Key to Life

~Chapter 4: The Fairies ~

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN FAIRY TAIL! The Fairy Tail universe is the creation and property of Hiro Mashima and the respective distributors

The boy sighed, bored. Nothing was biting and it was late, the sun starting to sink below the tree line. He looked over to glance at his sister who seemed quite content to sit and read on the riverbank. He splashed his feet in the water a little, watching the ripples spread and bob the little lure on his line. His legs itched with the urge to run, jump, climb. He had never been able to enjoy being still and quiet like his sister. Sighing again, he reeled in his line and signalled her that it was time to go. He left briefly to stash his fishing gear in an old tree stump and that's when it came to him, a wicked smile lighting up his fair features. The girl stood up and brushed the grass from her dress, stowing her book away in her magic storage. She glanced around and narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Something was taking her brother far too long. That's when she spotted him in the tree above her. He grinned when she noticed and yelled down to her.

"Oi Summer! I'll race you back to the guild!" Knowing his sister never backed down from a challenge, the boy prepared himself for her wager.

"You're on Hikari! Last one has to eat Macao's socks!" Summer shouted back, giggling. Reading was fun- this was better.

"Then I guess we know what you're having for dinner," Hikari unsheathed a gold key from the pouch on his belt. "Open, Gate of the Lion- Leo!" In a puff Loke appeared beside him, almost falling through the branches. "I need a lift back to the guild. We need to beat Summer!"

"Anything thing for my prince," in seconds, the boy was on loke's shoulders and leaping over the trees. Summer smiled, two could play at that game.

"Open, Gate of the Goat- Capricorn!"

"You called Miss Summer?"

"No time to waste Capricorn, we have a brother to catch!"

Capricorn shook his head in weary amusement as the small girl clambered onto his back and he bound off after the lion. Loke had saved him from Zoldeo on Tenrou and brought him to Fairy Tail via the spirit world, to serve the woman he had claimed was Lucy Heartfilia, daughter of Layla. He hadn't expected to end up serving this precocious little one instead.

"Faster, faster! If we lose to Hikari you have to eat a sock too."

Chuckling at the girls stubborn sense of pride, Capricorn picked up the pace. The twins had been out fishing in the river just outside Magnolia Town for most of the day but were too busy challenging each other to races and games to actually catch any fish. Capricorn made a final leap and they were clear of the forest. Loke and his young charge were just ahead, sprinting along Magnolia's main street toward the hills. Urged forward by his mistress's impatience, Capricorn jumped onto the roof tops, Summer squealing in glee as they closed in on her brother. The streets were rarely busy these days, especially since Twilight Ogre had begun patrolling, and at this time of evening they were almost abandoned. So Loke made good time running through the winding streets. They were almost at the foot of the hills where Fairy Tail now resided , when Loke felt Hikari's energy depleting. Evidently Capricorn felt Summer tiring as well, because when Loke came to stop at the edge of town, so did he. Both twins protested loudly when the spirits set them down.

"Capricorn what are you doing! We had them! We were going to win!"

"What the hell Loke! Just a bit farther an Summer would have eaten socks!"

"How do you know dummy? Clearly we were winning."

"Were not!"

"Were too!"

Before either twin could break out in flames -literally- Loke intervened.

"Now, now Prince, Princess. Clam down. If we went on for much longer you two would have fallen asleep." Summer and Hikari lifted their stubborn jaws in a pout. Loke could see shades of their parents in every move they made. "Don't give me that look. You two go straight to the guild and don't mess about."

"Loke is right. You have to have dinner anyway. I shall be going." With a nod to Loke, Capricorn returned to the spirit world, the twins coughing in the smokey cloud he left behind. Loke crouched down to ruffle their hair. They look so much like their mother, he thought sadly.

"Come on give Uncle Loke a hug you two." The pair resisted momentarily, desperately trying to stay mad at him, but it soon passed and they ran into the spirit's waiting arms.

"Do you really have to go now?"

"Yeah, can't you walk us back to the guild at least?"

"I'm afraid not." Summer started to tear up.

