Hello! Thanks for considering to read this fanfic! Be warned that this fanfic isn't focused on Nalu, but there are several things here and there. As well as a few other pairings like Gruvia and Gale. I'm sorry if your favorite character isn't included in the story. I wasn't able to fit in all of the Fairy Tail guild in. I hope you like it! Enjoy!

Lucy ran. She ran faster than she had ever run before. Her black cloak waved behind her as she sprinted through the thick woods that seemed endless. It was nearly impossible to distinguish the cloaked figure from the eerie darkness of the forest. Her only source of light was the glowing stars that looked like grains of salt spilled throughout the sky.

Any other time, it would've brought her comfort and warm memories of her mother, but now she had forgotten the sky even existed. Her mind was only focused on running and nothing more. Her legs ached profusely and her throat burned huffing in the brisk air, but she didn't dare slow down. Her nose stung and tingled like thousands of the tiniest of needles were pricking her.

Lucy's hands reached to her belt in search of the pouch of silver and gold keys that never left her side. When her numb fingers found it, she clutched the pouch protectively and let out a hefty sigh of relief. The keys filled her with a strange, but familiar warmth. One that was strikingly similar to the presence of her mother. They were a burden on her, but she'd never give them up.

Her mother entrusted her with the keys. She'd protect them whatever the cost, just as her mother did. Even if her life was on the line. She'd die before anyone took the keys from her. Lucy knew they held a great amount of significance for her and her mother. It seemed like the keys held her mother in them and touching them made her feel immediately closer to her. They were one of her only comforts, along with the vast night sky, ever since the death of her mother.

Lucy didn't look back. She didn't dare. The only thing she knew to do now was run and look ahead. She had no idea if they were on her tail. They could be right behind her, a mere arm's length away, their hands reaching out to grab her from behind. Lucy's heart quickened at the thought. The uncertainty brought her immense anxiety and paranoia, but she willed herself stay hopeful.

She'd keep running until she died if she had to. She had to make it there. With every step, she knew she was getting closer and that thought willed her forward. She already messed up once and it had cost her everything. She couldn't make another mistake. She wouldn't make another mistake, or surely all hope for her was lost. They knew and that fact pained Lucy. They knew she had the keys and she couldn't change that. But she could make sure they never got their hands on them. Even so, she knew just like she'd stop at nothing to keep them safe, they'd stop at nothing to take them for themselves.

-Crash Course for Your Convenience-

There are many Key Keepers in Earthland and many keys as well. Keys come in many different types but come in two main categories: silver and gold. Silver keys are easier to find, easier to use, weaker in power, and lesser in value. There are keys based on flowers, people, gods, elements, emotions, and so on. But the most valuable known keys are the gold Celestial Spirit Gate Keys, which are currently in the possession of Lucy Heartfilia. Other Key Keepers and the guilds they support would do anything to get their hands on them.

The keys opened up rooms in a series of large towers scattered throughout Earthland called Keeper towers, or more commonly simply just towers. Towers have an official name that is magically generated in a record of all the keys in existence. Its theorized that a new tower appears after a certain number of keys has been produced in Earthland. Once all the rooms in a tower are completed, it disappears from existence. It is also rumored that once a tower is completed, a gold key appears in Earthland. The rooms hold many monsters and creatures, as well as the spirit themselves. The rooms hold many rare treasures and gave you immense wealth, that is if you're able to complete the rooms. Key Keepers team up with guilds made up of adventures that help complete the rooms or, less commonly, solo adventurers.

Keys and Towers appear naturally from an unknown source in nature. There are many theories surrounding the purpose of keys and its magic, but little to no answers have been found regarding the topic. They first appeared in X100. Their existence was unknown to civilization until the discovery of the first tower three years later and the birth of the first Key Keeper in X105. From then on, there was a steady progression of towers, Key Keepers, and Keys throughout Earthland. Information was gathered on the towers and their existence became more known, as well as accepted throughout. The thirty year period after the Guild Center was created in X115, in which guilds were formed and appearance of keys, Key Keepers, and towers, is known as The Gate Way.

