Hear Me Scream

by edwardelricistheawesomeness

I found so many 'Lucy Leaves Fairy Tail' fics, but didn't like how they were done. So I decided to write my own, and it expanded from there.

5. Chapter 5

Okay! We have a lot of plot stuff in this one… And time skips. Were mostly going over the next seven or so years in this one, but not all in one binge. Like, tiny skips of a few weeks/months/ at a time. We will however have a few jumps of a few years. I don't want to bore you all to death. STILL, this chapter is fucking massive, so be aware.

We also have another cliffhanger, cause that's where this chapter felt good to leave with. I have Lucy growing a lot in this chapter, she's coming to terms with things and realizing her own potential. I'm still really sorry this took me so long to write, but it's by far the largest chapter I have ever written for any story!

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Lucy POV - Port of Hargeon

"Hanji?" I ask her, standing at the edge of the water and trying my hardest not to panic. I had to know, with absolute certainty and with my own eyes, that they were gone. I couldn't just let hearsay control my life and I wouldn't mourn until I knew for myself. I was still in some kind of hazy space in between saddened and terrified, unsure if it was some kind of mix between the two or not.

Marco and Christa flank me as Marco gives me a warm hug, one I cling to. Hanji quickly created a boat, ushering all of us onto it and setting off at a speed that shouldn't be actually possible, water misting around us as we sped off toward the coordinates we got from Lyon. Eren was digging into what attacked them, and who, as we did this.

We arrive far faster than I thought we would, and I guess it's because Hanji was helping us along. We arrive at an empty expanse of water, completely devoid of any humanoid life that I could see. I start shaking so hard I feel like I might be vibrating, Christa latching onto my waist with a hug as Marco steps to the edge of the boat, reaching out into the air with a confused look on his face.

"Lucy?... Something's off about this…" He suddenly says, looking out and down into the water. "What do you mean?" I question as I hastily wipe at my eyes, making sure I wasn't crying without my knowledge. He purses his lips and explains "Okay. Imagine if death leaves an imprint, a mark on the spot where a soul passes from life to death. The more creatures that die in one spot, the bigger the mark. If an entire island died here I should be able to feel it, but I feel nothing."

I blink in confusion as Hanji peers over the side, humming a moment before she says "Christa, look at this with those eyes of yours. Maybe you'll be able to see what happened." Christa finally detaches from my side and peers over the side, eyes glowing a faint pink color as she watches. Her face twists in confusion after a moment as she tilts her head to the side as she watches the water.

"Something attacked, something big. Something big enough to unite all of their hearts into the sole wish of being both accepting of fate and wanting to be safe from harm. It's activated some spell, what spell I don't know however. It seems to have encased both them and the entire island, sealing them in a tiny pocket of space away from us. I don't even know if they can get out on their own." She says, watching the water carefully.

"That's very smart, I'm happy you figured it out." Someone suddenly says, making us all look up in confusion. Before us floats a blond girl, smiling serenely as she says "They activated something I named the 'Fairy Sphere'. Normally, it's meant for only one person to cast, is isn't that large. However, they all joined together in their wish, and the magic used all of their power to shield them. It's only supposed to last an hour, maybe more. Instead, this one could last years before they resurface."

I blink in shock, Hanji jumping onto the boat's rail and starts asking "Who are you? Why did you say you named it? How old are you? Why did they need it?" She shakes her head at us and says "Normally, only Fairy Tail members can see me, as I am the first Master, but I see even Ex Fairy Tale members can see me too. I'm allowing you to see me as well, but that's tiring. You can figure out the rest, if you look."

With that she vanished from sight, like she had never existed at all. They all look to me in confusion as I add "Mavis was the first master of Fairy Tail, she created the Fairy Magics that many people still covet today. There are only three that I know of, this one, Fairy Glitter and Fairy Law. Fairy Glitter is a really big unknown to me, but Fairy Law inflicts the will of the caster, and only attacks those the caster sees as an enemy. The Master used it against Phantom Lord."

They all nod and mill around a moment before Hanji says "Then, I guess we just have to wait huh?" I nod as she starts making our way back to Hargeon, the wind whipping by us as the miles slip by. Christa suddenly perks up and says "Hey Lucy, you can now totally tease Laxus about being late for your date." I blink as the words settle in, fully realizing that they aren't dead.

I break out in near hysterical laughter, so relieved and happy and thankful that they were going to be okay that I was sure I scared at least one of them. Christa however seemed unperturbed as she smiles as says "Why don't you take a day and explore Hargeon? It'll do you some good to get out and about." I nod my head, shaking slightly as I disembark, walking into the town. I made a few people stare as a giggled a few times but eventually pulled myself together.

Then the sadness set in, the ache that I wouldn't see them for years. It was a bitter, empty ache. I wanted so badly to know that they were safe, to know that they would be alright that I didn't even realize where I was going until someone crashed into me. I yelp as they crash to the ground, yelping as well as they smashed into their partner and fell to the ground.

"Oh god I'm so sorry! I should've been watching… Sting? Rogue?" I say, watching as Sting springs back to his feet with a grin, his exceed dusting himself off with a huff as he stands beside his friend, Rouge moving a little slower as he cradled his exceed to his chest. "Hey miss Lucy! Why are you in Hargeon? Is it for a quest? Why do you look sad? You smell like tears, have you been crying? Do you need a hug? Where's that spirit of yours, he seems like he'd give great hugs." Sting rapidly fires out, Rogue giving me a worried look as I wipe my eyes a moment.

"It's nothing really… You heard about Fairy Tail right?" I ask, Sting brightens and goes to say something before Rogue roughly elbows him. He throws him a questioning look before Rogue gives him a 'Think a second dumbass' look as it dawns on Sting. He looks a touch sheepish as he nods and I continue with "Well… My friends urged me to come here and get my mind off of it, but shopping doesn't seem like it'd be the best option at the moment…"

Sting nods solemnly a moment before he brightens and looks at Rogue, pointing to his pocket with a questioning look. Rogue responds with a shrug and they spend a few seconds silently conversing with their hands. After a few moments Rogue seems to agree to something and asks "Would you like to accompany us on a quest? The company would be nice…" Sting puffs up and adds "And you could see us defeat a monster in a nearby town!"

This would be a good way to get my mind off of everything… Besides, I can be backup if anything happens. I nod and say "Sure, I'll accompany you. I'll be backup if you need it, I have a spirit that specializes in healing." They nod and I'm quickly drug off toward a carriage, the both of them piling into the back and Rogue quickly telling the driver where we were headed. Sting settled on my right side, setting his Exceed in his lap and saying "Lucy, this is Lector, he's my friend. Lector, this is Lucy, she's the one we rode on the train with to meet up with you in Crocus."

Lector quietly smiles at me and we all talk as Rogue sits at my other side, introducing me to Frosch as the carriage began to move. Both of them started going a little green at the motion, making me blink before I put two things together. Apparently all dragon slayers have motion sickness, but there's is far better than Natsu and Gajeel's. I tap Virgo's key, the kind spirit appearing instantly as I ask "Hey Virgo, would you mind grabbing them something to settle their stomachs?"

She nods with a small smile aimed at them before vanishing a moment. Frosch seems worried about Rogue as he slumped against my side and held his stomach. I guess the stronger they get, the worse this becomes. Virgo appears with a tray, carrying two purple drinks and some lighter snacks. "Phoenix happily mixed something up for them, but they'll have to drink it all. He said it should last till tomorrow." She explains before handing me the tray and vanishing.

I gently coax Rogue into tasting it, which he says tastes like summer berries. I do the same with Sting, finding him far harder to convince. However a few minutes after they finished them they were perfectly fine, grinning and excitedly asking what that was. "Cupcake?" I offer as I explain, both of them happily digging into the treat. I munch on a chip as they excitedly explain more about the quest.

"It came in a few hours ago, apparently this monster started terrorizing this town! It sounds weak from what they said, so I think Rogue and I can easily take it down!" Sting boasts as I smile and reply "You are both very confident in your abilities, I'm proud of that. You both seem to be very capable young men." They both puff up a little at the praise before the carriage lurches to a stop, making me quickly return the tray to Virgo and step out of the carriage.

"T-this is as far as I'll take you… That things a demon!" The carriage driver quickly spun the carriage and sped off in another direction. He was right, from our placement on the cusp of a hill, we could see into the valley below. A giant monster had smashed its way through the area, leaving demolished buildings and screaming villagers in its wake. It had moved into the end of the village as it slowly made it's exit, large and scaled.

It reminded me of a person, with arms that were way too long. They had massive claws on the ends of it's fingers, fangs that couldn't be held within its mouth, and hundreds of tiny horns adorning it's skull. The rest was coated in deep blue scales that seemed to glisten in the fading light of day. It was easily twice the size of a house, and roared loudly every minute or so.

Sting lept into action, turning to Rogue and snapping "We have to kill that thing before it hurts anyone else. Lucy! Can you start directing people away while we handle it?" I nod sharply and add "Call me, and I'll be there in a second. If you need help, call for it. Lector and Frosch, come with me so they can fight." They nod and we all run to the town, splitting up as they run toward the monster and I start herding people toward the safety of the road, away from town.

"Everyone! This way! Hurry!" I call, waving to people. I task Lector with watching for small children who seem to be missing parents. I task Frosch with looking for parents who are missing children. I hear a few magical explosions as I start making my way toward Sting and Rogue, my gut screaming to get closer to them. My fear proves correct when the creature bellows again, letting me look as it swiped at something towards its feet. Within seconds I hear Rogue scream "STING!"

I take off at a sprint, running faster than I ever have in my life as I hear Rogue scream "LUCY! HELP!" I turn the corner of a building and find them, the buildings destroyed around them, Rogue holding an unconscious, bleeding Sting to his chest. I don't even remember grabbing my key out, or chanting for Phoenix, but he appears at my side as I fall to my knees, the monster moving a small distance away as he lost interest in us.

"He- It was meant for me! He shoved me away! It wasn't supposed to be this strong!" He stammered out as Phoenix gently inspected the claw marks that stretches from Sting's chest to his stomach. I gently take Sting from Rogue, pressing him into Phoenix's arms and saying "Please help him, as much as you can." He nods a moment as Rogue sniffles and pressed himself against my side. I pull him into a gentle hug that he reciprocates, clinging to me tightly and pressing his head against my side, yet watches his friend with worry as Phoenix makes his hands suddenly glow brightly.

He presses them to his wounds and I instantly feel the magic start to drain from my body, but not enough to make me worry. Suddenly however, the monster makes to move back toward us, having finally seen us as a threat. Rogue stiffens and goes to stand before I stop him. "I'll go, stay with him and Phoenix, I don't want any more harm coming to you." I say as I hug him a moment before walking toward that thing.

I've lost my mother. I've lost my friends. I lost the person to make me smile with such joy that for a moment everything felt alright. I've lost too many people, I refuse to lose these two as well. I will not lose them, even if I have to reduce this thing to nothing. I snatch out the first key that comes to mind, thinking of everything I need so badly at the moment as I summon Megumi. She appears, hair as perfectly silver as ever, not a hair out of place in a dress that hugs every curve.

Her eyes however show how angry she seems to be at her sudden summoning. "What is it? It had better be important." She hisses at me, not even glancing around her. "I need your help. That thing hurt people I care about. Children I care about. I want that thing so goddamn dead that it's ash fears you." I say, watching her steadily. Her eyes widen at my sudden display of malice, glancing over at where the others.

She sees a bloodied Sting and a worried Rogue before looking back to me. "Oh we are going to be the best of friends Lucy." She suddenly says with a smile, tossing her hair and walking into the path of the monster as it finally gave us it's full attention. "Hey there you pretty little thing. You're going to be a beautiful explosion aren't you?" She says as she stands in front of it, smiling warmly.

She braces her heeled feet shoulder width apart, holding one arm out straight in front of her and the other straight back. Two deep red magical circles form at her fingertips, far larger magical circles form in a square around the creature. They had runes etched around the edges, yet the center of it was stylized with a massive skull. "You hurt someone Lucy cares about, which means you pissed me off." She hissed, demeanor changing in an instant at the creature before she pivoted and clapped her hands together in front of her, six magical circles layered atop one another appearing above the creature, each suddenly blasting downward, getting stronger with each layer it went through until it was a nearly blinding, bloody red light smashing down onto the creature, yet was contained within the square of magic circles.

Then I felt the sudden and massive drain on my magic, nearly making me woozy. I shake my head and blink, straightening myself as I accepted the energy loss before the magic finally faded. The Monster was gone, not even ash was left behind in the huge crater that she made. She sets a hand on my shoulder, steadying me and saying "I will always help when you are trying to protect someone, and I will always fight for children. They are innocent in all of this."

I nod at her, smiling warmly as she closes her own gate and vanished in a shimmer of red. I turn and walk back to them, leaning against Phoenix as I sit. Now that I had a tiny break the magic had taken a massive toll, yet I barely registered the small but steady pull from Phoenix for Sting. Rogue moves back to my side, watching his friend closely as Sting slowly starts to wake up. "There, he won't even scar now. Just keep him from lifting or doing any strenuous activity for a day or two okay?" Phoenix suddenly says as his hands stop glowing.

I nod as he gently hands him over and closes his gate, leaving me with what magic I have left. Rogue instantly hugs his friend, yanking him close and saying "You idiot! You could've died! You would have left me here alone!" Sting hugged his friend close and stayed silent, letting the usually quiet boy vent. I smile warmly as they stand, urging me to my feet before we leave the town, finding that Lector and Frosch have taken to making sure everyone found their families just near the road, overlooking the town.

