*ANNOUNCEMENT* [30/12/16] This is the edited version of Mercy. I have decided to continue this story after much thought, so I hope you'll all forgive me for the long wait. Thank you for your support all this time. *ANNOUNCEMENT*

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you...Chapter 2 of emMercy/em! A shout-out to all the people who faved/followed my story, thanks for your support! :) And to Fanfic Lover, Guest, mikitey and skelekc who reviewed my story, thank you guys sooo much. Your reviews give me motivation to keep updating as soon as possible. XD Enjoy!

Fanfic Lover - Well, actually, it's something I read about in Jodi Picoult's novel /emMercy emand thought that it would be a good touch to the prologue. And thanks for your review, it's great to see that you enjoyed it. I hope this chapter won't disappoint! :)

Guest - Thanks! Hopefully you'll like the future chapters too. ;)

mikitey - In case you didn't see the message I sent you, you can check out the previous chapter. There's an author's note at the end regarding the bits and pieces of Lucy's past. :)

Disclaimer : I do not own Fairy Tail. It belongs to the amazing Hiro Mashima. The plot of this story is also based on Jodi Picoult's novel, Mercy.

Chapter 2

The woman stood behind the counter of the flower shop with her hands flying over a mix a fan palm, angel wings, bells of Ireland, gaultheria, oats and milkweed. Cuttings carpeted the black and white tiles of the floor. For a moment, Lucy stood shocked in the doorway of her own store, watching a stranger do her job. Then, she focused on the arrangement to the right of the cash register.

Glancing back at the woman, who was still feverishly trimming the arrangement, Lucy took a step forward, and the woman jumped, but did not turn around. 'You're in my place,' Lucy said, with a small smile. It was always nice to see someone so talented work with flowers. It gives her a chance to see things from other florists' perspectives.

The woman spoke hesitantly. 'Well, then…I'll move. If that's what you want.' The wariness in her tone made Lucy wary of the new-comer. It reminded her of someone…someone from her long forgotten past.

Suddenly turning around to face her, the lady raised her head to meet Lucy's gaze. Lucy swore she saw those sapphire blue eyes somewhere. But, that person can't possibly be here, right? After all, she's all the way in Edolas and –

Wait a second; was that white hair she saw, peeking out of the woman's hat? No…it can't possibly -

'Lisanna?' she gasped.

Confused, the woman asked, 'Who's Lisanna?'

Letting a small breath of air that she didn't realize she was holding, Lucy walked up to the counter, grazing her palms across the soft greenery of the arrangement. She didn't notice how the stranger stiffened when Lisanna's name was brought up. 'I thought you might be looking for an assistant,' the woman – who was not Lisanna, not at all, she reassured herself – said. She held out her hand, which was calloused at the fingers from the florist's wire and trembling slightly. 'My name's Annalisa Dreyar.'

Lucy's eyebrows quirked in curiosity as she shook Annalisa's trembling hand. Hmm, her first name did sound similar to Lisanna's… No, no no no. What was she even scared of? Even if it is Lisanna, what did she have to worry about?

It's not like she came back to steal something from her, right? Right.

Smiling brightly albeit slightly skeptically, Lucy said, 'I don't remember putting up a sign for assistants-' Annalisa visibly flinched. '-but I'll make an exception. It's nearing Christmas and I would kick myself if I let someone as talented as you slip away.

'Welcome to the family then, Annalisa!' Not noticing Annalisa's sigh of relief, Lucy propped her elbows onto the counter, looking expectantly at her. It wasn't often that someone as good as Annalisa walked through the door; and hell no, was Lucy going to let her walk out that door before learning a good thing or two from her.

As if she knew that Lucy was equivocating, Annalisa suddenly reached down for her knapsack and pulled out a carefully wrapped package, which she began to unwind. Lucy found herself looking at an exquisitely twisted bonsai tree; miniature, gnarled, ancient.

'Lovely,' Lucy breathed. 'Absolutely lovely.'

Annalisa shrugged, but her eyes were shining. 'This is my specialty. They remind me of those babies you see sometimes, the ones with the tiny little faces that look like they know all the wisdom of the world.'

The wisdom of the world. Lucy looked up at Annalisa. She grinned.

Walking back to the motel she was currently spending the night in, Annalisa sighed. Everything went well for now. Hopefully it would remain that way for a long time. Hearing her cell phone ringing, Annalisa quickly dug through her purse for it.

'Hello?'

'Where are you?' the caller hissed, 'Bixlow's been waiting for four hours already. We all have! Elfman's this close to breaking down and calling the police!'

'Um, I'm, well…' taking a deep breath, Annalisa answered, 'I'm in Magnolia.'

'What?!' Annalisa winced and held her phone away from her ear. 'I've heard of runaway brides, but this is ridiculous! You're practically all the way across the continent! Ohh, wait till you -'

'I'm not coming back, sis. I just can't.'

The line went quiet.

'Why?' It wasn't a question; it sounded more like a dare – daring her to say those words out loud.

'I'm still in love with him.'

'Wait, what? Lisanna!- ' She promptly hung up.

She looked at her feet. Ha, who did she think she was? Running away from her own wedding and catching the first flight to Magnolia just so she can see him? It was sounding more and more ridiculous, even to her.

Well, she's come this far. She's got nothing to lose. No one in town knows who she is, heck, even Lucy couldn't recognize her. But even though that's what she wanted- the freedom of anonymity - she couldn't help but feel...sad, somehow. After years of bullying the poor blonde - Lisanna internally winced at the cruelty she had imposed upon Lucy, she was quite the bitch back then - the white-haired female felt a small pang in her heart when Lucy simply brushed Lisanna's existence off like it was nothing. It was like Lisanna Strauss never mattered.

Even at the local diner that's been in Magnolia for decades, Lisanna felt as though she didn't belong. She had smiled at Macao and Wakaba, the two owners of the diner, but only received matching looks of confusion in return. Sure, they greeted her warmly, but they seemed...distant. It was as though they've seen her somewhere but couldn't recall exactly where.

Her heart had instantly plummeted as she realized that nobody recognized her. When she had entered Lucy's flower shop, she thought that at least one person in the entire town would remember her. Maybe Lucy could fill her in about everything's that happened.

Lucy was a sweet girl in the past, growing up with the picture perfect family and getting consistent straight A's without breaking a sweat. Seventeen-year-old Lisanna hated her; she hated how pretty the blonde was without trying; she hated how Lucy Heartfilia lived her life the way she wanted and not having decisions forced upon her; she hated the freedom Lucy had.

As she toyed with the flowers that afternoon, she had hoped to reconcile with the blonde author. It would be nice to be able to start afresh with Lucy

Then it hit her.

Starting afresh.

A new life.

A new identity.

Freedom.

And suddenly, Lisanna felt like flying. Here was her chance to start anew. To begin a new life with a new identity - she would get to have that freedom she had dreamed of since young. And Natsu...she would be able to see him and tell him she was wrong to have left him; so so wrong. She had been scared of commitment, she would say, but now, she was even more scared of being without him. Bixlow was fun and nice and kind...but he wasn't Natsu.

Lisanna strutted towards her motel with a new-found confidence. She knew what she was supposed to do. Now all that's left to do is to find her ex-boyfriend and re-ignite the sparks.

'Natsu Dragneel,' she smiled. 'I'm coming back for good.'