Keeping a Piece of Me

Chapter 9: Uncertain Future

Lucy ran a hand through her blonde hair, walking through the village of Snakeroot, a frown adorning her grim aura. She looked around the various stands, looking for a certain one.

It had been nearly four days since she left Fairy Tail, and the pain and guilt was near unbearable. She could only imagine how everyone had reacted- how Natsu reacted. She just had to kiss him and spout her love for him. That probably made everything about a million times harder for the poor Dragon Slayer.

Shaking her head, she looked around the quiet market, spotting a large and intricately designed 'H' signifying the Heartfilia family. This village is used for bringing in the prisoners and keeping them until there was space on the island, though there was actual people- who weren't prisoners –living there. It was slightly confusing how they either never noticed, or didn't care about the Heartfilia family guards who walked around freely.

Walking up to the vendor, she paused, the man studying her for a moment. His eyes widened in recognition, she was a spitting image of her Mother, after all.

"Heartfilia," He began, his eyes narrowing on her as she growled under her breath. "Didn't think you'd really come."

"When you threaten my family," She hissed. "I will go through any and all lengths to protect them." He merely snorted in amusement, holding a hand to the side. A black magic circle appeared on the open palm of his hand, and a moment later, a raven had materialized out of thin air.

"Let the bosses know that we have their daughter, and she's on her way." He said simply, smirking evilly as the raven cawed, taking off. Lucy watched as it flew onto the sky, leaving her to go tell her parents that she would be returning.

The male smiled wryly, making a gesture for him to follow her.

He led her down the street, passing other vendors and shops, not stopping as the people called out to them to buy their wares. As they neared the end of the street, they took a sharp left into a shady looking building called 'Lilac Bar' the blonde scowling darkly.

As soon as she was inside, the smell of alcohol and sweat assaulted her nose, causing her to gag. She followed the man, ignoring the way a few men called out to her with indignant words, but as soon as she sends them a glare, they back off.

The man brought her to the back, nodding to a few of the chefs and waitresses. One of the women, a blue haired woman with a large scar over her left eye, was staring at her with an unreadable expression. Lucy tried not to look at her, but she could feel her heated gaze boring onto her skin.

"When's the next boat leaving for the island?" The guard asked, looking around to see if anyone knew.

"Tomorra', is that 'er?" A chef asked, a pipe sticking out of the corner of his mouth. He only received a nod in response before the guard had grabbed her arm roughly, making her twitch with the need to slap the man.

Only, she didn't.

Natsu sat with his head in his hands on a guild table. The entire place was silent as Master assessed a small blue lacrima sitting in front of him, looking tense with a clenched jaw as the pink haired male waited.

After finding his that his girlfriend had just up and left had surprised everyone. However, Erza and Makorov had ordered a full examination of her home. Natsu had caught a whiff of another's scent in the home- a female one, but not Lucy's obviously –he had traced it back to her underwear drawer and found the lacrima and note.

So now everyone waited patiently for the Master to figure out how to see what was on it.

"Natsu, are you sure you want to see what's on this?" He asked, breaking the fragile silence. The Dragon Slayer lifted his head, his eyes shining with a fierce determination.

"Of course I do," He said, almost growling it out, the question was rhetorical in his mind. "It might have something about Lucy's whereabouts on it. And when I find out where she is, there is nothing that will stop me from getting to her."

There was a heavy silence as his words sunk in. Makarov nodded before letting out a sigh, placing the lacrima down on the table and tapping it on the top. A few guild members were gathered around the table, Gray and Erza making sure to be at the front. Happy was sitting on the requip mage's shoulder, watching as the blue screen popped up.

Everyone gasped as a woman, looking like an older version of Lucy only with a dash of wickedness, appeared on the screen. Natsu swallowed thickly.

"Hello, Lucy. If you are watching this, that means Don hasn't fucked anything up."

Natsu's hands clenched into fists as he slammed them down on the table, startling a few, but not enough to stop watching.

"I just wanted to tell you that we really miss you here back home. And your Father and I would really appreciate you coming back home. It seems that our um… 'workers' had failed in bringing you back, so we'll have to do it the good old fashioned way."

"Those fuckers." Natsu growled, his blazing with anger and hatred for this woman and whatever she was a part of.

"If you do not return within the next week, I will be sure to send out a few of my workers to retrieve that little boy toy of yours." Natsu's eyes widened. "And I wouldn't doubt me. He isn't as strong as you think he is."

In moments, the dragon slayer could feel stares burning his skin. He swallowed thickly as the woman continued on screen, pushing that last thought to the back of his mind.

"It seems like you haven't told anyone about your family heritage, and honestly- it pains me. To think you aren't proud of what your Father and I do… it breaks my heart."

Erza and Gray glanced at each other, the redhead seething with barely controlled anger. She wasn't just anybody from the Heartfilia's, no, she is their daughter.

"If you choose not to return, I will make sure your little boyfriend fears you by the time I'm finished with him. I also won't forget to tell your precious family about how you're a Heartfilia." Too late for that, Erza thought bitterly. She glanced over at Natsu, seeing him practically shake with anger and rage. "I will make them hate you with every ounce of their being. If you think I'm lying, here's a little visual of what I'll do to the Dragon Slayer."

Several members had turned away from the display, though the sounds of the man's brutal beating was heard loud and clear. Natsu watched the screen with wide eyes, a sudden edge of worry behind them.

Now, if anyone had seen this in his eyes- they would think he was worried about his own wellbeing. But Erza had known Natsu since he was just a boy, she knew for a fact that he wasn't worried for himself.

"Now, please make your decision. Feel free to watch this as many times as you want, Lucy Ashley. You'll be a Heartfilia again soon enough."

No, he was worried for the Celestial Mage that was going back to those monsters.

Yo.

It has been way too long! I know, I know, I have been the most inconsistent uploader on the history of the planet- but I apologize for that! School has been awful- but I'm on break right now which means writing time!

So hopefully I'll upload sooner rather than later.

Anyway, thank you for reading!

Have a jovial day/afternoon/night!