•••

Vera,

A disappointment.

A coward.

A bad, bad human being.

That is who Lucy Heartfilia truly is.

Knowing this, how could I possibly even think of giving myself another chance at happiness?

This spell wouldn't let me. Life wouldn't let me.

I wouldn't let me.

I didn't tell you the whole truth. I couldn't. I didn't have the courage to.

After all, it's the sole reason why I hate my very own existence.

The spell didn't just hurt me, Vera. If it did, life would've been so much easier. I might've been able to move on.

But since when has life been so easy?

I'm a walking catastrophe. Unstable. Dangerous.

I know I'll never get a chance.

Never get a home. Again.

Just know that I love you. And I'm truly thankful for everything you and Marie have ever done for me.

I know I've been distant and mean. But I did care. I really did. And because I care, it's prudent that I leave.

Thank you so much for giving me this home. Even if it was temporary. I'll forever cherish it in my heart.

Thank you so much Vera. Thank you so much for reminding me that there is hope and love for me after all.

Even if it was only short lived, but it was still there.

I'll miss you.

Love,

Lucy.

•••

The train's engine tooted, black smoke coming out of it as it moved towards it's destination. Gray watched the sceneries change from the window, sighing and then glancing at the two hopeless cases of dragon slayers.

"Pathetic." he mumbled, most of it directed towards Natsu. "Hey watch the shoes man!"

Natsu mumbled some unintelligent words, weakly showing Gray his balled fists. However, the latter just 'tch-ed' looking away again.

"You're on edge today Gray." Erza observed, looking sideways at him.

"Look around you Erza." Gray replied, staring back at her from his reflection in the window. "Everyone is."

"I can't believe that she would just vanish like that." Happy mumbled.

"Dammit!" Gray exclaimed, hitting the window with his fist in frustration. "We should've stayed and helped find her! For all we know she could've been in dan-"

"She isn't." Erza stated, flipping through magazine pages. "Vera found a letter. She left of her own free will. There is nothing we could've done."

Gray stared at her in disbelief, trying to find even a hint of emotion in her stoic expression. "Erza..when did you become so..cold?"

She didn't reply, but in truth, her stomach was twisting with worry too. Her heart ached and she felt uncharacteristically weak, but she also knew that she had to keep up her composure.

"She is right though." Carla sighed sadly. "There is nothing we could've done. Vera completely refused our help once she found the letter."

"I..wi..sh..I cou...ld've h..ad..a-a..look at..i..t.." Wendy managed to speak up, immediately covering her green face with her hand.

"It's just a wish now. None of us could have a look at it. And don't stress yourself child!"

"N..o..ki..ki..d..any..more.."

Carla sighed, patting the poor girl's back in a soothing manner.

"H..ho..w..lo..n..g?" Natsu managed to ask before slumping back down on the coach seat.

"It'll take another 15 hours to get to the station nearest to Crocus." Gray informed. "Not to mention a couple hour long drive to the capital after that."

If Wendy and Natsu didn't look like they have seen a ghost before, they certainly did now. Erza watched them get paler and sighed.

"Alright then!" she exclaimed. "The town of Acalypha is a couple of hours away. How about we stop there for the night?"

•••

"Solid ground here I come!" Natsu yelled, a wide smile on his face.

"It feels so good to be out of the train." Wendy smiled, breathing in the fresh evening air.

"And they're back to normal." Gray commented, walking out of the train himself, just behind the two dragon slayers.

"Now we have to find a place to stay for the night." Erza stated, stretching her arms. The journey had sure been tiring.

"I'm going out to explore first!" Natsu announced, running out of the station.

"But Natsu-san! How'll you find us?!"

"What's a dragon slayer's nose for?" he replied, grinning sheepishly back at her.

"He sure is cheerful." Carla voiced out, a bit confused. "I would've thought he'd be feeling a bit down, since he was the one who actually got the closest to her."

"He is." Happy sighed. "He's just trying to cover it all up with this cheerful act. He doesn't want to show how much he has been affected."

"You aren't going to go after him?"

"No." the exceed shook his head. "He needs his time. This is bound to stir up a few bad memories for him. I think it's better if we leave him be for now."

"Whatever you say Happy." Erza sighed, walking towards the exit herself. "Now, we better hurry if we want to find a decent place to stay for the night."

•••

The lights twinkled, the streets alive even during the hour of darkening sky. Natsu sighed, walking with his hands behind his head.

Nothing interested him. Everything he saw, it all reminded him of just one person. Her.

She was plaguing his mind. Her memories taking control of his emotions. And here he was, unable to stop it.

He didn't want to stop it.

Everything was taking him back to her.

"Lucy?!"

The woman turned around, confused. Natsu's breath hitched, and he withdrew his hand in a haste.

"Oh sorry." he apologized. "Thought you were an acquaintance of mine."

She was everywhere. There was no escape.

