I remember it like it was yesterday. The day of, and the day prior to Lisanna's death. My siblings and I were relaxing at the guildhall. Lisanna at the time was talking to an upset Happy. Apparently he and Natsu had a fight, and weren't speaking to one another.

Elfman was hanging out with Macao and Wakabe, I'm don't remember what they were talking about, but Elfman had been on a "if you're a man."

Cana and I were talking, and she asked of I wanted my future read. I replied cockily, "Sure it's just going to tell me how bad I'm going to beat Erza anyways."

"Well let us see." She replied brandishing a deck of tarot cards. "Oops wrong one." She stuffed it away, and pulled out a different set.

"What was wrong with the other set?"

"Well it's new, and a little different than this one."

"Different as in?" I asked curiously.

"Well Natsu pick them up for me, for my birthday that just past."

"Oh right that dragon deck."

"Yes, and I'm still not sure how they're supposed to be interpreted."

"Well what do you mean?"

"Well it's just that, when someone makes a set, they place certain meanings in each card, and while they may be similar in name, they could have different or additional meanings, those differences that make them hard to read." She pulled out the deck, and flipped the first one over, it was the Death card. A winged skeletal dragon hovering above a desolate area, a few blossoming flowers in the middle, on the sides appeared to be dead trees, a hooded figure on the right in front of a dead tree, it looked like it was sickly with a beak, on the left a dragon's egg, at least it looked like one, with a weird billow of smoke I guess rising from it, a sickly sky in the back, and a single lightning strike.

"Now see this one." She said showing the other Death card from her usual deck. A skeletal black Knight on top of a horse, who is surrounded by dead people, a clergyman is to the right along with a kneeling woman with her eyes closed, and her neck at a strange angle, like she was offering her neck to the knight, and below that a child, a sea of some kind in the back ground, followed by part of the rising sun.

"You see generally this one." She pointed to her usual one, "Means just what it says. Mostly." She finished shrugging. "It's more of a God's divine wrath on someone. Note the clergyman, and the woman offering her neck to the knight."

"But this one here, isn't so cut and dry. You have this egg, which is to what I've researched means life, birth, but then you have this nightmarish back ground of death, along with flowers blooming. Meaning the death of the old, and the birth of the new. Possibly though." She coughed clearing her throat, "and apparently these cards are made up of ground up dragon bones, which can carry that creatures perspectives on these images."

"Wow, you sure know a lot about them."

"Please I haven't even scratched the surface. The few I do understand isn't very much." She then flipped the card over, revealing strange text." I haven't deciphered these yet, but they appear to all say the same thing."

"Let's try them."

"Are you sure? I can't promise an accurate reading."

"It sounds like fun. Besides you've got to use them sooner or later."

"Ok, if you're fine with it." She said pulling out her new cards. "Now you shuffle them." I took them, and did as instructed, after I felt satisfied with my shuffling, I set them down in front of is, knowing what comes next.

"Ok cut the deck." I did as instructed.

"Ok we'll draw three and keep it simple." She said. While she spread them out in a semicircle in front of us.

"Now pull any three cards from the pile to in front of you." Again I did as instructed.

"Now flip them one over at a time and set it left to right. Starting with the first card you drew." Again I comply with her, and the first card is the tower right side up. It showed a tower on a tiny island no wider than it, all around it was a turbulent sea. The tower had a long red dragon coiled around it from the top down, and on fire. It was crumbling away, from the beast's mighty tail, and above it was a stormy sky with lightning streaking across the back of the tower.

"Oh wow." Cana said thinking out loud. "So this card represents your past. Something breaking, falling apart, something that was out of your control. I take it that this is referring to you and your siblings leaving your village." I nodded I agreement. It was the only thing I could think of as out of my control, where our whole lives were up rooted, and we had no idea of what would happen to us.

"The next one please."

I flipped the next card and it was the lovers card. The back ground was a dark blue starry sky filled with stars, some starts were brighter than others, some dimmer. At the top was a Ying yang symbol, then below that a purple dragon and a pink dragon were embracing one another, each held their own heart in their hand. It looked as if the purple dragon was shielding the pink one. And the pink one reminded me of Natsu.

"You just thought of someone didn't you?" Cana said, as I felt a rush of heat begin to fill my face. "So who is it?"

"Nobody, the pink one just reminded me of someone is all, that doesn't mean I have a thing for them, or anything." I said waving my hands in a dismissing manner. And quickly taking a drink to hide my face.

"I never said anything about having a thing for someone or not." She said with a sly smile.

"So are you going to explain the meaning, or not." I said with a little anger in my voice.

"Natsu huh?"

"What? No, why would I?"

"He's the only person I know of with any kind of pink to him."

"I'm going to kick your ass if you don't get on with it!" I shot out.

"Ok, fine." She said hardly phased by my threat. "Anyways, this is another hard one to describe. It could mean you are or soon will be in a romantic type of relationship, but the Ying yang, and the stars make me think it's about making a choice of some kind either now or in the near future."

"How do you figure?" I asked curiously.

"Well the Ying yang symbol is symbolic of good and evil. Or light and darkness, you can't have one without the other so to speak. If you look at the stars some are brighter than the others, possibly symbolizing different choices that either look really bright for future prospects, or not so bright. And how they go together is in every choice you make whether good or bad, they all will have a little light or darkness, a good aspect and a bad aspect. Now traditionally the lovers card doesn't have two people embracing like this one does. It could also mean that someone is looking out for you. Take the purple one holding the pink on, his head is acting like a shield for the rain, and like wise the pink one looks like he's holding the other put. They both make up for the others weaknesses."

