Word count: 2,110

Hey monsters! Oneesama here with chapter 13! So there's been a small time skip. It's the end of October, Lucy's birthday is in a few days and Halloween is in 10 days. (Remember this... It's important lol)

This chapter is a bit shorter. I'm still debating on which format I like better... Actually, which do yall like better?

Longer chapters (5-7k words)

Shorter chapters (2-3k words)

Let me know in the comments.

This is going to be the beginning of the first story arc... Well call it the Childhood Arc. I hope y'all enjoy!

I used a one shot request to create this story arc which will stretch the next few chapters!!!

As always, this chapter was Beta read and edited by celestialprincess26 from FFN!mention a user

Now, onto the story!!!

XxX

Back in Magnolia

Things at the Fairy Tail guild hall hadn't been quite as normal as one might think. It had been almost a month since Lucy quit Team Natsu and left the guild.

When the master broke the news that Lucy had given up her place for Lisanna, the team was filled with mixed feelings. Gray was pissed because he knew his 'sister' had been dealing with depression and worried about her making this decision alone.

Erza was proud of Lucy for putting the feelings of others above her own. She also thought her wanting to become stronger was a good goal and applauded her efforts. She thought Lucy knew exactly what she was doing so she wasn't worried in the slightest.

Happy, contrary to his name, was sad. He loved Lucy like a mother and wasn't sure how he felt about Lisanna replacing her. Sure Lisanna technically was around first, but they never shared the bond he and the blonde did.

Lucy had, on more than one occasion, put her own life in danger to keep not only him but Natsu safe. He thought it was extremely unfair that after everything, his dad would just let her

go so easily.

Natsu was excited and nervous. He didn't once think about how Lucy felt leaving. All he could think about was how he would have the chance to get closer to his long lost companion. Over the years he had never forgotten her. Lucy was a good friend and he truly cared for her, but she could never make him feel the things his silver haired maiden could.

The takeover mage herself however, was filled with guilt and confusion. Sure she loved Natsu but she also knew how much Lucy loved him. She knew what the two had been through and wondered if it was fair that she returned out of nowhere and took Natsu away.

Though the five were dealing with their heavy emotions, they continued their day to day lives. Taking, and botching, multple missions a week and causing havoc throughout the guild. But today was different.

Today the master had gathered everyone to tell them about a notice he received from the magic Council. Apparently, a Demon called Bane who utilized curses and bane particles to strip enemies of their magic and torture them to death was running amuck near Magnolia.

This demon was called from the book of Zerif by a dark guild named Elvish Fang. This guild was filled with dark mages who practiced the use of curses. There were mercenaries among the members and the Magic Council had advised all guilds in the area to be on high alert.

In an attempt to keep his children safe, Makarov deemed all missions for any mage under S class be placed on hiatus until Bane was caught. They would plan an assault on Elvish fang and destroy the threat before it could spread.

For now, the issue was localized to a Magnolia and a few surrounding cities. If they could keep it from heading east, none of the other guilds would have to get involved. Including Sabertooth.

XxX

It was a chilly day at the end of October. It had been over a month since Lucy had temporarily joined Sabertooth and today she would be heading out on her first mission as a Tiger. But the morning hadnt gone as smoothly as planned when she learned she would have to receive a

Sabertooth guild mark. To say it was difficult would be the understatement of the century.

Flashback..."But... I'm only here for a year! I haven't actually joined your guild!"Poor Lucy. All she wanted to do was go on a mission with Rogue and Frosch. She wanted to get to know them better and possibly get some training in. The morning had been pleasant to say the least. She had woken up extra early and gone for a jog with Plue and Loke before taking a very long extra hot bath.After she got out, she found a gift box on her bed containing a beautiful black and violet kimono and cape that looked like the female version of Rogue's outfit. Loving it, she quickly got dressed for the day and left her room; only to find Frosch watching his froggie cartoons and Rogue with. an offering of coffee, bagels, yogurt, and fruit.She brought up the idea of going on a mission and was pumped to hear both of her roommates agree immediately. So when she got to the guild she never expected Sting to ruin her good mood with a ridiculous request. Now she understood why everyone was so easily annoyed with his presence."Lucy, calm downnnn it's just-""I will not calm down Sting! You're asking me to remove my guild mark! MY GUILD MARK!!""Yes I get that but-""and not only do you want me to erase my Fairy Tail mark, but you want me to replace it... WITH YOURS?! What is WRONG with you?!"Sting was cowering behind his brother. He learned early on what a pissed off Lucy was capable of. He'd be damned if he would be the focus of her frustration any time again in the near future.He knew she wouldn't attack his silent twin because he knew she respected him more than himself... Much to his own personal annoyance, but that was an argument for another day. For now, Sting needed to convince Lucy to listen to reason."Lucy, it's the rules. When you join a guild exchange program, you are temporarily leaving your guild to join another. Didn't you know that?""No I didnt! I was only told I would be responsible for you!"Fearing for the safety of her on again off again lover, Yukino walked up to her celestial sister and held her hand before trying to calm her down."Lucy, In order to be in the program, you have to do at least one mission a month. And to do Sabertooth missions, you have to have our guilds' mark. This should have been explained to you before you came.""Well I wasn't told!"Though her voice wasn't as loud, anyone with eyes would be able to tell Lucy was furious. Everyone in the room was starting to get worried until Rouge grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his chest.She instantly melted into his embrace, feeling safe in his arms. She knew he wouldn't let Sting force her to do anything she didnt want to. Rogue was smart, he always had the answers she needed. Maybe he could find a way for her to keep her guild mark and still go on the mission."Lucy, it's ok. Sting will not force you into this, I won't allow it. But we do have to abide by the rules weather we like them or not."His heart shattered when Lucy picked up her face to look at him. Big brown eyes filled with tears met shocked crimson. She looked so scared and he hated it."Please don't make me do this, I ..."" What if instead of removing your insignia, we simply make it invisible. It'll still be there, just hidden.""We can't do that Rogue, it's against the rules."Sting quickly shut his mouth and recoiled at the death glare his twin was sending him. Apparently Rogue wasn't going to hear anything he had to say because his aura turned beyond defensive. Sting knew Rogue had a thing for Blondie, but he didn't realize it was that intense until that very moment and he decided to be quiet and save himself a bigger fight than was necessary."Actually it's not. The rules simply state that a mages original guild mark can't be visable and the temporary mark must be visable."Yukino walked up to Lucy and began rubbing firm but soothing circles on her back. She knew how hard it was to be told to remove your guild mark. She could understand the pain she was feeling, but unlike when Yukino was forced to strip hers away, this was under diffrent circumstances. Hopefully her sister would be able to see that."See Lucy it's ok."Lucy was shaking with tears. Her face was once again burried in Rogue's chest, not that he minded, and she was using his scent to calm herself like she had come to do so many times in the last few weeks. It seemed he was the only thing that could calm her anxiety and panic."I... I guess that would be ok."

