Author's Note: Hi everyone ! This is my first fanfiction on this site, and my first in english ! I tried my best to provide the most accurate scenes with the best grammar and vocabulary I could :) Practising english can be tedious but it was a lot of fun to write, so I hope you'll enjoy this story ! And don't hesitate to tell me if you notice any mistakes !

Disclaimer: I don't own fairy tail, Mashima-sensei does !


It started with a roar. A mighty, powerful roar coming from the east, slicing the air and the sky. So loud that the entire "town" seemed to shiver in fear. So shrill it was a miracle that their ears were still in one piece, that glass didn't scatter, that everyone was still standing straight. Then, the drums stopped, the dancing stopped, even the songs, that were so funky just a moment ago, stopped. A sepulchral silent fell, filling the air with an electric tension, everyone facing towards the east waiting… There muscles were tense, the sweat from the dance still running along their members, their breathing began to be twitchy, no one moved.

Suddenly, the sun disappeared: it was like a pitch black night just above their heads…at noon…. Yet no one screamed, no one moved, no one spoke. She felt like the only one panicking out there… even him didn't flinch, like he knew what was happening. Her legs felt like jelly, almost as if all of her lower body completely disappeared with the sun. What was this feeling? It was primal, almost an instinct, she wanted to run, scream, get out of here as fast as she could, and yet she couldn't move. But she knew this ... She felt it before…Once actually: when she was on an island, and the black dread was diving from the sky. She was scared. She was petrified by fear.

He grabbed her hand, he knew she was terrified, he had to find a way to tell her everything will be find… But he was shacking, an incontrollable shaking… Damn! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! How was he supposed to comfort her if he wasn't even able to be ok himself? She was on the verge of crying, he knew, he could always tell. He had to be strong for her, right now! Everything will be ok he muttered. She turned her head slightly, trying as hard as she could to not let her tears out, and nodded. Nothing could go wrong right? He wasn't scared of anything! She knew, she believed him. So she squeezed his hand as a silent answer. But she was thankful he couldn't see her right now, if he saw how desperate she was at the moment, he would probably do something crazy …like… trying to burn down the stake they were tide to and go towards the…thing… in the sky…

Wind gusts blasted in the town as, finally, the habitants reacted. They dropped to their knees with an incomparable speed, stretching their arms and putting them on the ground before them as some sort of prayer stance. As the gusts became stronger and stronger, what started as a collective whisper became a loud synchronize singing. She was too afraid to look up, the wind hurting her eyes, she closed them as strongly as she could. Maybe it was all just a dream? If she closed her eyes harder, maybe she'll realize it and wake up already? But then she heard a big "boom" followed directly by, what seemed to be, a shockwave that travelled through the air throughout the entire "town" and some kind of… earthquake? Whatever landed was huge, like really huge. Shivers travelled her body again. She squeezed his hand even more now, anxious to open her eyes.

"Where is the food, humans ?!"

The voice that rose was very deep and echoic somehow. But food? What did he mean by food? Soon curiosity took over her fear and she finally found a hint of courage to peek at the origin of the voice. Slowly she lifted her eyelids and froze immediately. How was this even possible? In front of her, around 200 meters away from them the creature was spreading its dark, dreadful wings. Its scales were black with a hint of red like if the dark scales were glowing. It was so big, almost as big as the stadium for the Grand Magic game, but mostly because its wings were fully open. Its mouth was fill with, what seemed to be, thousands of razor-sharp teeth, but what was truly terrifying were its eyes. They were so red, a red as vivid as blood, and, even though they lack pupils they were fill with desire… no not exactly… It was a longing look, a longing for blood, for food, for them….

"What is it? What do you see? I can't turn around!" He asked her.

The words were stuck in her throat, her mouth went dry in a second, she couldn't even cry anymore. Shock. Despair. Fear. All these feeling were swirling at the same time inside her. She wanted to throw up, to run, to disappear, to fight the creature, to flee as far as possible, to die, to live. It was confusing, she didn't even know herself what to do. She was just feeling like a child… lost in a sea of darkness… We are going to die… that's the only coherent though she could formulate right now.

