Lucy looked up at the huge building before her with her eyes wide in wonder. She was stood in the gates of the Fairy Tail Institute of Magical Education, a new student, filled with both nerves and excitement. What if nobody liked her? What if she was bullied? She took a deep breath and took her first steps into the school grounds. The Fairy Tail Institution of Magical Education was a school the kingdom of Fiore that taught students aged eleven to twenty one. Lucy was finally starting school aged seventeen, having missed six of the total ten years of education.
Lucy walked towards the school building and administrations office she knew she would find in the reception. Scampering beside her was a strange looking creature, like a small dog, but instead of a nose a long horn protruded from its face. This little creature was Plue, the dog stellar spirit, for Lucy Heartfilia was a stellar spirit mage. She had spent a long time traveling after running away from home when she was thirteen and had finally made the money to buy a small apartment in Magnolia and applied for school.
"Name," an old, moody looking woman looked at her though the glass partition at the reception.
"Lucy, Lucy Heartfilia." Lucy told her.
The woman turned away and started flicked though a book, then the pile of paper on her neat desk. Lucy glanced down at Plue, who blinked up at her reassuringly. "Ah here we go," the woman turned back to her and handed a slip of paper to her. "That's your time table, now if you go sit and wait over there, a student from your tutor will come to take you there."
"Thank you," Lucy replied, she took the paper and sat down in a small waiting area. Plue climbed up her leg and settled on her lap while she pulled a book from her bag.
Lucy looked up a few minutes later when she heard footsteps coming towards her. The girl striding towards her had the reddest hair Lucy had ever seen, it nearly reached her waist and it swung slightly as she walked. Lucy put away her book and scooped Plue into her arms before standing to meet the girl as she approached "Hi," She greeted Lucy with a smile, "I'm Erza, I'm in your class."
"Nice to meet you Erza," Lucy smiled back, "I'm Lucy and this is Plue," she nodded down at the stellar spirit.
"Aww," Erza looked down at Plue, "He cute, but can I ask, what is it?"
"Plue is a stellar spirit." Lucy said. Erza had started walking back up the corridor and Lucy easily fell into step beside her.
"Oh, so you're a stellar spirit mage, they're really rare right?" Erza didn't wait for Lucy's reply, "We only have one stellar spirit mage here, she's in the year above us, Yukino her name is."
"Oh, ok, I hope I meet her." Lucy smiled.
"She's supposed to be really powerful," Erza continued, "She has two gold gate keys, I'm not really sure what they are but I do know there's only twelve on total so that's pretty good."
Lucy silently moved her hand to cover her keys where they swung on their ring on the belt on her white school skirt, ten gold keys glinting beside her five silver keys. She didn't want Erza to think she was some kind of gold key hunter, like one she had met in the past, a woman who called herself 'Angel'.
"So what class did you chose to take for your two non-magical subjects?" Erza asked.
"English and science." Lucy replied.
"Ooh, Levy is going to love you, she takes those two subjects as well." Erza said "She I think she'll like little Plue."
Before Lucy could reply Erza stopped and threw open a classroom door. He room that been filled with shouts and laughter moments before fell to silence for a moment as the class registered Erza in the doorway then they went back to what they were doing. Erza gestured for Lucy to come in and they both stood at the front of the room. Erza waited for people to notice she wanted to speak, but no-one did, and then suddenly a chair was thrown across the room, narrowly missing Erza and Lucy. Erza's eyes seemed to flash red for a moment then she slammed her fist against a desk, silencing the room. "Who threw that?" she demanded.
Every head turned to the back to the room where two boys where arguing. "Your aim sucks ice princess," one boy growled, his hair was pink and sat on top of his head in crazy, unorganized spikes that just seemed to work for him.
"What'd you say flame brain?" the second boy asked, his hair was black, with an almost blue tinge to it.
Lucy was wondering about these two boy's names when Erza growled them out, "Natsu… Gray…"
"Erza," the both turned in illusion, their faces the picture of happiness, fear and surprise.
"You two sit down…now." They both flew to their seats, they sat beside each other at the back of the room, a third seat near them was occupied by a large boy with long black spiky hair and several piercings. There was a gap between Natsu and a girl with blue hair, with a yellow ribbon in it who was sat beside another girl with blue hair only his girl wore a hat. "Okay everyone," she clapped her hands, suddenly calm again, Lucy admired her natural leadership skills. "This is our new classmate, Lucy Heartfilia." The people in the class nodded or smiled in greeting, "Come on Lucy, I'll introduce you to Levy."
