Lucy's POV

Natsu started making his way towards the barrier. I can't peel my eyes off of him, but I managed, and always can, to keep a straight face. He took one last glance at me the moment he entered the barrier, all hyped up and ready. I certainly didn't want a competition but guess what happened? This happened. I saw one of the living nightmares coming back to my life just because they're in my school, just bullshit. And that asshole just smirked at me like it was nothing, unlucky me, I can't smirk back….

And he caused it.

"ALRIGHT! LEADER OF THE BB CLUB! TEST YOUR MAGIC!" Makarov announced. I looked at his team and they were all glaring daggers at MY girls. They looked like they used their full power, guess they were pissed that we didn't. That's just a way of telling them that our full power is much, MUCH stronger, that's how my training goes. Let's just see…..

Natsu Dragneel.

Natsu's POV

She looks so familiar. I don't think I remembered her but I know that I did meet her! I really shouldn't think about that right now, it's my turn for magic testing.

Once again I smirked, this is totally our win.

After Master announced my turn, I quickly got into a battle stance. I looked around the gym outside the barrier then my eyes found chocolate brown ones glaring at MY team. I don't know who this chick is but first she punches Gajeel straight in the face, then now she glares at my group, MY family.

I looked back at the MML and sprinted towards it. I started swaying my arms in the air and shouted as fire started to encircle my fists. "FIRE DRAGON'S…" I pumped up my fist.

"…IRON FIST!" my fist collided with the MML, crashing it into tiny bits. It wasn't really my best move but it's one of my powerful ones though. I smirked in victory. My impact on it must have been real hard because it took almost 5 minutes for it to recover, along with the dust and smoke that covered the whole barrier. After that I looked at everyone, their jaws dropped when it was real clear so I took a look at my score.

'57547453' Now, NO ONE can top that.

I looked over their team expecting to see the looks on their faces extremely priceless.

Well, it's the exact opposite.

I can't believe this, they are SMIRKING! That's supposed to be MY expression, NOT THEIRS! What the hell is on their minds that they will actually feel VICTORIOUS. What really confuses me is that only the team members are smirking, but why not the Leader. That blonde is incredibly suspicious, and now that I think about it she looks like…like…her.

But is that really her?

"NOW THAT IS A SCORE! DO YOU THINK THE BH LEADER CAN TOP THAT STUDENTS?! LAST BUT NOT LEAST…" no it can't be her.

"LUCY ASHLEY!"

Normal POV

The girls are over confident now, not just because they will have the first month of no homework, but they also have extreme faith in their Leader. 'They have no idea' the girls thought as the devious smirks were still plastered across their faces.

Lucy made her way to the barrier, ignoring the cheers and boos that covered her eardrums. On her way to the barrier, she exchanged glances from Natsu, who was now finished with his turn and making his way out of the barrier. The same as always, Lucy kept her straight face on and tried not to show a hint of sadness in her eyes. Little did she know she was failing miserably. When she entered, she kept at least 30ft away from the MML and just crossed her arms under her bust, her eyes covered by her bangs.

Everyone waited for what was about to happen, and Lucy didn't do anything. About a few seconds later 4 circles appeared behind her, getting bigger every second. Lucy suddenly put both of her arms sideward. "Key wheel!" 2 wheels appeared beside Lucy and disappeared after a second, revealing her hands, holding 2 keys in each one. Lucy crossed her arms over her chest and chanted "Power granted unto me by the gods of the elements, I open thee!" she throw the keys in the air, 1 key landing on each circle, and the spheres started glowing. She raised one arm in front of her, the other falling on her side, and shouted. "ELEMENTAL UNISON RAID!" the spheres released beams of blinding light on each one and shot for the MML. Everyone became blinded by the brightness and covered their eyes. When they were sure that they can see clearly again, they opened their eyes. Everybody's jaws dropped at the sight of the score, even the Master and the girls' principle. Everyone stared wide-eyed at the score in front of them, except the girls, having a hard time to believe it. EXTREMELY hard time.

'999999999999999999999999999999999999' was shown right in front of their faces. They were more shocked to see that she even SHIELDED the inside of the barrier from her own attack.

