"My bedroom! Get the heck out of here you jerks!" I heard Lucy shout. I scoffed, knocking on the door instead. "One minute!" I crossed my arms as the door opened. Lucy stood there wearing a t-shirt and shorts.

"I followed Natsu here." I stated, "Came to bring him back."

"Alright...come on in." Lucy sighed, "You can have some tea with Natsu then you gotta go."

"Sure." Very soon, we were all sitting at Lucy's table. A cup of tea in front of each of us,

"Look, I just moved in and I'm not ready for guests that show up in my bedroom. So how 'bout you guys just drink your tea, say thanks, and get out. You got that?"

"Talk about cold-hearted…" Natsu muttered,

"Ice cold." Happy agreed.

"Watch it cat." Lucy warned.

"She has a point, boys, we came her unannounced." I said, "We shouldn't be imposing this early into her stay at her new house." I took hold of my cup of tea and took a sip.

"Hey, I know!" Natsu exclaimed, perking up. "Why don't you show us those weird little key guys you like to collect."

"They're Celestial Spirits." I explained, setting my cup down, "My Father taught me about them when I was a little girl. Celestial Spirits live in another dimension. Lucy makes contracts with these spirits and when her contract allows it, she uses her keys to summon a particular spirit to help her in battle."

"How many of these 'Celestial Spirits' do you have contracts with?" Happy asked. Lucy lifted her ring of keys. Three of them were silver, and the other three was gold.

"Six so far." She told us. "Not to brag or anything but I even have a couple different types of them." Lucy laid her keys out on the table. "The Silver Keys are the ones you find in the Magic Shops. I've got Horologium the Clock, Crux the Southern Cross and Lyra the Harp. But the Gold ones are super rare. There twelve total and they open the gates of the Zodiac. I got Taurus the Golden Bull, Aquarius the Water Bearer, and that last one is Cancer the Giant Crab."

"Giant Crab?!" Natsu examined,

"Giant Crab legs!" Happy cheered.

"I've never met anyone as obsessed with food than these two." Lucy commented. I hummed in agreement, taking a sip of my tea. "That reminds me, I need to make a contract with the key I bought in Hargeon." Lucy said. She then stood, "I don't suppose you guys are interested in seeing how a Celestial Wizard makes a contract with a Celestial Spirit."

"I hope it's not some grody blood pact." Happy whispered,

"Well, it sounds like a pain in the but to me." Natsu responded.

"Um, I can hear you, so leave my but out of this." Lucy ordered.

"Just ignore them, Lucy." I sighed, "Everyone does anyway."

"Alright, pay attention." Everyone in the room turned and focused on Lucy, "I call upon thee in the world of the Celestial Spirits. I beckon you to my side at once, pass through the gate." Lucy chanted, "Open! Gate of Canis Minor! Come, Nicola!" In front of us, a light formed a small snowman, with a large orange nose and beady black eyes appeared. It shook slightly as it stood. I lifted an eyebrow at it. I guess it was cute...in a disgusting sort of way...

"Nice try." Natsu and Happy said to Lucy.

"Shut up! I meant to do that!" Lucy lept at the small snowman, cuddling it to her cheeks. "You are such a cutie patootie!"

"You think so?" Natsu questioned.

"It doesn't take much magic power to get these little guys through the gate, so a lot of Wizards actually keep them as pets." Lucy explained.

"This whole pet thing doesn't sit well with me." Happy muttered,

"Not with a weird master like Loony here." Natsu whispered back.

"My name is Lucy. And I can still hear you." Lucy stated. Lucy put the little Nicola down and stepped back, kneeling on her legs.

"Well, let's start working on our contract." Lucy said to the small snowman, pulling out a pen and paper. "Are you free Mondays?" Nicola shook its head. Lucy wrote down its answer. "Tuesdays?" Nicola nodded. "Wednesdays?" I waited patiently as Lucy made her contract. "Great, well, that just about does it." Lucy declared. She put her pen and paper away.

"That was pretty easy." Happy commented from his spot on Natsu's shoulder.

"It may seem silly to you, but it's really important. You see, a Celestial Wizard's contract relies on the promise that's made between the Wizard and the Spirit, which is why I make it a point to always keep my promises. Got it? Ok, now I just need to come up with a name."

"Isn't it Nicola?"

"That's the species." I said picking up the now empty cups and saucers from the table.

"Oh! I know!" Lucy exclaimed, "Come here Plue!"

"Plue huh?" The boys chorused.

"I think it's like the cutest name ever!"

"Are you're sure he's cool with that?" Natsu asked.

"Why wouldn't he be?" Lucy replied. I walked into the kitchen, setting the dirty cups and plates in the sink before returning to the lounge room to see Lucy clutching a job request as she cried in the corner.

"You showed her the job request, didn't you?" I sighed, crossing my arms.

