Hi guys! I can't believe this story has gotten over 40 followers, that amount is just... So huge. Like oh-my-god huge O/O Thank you guys so much, for all of the support and this story has only been up for a few weeks XD That is just... Mind blowing... Anyways, enough of my gushing, new chapter! It's not too short but it's not THAT long. But I hope you enjoy it anyway XD! Ps, the italic sentences is for Lucy's inner thoughts, the bold/italics are for the little voices of doubt in her head.

Chapter 6 (The Job Request and Lost Keys)

Lucy's pov,

I sat outside Hargeon's town hall, staring quietly at the sunset. Winter still had it's grips on Fiore, even though it's already half way gone.

The silent streets were comforting, I had only left Crocus a week ago and I'm closer to Magnolia than ever. I could literally take a 30min train and get there in a day. But I won't. Because if I do... Well, I'm not really sure what I would do.

Maybe cry, howl, smile. I don't know.

I don't know.

I stared at the piece of paper in my hand reading it for the hundredth time. It was a job request to get rid of some thugs terrorising the people at the borders of Hargeon.

My grip on the paper tightened as I remembered the morning before when I first took the job.

"Hello! Is there something you want?" A portly looking man asked, as he turned around from his seat near the window. I was silent as I laid a folded piece of paper on his desk. The man gasped surprised. "You... You want to take the job?" I nodded. He frowned, his forehead crinkling up.

"That job has been out for months, are you sure you want to take it? There's a reason why no one took it." I pushed my hood off, uncovering my face. The man jumped back, clearly scared. "Y-your..." "Lucy Heartfilia. Call me Eclipse, will you let me take the job?" The man nodded shaking as he stamped the piece of paper, handing it back to me.

"Wait, but you don't have a guild!" I didn't look back as I opened the door from his office. "I don't need one." I muttered, closing the door with a resonant click.

I sighed at the memory. Maybe taking this job wasn't the best idea.

What are you saying Lucy?! You destroyed Tartarus single handedly, of course you can take care of a bunch of thugs.

You know why you can't do it, don't you? There's nothing fuelling you anymore. The anger, the darkness. All gone. Replaced by what? Emptiness.

I stood up, tucking the piece of paper in my pocket. The reason I took the job at all was because I had to take my mind off Alexi- Acnologia. My heart skipped a best as I thought about it.

I had came as far as killing my own master, oh Lucy. What have you done?

What I had to do.

I strolled through Hargeon, taking in the nostalgic sights. My eyes landed on a very familiar restaurant as I passed it. I couldn't help but stop in front of it and just stare at the glowing neon sign.

I sighed, I knew this was a mistake to come here. The place where I first met... First met Natsu and Happy. I stood in front of the restaurant window, my palm on the cold window panes.

'My name's Lucy, I probably don't look like it, but I'm a wizard too.'

I half-smiled at the memory. It felt like it was years ago, like a whole different age. Lucy. Did the girl even exist anymore? She never seemed to come out now. The happy, annoyingly cheerful persona I had put on, in Fairy Tail.

I stroked a strand of my hair and rubbed it between my fingers. I didn't even look like her anymore. Did I?

My hair was longer, my mouth in a constant grimace, smirk or scowl. My eyes were always filled with cold determination, now sad and lonely.

No, I refuse to admit I'm lonely.

But you are.

"Miss, would you like to come inside?" I looked to see the shop owner looking a little annoyed as he stood on the doorway, tapping his foot impatiently on the cold concrete.

"I'm sorry." I whispered and ran across the snow. "Hey, wait!" He protested. I didn't look back as I ran. And ran.

Long after sunset,

I looked at my map again frustrated.

It had been what felt like hours since I had left main Hargeon for the small village at the border of Hargeon for a job, that was said to be so hard none of the wizards passing by would be bothered with it. I could understand why.

The reward was pretty average and the threat level was higher than the average ones. But what was different from them and me was, that I was doing this for the fun of it. Not the reward, though the money would be appreciated.

The problem now was that I was pretty sure, I was lost.

I groaned and slammed my fist into a nearby tree.

Guess I as still the same useless, freaking Lucy. No amount of magic is going to get me out of this situation.

The moon shone brightly through the leaves of nearby trees and, I could help but glare at it. "Useless piece of crap." I muttered as I tucked the map back into my pocket and started walking again in the vague direction of East.

It wasn't until half an hour of walking did I see lights in the distance, signalling a village. I ran towards it, my heart beating fast. Finally, I'm here.

Strawberry Village.

