A/N
Hello to anyone who has stumbled onto this fic! This story is on another website ( ), but I wanted to move it over here to reach out to more people. This story is a little different from the one on quotev. It's edited a bit and I may have a little more. The plotline is still the same. You can read the story here or you can go to the link over here - story/4907086/Demons-Hour
It was a gorgeous, sunny day with puffy clouds floating across the bright sky. Inside the Fairy Tail guild, a young Natsu was head to head with Gray challenging him to a fight. Erza and Mirajane had their foreheads pressed together daring each other to make the first move, while Cana was sitting quietly at a table sorting her cards. This was years ago before Lucy had come to Fairy Tail.
This was the start of something terrifying that would haunt Earthland's history.
"Natsu! Fighting Gray again?" a voice called teasingly from the large oak doors. Natsu stopped scuffling with Gray and turned around. At the doorway was a tiny girl with long blond hair flowing down to her hip. She had had large purple eyes that gleamed playfully and a smile that could light up the entire city of Magnolia. She beamed at everyone while walking to where Gray and Natsu were fighting. "I thought you promised me you weren't going to fight. You know fighting only brings-"
"Bloodshed, hate, painful scars, etc," Natsu said, finishing the sentence for her. "Zeyla, I think I had this lecture at least a million times."
Zeyla frowned. "It's only been 1,246 times. I've been counting."
Natsu shook his head. She would never understand.
Natsu's mind drifted off to a world where Zeyla would finally understand the point of a battle. Even though he wouldn't say it out loud in her face, he would have to admit that she wasn't what most would call a qualified mage. She didn't have an identified magic power yet. The only reason that Gramps had let her into the guild was because she was on death's door when they found her bleeding in the streets during a thunderstorm. In the time she was recovering, she had managed to charm the entire guild and they allowed her to stay. In that time too, Natsu had become extremely close to her and they became the best of friends. They shared everything with each other, exchanging laughs and tears. She was the only person other than Erza that could stop him and Gray from fighting.
Suddenly, Natsu jumped back from the sudden movement in his face.
"Hullo squinty eyes? You still there? Or are you off to Lala Land dreaming about someone?" Zeyla said, smirking.
"I was not dreaming about Lisanna! I don't even like her!" Natsu snapped back.
Zeyla laughed at her friend's stupidity. "I never said anything about Lisanna. You said that yourself," said Zeyla. Her eyes narrowed in mischief as Natsu's face turned a beet red.
"Catch me if you can!" she yelled over shoulder as she began running.
Natsu started screaming, "I do not like Lisanna! I am so gonna beat you up once I get my hands on you!"
"Then catch me. I doubt you can!" Zeyla called over to her friend.
The entire guild of Fairy Tail froze and watched as the two children ran around the guild chasing each other. Erza shook her head, "They are so immature running and teasing each other like that."
Mirajane turned around with a scowl on her face. "Oh really Erza? You shouldn't be talking, Miss I'm-gonna-destroy-everything-in-my-path."
Erza jumped up to face Mirajane. "Is that right Prettyface? You seem to be like that too. You want to fight?"
Mirajane smirked. "You're on."
Suddenly, a huge shadow fell onto the guild hall. "Is this fighting I am hearing?" a huge voice boomed. The entire guild of Fairy Tail turned to the voice and shrunk back. Natsu and Zeyla stopped chasing each other and looked up with a little bit of fear. Then, with a quick pop, the large shadow diminished into a man no bigger than the size of two beer bottles.
"Well at least let me join!"
"Gramps!" Natsu exclaimed. "Of course you can join." Master stood back up to his full height and yelled in Natsu's face, "Of course not, you dense boy! The Magnolia Harvest Festival is tonight. I am not going to have a beat-up guild on a holiday. Understood everyone? Especially you, Natsu."
Natsu just grinned and turned to Zeyla. "Aye, Zeyla you want to go to the festival with me tonight? It's your first year after all."
Zeyla's smile wavered a bit as if was hesitating. Something was holding her back from saying yes, but the worry that appeared on her face soon disappeared as fast as it came. "Sure Natsu! Just come over later!"
