The Guarded Princess

Prologue

Tenroujima Incident, Year X784.

It was the year when Acnologia had come to Tenroujima, causing more than half of Fairy Tail's members to be buried alive as they were put into what seemed like an eternal slumber. Now, seven years later, the fairy sphere that Mavis, First Master of Fairy Tail, had cast upon the island was now waning and the members of Fairy Tail were awakening from their slumber. However, something seemed odd. Someone was missing and they all knew who it was but didn't think much further than that.

Mavis watched from the sidelines, gritting her teeth and balling her tiny hands into fists. Her emerald green eyes were filled with wrath and fury as the wind softly blew her hair, a cold air wafting through the island.

"You guys don't deserve Lucy," she said. "Not one single bit."

Flashback to Seven Years Ago~

The guild of Fairy Tail was still as rowdy as ever no matter what day of the month it was. The light and the joyous atmosphere was spread throughout the room as a fight was soon to take place between Natsu and Gray. As always, it would soon escalate into a full-on fight involving the entire guild. However, in the corner of the guild, one person sat watching. She rested her head on the back of her hand as she watched with a contented expression yet, her eyes reflected nothing but bitter pain.

"Lucy," a voice called out.

Lucy didn't move but continued watching the guild as Natsu made the first move against Gray, to which the latter dodged it swiftly. She already knew who it was and why she had come out in the first place. Lately, she had been coming out to see her, unbeknownst to the other members of the guild, and though she didn't feel the need to have anyone's company, she felt her presence to be soothing.

"First Master," she murmured, acknowledging her presence but her eyes were fixed on the scene before her.

"Mavis is fine," Mavis responded, walking quietly over to her. "Lucy, how long do you intend to continue dealing with this? How long do you think you can hold it in?"

She was silent but she clenched her hands slightly.

"I'm fine," she answered. "I'm content with just watching; from just seeing them happy."

Despite the words she had said, the expression on her face betrayed her. It showed everything but happiness and Mavis felt her heart break into two just by seeing it. She was holding it all in as her face scrunched up just from trying to hold back all the feelings that she had built up inside of her. Tears streamed down her face as she hid them, her cries but a silent moan as her facade collapsed. Yet, no one noticed.

"Lucy, my precious and dear child," Mavis stepped towards her and wrapped her arms around Lucy, holding her tenderly. "You deserve better than this...this useless guild. You're more than anything they could ever wish for yet they don't realize it."

Lucy continued sobbing into Mavis's arms, clutching her as if the moment she let go, her existence would immediately fade away.

Mavis's lips trembled as she gulped, holding Lucy even tighter. "Lucy, wouldn't it better to leave this guild behind? There's no need for you to continue being around these selfish humans who only care about themselves."

She shook her head almost immediately and cried. "I don't want to leave Fairy Tail," she spoke up. "I want to be with everyone. I want to be with Fairy Tail. It's my guild," Lucy said, her voice quiet. "They're my...friends."

Though she had said that, Mavis could make out the hesitation in her speech. That faint and slight hesitation before she said the word "friends" was enough to confirm what Mavis felt inside her heart. Lucy's cries of desperation to stay in this guild were also clear to her for she knew Lucy's heart the most. Fairy Tail was the guild she had first fallen in love with, the first that had accepted her, and the first where she had made many friends and comrades. But now, they had replaced her with but a mere ignorant white-haired human who knew nothing about the existing reality and just how selfish she was.