Chapter 1 Stronger

Being number one once again, after seven long years, the guild of Fairy Tail was as wild as it ever was now that the GMG was over. Natsu was laughing and shouting like an idiot, Gray was being followed around by Juvia, somehow losing his clothes again, and Erza was enjoying a piece of strawberry cake Mira made herself. Like everyone wanted, the guild was finally happy and back to normal...Well, almost. A certain blonde haired Celestial mage was the only one who was out of her usual routine.

Ever since the games, Lucy couldn't shake this feeling of helplessness. First against Flare, then Minerva, and obviously the Eclipse Gate. Whether it was losing her keys or just not having enough pure strength and magic power, Lucy was constantly being left defenseless. Now, being back home, she has begun training herself. Right now, Lucy was doing just that with the help of Aquarius. Normally, Aquarius would have been mad and left after being summoned, but hearing Lucy actually give the order to beat her up tempted Aquarius to stay.

"Gah!" Lucy exclaimed, being slammed into the river for at least the fifth time.

She was trying to increase her strength by trying to stay standing against Aquarius' attacks, but it wasn't going well. It was mostly Lucy being thrown around and getting her clothes wet and muddy. Her clothes actually consisted of a purple athletic tank-top and gray sweat pants. They were the best clothes she had the she didn't mind getting dirty or ruined. She left her shoes off and kept her hair down.

"Jeez. Listen, I'm all about this nearly drowning you thing, but you're probably really gonna kill yourself at this rate." Aquarius said. Lucy was couching up water while catching her breath as Aquarius said this.

"No. I'm not done yet. I need to get stronger." Lucy said, getting back onto her feet. That's the same thought Lucy has been repeating over and over again in her head. Even from a distance, Aquarius could see Lucy struggling to even stand. With a sigh, Aquarius moved next to Lucy.

"If you want to get stronger, which has been really needed for a long time, at least start by taking a job alone to see your limit. Besides, you need a break." Aquarius adviced, being able to get in a small insult.

Slightly surprised by Aquarius' words of advice, Lucy looked down at the water to see her own reflection. Looking very closely, Lucy saw herself in an entirely different way. Her arms were so skinny, her hair was too well kept, and she could understand why everyone says she needs to lose weight.

"...Well, I guess that can work. Thanks Aquarius, you're a good-" Lucy was in the middle thanking her mermaid spirit, but of course Aquarius had somehow vanished while Lucy was looking over her reflection.

With an irritated twitch in her eye, Lucy knew Aquarius must've gone back to the Celestial Spirit World for a date, and whether Aquarius said those things to be helpful or just to get out of helping Lucy for a moment, she'll never know for sure. With a sigh, Lucy slipped back on her shoes so she could walk home. As she took her usual path, walking on the edge of the creek, Lucy was surprised to find a piece of paper attached to the door to her place.

"Huh? A flyer?" Lucy thought, grabbing it off the door. On closer inspection, it turned out to be a mission from the guild. She decided to read what it said.

Female Mage Needed; Rogue Golem

Location: Lugia Town

Reward: 2,000,000

"A rogue golem? I bet I could deal with that. How nice of them to leave me a job, with a great pay too!" Lucy said, assuming it was from Natsu and the others.

Taking the flyer inside with her, Lucy took a quick shower before eating dinner she made for herself so she could go to bed. She left the flyer on a black duffle bag so she would remember to pack first thing in the morning. With one last giddy smile, Lucy leaps onto her bed and closes her eyes to have a pleasant sleep...but that didn't go exactly as planned.

Lucy was running through empty streets of a city she didn't recognize, the only things visible being the cobblestone road she ran on and the buildings she was running past...

All the while hearing a voice; it was feminine, cold, and uncaring, and it repeated the same thing over and over again...

"Snake, Snake, Cobra, Cobra..."

Somehow, without her even noticing, something had coiled around Lucy from the neck down to her knees. It pulled her back with a forceful jerk until it slammed her against what was probably a wall...

Gasping for air, everything around Lucy began to practically melt away until she was only surrounded by darkness...

But, there something else in the darkness, something sinister, something...insane...

Opening her eyes once she finally gained enough air, Lucy's face paled when she saw what was now in front of her...

Three separate eyes, each one wide with insanity, boring holes into Lucy...

"AH!" Lucy cried, bolting up into a sitting position. Taking in a deep breaths, she was covered in sweat, still clutching the blankets in fear.

"What...what was that?..." Lucy thought, slowly catching her breath. Loud banging at her door caused Lucy's thinking to be interrupted.

"Hey Lucy! Come on, it's almost noon!" a man, who she recognized as Natsu, called through the door. Confused, Lucy looked at her alarm clock to see it somehow now on the floor, cracked and the hands stuck in place.

"Oh man, must've knocked it over by accident." Lucy muttered to herself, swinging her legs off the bed to pick up the clock.

"Oh, and give me a minute Nastu!" Lucy called out, setting down her clock before dashing to her closet.

However, as she began her daily routines, Lucy has yet to realize her dire situation. The three eye marks on her back confirm that...