Okay. So you're probably gonna think I'm out of my damn mind. But. Hear me out. This is just a little experiment, and if you don't like it, please let me know through PM's and reviews. However, I've had this lovely little idea turning in my head for a while. I've read a few like this but honestly I've found most to be choppy and too eager to get to the ending (no offense, I just really really love long, slow character development and natural feeling timelines). Also, I haven't decided on what pairing I want. I just know that I want NaLi, Jerza, Gruvia, and Mireed. I naturally lean towards LaLu, but I'm a sucker for odd ships, so it might end up a GaLu. Who knows. Also, please note that this is not a super powered Lucy story, this is simply an alternate universe (where details may be slightly altered to fit better, ie guild mark color/placement or the way someone dresses) and that this story will come second to Stronger Than You Think (as I'll be juggling the two and I sure as hell refuse to give up on my baby). Anywhoooo, as always, please enjoy and tell me anything I need to improve on!

But what if- what if young Lucky Lucy Heartfilia had run away that day? We all know the day; the one a year after her mother's passing, when she was turning 11; this birthday of hers she decided to give her father a gift, knowing she, herself, would not receive a gift on this day other than (hopefully) the gentle smile on her fathers face she so dearly missed seeing. Only to have her gift thrown so violently back in her face with scolding words to follow. What if, on this day, sweet, sad, Lucky Lucy Heartfilia... had run away? Taken her keys, and a small pink backpack with her little sister tucked away right next to her favorite white dress, other than the pink one she was wearing. This will be that Tale. The story of how little Lucy grew up next to those friends she so held dear. A story of how the Light of Fairy Tail became what she was today.

Year x778

Lucy POV

I had finally gotten off the train that took me to Hargeon. All I wanted was to get away from my Papa. Ever since Mama had left, Papa had been cold and distant, and pushed me away. It hurt so bad, it felt as if I had lost them both. I looked up to the big clock in the train station. It was only 11 o'clock in the morning, but I had no clue how to go forward. Mama had always talked about guilds. She said that she had loved hers before she had left to build the business with Papa.

Maybe that's what I'll do.

"Yeah!" I shouted out to the general area, pumping one of my fists into the air, feeling determined and receiving little attention from the older passers by.

I trotted over to the train ticket counter, and stood up on my tippy toes to try and get the train mans attention, "Excuse me, sir! I am so sorry to disturb you, but could you help me?" I asked as politely as I could. Just like how Mama taught me.

The man, seemingly in his early 30's, bent over as best he could to get a clear view of me and I saw his confusion for a moment before he smiled gently at me, "Well hello, little lady. How can I be of service?" I smiled big and wide at him, glad that what Mama had taught me was working.

"I was wondering if you knew of any guilds nearby, sir." I said as politely as possible, feeling almost sheepish at how little I knew of the world outside of home. Seemingly despite this, the man chuckled and looked down at me with genuine kindness in his eyes.

"Well I suppose that depends. You have the merchant guild called Love and Lucky in Acolypha, or you have the wizard guild Fairy Tail in Magnolia—" I cut him off with a quick yell of "that one!" and then a shy apology at my outburst, to which he chuckled again and told me the amount of the train ticket. I had enough, I realized, but only just. Handing the rest of the money to the train man I took my ticket from him. I was a wizard and I was determined to live by my magic. I had my keys secured around my waist. I was, after all, a celestial mage, just like Mama.

Deciding to sit on a bench to wait out the next hour until the train would board, I decided to fiddle with my keys a bit, until settling on pulling out my little sister, Michelle, from my backpack and making sure that she was still safe and sound. I talked to her quietly, confiding all my excitement and hope to her. It was as I was talking to Michelle that I slowly took notice of a blue haired girl my age watching me with curiosity shining in her brown eyes so similar to my own. I flashed a big smile and waved at her, stuck between wanting her to come over, so I could make my very first friend on my own, and being too nervous to talk if she did.

The next thing I knew, the small Bluenette had pulled herself up on my bench to sit next to me. I looked to the clock, noticing only 20 minutes had passed of the hour long wait, when I turned towards the girl just in time to hear her chirp, "Hi! My name is Levy. What's your name?" With a big grin on my face I looked at her for only a moment before replying.

"I've never heard the name Lucy before! It's really pretty. I noticed you were alone. Do you mind if I ask why?" She asked it so innocently. She was just so nice and I was so proud of myself for making a friend on my own. I'd have to tell Aquarius when I had the chance!

