Disclaimer: I DO NOT own fairy Tail! I only own my OCs.

She wasn't sure what exactly had happened. Probably because she hadn't thought the situation through carefully enough. All she could remember was a blur of emotion and an image of a dark figure carrying away someone. Someone important to her. Who was it? Where were they now? Why had she felt so afraid for them? Her memory of the last day was too fragmented to know the answers.

Her head shot up from where it had been cradled in her hands. Panic showed through her yellow eyes as she quickly stood up and observed her surroundings, her heart nearly stopping as she realized where she was. Or, more like wasn't. No, this place wasn't Earthland. There were no stars in the dark sky, no plants to be seen, just a barren wasteland with a red moon providing the only light in this dark world. A world she had only read about in books. One filled with those who were Fallen or Shadows. One with no way to leave unless someone on Earthland opened the gate. Why had she come here? Then it all rushed back.

Lupus!

She whirled around, brushing her long, midnight blue hair out of her eyes impatiently. Had she managed to save Lupus? Or, did they…had she…had they corrupted her? Faster and faster, her heart sped up as she searched for any sign of the large wolf who acted like a mother to her. Where was she? Had that Fallen actually managed to corrupt Lupus? She staggered around, not daring to call out for fear of attracting the attention of a Fallen or Shadow. There was a jingle as her foot hit something and she winced, hoping nothing else had heard it. Yellow eyes were directed downwards and lit up in joy as she recognized the keys she used to summon the ones she called her friends and family.

"Thank goodness," she breathed, bending down to grab the key ring that held them all.

After checking each one of them, she looked closer at Lupus's key. The handle looked like a wolf's tail and the end had what looked fangs coming off of it. She held it gingerly, searching for any sign of corruption on the dark blue key with a moon engraved on the handle. Nothing. Lupus had escaped the darkness of the Fallen. Her legs gave out under her and she fell to the ground, tears of relief blurring her vision.

"You're okay," she put a trembling hand over her mouth to muffle the sobs escaping her. "I…I saved you. Thank…thank goodness."

Clutching her keys tightly to her chest, she tried to reign in her emotions. They weren't out if the fire yet. Now, they were in enemy territory. A place filled with beings that want to drag others down to their level of corruption. Those who wanted to taint the Celestial Spirits they once called their brethren.

"Haruki, can you hear me?" The familiar growling voice echoed in her head. "Where are you? Are you unharmed?"

"I'm okay and as to where I am. "Haruki took a deep breath. "The Dark World. The Empty World. Whatever you call it, that's where I am."

Silence, and then, "Foolish, pup! Why are you there?!"

Haruki winced, glad nothing else could hear the furious spirit, "I jumped in after you and that Fallen. After you were grabbed, I'd tried force closing your gate, but it didn't work until I went through the gate."

A sigh, "Pup, you should have just left me."

"You know me, Lupus. That isn't even an option." She smiled sweetly at the key even though Lupus wouldn't be able to see.

"Foolish, naïve, pup! You can't leave that palace now! The other Celestial Spirits and wizards have closed the gates!"

"So…I'm stuck?"

There was a pause before Lupus answered, "Yes. We can't get you out." Her voice was solemn.

"Well, that's okay. As long as all of you are okay, I'll be fine,"

She wasn't sure if she was trying to convince them or herself.

_Line Break_

Days, years, hours. How many had passed? Haruki wasn't sure. The sky never changed, the moon never moved, and she hadn't aged at all. For all she knew, centuries could have passed on Earthland and only seconds here, but with no way to tell time she remained unaware. Although, she didn't care as much about that as she did about surviving. It was only when she could rest did she even think about time. And those rests were few compared to all the running and fighting she's had to do. Right now she was taking a much needed rest and eating an apple, a bottle of water sitting next to her.

Her Spirits had been getting food and water for her, when she could rest, from the Celestial Spirit World. This had been going on since they discovered no food grew in the Dark World and no water could be found, but Haruki had still grown hungry and thirsty. It seemed strange to her that no plants grew, but it made sense there were no animals. No normal animal could survive against a Fallen or a Shadow. In all honesty, she was surprised she had survived the many encounters she'd had with the Fallen and Shadows.

The hair on the back of her neck stood up as screeching started in the distance and she gripped the sword lying next to her with her right hand. It had been a gift from Draco, another one of her Celestial Spirits. Since she refused to call them unless there as a last resort, he had insisted that she use the sword and left it there with her before she could respond. The sword had saved her life many a time and she had thanked Draco for it. She had also mentally thanked her brother who had taught her how to use a sword, even when she had complained that she didn't want to learn how to use one.

She gazed down at the sword, noting that all the fighting had not marred the blue-gray steel and that the runes were still very noticeable on the blade. The pommel was dark blue with a white stone the shape of an eight pointed star in the center and she caressed it. Draco had not informed her of the sword's name, but she wished she had. After all, she wouldn't have lived this long without it.