I pondered that, hmmmm choices huh? What choices am I having a hard time making? What weakness do I have?

"Mira you might not have been presented with making that choice yet. It will probably come around sooner rather than later, and it could be that someone will be there to help you. And since you've drawn 2 Major Arcana, it means you won't be able to avoid it. We'll be able to gather more once the last card is flipped.

I didn't like the sound of that. Usually she's able to give clearer answers, I guess it's her being unfamiliar with these cards.

"You want to flip the next one?"

I flipped it, and I was amazed. It was Death. What are the odds.

"Well this needs almost no explanation. However I'm not sure if this is good or bad." She said looking unsure of what to make of it.

"What do you mean?" I thought.

"Well the hourglass on the bottom right means time, or mortality, a lifespan. Which as I said earlier could mean death literally, or the end of something else, like it's time to shed the old for the new, get rid of that which isn't helping you, and take on something that does. Now with the lovers card, if we're going with it meaning you have a choice to make, and then you have the death card, which means you can't have everything, you have to choose one over the other." She took a sip. "Does that make any sense?"

I thought for a moment then said, "So basically soon I'll be forced to make a choice for a certain out come, and in either choice I stand to lose something, in exchange for something new."

"Basically yea. Now the other way you could look at it is someone who's going to be there for you in the present, may not be there in the same way in the future. You're relations could change for the better or worse, and since you've drawn 3 Major Arcana cards, there is no way to avoid any bad consequences, along with any good ones, this means it's fated, if you believe in a god, his or her divine authority."

"That doesn't sound too bad." I said trying to not seem rattled.

"I don't think I should have to warn you, but I could be wrong. If it was my ole faithful deck, I'd be more positive about what I told you, but remember these cards can mean just what their name says. So be careful." She said warning me. "Dragons may have similar views, or completely radical ones, remember they're near immortal so the concept of death and dying isn't high on their list of concerns."

I felt it would be fine, I'm sure whatever it was couldn't be as bad as it sounded. As long as I have my family I'll be alright. I wondered what it must be like to live for thousands of years. Does it get boring, or does the change over the long years interest them?

Just then, the master emerged from his office upstairs. "Mira are you the only S-class wizard here?"

"Hell yea." I responded cockily.

"I see, well I have an emergency S-class request, and they need help right now, to defeat a huge beast. Are you up for it?"

"Hell yea, that's what I'm talking about."

"Be sure to take only those you know can handle themselves. It looks like a tough one."

I should have known to heed his warning, I was so concerned with one upping Erza and being the best, that I never stop to think that I couldn't do it all by myself, the reading Cana gave me flew in one ear, and out of the other. If I had just asked more to come, maybe we could have beaten it without the loss. I think this was the choice that I couldn't escape. I had many other options, many people I could turn too, but in the end, I let my own foolish pride stand in the way of my family, it killed someone more precious than all the stars in the sky.

Before we headed out, Lisanna had long before the master came out, gone off to find Natsu, to try and get him to make up with Happy. Elfman was with me as we both went in search for her. We went to the park, because that's where several people saw her headed, and low and behold there she was. She was sitting next to Natsu under the big old oak tree. She was smiling as they talked.

"Hey Lisanna, come on we have an emergency S-class request. We need to get a moving." Elfman bellowed.

"Awww really, I want to go on an S-class job." Natsu whined. I love the face he makes when he pouts, he's just too cute.

"There's room if you want to go." I said, thinking it would be fun to show off a bit.

"Really Mira?" He smiled in excitement.

"No, no, no, I'm the man of this family, so I'll protect you. There's only enough room for one man on this team." Elfman said full of pride. Who could blame him, we'd been on countless jobs before, just the three of us, never had any problems.

"Don't be like that Elf nii-chan. The more the merrier."

"Oh don't be stingy Elfman." Natsu berated.

"Nope, he's not going and that's final." Elfman said with a commanding voice. I rolled my eyes, I hate when he gets like this. Oh well I thought, just agree and keep the kids happy.

"Too bad Natsu, maybe next time." I said giving him a wink, and a wave. This is where I had that choice to act like a real big sister, and put my foot down against Elfman's selfish demand. I was also just as selfish, because I only cared about what my siblings wanted, and overlooking what they actually needed. Lisanna could have gotten Elfman to back down, but knowing her, she thought the same way I did. Just let him feel needed, and like a man. I wish I paid attention to this alarm going off. Wait a minute, there wasn't any alarms going off back then.

(1 1/2 years later.)

I awoke to my alarm trying to tell me it's time to get ready for work. These dreams always happen around Lisanna's birthday, and the anniversary of her death. Two times a year I am forced to relive those horrible two days. When we were happy and carefree, and when I wished it had been me instead of her.

"I can't keep feeling sorry for myself." I say to myself, as I slap the self-pity me awake. Within an hour I'm dressed, my hair and make-up done, and I'm ready to leave. I place Elfman's breakfast on a plate in the magiwave. (Like a microwave but with magic.) I heard him come in late from a job last night, so I knew he'd sleep in a little while. I left a note so he'd know, and I was off to work.

The morning sky is so beautiful I thought. Just before the sun peaks above the horizon, all the pinks, yellows, reds, purples, blues, and greens against the clouds far off in the distance. The air had a slight chill to it, it wasn't bad considering I wouldn't be out in it for very long. But it could be troublesome if it got colder on my way home tonight.

