Worth the Wait

New Year's Day, X785, Magnolia

"What do you mean, they're all gone?"

Macao wiped away a tear. "I'm sorry, Loke. We've searched and searched for weeks. Everyone in Fiore has been searching for them. Even the Magic Council sent a fleet of ships to scour the area. They just aren't—"

"They're alive," Loke yelled. Other members of Fairy Tail slouching in the guild hall looked over mournfully at his shout. "They are definitely alive. If Lucy was dead, I would have felt our contract break. I'm still her Spirit, I still feel the bond to her, so she's definitely alive."

Macao sighed. "If she is, we can't find a trace of her. Or it might be due to that black dragon people are whispering about. Maybe when it obliterated Tenrou Island, your Key was destroyed, leaving you—"

"No!" Loke shouted, punching a table so hard it splintered in half, sending beer mugs tumbling. "It doesn't work that way. Don't guess at things you know nothing about."

Macao just shook his head. He looked over to Wakaba, but his old friend shrugged, unsure what to advise. They were still fighting denial as well. They wanted to believe, so much! It had only been two weeks, after all. There was always a chance.

Romeo walked up and tugged on his father's sleeve. "If Lucy is alive, the others must be too, right? Maybe if we just search again..."

"Of course, you're right." Macao smiled broadly, but his son did not smile back. "We'll look around some more, and we'll keep on looking. We can't give up hope yet. Loke, please come with us. If you can sense Lucy, then maybe it will help."

"I'll do what I can," Loke promised.

They left early the next morning and sailed south, leaving behind the cold January chill for tropical weather that had the mages stripping out of their clothes and panting hotly. Loke stood on the prow of Fairy Tail's ship in his full suit, too worried to be affected by the heat. He stared over the water, searching everywhere, his face tense as it wavered between worry and hope. He even removed his sunglasses to squint out over the sparkling blue sea.

Magic Council ships were everywhere, using magical means to search the area. Above, Blue Pegasus' magic bomber Christina searched from the sky. He saw ships with sails bearing the mark of numerous guilds: Lamia Scale, Quatro Cerberus, Titan Nose, Sabertooth, and others Loke did not immediately recognize. Even common fishermen were out in their boats, searching the surrounding area for numerous leagues. Some of the less optimistic ones had their nets out, catching a lot of shattered bits of wood but so far no bodies.

As Loke watched the frenzied activity, he realized with a bittersweet feeling of pride that the disappearance of Fairy Tail's core members had brought together Fiore's entire magic community. They had not just been abandoned. Everyone worried for them.

He called Lucy's name. He called for Gray. He closed his eyes and tried to reach out, sense her, just as he sometimes could sense when she was in trouble. When that did not work, he cried out for them until he went hoarse. Behind him, the guild members who came along shook their heads. The momentary hope in Romeo's eyes faded.

"Lucyyyyy!" he roared. His voice carried over the water in a plaintive reverberation. He knew she was alive; he felt his bond with her. So where could she be? What happened to everyone?

A Magic Council ship sailed over to them and came to a halt to block their small ship, as if worried they might try to make a run for it. Loke recognized one person instantly.

"You!" he sneered. "Mest... no, not Mest. That was the name you made us believe. Who are you really?"

The dark-haired man with scars on the side of his face gave a small bow. "My name is Doranbolt. I apologize for deceiving you, Loke... or should I say, Leo the Lion?"