Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. Hiro Mashima does. This story was made for fun, and not for cash. (How unfortunate.)

Notes: Also, whoever keeps reporting my stories and getting them removed... It's not funny.

Lucy's POV

I skipped happily to the Fairy Tail guild, having a wonderful smile on my face, and today was my first day going on a job with Team Natsu after being ignored for seven months because of Lisanna. They had kicked me off of the team to replace her, something that made me saddened for a while. It hurt me to always see that team laughing, smiling, and having fun when they were together.

However, today was different. Lisanna had informed everyone yesterday that she would be going on a job alone to handle something that she had to take care of, and that would give me the chance to get my spot back on the team. Even though I hadn't gotten any stronger, wouldn't they still need me? I really could be reliable, and I wanted to demonstrate that.

As I opened up the guild's entrance doors, however, my thoughts of happiness had tempted fate in the worst way possible. Natsu was kissing Lisanna on the lips, her cheeks blushing a light shade of pink while her blue eyes had got him looking mesmerized. He had been in love with her, and my feelings for him were completely meaningless from his point of view. Natsu thought of her as the perfect girlfriend, leaving me alone and heartbroken.

"Hello, Lucy. Why do you even show up here when no one wants to see you anymore?" Lisanna asked me with that nefarious smirk on her face, before Natsu laughed at her question like it was a true statement.

I didn't even bother responding to her question, still bitter about the fact that she had stolen Natsu and my team from me with her deceptiveness. She always had wickedness behind that so-called angelic smile of hers, and I was the only one who could ever get a glimpse of it. Everyone else, especially Team Natsu, saw Lisanna as this gorgeous kind girl who could do no wrong. Seriously, were they that gullible?

I honestly found it sickening that Lisanna always got so much attention, really. The Grand Magic Games of X791 have passed already, but people still love her for participating and winning in many of the events and battles that occurred. (I know that didn't canonically happen, but go with it.) Even when I got eight points in the Naval Battle, Lisanna was still chosen over me and Gajeel.

Dealing with her is troublesome, so that's why I ignored her. She's too much of a pain to handle, and I'd rather not open up any emotional wounds by thinking about Natsu. I simply glared at her for even asking such a rude question, but she just giggled at me like I was a little girl trying to be tough. Lisanna took my team and Natsu away from me, so what more could she want?

"What's wrong, little Lucy? Are you going to cry because I'm with Natsu? We've been kissing for months now." Lisanna told me in a teasing tone, before laughing at me while she held Natsu's hands in hers.

"Shut up, Lisanna. Just leave me alone." I replied sternly while walking away, not wanting to play her stupid game of arguing with me until I crack.

My heart still hadn't healed from the pain Natsu inflicted on me when he dumped me for Lisanna seven months ago, and I felt bitter and angry on the inside. My feelings had been crushed by him, and I felt like I was nothing at all. I've only survived this long, enduring the times they make me become filled with jealously, but how can I handle it anymore?

Remembering why I came here, even though I didn't have a team to back me up, I walked over to the request board to pick a job that would greatly help me pay my rent. After all, 70 thousand jewels were not easy to get. With my level of skill, I can only take easy missions for Fairy Tail. They come with little pay, but what choice do I really have in the matter?

I'm always relying on my spirits for everything, and I'm not exactly a powerhouse on my own. Without my keys, I'd really be useless to the guild. That was the main drawback of Holder Magic. I'd be nothing without it, and enemies would beat me up with ease. I'm honestly tired of being weak, and the pain hurts. I want to become stronger, but how?

As I looked frustrated, my brown eyes took notice of the jobs on Fairy Tail's request board. They were all A-Class, a step below S-Class, meaning they were very dangerous for a mage like me. Someone like Laxus or Mirajane could assist me, but the former was already out on a job while the latter was working behind the bar and caught up in watching her younger sister kiss Natsu like there was no tomorrow.

There were no easy jobs, but it was the end of the month. I didn't have enough money to pay my rent, and I didn't want to be evicted from my apartment. This was definitely a bad situation, and A-Class missions would be too tough for me and my spirits. Plus, I could only open two Zodiac gates at the same time. I didn't have much magical power, and I didn't know what to do.

Suddenly, I felt someone lightly tap my left shoulder twice. Thinking it was Natsu, I quickly turned around with a glare on my face. If he was going to start anything with me, I would kick him in the groin really hard and not even care if his fireballs feel damaged severely. He left me for Lisanna, and I'll never forget what happened on that day. I could explain, but not now. Thinking of him is too stressful at the moment.

Anyway, I turned around to see that the person who tapped my shoulder was not Natsu. Instead, it was a girl who looked exactly like Juvia. Well, she didn't look exactly like her, but this girl resembled her. She had a flyer in her hand, something that greatly looked similar to a job request, but who was this girl? She had light brown hair in curls like Juvia styled hers, fair skin, green eyes, wore a purple midriff, a blue miniskirt, and green flat shoes. Her fashion sense was adequate, but I had never seen her in Fairy Tail before.

Before I could ask for her name, she quickly grabbed my left hand with her right hand and ran outside with me while she began to giggle a bit. What was so funny? She kept smiling while we ran downstairs, taking me to the side of the guild like we were supposed to meet in secrecy for something. I had no idea what she wanted from me, but all she could do was giggle right now.

