"Did you hear?" "Yea, she's their daughter." "How awful, all alone." "The poor girl."

I hated hearing those words. Ever since I had 'returned', all I heard was whispers about me. Of course, not from my uncle or gramps or Laxus, but from some of the other guild members, the ones who didn't know me personally. It was annoying and it made me self-conscious, as if I was being watched all the time.

As if I am some kind of entertainment.

Laxus understood. He knew what it was like, to be an outcast. And he was the nicest person I know! Except for maybe Herona.

Currently I was sitting by the water, my short brown hair having a blue bow tied in it, and I wore a white shirt and blue skirt, with my feet barefoot. I was 15 years old, an official member of Fairy Tail.

"Hey Mona!" I heard a familiar voice call.

I turned to see my best friend, Lax, running towards me. He was a welcome sight, wearing his magic headphones, his spiky blonde hair and lightning scar making him stand out.

"Hey Lax. I thought you were on a mission." I greeted, smiling at him.

"Well it didn't take as long as we thought. The old man says I'll be an S-Class mage soon!" He boasted, giving me a confident smirk. Usually Laxus didn't act so cocky, but around me I like to think he showed emotion a little bit more.

I laughed, "You wish, Lightning. Trust me, I'll only regard you as an S-Class if you beat me in a fight!"

He made a Tch sound, "Oh come on Mona, you know I'd never fight you."

I smirked, "The day shall come, young lightning. You have much to learn yet."

"Young? You're a year younger than me! Stop acting all wise." He chuckled, sitting beside me.

I changed the subject, "So, I was hoping you wouldn't come back so soon… I didn't want to have to say goodbye."

All his laughter stopped, and he stared at me, "Goodbye?"

"Yes… You remember how I told you about Herona? Well I promised her I would visit, and it's been years, Laxus. I have to go home for a while. I'll be back soon though! I leave in the morning." I explained, not looking at him, staring at the water.

He was quiet a moment before I heard him chuckle. I finally looked at him to see him running a lazy hand through his blonde hair.

"Well then, when you get back I'll have a present for you! I've been saving up. Besides, we'll have a celebration when you get back, Fairy Tail's honor. Then we can go on a job together, how does that sound?" He smiled at me, slinging an arm over my shoulder.

I tried not to blush, "Sounds great!"

The next morning I hugged him goodbye.

"Be careful, Mona. And come back soon." He whispered in my ear.

I pulled away from the hug and kissed his cheek, making him blush faintly. On rare occasions I would kiss him on the cheek, but I had never actually kissed him. "Baka, nothing will happen to me. I'll be home soon, I swear!"

I ran away from him before he could respond, holding up a one finger sign, showing him I'd be fine.

I could feel his eyes on me as I went out of sight.

A few weeks later

"Mona's back! Get Gramps, something's wrong!" Shouts could be heard as I pushed open the doors to the guild.

I was a wreck, my hair wild, my body aching and bruised. I was out of magical energy, and I was pale.

Laxus was the first to reach me, "Mona!"

I collapsed and he caught me.

"Get the old man!" Shouts rang out. I saw familiar faces but I couldn't focus on them, sobbing.

"Mona what happened?!" Laxus demanded to know, a firm grip on my arms.

My voice showed my anger, "Herona's gone! She's gone Laxus, I looked everywhere, my home was in ruins!" My Dragon Slayer's temper was more powerful than a hurricane.

I saw gramps hurrying towards us.

I felt suffocated, like I couldn't breathe, and I heard Lax calling my name as everything went black. I wasn't surprised I had fainted, I had gone days without taking good care of myself, searching for Mona.

It was two days later I woke up in the infirmary.

Laxus was at my bed side. "Mona… you're awake. You've been out for two days!"

I couldn't bring up my temper or cry anymore… I was miserable enough though. I sat up, gripping onto Laxus's hand, which was holding mine.

"Laxus… she's gone." I whispered, my distraught and tangled emotions showing.

"I'm so sorry Mona… I wish I could do something." He really did seem angry he couldn't help me.

I was silent, numb.

Laxus reached over and grabbed a small box, before showing it to me. He opened it and I saw a stunning ring with an Amethyst stone. It was plain, just a silver band with the stone, but It was beautiful.

"I… I got this for you while you were gone. It's a gift for your upcoming birthday, but I decided to give it to you early. The Amethyst holds magic, but I'm not sure how it works. I figured you would find out eventually. I do know that you can contact people through the stone, it's like a communication Lacrima almost, works kind of in the same way." He told me. I think I am one of the few people Laxus thought to get a gift for.

I watched as he slid it on my finger, and then I pulled him into a hug, holding him tight. "Laxus… Thank you."

"I'll always be here for you, Mona. I swear, I'll never hurt you." He replied softly. A rare softness.

Weeks later

Laxus's point of view

I frowned, watching the storm clouds gather. Mona was terrified of storms. I needed to find her.

Mona had been different since she got back from her visit to Herona. She had been distant, distraught. Even with her new ring, she had been avoiding me sometimes. I let her have her space, figuring she needed time alone. But it had bothered me, that look of sorrow in her eyes.

