Clash of the Rival Guilds

"Lucyyy…can we please go on a mission? One that has to do with the dragon's recently sighted? Pretty pleaaaaase?"

"Natsuuuu—we just came from one today! Can't you wait until tomorrow?"
"Hmph, fine, but we better go on a mission tomorrow."

"Of course! I promise we'll go on a mission tomorrow, and a Celestial Mage never goes back on her promises." Natsu Dragneel, Fire Dragon Slayer of Fairy Tail was now pacified by his best friend and partner, Lucy Heartfilia, Celestial Mage of Fairy Tail, after whining to his partner all morning.

After hearing Lucy's promise, Natsu gave his signature smile that everyone—especially Lucy, who saw it more often than others—loved. "Well…what now?" Lucy shrugged, before opening a fresh new book, and becoming engrossed in the new plot she reads. Natsu still sat on next to Lucy at the bar—where Mirajane was watching them closely from the other side of the countertop—and stared unconsciously at Fairy Tail's Celestial Mage. She looked so…so…serene, whatever her facial expressions were from reading the book, they appeared to come upon her face…so calmly. Natsu soon became entranced that he didn't hear the guild doors open. Well…no one did.

"Fairy Tail huh?"

Lucy stiffened, Natsu snarled, and the rest of the guild jumped into action. Wondering what the sudden commotion was, Master Makarov came out, only to find the image before him surprising. "What are you doing here Sabertooth?" At the guild doors, was Sting Eucliffe and Rouge Cheney, Twin Dragon Slayers of the proud Sabertooth.

"Straight to the point I see?" Rouge disappeared into the shadows of Fairy Tail, while Sting merely stood, smirking at the tense crowd before him. Lucy gasped when she felt that she was being pulled away to somewhere dark, before being blinded by sudden light. Lucy found herself in a different place in the guild—in between the now present Rogue and the "great" Sting. Both Sting and Rogue placed a hand on either of her shoulders.

"Don't you dare touch her!"

The crowd parted to reveal the sudden voice. His right hand ablaze, he jumped towards the Twin Dragons, preparing for a fight.

"Ah, ah, ah," Rouge teased as he maneuvered Lucy forward. "Wouldn't want to hurt precious Lucy…right?" Through his blaze of fury, he stopped just in time to stop his attack, where Lucy stood rooted in front of Sting and Rouge.

"Luce…" Natsu reached out.

"Why are you doing this?" Gray shouted. When the Sabertooth mages suddenly entered the guild, his mind couldn't help but think, protect Lucy (of course in the brotherly-sister way) but he couldn't do just that, especially, when Lucy was acting as the Sabertooth mage's shield.

"Hmm…let's see…we found out a little bit about your precious Lucy Heartfilia," Sting started.

"And it seems that Lucy's a bit more powerful than we thought, do you know Lulu-chan, what we're talking about?" Rogue whispered into her ear. Lucy shook her head furiously.

"Well, Lulu-chan," Sting cooed, "It seems, you're…special…more special than anyone in this guild…and maybe in all of Fiore."
"What's so 'special' about me…of all people—what's so different about me?" Lucy asked. Everyone was silent, some fuming from the twins calling Lucy "Lulu-chan" ever so casually.

Rogue chuckled. "You see, Lucy, Fairy Tail, Lucy's mother died on X777, the same day the dragons disappeared. Layla Heartfilia was no ordinary Celestial Mage."

"Layla Heartfilia was also no ordinary being," Sting continued.

And in eerie unison, the Dragon Slayers recited, "Layla Heartfilia bared the Keys to the Dragons."

Lucy's eyes widened, as did many others. "W-what?"

"You see, Lulu-chan, Dragon Keys basically summon the dragons who taught us Dragon Slayers our magic. Layla possessed all of the dragon's keys, giving them the freedom to roam the earth, teaching certain human beings, their magic. When she died, she obviously had her contract with all of her spirits broken, thus handing her Zodiac keys to her lovely daughter. But the Dragon Keys didn't want to be handed to a little girl's hands. They waited to see if Lucy Heartfilia was worthy enough to handle the Dragon Key's.

"Now recently, there have been sightings of one or two dragons over Fiore. It seems that the Dragon Keys are ready Lulu."

"How would you know if the Dragon Keys are real, where did you find this information, and how would you know if these supposed keys were 'ready'?"

Sting chuckled, "Jude Heartfilia didn't just contact Phantom Lord you know."

Gasps resounded throughout the guild hall. Jude Heartfilia? Contacting Fairy Tail's rival, Sabertooth just for his daughter? Seeing this effect, Rogue continued. "We didn't know who Heartfilia was really, only a thing or two about a rich guy with a missing daughter. He gave…too much...information. Luckily for you we didn't accept his offer of a certain amount of jewels just for the 'rescue' of a mere girl who we didn't even know. Everyone in Sabertooth soon forgot about the amount of information that was given, until the sightings of dragons appeared. Our Master, soon went to research on it, and realized…realized just who powerful this 'mere girl who we didn't even know' was."

"Which leads us to why we're here." Sting's mouth curled up into a smile. "We're here to offer a bargain."

"What?!" Master Makarov finally spoke after a while. Hearing this bargain was surely not a good thing. Especially when Lucy was taken from the crowd of Fairy Tail mages.

"Yes Makarov, a bargain," Sting mused, "Sabertooth claims Lucy Heartfilia as theirs, or we demolish your guild just like we were told to do if we accepted the offer from Jude Heartfilia."

Well, there's Chapter One! Rather short, I know, but please help me out give me some feedback on this story on how to make it better. I might make this story a Nalu story, maybe just give both Natsu and Lucy some moments. Anyway, do expect Chapter Nine of "Two Years' Time" to come up in the future, soon, I just need to proof read and edit, if you haven't read it yet, go check it out. But until then, happy readings!
~Moonlight Listener