Chapter 1: The Ritual

The pillars of ice shone in the moonlight, illuminating the sacred ritual held in the clearing. Though the blizzard raged and stormed, annihilating any chance of sun, the circle encased by the columns remained serene, yet frigid. The current residents obviously payed no heed to the extreme temperature, for the women of the tribe wore nothing more than a bikini-styled silver halter top and flowing skirts reaching mid-thigh, both consisted of thin yet sturdy material. The men's apparel was shorts reaching just above their knees, yet few wore shirts which were built from the same fabric as the women's outfit. The feather-weight fabric was decorated with light blue hues, making it appear to be made of ice, therefore camouflaging expertly against the frozen tundra. All the villagers had stunningly silver hair and eyes. The most astounding feature they had was that they all sported unusually long and sharp canines.

They are the Azlaerēn*1, the children of the ice dragon. They were also rightfully nicknamed 'yuki akuma' by the mages that met them in battle and survived, due to their inhuman strength, speed, endurance, accuracy, and their ability to wield absolute control over ice. They can also morph into a 50-foot long silver dragon with and 85-foot wingspan.

The Azlaerēn males started to shift, producing drums made of whale bone and animal hides from the sack secured on their toned backs. A low, deep rhythm flowed throughout the ring, steady as a heartbeat. Meanwhile, the females of the tribe spun and twirled to the beat of the drums, circling an altar with a large bowl on it. A long, fragile ribbon of ice wove in and out through the dancers like a luminescent silver river.

Fyra's POV

I fiddled with the beads on my intricately designed halter-top. It was silver with black embroidery of a roaring dragon on the front with thin, shiny fringe hanging from the bottom edge. As my skirt fluttered from the miniscule movement of my hips, I allowed a smile to flicker across my face, reminiscing over the moment when Igneel gave to me the fabulous skirt, all the while being bashful. I admired the fire-colored fabric with flame designs dyed onto the material. The skirt flared out whenever I moved the slightest bit, like the fire Igneel taught me to utilize.

"Fyra, the outfits suits you extremely well." crooned the female elder.

"Olare*2, thank you for visiting me." I bowed, then straightened and strode over to the old lady, enveloping her in a hug. She reached up to stroke my long, straight, unusually colored hair, sighing. "You grew up so fast. It seems like yesterday I had to bend down for us to see eye to eye. Now you're the one looking down."

"Olare, I'm only 5'3. Only 1 inch taller than you." I protested.

"Yes, yes. You're only 12 and still growing," countered Olare, "And please, call me by my name. After all, you're about to become of age."

"Ila*3, Astra."

"Better, child." Suddenly, Astra produced a parcel wrapped in midnight blue satin out of a pouch tied to a rope, which was looped around her waist. She grasped the young girl's hand, nestling the present securely in the confines of her outstretched hand.

"Here. This was mine when I was young, then your mothers, and now yours."

Fyra carefully unwrapped the gift, and promptly gasped.

The exquisite jade pendant hung delicately on a dark brown leather cord. Within the precious gem was a petite flickering silver fire. The jewel was around 2 inches long and 1 inch wide

As Fyra hung the cord around her neck, Astra's eyes twinkled in delight.

"It compliments your hair wonderfully." And indeed it did. The soft green of the precious jewel with the pink and silver of her hair came together to create a majestic, feminine appearance.

A few tears fell as I once again embraced my beloved Olare. My little brother, Grylin, entered, pushing aside the flap to the tent.

"It's time." his sweet, high 2 year-old voice proclaimed. He came up and hugged me, whispering, "It's ok. You'll do fine, you've rehearsed your lines and what you want to say at your parting many times. You're the destined queen, and my big sis."

I grinned, ruffling Grylin's soft hair endearingly. He always knew what was bothering me and the best way to fix it.

I closed my eyes, breathed in, breathed out. As I opened my eyes slowly, the nervous 12 year-old that was there a minute ago had vanished, leaving no traces of unease. What took place was a calm, composed, powerful young woman, trained since she was born to take over the throne as soon as she found her destined mate and marked him. She was Fyra Yukitsuki, daughter of Satsura Yukitsuki and Hytoro Yukitsuki. She gracefully stepped through the opening to the tent as her onlookers watched, one with pride and one with awe. As she walked to the frosty sacred circle, she embraced the cold feel of the blizzard on her skin and the sound of drums on her ears.

