Lucy

I paid for my train ticket with my autograph. It wasn't too surprising considering everybody in Magnolia practically watched the game. If they couldn't score tickets for the live game itself, the mayor of Magnolia had the game rolling live in Magnolia Square for those to watch. The ticket booth guy got a selfie with my signature on it for a ticket. Everywhere I went, people tried to snap pictures of me. I had to go into the gift shop and get myself a baseball cap to cover my face and sunglasses to cover my eyes.

Didn't help very much...

I wasn't even wearing my warmer either. Jesus...

My old home, the one I lived in since I was younger, started coming into view. It was a ten minute walk from the nearby town so I got off. Not many knew who I was here except as little blonde girl with her mother. My mom traveled a lot and I'd always go with her.

Nope, I lied. They do know who I was. The people on the train helped them.

I managed to leave the crowd behind in the main parts of the town before actually leaving town. The walk from the town to my house was along a small forest. So no more people. The security doors came into view, two guards looked at me; their eyes slowly widening as I came closer to them. They didn't hesitate and opened the back gates for me to enter. I thanked them each with a warm smile.

There were servants I grew up with working and keeping the grounds clean. I called to them just as I arrived.

Miss Padto, a short old lady servant who worked the gardens I used to dance around in, looked up at the sound of my voice. When she recognized who I was she cried, loudly. Tackling me in a giant hug. News of my arrival sounded among all the other servants, from my home schooled teachers to the cooks working in the kitchen. Each asking me question about my life and how I've grown up. I greeted each and everyone of them with wide smiles. Fond memories spent with them teaching me the everyday life chores roamed through my mind.

While my father thought a lady of my status shouldn't be getting her hands dirty, my mother would sneak me outside or into the kitchen where the servants were working whenever I wasn't out with a ball at my feet. Since I was only a kid, I wanted to learn to do everything. I'm glad she did what she did. Mom probably knew I'd run away from my father because of his ridiculous commands due to all the money he made building a multi-millionaire business, he thought we were all above others.

"I saw you play last night," my math teacher cried. "You looked exactly like your mother on that field with the same exact uniform. I almost got a heart attack when I turned on the TV and thought your mother has returned from the dead."

I smiled at her, "It felt great being back on the field."

"Miss Lucy," another servant suddenly called. "The master requests your presence."

So, his run away daughter finally returns home and he requests my presence? I see he hasn't changed at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two of my old servants from way back when helped me into one of my dresses. I was surprised on how tight it was around my body. I guess I have grown up a bit, huh?

I walked on my own towards the giant double doors leading to my father's study and office. I knocked twice calling in, "Hello Father? It's Lucy, may I come in?"

I didn't wait for an answer and made my way inside. My father, with his hands behind his back dressed in a tan suit, was looking at me with his dark brown eyes as I made my way over to him. Years ago, I would shiver under his eyes and do whatever he said. Now? Now, I had the courage to look straight into them without flinching.

"You had me worried, Lucy," he started. Load of Bull. "I wouldn't have to do what I done if you were just to return home like a good girl."

"Yes Father," I said simply.

"Then, all that doesn't matter now that you are home," Father cleared his throat. "To the business at hand. I am starting to get too old to run this business so it is time I had an heir. I have arranged for you to marry the younger brother of our partners at Alvarez Food Corporation. Oh and do give birth to a baby boy so that he can continue running the business as my heir. A lady of your status shouldn't be running around in the mud with those hooligans anyway."

He turned around so he's looking out the window, "That is all. You may now return to your room."

"I'm afraid that's not going to happen, Father," I growled.

For the first time in our lives, I back talked my father. I wasn't surprise, the rage and anger I felt was far more greater than the fear I had for the man in front of me. He, however, was beyond pissed.

"Lucy," Father's voice became threatening.

I ignored him, "I came here today not to return home but to warn you. You sent in people to try to get me to come home by hurting my friends. Those 'hooligans' became people who actually care for me, checks on me everyday and makes sure I'm alright. Sure, I've only met them recently but they've given me more attention than you ever had in fifteen years of my life! By sending people to hurt them, that's unforgivable, you hear me? Even if you're my father, I personally promise you, I'll be the one that hurts you beyond measure. You'll be answering to me the next time my family gets hurt under your hands!"