It's a warm reunion for them as the village leader approaches us. "We thank you all for this! We would have been killed if not for you. Thank you for this, we are in your debt." He says with an over enthusiastic flare as Rogue looks a bit sheepish and Sting seems like his pride has taken a hit from being unable to defeat it. "Thank you sir. You should thank these two, they are the ones who answered the request, I'm merely a friend tagging along." I say gently as I give them both a soft shove forward.

Rogue responds with hiding slightly behind me, practically meshing in my faint shadow, with an obvious dislike for being the center of attention as Sting graciously accepted the reward, which was a sizeable amount of money. He also provides a ride back to Hargeon for us, which was a carriage driven by his son. Sting fell asleep within minutes, leaning his head against me and dozing off. Rogue stayed awake like a champion until Frosch curled up in his lap and warmed him up a bit, leading him to lean against my other side and fall asleep as well.

I smile at them, laughing softly as they use me as a pillow. They must really be exhausted… It isn't long before the carriage stops and our driver turns around to say something before I hold a finger to my lips. I tap Loke's key, seeing my beloved friend appear with a grin. "Would you mind helping me carry them? I can grab us a room at the nearest hotel, I just need help to get there." I ask softly, watching as he nods and opens the door.

"I'll grab Sting, can you grab the Rogue?" He asks, clarifying who he was grabbing. I nod and gently scoop up Rogue. He carefully picked up Sting, Lector climbing down to walk beside him. Frosch quietly walked beside Lector as I softly thanked the driver and let him leave as we headed over to the hotel I saw earlier, it's a touch pricey but worth it. I adjust Rogue until his head is on my shoulder and I can hold him comfortably.

I step into the hotel, which is quiet now that night has fully fallen. "Hey, can I get two rooms? One with two beds and one with just one?" She smiles at me warmly and says "Of course, I'll have a connector door set up that way you can enter their room and vice versa. Name?" I smile warmly and give her the necessary information, paying upfront for both rooms. She smiles at us and quietly leads us up to our rooms, which are spacious and welcoming.

I pull back the blankets on one bed and direct Loke to set Sting there, doing the same with Rogue on the other bed. Loke happily grins at me before saying "I'll get Virgo to pick you out some clothes. Have a good night Lucy." Giving me a warm hug before leaving. The woman easily showing me my room before handing over the keys and leaving me as well. I lock the door behind them before pulling off the shoes of both boys, setting them beside them on the floor and tucking them in, making sure both Lector and Frosch were happy and comfy before walking over to my room.

I quickly made a call to Hanji, letting her know I was alive and I may need a pickup tomorrow. I easily talked with her a minute before summoning Virgo, who already carried PJ's for me. I smile softly and thank her, taking the soft blue fabric from her. I drag myself into a shower, making me at least clean up minimally before changing and crawling under the warm covers of my bed. Before I could really settle down I was asleep.

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Lucy POV - The Next Day - Port Hargeon

I wake up slowly to someone knocking on the door, making me groan and stand up, tiredly making my way over to the door and opening it easily. "What's all the racket- UMPH." I'm smashed into by two decent sized bodies, making me lose balance and crash to the floor. The two people who decided to smash into me fell to the floor as well, knocking the wind out of me as I'm held tightly.

"Thank you so much for this! Thank you for helping us and -" Sting let off his rambling for a second and Rogue picked up with "Thank you for getting us a room and for keeping an eye on Frosch and Lector!" I laugh softly and hug them back, Lector jumping into the hug pile with a cheer. "Don't forget Frosch!" The littlest one says as they hopped onto my belly and cuddled against me. "You're welcome. Why don't you give me a moment to dress and we can go out for food?"

They instantly jump to there feet and let out a cheer, Rogue scooping Frosch up into another hug before they bid me a small goodbye. I quickly yank on an outfit, which had apparently been placed here by Virgo at some point before stepping over to there room. They had both donned their shoes and were ready to go, something I was infinitely thankful for.

"Do you guys want to eat anywhere particular?" I ask them as I open the door toward the hallway, seeing them both shake their heads before I shrug. "Want to wander until we find somewhere? Or do you two have to leave for Crocus soon?" I ask as we start to make our way down the hallway. Rogue pulls their tickets out of his pocket and says "We have till noon before our train gets here, which is three hours from now."

I nod as Sting starts complaining about the time, saying it was too early to be up. Rogue replies that it was a perfectly logical time to be up, and the two started debating the best time to be up. I let them talk, smiling as the little conversation slowly starts to get more heated as I check us out of the hotel. They follow at my heels as I start finding somewhere to eat, not even paying attention as they walk down the street, reminding me so much of Natsu and Gray.

I find my way to a small place that I remember served great food and amazing milkshakes and urge them inside. I manage to get their favorite ice cream flavors from Lector and Frosch as we sit down. I order a decent amount of food, remembering that all the Dragon Slayers I've ever met eat a lot. With our order in it's barely two minutes before we have our shakes, letting me slide them across the table and ask "Milkshake?"

Their tiny argument vanished instantly in favor of the treat, the both of them happily devouring their shakes. "Thank you!" They both say after a moment, Rogue remembering first before he asks "So, I see you joined another guild. What's it's name?" I hum a moment, taking a sip of my shake and saying "Freedom's Wings. They welcomed me with open arms and have spent weeks helping me train and grow stronger."

Before Rogue can reply however, our food arrives, a massive burger with a huge amount of fries for me. I got the same thing for those two, but Frosch told me to hold off on the lettuce for Rogue and Lector said Sting hated onions. So watching both boys immediately inspect their food for their hated ingredients, brightening when they saw that they didn't have them. Both boys tucked in, eating far more gracefully than Natsu ever did.

"Ma'am? The fish will take an extra minute, okay?" The waitress says as she refilled my drink, explaining why Frosch and Lector still didn't have food. I thank her and munch on my food, barely getting through half my burger before my first fry gets stolen. Sting snagged it when he thought I wasn't looking, Rogue laughing softly as I played along, pretending not to notice them.

It suddenly became a game to see who could steal the most of them, which I allowed as fries were far from my favorite food, and it meant I could drink more milkshakes as I'm taking a bit of a cheat day. The fish arrived and was stolen by the two exceeds before the boys could even think about snagging any of it, letting me put in an extra order of fries for them to munch on as well, guessing that their appetites are just as bottomless as Gajeel's.

They had successfully snagged almost all of my fries by the time the next order got here, laughing and having a grand time. There laughter and obvious enjoyment brought us more than one smile from the staff, who happily supplied us with more fries. I set this order between them and let them split them, Frosch stealing one of Rogue's fries when he tried to eat it. I laugh at the offended look Rogue wears as Frosch asked for another, but consented in sharing his fries.

It took us a good two hours to eat, munching and talking happily over the time we stayed. Before too long however, we paid our bill and were walking toward the train station. They were playfully relaxed, even Rogue smiled as they horsed around. We made our way to the train about ten minutes before it should leave. Before they boarded I swept them all into a warm hug, holding them tightly.

"Thank you for dragging me along yesterday, I needed that. You two are going to be amazing wizards one day, never doubt that." I say as I hug them, getting four hugs back. "We're happy you went with us." Rogue says as Sting adds "We have to do this again! Next time we can meet in Crocus!" I smile and pull away. "That sounds perfect, now go get on your train! I can't have you missing it!"

They grin and rush off to their train, jumping onto it and snagging seats where they can see me. I wave at them, smiling brightly as the train slowly takes off, seeing them wave and grin back at me. I stay until they were out of sight, safe and sound on the train before I pull out the small lacrima I keep on me. It's only got audio communication, but it works well for what I need. I quickly call Hanji for a pickup, which results in my being instantly teleported home.

I blink and shake my head a moment as the sight of Hanji's infirmary appears. "Thank you Hanji." I say with a smile, one she returns before pushing forward and sweeping me into a tight hug. She nods at me a moment before bouncing away, rushing over to her cluttered desk and snatching something up, bouncing back over to me and holding up the necklace I asked her to make.

"I was planning on making it simple, but a design came to mind and it grew from there. So here, I hope you like it!" She says, showing me the necklace. It had the gemstone held in the talons of a Dragon, which was curled around the deep blue gemstone in a protective manner. Instead of the normal stone however, it now looked like an eye, the pupil slitted like a cats. (AN: I'm basing this off of a pendant I found called 'Gothic Dragon Evil Eye'.)

It hangs on a thick silver chain, designed to be more like a choker so it's always visible. I take it gently, looking it over with a small smile. It reminded me a lot of Laxus oddly, leaving me with a slightly warm, fuzzy feeling. I pull it on, latching it around my neck. "I used some magic to make it so you're the only one who can take it off, that way you never have to worry about losing it in the heat of battle." She explains with a grin, watching me put it on.

I step forward and hug her tightly, one she reciprocates. "Thank you, it means a lot." I say softly as she holds me tightly. We stand a moment before we separated and she grins devilishly at me. "Now, I think Mikasa mentioned that you missed your run with her!" She said, making me groan. "Now I'm gonna have to run twice as far…" I playfully complain with a grin as I walk out of her infirmary and into the main guild hall.

My heart warms at the chorus of hello's I receive, Mikasa nearly appearing at my side and asking "Up for a run?" I glance at my shoes, seeing that they had the right kind of support before nodding. "I'd love to." I reply with a smile, seeing her give me a small smile behind her red scarf. I still have people to protect, even if some of them aren't here right now, it doesn't mean I can wallow in self pity till they return. I'll just have to grow in my own way and wait for them to come back.

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Lucy POV - Six Months Later - Six Months Post Tenrou - Oshibana

I strolled through the store, stopping to look through the shirts on the nearest rack. "I think he'll like that one Lucy." Annie says from my right, causing me to pull down the black shirt from the rack. I look at the tag, reading over it's properties. "See? Tear resistant, stretchy fabric, minor self cleaning spell, it's just what a growing boy needs." She says, pointing out the qualities of the shirt.

I hum and worriedly say "I agree, but will he like it?" She gives me a blank look and says "Lucy, Rogue likes black clothes as much as Sting likes blue clothes. I honestly think he will like it Lucy, especially if it's a gift from you, those boys adore you and you know it. Just like you adore them, besides, isn't this the third gift you've gotten for him? And Sting has just as many?" I pout at her and reply "It's been a month since I've seen them! They deserve gifts when I can see them. Besides, with Mikasa taking the Captain's Class exam you know I can't make her shop with me, and Eren is on a quest with Levi. You're the only other one who knows this kind of clothing!"

She smiles softly at me with a snicker. "Okay, I think this will be right up his alley since he loves black and all. Much more and even that bottomless bag of yours won't be able to carry it all!" She says, taking the shirt from me and setting it into the basket on my arm. "You are going to spoil those boys rotten Lucy." she says teasingly as she gently pushed me towards the registre. I grin at her and shake my head, buying the shirt and having it packaged.

I pull out a holographic pen that shimmers and lights up on whatever you write on. This one's white, which will work well with the red packaging. I elegantly scroll out 'Rogue' on the top before turning back to Annie. "Now, we have to grab my last gifts, which are for Lector and Frosch." I say with a grin, making her let out a overly dramatic groan before following me out. I place Rogue's gift into the Infinity bag I have on my shoulder, which ties well with the gray shorts I'm wearing and silver top with black swirly designs.

Christa had also done my hair, pulling it up into a stunning french braid that started from my nape and formed a bun. "It'll be great with the heatwave we have coming in. All that hair hanging everywhere is going to get hot as hell really fast." She'd said as she braided it with speed that almost amazed me. I walk out of the wonderfully air conditioned store into the heat of the day, almost wishing I'd grabbed some sunglasses.

The sky was a bright, cloudless blue, perfect for hiding inside and petting your air conditioner. Annie walks beside me and asks "So, where to next?" I point to a small place less than a block away from us. "They can only stay a few hours this time, so I got us a reservation at a burger joint about three blocks away from the train station. They have amazing french fries, but they don't serve fish. Which is where Frosch and Lectors gifts come into play. There's an amazing sushi restaurant right here!" I explain as we walk, finally stepping into the sushi restaurant.

"Hello Ma'am. How may I help you?" The dark haired hostess asks as we enter, uniform pristine as she smiles kindly at us. "Hello, I'm here for a pickup, it should be under the name 'Lucy'?" I respond, waiting as she looks at the papers in her hands before asking us to wait a moment. We step to the side as she rushed to the back, collecting my order. "I love the Sushi this place has, light and flavorful. They get the fish teleported here from Hargeon, which is quite a feat since we're in Oshibana, but it makes this place so worth it." I explain as she returns a few minutes later with a large bag.

She smiles at me and asks a few questions before I pay for my food. "Ma'am? May I get a second bag? Pretty please?" I ask and she nods, bending slightly down and grabbing another paper bag. "These are spelled with chilling runes. They'll keep the sushi fresh and cold for an hour or so, you can use that table a moment if you need to rearrange." I nod and thank her again before moving over to the table, rapidly sorting the Sushi.

I place the now separated containers of Sushi into the two bags, labeling them before setting them into the infinity bag. "There," I say as we exit the restaurant, "We have just enough time to make it to the station!" Annie gives me a small smile before saying "Then here is where I'll let you be, I have some shopping to do as well. Don't spoil them too much Lucy!" I playfully scoff at her before I continue walking, arriving just as the train pulls up.

According to there last message, this should be the train there on, but I can't be too sure I'm in the right spot to find them. I look around for them, watching carefully for blond or black hair, also watching for Frosch's signature pink frog suit. I brighten when I see them, welcoming them both with a tight hug. "Lucy! We missed you so much!" Sting says, Rogue tightening his grip and saying "We almost thought you were going to be late!"