I groaned, as I read the sign over and over again. I had no idea whether I was even close to the village I was suppose to go to. I've never heard of this Strawberry Village.

I guess I'll have to wait till dawn and look for it again.

I walked into the village grounds. The streets glowed brightly even though no one seemed to be out. I frowned. This was definitely... Different.

I passed by a few shops and diners until I reached an inn.

Ivy Inn.

I took one glance at the pleasant picture windows and strands of ivy hanging off the wall and instantly felt tired. It actually kinda looked like my old... Apartment.

I walked into the squat building and over to the receptionist, quickly getting a room key.

I hiked up the stairs to my room. Room 104. I opened the oak wood door into the room, not even bothering to look around before taking off my shoes and jumping into bed.

"Goodnight Lucy." I whispered to myself, softly. It gave me comfort to say it to myself. Even if no one was there to say anything to me. Goodnight Luce. A familiar voice whispered in my head.

Tears threatened to fall out of my eyes as I felt his intense gaze on me. I'm sorry Natsu, I had to leave.

I reached around my bed and turned off my bedside lamp, leaving me in total darkness.

I should have known.

Fairy Tail was ingrained in me, part of me. No matter how much I could hate them for what they did to me, I couldn't even hate hem properly. Especially those two. If I had never known them...

If I hadn't known them, who I am today wouldn't be the same.

I turned around until I was facing the opened windows of my room, moonlight shinning through the windows. I smiled sadly at it.

This would make a nice scene in my story. Mom would have loved to have heard about it too.

I frowned as I remembered I had burnt both my manuscript and my letters to my parents. Every. Single. One.

Why?

Because I would be lying if I didn't. Lying about how I didn't have anything to loose. I did, but I destroyed it, to be truly powerful.

Stupid. I know.

It's hardly over Lucy.

I sat up leaning against my bed frame. Grabbing a pencil and the hotel notepad with me.

I stared at the blank page for a few minutes. Pencil bobbing against the paper. Suddenly with a burst of adrenaline I pressed the pencil down and began to write.

Dear mom and dad,

I stopped as the sudden burst wore off. Dear mom and dad what?!

I sighed and laid the stationary down on the bedside table. What was I thinking? What could I have possibly written in that letter? 'Hi mom and dad, sorry I haven't written to you in ages. But I recently killed Acnologia the dragon that trapped me in Tenroujima seven years ago?'

No, no of course not.

I laid back down on my bed again, closing my eyes I forced myself into a uncomfortable nightmare.

"HELP, HELP THEY'VE COME!"

I sat straight up from my restless nightmare, my eyes wide and night shirt stuck to my back by sweat, I crawled out of my bed and looked outside.

Three men stood in the middle of the village, holding three kids each, hostage. Yelling something about ten minutes and something valuable. Crying parents stood around them, begging them to give them back their shaking children.

I narrowed my eyes at them. They looked familiar.

They were the thugs.

I felt my eyes widened shocked. That, was them? So that means... I was in the right place.

I quickly grabbed the job request and read it quickly. Strawberry Village.

I slapped the front of my face. Baka.

I quickly got dressed and headed out of my door. It felt like hours ago I was in my bed, when I arrived at the scene a few seconds later. I pushed past the sobbing people and walked to the front of the crowd, my heart beating rapidly.

"Who do you think you are?" I hissed as I approached the three men. They looked up and grinned. "And who are you dear?" "Let them go." I snapped. "You heard what we said right? We're giving you ten minutes to find something valuable. If nothing comes in ten minutes, then-" He made a cutting motion across his neck and glanced at one of kids.

I smirked. "I'm not just anyone you want to mess with dear. I'm a Mage." He grinned and laughed. "A Mage? Oh I'm so scared!" "Don't believe me?" I whispered smiling. They continued to laugh and I couldn't help but smirk inwardly at their stupidity.

"Let's play then. Dark Laser." I whispered, lifting my hand up, I fired the ball of Dark Energy towards them. They looked up, but not quickly enough to jump away from attack which had hit the one at the back, square in the chest.

It hit him so hard that the kid flew out of his grip, the kid flew to the pavement, scrambling quickly to his feet and to his mother.

"Scared now?" I asked grinning, walking closer to them to inspect that I had hit. I took one glance at his blank eyes and I knew.

He was dead.

And I wasn't the only one that got the message.

The one that was all big talk before was shaking. His shoulders hunched, his eyes wide and scared. "Don't back down." He yelled tensely to the other one, who tightened his grip on the little girl he was holding onto.