I ripped the fancy dress until I was only wearing a tank top and some soccer shorts I had underneath.

"It didn't have to be this way," I turned from him, my back to him, my tone softening. "You and I... could've sat down and talked. That's what Mom would've wanted but because of your foolish actions, we cannot do that. I miss the people I grew up with, Mr. Hudson the gardener, Miss Padlot the one who taught me how to use a broom, Chef Brody who taught me how to make my first pancake. I miss them all so much. But it's time I move on with my life as a striker for Mom's team, no, my team, as the Celestial Striker."

Father flinched again at the mention of my mother's legendary nickname.

"I am no longer the little princess of the Lucky Hotels," I said showing him my team mark at the back of my palm. "I'm Lucy Heartfilia, the Celestial Striker of Fairy Tail FC."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I went back to the dressing room and changed into the clothes I brought along. It was a simple white v-neck shirt, the shorts I had on as well as my Fairy Tail warmer and sliding on the indoor cleats Jellal gave me right after the game to cheer me up a bit. I thanked the servants who helped me put on the dress. They bowed with respect for me.

I wandered into the rose garden where Mr. Hudson was tending to some roses. His eyes lit up when he saw me come up to him. I asked him for the scissors and picked out some of the prettiest roses of the garden. When I returned the garden scissors, he cried in my arms for a few minutes.

The way through the garden that I used to love kicking the ball around, more and more servants were crying; begging for me to return. I only smiled at them sadly and shook my head. I walked around the giant garden until I was at the front of the house. To the side of the house under a beautiful maple tree, stood a grave reading: Here lies Layla Heartfilia, or better known as the Celestial Striker. I saw the little Fairy Tail symbol hiding behind her name.

Underneath her name, the quote my mother loved so much and the one she used to help me through my troubled childhood: My life is my message - Mahatma Gandhi.

"Hey Mom," I whispered, kneeling down in front of the tombstone. "How are you? I guess heaven's as peaceful as could be, huh?"

I set the roses at the foot of her grave, "Hey, guess what? We beat Phantom Lord, Mom. It was one of the painfulest games in my life but I had a lot of fun. But being dead and everything, I bet you already knew that, right?"

Staring at my mother's name on the tombstone, my eyes started watering but I wiped it away. There's one thing Mom hated most in her life: crying. She won't tolerate it. Well, unless you're under five but otherwise, crying is just a sign that you don't trust those around you. I started talking to my mom, telling here everything that has happened when I first met Natsu.

The church bells in town suddenly chimed five times.

"Well," I stood up, "I should get going."

"LUCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Huh? I looked around me. Three voices... of...

I looked behind me into the afternoon sunset to see three figures running towards me, two males one female.

"LUCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!" they called again.

I gawked recognizing the dark black hair, the scarlet hair, and the pink hair, "You're here?!"

Two big arms suddenly grabbed my whole body and threw me against his own. I gasped when my chest met his.

"Natsu," I melted into his arms.

Gray started yelling at me, asking me why I would come back to this hell hole. Erza just stood by, arms crossed and an unreadable expression on her face. Natsu just hid his face in the crook of my neck. I laughed as I explained to them my situation. Salamander tightened his grip around my waist whereas Gray just started sulking at the misunderstanding. Erza laughed her head off.

I led them out the back gate back towards the town to catch the 5:30 train home to Magnolia. As we made our way, I bid the servants farewell. Giving last minute hugs and kisses to those who helped my mother raise me because my father was always away. Miss Padlot started telling Natsu to take good care for me as if we were married. Natsu, being a gentleman he is, nodded with a warm smile and promised he won't let any harm come to me.

Speaking of which, I looked towards the window of Father's study. There he was, standing watching over the garden and his daughter as I was getting ready to leave. The stern expression from earlier when I went up to talk to him was gone. Instead, he had a softer face watching me say goodbye.

"Goodbye, Father," I murmured. "Goodbye, Mother."

"Hey Luce!" my new friends called.

I closed my eyes, ripping myself away from the countless memories I spent with my mother in the Heartfilia mansion when she was still on this Earth.

I opened my eyes again, in the opposite direction to three smiling warm faces of my new family members.

Natsu held out a hand for me to take, "Let's go home."