"Frosch was afraid too!" The little exceed says as they hug my leg tightly, Lector hugging the other. I hum and hug them tighter. "I wouldn't miss seeing you four for the world." I pull back slightly, looking over them both and saying "Oh gosh you've grown again! Keep it up and you'll both be taller than I am!" Affectionately ruffling the hair of both boys. The both puff up proudly at my praise, Sting openly grinning while Rogue gave a small smile.

"Come on, we can talk over food. I got us reservations!" I continue with, leading them to the restaurant and listening as they tell me about their travels. Were quickly seated when we arrive, and both boys are deep into a tale of their last quest. "The thing was stupidly easy to defeat! Rogue took it down in one hit!" Sting says with pride, causing his friend to blush deeply. "It wasn't one hit Sting, it was more like three."

I smile and say "Still, you are both growing to be amazing wizards. I wouldn't have been able to do that at your age, so I think you should be very proud of yourselves. Despite that, how are you two fitting in with your guild? I hope it's going well." Rogue instantly let's out an annoyed groan, Sting pressing himself into his seat. "Minerva was being mean again. She thinks that just because she's got this cool magic that she can use it anytime she likes." Sting grinds out, looking overly pissed.

"She takes joy in overpowering her opponents. Far past what she should, just to rub it in there faces that they are weaker than she is." Rogue adds, Frosch nodding along. "She seems like a brat to me, but I'm a bit biased." I reply with a small smile, watching them both relax a bit. "Oh! I have presents. Since it's been forever since I last saw you, and you need something to cheer you up. Also by the looks of it you already grew out of everything I got you last time." I say, ending my words with a playful smile as they both go a little red.

I pull my bag into my lap and pull out my first gifts for them, I first pass Rogue the shirt I just got him, and I also pass Sting a white shirt with blue patterns on it in the shade he liked. They happily open them, thanking me for the gifts as Rogue teases Sting about how he just ruined another shirt recently, so this gift it perfect for him. I smile and pass them the next gift pair, Sting getting replacements for the the gloves he tore recently in a battle, Rogue receiving another set of boots in the style he liked.

Finally, I gave them both books. Sting's was on the art of meditation for magical expansion, and Rogue's was on the history of Dragons in Fiore. Rogue looked like he wanted to start reading immediately, however Sting glared and said "In the bag, you need something to do when we get back to the guild anyway! Now, give her hers!" Rogue sighed and put the book gently into his bag before pulling out a small box about the size of my hand and offering it to me.

"Awe, you didn't have to you two." I say as I take it, seeing it's wrapped in blue and black paper, unwrapping it with gentle care. I pull off the lid and look inside, seeing a sleek black leather belt. It had a pouch nestled in the center, matching the belt. The entire thing was very well made, the clasp a type of black metal. "We heard that a celestial wizards worst fear is losing their keys. This belt is runed so that whoever puts it on has to willingly take it back off, or it'll shock whoever tries. The pouch can only be removed by you as well, anyone who tries gets a nasty shock." Rogue explains with a proud smile.

"I got the belt, Rogue here got another Wizard to rune it. So it was a joint effort!" Sting adds with a grin, making me smile warmly at the both of them. "Thank you, this is an amazing gift." I say as I pull my own belt off and place my keys in the new pouch, putting on the new belt. Once it was on I opened the runes, reading them over. Whoa… This person really went all out. You can't even rewrite it to remove the runes. Nice.

The rest of our meal went well once our food was delivered, especially after I brought out the sushi for Lector and Frosch. I got two teary hugs for that while Sting and Rogue tucked into their meal, letting me order them both a second burger as they ate. Before long though, they had to go again. I wrapped them both up into a tight hug, holding them as close as I could. "Be safe you two, I don't want anything bad to happen to you." I softly said, tightening my grip a fraction.

"We'll be safe Lucy, we promise." They reply, hugging me back just as tightly, both of them were tall enough to almost look me in the eye. I smile softly before pulling away, giving them one last look over and laughing out "Gosh, you two will be taller than me by the time we meet again won't you?" They both smile back, Sting leaning onto Rogue and saying "I don't know if shadow lord here will be, but I'm certainly going to try!"

Rogue snorts and says "I already have an inch on you sunshine, I'm most certainly going to be taller than you." This starts a playful argument between them as Frosch agrees with Rogue while Lector takes Sting's side with his usual flare. I urge them onto their train and wave them off, Annie stepping into my field of vision as I wave at them. "They're a sweet pair. I just hope they don't get ostracized for the strength they will have." She comments as I nod.

"I have faith in them and the strength they hold. They are both already so protective of their friends, but this Minerva girl bothers me. Her sadistic streak is already something she's known for…" I say as the train slowly pulls out of the station, both of them enthusiastically waving to me before going green and sitting down. Annie laughs and says "Maybe next time you can gift them with some more of that potion that Phoenix made for motion sickness. It should help them immensely."

I give her a wicked smile, one she blinks at and say "Perfect! We can go shopping for bottles to hold them in! I can give one to Frosch to have incase of emergencies for Rogue and one to Lector for Sting! As well as two for them each! It'll be a perfect birthday present! Let's go!" I latch onto her arm and drag her off, hearing her sputter out something about having something to do as I pull her into the first store with a grin. Oh she is so gonna get me back for this!

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Lucy POV - Two Months Later - Eight Months Post Tenrou - Town of Oar's Rest

I yawn as I step out of the carriage and into the town of Oar's Rest. They apparently had some kind of giant monster loose in the waters of the lake here. It apparently killed a few fishermen and the town was suffering for it. I walk over to the front of the carriage and ask "Hey, can I have you meet me here tomorrow around noon? If not it's fine, but I need a ride out of here when I'm done."

He nods and we agree to meet here tomorrow, leaving me to hunt down the town leader. "Hello? I'm here about your request for a monster slayer?" I call out into the empty town. Seeing someone open their door and rush out. "Thank my lucky stars! I didn't think someone would come so fast!" A small, portly man says as he smiles at me, nervousness apparent in his sweaty brow and worried glances at the water a good eighty feet away.

I nod and say "My name is Lucy of Freedom's Wings. I'm a celestial Wizard, and I think I have the solution to your monster problem. When did this start?" He nods and shakily answers "Well… About three days ago a group of our children happened upon some stupid book in the old archives, it told them how to summon a monster. Being a group of curious kids they thought it would be cool, probably thought it was fake to be honest, and decided to do it. Next thing they knew a huge beast rose from our lake. They didn't say anything, trying to hide what they'd done, yet came clean when the first body showed up."

I nod along, crossing my arms and saying "I need to see that book if you still have it." He nods and runs to his home, which I now notice is a bit larger than the rest of them. He runs back out a few minutes later with a large spellbook in his hand. "This is it, they said they read this one." He says, flipping to a specific page. I read it over, my braid swaying in the light wind. I'm glad I wore my shorts today, anything longer and I might swelter in this heat.

I read over what the monster is supposed to be, seeing that it dwelt in the waters and was supposed to be defensive against those the caster sees as hurtful, but my guess is something went wrong and one of these kids saw this town as their enemy and the spell was split between protecting and destroying this town. So it settled on killing those who venture into the water. The other thing is that this spell took some magic to boost it, actual magic, meaning one of these kids has the ability to be a wizard.

"These kids, are any of them odd? Ostracized by the rest of the village?" I ask as I shut the book with a snap, gaining his attention again. His gaze darkens a bit as he says "Yes… Landon. He's the boy of one of our many fishermen, he's always been an odd boy. His mother Joanna was a Wizard much like yourself, but gave it up before she married her husband Richard. He never liked magic, calling Wizards a worthless addition to society. However, by the time Joanna learned about this side of him she was married and couldn't easily leave him.

She died of illness about five years ago, her son looks just like her, all honey brown curls and soft blue eyes. It's painful for the elder members of the village who remember Joanna fondly, and the other children feel envy with their lighter features like my blond hair." I nod along and ask "May I see him? I need to talk to him about something before I can take care of this monster."

He nods and leads me further into the town, past house after house until we come upon a quiet home with a soft green door and well kept lawn. A flipped over canoe sat under an overhang on a stand, a thick coat of sealant shining on it. The house is silent, which wasn't odd provided that many families were mourning the loss of their friends. The leader knocked on the door and it was snatched open by an older man with blond hair kept back in a ponytail.

"What do you want and why are you bringing a wizard to my door Keith?" He half snarled, hatred obvious as I glared sharply at him. "This kind woman would like to talk to Landon, if he's in." The newly identified Keith explained, Richard turned on his heel and marched into the house, coming back with a slightly disheveled boy behind him who looked barely fifteen. "Go talk about your wizard business elsewhere. I don't want any of that in my home." He snapped before slamming the door.

Keith sighed heavily before leading us all back to his home. "Let us have some tea and be out of this insufferable heat." He says as he leads us into his home, directing us to his lounge room. I sit gently on the couch, Landon sitting carefully on the nearest chair. He looks healthy, but saddened. "Landon? I need you to explain what happens when you guys summoned that monster." I ask, folding my hands in my lap and watching him carefully.

He swallows as Keith reentered the room, setting down a tray and sitting in a large armchair. "We… We were just messing around! It wasn't supposed to do anything at all! Mike said he found it under some older books in the town library and snagged it. We were just trying to see if anything happened, so when we all said the words in the book, this huge circle appeared on the water, green and glowing with a weird rune in the middle. It sucked all this energy out of me, I nearly passed out as it smashed into the water and made that thing! We all ran away after that…" He explained with worry and no small amount of fear.

I nod and gently say "Landon, I'm going to explain a few things okay?" He nods and I continue. "This is a spellbook, one of thousands if not hundreds of thousands in Fiore. The spell you casted was designed for only one caster, but you and your friends all cast it, and it made a conflict of interest within the spell. Some of you wanted to protect everyone in town, some wanted others to be punished, some wanted to do something completely different. Thus, the monster didn't know what to protect, and what to hurt, so it settled on killing those who entered the water."

Both of them shake, Landon looking terrified and so sorry, Keith looked so hurt. "Furthermore, I need to explain the one thing you told me that I'm sure none of the others felt. Exhaustion. Like you'd just ran a marathon in one long sprint right?" He nods slowly as I hold up my hand. I press my magic out into the space directly above it, creating a soft golden globe. "Spells like the one you cast require magic, not just funny words and a strong will. But actual magic. Something that you have Landon."

His look morphs into one of wonder as he leans forward, watching the magic in my hand before I make it dissipate. "You are the one who powered that spell, without really meaning to. So I have an offer for you okay? You can come with me and train in magic, learning to be a wizard, or you can stay here. It's entirely up to you." I say as I smile at him, watching the cascade of emotions dance across his face, from fear to joy to wonder.

I stand and brush off nonexistent dust, giving them both a huge smile. "I'll be right back, I'm just going to take care of our monster problem. Landon, please think this over tonight. I won't be leaving until tomorrow, so it's perfectly fine if you need time." I say as he gives me a slightly panicked look before I exit the home, walking toward the lake and grabbing out Valik's key and summoning him to my side.

"Hello my friend, how are you?" I say as he appears, seeing him give me a tiny smile. He and I had slowly started to become friends over the last few months, and it seemed he had a protective streak that could outshine Loke and Capricorn in some respects. He was a great deterrent for perverts, and he had an amazing sense of humor. He shrugs and says "Nothing much really miss Lucy, the spirit world has been rather boring actually. What do I get to do here?"

His excitement was apparent as I smile and motion out to the water. "Well, it appears we have a monster in these waters that needs slaying. I thought you would find it rather fun, and you get a few hours to explore the lake and stretch your legs. Or fins. I just need the corpse of the creature to prove it's dead." I explain as he nods, happily marching off toward the water and diving in, leaving a trail of wet footprints behind him.

I felt a tiny tug on my magic as he shifted forms, I could feel his joy at being in the water again as he shot off into deeper water, and feeling the hunting thrill for the monster. The strength of the psychic connection I could have with my psychically inclined spirits was astounding once you got close to them. Usually, they could communicate far greater distances than they said, but usually disliked sharing their mind with people they disliked at all, especially for long periods of time.

I grab out Aquilla's key, summoning him as well. "Would you mind helping me? I need to help explaining magic to a kid who's dad has probably done nothing but slander wizards his whole life. But his mom was one, so I don't really know much about his worldview yet." I explain, watching Aquilla straighten the cuffs of his suit with a warm smile. "I would be happy to miss Lucy. Lead the way." He says as I smile and lead him back to the house. After this I'm really gonna have to talk to Levi about that Lacrima.

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Lucy POV - One Month Later - Eleven Months Post Tenrou - Freedom's Wings Guild

I smile at the postcard I got from Landon, explaining how he had seen Hargeon and loved the water, saying it reminded him of home. He had found a great place in Blue Pegasus, after I playfully threatened to injure Hibiki if he dragged Landon into his lecherous ways. Sting and Rogue had managed to visit again, this time letting us spend three days in a tiny town that specialized in illusion magic and threw parties every week.

I shake my head after a moment, dispelling my thoughts and grabbing my outfit, which had been steadily getting more practical and less flashy. Sure, I still loved the way they clung to my skin and allowed for every bit of movement I wanted, but they were less likely to shred or flash my ass.

I snag the short shorts that Christa got me recently, which were a light shade of blue and fit perfectly. I snatch up a black tank top next, not really going for overly flashy patterns and pull it on, grabbing my belt and putting it on as well in it's usual slightly tilted fashion. I add my keys to the belt, my whip to it's side and give my hair a quick brush before I braid it. "Boots. Boots. Where did you go…" I softly ask no one as I hunt through my room for the boots Levi got me, as they were heavy duty and meant for kicking the crap out of people. Sasha had added another knife component to it to ensure I was never unarmed.

