Leaving to become stronger

Part Three

They went back to the guild and rested.

Lucy went straight to her apartment afterwards.

Team Natsu decided to give her some fresh air for herself.

They noticed that the last mission affected her way too much.

Natsu didn't even break into her apartment to cause ruckus.

Lucy was silently thankful, that they understood.

She went to bathe herself and calm her nerves.

"I seriously need to train." she mumbled to herself.

"I just can't let that happen." she added.

When she finally felt herself turning prune from the long bath, she stood up and changed.

'I need to get myself together.' she thought.

She hugged her pillow tight.

Tears streaming down her face.

"What am I supposed to do? I don't want to leave my family..." she cried.

"But, I just can't allow that to happen...' she sobbed.

It's been 3 days, since then.

Natsu thought that Lucy's acting very strange.

Especially towards him.

He noticed that Lucy has been avoiding him, since that last job they took.

Whenever he tries to approach her, she would suddenly run away and say that she forgot something.

He isn't fond of the silent treatment she's been giving him lately.

'What exactly happen?' he thought

Natsu noticed that there was no sign of Lucy in the guild.

Natsu was feeling anxious and decided to barge into Lucy's apartment.

He wants to end whatever it is, that she's keeping from him.

"Yo, Lucy!" He greeted with enthusiasm but frowned, soon after, as he noticed that she wasn't there.

'Where could she be?' Natsu thought.

Happy came up to Natsu and says that Lucy's nowhere to be found.

He then noticed a sheet of paper on Lucy's desk.

I just visited my mom and dad. I'll be back tomorrow -the note says.

-Meanwhile-

Lucy stayed at a nearby inn and she could not sleep.

Every time she sleeps, the scene would play over and over again.

She would see how Natsu died in front of her.

Every time that happens, she couldn't help but cry.

She just stayed awake, looking dazed.

And when the sun broke, she knows what she has to do.

She went back to Magnolia.

Her mind clear and resolved.

'I refuse to just stand and watch while my family gets hurt.' she thought.

''There's no turning back.'' She mumbles to herself.

As soon as Lucy arrived in Magnolia, she went straight to Master Makarov's office.

"Master, can I have a word?" she nervously asked.

"Oh Lucy! Sure! Sit down." he calmly says.

He noticed tension and cautiousness on the girl, as she fidgets before him.

"Is there something wrong, child?" Makarov probed further.

"Ano... Master, I was thinking if I could have your permission." she started, hesitating.

"Permission for what, Lucy?" he asked calmly.

"I was thinking about leaving the guild for a while, if that's okay?" she inquired, looking at the ground.

"May I know the reason why, child?" Makarov probed, sounding surprised.

"Uhm... Please don't misunderstand, I love the guild... But, the last mission we took made me realize how weak I can be and... I was just thinking about training and enhancing my skills." she answered sincerely.

"I know that I still lack experience, and I just wanted to grow and have time for myself a bit." she added.

Makarov silently thought for a minute and sighed, "I understand. If that's what you really want..."

"You will come back, won't you?" He asked seriously.

She deliberated for a moment and smiled.

"Absolutely!" she smiled brightly.

He nodded closing his eyes, satisfied. "Make sure you come back and be careful."

"Hai!" she says full of excitement and thrill.

-At the Guild-

"W-Why L-Lu-chan? For... how... long?" Levy asked sobbing.

"I needed to train, Levy-chan. I'm still not sure, though... I'll make sure to send you some letters, so you don't have to worry!" Lucy said gently, reassuring her best friend.

"I'll... miss... you... Lu-chan!" Levy managed to say, between sobs.

Wendy, Romeo and Charles approached Lucy and hugged her.

"So, you guys already heard." Lucy says, quietly.

Wendy, Romeo, and Charles just nodded their head, silently.

"I'm still coming back, you guys!" she declared, making them look up.

"We'll miss you, Lucy-nee.' Romeo admitted.

"We will surely miss you, Lucy-san. So... Be careful..." Wendy added.

"I will." Lucy says gently, patting their heads.

They all nodded and smiled at each other.

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Next Chapter: Not a want. It's a need.