The mysterious girl explained in a calm tone, now at the side of the guild and under the shade of a large green-leafed tree, "Greetings, Lucy Heartfilia. I am a member of the Shadow Triad, and it's my job to give you what you need when it's necessary."

"What are you talking about? How do you know me, anyway?" I asked her with curiosity in my brown eyes, wondering if this girl was possibly crazy for talking to someone she didn't know.

She explained further, smirking a bit while getting six gems out of the left pocket of her blue miniskirt, "My master sends her best wishes for you, my lady. We've had our eyes on Fairy Tail for the past seven months, specifically you. You've only been going on easy jobs, and that's not right. It hurts her to see you suffer, since you have potential."

I looked puzzled by the fact that she said another group of people had their eyes on Fairy Tail, but I clenched my fists slightly with the assumption that they would try to destroy it or start a Guild War. Why was this mysterious guild's master taking interest in me? What could she possibly see in me that would make me special? What team could want me, anyway?

"What do I have potential for? You guys are just shadowy spies that probably know nothing about me." I retorted in a harsh way, before folding my arms and turning away from her with my eyes closed.

"On the contrary, my lady, I think we have a lot of information on you. Seven months ago, Natsu Dragneel dumped you for Lisanna Strauss. You were treated like dirt, ousted from the team, and you were ignored by them. Your emotions get to you, causing you to feel heartbroken when Natsu kisses Lisanna. You rely on your spirits for everything, and your self-confidence has sharply dropped because of the pain you feel. Your brown eyes are clouded by doubt, and you even tremble when your nightmares about Fairy Tail become worse than the last. Every night you cry, but how far must I go on?"

My brown eyes widened in amazement from how much knowledge this girl had gotten of the discord between me and Natsu, and she even knew that my dreams had never been good. I hadn't slept soundly since the breakup, and nothing could really heal the immense wounds in my heart. People say time heals all wounds, but I just can't believe that. She was right about me not having self-confidence, and I just couldn't stay positive.

"Lucy Heartfilia, my master offers you the opportunity to join her guild for power. She wants you to become stronger, not for her benefit, but for your own. Do you really think you'll ever find happiness, staying in a guild that causes you sorrow and agonizing pain? Eventually, you'll be worse than mediocre. You'll be like a lamb to the slaughter, easily beaten by even a single physical, verbal, or emotional strike. Your life has so much meaning, but how you live it shall decide the ending." She continued in a persuasive tone, giggling while her smile seemed rather friendly than manipulative in any way.

This offer is really big for me, and I don't know what to say from hearing those words. As I look at her hands cupped together, I see a red gem, an orange gem, a yellow gem, a green gem, a blue gem, and a purple gem. What are those items for? I've never seen anything like them, and they're beginning to glow in their respective colors. They look powerful, tempting to touch while giving off warmth, but should I accept them? How do they work?

"If you don't mind me asking, what are those?" I questioned her with a soft smile, feeling my pulse race somewhat.

"These are my master's gems, her Sacred Flowers. She created them herself, only to be used in the hands of someone with a pure and innocent soul, and they are perfect for you. These gems have properties of Holder and Caster Magic. Simply touch one, and you now have the powers of that gem. You also create the spells, too. Keep in mind that these gems are rarities, and you only get to choose one. No matter which one you choose, great power shall be given to you." Juvia's lookalike told me in a kind manner, giggling more while looking like she was eyeing the green one since it matched her eyes.

I can't believe that great power is really being offered to me right now, from gems known as Sacred Flowers. This is unbelievable, and I don't know which one to choose. They all look so pretty, and I would probably swipe them all if I had no self-control. Greediness was a bad thing, and Lisanna was the perfect example of that. She wanted attention, Natsu, his team, and possibly more. I didn't want her to look down on me, and I actually was getting tired of Fairy Tail.

"I'll have the blue one, please." I responded kindly, pointing to the sapphire blue gem with my left index finger while I giggled at the thought of receiving new power.

Before she gave it to me, however, the brown-haired girl snatched away my 10 Golden Zodiac Gate Keys from the right pocket of my blue jeans. I wanted to protest, but I somehow knew where she was going with this move. To gain one thing, something had to be sacrificed. Even though I had bonds with my keys, they kind of reminded me of how I was when I had to rely on them. With this gem, I now have some power.

"Wise choice to not take back your keys. I'll send them to another Celestial Spirit Wizard that my master knows personally. Here's your sapphire gem, Lucy Heartfilia. Make some useful spells, and don't disappoint Miss Harmonia. Here's the job request, too. Goodbye for now, and don't lose sight of your desire for power. I'm Jen, by the way." She told me sternly, before putting the blue gem and brown flyer in my hands for me to start something new, as she sunk down into a black shadow of a tree and vanished in silence.

When my brown eyes scanned the flyer, I nearly gasped when seeing that it was an A-Class job that offered 760,000 jewels as a reward. That could help me pay my rent for 10 whole months, and how could I pass it up with new power in my hands? Looking at the location, however, my jaw dropped when I took notice of where I was supposed to go. I had to go north to the Almia Castle in the coldest parts of Fiore...

How was Chapter 1? I wanted to try something a little different, and this beginning is the start. Yes, this is a StiCy and Sting will be in the next chapter. Will things get chilly? What are Lucy's new powers? What does she have to do? Stick around for Chapter 2!