Happiness
Chapter 1:The Beginning

The soft winds that blew across from the sea to the green hill brushed passed against four energetic kids. "Ne, ne, Natsu. Where's Igneel?" the blonde-haired girl asked as she finished her dandelion wreath before placing it on the scarlet-haired girl who smiled passionately in return as a sign of thanks. The pink-haired boy stopped running after his raven-haired friend which they both see each other as "enemies". He took a while to think about it before sniffing the spring breeze. "I dunno Luce. I can't pick up his scent from the air around 'ush," he replied bluntly before punching his eternal enemy in the stomach.

"Aww. I wanted to give my other wreath to Igneel," the blonde pouted as she twirled her other wreath around her tiny delicate fingers. "Lucy. Why not give it to Natsu?" the scarlet-haired girl suggested as she stood up, giving Lucy a warm securing smile. The blonde didn't know what to say, so instead, she just followed what her friend had just recommended.

"Ne Natsu -" Before Lucy could even finish her sentence, Gray ran passed her and accidentally pushed her to the side, making her drop her delicately made wreath onto the healthy grass. As she bent down to pick it up, Natsu came running towards her in full speed, in hopes to catch up with the raven-haired boy.
"Stop running away you coward!" Natsu screamed, not noticing that he just stepped on something which made Lucy cry out loud - Attracting the raven and scarlet-haired kids who were just in their own world.

"Natsuuuu. What did you do to Lucy which made her cry?" the scarlet-haired girl asked with a deadly smile which gave out a killer aura. Natsu took a few steady steps back, not wanting to choke on the deadly air nearby, "It wasn't me! Luce! Tell her that it wasn't me!" Natsu begged as he looked at her with pleading eyes which made Lucy's heart somehow melt, but those eyes aren't going to fool her. Instead, she continued to cry but even louder than before. "Geeze. Just do something to stop her from crying you dimwit!" the raven-haired boy shouted, pointing over to the pinkette who had no idea what to do. He was about to say something else until he felt a piercing gaze go through his small body. "Hurry up!" the boy hissed again.

The pink-haired boy quickly looked around the area, trying to think of a good action to make his friend cheer up. He saw his scarlet-haired friend tilt her head, pointing over to the wreath that laid near his footing. "Ahh. Luce! You must have wanted me to wear it right? It looks really pretty," Natsu complimented as he picked up the wreath before placing it on his head.

Lucy stopped crying and smiled brightly at Natsu before looking back to her friend who gave out a satisfied "hummpf" as she nodded her head. "Is it really pwetty?" Lucy asked as her soft brown eyes glimmered under the warm sunlight. "Hai," the pinkette replied earnestly. The blonde was indeed satisfied so she walked over to her waiting scarlet-haired girl.

"Erza... Can I see draw our names on that tree using your magic?" Lucy asked using her sweetest voice as much as possible. It's been ages since everyone has seen their friend use her magic in front of them. Since Erza was the strongest out of the four, she rarely uses her magic when it comes to separating the two fighting boys who never knew the word of giving up.

Erza thought about it for a moment before equipping into her Heaven's Wheel armor. "Sugoi!" Lucy cheered as she watched her friend do elegant cuts on the bare trunk of a beautiful Sakura tree (Cherry Blossom). What was written on the trunk? Of course, their names of course. Being only a 10-year-old girl, Erza had the writing of an adult which impressed Lucy all the time.

"Gray! Natsu! Come and check this out!" Lucy called out, waving to attract the boys attention, "COMING!" they both yelled together before glaring at each other in annoyance. "STOP COPYING ME!" the two boys yelled at each other. Soon, they made their way to where Lucy and Erza stood - "Ne... We will be together forever right?" Lucy asked with a hint of uncertainly. "What are you saying Luce? We've been friends ever since you moved here in Magnolia. Of course, we'll be together, and soon we'll all join Fairy Tail and become to strongest team out there! Don't you agree, Gray?" Natsu cheered. "Just this one time, I'll agree with Natsu," Gray said, nodding his head to show happiness.