It's also important to note, that once a room is completed, the room and its key are supposedly taken from existence. However, it is rumored that a spirit can latch onto a Keeper and become a continuous aid to them and whoever the spirit's assistance is granted, however, there have been little to no reported instances of this ever occurring. If a room is failed, the key disappears and reappears somewhere else hidden for another Keeper to find it. This is what makes keys so valuable. They grant you the ability to great power and wealth, but if mess up it can all slip through your fingers and into another's.

Key Keppers are the only ones with the ability to use a key. They inherited the ability from a relative or are born spontaneously with the ability. That is why it is very important for beginning guilds or solo adventurers to get a Key Keeper. A Key Keeper can use any type of key, but there is usually specific types that are better suited for each one. The result of using a key type that isn't best suited for the Key Keeper could be the failure to open its room, inability to leave a room, difficulties when transporting into the room, and/or creatures and things that don't belong in the room or these things missing from the room. In many instances, this has lead to the disappearance of the Key Keeper and their party. Using a key incorrectly can also have similar outcomes.

All Key Keepers and a very small amount of humans have the ability to feel the power of a key, though many are unaware of the skill. Key Keepers also have a certain amount of the same magic that makes key and towers appear within them. The amount of power that a Key Keeper holds isn't very important regarding silver keys but can come into play when trying to use gold keys. It is possible for a Key Keeper to not have enough power to open gold key room. It is possible to increase the amount of power through training, but the existence of this power is unknown to most Key Keepers.

-Earlier that night-

Lucy read a large book in the private library about astrology. The book was rather large and filled with brilliant pictures of stars and neatly formatted paragraphs about them that Lucy admired endlessly. Her heart filled with bitter-sweet remembrance. It was her mother's work. Her pride and joy after Lucy. Layla Heartfilia taught her daughter everything in the book at a young age, but Lucy never failed to read it over and over and still find it fascinating. With every word she read, she could hear her mother's sweet voice, feel the warmth of her hug, and smell the comforting aroma of vanilla and aging books.

As Lucy finished the last page, she looked up with a timid sadness. She reached to her side and took the keys from their usual place on her belt and set the leather pouch that contained them on the table. She eyed it for a moment; debating whether or not it would cheer her up to look at them or bring her more sadness. She sighed and, despite the slight aching she felt in her heart, took out the keys and examined them. She had thirteen gold keys. One for every astronomical constellation and a thirteenth that her mother hadn't told her much about. She then had five silver keys that were lesser in value. She found them all to be rather beautiful, but it frustrated her how little she knew about them. Her mother had treasured them so much. She wished she were here to tell her about them.

Lucy heard a knock on the door and quickly returned the keys back to their place on her side. She hated the feeling of heat that she felt in her flushed faces and her heart that fluttered anxiously. She quickly reached out her arm and picked up another smaller fiction book about forbidden love. She didn't know why she felt the need to hind the fact that she was reading her mother's book. Maybe she didn't want to worry others or maybe she just wanted it to be a private ordeal; something close and personal to her.

"Come in," Lucy called sweetly as soon as her face wasn't as warm. Lucy's eyes widened in alarm as a small maid quickly came in, locking the library door with one of the small iron keys around her neck. She looked at Lucy with panicked eyes that dug into her like daggers. Lucy had seen that expression before, upon the discovery of her mother's death. The maid's small chest heaved up and down out of breath. Lucy could her an intense thumping in her ears. Something horrid rose in her chest. The maid ran towards Lucy frantically.

"Miss Lucy. It's happened." Lucy's eyes widened with instant terror. No trace of warmth from before was present, as she was now deathly pale and chilled to her core. She knew what it was immediately. "They're coming towards the house. Hundreds of them. Someone must've told." Lucy could feel tears pooling in her eyes. Her whole body shook. She grasped her chest in hopes of relieving the throbbing lump that had developed in her chest that was twisting with panic and fear. "Lucy, I'm so sorry. Mr. Jude has ordered me to send you away immediately." The young maid's voice trembled, struggling to get out the hurried words.

"H-how. I can't leave all of you here! What if they hurt you!" Lucy cried to the maid. The girl shook her head. Tears rolled down her pale cheeks.