XxX

Her right hand was now bare and her left hand was adorned with a black Sabertooth insignia. She was silently thanking Rogue for simply hiding her guild mark instead of removing it. If she was being completely honest, if they would have kept pushing her to remove it, she may have given up and gone back to Magnolia.

After the mornings fiasco, she was glad she Frosch and Rogue had gone alone on this mission. It was an A class mission in a small village called Ivy. It seemed most of the local farmers along with their children had been going missing for months and the town was in danger of disappearing all together.

They were waiting at the train station since the village was a few days walk away. Thanks to modern transportation, they would be there in six hours. Unfortunately for Rogue, six hours on a train was the same as a death sentence.

When they heard the loud whistling of the oncoming locomotive, they gathered their bags and headed inside.

XxX

"Rogue, are you ok?"

"Fine."

"I don't believe that, your face is green!"

"Fro thinks so too!"

"Ugh."

"Come here."

Pulling a reluctant Rogue closer towards her wasn't as hard as it sounded. He, like all other dragon slayers, couldnt put up much of a fight when dealing with his motion sickness. Luckily for him, Lucy, having come from a guild with four of them, knew a few tricks to help during a train ride.

She gently pulled him down until his head was in her lap. Amused by the faint blush on his cheeks, she began running her hands through his thick ebony hair. Rogue felt like he was in

heaven.

The feel of her fingers massaging his scalp forced an involuntary growl to escape his lips. He turned on his side, burying his face in her stomach and pulled her close like a teddy bear.

Humming in delight, he soon found his eyes growing heavy and her sweet ginger and coconut scent lulled him into a comfortable sleep.

Lucy on the other hand wasn't as content. Though his growl now sounded more like a soft purr... She couldn't help but think of the last time she heard him growl directly at her. Except it wasn't this Rogue, but his future self...

Flashback...Lucy blinked her eyes slowly open. Her head was throbbing and she could feel a sticky warm wetness running down her neck. Her shoulders and wrists screamed in pain. Panic overtook her when she tried to move, only to realize she was chained.She was hanging from the ceiling with her feet dangling about two feet above the floor. Her breath caught in her throat when she heard an unfamiliar voice say, "ah Fairy-san, you're finally awake. Good.""W-whos there? Show yourself!" Lucy cried out into the darkness. Her voice echoing off the cave walls surrounding her, she started feeling claustrophobic as she became more aware of her surroundings.Scarlet eyes pierced through the darkness as an evil laugh echoed through the cave. Lucy struggled to break free from the chains causing the man in front of her to laugh even harder."I don't think I've properly introduced myself. My name is Rogue."

"No! That was different . That wasn't him. This Rogue would never hurt me and I need to remember that."

Subconsciously running her hand over her left breast, she began to struggle with breathing. Tears threatened to fall when she felt the tingling sensation of the dark magic forced into her. A hidden patch of

onyx scales burned her chest so much that even her heart ached.

"No... this Rogue would never do something like that." Commanding herself to forget the memories, Lucy focused on the scenery outside of her window.

Watching the hills and trees

pass by at over 100mph eventually took its toll, and Lucy found herself falling asleep with her hand still tangled in Rogue's hair.

XxX

I'd love to see more comments so dont forget to let me know ypur theories for what might happen, OC submissions for future missions, job or one shot side requests, for me to include. Looking forward to hearing from you guys!!!