It was a usual day, I was surprised to see someone sitting on the steps by the main door. I checked my magic watch, and knew I wasn't running late. I glanced back up and that's when his pink hair caught my eye. It's unusual for Natsu to be here this early. He usually strolls in around lunchtime. Sitting beside him, and slowly coming into view was Happy. They seemed to be talking about something. Then they noticed me.

They both stood up, and all smiles as they yelled out greeting me. "Hey Mira!" I'm sure they woke a few people. I waved back in response.

"What are you two doing here so early." I asked out of curiosity.

"Happy said that he saw a request for someone who knew something about dragons, and I thought who better for it." The pinkette replied.

"Yea, maybe we'll get a lead on to where Igneel is." Happy hypothesized.

"Oh here Mira, let me take that for you." Natsu ran up taking the few books I had in my hand, and carried them for me.

"My aren't you just the perfect gentleman." I thanked him.

"Natsu loves you."

"What's that supposed to mean Happy? I'm just being nice!" Natsu retorted back. Although I wasn't sure if it was because of his outburst or embarrassment, but his cheeks seem pinkish like his hair.

"Well Happy, it's only natural to help a friend. Right Natsu?" I said. Natsu agreed and he stared at me for a moment. "Hey Mira are you feeling alright?"

"Never better why?"

"Your face looks red." He placed his forehead to mine, and if it wasn't red before it was now. "Mmmmm it doesn't feel too hot." He thought out loud. He smelled good, I liked his earthy scent from always being outside.

"Natsu it is a little chilly out, Mira isn't a fire dragonslayer like you, so she probably is a little cold." Happy stated.

Natsu pulled back, and looked at me, his eyes blazing with life. I couldn't help but look away, "Is that how it is Mira?" Natsu asked.

"I..I think so Natsu." I said trying not to seem flustered.

"Ok, just be sure to take care of yourself."

"I will." I said and heard a snort come from Happy who was covering his mouth trying to suppress his laugh. "What is it Happy?" Natsu asked, and I nodded in agreement with his question.

"Oh nothing, he turned towards the guildhall, we should probably get going, we're going to make Mira late Natsu."

"I guess you're right Happy. Sorry about that Mira."

"It's no trouble." I assured.

After opening the guildhall, and getting things ready for the day, Natsu and Happy brought the request up, and I assured them I'd let the sender know. After they left I read the job, and wondered if they understood that the job wasn't so much about their knowledge of dragons, as it was translating something likely related to dragons. A bit of sweat formed as I thought of the trouble they'd get into.

I shrugged it off as they'd pull through somehow, I'm sure Levi could help them out when team Shadow Gear came back from their request.

A while later Elfman walked it. He seemed a little blue, I knew the reason, it was the same as me, however it showed more on him than it did on me I think.

"Hey Mira." He said dropping the honorific Nee-chan, he only does that on two occasions. When he's feeling down, when he's trying to get my attention.

"How'd you sleep?" I asked knowing the answer.

"Not good." He said, with a knowing look. "I don't know how you do it sometimes Nee-chan."

"Do what?"

"You know. It's her birthday." He said looking gloomier.

"I know what you mean, but being around my friends makes it easier." I stated truthfully, and to be honest, if it wasn't for my Fairy Tail family, I'd be in a whole lot worse shape. I said a lot of hurtful things to Natsu that day, and I'm amazed that he still talks to me to this very day.

"If Natsu hadn't shown up when…"

"Elfman, you can't think like that. It wasn't your fault." There was a moment of awkward silence, just like that first week after the incident. He and I rarely talked, it was too painful, I tried to hold him several times only for him to push me away, and saying something negative about himself, and I wanted him to be mad at me rather than himself, so I said some mean things to him to get that desired effect, I thought that anger would help him, anger towards me. But he never did, that's when he would hug me, and I found that he was the one comforting me, instead of the other way around. People are just weird.

"Speaking of Natsu, you know he took on a job to translate some old text?" I said trying to lighten the mood.

"And him I don't know how he can just charge ahead after that." Elfman half admired Natsu's simple mentality.

"What do you mean Elfman? You're moving forward, you go on jobs, you make a decent living, what more could you ask for?" I knew I made a mistake at the end of my thought. I was just trying to cheer him up, and I ended up saying something unthoughtful. "I'm sorry Elfman, I didn't mean it like that.

"I know Mira. I just meant that he never once got angry with me, or you, or anything, except the funeral, that part was hard for him."

"He was in denial for a while even after that." I said.

"I think I'll go on a job, and do something useful for a change."

He stepped off towards the job board, and leaving me feeling bad, what more could he ask for huh?, We both know what we want more than anything else.

As time went on I felt better, the different people coming in, their smiles, laughter, and goofy personalities. Then a little after noon Natsu and Happy came back, Natsu carrying a large stone. It was half as long as Natsu is tall, and a little wider than him. The bottom looked jagged like it was broken in half. He had to walk oddly while carrying it.

With a loud bang the he laid the tablet down on the bar. "So how'd it go?"

"Mira I need your help." He said like it was the only option.

"Why? What do you mean?" I asked playing dumb.

"Happy didn't say that I had to translate an ancient text "

"It's your fault for not reading the flyer." Happy defender himself. "You just asked me to find it, and so I did."

"I thought we were partners, and as my partner you got to tell me these things."

"You could've declined the job."

"What? I couldn't to that after going all that way, it'd look bad on Fairy tail."

"You got a point."

"So what do you say Mira? Will you help me. I'll split the reward 50/50 with you." Natsu said turning back to face me.

"That's nice of you Natsu giving me the other 50." Happy said.

"No we'll split the other 50 in half Happy."

Happy started whispering in a not so quiet voice, "Don't you think Levi might be better for this?" I thought the same as Happy.

