So yeah, I've decided to start up this Fanfic again, simply cause I was very nicely asked by Rose. , so I shall. Sorry this took so long, I wasn't really on planning on working too much on this, because it was just a throwaway chapter to help get me used to , but I told myself if even a single person wants me to continue, then I will. And, as my other chapters, because of school limiting my time, each chapter will now be 3000ish words long. Enjoy!


(Lucy's POV)

The fire holders on the walls flickered as Lucy moved past them, causing her shadows to run along the walls eerily. She sniffled, bottled her fear as best she could, and kept walking. There was a bit more hallway to walk down, and she could see an exit way. Just in case, she grabbed a torch off the wall, holding it in front of her. Stepping out, she squinted as the darkness of the room faded from the new source of light.

"Hello? Is anybody there?" She half whispered, half hoping nothing would answer.

"Hello. I see finally someone's decided to come talk to me down in this yucky dump," Lucy recoiled, jumping back and spinning around to locate the direction of the voice. The echo of the room confused her, and she couldn't find anything. "Up here child" Lucy raised her head, and gasped, one hand covering her mouth, nearly dropping her only warmth.

"Hey now, I'm not that disgusting am I?" The little blonde's legs wobbled, and her voice quavered. On the ceiling was a raggedy old man, scars bleeding all over him, and his shaggy hair covered his face.

"W-who are you?"

"Me? I'm a ferocious dragon who'll eat you up, lantern and all" His voice was sarcastic and… lonely.

"How long have you been here?" She could just hear his eyebrow rise.

"Oh? Now here's a curious one. Normally, kids scream at the sight of me, and scream 'Monster! Monster!'. Why not you?" The young Heartfilia gave a shrug.

"Momma said it's rude to yell names at someone, especially if you don't know them" There was a mild laugh, and Lucy detected another sound. Rattling of some kind. Lifting her light higher, she realized the man was chained. Some blood dripped down, and she followed the blood with her eyes, looking down to see— She yelped, as her eyes lost track of the red drop, which was lost in the pitch black, where there was no floor.

"Careful now. Wouldn't want you to fall, not now that I've gotten some company. You smell familiar, but my mind is somewhat addled. Who are you little one?"

"L-lucy"

"Lucy… That's a nice name. May I ask what you are doing here?" The little girl chewed her lip. Should she tell him?

'No, not yet' Out loud, she said

"I wanted to see what was in our dungeon" That was the truth, just not all of it.

"Oh really? Did the rumors not scare you? The cursed, black, evil dungeon that had a ferocious dragon guarding it? Didn't the townsfolk warn you?" Lucy shook her head.

"No, I live here. This place is my basement" The man shoulders convulsed until he could hold it in no longer.

"BWAHAHAHAHAH! Live here do you? So you've never heard of me? Isn't that rare? I like you child, I do. Ask my anything, and I will answer" Summoning her courage, she stuttered

"Please… You have something that's very valuable… and it could be used to save my mother's life…" There was a terse silence.

"So… You too seek my treasure with ill purposes. Forget what I said about you. You will never have my treasure. Never" He spat the last word with venom, making Lucy flinch.

"P-please sir. It's for my mother—" The man made a sudden move forward, stretching the chains to its limits.

"You lie! I know you are just as selfish as any other human, using my treasure for your own greed!" The wrath in his voice scared her, but he spoke as if he were… tired. As if this had happened over and over again.

"I'm sorry for everything you've been through, but my mother really is sick, and if she doesn't get your treasure, she's going to die! Please, I'll do whatever you want, but please, please just let me borrow it!" The man mulled it over.

"Hrm… Whatever I want eh? Hrm…" He came to a decision. "Very well! Release me, and I shall do what you ask" Lucy nodded gratefully.

"How am I supposed to do that exactly?" He jerked his head to the side of the room, where a narrow strip of rock led to a single large rusty nail.

"Pull that out, and I'll be able to get down. It's old, so it'll come out easy. Careful now" Steeling her nerves, Lucy put one foot in front of the other, steadily walking along the small path.

