Anger and hurt boiled up in Lucy's chest. She knew she hadn't been this furious or heartbroken since Tartaros. They'd all survived, but the physical and emotional scars ran deep. So many were lost. So many barely survived. So many they would never see again. Guilt and pain surrounding the loss of Aquarius' key. Then her world was shattered even more. Her best friend and team leaving her behind. The guild disbanding. She too, after that announcement, snuck off into the night. Wizarding became secondary to her. She still trained, but it didn't hold the same joy it once held. Nothing really held any joy for her. She was a lost soul in living the best she could for now in Crocus.
Writing for Sorcerer's Weekly was a welcome change of pace. She'd run into the Strauss trio a number of times, knew where a handful of her other friends and nakama were, but tried to keep her former wizarding life at arms length. She wasn't sure she could handle another heartbreak like that again.
Turning back to stare at her trophy from ladt night's gala, Lucy remembered her first journalistic accolade. There was no party, just a big manilla envelope that she hadn't opened yet. She had hastily grabbed her mail on the way out of her appartment on her way to a writing assignment in a town close to the Blue Pegasus guild hall. The interviewee requested meeting at that guild because of it's location to another appointment they had later that day and the general ambience of the place. Lucy begrudgingly agreed. The whole inteview was much quicker than Lucy anticipated so she had about six hours to kill before she needed to catch her train back to Crocus. Master Bob was tending bar as usual. The blonde celestial mage had not touched a drop of alcohol in the eight months since she left her old life behind, but figured she might as well celebrate. "Master Bob! One glass of champagne please!" Lucy giddily requested. "What are we celebrating today Miss Lucy?" the master asked with a wink. "Well my dear Bob, in this plain manilla envelope holds my first award for a journalistic endeavor. Best junior editor or some nonsense like that. It's just a fancy certificate I can hang in my office... if I ever actually get an office someday." "Well, here you go Lucy dear, and you should be proud. I read your articles all the time and know you worked hard for that accolade!" Master Bob scolded. Lucy reached over the bar and gave the rotund cross dressing master a heartfelt hug, kiss on the cheek and thank you. The old master blushed and left the curvy bombshell to her solo celebration. Lucy had just taken her first sip when she felt IT. That tingling electric sensation ensconced her body and she didn't need to turn around to know who was walking up behind her. "Laxus!"