I don't own any of the Fairy Tail characters. They belong to Hiro Mashima.

Prologue

-Narrator's POV-

Two young children, a boy and a girl, run around in the forest surrounding a small village known as Uteki Village. The two look almost exactly alike, the only differences being their eyes, hair length, and a tear-drop birthmark on the back of the girl's neck. "Bet you can't catch me, Shiro!" The girl taunts. "I'm gonna get you, Midori!" Shiro declares. Midori giggles and continues running from her twin brother, her light blue hair which reaches her hips flowing behind her. She looks back at her brother once again, her amethyst eyes glinting with pure joy. "Watch out, Midori!" Shiro shouts. "I'm not falling for that trick!" Midori yells back. But then she trips over something and falls into the river. She surfaces briefly but sinks back under the current. "Midori!" Shiro screams. His little sister does not resurface.

Shiro's aquamarine eyes fill with tears as he runs back to his home. "Help!" He shouts. The twins' mother, Hikari, hears Shiro's cries. "Shi dear, what is it?" She asks. "Mi-Midori fell into the river." Shiro replies breathlessly, his voice breaking slightly. "Toshiro! Toshiro!" Hikari yells. "What is it, dear?" Toshiro asks as he comes out of the house. "Midori fell into the river!" Hikari tells her husband. "What?! Okay, you go get some people to help look. I'm going to head to the river." Toshiro says. "I'm coming too, Papa." Shiro says. "No, you stay here." Toshiro tells his son. "But I know where she fell!" Shiro points out. Toshiro kneels in front of his four-year-old and places his hands on Shiro's shoulders. "Midori already fell into the river. I don't want that happening to you, too. I want you to stay with your mother." Toshiro says in a stern voice. "Yes, Papa…" Shiro responds quietly. Toshiro stands and runs into the forest.

"Midori!" Toshiro calls as he rushes through the forest, crashing through the tender grasses that dot the forest. He arrives at the river and starts scouring the bank. Something in the river catches his eyes. Toshiro drops to his knees and fishes out a broken bracelet, pulling it out from some rocks. "Midori…" Toshiro holds the bracelet to his lips and prays. After a moment, he gets up and continues searching. A little while later, Toshiro is joined by some other men of the village. They search long into the night.

-First Person POV-

Coughing racks my body, water spewing from my mouth with each tremor. I gulp in air, listening to the bird song all around me. I slowly and painfully open my eyes and then sit up, my head throbbing as I do. I touch the back of my head. My hand comes away slightly sticky with blood. I woke up on a lake shore, so that must be why I'm soaked. Everywhere I look I see trees, light filtering through the leafy canopy. I stand and walk away from the shore. Where am I? As I enter a clearing, a sudden brisk wind picks up, whipping past without a care. The breeze stops as something thuds behind me. I turn towards the sound. There is a large blue dragon. It must be a girl because it looks very pretty. The dragon stares at me, its eyes glinting in the sunlight. "Hello." I say. "You are not afraid, child?" The dragon asks. The dragon has a very nice, smooth voice. "No." I reply. "Should I be?" "You are a strange one, child." She tells me. "What are you doing here?" "I don't know. I just woke up on that lake shore." I reply, pointing to where I awoke.

"What is your name, young one?" The dragoness asks. "My name is… It's…" I rack my brain, trying to remember my name. "…I don't know." I start to cry. "Do not cry, little one." She says soothingly. "But I don't who I am! I can't remember anything!" I exclaim. "I don't know where I live or if I have a family!" "Since you do not remember anything, would you like to come with me?" The dragoness asks. I start to calm down. "Really? I can come with you?" I ask, my words choppy because of my hitching breath. "Only if that is what you desire. I will not force you to come with me." The dragoness says. I take a couple deep breaths to steady myself. "I want to go with you." I reply. "What will I call you?" "You may call me Mizu. And you will be (name) Suija." "Would it be okay if I called you Mother?" I ask. "I suppose." Mizu says with a smile. "Thank you!" I say as I hug her huge webbed paw. "Now climb on my back. I will take you to my home." Mizu says. I climb onto Mizu's back, settling myself at the nape of her neck. It's so smooth. "Hold on now." Mizu tells me as she unfurls her wings. With two great flaps, we rise into the air.

