away. Tears were threatening to spill from her eyes, but she had to look strong. If she was leaving, she wouldn't let them see her running with her head hung low. She wanted them to see that she was ready to meet what her future holds with confidence as not to make them worry.

" Leave?" Natsu sneered at his teammate. " You're gonna leave just like that? Without even saying goodbye? or having the Farewell Ceremony? Really, Luce?!"

" Natsu..." Happy looked at his salmon-haired patner pitifully. He was the one who brought her to Fairy Tail, he became her best friend, and her teammate. In all of Fairy Tail, Natsu was the one she was closes to. It was understandable why Natsu would be mad, or mask his sadness with anger.

Lucy stopped in her tracks, but refused to turn around. " Goodbye Natsu, Gray, Master, Elfman, Evergreen, Cana... and Loke, catch." she tossed Loke something that would of value to him.

Loke caught the glistening item which she tossed. He gasped when he saw the golden key resting between his hands. He tightened his hold on it, tears running dow his face. He knew what the action meant, but he could be wrong— he hoped his thoughts were wrong. He needed to hear Lucy say it before he believes it.

" We wouldn't meet again so I'm freeing you. Stay with them as long as you like. Also, tell everyone in Fairy Tail my goodbyes. Thanks for taking care of me. Ja!" She would at least give Natsu what he wanted, she owed him that. But the Farewell Ceremony wasn't recommended. She had to leave before the tears she tried so hard to keep, falls down. Once again, she started trudging her way to the ship.

"...That's that?" Natsu glared at the silhouette slowly disappearing through the island's greeneries. " Lucy left us?"

" It was her wish. We would be selfish as to keep her with us forever when she doesn't want to. She's also suffering inside, Natsu. There must be a reason why she left. Let her face it, then if she wants to come back... we'll welcome her with open arms." Makarov spoke with hints of sadness in his voice. Seeing one of his children leave home was heart-breaking.

" Lucy is suffering? Let her face it...alone? Come back? " Natsu's subconsciously pulled Makarov by the collar with his fists wrappen in fiery flames fueled by his rage. " Like hell I'll let her!" he screamed, causing all the birds near the area to flee.

He fired his flames continuously towards the path Lucy took. Everyone thought he was going on a rampage until the they saw the familiar figure of their Celestial mage, sitting between the roots of a large tree with her arms wrapped around her knees in front of her chest.

" Found ya." Natsu smirked before thoughtlessly lunging at her, ignoring that he might crush her under his weight, or burn her with his flames. Being the idiot he was, he didn't care about details too much.

" Natsu, don't try to stop me! I'm not fit enough to be a Fairy. I have... things I can't say. Leave me alone. It's better for you if you don't get sucked in my—" Lucy threashed around beneath him.

" —Don't fucking kid me, Luce! We're your family! We're supposed to get sucked in your problems, we're ready to face your problems with you, and we're sure as hell prepared to suffer the consenquences, because that's what it means to be family! That's why don't keep us out, Luce. Everyone's been worried about you." He gave her his usual toothy grin, his winning smile.

" Ash-brain's right for once, Lucy. We're up for it no matter what it is." Gray said.

" And I have no need for a new master. I've pledged the Celestial Spirit King to protect you, your children, and your children's children till the end of time." Loke added.

" The scene last week was nothing. I've come to a conclusion that it wasn't you. The girly Lucy wouldn't hurt a nakama for no reason. So Cheers!" With one more chug of her packed booze barrel, Cana finally collapsed due to being too drunk.

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. It seemed that the burden she carried on her shoulders were starting to disappear. After giving Natsu a strong punch in the gut, she pulled him towards her and cried in reckless abandon. The others joined them moments after, with Natsu still looking like he just rode a mode of transportation rather than being squeezed to death by his teammate.

" Guess she finally broke, huh?" Gray smiled, seeing the touching scene in front of him.

Evergreen nodded. " I thought she'd cry about it sooner, but it seemed that she matured since the last fight."

" Lucy is a MAN!" Elfman cried out before grabbing them in his arms and joining the hug.