Normal POV

As the crown princess stepped through the columns, all fell still. The dancers retreated to the outer edges of the circle and kneeled, eyes fixed on the young woman approaching the altar. As she reached out to touch it, a lone drum started a soothing beat. Fyra started to dance with the grace of the fire she was named after. At times, her form seemed to flicker like fire, and fire appeared on her hands, feet, and head, making a crown. At other times, she moved suavely and elegantly, a thin ribbon of ice in her hand, spiraling around her. As she finished her dance, she combined fire and ice and placed it in the shallow, wide basin, leaving a cold, white fire.

Her mother and father approached her from opposite sides, each holding an object wrapped in silk.

"Do you, Fyra Yukitsuki, pledge to uphold and live by the rules of Azlaerēn?" her father inquired.

"I will uphold the tradition of the Azlaerēn until my last breath has gone." she replied.

"Are you aware of your quest of finding your soul mate, and the consequences?"

"I will find my blood mate, and if I fail in doing so by my 19th year of living, I shall be exiled forevermore."

"Then take this symbol of strength, dedication, and pride and go forth." he said, grasping her wrist and slipping on a silver dragon bracelet with diamonds for eyes, which instantly tightened and wrapped itself around her slender forearm until it fit like and second skin. Hytoro then retreated to stand in the shadows of the pillars. Satsura then walked to stand in front of Fyra.

" Do you, Fyra Yukitsuki, pledge to treat all fairly and kindly, and to stand up when one injures the innocent, yourself, and your mate?"

"I will protect the innocent, strike down the wicked, give all a second chance, and to protect my mate and myself at all and any cost."

"Will you care for your offspring and your spouse, raising your children by the Azlaerēn tradition?"

"I will raise my offspring as any Azlaerēn mother would, and tend to my consort as a true wife should."

"Then take this symbol of caring, royalty, and faithfulness and go forth." she proclaimed, placing a simple band made of rock-hard ice, garnished with moonstones which glowed in the light on Fyra's head. Satsura backed away to Hytoro's side.

Fyra's POV

I glided towards the fire resting in the stone basin, moving as if in a trance. Once I reached my destination, I scooped the frigid fire in my hands, watching it grow larger and colder still. I relished the feeling against my skin, unaffected by the extreme temperature. I was made to do this.

I raised the flame above my head and tore it into two. Grylin and my friend, Karym, came up behind me and gently transferred the fire to their hands. Muttering an incantation, they pressed the bright white blaze onto my back. I felt the cold flames seeping into my back, getting hotter by the second. Soon it felt like my whole body was burning as though someone had poured liquid fire into my veins. I shut my eyes tightly and braced myself against the stone altar, panting. Slowly, the burning sensation receded to my lower back. I felt it moving around to form some sort of design, the finally cooling down to the temperature of ice. I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding as I inspected my body, looking for ay visible changes. I saw none, yet I felt... lucid. More aware. Like I just completely woke up for the first time in my life. I could feel everyone's level of magic. My mom and dad's were definitely the highest, and Astra came a close second. I could also feel my newly acquired power, concentrated in my lower back. As I reached my arm back to inspect this new addition, my fingers encountered something cool and smooth. I turned around, mentally asking my brother what it looked image of my lower back formed in my mind, but this time there was a black dragon tattooed on it. I nodded, approving of this new addition to my appearance.

Normal POV

As I turned around to my wide-eyed, grinning audience, the speech I had rehearsed abandoned my mind. Instead, I said the first thing that came to mind.

"I thank you all for raising me, teaching me right from wrong, and making sure I knew how to be a wise leader who will not falter."

"I thank you, Astra, for mentoring me in the ways of ice, dragons, how to fight, and developing strategies at a moments notice." At this, Astra bowed, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"I thank you, Grylin, for being my emotional support since day one and for letting me teach you how to fight. It's been an honor." Grylin straightened, a grin lighting up his proud face.

"And last, I thank you, Mother and Father, for bringing me into existence and nurturing me to become who I am now. I am proud and grateful to have such wonderful parents" Satsura beamed, silent tears running down her delicate face while Hyotoro wrapped his lean, muscled arms around her waist, resting his chin upon Satsura's head.

