A/N: Chapter 1 and 2 will be the story of their childhood before they go to Fiore Academy. Enjoy!

Long chapter ahead!!!

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X776, Fiore, Ishgar

Her slippers were really worn out, but it didn't stopped the child from running on the slippery ground. It was raining pretty bad but she had to go buy medicine. It was really terrible that the rain decided to pour down during an urgent time like this.

"I'm almost there!" the scarlet-haired child encouraged herself. She firmly held the plastic bag on her small hand and ran as fast as she could.

Her face brightens upon seeing a familiar house. It was just an abandoned house they found, it was free so they were glad they had something to cover their heads.

"I got the medicine!"

"E-Erza-nee." a delicate child with blonde hair had dried tear stains on her cheeks and a puffy red nose. It was obvious she cried no matter how much she hides it.

How did it come to this? They were just too young to experience such things. They don't have much of a choice but to keep living forward because all they got left is each other.

"-Wendy.. Wendy please be well." Erza pleads and took out the medicine and some apples from her plastic bag.

"Wendy... Can you hear me?" Erza gently places Wendy's head on her lap.

"Yes... Erza-san..." Wendy weakly smiled, she was always fragile and easily sick. Without money, how can they possibly treat her sickness?

"Eat this apple here. It's very sweet and healthy. After that, drink your medicine okay?" Erza sweetly said, her soothing voice reassuring the child in her arms.

"How... money?" Wendy tried her best to speak against her rough and sore throat.

"Oh don't worry about that Wendy. You know I'm really amazing right? I earn money in my own way." she cleans and washes the dishes in a couple of diners downtown.

Erza gazes upon and witnessed the others fighting back their tears.

Lucy was trying her best not to cry in front of Erza. She really was something. It was really okay to act weak when you're with family. Because when a family smiles, they celebrate together. And when they cry, they mourn together.

Juvia and Levy were embracing each other, crying silently. They were too young to be alone. But there weren't any adults to take care of them.

Sadly, they weren't all connected by blood. They were just children that came along with their parents during a business trip. While they were back in the hotel where they were staying at, they received news that their parents died when a terrorist raided their meeting place and killed them on the spot. No one knew what to do, the next thing they know is that the hotel was being raided by the terrorists as well.

Escape was their only option to continue living. They were scared and shivering from the feeling of intense fear. Erza was the most shaken, she wanted to just sleep and pretend it's all a dream. But when she saw the state of the other children beside her, she pretended she was strong.

Erza Scarlet is not a kind of person to show her weakness to others. It was her time to stand up and show these children they still have hope.

They managed to escape the place and find an abandoned house near a farming village. They were kids from rich families, so they were crying while complaining that they didn't deserve this. But after months of staying together, they got their strength from the bond they had made.

Erza, Juvia and Lucy mostly runs for errands to make money and buy food. Levy and Wendy stayed at the house to make sure their hard-earned stuff are safe.

Erza came back to reality when Levy wiped her tears and sat beside her, "Let's put Wendy in the futon to keep her warm, Er-chan."

"Go ahead."

When Wendy was sound asleep, they just looked intently at their youngest.

"I'm tired of living like this... I hate seeing my friends suffer. I can't handle it anymore." Juvia says and cried silently, covering her mouth to contain her sobs.

"We got to find a way. If only we can somehow get our family riches, we can be able to survive this." Lucy was wishing for the impossible. The terrorists could have raided their houses already and destroyed everything after killing their parents.

"I miss my mama and papa so much." Lucy loved her parents, she always looked up to them. They were so kindhearted to people and loved their daughter dearly. But the harsh reality that they're gone is the truth.

Levy patted Lucy's back and hugged the blonde girl, trying her best to comfort her crushing heart.

Erza remained unshaken, she won't cry right now. She needs to be strong so they can have strength in her.

The next day, Wendy was feeling well making everyone sigh in relief.

"I'm so sorry for making everyone worry." Wendy bowed, showing her full gratitude to her friends but sisters in heart.

"Don't bow Wendy! It's okay, do you want to go to the park? Let's all play!" Levy suggested with a big smile. It was rare for Levy to invite them going out since she preferred staying home to read books she borrowed from the local library.

"Hmm. That's a great idea." Erza smiled, the weather was nice and windy today. It was a good idea to play with her friends to have fun once in a while.

"Yosh! Let's go!" Lucy smiled big, making everyone nod their heads.

In a nearby local park, the five girls started playing tag. Hearty laughs of children filled the park as the people who passed by just smiled at the sight. Youth was really nice.

"Juvia thinks Levy is unfair!"

"Huh?! I just touched your hair so you're it!"

"Aww!"