Mizu flies over the forest towards a mountain. She descends gracefully and lands softly in front of a large cave. I slide off of Mizu and enter the cave. Crystals of many colors litter the ceiling. "Wow!" I gasp. "Indeed, the crystals are very beautiful." Mizu says. "But not as pretty as you, Mama." I respond. Mizu smiles. Then a growling echoes in the cave. "Sounds like some food is in order." Mizu says. I nod sheepishly. A light suddenly surrounds Mizu and I close my eyes against the bright glare. Soon the light dies down and I open my eyes. I no longer see Mizu, but instead I see a tall woman with long light blue hair and green eyes. She wears a long dress that reminds me of waves crashing on a beach. I don't think I've been to a beach, but for some reason that's what her dress made me think of. "Mizu?" I ask nervously. The woman nods. "I apologize if I startled you." I shake my head. "I thought it would be easier to gather berries with you in my human form." Mizu tells me. "Berries sounds delicious." I say. Mizu smiles.

A few days later, Mizu calls me outside. "Yes, Mama?" I ask. "Would you like to learn magic?" Mizu asks. My eyes grow wide. "Yes!" I answer. "Alright. I will teach you special magic, but first I have to prepare your body." Mizu tells me. "Prepare my body?" I ask. "In order to use I will teach you, you must first have a dragon-like body." Mother tells me. "Dragon lungs to emit water, dragon scales to disperse water, and dragon nails to engrave the water… This is an ancient spell that will transform your body into that of a dragon. Originally this was a dragon interception spell... Dragon Slayer Magic." I gasp and say, "But, Mama! I don't want to hurt you!" "There are other dragons in the world, my child, and not all of them are kind to humans." "So, I don't have to hurt you?" Mizu shakes her head. "Alright then, Mother. I want to learn." "Go and lay down. Once you are asleep, I will start the process." I nod and go lay on my bed of sewed leaves. Though I feel wide awake, I suddenly find my eyelids very heavy.

The next day, I wake up feeling hot all over. "Mama…" I croak. "I don't feel well." Mizu in her human form rushes over to me. "Tell me how you are feeling right now." She says. "I ache all over and I feel really hot." I tell her. Mizu's lips press together into a tight line. She lifts me onto her back and heads outside. Mizu transforms into a dragon and takes me into the sky. The air rushing past us feels good. I try to focus on the trees speeding past underneath us, but I find my eyes really heavy. I try to resist but I give in and close my eyes.

When I wake again, I'm feeling much better and very hungry. I'm in a cave but it's not my home. I walk outside and see my mother and another woman. The other woman is just a little taller than Mizu and has pure white hair, her skin tanned like Mizu's. "Mama?" I call. Mizu turns and rushes to me, lifting me into a tight hug. I notice that the scent of an impending storm comes from Mizu, but it fades to the smell of a calm ocean. "I am so relieved." She whispers, her voice hinting at a disappearing worry. "I was so worried when you didn't wake up for several days." "How long was I asleep?" I ask. "It took me a couple days to fly here. You had passed out shortly after we left. It has been about two days since we arrived here." Mizu tells me. "Mama, who is that?" I ask. Mizu sets me back on the ground. "This is Grandeeney, my older sister." Mizu tells me. "Oh! Nice to meet you, Aunt Grandeeney." I say, bowing politely. Her kind blue eyes study me. "The pleasure is mine as well, little niece." Grandeeney says, her voice silky and light. The scent of crisp fall air wafts from my dragon aunt.

Then my stomach growls. "I suppose we ought to get you some food." Mizu says. Mother and Aunt Grandeeney prepare a large lunch for me and I eat until I'm filled. "I don't feel sick anymore, Mama." Mizu smiles and tells me, "I'm glad to hear that. You would have been sick still if your aunt had not healed you." "Thank you, Auntie!" I say. "You are welcome." Grandeeney says, smiling. "Now, how about we go home and start training?" Mizu asks. I nod excitedly. Mizu changes into a dragon and I clamber onto her back. "Bye-bye, Auntie Grandeeney! I hope I can see you again!" I call down as we ascend into the clouds. Two days later, we arrive back at our home. Mizu starts teaching me Dragon Slayer Magic the next day. I tell her about the scents I've been noticing. Mother explains that my hearing and sense of smell have been heightened because of the Dragon Slayer magic making my body more dragon-like.

~About a year later~

I wake up and in addition to the birdsong, I hear another song. It is beautiful and smooth. But the words, which are in the dragon tongue, are sad. I get up and follow the song. It leads me to a cliff looking out at the ocean. "Mother." I call. The song stops as Mizu looks at me. "What is it, (name)?" "Why is your song so sad?" Mizu's eyes start glistening, but she shakes away the tears. "Many years ago, I had a mate, Ryujin." Mizu smiles wistfully. "He was very sweet and kind, but often overprotective. Protectiveness is part of mating, but Ryujin went beyond the standard." Her smile disappears. "But one day, a terrible evil came to our home." Mizu looks out at the sea again. "Acnologia." She growls, her voice full of hatred and spite. Her tone makes me flinch.

