"Lucy I'm going to school!" Sting called from downstairs, his voice hesitant. I hadn't come out of my room since the letters had gotten out. Not even for food or water. Laxus simply left my meals outside the door and let me reach out and get them whenever the house was empty.

I didn't respond to my older brother, hugging my pillow close to my chest where I lay in bed. It may have seemed a bit childish... but those letters described everything. How I was unsure of how my relationship with Sting and Laxus could be possible, how I still thought that it may be some kind of joke, memories of Magnolia... everything that I'd been feeling, depressed thoughts... what would the two blondes think if they ever read it? I didn't know. But for the time being, all I wanted to do was forget that any of this had ever happened. I wanted to be able to walk into that school with my head held high. A great ambition, but unfortunately people had a habit of remembering things that were better forgotten.

Eventually I got an idea. Something that may lift my spirits. I uncapped a marker and walked to a whiteboard on a section of my wall, beginning to write. The words traced a series of neat red lines in my graceful handwriting, the letters curving and looping as I began to smile. What had begun was a story. Leave it to creativity to make me feel even the slightest bit better. After a few minutes the whiteboard had filled completely and I walked to my desk, continuing the tale on paper as my pen (shaped like a quill) seemed to fly across the page. The plot thickened, sentences formed themselves as page after page of a different world began to pile up beside me.

Long ago, the world was dark. It's the year 3056. Humanity has fallen. The surface of the world has been destroyed by the advancement of technology. All of the gasses, radiation, pollution, it became too much. Humans became incredibly greedy and began slaughtering one another left and right for anything that they could get their hands on. There was much destruction... So much destruction... The sun had been shadowed by the smoke that choked out the sky and swallowed the planet like a great smothering blanket. There was nothing left. Everything had been razed into ash. There was no sun. No stars. No moon. Only the crushing weight of darkness as the earth itself died.

It was like this for many years. Silent. Alone. Absolute nothing.

This wasn't what I had wanted. When I created this Earth it was so that my children, all that which lives, could live in peace and harmony. Never have I been more wrong. I have been called many names over the millenia. God, Iris, Athena, Allah, Krishna, and thousands of others. But when one believes, it matters not what they call me. Only that they have faith in me. My true name is Alm'hart. I'm known to few as Alma. This world was my creation. And so too was it my mistake... I wept my tears, shimmering droplets striking the Barren ground for all that I believed to be lost.

Until one day...

From the ashes, a small flame bloomed. It was not my doing, but from the wetted ground where one of my tears had fallen, a light no larger than a candle flickered and danced, growing and glowing brighter and brighter until emerged a man with hair in brilliant strands of red and gold, shining like the sun as he inhaled with a gasp, orange eyes more radiant than the sun flashed open, casting light upon the ground. More flames blossomed into men and woman of the same appearance, each with wings of blazing fire. Although weak and confused, they were alive. My firstborn. The Phoenix. Wielders of the art of fire they had been reborn from the ashes. Just as an element never truly ceases it's cycle.

Next came the breath of the land. Bathed in the warmth of light a small flower pushed its way through the cracks of the debris, followed by a great rumble. A powerful earthquake caused spires of rock to reach towards the sky, topsoil pouring down as mighty trees grew within seconds. From within the trees emerged several graceful creatures, silken silver hair and long flowing tails brushed behind them. Each with piercing eyes and long pants and dresses of green. Each with a glowing golden horn protruding from the center of their foreheads. The unicorns. Pale skin made them look delicate, but their power was undeniable from the aura surrounding them. My second born.

Third came a wild breeze, fueling the flames of the Phoenix to blaze brighter, and the plants of the earth to grow healthier. Carried on the wind was the sound of wild chatter, exclamations of joy and excitement as my third born children returned. The Sylphs. Air nymphs. Each was nearly transparent, their clothes formed from the wind and clouds themselves as they danced and whirled through the open air, singing and laughing As they drunk up their freedom, wings like fairies adorning their backs.

The last to emerge were my fourth born. Controllers of the element of water. When the earth was destroyed, the sea had dried up, but my tears over the destruction had once again filled the salty oceans blue. The first head breached the surface and inhaled deeply, followed by hundreds of others. Beneath the waves was a shimmer and glow of every colour as the scales of mer tails shattered light into the dark water. Men and women of every race and skin tone, hair or eye colour. They wore no clothing, but were not ashamed of such. Their extravagant beauty and musical allure was more than enough to draw attention away from something like clothes.

My children were alive and for an entire year, there was peace. One by one, I created new animals to walk the earth beside them, nurturing each with care. I tended to my children with all the love of a mother... But then... Everything changed. The elemental kingdoms began fighting against one another, believing that one element should rule over all the rest, but it was not to be so. The elements were created to balance one another, none to be the stronger. To this day, the war rages on. And the light of a new generation begins.

Hours passed, the sun moved across the sky until I heard a tap on my window. Pulled from my trance like state of writing I glanced over to see that there was no one in the tree beside my window. Frowning in confusion I stood and walked over, glancing down to see if it was a bird or something. When I opened the pane, I got hit in the forehead with a pebble the size of my thumbnail. "OW!" I yelped, taking a step back.

"You weren't supposed to hit her with the rock!"