" I-I don't deserve you guys b-because *hic* I hurt my family, and F-Fairy Tail is all about family...and I can't *hic* control my power... I t-thought I can't be with y-you guys anymore...*hic* Sorry..."

" It's fine, Luce!" Natsu grinned. " There's always family brawls around. Glad that you get to be part of out brawls now! Want to fight me?"

" And don't cry anymore, Lucy." The little blue cat brought her a towel.

" Happy..." she sniffed, taking the towel and wiping her tears off. The mischevious cat has some redeeming qualities to him after all. He gave her a towel just to comfort her, or at least that was what she thought until Happy finished his actual sentence.

" —It makes your face look weird and scary." Happy finished.

" I-Is that so...?" The familiar twitching returned to her foot which gave her a sudden urge to beat up a certain blue cat; and kick them she did... along with his salmon-haired owner. " Shut up, you stupid cat!"

" Hey! Why did you kick me too?!" Natsu complained due to the pain her kick resulted. Somehow Lucy's signature kick was one of the many things he feared the most, next to Erza and Mira's demonic abilities.

" No reason. I just felt like it. I really missed you, Natsu, Happy." she subconsciously smiled which grabbed the attention of her guildmates. They were glad that the smile that seemed to be always etched in her face finally returned— a smile brighter than the sun.

" Luccccyyyy!" Happy teared up and flew into Lucy's arms on which she happily cuddled him while stroking his fur. " You're not leaving anymore, right?"

" That..." Lucy paused, remembering her main reason for leaving. " ...depends." she continued, fishing out the pendant from her pockets. " Do you remember?" she asked, looking into the eyes of her fellow Team Natsu members.

Natsu and Gray nodded while Happy snuggled closer to her, most likely remembering the day they almost died if it wasn't for her sudden magic surge. But for the sake of others who weren't with them, she explained. " I'll try to tell everything that I can remember. These past few months had been hectic with a bunch of old people trying to kill me."

" Kill? What did they want with you, child?" Makarov asked, worriedly. If he knew that she was being targetted, he would have done something sooner, and maybe then she wouldn't have to reach a point where leaving the guild was necessary for the sake of other. He sighed. She was always the kindest among them, even now.

" Listen, Master. " she convinced him to calm down, and not to let any of them react until she finished her explanation on the things that had been happening to her, but ironically, for someone being targetted... she was happy as always. "This was a cursed pendant given to me by Sir Avery, our client, who was killed by a Dark mage named..Zen, and he was ordered by the Dark Council to capture me so they can reawaken Zeref."

Her guildmates stared at her silently as she told them all about her past. Starting from how she was saved by Zeref from Acnologia's attack years ago up to the present where Zeref had recently talked to her telepathically reminding her about their heart. She told them everything, careful not to leave anything behind. The reason for her sudden power surge, her fear of the dark magic which she can't control, and apologies for the damage she had done to the guild. She didn't expect them to eat uo her explanation as if it was an everyday thing, but she hoped that they would understand, and still be able to call her a nakama. But the silence they kept made her skeptic about Fairy Tail's answer. There was a chance that they would kick her out, maybe even give her to the Magic Council since she can go berserk anytime. In the end, she just hoped for the best.

Master was the first one to say something. He held a serious expression, one that Lucy didn't paticularly like. But as soon as the words which flowed out of his mouth, his serious expression broke out into a fatherly smile. " Whoever they are-even if it is Zeref- we'll kick their asses until they leave you alive!" Soon enough, he was the energetic and perverted master she knew.

" So does that mean that...?"

" Hell yeah!" Natsu piped in.

Gray's eye twitched in annoyance. " Idiot! You slept throughout the story! And let her finish before you answer recklessly. You don't even know what Lucy's asking."

" I did not! I was still awake when she told us about the cursed pendant, Zen, and Zeref. Take that, Ice-Princess!"

" That was the very start, you flame-brain!" Gray retaliated.

" Well, whatever Lucy says, we'll always be behind her so what's the point in letting her finish?"

" And what if she was asking for your food?"

" ...Lucy, you're not asking for my food, right?" Natsu worriedly turned towards Lucy, who laughed in response.

