A/N- I'm dreading this, I'm dreading this chapter so much! This has to be one of the hardest chapters I have to write. I know some of you are dreading reading this chapter, cause we all know what is to come in this chapter.

For the following chapters I will have some stories of Tawna throughout the seven years. They will skip around a bit, and some chapters will just be one story, and the other may have two or three short stories. I am only doing two to three of these chapters. There will be some other stories later after they all return as well.

Thank you all for the reviews. You all are so supportive and I love all my readers so much!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

Chapter 31

The couple of days following the departure of the S-Class trial participants, the Fairy Tail guild fell back into their usual routine, minus a few rowdy individuals. In the week following the departure, and not long after the left-over members start their bet pool.

Katawna has just finished her daily physical therapy, she is improving quite a lot. She is starting to walk more, with the help of one crutch, instead of two. It won't be long until she will be crutch free, but it may be a while until she is limp free.

Slowly climbing down the stairs, Tawna adjusts her thigh high socks and begins limps past a couple tables, before having to take a rest to catch her breath next to her two favorite adults' table.

"I still can't believe our Katawna is walking!" Wakaba grins to the twelve-year-old making her giggle.

"She's growing stronger every day!" Macao adds.

"Shut up," Tawna laughs, "You two sound like a married couple cooing over their child taking their first steps."

"Hey," Wakaba grins, "We practically raised you,"

"No, you didn't, Natsu did…" Tawna pauses, "Well, he tried." She shrugs making the two adults laugh.

"Fine, who taught you how to read?" Macao argues.

"Levy." Tawna laughs.

"Tie your shoes?" Wakaba thinks.

"Laxus," Tawna smiles.

"Manners?"

"Erza."

"How to punch?"

"Natsu, perfected by Gray." Tawna laughs, watching the two adults try to think.

"What did we teach her?" Macao asks looking to his friend.

"You two taught me how to play cards," Tawna smirks, "And I know you both regret it, cause I can kick both of your butts."

"Unfortunately, that's true." Macao laughs.

"Don't worry, you two are still my favorite," Tawna grins.

"Tawna, can you play with me today?" Romeo grins next to his father.

"Yeah," Tawna grins mussing up the five-year-old's hair, "We'll play later, I promise."

"Yay!" Romeo cheers. Tawna smiles and wave goodbye to the three and she limps her way over to the booth holding the three exceeds. Approaching the table, she sees Lily sharing his kiwi with Elie and Carla sitting quietly across from them.

"Tawna!" Elie cheers seeing her best friend sit at their table.

"Hey, Elie," Tawna smiles, scratching behind the calico's orange ear, "What are you three up to?"

"Eating this sweet kiwi," Lily says with his eyes sparking, making Tawna giggle, "I see you are getting around more."

"Yeah," Tawna sighs, "It's slow, and I'm gonna have to at least use one crutch for a few more weeks."

"You're doing great!" Elie cheers, "Did you place your bet for the trial?"

"Yup, I bet on Natsu," Tawna grins.

"I heard many in the guild were surprised you bet on him," Lily states making Tawna giggle.

"Yeah," Tawna grins, "It usually a trend for me to bet against Natsu in anything, because he always loses. This time though I think he's taking it seriously. Natsu has been wanting this for a long time. I want him to get it." Tawna smiles and glances over to Carla, "Carla you're being really quiet."

"I'm just worried about Wendy." Carla states, "I just don't know anything about this Mest person."

"I don't either," Tawna shrugs, "I've hardly seen him around the guild hall. I don't even think I have even said a word to him. But, when Wendy makes up her mind about something, neither you or me can change it." Tawna wasn't mad like Carla was, finding out she was Mest's partner. She was excited that Wendy got to go, but she is a little bitter, because if she wasn't injured, both herself and Wendy would have been partners.

"That girl didn't even speak to me the whole week," Carla huffs

"Would it kill you to be supportive of Wendy's decisions," Tawna sighs.

"Not when I'm concerned about her safety," Carla states. Tawna sighs, and decides to quite arguing with the exceed. There's going to be no changing her mind.

"Well," Tawna states standing, "I'm gonna get some food," Tawna says hobbling away avoiding an argument with the stubborn Exceed. "Elie, wanna help me?"

"Aye!" Elie smiles climbing onto Tawna's shoulder. As they leave Carla sighs and crosses her arms.

