Shay's POV

"We've been walking for almost two hours," I said. "Shouldn't we have found some sort of town by now?"

It had been some time since we'd left Fairy Tail, but we weren't finding anything.

"I think we're lost," Eva frowned. "Fantastic!"

I sighed and looked up at the sky. It was a partially cloudy day, but the weather still felt like heaven to me. I closed my eyes, trying to imagine a world without demons and death and creepy restaurants/battle arenas.

"Um… Shay," Eva said, pointing upward. "We'd better get going. Looks like it's going to rain."

All of the sudden, thunder boomed across the sky. I snapped out of my daydream, frantically looking over the plains.

I said to Eva, "I know we're somewhere near the northeastern mountains, so there should be a forest up ahead.

"I'm hungry," Eva said.

"I'm cold," I replied.

"If we don't find any sort of shelter, could I make one?"

"No… I don't think you'll need to,"

"What?"

Over the hillside, I spotted a forest by a small lake.

"Perfect!" Eva exclaimed and began running down the hill. But she slipped and did half-barrel rolling, half-somersaulting down. She finally landed by the lake with a THUD!

"Ouch! I actually thought I was gonna be able to walk instead of tumble. Jeez, I'm such a klutz!" she whined.

I laughed and ran down the hill to her side.

"It's not funny!" Eva grumbled. Then, a small grin formed onto her face. Then a big, goofy smile, that made her break out into giggles.

Then, it started pouring.

"No no no no!" I said as we ran to the forest.

The trees did little to shield us from the rain, but it was good enough for me.

"Um… Shay, have you forgot?" Eva said, a bit annoyed.

"Forgot what?" I asked. I was totally confused. Did Eva need help, or was it something I didn't know about?

"It's my birthday in 4 days," she said, looking a little sad.

"But...Eva," I said, looking at her, worried. "Why would you be sad? You'll be 15!"

Eva replied sadly, "Yeah. And that means it's been almost 3 years since I left. A-And you know what that means, don't you, Shay?"

I did know. Eva doesn't want to go back to Central. Since she's been gone for so long, she thought that people will find her, and harm her again and again for leaving and...being a traitor.

"Come on. Let's go," I said, helping her up. "We can't stay in the rain forever, right?"

We climbed up into one of the huge oak trees standing in forest, and found separate branches to sleep on. It didn't feel comfortable, but we needed a place to sleep. "Good night, Shay," Eva whispered.

"Good night," I replied.

I honestly couldn't sleep. I just kept staring out into the rain, wondering what life would be like without Eva.

It would be an odd life, I thought.

Finally, after sometime, I fell into a deep, fretful sleep.

*Shay's dream sequence*

(one year ago)

I was walking through the woods near the train station, getting ready to leave for Central. I wasn't going to Central, if you're wondering. As an Elemental Dragon Slayer, I really didn't think it was that necessary to be going into the cities.

It was getting cold out. I had no place to go, because I was an orphan.

It was 3 months since my parents died, and I was ¾ of the way out of my sadness. The rain was pouring down, almost like a full-on storm.

Feeling really alone and sad, I needed someone to comfort me.

I needed a friend.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a small figure.

As I looked closer, it was a girl. She didn't look much younger than me, with her blonde hair tied into a ponytail. And was incredibly skinny. She was also short. I mean, shorter than the average 13-year-old should be. And she was drawing something into the dirt with her finger. Then i saw the drawing.

It was a transmutation circle.

I'd seen them in certain books that my parents had kept locked away when I was young. Supposedly, alchemists used them.

But, why would they keep those books locked away?

Was there something they didn't want me to know…

About alchemy?

I was shocked. I didn't realize why she was drawing it. For some reason, I felt scared.

Then, the girl clapped her hands together, then touched them to the outer edge of the circle. After a moment, blue sparks appeared, and a tiny, neon blue explosion. I watched, motionless. After the sparks cleared, the circle was gone. In its place was a small hole in the ground, revealing a small, 3-dimensional map of the forest made out of dirt.

I gasped, my eyes wide. I didn't think that was possible, using such complex alchemy. This girl was obviously good at what she did.

Finally, I gathered up the courage to talk to her.

"Um… hello?" I said. I slowly pushed myself through the bushes, trying to get closer. "I was wondering if-"

Shocked, the girl whipped her head around and stood up. She looked like she'd just seen a ghost.

"Oh… hello," she said quietly, locking her eyes on mine.

"Hello." I replied, looking shy.

"Do you… live, here? At Central?"

"Me? No, no. Just passing through."

"Oh."

"Do you live at Central?"

"No. Well I used to…" her voice trailed off.

"Why are you alone?"

" … "

"Is something wrong?"

"No, I'm just… traveling."

"Alright, then. So am I."

"You are? Why?"

"I'm becoming an Elemental Dragon Slayer."

"I have heard about those…"

"Are you… looking for anything?"

"Um… I'm, looking for the Philosopher's Stone."

"Really?"

"Y-Yeah…"

"We should travel together," I said, not noticing that my left eye was twitching out of worry.

"R-Really?" the girl said. "What's your… name?

"Shay," I said, holding out my hand.

"My name is Eva," she said

"Hello, Eva,"

"Hello, Shay,"

"It's a pleasure to meet you,"

All of the sudden, her straight, serious face turned into a freakishly huge grin.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Shay."

*Shay's dream sequence end*

(back to present time)

I snapped awake, with tears in my eyes. I turn my head around to see Eva, snoring quietly while laid out across the tree branch she was sleeping on. She looked odd, but cute, in a way.

I absolutely cannot lose her.