" No, Natsu. You can have your food."

" Well, that's fine then! Let them all come. I'm all fired up! I'm not going to let anyone take Lucy from Fairy Tail." Natsu announced proudly.

Gray sighed. Sometimes Natsu was really lacking something, something like a brain. " Oi Ash-tray, how about we ask if she still wants to stay with us first?"

" So Luce, stay with us."

" Ask her properly, you idiot!"

" I did, Ice-Princess."

" That wasn't proper."

" Well, you do it then!"

" Fine, I will." Gray huffed, taking Natsu's challenge. He was sure the flame-brained idiot was already preparing to coaxing Lucy on who did it better between them. " Lucy, " he stared at her teammate thoroughly with a smile, " Lucy, you better stay with us or we'll follow you wherever you go."

Cana sneered from the sidelines. " You boys, don't even know how to properly ask a girl." she took a chug of her booze before facing Lucy. " If this is about last week, I've already said I forgive you so..." A plomp was heard signaling that Cana had too much to drink and had fainted on the Tenrou ground in the middle of asking Lucy.

Happy flew over to Lucy's shoulder. " Will you stay with us, Lucy?"

By this time, Lucy was already close to tears once again. " Yes, " she sobbed. " I want to stay with everyone, and go to even more adventures together." she cried.

" Sure." Everyone replied, satisfied with her answer.

Master nodded, quite energetically for his age. None of them would be shocked if he started feeling neckpains here and there soon after. " Whoever they are— even if he's Zeref or the God of all Gods- we'll kick thieir asses until they leave you alone!" He declared, full of conviction to his words.

Everyone laughed light-heartedly, but their dedication to what Master said were not any less than his. The present guild members thought the same thing as their master. A Fairy always will know how important their nakama was to them.

" But for now..." Master grinned. " Let's continue with the S-class exams. This time with Lucy as Cana's rightful partner."

Her guildmates gave out another cheer before they realized what the second round of the exams was about. The moment they knew what it was, everyone dispersed to look for Mavis's grave.

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

" You told me the girl will come to us herself!" A councilman demanded via the lacrima ball held by Zen who was non-chalantly laying on one of Tenrou's broad tree branches.

" I did. Now, what of it?"

"What of it?" The councilman repeated in disbelief, " What of it? The Dark Child—no, Lucy Heartfilia had just decided to stay at that guild who knows nothing but to drink, eat, fight, wreak havoc, and keep getting in the way of our plans! You better not let her go if you want to keep your position, apprentice of Zeref."

Zen smirked. " I never did say I'd let her go. Coming with us wasn't an option to begin with. I just thought it'd be amusing to see her decisions sway by the light. but of course return to its destined path. I'll have her brought to you by tonight, so as long as you continue with the abduction."

" Deliora, Nirvana, Time Arc... We've wasted too much time and resources in capturing her. Even good ol' Sir Wayvern had the paid the price for using the unstable Berin. I have warned him that the seal placed on that demon was old, but that stubborn man refused to listen. He was only one the many casualties we had. We can't let her go this time. This was the main purpose of the Ballam Alliance, killing two birds with one stone as they call it. Bring her and our Lord to us by tonight. Mistakes would not be tolerated."

Zen chuckled lightly. " Don't worry, old man. She'll still be coming to us in her own volition."

" Your plans interest me. I've been wondering how you would separate her from the pesky guild who Oracion Seis lost to."

" If there's something I discovered from the missions you entasked to me, it was ' the force called death which can separate anything and everything in its path.' Acnologia would come to the island not soon after out raid, and terminate the ignorant fairies. They can try to fight him, but I'm sure of one thing— they'll be sure not to get in our way after this."

o.O.o.O.o

Rewritten (06/15/16)

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail is owned by Mashima-sensei.

AN: This will be the second to the last chapter from the original version of the story. After the next chapter, I inserted new parts of the story because I wasn't satisfied with how fast their relationship was progressing that it almost seemed fake to me. I wanted to be more real. One with a valid reason. Sorry for the inconvenience with the unofficial hiatus and rants. Hope you'd like the new chaps!

-Vea O.o