Hiiiii omg so I'm bored and slept in till 2 pm today by accident LOL so I stayed up to write!

A young Lucy sighed a wonderfully bewitched sign as the old woman who was reading to the crowd at the children's library closed the leather-bound book and finished the story that many were a fan of.

E.N.D Pan...she loved this story, so much so that Spetto went out to buy her the same edition with its faux weathered pages and watercolor painted images.

The boy with pink hair...a dragon who could fly between worlds...why, he was just the most amazing boy on and off Edolas. While other girls may have been interested in gallant princes and stately weddings, Lucy was enthralled with the mystical and magical.

Most of her fantasies stemmed from the stories her mother told her often, just before she fell asleep. She remembered them dearly whenever she looked to the stars from the perch on her balcony.

The twelve zodiac...Layla spoke of them as if they were her old friends and taught Lucy just as well. Even though they never answered, Lucy still made sure to talk with them every night before bed. It made her feel like she had close friends, and it was a way to stay connected with her late mother.

The story of E.N.D Pan was one that filled her with pleasant hope. Her home was dark and cold and devoid of love, his story taking her thoughts away from it even if only for a moment.

It began with the Strauss children, three orphans who lived in Edolas too. But they were cast out of their village after it was discovered that they carried magic in their bodies, which was outright impossible. Magic in Edolas only resided in crystals collected and inserted into objects to create magical items.

They were marked as demons and would have been beaten in the streets if the townspeople weren't so afraid of them. Lisanna wished quietly one night after Elfman came home covered in squashed tomatoes. She wished for someone to save them, someone to take them away from this god-awful place.

And suddenly, there he was with his flying companion, Happy.

"Second star to the right and straight on 'til ya see Fiore!"

Fiore...a country twice as large as Edolas, connected to countries even bigger than the last.

At the heart of the town, Magnolia, was where the mage guild, Fairy Tail, resided.

They took in the Strauss family as if they were their own. Their whole world was full of magical people just like them!

There was Gray, runaway prince from the Kingdom of Iceberg who had the power to make anything out of ice. Juvia, the mermaid; she was incredibly powerful and head-over-heels in love with Gray. Erza, daughter of the famed pirate Belserion. She left the pirate life behind after having a run-in with Natsu and Gray when they were younger and was changed for the better.

It was safe to say that Lucy had found her first love, that most nights she went to bed wishing and dreaming about Natsu stealing her away in a similar fashion.

Jude didn't approve of these thoughts or liked hearing his daughter go on and on to Spetto with her dreams and wishes. Insane was a suitable word; his daughter was insane and undoubtedly full of things his late wife filled her head with. How was he going to look to his business partners and colleagues who all had refined children while his jumped off the fake plank of a pirate ship? He would have none of it.

One day, when Lucy came home from the park, all the books in her room were gone, no toys in her chest, only a stack of notebooks left on her desk.

"W-Wha..." She felt tears at the corners of her eyes as she ran to her nightstand, even the book Spetto read to her every night was stolen.

"I've hired tutors for you to begin receiving a proper education from," Jude cleared his throat as he stood in Lucy's bedroom doorway.

"B-But, papa..."

"It's in your best interest to forget about those fairy tales you insist on reading. You're a Heartfilia, it's time you start acting like one."

As she grew up, Lucy moved farther and farther away from the faux world of Earthland as she was pulled into the endless whirlwind of lessons, high teas, and etiquette courses. She barely ever had a moment's rest, thankfully still able to take the time to speak to the stars before bed.

"Oh, Loke..." The now eighteen-year-old sighed, holding her arms close to herself as the cold nipped at her skin. The Leo constellation was in full view overhead that night, his nickname given to him by her late mother.

"Today was the worst, I never do like having tea with Hughes and Sugar Boy...they're not at all interesting. And they spend half our tea time staring down my chest. What I wouldn't give to punch them out...at least this wasn't the worst birthday I've had. Thank you for visiting me, I think I'll be able to sleep much better knowing that you're watching over me. Goodnight,"

Lucy turned around with a sigh as she decided to leave her balcony and get ready for bed, gasping slightly at the sight of a gift left upon her sheets. A card was placed on the large red ribbon, her name detailed in glittered writing.

