Disclaimer: All character Designs and Logos are © to their respective copyright holders all credits go to them. I don't own any kind of game/anime/manga/novel. With so many Fairy Tail fanfic out there, some ideas might have already been used, so I am not holding any claims to any one idea, character, etc.

Author's Note: I wrote the outline before the Fairy Island arc of the manga, so some events and such are different. Un-beta. Please drop a review/comment/advice if you can; it really helps me make this into a better story. This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely accidental. Just leave a question/prediction and I will try to answer without spoiling too much. Any advice about syntax, general grammar and structure will be extremely helpful! Characterization and really important things will be valuable too. Thank you for reading this project.

Summary: Fear, doubt, and worthless plagued her mind. What is strength, what is worth, what is freedom she wanted answers to these questions. But can she survive the agonizing journey to find what she is looking for?

Chapter 1:

Dawn of a New Day

In an old, forgotten part of the city library, Lucy scanned through the prized books lining up around her. She could barely see the etched writing of the books, so she touched the firm cover spine of the book, trying to find something to make her stronger. She picked out a random tome, and her right fingers slowly separating the pages apart as she continued to move her eyes through the letters and pages She lifted her glasses, before she rubbed her eyes.

Nothing was working, and she felt the moisture dwelling in her eyes.

She bit her lips. All the tomes so far had been worthless, just theories on why Celestial Spirits were objects. She tilted her head a little over, closing her eyes and trying to relax. She remembered the first time her team came back. It was Erza, Gray, Natsu and Lisanna without her. They were laughing, not a forced, strained laugh but a carefree, everything-is-better laugh. It was highly paying mission, but it was far more difficult than what they are used to.

Crack! Her eyes snapped open as pain spread throughout her back. Her chair fell over, and she found herself lying on the aging, wooden floor. The floor was absolutely hard and freezing.

Nothing was working for her at all when she got up. She sighed, thinking about just packing everything for another day. Before she took a step out of the door, the clouds dispensed, revealing the moon and her light filled through the dust-cover room Lucy was in. The alluring light chased away the shadows of the night and a bookshelf appeared all the way back in the room. The new texts were calling out and maybe new hope; her hope could be found there. Lucy rushed at the new discovery.

Scanning through the new bookshelf, she saw a tome with an interesting icon that caught her eye Myths about the White Celestial Keys authored by Ivan von Stringer. She knew Stringer was an expert of Keys from three decades ago until his untimely death in 754. Maybe the past can help her out in her search. But the book was on the top shelf, she couldn't reach that. But she needed that hope, so she did what she did. She gabbed her chair, and she climbed it while tiptoeing on it.

She felt sick, swinging back and forth dangerously on the chair, grabbing the shelf for balance, and stretching her arm to its maximum. "Almost have it," said Lucy, her voice cracking. She didn't, she barely touched the bottom part of the spine of the book. She jumped, carefully holding on to the shelf. She felt the top of the book when she jumped, so she kept jumping. Only when she had a good grip on the book she pulled it out carefully, not trying to damaged the other books.

Her mouth hung as she read through the tome. "As any practitioner of Celestial Spirit summoning knows there are two kinds of class: Silver and Gold. People have said there's Platinum Keys, and one I find to be false. I have talked with my own Golden Key Capricorn and it has said there are Platinum keys. But how can you depend on an object?" Her eyes narrowed, reading this man's opinions.

"There is much debate on the Platinum Key, but this book will try to unveil myths about another kind of class of Celestial Spirits. There is no greater mystery than White Keys. There are too many legends of items bringing great power. One example is from a neighboring land; they say a woman dressed in a white veil, putting her hand forth and call out a name. Then, a mighty beast-cat came out complete with a spiraling horn, healing the dying crops and sickening peasants. I find this hard to believe because there is no possible way for any kind of key to have that much power. From the story, it is far more believable for the woman to have used healing…"

Lucy slammed the book. "That guy is nuts. I thought the rumors of him being human-egotistic were false but apparently they were true. But are there really two more class keys?" An idea popped in her head, bringing her key, and she commanded, "Open! Door of the Lion." Then Loke materialized in front of Lucy, she felt he knew more as he is the leader of the Golden Zodiac Keys.

"This is the first time you called me out in a while. This is your idea of a romantic getaway?" He seductively moved towards his owner.

"What are you talking about, Loke?" She let out her confused thoughts.

"You call me into this little, dark room with no one to see anything. You happen to like books. This is a perfect love scene between us, Lucy. It shows our power of love," said Loke, while moving closer to her.

"What are you saying, silly? I need your help Loke," Loke immediately stopped flirting with his owner. Her tone said it all, she was serious and there is no time for playtime. "Is there things such as Platinum Keys or White Keys?"

