A/N

This is my first fanfic and my first attempt at writing in years so please keep that in mind. Onyx who you meet in this chapter and Xypher who comes later are both based on my real life dogs. It is mentioned that they resemble pit bulls thats because in real life they are. For the pit bull haters please keep that hate to yourself. Onyx was diagnosed with cancer 6 months ago the tumour was removed as our only option. Sadly it already returned and we had to have her put down not even a week ago. Please respect the grief we are still going through.

Chapter 1

In the forest, there is a small clearing. The clearing has many tree stumps where someone has knocked the trees down. In the middle stands two wizards facing off. They are both breathing hard after a long hard fought battle. The lighter haired one looks up while pushing his colored glasses up the bridge of his nose. He notes the setting of the sun and growing shadows. Loke's voice fills the clearing. "It's getting late it's time to end this!" as he sends his Regulus blast at the other mage who quickly dodges it hitting the ground and rolling back into a standing position.

A deep smooth voice responds "I agree. It's and it's done!" He brings his arms in front of him left palm open right hand fisted hits his left palm. "Ice make lance." Suddenly several lances form in front of him and fly at Loke.

Loke dodges them and turns to face Gray only to then realize that there's one last one flying at him and it's too late for him to dodge it! It was hidden behind the others. His reflex kicks in and he moves to the left but still the ice grazes his right shoulder. He hits the ground with a grunt as the air leaves his lungs. Loke laid there staring up at the sky for a moment.

Gray picked his pants up and put them on buckling them as he walked towards his friend. He held his hand out to help Loke to his feet. Then walked over and picked his shirt up off the ground and slipped it on not bothering to button it up. "Ya, we better head back to the guild. I bet Lucy's waiting for you."

Loke smirked. "I don't know about that. She knows we were out here training."

Gray waited for Loke and they started back towards the guild. "Ya she knows that but she worries about her spirits. You know that. She cares about all of you guys. In fact, I'll probably get yelled at for the cut on your shoulder and beat you like I did."

Loke laughed. "Beat me huh? Nah I'm still standing."

"Ya, that's why I just helped you up off your ass huh?" Loke just smirks.

"Ahhh man." Loke grumbled after inspecting the cut on his shoulder. "I left my jacket in the clearing." He turned and started jogging back. "I'll meet you at the guild hall." He called back waving Gray on.

"I'm the one that's supposed to leave clothes laying around!" I called back at him as I continued down the path. As I rounded the curve in the path I heard something on my right so glanced that way without stopping. About that time I felt something hit my chest followed by a small squeak. Turning my head back and looking down I see an adorable girl sitting on the path in front of me. She looked slightly shocked. A flush was crawling up her skin coloring her cheeks in a fascinating way.

"Oh, I'm so sorry I was in a hurry and didn't see you." Her soft sweet voice was like a melody to my ears.

"No big deal I was distracted myself. Thought I heard something in the bushes." I replied bending down and picking her up, setting her back on her feet. I thought I saw a flash of worry in her eyes as she glanced at the bushes I had just been looking at. I looked around to see if anyone else had seen this but no one was there.

"It's kinda dangerous out here. There are things in this forest. Is anyone with you?" Again I thought I saw worry cross her face but it was gone just as fast.

"No. I'll be fine. I come out here all the time nothing ever bothers me." I watched her as she looked down at the ground.

"I'm Gray by the way. I could walk with you if you'd like." She glanced up at me quickly then looked back down.

"I'm Aishlyn. Thank you for the offer..."

"Hey, Gray!" I turned as Loke yelled out and waved at him then turned back to... nothing? She was gone. I jumped and looked all around but there was no sign that she had been there. I was puzzled.

"What are you looking for?" Loke asked as he caught up. Looking at me like I'd lost my mind.

"Didn't you see her?" I asked him

"See who?" He asked back glancing around.

"The girl that was here just a second ago. I was talking to her but when you showed up she disappeared."

"So you were talking to a girl that I didn't see and then vanished when I appeared?" I could hear the laugh in his voice.

"Yes, she was just here! She bumped into me and fell so I helped her up. Her name was Aishlyn." He laughed out loud then.