"Back down? It's too late for that, idiot." I snarled. He glared as he looked back at me. Completely aware that I was getting ready to fire again. "Take the kid." He hissed throwing another little boy to one side, his lackey quickly grabbing him.

"I'll take care of her." "Jiraya, we don't have enough time for this." The man snapped, looking behind him. I followed his gaze and smirked. "Scared of the Imperial Army?" I asked. Jiraya scowled at me. "You picking a fight with me?" He hissed pointing at himself obnoxiously.

I smirked at him. "No I'm picking a fight with the kids." He looked confused for a minute before he realised I was being sarcastic.

God, did I seriously get out if bed 3am in the morning for this.

"Hey, that's playing dirty!" He retorted. I scoffed. "Excuse me, but I actually would like go back to bed. So just give up the two kids so we can end this quickly." He smirked. "Like we're going to give them back to you, we are Infinity Blade. No way in hell are we going away empty handed."

"Infinity Blade eh? I thought I already destroyed all the dark guilds." I muttered. He seemed to catch what I said and received it in shock but hid it. "We are a treasure hunter guild. We heard that there was a treasure in this town and-" "We wanted to take it." The guy behind him cut him off.

I couldn't help but pinch myself. These people...

"Look, I don't care what guild your from, you had no right to catch these kids." They laughed. "How else could we have gotten the treasure? So are we done chatting lady?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Your seriously annoying me." I snapped, running towards him in lightning fast movements, delivering a kick towards his side so he was sprawled on the ground. But not before he yelled an order to his lackey.

"Kill them!" He shrieked as I sent him lying on the ground. I stiffened quickly and sent a burst of Dark Energy shielding those two from the gun fire. "How. Dare. You." I hissed as I approached him. Jiraya's eyes widened in horror as he caught the look in my eyes.

Absolute anger, absolute hatred, absolute determination.

"You were just begging to die weren't you, little bastard." I snarled as caught him by the collar and slammed him into a wall.

He coughed weakly but smiled. "At least I'll bring you with me." I glanced at him confusion before realising a bullet was coming straight at me.

I had been so concentrated on protecting the children and attacking Jiraya I forgot myself. God damn it.

I sent another burst of energy to shield me. The shield wavered and shook, and I knew I was loosing magic energy and fast. But Jiraya didn't need to know that. "Die, you sadistic bastard." I hissed slamming his head into the wall, until blood showed through his brown mousy hair.

"Burn in hell, both of you!" I screamed as I turned around to face the other one.

He met my gaze like a scared animal's. His gun pointing uselessly at my face. "CHAOS DRAGON SLAYER SECRET ART, SOUL DISTINCTION!" I screamed firing it straight at him.

It hit straight through him, pain course through his features, his eyes became blank and he rolled onto the ground.

I panted and coughed as I stared around to see it there was anymore damage. People were still staring at me amazed. I couldn't help but smirk. These guys were weak and stupid. But ok, maybe I did go overboard.

I nodded at them before turning away, heading towards the inn when a pair of tiny arms grabbed me into a hug.

I turned around to see the little boy I had saved. He still had tears in his eyes from what had happened but he looked happy now.

I smiled gently at him. "Hello." I whispered at the little black haired boy. "Thank you, you were amazing." He said smiling. I shrugged. "I think I went a little overboard. My name's Lucy, how about you?" He smiled. "My name is Alex. I'm gonna be like you one day." I stiffened as his name pulled at memories in my head I would rather never see again.

But I made an effort to look happy. "Of course Alex, but don't go overboard and destroy a city." He laughed. "Uhm. " "Come on Alex we're going home." He turned around to look at his mom. "I have to go." I nodded. "I hope I see you again one day!" He nodded, waving as he ran back to his mom.

Oh Acnologia, were you like that when you were a kid? All hope and joy? I think I would have liked him better.

I grinned slightly imagining Acnologia as a five year old. It was hilarious. Slowly I walked back into the inn and into my room. It was even before I walked into my room when I smelt something off. It was definitely something off. Nothing like my scent or Virgo's. Or any of my celestial spirits.

So who could it be?

I crashed into my room loudly, as I realised what they could have been doing in here. But it was too late. My window was wide open and my keys were gone, a note left beside it.

Meet me in the alley behind the inn tonight if you want your keys back. Sincerely, M.

I scrunched the note in my hand and threw it at the wall furiously. I was so stupid, running outside without my keys.

I guess I'll have to get them back.

So yeah, five bucks to whoever can guess who our mysterious thief is. Read and review!