Chapter 1: Twenty Four Hour Bookstore

Well hello there! It has been a VERY long time :'D. Thank you for reading! I haven't been active sense 2016, and to be completely honest I thought I would never be able to work on this again. However, I've still been getting new reviews and follows all these years later. That really inspired and encouraged me to take another shot! As you will see from this rewrite of chapter one my writing style has changed a lot in the last three years. This is kind of a test. If you guys like this new approach than I will rewrite the entire story this way. I've already done a bit of planning and outlining, as that was a major downfall of the original. Thank you again for reading, I'd really like to hear what you think!

Light danced in every direction. It bounced here and there, taking many forms. Colorful dots from decorative café lights, golden streaks leaking from windows, bright white spotlights cast from streetlamps, and far, far in the distance, the stars twinkle dimly. There's noting Levy loves more. She took a deep breath of the cool night air, then let it out in a content sigh. The beauty of Magnolia at night is not something many people take the time to appreciate. Magnolia has the reputation of a dangerous town, and because of that its population has slowly dwindled. Few remain unattached to any dubious organizations. Levy McGarden is one of them.

However, knowing or not, it's hard to avoid any ties to the gangs. Especially for those who enjoy wandering alone at night.

This night, much like many of its predecessors, Levy's journey is not without purpose. She is on her way to work. Not long after moving to Magnolia as a debt bound college graduate Levy stumbled across a small, out of the way bookstore. It was quirky in every sense of the word; it was perfect, in every sense of the word. Enchanted Books, a tiny yellow house on the exterior, is nestled between two towering office buildings. Inside is a little café, plenty of comfortable nooks for reading, and of course, an endless supply of books. Books of every style and color. Books of any genre from horror to rom com. It is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The owner and chief operator of the establishment is a plucky blonde known only to Levy as Lucy. Levy did find it a bit odd that Lucy never gave her full name, but she chose to ignore the little voice at the back of her head. The familiarity of calling her boss by her given name just added to the place's charm.

The feeling of a malicious stare made Levy's hair stand on end. She tried to brush it off, but her pace quickened with fear and adrenaline. Before she could get much farther a strange man stepped into her path. His clothes looked worn, and his face was dirty. With an evil glint in his eyes the man showed off his yellow teeth in a smirk.

"What'r you doin' out all by yourself at this time of night girly?"

Levy shuddered. She kept walking, trying to push past him. Unfortunately, the hulking man dwarfed Levy, and had only to take one step to the left to stop her in her tracks.

"C-can I help you sir?" she squeaked.

"Funny you should ask," the man let out a dark laugh, "fork over your wallet."

Levy didn't have many options. Her mind raced as she tried to think up a plan. Slowly she opened her purse, doing her best to avoid angering the man. Levy lifted out her wallet, moving at a snail's pace all the while. Finally, she whipped around and threw the wallet behind her. The thief's eyes followed the money, and rather than bother accosting Levy, he ran after it. Levy used this distraction as a chance to get away, and bolted in the direction of Enchanted books.

After she turned the corner, a hooded figure dropped from a nearby awning. With cat like steps he followed the shadows, almost as if he was one of them, until he stood directly behind the thief. Towering above the thief, the shadow man tapped him on the shoulder.

"What-" the thief growled whipping around. His voice trailed off as he saw who stood behind him.

"You chose the wrong shrimp to pick on." The man's voice sounded more like a growl than words.

The thief took a step back, dropping Levy's wallet.

"That's right, now get going. Keep your filthy paws to yourself next time, or I'll be forced to crush ya."

The thief nodded vigorously, then flipped around and took off running as fast as his legs could carry him. As he went the victor chuckled and picked up Levy's discarded wallet. He tossed the small object into the air and caught it deftly.

Levy rushed in through Enchanted Books little white door. She slammed it behind herself and leaned back on it, sighing of both physical and mental exhaustion.

"Levy?" Lucy came out from amongst the bookshelves with a concerned frown. "What's going on?"

Levy bolted over and hugged Lucy tightly. "I got mugged!" Levy sobbed.

Lucy tightened her grip. "Mugged?!" Then she pushed Levy away to get a good look at her, still gripping the small girl's arms. "I told you not to walk here by yourself at night! Are you hurt?!"

"Only my pride," Levy muttered.

Lucy chuckled and pulled Levy back in for a quick hug. "I'm so glad." Lucy released her, and the two set about their work. Lucy sat at the desk, working on who knows what on her computer. Levy patrolled the store, making sure everything was in order and helping the occasional customer who decided to drop in. The idea of a twenty-four hour bookstore was a novel one, dreamed up by Lucy herself. Her claim was that she wanted to have a place where everyone could come in and read in peace. Enchanted Book's clientele reflected that dream well. There were night workers, insomniacs, tired businessmen and women, lonely people looking for the comfort and company of a good book and a warm smile, and more.