"Did we forget to mention that that was her lowest attack!?" Levy shouted out which made a few students pale and others smack their heads in the floor. "T-THA-THA-THAT WAS A-AMAZING!" Master announced, free from his shocked trance. Everybody started cheering, except the opposing teams which is still staring in the score in disbelief. "They actually don't call her the Celestial Goddess for nothing." The girls' principle said. "Looks like we have a winner Makarov." "AYE!" Master said. "BH WINS!" The girls cheered at their victory. Natsu's eyes still didn't leave the barrier, especially the blonde-haired girl. He watched as she lowered the shield and made her way out of the barrier into the arms of her overjoyed friends.

"LU-CHAN! WE WON!" Levy said as she tackled Lucy to the ground making her let out a small 'eep' and snuggled in her chest. "Lucy-chan! You won! WE WON!" Charles said as she plopped into Lucy's hair. "What did I say Charles?" Charles started to cry anime style "IM SORRY I EVER DOUBTED YOU! UWAAAHH!" Lucy pulled away from Levy and sat up straight, removing a dramatic Charles in her hair. "Don't cry. We don't need another Juvia in this group." Everyone snickered as Juvia let out a 'HEY!' and puffed her cheeks out in frustration. "Just kidding. And Charles, this isn't a war, don't cry about something like this. This isn't supposed to be a competition anyway. It's just supposed to tell us what class rank were in." Lucy said as she rubbed Charles wet face. Charles raised a paw "I BET 5 WHISKERS SHE'S GONNA BE IN S-CLASS!" everyone laughed at Charles's little remark, excluding Lucy, and started cheering that they at least had no homework for their first month.

Lucy stood up and looked for a certain purple-haired secretary. She wanted to know if they can leave now since their turns are done, being surrounded by the opposite gender is already making her feel a bit nauseous. In fact, being around him makes her want to puke up almost everything inside her. She was right in the middle of her thoughts and search when she heard someone call her surname. "Ashley!" the girls including Lucy turned their heads towards the voice and saw that it was none other than him,

Natsu Dragneel.

He stormed over to them, looking pissed and irritated. "That was supposed to be OUR win!" he yelled at her, his team right behind him, right in front of her. She blinked.

"You're not deaf or blind right?"

"HELL NO!"

"Then I guess you're just too dumb to understand when somebody, *cough* master *cough*, says 'BH wins!'. And here I thought he was just too overconfident. Actually, he's dumb too, no common sense if I might add." Both their teams just snickered as steam seems to be coming out of Natsu's ears. She raised a brow at him and when she got no response, she just lowered her head and sighed.

"I don't have time for this. Charles, please look for Miss Laki and ask her if we can leave. I want to go home and not stay here and continue talking to….this." She emphasized the word 'this' and when Charles was just about to take off, she gasped to see Lucy holding Natsu's wrist which is just about a few inches from her face. Lucy looked up, her straight face still in place. "Don't get your hopes up, I still have reflexes." Lucy let go of his wrist, harshly, and headed for the gym doors.

"I have received enough pain, I don't need more." She whispered to herself and quickened her pace.

"Let's go home." "But we still didn't ask Miss La—" "I don't give a shit about it. Let's just go home." Lucy kept walking ahead, the girls trailing after her after glaring at Natsu.

The moment they left the school building, nobody was aware of the blonde-haired girl, releasing a single teardrop from her eye, covered by her golden locks.

*The girls' house*

"THEY ARE SO DAMN LUCKY I DIDN'T CUT OFF THEIR HEADS FOR THAT! HOW DARE THAT NATSU TRY TO PUNCH MY LUCY!" Erza shouted as she paced around the living room, completely enraged at the moment, you can tell. "Ahem, correction: OUR Lucy!" Charles said as she trained herself, and letting out her anger, by slicing iron trays behind the lavender couch where an irritated Lisanna, shocked Levy, and furious Mirajane is sitting. "Can someone please check on Wendy outside?" Charles said as she crashed at the couch's arm rest. "S-sure." Mirajane said as she tried to hide her rage and proceeded towards the shattered window, courtesy of an angry Charles, and looked out. "She's punching the tree a little slower now, but by the looks of it, it can fall to its side any minute now, and she has just been there for 3 minutes." She muttered the last part, sighed and went towards the kitchen to get herself a drink. *CRASH!* The door slammed open, revealing a sweaty and frowning Wendy. In the background, you can clearly see a tree half broken with its side over an angry old man shouting 'ANIMA!'. "I'm done." Those words were what she said before making her way to the kitchen too.