"That's it. Easy does it. Watch out!" Lucy's foot slipped, and for a terrifying moment, she lost her balance. Then her foot found itself back on the ground. Her arms waved, and she steadied herself, sucking in a breath of relief. The man did the same, laughing from the nervousness he felt.

"Almost there now, don't give up"

'Like hell I'm doing that now. Nothing's going to stop me at this point'

"Lucy!" Said girl froze in her tracks. No. The stern voice…


(Jude's POV)

"Papa…" She responded meekly. "Fancy meeting you here" Jude was standing at the entrance, a single vein pulsing above his forehead. Everything else about him was cold harsh anger.

"I saw the door unlocked. What are you doing here young lady?" His tone was questioning, but Lucy knew if she didn't reply fast, she wasn't going to see the sun in a while.

"Um…" But her answer was cut short, as a piercing wail was heard, both daughter and father covering their ears.

"Jude… Didn't think I'd see you here. What were your words again? 'I'll never EVER come to this garbage dump'. You like dirtying yourself now? What happened? Dragon snatch your treasure?" Jude gave a low growl, and snapped his fingers. Instantly, the man was enveloped with lightning, and he screeched in pain.

"Silence filth. I have come for my daughter. Lucy!" The girl snapped to attention. "Leave now, and I will forgive you. Even think about touching that nail, and I KNOW you will regret it" Lucy looked at the poor stranger, and a lump of sympathy formed in her throat. But fear threatened to override it, and yelled in her mind, telling her to appease her father.

'What should I do?' The first thing that came to her mind was to stall for as much time as possible.

"Papa! Why would you hurt the poor man?"

"Because all trash should consider itself lucky I grace its presence! And this piece of garbage dared defy me"

"Hehehe… Garbage… trash… filth… You should learn a few more words, is your vocabulary really that small?" Another snap, another shriek of pain.

"Quiet slime" Lucy did not say how she thought she could do better insults.

"But Papa, what did that horrible man do to you?" Hoping the man would forgive her for the insult, she tried to create a common enemy. Her father was more likely to share information that way, as was proven to her the next moment. Jude smiled, pleased that his daughter had seen his way.

"Because, he tried to stop me from moving to my rightful property" The man's body was sent into spasms of rage.

"TOOK YOUR RIGHTFUL PROPERY!? YOU STOLE MY HOME YOU LITTLE—"

Snap

"GAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH" Came the scream of pain. Lucy winced.

"Stop! STOP! Please… I'll go with you"

"NO! Don't" Lucy looked at the man with watery eyes.

"Gomenasai. But I can't get you hurt on my account" The man's own ehai looked teary as well as he muttered to himself.

"Damnit… You're just like her… Just like her…" He choked back a sob. "You can't leave! If you do…" Lucy clenched her fist, understanding what he meant. She had barely gotten down here for a visit. This person seemed to have been here for years… It was so cold.

"Lucy. I will take you up on your deal, but if you don't come RIGHT NOW, I will make sure this man doesn't need to suffer any longer" The thinly veiled meaning behind his words forced the girl to make her choice.

"I'm so sorry… so sorry" The man didn't say anything, but he didn't look at her. Jude smiled.

'I always get my way'

"Good choice. Lets go"


(Lucy's POV)

The blond was on her balcony, staring at the starry sky. What had just transpired replayed in her head, again and again, till her mind was numb. Her mind was still apologizing, and she simply sat there, staring.

"Ms. Heartfilia?" It was Sorreta, a small hope in her voice. "How are you feeling?" The door clacked closed, and the head maid sat beside her mistress.

"So?" She asked in a hushed whisper, "How did it go?" Lucy continued staring, her eyes emotionless.

"Ms. Heartfilia? What happened?" Lucy twisted her neck to gaze into her maid's eyes.

"Papa found me" Sorreta held her hand to her mouth in shock.

"Oh…" Lucy returned to her head back to its original position, and continued her silence.

"But did you get it?" Lucy's lack of answer was an answer in itself, and Sorreta joined her mistress in enjoying the starry night. They had hundreds of acres to themselves, and there were no lights around to obstruct the brilliant balls of gas.

