Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or Ranger's Apprentice


Will was eating his first supper as Halt's apprentice when he finally decided to ask. "Halt?"

He received a non-committal grunt in response, but decided to continue anyway. "Why is there two beds in my room? And what's that rope and cloth set up?"

Halt dragged his hand over his face in mock weariness. "Do you ever ask one question at a time?"

Will remained quiet, fidgeting impatiently while waiting for the answer. Halt sighed. He supposed he would ask some time or another.

"The reason for the two beds is that you'll be sharing your room with someone soon, and the cloth and rope is a divider, so each of you has at least some privacy."

Will gave Halt a confused look. "Who would I be sharing with?"

"I have another apprentice, one that I took a few months back. You'll meet soon enough." Halt said at the end to answer Will's next question before if flew out of his mouth.

"When?" asked Will, half eager, half apprehensive about meeting his fellow apprentice.

Halt gave him a small glare. "Soon." he said in a tone that stated that the conversation was over.

Will fell silent, though it didn't last long, much to Halt's chagrin.

• • •

A couple weeks later, Halt and Will were walking towards Old Bob's, not that Will knew where they were going. On the outside, Halt was as grim-faced as ever, but inside, Halt was rather pleased that he was going to reunite with Lucy. He's never admit it, but he kind of missed having the mage around, not to mention the verbal battles they had, which Lucy would win most of the time.

When they came across the collection of buildings, Old Bob was already outside. "Hullo Ranger!"

"Hullo Old Bob." Halt greeted.

"And who's this young lad? I suppose he's another apprentice?" Old Bob asked, despite already knowing the answer.

"That is correct. Will, this is Old Bob. Old Bob, this is Will." said Halt.

"Pleased to meet you, sir." said Will.

Old Bob burst out laughing. "Seems like you've been picking the polite ones Ranger!" When he was done he returned to his usual manner and asked Halt. "Speaking of apprentices, there wouldn't be any chance I convince you to let me steal Lucy as my own apprentice, would there? The lass is so gentle and caring of the horses. She'd make a good trainer."

Halt allowed himself a chuckle. "I'm afraid not. Speaking of Lucy, where is she?" he asked, making a show of looking around for the blonde mage.

"She should be back soon, she takes Celeste out for a ride every day." said Old Bob.

Will was very confused. "Who's Lucy?" he asked.

Halt sighed. "I should have known it wouldn't be long before you started blabbing questions."

Old Bob gave Halt a shocked look. "You didn't tell him?"

"Of course I told him, I just didn't mention a name. To answer your question Will, Lucy is my other apprentice." said Halt.

Will gaped. If he didn't know any better, he'd have though the grizzled ranger was joking, but as he gaped at his mentor, he saw no trace of anything to suggest that Halt was pulling his leg. Even so, he found the concept hard to grasp. Not only was his fellow apprentice a girl, but he had to share a room with her! His face flushed with the thought.

Old Bob and Halt both found it amusing when Will's face reddened. "That's why the divider's there." Halt said.

"W-well what does this . . . Lucy think about having to share a room with me?" asked Will.

"She's surprisingly okay with it." said Halt. "As long as her privacy is respected, though I would pity you if you ever intruded upon it." he added, having seen for himself the power of her kicks while he'd been training her.

They then noticed the sound of horse's hooves pounding onto the dirt and Abelard and Tug whinnied in greeting from the lean-to they were in, receiving whinny in kind. Will wondered who it could be while Old Bob and Halt knew it was Lucy. Lucy and Celeste burst through the trees, Lucy's cowl had been blown back and her golden locks were streaming out behind her as she laughed. Halt swore he could see her brown eyes sparkling from where he was standing.

Will openly gaped. When he was told that his fellow apprentice was going to be a girl, he'd pictured an intimidating, stern, no-nonsense girl, not this seeming joyful, fun loving, and kind girl and looked more like an angel than a Ranger, even if she was wearing the uniform. She brought Celeste around and gracefully dismounted before she'd even come to a full stop in front of the men.

"Halt!" she greeted cheerfully, throwing her arms around him in a hug.

Halt stiffened, standing straight as board with wide eyes, not sure what to do or how to respond. The action surprised Will and Old Bob found Halt's reaction amusing. Over her training, Lucy had begun to see Halt as something of a father figure.

She released him from the hug and turned to Will, still smiling. "Ah! You must be Will!" she said, holding out her hand cheerily. "I'm Lucy, pleased to meet you."

Will stared at her for a few moments before numbly taking her hand. "H-How did you know my name?"

Lucy giggled and placed her finger against her lips with a conspiratorial expression. "It's a secret." she said, leaning slightly forward.

"Yes, well . . ." Halt said maybe a tad awkwardly, clearing his throat. "I believe we came here to get something. Old Bob, if you would?"

Old Bob nodded. "Sure thing Ranger." he said before letting out an ear piercing whistle.

Abelard and Tug came galloping out of the lean-to on the other side of the corral. Both horses happily greeted Lucy and Will swore he heard Halt mutter, "traitor". After saying hello to Lucy, Abelard decided to greet Halt.

"Oh, I'm gone for two weeks but Lucy gets greeted first?" Halt asked his horse.

Abelard snorted in response. "She nicer, and a lot prettier than you are." he seemed to say.

Halt grunted. "Yeah, you've got me there." he said, glancing over at the mage, who was currently gently tending to Celeste as Old Bob introduced Will to Tug.

His eyes widened as he understood why Old Bob wanted to steal Lucy to be his apprentice. The way she treated her horse was gentle and loving as was her expression and the way she spoke to Celeste. 'This is my apprentice?!' he thought to himself. 'Old Bob's right . . . she would make a good trainer . . . '

When Will was learning how to ride Tug, i.e. trying to ride Tug only to be bucked off because he didn't say the passphrase, Lucy surprisingly kept quiet, though she winced when Will landed on his back and gave him an apologetic look when he asked what he did wrong. She glared at the two older men when Will turned to Tug back for being amused by the whole thing. She smiled as she watched the shaggy pony show Will just how fast he could go.

They stayed the night and left the next day after giving Old Bob some time to say goodbye to the horses and Will had a little bonding time with Tug. Lucy hugged the old man goodbye, promising to visit him when she had the time. As the sun was setting, the three of them raced to the cabin. Halt and Abelard won as Halt got a head start on them. Lucy grinned as they entered the cabin and started making supper for the two males. Things were starting to look up . . . She only wished she could have her keys back.


Hope you enjoyed and please leave a review.

Btw, Lucy will not be getting any new keys until the beginning events of book 5.