"Did you bump your head while we were training Gray? Or just getting lonely enough to start imagining girls actually falling on you? You know if it's that bad I can introduce you to some of the ones I knew when I was in Fairy Tail."

"Oh No! Not the Loke fan club thank you very much! But seriously she was just here."

"Well I'll take your word on that but she's not here now so come on let's get to the guild."

"Ya, I guess." I mumbled and started walking again.

Neither mage noticed that as they started walking away two sets of eyes focused on them as a low growl fills the air.

AT THE FAIRY TAIL GUILD

It's a normal afternoon in the guild hall. Cana sits at the bar drinking from her barrel, Lucy and Levy are laughing about something. Natsu and Happy are at a table eating, as always. Erza sits at the bar eating cake.

As we enter Loke approaches Lucy and Levi "Hey Beautiful." I hear him say but tune the rest out as I head to the table Natsu and Happy are at. I take a seat by them still thinking about Aishlyn. It appears I should have paid attention to what Loke was saying to Lucy as I suddenly realize they're staring at me.

"What?" I yelled over at them noticing Mirajane has joined their group.

"I was just telling them about your mystery girl that seemed to disappear into thin air, well that or I was too hard on you in training." Loke replies smirking.

At the mention of "my mystery girl" I see Juvia out of the corner of my eye having one of her breakdowns like she does when she thinks Lucy is her love rival. Knowing I need to nip this quickly I sigh and get up walking over to them. Hoping to not draw any more attention.

"She's not my mystery girl! I just ran into her and we spoke." I explained before Mirajane got any ideas.

Loke smiled "Ok so she may not by "your" mystery girl but you wouldn't mind her being. Your head has been in the clouds since it happened."

"Oh really?" Mirajane looks at me with big eyes and I realize I may be too late to stop her runaway train of thought. Someone really should find this girl something else to do.

"Do you know who she was, Gray?"

"No, I've never seen her before."

"Did the mystery girl have a name? You know I do know a lot of people around town I could know her or find her for you." Mira offers

"Not necessary. She ran into me that's all. Loke's making a big deal out of nothing and my head has not been in the clouds. Loke, did I hit you so hard that you are now joining the women in trying to set everyone up?"

Loke laughed off my comment "No one could hit me that hard but I will join the ladies for anything else they might need." He looked back at them over his glasses wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

This earned a giggle from Levy and Mira while Lucy just sighed and dropped her shoulders mumbling something about weird spirits.

While the attention was off of me I decided to take the moment to escape. "Oye flame brain find us any jobs?"

"Why don't you look yourself, you lazy Ice princess!"

"What did you call me, you stupid pyro! You're the one sitting there stuffing your face!"

I glanced back over my shoulder hoping the girls had moved on before launching myself at Natsu.

I sit eating my cake as I watch Natsu and Gray launch at each other in another of their epic battles. When are those two going to give it up and realize they actually care about one another? Ah, boys will they ever grow up? It's about this time that I feel something hit my back and launch me forward into my cake completely destroying it! I calmly stand up. "Requip" as I change to my Heaven's Wheel Armor and fly up above them. Calling for twenty swords pointing straight at the two boys. "Stop this stupid fight or die! How many times have I told you not to fight in the guild hall! I don't know why you do this! The only one that suffers from it is my cake! I came here to enjoy just a small piece of heaven in the form of sugary sweetness and you two have destroyed that! What do you have to say for yourselves?!" They stopped fighting and in panic grab a hold of each other.

"I'm sorry Erza!" Gray practically screeches

"Aye!" Natsu chimes in.

I land in front of them and grab Natsu by the collar Gray by his neck since he lost his shirts somewhere. "Gray keep your clothes on!" Gray Looks down at his lack of clothes and panics.

"Why do I keep doing this?"

I drag them outside. "Go home and cool off." Neither of them moved. "NOW!" That sets them off running. Satisfied that they are settled for the night I return to the bar requiping to my Heart Kreuz outfit.

"Mira can I get another piece of cake since I was so rudely interrupted with my other one." as I sit down beside Levy.

"Sure thing, Erza." She quickly got me another piece then returns to talking to Lucy, Loke, and Levy.

