Juvia quietly crept back into the castle while making sure no one was around. She didn't know if she was allowed to bring other creatures into the castle but she wasn't going to take any chances.

"Are you comfortable in there?" She whispered to Frosch.

"Uh-huh." He whispered back.

"Good and as soon as we're in my room I'll get you something to eat."

She walked through the corridor and began to head in the direction of where the tower was when she was startled by the sudden appearance of Gray.

"You know you shouldn't sneak up on people like that." She said. "It's very rude."

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked.

"Back to my room. I...I finished my work sir." She hid the basket behind her back.

"I don't believe it. You actually collected a basket full of nettles and crushed them into flax?"

"Yes."

"Let me see."

She nervously handed him the basket, Frosch stood perfectly still and didn't move an inch. Both him and Juvia prayed that he wouldn't look under the flax.

"It would seem that I have underestimated you. I thought you would give up before the day was out." He said giving her back the basket. "But I can assure you, you'll never be able to spin the flax into thread."

"Even so I'll still try."

Gray looked down at Juvia's hands which were now blistered and scarred from all the work she had been doin today. He knew how painful those plants were but he didn't expect them to be that bad. For a brief moment he felt a little guilt pang inside of his dark heart.

"Come with me." He took hold of her hand and pulled her along.

"Where are you taking me? Let me go."

"Oh stop trembling I'm not going to hurt you."

"What are you going to do?"

"Be quiet."

He brought her over to where a small pond was and stuck her hands in the water. At first the cold water caused a great agitation to her blisters but soon the pain ceased and the burning blisters vanished along with the scars and other injuries she sustained.

"The water here has healing properties. If you ever have an injury just go to the nearest pond and the water will heal all you completely." He told her.

"Oh... Really? That's incredible."

"I knew those nettle plants stung but I didn't think they would hurt you that bad. I'm a fair person and you can't really work with blistered hands."

He then started to walk away.

"Thank you." She said gratefully.

He stopped right on the spot and turned back to her.

"Don't think I'm going to start being nice to you. I may be fair but I hate humans. I hate them more than anything in the world and I could never show any kindness to them."

"But aren't you human?"

"Of course not! I'm a goblin!"

"But you don't look like a goblin, in fact you look very human."

"That doesn't mean I'm one of those repulsive creatures! And the fact that I look like them makes me sick!"

"I don't understand, why do you hate humans so much? What did they ever do to you?"

"They ruined my life!" He said in a voice so full of anger that it made Juvia jump back in fear. "Now get out of here before I make you get started on the spinning now!"

Juvia immediately left the pond and hurried back to her room as quick as she could. As for Gray, he retired to his throne room where he was alone and could do most of his thinking. He would never admit it but he was secretly fascinated by Juvia. Fascinated by her beauty, her diligence, and her compassion. And he couldn't help but feel a little remorseful for putting her through such painful labor. It disgusted him that he actually felt remorse because in his eyes all humans were wicked, evil monsters who had made him suffer for all his life.

His father Alok the owl priest and the ruler of the labyrinth before Gray, had been telling the boy since he could walk that the humans were ignorant, cruel, and monsterous creatures who on the day he was born had killed his mother and cursed him to live in a human body. For years Alok told him how much he loathed him for having a disgusting human body, how he would never be a real goblin king, how he was the most hideous thing in the entire labyrinth.

That was where his hatred stemmed from. He blamed all of humanity for having a father who hated him and for the fact he would never know his own mother. He wanted to make all the humans pay for his suffering.

His thoughts were interrupted by Briar entering the throne room. Briar was a very powerful sorceress who helped Alok and Gray master magic. During her time with them she became very infatuated with Gray, mesmerized by his strength. She was a fairly attractive woman but he always rejected her advances and was often annoyed by her.

"Hello Gray." She greeted with a smile.

"What do you want?" He asked in irritation.

"Who is this young girl?"

"What young girl?"

"The one I heard was staying in the castle."

"No one important. Just some human girl who somehow ended up lost in our world. I've assigned her to make me a tapestry. If she succeeds I'll send her home but I know she'll fail."

"You've put her to work?"

"Is that a problem?"

"No but she's human."

"I know. I just told you that didn't I?"

