PRESENTING: THE LIGHTNING EMPRESS . . .

"What's your name, little one?" Makarov asked, sitting on top of the bar countertop while looking down at the child.

The girl looked to be no more than eight years old. She had straight black hair that touched her shoulders. She also possessed dark brown eyes and soft-looking tanned skin. Next to her was a small green cat with wings.

"My name is Jasmine and this is Raphael." The girl mumbled, motioning to the cat next to her as she introduced him.

"Welcome, Jasmine and Raphael!' Makarov grinned. "What brings you two to Fairy Tail?"

Jasmine twiddled her thumbs nervously as she bit her bottom lip. She looked as though she was one step away from crying.

"W-We're looking for a dragon!" The green cat announced in place of his partner.

"A dragon, huh?" The elderly man stroked his chin, pretending to be in thought. "You wouldn't happen to be a dragon slayer, would you?"

Jasmine's eyes lit up and she smiled brightly at the guildmaster. "I am!" She exclaimed.

"You hear that Natsu? This girl's a dragon slayer too!" Makarov turned his head to the left and shouted.

"Huh?" A boy that was about Jasmine's age appeared. The boy had pink hair and he walked up to Jasmine with a blue cat following him. "You're a dragon slayer too?" He asked, cocking his head to the side and raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah." Jasmine nodded.

"Who was your dragon?"

"Jupiter, the Lightning Dragon."

 Lightning?

The blond headed guildmaster's grandson, who was sitting at the bar and munching on a snack, whipped his head around upon the word being spoken.

 She uses lightning?

Young Laxus watched as Natsu became excited about having another dragon slayer around. He also watched as Jasmine demonstrated her dragon slayer magic since Natsu practically begged her.

Laxus felt his heartbeat speed up as he gazed at the yellow sparks that puffed out of the girl's mouth.

 It's the same magic as mine!

His mouth hung open and he hadn't realized that he was staring until his grandfather pointed it out.

"What's the matter, Laxus?" Makarov asked, smirking at his grandson. "Are you that amazed by Jasmine's magic?"

Laxus quickly turned his focus back to his plate, his cheeks becoming more red by the second.

"This is Happy." Natsu motioned to the blue cat, introducing him.

"Aye!" The cat grinned, holding up a paw.

"And this is Raphael." Jasmine introduced her partner, motioning to him.

"Just Raph is fine." The feline insisted.

"By the way," Makarov spoke up. "do you two want to join Fairy Tail?"

"Join?" Jasmine asked to no one in particular. 

"You should totally join!" Natsu smiled.

Laxus wanted to speak up. He definitely wanted Jasmine to join. But he wasn't good with girls. He wasn't good with people in general. Plus, this was his first crush. He didn't have the slightest idea how to approach her.

"Do you want to join, Raphael?" Jasmine asked, looking at the green cat.

"I'll join if you join." He replied.

"O-Okay. Then I'll join." Jasmine decided, a small smile on her face. 

Makarov smiled as he took out the stamp. Laxus watched as Jasmine and Raph received their Fairy Tail emblems. Raph got a black one on his back and Jasmine also got a black one, but hers was on her left shoulder.

 Stop staring at her! Stop it!

Laxus forced himself to stop gazing at Fairy Tail's newest member.

"Well, c'mon!" Natsu grinned, grabbing Jasmine's wrist and pulling her towards a table where other children were sitting. "Hey guys, this is Jasmine." Everyone at the table turned their attention to the Lightning Dragon Slayer. "And this is Gray, Mira, Elfman, Lisanna, Levy, Cana, Erza, and Erik."

"Hi." Jasmine mumbled quietly.

"Sorry," Raph apologized, "she's really introverted."

"Intro . . . verted?" Natsu furrowed his eyebrows and made a concentrated facial expression.

"It means she's shy." Erza sighed.

"O-Oh . . ." Natsu laughed nervously while scratching his head.

"Come sit." Erza smiled at the new member.

Jasmine shuffled to the table, sitting in between Erza and Erik. Natsu sat on the other side of Erik, next to Gray. The two Exceeds sat on top of the table.