"I don't trust that Mest," Carla huffs.

"I don't like the sound of him either," Lily states, "I highly doubt he was one of the young prince's pupil's."

"I have also seen a few visons," Carla says quietly, "I think it may have something to do with the trial."

"You had a vison about the trial?" Lily states.

"Shhhh," Carla shushes, "Be quiet, I don't want to worry Tawna."

"Why," Lily whispers, "Was it something bad?"

"I don't know," Carla admits, "But whatever it was it didn't look good. I'm thinking about heading to the Island, to check on Wendy."

"If you go, I'll go with you." Lily states.

"Really?" Carla says surprised.

"Yes," Lily nods, "I want to get more information on this Mest character." Their conversation ceases upon the return of Tawna and Elie.

"Tawna, how much do you know about Tenrou?" Carla asks.

"Not much," Tawna shrugs, "Only what is in the Guild Archives. I know it's the scared ground of our guild, it's the birth and now resting place of our fist master." Tawna states poking her food with her fork.

"Anything about its location?" Carla questions.

"It's in the middle of the ocean," Tawna states, "From what I read, it's usually hidden by a magical barrier to protect the island from potential intruders."

"How long does it typically take to get there?" Carla asks.

"Takes a few days by boat…" Tawna pauses and looks to her best friend's exceed, "Wait, Carla, why do you want to know?" The white exceed just looks down from the Dragon Slayer's gaze, "Carla, you aren't thinking of going to the island, are you?"

"I just want to check on Wendy," Carla states standing.

"We should be able to get there quicker by flying," Lily states, "We shouldn't be too far behind them."

"You too, Lily," Tawna says shocked, "There's no need to check on them, Gramps would never let anything happen to anyone. Tenrou is one of the safest places for members of Fairy Tail. The power it possesses protects those baring our guild's mark, as long as the tree's roots stay intact our members cannot die on the island." Carla's eyes widen, from what she saw from her vision a week ago, the tree had fallen.

"We are just going to watch," Carla says calmly as she stands to leave with Lily.

"Carla," Tawna says turning looking to the two Exceeds now flying towards the door, "Is there something you are not telling me?"

"Everything is fine, Tawna," Carla smiles, "We'll return with everyone when the trial is over, I promise." Tawna turns around sighing as the two exceeds leave to prepare for their flight.

"Tawna," Elie's voice brings her out of her thoughts and directing her attention to the young Calico in front of her, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Tawna sighs, "I just have a feeling that she's not telling me everything."

"I'm sure everything is okay," Elie smiles, "Like you said, Tenrou is the safest place for the members of our guild."

"I guess you right," Tawna smiles pushing away any doubt.

"Tawna!" A gleeful child's voice echoes through the hall. Tawna quickly finishes her food and turns to the five-year-old.

"Okay, Romeo," Tawna smiles grabbing her crutch and hobbling back over to Macao and Wakaba's table, "We can play now,"

"Yay!" Romeo cheers. Tawna and Elie slide into the booth, and she pushes any doubts from her mind about the trial. Right now, all that matters is hanging out with her two favorite adults and favorite kid.

"Let's hurry, Elie," Tawna says excitedly hobbling around her and Natsu's home gathering her extra clothes to sleepover at Bisca's tonight.

"Calm down, Tawna." Elie grins holding the backpack in her paws as the overly excited Dragon Slayer stuffs clothes into it. "Why are you so excited?"

"Because," Tawna smiles widely, "We are getting an update on the trial today!" She hops excitedly on her left leg, then goes back digging through Natsu's clothes, "I want to know how Natsu is doing!"

"Tawna, careful," Elie laughs hoping she doesn't fall from moving around too much, "And what are you looking for?"

"I'm nabbing one of Natsu's shirts to sleep in," Tawna laughs, "Ah ha!" She grins pulling out an old black shirt, "He rarely wears them, so he won't miss it."

'We better hurry," Elie says looking out the window, "It looks like there's a storm coming."

"Okay," Tawna smiles stuffing the last bit into the backpack, and dusting off her shorts and black tank top, making sure her socks are covering her leg, and adjusting her crutch comfortably under her arm. "Let's go!" She grins.

"Aye!" Elie cheers, following the eager pre-teen out the door with the backpack in her paws.

