CHAPTER 29: LUCY'S RESOLVE
"Everyone looks to be really happy, Lucy." Said Happy as all Fairy Tail mages celebrated.
"You can say that again." Said Ryuu.
"Yeah…" said Lucy. Ryuu and Happy looked over at Lucy and saw that she looked upset.
"Lucy?" wondered Happy.
On top of Phantom Lord's destroyed building Natsu and Gajeel are lying on the ground.
"Hey, can you hear me, Gajeel?" asked Natsu.
"I can't hear nothing." Said Gajeel. Natsu got up and walked over to the edge while Gajeel was breathing heavy.
"So where exactly did you learn Dragon Slayer magic?" asked Natsu.
"I said I couldn't hear you!" exclaimed Gajeel.
"I've never met anyone who used the same magic as me. You could at least tell me that much!" said Natsu.
"Oh, shut it." Said Gajeel. Natsu screamed in anger. "Metalicana."
"Huh?" wondered Natsu.
"The Iron Dragon, Metalicana." Stated Gajeel sitting up.
"What?" asked Natsu. Natsu fell of the ledge he was on and landed in front of Gajeel. "I knew it! You were taught by a dragon?"
"You too?" questioned Gajeel.
"So where is it now?" asked Natsu.
"Who knows?" wondered Gajeel as he looked up at the sky making Natsu angry.
"Where is it now?!" yelled an angry Natsu while Gajeel covered his ears.
"I said I didn't know!" yelled Gajeel in which they butted heads making them wince in pain. "Man… Just talking to you makes my brain turn to mush."
"Say that again!" exclaimed Natsu making Gajeel sigh.
"It disappeared. One day, Metalicana suddenly vanished. Without saying a thing. Man… What a selfish jerk." Said Gajeel shocking Natsu.
"Wait, that wasn't seven years ago on July 7th, was it?" asked Natsu shocking Gajeel.
"Wait… Do you know where Metalicana is?" asked Gajeel.
"Not a chance. I'm looking for Igneel, a fire dragon. He also disappeared seven years ago on July 7th." Said Natsu shocking Gajeel.
"Seven years ago… Year 777, Month 7, Day 7… On that day two dragons disappeared…" stated Gajeel. Natsu came up to Gajeel and head butted him in frustration.
"Why is it a bunch of sevens lined up?!" exclaimed Natsu.
"How the hell should I know?" questioned Gajeel. They both backed away from each other and held their foreheads in pain. "Not like I care anyway."
"If you're leaving, then scram already." Said Natsu making Gajeel angry.
"This is our guild! You're the one that should get out!" yelled Gajeel in which Natsu stood up.
"Man, why so picky?" complained Natsu.
"Get out now!" exclaimed Gajeel as Natsu started walking away.
"Give me a call if you find anything about Igneel, okay?" asked Natsu.
"Why the hell should I be nice to you, huh?" asked Gajeel making Natsu stop walking. Natsu turned and faced Gajeel.
"Because we're both Dragon Slayers!" stated Natsu.
"Don't give me that crap! Next time we meet, I'll kick your ass! I guarantee it! Make sure you've said your prayers." Yelled Gajeel.
"You're dangerous, you know that? I thought that we could call it even now and make up…" said Natsu.
"You're the one that's dangerous! Just look at what you did to our guild!" exclaimed Gajeel.
"Well, you busted up our guild first! I knew it! I give up on making nice with you!" exclaimed Natsu.
As the sun sets Makarov sighs as he looks at the destroyed Fairy Tail guild.
"They've really made a big mess now…" said Makarov. Lucy walked up to Makarov.
"U-Um… Master…" said Lucy coming forward. All of Fairy Tail looked back at Lucy. Makarov looked at her and saw her face.
"You've really had a tough time, I know." Said Makarov. Levy, Jet, Droy, and Reedus walked up.
"Don't give us that face, Lu-chan!" said Levy. Lucy turned her head shocked to see Levy. "We're back!"
"Levy-chan!" exclaimed Lucy.
"Everyone worked together to beat them." Said Levy.
"Although the guild was destroyed." Said Droy looking at the guild.
"We all just need to rebuild it." Said Jet.
"Oui." Said Reedus.
