ONE YEAR AGO - Third Person POV
X783 August 11th
(Y/N)'s eyebrows furrowed as she stared at the request board. There was a request to chase a few bandits from a town called Marigold. The weird thing was the reward being so high for such a lowly job.
"Hey (N/N)! Whatcha lookin' at?" Natsu exclaimed peeking over her shoulder.
"Just a job. I'm running out of money." She sighed.
"A few bandits? Seems easy enough, lets go!" He grins.
"I was actually planning on doing this one alone." (Y/N) scratched the back of her neck. "I need to do some training so I can finally beat you!" She laughs.
"Ok, but its not gonna happen," He shrugs. "Well, be careful."
"See ya soon, Natsu!" She cheered after checking in with Mira and before running out the guild hall's doors.
But she never walked back through them.
//
PRESENT TIME - Lucy's POV
X784 August 11th
It's been a little over a month now since I ran into Natsu and Happy in Hargeon and joined Fairy Tail. After joining the guild I had already been thrown into the whole lullaby thing and that S-class quest on Galuna Island. I had noticed something off today though. Natsu's usually cheery demeanour had vanished and he was sitting in the corner of the guild hall by himself, staring down at his hands that were placed on the table in front of him.
"Hey, Erza." I walked over to the scarlet haired mage. "What's up with Natsu?" She gestured for me to sit beside her.
"A year ago today, (Y/N), a fellow Fairy Tail wizard left on a job and she hasn't come back since." She started explaining. "She was only meant to be gone for a week or so, the job seemed relatively easy."
"Is she...?" I stopped myself from finishing the sentence, not wanting to bring anymore sadness.
"We don't know, we can only assume. Otherwise she would have come back." Erza sighs. "She was Natsu's best friend. That's why he is so upset. Of course we all are, but he was the closest to her." She leans back into the seat. "The hardest part is not knowing what happened. She was strong, which means something had to have gone very wrong."
"As strong as you and the others in the team?" I asked.
"I'd say she was equal with Natsu and Gray." She stood up, giving me a pat on the back. "I'd recommend leaving Natsu alone for today, he blames himself for what happened."
"Hey, flamebrain! Cheer up, (Y/N) didn't like to see you sad remember?" Gray calls out from across the guild.
"Shut up, Gray." Natsu spits, laying his head on his arm that was placed on the table.
I've never actually heard Natsu call Gray by his name before. He must be really hurting.
//
THREE DAYS AGO - (Y/N)'s POV
X784 August 8th
I've lost track of time, what day is it? What month is it? What year is it? How long ago had I left for that job that was supposed to be oh so easy. What that job flyer failed to state, was that it wasn't just bandits, it was members of a dark guild and there were a lot more than a few.
I fought as hard as I could, but I was in over my head. There were too many, and I was caught. They ended up dropping me in this very cell, underground, beneath wherever their guild is located. My wrists were chained, my feet were chained both with magic blocking chains. I have tried to escape multiple times, but each time it resulted in being beaten worse than normal. They limited the amount of water that they gave me. I'm a water dragon slayer, it truly is torture. They've slowly been taking my magical energy over the year and soon I will be fully depleted.
However, I had overheard some rookie guards before talking about a freakish storm happening outside right now. The time to escape is nigh, I had waited nearly a year for something like this, for new guards, for a chance. If I could some how manage to get myself some rain water, I may be able to produce enough magic energy for the chains to break. The question is how though.
"Here's your daily shot of water," one of the guards walks in.
"Thank you," I manage to choke out. "May I have some more?"
"No, you're not allowed anymore."
"You take my magical energy for personal gain, what happens when I run out and you get no more?" I look down at my chained up hands. "Please, just a moment out in the rain is all I ask."
"You get thirty seconds." The guard helps me to my feet and unlocks the chains.
"Rookie," I smirk, still looking at the ground. With the last bit of strength I could muster up, I kicked him right where it hurts and ran for it, ripping his coat off and putting it on myself. I knew I wouldn't be strong enough right now to take on any of the guild members. So I had to go ninja style, I smiled thinking of Natsu and Happy, the way they loved ninjas. I pulled the coat's hood up over my head. This is my only chance, I had to make it work. I walked up the stairs into the guild hall, walking as calmly as possible to the doors.
"Where are you going?" A member asks sceptically.
"I have last minute business to attend to." I said in the deepest voice I could possibly make work. I couldn't sound like myself, they'd pick it straight away. Continuing my walk forward, I opened the door only to be met by a gust of wind. The storm had blown away the coat, I no longer had my disguise.
"It's the dragon slayer!" Members where shouting back and forth. "Get her!"
I wasn't scared, I was in my element. Rain poured down from the sky at record speed. I still knew that it would take time to build my energy back up, but if I manage to make a water wall strong enough to cover the door for just a few seconds. I could run away.
I ran into the rain, my body instantly feeling a thousand times better than moments ago.
"WATER DRAGON: WATER WALL!" I shouted, building up a wall, turning and running as fast as I possibly could. I'm finally free.
//
I ran and ran, not looking back, managing to run back into Marigold. I remembered its scent from a year ago, and followed it.
"Fairy Tail... wait for me, I'm coming home." I smiled. I had no jewel, so I wouldn't be able to catch the train, my stomach cheers at the thought of not going on the death machine. From what I remember, it should take me three days to walk to Magnolia. I'm not in good shape but I refuse to wait. I want to see my family again... Erza, Gray, Mira, Happy, Gramps, everyone, and Natsu...