"A …dragon…"

She didn't know how the words left her mouth. She wasn't even squeezing his hand anymore. Everything around her turned dark, spinning, swallowing her. She could hear him talking to her, but none of his words made sense, it was like a distant conversation, a sound you could hear when crossing a street, a buzzing sound. She was terrified. Even terrified felt poor to describe how she felt. At this instant, to her, there was only two things: those vivid red eyes, and the 200 meters that separated those eyes and her. All of her strength vanished and she collapsed still tided to this stake with him.

He kept talking to her. What are you saying? A dragon? That's impossible! Is it Acnologia ? OÏ answer me! Are you still there? But then he felt her dragging him down, she probably collapsed. Why wouldn't she answer him? Maybe she was scared… Damn even him was scared shitless but if that thing was really a dragon and they were the supposed "food" then they had to get out of here and NOW! So he screamed, he yelled her name, hoping she would react this time…

"Help me…."

Her voice was so low, her voice was trembling, her voice was broken.

"Help me…. Natsu…I can't… I can't… I'm… I can't move…I'm…I don't want this…I don't want to ... but ...I can't... I … please Natsu…Please…Help me…."

She didn't really mean what she said. Or yes she did… it was all messed up in her head. She just blurted out the first thing that came to her mind. But how could he save her? How could he save them? It was plainly impossible.

*- The day before - *

Lucy had the strangest dream ever, she was in some kind of tower guarded by an army of prince charming, that strangely resemble like a thousand Loke, and she wasn't allow to leave for whatever reasons. Then, out of the blue, came a reddish-pinkish dragon accompanied by a blue flying horse-thingy, wrecking everything in their path. Including the army of Loke and the tower where she was. Then, as she fell from her now destroyed tower, she was catch by the dragon who wanted fish in exchange for his, unneeded, service. Damn that was a strange dream she though while trying to open her eyes. Yawning, she managed to sit up straight in her bed, still half asleep, only to be greeted by a snoring sound coming from under her bed cover. Doubtfully she raised it to locate the source of the snoring…Only to find a naked Natsu and a curled up Happy besides her. She sighed. It was too early in the morning to scold these two but how could they still ignore her demands after all this time. It's simple: don't enter the room without being invited. She sighed again. There was nothing she could do about them after all.

All the same, this sight was somehow comforting. They didn't change at all despite this year where they left her alone. But everything was fine now, Fairy Tail was a guild again, everything back to normal… Even the sneaking into her apartment while she's asleep. Still… She prepared her fist to strike the idiots that were asleep in her bed, taking the right angle and… He grabbed her arm before her punch could make it to his face.

"Too slow Lucy! You ain't gonna get me with this kind of weak attack!" He smirked proud of himself. "Besides, isn't it a bit early for this? "He proceeded to yawn.

"Tssk" She hissed "Don't sneak in my apartment then!"

Natsu yawned again, rubbing his eyes to adjust to the light that was filtering through the window.

"Good morning Luce…" He said half asleep.

"Lushy …too early…" The blue cat muttered behind Natsu at the same time.

This made her smile.

"Good morning… NOW GET OUT OF MY BED!" She ordered as she pulled away the blanket.

"God I can't believe those two !"

She blurted out as she jumped onto a chair at the bar. Mirajane just smiled at her, and Lucy felt like she knew this smile it's the "Well you can't do anything about it can you ?" smile by Mirajane. And she was right.

"Anyways, Mira-chan do you have any good mission for me ? I have to pay up rent soon ! And my landlord is as strict as ever …."

"Hum…" She paused to think "Since we reopened recently we don't have a lot of job yet Lucy... But I may have something for you let me check !"

