The sun shining through the sheer curtains woke Lucy Heartfilia on a Thursday morning. She was glad she woke before the maids came in this time. That meant she had some time for herself before she was bombarded with dress fittings and meals with people she didn't know. She had always wished to go off on an adventure, join a guild. She kept a copy of Sorcerer Weekly under her bed at all times, reading it late at night and imagining the life she could have had.

Lucy was a wizard. She was a Celestial Mage, the same as her mother was before her. When she passed on, Layla Heartfilia's keys were passed on to her daughter, but Lucy was seldom able to use them for anything other than having them keep her company.

She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her brown eyes. Her hair was sticking up in a million different directions. Her keys were on display on her night stand and she smiled when she saw them glinting in the sunlight. She had four gold zodiac keys. She was trying to convince her father to let her go in search of the other eight, but he said no every time she asked. She also had three silver keys that she got for Christmas's and birthdays.

Lucy swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. The wood floor was cold under her bare feet. Walking over to the curtains, she pulled them open and the room became brighter. She opened the window, a warm breeze blowing her blonde hair back behind her shoulders.

"It's a beautiful day, Mom," she said, looking up at the sky with a content smile. "I wish you were here to see it."

Lucy was about to turn back into her room and wait for the maids to come in and help her dress when she saw someone walking up the alway. She walked out onto the balcony, putting her hands on the rail and leaning forward to get a better look at the stranger. She couldn't see the person's face, but she did see a full head of pink hair.

"Princess."

Lucy turned and saw a young maid standing in front of her. She had a head of pink hair and bright blue eyes. Lucy wished she knew her name. "Yes," she said, walking back into the room and closing the door. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

The maid didn't say anything. Instead, she got out a frilly pink dress and helped Lucy into it. Lucy had never been much of a fan of dresses, if she were being honest, but she knew it would upset her father if she said that. He always said how she looked so much like her mother; he even called her Layla by accident sometimes.

"Your father picked out new shoes for you, Princess." The maid grabbed a box on the end table and opened it. Inside were sparkly glass slippers, and Lucy gasped.

"Oh, wow," she breathed, running her finger over them before the maid took them out and put them on her feet. They were a lot more comfortable than she thought, but she was still worried the weight of her body and this dress would break them and she would end up with bloodied and scarred feet. "May I ask, what is your name?"

The maid smiled. "You're the first to ask, Princess. My name is Virgo."

She cocked her head to the side. "You're named after a zodiac? Like my spirits?" she asked, looking over to her keys, Virgo's eyes following suit.

Virgo nodded. "I am a celestial spirit, Princess. I knew your mother, but we did not have a contract together. She was kind to me, though, so I'm here caring for her family when she cannot." She bowed her head.

Lucy's eyes widened. "Then can...Can we make a contract?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with hope.

Virgo reached out and grabbed Lucy's hand. In it, she left a beautiful gold key. "I am always free for you, Princess."

"But how did you get here?" Lucy didn't quite understand because she knew that she hadn't seen this woman before.

She smiled. "I came this morning. Your father does not know anything about my identity, Princess. But I cannot stay in this world forever."

"I'll cover for you," Lucy said with a smile.

The smile left on Virgo's face was kind and it made Lucy feel warm inside. She was about to say more when her father entered her room.

He was never allowed to enter her room, but the distressed look on his face worried Lucy, and the warm feeling she had a moment ago was gone and replaced with ice.

"Sorry to barge in, sweetheart. But there's trouble in town."

"What's happened?"

Jude's face was pale and Lucy's heart sunk down to her feet. "It's the dragon. Lucy, we need the help of all the wizards we can get. He's going on a rampage!"