Author's Note: Updates continue to be wonky. Rabid Mite and I are counting the days until our daughter is born, so I am a bit distracted. However, that won't stop me from occasionally popping up with a chapter in one of my stories.

Chapter Four: A Prophecy Fulfilled

Hargeon

Out of impulse, Fairy Tail's resident card mage rejected her authoritarian teammate's insistence at yet another S-Class quest in favor of a simple bounty hunting job. The alcoholic oracle glances down at the job request and reads, "Wanted: Bora the Prominence. 300,000 Jewels." She scratches her head at the page. "Not the biggest payday ever, but whatever. Shouldn't be too hard to spot this douchebag."

She enters the local magic shop to begin asking questions while her teammate talks to the mayor. What she finds inside is a scene out of a comedy. A blonde bombshell is standing at the counter haggling with the rather goofy looking shopkeeper who seems hell bent on selling the girl cosmetic magics. Cana smiles when the girl dismisses his attempts at salesmanship.

"I'm sorry, but no. Do you have any Gate Keys?" The blonde inquires instead, flooring Cana. "The Key…. Literal keys? No…" She gives herself a mental facepalm. "SHE is the key and the Star." She shakes out of her stupor to see the girl lean seductively over the counter. Cana's eyes widen, "Daaamn, girl. Dangerous curves ahead."

The man stammers briefly, "19000 Jewel." The blonde and Cana both fume at the insultingly small discount. The girl reaches for her purse, grumbling under her breath as Cana interjects into the proceedings, gently stopping the girl while snatching the man's glasses from his face, cleaning them with a 'priceless magical scarf' hanging on a hook.

"I think your glasses are a bit dirty, old man. Take another look." The man's eyes, now visible through the previously smudge-covered lenses, widen. "T..Ten thousand…."

The blonde cheers immediately and pays the man for the key. When the duo exits the store, Cana finds herself in the middle of a rather exuberant embrace, her face reddening as the girl's ample assets are pressed against her. "Thank you! That saved me a ton of Jewels! How can I repay you? Can I buy you some dinner?" Her chocolatey brown eyes peer into the card mage's as a light blush graces her cheeks.

With a cheeky grin, Cana agrees, "Sure thing, pretty lady." She winks and smirks in satisfaction at the blonde's reddening face. "First though, I need to track down my partner. We're here on a job, and while saving gorgeous damsels in distress is always fun, we have to get this done. My name is Cana Alberona, by the way. What's yours?"

Toying idly with her hair, the girl replies, "Lucy. Just… Just Lucy." Before she can continue, the pair hear the chatter of women swooning. "Did you hear? The Salamander is in town! Oh, he's so dreamy!"

Lucy looks in curiosity at the women departing, "Salamander? Isn't that the mage that knows fire magic you can't find in stores?" She turns back to Cana to see a fierce expression. "Cana?"

Hissing under her breath, Cana utters, "That is no Salamander. I know where the real Salamander is." She rolls up the sleeves of her small white jacket. "Let's go see what this fake…" Her eyes narrow further. "False flame… Shit. We need to find my partner first. Stick with me, Lucy. You are in more danger than you can possibly imagine."

The celestial spirit mage's eyes widen, "Did my father send someone after me?! I don't know this woman, but she did me a good deed today." She hesitantly speaks, "Danger?"

Grimacing, Cana turns to the girl, "I'm a seer. Almost two years ago, I spoke a prophecy that the 'False Flame' was going to pretty much make your life a living hell. We've been looking for you for all this time trying to help you, since you're the only one who can save one of our friends."

Taking a step back, Lucy's brow furrows, "Then… You've been hunting me? You helped me because of some weird agenda? Thanks for the help, but I think I should be going now." She turns to bolt, but feels an iron grip upon her wrist.

"Sorry, Lucy, but kinda? We had no idea who the 'Star' was that the prophecy detailed, and I didn't make the connection until I saw you buying the key. I swear on my honor as a Fairy Tail mage, that is the truth." Cana's eyes lock with Lucy's, conveying utter sincerity.

Lucy breathes, "Fairy Tail?" Her eyes widen, "You're the 'Oracle'?! So that means your partner…"

Cana smiles faintly, "Is the 'Titania' Erza Scarlet, yeah."

All attempts to flee vanish as Lucy regards the card mage. "Well, then I guess we better hurry. Can't keep her waiting!"

The seer blinks at the sudden reversal, "That… was fast. I thought it would take more to convince you I am not just some nutjob."

Lucy scratches her head and grins brightly, "Well, my dream has always been to join Fairy Tail someday. I came to this town to hopefully get some directions. I got a bit turned around and lost my map." She toes the ground while blushing.

Chuckling, Cana grins, "Well, stick with me, gorgeous. I'll get you there! For now, my partner awaits."

With that, the duo run towards city hall, Cana noting a figure flying towards the dock on a carpet of fire. "I'll have to tell Macao about that little trick. Could be handy."

The two make their way across town and run into a string of unconscious bodies. Cana pinches the bridge of her nose while sighing. "Well, let's follow these little 'breadcrumbs' to my partner. We'll either meet the mayor or the bakery while we are at it."

Lucy looks at her quizzically before shrugging and following along.

ooOOoo

When the duo finally reaches the most recent victim, they stand in front of Town Hall. Cana chuckles, "Well, looks like I should have said 'and' earlier." She smiles at Lucy, the two having passed through the bakery on their journey across town.

By this point, Lucy's eyes are wide, and somewhat shocked, by the level of wanton brutality shown along the way. In a quiet voice she pipes up, "D…Does she do this often?"