His body went rigid, 'How did she find out about those keys,' he thought. He tightened his lips, before trying to form the right words to say to his owner. He wouldn't be able to utter a no as he saw his owner eyes lit up. "So they are real?"

"Yes," He simply stated, unable to deny the truth.

"But what are they?"

"They are… the Platinum keys are keys greater in power than Golden keys. The Platinum keys are the monarchs of the Celestial Spirits; they are the ones who sustain the Celestial world. No ordinary mage can summon them," He stressed at how she shouldn't use them.

"What about White Keys?" She questioned while Loke's concern going over her head.

"They're not called White Keys; they're called Rhodium Keys. They are the Keys who have gone mad with power during the Ptolemy War," He said quietly as he reminisced about the past when he was a young lion in the start of the war. His grandfather and father shielded him from actively taking part of the war.

She knew of the Ptolemy War because she recalled back of her memories of the time the grandfatherly voice of Crux told her about the War that altered the Celestial War. The Ptolemy War, the war of Celestial Spirit domination, there were two factions: the Celestial Spirit King and his kingdom versus Rebelling Spirits. "That war severed my world into two sides; the Rebelling Spirits were made up from generations of Spirits and my side with the Spirit King's kingdom. The King's army won and the Rebelling Spirits were banished into the human world," said Loke as he regrettably remembered some of his boyhood friends' vengeful stares at him as he watched in safety.

"But Crux-jiji told me the Rebelling Spirits were locked away, somewhere in the Celestial World?"

"No, what he said is true because he is only allow to tell that to Celestial Mages. While Crux-san is the Spirit of Information about Celestial Magic, he can't access achieves and records not granted to him by the Spirit King."

"Oh… So they are in this world?"

He saw her eyes, the way she sometimes fantasize publishing her own novel, having it international renowned. "You can't Lucy, they're too dangerous for you to use," said Loke, voicing his thoughts against her thoughts about it.

"Even if they are dangerous to use, I can still get stronger."

"Why do you need to get stronger? Lucy you already have nine of the Zodiac Gold Keys, why search out for other keys?"

"Loke, do you remember our last mission?"

"You mean, with Miki Chickentiger's team?" Miki had asked her to join them for a mission. It was just guarding against some bandits until the Council would send in their mages. The problem was the clients lied about the situation. The bandits were mages from a lower class dark guild.

It took a while fighting a whole guild but Miki's team made it against only five more members and the leader.

Lucy was separated from the team as she faced off against two members and the leader. She had Scorpio and Loki with her. The scorching sun intensified as the agonizing battle continued. She was able to take out the fire mage when she summoned Sagittarius, but the ice mage was stronger than her counterpart.

"You're pretty good for a Spirit mage but you can't beat me, Ice wave!" A geyser of ice erupted from earth and pushed forth towards Lucy. Having experience with Gray, Lucy called forth Taurus to smash the ice while Loki attacked the ice mage. Loki hammered the mage in the stomach, not wanting to hit the girl in the face. Lucy breathe hard as she tried to regain her senses, the battle was getting too much for her. She already summoned most of her attackers, she felt her magic energy fading fast, and she needed to finish this fight.

"Loke, attack the ice," yelled out Lucy, as she was thinking Loke's light magic would multiple on the ice to overwhelm the leader.

"I won't let you, Earth Wave!" The rumbling earth shock Loke backwards. Scorpio used his sands to stop the quakes. "If that's all you have, then you are finish, Mass Earth Spikes!" Swirling rockbed-spikes came out piecing against both Sagittarius and Scorpio but both of the Spirits didn't vanish. The centaur continued to attack the leader with his arrows while Scorpio was gearing up energy to use his tail.

"What you are doing Sagittarius, Scorpio get away from here!" Lucy held up her keys. She was about to close-force her friends back to the Celestial World so they can heal their wounds until Loke stopped her.

"Don't… They are fighting for you Lucy, don't stop them," She lowered her keys as she watched her Spirits fight for her.

"I can't have that again. I need to get stronger, so my friends won't get hurt anymore. I can't be the always getting rescued because of my weakness. Please Loke understand why?" she pleaded with Loke. She couldn't even complete a relatively medium mission without getting hurt unlike Natsu. Loke did understand, but he would worry for his master. He reached out his arms, touching the shoulders, and he frowned because of the freezing bite at his fingers. He wanted to be the one to tell her it's all right, just rely on them, but the words did not come out. He nodded, sealing Lucy's journey to the unknown.

Tomorrow would bring another day. But first they left the library and went to the guild at the peak of the night.