"You guys…" said Lucy.
"Sorry for making you worry, Lu-chan." Said Levy in which Lucy shook her head.
"No! This is all my…" protested Lucy.
"I heard. Not one person here thinks this is your fault, Lu-chan." Said Levy.
"On the other hand… I'm sorry I couldn't be more help to you and Ryuu." Said Reedus. Lucy looked down about to cry.
"Lucy." Said Makarov. Lucy looked up and looked over at Makarov. Gray walked over to Lucy and place his hand on her shoulder.
"Fun things, sad things… We can't share everything, but what we can, we should share… That's what it means to be a guild. A single person's happiness is everyone's happiness. A single person's anger is everyone's anger. And a single person's tears are everyone's tears. You have no reason to feel guilty. Lucy… You should be able to tell how everyone feels…" said Makarov. Lucy covered her face with her hands and started crying. "Raise your head! You're part of the Fairy Tail family."
Lucy removed her hands from her face and continues to cry. Lucy turns and Gray hugs her and she continues to cry into his chest. All of Fairy Tail looked at them making them smile. Ryuu stepped forward and placed his hand on Lucy's head petting her.
"Ryuu?" questioned Lucy crying.
"Don't cry Lucy. Try and remember you are a Heartfilia. Ketsu and Jose don't deserve the tears you are crying." Said Ryuu. Lucy turned her head and Ryuu looked at her in shock to see that her eyes were back to normal. "You're eyes… their back to normal."
"But how?" asked Lucy.
"You're eyes we're red from the moment Natsu found you up until this very moment. Unless…" said Ryuu. He turned to look at Gray.
"What? You know the reason her eyes turned back to normal?" questioned Gray.
"Ryuu." Said Makarov.
"I have a theory. However I won't know for sure until I talk to Kaoru." Said Ryuu.
"I see. Thank you Ryuu for everything." Said Makarov.
"No problem. However with that being said I best be heading back to Lumiere." Said Ryuu as he started walking away. He stopped and looked at Lucy. "Lucy… When you are healed I suggest that you come home to Lumiere."
"What?!" yelled Fairy Tail in shock.
"Relax. She needs to return to Lumiere, so Kaoru can redo the seal on her." Said Ryuu. Ryuu looked at Gray, Natsu, and Erza. "Can you three make sure she doesn't use any magic until that time. You were lucky you're magic didn't possess you. Honestly between you, Kaoru, and Keiji I'm not sure who gives me more of a headache. Also, be prepared to get yelled at Kaoru when you do come back as I can imagine he's not going to be very happy."
"R-Right…" said Lucy sweat dropping.
"Well until then…" said Ryuu in which he vanished.
"H-He disappeared." Said Natsu shocked.
"My family has the power of teleportation. However currently only father and grandfather can use it." Explained Lucy. Makarov looked at Lucy and smiled.
"Anyway… We went bit overboard… This is going to seriously anger the council…" said Makarov. 'Or wait, if it goes poorly, maybe even imprisonment…' Makarov started crying shocking the entire guild.
"Master!" exclaimed Erza.
One week later
"It's been one week since our battle with our Phantom ended. We've finally gotten back to our peaceful days…"
For the past week Gray has been staying with Lucy until he she is better.
"You sure you want me to go? I'm still worried about you." Said Gray. He looked at Lucy as she sat at her desk.
"Relax Gray I'm fine. Sore but fine. Besides right now everyone at Fairy Tail needs help rebuilding the guild." Said Lucy making Gray sighed.
"Fine. I know when I can't win against you. I'll come back later with the others okay?" said Gray.
"Okay." Said Lucy. Gray kissed her on her forehead and walked out of Lucy's apartment.
"Everyone, let's take a break!" yelled Mira carrying drinks.
"Although after it happened, it's been super tough. We were rounded up by the council's army, the Rune Knights."
Flashback
"This isn't good." Said Wakaba.
"They've already caught wind?" questioned Macao as Cana sweat dropped.
"Run for it!" yelled Natsu as he and Happy tried to run away.
"Aye, sir!" exclaimed Happy. However they were caught in a magic circle by the rune knights.
"That's not going to work Natsu. You can't get away from the Run Knights." Said Mira as Makarov cried.