I finally find them hidden under the edge of my bed, snatching them on and cinching them tight before I run downstairs. I smile at the chorus of hello's I receive before Levi nods at me and Erwin stands. "Everyone, I have something to say." He states as everyone's attention turns to him. "As you all very well know, Lucy's friends are all, for the most part, sealed away on an island. And will be for the next few years. So we have devised a plan, but it will need everyone's consent in order to work."

Everyone straightened from where they were, giving us their full attention as Levi stepped forward. He pulled out the Time Lacrima. "The plan is simple. Each of us will pour a decent amount of Magical Power into the lacrima, and it will then slow our aging to a crawl. We can still grow, still move forward in training and strength, but this will keep us from physically aging. Yet there are side effects, such as it will eat a small chunk of magic every day it's in use. Not much, but enough to be annoying." He explains, the small blue lacrima sitting innocently in his hand.

Erwin takes over again and explains "We can use it until Lucy's friends return, or longer if we choose. The only reason we even think of this is due to how much pain Lucy would be in if she had to wait years and slowly but surely age far past her friends… And Laxus." I go a touch red at the tiny addition as many of my friends laugh boisterously, Eren giving me a knowing grin. I shrug and say "It would be a nice addition not to be younger than him one moment and older the next."

A few snickers echoed from around the room before Hanji jumped up onto the bar, throwing her arms into the air and shouting "ALL IN FAVOR OF USING THE TIME LACRIMA SAY AYE!" Everyone, every single member of my beloved guild jumped to there feet and bellowed "AYE!" Voices echoing around the room as I grin at them, eyes watering slightly from where I stand. I'll be here waiting for you my friends, through thick and thin.

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Lucy POV - Five Months Later - One Year, Four Months Post Tenrou - Outside of the Town of Seekers Keep

I slam my boot into the face of the last dark wizard in the room. Loke and Lupa happily having beaten half of their numbers. "That was fun, it's a great rush to fight wizards once more beside friends." Lupa says as she quietly padded over to me, letting me smile down at her. "Yes it is, what do you think Loke?" I respond, watching as Loke grin as usual and say "Anything where I get to watch two beautiful creatures like yourselves is a treat!"

I snort as Lupa shakes her head and replied "You never will change little cat." The offended look Loke adopted made me laugh, watching as he huffed with feigned hurt. "Mean wolf." He muttered playfully as I shake my head. "Let's go collect our reward for this, then we can go get food. Or would you like to wander the forest for a time Lupa?" I say as I start ushering them out of the Dark Guild hall.

"I think I'll hunt through these forests on my own for a bit. I can find you before dark." She says before running off into the brush of the forest, summoning wolves to her side as she did. "Back to Seekers Keep? Then we can get our reward and food. I miss human food so much!" He says as he playfully pushed me back toward town as I laugh. "Okay! I'll race you, it'll be great for my stamina and speed!" I say as I take off, hearing him race after me. I am growing stronger. I'm still angry at Natsu and the others, but I would let that go if I could see the others again.

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Lucy POV - Two Years Later - Three years, Four Months Post Tenrou - Freedom's Wings Guild

I pant as I stand over Jean, having finally beaten him using only light magic. People around us cheer, shouting and screaming at my victory. He laughs and slowly stands himself, letting me help him to his feet. He gives me a smile and says "Well done Lucy. You finally mastered Light Magic, you should be proud. Eren says you're also training with fighting two on one as well. You've grown, and I can't help but say I'm proud of you."

I smile warmly at him, pride and relief shining from me. He throws an arm over my shoulders as we get swarmed with congratulations. Master Erwin proclaims that this is more than enough of a reason to celebrate as ever, which kickstarts a party, Eren hopping over the bar and saying "Since Lucy won, don't you think her drinks should be free tonight? She has grown quite a bit."

People cheer in agreement as Mikasa pushed me to the bar and sat beside me. "Alright then Eren, keep them coming until she's either under the table or Erwin makes us stop!" Jean said as he took the seat to my left and everyone crowded around. "Loser has to take cleanup duty!" I say, snagging the strawberry drink Eren passes me, watching him set Levi's favorite in front of him before Marco started helping him.

I'm so gonna regret this later. I down my drink and laugh, smiling and getting into an arm wrestling contest against Mikasa, who grins and beats me before we match each other drink for drink until everything starts affecting me at once. From there my memory fuzzed out, filled with a haze of laughter and music, some from my friends and some from the lacrima around the room. That is until I woke up in my bed, my mouth feeling dryer then a desert, my muscles ached, I really had to pee, my head was pounding and I was sure the sunlight was trying to kill me.

I groan loudly as I start to roll over, having slept facing the wall on my side. I manage to stand before the nausea hit me and I bolted to the bathroom, vomiting up the strawberry flavored death mix. I thoroughly rinsed and brushed my teeth after that before going through some of my morning routine, but pulled on a pair of sweatpants instead of something short and revealing. I slowly but steadily started making my way down the stairs before the nausea hit me a second time and I summoned Loke.

"Can you be the best friend ever and carry me? I feel like I'm gonna hurl and Phoenix is away for a week." I ask my beloved spirit as he smiles at me. "Of course Princess, there's nothing I wouldn't do for you." He says as he gently scooped me up, carrying me down the last of the stairs and into Hanji's infirmary. Hanji grinned at us as I opened the door and he carried me in. "Can I get that hangover cure thing please?" I ask as he sets me on one of the beds.

She nods with a laugh, pulling a small vial of a pumpkin colored liquid from the shelf. "I took the liberty of making a good bit of this yesterday, guessing that the party would result in quite a few hangovers. I'll grab you some tea and toast as well." She says as she passed me the vial and I downed it in one take, making a face at the pumpkin and lime flavor it held. Loke grinned at my face and asked "So, what magic is next?"

I hum and say "Star. It's like each Star having a Powerful spell that can be cast, reflecting something of nature. Each star has a 'Palace' that houses the most basic and destructive portion of an elemental creation, like fire or storms, at least that's how Jean explained it." He nods along with an interested look before I feel the potion take effect, killing most of my headache and nausea. I stand and slowly stretch, rolling my shoulders.

"That feels better, walk with me after she brings my toast back? I miss talking to you like this." I ask gently as I look to him, knowing that the temporary loss of our friends was still a wound he was nursing. He nods with a small smile as he says "I'd love to princess, nothing would make me happier right now."

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Lucy POV - One Month Later - Three Years, Five Months Post Tenrou - Freedom's Wings Guild

"Alright Lucy, time for the big guns. Star Magic is nothing like Light magic, and is far more destructive than most Celestial related magics. You know of Urano Metria yes?" He says as we hike deeply into the forest, leaving the guild at least three hours behind us. I affirm that I do know the spell and explain how I got it after a little prompting from Jean. "I'm glad you survived your first cast of it. Many actually don't, the magic to devastating to have taken from them so rapidly."

As he finished his sentence we stepped into a massive clearing. I could hear a stream trickling nearby, the tree's were lush and green, but the center of the clearing was anything but. The entire thing, from one treeline to the next, was entirely stone. As though someone had scorched off everything that had been there before, leaving stone and scorch marks. "I used this place to train myself to using Star magic. It's a long and difficult process, and it takes a lot of focus and confidence. If you don't have the confidence, it backfires, horribly. It's why I have a lacrima that can call hanji for an instant pick up should anything go wrong." He says, showing me a small green lacrima.

I nod sharply and his face grows completely serious. "Stand in the center of this field, which is a good distance from me. Yes, that space is necessary, which is why this is handy." He handed me a set of headphones connected to a communication lacrima. He pulled his own on and nodded toward the field. As I walk his voice sternly filters in through the headphones. "These spells are designed to do massive damage over a massively wide radius, but can be very picky. You can choose to channel it all into one space, or blast it into a large one. You can even choose who and what each hits. But that comes later, for now, we just focus on casting."

I nod as I reach what looks like the center of the massive area. "No two spells are exactly the same, so I'm just going to start you on the one that is least likely to kill your ass. It's called 'Palace of Mist.' Now, stand with your feet braced apart and find your center of balance like Eren showed you and hold one hand on your heart, the other reaching to the sky and say this incantation exactly. Remember to trust yourself, and move on instinct if something orders you to move." He says, and I can see him watching me intently as I listen to his words.

I take a breath and center myself, relaxing as I chant "God of Mist, Bringer of Clouds, I call you to my aid, Rain down from Heaven, Palace of Mist!" In an instant I feel a massive pull of power, making my knees weak as the air around me grows heavy with magic and something else that almost makes me falter. No. This is my spell, and I won't let it hurt me. I command myself as my magic drains out of me rapidly before the area was dusted in thin clouds, my body screaming to cast my arms out to the sides, an act I follow.

I stand there for less than a millisecond, arms stretched out as though I were to open myself for a hug. Then it happened. The stone in front of me was swiftly coated in a thick, yet oddly mostly translucent fog that swirled around us and cloaked the world around me as my magical power dropped deplorably low despite my second origin and massive stores of magic. I felt like I could hide anywhere I pleased as my vision started to tunnel, barely realizing the fog was fading as I collapsed into darkness.

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Lucy POV - One day later - Three Years, Five Months Post Tenrou - Infirmary of Freedom's Wings

I groan loudly as I wake up, my muscles aching and magic still feeling annoyingly weak. "Morning sleepy head, you did quite a number on yourself huh?" Hanji says teasingly, but gently as she slowly helps me sit up. I groan again and hold my head, tucking my face into my knees and ask "How long was I out?" She hums a moment and says "Nearly twenty four hours. That did quite a number on you."

I groan heavily before I hear the door open again. "Hey Lucy, head hurt?" I hear Petra ask mentally, leaving me to nod. Petra always felt far more comfortable talking with thoughts then normal words, saying they showed intent and emotions better. "Jean said you did better than he did when he first tried casting it, but he's talking to levi about having two magical lessons a day instead of one, that way you can get to the point you can cast it without even sweating." She says as I feel her gently move over and set two fingers against the side of my head, my headache vanishing within moments.

I sigh in relief as it faded into nothingness. "Thank god, I felt like my head was gonna split in half…" I say as I smile at my friend. She gives me a smile back before Hanji says "Well, now that you aren't feeling like death is tap dancing on your skull, Levi is ready for you whenever you are." I immediately switch out my smile for a deep groan, knowing Levi is gonna be as harsh and helpful as ever. But it'll be worth it, I'll never have to sit back and watch those I love get hurt ever again.

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Lucy POV - Eight Months Later - Four Years, Six Months Post Tenrou - Freedom's Wings

I slam my boot into Eren's chest, dodging a kick from Annie, dancing away for both of them as they came at me. Eren aimed high, Annie aimed low, leaving me unable to block them both easily. However I try to do so anyway, bringing my arms up into a block for Eren's hit, yet can't move fast enough against Annie, whose leg smashed into my midsection.

I fly back, landing on the ground with a heavy groan, hearing them both approach. "Well done, you lasted longer this time!" Eren says, letting me look up enough to see him offering me a hand. I accept it, letting him pull me to my feet as I nurse my stomach carefully. "You okay? Do you need to see Hanji?" Annie asks with carefully concealed worry. I nod and stretch, feeling every muscle group work together easily.

I'd dropped what little baby fat my body had held onto, replacing it with muscle. I now sported an impressive six pack, every inch of my body becoming muscled and strong, radiating magic and confidence that I'd won through training and years of hard work. I'd gotten a few broken bones and scars along the way, each scar worn proudly like the badge of honor that it was.

I had a slash across my lower left arm, I'd gotten it from a sword slash from a dark mage I'd kicked the ass of. I had a scarred gash wound on my left lower leg from a quest that involved jumping into an underwater cave system, I'd landed on a stalagmite, which sliced the side of my calf. Hanji had been irked about that one, saying the damage could have been really bad on anyone else.

I had a stab wound on my left shoulder from a bar fight, one I got into while on a quest. A girl had wanted to go out on a huge bar hopping thing for her twenty first birthday, yet her friends didn't want to go without someone to watch their backs and get them home safe. So I took the quest and everything went pretty well until some jerk grabbed the ass of one of my charges and I punched him across the room. I had Aquila guard them while I brawled him and his jerk friends, getting stabbed in the process. All in all it was actually a really fun night.

My upper right leg had a bite scar from a wyvern, which went from about two inches below my hip to a bit above my knee. Hanji said she would have liked to have the wyvern to study, but I thought Valik liked it more as he shredded it into pieces. Hanji did spend almost an hour carefully repairing the muscle underneath it after I asked her to let it scar, a wound I wanted to display. It had been the first one I'd taken down completely on my own, with just my spirits and I.

My last scar was actually rather recent, it was a raking claw mark across my side from a lizardman, I ended up letting Megumi blast it to ash. It went from an inch to the right of my spine to about three inches from my belly button. Levi thought it looked pretty nice considering, then Eren jumped in and everyone was showing off their scars and swapping stories.

I chuckle lightly as I prod at my muscled and scarred stomach. Five years ago I would have cried my eyes out at having scars like this and hid them as best I could. I would have been running crying to Wendy, begging her to help them heal in a way they wouldn't scar. Now though, I felt like I had no need to. I earned these, though my own blood, sweat and tears. Every single one was a mark of honor and pride, and I was going to wear them as such.

I nod again to Annie and say "Yeah, I'm fine. I actually have something to ask you two. Could you teach me how to fight with a knife? I own one, but don't actually know any way to use it properly." Eren grimaced slightly, Annie giving him a small look before he nods and says "Sure, but Levi will have to help me. Ymir as well, since she is our resident Knife mage." I smile at him before he ushered us inside, walking over to Levi to ask him.

