Through Fire and Keys
Lucy Heartfilia thought joining Fairy Tail would be the start of a new chapter in her life—one filled with adventure, magic, and the chance to finally belong. What she didn't expect was to be caught in the orbit of Natsu Dragneel, a gruff and enigmatic Dragon Slayer with a protective streak as fiery as his magic.
Bound by an ancient connection neither fully understands, Lucy finds herself navigating the uncharted territory of a bond that ties her to Natsu in ways she can't yet comprehend. He's territorial, overbearing, and rough around the edges, but beneath the fire lies a loyalty and affection he struggles to show.
As Lucy fights to assert her independence and unravel the mystery of their bond, she must also confront her own past—one filled with pain, loss, and the fear of vulnerability.
With magic, humor, and a touch of fate, Lucy and Natsu must learn to trust each other—or risk losing everything they've only just begun to build.
*All rights go to Hiro Mashima.
Chapter One
The salty breeze tickled my nose as I stepped out of the small, magical shop. It wasn't much, just a quaint little place tucked between a bakery and an inn, but it was the only shop in town that carried magical items. The shopkeeper, an older man with glasses perched on his nose, had told me they didn't get many wizards passing through here. I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed—until I spotted a silver key on the counter.
Sure, it wasn't anything rare or extravagant, but when I held it in my hand, I couldn't stop the smile from spreading across my face. A new celestial key, no matter how common, was like adding a new friend to my collection.
As I reached down to grab the rest of my keys from my pouch, eager to add this one to the set, a group of girls rushed past me, nearly knocking me off balance with their excitement.
"Wha—hey!" I muttered, brushing the hair out of my face. They were squealing and giggling as they sprinted toward the plaza.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I took a deep breath to settle my nerves before following them. As I got closer, I caught bits and pieces of their excited chatter.
"That's the famous wizard Salamander! I heard he's super good-looking!"
Another chorus of squeals erupted, followed by someone shrieking, "Come on, let's get a closer look! Maybe he'll give us his autograph!"
Salamander? My interest was immediately piqued. The Salamander—the fire wizard from a renowned guild? I'd read about him before, though the details had always been vague. I wasn't about to pass up the chance to see him for myself.
The crowd had gathered in a tight circle in the middle of the plaza, and I weaved my way through, trying to get a better look. The closer I got, the stranger I felt—my stomach twisted, butterflies fluttering like crazy. My heart was pounding in my chest.
What the hell is this? I thought, shaking my head as if to clear it.
My gaze snapped to the man standing in the middle of the crowd. He had a confident stance, wearing a cloak that rippled in the breeze. His dark blue hair caught the sunlight, gleaming like waves in the ocean. For a moment, I forgot to breathe.
I pushed my way closer through the crowd, trying not to get swept up in the overwhelming excitement radiating from the other girls. All around me, they whispered about his looks, how mysterious he seemed, and how lucky they were to see him.
The man—Salamander—stood in the center, effortlessly drawing attention. He gave a charming smile, raising his hand as if to greet his adoring audience. For some reason, I couldn't take my eyes off him. My heart pounded, and the butterflies in my stomach grew worse. Every part of me screamed that something was wrong, yet I felt… enchanted.
"Ladies, thank you for coming." His voice was smooth as silk, drawing everyone in even further. Some of the girls swooned. I could feel my head getting hazy, as though his words wrapped around me like a warm spell. What is this…?
My thoughts blurred. Suddenly, the key in my hand felt heavier, like it was slipping from my grasp. I could feel myself losing focus, like I was sinking into a dream. All I wanted to do was listen to him, to keep watching him.
"Your presence today is a gift," he said with a dazzling smile. His eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on me. My breath caught in my throat as he began walking toward me.
The other girls practically melted in disappointment as Salamander reached out and gently took my hand.
"You," he murmured, his voice soft but commanding. "There's something special about you."
My cheeks flushed against my will, and I tried to tug my hand away, but my limbs felt sluggish, like I was trapped in a dream.
"W-what are you—"
He raised my hand to his lips, the gesture slow and deliberate. I felt the tension of the crowd shift—the girls held their breath, watching with envy.
My heart pounded wildly in my chest. Not out of admiration, but out of panic. What's happening to me? Why can't I move?
Just as Salamander's lips brushed my knuckles, a deep, growling voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Let. Her. Go."
The crowd parted violently as someone shoved their way through with unapologetic force. I staggered as the spell over me shattered in an instant. I blinked, the haze lifting from my mind.