"Master, hang in there!" exclaimed Erza.
Flashback Ends
"We were all dragged to the army post to be interviewed about what had happened. Every day they would question us, but finally after a week, it calmed down. It seems like Fairy Tail's punishment will be handed down from the council at a later date. But, don't worry Mom. I don't think it'll be that bad of a punishment. Since the circumstantial evidence and witness reports all point to an attack from Phantom."
Lucy winced in pain. Lucy pulled her shirt up and revealed bruised on her ribs. "I sure hope these bruises goes away…" Lucy looked out her window and saw a mother bird feeding a baby bird.
"So, mom… Do you think Ketsu was really behind the whole thing, pulling the strings? I know what he's like, but to go this far… No, he would do it. He wouldn't have any problem with this. But after thirteen years why would he suddenly try and capture me after doing nothing? It's not like he cares about his family personally." Said Lucy as she wrote a letter. Lucy turned her head and looked at a locked box she had on a shelf. 'Mom… He'll do it again, won't he? Using the family name… That… I couldn't…'
Over at the construction site Natsu is trying to carry eight timbers but he fell from the weight making Happy sweat drop.
"Oh, my…" said Mira.
"That's because you tried to carry so many at once, idiot." Said Gray carrying one timber making Natsu angry.
"What did you call me?" asked Natsu.
"You wanna go?" questioned Gray.
"You're carrying them so daintily!" argued Natsu. Erza then hit them on the head with one timber.
"You, over there! Less talking, more working! We're going to rebuild Fairy Tail ASAP!" exclaimed Erza knocking Gray and Natsu into the ground making Jet and Droy sweat drop.
"Okay…" said Gray and Natsu.
"Erza's really into it…" said Droy.
"She can requip into an outfit like that?" questioned Jet as he noticed Erza was wearing a constructors outfit.
"Master's also really getting into it!" exclaimed Levy. Makarov was in his giant form helping with the structure.
"He sure is!" exclaimed Jet and Droy.
"Foreman, where do you need this timber?" asked Erza.
"Oh, over there!" exclaimed Makarov pointing to where he wanted the timber.
"Who is she calling foreman?" questioned Jet and Droy. Gray and Natsu got themselves out of the ground.
"Damn it! I hate losing!" complained Gray and Natsu.
"Ooh look it's whack-a-mole!" exclaimed Happy pointing at Gray and Natsu.
"Wait…" said Macao looking at the structure along with Wakaba.
"Isn't it kind of big?" questioned Wakaba.
"While we're at it, we're also expanding. See? Here's what it'll look like when it's finished." Said Mira holding up the drawing of the new guild.
"Seriously?" questioned Macao.
"Let's have a look then." Said Wakaba.
"It would be fine without changing it." Complained Natsu looking at the drawing.
"What kind of guild is it going to be like?" asked Gray as he, Macao and Wakaba looked at the drawing as well. They looked at the drawing and sweat dropped as it made no sense.
"This is another…" said Wakaba.
"I don't really get it." Said Natsu confused.
"But man, this is really crappy. What idiot drew this?" questioned Gray. Mira smiled at him in which she started crying making him freak out.
"Oh, it was Mira-chan!" exclaimed Gray trying to stop Mira from crying.
"You made her cry again." Said Natsu, Macao and Wakaba.
"And such is Gray." Said Happy.
Gray was sitting taking a break as Natsu stretched.
"I'm starving!" exclaimed Natsu.
"Aye!" said Happy.
"Time to eat?" questioned Gray. Natsu and Happy were then hit by a stream of water in which a lunch box appeared in Gray's lap.
"What's this?" wondered Gray.
"I'm soaked!" complained Natsu.
"It's a lunch box!" exclaimed Happy.
"A lunch box?" questioned Gray. He opened the lunch box and looked at it in shock. The lunch box had his face in it along with hearts scaring Gray. It also slime coming out of it.
"That looks good!" exclaimed Natsu.
"I know! This is what we call a character lunch!" exclaimed Happy.
"Can I actually eat something this insane? It's dripping something…" questioned Gray.
"Then give it to me!" said Natsu. Erza appeared behind them glaring at them.
