New Beginnings

Her name was Emmaline Tigre and she didn't have a clue what she was doing. With every step she took, she left behind a little bit of her confidence. Her palms grew slick with perspiration and she nervously wiped them on her denim shorts. Thin slivers of sunlight danced over her face, forcing her to squint away the glare. She looked over her shoulder, almost longingly, at what she had walked away from. 5 steps ago, she had entered the forest leading away from the quiet town on the edge of Fiore. This was the beginning of a new life. 200 steps ago, she had left her home, the only one she had ever known. She left her parents, whom she loved dearly, though she could still see them standing on their porch, teary-eyed, waving her goodbye.

"Go get 'em Tiger!" her dad called enthusiastically.

"Don't forget to write!" her mothered nearly sobbed.

If she could still hear her parent's encouragement, it was too soon to give up. Beyond her house, lay the entire sea-side village. She saw the market where the same people sold the same produce day in and day out. She saw the row of boutiques and other shops where those who didn't farm made their living. She saw the largest building, the school, where she'd suffered through classes with the same 20 people (and her class was considered large) for 10 years.

Like a small boat on the ocean, sending big waves into motion. The lyrics lifted her spirits and strengthened her resolve. This is why she was leaving. She wasn't about to spend another day in that monotonous village living out a circadian lifestyle. Besides, how can you make a big splash in a tiny puddle? Emmaline faced forwards again, humming the tune to her favorite song.

She looked at the lush forest before her and knew she was walking towards a bright future ahead. After all, Fiore was a magical place. Literally. Scores of wizards inhabited the country making a living using their innate abilities. That was the future that she saw for herself. More specifically, she envisioned herself as a wizard of Fairy Tail. Rising the ranks through the years until she became an S class lightning wizard. Unfortunately, she'd never be the top lightning mage because that title had been claimed long ago. But that didn't deter her from her lofty goals. She had spent hours dreaming of what adventures awaited her, what sort of team she would be a part of and of the day she would finally step foot into the world and begin her journey.

And that day had finally come.

-o0o-

His name was Laxus Dreyer and he knew only too well what he had done. He had left Magnolia even before the Fantasia parade had ended. Smiling sadly, his feet carried him further and further from his dear guild mates. If only he had realized sooner how important they really were to him, he could be celebrating with the best in Fiore, surrounded by his comrades. But that's not what happened and the lightning mage knew it was useless to dwell on what-if's. He could only move forward, find some sort of redemption and maybe one day be able to face Markov again. If there was one thing he regretted most, it was undermining the guild master. No, his grandfather. His only true family in the lineage of flesh and blood.

Gramps says that flesh and blood don't matter, that everyone in Fairy Tail is family and that's what matters most. And maybe he's right. But that's not to say that the old geezer isn't his strongest tie. It wasn't the guild who taught him to always wield a strong confidence, but an even stronger heart. It wasn't the guild who cried tears of joy when he produced his first spark. No, it wasn't the guild who saved his ass when he was an overconfident teen who tried to take on a family of vulcan all by himself. It was his grandfather who selflessly picked him up every time he fell down.

Laxus' injuries caused him to move at a much slower pace than he wanted but it gave him time to ponder his future. Even as the distance between him and Magnolia grew greater, he knew that he would never truly leave his guild behind. They made that very clear in the Fantasia parade (he'd never admit it, but the gestured yanked pretty hard at his heartstrings). He heard fireworks explode signaling the finale of the festival. Without looking back, he raised his good arm and proudly pointed his index to the starry sky.

Laxus knew he would always be a part of Fairy Tail and no matter where he goes, he would always carry a piece of them in his heart.

Or some mushy crap like that.

A/N: Hi everyone, thank you so much for reading my story! Feel free to leave a review with what you thought. Like it? Want more? What do you want to see? Let me know! Keep reading to find out what happens next! I promise it gets more exciting. In case you didn't recognize it, the lyrics come from Rachel Platten's Fight Song. It's an awesome song and I'd highly suggest listening to it/looking up the lyrics!

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail, obviously. Or the song Fight Song but I love it so much!