Lucy plucked at the guitar on the store shelf. It was made out of wood, and had a silver lining along the edges. It's strings were clearly new, and gave a very sharp feeling to the notes.

Twang, twang, twang…

She played.

The noisy store grew silent, and slowly, like a trickle of water down a pipe, a flute started to play. It's note low and somber, sad and bittersweet. Lucy stopped, and turned towards the sound.

A long time ago

A sad tale of beautiful woe,

A single voice on a single silken thread

And a thousand voices

Silent and silent like Death

Lucy's lips broke into a smile, "Hey, I know this song," she looked at the singer, a young man, easily in his twenties, "I know this song," She repeated.

He grinned in reply; white teeth flashing against sun blackened skin. He gestured for the guitar, and Lucy hurriedly handed it over, with fumbling and clumsy hands.

Strong hands took it from her loose grasp.

Sing, little birdie

Sing, for my child.

She cannot sleep, can't even try

So please lull her with your sweet lullaby.

This wasn't a song her mother sung to her. Or her father, assuming he could sing. Her stepmother's voice was repulsive, and her Lyra couldn't have known this song.

A happy little girl

A sweet little town

With tiny heroes, and small demons

And big dreams, by little people.

Lucy started humming this song, a familiar warmth tingling in her frozen heart. The guitar strummed along, and the oboe once again took over.

It played a different tune; a happy one. It bounced like a child's laughter, and shone like the sun. A complete contrast to the dull clouds sitting outside like a bunch of grumpy old men.

One day, they took her away

To a far off land, and a golden prince.

All their voices were silent like Death.

And she was taken away.

Unraveling like a piece of silken thread

"What a depressing song," A voice spoke up behind her.

"Shut up," she chided.

"Is this song about fish?" Happy the cat asked.

"No, you just don't have any taste in music," Lucy sighed, "did you find your bags?" she asked, running her hands through her hair. She stood up and walked out into the busy street, nodding her head in a small goodbye to the singer.

Her companion grinned and help up a green satchel, then gestured to a large blue backpack on his shoulder, "Ya think?" he said, "I also bought this!" he fished out a pink dress.

Lucy smiled, even he could be little sensitive sometimes, is that for you girlfriend, she asked, and he tilted his head, "Why would get her a dress? she's got tons," Natsu said in reply.

Lucy stared, dumbfounded, "Oh," was the only thing she could reply, "then who's it for?"

"You"

"…What?"

"You! I thought the pink would suit your hair," he grinned, "and look," he brought out a brown pair of leggings, "the lady at the store gave this for free when she heard it was for a friend,"

Oh wow…Natsu you crazy, stupid, idiot, Lucy laughed.

"Thanks, I go wear it now," She grinned, and remembered something she shouldn't have while she was changing.

"Sting! You shouldn't have," she playfully nudged him. He had bought her a wavy yellow skirt. It ran to her knees and had slits on the sides starting from the thighs.

"Isn't it too revealing? My stepmom will burn this," Lucy said, after a brief inspection. It was pretty, but dangerous to have in the house. Sting's expression flew from hopeful to disappointed in 0.03 seconds. If he were a dog, his ears would have been floppy and his face would be downcast. Lucy laughed and said she would hide it and wear shorts underneath it., but only if HE bought the shorts.

That was where he met Yukino, in the store. She was in sweats, and her hair was awry. She clearly hadn't slept for a while either, and makeup didn't look like her forte.

But that didn't matter did it?

Lucy didn't notice, but maybe she did but didn't want to notice. Who knows? Lucy wasn't part of that love story.

He did always like that store.

"I didn't ask for a broken heart," she grumbled, "It wasn't my fault he had a different soul mate," She pulled on the leggings, one leg at a time, "It was-," one leg, "just my-," the other leg, "stupid, stupid, luck," she walked out of the changing room without looking at the mirror.

"Hey… how did he pay for this anyway?" she checked around her shirt collar for a price tag. Natsu was at a food-stall, terrorizing the vendor by eating his fire.

"Hey! Pinkie! How'd you pay for this?" Lucy pointed at her shirt. He tossed her wallet to her.

Of course he didn't have any money.

"You son of a-," Lucy started to say, but realized she was in the presence of young children, "pink porcupine," she finished.

"Nice save Lucy," Happy sighed next to her, chewing on a fish.

"Shut up Happy, or you won't get your nest meal," she waved her wallet in front of his nose and walked over to apologize to the vendor.

How are you supposed to calculate fire in terms of money?