Another Beginning - Fairy Tail

Chapter 1

     A young girl with tan skin and dark brown hair stirs in her sleep before bolting awake, her hand gripping her shirt and her chest heaving up and down in panic. Closing her eyes, she takes a few deep breaths and calms down from her nightmare.

After a moment, she looks around in confusion, wondering where she is. She gets up, dusts off the dirt and grass, and starts to wander around.

Hearing a noise, she quickly looks in its direction, giving the bushes a wary glance before continuing to survey her surroundings. When she hears another sound, she walks up to the bush slowly and calls out, "Hello?" After receiving no response, she asks again, "Is someone there? I'm lost. Can you help me?" She waits in silence for a moment before sighing and looking away, only to be startled by the unknown thing that leaps out of the bush.

"Ah!" she yells in fright, arms covering her face for protection as she falls to the ground from the sudden movement. When she peeks out from her hiding place, she realizes that it's just a cat. She sits up to get a better look as the cat looks up at her with fondness and curiosity, meowing.

Claudia gasps in amazement, exclaiming, "Ahhh! You're so cute!" She picks it up into her arms, cooing at the kitten as if it were a baby. "Now what is an adorable little thing doing out here in the wilderness?" The cat continues to adore the stranger, purring.

"Hmm, do you have a name? I'll give you a name!" The cat meows in approval. "Hmmm... April?" The cat gives her a blank stare. "No? Okay..." Claudia continues to think, holding her chin. "Maggie?" The small animal lays down, staring at her in disapproval. "What? I'm trying, okay?" "Stella? Clove? Jinx?"

After several minutes of brainstorming, she finally suggests, "How about... Lulu?" The cat gives a nod and meows in approval. The girl laughs quietly, a smile on her face, "Lulu it is!" Picking up the cat, she suddenly remembers that she doesn't know where she is.

Crouching down, she asks, "Do you know where the nearest town is?" Lulu nods her head and turns around, prancing off in the direction of a nearby town.

Claudia is amazed when Lulu seems to understand her. Shaking her head, she quickly follows after her new companion. "Wait up!" she yells as the cat stops and stares in the distance. Finally catching up, Claudia gasps at the breathtaking view before her, and she looks down at Lulu in disbelief. "This...this is unreal!"

Lulu runs off to the town, snapping out of her trance and quickly trying to catch up. Panting, she falls to her knees, Claudia calls out, "Wait! Lulu, wait!" Stopping at once, it turns towards Claudia with concern.

Taking a moment to catch her breath, she wipes the sweat off her forehead and pleads, "Please slow down a bit?" It nods in agreement and waits patiently while young teen gets back to her feet. Claudia follows, relieved. With a grin she whispers, "Thank you."

As she looks out, Claudia notices the people walking around, children playing, and shops selling different items. Then her gaze falls on a clothing store and her face turns bright pink in recognition.

"I'm in my pajamas?!" she screams, causing people to look at her in confusion. She hastily runs into the store, throwing the door open.

"Hello, young lady. Can I help you?" Claudia notices a middle-aged woman with short black hair smiling at her.

Embarrassed, she stammers, "Do you have any clothes for free? I don't have any money..." The woman replies kindly, "Of course, dear! I was planning on giving these to my niece, but you can look through the box if you'd like."

Grateful, Claudia thanks her profusely and begins to search through the box.

After pulling out some clothing items and a bag with a belt, she asks where she can change. "I don't have a changing room. Can I give a key to the room in the back?" The woman offers.

"Thank you uh..?"

"Rue, Rue Smith."

Claudia grins, "Thank you, Rue!"

"No need to thank me, sweetheart." Quickly, she walks into the back room of the store, locking the door. Changing and struggling with the shirt, Claudia manages to make a decent outfit. Looking in the mirror, she sighs, "Thank the lord! That was embarrassing."

Walking out, she hands the key to Rue, "Again, thank you so much! I don't know what I would have done if you didn't let me have these clothes."

"Anytime, may I know your name?" The older woman asks. "Claudia Knox. By any chance, do you know where I am?" She asks, hoping for an answer.

"You don't know?" Rue tilts her head slightly, confused. The young girl nods her head yes, "I woke up in a nearby forest and stumbled here."

"Where are your parents?" Rue questions. "I..I don't know..." Claudia answers sadly. Rue gasps, "Oh, darling! I'm so sorry." Hugging the girl, she asks another question.

"Sweetheart, are you sure you don't know where you are?"

"Yeah?"

"Your in magnolia."