"Yep." Natsu replied with a grin.

"You two are so cruel…"

TIMESKIP

"Are you enjoying your carriage ride today master, is there anything I can get for you?" Lucy asked mockingly.

"I could really use a barf bag right about now." Natsu groaned. Lucy, Natsu, Happy and myself were travelling to Shirotsume to meet a client that wants a book stolen. Natsu was almost hanging out of the window, leaning very close to it.

"I'm playing the part of the master so I should be giving the orders!" Happy exclaimed.

"Shut up you stupid feline." Lucy stated. "Hey, guys?"

"Yeah, what's up?" Natsu asked,

"I was just wondering why you picked me to join your team."

"You seem like a pretty interesting person Lucy." I explained, "And...you're nice…" I looked away, my cheeks heating up.

"But you're just so weird!" Natsu added.

"Anyway, I'm totally stoked about my first real job." Lucy continued. "I know I'm gonna rock it."

"Realy?" Happy asked, "I thought you were upset about it."

"Yeah, I was mad at first, but if this perv likes pretty girls, I'm perfect for the job right?"

"All you humans kind of look alike to me." Happy commented.

"I think it's time we worked out our pay scale." Lucy said, "Since Yami and I are doing all the work, I think we should split the reward, forty, forty, ten and ten."

"You only want ten percent?"

"I'm one of the forties!"

TIMESKIP

"That's the last time I'm riding in one of those." Natsu groaned as we trudged through Shirotsume. He was slumped over while walking, his stomach heaving.

"You say that every time Natsu." I sighed, my arms crossed. The four of us were walking towards the client's house.

"Man, I'm starving."

"Can't you just eat your own fire?" Lucy asked.

"Oh yeah, that's a great idea." Natsu deadpanned. "Why don't you just eat Plue or your cow while we're at it?"

"Why would I do something like that?"

"It's the same principle, Lucy." I started to explain, "When we're using our magic, we use up our energy to do so. If we're eating our own magic, or if I eat Natsu's fire, nothing happens. I'm replenishing my energy at the same rate I'm losing it."

"Woah, let's stop and get a bite!" Natsu exclaimed as we came across a restaurant.

"Nah, I'm alright." Lucy said, "But you guys enjoy!" My face fell as I watched Lucy walk away.

"What is with her." Natsu muttered, "We should be eating as a team."

"It doesn't matter." I stated, turning my back on Lucy, which for some reason made my heart ache. Natsu, Happy and I sat down at the restaurant. The boys dug into the food as soon as it was set in front of them. I rested my elbow on the table, my fist holding my head up as I looked to the street below. I didn't feel like eating, Lucy leaving made me lose my appetite.

"Be sure to save the fatty stuff for Lucy." Natsu said through a bite of food.

"Yeah from the looks of her it's what she likes the most." Happy added.

"Hold it right there cat, what the heck is that supposed to mean?" Lucy asked as she approached. I turned towards her. She was clad in a maid's uniform, with the hairpiece and everything. My mouth dropped open. "Come on, don't be shy guys, I know I look super cute in this uniform." I coughed, turning my head to the side to hide my blush. "Have you had enough food Master, or shall I bring you some more? Your wish is my command."

"What do we do!" Happy whispered to his pink-haired partner, "We were joking about the costume but she took it seriously!"

"I guess we're just gonna have to go along with it, don't say anything, ok?" Natsu replied in the same tone. My head whipped around and I glared at them, reaching over the table to slap them over the head.

"I can hear you." Lucy muttered angrily.

TIMESKIP

The four of us soon re-grouped at the gates of a large mansion. We were soon ussured inside and had a meeting with the person who posted the request. "My name is Kaby Melon." He introduced, "Pleased to meet you."

"He said melon." Happy drooled,

"Oh man, you have a tasty name." Natsu added.

"Quit being rude guys." Lucy scolded.

"Don't worry, I get that a lot." Kaby said. "Well, first things first. Allow me to tell you about the job. It's pretty straightforward, really. Duke Everlue has a book called Daybreak in his possession. I would like you to burn it for me."

"No prob. I'll burn down the whole place if you want." Natsu stated, lifting a finger and lighting a flame. I closed my hand on top of Natsu's finger and extinguished the fire.

"We don't need to be caught by the Magic Council for arson, Natsu." I said. "Sir, may I ask why you want the book destroyed."

"For two-hundred-thousand Jewel, who the heck cares."

"The reward has been raised to two million." Kaby corrected. My eyes widened.

"I'm sorry, you said two million jewl?" I repeated.

"I'm sorry, I thought you were aware the amount had changed."

"Two million split four ways!" Natsu shouted, "Wow! I stink at math, but that's a lot!"

"Wait! I got it!" Happy spoke up, "I get one million, you get one million, and the girls can split the rest!"

