One year of dangerous darkness. Something that consumed Freed Justine.

Six years of acceptance that even in present time left a sour taste in his mouth. However, in six years he was able to start all over again. Picking up the pieces that were shattered when he heard the words "Tenrou Island disappeared, there were no survivors."

Year X791

On the day the lost Fairies returned home, Lamia Scale was filled with enthusiastic mages. Every single one ready to accomplish a mission and try to rid themselves of the title of second strongest guild in Fiore.

One of Lamia Scale's S-Class Wizards was sitting at the back of the guild hall. A small smile graced his lips as another strong wizard began to speak.

The two mages were Freed Justine and Lyon Vastia. It was a strange pair, no one would deny that. The bond, however, was a strong one seeing as Lyon was the one who brought Freed to Lamia Scale all those years ago. Their bond only grew when Freed was an official wizard of the guild. Rising the rank quickly and gaining the title of S-Class within three years of his stay.

As they continued to speak in regards to the Grand Magic Games that were to be held in less than four months they took note of a ruckus that was going on in the front of the guild hall.

"Where's Freed!? I need to talk to him, it's important!" A very familiar voice screamed.

Wizards took heed of the urgency of the demand and began to point to where the man in question sat.

Lyon threw a worried glance at Freed, not hesitating to place a hand on his arm. Just an act of support for whatever was to come.

Chelia broke through the crowd with a blush on her cheeks and her chest heaving. Her lungs working as fast as they could so the God Slayer could return back to normal breathing.

"Freed!" She called out one last time. There was something in her voice that really unsettled the rune mage. It seemed that she was the bearer of some very important news. Freed made sure that he stayed out of anything that would draw attention to himself. Having Chelia calling out to him set off alarms in his head.

"What is the matter Chelia?" Freed asked the younger girl. His voice was a bit higher than he wanted it to be, but he just couldn't help it.

Lyon saw the worry in Freed's eyes as the rune mage moved closer to him; trying to get a better look at Chelia. With the added contact Lyon took the chance to move his hand up Freed's arm and place it on his shoulder.

"Freed, they found it!" Chelia almost cried. "They found it!"

Justine didn't understand her broken sentence so his nerves were beginning to turn to annoyance.

"Chelia speak more clearly! I don't understand what you are trying to tell me!" He almost screamed.

There was something wrong, he could feel it. He didn't know what was going on with him, but the back of his left hand was almost burning.

The God slayer took a deep breath until she spoke again. The flush on her cheeks was close to gone, but that was only to be replaced with a shining of tears. The girl was always a fan of theatrics.

"They found Tenrou Island, Freed. They also found survivors." She breathed out.

When the words finally registered in Freed's mind everything around his stopped. His body sat frozen in place. The news was a punch across the face for Freed. Everything he thought he knew for the past seven years vanished and a strange feeling formed in his stomach. He stared blankly past Chelia as he tried to find his bearings again.

Lyon was in the same state. However, he found his voice way before Freed was able to snap out of his trance. "Chelia, are you certain that the island was found?" Lyon asked for clarification. His voice sounding a bit desperate.

If what the girl said was true then Lyon knew what that meant. Freed was going to leave the guild. He was going to go back to Fairy Tail, his true family. Lyon never expected the ache in his chest when he came to terms with that fact.

"Blue Pegasus was the one to find them." She answered.

"I need to leave for a mission." Freed finally voiced.

The statement threw both Lyon and Chelia for a loop. They looked at their friend with confusion and worry. Had he not understood what Chelia said? Was he in shock?

Lyon was the first to react. He pulled Freed roughly back and grabbed both his shoulders. "What do you mean you need to go to a mission? Don't you understand what this means?" He screamed.

Something deadly flashed behind Freed's eyes. With lightning fast speed he pushed Lyon's hands away from him. "Why does it matter if the island was found?" Freed asked. "In no way does this have anything to do with me." He added with fire.

He wasted no time in getting up from his seat. A dark cloud hung over his head while he walked past Chelia, who was at a loss for words.

Lyon was hit with a sudden bought of anger that had him shooting up from his own seat. "This has everything to do with you!" He screamed out to the rune mage.

The sudden declaration had the entire guild silencing themselves.

