Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters; that right belongs to Hiro Mashima.
She squatted down by the fountain, her chubby little hands reaching out to grab the small yellow rubber toy as it floated further from her. Frustrating coloring her face as she failed to grab it. Giving a small grunt, she stood up and looked around, wanting to find anything that was long enough to reach her toy. Losing something that was just bought for her would only make her father angry at her.
With a small pout, the girl didn't see anything in the well-manicured park area. Narrowing her brown eyes, the girl turned, determined, and climbed up on the edge of the fountain. Balancing precariously as she reached out over the water, her little fingers wiggling as she tried to grasp the little toy. Only to feel her body start to tilt forward, drawing a small sharp cry of dismay from her pink lips as the water rushed up to meet her face.
Closing her eyes, readying herself for the impact with the chilled water. Only to open them and look down at her own reflection just a few inches from her nose. In the water next to her was a blurry image of a black hair, bespectacled person. Next thing she was being drugged backward by them, the feel of the cement of the fountain scrapping painfully at her knees, before she landed hard on her rump.
Swallowing a cry that would be both pained and indignation, the girl looked up into the face of her savior. The boy just stood there staring down at her with his deep violet eyes as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Not sure, she wondered what he was waiting for when he sighed. Puffing up her cheeks and pursing her lips, she readied herself to vent at him when he stepped around her and bent at the waist, before righting himself and holding out her little toy to her.
"This is what you were trying to get, right?" he asked. His voice was soft, as he smiled at her.
She figured the smile was because the surprise she felt was showing on her face as she reached out to take the proffered toy. Nodding her head as she felt her face split into a smile of her own.
"Well, I would suggest you don't put it in the fountain again. That is more of a bath toy, then for a fountain or pond," he stated simply, once more pushing his glasses up his nose.
Tilting her head to the side, the girl giggled at the action. It was clear that the boy didn't like his glasses and was new to wearing them. Since her father wore glasses when he read and had that same habit since they were not on all the time.
"What is funny?" the boy asked, tilting his head, causing his black hair to fall into his face, a faint green tint to it.
"You do the same thing daddy does with his glasses," she said. Pausing when the boy made a face. "I thought it was cute."
The moment those last words left her mouth she watched as the boy flushed darkly, suddenly not looking at her.
"Anyways. You need to take better care of your things. Ending up in the fountain you would have gotten sick," the boy said his body stiffening a bit like the sound of footsteps were heard.
"Oh, there you are, Lucy. Come on, it is time to go home," a tall blond woman who was a much older replica of the girl said.
Pushing herself up, the girl looked at the boy. A smile on her face as she bowed to him before turning to leave. Pausing for but a few seconds to look back at him and speak, "Thank you very much!" Then she was off after the blond woman, pausing long enough to reach out and grab her hand.
"Lahar. My name is Lahar, Lucy," the boy called after them.
When they both stopped and looked back, the boy couldn't help but wonder if the girl would grow up to look like the woman. As she clutched the little toy to her chest. The little yellow, rubber duck nestled close to her heart as she gave a sweet laugh and nodded her head at him before turning and leaving with the lady.
At that moment, no one could know that it changed the flow of things for the future. A love of ducks was born by both children, who would later meet each other. On opposite sides of beliefs and constantly clash, neither realizing that they had met as children by happenstance in a park, at a fountain.