"So Loke did Gray tell you what the girls name was?" Mira asks.

"He said Aishlyn."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. I never forget a woman's name. That's a quick way to end up in pain."

Lucy looks at Loke disapprovingly.

Mira just smiles. "He was the playboy of Fairy Tail for a reason you know. I bet she's a local girl to be in that forest. I'm sure I'd be able to find her if I tried."

"Really Mira? I mean there is Juvia but he doesn't seem interested in her." Lucy whispered glancing around probably trying to avoid the water mage from hearing her.

"Exactly and Loke said his head was in the clouds after seeing her so maybe he's interested in her. Either way, it wouldn't hurt to just see who she is."

Levy pipes up. "It can't hurt. What if she is his soul mate like in a novel and if he doesn't find her now he'll be alone forever?" Levy sighs. "That is so romantic."

"So it's settled. I have to go into town and restock some things anyway so I'll just ask around." Mira said giggling.

Having been kicked out of the guild hall for the night because of that idiot pyro I decided to take a walk. Still wondering how Aishlyn just disappeared I decided to go back that way.

As I was walking up the path in the forest I started to hear something moving in the bushes again. I ignored it as I figured the sound was too far away to be a threat. As I walked it seemed to get closer. Suddenly it was running straight at me and it wasn't a tiny harmless fluffy forest creature either. I took up my fighting stance and brought my arms out in front of me ready to strike. It continues towards me charging through the brush.

"Ice Make..."

"NO!"

Suddenly Aishlyn is standing in front of me again. Still hearing the creature coming at me I reached out and grabbed her putting her behind me.

"No please don't! I swear she won't hurt you! Please don't hurt her!"

It was at that time that a med sized fierce looking black dog comes out of the bushes. Its head is low and it's growling at me. "It looks like it might try to hurt me." I said. I felt her move as she stepped in front of me.

"No, she won't I swear! Just stay calm, please. It's ok Onyx. He wasn't trying to hurt me. He's a friend." I watched as she approached the dog and petted it on the head. Then she walked back over to me.

"So she's yours?"

"Um yes and no." She looked at me. My eyes still on the dog. It then came bouncing over tail wagging so hard it shook the whole body so I relaxed back to my normal stance as the dog sat beside her. The moon was out by now and it's light was shining on the girl in front of me. She looked like an ethereal being instead of a human. She was modestly dressed in black pants and a t-shirt. Her dark hair was pulled back from her face but a few strands fell around her pale face. Her dark eyes looking down at the dog as she petted it.

"So how is it that the dog does and doesn't belong to you?" I asked

"Well, I found her. I was walking out here one night and I found her. She was starving and bleeding so I helped her. I bring her food and created a shelter for her to stay in."

"So you walk alone out here a lot?"

"Every night that I can." She smiled up at me and I noticed that her head barely came to the middle of my chest. She really was tiny. My hand would easily span her waist and wrap around.

"Why don't you take her home with you then?"

"Oh, I wouldn't be allowed a dog."

"I'm sorry." I find myself saying.

"We make do." I saw her glancing around the forest with a nervous almost haunted look.

"Would you mind if I walked with you?" I asked worried about that look. Had she seen something that scared her? She glanced back at me quickly a look of shock on her face.

"Oh um, I was actually done walking." It looked like she was blushing.

"Oh. Well, can I walk you home then?" Again she glanced up at me but then back down. I was beginning to notice that she never really fully looked me in the face. She mainly looked at the ground or the dog.

"Oh, I wasn't actually going home either. I was actually going up to the clearing to look at the stars. Stupid hobby I have."

"It's not stupid. If you like the stars you should meet my friend. She's a Celestial Spirit mage and has several of the zodiac keys. I'm sure they could talk to you about them." I said smiling at her.

"Really? That would be amazing." She was still looking at the ground.

"I've never really paid attention to the stars. Would you mind if I joined you and you can tell me what you know?" I didn't like her being out here alone. She glanced up at me a little shocked.

"S-sure but I don't know much. I mainly just look at them."

"You know the clearing is actually Fairy Tail's training area."

"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't know. If I'm not supposed to be there I'll stop going."