Natsu replied at the same volume, "I thought about that, but who knows when they'll be back, so we'll just have to settle with Mira."

For some reason my eyebrow twitched at being the back up option, I found it odd that my cheek muscles twitched also. "Oh really Natsu."

"You made her mad Natsu. Maybe we should talk to Erza."

"I thought about her too, but you haven't been taught how to read and write by her. I still have nightmares." He said with a little shiver, "looks like Mira's our only option little buddy."

"You do realize I can hear you right?" I said feeling more annoyed.

"You'll have to butter her up Natsu, make her feel good about doing this."

"How am I going to do that?" He asked his blue companion.

"Just watch." Happy said.

Happy produced a fish from his knapsack that he had tied around his neck, and handed it to me. "What's this for?" I asked.

"It's a fish."

"Well I see that but why give it to me?"

"Because it's yummy, and you look like you could use a fish, I like to start with the belly, and save the eye's for last." He said drooling. "It's really good, the chewy innards, then topping it of with a squirt of juice from the first bite into the eye. Yummy." He finished wiping his chin, and breathing hard.

You know when something isn't all that gross until someone talks about it, yeah that's the reaction I'm have now.

"Natsu the fish didn't work." He whispered not so quietly.

"Time for plan XYZ." Natsu proposed.

"Oh right right, what was that one again." He said with a finger to his chin thinking.

"Oh Happy you don't remember?"

"No."

"It's Butter them up."

"Oh that's right, I remember now, we used that one, wait we never used that one."

"Oh Happy, and you call yourself my partner, stand back and watch." Natsu scolded, and Happy replied with a sad "Aye."

"So Mira what do you say? Help us?"

"Why? I'm sure there's someone else more suited, like Erza." I said a little hurt, and turning my eyes from his.

"That's no big deal, you were my first choice, and I wouldn't have thought twice if you weren't already behind the bar working." He smile his big toothy grin, that made it hard for me to stay angry at him. "Come on, what do you say?" He place his calloused hand on my shoulder, transmitting his heat to me.

I breathed out audibly in defeat, Natsu's sincerity is the quality I like most about him, he just doesn't know any other way to be. "Alright, I'll help, but you're going to work on it too, I'm not too familiar with text dating back before 400 years, and this looks older, so."

"Really Mira, that's great." Happy said happily.

"Thanks Mira, I knew you'd help us." Natsu smiled.

"Hey Sandra, can you watch the front in about 10 minutes for a moment?" I yelled to one of the other waitresses.

"Sure thing Mira." The bubbly blonde replied. She wasn't a magic user, but that in no way disbarred her from working at the guildhall. Call her an unofficial member, while she may not have the guild mark, she is definitely a friend to all those here. I keep telling her, she could get a celestial spirit key or other holder type magical item, and she could become one officially. I think she's just shy, and she'll come around eventually.

"Alright you two, take this to the study, and I'll be along shortly."

"Sweet, we'll be waiting."

"Aye sir." Happy saluted like a soldier.

I got a couple things finish and drinks ready for the ones I knew would order seconds, so as Sandra would still be able to tend to her patrons without too much trouble. I'll just get them started, and then after work I'll really get into it.

After I joined them in the study, which is off to the side, and a little deeper than the basement I reckon. Natsu and Happy were looking at the books, in an attempt at find what they needed.

"Hey you two, any luck."

"I don't understand any of these titles, why can't there be one with the title, 'This Is The One You Need.'?"

"Aye, that would be easy, so easy that not even you could mess it up Natsu."

"Me mess it up? Like I would do that Happy."

"Well that would make it simple, but first we need to figure out what text is being used." Cutting in, even though I was tempted to let then argue some more, they are fairly funny when they do.

"I thought it was dragon writing?"

"Me too, if it's not dragon writing, then what is it."

"Well it could be, but we won't know that it is, until we find evidence to back it up. It looks very old, so we might have better luck in this section." I said walking over to the old text, and lost magics section. Unlike the other sections, this one was rather small, which is why they are combined. That's the real problem with deciphering old tablets, all the resources to help reading them are either lost, haven't been written, or have been destroyed.

"This one brings back memories." I said pulling an old tomb from the shelf. It was quite big, but not the biggest by a long shot. The title read "Slayers, a savior, or a bane."

"Find one Mira?" Natsu asked probably hoping I'd say yes. He looked frustrated and bored already.

"No, but I think you'd do well to read it."

"Why?"

"Yea, why Mira?"

"It's about slayer magic, not just dragon slayers, but other types, like cat slayers, monkey slayers, beast slayers, and many others." I said opening it, and to my surprise, dragon slayers came up, along with notes a young me wrote along the sides. Way back when, when I first met Natsu, I thought him being raised by a dragon, to be too far-fetched, so I read up on it, and that really was the first and only way to learn it for a very long time. It was more of a stretch to say someone put a dragon slaying lacrima in him, just to let him walk around aimlessly, than it was for him to be raised by one, and that dragon disappearing.

"Really?" His face brightened up. He hurried over and looked over my shoulder at it.

"This book can teach you how to do a lot of other slayer magics." I said.

"What's it say." He said closer to my ear than I expected. Making me feel uncomfortable, not in a bad way, I wasn't sure if I liked it or not though.

I said while closing it, "First things first, we need to find any and all books explaining text 400 years old or older."

"You're right, I wouldn't understand that book anyways."

"You won't know until you try Natsu."

"Mira you know Natsu isn't very good at reading books."

"I can read just fine Happy." He retorted offended.