I walked through town, heading towards her house. But when I got there the house was empty.

"Mona?! Mona!" I yelled, searching. Her stuff was gone, her ring, her bag, her clothes. I stopped when I found a note on her desk.

Dear Laxus,

I've got to go. I don't want to leave fairy tail, but I'll never get strong enough to find Herona, not by staying. I have to find someone to train me, I have to get better at magic. Watch over everyone for me, do you understand? And don't be a Baka. I don't want you getting hurt. I'll be back someday. I don't expect you to wait for me, but at least… don't forget me. And you better be S-Class when I get back, I know you can do it. I'll see you again someday.

Love, Mona.

I reread it, dropping it in anger as lightning crackled in the sky.

"Damn it Mona!"

A few months before Lucy comes to the guild

Mona's point of view

"Is that?" "No way!" "Someone get Gramps! Get Laxus! It's her!"

I walked in calmly, ignoring the stares. I spotted Natsu, he certainly had grown up, the little squirt. I saw Elfman and Mira too. And Gray, and Erza. I didn't see Lisanna, or uncle Gildarts, but I saw Macao, Cana, and more familiar faces. I hadn't known Natsu and Happy before I left Fairy Tail, but I had watched over my old guild on occasion, and I had met Natsu one time when he was searching for his dragon, Igneel.

I wore my normal outfit of purple crop top, black shorts, and black ankle boots, also having on my cropped jacket. My short hair had my purple bow tied in it, and I had a bag slung over my shoulder. I wore my ring as well.

I saw a familiar blonde boy looking at me from the second floor, but… as I gazed up at him, he didn't look quite right. Laxus looked like… I couldn't explain it, his expression made me get a chill.

"Mona! You're alive!" Erza greeted, and everyone else looked stunned.

I smirked, raising a hand in an indifferent wave, "Of course I am."

Everyone's whispers went silent as the old man Makarov walked towards me. I looked down at him before bowing.

"Gramps… I wish to rejoin Fairy Tail… I have finally come home." I said, hiding the emotions that soared inside me, just the sight of my old friends was making me want to smile.

"You never were thrown out, were you? You still have your Fairy Tail mark. You can test for S-Class tomorrow, a special test for you, for coming back to us." He said, smiling, "Good to have you back, Mona." I could tell he was holding back tears.

A voice interrupted, "Is that it? You're just letting her join?! And you're letting her have an unofficial S-Class test?!"

I paused as Laxus jumped down from the second floor, landing in front of me with a thud, bubbling with quiet anger.

I was calm, staring at him, "Do you have a problem, Laxus? I thought you'd be glad to see me."

Everyone else was quiet, watching, as if shocked I dared to talk back to Laxus.

"Yea. I have a problem. You Left. You don't deserve to be back here." He said coldly.

I knew it. He was different. "You certainly have changed, lightning."

"So have you, Dragon Slayer." He said back, glaring at me.

"Would you like to fight me?" I asked.

He was startled for a moment. No one else would have noticed but I did, I saw his hesitation.

Then he just gave an indifferent look, turning away, "I don't fight weak losers like you."

Anger struck me, and I replied coldly, "Then why don't you stop being a coward and say that to my face. If you're afraid, I understand, after all I'd beat you easily."

It was true I still loved Laxus. He was my namaka, and at one time I might have thought of him as something more than just a friend. I always would. But he wasn't himself. He was on the wrong path, he had changed, I could tell.

Laxus turned angrily, and I saw sparks come from his headphones.

"Laxus no!" I heard Mira cry out a second before it happened.

I let out a scream as I was electrocuted, feeling the burning lightning make me struggle on the spot as the yellow light hit me, my muscles feeling on fire. I dropped to the floor a moment later, singed and hurt, shaking in pain. I hadn't braced myself. Being hit with lightning was worse than anything I've ever felt. The feeling in the air of pure raw power. It was incredibly scary, and even more painful.

Laxus obviously hadn't meant to, his expression frozen, "Mona I-"

I interrupted as I struggled to my feet, my gaze filled with fury, "You bastard! You promised me! Especially not in an attack like that, not even a real fight! You've changed Laxus. We're certainly not friends anymore, not like this. The Laxus I know would never be so… so full of hate!"

Laxus was frozen, staring at me. Finally he regained his cool, his voice hardening, "If you think that way, fine!"

"Fine!" I yelled back.

"Fine!" He snarled, furious.

I growled, before looking at gramps, "I'll be here tomorrow for the exam."

And I left.

Laxus's point of view

When she left, so did I, leaving the guild in silence. She was so… She had certainly grown up. But my Mona was still there, I just couldn't… It seemed like I couldn't be decent to her, not now. She left! I was miserable for the first year without her.

She doesn't deserve to talk to me!

Still… I had promised her. I felt awful , after all she still wore the ring.

"I'll never hurt you, Mona. I swear to it."

I punched a tree I was next to, since I had retreated out of the city and to the woods.

Damn it. I broke my promise… I hurt her. And now I can't bring myself to apologize.