Prologue

Author's Note

Just recently got into Fairy Tail. And maybe I love a certain character XD So hope you guys enjoy!

He heard her coming. The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the prison where he was currently held. The place itself was cold and dark and gloomy, something that he didn't really like to begin with. Course he couldn't leave even if he tried.

He heard the sound of a whip being lashed. It was her indeed. The barred door to his prison opened, and she stepped inside. There was no fear on her face, only malice and hatred towards the prisoner. The whip laid in her hand, ready to be used. However, silence spoke for itself.

The prisoner laid there on the cold, stone floor, battered and beaten, but not broken. It was determination that had gotten him through this so far, and it would be his determination that would get him out of here. Injuries, though not noticeable through his now dirty and haggard clothing, went up and down his body. He was weak, as he was only allowed a certain amount of magic to keep him alive.

He couldn't leave here even if he tried. No one knew where he was, and there was no way to track him either. All of his connections were cut off, and so were his abilities. No one could come and find him. He missed his friends. He missed his family. He missed her. And yet he couldn't answer her call even if he tried.

The woman approached him, a smirk of interest and cynical behavior forming on her face. "Well, how are we doing today?" She asked him smugly.

He didn't heed her answer. His head was to the wall, as well as his body. His arms and legs were in chains. A special necklace was around his neck, preventing his communication and departure, as well as his magic. He couldn't take it off, as it would hurt him when he tried.

"Quiet today, aren't we?" The woman inquired. "Such a shame. I had a proposal for you, but I suppose you are not in the mood to answer me. Perhaps I could fix that." She tapped the whip against her hand. He perked up when she first mentioned a so-called, "proposal."

"What kind of proposal?" He asked, not bothering to turn his head in the slightest as he spoke towards the wall. Usually when she offered him some proposal, there was always something with a catch. And it was, for the most part, a catch he didn't want to risk. However this time around, he couldn't help but feel that there was something more to this one.

"Turn around and you'll see," she answered him. "I think you'll like what I'm offering. It's invaluable as it is." He didn't feel like turning around. His body ached too much from the pain. But what could be so valuable that would make him interested? Unless...His thoughts became frantic, and he refused to turn around.

"No," he answered, trying his best to hold his shaky breath back. She knew he didn't want anything to do with her. Time to change tactics.

"Oh come now," she answered. "I'm sure you'll love it. And besides…" She came up to him and knelt down, brushing her hand along his clothes. "Your clothes are a mess! I'm sure she could make you some…"

"...out of the material she can create."

His breath hitched in his throat. 'No…' he thought desperately. He shot up from the ground and looked over his shoulder. His pupils shrunk to the size of pinpricks at what he saw. She was holding a small golden object in her hands, right in front of him. He recognized it instantly, as fear took over him. How did she get that?!

"No…" he trailed off. "How...how did you get that!?" He spoke frantically. Her cynical smile widened. Now she had gotten his attention.

"This always belonged to me. Do you think I would ever give up something that is so valuable?" She snickered at the last part, then began stroking the golden object, like it was her most precious thing in the world.

He grunted in frustration at the sight of it. What was he going to do now? How in the universe did she possibly get this? She could be lying, and the object itself could be fake. However, it looked too real to be fake. No one just goes around and makes those fake golden objects. Not when they meant so much in the universe. And yet how did she get it?

"Give it to me right now!" He menacingly growled at her. "Or else I'll…"

"Or else you'll what?" She asked. "You'll growl at me? Lash out at me? Bare your teeth like the animal you are!" He had to admit, there was nothing he could do in this situation at the moment. He was powerless, chained up like an animal. He was an animal he realized. He lowered his head down and said nothing.

"I will give you this, for a small price…" she inquired. He lifted his head to her.

"What...do you want from me?!" He yelled in anger. There was always some sort of price to pay when it came to her deals. And most of the time, they were pretty hefty. She smirked at him once more in a cynical way.

"I want you to break the thing that matters to you the most..."

His eyes became filled with terror and horror at the words that came out of her mouth. "No! I'll never do it!" He yelled. "I'll never give you that! As long as I live! I don't even have the power to do it anyway!"

She sighed. The woman knew that he was stubborn. After all, he was hers at one point as well. But she knew that there were ways to push his buttons.

"Of course you can do it," she answered. The woman twirled the object in her hand. "After all, aren't you the strongest of them? The leader? You could've broken it when you were with me. But you chose not to, because she couldn't break it. So you stayed with her, out of pity and remorse. I'm right, aren't I? I've studied everything about you. And you've said it yourself. 'There are some things that I can do that they can't,' yes?" His eyes were brimming with tears.

"Shut up...shut up...SHUT UP!" he roared. She could feel the anger within him brimming to the surface. An emotion that he almost never felt. Hatred. The woman had played her cards right. Having him choose was the way to break him. However, she had enough of his screaming. She took out her whip. WHAM! Right on his right shoulder. He grimaced in pain, holding back another scream.

"Hmm, hmm, hmm," She chuckled. "Now, I want you to choose." He looked up at her, terror in his eyes. "Break it, and I will set her free. If you don't, then I'll use her to my advantage. Of course you know what that means…" The woman smiled at the last thought. His body began to tremble. He was afraid. What could he do? This couldn't be a trick, could it?

If he broke it, that meant never seeing her again, but she would be free. If he didn't break it, she would be put through so much punishment and torture. He would never forgive himself if that happened. But...breaking it...meant breaking his promise. He promised to be with her. By her side! However, if he broke it, no one would get hurt. No one would be tortured like he was. He had no choice.

"I'll...I'll…I'll do it…" he stuttered out, not liking the words that came out of his own mouth. He was betraying everything he knew. "I'll...break...it." She smiled in approval at his choice.

'Predictable,' she thought. 'Always the one to be the hero.' The woman stepped away from him, now knowing what he was going to do. She felt proud. She felt happy. Her revenge finally finalized.

He struggled to get up, the best he could do was get into a kneeling position. Once he was there, a bright yellow aura of magic surrounded his body. It hurt using it. It really did. Both physically and mentally. Tears began to flow out of his eyes from the pain. He didn't want to do this, and yet he had to. For everyone's sake. It was what he had to do.

He began whispering something. Sort of like a prayer. She could hardly understand it since he was speaking so softly, and the magic around him began to swirl like a tornado.

"...Grant me the power…" he choked out. He realized he was beginning to sob. "To destroy the bond...that binds my soul...TO THIS WORLD!" He screamed out the last part.

The magic within him swelled up, and came roaring out like a hurricane. It encompassed his body, lighting up the entire place. It was all the power he could muster under those chains. And the entire time, he was crying. He finally broke through. His spirit...no, he himself was broken. "I'm sorry…" he muttered. "I'm so sorry…" The sound of a chain breaking was heard.

Far, far away from where he was held, across the continent, in the land of Ishgar, in the Kingdom of Fiore, in the town of Magnolia, in a certain guildhall where tons of people were running rampant trying to find someone, a golden key shattered into a million pieces.

A girl cried.

And a lion roared.