Loke walked behind his master. Her head confident, straight-forward, her back straightened and poised as she easily strolled through the guild. All eyes of the guild were on the graceful woman, a butterfly amidst the booze, drunks, and smokes of the guild. Lucy came up to the private quarters of the Master at the break of dawn. He stood outside, as she entered Master Makarov's room. He faintly heard what his master and the Master were mumbling about. He picked up some words, but the words didn't make sense for the most part. "I got to do this… Lucy… no it's about that… I'll grant you permission…Thank you…But you would need a partner with you…"

"Thank you, Master," The door opened revealing his master. "Let's go, Loki." In that moment, she would take her hardest trials in her life. But she won't be alone; she will have her Spirits with her.

"Where are we going?"

"To find Juvia, I think she would help me out," Loki nodded, knowing the situation with Gray. New magi have joined the guild and the new female magi have apparently set their eyes on Gray. Even Juvia can't stand against the new female magi. "I think a little girl time would make her happy." He can only nodded again, looking around the halls of the guild for the last time.

Natsu repeatedly tapped his fingers on the table while looking at the entrance. He was feeling one of his finger blistering as he continued to tap the table. He bored his eyes on it for the couple of days. There was no sign of his partner with her dangling keys and bright smile. "Aaah! Where is she?" Spewing flames from his mouth, he sulked onto his seat. He crossed his arms, still glaring at the door, waiting for Lucy.

"Who are you looking for, Natsu?" asked Lisanna. She pulled her blue-tint, silver hair into a small ponytail by a pearl tie her sister got her. Her hair was fixed, in a way, so her bangs would not cover her eyes. She stared at Natsu head-on with her clear azure orbs.

"Lucy, she sure is taking her time arriving here. I got the perfect mission we will take together," said Natsu, his eyes still fixed on the door instead of Lisanna.

"When you mean we am I include?" She pouted a bit because she wanted to go on missions with Natsu again. It felt amazing coming back and going on missions with everyone again; it was familiar to her. She had hoped she could be more supportive to the guild, and she knew she could by taking part in missions.

"If you want Lisanna," said Natsu, finally turning to face her. She frowned, but she smiled quickly before Natsu saw her dissatisfaction. "What is taking her so long?" He turned back his attention to the door, and he continued tapping on the floor almost to the point of his fingers scarring.

Then, she heard noises, the clashing of furniture and screaming of women. Lisanna looked around to see Gray running toward her. She looked behind Gray, just to see the some of the female magi, bull-fighting each other for his attention. A red-head girl pulled another girl's hair causing a cat-fight to emerge between the new female magi. At least, Lisanna knew she would not be like them.

"Yo, Gray do you have Juvia-chan's lunch boxes with you?" Another new mage said who was penniless at the moment. He was utterly grateful for Gray because Juvia's lunch boxes were tasty, and he was jealous because he got too many females wanting his attention. Gray was about to hand over the lunch boxes until he realized Juvia didn't give him any today. The penniless male continued to watch Grey, waiting for his free meal. Grey shook his head before running away from the impending bulls.

"I can't take it anymore! Going to ask Mira-san for her mystic ball," Natsu proclaimed as he stomped towards Mirajane. Not seeing the heavily-coated person on the floor, Natsu tripped on him. "What was that?" When whimpering erupted from the person, they all found Master Marakov, crying on the floor.

"Master, what's wrong?" The ever-caring Mirajane said after finishing her round. She placed the tray down, half-empty cups and bottles filled with booze. She leaned over to the Master, putting a hand over his forehead. "It doesn't look like you have a fever?"

Natsu, getting bored, was about to ask Mirajane for her ball. "It's Lucy…" The faint sobs from the Master stopped Natsu from asking Mirajane. Natsu turned around and looked at the Master.

"Old man, do you know where Lucy went?" Everyone heard his eagerness.

"She's gone…" As Natsu processed the words, he heard gasps from the audience. It made him think about the wording, his body went numb as he thought about it.

"Old man, what do you mean she's gone? She can't be dead…" The last words were barely heard as faint whispering took over Natsu. He grabbed tightly the small coat the Master was wearing. Small droplets started falling from Levy, and Natsu had to hold back on the sob he felt coming from him. The old master shook his head, relieving everyone in the guild especially Natsu, who let go of the Master.

"I'm going to miss Lucy's nice body; she had a nice body," The master said longingly, everyone sweating at the real reason Master was crying. Natsu wanted to hit the old man right there, regretting letting go of him. He was about to grabbed Master, but the Master was already away from him.

"Master, I'm getting angry!" Mirajane said while showing her fist at the master and shaking it. Mirajane hated it when Master become perverted.

"Aaah, I wanted to see more of Juvia's nice body as well." The master dodged the fist Mirajane send him. While everyone was distracted and laughing by the antics of the master, no one saw the narrowing of Gray's eyes. The Master has a secret; he secretly loves playing matchmaker, just as much as Mirajane, although his status as Master prevents him from interfering too much. He smiled knowingly at the sure-signs of the two boys. Jealously was a great sign for secret, childish matchmakers like him.