"I plan to find my mate within 3 years, and spend at least 2 years with him before I bring him here. We may not settle down here for a while, for it would depend on our current situation. But, until then, farewell." As she ended her speech, all the villagers raised their left hand, middle and ring fingers up. The other fingers were crossed over each other; pinky touching the palm, thumb touching the pinky's first joint, and the fore finger resting on the thumb's first joint. Fyra bowed, a serene smile gracing her features.

As the crowd dispersed, Fyra made her way through the snowstorm to the Temple of the White Dragon, the ancestor of her tribe.

She traipsed lightly over the deep snow, skillfully balancing her weight to not break the frozen surface. Abruptly, Fyra halted, forming an ice dagger in her hand. She cut her hand deep enough to draw a thin stream of blood, then clenched her hand, making a few drops land of the icy ground.

Her blood spread throughout the ice, forming a design. The seal was fabricated in order to only let people of Azlaerēn descent enter. Fyra gently pressed her hand to the seal, concentrating some of her magic in her hand, then transferring the power into the barrier. As it glowed, she prepared herself to transform into her dragon form.

A hole appeared beneath her feet, and she plummeted down the wide tube. Once she cleared the icy tunnel, she morphed into a dragon, flapping her wings swiftly as she barely avoided the razor-sharp spikes littering the cave's floor. Fyra coasted through the humongous cavern, heading East.

After 10 minutes of doing so, she glided towards a meadow full of lush silvery-green grass. She landed and promptly shifted back into her human form. Fyra strode to the colossal temple towering above the serene meadow. As she entered the door, she lit the many candles that were scattered around the vast floor with her Fire Dragon's Roar. Turning towards a statue of an elegant, wise dragon, Fyra knelt and started praying.

Fyra's POV

I entered my tent once more, refreshed after my hour-long ritual. I grabbed my dark gray bag and packed the necessities; soap, a knife, some dried jerky, paper, a pen, no-melt ice to munch on, and a picture of me and my family. I didn't pack any clothes because, why pack clothes when you could requip? I never feel the need to wear armor (it just weighs me down), so instead I used my requip as you would use your closet.

I requipped into my traveling gear, which consisted of a dark green form-fitting sleeveless shirt, twilight gray shorts that came to just above mid-thigh, and bandages wrapped around my feet. I quickly put my hair into a long braid and slung my bag onto my shoulders. As I stepped out of my home, I caught sight of my family standing near the border of our village. I jogged over to them and hugged them all in turn.

My mother started fussing over me, prattling on about things I 'MUST NOT EVER DO' like dying. My father started roaring with laughter as my lips trembled from holding back my own.

"What?!" Satsura snapped,"You could try to be at least a little worried! Oh, do try to come back home in one piece."

The sound I had been so desperately holding back erupted from me and I doubled over, clutching my sides.

"But mom!" I cackled,"You're doing all the worrying for him! He can't even take a breath!"

"Oh well." My mother stated dismissively,"Just make sure you don't do IT until you're 19."

"M-m-mom!" I blushed a deep red.

"Yeah, sis!" giggled my brother.

"Not you too!" I huffed, looking to the side with puffed-out cheeks.

Once we all settled down my mother embraced me. Hyotoro and Grylin soon joined in, enveloping me in warmth. As they detached themselves from me, my father grasped my shoulders.

"You can't understand how proud I am of you, Fyra. Come home safe with a worthy mate."

I nodded, eyes tearing up.

"Sis you should probably were a cloak and put away your crown to remain inconspicuous."

After I requipped my cloak on and exquipped my crown, I turned to my beloved family.

"It's time." I proclaimed. Surrounding me, they joined hands, mumbling a teleportation spell. Light encased me and I started to fade, transferring to Fiore. My journey had begun.

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Azlaerēn*1- pronounced Az-lie-reeen

Olare*2- means 'grandmother' in Azlaerian

Ila*3- means 'yes' in Azlaerian

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. If I did, Lucy would be friend-zoned beyond belief.

Hey guys! It's me, the author! This is my first fanfiction, so please don't go easy on me! Tell me if there's anything you didn't quite get, things you want more of, things you want less of, mistakes I made, ideas you had, etc, etc... If you're a lazy bum, then try to at least say if you liked it or not. Deal? (Hi Doomedbex-sempai! ^.^)

Please please pleeeeease review! I really want to know if I did well!

Thank you!

~Israali Kotetsu