Never Be The Same

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its contents, I just write fanfiction about it.

Walls of trees blurred behind the glass window aboard the train. The sun had set hours ago, leaving the cabin illuminated by the few light lacrimas bolted along the ceiling. Most of the trains' inhabitants uttered only sounds of slumber as their journeys progressed. Team Natsu slept peacefully among the crowd. Burgundy hair fell into Erza's face which was leant against the wide window. Wendy slept peacefully, sprawled across Ezra and Gray, who cradled his cheek in his palm. Carla, Wendys' white exceed, curled on the young dragon slayers stomach. Opposite of them, Lucy dozed in contentment with her back pressed to the far wall. Natsu lay comfortably with his head on her lap and her legs on either side of him. Happy, Natsu's blue exceed, lounged at Natsu's feet, omitting a snore every few breathes. Our team was embarking towards Hargeon Port, where their next client resided.

The mission was easy. Hargeon's largest bank was recently robbed, and they put a request out to every guild in Fiore asking for someone to return to them their money. Team Natsu of Fairy Tail answered their call. After a hard day's work, the group decided to rest a bit at one of Hargeon's famous spa houses. Little did they now that trouble was lurking around every corner for them.

Lucy, Wendy, Erza and Carla all got a room to share, while Natsu, Gray and Happy shared another. Within their divided groups they spent the night in and out of the hot springs and massage chairs. Life couldn't be any better for the team.

That night, Lucy, Natsu and Happy met for a midnight meal, a normal occurrence for the trio. They ate in comfortable silence, until Natsu stopped uncharacteristically stuffing every ounce of food he could into his mouth. The arura around the table changed rather quickly, from confusion, to worry, and finally awkwardness. Natsu continued to eat slower the normal while Lucy and Happy watched on.

"Are you alright Natsu?" questioned Lucy.

"You never eat slow." stated Happy right after

Natsu looked at the two briefly before returning to his plate. "I'm just thinking is all." He said, taking another bite of his fire chicken platter.

Minutes ticked by before anyone spoke again. To Lucy's surprise, Natsu broke the silence. What he said was truly as unpredictable as he was.

"Lucy,.." he started, "Have you ever considered training a bit harder with Capricorn? I'm getting really tired of always having to save your butt whenever you get caught. I'm not always going to be able to rescue you, you know." He shot an exasperated glare at Lucy when he finished.

Lucy, shocked at what her partner had just spewed, sat in silence in her chair. The fork that was almost to her mouth clattered onto her plate. "I-I never knew you felt that way Natsu. I'l-I'll ask Caprio- "Lucy tried to say, but was cut off by an even angrier Natsu.

"How could I have been so stupid! Why did I even agree to be partners with someone so weak! Celestial magic is the dumbest type of magic I have ever hear of." He bellowed. "Plus, you yourself are the weakest mage I have ever met. And I've met a lot of mages, Lucy." Shadows of heat radiated off of him as he ranted tirelessly.

Lucy, absorbing the true thoughts of her beloved partner, sat silently. All of her self-doubt were coming true. Everything he said hit her straight in the core. Why did Natsu, of all people, say it though?

"Igneel would be so disappointed in me for having teamed up with the likes of you! After everything I have done to make him proud of me! After chasing down every rumor just to find him! Having you with me would have been an insult to him." Natsu slowly stalked towards Lucy with every word, keeping his enraged eyes locked with hers.

Happy had flown out of the room minutes ago, complaining about how his fish was getting cooked by Natsu and the immense heat he radiated. Happy zoomed into his shared room, not caring that Gray was fast asleep on his bed. Happy just wanted to be left alone with his fish.

Lucy slowly stood up from her seat, an earnest apology trying to find its way out of her mouth. With every step Natsu took towards her, she took one backwards. Suddenly, the lights went out and a trill shriek was emitted from Lucy. Sounds of fist colliding with skin, grunts of pain and cries of fear were heard inside the small dining hall. Moments later, Natsu walked into the lighted corridor while wiping blood onto a napkin. He tossed it back into the dining hall in a seemingly random direction, shutting the doors, he left.

Natsu strode quickly to his room. Once his head hit his pillow, a shadow appeared behind the room's main entrance. The dark figure crept in, chanting softly to himself. Slowly, gingerly, he laid his palm on Natsu and Happy's forehead, erasing their memories of the night's events. Stealthily, the mysterious figure backed out of the room, leaving the mages peacefully sleeping. He shut the doors with a soft click, and walked down the corridor. "Their memories are gone." He said while pressing to his temple.

"Good, now get the girl." Replied a mysterious voice, only heard by the hulking figure.

Lucy laid as still as she could, pressing both palms against her side. Crimson blood soaked the few napkins she grasped against her fresh wound. The dining hall remained pitch black as she wept to herself. All my training, everything I've worked so hard for, gone. How could I have even thought that I could reach Natsu's level? He's right. About everything, he's right. She thought to herself. Light filled her retinas in an instant. Blinded momentarily, Lucy heard footsteps headed towards her. Hushed whispers between at least two people could be heard from her position. Colorful dots impeded her vision. She blinked wildly trying to get them away. The moment her vision was restored; was the moment she saw a damp cloth heading towards her. Her mouth and nose was encompassed by this fabric and soon sleep fell upon an unwilling Lucy.

Two hulking men stationed on either side of the unconscious Lucy, hoisted her up on a simple gurney. They followed a petite woman with muddled yet vibrant yellow hair and a scar running across her left eye. Together, they filed out of the spa house and into the dead of night.

The next morning, Team Natsu awoke with one less member. Erza woke first, noting the blonds' absence, she thought that she must be out training. Erza headed down to the dining hall in search for her morning slice of strawberry cake and black coffee. Sunlight casted itself into the hall, emitting a hazy golden glow from the room. With her coffee and cake in hand, and the newspaper under her left arm, she settled at a random table. Soon, the rest of the team filed in one at a time. All of them slowly coming out of the residual sleep that hung over them. Breakfast was eaten in silence. A cloaked figure hoovered around the entrance, softly chanting to themselves. With everyone finally finished their breakfast, they turned to Erza with one single question. Where was Lucy?