"That sure sounds fair to me!" I slapped the boys over the top of the head.

"It's two-hundred-thousand each for you two, and then eight-hundred-thousand each for Lucy and I." I said.

"Why did you raise the reward?" Lucy asked.

"Well, because it means that much to me." Kaby explained, his folded hands clenhing. "That book must be destroyed, no matter the cost."

"Oh yeah! I am fired up now!" Natsu shouted.

"Let's do this!" We all ran out of the mansion towards Duke Everlue's home.

TIMESKIP

The four of us stood a little way from the perverted old man's house. Lucy and I had approached the large gate and looked up at it. "Excuse me! I heard you had an opening for a maid position!" Lucy shouted, "Hello?"

"Don't screw up ok!" Natsu whisper-shouted at us from behind a tree.

"Break a leg!" Happy added. I glared back at them, my hair flaring up beside me. The two 'eep'-ed and hid behind the tree more. Suddenly, the ground behind us split open and a large woman jumped out. She wasn't large as in she was overweight...well...she was...but she was also super tall. She had her pink hair tied in pigtails on her head. And boy, was she ugly.

"So your a maid?" The big lady asked. Her voice was deep, masculine.

"Yes!"

"I assume you're here 'cause the add that the Master placed in the paper?"

"Bo-yo-yo-yo-yo!" A voice cried as another figure jumped from the hole the maid made before, "Did I hear someone say, Master?" I cringed at the smell assaulted my nostrils. Duke Everlue smelt like someone hadn't washed their hair in days. And...I had to place my hand over my mouth to stop myself from puking, his moustache was growing out of his nose. "Let's see here…" Everlue mused, eyeing Lucy and I.

"Well, I sure hope you like what you see!" Lucy chirped. Everlue stared at us for a solid minute before turning his back on us,

"Hmm, I'll pass. Now scram uglies." The large woman picked Lucy and I up by the waist. I thrashed in her grip.

"LET ME GO YOU APE!"

"You heard the man." She told us, "Get going uglies."

"Sorry, but a man of my standing has certain standards to uphold." Four more maids appeared behind Everlue, each more ugly than the last. "That's why I only hire the fairest of the fair."

"Oh! Your the best master!"

"I've never met such a kind-hearted man!"

"I think you're the sweetest guy alive!"

"Why don't you run along home uglies." Lucy had sulked away and was sitting under a tree, crying once the maid had let us go.

"Just couldn't do it, huh?" Natsu questioned.

"I tried!" Lucy wailed, "But that idiot wouldn't know beauty if it bit him in the behind!"

"Ok, I guess we'll have to resort to old plan T!"

"Yeah! That big fat jerk's gonna pay for this!"

"I think we should go with plan S, Natsu." I suggested.

"What the heck is plan S?" Lucy asked.

"S stands for silent and sneaky!" Happy had gracefully set us all down on top of the balconies of Everlue's mansion. Natsu placed her hands on the window closest to him and melted a hole big enough for everyone to fit through.

"I still say we should have gone with plan T." Natsu muttered. "We should have just busted right in through the front door."

"What did I tell you before?" Lucy asked rhetorically. "I'm not going to jail 'cause of you."

"Yeah, but I thought you were out to get revenge on this guy!"

"Oh, I'll get my revenge. Not only am I gonna burn his book I'm gonna use his toothbrush to clean the toilet!"

"That's totally gross…" Natsu commented.

"Totally…" Happy agreed. We all climbed through the window.

"Woah, is this some kind of weird storeroom?" Lucy muttered as we looked around the room we had landed in. Happy then jumped up with a scream, a skull on his head.

"Check me out!" The blue feline cheered.

"Your looking fierce Happy." Natsu agreed. Between the four of us, we worked our way through the mansion looking in every room to try and find this book. "Are we gonna have to search every room in this whole stinkin' place?"

"Well, yeah."

"I think we should take a hostage and force them to tell us where the book is!"

"Aye!" Happy agreed.

"The whole point of this mission is to not be noticed." I sighed, "We need to be like ninjas."

"Like a real ninja…" Natsu trailed off.

"What's going on inside that head of yours." Lucy groaned. I turned on my heel as the ground behind us split open.

"Intruder alert Virgo!" The four maids from earlier shouted.

"Let's crush 'em girls!" The large one, Virgo, added.

"We're toast!" Lucy whimpered.

"Rar!" Happy shouted, causing the four maids to squeal and back away, crying about how Happy was a monster. I lept forward,

"Black Dragon Iron Fist!" I shouted, sending the four into the air.

"Flying Virgo Attack!" Virgo shouted, jumping and landing on top of Natsu.

"Natsu!" Happy cried. I watched as Natsu lifted Virgo off him before jumping up and kicking her across the room with a flaming foot.