"Oh, well you see... I've run away from home. Mama died a while back and Papa just hasn't been Papa since. So I decided to be like Mama before she had me and join a guild!" I grinned real big so that she wouldn't catch the slight wobble in my voice.

"Really? I'm a part of a guild. It's called Fairy Tail, and I'm sure you could join if you asked Master." She said

"That's actually where I was going. May I assume that you are also taking the next train to Magnolia?" I asked. Levy started laughing but I had no clue as to what was so funny.

"I'm really sorry for laughing, it's just you sound so prim and proper!" Levy says after finally calming herself some.

"Well," I say, "Mama did raise me to be a Lady." Talking about her like this hurt, but I wanted to talk about Mama. Unlike Papa, I still write to her and I try my best to remember her and not let my memories go away.

"I don't really remember my family. But that's why I have Fairy Tail! I really hope you stay when you get there, I really think that we could be best friends!"

I almost can't believe what she just said. It takes me a long moment to process, but once I finally do I feel the happy tears well up in my eyes and a big grin spread wide across my face, "Do you really mean that? You promise?"

"I really do, I promise." She grinned back.

Suddenly the conductor was calling to board the train to Magnolia and as soon as I had recollected my things, Levy and I were running hand in hand onto the train.

A short while later, after Levy and I had found a carriage where we could be alone, we started talking about our magic. She had told me that she was a Solid Script mage and she told me all about how it worked. It was really cool! Finally I took out my keys and let her look at them. I had two of my Mamas gold keys, Aquarius and Cancer, as well as a gold key I had found when I was running away, which was supposed to be Taurus. There were also three silver keys: Horologium, Grampa Crux, and Lyra.

Levy looked at my keys, her eyes widening in wonder, "Wow, Lu, I've never seen celestial keys before! They're really pretty!"

I giggled at her comment, knowing I had had the same thought the first time Mama had given me hers, "I use these keys, and a chant, to call my spirits to my side. But one thing Mama always told me was that my spirits are my friends. They may not be human, but that doesn't make them tools to use. They have feelings, wants, and needs just the same and we do. Oh! By the way! Would you like to see me make a contract with a spirit?" I ask excitedly.

"Oh Lu! That's such a beautiful thing to say. I would love to see you make a contract! Which one will you be making a contract with Lu?"

I really liked the nickname she had given me. I'd never had a nickname before, the household staff had always addressed me as Lady Lucy or Ms. Heartfilia, "Well I found this key," I responded, holding up Taurus's key, "while I was running from home. I haven't made a contract with them yet, and I'm probably gonna wait until I get somewhere outside. Spirits tend to be a little unpredictable with their size, especially with fighting spirits like the zodiac." I explained to her as she watched with rapt attention.

She giggled and smiled with understanding. We fell into quiet conversation until arriving in Magnolia.

Levy POV

Lu and I departed the train and I took her hand, leading her to Fairy Tail with me. I could tell by her reaction to me wanting to be friends that she hadn't been around very many kids our age. She seemed like a little adult sometimes with how proper and polite she was. Despite that, I somehow just knew that she would fit right in at Fairy Tail.

"Hey Lu," I looked at her. She seemed to be deep in thought and when she looked at me I could see her hesitation, "don't worry about anything, okay? I promise that everyone is gonna love you as much as I already do!" I reassured her. She smiled a little more teasing and nodded her head once with a determined look transforming her face. It made me happy that I could help her.

After about 15 minutes of walking we were at the guild entrance. I looked back at Lu, giving her a sly smile before pushing the doors wide open to reveal a cacophony of noise and conversation from all the members. Cana was in the corner looking at different fortunes using her cards, Lisanna, Natsu, and Elfman were in the corner with Mirajane watching them closely from the bar stools. Erza was also at the bar, but despite the fact that she had a piece of strawberry cake in front of her, I noticed she was actually watching Gray as he sidled up to Natsu, probably to pick a fight.

Just as I was about to announce mine and Lu's arrival, a loud argument started between Natsu and Gray. When Erza was just about to stop them, Mirajane decided to tease Erza, "Why don't you just let them go at it, Erza? They're too stupid to learn any better anyways."

"What was that, demon?" Erza whipped around, coming nose to nose with Mirajane, who pushed forward, quite literally knocking foreheads with Erza.

"I said," she began emitting a dark aura, followed closely by Erza, "Why don't you—" but then Gray and Natsu had beat them to the brawl and as a chair got tossed it hit both of them in the head.