Smiling comfortingly, Cana drapes an arm across her shoulders. "Don't worry, cutie. She only does this when people don't start answering her question before she finishes asking it. She never… hardly… sometimes… often… does it to guild members."

With a timid laugh, Lucy allows herself to be guided towards the mayor's office. "What kind of guild IS this?!"

Upon entering, the moderately shell-shocked blonde notices a stunning redhead in armor interrogating a somewhat panicked older man. "My team has made its way from Magnolia in search of Bora the Prominence, and the last information points him towards Hargeon. Where would we find him?"

The man shrinks into his chair, stammering, "I..I don't know, ma'am. If I did, I'd tell the Rune Knights."

Cana clears her throat behind the fuming knight. "Erza, dear. Leave the poor man alone. I might have a lead, and better than that, I have a surprise for you."

Erza turns, casting an imperious glare at the mayor before facing her partner. "Then we have no time to waste." She spots the blonde celestial spirit mage half hiding behind Cana. "And who might this be?"

With a wide and wicked grin, the alcoholic oracle pulls Lucy into a tight side hug. "Just a little Star."

The knight's eyes widen, a single tear falling from her eye. "You mean…"

Smiling sweetly, she nods in affirmation. "Yep! This pretty lady is the one we've been looking for." After a moment, her smile falls. "And the 'False Flame' is here too. Turns out, he's been using the moniker 'Salamander.'"

If Lucy thought Erza was intimidating before, her mind reels at the maelstrom of rage standing before her. "Someone DARES to use his name?"

Cana rests a hand on Erza's shoulder as she tries to rush through the doorway. "Easy there, partner. We can look for the punk at the same time as we look for Bora. Right now our priority is keeping this cutie pie safe and sound."

Lucy gives a weak chuckle and leans slightly against Cana for support. Erza, seeing her distress, composes herself. "Very well." She extends her hand in greeting. "Erza Scarlet."

Regaining her balance, Lucy takes her hand. "Lucy. I don't know what this is really all about, but it's a pleasure to meet you."

Smiling for the first time, Erza nods and makes for the door. "Let's get this done. The sooner we do, the sooner we can get you to Fairy Tail." She pauses and looks back. "When we do, we'll tell you everything. You have my word."

Nodding with determination, Lucy straightens her posture. "Then let's go get 'em!" She smiles sweetly and follows her new comrades into the town.

ooOOoo

Night has fallen by the time the trio of mages finally catch a break. With an exhausted sigh, Lucy slumps down onto a bench beside the equally tired card mage. "I don't get it. How can we turn up empty on BOTH of them?"

Cana shrugs and leans into the blonde. Their fuming leader stalking back and forth in front of the bench about to urge them into further action when suddenly a voice chimes in from behind her.

"I heard there was a group of beautiful women searching for me, but their words hardly do you justice." They turn to see a man striking a pose that was obviously meant to be dashing, but to their sharp gaze, it comes off as merely pitiful.

Erza's eyes narrow as a single word escapes her clenched jaw. "Bora…"

Blinking in surprise, the man too quickly corrects her. "Hardly, my dear. I am the Salamander, the famous fire mage of Fairy Tail."

With an almost bestial roar, Erza charges the deceitful mage. "YOU!"

Cana strikes a defensive pose before Lucy, protecting her from harm, much to the blonde's protest.

Seeing the raging knight rapidly approaching, Bora panics and quickly casts his own magic to escape. "R-RED CARPET!" He takes to the air, but finds himself hindered. Looking down, he notices a whip wrapped around his ankle.

With surprise, Cana follows the whip to her charge, currently straining against the fire mage's spell. "Any… time… now… ladies." Cana rushes to assist, holding the whip steady as Erza stalks over to join them, her armor glowing along the way.

"REQUIP: GIANT'S ARMOR." When the glow fades, Erza, clad in a barbaric golden armor, reaches out with her heavy gauntleted fist and grasps the whip, giving it a hearty tug. With a sickening crack, Bora's ankle shatters breaking his concentration, and the fire mage is sent hurtling towards the nearest wall.

As she approaches the unconscious Bora, Cana pulls out a blank card. "CARD MAGIC: PRISON." His body glows, then transforms into light, streaking into the card. With a smirk, she looks at the battered and broken form depicted on the card's surface. "Damn, nice job, Erza."

Requipping into her typical armor, Erza glares hatefully at the card. "He deserves worse, but that is for the Council to decide." She walks over and places a hand on Lucy's shoulder. "You did well. That was rather quick thinking and excellent skill with your whip."

Blushing, Lucy looks down. "Well, you two were trying to protect me, but I don't like hiding behind my friends."

Cana grins wickedly and gives the girl a tight hug, brazenly hugging the girl to her chest. "Spoken like a true Fairy Tail mage. How about we get this loser to the Rune Knights and get you to the guild. I think you'll fit right in."

Torn between blushing furiously at her rather intimate proximity to the card mage's chest and blushing at the praise, she extricates herself from Cana's embrace and laughs nervously. "Well, then let's get going!"

The trio turn and make their way towards the Rune Knight outpost and the future.

ooOOoo

In a battle-torn landscape made of flame and volcanic rock, the mighty Igneel rests after his most recent bout with the feral soul of his adopted son. He glances around and surveys the damage. "I do not know how much longer I can hold this at bay."

He gathers himself, drinking deeply of the flames around him for strength, and makes his way towards his son's avatar once more when a familiar feeling chimes against his mind. His eyes widen in surprise.

"Heartfilia…"