Lucy's head was ready to burst from all the calculations she was making.
Her mother was alive.
.
Could this truly be possible?
.
Well, after all, Layla Heartfilia was always known for her superior intelligence and the way she observed her surroundings.
Lucy knew what she had to do.
Taking the book and gently tucking it under her pillow, Lucy went to bed.
.
Tomorrow was sure to be interesting.
Lucy took a deep breath and slowly pushed the guild doors open before taking a tentative step forward.
As usual, nobody paid any mind to her and carried on as they were.
Team Natsu wasn't there, and Lucy presumed that they were off on a mission with Lissanna.
The thought of that stung, but Lucy pushed it down.
It wasn't the time for that, she had much more important things to attend to, like her thought to be dead mother.
She made her way up the stairs, dodging the bit of wood and broken bottles from the brawl that'd just started.
After many almost death incidents and a slightly frayed skirt, she finally made it to the guild office.
She would've gotten one last vanilla milkshake, but, Mira was nowhere to be found.
The reality of it all suddenly hit her.
She was leaving Fairy Tail, and she din't even know for how long would she be gone.
It could be weeks, months, maybe even years!
But, even so, Lucy collected herself and placed her hand on the doorknob.
Her mother had sent her that storybook for a reason.
She could be in a life and death situation, for all she knew!
Mustering all her courage, Lucy flung the office door open as politely as she could.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she went in for the kill.
"MASTER! I NEED YOU TO REMOVE MY GUILD MARK BECAUSE I WILL BE TEMPORARILY LEAVING FAIRY TAIL!"
She put her fists at her side, her breath coming out in short, harsh puffs and her eyes in swirls.
"Lucy…? Why…?" she heard the Master softly speak out.
She opened her eyes to explain when she saw there was one other person in the room.
"M-Mira-chan…" Her eyes had turned to orbs as she stared at a dumbstruck Mirajane Strauss.
"L-Lucy-chan…" she finally managed to regain her voice.
Her eyes were hurt, and she seemed to also want to know why.
"Well-" before Lucy could start, a teary Mira cut her off.
"It's because the guild's been ignoring you, isn't it?!" her eyes had turned large and teary and she was sniffling.
"A-Ano…Mira-chan, it actually isn't-"
Master was the one who cut her off this time.
"We're so sorry Lucy! Mirajane just came to consult me about it and I should've realized sooner! We're sorry, so please don't quit Fairy Tail!" The old man had turned teary-eyed also, and she could see snot dripping from his mustache.
"W-Well, actually, Master-"
"Lucy-chan! We'll have everyone apologize! I'm sure they didn't really mean to!"
"Mirajane, it's not that-" Lucy started again, before she was also interrupted again.
"Those brats! I take all the blame Lucy! We're nakama! You didn't deserve to be treated this way!"
"Master is right! If you want, I'll release Satan Soul on them!"
Makarov nodded in agreement. "I'll let you hit everybody at least once, as hard as you wish!"
Mirajane agreed this time before starting again. "Master is right! You can release-"
"NO!" Lucy practically screeched at the top of her lungs.
The two became silent.
"I'm leaving the guild temporarily. I have… family matters to attend to."
She took a deep breath before continuing.
"I don't know how long I'll be gone, be it months or years, but… I will return."
Her eyes were hard and determined.
"and when I do, I will definitely be stronger."
Mira sobbed even harder and Makarov wiped at the tears that were streaming down his face.
She sighed before giving them a sad smile. "And… about the ignoring me… its fine, because, I've come to accept the fact that I was just a replacement."
Master sputtered and Mirajane covered her mouth with her hands as she gasped in shock.
"L-Lucy…You know that's not right…! Natsu and the others would never use you like that! They really do-"
Lucy cut him off. "Master." She said, holding out her right hand, her mouth pursed. "Please."
Makarov stared at her, crying, before he waved his hand over the mark and the insignia slowly faded away in a puff of sparkles.
Mira was sobbing now, ashamed to have made Lucy think that way.
.
A replacement? Lucy?
.
Impossible.
.
Lucy was too kind and faithful to be used as a replacement.
But… it was their fault because they had treated her as such and made her believe so.
Lucy moved to hug Makarov and he gratefully accepted, snot dripping down his nose.
Mira was also given a hug, which just increased the snownette's sobs by a tenfold.
"I-I-I'll see you out then." Mira's eyes were sad and her chest felt tight at the thought of the blonde leaving.
"Master, please don't tell anybody else about this."
Makarov looked to Lucy.
"B-But, they're your nakama, they deserve to-" he stopped himself.
They didn't deserve to know.
They had ignored and isolated her, even him!
They had no rights to even be called her nakama anymore.
Lucy gave him a soft smile and he nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Mirajane gently linked forearms with Lucy and they walked out of the office, Mirajane still slightly teary.
They slowly descended the steps and the guild was more filled than it was when Lucy had first entered.
Everybody stopped to stare as a teary and sniffling Mirajane lead Lucy to the guild doors.
Master stood on the second floor railing, tearing up again.
Lucy was so overwhelmed with emotions that she didn't even notice the stares or Team Natsu, who'd just gotten back a few minutes ago.
"Lucy!" the master yelled out, his voice powerful, but his face quivering from the tears running down it.
Everybody was paying attention now and very confused.
Most people were wondering about since when was Lucy there, because they hadn't seen her in the past two months or so.
Team Natsu, or, Erza, specifically, realized her mistake first.
Her eyes widened and she was about to call out to Lucy before she furrowed her brows in shame and lowered her head.
She didn't deserve to just call out to Lucy and expect to be accepted again when she had ignored her for so long.
What got her to raise her head up though was when the Master raised his hand up, the idex finger standing straight and his palm facing inwards.
It wasn't that, but rather the response from the person whom she'd ignored.
She looked to Lucy who only turned her head back towards the Master, and looked to be holding back her tears and her eyes widened when she saw Lucy raise her right hand up in the same symbol, the back of her hand facing the open doors.
There was no tattoo.
Erza froze in shock, and the rest of Team Natsu followed her.
The other guild members couldn't see from their view but Team Natsu saw it all.
Mirajane whispered words of goodbye in Lucy's ear before Lucy turned around and walked out the open doors, having them shut behind her.
Mirajane burst into tears before quickly walking away and Master walked away slowly, shaking his head in sorrow and disappointment.
The guild was left dumbstruck and little by little, they realized what they had done.
Erza felt as if the world had turned on her.
.
Did Lucy just quit the guild because of their stupid mistake?