"Haruki, you need to sleep," Draco's deep voice cut through her thoughts and she brushed a hand against his key.

"I can't yet," she responded, finishing off her apple.

"You're resting right now. This would be a good chance to regain more of your energy." Draco told her.

"I could have to run at any moment though," she argued, trying to keep the weariness out of her voice that had popped up when Draco mentioned sleep.

"Which is why you call one of us to watch over you," he reminded her in exasperation.

"If I do, will you promise to wake me up when they get close this time instead of fighting them by yourself?"

"Haruki-"

"Promise me, Draco," her normally soft voce hardened slightly.

"Fine," the dragon sounded grumpy, but she knew he wouldn't break a promise. "I promise. Now summon me and go to sleep."

"No dragon form, Draco," she told him. "It attracts too much attention."

"I'm stronger as a dragon."

"True, but they'll see you from a mile away."

"Fine, just summon me, youngling. You'll need all the sleep you can get."

"I know. The very air has started to feel tense. Something bad may happen soon. Open! Gate of the Dragon, Draco!"

In a flash of light she winced at, a young man appeared. He had short, spiky blonde hair and black eyes. Red scales surrounded his eyes and ran down his cheeks to the side and the back of his neck. More red scales went from his upper arms and mid-thigh to his hands and feet, but instead of human hands and feet he had a claws. Baggy black pants covered his lower half and a tight, short sleeved dark blue shirt covered his torso while his feet were bare. That ever present smirk and the challenge in his eyes relaxed Haruki, the knowledge that she had him watching over her decreasing her stress.

They moved over to a large boulder and hid behind it, "Sleep, young one. I'll keep watch." He said as they sat down

Haruki nodded and curled up on the ground, falling asleep as soon as her eyes closed. Draco watched her for a moment before looking up at the dark, cloudless sky. Occasionally he sniffed the air for any enemies, but he mostly relied on his hearing. It frustrated him, not knowing the time on this world. As far as they all knew, the red moon always stayed directly above them. It had never moved, not once.

He started as Haruki shifted in her sleep and concern flashed briefly in his eyes before disappearing when he saw her shivering. To him it didn't feel cold, but all she had was a worn, once-white, short sleeved shirt and dark brown capris that had several tears. That, plus her human skin, couldn't fully protect her from the cold and he found himself pulling her into his side. Large wings he usually kept hidden in this from, as well as his tail, appeared to help cover her and keep her warm. She soon stopped shivering and he resumed his watch, making a mental note to see if Andromeda could make some clothes for her and to get more food and water for her. She was starting to get too thin.

_Line Break_

Gasping could be heard as she sprinted away from her enemy, a Shadow with claws and malicious green eyes. She struggled to breathe, each breath hurting her raw throat. Pain shot through her side and she cursed her bad luck at getting a stitch in her side. She tried to keep her speed or go faster, but her body had been pushed to its limit. With a cry, she fell as he legs gave out and she skinned her hands and knees. Desperately, she tried to stand again. By now she normally would have summoned one of her spirits to help, but what had almost happened after the last fight…she couldn't. She couldn't put them in that much danger. Not again.

A trembling hand reached for the sword strapped to her waist. She wouldn't go down without a fight. It wouldn't be much of a fight, but it would be a fight. Unfortunately, before she could fully draw her sword a searing pain ripped through her back and she screamed in surprise and agony. Voices filled her head, begging or commanding her to summon them so they could help her, but she couldn't pay any attention to them as the Shadow picked her up by her hair. Its cold breath bathed the back of her neck and tears filled her eyes. This was it. The end of her life. She had failed. Her friends' keys would be stuck in this horrible world and her body would forever lay there, forgotten. Or she would be eaten. Either way.

"Haruki!"

The last thing she saw was a flash of light and a beautiful young woman with broken chains connected to manacles on her feet, wrists and neck.

_Line Break_

To her surprise, her eyes opened to see a large wall of rock. Her sight was blurry and everything hurt, but that just cemented the fact that she had somehow lived. Confusion fully settled inside of her when she realized she had a couple of blankets thrown over her and yet she was shivering.

"Are you awake?" the gentle, warm voice to her side caused her to turn her head in the other direction. "Don't move too much. Your back is still hurt and you have a fever. I know you don't like being on your side or stomach, but you can't lay on those wounds."

She hadn't even noticed she was on her stomach, but that fact got pushed to the back of her mind, "A…Andro…Andromeda…"

"Shh. Don't talk. Just focus on getting better." A cool hand rested against her forehead. "Sill too hot."

Haruki faded back out, sleep pulling her back under.

A/N: So what did everyone think? Please review, follow, and/or favorite. Also I haven't mentioned this on my other fanfictions though I assume I should but I am not able to be PMed so if you have any questions just leave a review and I will try to answer them in the next chapter's author note. Have a good day everyone and see you next time! :)