[Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Fairy Tail world, which is trademarked by Hiro Mashima.]
CHAPTER 1:
She brushed the dust off the edges of her skirt, sighing lightly as she noticed the ragged edges and loose threads. "I just bought this thing two days ago," she whined to herself. Her eyes lifted to the dust storm of people before her; she couldn't make out her friends within the mess of conflict anymore. The sound of clashing weapons and war cries deafened her ears as she ran back into the fray.
The dense fog of sand and dust obscured her vision, and she fumbled back into someone. She jumped, turning and ducking at the flying fist aimed at her head. Instinct took over as she fell to her knees before releasing a floor sweeping kick to trip her assailant. Her fingers gripped the whip to her side, and she swiftly released the flow of stars with a flick of her wrist. As she stood, she let her arm dance through the air in a movement, sending the lash to his neck. Another flick of the wrist, and her whip tightened its grip. On the balls of her feet and with all the might carried within her body, she spun and he followed with the flow of her whip. He was sent flying, knocking into the two assailants who were approaching her from behind. She coughed, the dust irritating the back of her throat as she breathed heavily. She stepped backwards as someone moved towards her, and her eyes glanced back as she felt herself bump into a shoulder. Her instinct to attack stopped as she saw the pink of his hair and his eyes fell to her. They nodded once and returned their attention to the mess before them.
As swiftly as the fighting had begun, it stopped. She huffed, coughing through staggered breath. She felt a bump to her right and caught the hint of flowing crimson hair before her attention fell back to the growing number of standing shadows before her. The dust began to swirl at her feet before it lifted. Eyes closed, she shielded her nose with her mouth until she felt the air quell around her ankles. She snapped her head up to survey the situation – to her right was the fiery redhead with her sword dangerously poised at the ready; behind her was the bare-chested black haired wizard with his frosty hands sparkling with the newly formed pointed ice sword; and to her left was the blazing pink haired man with a unconscious blue winged cat cradled in one arm and a clenched fist to his side. Surrounded. They were surrounded, and it seemed to be rows of goons.
Her fingers flicked through her keys. She was drained, but she pushed against the mental and emotional wall that had formed within her. She grasped two keys between her fingers. Under muttered and hurried breath, she summoned her spirits to her aid again, "Gate of the Goat, I open thee! Capricorn! Gate of the Lion, I open thee! Leo!" The tall goat and the suited orange haired man appeared in a flash of golden light, still battered from their earlier appearance. They quickly moved into defensive positions in front of her. "I'm sorry to call upon you so quickly," she muttered to them, "but I need you."
His suit jacket moved with the wind. "We are here for you, Lucy," he responded.
The silence lingered in her ears as she kept her eyes focused. "Thank you," she spoke through the quiet before the clash. It was the last thing she heard before they rushed into the surrounding army before them.
Hidden in the shadows of the forest, he watched silently. He watched her, watched as her body moved and danced in the battle. His eyes hungered for her, devouring the sight of her. A corner of his mouth curled up to a smile as the sun caught the strands of her golden hair. The words whispered in his mind, 'Lucy Heartfilia.'