Erza led Lucy to the back to the room towards the girl with blue hair with the yellow ribbon, who smiled as they approached, "What's up Erza-chan?" she asked cutely.
"Hi Levy, Lucy here is in the same classes as you, so I figured you could show her around and stuff."
"Sure, Lu-chan sit in that seat there, it's empty," Levy smiled, Lucy sat down at the empty desk, hanging her back on the back of her chair. As soon as she was settled Erza turned and stormed towards Natsu and Gray. "Aww, who's this little one?" Levy asked.
"This is Plue; he's one of my stellar spirits." Lucy said, she put Plue down on her desk and he sat down and looked at Levy.
"Puuuuuunnnn." He finally said. Nodding his horned head.
"What does that mean?" Levy asked Lucy.
"No idea," Lucy shrugged, "He's a funny little guy." She patted him on the head affectionately.
"Juvia-chan, look at how cute Plue is," the other girl turned and looked at Plue.
"Juvia thinks it is cute, but not a cute as Gray-sama." The girl said gazing past Lucy at Gray who was still be scowled by Erza.
"So you like Gray then Juvia?" Lucy asked.
"Yes, you…" she frowned at Lucy, "Are you a love rival?" she asked.
"No," Lucy shook her head, "I would never do that."
Levy and Juvia smiled at her and the three of them soon fell into a comfortable conversation.
Not far from the three chatting girls, Natsu and Gray were still getting chewed out by Erza. Natsu and Gray settled into their usual state, of not really listening but looked like they were. Only today Natsu was a little distracted, he kept glanced sideways at his new classmate, her blonde hair was very distracting to him. "Gajeel!" Erza spun on their friend, "Why didn't you stop them?"
"Well…you see… it was just too interesting to watch." Gajeel sighed but a small smile played on his lips.
Erza growled and punched each of the three of them on the head before turning and striding away, to her seat which was in front of Levy's. Now free from Erza's watchful and angry gaze Natsu looked more closely at his blonde classmate, she was facing away from him so he couldn't see her face, but he could see her shoulder length blonde hair and how she and tied some in a small pony tail on the side of her head with a black ribbon to match her uniform. He could hear her laughter and it felt like music on his ears, what kind of mage was this girl? Natsu most certainly did not know what was going on.
When the bell rang to inform them that their first class would be starting soon. "Lu-chan," Levy smiled, standing up, "We all have combat classes for three hours now, come on I'll show you where we have to go."
Lucy stood up, swinging her bag onto her shoulder, she waited while Plue stood and then jumped into her arms. Levy, Juvia and Erza waited for her then they all walked out of the room together.
They walked outside to a large coliseum-like building; they changed into their workout clothes, black shorts and a white t-shirt. Lucy sent Plue back to the spirit plain then they all walked out into the open air arena to meet the boys. Their teacher stalked towards the class, "Welcome back everyone, and hello new faces."
"Professor Gildarts." Natsu grinned, "Our going to fight be this year right." He started bobbing up and down in anticipation.
"Shut it shorty." Gildarts growled, Natsu just continued to grin. "Right then, I need someone to face our new student, sorry what was your name?" he asked.
"Lucy Heartfilia," Lucy replied.
"Ok, who is going to fight Lucy?" Gildarts asked.
"Me!" Natsu cried, suddenly convinced that his earlier interest in her had been his desire to fight her.
"Nope," Gildarts shook his head, "You're too strong, I need some on of average skill."
"I'll fight Lu-chan." Levy volunteered.
Lucy looked at her, "Are you sure Levy?" she asked.
"Sure Lu-chan," she smiled "I'm strong but not as strong as Natsu or Erza."
"Brilliant!" Gildarts clapped "Levy McGarden and Lucy Heartfilia take a starting place, they rest of you take a seat in the stands."
The class filed off to climb into the stands and Lucy and Levy moved to face each other in the middle of the sandy arena. Levy pulled out a pen and Lucy's hand moved to hover over her keys. "Are you ready Lu-chan?" Levy asked.
"Ok," Lucy nodded.
"You may start when you're ready." Gildarts said.
