Lucy
It was finally happening.

After two years of begging, bribing, crying, and threatening She had managed to convince her heartless father to allow her to go to Japan and join her grandfather's school; fairy tail high.

She had been fascinated by the thought of a large school where everyone was like a family since her grandfather Marakov had created it nine years ago. Now she was sixteen and had done everything her father required of her to join.

~flashback~ why? Because I can!!

Lucy bounced excitedly from foot to foot, clutching the crinkled flyer tightly in her right hand. Capricorn, her father's right hand man, watched her curiously with a small smile as she exhibited such childish excitement.

When the young mistress had arrived home and found an invitation from her grandfather offering her a tuition to his school, the girl had been filled with joy. Her usually somber mood was replied by large smiles and in contained excitement. The servants hadn't seen such emotion from the young girl since her late mother had passed, and it brought an aura of light to the unusually dark home. Capricorn was glad to see the girl so happy, but he was worried that the happiness would not last after she entered the doors to her father's study.

The servants were well aware that The Master regarded Mr. Marakov with great contempt and, dare they think, even hatred. None knew what had happened to make the master hate the cheery elvish man so much, but they dare not question it. Capricorn had no doubt that the master would decline Lucy's invitation, but he still held a small bit of hope. Maybe the master would see the unusual joy in his daughter and relent, for her sake.

The door pushed open with a creak and Capricorn stiffened to attention. Lucy stilled and bit her lip as the doors revealed a long, dimly lit hall. Nerves suddenly clenched her muscles in place.

"Go on Ms. Lucy," Capricorn assured her, giving a polite smile, "It is okay."

Lucy took a deep breath, sucking sown her concerns and steeling herself. She knew the likelihood of her father accepting was very low, and the chances of him yelling were high, but no matter what she had to try. She didn't think she could stand another four years trapped within the confines of this house, her father's large and daunting presence always hanging over her. She took a deep breath and let it go as she stepped forward, entering the dark hall. She heard the doors close behind her as she walked, but she didn't dare turn around. She didn't know if she could continue forward into the darkness if she glanced back towards the welcoming light.

Lucy soon found herself approaching the better lit area that illuminated the figure of her father hunched over his work. Lucy paused, debating wether or not to announce her presence.

"What do you want, Lucile," her father sighed, cutting off her mental debate. Lucy cringed at the formality, only proving how much this house was more like a prison than a home.

"I recieved a letter from Grandpa today. He's invited me to join him for the new school year in America," she paused, waiting for him to burst forth with profanities and curses, but he was unnaturally silent. Lucy gulped and continued. "I'd like to go, Father. I want to go to Fairy Tail High."

"And where would you stay?" He asked sharply, making Lucy cringe.

"Grandpa said I'd be free to live with him and Laxus. He said that they had plenty of space for a small girl like me," she quoted, bowing her head in wait for the onslaught of anger. She was shocked again when it didn't come. She looked up, surprised to see her father out of his desk and standing at the window, his figure black against the bright light from the outside.

"Why do you feel like you should be allowed to go to America?" He asked simply, as if talking about the weather. Lucy blinked and gaped, unprepared for this response. It took her a moment to gather her bearings.

"W-well I have always been near the top of the class and Fairy Tail is a very high quality school..." Lucy stopped as her father turned, staring down at her with cold blue eyes.

"Near the top, but not the first," he takes, turning his head away from her on disgust. "You were given the invitation, you'd not earned it. I will not allow you to go."

Lucy blinked and slowly her confusion elicited to anger. She clenched her fists on the invitation and held it up.

"I did earn it! Grandpa Marakov offered this to me because he knew I was smart! Besides, why would you care, you don't even want me here at all!"

Silence filled the air and her anger mellowed to sadness and back to fear. She watched her father, waiting for him to snap, but he stood as regal and uncaring as ever. Did she really mean so little to him so that he could not even bother to feel anger towards her anymore?

"Prove it to me and I will allow you to go. You must become the top of your class," he stated calmly, settling back in his chair.

"R-really?" She asked in shock.

"Become the top of your class and gather your own money. If you are to join that traitor then you are no daughter of mine," he said and Lucy felt her heart crack, but she nodded obediently. She hadn't been planning to take money from his anyway.

"I will! And when I do I will go and join Fairy Tail High!" She proclaimed, turning and walking away determinedly.

"We shall see," was all Her father said as she stepped out of the dark hall and back into the light, a new emotion filling her chest. Determination.

~end of flashback~ wasn't that nice?

Lucy had finally done it. She'd gathered up more than enough money from various jobs for the trip to America and for her own home and shed managed to get top grades. Freshman year she had messed up and gotten second, but after a whole year of non stop studying she's managed to score number one. Now, for her junior and senior year, Lucy would be attending her dream school; Fairy Tail High.

"Be careful, Hime," Virgo cried, wrapping Lucy in a bone crushing hug. Lucy laughed through the suffocating grip and managed to pull away, smiling.