She disappeared like a flash, surely to search for the rare gem that will pay Lucy's rent. It would be nice to go on a job… It's been a year after all. She feared she was a bit rusty, but what she feared the more was that Natsu would be too enthusiastic and destroy everything. Ah! Natsu…she didn't even ask him if he wanted to go on a job. She pouted a little at the thought he might say no. But it couldn't be helped. The job available will most certainly be boring one, the kind of job he wasn't found of… She guessed he would prefer a hunting job or something where he could fight some big ass monster. Maybe if Mirajane gives her two requests she will choose the most thrilling one….

"Lu-chan !" A perky voice said behind her.

Levy appeared right after, getting a sit beside her, a book in her hand.

"Levy-chan ! How are you ?"

"Fine fine ! There's still a lot of paperwork to do about the guild tho !" She pointed out at what she had in her hands.

"eh ? Even now ? But master Makarov came back already !"

"Yeah but we never got to finish the paperwork bruuuuh…I'm so tired !"

"Cheer up Levy-chan !"

"Ah ! I almost forgot" She turned her head towards the blonde with stars in her eyes "After all this time you must have written tons and tons of chapters ! You MUST let me read them!"

Lucy laughed slightly.

"It's not like that… I mean.. I wrote a little but…"

"I wanna read it !" Levy interrupted her before she could finish her sentence.

She nodded. She could never tell no to Levy after all. She noticed the hall was louder than before, and as a chair passed by her head, she understood that, yet another fight took place in the hall of the guild. She could hear Gajeel and Natsu screaming at one another while Gray was stripping and throwing ice magic everywhere. Fire bursted same as iron in respond. Lucy and Levy sighed. Why Erza wasn't here when this kind of stuff happens?

"Those idiots…. They will never change…" Levy made the remark

"No…never" Lucy replied with a fainted smile.

That's when Mirajane reappeared behind the counter.

"Lucy I've got the perfect job for you ! It's made especially for a celestial mage isn't that great ?" She said while handing over the paper to Lucy.

"Woaw! Really Mira-chan? Thank you so much!"

"What is it?" Levy asked

The blonde looked on the piece of paper in her hand and started reading out loud

"Help me unravel the secret of the mysterious Book of Time, an old book used by celestial mages a long time ago. Reward: 200 000 Jewels. Well that's a lot of money for one book…" She couldn't believe her eyes

"Wow! So awesome! Levy want to come too ! decrypting a book is my specialty !"

"Levy you can't you have the paperwork to do remember?" Mirajane said softly

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Levy banged her head on the counter defeated.

Natsu appeared behind her shoulder

"Yo Luce ! You find a job ?"

She slightly turned her head towards him

"Yeah…But I don't think you wanna do this one… It's just about helping with a book…"

Natsu took a puzzled look. Ah…I was right…She thought .

"Whatcha' talkin' about? A job is a job! And it's more fun when we are together no ?" He granted her a big smile like only him could do.

She giggled.

"Yeah you're right…Let's do this then!"

"ALRIGHT! I'M ALL FIRED UP!"

His word meant so little when he was at the window of the train, throwing up. Yeah… That too didn't change. Happy was patting Natsu back asking him if he was going to survive. Lucy wondered if this one-hour trip was going to be bearable. But Natsu have seen worse than just one hour of train rides so he should be ok. They just had to let him, metaphorically, die in his corner of the booth… he'll come back to life once the train stops.

"Ne Happy , can you tell me a story about when you two were training ?" She asked

The blue cat turned around, a big smile to his face.

"Aye !"

He proceeded to come near Lucy to tell her about the first days of training. Natsu and him had absolutely no plan whatsoever about where to go -strangely she wasn't surprise about this news- so they just decided to go straight forward ! Yeah that DOES sounds like them. Lucy told herself. Then there was that time where they encountered Gildartz, and he stayed with them a bit. They switched bag by mistake and Gildartz almost beat the living crap out of Natsu for getting his back. Then there was that time where they were lost on the mount Yakobe because they fell into a hole.

