"Aquaria! Where'd you go?!"

A young girl searched everywhere for her mother, the great Water Dragon Aquaria, but she could not find her anywhere. Even when she reached a town with people like her- humans- she had no luck and the humans called her a liar when she told them a dragon had raised her.

"But it's the truth! Aquaria is real! Please, help me find her!"

Her pleading and begging, however, fell on deaf ears. She was utterly alone, forced to wander the lands in search of the only family she had ever known. And for years, she remained alone and lost as she tried to fend for herself.

"Why are you crying?"

The young girl sat at the base of a tree, crying into her arms. "I l-lost my m-mom and I c-can't find her... I-I'm all alone..!"

"Don't be sad. I'm alone, too."

The young girl looked up, surprised to see a very young talking cat standing before her- her dark blue fur and black markings glistening in the sunlight, her eyes as golden as the bracelets on her wrist. "Y-You're a t-talking cat..?"

"Mmhmm!" the cat replied, smiling brightly at her.

"W-What's your name?"

"Oh, I don't have one... what's your name?"

"M-Melody Cross." the young girl replied.

"That's a pretty name. I wish I had one, too."

"I c-could give you a n-name." Melody said, sniffling as she wiped her tears.

The cat's eyes widened with joy and she beamed at Melody. "Really? You would do that?"

Melody managed a smile at the cat's enthusiasm. "S-Sure." She thought for a few moments, then smiled as she looked at the young cat. "How about 'Suki'?"

The young cat's smile grew and she rubbed her cheeks with happiness. "I love it!" She beamed at Melody. "From now on, I'll be Suki!"

"It's nice to meet you, Suki."

Suki's happiness overflowed as she beamed at the young girl. "So, Melody?"

"What?"

"Let's be friends!"

"Suki, why does everyone hate me?"

Suki sat next to Melody as they stopped to rest near a creek, having been run out of yet another town. "Oh, Mel, they don't hate you personally. They just don't like wizards."

Melody pouted, staring at the shiny surface of the creek. "But I only want to help people... I can heal, help grow crops and make it rain during droughts... I just don't understand..." She looked down at the aquamarine stone set in the simple silver band, the ring given to her by Aquaria. "I wonder if I'll ever see her again..."

"Who, Aquaria?"

Melody nodded. "She was the only family I had, the only person who ever cared about me. Without her, I feel so lost."

Suki put a comforting paw on her arm. "You're not alone, any more, Mel. I'm here now."

Melody looked at Suki and smiled. "That's true. You're my family now, Suki." She pulled the little cat into her lap, hugging her. "Thanks, Suki."

Suki settled into her arms, smiling. "Thank you, Melody. Because of you, I have a name and a purpose. I'm not alone anymore, either."

"No! Leave her alone!"

"Melody, help!"

"Hold on, Suki!" Melody stood against a group of thugs looking for easy pickings. She was terrified, but she had to do something to save Suki from the men holding her. "Let her go!"

"Or what? A little girl like you has no business here anyway. We're not afraid of you." The men taunted.

Melody's eyes were brimming with tears, but she knew she had to stay strong for Suki- for her only friend and family. 'I have to do something!'

"Now, now, is that any way to treat a child?"

Melody looked at the little old man that had come up to them, sensing an immense amount of magikal power from him.

"She's in our way, just as you are, old man."

"I'll use a trick that works very well with my children." the old man said. "I'll give you to the count of three to release the cat and leave her and the girl alone."

"Or else what? What's an old man like you going to do?"

"One."

"Oo, I'm so scared!"

"Two."

Melody looked between the old man and the thugs. 'They're distracted, now's my chance!' She lunged forward, dipping down and sweeping at their legs with her feet.

The old man watched with mild surprise as this young girl attacked the thugs. 'Is that Lulasodi?'