He kept running until he ran onto the iron-armor clad Erza. He felt pride swell in him at the achievements Erza accomplished, but he withdrew as her burning glare locked onto him. "Master, you know where Lucy and Juvia gone to then?" The esteemed Titania said to the cowering master. He was backed to a corner. Erza and Mirajane coming on to his left with burning righteous, and Natsu and Grey to his right ready for action. He stopped shaking to defend himself.

"No, Lucy told me she was going on a vacation to search for more keys. We had a slight discussion on the purpose of the vacation. Then, I told her she needed a partner and she picked Juvia to be her partner. Other than that, I'm going to miss both of them." He walked past them, without so much them touching him in any way.

"Old man, when did they leave and where." Natsu said, ready to get back Lucy, and also Juvia if he had to. He was going to grab Happy so they can get to wherever they need to be faster.

"Natsu, I don't know where they are right now." The master simply stated. He sat on top of the counter of the bar, reaching for his pipe.

"What do you mean you don't know?" This time it was Gray questioning the master. The cat-fight between the fan-girls stopped as they looked onward at their prize. They wanted to know why their Gray-sama was interested in those female magicians when he can have them.

"Lucy asked my permission to go on leave two days ago, and they said they were going to Hargeon Town." The master saw Natsu and Gray with Erza heading out of the door. He stopped them by using his magic to stretch his fists to barrage the doors. "And where are you three going?"

"I'm going to get Lucy back!" Natsu said, pushing and trying to get pass through the immense fingers of the master. The master tightened his hold, guarding the door from the three.

"There is a reason why Lucy wants to do this Natsu. You can't just force her back here," said Makarov. He released his enchantment, but the three didn't move against the advice of the master.

"But I'm her partner. I should be the one she should have asked to go with her. It makes no sense," Natsu said, spewing flames, "She just can't leave me."

"Natsu, she said she is going back in a year," Marakov said hopefully, so Natsu would calm down.

"A year, a year is too long!" He lay at the floor, cross-leg and folding his arms over. Marakov looked sadly at the boy, it reminded him of the first time he saw Natsu. That defiant stance Natsu did when he saw him at the forest is the same stance Natsu is doing right now. Marakov had to smile Natsu already placed Lucy at the top of his heart where most people aren't near. But sadness overtook his body as he thought of young, sweet Lisanna.

"Sorry Juvia for asking you to come with me." Lucy said, her keys jingling on her belt. The horns from the ships were heard, the sea breeze filled the air and the endless chattering from the marketplace excited the atmosphere of the town.

The aqua woman just stared at the ocean. "Grey-sama…" Tiny clouds soon formed on top of Juvia, rain pouring out of the tiny clouds. "Juvia wants to go back to Grey-sama!" She proclaimed but she was restricted by Lucy. "Lucy-san let Juvia go!"

"Please, Juvia I need your help," The blond hugged Juvia even tighter. On-looking males stopped at the blurt display of female friendship; some who had girls were slapped silly. Juvia felt the intense stares from the male population; she wanted to melt away from sight. Yet, her magic wasn't allowing her to do anything of the sort.

"Lucy, Juvia gets it, please let Juvia go!" The aqua woman stopped struggling, knowing her fate was sealed by the key-holder mage. "Juvia will help Lucy," Juvia cried out the last part.

"Thanks Juvia. Let's go before we miss our ferry," Lucy dragged Juvia towards the ship they were going to board. "Before we board, I have a confession to make Juvia," Lucy fold her hands together.

Juvia thought Lucy was going to give her another chance to get away. But Juvia really wanted to know where they would have been going "Before you tell Juvia, where were we going?"

"I didn't tell you? Oh, right I was too busy. We're going to the Land of Watery Magick, Marmara," Juvia thought about it. Marmara is famous for its landmarks such as the Flying Fountain of Deiold, the hot springs of Osana, and the statues of the Singing Sirens of Oceancia. When Juvia was in Phantom, she wanted to visit Marmara to improve her magic.

"Juvia would really like to go but…"

"Really, we are going to have a fun time," Lucy wasted no time boarding on the ferry.

"Wait, Juvia thought Lucy-san would let Juvia pick again," Juvia was stunned at the actions of Lucy.

"What are you talking about?"

"Juvia thought Lucy-san would let Juvia pick again when Lucy-san said you have a confession to make," Juvia hoped it was the case.

"Oh the confession right, here is the thing. The ferry we're going on has a special occasion, so they reduce our prices. The occasion through... we have to be a couple," said Lucy shyly. This made the blue-hair woman widen her eyes.

"No, Lucy-san - you can't do this to Juvia!" Her cries fell on deaf ears as Lucy, holding onto Juvia, walked towards the ferry to take them to Marmara.