A/N: So this is my first time writing Fairy Tail fan fiction, and the first time in a long while since I wrote fan fiction period. Constructive flames and criticism, plus reviews are appreciated. I also don't have a beta at the moment, so if in time, you like my work. please PM me if you are interested.

Since this is meant to be within canon, some of the dialogue is taken directly from the anime.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or the song Let Her Go by Passenger, which inspired this piece.

Loke's stirred the ice in his glass, contemplating the sting of the slap on his face. He had deserved it. It was cruel of him to play off his imminent death as a pick-up line. It was low, even for him. He squeezed the glass, fighting the tears in his eyes while the nodding chef continued to work. Slowly he stood up, and began heading back to Magnolia.

"Aries...these wounds…" Leo gazed over Aries beat up body that was quickly healing, now that she was back in the Spirit World.

"I'm okay Leo-sama, I'm sorry." Aries' meek voice squeaked as tears poured from her eyes. Leo grit his teeth, frustrated, when would she learn, "Karen…"

Loke sighed, staring up at Fairy Tail's massive guild hall. A sharp pain in his head told him time was drawing near, and he slowly walked through the doors, past the loud chatter, and up to the master's office. He knocked, sighing, as he was granted entrance.

"Loke, my boy, what can I do for you?" Master was in the middle of yet another apology letter for Natsu's destruction of a nearby town.

"Master, I am leaving Fairy Tail," Loke's voice was firm and he kept it steady, and with that, he turned and quickly exited the guild, leaving a frowning parent in his wake.

"Karen's dead." Master Bob's words echoed in Leo's head as he knelt on the floor in the ruins, eyes wide, shaking. He couldn't believe it. She had been cruel, but she wasn't a bad person, he was sure that she would have changed. Changed to the beautiful person he knew she could be. She was a strong wizard, and was adored by others. She could be compassionate if she would realize that Spirits were free and had hearts. He could have loved her. In spite of her cruelty, he had fallen for his owner. It wasn't the first time, but now, now it would be the last. He would never have another owner, and he would perish here in the human world.

Loke stared up at the stars in the sky, standing in front of Karen's grave. 'It won't be long now,' he thought, wincing as the pain shot through his body more frequently. He had been with so many women these past three years, loving them, but not, feeling empty, unable to replace the hole his sin had left. Unable to fill the hole left from loving Karen.

Light began to creep over the sky as the day broke. He heard a rustling and when he heard his name, he looked around, a blonde he knew came rushing out of the trees. "Lucy!"

His heart beat quickly as he listened to her. He needed to repent, but his heart hurt, as he watched the Celestial Spirit wizard use incredible amounts of magic power, and he feared she would go the same way Karen did. "Don't make my crime worse than it already is!"

"What crime?!" Lucy yelled, "If that's the rule of the Spirit World, then I'll change it!" Loke couldn't believe his ears when suddenly the Spirit King appeared before them.

As Lucy stood up to the Spirit King, even as she summoned all his friends from the Spirit World, he still knew it was impossible to return. His sin was too great. He thought of Aries, and how he hoped she was safe. When suddenly the Spirit King spoke.

"Leo, I give thee warrant to return to the Spirit World. You are pardoned." He couldn't believe it. His mind was reeling with everything that was happening. He thought of Karen and he began to cry, his sin was too great to be saved.

"If you still wish to repent for your sins, I order you to aid your friend and live on. I believe her to be a friend of such worth. You should protect her with your life" the Spirit King spoke before disappearing. As he vanished, he saw Karen standing there, and he felt the pain in his heart finally ease as she smiled and vanished.

"Thank you, Lucy," were the last words he said before finally returning home.