Lulasodi was a martial arts studied four hundred years ago or more, another remnant lost from the time of dragons. Lulasodi was a strictly offensive martial art that focuses on clobbering one's opponent through a series of incredibly swift attacks. The primary focus was on both foot sweeps and speed, often relying on the stamina and speed of the defender. The biggest strength of Lulasodi was the defender's physical flexibility, which allowed for them to move and take punishments in ways others couldn't. By utilizing the sense of balance of their challenger, the defender could drive their opponent into a position they wanted them to be, giving them the opportunity to gain the upper hand. On the other hand the biggest weakness of Lulasodi was that there are too many different styles, so until one had mastered enough of the styles, it was really difficult not to leave an exploitable opening.

The old man watched as this young girl seemed to expertly use Lulasodi to take down the thugs bothering her and her cat. 'How can she have mastered it at such a young age?'

"You brat!"

"Melody, look out!"

The old man made to step in as the thugs drew weapons- a knife, a mace, and a club- to attack the young girl, but he stopped in his tracks when she used a technique he had only seen a few times before.

"Water Dragon Slashing Claw!"

'She's a dragon slayer?'

Melody swiped at the thugs and kicked the one holding Suki in the solar plexus, freeing her friend.

"Are you alright, Suki?"

"I'm fine."

Melody glared at the thugs as they stood, their weapons ready. "Leave us alone already!" She took a deep breath. "Water Dragon Roar!"

The old man watched as a whirlpool manifested and surrounded the thugs, sending them flying down the streets of the marketplace.

Melody stood straight, holding Suki in her arms as she turned towards the old man.

"That was quite impressive, child."

Melody blushed and looked away, her shyness rising.

"Please forgive her, she's really shy around people." Suki said, smiling at the old man. "Thank you for trying to help us, old man."

"Of course, little one. Tell me, what are your names?"

"I'm Suki, and this shy girl is Melody Cross."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. What are you two lovely girls doing out here alone?"

"Melody and I have been travelling for a long time alone, now."

"I'm looking for my mom. She disappeared and I can't find her."

"I see. And what does your mother look like?"

Melody looked hesitant, but Suki reassured her. "She's a big dragon, with pretty blue scales like the ocean and her name is Aquaria."

"I see. You know, there's a young boy about your age that I know who's searching for his dragon, too."

Melody's eyes widened. "Is he like me?"

"I do believe he is, though he uses fire."

Melody looked at Suki. "Another dragon slayer?"

"Would you like to come with me and meet him? He may be able to help you better than I can."

Melody nodded, a smile growing. "OK!"

"Master, you're back!"

"Hello, my children."

"Who's the kid?"

"She's got a cat just like Happy!"

Makarov looked at Melody. "This is Melody Cross and her friend, Suki. She's looking for her mother."

"Why'd you bring her here, Master? Is her mother in the guild?"

"Not quite. From what she's told me, her mother is a dragon named Aquaria."

"Are you serious?"

"She was raised by a dragon, too?"

Makarov looked at a young boy with pink hair as he came up. "Ah, Natsu. This is Melody and Suki. I told them that you may be able to help them." He looked at Melody and Suki. "This is Natsu and Happy."

Natsu looked at them. "You lost your dragon, too?"

Melody nodded, but said nothing.

"I've looked everywhere for Igneel, but I can't find him anywhere." Natsu said, sighing. "You haven't found anything at all?"

Melody remained silent.

"I'm sorry, she's really shy." Suki said, sighing. "But to answer your question, no, we haven't been able to find anything. Melody has been searching for weeks, chasing any lead she hears."

"Sounds like our Natsu." someone said.

Melody picked up Suki and bowed. "Thank you for your time. I'm sorry we bothered you." She turned and started to walk away.

"Melody, wait!"

She stopped and looked at Natsu.

"Why don't you join Fairy Tail? You can take on jobs and look for your dragon along the way! Besides, it'd be cool having another dragon slayer around!"

Melody looked at Suki, then at Makarov as he approached her.

"Melody, you've been on your own for a long time. If you joined Fairy Tail, you wouldn't be alone anymore. You could train with us, make new friends, and be apart of our family."

"Family..?"

"What do you say?"

Melody looked around the guild hall, seeing so many friendly faces.

"Mel, we've been on the road too long. We should stay and become members of this guild." Suki said, looking up at her.

Melody looked at Makarov. "OK, we'll stay."