Summary: After being falsely accused of Romeo's murder, Lucy is stripped of not only her guild mark, but who she once thought was her precious nakama. Alone and afraid, Lucy is plagued by strange dreams that may be more than what they seem. Strange happenings occur and Lucy finds what her mother had died to protect- her hidden powers and a realm of beings that were thought to be dead. Now, Lucy has only two options- to learn to control this new power and the oncoming darkness- or die trying.
Disclaimer: Fairy Tail is property of Hiro Mashima.
It was hot.
The little blonde girl huddled closer into her mother's arms in an attempt to ease her aching body.
Her spine bended as she hunched over and was attacked by another fit of coughs, her hands staining red from the fresh blood that rose up from her throat.
Layla squeezed the sobbing child closer to her and ran even faster, her long black cape merely a shadow in the great light of the full moon.
"Almost there, Lucy, we're almost there." Although her words were directed toward the five-year-old, she seemed to say it to herself.
The young mother reached the center of the vast forest, the shining sun just barely starting its slow descent into the sky above. Hastily, she performed the proper hand-signs before looking to the sky and calling out in a strong and steady voice.
"Benedic die nocturna metu
Lucis et umbrae in choris
Aurora ignem fatuum
Benedicite, cæli,
Sol et Luna
Break through!
Lingua antiquis,
Exite!"
The air shifted, and Layla suddenly found it hard to stay standing.
The magical pressure was beyond intense and she was forced to her knees.
Two great shadows covered the barely passing night and the winds swayed from the power of their wings.
After the trees had settled down, the gold haired beauty found herself in the presence of two enormous dragons. Their tall and shimmering scaled bodies practically oozed magical power and their stances were regal and self-confident.
Layla stood up, her eyes glazed with tears, and her mouth clenched with the bitterness of fate.
Slowly, she held out the frail child to the dragons.
"Do it." Her words were hard and her hands trembled as she said so, but she held her stance.
"Mama?" Lucy asked through her pain.
The dragons took her in their claws and panic coursed through her body.
"Mama? Mama! Mama!" Only then did the young woman's tears break free and slide down her cheeks.
"Mama!" Lucy screamed again.
"MAMA!"
And then everything went black.
"L-Lucy, w-why are you screaming?" a very familiar voice said.
"KYAA! NATSU, WHY ARE YOU HERE AGAIN?!" Lucy yelled.
"Hmm. Why is it so loud in the morning?" the blue exceed said.
"Well, why are you and Happy here, again!?" the blond said furiously.
"Because it's so comfy in your bed, Luce!"
"Nani?!"
After that, and a couple punches later, a pink and blue lump were thrown out the blondes window and into the river.
Natsu climbed out and over the side ledge and grinned at Lucy before running away, "Hurry up, Luce, we'll meet you at the guild, I got a great mission for us to do!"
The blonde sighed, but smiled nevertheless, Natsu was such an idiot.
But then again, he was her idiot.
Heading to the bathroom so she could get ready, goose bumps erupted all over Lucy's arms.
Now if only she could tell what that dream was…
As Lucy walked to the guild, her many keys glinting and jingling, she couldn't help but shiver.
It wasn't a cold day… Rather, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.
Gleaming eyes seemed to watch her every step and trace her every movement.
Was she going crazy?
Because no matter how many times she spun around in fear, she only saw a busy street in the sunny city of Magnolia.
Her eyebrows furrowed and relief washed through her as she finally made it to the guild doors.
She would definitely be safe here with her nakama, even if somebody really was stalking her.
But, then again, who could possibly want her? She was probably only thinking this way because of that weird dream she couldn't forget.
Pushing the large oak doors open, she was surrounded by the familiar warmth and rowdiness of her beloved guild, and home.
She immediately spotted the pink-haired fire mage, because he was-as usual- being the loudest one there, challenging Gildarts to a battle he would obviously lose.
He turned around, having caught her scent, and flashed her one of those adorable grins of his, before turning back to Gildarts and claiming he would get him later.
"Luce!" His smile was wide and infectious, and she couldn't help but smile back.
"Look at the mission I chose! It's perfect! It has monsters, and fighting, and bad guys, and fighting, and a large reward, so you can pay your rent!"
Lucy's smiled widened, if possible, at the thought that he'd considered her while choosing the mission.
Soon enough, Team Natsu was assembled, with the addition of Romeo-because he was bored and Macao and Wakaba had seem to gone off on a mission if their own-and they discussed their plans of meeting up before splitting up to go pack.
They all came together at the train station as planned and were soon on their way.
As usual, the team was laughing and joking around, with the exception of Natsu, who was already green even while the train wasn't moving.
Lucy smiled as Erza told her of one of her S-class missions before peering out the side window, her eyebrows furrowed and her mouth set in a thin line.
She knew she was safe with her nakama, so why couldn't she shake off this feeling of foreboding…?
*Latin; meaning:
"Bless the day, fear the night
Shadows that dance and light that shines
Dawn a shooting star
Bless the sky
Moon and Sun
Breakthrough!
Tongue of the Ancient ones
Come forth!"
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