Hi guys, this is my first fanfic, so please be nice. It's an idea that's been going around in my head for a while. WARNING: it is only for mature readers, it deals with a serious issue, rape, and I do not want to offend anyone. I know rape is not to be taken lightly, but this fic is a journey about overcoming the emotional and physical pain that it brings along with it. Do not read if you are not comfortable with this topic.

Anyways, onto a lighter subject: I have written much of this story out already, so updates should not be too far apart. (I had to find something to do to appease my pains in waiting for chapter 300) I gladly accept criticism, just no flames, said, please enjoy :D

DISCLAIMER: Fairy Tail = Hiro Mashima's work.

Taken

Chapter 1

Lucy let out a heavy sigh from her usual seat at the bar as she listened to the background noises of her favorite Dragon Slayer and his long time rival arguing. Here we go again.

"I told you, ash for brains, those were mine!" Gray growled.

"And I told you, snow princess, I saw them first!" Natsu shouted back, baring his teeth at the ice mage.

Gray huffed, "Mira gave them to me!"

"Eh? I don't remember that. I'm pretty sure she gave them to me."

Those two..Lucy thought, annoyance building up. Will they ever quit? Turning around to shut them up, Lucy couldn't help but laugh at the sight. Natsu held a basket of fries away from Gray, the other hand held up in a fist towards the ice mage's face. Gray was in the same position, sans fries. They were both sporting hateful glares, daring the other to make the first move.

"Are you guys seriously arguing about fries?" Both heads turned towards her, still holding their glares, as she got up and started walking towards them, shaking her head. "Have you really run out of legitimate reasons to argue?"

"Lucy!" Natsu wailed, thrusting a finger at his rival. "Tell Gray that these are mine!" He clutched them to his chest as the ice mage made a grab for them. Lucy sidled up and snatched them from Natsu, much to both of their surprise. She grabbed a fry from the basket and raised a brow at the two.

"You wouldn't.." Gray started, right before she stuffed it into her mouth with a grin.

"Mine now!" She giggled and ran back to the bar, ignoring the cries of "Hey!" and "That's not fair!" behind her. "Ne, Mira, when will they ever learn?" Lucy exclaimed as she took a seat, addressing the silver-haired girl in front of her, who was currently wiping down a glass.

Mira gave her a smile, "It wouldn't be Fairy Tail if there weren't pointless arguments, wouldn't you agree?"

"I guess so." Lucy returned her smile and started munching on the fries, noticing the background shouts of Gray and Natsu who had found another trivial matter to pick a fight over. An evil smirk slid across her face as she took a deep breath. "Oh! Hey Erza!" She cried towards the two. They immediately grabbed onto each other, smiling and laughing as if the previous fight never happened. Giggling, she went back to her fries in short-lived peace.

"Ne, Lucy, did you call?" She gasped as Erza suddenly appeared beside her, strawberry cheesecake in one hand, sword in the other.

"N-no. It's nothing." Lucy replied, abashed. Erza nodded solemnly and disappeared as fast as she had come.

It's been a year since I've joined the guild. She thought, popping another fry into her mouth. Although I never get a moment's peace, even at home, I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else. She peeked at Natsu, who had given up his fight with Gray and taken to chatting excitedly with Happy. Natsu..He's so clumsy and destructive, and quick to anger. But.. Lucy sighed. He's also protective and determined and full of heart. I've long since admitted to myself my feelings for the pink haired idiot..but..he's so immature he would never feel the same way. I'll always just be nakama to him.

She frowned and pushed the fries away, curling her face into her arms.

"Oii, Lucy, whatcha thinkin' about?" She closed her eyes as the object of her thoughts came and sat next to her. He always brought with him such heat, yet it was never hot enough to be uncomfortable. Just him sitting next to her warmed her heart.

"Nothing, Natsu, I'm just really bored." She mumbled, turning her face away as a blush overtook her cheeks.

Natsu grinned, throwing his arm around her shoulders, deepening her blush. "Then how about a job? Me and Happy just found a great one, it's super easy!" Lucy's head popped up at this.

"How much does it pay?"

"100,000 Jewels!" He pushed the paper at her and she skimmed over the details.

Lucy's brows furrowed. "Accompany a wizard from Nagai to Magnolia? That's all we have to do?"

Natsu nodded. "Since he has motion sickness he refuses to take any kind of transportation, he's asking for help on the way here. Apparently the path he's taking is dangerous."

"But..he's a wizard, isn't he? He must not be that strong if he can't even travel by himself." Lucy pondered.

"Who cares!" Natsu stood up on his seat and punched a fist into the air. "As long as we're there it'll be a piece of cake!" He flashed a smile down at her and she shook her head at his antics, with a smile in return.

"Aa. Let's go then!"

"Yosh!" He grabbed her hand, after flinging the paper at Mirajane. "We're taking this one, Mira!"

She waved in response, a knowing smile on her face. Lucy blushed, catching her smile.

"Happy! Come on!" Natsu started running toward the exit, dragging Lucy along.

"Hai!" The cat came flying towards them, fish in hand.

Lucy laughed, a thought coming to mind. "Ne, Natsu, you know we have to take a train to get there, right?" That stopped him in his tracks, his grin fell immediately.

"Nooooo!" He grabbed his head, getting sick already.

"Hey! Don't get sick just by thinking about it!" Lucy huffed, crossing her arms. He really does have a one track mind.

As they started walking towards the train station, Natsu begrudgingly, Lucy couldn't help but wonder about her client.

I wonder what he's coming to Magnolia for? And if the path is dangerous he really should take a train instead. Natsu can take transportation, even though he'd prefer not to. Motion sickness must affect him more so than Natsu.

"Lucyyy." She turned to look at the fire mage, who had tears in his eyes. "I don't wanna." He pleaded with her. She rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand, pulling him forward, ignoring Happy's "She liiiikes him!"

"Come on, Natsu, you're the one who chose this job. Just think about it this way: at least you can actually get on transportation with your motion sickness – our client can't."

"Aye, Sir!" Happy came up, patting Natsu on the back. "That means Natsu's better, ne, Lucy?" She nodded in response, the corner of her mouth ticking up.

Natsu grumbled at the two, but started walking none the less.

Lucy sighed, watching her partners. This was going to be a long trip.