"Oh please Uncle Loke! It's so lonely and dark at the guild and you never come with us." Loke hugged them both tighter. He hadn't had the courage to set foot in Fairy Tail since...Well, anyway, coward that he was, he couldn't bear to face the silence. He knew the twins suffered, all the friendship in the world could not replace the love of a mother and father and he was the closest they had to either. Loosening his grip, Loke moved back to look at them both. Summer was trembling as she always did at the thought of returning to the empty guild. Hikari's blank faced silence betrayed none of his emotions but Loke knew he was shaking on the inside, just as upset as his sister.

"Be strong, little dragons. I'll come and see you tomorrow. You know that summoning celestial spirits for too long makes you tired. I will meet you down by the river and we can have lunch together. How about that?" Summer sniffled and her brother scuffed his sandal in the dirt. "Smile you two, we'll even get ice-cream." Loke laughed when their faces lit up.

"Any flavour we want?" Hikari inquired, testing the boundaries.

"Any flavour you want." Loke agreed seriously.

"Can I have chocolate sprinkles on mine?" Summer enthused. Loke lifted her off the ground and spun the giggling girl in a circle.

"You can even have a double scoop, my treat."

The children squealed in delight. "Thank you Uncle Loke!"

"Your welcome," he chuckled. "But if you want tomorrow to come faster you need to go home and sleep. Remember to take the potion I gave you."

Hikari made a face. "But it tastes like dirt!"

"And old socks," Summer added.

"I don't care what it tastes like, drink it. Remember what happened last time you tried to skip it?" The twins gulped. "Good. Now run along you two. I'll see you tomorrow." Summer gave him one last hug and then Loke too disappeared.

Hikari waved away the smoke with one hand and grabbed Summer's with the other. It was dark now but he didn't need light to show him the way. His eyes were far keener and better adjusted to seeing in the dark than Summer's so he could easily wind his way along the path home to Fairy Tail, while his twin used her acute sense of hearing to listen for danger. The duo worked in tandem, using each individual's skills for the benefit of the two. They couldn't rely on anyone, not even Uncle Loke, as much as they could rely on each other.

They were just about over the crest of the hill when Summer stopped abruptly, yanking Hikari back. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, as her ears alerted her to a familiar and yet alien sound. When it looked like her brother was about to cry out, she raised a finger to silence him. He settled and responded to her gesture to listen closely, creeping forward to hear better. That's when he caught it, faintly carried across the chill evening wind. Was that laughter? Hikari exchanged a confused glance with Summer. That couldn't be right. Since when did Fairy Tail have laughter? Wary, the twins approached the hall. The lights were on and through the doors they could indeed hear laughter and the chinking of glasses, mixed with music and happy shouting. Not quite big enough to see through the window on their own, Hikari hoisted Summer into a piggy back so that she could peer through. When he could no longer hold her up, she plopped to the ground in a daze.

"There are... People. So many people." She whispered. Hikari looked at her, confused. "They were laughing and dancing and fighting," suddenly she giggled. "One even kept taking his clothes off." Hikari was beginning to think she had lost her mind. Dragging a stupidly grinning Summer behind him, he lead them around the side and made her climb the ladder that led to the window of the tiny attic room they shared above the guild. When he had made sure the window was safely closed and Summer was daydreaming happily on their hammock, he crawled over to the trap door that opened over the main hall and flung it open. Warm light immediately flooded the room, momentarily blinding him. When the initial shock was over and his eyes had adjusted, the happy chattering of the room below began to reach his ears and he stared at the scene unfolding below with equal parts wonder and awe. He barely noticed Summer kneel beside him, following his line of sight. Neither had ever seen anything like it.

Everywhere they looked mages they had never seen before filled every corner and occupied every chair in the hall. A tall white-haired woman they didn't recognise flittered around serving an endless supply, for a seemingly endless demand, or beer and cold drinks. Kinana was helping her and another woman with shorter white hair pour and distribute them. "They must be sisters," Summer commented, observant as usual. "And maybe that man is their brother." She referred to a tall man with a thick, muscly build and the same white hair, yelling drunkenly about "being a man" to no-one in particular. "Who's that talking to Master Macao?"

"No idea," Hikari replied. "She sure drinks a lot though."

"Not that one! The old man."

"Oh that one. Still not sure. He's really small though."

"Not as small as that girl over there. Compared to that big guy with the piercings she's tiny!"

"I know what you mean. Uncle Jet and Uncle Droy seem to know her though. Hey look over there! Are those cats with wings?" Hikari pointed.