And there was that time when, they were in the desert without water so they drank some funny liquid coming from a cactus because Natsu sort of remember that it was drinkable and they ended up having hallucinations for the entire day. Happy kept going on about these little story, and all of them made her laugh somehow, they all were so… Natsu and Happy… But at the same time she felt this tiny pinch to her heart. Remembering how she felt when she read that note… so lonely… why would they even go without her. She understood actually but there was this part of her that still couldn't accept it. Weren't they a team?

Time flew so fast, and soon the train stopped to the city she couldn't even remember the name because it was too long and impossible to remember and pronounce. So she just called it "White city" because every single building was carved from a white stone typical from the city. It was a mining town if she remembered correctly.

"Alright let's go!" She said

"Bulp…wait…for me" Natsu was still under the weather so Happy had to carry him a bit before he could walk normally again.

"Why did we have to take the train ?"

"You don't expect me to walk from here to Magnolia I hope ?!" Of course he would, but just because of his transport sickness…

"By the way what's the mission about again Lucy ?" Happy asked

"Hum it's about some old book… I ask Crux about it but he couldn't tell me anything about it…which is extremely strange…Especially since it's a celestial magic book…" She was worried about this somehow.

"So …Lucy and me do all the work and Natsu stay asides 'cause he's too stupid anyways!"

"SAY WHAT?"

Lucy and Happy giggled as they watched Natsu trying to convince them that he wasn't THAT stupid. Well he wasn't stupid but he was surely dense. When they finally arrived, Lucy was surprised to see it was a library. How could a library pay so much for a book ? She pushed the door open.

"Hello is there someone here ?"

Silence answered her…followed by an avalanche of books. Or more like a tsunami… Three rows of bookshelf falling over as a cry for help emerged from the sea of books.

Natsu, Lucy and Happy rushed over the mountain of books just to find a tiny old hand grasping for help. Natsu grabbed the hand and shortly afterwards, a small character appeared. His head was round, and bald, but his moustache, his glorious wild moustache was truly majestic. But that was the only thing particular about this man… Other than that he was… normal ? Plain ? An old man basically.

"Phew ! Hopefully you were there young lads! Let me introduce myself, I am, Sir. Willix Xeno Xanar the Third of his name ! And I thank you for your assistance !"

"Erm… nice to meet you ! I'm Lucy, and this is Natsu and Happy. We are the mages of fairy tail, we came for your "Book of Time" ?"

The little old man peered at them intensely… Launching some hmmhmm now and then… Finally after a minute.

"Well this one looks stupid, I don't want him near my precious book" He said while pointing at Natsu.

"SAY WHAT OLD MAN ? YOU WANNA FIGHT ?!" He shouted while Happy was holding him back with his scarf.

"I don't trust you…You can clean the mess you made while entering the library" He said while pointing at the sea of books "The missy can touch the book, your hands look so delicate…."

She could feel a drop of sweat on the side of her head. He was the one that made all the books fall down so why did he blame them ? Well, Natsu didn't look quite happy with is sub-mission, but the blue cat dragged him to the books anyways before he could do any harm.

"So… why do you need help with that book ? And why is the reward so high if I may ask…I mean… It's a library here… I don't think the town city hall has this kind of money to spare…" Lucy started

"This library is an annexe to my mansion… I had too much books I had to put some in here actually."

"Eh ? Wow…that's….a lot of book then…." She said impressed.

"Anyways, my precious book is a very rare one ! It's almost 500 years old. Do you imagine how much I had to pay to get my hand on it ? DO YOU ?" As he asked he managed to get his face extremely close to Lucy's

"Hum… no I… I don't …Sir…." She replied a little bit embarrassed.

"ANYWAYS ! The thing is…The damn thing won't open."

"Eh ? What do you mean it won't open ? You can't open… A book ?" She asked puzzled.