"So… That's that then" She rubbed a comforting hand up and down the blonde's spine, venting some of her own anger into the movement. The rubbing eased some of the hardness Lucy had put up to halt her emotions, and she let only one tear fall. Just one. An idea popped into her head.

"Sorreta! You could go get it from him! Papa will never see you, and you'll be back much faster than me and—!"

"I can't" The older woman interrupted. "There is certain magic preventing me from getting there"

"What are you talking about!? I got in just fine!" Sorreta shook her head.

"hai, I know. But this kind of magic is special. It's a dragon's" Lucy huffed.

"Then how come Papa could see him?"
"Well, it's a long story, and some of it is speculation, only the master knows the full truth. Do you still wish to hear it?" A nod of the head. "Very well then. It was only a few years before you were born, but I the sheer mystery of the day making it impossible for me to remember it any less clear. And I don't know if you would believe it, but back then, your father was much less strict. As in he laughed regularly…"


(Spetto's POV/Flashback)
"Whew! We're finally here!" Spetto turned around, calling instructions to the rest of the caravan to unload in a specific, neat order.

"Good work everyone! Thanks for travelling so far with my wife and I" The employees all called how it was no problem or how they would do it all again if they asked. Jude laughed, and thanked them again.

"Dear, it's perfect!" Elegant Layla Heartfilia grabbed her husband's arm and tugged it playfully.

"I know isn't it!" Sorreta surveyed the grounds in which they would soon call home, and her eyebrows scrunched together slightly.

"Master. It would seem like this place has been gardened" Jude blinked, and took a closer look.

"You're right," He grunted in surprise "Strange. The man who sold me this place explicitly said there wasn't anyone living here" Spetto waved her hand.

"It's fine, it's probably someone who was taking care of it for us before we got here"

"But then, why would they make it so nice? We were going to set up our house here anyway" A puzzling quiet settled over the three as they tried to come up with some sort of plausible reason to which could solve the conundrum.

"GAH!" Jude yelled, shocking the two females. "This thinking wont do any good. Whoever did this must still be around. Lets see if we can find him or her" Wanting to let the rest of the servants take a needed break, only Sorreta, Layla, and Jude went searching for the perpetrator, agreeing to come back in half an hour.

"Hello?" Sorreta called. Nobody answered. She continued to do this for a while, coming up with nothing. She threw up her hands. Turning, she walked—

Flop

Sorreta fell onto a warm patch of moss, and that patch of moss groaned.

The maid slowly got up. She realized the moss was actually a rising and falling bare chest, and above the chest was a childish face. For once, Sorreta was speechless.

The man waved a hand in front of her face, saying something, but she didn't recognize the words. She stood, brushing off the imaginary dust from her maid's outfit, and bowed.

"I'm so sorry," She gushed, "I wasn't looking where I was going" The man tilted his head, then gave the largest grin she'd ever seen, slapping his fist against his palm.

"Oh! Fiorian!" The man gave a flourishing bow, slightly exaggerated. "I Nate!"

'His pronunciation is quite good for a foreigner,' she thought 'Maybe he lives around here'

"Excuse me, but do you know anybody here who gardens?" The man raised his hand.

"I do. Why?" Ah. So it was him.

"Could you come with me? You see… um… We kind of bought this property, and we thought nobody lived here"

"I do"

"hai, I suppose, but… It's kind of complicated. We kind of brought all our stuff with us, and moved out of our old home. Could you come talk to the master?" Nate shrugged, and tread behind the maid.

"So? This is the man?" Jude asked, after he and his wife came back after the thirty minutes.

"hai master. But he says he lives here" Jude raised an eyebrow, and turned to Nate.

"Well sir, I'm sorry, I had no idea somebody already resided here. Could we work out some sort of arrangement?" Nate nodded.

"Sure, a course" Layla giggled, and whispered to Sorreta

"He has a funny accent doesn't he?" Sorreta acknowledged her lady's words.

"He probably doesn't talk to many people" Proceeding to walk to the tent that had been set up by the servants.