Jean gave me a grin before asking "Ready to hike? Star magic is next on your roster of training today." I nod with a smile as I turn on heel and exit, Annie and Mikasa wishing me luck on my next spell today. As we start on our hike Jean says "I think, after you've completed learning and mastering Star magic, you could try for Captains Class. I think you would excel there." I look at him in shock as he snickered at me.

"I mean it Lucy, you would excel. You've already proved that you have the strength and courage for it, the pride and morals to never stray from what you see as right, along with the determination and charisma to get it done. I can't wait to see you show everyone who ever doubted you exactly what they deserve." He says seriously, stopping and looking me straight in the eye.

"We all think you can do it, you just need to try. Now let's race, I bet you can't beat me yet!" He says before sprinting off, making me bolt after him. He was remarkably fast, and I laughed to the wind. Maybe I will try for it. Maybe I will earn my Tattoo on my neck, and show to everyone that I'm not just Lucy Heartfilia.

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Lucy POV - Six Months Later - Five Years Post Tenrou - Captains Class Exam - Location Unknown

I sit quietly across from Erwin, legs crossed as I sit upon the stone. We'd been here for nearly three hours and my back and butt were getting sore. My legs ache from holding this position, the cool air was whipping against the wind breaker he'd given me. He'd selected my outfit, saying I couldn't bring outside objects into the exam save my whip and keys.

I wore a plain black T-Shirt, black jeans, and a black windbreaker. I was wondering about the color but I just shrugged it off and accepted that maybe I might have to do some stealth work. But instead we sat here, upon the stony ground of a mountain, watching each other. I didn't say a word, waiting until he was ready to tell me something. I didn't know what I was supposed to do, but I accepted that I needed to be patient.

After another boring hour, making it sometime around noon now, he finally moved, activating his Archive magic and pulling something up. "I have set up a trial for you, I will download the map to your head. You have eight hours to complete it, I shall upload a timer as well. You have to get to the X marked on it, once you have another will appear and lead you to the end. Everything else you will find along the way. However, I will give you two things." He grabbed out a card and a flashlight, handing them to me. I saw Petra's runes written on the card.

"Use that if you cannot continue. I will collect you and return you to the guild if you do. All magic is allowed, be ready for anything. Good luck Lucy." He says, uploading the information to my mind and vanishing in a blink, courtesy of Hanji. I can easily see the map of the Mountain, the known paths leading me a good two hours distance away and into a cave system that stopped within the center of the mountain.

I stand up, stretching and adjusting until I was sure I wouldn't pull anything before I start jogging as I tuck the card and flashlight into my pocket, summoning Canis and Venatici, knowing they'll be great for this terrain. They run forward, yet we keep an even pace at a ground eating jog, closing the space between us and the nearest cave entrance. I could see the network in my mind, finding the fastest and safest looking path to the X in my mind.

However as I kept moving I noticed a tiny line of purple, realizing too late the line of runes. I skid into the trap, watching a box encase me as a deep masculine voice asks me "Why do you fight?" I blink and think a moment before saying "So I protect those I care about." The wall doesn't vanish as the voice asks "Why else?" I'm confused as I say "I have no other reason." I'm instantly shocked lightly with a weaker bolt of electricity, a line of runes showing up as the voice says "You must be completely honest with yourself or you will not move forward. Why do you fight?"

I blink and look down, thinking over every battle I've ever fought in. They were always to keep someone safe, to protect my friends or myself. Then I thought to my spars, the battles I'd had with my guildmates, the bar fight that scarred my shoulder. I moved to the play fights I had with Armin, the teasing prank wars with Ymir and Reiner. It's not only to protect and you know it.

"I fight because I both enjoy it, and because I feel like I would be failing my friends if I just laid down and let people walk over me." I say, straightening my shoulders. The wall vanishes, leaving Canis and Venatici to bound over to me. I felt… lighter after that realization, admitting that I liked fighting. I liked the adrenaline and punches, the bruises and sore muscles that give a pleasurable ache to your body.

I smile as I keep moving, barely an hour between me and my target if I kept up the pace. However I watched for traps, wary of falling into another. I pass the next half hour easily, finding the cave entrance, thankful for the lack of monsters so far. I pull out my flashlight and move forward, yet immediately stumble upon a trap. "Fucking shit." I curse as I watch the purple barrier, knowing my mouth has gotten rather foul over the last five years.

"Why are you angry?" The same deep voice asks and I take a moment to stop and think. Angry?... "Because I have been hurt before and I'm angry because I was." I say, hoping that would be enough. "A half truth is only a lie you tell yourself. Why are you truly angry?" The voice says, sounding slightly stern. I grimace as I think hard, racking my brain. After a few moments the words float to the surface, coming back clear as day despite all these years.

"We're kicking you off the team, to make room for Lisanna. You were always her replacement anyway, and you're way too weak to work with us anyway." I hear my mental Natsu say, easily envisioning his easy grin as he ripped out my fucking heart. "It's the most logical decision. We must show the strength of Fairy Tail, and you aren't part of that picture." I hear my mental Erza add on.

I can easily see her just as clearly as I had that day, watching Gray nod and Erza cross her arms, yet neither would have the decency to look me in the fucking eye. I shake, eyes blurring over slightly as my voice shakes "Because they hurt me. The three people I loved most on this goddamn planet after my mom and they fucking hurt me. They called me weak and a replacement. I'm angry because I'm still hurt by it. After five years I can still hear it, clear as day. I am angry at them for hurting me… And I am so angry at myself for letting them. For not fighting and throwing their words back at them."

The barrier vanishes as I finish my statement, leaving me to wipe away the tears that threaten to fall. Canis and Venatici both brush against me, sending their sadness and worry for me. I sniff before kneeling down and hugging both of them. They whimper and snuggle close, providing warmth and comfort when I most certainly needed it. After a minute or so I pull away and we press forward.

Canis and Venatici are the best two I could have here, with simple and undying love and support. "I think we're just gonna have to step into those traps huh?" I say as I feel a bit more of the weight that I'd held leave my heart, to admit why I was angry to both this thing and myself was invigorating. We keep on running into the caves, my map showing me where I was, my two furry friends happily running ahead.

I see the faint glow of another Rune trap and slow down as I enter it, not wanting to accidentally run into the wall of it. I'm guessing that these were spelled for me only since Canis and Venatici always went through them and whined outside while I was trapped. I straighten up as I wait for the voice, which doesn't make me wait long as it asks "What are you running from?" Voice as deep and calm as ever.

"I was running from the suffocating weight of the Heartfilia line. Then I ran from the responsibility of being a Lady. After that I ran to Fairy Tail, I ran to Natsu, who seemed to always catch me when I fell. So I kept running until I was hurt, so I ran from my pain. Then I found this guild, and I found a home. I do not wish to run from here. I didn't only leave fairy Tail just to train, I did it because I didn't want there to be a chance of seeing Natsu and my old friends, I didn't want to be a burden to the few I had left." I say, having long accepted that I ran for very selfish reasons.

The barrier vanishes once more and I run the last stint, which should take about ten minutes before I'm at the X on my map. I skid to a stop in a large cave, finding that the cave is pretty much empty save for a small vial that held some kind of mostly clear, shimmery substance. I had no clue what was in it, or why it was standing on a tiny pedestal but I guessed that I needed to collect it as it's right in the middle of the X.

I walk over onto the mental X in the cave, reaching for the crystal vial. Yet when I touch it I'm encased in another purple runic barrier. I sigh, feeling like this was really starting to get old. Why do I only come in contact with rune barriers? "Why do you want to be a Captain's Class Wizard?" The deep voice asked, making me pause. However, I didn't even need to think over my answer, or deliberate on how to word it.

I grasp the vial and proudly say "To show that I am strong, that I'm not weak little Lucy Heartfilia of Fairy Tail that got her ass handed to her more times than not. To prove to myself that I am worthy of standing beside my friends and guildmates as an equal. That I am not an extra. That I am not weak." The barrier disperses again, leaving me with my spirits as the map in my head changed, the new X showing up farther down the mountain, which would take roughly three hours to get to.

Well, I've spent two hours doing this, so if I keep up the pace I should make it with three hours to spare. "Let's go!" I cheer to them, feeling lighter and more centered then I have since I left home all those years ago. We all run down another path, this small detour would carve off about thirty minutes instead of going back out the same way and running around the mountain. However I'm really surprised when my spirit's bark a warning, telling me were about to have company.

Even with the warning, I have to dodge away from the crumbling cave wall, dancing away from the rubble and taking a look at the creature. It reminded me of a worm, slimy and scaled. It moved to ram into me, but I kicked it viciously, throwing it's entire body away from me and into the wall. Time to go! I take off at a sprint, not wanting to kill the poor thing if it just inhabited this place.

We manage to sprint the rest of the way out of the cave, leaving me to finally turn off my flashlight and tuck it back into my pocket. My fuzzy friends were happily panting and jumping around as I caught my breath a moment. "You know, a water bottle would've been a great addition." I say to them as they nod, playing around the treeline.

We take our tiny break before we keep moving, our ground eating pace starting up again. This time however, we encounter a few monsters, but nothing that really causes alarm. The only annoying thing was the Vulcan that I happened to pass, which got a swift beat down before we moved on. The three hour trek seemed to almost slip by in a haze. Left foot, right foot, breathe, left foot, right foot, breathe. On and on until I finally got to the end, finding Erwin standing there with a smile.

"Wasn't this supposed to test my prowess as a Wizard?" I ask as I pant, looking up at him as he chuckled. "No, I already knew you were capable. You do well under pressure and I didn't need a giant display of power, because I know you are good at exercising restraint. What I did need was for you to have some realizations about yourself. You are strong Lucy, and you have long since earned your place amongst us as an equal." He holds out his hand and I pass him the vial.

I quietly let Canis and Venatici return as I smile. "Whats even in that?" I ask, trying to hide the swirl of emotions at his words. He simply takes the vial and poured it into a small tray he pulled from his pocket. "It's the ink for your mark, so show me your neck." I grin, grabbing my hair and twisting it up, showing him the back of my neck. I hear him move for a moment before he gently pressed something to the middle of the back of my neck, stretching down from the edge of my hairline about six inches. He rolled the stamp then, the edges resting on the sides of my neck.

I smile as the stamp pulls away, Erwin taking a step back as I twist my hair up into a bun. He offers me a hair pin, letting me keep my hair up in the bun. "Let's go home." He says softly, placing a hand on my shoulder as I feel Hanji's familiar magic encase us for just the barest second before we appear back in our guild. The entire place is silent as people jump to their feet, watching us with baited breath as I shout "I PASSED!"

The entire guild erupts into screaming, Eren and Reiner grabbing me and pulling me up onto their shoulders before everyone is holding me in the air, cheering and screaming with joy. Before long my feet greet the ground again and I'm wrapped up in a hug from Hanji, Christa and Armin. Standing here, in the middle of a guild that's screaming itself hoarse because I passed, I finally felt accepted.

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Lucy POV - Three Months Later - Five Years, Three Months Post Tenrou - Ridgewood

I smile as I march through the woods. This was the second Captains Class quest I've been able to take, making me grin as I made my way closer to the target I was sent to take down. I was sent to recover a eight year old boy who vanished about an hour ago, no one knowing why they can't find him.

The terrain was rugged and mountainous, but I was thankful for the outfit Christa and I had pulled together. Since my most recent Captain's Class win she thought I should give my wardrobe a makeover. As I looked at my clothes I did see that the light and frilly skirts didn't really fit anymore, and some of my clothes were the wrong size due to the muscle I now had.

So we went shopping for things that would fit well with my new fighting style and what makes me comfortable. Shoes were easy, finding a few pairs of knee high boots. Christa edited them with Armin and Hanji, making it so I could skid on the ground without hurting my legs. I could also kick harder without worrying about the bones in my legs. (AN: Think like the boots Wonder Woman has in the newest movie, but leather instead of metal.)

I swapped almost all of my skirts for short shorts. Most of them black or white, leaving me tons of room for movement and not getting in the way. However the biggest thing we didn't see eye to eye on was my shirts. I loved crop tops, they were comfy and breathable. Christa was worried that I'd get hurt by leaving my stomach exposed.

So Ymir added in the most logical and simple addition, a leather jacket. Which ended up fitting really well, letting me have the safety of the jacket but the joy of the tops. Because I changed my shoes I had to add a knife sheath to my belt, which sits sideways right at the base of my spine. Which is in turn hidden by the jacket, making it not as obvious that I was armed for close combat as well.

Sting and Rogue had gotten me the sheathe, runed like the rest of my belt. Levi had gotten me some of the same tape Eren uses to wrap his hands before a fight, to keep me from breaking the bones in my hands if I needed to fight someone hand to hand. Hanji said they were called 'Boxing Wraps' because they were designed for boxers originally. The fabric wrapped around the wrist and palm, between each finger, and padded the knuckles.

It actually saved my hands more than once before, so I started wearing them as a part of my outfit. It kept me from breaking anything in my hands, and it looked cool on top of it. I also altered my hairstyle, incorporating a few things from both my old life and the one I have now. Everything was pulled into a high bun like what I used to wear in the Heartfilia mansion, yet I had my hair braided carefully before it was twisted into place.

That way I could easily have either a high braid or high bun, both keeping my hair out of my eyes and out of my way. Right now, as brushed a branch aside, I was really thankful for the outfit. I easily traversed the forest, knowing that anything Mikasa could make me run through would be ten times worse. And muddy.

I finally happen upon the last place anyone said they saw a missing child, which was a small meadow of flowers near a large river. They said the little boy had seen a woman crying on the bank a few days ago. When the Quest came in I asked Hanji to teleport me to the town immediately. The leader of the town was actually the mother of the child, and she was nearly having panic attacks from fear.