Tonight is rather quiet. A few regulars flitted in and out. Mr. Shiraki, a janitor from one of the buildings next door came over to see Levy. He's an older gentleman, slightly stooped with silver hair.

"Good evening Miss. Levy," he smiled warmly, "how are things tonight?"

Levy smiled fondly at him, "well Mr. Shiraki, how has your evening been?"

He shrugged. "Oh, you know, same as ever. It always gets better when I stop in here though."

Levy nodded and the two continued to chat amiably. As they talked, Levy noticed a peculiar exchange happening at the counter. She hmmed and ahed at the appropriate times, trying her best to listen to Mr. Shiraki respectfully. However, Levy's curiosity was getting the best of her. Her eyes kept drifting over the old man's shoulders and to the counter. She had no idea of the tense situation unfolding right under her nose.

Erza stood at the desk. Her face was relaxed in a neutral expression, but her heart was in turmoil.

"Can I get a copy of Peter Pan?"

Lucy nodded. She dipped into her office and pulled the book off of her personal shelf. She returned quickly and handed it to Erza, an unspoken question in her eyes.

"Miss, could you help me get it to my car?" Erza spoke earnestly, eyeing the door pointedly.

Lucy nodded, a concerned look flashing across her face. "Levy, I need to run out and help this customer. I'll be back soon!"

Levy waved from across the room. She tried to keep the curious expression off her face as she watched Lucy disappear with the strange red haired-woman. Levy continued her conversation with Mr. Shiraki.

Once they were outside Lucy allowed her mask to fall. She turned to Erza with concerned eyes, "what's going on?"

Erza said nothing and quietly lead Lucy to her sleek red car. She opened the rear door to reveal Natsu slumped in the seat, holding a blood-soaked towel tight to his upper arm.

"Natsu," Lucy breathed.

"Hey Luce," Natsu tried to give the blonde a reassuring smile, but it came out as more of a pained grimace.

The girls helped Natsu out of the car and around to the back of Enchanted books. Erza shifted Natsu's weight to Lucy and carefully opened Peter Pan. The inside of the book was hollowed out, and sitting inside was a simple house key. Erza pulled out the key and used to open a small door. The trio slipped inside. Erza flipped a switch and the florescent lights above began to flicker on, warming slowly. Lucy lowered Natsu into a blue chair, which resembled any chair you might find in a doctor's office.

"It's not as bad as it looks," Natsu offered, trying to lighten the mood.

Erza and Lucy ignored him, as they shuffled through a desk drawer. Inside it were various instruments and medicines for preforming first aid and minor operations.

"Lucy…" Erza began cautiously.

"Erza-" Lucy interrupted, "you know if it was just about anyone else I could go back in there, but I can't," a small sob escaped her lips, "I can't go back in there pretending nothing has happened when Natsu is in here bleeding to death."

Erza nodded.

Natsu pipped up from his chair, "hey, it's not that critical. It didn't hit any bones or major arteries as far as I can tell, and it went straight through, so we don't have to go looking for the bullet!"

"Thank goodness for that," Lucy sighed. She walked back over to Natsu with a bundle of gauze and bandages in her hands. Erza followed with disinfectant, ointment, and some pain medication.

"Thanks to you girls I'll be better in no time," Natsu said with his signature grin.

Lucy sat on the floor, leaning against Natsu, while Erza stood near the door, glancing at the clock cautiously.

"You've been here to long Lucy. Levy is surely suspicious by now."

Lucy looked up at Natsu with baleful eyes, but she knew that Erza was right. They'd been gone more than an hour already, and as much as she hated to admit it, she needed to get back to work. Members of Fairy Tail had been getting nasty wounds in the field, resulting in infection and injuries not healing as they should. Lucy had gotten tired of seeing her friends suffering, so she came up with a plan. Fairy Tail needed a field hospital, without attracting to much attention. Thus the twenty-four hour bookstore was born. Lucy had always loved books and writing, so she could enjoy her time there, but it also functioned as a perfect cover. People coming and going at all times of day and night would not draw to much attention at a twenty-four hour business.

However, the business had grown into more than Lucy could handle on her own. She obviously couldn't work all day every day all by herself. At first they pulled members of the gang to cover shifts when they could, but with a rising number of upstarts trying to take new territory it had become difficult for anyone to get away. That was where Levy came in. She stumbled into Enchanted Books one day, and loved it so much she had asked to work there part-time. Makarov approved it because of their desperation for help. The two girls quickly formed a unique bond, and because of that Lucy swore to keep Levy out of the life. She had very strict rules and procedures in place for any and every eventuality in the store, in order to keep Levy safe, and innocent.

With this in mind Lucy lowered her head.

"Be safe."

Natsu smiled gently, "I'll be waiting for you when you get home."

Erza patted Lucy's shoulder reassuringly as she passed through the door. Lucy slowly walked back around to the front of the store, mentally preparing her cover story. Then she sternly smacked her cheeks and plastered on a smile. "It's better this way."