"Oh, Sorreta-san?" Sorreta turned to see one of the kitchen staff. "we seem to be having some problems with the cooking crew. Some of the animals have eaten some of the ingredients for tonight's dinner, and we cant think of some other recipe" She spoke in a hushed tone so the master's wouldn't have to worry about petty things such as dinner.

"Ugh. Fine, let me see what we're missing"


(Jude's POV)
"So, Mr. Nate. How long have you been here on the mountain?" Nate shrugged.

"Dunno. Long times" Layla giggled again. Jude rubbed his stubbed beard.

"Longer than month? That was when I signed over the contract for this mountain" A nod. "Oh dear, what to do? I don't want to take your home, but I own this whole mountain now" Nate gave an indifferent noise.

"It fine. I just live away" An idea sparked in Layla's head, and she spoke up.

"Dear, why doesn't he become our gardener? I just loved the way he arranged the flowers" Jude perked up considerably.

"What a fabulous idea. Would you be willing to work for us Mr. Nate?" Nate's expression brightened as well, and he bobbed his head up and down ecstatically.

"Yes please! Thank yer!" Layla laughed, and this time, Nate and Jude both joined in.
"Thank yer fo today. I must gu now"

"Of course, of course, we look forward to the colour you'll bring to my new home!" He shook his hand in a male sort of understanding, with Layla holding her husband's arm.

"Bye!" Jude glanced at Sorreta in a beseeching way. She understood, and followed Nate.

"I'll escort you home" Nate said his thanks, and they went on their way. Night had taken over Day, and the forest parts were still filled with life. Owl hoots, some screeching bats, and a fireflies flying around in dizzyingly bright patterns. It was so calm and entrancing, Sorreta didn't realize they were already there.

"Thank yer fo walken with meh" Sorreta bowed.

"It was my pleasure master Nate" Nate smiled, and bowed back. She turned to go back to camp, but Nate quickly stopped her mid-step.

"Wait!" He took her hand and walked around in a strange pattern, eventually getting past the spot Sorreta had almost stepped past. She was starting to question him, as to why he just had to walk with her around a spot for 5 meters, when he pointed at the ground.

"My treasure" He states passionately. Littered on the floor, were many white seedlings, looking as if they'd just sprouted from the earth only yesterday, nighttime dew formed on the leaves.

"Beautiful…"

"Hai," Nate agreed. "Take long time to sprot. But I wait, and soon will be flower, and when they do, can cure, ANYTHING"

"I can't wait to see them. I think Milady would love these"

"I show you an her latar" Sorreta gave another bow, and this time strode away without interruption.


(Lucy's POV)

"And Nate was the man you saw downstairs" Lucy gasped, horrified.

"Why would daddy keep him downstairs? He sounds so nice! And he spoke perfect Fiorian!" Sorreta went about answering the first question.

"Well you see, after a couple years of getting to know him, he managed to better his Fiorian just by talking with us, and at a remarkable rate. Your mother and I developed a rather special bond with him, and I think even more so between Nate and Layla-sama.

But then… your mothers disease started to show. It got worse everyday, the doctors, Nate, your father, all of them worried more and more. Nate even tried to give her some herbs of pain relief and some other sort of medicine, but that only helped for a little bit"

"But… What about Nate's flowers?" Sorreta gave a rueful smile.

"Oh Mistress, you have no idea… I'd told Master about the flowers when I'd gotten back from the first night I met Nate, and Master confronted Nate about it. Nate refused to say anything, and didn't budge an inch when Master begged for some. When he'd tried every and all attempts to reason with Nate, he gave up and resorted to force. We gathered almost every able bodied man, and staged an attack. But that didn't end well. This is where it starts to get… strange. I wasn't there myself, but apparently, there was a dragon guarding the flower…"


I changed the storyline, since this was actually an edited idea, and I'm not saying how, but now that I feel up to it, much change is coming! Oh, and I accidentally forgot to update this, so ill have two chapters up in one day now! Yaaay!

Justin, Lover of anime, enemy of haters, and family to all my otaku brothers and sisters. Welcome to my world! XD