I took off immediately, looking for the child. I summoned Canis and Venetici, asking them to hunt for his scent before I summoned Thoth. "Hello Lucy! What's up?" He asks happily, smiling warmly at me. "I need your help in looking up something. A boy's missing and the last thing anyone saw that seemed unfamiliar was the boy saying he saw a woman crying on a riverbank." I say, giving him a pleading look.

His face darkens and he reaches into a space beside him, hand vanishing into a pocket dimension and pulling out a book. He flips through the pages rapidly before saying "I know what your talking about… We have to hurry. This things called a La Llorona, or Weeping Woman. There made very rarely, because in a fit on insanity she drowned her own children in a river when her husband cheats on her. When she comes to, and realizes what she had done, she cries herself to death on the river bank. Only when she dies she's cursed by her deeds to forever mourn her children. Yet when she sees other children, she kills them the same way."

He flips the book around then and shows me a detailed painting of a woman, dressed in a long white dress, kneeling and weeping on the edge of a river. She looked ghostly pale, yet to the right edge you could see the skeletons of children floating at the bottom of the water. I nod and he says "Heat can kill them, but it has to be hot. Think surface of the sun hot." I nod again as Canis and Venetici start baying, telling me they found something.

Thoth returns and I take off, summoning Phoenix as I do so, who runs beside me without any questions. Canis and Venatici easily sprint ahead, leading us to a large river, where I can see the boy barely paddling to the surface. I yank off my jacket and jump in, swimming out to him and saying "Come here! It's okay!"

I quietly thank the hours of swimming lessons I got when I was young and the newer ones I got from Sasha. I easily reach him, snatching him back above water where he sputters and coughs as he clings to me. I hold him close and start swimming back to the bank, yet something tugs on him, pulling us both under when I tighten my grip on him.

I kick it, making the thing release us a moment before grabbing out Hydrus' key. "H- Help!" I sputter as were dragged under again as Hydrus appears. Within moments the water snapped away from us, leaving me to drop five feet to the bottom. I scramble to my feet, Hydrus sitting on my shoulder as I sprint for the shore, Phoenix instantly looking the child over who refuses to leave my grip.

Canis and Venetici both close their gate after rubbing against my leg. Hydrus pulls all the water away from the area, revealing our La Llorona. I saw the corpses of two other children, nothing but bones at this point. I cling tighter to the child in my arms, watching the woman before me. She watches me angrily, tear tracks evident on her face, white dress soaked and clinging to her like her dark hair.

I glare at her as Phoenix helps him roughly cough out the water, magic steadily being used to heal him. "He will be safer here." She says, voice thick with anger and tears as she moved towards us. I look back to those two corpses, barely old enough to have lived a life at all before it was taken from them. I hold the boy in my arms tighter, anger coursing through my body at every sob that this small traumatized boy let's out.

I look back at her, gently pulling the boy and saying "Phoenix is far warmer, he won't hurt you little one. It's okay." I gently manage to coax him into Phoenix's grip, who cradled the boy like he was made of spun glass. He still kept a hand on his chest, glowing as he healed any internal damage the water had done. I turn to face her, Hydrus nuzzling against my cheek as I fall into the Star stance that I had mastered over these last months. I cast one hand to my heart and the other to the sky, words falling from my lips before I could even really think.

"God of Lightning, Bringer of Thunder, I call you to my aid, Rain down from Heaven, Palace of Lightning!" I shout, the sky darkening from a clear blue to a deep, menacing dark gray, lightning crackling and popping in the sky above us as I swing my one arm from the sky toward her, condensing the spell into one spot, directly where she stands a good twenty feet away from me.

The magic that leaves me is still staggering, but I keep it up as the dam of magic finally bursts, causing bolt after bolt of lightning raining down on top of her and everything in a five foot radius. When lightning hits the ground, it's roughly five times hotter than the surface of the sun, Thoth said heat can kill her, I doubt I can cast anything hotter than that without help.

"You can let the water go now Hydrus… Thank you…" I say softly as the spell ends, leaving nothing but a blackened spot on the river bed. I'm drowsy, but alright as Hydrus let's the water gently return before we shut his gate, letting him vanish. Phoenix easily gives the boy back, who's currently wrapped up in my leather jacket and looks far better. He still clung to me however as Phoenix nods and asks "Shall I accompany you? Or may I carry you to the town?" I smile at him and look to my small charge.

"I don't think he'd do well in the air, so just walk with me, the company would be nice." I say gently as the boy clings tightly to me. He nods and we make a steady trek back to the town, Phoenix leaving a few minutes before we arrived when he felt my magic getting a touch low due to keeping his gate open. I step back into town, people cheering and shouting for the leader whose name I can never remember.

She sprinted out of her home, her son leaping into her arms the moment he sees her. I smile at them as they have a teary reunion, cradling her boy as close as possible. Another, older woman walks forward and asks "What on earth happened? The sky darkened like it were to give us the worst storm I had ever seen, yet it only struck one spot and faded away." I laugh softly and say "Yeah, that was me, I had to take care of the creature that kidnapped him. Now, I was wondering if you all could help me with something? I just have a few questions."

The shock and awe on everyone's face made me a little self conscious before the woman nods. "Has this ever happened before?" I gently ask, looking to the boy whose carefully guarded by his mother, still wrapped up in my jacket. The woman nods and says "Unfortunately yes… A young woman a few months ago… She and her two children vanished…"

I sigh heavily and say "Let me guess, everyone suspected that her husband was cheating on her?" The woman blinked as a man stepped forward, hair a soft brown color as he glared at me. "I did no such thing, no matter what these people may say!" His anger practically spilling off him in waves, but he still backs off when I glare at him. "Tell me the truth, is there any way that your wife would have been lead to believe, without a doubt, that you were cheating on her?"

His gaze darkens as he looks to the ground, silent for a minute or two before he gives one sharp nod. I nod back and cross my arms before saying "When she found out that you cheated on her, she drowned her children in a fit of insanity. When she realized it, she cried herself to death. But because she killed her own children, she was cursed to exist forever in her grief. I destroyed her and freed her from her curse, which is why that lightning was there."

He stares at me in shock, everyone silent as I add "Steer clear of that meadow for a while, just until things can calm and she can fully leave. I truly am sorry for your loss…" He looked close to tears, but something in him refused to cry, stubborn to the end as he turned on heel and walked away. The entire town is far more somber as someone approached with the reward for the Quest, which I had completely forgotten about.

I barely had any rent, and I already had more than enough cash from a number of missions over the years. The only thing I actively have to pay for is food, and Hanji makes most of that. All in all our Guild makes way more than it spends, which is great for a guild. I called Hanji for a pickup not long after I finished my quest, wanting to get away from the somber mood of the place. I was yawning softly as I appeared back at the guild.

"I will never stop being thankful that you can do that." I say to her as I stretch my arm across my chest, realizing belatedly that I left my jacket with the kid. I sigh heavily as Hanji grins at me, urging me to sit down as she tossed a blanket around my shoulders. "You look like someone tried to drown you." She says teasingly as she grabs a cup of tea and presses it into my hands. "Someone did, and nearly succeeded in drowning both me and the kid I was sent to save." I reply as I sigh softly.

"Rest, I'll put this into your room." She says gently, urging me to hand her my reward. I do so, handing it to her before snuggling up in my still damp clothes. I didn't want to sleep in these clothes as I knew I would regret it later, but the exhaustion was setting in and I needed sleep before I just collapsed. So I carefully set up cup down and laid down a bit, dozing off within moments.

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Lucy POV - Nine Months Later - Six Years Post Tenrou - Freedom's Wings

"Lucy! You have a request from Sorcerer Weekly, apparently they want an interview after that last Quest you took, the one where you and your spirits took down an entire pack of Wyvern's near Magnolia? Some dude wants to do the cover of it and get you to pose for the centerfold of this week's issue." Armin calls from the bar, reading over the Quest in his hand.

I raise an eyebrow in confusion as I walk over, taking the request as he hands it to me. Armin took care of all the Quest's sending Erwin the ones that fit the Captains Class requirements. Our request board was on the farthest wall into the main room of the Guild hall, each Quest carefully laid out evenly so everyone could see them all without having to reread one or twelve like I've had to do at Fairy tail.

It also let us tease Armin about his love of order. I skim over the Quest, which was more of a request really, and shrug. "Sure, it couldn't hurt. I always did like reading that magazine. Did they say anything about a time?" I say, looking back to Armin. He nods and says "They said they'd be in Oshibana in a few hours, if you need to postpone to next week's issue that's fine, since it's Tuesday, and they let out an issue every Wednesday."

I peer at it a moment, shrugging my shoulders and saying "I'll get dressed, maybe Petra or Mikasa can help. Would you mind asking if Hanji would mind giving me a jump to Oshibana? I can get a train ride back, but to make it in time I'll need a lift." He nods to me as I walk over to Mikasa, who happily agrees to help me pick out an outfit.

We settle on putting my hair up into its usual braided bun, Mikasa easily twisting my hair into place. I pull down a white crop top that covered to the edge of my ribs while the top was designed like a tank top, along with my favorite black leather jacket. I decide to stick with my own shorts, which were as black as the rest of my outfit with silver sequins on the back pockets and my usual black boots that went just over my knee.

My usual dragon necklace sits at my throat as I tape my hands with the jet black hand tape that Levi got me, checking to make sure I wrapped it right and wouldn't cut off blood flow. Mikasa rechecked them, feeling for a pulse in each finger before nodding and leaving for me to dress, which took less than a minute. Picking the clothes took almost thirty.

Once I was confident in my outfit choice I pull open the door and skip downstairs as I pull my belt on, rushing to Hanji's infirmary as I tuck my Quest in my back pocket as I take the steps two at a time. Hanji is waiting outside her infirmary for me, nodding at me and teleporting me immediately. I blink in slight confusion as the world changed in a blink, dropping me in the middle of the Oshibana station, just inside of the exit.

I shake my head, blinking in confusion as I reorient myself, letting out a sigh like Levi does. "He was right, that shit does get annoying." I say softly as I exit the station, seeing a young man with dark hair waiting for me with a sign saying 'Lucy Heartfilia' on it. I raise an eyebrow, curious as to why it wasn't Jason like I was expecting. I approach him and he grins, offering me a hand with a grin.

"Hello Ms Heartfilia! I'm Daniel, I'm a newer reporter to Sorcerer weekly. We were going to send Jason, but our editor didn't want him to just relate you to Fairy Tail. He wasn't exactly great at paying attention to everyone." Daniel says as I shake his hand. I give him a small smile, happy I wouldn't be talking to Jason as he asks "Would you like to have your interview in the nearby studio? That way we could get photos and your interview done easily!"

I nod and say "Sure Daniel, just call me Lucy though." He nods and leads me off to the studio, showing me around for a few minutes before we sat down in a pair of chairs off to the side of the studio. I saw Jason walk over to us, another man at his heels, as Daniel glares coldly at him. "No. This is my interview Jason." He says sharply, yet I see the editor try and calm them both and say "Well… Jason is our reporter for Fairy Tail, Daniel. I think Ms Heartfilia would prefer someone she knows…"

I snort softly, drawing everyone's attention as I say "I am no longer a member of Fairy Tail, I haven't been for six years. Along with that, I would prefer Daniel to Jason, as I have a history of Jason ignoring me and has always given Fairy Tail a rather bad name. I do not want that happening with my new guild, even if I have to walk away." My tone was sharp and to the point, something my father would have been pleased with.

Daniel looks flattered as he quickly jotted down what I said as both the editor and Jason look shocked. Jason looks down to my hand before backup to my face. "I… Didn't know that." He says, voice rather saddened instead of the usual overly excited way he normally talks. Daniel takes the opportunity to say "Then her interview is mine fair and square. Jason, if you please?" Jason nodded and walked away, leaving us in our smaller corner of the room.

He pulls a stool over and pulls out a recording Lacrima. "It just records Audio so I can make sure I get your answers exactly right, may I use it? Or would you prefer I didn't?" He says, giving me a questioning look. I nod and say "It's perfectly fine, I don't mind being recorded so long as this recording stays with only you." He nods and turns it on, making the faint blue lacrima light up red.

He peers at his notes a second to organize his thoughts as I adjust slightly, sitting comfortably in the leather cushioned chair. He clears his throat and asks "So Miss Lucy, why did you leave Fairy Tail?" I hum a moment and say "I realized through a rather confrontational manner that I was no longer wanted there by some members. I wasn't as strong as they thought I should have been, so I left. I found my new guild, and started training with them."

His eyes widened as he momentarily forgot his notes and asked "Who helped you train?" I smile and say "I had quite a few people. My friend Eren Jaeger trained me in combat, Levi Ackerman trained me in Magical Stamina, Jean Kirschtein trained me in Magic, and many others." I lean back a bit then, crossing my right leg over my left as he nods. "What is the name of your new guild?"

I smirk and sit up a bit, pulling my jacket down to show my guild mark and say "Freedom's Wings." He nods and peers back to his notes, jotting things down before asking "What were your greatest challenges?" I hum a moment, thinking before saying "Probably getting into shape, pushing past the physical boundaries I had at one point and moving forward. Besides that it was growing Magically."

He nods excitedly, smiling as he wrote that down before asking "Which Quest was most memorable for you?" I hum, thinking over all the Quest's I had been on before saying "Well, if I don't count the ones from my time in Fairy tail, which I'm not, I'd say one of my Quest's from a few years back. I had to enter a temple and retrieve a scroll, I know it doesn't exactly sound memorable, but I got beloved new friends from it."