"Who said you could eat?" questioned Erza. She then noticed Gray's face on the lunch box and calmed down. "Is that one of those character lunches?" She then stuck a fork in Gray's face in the lunch box making Gray freak out.
"This isn't bad. Give me some more." Said Erza eating.
"Really? Then I'll eat it too." Said Gray. Loke then walked up to them.
"Natsu, Gray, Erza…" said Loke. They turned and saw Loke holding Lucy's keys. "Would you mind giving these to Lucy? They're her keys."
"Loke. I was wondering where you had gone off to." Said Gray as Loke handed him Lucy's keys in which he put them in his pants pocket.
"You've been searching for her keys the whole time?" questioned Natsu.
"Are you okay? You don't look good at all." Said Happy noticing his face.
"I'm fine but thanks. Sheesh… It's hard being a male feminist…" said Loke.
"Lucy isn't here. Her injuries still hurt her. She can move a little but…" said Happy.
"This morning she didn't want to admit that she stills in pain." Said Gray.
"Really? How about we go check on her then? You come too, Loke." Said Natsu.
"I'll pass. You know I can't handle wizards who possess Celestial Spirit magic." Said Loke walking away.
"Really? But Lucy's still Lucy." Said Natsu.
"Natsu. We all have our weaknesses. Don't pry." Said Erza as Gray stared at Loke walking away.
Loke is walking away when he feels a dark presence. 'Karen… Must you be in such a rush? I…'
Gray, Natsu, Erza, and Happy all arrive at Lucy's apartment. Natsu and Happy came in through the window.
"Lucy!" exclaimed Happy.
"You feeling okay?" asked Natsu.
"Don't come in through the window!" said Gray walking in through the door. The two of them turn and see Erza already here drinking tea making them sweat drop.
"He's right. Enter through the door, people. The door." Said Erza.
"And what the hell are you doing?" questioned Gray and Natsu.
"Aye." Said Happy sitting on Lucy's bed. They looked around but didn't see Lucy anywhere.
"Huh?" questioned Natsu.
"That's weird she was here this morning when I left." Said Gray.
"And besides that, she would be freaking out if she was here." Said Erza.
"That's true." Said Happy.
"Unless she's in the bath.." said Gray.
"Well out of all us you are probably the only one who wouldn't get hurt if we walked in." Said Happy.
"Not all the time." Said Gray walking towards the bathroom. He pulled the curtain aside. "Pardon the intrusion!"
"She ain't here." Said Natsu sitting in the bathtub shocking Gray.
"What the heck are you doing?! And get out of there!" yelled Gray.
"Maybe she went out?" wondered Erza done taking a bath as she appeared in a towel.
"Why did you come here, again? And anyway she was too sore to be moving around right now." Said Gray.
"That is true." Said Erza.
"Without Lucy it's not the same here." Said Happy.
"Lucy where are you?" wondered Gray.
"Lucy!" exclaimed Happy as he opened Lucy's underwear drawer. He looked down and froze at what he found.
"Hey, you…" said Natsu walking over. He looked down and froze. Gray walked over to them and gave them a look. Erza walked over as well and blushed when she looked down.
"What are you people doing?" questioned Gray. He looked down becoming nervous. "T-That's…"
"There's underwear like this?" questioned Happy.
"Luce… You couldn't find a better hiding place?" muttered Gray.
"Gray! When would she wear such a thing?" questioned Erza.
"Do I really need to answer that?" asked Gray embarrassed.
"How about when you're eating?" questioned Natsu.
"No way, no how." Said Gray, Erza, and Happy.
"Anyway, this is dangerous. Close Luce's drawer already." Said Gray. Erza turned away from the drawer and noticed a letter on her desk.
"Lucy, come out!" yelled Happy.
"Where have you been searching?" questioned Gray. Happy knocked down a chest and a bunch of letters fell out of it.
"What are those?" asked Erza.
"Letters?" questioned Gray.
"Gray did you know about this?" asked Erza.
"No, she never told me about them." Said Gray.
"Mom, it's been three years since I joined Fairy Tail…" said Natsu reading one of the letters.
"Hey Natsu, don't go reading those!" said Gray.