Why'd she leave? Was it because of him? What was it that she was hiding? What was in the letter?

Just who was Lucy?

And why was she so familiar?

His head hurt. His heart hurt. He was thinking too much. Maybe he should just relax. Drown himself in their memories. Relieve her comforting presence surrounded with a faint scent of vanilla and strawberry.

Okay that sounded creepy.

He smiled a little to himself, closing his eyes in contentment. Creepy or not, that scent of hers, oh how much he had grown to love it. It always made him feel so warm and fuzzy inside, no matter how bad the day had been for him.

Just like now. The faint scent of vanilla and strawberries mixed with that of roses and lilies erasing all of the worries from his mind.

Her scent, standing out the most.

In a panicked realisation, Natsu opened his eyes, frantically searching for her. It wasn't his imagination.

She was here.

And he could find her.

"Gran, was Lucy here?!"

The old lady behind the flower stands stared back in confusion, tilting her head a little. "Lucy? I don't know anyone named Lucy, kid."

"A-A blonde haired young woman? Brown eyes? And y'know.." he trailed off, blushing slightly, indicating what he wanted to tell through hand gestures.

The lady stared back at him, unamused but then her expression brightened. "Oh now that you mention it, a young lady of a similar appearance did stop by." she said, her smile disappearing. "Poor thing. She looked so shaken."

"Where'd she go?!"

"She stopped by to get some lillies. Mentioned something about going to go visit the graveyard."

Natsu didn't waste another breath, dashing in the direction of the town's graveyard. He passed by Love and Lucky, a small smile forming on his face.

Her scent was growing stronger.

She was definitely here.

He skidded to a stop near it's entrance, taking in a deep breath. Gingerly, he walked in, his footsteps careful, his heart wild.

"Luce!"

It didn't take long to find her. She was on the ground, her head buried under her arm.

She had been crying.

She shifted, looking at him in shock through her swollen eyes.

"Natsu!" she exclaimed, sitting up straight, her eyes wide. "What're you doing here?"

However, instead of replying, he rushed right to her, hugging her close.

"Why'd you leave?" he asked, burying his face in her neck. "Was it because of me? Why'd you not tell anyone? Tell me Luce. Why did you run away?"

With each question he hugged her even closer, as if loosening his grip even a little bit might make her vanish.

"Natsu." Lucy whispered, trying hard to keep her voice from cracking. "I-"

However, his hold on her tightened and she could feel his tears on her neck.

She made him cry.

It took everything in her not to hug him back. Her hands however did move, but to push him back.

"It was my choice Natsu." Lucy answered, looking anywhere but him. "I wanted to-"

"To hell with it Lucy!" he yelled, angry now. "You just up and left without saying anything. Did you even stop to think about us? Even Vera? How can you do something like that to her?!'

"I-I left her a letter-"

"Do you honestly think that it would've been enough? Enough to not make her cry?" he questioned. "And then what about us? Didn't we deserve an explanation?"

"Natsu I-"

"I know that we've known each other for just a few days." his voice was softer now. Calmer. Hurt. "But I care a lot about you Luce. All of us do."

"I care too!" she screamed, tearing up. It was all over now. It will all be out now. Her frustration. Her anger. She knew that she should stop but she didn't. She couldn't. "It's because I care so damn much that I left!"

"Luce.."

"Do you think it wasn't hard for me? Leaving the people I love? Again?!" she asked, leaving him speechless. "You don't know what I've been through Natsu! Nor can you ever comprehend! I've lost so much. I've lost my will to live. But I still do. Why? Because I still care!"

She grabbed his scarf, burying her face in it. "You don't know how bad I want it all to stop. But I'm still going. I had a home once too. But it's gone now. And I can never, ever get it back. I ruined it. I ruined it all. I hurt myself, and them. I'm a walking catastrophe! I should just die!"

For a long while they both just sat there, Lucy sobbing against his chest. And he let her. He let her get it all out.

For after what seemed an eternity, Natsu gingerly wrapped his arms around her, brushing her hair in a soothing manner. Lucy's sobs subsided, she was beginning to get calmer. She knew that she should pull away, but she didn't want to. Instead, she leaned in more, his warmth calming her down.

"I won't let you die Luce." he whispered against her ears. "I won't let you do that."

"Natsu I-"

"Shhh." he said, embracing her tighter. "Just do one thing. For me?"

She looked at him, her brown eyes glistening due to the unshed tears, waiting for him to ask.

"Come home." he smiled, looking at her with such a soft expression that it made her heart melt.

Make her forget all of her worries.

"Come home with me Luce."

•••
O_o
Okay I'mma just go.
This show just ended and now I've depressed myself even more by writing this.

I'm so gonna go to hell.

Anyway hope you liked it! Comment and vote and share! Pretty please?

*Insert puppy dog eyes*

Until then!
Belle🌸
🔥♥🔑