Levy turned her head to see Juvia with a worried expression. "Juvia? What's wrong?" Juvia shook her head and looked towards Levy. "She's crying." Levy flinched at the statement, but she understood. "Why does the world keep putting her in problems?" She asked as she stared at the floor. "We will never find out, but she will." Levy looked up to see Juvia smiling at her, but sadly. Levy sighed and smiled back, nodding her head. "She will….." She hopes.

Lucy can't stop crying as she looked at the locket in her hands. This thing reminded her about everything, how it all happened. More tears streamed down her face as she felt it again like it was yesterday…

*Flashback* In Lucy's POV

I woke up to the sun's heat resting upon my face. I groaned and moved to my side. I opened my eyes a bit and saw my calendar. My eyes widened and a gigantic grin spread across my cheeks as I stood up and excitedly crossed out today's date while reading it, giggling at my handwriting.

'July 1 X786' under it is my scribbled note saying 'MY 9th BIRTHDAY!'

I squealed in excitement as I thought about all the good things that I might do today. Maybe we will go to the beach or just stay here and have a relaxing and simple birthday party, and of course, I want to spend it with Na—

I really wished I didn't open the door then maybe I still won't be frozen in place with tears streaming down my face.

The scene in front of me is enough to say that terrifying is an understatement. My mother is in the floor, beaten unconscious with my father right in front of her, kicking her in the stomach making more blood spit out of her mouth while yelling "YOU BITCH! WHY SHOULD YOU WOMEN MAKE ALL THE MOTHERFUCKING DECISIONS!? I WANT TO MAKE THEM AND I WILL! ALONE! BURN IN HELL YOU WHORE! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU ALL!" "DADDY!" I shouted out as I ran towards my mother, holding her in my arms.

"What are you doing Daddy!? Why are you hurting Mommy!?" I screamed at him as he stopped kicking and started growling at me. He slapped me across the face and made me squirm in pain, shivering at his cold response. "SHUT UP YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING BRAT! YOU ARE JUST LIKE YOUR SHITTY HELL OF A MOTHER! STING GET THIS LITTLE MIDGET OFF MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW! I DON'T WANNA SEE THIS GIRL'S FACE AROUND HERE! I CANT STAND HER CRAPPY—" Big brother stepped inside the living room and cut him short "Keep your pants on dad, I got it." He started to lift me up on his shoulder and I just started kicking and punching while crying out for my mother. "MOMMY! MOMMY! NII-SAN! PUT ME DOWN! MOMMY! PLEASE! MOMMY!" "STING! GET THAT LITTLE PIECE OF SHIT OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW!" Daddy yelled out and Sting's grip on me tightened.

He brought me outside and threw me, just like that. What is wrong with him!? "WHAT ARE YOU DOING NII-SAN!? WHY IS DADDY TRYING TO KILL MOMMY!? WHY ARE YOU THROWING ME OUT!? WHY ARE YOU DOING ALL THIS!?" I just stared at the ground with my knees and hands on it. Not long before I felt him wrap his finger in my chin and lifted my head up at him, harshly. "That's simple my little sister. I want the Heartfilia corporations to be in MY hands, not YOURS." My eyes widened in disbelief. He is doing all this…for…that?

"Our mother wants YOU to run it, I never understood why she would want a woman like you to run it." My lips trembled as he continued talking. "You weak, stupid, filthy excuse for a human being. In fact, all of you women are." I felt myself flinch and glare at him. "What…happened…to…you…nii-san?" he smirked and held my head up higher. He leaned in closer to my ear. I can feel his hot and disgusting breath blow against my skin. "I learned that women are pieces of shit like mom. And you." I can't take it anymore. He used Daddy against Mommy just so he could take over the family business, he called me shit, he called MOMMY shit. He insulted me, my loving parent, and used Daddy, how evil can this man get?

