The guild was onto its usual behaviour like every other day, but it was not the same in so many ways. Mira smiled but she felt a little lonely at not being able to see Lucy who over the years has become a sister like Lisanna. Levy missed her best friend who she could talk about everything and nothing, Evergreen missed her shopping partner and the first person to accept her back even after everything she did. Wendy missed her older sister and all the soothing nights she spent at her place when she missed a motherly figure in her life. Cana didn't say anything but to her Lucy was the only person who understood. Even Juvia missed lucy because, after all the mean things she said to her regarding Grey she was so kind to her, She always invited her for outings with the rest of her friends.
Team Natsu kept quiet, apart from the usual bawls started because off the two main characters. It became a pact between all those present during their encounter with Future Rouge to keep quiet about what happened. Erza felt like she failed to protect her but she was secretly happy for lucy for trying to train herself. She knew from experience that how much pain holding on to the past can cause, She would support Lucy in anything. After all, it was like the five of them are like siblings, a separate family in Fairytail.
Grey was mad at himself for not realising sooner how Lucy had felt. He knew what not being able to protect the ones you love felt like. And even though nothing like that happened in Lucy's life he somehow knew how she was feeling. If someone asked him why he was so protective of her was because it was Lucy. She took care of them, when they were sick, when they were sad she didn't try and cheer them but just sat with them, not wanting them to feel alone in their downtime. Lucy was the one who brought them together. Everyone in Fairytail is completely serious when they say that one smile from her brightens the whole room. He missed Lucy but he respected her decision to become stronger. He was her brother, not a bodyguard who would stop her from being able to protect herself.
As for Natsu, he was just worried and a tiny part of him was scared, hoping and praying to Mavis that lucy comes back to him. He won't be able to tolerate if she left him. Sure he saw her as his sister but in the bigger picture, she was his best friend. She understood him, his moods, his anger, his happiness, him. He loved her so much, as a friend, as a person, as a mage. Lucy was important. A smaller part of him was also hurt that she just left with a note, but he understood why she did it because if she told him face to face that she was leaving for a while he is sure as hell he would not have let her leave. Even happy would whimper at night and cry a little saying he missed her. Sure they teased her and irritated her but to them, Lucy was just so precious.
Also, One thing all the dragon slayers noticed was how lost Laxus was these days, he would not talk or even come down to drink in the afternoons. He locked himself in his office working on paperwork his grandfather gave him. He just felt so lost without her. He knew she was safe and training out there somewhere but he missed her so much. They way everyone greeted her when she came to the guild in the mornings, how her eyes always shone so brightly, her smile, her personality, her scent. People may think he is a creep but sometimes he would go to her old apartment and stand under her window taking in deep breaths of her lingering scent. His dragon was raging yet whimpering, not liking his mate was away from him. He understood, her wish to get stronger but to him she was perfect.
Laxus felt his chest hurt so painfully at the thought of anything happening to while she was out there training but damn he was confident that his woman would come back in top shape and stronger than ever. Laxus took it upon himself to know everything about her magic because it was related to her and also it was becoming a lost magic concept. He was more than fascinated and impressed when he found out how much power it took to just open a gate and his chest swell with pride that his Lucy was a very powerful mage but only required the correct training to make her the strongest in the guild and even Fiore for that matter.
It has been Four months since she has been gone and now he understood the meaning of soulmate. He never realised how much her presence meant to him until she is gone. Those Two-three weeks during which she went on a mission with her team were much easier than this. He often saw her face in his dream, holding her hand out for him and smiling, both of them sitting on the couch at his house and cuddling while drinking tea or coffee during the rainy day, her walking around the house barefoot, swollen because of her pregnancy, carrying his children. It was all about her.
And damn Laxus vowed to himself that he would do anything for Lucy.
A lone figure on the cliff, smiling as she looked at her home. The guild visible from where she stood and her heart swelled at the utter feeling of happiness as she just looked at the building and her now waist-length hair behind her ear before gently playing with the concealing jewellery Ari-chan gave to her with a few other things.
"I am more than happy that you finished your training Lucy, You are a truly amazing mage." The brunette smiled sadly at the blonde while gently stroking her hair. " My time in your world has come to an end, and i need to go, but before that, i have a few things for you." She opened her palm and Lucy gasped as she saw the three items in her hand. A pair of earrings, a small bracelet and a book.
"The earrings with concealing your magic so that you can take your time and wait till you want to tell your friends about your new abilities. The bracelet is a gift from me to you as a protection spell meaning that in case, under certain circumstances you are unable to use your magic then it will protect you. and last, this book has the answers to any doubt about your new magic. I made it even safer so only you can read it and to any ordinary person it would come out blank." Lucy was dumbfounded and felt her heart pick up speed as she took the things from her.