The man who had broken through the crowd didn't just walk—he stalked, like a predator closing in. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with wild pink hair and a scarf draped around his neck. His scowl was fierce, his dark eyes locked solely on Salamander.
The crowd of girls gasped, shrinking back. The carefree confidence Salamander had been wearing cracked, just for a second, before he laughed nervously.
"There's no need to be so aggressive, friend. We're just having a little fun," Salamander said, though his grip on my hand tightened slightly.
The pink-haired man's expression darkened. He took one step closer, and I swore the air around him grew hotter.
"I said, let her go," he growled.
Salamander sneered but released my hand. I stumbled back, rubbing my wrist as I stared at the man in disbelief. I didn't know who he was, but the intensity in his eyes made my pulse race for an entirely different reason.
The pink-haired man glanced at me briefly, his gaze softening for the briefest moment before hardening again as he turned back to Salamander.
"Touch her again, and I'll break you."
The crowd erupted into shocked murmurs. I should've been angry at being spoken for, but instead, all I could do was stare. My heart hammered in my chest, not from fear—but from something I didn't understand.
Salamander's face twisted into something ugly. "Do you know who I am?"
The pink-haired man didn't flinch. Instead, he rolled his shoulders and let out a low, dangerous chuckle. "Do you?"
The tension between them was suffocating, and yet, I couldn't tear my eyes away.
I crossed my arms, forcing myself to speak. "Hey—who do you think you are, barging in like this? I don't need you to rescue me!"
His gaze flicked to me, and though his face was rough and unreadable, there was something protective in his expression—a quiet warning I didn't fully understand.
I clenched my fists my brows furrowing. Who is this guy?
The air felt clearer now, as though some invisible weight had been lifted. I shook my head, trying to piece together what had just happened. My eyes flickered to the girls still lingering nearby—they looked dazed, blinking in confusion as they murmured to one another.
Then it hit me.
"A charm spell," I muttered under my breath, my stomach twisting with anger. "He was using magic to make us... admire him."
My blood boiled as I turned back to Salamander, who was still standing there with a smug grin plastered on his face. He thought he could charm me? Manipulate me like some lovestruck fool?
I clenched my jaw, stepped forward, and without giving him a chance to react—
CRACK.
My foot shot up, connecting squarely with his groin. Salamander let out a strangled yelp as his face twisted in pain. He doubled over, clutching himself, while the crowd gasped in collective shock.
"That," I spat, "is for trying to mess with my head."
He collapsed to his knees, groaning incoherently, while the other girls stared in stunned silence.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the pink-haired man—still standing there with his arms crossed. His dark eyes flicked to me, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of approval.
But instead of saying anything, he let out a low grunt and turned away, walking off without another word.
"Wait—hey!" I called after him. He didn't stop.
My frustration only grew as I hurried after him, weaving through the dispersing crowd. "You can't just walk away after that! Who even are you? What's your deal?"
He kept moving, his strides long and purposeful. "Go home," he muttered.
"Excuse me?" I practically jogged to keep up with him. "I just kicked a guy in the groin and ruined his whole con act. The least you could do is answer my questions!"
He stopped suddenly, and I nearly collided with him. He turned to face me, his expression unreadable but undeniably fierce.
"You really don't know?" he asked, his voice quieter now, almost... uncertain.
"Know what?" I shot back, planting my hands on my hips. "You're obviously not some random guy off the street. And why did you act like—like that when Salamander grabbed me?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking more annoyed than anything else. After a long pause, he sighed.
"I'm Natsu," he muttered. "Natsu Dragneel. And I'm not some 'wizard fanboy' or whatever you're thinking." He pointed to himself with a thumb. "I'm from Fairy Tail."
My eyes widened. "Fairy Tail? The Fairy Tail? Wait—you're Salamander?"
Natsu snorted, crossing his arms. "Hell no. That guy's a fake."
My head spun as I processed everything. All this time, the infamous fire wizard I'd read about wasn't some suave charmer with blue hair—it was him. The grouchy, wild-looking man standing in front of me with zero social skills.
"You've gotta be kidding," I whispered.
Natsu's expression softened, but only slightly. "C'mon," he said, jerking his head toward the road leading out of town. "If you really want to see what a real guild's like, I'll show you."
I hesitated for a second, but the curiosity—and the lingering sense of something unexplainable—pushed me forward. I adjusted my bag and followed him down the road, my heart still racing from everything that had happened.