"Acnologia, a pitch black dragon with white eyes, blue markings, and wings that appeared feathered." Mizu's voice inflects oddly on the word dragon, as though she doesn't want to use it. "He tried to attack me, but Ryujin defended me… and our egg." Their egg?! "Acnologia and Ryujin fought for a very long time. But Acnologia won and my lifemate was dead. He told me that he would come back for me someday. That night, I stirred the waters into a rage as I roared in grief and agony. Our egg did not survive, my child inside the egg crystallized. That was six years ago… today." I climb up on Mizu's back and hug her. "I'm sorry, Mizu." "Thank you, my dear child." I think about the song that Mizu was singing until I came. I remember the melody and start humming. "Hush, (name)!" Mizu commands harshly. I immediately stop. Mizu has never spoken like that.

"Did I do something wrong?" I ask nervously. Mizu sighs. "Not entirely, my daughter. The song I was singing is a very powerful magic. It is called the Water Dragon's Serenade. Its effect changes based upon the user's intent. I was using it to see the image of Ryujin again." Mother explains. "I'm sorry." "You have no fault. You did not know, child." Mizu tells me. "I won't do again." "I did not say that you may not sing. I will teach you, so that you will have good control. The song is not to be used frivolously. Its drain depends on what you are doing." Mother tells me. "Okay. I understand, Mother." I respond. "Now, how about we get some breakfast?" Mizu asks. "Fish and berries?" I say. "Sounds good. You gather the berries. I will get the fish." Mizu responds. "Okay!" I say.

~A couple years later~

We had recently settled in a vast forest area with no towns around for miles. I am working on starting the fire for our breakfast. The quiet forest is filled with birdsong and other woodland noises. Then all the sounds stop and I do too. What happened? I listen. There's no wood crackling, so it's not a forest fire. Then I hear the sounds of battle. Mother! I run in the direction Mizu had headed earlier. I arrive at a sheer cliff overlooking a river gorge.

High in the sky, two dragons are fighting. I recognize them both, one familiar, the other through a tale. Mother and Acnologia. "Mizu!" I shout. "(name)?!" She gasps. Acnologia takes advantage of Mizu's brief distraction and attacks her, causing Mizu to crash onto the cliff. I run over to her and kneel next to her. They've only been battling for a couple minutes, but Mother is already badly hurt. "Mother!" I cry. "Run, my child." "And leave you? I won't!" I protest. "You must! He is too strong." Mizu says, her eyes glistening slightly. I stand and look at Acnologia, anger boiling inside me. "You hurt her!" I yell. "So? I promised I would come back for her." Acnologia tells me. "I'm just making good on my promise to kill her." Anger consumes me and I feel stronger all of a sudden.

-Mizu's POV-

I watch helplessly as my child glares at the Black Dragon. But then I feel a powerful energy emanating from (name). Acnologia senses it as well, his smugness dissipating slightly. (name)'s hair turns jet black and aqua scales cover her body. "Dragon Force." I whisper. (name) prepares a Roar and she hits Acnologia. I expect that it barely affected him. But when the mist evaporates, there is a bruise on Acnologia's face. (name) jumps at the dragon and punches him. Acnologia swipes at my daughter but she uses his hand to jump onto his back. (name) whips Acnologia's back with her Wing Slash and the Black Dragon arches his back downwards, his mouth twisting in pain. (name) uses her Water Dragon's Lotus and then jumps off. Acnologia grabs (name) as she falls through the air.

"You're a feisty one." Acnologia tells my daughter. (name) cries out as Acnologia squeezes her. "Stop!" I cry out. He doesn't and continues to squeeze her until (name) slumps over in his grip. "(name)!" I scream. "She can't hear you." Acnologia tells me as he dangles (name) by her arm. A tear slips down my face. "I've taken a liking to her. It's been a while since I have been injured. She may give a true challenge someday." Acnologia says. "I think I'll let her live to fight me again someday. Train her well, Mizu." He tosses her onto the cliff and flies away. I crawl over and surround her. I quietly sing a Healing Serenade, the black color and the blue scales fading away as her Dragon Force drains out.

-First Person POV-

I wake to singing. "Mama?" I croak. "I am here, my daughter." Mizu responds, her voice breaking slightly. "How am I still alive? I thought that Acnologia would've killed me?" I ask as I sit up. "Oh my child, he has taken an interest in you. He will come and challenge you some day." Mizu tells me, her tone full of concern and regret. "I never should have taken with me, child. If I had not, you would-" I cut her words off with a hug. "Mother… Even if I knew this would happen, I wouldn't change a thing." I tell her. "Though I wish it was by another way, I am relieved that you are still alive. I would not have been able to bear losing another child." Mizu says.