She then felt the similar white light in front of her until she was at the station where they started their journey. "It has been a fun, Lucy. I hope we meet again." Before the brunette could disappear she was tackled into a tight hug and for the first time in many decades, she felt sad leaving.
" Thank you Ari-chan. For everything." If Lucy could actually express her gratitude in words it would take a day for her to properly thank her. She helped her overcome her insecurities and become a better person and an even better mage. Lucy felt like she would forever be in debt to her.
Both stepped back and with a watery smile shook hands.
"Good-bye Lucy." She closed her eyes to stop the tears and she knew when she would pen them she would be gone. She promised herself to become the person Ari-chan trained her to be.
A sigh escaped her lips and she swallows the lump in her throat before she started walking again. It was almost 5:30 and she knew that she could meet everyone before they started going back home. With new determination, she starts running towards the guild, a big smile on her face that it would melt a stone.
The Guild was lively as ever but not so much since everyone missed the residential Celestial Mage. Mira leaned over the bar talking to Levy and Cana when they heard a crash. They quickly looked over to where Wendy was sitting and saw her still as a statue. Before they could ask anything Laxus stepped out of his office breathing very hard. Natsu and Gajeel stopped fighting and seeing the behaviour of the dragon slayers the guild was in full alert mode.
Wendy felt her eyes become teary and she hopped off her stool and ran towards the door, at the same time a figure came running inside. The guild was shocked when the Little sky maiden launched at the person and hugged her tightly, but in return, all they heard was the familiar giggle.
A gasp was heard and then before she could even stand up, she was embraced from all sides all her friends laughing and crying at the same time.
"Lucy!" It was the first time the guild saw Erza out of her armour as she pulled the girl up and hugged the living daylight out of her. Lucy looks her with tears in her eyes before she whispers under her breath, "I am Home." Smiling so brightly that nearly everyone in the room went swoon. She saw Grey and Natsu stand in front of her almost glaring, trying to control their smiles. Lucy nervously chuckled and waved at them.
"Hey, Guys... Sup?" walking towards her Grey lifted his hand up and stroke her head smiling at her before flicking her forehead hard. " If you leave the next time without saying goodbye, i will drag your ass back and lock you up in a tower, understood." Pulling her ear she winced and nodded trying to swat his hand away making the others smile at them. Before Grey even stepped aside she was picked up and pulled in for a bear hug making her laugh when her best friend spin her around but stopped midway and a shiver went down his spine and quickly put the blonde down. " Luigi! I missed you." he ruffled her hair and smiled the boyish smile that Lucy could not help but smile back.
"Where is happy?" the blonde asked as she looked around missing that the blue ball of irritating fur didn't knock her over. Natsu put his had on her shoulder, " He went out with Lily to run an errand for Mira." making Lucy nod in understanding.
They walked inside and she was greeted by all the guildmates but one, Laxus. This made her look up at the third floor and she saw his handsome figure standing so still, one would mistake him as a statue, his eyes following her like he was a hunter and she was his prized prey. It sent delicious shivers down her spine. She smiled at him and did a little wave before she a rather large hand slapped her ass, making her yelp and glare at the master who was smirking as he sat next to Gildarts who looked at her with quite some interest.
"Lucy my child, you have changed so much. It is good to have you home." His lewd expression changed into a warm one and this time he patted her head.
then he hopped on the top of the table and shouted, " WHICH MEANS ITS TIME TO PARTY!" causing cheers to erupt from everyone and lucy to smile.
She was home.
Laxus was in his office staring at the wall once again. He finished all the paperwork an hour ago and now his thoughts wandered back to Lucy. His Blonde. 'See you soon.' She said. he shook his head and stood up to stretch his muscles when he felt it. The familiar tug in his heart that told him she was here. He would actually cry if it was not true but when her scent entered his nose he didn't even wait a second before he rushed out of his office.
Then it was like time stopped for him when he saw his little mate being tackled into a hug and oh the sound of her laughter sent him at ease. All his tension was forgotten and he felt calm for the first time in Four months.
He took in her appearance and swallowed hard when he saw how much she has changed. From Mini skirts and revealing tops too tight leggings that did justice to her legs and that wonderful ass of her and the halter top which showed her new Abs. His stomach churned when he saw how beautiful she looked and he longed to hold her.
He saw her with her friends but could not stop the quiet Growl that escaped his throat when Natsu hugged her, making the fire dragon immediately put her down and earning a Gihi from the tin head. But he could care less because Lucy was his, and damn he nearly fainted when she smiled at him.
Laxus knew that if he didn't do anything about it he will lose whatever control he has over his dragon and have his ways with her like a caveman.
Mavis he loved her.