Fairy Princess | Fairy Tail (TEMP HIATUS)

07 - The Princess's Return

Consciousness slowly came back to me as the bright white lights blinded me from behind my eyelids, causing me to wince. Aside from the ringing in my ear, everything around me was loud. From the constant beeping noise to the chattering outside, the foreign sounds were enough to wake me up. It also smelled like medicine, a hospital maybe; they always have a distinct smell that makes you recognize them immediately. I didn't even need to look around to know I was in a hospital... Did someone save me...?

"Doctor, she's awake!" a woman exclaimed as the sound of footsteps grew closer. The people started running some tests and checks or something on me when they came in. Now I remember why I hated hospitals... The doctors and nurses make me a bit uncomfortable.

"Do you know where you are?" the man, assumingly the doctor, asked. What am I, stupid...?

"A hospital..." I answered nevertheless.

"Yes, you're in the hospital. Your friends found you on the verge of dying and rushed you in here. You're lucky because any later and it would've been over for you," the doctor explained. He talks too much... No shit I'd be on the verge of dying if I was taken to a hospital... Plus anyone that saw me could tell I was about to set off for the afterlife; it doesn't take a genius to figure that out. "You can see your friends again after I run some more tests, okay?" the doctor asked in a childish tone. I knew my face twisted into an annoyed expression. I'm sorry sir, but I'm like, what, fourteen turning fifteen? Not five. But of course, despite my clear annoyance, I had to let the guy run his tests before being able to see my rescuers.

"Oh, Levina! Thank goodness, you're okay!" There were a lot of familiar faces on me, hugging me and crying.

"H-How did you guys find me...? No one should've known about that place," I whispered.

"I thought I saw you in town a few days ago, so I followed you. Creepy, I know, but I had no choice. You just disappeared off the map and everyone was worried. I came back a few times to make sure it was actually you, and once I did, I decided to knock on the door. I heard something shatter followed but a loud thumping noise inside so I just went in out of worry. Thank god I did, since you were sprawled out on the floor looking like you were about to die, so I rushed you to the hospital then called everyone else here," Wakaba explained.

"They said you passed out from exhaustion and malnutrition. Other things were bad too, but you'll be okay now," Macao added. Ah... I must've caused them to worry a lot these past years... These past three years, I've been nothing but a selfish brat...

"I-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" I sobbed in the blanket. My guild members pulled me into a tight hug, rubbing my back and patting my head comfortingly.

"It's okay. It's okay. It's not your fault, so don't apologize. Come back to us. It may not be the same respected and grand Fairy Tail that you once knew of anymore, but come back to us. We're there for you, always. So, please, don't try to take on the burden all alone," Macao said softly and gave me a gentle smile. I gave them a weak nod, but continued crying.

My guild members talked to the doctors and had me signed up for whatever I needed to make a full recovery. Counseling, therapy, you name it; I felt horrible towards my members for spending their own money to help me get back on my feet, but I am forever grateful to them. I didn't get to go home for a long time since I needed to be monitored by the doctors constantly, which was honestly uncomfortable, but I did this to myself, so I had to bear with it. I was told that my puberty was delayed due to malnutrition, so I ended up getting my first menstruation a lot later than the average girl and my body developed a lot later as well. Everyday at the hospital was a bore, but at least I was provided with books to study and read, so it was a bit more bearable than it could've been. My guild members visited whenever they can, and I finally was able to meet Bisca and Alzack's daughter, Asuka, who is turning one this year and is very cute. Although I've been stuck under various treatments for a year, I'm not sure how much it actually helped. I am feeling a bit better than before, enough to function in society again I guess, but I'm not sure if I'm actually feeling "okay" again. Well, I guess being able to function in society again is enough for now.