When Spring Meets Winter [Fairy Tail Fanfic]

Prologue

It was 7 years ago when my life changed forever. I was pretty mature kid, never really cried or complained. Of course, that didn't last.

There was always one thing that my 10 year old self couldn't stand.

Gray Fullbuster. He was like the annoying big brother that I never wanted.

I sat there at the bar with a cup of tea and gave the ice wizard a condensing stare. "Gray, you're naked."  I said in monotone.

His eyes widened in surprise as he looked down on himself. "ACK!"

Natsu came out of nowhere slamming his fist into Gray's face. "Stop stripping in front of kids!"

A brawl started between all the guys, everyone wanting to win. It really wasn't my style. With a sigh, I turned around and continued to sip my tea quietly.

That day, Master announced the S Class Trials. The wizards picked were Natsu, Gray, Juvia, Freed, Elfman, Cana, Levy, and Mest.

Each wizard had to pick a partner to compete with them. I had known that I wouldn't be picked. But I also knew that the guild would be boring without all these people here.

My best friend, Wendy, was going as Mest's partner. It wasn't fair, but I understood. For all I had known, she'd only be gone for a few days.

Boy, was I wrong.

All the wizards going were busy all week, preparing. Natsu and Happy, Gray and Loke, Juvia and Lisanna, Freed and Bickslow, Elfman and Evergreen, Cana and Lucy, Levy and Gajeel, Mest and Wendy. Along with them, Master and the other S Class wizards--Erza, Mirajane, and Gildarts--were going.

Then the week was over.

I approached Wendy tentatively, not wanting to be a bother if she was busy.

She turned around and saw me. Immediately her eyes shined with joy, "Dulst! I almost didn't think you were going to say goodbye!!"

I smiled. "I'll miss you Wendy. Win fast so that you can come back sooner!"

She grinned and hugged me. After breaking apart, I handed her one of my seeds. Concentrating on it, a stem eventually popped out and grew into a flower.

"You're getting better! This is the prettiest one so far!"

I blushed slightly. "Thanks!" We talked for a few more minutes, then hugged a final time.

There was still a person that I had needed to see. Gray.

Yes, I did say that he had been an annoyance, but I also said that he had been a brother. And I had to wish my big brother good luck.

Again, I walked up with uncertainty filling my being. "Gray?" I asked timidly.

He turned around, fully clothed for once. "Dulst? What do you need?"

I got another seed and used my magic to make it grow. "This is for you."

He ruined what could have been a cute moment by triggering one of my pet peeves. Ruffling my hair. "Thanks!"

I growled at him. He was fully aware of my feelings towards hair ruffling.

But he just laughed. Thankfully no one dared to voice those two dreaded words.

"Dulst, you're adorable!" I spoke too soon. With a glint of darkness filling my eyes, I stiffly turned towards Natsu.

He grinned, both of us fully aware that I couldn't do any serious damage to him. I settled for kicking him in the shin then walking off.

And that's the last I saw of them. The guild members left for their trial.

When I heard the news of their disappearance, I cried for days. As far as I knew, they were dead.

And that killed me inside.