I slapped his hand away from my chin and punched him in the jaw. When he fell back I ran towards our gate. He shouted out to me "You have nowhere left to go bitch!" I just threw the finger at him and made my way to the gate. I steadily passed over it and ran towards the only person I got left.

My best friend.

I found the way to his house and continued running, I didn't care if my legs would feel pain, just don't fail me now! I have to see him. Tears continued to stream down my face as I continued to run through the forest. I found his house ahead and felt joy surround my body. I began to feel a foreboding feeling in my chest and stopped for a while to catch my breath. I clenched my chest and felt confused. Why do I feel like something bad is about to happen? Wait…no, it felt like it already happened. I continued to feel it until Sting's last words echoed around my head. 'You have nowhere left to go bitch!'.

Nowhere left to go….

Nowhere left…

Nowhere…

No….

NO!

I sprinted as fast as I can towards his house as it started raining, crying my heart out.

He wouldn't do this to me right? He really won't right? NO! Please tell me he won't! God please don't tell me…

I burst through his door and tears started to flood my eyes.

…..he left.

Everything is gone. His little chair where we used to sit together and eat, his bed where I would sometimes read him a story and help him sleep, his cute circle shaped table where I would play food fight with him, gone. Nothing is left in his little house.

No him, no smiling face of his, no greeting hello from him.

No him.

No Natsu.

"NATSUUUUU! NATSUUUUUUUU! PLEASE! PLEASE TELL ME YOU'RE HERE! PLEASE TELL ME YOU STAYED!" I fell to my knees, my tears not even bothering to stop flowing. My hands clenched his floor tightly as if my life depended on it, tears still flowing and dripping down my cheeks. My painful sobs echoed through his empty house, but I didn't care.

He left me…..

He left me….right when I needed him the most.

I didn't notice the small box that was sitting in the middle of the room before I looked up again. I wiped my tears and crawled over to the box. I lifted the lid and my hands immediately covered my mouth as I gasp in shock. I took out the item from the box and tears started to flow out my eyes again. It's….the locket…..we made…..together.

I shouted and sobbed at the same time. I screamed his name again and again, but nothing, I didn't need an answer anyways.

My voice felt numb after that. Pain, the perfect combination for sadness and anger, is what I feel now.

I lost my mother..

My own brother, used my father…..

And now my best friend….Natsu…

Left me, and our only piece of friendship and remembrance….

He wanted to forget me.

Is this what men really are? Heartless, cruel bastards that play with your feelings then leave you just like that? Him? I don't even know if I could trust him anymore.

He promised to stay with me, through thick and thin, he broke that promise.

Natsu broke his promise. He looked down on me. Does he really think I would forget about him that easily while he can? Sick bastard.

A man. That's what he is. He is one of those horrible creatures, his kind makes me sick. He is just like my brother, a heartless monster. He was my best friend, officially one of my loved ones, until one day he leaves me, crying and heartbroken, just like my brother.

I squeezed the locket and hugged it tightly to my chest, sobbing quietly. At least I have a remembrance. This picture inside is my last picture of him and me, I have to keep it.

He left me…

He left me…

Natsu…

My best friend…

The one person I have grown to like…

No, love…

Left me…

I can't stop thinking about it, and to guess it all happened, that he left me, today…in my birthday.

I made a vow to myself today, that I will train and learn magic, that I will grow strong and confident, that I will be fearless. I will show those men, I will show him, that women can beat them at anything. I now know how cruel men can be, how selfish….

And HE is one of them. Forgetting him is the best option now, just like how his option is for me.

And my name, it won't suit me anymore.

I'm not little happy-go-lucky, cheery princess Lucy Heartfilia anymore.

I am Lucy Ashley, a fearless, tough and strong girl who from this day forward, despises men,

All of them, even him.

Oh how I wish I could forget him now…

But how?

"Natsu…"

*End of Flashback* End of Lucy's POV

Lucy squeezed the Locket in her hands and wiped her eyes tears-free.

"How can I forget you….how?" She sighed. She decided she will answer that question…..another day.

She needed fresh air, Lucy ran a hand through her golden locks and made her way downstairs. Remembering that day, she knows it's what she needs right now.