"Don't be stupid, cats don't have wi- Oh they're so cute!" Summer exclaimed.

"I dunno, that one has a sword, I wouldn't mess with that. Do you think they would eat fish if I catch some?"

"I'm not sure what cats like to eat, maybe?"

"Who's the girl with the pony tails?"

"Talking to Aunty Bisca and Asuka?"

"Yeah."

"Don't know."

"That man with the lighting scar is scary."

"Don't be such a wuss Summer, he looks really cool. The three following him must be his super team."

Summer threw her brother a look before scanning the crowd below once more. Something seemed familiar about these faces, like she had heard about them before.

"Oi Summer, you were right, there really is a guy with no clothes, what an idiot! His girlfriend looks super clingy too." Hikari struggled to hold back his laughter as the man below struggled with a blue haired woman clutching his waist and declaring her love. He watched as the man accidentally sent a bolt of ice flying toward an armoured woman. eating cake at the bar, freezing it solid on her fork. Summer and Hikari shivered in terror as the woman punished the cake-destroyer.

"She's amazing! Look at all those swords!"

"That guy is really good at running too," Summer observed.

A shot of intense flame flew under the trap door after the ice man. The twins leapt back in alarm. Before hurriedly focusing their attentions on the person who had sent the flames. He was average height with messy pink hair and fierce black eyes that reminded the twins of their own. They watched intently as he lit his fists, flames licking his arms, and threw insults and flames at the ice man, who returned the fire with ice bolts of his own. That's when it hit her. She had heard of them before. She grabbed her brother by the shoulder and twisted him around to face her, ignoring his protests. If she was right, life would never be the same again.

"Hikari, do you know those stories Uncle Loke tells us sometimes? The ones about the fairies?"

"You mean like The Tower of Heaven and the story of Edolas? Those ones?"

"Yeah that's it."

"So what?" Hikari said impatiently, desperately wanting to go back to the trap door.

"Well in those stories, there are always the same characters. You know, Ice Fairy, Fire Dragon-"

"Titania, Celstial Princess. Yeah, what's your point?" Hikari interrupted.

"My point is, I think they're real. I think those 'stories' aren't stories at all."

"You're being stupid."

"No I'm not. Look!" Summer pointed at the figures through the trap door.

"Fire Dragon and Ice Fairy were always fighting right? See those two are exactly the same! Titania even used the same punishment to break up their fights." Hikari watched the scary woman bash ice man and flame guy's heads together as Titania had often done in the stories. The winged blue cat may even be Happy Cat, Fire Dragon's best friend. Maybe she was on to something, but one thing bugged him.

"Well if they are the Fairies-"

"They are!"

"If they are the Fairies, then where is Celestial Princess? Fire Dragon was always with her. Remember the story about when they got married?"

"Oh," Summer frowned. "I don't know."

"See? If there is no Celestial Princess these guys can't possibly be the Fairies from the stories." Hikari said triumphantly, returning to the trap door.

I swear these people are the same but if they are then where is Celestial Princess? Summer felt confused, she had been sure she was right. Peeping back through the door she watched 'Fire Dragon' intensely. He seemed so fun and carefree just like Uncle Loke described. Right down to the toothy grin and trademark scarf. But in all the stories Fire Dragon never left Celestial Princess's side. They were best friends, teammates and partners, who never abandoned each other no matter what. How could this Fire Dragon be so happy without her? Summer felt something heavy lean against her shoulder. Even without looking she knew Hikari had fallen asleep, the exhaustion finally surfacing in the wake of the excitement. Gently, she poked him with a finger until he stirred. She giggled when he snorted and stumbled his way back into their hammock, snoring softly as soon as his head hit the pillow. Carefully, Summer lowered the trap door until the only light in the room was that of the moon shining through their window and the rowdy conversations muffled to a buzz below her feet. The nagging feeling that she had forgotten something important disappeared when she curled up beside her brother and a weary sleep claimed her. Tomorrow she would find out for sure who those people were.