At the Guild-

The rain outside begins to pound down around the tall building, and a few claps of thunder echo in the distance. The once lively guild is with its excited atmosphere is now still and with heavy hearts. Alzack and Bisca hold on to one another as tears run down their faces. Jet and Droy let out sobs, Max and Warren comfort Laki, and Macao holds a sobbing Romeo in his arms as him and Wakaba stand before a few members of the Magic Council.

"This can't be happening," Macao shakes his head, holding his son close, "How could this happen?"

"It is of our deepest regrets," Lahar, a high-ranking soldier of the Magic council states sadly.

"Has anyone searched the area?" Wakaba presses.

"Not yet," Lahar states, "We plan to send search parties out in a couple of days, but from what we saw, the island had vanished." Macao's head drops slowly sighing heavily then glancing to Wakaba.

"How are we gonna tell her?" Macao asks with a few tears escaping his eyes. Wakaba can't even answer, and just turns away wiping his own tears from his eyes.

"If you don't mind me asking, tell who?" Lahar asks, "Is not everyone in the guild present?"

"No," Macao shakes his head, "Katawna," he says sadly, rubbing his crying son's back.

"She's Natsu's little sister," Wakaba says.

"the one who just lost her leg?" Lahar says placing the description with the name, receiving nods from around the guild.

"Her whole team, best friend and brother were on that island," Macao says looking down to the ground, "I can't even imagine how she is going to react."

"Hurry Elie!" The cheerful voice of Tawna echoes outside the guild, gaining the attention of those within.

"Slow down, Tawna," Elie laughs, "It's you're gonna slip in a puddle." The guild's doors push open, letting the cold air rush into the room. And coming through them is a smiling Tawna and Elie.

"I'm back!" Tawna cheers using her magic to dry her and Elie off. Looking up to the guild with smiling eyes, she's met with an emotional weight that is hanging over the guild. "What's going on" She asks looking to her guild mates. Many of them look at her with hurtful expressions and tear stained cheeks. Her eyes fall to Macao and a bawling Romeo, "Macao, what's going on?" She says weary.

"Katawna," Macao says with a heavy voice.

"Are you Katawna Dragneel?" Lahar asks stepping forward.

"Yeah," She says quietly, "What are you doing here?" She recognizes him from Nirvana when he arrested Jellal.

"We unfortunately do not come bidding good news," Lahar says sadly.

"News?" Tawna asks, "What's going on?" She asks again.

"We have come from Tenrou, there was an attack." Lahar states, "The island is nowhere to be found, as are those who were participating in the trial."

Thunder crashes followed by a flash of lightning as Tawna's world come crashing down around her in a furry of fire. Her crutch and the backpack fall to the ground, and the sound echoes loudly through the still guild.

"No," Tawna breaths, "No," She feels her breathing quicken, and her head swimming, "They can't be gone." She says with tears falling from her eyes and the sound of Elie's sobs ring through her ears. "It can't be true," Her tear blurred eyes look up to another pair of eyes watching her, "Macao, please tell me it's not true, it can't be true!" She sobs. Macao closes his eyes and tears stream out of them, and sucks in his lips trying to hold back his own sob.

"Tawna," He cries shaking his head.

"Macao, no!" Tawna screams.

"Tawna, I'm sorry," Macao says. Seeing her react this way is breaking his heart. She's gone through so much already, she doesn't deserve to go through this too.

"NO!" Tawna shouts turning from the guild and limps out into the pouring rain leaving her crutch behind.

"Tawna!" Elie cries.

"Katawna!" Macao and Wakaba shout as she limps out of sight. The members of the guild pauses for a moment looking at each other, then jump to their feet.

"Tawna!" They all shout running out of the guild trying to follow their hurt Dragon Slayer. The remainder members all pour out into the outside the hall looking furiously for Tawna.

"Katawna!"

"Where are you!"

"Come back!"

"Where could she have gone?"

"I'll check the Dragneels' home!"

"I'll check the dorms!"

"I'll take the river!"

Macao stand watching as his guild all sprint out into to the rain searching for Tawna. He stands in the door way with his now sleeping son, who has cried himself to sleep, his eyes searching for the pink head in the rain.

"Where could she have gone?" He asks Reedus who has taken a spot next to him, "She couldn't have gotten far."

"Give me Romeo," Reedus states. Macao looks to the artist, and carefully passing his son to him, "Go find her." Macao nods and kneels grabbing her crutch from the ground and sprints out into the rain with the rest of the guild.