"Two years ago, a girl by the name of Erza joined. She's cool and pretty. Then Natsu and Gray…" said Natsu as Erza blushed. Gray kneeled and picked up one of the letters.
"That's strange that all of these letters are to her mother considering she died thirteen years ago." Said Gray confused.
"Yeah that is strange." Said Happy.
"I wonder why she never sent them?" wondered Natsu.
"I found a note." Said Erza. Gray, Natsu and Happy looked over at Erza and saw her holding a note. "Look, Lucy left a note. "I will go home." It seems."
"Say what?!" yelled Gray, Natsu, and Happy shocked.
Lucy is walking towards Lumiere when she remembers thirteen years ago, the day her mother was killed.
Flashback
A woman with blonde hair is laying in her blood while a young Lucy is shaking her.
"Mom! Mom! Wake up!" yelled a crying Lucy as she constantly shook her mother's dead body while being watched by a man with black hair and red eyes. Suddenly a man with brown hair and brown eyes came up to him.
"Daemon, nicely done." Said the man with brown hair.
"I don't need thanks, Ketsu. However honestly asking me to kill your own daughter, you're lucky I happen to hate Kaoru with a passion." Said Daemon in which Ketsu smirked.
"Layla hasn't been my daughter since she met Kaoru and had his kids. You're work is done, Daemon" Said Ketsu.
"Don't forget to pay me a visit for the payment." Reminded Daemon in which he vanished. Ketsu walked up to Lucy as she cried on her mother's body.
"Lucy…" said Ketsu. Lucy looked up crying.
"H-How could you? Why? Why did you have mom killed?" questioned Lucy.
"You don't need to know why. Now give me the power that Layla gave you." Said Ketsu with a dark look. A dark flash appeared in front of Lucy revealing to be Kaoru.
"Oh, Kaoru finally made it did we?" asked Ketsu. Kaoru looked at the ground and saw his wife dead.
"Ketsu I knew you were twisted but to do this… To kill your own daughter how twisted are you?!" exclaimed Kaoru. Ketsu laughed in response.
"I disowned Layla after she refused to stop seeing you. As far as I'm concerned my real daughter died years ago." Said Ketsu. Kaoru walked up to him. "What? Want to ask why?" Kaoru punched him in the face with so much force he sent him flying into a boulder destroying the boulder in the process.
"Let me be clear on one thing. You come near any of kids ever again I promise you I will kill you. If you step any where near Lumiere or even try to do anything against my children then I promise you I will kill you. The only reason I am letting you walk away is because of Layla as she believed that the real you is still in there." Said Kaoru scaring Ketsu. Kaoru walked away from Ketsu picked up Lucy and kneeled in front of his wife's dead body and place a hand on her. "For the rest of your life live in isolation with knowing that you just caused grief to your family all because you wanted power." Kaoru then vanished along with Lucy and Layla.
Flashback Ends
"Lucy!" yelled a voice. Lucy turned around and saw that is was Ryuu.
"Ryuu." Said Lucy.
"I had a feeling you would be coming soon. Come on let's get you to Kaoru." Said Ryuu as he headed for the entrance to Lumiere in which Lucy followed.
"You know I didn't come here just to see father." Said Lucy.
"Yes I know that. Despite what Makarov said I knew you would've eventually returned on your own. Ketsu has been a problem that we should've dealt with a long time ago." Said Ryuu.
"Then why did you…" said Lucy. She looked up and saw that they reached the entrance to Lumiere.
"Because you're my granddaughter and now exactly how stubborn my family is. I knew that even if you were hurt you would've come here even when I said to wait until you were healed." Said Ryuu giving her a look.
"You know that…" said Lucy.
"That you're still recovering. You're lucky that Meira just returned the other day." Said Ryuu. Ryuu sighed and looked up at the sky. "Anyway come on let's get home."
"R-Right…" said Lucy nervous.
"Don't be nervous. Now come on." Said Ryuu. Lucy and Ryuu walked through the city of Lumiere, the people of Lumiere stared at Lucy in shock.
"Hey is that…"
"It can't be…"
"It is but why is she back after nine years."
"Don't know but it looks like there's something wrong."
"Well who could blame her with what Ketsu just recently did."