He smiles and asks "Any defining moments over the last few years?" I chuckle and say "Reaching Captain's Class, or S Class as many like to call it." His jaw openly dropped, the end of his pencil breaking from where he presses it against the notepad on his knee. I smile warmly at his expression, hiding a small laugh as he makes a quick recovery. "When did you become an S Class Wizard?" He asks quickly, watching me with a small amount of awe.

"About a year ago actually, it was a rather enlightening trip, I learned a lot about myself." I say, glossing over the question. I didn't really want to get to into detail about what my guild did. He nods rapidly before looking back to his notes and asking "Your scars, they look like they would have been easy to prevent or conceal. Do you have a reason for keeping them?" I give him a warm smile and nod, pulling my jacket off completely.

I hold up my arm and say "I got this one from a dark mage when I took down the guild. He managed to slash at me with his sword, I kept it because it showed me to never underestimate someone." I point to the scar on my left shoulder and say "I got that in a bar brawl while defending the girls I was charged with protecting, I got stabbed while punching a guy across the room." I point then to the one on the right side of my stomach and say "This is from a Lizardman, it clawed at me before I could finish it off." I move to my leg and say "This is from the first Wyvern that I took on without another Guild member backing me up." Finally I pull down my boot and explain the Stalagmite scar on my leg.

"I kept each of them for two reasons. One, they each tell a story about how I've grown in these past years. Two, they are a mark of honor and pride that I carry, showing to both myself and everyone around me that I have changed. And maybe that isn't a bad thing." I say as I pull my jacket back on, rolling my shoulders and sprawling back into my chair, crossing my legs once more as I watch him with a smile.

His face showed his awe, and a tiny flash of pride as well. He nods and writes something down as quickly as he could before asking "As it's almost a necessary question, do you currently have any love interests?" I chuckle and shake my head. "Currently, no. I have no one that I'm interested in pursuing." He nods sharply and jots that down. "Have any clue as to where you see yourself in five years?"

I smile a moment and ask back "Is it stupid to say that I just see myself surrounded by friends? Going on Quests and having fun?" He shakes his head quickly as he smiles back and writes that down, his notepad rather full at this point. "Last question, any advice for your readers?" He asks, peering down at his rather cluttered notepad before looking back to me.

I easily say "Even if everything seems like it's crashing around you, and everything you do fails right before your eyes, it isn't the end. Sometimes it just means that it's time to try something different. Step out of the box you've made for yourself, because anyone can grow. You only need the will to do so." His eyes widen a bit as he asks "Touch dramatic no?" I shrug and say "Sometimes that how life works. Dramatic and dazzling before it punches you in the face."

He nods with a small laugh and turns off the Lacrima before he quietly showed me over to a group of photographers. "They'll be the ones who will take the shot we'd like for the centerfold. I leave you in their capable hands." He says as I wish him a good day and he hurries off to write, taking my answers and turning them into a written interview. The lead photographer was a small woman with soft pink hair, who gave me a warm smile.

"You're very pretty, something that's always a blessing with this." She says kindly before urging me over to an alcove, which was painted to look like I was standing at a banister overlooking the ocean. "Pose however you like, just make it look real." She says to me as I nod. I pull off my jacket, folding it in half longways and toss it over the banister and look out to the right, leaning against the banister as though I was really looking at the water and letting a soft smile grace my features.

I see the repeated flash of a camera before she tells me it's okay to move. I give them a grin a she commands me, saying I'm a natural at this. I shake my head and laugh before I'm allowed to bid them a good day, my photographer rushing off to work on the photos she had taken, her other workers following like a trail of ducklings.

I quietly show myself out, easily stepping down the steps of the studio and make my way back to the station as I pull my coat on. I make it to the station right after the train toward home leaves. I curse my luck and look at the other trains and times shown today before noticing a small footnote that said 'Magnolia - Departure: Three Minutes'.

I blink at it quietly, pursing my lips before remembering that I never did give my old landlady a forwarding address. It's a tiny pitstop, I'll just give her the address to the same place the rest of the guild gets theres and call it a day. I don't even have to go near Fairy Tail… I quietly buy my ticket and rush to board my train, settling in my seat as the train pulls from the station. Maybe I'll have gotten something from Dad…

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Lucy POV - Three Months Later - Six Years, Three Months Post Tenrou - Crocus

I smile as I walk through Crocus, watching for my two boys. Sting and Rogue had excitedly called me on my Lacrima at three in the morning cheering about how they got picked for this years Grand Magic Games. It had been some time since I saw Rogue happily shouting beside Sting, which was why I had hightailed it to Crocus. I wasn't going to miss this for the world, especially since they were expecting me. It was rare to see both of them this excited.

"LUCY!" I hear Sting shout from my left, barely giving me enough time to spin on my heel and brace myself before he and Rogue throw themselves into a hug. I laugh and hug them tightly, both of them easily taller than I was now. They pull back after a moment as I reach up and cup both of their faces.

"You both have gotten taller! What on earth are they feeding you there? Much more and you'll tower over everyone!" I say gently, smiling warmly at the both of them. Sting puffs up proudly as Rogue goes a little red as I let my hands drop as I look over the both of them. Sting had finally decided on a style of shirt he liked, something I'll have to remember for his birthday. Rogue seems to have taken a liking to the thick cloak he'd gotten recently as well.

"Who is this?" I hear someone ask from behind my boys, making them turn so they both stand on either side of me. I see a man with blond hair and an overly feathered red hat. "Rufus! This is Lucy! Lucy, that's Rufus Lore, he's a member of our guild." Sting says, introducing us as Rogue softly adds "His magic is Memory Make, so far he's undefeated." I nod to both of them and step forward, offering him a hand.

"Lucy Heartfilia, it's a pleasure to meet you Rufus Lore." I say, watching his eyes widen minutely before he accepts my handshake. "You are… Odd." He says as he pulls his hand back. "How so?" I question, unsure as to why he would find me odd. "I have no memory of anyone who is so relaxed around our Twin Dragons. You are the first that I have seen them greet as such." He says, voice calm yet slightly curious.

I roll my eyes slightly as I turn to them and say "Well, I've known them for years. That's why I can be so relaxed around them." Sting nods and tosses an arm over my shoulders as we look back to Rufus, Rogue finding his place at my other side. "Lucy has been like a mother to us for many years." Rogue softly says, watching Rufus as Sting adds "And she's gonna watch us take home the title of 'Strongest Guild' again!"

I see Rufus let out a small smile as someone else walks over, this one taller than even my boys and shirtless. His hair was spiky and green and the air around him reminded me of Laxus, but very different. "Oi, are we going to get to the place there lodging us or not?" He asks harshly, unhappy about something. Yet Rufus doesn't even seem to acknowledge his obviously foul mood, instead saying "Hello Orga, It seems we finally get to meet Lucy Heartfilia, the woman who is a mother figure to our Dragons."

He blinks at me a moment before grinning and sticking his hand out, offering me a handshake. I could easily see the lightning that crackled faintly around his hand. Oh, two can so play this game. I take a split second to encase my hand in a thin layer of Celestial Magic, which is designed to accept and alter into different Magics, it's why we can summon both spirits that can use fire and water.

Both Rogue and Sting go to stop me as I take his hand, feeling the magic seep into mine, letting me kind of bundle it up and transfer it into the rest of my arm. His eyes widen as I don't even flinch, Rufus's eyes widening as I smile brightly at Orga. "You really shouldn't shock everyone you meet, someone might shock you back." I say, emphasizing the word as I push his magic mixed with mine back into him, making him jump slightly.

He also let's out a tiny 'eep' type sound as he snatches his hand away and shakes it. "How in gods name did you do that?" He asks in shock as he looked back at me. Rogue snickers as Sting throws an arm back across my shoulders like the two hadn't just been trying to stop me. Rufus looks intrigued as well as I grin and say "Wouldn't you like to know." Orgo simply grins back, slipping back into the arrogant and confident stance he had before and says "I like her you two, you should bring her by more often."

I snicker as they both start a playful argument about how Orga shouldn't just shock people and Orga says they need to bring new people around more often and Rufus smiles softly from the side, watching the other members quietly until Orga drags him into the conversation. After a bit I urge them off to their inn, smiling after them. Yes, we most certainly need to meet up after today, I've missed those two the last month.

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Lucy POV - Three Months Later - Six Years, Six Months Post Tenrou - Bar in Margaret Town

I kick my feet up on the table in front of me, sipping the drink in my hand as I try to resist scratching the bandage on my left arm. "Stupid fucking venomous Monsters." I hiss out as I pull my hand away from the bite mark again. Phoenix cleaned it and Hydrus cured the poison, but It'll be at least a few more hours before the last of the itchiness went away. Phoenix healed it completely, so I knew I was only feeling a phantom pain, but I still didn't like it.

Thus the reason I was currently nursing the rather strong drink in my hand. Ever since that sorcerer weekly issue came out I had three reactions to people seeing me. Unconcealed awe, hostility to start a fight, and fear. Especially after they got a picture of Sting and Rogue flanking me before the Grand Magic Games. People even tried to say that we were all dating, which was a horrifying thought.

I would never date my kids! Sting and Rogue both punched that rumor in the face in the form of Daniel, telling him that they saw me as a parental figure. Which helped me relax a bit, but then I was suddenly seen as the 'Mother of Dragons'. It was a rather odd title but I didn't fight it, since it was better than everyone thinking I was dating the two people I saw as sons. (AN: Totally borrowed that name from Game of Thrones.)

I sigh softly as someone suddenly asks "This seat open?" I turn a bit, tilting my head back to look at whoever was speaking. "Ah, Lyon. Sure, if you buy the next round." I say teasingly, making him roll his eyes as he orders me another drink, and a soda for himself. "So what brings you to Margaret Town?" He asks as he takes a seat.

I finish off my drink and set the glass down before saying "Quest not to far from here, defeated some venomous monster I can't remember the name of. The pay was sweet, but I got bit in the process so I'm staying here for a night to sleep it off before going home. I could get a pick up from one of my guild members, but she's asleep right now." Lyon nods as the bartender quietly walks over and sets our drinks down, a slightly fearful look on her face.

I thank her warmly, putting her at ease slightly as she accepts Lyon's payment and scampers back to the safety of the bar. Lyon suddenly leans forward a bit, staring into his own drink as I take mine, taking a sip as I watch him. I sip this drink slowly as he asks "What is it that you're drinking? I haven't seen one of those before." I snort and peer down at my drink.

"It's called a Long Island Iced Tea, even though there isn't actually any tea in it. Most regard it as the 'Just fuck me up' drink. The first time I ever drank one I woke up in a random hotel, three towns over, with two women I still talk to, dressed like a medieval warrior princess. None of us had any clue how or why we were dressed like that or that we apparently performed a play and won a acting contest. I still don't know what happened that night fully, it's one of my more interesting memories from before Fairy Tail." I say, taking a sip of my drink.

His eyes widen and he asks "What on earth do they make it with to be that potent?" I snicker, my head starting to get that warm fuzzy feeling that comes from drinking and say "Four different alcohols, a bit of sweet and sour sometimes, and a splash of cola. It's like, ninety percent booze." His eyes widen further and he asks "... How many have you had?" I peer at my glass and say "This is my… Second. I also had two shots. I'm going to have to leave soon if I'm making it back to my hotel on my own."

I set my drink down, not wanting to drink any more until I really stand to leave. These last few years have done wonders on my tolerance, but I'm still not anywhere near Cana. He nods before he asks "What have you heard about Fairy Tail?" My gaze darkens slightly, Lyon pulling back a touch as I sigh heavily.

"Very little. I tend to avoid things concerning them after leaving. Why?" I say, a little snappish at him bringing up the topic. He grimaces, easily recognizing my mood as he says "They've lost their old guild… They've been mostly pushed from Magnolia and it's now held by some guild called Twilight Ogre. Based on what I've heard Fairy tail is in need of some help… My guild master refuses to believe me, saying that Fairy Tail has never needed help before and they'll be fine, but I worry-"

"That because the guild's core members are gone they might actually need some help…" I finish, leaning back a bit as I think. It wouldn't be too hard to check up on them, but a big part of me didn't want to. Going to Magnolia at all had been hard, but actually seeing the guild? I sigh softly as I look to him and he says "I wouldn't bring it up if I didn't think it was necessary. And you're the only person I know who has a connection to Fairy Tail, they won't look too closely if you just walk back into Magnolia."

I grimaced in distaste, disliking everything about this before I ask "You don't know why I left, do you?" He shakes his head, and my body tenses. Dammit… Think Lucy. If they really do need help, then I can easily do so. I can help them and move on with a clear conscience. If they don't need it then I can just prove Lyon wrong and check up on a few things in Magnolia…

I sigh heavily, realizing I've done more sighing then actually talking. "Walk with me, I need to get to my hotel and you need some information." I say, pulling my legs from the table and standing up in one smooth move. I manage to keep myself steady as I snag my drink and finish it off, setting the glass down and setting a tip on the table before walking out, snagging my jacket on the way and pulling it on.

I hear him follow me, footsteps even and relaxed as he paced himself beside me. I was surprised I could even walk in a straight line. "Before Tenrou, when Lisanna came back from the 'Dead', the guild started ignoring me. It wasn't purposeful, they were just so excited to have someone back that I just fell through the cracks. Until it continued, and got to the point that only a handful of members even acknowledged my presence. Then, one day, Natsu, Erza and Gray came to talk to me."

I see him stiffen slightly as we walk through the streets, my feet getting a little uncoordinated as I walk to my hotel. "Natsu kicked me off the team, saying I was a replacement for Lisanna this whole time and far too weak to work with them. Erza said they had to show the strength of Fairy Tail and I wasn't a part of that picture. Gray wouldn't even look me in the eye as he silently agreed with them." I continue, voice blank as I fought not to cry or lash out in anger at prodding old wounds.

