"Erza?" The golden haired wizard questioned as her and the girl with the scarlet waterfall running down the length of her back as they trailed through the endless library in search of a single book. 

"What is it, Lucy?" Erza turned her gaze so that Lucy came into view. The two doing just as the others were, they found a single hallway to begin in and then each took a side to scan.

When the group had split up, Lucy had originally wanted to go off and look with Natsu. But to her, it seemed that Erza had different plans. Considering she dragged her off in the opposite direction before Lucy could state her own opinion on the subject.

Since then she had been wandering why Erza took the opportunity to steal Lucy away from the Dragon Slayer like that. 

"You seemed quite anxious to take me away back there, is there a reason for that?" Lucy didn't turn her head, trying to keep from looking at Erza. Asking her why seemed a bit strange to her so she didn't want it to seem awkward. 

Though Erza could clearly see Lucy wasn't looking her way, she nodded in return before opening her mouth to explain herself. "Of course there was a reason. I'm sure soon you'll learn that I don't do anything without a reason, unlike some of us. But since you asked, I guess there is no harm in telling you. There are two reasons for my actions and the first is the fact I want to be able to keep an eye on you. Ever since Crocus, I feel as if I've done a terrible job acting as one of your protectors. I mean the whole reason I came in he first place was to make sure you got here without any problems. But clearly, I failed at that. So this time, if something happens I will be able to do something about it." 

Erza took a pause as she looked away and at that very second, Lucy turned her way. Erza felt slightly embarrassed about the second reason and regretted informing her that there even was a second reason.

Lucy tilted her head in question. Personally, she didn't think Erza had been doing a bad job at anything but then again even if she tried to tell her that she knew she wouldn't listen. 

"What's the second reason?" Lucy asked, holding her torch towards Erza in order to get a better look at her. 

That's when Erza's head turned back to her, allowing the two to make eye contact. Erza let a large grin spread across her face as she forced out a confession. "I was a bit jealous of how much time Natsu was getting to spend with you."

Lucy stopped in her tracks and gazed at her friend for a moment with a blank expression on her face. But before long a soft grin reached her lips as she let out a gentle giggle. "I'm so sorry, Erza. I had no idea you felt that way!" 

Erza was slightly stunned at her reaction but she realized that she should have expected nothing less from her. She had learned that no matter what, Lucy was understanding.

A soul that seemed to never be tainted, even with all the unthinkable events that have happened to her. Erza let faint smile take over her lips, her gaze softening on her newest friend.

Lucy's face turned serious for a moment as a thought passed through her mind. Erza could see the questioning look in her eyes, her mouth opening slightly to speak. 

"Erza, you know about my story. If you don't mind me asking, what's your story?" The words Lucy spoke where ones she had been expecting for a long time now. 

Lucy's eyes trailed away from Erza but within seconds they had met hers once more. Erza allowed herself to nod in agreement with Lucy's request. It wasn't a very pleasant story but she knew Lucy was used to unpleasant things. 

"I wasn't always in Fairy Tail, surrounded by wonderful people. When I was very small, I was taken, taken to work on a structure called The Tower of Heaven. I was used for labor, like all the other like me who had been ripped from there homes. I made friends, though. Without them I would have never gotten through all the beatings and times they forced me to skip meals because I acted out.

Over time, everyone had grown very sick of that place. Most couldn't take it anymore. We had to escape before we ended up dead. I lost two very close friends to me the day it all went down. The first, was a boy my age, his name was Jellal. I had grown very fond of him, almost like a childhood crush, you could say." Erza took a pause, gazing in the other direction as memories of him flooded her mind. 

Lucy watched closely as the edges of Erza's lips curled upward and formed the slightest of smiles. Her mouth opened once more as she continued, her expression changing drastically. "He had gone mad, almost as if he was possessed. It was his decision to stay behind, saying that the tower was true freedom. It was a devastating choice to leave him there.

But it was what he wanted and I knew I could do nothing for him. The second was an older man that I looked up to with a great amount of respect. As we were escaping, the guards had caught up to our small group. No doubt they wanted us dead. He had jumped in front of a bolt of magic that was no meant for him. I had watched my role model be murdered in front of my eyes." 

Lucy said nothing, simply listening to the tail she had been longing to hear. What shaped Erza to be the person she is now. Slowly, Lucy was beginning to understand though. Tragedies are sometimes the only way to really become a better person.

Erza had known suffering and pain, agony and strife. Now she is blessed with a guild and friends who love her to no end. Her life is filled with joy and her heart remains pure and caring because of it.

"I remember, all my feelings and anger had become too much for me as a small child to handle. That was the day I learned I wielded magic. My pain had lifted swords, spears, shovels, and anything that could be used as weapons. I watched as I hurled them at the guards without touching a single one. it was the first time I had ever used my re-equip-ting abilities.

With the guards taken down, the rest of us managed to escape safely. But after that we all split up, I haven't seen any of them since. I found Fairy Tail and for a long time I kept to myself. But, lucky for me, I had people who slowly broke away my shell and I became who I am now." Erza ended her story with one of her lovely smiles. 

Lucy couldn't help but smile back, she knew who she was talking about. That much was very clear, even though she herself wasn't there. Everything about the scarlet haired girl made sense in Lucy's mind. She was glad she did not hesitated to tell her. 

"Even though you endured several hardships, you are not bitter or nasty towards others. Thank you for telling me, Erza." Lucy smiled lightly.

Erza nodded her head in response. "Thank you for listening."