Lucy took the first move, pulling Taurus's key from the ring on her belt and pointing it forward, "Open the gate of the bull, Taurus." Taurus took form in front of her, swinging his axe.
"Eh!" Levy exclaimed.
"Lucy, you look great today toooo." Taurus told Lucy ogling her large breasts.
"Taurus, more fighting." She frowned.
"Anything for you." Taurus turned back to a still shocked Levy. "But Lucy this one is gorgeous too."
"Lu-chan, what is this?" Levy asked
"Taurus," Lucy replied, "Taurus, are you going help me or not?"
"Of course Lucy." Taurus decided, he moved forward swinging his axe towards Levy. Levy leapt back, finally coming to her senses, she waved her pen and the word 'guard' appeared blocking Taurus's axe. In this split second that Levy was distracted Lucy shot forward, pulling her whip, the Fleuve d'étoiles, free from her belt and flung it forward it wrapped around Levy's ankle and Lucy tugged it, Levy went sprawling onto her back.
"Thanks Taurus," Lucy smiled up at the huge bull.
"My pleasure Lucy." Taurus said, his eyes were practically replaced with hearts as he gazed down at her body.
"Bye Taurus," Lucy laughed, closing the gate, Taurus dissolved into golden light before disappearing. Lucy put Taurus's key back on the ring and turned to pulled Levy to her feet.
"Thanks Lu-chan." Levy smiled, "You're better than me I guess."
"Sorry for freaking you out there Levy." Lucy said.
"That's ok Lu-chan." Levy smiled. "I should have been better prepared; I knew you are a stellar spirit mage."
"Very good Lucy," Gildarts said. "You can go in the same group as Levy, the middle group; the highest group is just that lot." He nodded towards, Natsu, Gray, Erza and Gajeel.
"Sure thanks." Lucy moved aside with Levy while the rest of the class came back down.
An hour into the class Lucy decided to call upon one of her strongest spirits and best fighters to help her with her hand to hand combat. "Open the gate of the Lion, Leo."
As Leo took form in front of Lucy, facing her with a smile. The moment he'd finished forming a cry made Lucy jump in surprise. "Loke!"
Leo turned with his eyes wide as Gray stormed across the arena towards him. "Leo, what's going on? Did you know these guys from when you were in exile?"
"Gray," Leo laughed awkwardly "Fancy seeing you here." Leo turned to Lucy, "Why didn't you tell you where coming to this school?"
"You think I'd go to any school other than the one I've admired for the last five years?" Lucy asked.
"Loke, you're a stellar spirit?" Gray asked.
"Yeah," he nodded, "Sorry, I wasn't allowed to tell you, I was in exile for killing my last key keeper."
"He didn't do it directly." Lucy jumped to Leo's defence when he saw the look on Gary's face, stepping between the two of them. "He forced himself to stay in our world because his last keeper was hurting one of the other spirits in her care."
"So was your exile lifted?" Gray asked.
"No," Leo shook his head, Erza, Natsu, Gajeel, Levy and Juvia had all gathered by then and where listening and watching as Lucy stood between Gray and Loke, someone none of them had seen since he disappeared the year before. "I was left to die; we spirits can only last so long in this world. I left before you guys noticed I was weakening, I met Lucy not long after that."
"I knew Leo for a week before he started to weaken, and I slowly realised he was a stellar spirit, especially from the way Plue acted around him." Lucy said, "I followed him when he stumbled off, he was starting to fade."
"This idiot mage challenged the stellar spirit king just to save me." Leo smiled affectionately, "And out love prevailed."
"At least that hasn't changed," Gray laughed breaking the tense atmosphere.
"Either way you can't blame him for leaving." Lucy said, "It wasn't his fault."
"I don't blame you," Gray shook his head, then he looked down at Lucy, "Just watch out for him ok?"
"Of course," Lucy nodded, "though he's normally watching out for me."
Lucy stepped away, no longer needing to protect Leo. Leo turned to her, "What did you call me for Lucy?"
"I was going to ask you to help me with my hand to hand combat but you know what you can catch up with this lot if you want to." Lucy smiled.
"Thanks Lucy." Leo hugged her, Lucy hugged her back, but then he wouldn't let go.
"Leo, let go or I'll close your gate." Leo stepped back.
"Sorry." He smiled.