"No, no. That's not what I meant. I'm sure master won't care if you go there to star gaze! Besides, I'll be there with you so it will be fine." I started towards the clearing then stopped and offered my arm to her. She looked at me then and lightly put her arm through mine her touch light as a feather her hand shaking slightly as if her nerves were ready to jerk away at the first move I made. I turned and led her to the field. The dog following by her side. We walked in a comfortable silence. I noticed that she continued to look around nervously. I also watched out to make sure nothing would jump out at us. She already seemed kinda jumpy. We entered the clearing and I watched as she looked up at the sky.

"Oh wow. The sky's so clear tonight! Look at them all!"

I looked up. I hadn't lied I never really looked at the stars and didn't really see anything different tonight but I wasn't going to ruin it for her. "Ya, you can really see a lot of them." I said lamely. Gah, you'd think I would have learned something from Loke in the few years he was around.

I continued to watch her. She never seemed to fully relax. Always remaining guarded but then I was practically a stranger to her so I don't know what I expected. Still there was something about her that I just couldn't understand. I wanted to make her smile. Not a half smile but a real smile that lit up her eyes.

We spent about two hours sitting on a stump looking at the sky. Well she looked at the stars I mainly watched her. I don't know why but she fascinated me. After two hours I noticed her starting to shiver and her eyes slowly lowering. I stretched.

"Hmm it's getting pretty late." I didn't want to go but knew that she probably should. "Can I walk you home? It's pretty late it could be dangerous for you to walk alone." Her eyes flew fully open when I said that and I thought I saw panic on her face.

"No! No, you can't. If you're seen with me it would be bad."

I figured that her showing up at home with a total stranger wasn't a good idea and the last thing I wanted was an angry dad yelling at me and her getting in trouble so I accepted that. "Well then let me walk you to town at least." She relaxed a little with that and smiled slightly.

"Ok." That's all she said as she stood up. I noticed that the dog stood up too.

"How do you keep her from following you home?"

"Who Onyx? She's never tried. She only goes part way down the path then stops and returns to the forest."

"Oh. Well that's good I guess." She only nodded. I didn't offer her my arm this time since she seemed so nervous about it earlier but as I lead the way I slowed my steps to stay close to her. I didn't like the idea of her walking through the town by herself. She's so small and fragile anyone could hurt her. I don't know why but the thought of anyone hurting her made me angry. Despite my trying to take my time soon the dog stopped and I glanced over my shoulder to see her watching both of us before turning around and disappearing back into the forest. Smart dog. I turned my head around again as we were about to walk around the curve that we had met at earlier that day. "Hey when we ran into each other earlier where you looking for the dog?"

"Onyx, her name is Onyx. No, I wasn't looking for her then she wasn't out here at that time. I never can find her during the day. Maybe she hunts or something but she's never around then. Why do you ask?"

"Well the reason I was distracted and didn't see you is because I heard something in the bushes thought it might have been Onyx." Her eyes widened slightly as I said this but she smiled when I called the dog by its name. She must really care about her. I looked ahead and noticed that we were getting close to town. No, it's too soon. I don't want to part with her yet. She seemed to notice as well and her pace slowed.

"I'm sorry. I've kept you out late and then been slow at walking and it's cold out. I'm just tired. You can go ahead if you want."

"No don't apologize. There's no need. I've enjoyed spending time with you and Onyx. Is it cold? Cold doesn't bother me I'm an Ice Maker Mage. My master Ur trained us in the snow and cold."

We had arrived at the outskirts of the town by now. She stopped walking and turned towards me but still kept her eyes down.

"Gray the Ice Maker Mage." She said it like she was tasting it on her tongue.

"Gray Fullbuster. Sorry Fullbuster is my last name."

"Gray Fullbuster." I smiled at her, I couldn't help myself. The way my name sounded when she said it was like a melody. "Well it was nice to meet you, Gray, but I really need to get home." She smiled and started away.

"Hey Aishlyn!" She turned back to me. "Thanks for letting me join you tonight. I really did enjoy it." She waved and started running.

Suddenly I realized I had forgotten something. "Aishlyn! What's your last name?" Either she didn't hear me or ignored me and kept running. I turned and started towards my own place.