"We wish you the best of luck in America, Lucy," Capricorn assured her, kissing her forehead. Lucy waved her hands as she fought the tears, smiling.

"Oh, I'll miss you all too!" She gushed, pulling them into another tight hug.

"He will miss you as well," Spetto said, glancing up at the window. Lucy dared to glance up, just spotting the looming dark form of her father staring down on her. She took a deep swallow and forced a smile.

"Yes, I'm sure. Take good care of him for me, yeah? I don't know when I'll be coming back," she sighed, feeling slightly guilty but freed at the same time.

"Don't worry about him, go have fun. Say hello to Master Laxus for us," Virgo asked, to which Lucy nodded.

"And don't come back till you find yourself a boyfriend, do you hear me?" Spetto yelled, grabbing Lucy's face between her hands and squeezing. "A pretty girl like you deserves a good man."

"Alright, alright, let's not damage the goods before they're delivered," Capricorn joked, gently pulling Lucy towards the car and picking up her few suitcases. Lucy waved goodbye to her only family one last time before sliding into the limo. Her father wanted her to use her money to provide everything for herself, but Capricorn insisted on escorting her. She didn't have the heart to fight with him, and it didn't seem like her father was coming down to berate him. She glanced up at the window, unable to see his form through the glare of the sun.

"Ready to go, Ms. Lucy?" Capricorn asked, looking back at her with dark sunglasses on his nose. Lucy looked ahead and smiled.

"To Japan," she agreed, and Capeicorn laughed before pulling out. Lucy only glanced back to wave at her family, refusing to look at the figure in the window. Hopefully, she'd never have to look at that figure ever again.

~

"You'll come back if there's any ever trouble, right?" Capricorn reassured, handing Lucy her last suitcase. Lucy paused as she heard the announcement for her flight and smiled gently at the loyal friend.

"I promise I'll come back when I can," she swore, leaning forward and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for everything."

"Thank you for keeping us happy, even after ms. Layla died," Capricorn said, bowing. Lucy smiled and bowed back, stiffening as the call for her flight went off again.

"I have to go now, I'll write soon," Lucy called, starting away. She got a few steps before she heard him call her name. She turned, seeing him run after her with her cart on.

"You forgot this, Ms. Lucy," he said, handing her the bag with a smile. Lucy took ahold of it firmly, smiling gratefully. "Best of luck."

"You too," she called, turning away and finally boarding the plane.

~

Lucy ran off the plane and fell to the ground, kissing it dramatically. "Solid ground, thank god!"

A few people looked at her oddly as she praised the earth, but she ignored them, staying on her knees until the world stopped spinning. It's not like she'd never flown before, but spending a whole day and a half trapped in a tiny seat besides a snoring man too big for his chair was not at all like the fancy commercials had advertised.

When the world finally came back to a stand still she let out a sigh of relief and stood. Glancing around the large crowd of people she searched for a familiar head of pale blonde hair and bright blue eyes, but only saw a sea of black and brown hair. She huffed in annoyance and moved towards a bench.

"Excuse me," she said politely to the man sitting there before housing herself up and scanning the heads. She couldn't spot any familiar blonde heads, however she did spot a handsome man holding a white sign that said Heartfilia in Marakov's familiar scrawl. Lucy blinked and eyes the man. He was around her age, maybe a little older, and had sharp interesting features you didn't see often in America. He had jet black hair and sharp deep blue eyes. He wasn't in any fancy get-up, just some dark wash jeans and a white t shirt, but it looked fancy on him.

As if sensing her gaze, the man turned and caught her eye. He scanned her over before lifting the sign a little higher, raising an eyebrow questioningly. Lucy smiled and hopped off the bench, hoisting the bag higher on her shoulder and making her way towards the stranger. She caught him a few times through the crowd, but it was hard to push through the mass. Finally she broke through, stopping in front of the man while panting.

"Are you Lucile Heartfilia?" He asked after a moment. Lucy, still too out of breath to speak, gave him a thumbs up before slowly straightening. She huffed one last time, wiping sweat off her forehead.

"Strong crowd," she puffed, glancing at the mess she knew she would have to go through again in order to get her luggage. She groaned.

"Don't worry, your luggage is already in the car," the gut informed her, noticing her displeasure from the gloom surrounding her.

"Car?" Lucy asked curiously, turning to face him. "By the way, who are you? I thought Laxus was supposed to pick me up?"

"He was, that lazy bastard," the guy murmured the last part, but she still heard. She giggled which made him smile slightly. "I'm Gray Fullblaster, his friend and your new fellow classmate. It's nice to meet you Lucile."

"Ugh, please just call me Lucy. Lucile is too..." Lucy drawled off.

"Old?" He subbed in, smiling.

"I was thinking more along the lines of proper, but old works too," Lucy agreed, returning his smile.

"Well alright, Lucy, ready to go home?" He offered, holding out a hand. She smiled largely, already liking this Gray Fullblaster.

"I've been ready for sixteen years."