Leo walked off with Gray and Natsu, Gajeel who apparently didn't know him as well spoke softly to Erza and the two of them walked off to spar. Levy looked at Lucy, "You have two gold keys too?" she asked.
"No," Lucy shook her head, she should have known she wouldn't have been able to keep it a secret for long, but hopefully Levy and Juvia wouldn't judge her.
"But you have Taurus and Leo," levy said, "I read that those two are golden keys."
"They are," Lucy nodded, "Only I have more than two gold keys."
"Really, that's so amazing, which other one do you have?" levy asked, before Lucy could respond she asked another question, "And where did you get that whip?"
"Virgo gave me the whip; she brought it to me from the stellar spirit plain and as to my keys." Lucy unhooked her ring of keys and held them up.
Levy and Juvia both gasped as they looked at the collection of keys. "There are ten of them." Levy said.
"But Juvia thought there were only twelve of them and Yukino in the other year has two." Juvia said.
"That's right," Lucy nodded, "I just want to say I'm not one of those stellar spirit mages who just collect gold keys no matter the cost, I only had Taurus and Aquarius when I started out, but I beat a guy and Virgo asked me to take her key. Then I saved Leo, and then I met a gold hunter, one of her own spirits refused to attack me and I was able to beat her, and the three gold keys she had became mine. That's how I got, Scorpio, Aries and Gemini." Lucy said, "Then I finally tracked down Capricorn who made a pact with my mother to work with me once I was old enough, the guy who had his key had agreed to that but he got greedy and tried to run away."
"We're not going to judge you Lu-chan." Levy said, "From what we heard from you and Loke…I mean Leo your obviously not a gold hunter, you care about them."
"Juvia agrees." Juvia nodded.
"Thanks guys." Lucy smiled, levy moved forward and hugged her, Juvia smiled a she watched, Lucy was so happy, she'd made good friends.
That lunch time Lucy made yet more friends. She went with Levy, Erza and Juvia to the hall, and they sat at a huge table along with Natsu, Gray and Gajeel. Soon after more people arrived to sit with them, they were people from other years and classes, Lucy easily remember their names, Mirajane, Lisanna, Cana, Evergreen, and a smaller girl called Wendy, who brought with her three cats, a blue one who flew to Natsu on white wings called Happy, a white one who stayed by Wendy and the third was pure black and walked over to Gajeel sitting on the table beside him. The boys the joined them were, Freed, Bickslow, Luxas, Elfman and a younger boy called Romeo.
"Everyone this is Luigi!" Natsu said gesturing to Lucy and earning himself a punch from Erza.
"Lucy, this is Lucy Heartfilia." Erza corrected while Natsu rubbed his head.
"Lu-chan is a stellar spirit mage." Levy added.
"Oh and Loke was a spirit." Gray added, gaining shocked glances from everyone, "And Lucy has his key."
Lucy has summoned Plue after her class had finished and he sat on the table in front of her, happy walked over the table and looked at him, Plue greeted him with a "Pppuuuuunnnnnn."
"What is this?" Happy asked.
"That's Plue, he's one of my spirits." Lucy explained.
"Does he eat fish?" Happy asked.
"No, spirits don't eat human food." Lucy shook her head.
"Your spirit looks weak." Elfman frowns, "He doesn't look like a man."
"This one looks weak but when she was fighting Levy she summoned this huge cow with an axe!" Natsu said, gesturing with his arm Taurus's size.
Ignoring Natsu and the argument between him and Elfman about Taurus's manliness Lucy turned to Levy who had pulled out a book and was reading, "I love that book Levy." She said.
"I know, isn't it great." Levy beamed, lowering the book.
"I just finished it last week for the…seventh time." Lucy laughed.
"This is my eighth time," Levy laughed "I've got you beat."
"Oi shrimp." Gajeel called, "Stop talking geek, we can't follow."
"That's because there are too many metal piercings in your brain," Freed said calmly.
"What was that word geek?" Gajeel asked
"Eh, how come I'm word geek and she'd just shrimp?" Freed asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Because the shrimp's prettier than you." Gajeel replied levy blushed, Both Lucy and Mira noticed.
And so looked around the table Lucy noticed that this seemed to be the normal, arguments, subtle or not so subtle flirting and Erza threatening to beat everyone up. Lucy smiled, she was glad she joined school; it looked like it was going to be fun.