Everyone laughed at Juvia's gloomy face. When everyone started to run away from Juvia, the light blue haired girl saw Erza and Levy go behind the bushes. Of all places, they decided to go to the side where a lot of trees are present.

Juvia groans, "Juvia can't believe this."

"Erza-san! Levy-san!" Juvia runs through the bushes and tries to find them. It was supposed to be tag, why did it turn to hide and seek?

She sees a large tree and suspects they were hiding behind it. She giggles, "I know you're there!"

"It's about time you show up, brat."

She then sees Erza and Levy unconscious on the ground.

"LEVY! ERZA!" she was trembling in fear, but she collected enough courage to look at the guys who did this to her friends, "What did you do to them!?!"

"We did nothing, as of now. Just made them go to sleep."

"I'll call the police!"

"Oh, I'm scared." the guy smirked, mocking the little girl.

'No, Juvia won't cry. She needs to save her friends!'

"Gregor, make that girl sleep."

"Yes boss!"

When she inhaled something, her vision starts to blur. Even her thoughts were disrupted, "No..."

Juvia's limp body fell on the ground along with Erza and Levy.

"Boss, I'm sure there are two more children that's with these kids."

"Then what are you waiting for? Get them! We need more money!"

"Yes Boss!"

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Lucy and Wendy stopped running when they saw the rest was not there anymore.

"Lucy-san, where is Juvia-san?"

"She was just there a minute ago, I'm sure of that."

"Erza-san and Levy-san are not here too."

"Did they leave us behind? That's mean!"

Wendy chuckles, "Let's look for them."

"Great idea." the two girls walked hand in hand, searching for their friends together.

"Those are the two left! Get them!" they heard a man's voice from afar. Lucy looked around and saw a big stranger running after her direction, or is it just her imagination.

"WENDY! RUN!"

Her instincts told her so. She took a quick turn and faced the opposite direction to get away from the unknown man. Wendy was shocked, what was happening?

"I can sense it. They're after us."

"STOP!"

They just confirmed their assumptions.

"W-Why? Do they recognize us?"

"I'm not sure. But we need to find the others and escape!"

Their small legs were not enough to run fast. When the guy caught up to them and pulled Wendy's hair harshly, the child started crying aloud. If anyone could hear her, they wished they could save them.

"LET GO OF MY SISTER!"

"Thats funny. The two of you look nothing alike each other." The guy laughed, his buddies joined him to make laugh of them.

Lucy trembled in fear upon seeing Erza, Juvia and Levy in the enemy's grasps.

"W-What..."

"Just be a nice girl and come with us hmm? So no one will get hurt."

"Please... let go of us."

"We can't do that. We're doing this for a living, you know?" The guy smirks, "A couple of brats like you can cost me a fortune already. It's a good thing you don't have your parents around or else we'll kill them anyway."

Lucy can't help it, tears escaped her eyes and she looked at the men ahead with a blurry sight. Was this the end of the line for them? Is this how their story finishes? Is there no way out of this cruel fate?

Suddenly a loud thud can be heard. The guy in front of her fell face first on the ground making Lucy gasp.

"What happened?" Wendy asked, her eyes full of tears. She hugs Lucy as the older embraced her back. They both shivered in fear.

"Arcadios-sama!"

"Hisui-sama, please step back. I'll handle this." A tall, well-built man readied his stance, he was prepared to launch another punch to the men who just tried to kidnap them all.

Lucy saw another girl come in the scene. She was a girl around Erza's age and had rare jade-colored hair. Were they here to save them?

Lucy never felt so relieved in her whole life. Wendy, who was crying terribly, stopped for a moment to adore Hisui. She was holding a toy stick with a pumpkin as it's head, she stepped up to the unconscious kidnapper and used it to hit his back multiple times.

"How dare you kidnap children in my father's country!"

Arcadios finished beating up the kidnappers with ease. The remaining men stared at him and decided they have no chance to win against a single overpowered man. Two of the kidnappers escape while the others were out cold on the ground.

"Are they your friends?" Arcadios looked at the three sleeping girls in concern.

"Y-yes, thankyou for saving us mister... And miss..." Lucy bowed her head in gratitude, "Thankyou so much."

"Arcadios-sama! Let's bring these children to the hospital to make sure they're fine!" Hisui looked at her trusted friend with a determined smile. Lucy looked at the girl with shock. Hisui doesn't know them at all, why is she willing to help them?

Lucy didn't have the voice to reject the offer. She has to make sure Erza and the others are fine. What if those kidnappers fed them poison? She can't afford to lose them, they're the only family she has left.

Lucy and Wendy can only sit beside their unconscious friends. They were worried but the doctor assured them that they'll be fine.

"Have some apples."

Lucy lifted her chin up and saw Hisui offering her an apple. She received it with both of her hands and thanked her.