"Ryuu." Said Lucy getting Ryuu's attention.
"Don't pay any mind my dear. The people of Lumiere are just worried about you. They all heard what happened with Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord." Said Ryuu in which Lucy nodded. They walked in silence to the Heartfilia Family Headquarters. Lucy stared up at the place in silence.
"Is it like you remember?" asked Ryuu.
"In a way. It's just I never thought that I would return home like this." Said Lucy.
"Trust me neither did we." Said Ryuu. He and Lucy walked through the front door. They headed towards Kaoru's office. Ryuu knocked on the door.
"Yes?" asked Kaoru.
"Kaoru. We have a visitor." Said Ryuu.
"Father I already know. Bring her in." said Kaoru. Ryuu brought Lucy into Kaoru's office. Lucy looked up and saw her father staring at her with caring eyes.
"Dad…" said Lucy.
"You've grown up my sweet little girl." Said Kaoru. Ryuu smiled as he left Kaoru's office.
"Ryuu told me what happened. I never thought that Ketsu would ever go these lengths just to get your mother's magic. Sorry, Lucy." Said Kaoru.
"Why are you apologizing dad?" asked Lucy.
"I was the one who decided to let him live instead of finishing him…" said Kaoru in which Lucy shook her head.
"No dad! Mom wouldn't want that. As much as we hate him I don't think any of us could ever bring ourselves to kill him." Said Lucy making Kaoru.
"Fairy Tail has been good to you. You are yourself again." Stated Kaoru. Lucy looked at Kaoru confused. "When you're mother was killed you hardly ever smiled or talked so I figured the best thing was to let you do what you wanted and you always spoke of Fairy Tail. I knew you would get over the aftermath of you're mother's death while being there."
"Kaoru!" yelled a voice. Kaoru's office door was slammed open and revealed a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. "Father said that Lucy is…"
"…here." Kaoru finished. The woman stared at Lucy for a moment before running up and hugging her.
"Aunt Meira can you ease on your grip." Said Lucy being crushed.
"Sorry. I'm so happy to see you. Anyway father said you got hurt let me fix you up okay?" said Meira shocking Kaoru. Lucy saw Kaoru's face and sighed.
"Don't worry dad the man the Ketsu worked already got a punishment from Makarov. And besides I didn't get a chance to tell you I thought grandfather would have told you." Said Lucy.
"No he didn't." said Kaoru upset. Meira sat next to Lucy and began healing her injuries.
"Don't be upset Kaoru. She'll be fine in no time. Be lucky our family has fast healing abilities." Said Meira.
"I know." Said Kaoru.
"By the way what are you going to do about Ketsu?" asked Lucy.
"I already have him captured in the dungeon of the headquarters. Let me guess you want to talk to him." Said Kaoru.
"Y-Yeah…" said Lucy nervous.
"Lucy you don't have to." Said Meira.
"No… I have to. Besides I need to talk to him about something." Said Lucy.
"Fine." Said Kaoru in which he sighed. "However I hear anything I don't like I'm stepping in, got it?"
"I know. By the way where's Ciana I haven't heard her since I got here." Said Lucy.
"You're sister will be back later on. Be lucky she's not here, otherwise she wouldn't want you to leave." Said Kaoru.
"There you all good." Said Meira. Meira turned her head to look at her brother. "Kaoru?"
"I know Meira." Said Kaoru. Meira handed him a knife. Kaoru squeezed the knife in which his hand started to bleed. "Now it's time for me to redo the seal on you."
Lucy walked down to the dungeon. She opened the door and sighed and walked towards a holding cell. She looked inside and saw Ketsu inside.
"Ketsu." Said Lucy. Ketsu looked up and was shocked to see Lucy.
"So you did return after all? You truly are Kaoru's daughter." Said Ketsu with anger.
"You haven't changed a bit have you Ketsu?" asked Lucy.
"You honestly expected me to change. I will eventually get the power that my daughter gave to you. Let me guess you came down to talk to me in hopes of changing my mind. Well after what Kaoru did to capture me let me tell you my mind will never change." Said Ketsu.