"SORRY!" A timid voice squeaked, when I looked out my window once more, the twins, Aries, and Gray stood at the bottom, looking up at me expectantly.

"What are you guys doing here?" I called down, frowning in confusion. Why had they come?

"School is boring without you there. We had planned to go to the beach or something to pass the time. Wanna join us?" The raven haired man called up. To no surprise, Gray was already in his underwear. I couldn't help but wonder if he got some kind of pleasure from being naked... Maybe it was just entertaining.

"Sure... I'd like that." I said after a moment's hesitation. "Just uh... Let me get my swimsuit and I'll be right down!" I called.

"Sure! See you in a few minutes!" They grinned, high fiving happily. Aries yelped as the boys began to wrestle and jostle around after a high five that had gone a bit awry and hit Leo in the face. I couldn't help but laugh as I ran back into my room, getting my stuff together into a bright pink duffle bag, pulling on my swimsuit under my clothes, and grabbing drinks from the fridge before dashing out the door. It was amazing really. How something as simple as writing words onto a page could lift the weight of my problems for my shoulders. I guess it was simply my version of therapy or something. Maybe I'd bring it up with the therapist when I saw her again this week, the one helping me rehabilitate after waking up.

"Ready to go?" Called the voices from outside.

"Ready!" I called, turning off my desk lamp and glancing at the fairy tale that I had begun to write. I really did love fiction, maybe that's how my dream had ended up so crazy. The thought amused me as I shut my door and ran to join the others with a loose tank top and jean shorts over my bathing suit. "Let's go!"

…...

The beach was relatively empty for the afternoon, I lay on a towel with my eyes closed with a content sigh. I felt... SO much better thanks to the relaxation. My hair was up in a messy bun that went well with my white two piece, pink flowers on my left breast. The sand had just begun to cool from the setting sun and the waves lapped gently across the shore as a cool breeze blew through the area, signaling the approach of autumn weather in a week or so. It was a shame that the summer heat was coming to an end, but I guess it wasn't so bad. Halloween was coming up and I had to choose a costume at some point. I had an idea, but wasn't sure if I could do it yet. I'd need some sewing materials...

"Lucy. Fancy meeting you here." Came a voice. I cracked one eye open to see the silhouette of Erza looming over me on the towel. A lazy smile worked its way onto my face.

"Oh hey." I yawned, sitting up. "I came with them." I said, gesturing to Leo, Loke, and Gray who were fooling around in the surf while Aries read a book beside me. She had remained silent since noticing the knight. Despite Erza's change of heart, I knew that my friend was still somewhat frightened of her. After all, to Aries, anyone took some getting used to no matter who you were. After a moment I took note of a man beside my new/old friend. He had a scarf wrapped around his face, but his blue hair and the hint of a red tattoo under his eye was what gave him away. "… Jellal?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Both of them paled visibly as Erza shot to standing up straight.

"Y-you know who he is?!" Erza gasped. I nodded.

"Well yeah. Why? Am I not supposed to know?" I asked, tilting my head slightly. Aries tugged on my arm, looking nervous.

"Lucy... If that guy's really Jellal... he's wanted for murder in ten different cities... He's an escaped convict Lucy... I'm sorry but... is that really him?" She asked quietly, half hiding behind me as the boys began to troop from the water and walk towards us. Okay. Time for some quick thinking.

"… No. My bad." I said, sending the two of them a look that clearly said 'play along' "Mystogan it's nice to see you again. Still look like that asshole eh?" I asked in false sympathy. After a moment of confusion he nodded slowly.

"Yes... unfortunately I must still hide my face from the public on account of the uncanny resemblance. It's quite the shame since I can't even treat Erza to a restaurant as a normal teen would." He sighed, his lying skills (of course) flawless. Erza took his hand, tryig to act natural as she nodded.

"Secluded beaches are fine too of course, I enjoy sitting by the ocean." She smiled. But glanced at the lion twins and Gray who had gotten closer with their laughter reaching their ears. I could tell that the oys wouldn't take an excuse like that. Erza must have known it too as she said goodbye and walked off. I smiled as she leaned her head on Jellal's shoulder. Honestly. The romance that they had no matter what the world or reality. It was almost like a dream. He was her prince charming. Like a fairy tale.

But I don't believe in fairy tales... if Fairy tale endings existed, I wouldn't be here. I'd be home where I belonged. My friends... My nakama... should have saved me from being stabbed and waking in this strange place but they didn't. So no. I don't believe in fairy tales.

I don't believe in Fairytail.

"Lucy come on! Sting wants you home for dinner!" Leo called, interrupting the wrenching pain in my chest. Whe I heard his voice, a small smile made its way onto my face.

"Coming!" I called, grabbing my stuff and taking off across the sand.

And for the first time in a two months...

I didn't try to use magic that night.

Hey peeps. I don't know if any of you read my other fic, The Goblet of Fairy Fire, if not then I'm letting you know that I started school today and as such am getting back on track now that I have some structure back in my life that I didn't have in the summertime. I've written into my calendar when I plan to update each story and will hopefully stick to it. As usual, please leave reviews, I always love hearing your feedback! I love you guys and all the support that you give and hope that you're as happy with me as I am that you guys keep on reading!