"I'm glad to hear that Natsu, I'd hate to see what Erza would think if she heard otherwise." I said teasing him. To which he gulped, "Don't tell Erza anything." He said with fear laced pleading eyes. His forehead began to sweat.

"Your secret is safe with me." I said. Although it could be fun to watch him squirm a little. Nah, I'll leave it be for today.

He wiped his brow in relief, "Thanks Mira, you saved me."

I spent about 30 minutes helping to find the books I thought we'd need. I'd get him started, then after the guildhall closed for the night, I'd really get into researching to.

"Now Natsu, Happy, I will need to get back upstairs, I'm still working, but I need you two, to start skimming through these books, and find anything that relates to the text on the tablet." I said instructing them.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Happy asked.

"Why do you ask?" I asked.

"It's just Natsu and I aren't as good at this, and you'll just end up looking through them again." Happy said, and Natsu acted as if he wasn't listening.

"Come on Happy, you heard her. Besides we're in this together." Natsu said before I could respond.

"I'll bring you your usual for lunch, sound good?"

"Geez thanks Mira." Natsu said happily.

"You bet, two fish please." Happy said drooling, while pulling a fish from his knapsack.

After returning and getting a few things in order, I checked in on them from the top of the steps, they were both hard at work, searching through the books. I was proud of them, especially Natsu, seeing as how I knew he was struggling with a task that required more brain than brawn. He can't help it, he's always so full of energy, and has be getting into something.

When I went to check on them, along with their meals. I became irritated at the sight before me. Happy was working, but every book he looked at on the shelves ended up being thrown onto the floor, getting mixed with the books of other categories. Why was it so hard to look on the shelf I showed him prior.

And Natsu, instead of looking through the books I told him to, he instead was reading the book on slayers. He noticed me before happy did. "Mira check this out." He said as he summoned a black and white flame. "Cool isn't it."

Normally I'd congratulate him on his achievement, but I couldn't help but be infuriated. "Natsu that's great, but what did I ask you to do?" I said feeling my eye twitch.

"I was, but it was hard to understand, and I decided to take a little break."

"And Happy, why are you throwing the books on the floor?"

He stopped and finally realized I was here. "I was just separating the ones I thought would have what we needed, from the ones that don't."

"So then why are almost all of them on the floor?"

"Because they sounded like we needed them." He said without a hint of lying. I placed their plates down. "Ok you two, this mess had better be picked up by the time I come back." I walked over the the books we had stacked before hand, "look through these first, carefully, and slowly, it is going to take a while, so don't get into a hurry."

I turned and headed upstairs, "Oh and don't let me see this mess when I come back, otherwise I'll get the master to do you know what." I said remembering the last time Natsu and Happy got punished by the master.

"Please not that again Mira, I still have nightmares about it." The pinkette begged.

"Aye." Happy said shaking.

And I left them at that. But I came back without them knowing to see how they were doing. I'm sure the shelf needs to be organized again, but at least they picked up, and they both seemed hard at work looking through the text like I asked. Satisfied I went back to my patrons. I returned the next time, and actually went down there, and gave them some pointers, and encouragement, while taking a look at the shelves for anything we might have missed. With I now wish I hadn't, because everything is in the wrong place. I guess I'll just get Levi to help me sort this out later. I did find a couple that might help, but maybe not. I went back to work after that.

It was close to dinner time when Grey walked in. "Hey Mira, have you seen Natsu around anywhere?"

"He's in the study right now. Why?" I said.

"Good I've got a bone to pick with him." Grey said starting to head towards the study.

"No you're not." I said remaining calm and polite. The last thing I needed was Natsu to get distracted, and a fight to break out in the study that had just been destroyed earlier.

"Why not? And for that matter why is Natsu in there of all places."

"I just got him and happy to settle down and get down to business, I think your bone picking can wait."

"You mean he's actually reading a book?" Grey said in shock. "I got to see this."

"If you distract him, it won't be pretty." I said smiling. Grey looked at me with a knowing look. "Yea I get it Mira, geez you can be so protective of the Natsu sometimes." He said as I watched him stop at the door looking in. He covered his mouth in surprise. He even reached down to feel the floor. I take it he is wondering if hell froze over.

After a little while of Grey watching them, he came back over. "I think hell actually froze over."

"Is it really that hard to believe?" I asked.

"I don't know how you do it, but it seems like your the only one who can get that idiot to do things like that." He said shaking his head. "I almost insulted him to make sure he was really Natsu, but then I saw him almost fall asleep and realized it was him."

An image of an old memory flashed through my mind, of me crying into Natsu's chest while slamming a fist into his chest, and then all of a sudden the once sturdy dragonslayer fell over, I remember seeing his blood on my hands, then noticing a large gash down the right side of his chest, that his jacket no longer covered.

"Earth to Mira." Grey said waving, breaking me from my trance.

"Oh sorry Grey, what do you need?"

"I'll take my usual, and thanks."

"No problem, coming right up."

After that Grey settled in his usual spot, with his usual beer, and dinner. Then it was time to go check on Natsu and Happy, bringing their dinner along as well. Happy had fallen asleep on a beanbag chair, with a book open on his belly. Poor little guy I thought. Natsu was still plugging away, and it seemed like he found something.

"I brought your usuals, but it looks like Happy won't be eating anytime soon."

"Oh hey Mira, look at this." Natsu said pointing to a symbol in the book he was reading.

"Ok what about it?" I asked not knowing what he was thinking.

"It looks like this one on the tablet. I think it means dragon." He said and he was close, but the symbols were a little different.

"It's close, but it isn't it."

"Aww really?" He said looking frustrated.

