Months passed before everyone saw the Alana they knew and loved, but she was different now. She had fallen into a dark place for some time, but seemed to come out of it completely different; a little colder, slightly more dark and mysterious, instead of the calm, sweet, mage everyone grew up with.
Mirajane, her friend of quite some time, helped her heal the best way she knew how: taking her shopping.
She wasn't too fond of the less conservative clothes Alana opted for, as they both typically dressed rather reserved, but Alana needed change. She needed to collect and find herself, by taking a leap outside of her comfort zone. And so they when they were finished shopping, she had replenished her wardrobe with low-cut tops and tight pants. She felt like she was really 25, like a girl who could let loose and have a good time. And that she did, later that night with Cana Alberona, her best friend of the past five years.
At first when they met, she and Cana did anything but get along. They were similar to Erza and Mirajane in rivalry, but there was true distaste for one another. But, one day, after Gildarts left on a mission, Cana found her crying by the river, and approached her, concerned for her guildmate. Alana told her how she was interested in Gildarts, how she and the older man really hit it off, but she was worried about him being with other women while he was away. Cana assured her Gildarts seemed like a very honest man, but told her he was too old for her, and she should move on. They had a few laughs about it, Cana bought her a drink later that night, and they were best friends ever since. She never did let Gildarts' age go, and always made it a point to tell Alana he was old enough to be their father, and so Alana kept quiet about her relationship with the man around her.
This night, it wasn't difficult at all, because she pushed that man as far out of her mind as possible while pounding drinks down with the card magic mage next to her. She had spent the last six months isolating herself, drowning in her own misery alone, and now she was ready to come back out as a new person.
Cana was just happy her best friend was feeling better. She knew how much Alana cared for Gildarts, even though her friend wouldn't talk about the man often.
At first, she became friends with the girl in hopes of finding out more about her father, but what began as a fake friendship blossomed into the greatest relationship she ever had with someone aside from her mother.
So, if getting this raven-haired girl utterly wasted was going to help, Cana was more than willing to assist.
The whole guild was having a huge party honoring new recruits, and so everyone was having a great time, all drinking together. Near the end of the night, Alana, the drunkest one at the party, turned to Cana, who was almost just as wasted as she.
"Let's cut my hair."
Cana's eyes opened wide. "What!?"
Alana's hair had always been long and flowing, a physical representation of her magic power. It gave the way she looked an airy feel, and made what type of mage she was easily identifiable. Not only that, but she loved her hair. She took great care in ensuring it grew strong and healthy. Cana was worried she would regret cutting it, but Natsu overheard her and got excited.
"Yeah! Let's do it!" He shouted, jumping up onto a table, his drink sloshing over the sides of his cup. "Everyone, Alana's gonna cut all her hair!"
There was one, collective cheer, and Erza brought out a long, thin sword. It was only appropriate the blade-wielder would do the job.
Alana grinned, tying her hair into a ponytail, making it easier to cut through all at once.
Everyone's hearts were beating fast, from the alcohol as well as from Alana being on the verge of completely reinventing her physical identity. Alana was shaking from anticipation and nerves, but she trusted Erza and her friends and knew this huge change would only do good for her.
Before she registered what was happening, she heard the swish of a blade and felt a huge weight lifted from the top of her head.
Everyone watched as her ponytail dropped, seemingly in slow motion, to the floor, where it landed with a thud.
And then suddenly, everyone was cheering again, clinking cups together and knocking their drinks back.
Alana's hands went to her hair, now to her chin in a blunt line. She grinned, sighed, and knew this was her new beginning.