"Katawna!" He shouts sprinting out to the town.

Not far from the guild hall, resides an emotionally unstable Katawna. Before anyone followed her out of the guild she darted into the forest beside the guild. Tears stream down her face and mixes with the rain pelting her face. She limps her way through the grey forest, pushing her way through foliage and mud. Coming to a small bridge and stream she falls to her knees letting out a sob. Through the rain and thunder she can hear the shouts of her guild mate as they search for her.

"No!" Tawna sobs, "This can't be happening!" She looks to the water and see her refection, but instead of seeing her face, she sees Natsu's. "AHHH!" She screams slamming her fist against the water, freezing it instantly. She crawls over to the bridge and take shelter from the pounding rain.

"Natsu," She bawls pulling her knees to her chest, burying her face into her knees. "You can't be gone, you just can't." She sobs. Thunder and lightning clashes above as she lets out a scream she had been holding in followed by hard sobbing. She doesn't know how long she has been gone, but the air is becoming cooler and the sun is beginning to set, but the rain has not let up, the storm is getting worse.

"Tawna," A small voice catches the girl's attention. Raising her tear stricken face, she is met with white and orange ears.

"Elie," Tawna says with her lip trembling. Her exceed is soaked through, and shivering. Elie runs to Tawna, wrapping her arms around her neck, sobbing into her shoulder. Tawna quickly dries the calico with her magic, not even bothering to dry herself off, and lets more tears stream down her face.

"Everyone is worried about you," Elie hiccups between sobs.

"I-I can't," Tawna stutters, "I need to be alone," She cries, holding Elie close. "This can't happen, Elie." Tawna sobs, "I can't lose, Natsu… or any of them."

"We're gonna be okay," Elie cries, griping to Tawna's soaked shirt.

"Nothing is gonna be okay," Tawna sobs.

3 Days Later-

The rain still pelts down around the mourning guild as they enter the now empty guild hall. Macao places Romeo down into an empty guild and Wakaba enters behind them.

"It's been three days," Macao sighs as he turns on the lights through the darken guild hall. A few more members follow behind them including Alzack and Bisca, Max, Warren, Reedus, and Jet and Droy.

"She couldn't have gotten far." Wakaba sighs setting Tawna's crutch down against the table.

"She's devastated," Bisca sighs.

"That girl has been through so much, just in the last couple of weeks," Macao sighs, "She shouldn't have to go through this."

"We need to look for her again," Jet says with tears welling up in his eyes.

"Yeah," Droy adds, "She's been in this storm for three days."

"Umm, I don't think we have to look for her," Wakaba says pointing to the sofa in the back corner of the guild.

"Macao," Elie cries slamming into his neck crying into his shoulder.

"Elie?" Macao says surprised, then glances to the sofa. "Tawna," He sighs in relief walking over and kneeling in front of the old couch. Tawna lays fast asleep with a thin blanket drape over her small body. Her large eyes have dark circles surrounding them and flushed tear stained cheeks. Tawna moves slightly in her sleep, letting out a couple coughs.

"I tried to get her to come back earlier, but she wouldn't," Elie cries. Macao places the back of his hand against the girl's cheek then against her forehead.

"She has a fever," Macao sighs looking down to the ground.

"She's been out in this weather for three days," Bisca states.

Looking back to Tawna, a couple more coughs come from her lips. Causing her body to wake and shoot up erupting in hacking coughs. She catches her breath and pulls her knees to her chest burying her face within.

"Tawna," Macao says softly. Tawna looks up and is met with his sad eyes. Tears begins to well up in her eyes, spilling over her already tear stained cheeks.

"Macao," She rasps as she wraps her arms around his neck sobbing.

"Oh Tawna," Macao says as his own tears leave his eyes as he hugs the girl back. Hearing her sobs makes those in the guild lose their own tears.

"They can't be gone," She sobs with a couple coughs escaping her raspy throat.

"I know, Tawna," Macao cries placing a soft hand on her pink hair, trying to calm the girl's sobs. Slowly, the guild members all wrap themselves around Tawna. Trying to find some comfort in this tough time. Starting from that day, the Fairy Tail Guild will never be the same, and neither will a little Dragon Slayer.

A/N- This was hard to write. Not gonna lie. I'm a bit emotional, so I don't really have much to say. Please review. I love hearing your support.