"But it could be a clue, a lot of times local tribes of old spoke the same language, but their writing was different. Which means if you know who this tribe is, you could look at languages from the same area."

"I don't get it." Natsu said angrily.

"That's part of learning I suppose." I said rubbing his back, in a comforting gesture. "And I thought you weren't good at this kind of stuff. It looks like you are to me."

"Thanks Mira, but you don't have to say that. I know books aren't my thing." He said, after a while I realized I was stroking his hair. It's softer than it looks, but it's still coarser than it is soft. I wanted to keep on, but I had to pull myself away from it.

"Don't sell yourself so short, but I'll be back after a while, only a few more hours, and I will be able to join you."

"Thanks again Mira."

"No problem."

Now I'm sure nobody would've minded me helping Natsu for a while today, but I had a feeling that the books we needed were in the S-class study. It houses a lot of books, that those who aren't S-class can't lay eyes on. It carries a lot of occult books on the Black Wizard Zeref. A lot of forbidden magics are up there. It's to ensure less experienced mages don't start down the wrong path, as the master said one time I asked him about it, just after I became an S-class myself, "I believe once they attain the privilege to go up there, they'll have a firm grasp on who they are, and where they want to be, whether they choose to go down the dark path or the light doesn't matter, what matters is, that at that point they have the experience and knowledge to make the appropriate choice for themselves." He then asked me not to speak about it to anyone not allowed to go upstairs.

Now I wasn't about to break my promise to the Master, however I have gone up there to poke around, and found several promising text. Natsu doesn't need to know where I got them from, just that I have them.

Soon I had lock up, and gone to grab the few books I thought would help, and descended the stairs into the main study area.

Happy was up and looking through a book as big as him. Natsu looked worse than earlier, I could see his head falling forward several times as I made my way down the stairs.

"Find anything?" I asked.

"Not yet." Happy said unenthusiastically yawning.

"No." Natsu said while he looked like he was straining to stay awake. He smacked his face several times waking himself up. "Where did you get those from?" Natsu asked noticing the new stack of books.

"Just a few that Levi had stashed behind the bar for a previous job she did."

"Oh, that figures."

I'm not sure how much time had passed, my butt began to hurt from sitting in the hard chair, and it was a little chilly. Suddenly a black vest was thrown over my shoulders, along with Natsu's scarf.

"Thanks Natsu, I forgot how cold it can get down here." I wrapped his prized scarf around my neck, and covered my mouth and nose with it. I was delighted to have his scent so close to me.

"Don't mention it." He said.

"What about you? You'll catch a cold like that."

"It would be pretty embarrassing if Natsu, a fire dragonslayer got cold." Happy said.

"It's just like Happy said." Natsu agreed.

"In fact he'd be pretty worthless if he couldn't handle a little cold. Like that one time on Mt. Hakobe, remember Natsu, you were shivering and had a runny nose."

"Just what are you implying Happy?"

"Oh nothing." Happy said.

"You better mean that."

"Aye."

As time went on, Happy fell asleep again. Natsu also was about to fall asleep sitting up. I admired his will to fight it. "Why don't you relax over there on the other beanbag chair?"

He seemed to shake himself awake at that. "I'm not tired. I can do this all night!" He said with a balled up fist in determination. I can't argue with him when he's like that. "Well ok, but it might be better to rest for a while, and then start again with a fresh mind." I said.

I thought I found something, but it wasn't what I was looking for. That's been happening a lot. I can't believe it. This tablet might be older than 2,000 years. If o compare the one Natsu found earlier, to this one now, they look so similar. If it is older than 2,000 we might have one other place to look. I'll keep trying, but I really don't think we'll find it here, and it's too late to start a journey to Tenrou Island.

When I looked up Natsu finally caved in to his need for sleep. Poor guy I thought. He really did his best. It's time for me to take over. But first I'll get him more comfortable. I went over and woke him.

"What is it Mira?" He asked groggily.

"Come with me." I said pulling on his arm. His half sleep state made him more complaint with my requests. I led him to the beanbag chair and let him fall into it. "Just rest now."

"Ok." He said, then I found a blanket from the pile we kept down here, and threw it over him. Then I continued to work. I might have to take a few days off from tending the bar. Sandra and Kelly can manage it.

Mmmmm, so warm. I felt something hot against my chest, with a familiar soft feeling. The heat seemed to wrap around to my back, and I could feel a slight pressure squeezing where the heat was. In a rhythm my chest would get hotter, and then cool, when it cooled I felt moisture where the heat once was. It wasn't bad, I've just never felt it before. No wait I have, I remember cuddling with Lisanna when she was younger. I open my eyes at that thought, and found not Lisanna, but Natsu.

I was trying to remember how I got in this compromising position. Like we were lovers or something. My face felt as hot as he is at that thought. My mind screamed to get away before anyone saw us, but he felt so good. I squeezed him into me a little, enjoying the feel of his forehead against the little bit of my own flesh that he touched.

Our legs were entwined like a knot. I was partially glad a blanket covered us, but it also made this seem naughtier. An image flashed across the front of my mind. A nude timid, and unsure Natsu laying beneath me as I straddled him equally nude, his face showed ecstasy as I enveloped his heat into my self becoming one with the dragonslayer. The demon and the dragon as one.

"Get a room you two." A familiar voice came from a familiar cat, who sat on the table covering his eyes while he quietly laughed. He pulled me from my thought, and I felt my embarrassment increase.

"It…it's not what you're thinking Happy." I said in my defense.

"Oh really? Did you two fall and accidentally end up cuddling like lovers?" He teased, while making a kissy face.