'I hope this is still your favorite!'

There was no name left at the bottom, but she assumed it was Spetto who would have made sure she got something she would actually want for a gift.

Branded into the familiar leather was the title, E.N.D Pan. She eagerly flipped open the book to see her young and scrawled-out handwriting, her name plastered to the first page in purple crayon.

"I'd almost forgotten you," Lucy smiled softly as her fingers brushed around the curve of Natsu's cheek, his broad smile painted in soft watercolors. "Maybe that's why I don't have much fun with anyone around here, no one is as energetic as you are,"

Lucy fell asleep with the book open on her chest, having reread the text over and over until her eyes fluttered closed by the force of her tired body. Her dreams hadn't been very memorable until that night, her heart reheated by the fictional flames bursting forth from Natsu's tanned fists.

His lips moved, but she failed to imagine his voice. She grinned when he grinned, the desire to be held by him bobbling in her chest again. She never loved anyone the way she loved Natsu, even if it wasn't real. While other girls had their prince, she had her dragon.

Her curtains rustled in the wind, balcony doors unlocked and singing wide open. A shadow slid across the wall, wooden flooring creaking slightly as harsh tiptoes pressed against the panels.

"Shush! You'll wake her up!" The blue exceed hissed as Natsu approached the bed.

"We're supposed to wake her up! I'm not about to kidnap her!" The dragon whispered back with a slight glare. "She has to agree to come with us!"

"That always takes so long," Happy rolled his eyes. "You take her arms, I'll take her legs."

Natsu held back his laughter with a hand over his mouth, Happy equally trying not to burst out loudly, tears streaming from his eyes.

"Oi, c'mon, we...we gotta go before it gets any later." Natsu snickered as he began to gently shake the girl awake.

"Wake up, Blondie! Time to go!" Happy said, leaning over her to squish her cheeks with paws.

"Quit that! Last time someone woke up to you talking they—" Natsu's eyes widened as the girl moaned slightly in her sleep, her body shifting under the sheets.

"Happy?" She mumbled through pursed lips as he was still squishing her cheeks.

"Uwah!'' He yelped as she sleepily wrapped her arms around him. "Wha...Natsu! Help! She's squishin' me!"

"What a weirdo, how'd she know your name?" The pink-haired boy asked, ignoring the cat as he struggled to claw free from her embrace.

"Just wake her up!" Happy yelped and pawed her face, hands too soft to startle her awake.

"Oh, right!" He carefully pried Lucy's arms apart, the cat quickly flying out of reach and making sure that she hadn't taken any of his fur. "Hey, let's go, it's almost midnight!"

"...hmm?" Lucy yawned and turned over, smothering her face into her pillow and grasping to find her blanket. "Ten more minutes, okay, Spetto?"

"Spetto? It's Natsu!" He huffed, almost ready to throw her over his shoulder like Happy had suggested.

"…Natsu?" Her eyes opened almost immediately, realizing she wasn't alone in her room. Lucy sat up, wiping drool from her chin as she stared at the boy who grinned at her.

"Yup! I'm here to take you to Fiore!" She flushed, ears warm and buzzing as she finally exposed to his voice.

"This...this isn't a dream, is it?"

"No, if it were, I wouldn't have almost died!" Happy yelled, making Lucy jump in surprise. "H-Happy, too?!"

"You just grabbed him, don't you remember? It was pretty funny."

"I...I didn't think you were real," She said, slowly getting out of bed as she warily looked at the two.

"What're ya talkin' about?" Natsu asked with a quirk of his brow.

"My book of course—hey...it's gone," Lucy frowned as the leather text had suddenly vanished, similarly as it had appeared.

"Uh-huh, we've gotta get moving. No time for talking about books that aren't real," Happy said as he stared out the balcony doors. "It's gonna be too late if we don't go now,"

"Go, right now, really?" Lucy asked hesitantly as Natsu went to stand with his little blue friend.

"Yup, we gotta go now, the gate'll close if we wait too long."