"Uh oh." I squeaked.

"What's going on Lev?" I heard Lu's question but couldn't take my eyes off of the train wreck about to happen in front of me.

Suddenly both Erza and Mirajane were on Natsu and Gray, smashing their heads together and tossing the respective boys across the guild hall.

I heard Lu squeak behind me, but just as soon as the brawl had begun, Erza and Mirajane had looked at each other, shared an understanding, and marched off to different areas of the guild. Huffing a sigh of relief, I took Lu's hand back in mine and announced our presence at last.

"Hey guys! I'm home! And I brought a new member with me!"

"Levy! Why would you go and embarrass me like that?" Lu said with a small pout. I just giggled as the rest of the guild looked our way, with Cana approaching us first.

"Hi, my name is Cana Alberona. What's your name?"

As Cana introduced herself I noticed that there was another person who's attention was on us. I was actually very surprised, as he didn't often take interest in the others around the guild lately. I was even more surprised when he decided to actually approach us.

Just as Lu was going to introduce herself to Cana, Laxus, the Masters grandson and a lightning mage himself, approached, and everybody went quiet. To my utter surprise, the boy simply walked up and looked down at Lu, his sound pods placed firmly on his ears and a small scowl adorning his sharp face. Lu looked up at him for a long moment before flashing one of what I was beginning to recognize as her signature grin, and giving a little curtsy while saying, "Hello! My name is Lucy. It's very nice to meet you, Cana. And what's your name, if you don't mind my asking?" she glanced once more at Cana, making sure not to leave her out, then turning towards Laxus once more.

"Name's Laxus, Blondie." He looked at her a moment or two more before going to say something else, but got cut off by Lu herself.

"You're a bonde too!" I was more than a little bewildered. Laxus was a famous S-class wizard who was known for his temper and willingness to zap people who irritated him.

What surprised me the most wasn't the fact that Laxus didn't zap Lu. It was that he threw his head back and laughed. I haven't heard him so much as chuckle in years but 5 minutes of being here bought Lu a full bellied laugh from Laxus Dreyar.

I looked to Lu to see her reaction, only to find a quiet look of... I don't even know what on her face. Her smile was gentle though and her eyes were the color of sunlit honey, and soft as a down blanket in the winter time. I didn't really understand it, so I looked to Laxus to watch his reaction. After he settled down a bit, he watched her with a quiet smile adorning his lips. I was shocked.

Before I could look any harder, the smile disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared, readily replaced by his hard scowl as Laxus looked towards Masters office. As if on cue, the Master came out of his office and looked around the guild hall, his eyes catching on Laxus, Lu, Cana, and myself, surprise highlighting his old features.

"What is all this commotion about? Laxus! I don't see you down here that often anymore. What's got you wondering the guild hall?"

"Tch. Whatever gramps. We've got a new recruit." He said, jerking his thumb towards Lu.

"Ah. Well, come here, child. I promise you're safe now. No matter where you came from, no matter what has happened. You have a family now. If I may ask, what is your magic?"

I watched Lu tear up again, but once more they were tears of happiness. I also saw how Laxus blanched, not knowing how to handle a crying girl, "Thank you. Thank you so, so much, sir."

Then just as promptly, Lu ran up and tackled Master in a hug.

Shocked for a moment he simply patted Lu on the back, trying his best to comfort her. I finally approached her and rubbed her back a bit, "Hey, Lu, why don't you tell Master what your magic is? I'm sure he'll find it just as amazing as I do." I said quietly. She pulled away from Master, still sitting on the floor though. I sat next to her and Cana made her way over with Laxus surprisingly following behind.

Lu smiled gently and pulled out her Celestial keys before saying with a wobbly voice, "I'm a Celestial Spirit mage. I only have three gold keys and three silver keys right now, but I want to get stronger and learn how to fight at my spirits sides better, to help them in any way I can!" She said as that determined look I was becoming so familiar with washed upon her features once more.

Master smiled, "I know you're a holder-type mage, but let me tell you, six keys—and three of them gold ones at that— is nothing to snuff your nose at, miss.. ah—"

Lu giggled again, "my name is Lucy."

"Yes, Lucy. It suits you perfectly. But as I was saying. Do you have contracts with any of the gold keys?" Master asked.