"You are mistaken Ketsu. The only reason I have come down here to talk to you is to show you my resolve. I admit the way I left Lumiere nine years ago was wrong, but I couldn't be here anymore. In a way it was no different than just running away. So this time, I'm going to tell you exactly how I feel before I leave!" said Lucy.
"Lucy!" exclaimed Ketsu.
"I might be a Heartfilia, but I'm going to walk my own path. Not one that father or mother would have me do. As they would both want me to do what my heart wants. Don't go and decide that I'll just give you mother's magic. And… Don't ever think about laying a finger on Fairy Tail again!" exclaimed Lucy. She punched the wall next to Ketsu's cell. "The next time you do… I, and everyone else in the guild, will consider you the enemy! If you didn't have mom killed and attacked Fairy Tail then maybe we all could've been more civil with you. But it's too late now. You've hurt my friends and family far too much. What I want isn't to be praised for a magic that I have, or to be treated differeny just because I'm a Heartfilia… Fairy Tail is my other family, and has been for the past nine years. They've recognized me as just Lucy and not eldest daughter of Kaoru Heartfilia! I've found someone who loves me with everything he has and friends who love me as a sister! Fairy Tail is more loving to me than you ever were to any of us! I only lived in the headquarters for nine years, but leaving the home where I remember mom was extremely difficult. Father, Aunt Meira, Aunt Nura, Grandfather Ryuu, Grandmother Kumiko, Keiji and Ciana… It was really hard to leave back then… But… But, you see… If mom was still alive… I believe she would tell me "You go do what you want to do."
"Layla…" muttered Ketsu.
"Mom believed that the real you would come back one day. Maybe she's right but for now this is farewell, grandfather Ketsu." Said Lucy leaving the dungeon.
Lucy stood in the Heartfilia cemetery iin front of her mother's grave.
'Mom… Thank you…' Lucy looked up and smiled. "Now then…"
"Lucy!" yelled four voices shocking Lucy. "Lucy!" Lucy turned and saw Gray, Natsu, Erza, and Happy running up to her shocking her.
"Why?! What are you guys doing here?" questioned Lucy. Happy jumped into Lucy's arms crying.
"Were the ones that should be asking that!" yelled Natsu.
"Sorry, but let's just leave it at I had to take care of something personal." Said Lucy.
"Very well." Said Erza. Happy flew and landed on Natsu's head. Gray hugged Lucy shocking her.
"G-Gray…" said Lucy.
"Don't do that to me again. You had me worried." Said Gray.
"I'm sorry." Said Lucy making Gray smile. Gray looked at her and noticed she wasn't wincing in pain. As he let go of her
"You're injuries are they all healed?" asked Gray.
"Yeah my aunt Meira fixed me right up." Said Lucy.
"Well let's get out of here then." Suggested Natsu.
"Wait!" yelled a voice. They all turned and saw a girl with black hair run up to Lucy. "Onee-chan!"
"Ciana!" exclaimed Lucy shocking the others. Lucy looked over and saw her family looking back. Ciana hugged her sister tight knocking Natsu and Happy out of the way while Gray and Erza got out of the way.
"Oww!" yelled Natsu as he rubbed his head.
"I think I'm seeing stars." Said Happy dizzy. Ciana was out of breath after running up to her sister.
"I thought you weren't supposed to be back until later." Said Lucy.
"Yeah I was but aunt Meira said you were back so I rushed home. I wanted to see you before you left." Said Ciana.
"Sorry Ciana." Said Lucy.
"Do you have to leave right now?" asked Ciana.
"Ciana…" said Lucy. Kaoru sighed walking over to them.
"Ciana, let you're sister go." Said Kaoru.
"Father." Said Ciana.
"You two are never apart, you two will always be together through your bond, right?" questioned Kaoru in which Ciana nodded.
"Are you…" said Erza in shock.
"Yes allow me to introduce myself in person this time instead of through a lacrima. I'm Kaoru Heartfilia, head of the Heartfilia family and Lucy and Ciana's father." Said Kaoru.
"What?!" yelled Natsu and Happy.
"It's nice to finally meet you in person Erza, Natsu and Happy. Gray it's nice to see you again." Said Kaoru.
"You too." Said Gray.
"Hey dad?" asked Lucy.
"Yes?" asked Kaoru.