Freed just ignored the stares and what Lyon had just said. He was not ready to deal with anything at that moment. His heart was pounding, his breathing was coming out in shallowing pants. Everything seemed to be closing in on him. When he reached the door he threw it open wanting nothing more than to get some fresh air into his system. The last thing he heard before leaving the guild was Lyon calling his name.

The sun blinded Freed on his way out. The pain meeting his eyes was comforting. It was something that cleared his thoughts helping him think while he walked down the street.

How was it possible that they were able to survive seven years? What was Freed going to do? There was no way that he was returning. He worked too hard for the life that he had now. Everything he did was to get over the loss of his family. For seven years he believed that Evergreen, Bickslow, and Laxus had all be dead. He mourned them, sheading countless tears and building walls around himself so he wouldn't be hurt again. Everything changed for him in the past seven years, however, one thing that stayed in tack was his loyalty. At that moment his loyalty was to Lamia Scale. The guild that had given him a home when he thought that he would never have one again.

As he continued to blindly walk down the street the following thought stuck him the hardest.

Wait, if they found the island. That means that Evergreen, Bickslow, and Laxus were alive.

Why was that idea so frightening?

Evergreen knew something was wrong the moment she stepped foot into the new Fairy Tail guild hall.

However, Bickslow beat her to the punch. "Where the hell is Freed?" He asked.

At that Laxus was turning around and looking all over the guild trying to find familiar long green hair. When the rune mage couldn't be found confusion struck the entire group.

Evergreen got up from the table walking towards the fourth guild master. "Oi, Macao! Where's Freed?" She yelled over the commotion.

The fire mage was caught off guard by the question. Choking on his beer and spitting it all over Wakaba. He coughed for a few more moments causing Ever's patience to disappear.

"Well? Do you know where he is? Is he on a mission?" She crossed her arms over her chest sending a threatening glare to the man. Her eyes began to glow showing clear sings of her intentions of turning Macao into stone.

The man was quick to recover from his near death experience. He turned to face Evergreen ignoring his angry friend. When he realized what Evergreen asked his eyes widen slightly. "I'm not sure what happened to him. He vanished six years ago after the guild was thinking of disbanding."

Evergreen had not expected to hear that. Bickslow and Laxus was in the same state, their mouths were hung open as they tried to figure out what that all meant.

"What the hell do you mean he vanished?" Laxus demanded. His stormy grey eyes were trained on Macao.

Macao was glad that Fairy Tail's strongest was back, but he was still the guild master and he was not going to let anyone just walk over him. He straightened up and tried his hardest to look like a figure of authority.

"I asked him to leave one year after your disappearance. It was what was best for him at the time. Knowing Freed, I would say he joined another guild." He said simply.

The way Macao had said that had the entire Thunder Legion seething with anger.

In their eyes Freed was the most loyal member of Fairy Tail. He would never have abandoned his family in an hour of need. Evergreen, Laxus, and Bixslow saw the way the guild had been abused when they were gone. Freed was not someone who would have just gotten up and left knowing that something like that could have happened.

"Come on, our baby would never do that!" Bickslow tried to argue. His expectations for Freed might have been the highest of the group.

Macao could only shake his head.

"You all don't understand what he went through. It was better if he left when he could." Macao said that with a more hurt tone. It was like he was reliving some sort of sad memory. Maybe he was, with all that Fairy Tail had gone through, that idea wasn't that much of a stretch.

Evergreen let her shoulders fall in defeat. She was clearly hurt by the news of her Captain. "Do you have an idea of where he could have gone at least?" She questioned, her words laced with a desperate tone.

Her answer was a sad nod.

Bickslow just walked back to their table, his joyous mood ruined. Evergreen followed close behind.

Laxus was the last to move from his spot. A million thoughts racing through his mind.

What did Macao mean by "You don't understand what he went through"? Had something happened to Freed while Laxus was gone? Was he even alive?

The last thought had Laxus fighting back a shiver.

He gathered himself back and walked to Evergreen and Bickslow. Who at this point had their heads down thinking up of places that their Captain could be. A few other mages who had heard of Freed's disappearances were sharing in the shock and sadness coming off the Thunder Legion.

Laxus couldn't help but think how strange the entire guild felt without Freed. With the absence of the rune mage it dawned over Laxus how important he was.

At that moment Laxus came to a conclusion. He wasn't home, not really. Not until Freed was right by his side again just like old times.

But was he too late? Seven years is an awfully long time.