"We'll be together no matter what. Friends forever!" Erza shouted. "Aye!" the others cheered after her.

"Oii Luce! Guess what?! You wouldn't believe it!" Natsu cheered as he raced up the hill along with everyone else where Lucy, the early-bird, stood, turning around with happiness written all over her eyes. "What is it Natsu?! What's that mark on your..." Before Lucy could even finish her sentence, a loud roar surprised the four kids. "Ohh. Igneel's back!" Natsu cheered.

"STAY BACK!" Igneel boomed as he released out a roar into the sky which was suddenly blocked by another attack - The fire's weakness, water. Igneel's eyes soon slowly closed shut, his final sighting was the four pairs of eyes which were covered with fear and concern. "I've failed my job, my Queen," Igneel mumbled to himself as he feel to the ground.

"IGNEEL!" the four kids screamed out as the ran over to Igneel with tears in their eyes. Their moment of tears stopped when an another dragon landed beside the fallen Igneel. There on the dragon's back stood someone Lucy would never have expected, "Papa?" Lucy muttered with her eyes widening.

Lucy screamed when the tail suddenly snatched her, she was trembling in fear as she cried out for her friends help. Unfortunately, their magic was too weak against a fully grown dragon. "NATSU!" she cried out before disappearing into the clouds.

"LUCY!" Natsu cried out as he attempted to run after her, he ran as fast as his little feet could take him. He froze when he saw a bright light appear in the clouds, there shot down Lucy who's tiny body was glowing. "Igneel?" Erza stuttered when his eyes suddenly shot open straight after the light flashed through the clouds. Igneel gave out a terrifying roar before taking off into the sky to catch the falling girl. "I'm coming Lucy!" Igneel cried out, but before he could catch her, the other dragon swooped down and picked her up using its tail. "Damn you Toriene (Tor-rien) You better not force her to become a Dragon Slayer!" Igneel cursed at the disappearing figure that flew back into the thick, misty clouds.

3 years later...

"Lucy-sama. Please revise this chapter by tomorrow," the maid instructed as she placed the book down in front of the emotionless Lucy. "Hai..." the blonde replied with no hints of emotions in her words, she remained silent till the maid walked out of the room, leaving Lucy by herself inside a huge castle up in the mountains.

Lucy sighed as she looked out of the large window, "It's been three years since then... Now we're all 13 year-olds. I wonder when I'll see them again... Natsu..." Lucy whispered to herself, trying to hold back her tears.

She snapped out of it when the doors suddenly opened, having a ruckus at the front of the door. Thinking that it was the maid, Lucy didn't turn her head to see it, she then suddenly noticed a scent of two unfamiliar people. Thinking that it was an intruder, Lucy closed her eyes and turned to face towards the door and there stood two boys being pinned down by the maids.

"LET US GO!" the blonde-haired boy grunted as he struggled to move. The same was being done to the other boy who had black hair. Finally noticing what the maids were doing, she quickly ran over to them. "What are you doing to them?! Let them go before I tell my father to kill you!" Lucy threatened as she glared that the two maids who were pinning down the two boys.

"But miss. They were supposed to be in an another room...-"

"Do you dare deny an order coming from the daughter of the Heartfilia household?!"

"No miss. Please excuse us"

The maids bowed to Lucy before retreating, locking the door shut from any further escape. When they were gone, Lucy let out a long sigh in relief before walking over to her seat, focusing on her book, trying to finish revising the chapter that she was given. Her thoughts were disrupted by the loud shuffling coming from the two boys. "What is this room?! The royal library?!" the blonde boy gasped. "Shut up Sting. That girl is studying," the black-haired boy cussed.

"Rouge, seriously man? This place is too boring! Let's escape!" Sting stated as he searched around area. The blonde-haired boy was indeed loud unlike the black-haired boy who sat in the corner reading a book he thought was interesting. "Do you mind?! I want to finish this chapter so I can get out of this place quickly!" Lucy asked with annoyance in her tone. "Sorry but you know, you can destroy the window to escape" Sting said, trying to sound smart.