Hikari knew he was asleep but this dream was very realistic. He was blazing, a golden inferno of flame and energy, and his blood soared with adrenaline at the rush of energy coursing through his veins. He wasn't in his bedroom anymore, instead he seemed to be in the guild hall, surrounded by the strangers who appeared too shocked to move. He twisted around to see Master Macao trying to sneak up behind him. A surge of flame whipped out to lick at Macao and Hikari vaguely registered him scream in pain. Belatedly, he realised Summer was holding his hand and that it was she who had hit Macao. Her eyes gleamed a brilliant gold and her hair whipped around in the flames that consumed them both.

Some of the strangers had recovered from their shock and tried to approach them but none of them could get close. Hikari giggled when Summer sent a tendril out to chase the ice guy. Hikari tried himself. Carefully he concentrated on sending flame after one of the cats but he lost control in his impatience and the flame spun off course. He tried to reel it in, panicking. The loose flame burned through the walls and the door, shattering windows and barely missing people frantically dodging. He thought he heard Macao yelling at the scary woman and some others not to touch them. He tried putting all his energy into pulling the flame in. He didn't want to hurt them. Hikari threw a begging glance at his sister but she was impervious to his silent plea. Her face was blank, eyes unseeing. Was she enjoying this? In desperation Hikari tried to cry out but his voice was swallowed by the flames and his raging emotions just fed the inferno and tongues of flames leapt higher. He was scared, so scared. He reached out for Macao, for anybody, to help him but the power inside him was out of control and no one could get close. Planks from the roof came down around him and splinters rained upon him. He cried uncontrollably, he wanted it to stop, he wanted to sleep, he wanted to see Summer smile. This wasn't fun anymore.

Someone approached the flames and Hikari tried to scream at him to get away or he would burn but the person either couldn't understand or they ignored him because they walked straight into the flames. Hikari turned away, not wanting to watch them burn. He sobbed harder until a pair of strong arms closed around him. He relaxed in the embrace and felt a big hand close around his head, holding him close.

"It's okay now. Sleep."

And he did.

When Hikari woke up he couldn't move. His bones ached intensely and his skin itched terribly. For a time he simply stared at the ceiling, trying to recall what he had dreamed about. Finally, with great effort, he sat up and scratched his arm. It was dark in the small room but his superior sight allowed him to see almost as if it were day. He was lying on a bed- a real bed- with pillows and a soft mattress. He looked around for his sister who he discovered was lying on a bed similar to his. A small bedside table was all that separated them. He tried calling her softly but she only mumbled in her sleep and turned over. Observing some more he saw that there were two doors in the room. One was dark, maybe a closet? The other had light peeking through the gaps. Hikari caught the very faint hum of a heated conversation on the other side. Wishing, not for the first time, that he had Summer's hearing abilities, he ignored the pain in his muscles and swung his feet over the side of the bed but they didn't quite reach the floor. He jumped down with a wince and crawled his way to the door. He put his ear to the crack between door and floor and listened intently to the rapid conversation on the other side. He heard the woman first.

" -Can't keep them here, what if an episode like that happens again? The whole town could be endangered."

"I know Erza but what else do you propose we do? Besides, it's unlikely to happen again." That was Macao's voice, he sounded tired.

"Unlikely isn't the same as certain Macao," the woman named Erza growled.

"They're just kids! We can't abandon them!"

"But you won't even tell us who these kids are! Where did they come from anyway? Are they orphans? Mages?"

"Well obviously they're mages and judging but that little display, powerful ones at that. If a little untrained." This new person had a nasal voice and despite being quiet, it commanded presence. "But they're sleeping now," Hikari scrambled to get back into bed as footsteps approached the door. He made it just as it clicked open and the three figures walked in. "They won't be causing any more trouble tonight."

"I think your right Master, it will be easier to explain this in the morning. The events of today have been a bit overwhelming if I'm honest." Macao again.

"Of course. It's not every day we come back from the dead now is it?"

The door clicked shut once more, the voices receding. Back from the dead? Just who on Earthland were these people?

Hey hey hey it's me again! Sorry its taken this long to update but I had a few BIG revisions to make to the overall plot of this story and they took some time to even out. I also thought it was time you met Fairy Tail's newest members. You don't really find out how old they are or what they look like this chapter but I have dropped some hints and I'm sure you can have a guess or two about where they came from ;) More insight on these little guys are coming in the next chapter so please look forward to it!

As always I love to hear what you, my lovely readers, think so make sure you drop a review and let me know! ~ TheGecko99