'Lovers' I thought, "Happy you're misinterpreting this, it was cold and Natsu was just keeping me warm." I said to try and make it seem as innocent as it was.

"Oh I see." He said like he thought what I hoped he did. "So you think he's hot huh?" He went back to his teasing tone, "Mira and Natsu sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G first comes love then comes marriage then comes owww." I stopped him from speaking by grabbing and squeezing the top of his head.

"I think you've done enough talking, I think there's a couple fish upstairs with your name on it." I said, while trying to remain calm, but I was anything but that.

"Aye." He replied sadly and crying. I began to take him upstairs. "Mira do you like seeing Natsu bare?" He said back in his teasing voice. "Ouch." He said when I squeezed harder. I placed Natsu's belongings next to him, and pulled the blanket back up to his face, making a mental note of his lean muscles and and scar on his chest. I did think he was attractive.

I finally got Happy to settle down, he was happily eating fish. I got him to promise to keep his mouth shut about this morning, it took a little coercion on my part, be he agreed. It was still pretty early, so I decided to use the guild's shower, and change into a spare set of work cloths I kept here, just in case.

While showering I felt happy. I always feel content, but I felt extremely good. While the chair isn't as comfortable as my bed, I did feel very well rested. It was the best nights sleep I've had in ages. Then it dawned on me, I didn't have the last part of the nightmare like I always have this time of year. Of course remembering that memory brought me down a little, but just as soon as the more recent memory of holding Natsu close to my heart flooded my mind, that feeling burned away. "That boy has surely put a spell on me." I muttered to myself.

After finishing my routine of getting ready, Natsu was up and sitting at the bar.

"Morning sleepy head." I greeted cheerfully.

"Hey Mira." He said yawning, and still looking a little groggy, I guess that he just woke up not too long ago.

"You hungry?" I asked knowing the answer.

"Yea, I'll have the usual."

The chief wasn't in yet, so I went to making his breakfast. After he finished he said he'd be back later to finish looking, he need to stretch his legs, I didn't argue, I know how rough a night of hitting the books can be. Happy went along with him. It wasn't long after he left that Cana showed up. She didn't seem to be in the best of spirits. I took it as though her date didn't go so well.

"You're here early, is something the matter."

"Hey Mira, ugh it was horrible."

"You don't say, why don't I get you your usual and we can talk about it if you want."

"Yes, and I don't think you want to know."

"That bad huh?"

"Very."

"Well if you're sure, then I won't ask."

"I might change my mind. He seemed so nice though."

"It happens." I said shrugging, then handing the chief her order, while going down to get her usual barrel. After that I brought her meal, I'm not sure how the chief gets these meals ready so fast, he's really quite good. I like to pride myself on my own cooking, but I have to concede to his skill.

"So are you ready to spill it?" I inquired.

"Well he wouldn't shut up about himself, the whole time. I mean I do like my men to be a little boastful and arrogant to a small extent, but he was like Laxus." She made a vomiting motion. It's a known fact that Laxus isn't the easiest to get along with, he almost never participates with the rest of the guild when he's here. Most of the time he just sits upstairs reclined like he's the greatest thing ever. None of the waitresses like having to deal with him, I don't like too either, but their reluctance makes the task fall upon me. Although he doesn't usually talk as much as Cana is implying, but I could see that if he did talk more, even I would refuse to serve him anything. I may be a waitress, but I'm nobodies bitch.

"That does sound bad. I don't mean to so mean, but I'm glad it wasn't me." I said.

"Tell me about it." She said taking a long gulp. "So anyways, he was good looking, but damn it all, his mouth ruined the mood, that was set when we met the other day."

"Oh I remember you were pretty happy about it."

"I know, he seemed so nice, not as arrogant, courteous, a gentleman."

"I wonder what could have changed him?" I said in thought.

"Oh and then he found out I knew you, and then kept pestering me to introduce you to him." She said that, and now I wanted to vomit.

"Well what did you say?" I asked hoping she didn't agree.

"I told him if he wanted to meet you so bad, to come to you directly." She said, "Then I left, bought me a keg and drank myself stupid."

"I am sorry to hear that, and I hope I don't have to meet him."

"I know, anyways how was it last night?"

"Oh it was fine, Natsu lasted longer than I thought he would, but he ended up falling asleep sitting up. I didn't find anything concrete while I stayed up to look, I think after tonight well try another library."

"You thought of the library on Tenrou?"

"I did, but I've only been there once, and I'm not sure what all it has in it."

"I see your point, why not ask the master."

"I probably will once he gets in."

"So when are you going to tell me what really happened last night?" Cana asked surprising me, with her sudden question.

"Nothing why? Should something have happened?" This morning's predicament flashed through my mind.

"I don't know you tell me, you're unusually chipper than normally."

"I just, I just feel happy is all, am I not allowed to feel that way?" I said trying to turn the question on her.

"I never said anything about how you should feel, just wondering why, usually this time of year, you're how should I put this, a little sad." She said, and I knew what she meant. "But if you don't want to tell me, I can always ask Happy."

"Ok fine I'll tell you, but keep your mouth shut about it." Happy wouldn't be able to keep his promise if Cana knew he knew something. And happy would tell her everything he saw, and what he thought.

"You know your secret is safe with me, and this sounds good."

"So I stayed up later than the others, and when I did get really tired I slept on the same beanbag chair as Natsu, because he's was warm, and it was cold."

"Hmmmm, I see, is that all?"

"Well I did sleep pretty good, considering how comfortable those chairs are." I finished saying, while Cana looked at me not entirely convinced.