"The seal you put on me it's not as strong as the previous one is it?" asked Lucy shocking everyone as Kaoru smiled.
"Kaoru don't tell me you…" said an elderly woman.
"Mother calm down. I have my reasons I believe when it comes time for Lucy to control her darkness it'll help if she can control the rest of her magic." Said Kaoru.
"But…" protested Lucy.
"Relax. I know you'll be fine. The only magic the I put a seal on is your mother's magic and the dark magic." Said Kaoru.
"You mean to tell me brother you didn't put a seal on the eye magic." Glared a woman with black hair.
"No I didn't Nura. Eye magic is crucial as she has to control that on her own. However for some reason I was unable to place a seal on every magic except her dark magic and Layla's magic." Said Kaoru. Lucy and Ciana gave each other a worried look. Kaoru walked up to Lucy and Ciana and places both hands on top of his daughters heads. "Don't worry you two. I believe your brother will soon come back to us. So the time for the two of you to face your darkness will soon be upon us. Until then be careful." Everyone smiled at what Kaoru did.
"By the way did you and Ryuu figure out why my eyes stayed red for so long?" asked Lucy.
"Yes I did. From what I was told in the past couple weeks your eyes have turned red when the seal should've prevented that. From what I've seen with Keiji after a certain age your eyes will only go back to normal if you have a strong connection with someone." explained Kaoru making everyone confused.
"Dad what do you mean?" asked Ciana.
"Well this didn't start happening until Lucy turned seventeen, right?" asked Kaoru.
"Well yeah but it didn't actually start until we were on Galuna Island and I lost control of myself." said Lucy.
"I had found Lucy and had made her angry and once I mentioned Gray her eyes turned back to normal." said Erza.
"Yeah and when me and Natsu found her after being captured her eyes didn't turn back to normal until she was in Gray's arms after we defeated Phantom Lord." said Happy.
"But what does that have to do with anything?" asked Natsu.
"Everything. Basically Gray is the strong connection I was talking about. As long as he's near her or his name mentioned she'll snap out of it. However it has to have a strong connection you just can't do it on a whim." said Kaoru in which Lucy nodded. After saying goodbye Natsu, Gray, Lucy, Erza and Happy left the Heartfilia headquarters and headed into Lumiere to get back to Magnolia.
"I'm really sorry I worried you guys." Said Lucy.
"Don't worry, it's our fault for jumping to conclusions." Said Erza.
"I guess we were worried for nothing." Said Gray.
"Happy was crying the whole time." Said Natsu.
"You were sobbing too, Natsu!" said Happy.
"N-No I wasn't. But still Kaoru's presence is truly something." Said Natsu.
"You can say that again his presence alone is truly terrifying. But I can see he also loves you and your sister, Lucy." Said Erza.
"He really does care a lot about his family. Heck I remember when he set you and I on a mission. Where it was mostly just to grill me on asking you to be my girlfriend. That day still gives me nightmares." Said Gray.
"It's just how he is. I fear he's going to be worse on Ciana when she starts dating." Said Lucy.
"No doubt. But sheesh, what a huge city. You and I didn't come this way a year ago." Said Gray.
"For being such a large city, it really is calm and peaceful. Does your family run the city?" said Erza.
"No we don't, according to father he has enough work with just being the family head. The city is ruled by a close friend of father's. However the city itself can rival the capital, it's the largest city in Fiore but it's the second most populated. Maybe it was a good idea to stay at my family's home instead. The sun is almost setting and by the time we get out of Lumiere..." Said Lucy shocking the others. "What's wrong?"
"All hail, Princess Lucy!" exclaimed Gray.
"Said it like it's nothing!" exclaimed Natsu. Lucy looked at them in shock.
"Natsu and Gray have been beaten! Captain Erza, please, give your orders!" said Happy. Erza sighed as she looked up at the sky.
"The sky sure is blue…" stated Erza.
"Captain Erza's malfunctioning!" exclaimed Happy making Lucy laugh.
"To mom up in heaven, I'm doing well. You know what mom? I don't think I can live without the man I love or my friends. After all it's because of you and dad that's Fairy Tail is apart of me! Since you met dad when he was still a Fairy Tail member! So mom thank you!"
