Beauty and/or Beast

2

Mira gasps in horror as she looks at my body for the first time. Bruises and scars littered everywhere, with no end in sight of any healthy skin. She carefully grabs ahold of my hand as she looks at the thicker bruises on my wrists. Glancing over at Makarov, shock written all over his face. Nervously I rub my hands together, unsure of what they were thinking.

"My name is (Y/n)," I start. "For as long as I can remember I was locked away, far from here. Handcuffed to a jail cell, ripped of any happiness and confidence I ever had." Tears littered my eyes as I pictured the small room I was stuck inside of for years. 

"Who did this to you?" Makarov asks.

"Please forgive me for I was never given her name."

"That is okay sweetheart."

"All I remember is that she used me as research, taking any magic energy I ever had and using it. For years I was sucked dry of any magic power, so forgive me, I haven't had this much energy in years." now that I think about it, my mind is spinning. Not being able to hold this much energy really has taken its toll on me.

"Do you remember who took you?"

"It was a woman, trying to recreate a dragon if I remember. She disappeared a while ago, but her lackeys kept sucking me dry of magic power. Saying she will be returning any day."

"Daphne." Mira gasps. "I haven't thought about her for a while. It has to be her."

"No doubt about that," Makarov shakes his head. "No need to worry child, she has been taken away by the magic council."

"She's in jail?" I ask, a hint of happiness in my voice. 

"Yes. So you are safe for now."

Mira steps closer to me, "Join our guild (Y/n)! That way you can be protected for life if her minions ever mess with you again. Once you feel strong enough to use your magic we would love to see what you yield."

"Mira......"

"I am sorry master, but we need all hands on deck right now. After returning from Tenrou island we should take anybody that is wanting to join. We are the laughingstock of the city right now."

"I guess you are right. So (Y/n), what do you say?"

Looking up at the two their hopeful eyes stared back at me. A small glint of hope overcomes me as I shyly smile at them. Their faces light up even brighter as they high-five each other, a successful addition to their Fairy Tail guild.

"Let's get you a guild-mark, then introduce you to the rest of my children." Makarov smiles.

------

Looking at the black emblem on my thigh, a slight smile at the thought of feeling like I am worth something. Worth something more than just the magic power in my body. Maybe I will finally be wanted for me.

I reach for my cloak, but Mira grabs ahold of my shoulder. My eyes meet hers as she smiles, "I know it will be hard but I think you should ditch it."

"I don't know..." I whisper. 

"I know deep down you want to build something of yourself, I can see it in your eyes. Everyone out there is going to love you, with or without the bruises and scars. You are one of us now, a part of a really crazy family."

"I am scared Mira."

"I know you are, but I will always be here if you need someone to lean on for support."

Looking down at my scars I hated to admit it but Mira was right. I wanted to leave my past behind, to build myself a better future. All I know is that I deserve something better than what I have to live with for as long as I can remember. The little hope I needed is that Daphne is locked away in jail, a taste of her own medicine.

"Okay," I nod. 

"Come on, let me introduce you to someone that I trust," Mira smiles sweetly.

She places a comforting hand on my shoulder as she guides me out of the office. Walking out to where everyone was talking among themselves, I find people staring. Mira continues to push me towards a table with a new face, the person she trusts.

"Everyone I want you to be nice to our new member; (Y/n). If I hear anything bad I will personally kill you, okay?" Mira threatens everyone around her with a smile.

"No worries Mira, just a bit shocked we have a newcomer." A woman with scarlet hair says, her eyes scanning over my battered body.

"Nastu, master wants to speak with you," Mira shouts over her shoulder to the pink-haired male eating something.

Nastu glares the whole time as me as he walks towards the office that I just came from. The woman with the scarlet hair gets up from her seat, holding an outstretched hand toward me. "My name is Erza, nice to meet you."

"What do you use as magic?" I ask, shaking the woman's hand.

"I am a requip mage, and you?"

"I cannot answer that at this moment, I apologize."

"Hey," Lucy says coming over to Erza and me. "You don't look too good (Y/n), are you feeling okay?"

Now that she mentioned it, my head was spinning a tad bit more than usual. Placing a hand against my forehead, Lucy makes a concerned look at me. I wanted to respond, but exhaustion overcame me more than usual. The blonde's face seemed so distant as I slipped into a falling pit of darkness.