"But..." Lucy took a moment to stare at her bedroom door, her thoughts wandering to the staff who would probably worry about her sudden disappearance. And her father...well, he hadn't been the same since her mother passed away. But he would miss her too, wouldn't he? Though he hadn't made a point to see her that night, too busy with his paperwork to entertain her at dinner. "Oh, at least let me take my mother's necklace, it's all I have left of her,"

"Sure, hurry up!" Natsu sighed as she rushed over to her jewelry box.

"We can't come back, right?" Lucy wavered again as Natsu shook his head.

"You don't have to come with us," The dragon started, calmly reassuring her. "But we can't come back for you even if you change yer mind. It's now or never."

"It's really fun, promise!" Happy said as he fluttered around her head, Lucy giggling. "Everyone back home is super nice!"

"Gray, Juvia, Erza...even Gajeel, right?"

"Geez, you know everyone's name, huh? We don't even know yours!" Natsu pouted as she came to his side.

"Lucy! Lucy, um, Heartfilia,"

"Here we go! Hold on tight, Luigi!" He said as he quickly swept her into his arms and boomed off her balcony, red wings spreading as he flew higher and higher into the sky.

"It's Lucy!" She squealed, quickly wrapping her arms around his neck as she feared falling to the ground.

"You sure are loud," Happy said as he perched himself on Natsu's head.

"Wouldn't you scream if you were suddenly flying?!" Natsu and Happy laughed, not bothering to mind the fuming girl.

"We fly all the time, ya weirdo. Figured you know that since you seem to know everythin',"

"I know that," She grumbled at the two who continued to laugh. Their teasing at least kept her mind occupied from getting too overwhelmed. To actually be in the arms of the boy she loved throughout her childhood, the boy she'd been dreaming about only a few moments ago...and his voice fit his appearance just right.

~000~

Natsu grinned as he tightened his grip on Lucy, wings batting wildly as they shot towards the bright star.

"You can open your eyes, Lucy!" The exceed said, now gliding through the air beside them.

"It's...beautiful!" Lucy gasped as she looked down on the eastern pocket of Ishgar and the corner country of Fiore.

The full ocean sat beneath them, the coast lined up with boats against the port town.

"We gotta go over a couple things before we bring ya to the guild," The dragon said as he settled the girl down onto a cloud.

"What things? Should I have changed? I guess it's a bit weird to show up in my paja—ah!…I'm glowing!"

"I've never seen anyone glow when we brought them back," Happy ooed as he admired Lucy's golden skin.

"You've got magic in ya! That's why we came to get you," Natsu explained, nodding proudly.

"Magic? Really? What kind?" Lucy asked as she confined to stare at the sheen that rose off her skin in sparkling waves.

"We dunno, it'll just come to ya," He shrugged, eyes suddenly sharpening as he turned his head toward the water. "Everyone's different…get down!" Lucy yelped as Natsu tackled her and dragged Happy to the other end of their puffy structure. Her eyes widened at the sight of a large black cannonball shooting its way through the cloud, effectively disintegrating the half they were sat upon.

"Crap! One of the patrol ships must've seen us!" The dragon scooped the blonde in his arms as she shrieked, Natsu diving into the air as another cannonball tore up the cloud.

"W-Who—What did that?!" Lucy cried as she looked to the sea below them, covering her eyes as three cannonballs steadily grew closer and closer.

"It's those darn Spriggan pirates! Happy, we gotta get out of here!" He shouted, swooping and turning to dodge the onslaught of ammo.

"Aye! I bet it's Ajeel!" Happy yelled back as he flew beside the two, following Natsu as he conducted their standard evasive maneuvers. She screamed as they flew in wayward directions, taking sharp twists and turns, the heavy wind of something rushing past them making her skin shiver.

"Captain Belserion doesn't know when to give up!" Natsu spat, Lucy opening her eyes to see him click his teeth. "C'mon, Happy, we gotta get back to the guild! They won't follow us there!"

"R-Really, are you sure?" Lucy tightened her arms around Natsu's neck, hiding her face when another boom rang out below them.