She then quickly turned around and ran out of the guild. Tears created a path, trailing where she ran. Natsu tilted his head. Why was she so upset when invited to the festival?
The sun had started to set, and everything was bathed in the golden half-light. Lights were starting to flicker on as the sky became darker and darker.
Natsu stood at the door of a apartment. Just as he was about to kick the door open, it opened to reveal a tall woman with pink hair. The woman frowned. "Natsu, how many times do I have to tell you? No kicking down the door to get in. I had to replace the door at least six times already. And that was just you. I'm not counting the time you brought over an explosive plant. Or the time you and Gray started fighting in front of the doorstep. Or the time Erza decided to impale you with her sword and missed and hit my door instead."
Natsu scuffed the ground and turned his head sheepishly. "Sorry. I'm just excited to go to the festival tonight. Gramps said the floats this year are gonna be better than last year. Zeyla has to see it since this is her first year. So is she here?"
The woman smiled at his childish heart. "Come in, Natsu. She's still in her room, so you can wait in the kitchen."
"Yeah!" Natsu yelled. He rushed through the door and into the kitchen. It was a cozy home, the typical family house. Windows were covered with lace curtains on every wall. A round wooden table stood at the center with a white cloth covering the top and two chairs.
"Natsu Dragneel," a cute voice drawled from behind him.
He turned to see Zeyla at the bottom of the stairs. She was wearing a short white dress with cute yellow daises sewn on the hem of the dress. Hands on her hips, she struck a pose. "Like it?" she asked.
Natsu rolled his eyes. "Oh yes, your majesty. I love it. It is the most beautiful thing my eyes have laid on. The white color of-"
"Natsu, don't be mean," Zeyla said with a frown. "Or else . . ."
"Or else what?"
"I'll take your scarf!" Zeyla yelled. Natsu's eyes widened. This was the only thing left that reminded him of Igneel. He had never taken this scarf off, nor was he planning to any time soon. Zeyla giggled. "I'm just joking. I know how important that scarf is to you. Oh, by the way, I got something for you. You wait here. I need to get it."
Zeyla ran back up the stairs and left Natsu standing at the base of the stairs wondering why Zeyla would get him a gift. The festival wasn't this special like Christmas. It wasn't his birthday either. His head was spinning from the thinking he was doing. Why the heck would Zeyla get him a gift? Zeyla soon came thundering down the stairs with her hands behind her back.
"Close your eyes," she demanded. Natsu obeyed and shut his eyes. He could feel her warm, tiny fingers brush across his neck and something settled near the top of his chest. "Ok, you can open your eyes now!"
Natsu opened his eyes and saw Zeyla pointing at his neck. "Look at it!"
Natsu lifted the chain of the necklace and peered at the pendent. It was a silver dragon with its tail wrapped around a glowing red-orange crystal.
"It's sort of like a mood necklace," Zeyla explained. "But it can give you energy boosts as long as you believe in yourself and the value of friendship. When you do, it glows a red orange-y yellow color. But when you don't, it changes to a black. Don't let that happen, promise?"
Natsu smiled at the gift, "I promise, Zeyla, but I have a question. Why did you give this me? The festival isn't even supposed to be about gift giving.""
Zeyla frowned. "Natsu, this was the day we promised to be best friends forever, remember?"
Natsu's eyes widened and his face paled. Zeyla sighed and shook her head. Natsu started frantically waving his hands in front of him. "I'm sorry! Agh, how did I forget? I'll make it up to you; I promise!"
"Natsu!" Zeyla bawled. "How could you forget?"
"I'm so sorry. Please, I'll do anything!" Natsu begged.
Zeyla grinned and wiped her tears. "Gotcha!" she said, grinning.
Natsu pouted and said, "It's not fair. You can fake cry so easily, you could trick anyone."
"That's why you love me!" Zeyla smiled cheekily. "Come on Natsu, let's go now. I don't want to miss the festival. It's my first year after all!" Zeyla ran out the door and into the brightly light town of Magnolia.