"That's not all of it is it. Considering you don't want anyone to know I'll guess that much." I didn't know what else to say, without giving away anything further.

"It's kind of poetic in a way, a dragon and a demon together, considering the legends of the two's never ending struggle." She said candidly to no one in particular. That sparked my curiosity.

"What's the legend."

"It's just that through the text I've read, dragons were demon exterminators. They crushed whole villages of them whether they were good or bad, and demons in the same way, tried to corrupt, and exterminate dragons as well. I mean I know both you and Natsu are human, but the magic you two wield just fits nicely."

"I never though I'd hear something that romantic come from you."

"I have my moments. Maybe because of last night or whatever." She said waving her hand and taking a long big gulp. "That hits the spot." She said in satisfaction. "Have you ever heard of Atlas Flame?"

"Who's that?"

"A dragon who once walked the earth. Some text I've read say he was a product of a demon and dragon mating, his body was entirely made of hellfire, no blast could harm him. They say the Fire Dragon King defeated him once by devouring his flames, until Atlas Flame submitted." She said and I was waiting for her to continue.

"And then?"

"I don't know, it just spoke of that one incident."

"How old was the text." I asked wondering if it could help with our tablet.

"A couple of thousand years old. Why?"

"And how did you decipher it?" I asked growing annoyed with her.

"Oh yea, I guess I should've said it earlier, my bad I just forgot."

"Anyways."

"In the study, there's a book with 5,000 year old translation text." She said.

"Well thanks for telling me sooner than later."

"Well now it might be harder to find." She was implying the mess that came about yesterday. I had a feeling it would be a long night.

After Happy and Natsu came back, we went to work organizing the books. I figured it would be the best way to find it, considering Cana forgot the title. I didn't see anything that looked like she said it did.

"Alright let's check what we already have out."

"Aye sir." Happy said motivated.

"I hope we find it soon, my head is going to explode from all these difficult words." Natsu complained

We looked through them, but I didn't see anything, and neither did Natsu, I even double checked him. Happy was still looking through the first book he picked up. I couldn't see his face from the large book covering it. Then I noticed that the cover had the markings Cana described. A dragon, fairy, a demon, and human, all layer on top of one another making an odd magic circle. I got up to take a closer look, and upon closer inspection, I heard a smacking sound. And what do I find, Happy stuffing his face oblivious to what he was holding.

"Ohh, Happy." I said trying to keep my frustration from leaking out.

He looked up at me with the most innocent face, pieces of fish stuck to it.

"Are you hungry Mira? I have another if you want it."

"No Happy I'm fine."

"Good, more for me then."

"So did you find anything in that book?" His downcast face was cute enough to break my frustration.

"No, I've been looking in this book since yesterday, and I don't get it."

"Let me see dear." He turned it to me, and to my astonished surprise, it had a symbol exactly like the one we were looking for the other day.

I took the book, "Thanks Happy you found it."

"Oh thank God." I heard Natsu as his head hit the table.

As I started to decipher the tablet, both sets of eyes were on me. Now let's see, this one means dragon, and this one means war, this one means demon, this one means love. Ah ha.

"Ok I think I got it."

"What's it say Mira?" Natsu said over my shoulder.

"Yeah what's it say?" Happy said over my other shoulder.

"Natsu how much do you know about you dad?" He seemed surprised by my question.

"Well he's a great big fire dragon, the great and might Igneel. He's big and red and has horns and wings, and a few scars, oh and he likes goats for dinner, and he destroyed a couple mountains in one breath. Why?"

That's as I thought, probably not much of his past. "Well this tablet is talking about a fire dragon, and since you're the only one I know of who knows a real fire dragon, this could be talking about him."

"REALLY?" He shouted in amazement, "tell me what it says Mira."

"Well let's see, it's talking about the King of the Fire Dragons, and a fight he had with the queen of the shadow demons." I checked to make sure he was following along.

"It says here they battled each other for many moons, until they both could no longer fight due to exhaustion. It says, the dragon turned the whole world in to flames with one breath, and the demon consumed all the shadows that the light of the flames produced, and the dragon consumed all the flames, the heat from his own flames caused." I looked to see if he was still paying attention, he had stars in his eyes.

"Wow that sounds like a good fight, leave it to my ole man. He kicked that demon's ass."

"The stories not over yet Natsu, there's still more."

"Really more? Let me hear it."

I continued, "The dragon and demon fell to the ground of exhaustion, with no strength left to fight, they found respect for one another, as they lay tired they confessed much about themselves to each other, while still planning on resuming the fight, they acknowledged each other's strength. As they battled relentlessly, what once started as a fight for survival turned into a brawl between friends. Marking the end of the fight when both conceded to a draw, both expressing a new found want of coexistence. As such the great war of Demon vs Dragon began to end." I said waiting for a reply.

"So he lost?"

"Well I wouldn't think of it that way. It's more like he made a friend, and it looks like there's still more to the story, see how it's broken on the bottom. There's another piece."

"Wow that's cool."

"That story sounds familiar." Happy said with a mischievous look in his eye.

"Familiar to what Happy?" Natsu asked

"Well I know of a similar demon and dr….ouch Mira that hurts."

"Ahh, Mira you could've let him finish."

"No I think it's time you go turn this in, right Happy?" I said as he dangle by the scruff of his neck. "Aye." He said sadly.

"I suppose you're right, but I want to know what happens next."

"Well maybe the requester has the other, and is just waiting for this one to be translated."

"I see, let's go Happy. Times a wastin'."

They set off to return their work, and I also wondered what was coming next.