"We must not let ourselves be discovered." Natsu whispered after he landed, his scarf wrapped around his head, "We are Ninja!"

"Ninja!" Happy repeated.

"Ninja are supposed to be quiet guys." Lucy sighed. We soon came across a set of double doors. We opened them to reveal a large library.

"This is a massive library…" I commented. "Levy would go nuts over this…"

"Who would have thought that Everlue was a major bookworm." Lucy commented.

"Let's start looking!" Natsu cheered.

"Aye Sir!" Happy agreed. The four of us started to search the bookshelves to try and find Daybreak. With the size of the library, it could take a while.

"How are we ever gonna find one stupid book in this place?" Lucy questioned.

"This one has lots of pictures!" Natsu said, holding up a book.

"Look! It's a book on fish!" Happy added, waving another one.

"Hey guys!" I called, pulling a golden book from the shelf, "This one's got glitter all over it." I turned the book over and raised an eyebrow. I slid down the ladder I was on, gently landing on the floor. "And it so happens to be the book we're looking for."

"Two million Jewel, here we come!" Lucy exclaimed.

"Well, let's burn it then." I approached Natsu with the book, him igniting his first.

"Hold on a second." Lucy snatched the book from my hand, causing Natsu's flame to disappear, "I didn't realise that this was written by Kemu Zaleon! Zaleon was a great wizard and an amazing novelist. I'm such a big fan! I was totally positive that I'd read every single sentence he'd ever written but this might be an unpublished novel!"

"Who cares." Natsu said, igniting a finger, "It all burns the same to me!"

"Don't you dare touch it!" Lucy clutched the book to her chest. "This is a great work of literature. You better stay away from it Pyro!"

"Lucy, it's our job." I sighed.

"Forget about the stupid job!"

"Failure is not an option!" Happy declared.

"Come on guys! Let's just say we burned it!" Lucy pleaded. "I'll keep it a secretl I swear!"

"I'm not a liar." Natsu stated.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" A voice echoed through the room. We turned as the ground behind us broke and Everlue jumped through the floor. "So you thieves are looking to pilfer Daybreak from me, are you? Bo-yo-yo."

"See slowpoke, this is all your fault!" Natsu complained, pointing at the man.

"Um, sorry about that." Lucy apologised sheepishly.

"Couldn't he have just gone through the door?" I wondered, "I mean...it's so much easier."

"I knew all you low life wizard types were coming around here to take something of mine." Everlue continued, "I never guessed it was that stupid book."

"This works out great! If it's so stupid I guess it's fine if I keep it?" Lucy asked.

"It's mine! You can't have it so get your grubby hands off!"

"Greedy gut."

"Shut your trap ugly." I sighed and encased my fist with inky black magic.

"Lucy just give the book here and we can get this over with." I ordered.

"No way I'm not giving it to you!" Lucy wailed.

"Lucy! This is our job!" Natsu shouted at her.

"Well, at least let me read it first." Lucy said, kneeling and opening the book.

"I've had enough." Everlue growled, "How dare you put your hands on my possessions. Now, come forth Vanish Brothers!" The bookshelves at the end of the room opened to reveal two men. One was very tall and had spiky hair that looked like a star. The smaller of the two had a large plait at the base of his hair. He held a large frying pan. In my head, I'd already named them Frypan and Star-Head respectively. On their arms was an S with a wolf head imprinted on top of it. The Southern Wolves… I grit my teeth, I thought I'd taken down the Southern Wolves years ago…

"You called upon us sir?" The oldest asked.

"Can you believe these punks are from the Fairy Tail guild?" The other commented. "Talk about a bunch of runts."

"The Southern Wolves?" Happy questioned, tilting his head to the side. "I thought they disbanded years ago."

"Me too." I muttered,

"They're a Mercenary Guild!" Natsu pounded his fist into his hand.

"So you have some body guards, do ya'?" Natsu questioned.

"Bo-yo-yo-yo." Everlue laughed, twirling his nose-moustache. "The Southern Wolves are always hungry for fresh game. Say your prayers thieves."

"Hey, try and hold them up for a while." Lucy said, standing with the book in hand. "I'm not sure but I think this book holds some kind of secret." Lucy ran out of the room. Everlue started to descend into the floor.

"I'm going after the girl!" He declared. "Make sure those two don't leave here in one piece!" Everlue disappeared. I grit my teeth,

"Damn it." I hissed, "Natsu! I'm going after her!" I called as I started to follow Lucy, "And Happy's coming with me!" I snatched Happy off the floor and held him under my arm as I ran.

"I am!" Happy wailed. I let go of Happy as I ran, him flying overhead as I followed my nose to try and find Lucy. I have to find her. I thought, my heart racing as my heels clacked furiously on the stone floor as I ran, Gods, this instinct, this drive to find her and protect her, why the hell do I feel this way?