I stand and start singing the song I heard Mizu singing. The wounds covering her body close. Mother changes to her human form. She hugs and kisses me. "Thank you, my child." "Anything for you, Mother." I say. "So now what? Do we move?" "Only if you do not want stay here, child." Mother tells me. "I think that would be a good idea." I reply. We head back to our camp and pack up our things. Then Mizu changes back into a dragon and I secure our stuff on her back. I climb onto her back and we ascend into the sky. We fly for the next couple days.

I wake up when I feel a thud beneath me. I sit up and rub my eyes. We are in a mountain forest. A small creek burbles as it winds down the mountain. "What do you think, (name)?" Mizu asks. "I think this is good." I reply. "I see a cave up ahead. We could camp in there." I dismount from Mizu's back and stretch. I take our stuff off of her back and Mother changes to her human form. "Yes, that does look like a good spot." Mizu says. "Now, there is another reason I chose this spot." "Other than the fact that it's far away from our old home?" I say questioningly. Mizu nods. "There is said to be a magical spring at the top of this mountain. I wanted to investigate it with you. Perhaps the water could help you get stronger." I nod solemnly, knowing that Acnologia intends me to fight him again someday. "But let's set up our new home first." I say. "Of course." Mizu responds.

We head up to the cave and head inside, finding that it is a very spacious cave. I set out our two bedrolls and put out my few things. I set a small crystal on a small natural shelf in the cave's wall by my bed. The crystal is from the first place I lived in with Mizu. "Alright. Let's go find that spring." I say. Mizu nods and we exit the cave. Mizu and I do a quick protection and concealment spell on the entrance of our new home. Once we're satisfied, we begin our trek up the mountainside. I reach the top first. "Well, there's a spring and I definitely sense a little bit of magical energy." I tell Mizu as she joins me at the top.

Mizu and I head over to the spring. I notice a dim glow emanating from the spring, its appearance otherwise dark, nearly black. I have a gut feeling. "Mother, give me some space." I say. Mizu looks at me quizzically for a moment but takes several steps back. I empty my magic power into the atmosphere. "What are you doing?!" Mizu exclaims as she runs towards me. I hold a hand up to her and she stops. I stagger a little as I walk into the spring. I hope this works because otherwise, I've just made myself sick for no reason. I breathe out and then begin eating the water, which I realize is actually black. There is still a bit of water left in the spring when I'm full. I stand still in the now ankle-deep spring. "(name)?" Mizu calls, her voice laced with concern. I can sense a new power within me, but I can't seem to access it. "(name)?" Mizu calls again, her tone even more worried. "I'm fine, Mother." I finally respond. I hear her issue a sigh of relief.

"Come on. Let's go home." I say. Mizu seems to want to ask something. "I think it's time we got you some new clothes." She says instead. "Yeah, I guess." I respond, looking down at my torn clothing. "I saw a town when we were flying here. It is just at the base of the mountain." Mizu says. We head down to the town and soon find a bustling marketplace. I buy a green dress and some new boots. I look at a blue scarf with a dragon-scale pattern, but I decide against buying it. We only came for necessaries. "Wait here a moment, (name)." Mizu says when we get to the edge of the town. "Okay, Mama. But don't be long, please." I respond. Mizu nods. She runs off into the town and comes back about five minutes later. We head back to the mountain cave.

The next morning, I wake to the smell of grilled fruit. "Smells delicious." I tell Mizu as I sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes. "Well, I know it is your favorite." Mother tells me. I sit down by the fire and start eating. "I think I'll head outside and do some training." I say, now done with my food. Mizu nods. I find a flat clearing and begin running through my daily drills. Why am I not able to tap into the new magic? I know that it's there. "(name)." Mizu calls. I stop my exercises. "Yes, Mother?" I say. "Did you forget what day it is?" Mizu asks. I rack my brain. "What do you mean?" I ask. "It has been four years since I adopted you." Mizu states. "Oh! Has it really been four years?" I say. Mizu nods.

"Here." Mizu says as she holds out a green package. I take it from her and unwrap it and gasp. It is the scarf I was looking at yesterday. "Thank you, Mama!" I exclaim as I hug her. "I saw you looking at it yesterday." Mizu tells me. "I thought it would be perfect for an adoption day gift." I release Mizu and wrap the scarf around my neck. "I'll never take it off." I tell Mizu. She smiles at me. Then my head suddenly throbs as an image flickers through my mind. "(name), are you okay?" Mizu asks worriedly. "Yes. I just remembered something from my past." I respond. "What did you remember?" Mizu asks. "Someone telling me happy fourth birthday the day you found me." I reply. "Well then, happy birthday." Mizu tells me. "Now, how about I teach you some new moves?" "I'm always willing to learn more." I respond.