Leaving The Past Behind

Chapter 1: Independent

Lucy P.O.V
'I look around this cheerful guild and I see everyone is happy, whether I am here or not, they will continue to be happy.' I sigh and look over at Lissanna underneath Natsu's arm and enjoying all of her newly found attention. 'This must be how the guild was before I came along, they are perfectly fine without me. I feel like a stranger in here with all of these people, I'm not being ignored because everyone talks to me. Lissanna is a sweet girl, she is everything Mira has described and I'm happy she's here. I have fulfilled my duty as her replacement and I'm okay with that. This all happened so fast.... Just a year ago, I left to train and met a celestial dragon who taught me dragon slaying magic, but just like the others she disappeared and I miss her greatly. While I was training Lissanna came back, I was out of the loop for months. I came back to a girl who took my place in team natsu and my place in Natsu's heart. At least I became an S-Class mage...' I stand up and go to the S-Class board to choose a job to go on just to clear my head before I make a drastic change in my life. I chose one that dealt with defeating 100 monsters in the mountains of Fiore which I assumed would keep me busy for a few months. I made my way back over to the bar where Mira was and I handed the request to her to have it stamped. She looked up at me with worry in her eyes before stamping it.
"I'll be okay Mira..." I whisper just loud enough for her ears to hear before walking towards the guild doors. I was stopped at the door by none other than the fire mage himself.
"Luce, where are you going?" He said looking at me quite seriously.
"A solo mission, I'll be back in about 4 months or less..." I said looking at my quest hesitantly.
"Oh...just be safe" He looks into my eyes full of hope that I'd ask him to go with me, but I didn't. I just nod my head before heading out the guild and heading towards my apartment building. I will admit that I was shocked that he stopped me at the door considering we never talk anymore. I don't have too many close friends anymore, which is part of the reason why I feel like the perfect stranger in the guild of Fairy Tail. I walk into my apartment and prepare a bag filled with warm clothing and things I'd need for survival before going into my kitchen and preparing myself a nice dinner. I haven't developed a dragon slayers appetite which is easy on my budget and I'm thankful for it, but I did develop other things such as sensitive hearing and smell and worst of all....motion sickness. 'The train ride tomorrow is going to be hell' I think to myself as I begin to wash my dishes. After finishing up with my dinner routine, I head into the bathroom to bathe and brush my teeth before dressing in one of Natsu's old baggy shirts that he never came back for and lacy black panties. As I'm getting ready to get into the bed, I hear my window open and standing in front of it is a person I haven't seen in my apartment in forever, Natsu.
"Yes Natsu?" I say with a Yawn
"Let me come with you, Luce." He says looking into my eyes.
"No Natsu, this is something I have to do on my own. Besides, you haven't been an actual friend to me in forever. Now you're worried about me?" I say with very little emotion.
"I'm sorry! I just don't want you to get hurt out there..."
"I won't..." I climb into my bed and turn off the light telling him that our conversation is over and he seemed to get the idea and jumped right back out the window. Shortly after our encounter I fell into a deep and dreamless slumber.