"Is Arcadios-sama alright? He must be hurt." Wendy worriedly asked.

"Oh don't worry! Arcadios-sama is the strongest guard ever. No one can beat him unless they cheat with weapons." Hisui smiled brightly, it was really contagious making the two girls smile as well.

"You're our savior." Lucy finally says it, "Without you, we could have been abducted and separated..." tears started to brim at the corner of her eyes, she was truly grateful there was anybody who had a big heart to help them despite being strangers.

"P-please don't cry... Uhm... What's your name again?"

"My name is Lucy."

"I'm Wendy!"

"What cute names! I'm Hisui. Hisui Fiore."

"Wow! Your name is actually the same with our country."

"Ofcourse. My ancestors found this country afterall."

Wendy smiled with interest, "Really?"

"Yes. I am the princess of Fiore. The daughter of our dear King, Toma E. Fiore."

'A princess!?'

Lucy can't believe her ears. The princess of Fiore saved their lives.

"Princess...!" Lucy stood up and bowed 90 degrees, "Thankyou so much! We are full of gratitude. From now on, we will serve you."

"That's why I don't want to tell you I'm a princess." Hisui sighs, "You're welcome Lucy-san. But, can I ask you a favor?"

Lucy looked at her, she was willing to do anything she wishes.

"Let's be friends. Please don't treat me differently because I'm a princess."

"I am a mere nobody, Princes Hisui... Can I really be friends with you?"

"Please...! And please drop the princess thing. Only Hisui will do."

Even though her innerself told her not to, she called her by Hisui's first name afterwards. It was her wish after all.

Later on, the three girls woke up.

"Why are we on a hospital?" Erza asked, obviously lost and confused. She was a little dizzy but she's fine.

"Erza-san, you're awake!" Wendy embraced the elder and thanked the heavens.

"Wendy... Can you tell me what happened?"

"We were almost kidnapped, but the Princess helped us!"

"Princess?"

"I'm glad you're all awake." An unfamiliar voice let its presence be known. Erza and the others looked at a girl who had rare green hair and eyes. She was around their age.

Lucy stood beside her, a gentle smile on her face. "I'm happy everyone is fine and awake. This Hisui-san, she saved us from those kidnappers who tried to abduct us."

Levy and Juvia was amazed, they thought that everything will be over. But they were saved on time.

"Thankyou so much Hisui-san!"

The girls continued to pour their gratefulness to the princess. Hisui can only smile and accept their thanks. She says all credits goes to the almighty Arcadios-sama.

Erza stepped up, she kneeled on one knee surprising everyone else.

"Princess. Starting from now, we will dedicate our lives to serve your grace."

"Erza-san." Hisui was quite surprised by her actions.

"Please, let us serve you."

"Please stand up." Hisui grabbed her hand and gently guided her to stand up, "Let's all be friends, Erza-san."

Erza smiles back, her eyes becoming glassy with tears, "Whatever your highness would want, we would follow."

Months later, the five girls lived their life to dedicate it to the royal family of Fiore. When Hisui found out they had no family and a home, she convinced them to live along their kingdom.

They were staying at the maid chambers, but one room was spacious enough for all of them. In one big room, they shared one space. They use double-deck beds while Wendy and Levy share one bed together. It was like a dream, they finally escaped the harsh world outside.

Food, water, clothes and electricity were all free. Can this world get any better?

"Father." Hisui, dressed up on her white gown, looked at her father with pleading eyes.

"My dear daughter, is it about those kids again?"

"They're my friends!"

"I already told you, my daughter." the king of Fiore sighed, "Only boys can attend the royal academy."

"But father, how will they grow up with stable jobs? It is everyone's right to have education."

"If only you could make them males, Hisui. I don't have much of a choice."

Hisui never liked the royal academy. What if the prince and princesses attend school? It would be unfair that the prince can only attend so. She was having home education. She visits many schools to accompany her father who held public speeches.

"Can't you just allow females to enroll in Fiore Academy?"

"That school has been built by our ancestors, they intentionally pointed out that it's only a school for males. They have a reason though..."

"Huh? I never heard of the reason?"

"To avoid intimate relationships so males, who can be beneficial to the kingdom, are well-educated and trained because they are more focused."

"I can't believe that silly reason!"

"My daughter, I have nothing else to do."

A big light bulb appeared on top of her head.

"Father!"

"Ooh, what is it?"

"I have a proposal! Please, accept it."

That day, there was something crucial in store for the future of the five girls.

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AGE OF THE CHARACTERS:

Erza- 7 Years Old

Lucy, Juvia and Levy - 6 Years Old

Wendy- 4 Years Old

thanks for reading! Oyasumi~(. ᴗ .)