"Yes indeed, indeed. It's like it's sealed by some kind of...well magic! So ! Your job is to destroy the seal so that I the marvellous Sir. Willix Xeno Xanar can lay my eyes upon this unique "ouverage" " (means book)

Lucy sighed, she should have taken Levy with her! Levy would have crack the case in no time. But she couldn't let that news get her spirit down! It was her first mission since…forever so she was determined to complete it and collect successfully the reward!

She sat at a desk that was directly facing Natsu and Happy, so that she could feel less lonely…and check on them…. Because it was highly probable that Natsu was going to destroy something without even noticing it beforehand. She put on her magical glasses and started to work on the book.

It was now almost 19:00 the sun was almost down and Natsu didn't even finish to tidy up the book. He was so bored ! The old man was always behind his back, he couldn't even go tease Luce! Speaking of the devil, he heard her scream.

"No ! no ! no ! no!" She complained while agitating her arms in all the directions.

"YO LUCE! Having fun ?"

She turned her head towards him, almost crying.

"I can't crack that thing… There is absolutely no clue whatsoever about how to solve this puzzle!"

"Lemme see ! Maybe I can find something!" He said while taking the book in his hand

"NO YOU FOOL" She snatched it back "With your delicacy you'll tear it apart…or WORST burn it!"

"Not nice Luce!"

She sighed. Natsu came by her side, resting his head on her shoulder

"So sleepy…so hungry….."

"Hey! We are on a job!" She said, blushing a little…

"Easy for you to say…you didn't have to order ten thousand books…"

She sighed again. Boy did she sighed today. She sighed while getting out of bed, she sighed while getting to the guild, she sighed because she couldn't figure out this book. It wasn't as fun as expected after all. She removed her glasses, obviously there was nothing to be done for today…Maybe tomorrow she'll have more luck with this book. She wanted to stretch her arm but a certain dragon slayer was still on it. That's when she noticed the little girl in front of her. She was so tiny, she must have been no more than seven years old. She wore a white dress and had beautiful raven curled hair. She was insistently looking at her and Natsu, and it kind of made Lucy blush even more.

"Hi there! Are you lost sweetie?" Lucy asked.

The little girl made a little no with her head.

"Come here." She said while inciting her to come closer with her hand.

The little girl looked at Natsu with a somewhat worried look. That made Lucy puffed a little bit.

"Don't worry he won't bite you."

"I won't bite who?" He said, suddenly interested by what was going on.

Lucy pointed to the child in front of them, and Natsu made a slight "oh". Still a bit worried, the little girl came closer to them.

"Hi, I'm Lucy, and this is Natsu…What's your name?"

"….."

"You 're not the talking type aren't ya ?" Asked Natsu

"….. Moerae…." The little kid said timidly.

" So where are your parents Moerae ?"

"Can you help me ?" The child asked

"Eh ? Of course sweetheart, whatever you want, we are specialist at helping people " Lucy replied while pointing at Natsu and her.

Moerae look at her, then at Natsu…Then at Lucy again… It looked like she was thinking about whether or not she should talk to them. Finally, she spoke again.

"Can you help me find it ? I lost it"

"Find it? Find what? You lost what ?" Natsu asked, puzzled.

"Can you help me Onii-chan,Onee-chan ? "

Without even consulting one another they both accept at the same time.

"It's a pact then! Help me Onii-chan,Onee-chan"

The air began to be fill with a strange tension, as if a lot of magic power was gathering above their head. What a strange feeling, the air was thick, just like before a storm. Lucy never felt it coming, Natsu was the one with quicker reflexes, the one with sharpened senses.

"LUCY , BE CAREFUL !" He said jumping on her, as if it was an instinct, to protect her as the lightning stroke. Was it really a lightning though? It was more like a flash of bright light. A sudden flash that filled the space around them. A blinding light. When it was over, Natsu and Lucy had disappeared into thin air, the only proof of their presence were the glasses on the desk and an open book.


Phew ! So this was the first chapter, the second should be coming soon. I hope you liked my ... strange writting style should I say ? And please feel free to leave your reviews :)