Lost Goodbyes

ONE

:A HEARTFELT MEMORY:

He rocked back and forth, his shoulders shuddered once more as the last of his tears fell.

He tried to keep his eyes shut so he could see her clearer, yet, there was something that was keeping his heavy eyes from staying closed.

Standing nearby a girl looks on in worry, she had never seen him like this, he was never this bad before.

It was the first time since that day...

That he cried.

:MERRI:

Makarov's punishments were always harsh, but the latest? The latest was just fucking degrading...
Shuddering, the cringe from the memory alone was enough for twelve years of nightmares, although it might take even longer just to forget...

Instead of focusing on what had just happened, she instead turned her focus to who was calling out to her and finding out what they wanted and or needed 

"Merri!" A glimpse of pink was all that needed to be seen for her to know exactly who had called out.

"Oi, Natsu-chi!"

"You're back! I heard from Dimitri what your punishment was, who would've thought Gramps could be so cruel!" Giving her his famous grin mixed with a slight cringe, Natsu had made her heart leap.

Unfortunately, she couldn't tell if it was because of the awkward cringe, or from the memory of the punishment. Invisible tears rolled down her face.

"Natsu-chi, please don't bring up those horrid memories." She turned to walk in the other direction, away from that punishment...

"Huh? Where are ya going? The party's just starting!"

Smiling bitter sweetly, Merri waves Natsu off, and heads towards the depression corner in which all her teammates reside. A small cry and sting of depressions words words can be heard from Dimitri.

"When I die, I want to be reborn as dirt."

"Why dirt though?" Kiko asks, chuckling quietly to himself.

"Because that'll justify everyone for always walking all over me..."

And with that, all surrounding the corner had to go and receive some aloe Vera oil.

:SKIP ALL THE TIMES:

Still sore from the earlier burn, Merri slowly trudged back to her home, honestly too tired to give a fuck. But not tired enough to skip the stage of quietly chanting the word fuck repeatively to herself.
She lived in a modest apartment, small enough for her, but big enough to accommodate more. It was decorated in greens and browns, as Merri was going for a nature feel when she purchased the home. Beneath her home was an abandoned shop, which she had once had the dream to buy, but had recently lost interest in doing so.

On the way home, she contemplated dropping in to visit Maria, a close friend, when she remembered the medicince she had picked up for Maria's daughter, Isabelle.

Recently, Isabelle, a fellow mage, had been depleting large amounts of magic, for no reason. This left her house bound for the past week or two. On her last mission, she had met a healing based mage who had given Merri a mixture that could usually cure or simply stop magic from depleting.
If it didn't start working within a couple of days, then she would need to bring the mage to Isabelle. In the end, large amounts of magic depletion is a serious problem for all mages, possibly even fatal.

Maria owned a flower shop, which was usually open at nearly all times, but with her daughter being sick, Maria had been forced to open late and close early. Fortunately, the shop lights were still on and signaling that it was indeed open, which Merri was grateful for as it meant Isabelle was in a stable state.
Lefting her hand up, she smiled at her friend.

"Yo, Maria!"

Sitting daintly whilst reading behind the counter, was Maria. A exhausted expression was a present look that she held, but hearing the familiar voice had caused her to look up from her book. Her face, although still worn out, changed into a delighted expression.

"Merri, what a pleasure it is. You look tired, how did your mission go, dear?"

She smiled gently, getting up to give her friend a hug. She embraced Merri warmly, but not over bearingly tight.
A sheepish look made it's way onto Merri's face.

"Would you believe me if I said that we didn't fuck up this time, and we are still at only eight mess ups?"

"Oh dear..."

"Yep, but hey, I've got some great news!"

Maria looks prepared...

"I met a healing mage, and after explaining Isabelle's situation, he gave me a mixture that might help."

Before Merri could finish, almost like a sigh, a breathe of relief can be heard. But a sigh can hitch, and doesn't always end kindly.

"That's wonderful, hahah- wait. What do you mean, might help?"

Like a sigh, the relief turns into worry.

"If it doesn't cure her completely within two days, then either him or Isabelle will need to travel to meet the other for a much more serious magic."

Merri and Maria exchange a brief look, but an unspoken understanding washes over.

"Alright, it doesn't matter, if it will heal my baby, then it's worth a try."

Merri gives a nod of her head, Maria begins to close up shop and then they both make their way towards the house.

.:SKIP THE TIME:.

While Merri pours the madeup mixture into a bowl, Maria makes her way to wake Isabelle up. As she enters, Merri notes the off tone colour of the sick girls skin. Slouching over and unable to open her eyes, both of the older women make Isabelle drink the medicine, relieved when it goes down well.

Almost immediately, the girls eyes open slightly, she gives a small groan and lays back down, a peaceful look on her resting face.
Obviously happy to see a expression other then pain, Maria tears up at the corners of her eyes.

Wanting to give her some time, hopefully to get a good night of sleep, Merri places a hand on her friends.

"She'll be good, don't worry. I'm going to head off, get some rest, 'kay?"

Maria gives a nod, her attention focused on her Isabelle. A small string of words can be heard.

"You get some sleep too, and thank you."

"No probs, boss."

Leaving silently, Merri heads home without a word being spoken. Upon arrival, she checks and locks up her house before heading off to bed.

A small wind chime can be heard.
"Goodbye Motherly love and affection.

Before dropping on her bed and doozing off, Merri rebandages her left arm, making sure not a single scar can be seen.

As she falls asleep, Merri can feel pulsations throughout her bandaged arm.

'You can say goodbye to many things and while I depise the very word, sometimes it is unavoidable.

I will never regret the choice to say goodbye to that...'

.:SKIP THE GOODBYES:.

Hi, what did you think of the chapter, did Dimitri burn your asshole?

I hear aloe vera oil and ice can help with that. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

I will not be held responsible for you and what damage you cause to it.

But Merri might take care of it. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Two things! Isabelle and Daiki are both from the joint story written by @YourWorstFantasy and I.

If you go back a chapter, you can find the profile the story will eventually be published on, but it currently isn't.
Lol

Second thing, there is a backstory as to why Merri refers to Natsu as Natsu-chi. But plot and suspense are things I don't well...

Well, you'll just have to wait I guess.

MercyGod out~ (~-3-)~