"If I could then I obviously would. Besides, there are many who'd save me if it was possible" Lucy replied bluntly. "And why's that?" the other boy said, joining in with the conversation. "It's because my father told a dragon to cast a barrier around this castle. Look..." Lucy stated as she stood up quietly, walking over to the window which she was staring at a few minutes ago. "Shatter," Lucy calmly said, her open palm soon clenching the air. Quickly, her magic was repelled back to her, making her scream in pain.

"Tsk. If I break this window open, then you're free then. Alrights? White Dragon's Roar!" Sting yelled as he exhaled a white beam of light to the window. Of course, the window didn't break, "Why didn't the - URRGHH" Sting was cut off by his magic which came shooting back at him. "How's that possible?!" Sting grunted.
"You're really silly. There's nothing that can break this spell. Dragon Slaying, Celestial Magic, Card, Sand magic. Nothing. This was put up so that I cannot escape... Just four more years," Lucy muttered as she sat down.

"You guys better make yourself comfortable here. You're going to stay trapped here for quite a while," Lucy stated as she continued to read. She knew that something was up - First, her being trapped here, her father with a dragon, and now two Dragon Slayers who are now unable to escape. What is going on?

"It's been three years and we still haven't seen Lucy," Erza said as she watched the bead of water drip down on the side of her glass. The two boys who sat next to her said nothing. Ever since that incident, the three never trusted anyone who came to break them apart. All they ever focused on was training in strengthening their magic just in case something were to happen. Even though the three were devastatingly hurt from that haunting memory, the only person who was hurt the most was the one and only, Natsu. "Luce... Where are you?" Natsu mumbled under his breath, looking out to the guild doors in hope that a certain blonde would come in with a smile plastered on her face.
"Hey Natsu! Can you come over and eat this flame?! It might burn down the guild if you didn't. "YO! Coming!" Natsu cheered, trying to hide away the hurtful feelings of his three-year missing best friend.

The master walked out of his office to see what the commotion was about. The old man let out a long sigh as his eyes laid on the three mages who stood close by to each other. Not wanting to see anymore, he walked back into his office to continue what he was doing around five minutes ago.

"Makarov... Are you sure that you're not going to tell them anything? They are my daughter's closest friends... I'm sure that we're able to trust them into our secret," the semi-transparent woman asked as she listened to the cheering of the guild from the inside. The master let out a sigh once again, the problem was indeed something that the three teenagers would need.

"I would have told them by now but... Looking at them just then. It seems like they're progressing slowly in letting their guild members into their family," Makarov replied.

"I understand but looking after the three of them wasn't something I actually told you to do. I remembered that i asked you to protect my daughter and her friends."

"Layla..."

"Makarov. I know Jude is over-thinking about her situation, but I know my daughter much more than him. Lucy is indeed a strong girl, she'll handle the job perfectly. He's just being overprotective as a father," Layla said before disappearing into thin air. "You talk a lot for a Ghost-Script, Layla Heartfilia," Makarov chuckled as he dug through the pile of forms that needed to be filled out. "You don't need to pronounce my full name, Makarov," her voice lingered, echoing through the room.

"That's not enough power Lucy!" the water-dragon roared which made Lucy flinch slightly. The dragon circled around her slowly, as if Lucy was her next prey, "Even though your father chose me out of Aquanta and Cherita. You still treat me as some enemy. Tell me Lucy... Why's that?" Torien asked slyly.

Lucy didn't pay much attention, she focused on her magic with a casual poker face. She didn't have the emotions to show anyone her true feelings. Why was that? Her happiness and emotions were taken away as soon she was forced to separate with her close friends. "What is happiness?" Lucy asked to herself.