"What I mean is she's human and you decided to just give her a task? With your hatred toward humanity I was sure that you would have her vanished or leave her to rot in the dudgeon."

"All tempting offers but I found this one to be more amusing."

Briar thought for a moment.

"Tell me, is she pretty?"

"What does that have to with anything?"

"I just want to know what she looks like."

"She's very pale, ivory skin that reminds me of a porcelain doll and her hair is blue, almost looks like running water. There you have a full description of her."

"You know your father will be upset by this. He hates humans more than you do."

"Screw him. I don't care what he thinks."

"Then you wouldn't mind if I informed him of this?"

"Do what you want but the fact that you're always tattling on me is very annoying and it makes me dislike you more than I already do. Now do me a favor and leave."

She scoffed and stormed off feeling insulted like every other time they had spoken together.

...

Natsu didn't know how long he was unconscious but when he finally came to he realized that he was not in a familiar area. He was lying on the floor in front of a brick wall. He stood up and started to look around.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" He called. "Juvia? Are you here?"

There was no answer. Then he saw something zoom by him and hit at tree causing it to fall down. It looked like a small red light. Curious, he bent down and picked up that little red light. But as soon as he had it in his hand it bit him.

"Ouch!" He cried dropping the light.

"Don't touch me you filthy goblin!" The light spoke.

"Why the hell did you bite me?! And who are you calling a goblin?! And...And did you just talk?"

He bent down again and took a closer look at the red light. The light in actuality was a tiny woman with long red hair and her clothes seemed to be made out of autumn leaves. On her back was a pair of wings that resembled those of a dragon fly.

"What are you looking at?!" She snipped. "Didn't anyone ever tell you that it's not polite to stare?!"

"What are you?" He asked her.

"You have eyes don't you? Anyone can clearly see that I'm a fairy!"

"But...But fairies aren't real."

"Oh really? Well then if fairies aren't real how come you're looking at one right now?"

Natsu couldn't believe his eyes. He was actually looking at a real live fairy. The kind that he saw in his sister's storybooks. He could only imagine how Juvia would react if she saw her.

"Why do you keep staring at me?" The scarlet haired fairy asked.

"Sorry but it's just that I've never seen a fairy before."

"What are you talking about? They're everywhere in this place."

"Funny thing, I'm not from here."

"Liar. All goblins live in the labyrinth."

"But I'm not a goblin."

"Really?" She flew up to his face and landed on top of his nose so she could examine his appearance better. "You're not as ugly as the other goblins but you're definitely as dumb looking as they are."

"Hey!"

"So if you're not a goblin then what are you?"

"I'm a guy, a human."

"That's ridiculous. Humans never come to the labyrinth."

"But I am a human."

"Well you certainly look like a human."

"That's because I am human!"

"What are you doing here? This place isn't for the likes of you."

"I'm looking for my sister. She accidentally got sent to this place and now I have to find her."

"Good luck. No human can ever solve the labyrinth."

"Hey there's got to be a first for everything right?"

He walked to the brick wall and decided to climb up it to get inside of the labyrinth. At first glance it didn't seem that high but once he started climbing he realized that it was very steep. He ended up losing his grip and falling down on his butt.

"You know there is a door to this place." The fairy said.

"There is?"

The fairy flew over and directed him to the gateway of the labyrinth.

"Oh... Thanks."

"If you don't mind me asking but do you have any idea where you're going?"'

"I'm going to where my sister is. I know that she's at the castle in the center of the labyrinth."

"And do you know where that is?"

"Um...No. No I don't. You wouldn't happen to know where it is would you?"

"Me? No. But I know where you can find someone who does know where it is."

"So will you help me find this person?"

"I suppose. I have a bone to pick with the owl priest anyway."

"The owl priest? Who's he?"

"He's the ruler of the labyrinth. On paper it says that the goblin king reigns over the labyrinth but his father the owl priest is the one who calls the shots around here."

"Wait a minute if he's the one who's really in charge why isn't he king?"

"I don't know the whole details but my friend should be able to explain it."

"Alright."

"I'm Erza by the way."

"My name is Natsu. Natsu Dragneel."

With introductions out of the way, the fairy flew up to the gateway and gave the doors a small knock. The doors opened and inside they went to start their journey.