"Lucy, you mustn't worry. It's our job. Layla entrusted us with your safety. We will protect you will our life, Lucy Heartfilia. Now quickly, take these. I'll show you to a passageway in the fireplace. You have your keys, keep them safe," The young maid handed Lucy a cloak, a pouch full of money, a lantern, and a small dagger. She gave Lucy a small smile. It was filled with a dreadful sadness, but meek hopefulness as well.

With a painful effort, Lucy put the cloak on, tied the pouch to her belt, slid the dagger in her boot, and followed the maid to the fireplace at the front of the library. Her movements were heavy and sluggish. Too real for her to even consider this being a dream. The maid found a seemly ordinary brick a pushed it. It made a clicking sound and the base of the fireplace slide open with a low churn. The maid lit the lantern quickly.

"The passage leads to the forest. You will want to head to the spring with the waterfall your mother always took you to. Behind the waterfall is a cave. You'll be safe there for the night. Don't bring the lantern out of the passage. Don't speak to anyone and avoid eye contact." The maid instructed. Lucy nodded and the maid gave a concerned look. "And Lucy, Run. Run and don't stop until you're safe." Lucy hugged the maid. She didn't want to let go, but she had to, and if was so hard. She slipped inside the passage. She couldn't turn her back, but as the base of the fireplace slid back into place, and the pounding of the library doors began, Lucy knew she had to.

-Current Time-

Lucy heard the familiar roaring of the waterfall and smelt the cold dampness of the spring. The moonlight danced on the waterfall beautifully. She had never been to the waterfall at night. It was immensely beautiful. She only wished she could've experienced it at a better time. Lucy carefully slid along the base of the large rock structure that the waterfall fell from, clinging to the rock in front of her. She slipped through the small opening at the side of the waterfall, careful not to get wet.

Behind the rushing water was dark. Lucy shivered. She didn't dare go fully into the cave or she'd surely lose her mind in the darkness. Instead, she sat shallowly inside it, so she could still see the peaceful twinkle of a blueish light sprinkle on the water. It comforted her as she wrapped herself in a tight ball. She felt her heart tighten and her throat start to ache. She eyes brimmed with tears. Her tears dropped like the waterfall she watched. She cried silently to herself. She was all alone and afraid of what tomorrow would bring her. It seemed like in that moment she'd never find warmth again.

Natsu sat in front of the fire bored as he often found himself doing during the night. His guildmates all had fallen asleep leaving him awake and bored and eager for daytime. He watched the flames dance and flicker and occasionally shift when the wood burnt too much to support itself. He was always so mesmerized by it and sometimes he was able to forget anything else existed.

Natsu felt very small in that moment and the world felt so big. This was why Natsu didn't like silence. It made him doubt himself and have thoughts like that. He didn't like nights either, as it allowed things to hide and mask themselves. Silence and darkness together were rather deadly. Natsu found it extremely isolating. Even though the fire was right in front of Natsu, chills ran through him.

His guild desperately needed to get stronger. But in order to do that they need a Key Keeper. Everyone they had found refused because the guild was so small and weak. Natsu was the one that lifted everyone's spirits, that kept them motivated, he couldn't afford to doubt himself or to doubt his friends. But sometimes he thought that maybe he was feeding them false hope and he knew for certain his friends wouldn't hold onto such a hope for much longer. They were getting restless, and so was he.

While Natsu was sure the nine of them would become stronger, and he hoped immensely the strongest, he knew that they wouldn't really make any progress without a Key Keeper.

He couldn't let himself forget that this was only the beginning for them. Good things were to come.

Good things came to those who wait. Natsu hoped he didn't have to wait long cause his patience was running out. He wanted to become stronger. He wanted to protect who he cared for like he wasn't able to before. He forced himself to remember what he was getting stronger for. The memories hurt him, but they made him tougher. As long as he had them and his friends, Natsu wouldn't stop fighting. This made Natsu give himself and his sleeping friends a small grin.

They'd be the best. He knew they would. All they needed was a Key Keeper.

I'll try and update frequently but this one has a bit of a more intricate plot and I want to make sure the chapters are up to par and the story heads in the right direction. In other words, don't freak out if it takes a couple weeks to give you a chapter.

Thanks for taking the time to read.

Have a lovely day and review and let me know what you think. It's really appreciated.

Edited and refined: 1/29/2018