A slap was done to Lucy which made her fall on her bottom. A red rash was displayed on her face when the thick scales made contact with her delicate skin, "You better do your mission properly when we let you out or I'll hunt you down and kill you with my bare hands," Torien threatened. The emotionless Lucy didn't say a word - Instead, she just got up and walked to the door.
"Where are you going?!" the dragon boomed, slamming her tail onto the grass. "My time with you is up..." Lucy deadpanned before opening the door, walking straight back into the house.

Torien flew into the sky, "Is it really necessary to use force to train my princess?" Torien asked to herself.

2 Years have passed...

"Sting! Don't touch my diary!" Lucy screamed as she chased after the blonde-haired Dragon Slayer who ran around the room holding up her pink diary. "You're too slow compared to me!" Sting boasted as he chuckled. "But-But that's my diary that I write to my mother! Give it back!" Lucy complained as she ran after him. Almost catching him, Rogue slipped his foot in front of the un-noticing Sting who obviously, tripped over it, making him stumble onto the floor with Lucy unexpectedly falling onto his back. "Thanks Rogue~" Lucy sang as she snatched her diary from Sting's grasp. "And for punishment!" Lucy said before punching the poor White Dragon Slayer. "OUCH! Don't do that!" Sting groaned as he lifted his body up easily which made Lucy fall onto her bottom. "And don't you do that to me!" Lucy said getting up.

"You two are so childish..." Rogue said as he read his favorite book the fourth time within the same day.

It's been two years since Sting and Rogue met the outside world and ever since their first meeting, the three became best of friends. They grew close to each other and treated all like siblings. Sting and Rogue filled up the empty hole that was made up from the past "situation". Now they're fifteen years-old and they never kept secrets to each other... Well, except for Lucy. Her dark secret must not involve her dearest friends.

Their childish argument stopped within minutes as Sting and Rogue looked out of the large window. "Ne... Do you think we'll be getting out of this hellhole?" Sting suddenly asked. Lucy shook her head as she looked out of the same window as well. "You've been asking that question every month for two years..." Lucy quietly said.

She felt guilty - She wanted to help them break free so they can flap their wings to freedom but sadly she couldn't. Her magic wasn't as strong like the adults, she was still in training. Training to become something they all wouldn't believe.

Sadly, Lucy looked at the desperate looks that was displayed on their faces. 'Should I just go and break the spell? It wouldn't hurt me that badly right?' Lucy though to herself. She let out a sigh as she walked up in front of Sting. "Lucy... What are you doing?" Sting asked. "Something that we all can get out of this mess," Lucy calmly said. "Uhuuh..." Sting said with a hint of uneasiness.
Rogue looked over to Lucy and saw her determined face, slowly, his gaze was locked onto Lucy's shaking hands. He closed his eyes and then opened them again when he questioned her, "Are you sure Lucy?"

Lucy looked back at him, and gave him a assuring smile which shocked him. "I'm sure Rogue. Now both of you stand back," she calmly instructed. Listening to the blonde, the two stepped back and watched her closely, "Don't tell me you're - " "-Going to use your Celestial Dragon Slaying magic..." the two asked. Listening, she quietly nodded, her back facing towards them.

The stars that shine ever so brightly,
Become one and listen to your master,
I, Lucy Heartfilia,
Will call for your power,
All the endless shining stars,
Answer my call,
Release out your radiance!
Starling Eternal!

Stars that surrounded the universe filled up the occupied room and soon, they slowly fused together to create one large shinning star. It was really bright but Sting and Rogue managed to see it in action. Once the star was officially fused together, it released out hundreds and hundreds of stars to the window, shattering it into shards. "Now! Run out! Hayaku!" Lucy grunted as she held onto her magic.
Understanding her pain, The two Dragon Slayers rushed through the glass before the light disappeared.

"Lucy! Lucy!" Sting called out, hoping that she was able to escape. "STING! Lucy's over there!" Rogue called out, pointing over to a nearby tree. "Let's go and get for help! This place should be near Magnolia!" Sting hassled as he carried Lucy before running. "Right," Rogue answered, nodding his head, showing that he understood that Lucy's life may be on the line.