"They always try to knock us out of the sky, those cowards," Natsu flapped his wings harder, drawing them closer to land and away from the aim of their boat. "They won't set foot in town unless they're actually lookin' for a fight. They keep the ocean to themselves when they're around, figures they found out I was comin' in with ya today,"

"The pirates are all talk and cannonballs, Lushii! They're easy to beat once they step foot on land," Happy reassured her as they continued to fly more inland. "That town by the harbor is Hargeon, it can be dangerous, so I don't recommend ever going there on your own. Magnolia is safer, no pirates around for miles!"

"O-Okay, sounds good," She swallowed, relaxing as Natsu seemed to pull her just a touch more. "You're both amazing, thank you for getting us out of there."

"'Course, Luce! Those pirates got nothing when it comes to our flying skills! Happy 'n I are a dynamic duo! They'd have a better chance steering their boat through gravel!" He grinned down at her, Lucy unable to hide her blush. Luce? Was that her nickname now? Her ears might just melt away if he repeated the name again.

"We're almost there! Mira is cooking for the big party!" Happy rubbed his belly as their flying slowed to a more comfortable pace now that they were safely away from the sea.

"A party?" Lucy asked. "Wait, Mirajane Strauss?"

"We throw a party every time someone new comes in! It's been a while, you're the first person to come to the guild in a few years." Natsu hummed. "You know Mira too? Geez, who told you all this stuff?"

"I told you, it was my book—"

"There it is, the guild!" Happy cheered, taking the lead and flying ahead of them.

"It might be scary, but everyone's excited to meet you, trust me! You'll fit right in, don't worry," Lucy almost wanted to reach out to touch his smile, still not believing everything was real. Was she really here in Fiore with the fictional boy she'd fallen in love with? Who brought her here, practically saving her from her dull life to reveal that she was just as magical as he was? "Ready?"

Natsu set her on her feet, Lucy looking up at the large sign of the guild she'd stared at in drawings, everything matching her long since hidden memories.

"Natsu," Her throat felt dry as she turned to him, his head tilting slightly as he looked at her curiously. "Thank you, really. I…I, you have no idea how much I…"

"This is your home now, hm? Get ready to smile! You'll only remember this moment once!"

As the guild doors threw themselves open, Happy readied everyone to shout out a loud 'welcome home' for their newest family member. His small back was facing away from the opening, raising his arms to signal when everyone should greet Lucy together.

"Welcome home!" The exceed yelled as loud as he could, feeling puzzled when everyone seemed to have tightened their lips together even moreso than before.

He looked at them quizzically, spinning slightly in the air as some people chose to look away, others closing their eyes, Gray and Laxus in particular halfway between a laugh and a blush. Erza passed out and Levy burned with a similar blush, trying to get Gajeel to help her calm her embarrassment.

"What's everyone looking at?" He asked, finally facing the entryway where Natsu and Lucy stood.

His paws went quickly to his mouth as he gasped, rubbing his eyes to make sure he was actually seeing what he was seeing.

Who had kissed who first? No one could believe that Natsu of all people had his arms wrapped around a girl like that, sinking into their kiss as time continued on. Did he already forget where he was?

Lucy, their new guildmate had her arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers playing with the ends of his hair.

Those who couldn't look away watched their lips, watched as Natsu pulled her in, his teeth nipping at her.

It wasn't until Lucy moaned that Mirajane finally broke from the crowd, coughing in attempts to get their attention.

"Lucy?" She asked, swinging on the stem of her kitten heels. "Natsu?"

Their kiss broke but for a second, Natsu chasing her lips and the hazy glaze of her eyes. His head turned the other way, hiding Lucy from their point of view for one last kiss before looking at the silent gathering of his friends.

"Oh yeah," He grinned sheepishly, Lucy slowly turning a bright red. "Hey guys, I brought her! It's Lucy!"

Tbh this was supposed to be a one-shot! I wrote it back in 2019 and never finished it and figured I'd get around to it today lol

I was still planning to keep it short and sweet, maybe I still will! I have a couple of ideas for future chapters and a small story-line so I'll keep it going!

I'll say that the updates will be sparse for now, I need to write out a story map!

I'll also say that I still plan to update Greedy Dragon and Girl on the Moon, promise! I have finals due mostly this week and up to the 15th, then I have to pack up my dorm and I'll be home!

Thank you for reading! If you have any ideas you'd like me to incorporate into this story, I'm open to all or any ideas!