"Zeyla! Wait for me!" Natsu shouted. Zeyla just laughed, and Natsu had to grin. This is why he was best friends with Zeyla. She could make you smile no matter what the mood was.
The pair walked through the streets gazing at everything from the food to all the goods that traders were trying to sell them. Zeyla then stopped at a stand and seemed to look at something longer than the others.
"What is it, Zey?" asked Natsu.
Zeyla just shook her head. "It's nothing…." She said trailing off.
"Come on just tell me." Natsu begged. Zeyla didn't say anything but pointed to necklace. The necklace was like a compass with four arrows pointing in the cardinal directions. At the center of the compass was a shining blue jewel the color of the sea.
"Oooh, it's pretty. You wanted it? Here, I'll buy it for you, this way; I will have gotten you something for today!" Natsu exclaimed. Zeyla shook her head and pointed to the price tag.
"7,000 jewels! That is outrageous!" Natsu screeched. Zeyla smiled.
"It's fine. You don't have to get me anything. You're my friend, you're my gift."
Natsu just grabbed the seller by the collar and pulled him behind the stand and whispered in his ear. The seller frowned and Natsu whispered some more. The seller nodded and Natsu handed him some money and the seller handed over the necklace.
"Natsu, what did you say?" Zeyla questioned.
"Not much. All that matters is that you have the necklace now, right?" Natsu said with a smile.
"WOAH." He gasped as Zeyla slammed him with a hug. "Thank you." She whispered.
Natsu and Zeyla started making their way to the floats. Squeezing through the crowd, they were able to get into the front and were able to see the floats clearly. "Look at that one Natsu." Zeyla exclaimed.
"Hmm?" Natsu turned his head and the sight wanted to make him gag. The float was all pink with white lace. Red hearts covered the rim and roses were being thrown from it. On it were three girls doing a dance routine which all whom were dressed in hot pink. The sight made him feel like he was on a train.
"That," he said motioning to the float, "makes me want to throw up."
Zeyla doubled over. "You look like you're on transportation, Natsu. I don't get it, why can't you handle transportation."
Natsu started to feel his blood boil. He hated talking about his fear of transportation. It was a dumb weakness that he liked to avoid talking about. Zeyla would always tease him about it, but this time he just snapped.
"Well I'm sorry if I can't handle transportation. At least I'm not scared of the dumb moon. What have you got against it anyway? You hardly come out at night and whenever someone mentions the moon you get annoyed and scared. You're such a weakling always hiding from it. What are you going to do when you reach your teen years? You can't stay in Fairy Tail. It's for wizards only. You'll be worthless."
He saw Zeyla stiffen as if he hit a sensitive spot. "Serves her right. You shouldn't go teasing people about their fears." Natsu thought with satisfaction. Zeyla's lips moved and she mumbled something. "What did you say? I can't hear you." Natsu said.
Zeyla spun around with her eyes were full of tears and fists clenched.
"I said you have no idea what you're talking about!" She screamed, "You have no right to say that!"
Suddenly the entire town was quiet, all listening to the exchange happening between the two young children.
"YOU SAY YOU'RE MY FRIEND? A FRIEND WOULD BE ABLE TO KNOW WHY I'M AFRAID OF THE MOON, WHY I HATE IT, BUT YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T. YOU EVEN FORGOT THIS DAY. FORGET THAT PROMISE NATSU." Zeyla raised her hands above her head and brought them down, "MOON SHARDS!"
The moonlight that fell on the street was suddenly turned into daggers and they flew at Natsu with incredible speed. They sliced his face and his arms spilling blood. Zeyla didn't even look back. She ran out of the town. The townspeople started to go after her but she stomped on the ground and the moon light made a wall. She then stopped and slowly tuned around. Zeyla crossed her arms then swung them to her sides. Natsu started to feel something creeping up his legs. In horror, he looked down and saw that whit vines were creeping up his legs prohibiting him from moving.
"Zeyla, wait I didn't mean it. I was just angry, I didn't mean it. Zeyla please wait!"
It was no use. Zeyla was already swallowed up by the dark forest.
