"…happy birthday to you!"

As the guild clapped, Nashi inhaled the flames on her candles. Mira cut into the cake—a massive, sugary masterpiece that was big enough for everyone in the guild to have two pieces. Everyone was excitedly talking about what they'd just found out—the truth behind Nashi's identity. Even so, they made sure that celebrating Nashi's first birthday with her Fairy Tail family was top priority. Natsu had put off his Mavis-Zeref interrogation/furious rant until the next day so he could spend the rest of the day with his precious daughter.

I have a daughter.

Finally, he understood all the hubbub around kids; they were amazing beings. A little bit of you, but still their own person. Nashi had a little bit of him and a little bit of Lucy, but he could tell she wasn't a carbon-copy of either of them. She had Lucy's spunk but a certain naiveté that was all her own. She had his fiery temper but a slightly cooler head when it came to defending herself.

He couldn't be prouder.

"Hey, Daddy!"

He looked up to see his little girl holding a stuffed dragon.

"Look what Auntie Mavis gave me!" The excitement on her face was priceless. He knew he wasn't letting her go, or Lucy, either.

"That's awesome, Nash!"

"Mm-hmm!" She ran off to hang with the other kids. Natsu watched her go, feeling nervous about being her dad for real.

Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Gildarts—possibly the only person in the guild who could understand how he was feeling.

"Hey, Gildarts," he greeted the older man.

"At least your kid actually thinks of you like a dad," Gildarts chuckled. "I'd give anything for Cana to call me 'Daddy' at least once."

"Well, Nashi's only seven, so…"

"Very funny. Just because my little girl was eighteen when I found out she was my daughter and yours is still a little girl—" The 'Ace of Fairy Tail' cut himself off. "Never mind. You win there."

"Really? Nashi's a handful."

"Trust me. You'll never get these years back. Enjoy 'em while you can."

"SHUT UP!"

Natsu jerked his head up to see Nashi glaring at Storm while Celeste and Elsa held her arms, keeping the little pink-haired girl from attacking. Storm was smirking at her triumphantly.

"LET ME GO!" she spat. "HE NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT A LESSON!"

"Oh, yeah, Bubblegum Head?" Storm taunted. "Let's see you try!"

So quick that it seemed impossible, Nashi wrenched away from her friends and landed a punch square on Storm's jaw. He reeled back in shock; he hadn't expected her to actually hit him! She stuck out her tongue.

"Take that, Water Boy!" she sneered.

"Oh, dear…" Mira murmured, shaking her head. "They take after their fathers, all right…"


"Thanks for talking to me."

"Not a problem!" Mavis replied, bouncing on her heels. Zeref placed a hand on her head to steady her.

"So, I have one question…" Natsu sighed.

"Fire away!"

"HOW THE HELL COULD YOU KEEP THIS FROM ME?!" Mavis squealed and fell backwards into Zeref.

"It wasn't our secret to tell," Zeref explained calmly to his younger brother. "We didn't tell you because Lucy wanted it that way. We promised to keep it a secret."

"To hell with that! Nashi's my daughter, too!"

"And my niece!" Zeref shot back.

"I'm gonna go…" Mavis mumbled, heading for Natsu's house.

"I missed almost seven years of Nashi's life because of one stupid mistake, and it's because Lucy didn't want me to know I was a father?!"

"She thought you were with Lisanna and that you were happy. I didn't have the heart to tell her when you two broke up." Natsu groaned and sank to the ground.

"I just want her back."


"Good job, you two."

Zelda smirked at the two mages. Violet was staring blankly, as usual, while Rose had an evil expression.

"The seed is planted. Now all we need to do is wait for Salamander to come for his precious mate."

"How do you know he'll come?" Rose inquired.

"Dragons are monogamous. They have one mate for life, and they'll do anything to protect them. Imagine what would happen if one had its mate killed right in front of its eyes."

"Master Zelda, you are deliciously evil."

"I know, Rose."

Summer listened, her hand over her rapidly-beating heart.

Murder?! she thought. Murder was never part of the plan! Lucy's going to die and never see her daughter again… unless I fix this.

That sealed it.

To Fairy Tail, then.

She walked towards the exit.

"SUMMER!"

The fiery-haired mage turned to see her own daughter, Winter, running towards her. Winter had long, wavy, dark blue hair that had streaks of white and gold.

"Where are you going?" the young girl asked.

"I'm going on a job."

"Where?"

"Nonya Business."

Winter giggled. Summer ruffled her hair.

"Be good for the guild, okay?"

"Okay… Bye, Mommy."

Summer exited the guild hall.

Every child deserves a mother and a father. I'm sorry you couldn't have that, Winter, but Nashi can. Her father's not a complete and total asshole like yours.


"We haven't had any luck," Natsu groaned as he thumped his head on the counter.

"We'll find Mama, Daddy," Nashi assured him, patting her father's head.

"Thanks, Nash." Natsu went to talk to Erza and Gray, leaving Nashi by herself.

Nashi.

The pink-haired girl felt confused at the voice in her head.

Who are you? she asked in her head.

Who I am isn't important. Just know that I'm a friend.

How do I know I can trust you?

Because I know where your mother is, and she's in danger.

Danger?!

Yes. I'll be arriving at the guild in just a few minutes. Meet me outside and I'll come in with you. You have to trust me.

Okay, stranger. I'll trust you, but those guild doors are staying open, okay?

Good choice.

Nashi went outside. Within a few minutes, a woman in a cloak arrived. She lifted her hood to reveal red-orange-yellow hair and Nashi gasped.

"Summer Solstice?!"

"Bring me in, Nashi. They'll trust me if I'm with one of their own."

Nashi led Summer inside. Once the doors were closed, Summer took off her hood and the guild stared in shock.

"What's she doing here?" Erza asked in a low voice.

"Titania," Summer replied. "I have information for all of you. It's imperative that you hear me out."

"You have ten seconds," Natsu growled.

"I know where Lucy is, and who kidnapped her in the first place."

"Tell us!" demanded Storm, who was quickly shushed by Juvia.

"My guild master, Zelda Dragonfang of Amazona, kidnapped Lucy out of the blue after the Grand Magic Games. Since then, I have kept my mouth shut out of fear for my life and that of my own daughter. However, I can't keep quiet anymore, not after what I heard. They're going to kill her."

"NO!" Natsu yelled.

"Zelda…" Piper snarled, balling her fists.

"We have to hurry. I can take you to Amazona. We'll save Lucy together."


And that concludes chapter 8.

Wow, it's been almost three months since I updated this story.

Well, so long and thanks for all the fish!