"Yup!" She said proudly, "I've been able to summon Aquarius since before— well, since I was little. And Cancer does my hair for me too. But I only just got Taurus. I haven't had the chance to make a contract with them." I stared in awe. From what I had read about Celestial Spirit mages, it took a lot of magic to summon even a silver key. To have been able to summon a gold key since she was little? If she used caster magic, I would probably put her on par with Erza or Mirajane. But at the same time, I realize that's not how her magic works. She could be very powerful in her own right one day, but I don't think that she could put out the same kind of devastating force wielded by the two clashing female mages we were watching earlier.

My thoughts were interrupted by the Master speaking once more, "Well, Lucy, where would you like your guild mark, and in what color?" He asked.

She looked around at Cana, Laxus, Master and myself, "Um, well, I don't quite know. Would you mind if I saw some of yours to get an idea?" We all started to move our shirts to give her a look, and I was yet again surprised by how easily Laxus gave in to Lucy's requests, when Mest teleported in the middle of us all, making Lu and I squeak with surprise.

"Hi! I'm Mest, you're really cute, ya know? This is my Fairy Tail mark!" He said, showing off his upper bicep, and seemingly trying to flex.

Laxus had just grabbed him and tossed him across the guild when Natsu also burst in, "I'm Natsu! And my guild mark is better than his hands down!"

"What the hell is with you brats bursting into our damn conversation?" Laxus growled as he zapped Natsu, "she asked us. Not you two morons."

Lucy simply giggled, "I think I've decided." She said after seeing our threes marks finally.

"Well what would you have then, child?"

"I want it in gold on my shoulder blade, just like Lev!" She said brightly. I couldn't help how my heart swelled with pride that she would want her guild mark like mine.

"Alright, here you are then." Master said as I heard the pop of the guild stamp leave her skin.

"Oh, Lu! It looks so pretty!" I smiled brightly.

"It suits you" Laxus muttered, but let a small hint of a smile slip through that no one but myself seemed to notice. Lu took it as a smile, but I knew better. He cared for her, and she just didn't know how out of character that was for him.

"It really does look good, Lucy. Hey, would you like to sit with me? I'd really like to get to know you." Cana asked Lu.

"Yeah! Will you come sit with us too Lev? Laxus?" She looked at the both of us with hope glittering in those amber eyes and I just couldn't say no. Apparently neither could Laxus because he simply grunted and motioned for her to lead the way while I just nodded vigorously and walked next to her and Cana towards an open table while Laxus trailed behind.

"Hey, Lu? Do you have any where to stay? I'm sure you could get a room in Fairy Hills and then we could go on some jobs and stuff so we can pay rent." I offered.

"Until then, you can stay in my room, if you'd want. I know Levy's room is floor to ceiling books." Cana said snickering.

"Really?!" Lu looked at me with hearts in her eyes, "can I read some of them?"

I giggled, "Sure, Lu." And she squealed happily.

"Hey Laxus, where do you live?" Lu asked. Cana and I froze up for a second before we heard Laxus give a small chuckle.

"I just moved out of gramps' place to a place of my own outside of town. Maybe when everything gets settled you can come see it with my team." It was at that particular moment that Master had decided to walk up, and upon hearing Laxus's offer, keeled over, holding his chest and I could swear I saw his ghost leaving his body. Laxus simply looked at his grandfather, made his infamous little tch sound, and promptly ignored the Master entirely.

Finally and quickly, master recovered himself and hopped up onto our table, "Lucy, this is your room key to Fairy Hills. This month you won't have to pay rent, but that is no reason to dilly-dally. Rent is 100,000 jewel a month, and from the looks of that small backpack, it looks like you need to buy clothes too. Feel free to decorate your room however you choose and don't do too much damage." He finished, handed Lu the key, and walked back up to his office.

We all talked for a few more hours until we all decided that we'd meet back in the guild tomorrow morning and Cana wanted to take Lu for her first ever job. It was all so exciting and I couldn't wait for the next day.

Laxus walked us— ahem, Lu— to the edge of Fairy Hills grounds and then took off, leaving us three to go to our own rooms and think about what a weird day it had been. I smiled at my ceiling, after laying down for the night. I couldn't help the giddy feeling of excitement run through my veins one last time before sleep took me under.

Phew! Now that I have this idea out and about, I feel a bit better. I warned you guys that there would be some differences! I know what you're thinking. Lucy is 11 and Laxus is (about) 16. Worry not, dear readers!! Laxus is not a pedo. The looks I'm talking about here are strictly platonic, if not familial. Now, I don't know if you've read some of my other stuff but I've decided to do a little QA at the end of each chapter where I answer your questions and concerns. So shoot me a PM or leave a review!