I see his face twist with fury, watching me with shock as his hands curl into fists at his sides. "How could Gray? Always with that flame head, shouting about friendship and everything else." He asks, anger obvious as I say "Gray promised to make a team with Lisanna when they were young. He didn't want to break his promise, I can understand that. No, I don't forgive him for it. No, I don't think it validates what he did, or makes it seem any better. But I understand why he did. Erza and Natsu are harder to understand."

He looks at me with shock, blinking as he asks "How can you just do this? Quietly accept and move on?" I turn on heel, nearly falling with the weight of both my body and the alcohol in my system as I pin him with a glare that would've made Levi applaud me. "I am still angry and hurt. I didn't quietly accept it, I just chose to move forward from it. I chose to be the bigger person and move on with my life rather than devote every waking, breathing moment into making them feel the deep, soul crushing pain that I did. I haven't forgiven them yet, I know I will eventually. Not because what they did was right, but because it will make me free of them."

He stares at me, shock and awe scattered across his face as I smile softly. "So I left. I found my new guild and I grew, I became as powerful as I am because they took me in and showed me that success is by far the best revenge." I say, watching him as he blinks in shock. I shake my head after a moment, at this point my heads getting very fuzzy and my thoughts start going in a completely different direction.

I see that my hotel is less than a building away and say "Okay, I'll go see to the fairies. But you have to come, since you're the one who came up with the idea. Don't worry about being recognized, I'll take care of that. Just meet me here tomorrow okay? I need sleep." I yawn and slightly stumble over to my hotel, walking easily through the door and make my way to my room, which I got earlier.

I kick the door shut, making sure it's locked before I yank off my boots, toss my jacket in a chair and collapsed on the bed, careful to lay on my side as I finally pass out, the faint pain in my arm not even bothering me as unconsciousness happily greets me. I'm gonna regret that second drink tomorrow.

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Lucy POV - The Next Day - Six Years, Six Months Post Tenrou - Hotel in Margaret Town

I groan as I wake up, grabbing either side of my head as my eyes open. My head's pounding, the fault of the alcohol that I drank yesterday. I reach down to the belt I didn't take off yesterday and summon Phoenix. "Hello Miss Lucy, are you okay?" He asks softly as I cradle my head when he appears.

"Hangover." I rasp out, feeling a warm hand press itself against my forehead. I feel a tiny pull on my magic before my headache rapidly starts vanishing. "Have I ever told you that you are an amazingly wonderful friend and I don't know what I'd do without you?" I say as my head finally stops hurting, Phoenix pulling away with a kind smile. "No, but I appreciate you you saying it." He says gently.

We talk for a minute or two as he makes me drink some water before leaving for the spirit world. I hear someone knock on my door and I walk over and open it. A woman with light brown hair smiles at me and says "Miss? There someone called Lyon with white hair from Lamia Scale who wants to see you… We can't let him up without your permission." I nod and say "Yes I know him, you can let him up."

She nods and I shut my door, but don't drift far as I know he moves fast when he wants to. I think back over yesterday, thankful I actually remember it. A plan easily comes back to mind, relatively simple, using almost none of my magical energy and giving us both free reign to do what we need. I still however jump when Lyon knocks on the door, reminding me that I still need to explain it to him.

I open the door, seeing Lyon holding a thermos and says "Thought you could use some coffee. Always helps me with a hangover." I accept the thermos and let him in, gently kicking the door shut before walking over to my bed and sitting down. He sits in a chair nearby as I sip my coffee, finding it to be fucking fabulous. "I remember you said you loved sweets when we met for the Nirvana Quest." He explains as I nod.

"Now, our plan is rather simple. But you have to be careful with your magic, as I can't hide that as well. So just don't use any obvious spells and we'll be good." I begin, seeing him lean forward and nod before I pull out Cham's key, easily summoning her. "Hey Lucy! How can I help?" I smile at her and say "Hey Cham, this is Lyon. Lyon, is is Cham the Chameleon. Cham? For how long could you disguise the two of us completely? Like, full feature and magical signature change?"

She hums a moment as Lyon stares in shock as she answers "With your magical container? About eight hours before I would need a break. Why?" I nod and say "Okay, I would like you to disguise the both of us and yourself, when we're just a few minutes shy of Magnolia. We can get off the train, see what we need, and then catch the next train out of Magnolia when we're done." Lyon nods as Cham smiles. This'll be easy, in and out without any trouble.

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Lucy POV - Three Hours Later - Magnolia Train Station

"Now Cham." I say as we walk into a slightly secluded area. She nods and touches both of our shoulders, a warm, tingly feeling rushing over my body before it vanishes. I look over at Lyon, who now sports chin length brown hair and brown eyes. His outfits been altered to be a white shirt, black vest, black pants and a large unadorned cloak.

I look at my hair, which is now jet black and held in an overly intricate braid that easily reaches my waist. I'm wearing the same thing as Lyon, but with my belt added on, and all of my keys look silver. Cham has the same black hair, but with warm brown eyes and an easy smile. She wears a pair of soft brown pants and a white top with a brown vest, her own cloak overtop of it. I smile and thank her before we turn to leave.

I pull up my hood as we exit the train, Lyon doing the same as Cham leaves hers down. I take a few calming breaths as we walk through Magnolia, the streets busy as it's just about noon. Yet as we get closer to where Fairy Tail used to be located, we keep seeing more and more wizards I would almost call thugs. They wandered around town like they owned the area, most people avoiding them or clearing a path for them.

We easily slip into the area closer without anyone noticing, but I freeze as I look at the guildhall. I knew instantly that this wasn't the home of Fairy Tail anymore, and that a new guild had taken over. Lyon froze in place, which was almost funny for him being an Ice Wizard. But looking at this guild killed any humor I had for the moment. It was redecorated to remind me of a red and green temple set up, yet with 'Twilight Ogre' written on it and a mask set up above the words.

I glare at the place before gently pulling Lyon away, Cham on his other arm as I pull us into a nearby alley. "So… Your fear wasn't unfounded." I say after a minute, my voice even sounding different, far higher pitched than I usually had, making me take a deep breath as he nods jerkily. I think a moment before saying "Okay. We have two options. One, we walk into the guild and go buy the newer Fairy Tail guild hall from him. That'll be a job that'll require a lot of patience, which I don't think I have at the moment."

He looks up at me, gaze colder than the ice he makes as he asks "What's option number two?" His voice was a good two octaves lower, making me I grin at him, anger bubbling through and I say "Break some bones until they hand over what we want." His answering grin is nearly feral as he nods and says "I like that option." I grin back and turn to my spirit. "Please hide yourself, I don't want you stuck in the crossfire." She nods with a small smile and vanishes before our eyes.

Lyon let's me take the lead as I march over to the guild, seeing the door is still the same as it was when this was Fairy Tail's, just repainted. So kicking it open was a breeze, even making it fly off the hinges and hit two guild members. "Where's your guild master, I have some words for him." Lyon says, voice echoing nicely. The guild looks surprised as they look to a desk that sits on the far side of the guild hall.

Before it is a couch, obviously designed for people to come speak to him. He's a rather large man with a weird almost beard. He smokes a cigar and gives us a raised eyebrow. "What words?" He asks as he takes a drag from his cigar, the man next to him laughing softly. "I want the Fairy Tail Guild Hall, the one they're in now." Lyon says as the master before us glares.

"Those stupid Fairies owe me money for helping them after those members of there's died! I'm not going to keep you from making them pay me back for it! I own that stupid piece of land and I will level it if I have to!" He snaps back, standing up and going to walk away as he adds "Get rid of them."

I move forward then, grabbing the first member near me and pushing a bit of magic into my arm before throwing them into the wall right before him. "Wrong answer Fatass." I growl out, voice far lighter than I'm used to as the entire guild erupts into chaos, all of them trying to push us out as Lyon and I start fighting. I draw my knife, holding it in a reverse grip and punching the first guy near me in the throat, pulling back just enough to not completely crush his throat.

He collapses to the floor, grabbing his throat and gasping as a requip mage darts forward, summoning a blade and slashing at me. It catches on the edge of my hood, ripping it off as I slam a fist into his face, breaking the bones in his nose and sending him flying across the room, snatching up the sword he dropped and throwing it into the leg of the Takeover mage behind Lyon. He slams to the floor, screaming in pain as he loses the hold he has on the takeover and reverts back from a weird, feathered thing.

Lyon seems to be focusing on freezing anyone who touches him, then striking that spot and shattering the iced skin. It was a rather interesting way to fight, but it was working well. I turn my attention back to my own fight as I pivot, avoiding a magical blast from the nearest opponent and stab the next person in the arm, ripping the blade back out before dislocating their shoulder and spinning them around, making them take the attack of their card mage friend.

I let him drop to the floor before spinning around and slamming my knee into the crotch of the next mage, adding a bit of magic to the hit for extra pain, yet I overdid it when I hear the pelvic bone crack under the hit. The guy hits the ground with a scream, clutching his crotch as I step over him and grab my next target by the head and smashing it into the table beside me. I faintly hear a crack, but I don't know if that was from bone or the table but I don't care as I launch myself at the next person.

The next one gets stabbed in the arm as I knee her in the ribs, hearing her breath leave her in a rush as I toss her aside. The spell she was about to cast dissipating to nothing. Most of the magic that's being fired at me I'm just dodging, Lyon takes a few unexpected hits but is still easily standing. We carve through half the guild in under five minutes, breaking bone and crushing any thought they had of beating us. Lyon however had to start using more of his Ice Maker magic to keep up.

I finally manage to fight a line through the guild, springboarding up and grabbing the master from the second floor with the help of an unlucky member and slamming him into his own desk. Everything stops as I hold him there, blade at his neck. I never would have had the ability to hold a blade to another beings neck like this before… Lyon pants slightly as I glare at the man beneath me. "What we want is simple, but I'll break every bone in your body to get it if I have to." I say softly, knowing that sounding calm is far scarier than sounding angry.

He pales instantly, his entire guild taking a step back as Lyon walks over to us. He nods at me, massaging a spot on his shoulder as the man beneath me says "I… I can… Work something out…" I glare at him, eyes narrowed as I let him go, sheathing my blade and watching him carefully. He stands slowly, pulling open one drawer slowly and pulling out a stack of paper, shuffling through it for a moment before he roughly pulls one out and writes on it a moment before asking "Who am I to make this out to?"

"The current Master of Fairy Tail. We'll have him sign it later." Lyon says, watching as he does so and signs it with a flourish. I nod and snag it from him, walking toward the doors and passing the bleeding and injured guild members I hurt. Just as we were about to leave the building I turn back, looking at them all and giving them all a bright, warm smile before sweetly saying "If you ever hurt another Fairy, I'll be forced to come back! And my next visit won't be as pleasant!"

I skip away then, as though I hadn't just beat up half a guild and pull Lyon along with me, headed in the general direction of this property. Once were a decent ways away he asks "What on earth was that last bit? That was terrifying!" I stop and give him a grin before saying "Tis not but the subtle art of Bitchcraft." He snorts at my words as we start back on the path to the piece of land that the deed says.

We find it about twenty minutes later, seeing that Fairy Tail has made themselves home in an old windmill type building. I smile at it, seeing that even though this wasn't what I was used to, it screamed Fairy Tail. We quietly entered, yet drew attention from everyone. They stared in shock, but were instantly defensive. "Who are you?" Macao asks, yet Lyon says "We're just old friends of Master Makarov, we come with gifts." He holds up the deed to this place, letting Macao see it.

He hands it to him, nodding as he adds "You just need to sign it." Macao nods slowly, obviously in some state of shock before we quietly leave, letting Fairy Tail be. Our trip back to the train station and back to Margaret Town is only altered by us having to change back, but was rather uneventful as Lyon spent some of it napping. Yet as we got off back in Margaret town I offer a high five to him and ask "Never speak of this again? Just so we don't get arrested?"

He snorts and accepts my high five and jokingly says "Never again. See you next time Lucy." Before he walks away, making his way back to his guild as I walk back to my hotel. Today wasn't so bad. Maybe they'll be back soon, and Fairy Tail can go back to it's normal, rowdy self. As I walk back into my room, stretching across my bed I smile softly. I put a call into Hanji and ask her for a pick up in an hour before I check out of my room, feeling like I did the right thing.

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Laxus POV - Six Months Later - Seven Years Post Tenrou - Tenrou Island

I groan as I'm weirdly woken up by someone shaking my shoulder. I try to think about why I'm asleep, the last thing I remember was… I jump up, looking around as my vision swims from moving so fast. "Hey! Laxus, calm down! Everything's fine!" I hear someone say, making me look over at them. "Droy? What the fuck?" I ask, looking at the far larger man. He huffs at me and shakes his head with a small smile. One of the Trimen comes over, Hibiki if I remember right.

"Hey Laxus…" He says, smiling softly before urging everyone into an general area. "You've all changed! What on earth happened? One minute we were fighting Acnologia, the next you're waking us up!" I hear Natsu shouting from a small distance away at one of the other trimen. I roll my eyes but wait for an explanation as they group us all together, before I see Mavis standing before us.

I stare in confusion as she explains how we're still alive, explaining the Fairy Sphere, then telling us it's been Seven Years. I blink in shock for a minute, not fully registering everything she just said for another solid minute before I pale slightly. The only thought in my head after seven years? Being, Oh god I am so late for my date with Lucy.

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Yay! Chapter done! I'm actually really happy with how this chapter came out. I am however sorry for how long it took to write it though.