Lucy's POV

I looked around the basement of the guild. Everyone looked so depressed and half were set on becoming drunk. I sighed and stood up from my seat. "I have to get out of here," I whisper. I walk upstairs to what was the actual guild. I saw Erza sitting in a corner and looking at the destruction done to her guild, the destroyed place that was her home. "Erza," I call. She looks at me and frowns.

"Lucy…have you made your contract with Sagittarius?" she asks softly. I place my hand to my keys. That was my new key. The only part of the reward from Galuna island that Erza had let us take. I would have liked the money for rent, but I was happy to have gained a new spirit. Even happier she chose the option that could only please me. "You could end up needing him soon."

"Yeah…right." I studied the golden key. "Why did you just pick that part of the reward?"

"A spirit needs a home. There are a lot of celestial wizards that could have gotten that key. There are bad ones out there. Abusers and ones who make them shields. I once knew a celestial wizard." Her eyes glassed over at the memory. She was talking about my mom. I just knew it. "She treated them like they were good friends. She taught her to do the same."

"Her?" I question, hopeful.

"I loved a girl once. Never loved again after that…"She stood. "But that's not important. Our Nakama is what matters now."

"You'd never be with her?" I feel demoralized at that.

"I wouldn't pick her over the guild. I wouldn't pick her over any comrade. I haven't seen her in thirteen years. I…have forgotten a love that sweet. It was a childish love. Temporary. She is probably engaged to someone else. Her father was eager to have her married."

Indeed, he was…., I lamented silently. Why I wanted to run.

"What if she wasn't married? And what if you didn't have to pick her over your comrades? I mean…if she was another mage?"

"That isn't impossible. She always talked about wanting to be one." She smiled at the memory. I fought back blushing. "I guess I would try to get her back. I'd spend my days to make her fall back in love with me."

But I never fell out of love.

"I would keep her from crying as much as I could. Or at least, dry her tears."

You've missed so many tears…

"If I got her back…I'd never let her go. I'd…marry her. I'd marry her as soon as I could."

Please…

She frowns. "But that isn't what matters. We have a possible war on our hands." She takes my hands. "What's important is protecting those we love who are here with us. In this guild."

Erza's POV

I run through the town, still clutching to the small communication lacrima. I hear Mira's voice faintly from it. I shove my way through the crowd as the words reverberate through my head.

Phantom Lord took Lucy.

"I know where you are…"I mutter and run faster. I felt the banging of my armor along with my pounding heart.

They took Lucy. She was taken while on a run for supplies. The element four had taken her.

I had never taken a life…but I felt the bloodlust for those who hurt her. Juvia of the Great Sea, Monsieur Sol, Aria, and Totomaru…they were going to pay! Gajeel would also feel our wrath.

"Close…"I mumble. I look around the forest, following the limestone path. I see a tower and feel two syllables bubble through my throat and fall off my tongue desperately. "LUCY!" I see a dot of blue and pink. It plummets down to the ground and I sprint. "LUCY!" I see her closing in on it, her golden hair shimmering in the light. I dive and catch her. I assume I had to have bruised or even broken bones, but the adrenaline pulsing through my veins kept me from noticing anything. "Oh thank god…"I whisper and hug her close, her lying on top of me. I break her handcuffs and check her quickly for injuries.

"You're okay," I whisper. I stand up. "Let's get back-…Lucy?" I look down to see her crying pitifully.

"This is all my fault!" She sobs and grips to her skirt.

"How…"I pick her up and hold her close as if she were a child suffering the fear of a boogie man.

"They did all of this to get me," She whimpers. Her sobs melt into hiccups and tears pour down her guilt flushed cheeks. Her nose looked raw and she shook with her cries.

"Shh…"I whisper soothing and kiss her forehead. "Lucy, it's not your fault."

"It is! Erza…they want me because of my father! He put a bounty on me to get me home."

I swallow. "Y-your father?"

She frowns and looks down. "I-I want to go back to the guild."

"Yeah…"I mutter sheepishly and walk off. "It would cost a lot to get this done…they could be jailed for years and disbanded because of this."

"My father owns the rail company. The Heartfilia company. I never told anyone my name because I didn't want you all to think I was some rich brat." She sniffles. "But I'm the reason the guild was destroyed. I'm the reason Levy, Jet, and Droy were nearly killed!" She sobs loudly, burying her face in the crook of my neck.

A Heartfilia. Why does that name ring a bell?

"Your…father's name is…"I start, but my tone doesn't fit it. I sound like I'm asking.

"Jude." She covers her eyes. "He must want to get me back just to marry me off."

The girl's father wanted her to marry as soon as possible. No…he was concerned for her happiness. What could make a man change his morals so drastically? No! Why am I asking that? Lucy isn't her. That'd be impossible. And she doesn't matter right now. My past love doesn't matter. I have to protect Lucy. She's the present.

Okay, this is way too short, but I'll work to get the next chapter up as soon as possible. Thanks for reading!

-She Fell For Fiction