"So what kind of magic do you all use?" Raph asked, trying to start a conversation.

"Dragon Slayer Magic!" Natsu exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.

"I think she knows that, fire breath." Gray said, rolling his eyes. 

"What did you say?" Natsu growled.

"Settle down, you two." Erza ordered.

"I use Ice Maker Magic." Gray stated, waving his hand momentarily.

"Ice Maker Magic?" Jasmine questioned.

"I can create things using ice."

"BORING!" Mira said, rolling her eyes. "If you want to hear about cool magic, then you'll love my magic." She smirked and put her hands on her hips. "Me, my brother, and my sister use Take Over Magic."

"That does sound kind of interesting." Raph commented.

"I use Solid Script Magic." Levy said shyly. "It's not exciting, but it's great for a bookworm like me."

"Same here." Cana said, raising her hand. "I use Card Magic. It's not exciting, but I have my reasons."

"If it's exciting you want, then my magic will do." Erza said confidently. "I use Requip Magic."

"Requip Magic?" Jasmine mumbled.

"I can change not only my weapons, but my armor or clothes at will."

"That would definitely come in handy." Raph nodded.

The table became quiet after that. Jasmine looked over at Erik who hadn't said anything the whole time.

"Um . . . . what about you?" Jasmine asked.

Erik glanced at the girl, surprised that she asked.

"Oh yeah, you haven't told us what magic you use." Raph stated.

Erik stared heavily at the table while fidgeting nervously. "I . . . . I don't . . . use magic." He said, his breath shaky.

"Y-You don't?" Jasmine's eyes widened.

Erik shook his head. "I've tried, but no matter what magic someone teaches me, I just . . . c-can't learn magic." The maroon haired boy gritted his teeth, upset with himself.

"We've tried teaching him all of our magics," Erza piped up. "but there has been no results."

"I guess I'm just not cut out for the magical world." Erik said, faking a smile.

Suddenly, Jasmine grabbed Erik's hands and she squeezed them tightly.

"Don't ever give up!" She said, a serious expression on her face. "Jupiter always told me that having no faith means you're just walking in circles. Faith gives you a path to walk down; something to live for and something to look forward to in the future."

Erik stared at the girl in front of him in a mixture of shock and surprise. He also had a red blush on his cheeks.

"Don't you want a future?" Jasmine smiled.

"Uh, yeah . . . I do." Erik mumbled.

"Aww, is little Erik blushing?" Mira teased, smirking.

"I-I am not?" Erik stammered.

From that moment forward, Erik and Jasmine became close. They were practically inseparable and became best friends quickly. Jasmine helped Erik with his physical strength training, hoping that, that would help him in his magical journey.

Laxus sneaked glances at the two best friends whenever they were in the guild. He was jealous that, that couldn't be him laughing with Jasmine. He had spent countless nights deciding that he'd tell her that he liked her a lot.

But those ideas were ruined when Erik and Jasmine started dating.

It's really impossible now, isn't it?

He saw how Jasmine smiled brightly and how her eyes lit up whenever Erik was around.

 She loves him . .

He decided that he didn't have a chance. There was no place for him in Jasmine's heart. She probably didn't even know that he existed since they never talked.

Everything between Jasmine and Erik was going well, until one day.

Jasmine bursted through the guild doors with Raph flying behind her. She scanned the room, her eyes lit up in excitement because Erik had promised to take her to his "secret place".

"Jasmine," Makarov spoke, walking up to the girl. "this is for you." The guildmaster handed her a folded piece of paper.

As Jasmine read the letter, the light in her eyes quickly went out. Her facial expression went from warm to cold.

 Dear Jasmine,

I'm leaving for a while to learn some magic. Also, I'm breaking up with you. You should just forget about me. It'd be for the best. We don't belong together. We're too different. I guess this is goodbye.

 Erik

Laxus's eyes widened as he watched tears stream down Jasmine's face. On impulse, he moved to comfort her but as soon as he took a step, Jasmine bolted out of the guild.

Erik had just broken her young and fragile heart without so much as a warning. And it changed her drastically.