The song for this chapter is Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift. I feel like it explains Aquarius's view of her time with Lucy. Even though she treats Lucy badly she still deeply cares about her.
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E.N.D. had perished. Fairytail's greatest enemy had fallen, but not without great sacrifice. The guild knew of all the sacrifices their members painfully did, all but one. According to the guild all had given something for the wellbeing of others in some shape or form, everyone but the beloved celestial Mage. Unknown to the guild, the happy-go-lucky blonde had indeed given something very precious for the safety of all. In fact if it wasn't for her, they would have never stood a chance against E.N.D. Lucy kept her sacrifice from the guild due to shame; guilt. It consumed the blonde, gripping her soul tight and dragging it down.
Lucy made her way towards her apartment. Her clothes were torn and completely ruined. Her normally flawless skin was coated in a mixture of dirt, sweat, blood, and riddled with cuts. The gashes continuously trickled blood. Gripping a broken key in her hand, she limped down the street. Once she was in front of her home she unhooked the key to the apartment from her key ring. With shaky hands, she raised the key towards the lock. Her hand trembled so badly from the intense emotions raging within her that she could not slide the key into the lock. After several failed attempts and multiple minutes of deep breaths she was able to enter her beloved home.
The Mage managed to laid her precious keys and trusty whip on the basic kitchen table before she collapsed, hitting her knees hard on the tiled floor. Lucy was oblivious to the sharp pain that ran up her legs. Her chin was pressed up against her chest, eyes cast down, as if someone had just scolded the blonde. Her hands laid limp in her lap. The broken key was still clutched tightly in her left hand. It was as if she was fearful of it vanishing before her very eyes at any given moment. With great caution, Lucy slowly opened her left palm. The key became visible to her eyes and for the first time since her sacrifice she allowed herself to gaze upon the broken object. The golden key sparked many emotions inside her heart and the recent sorrowful events that had transpired caused many more to bubble to the surface. Love, happiness, pride, sorrow, anger, regret, remorse, guilt, shame; all filled her soul and ran rampant throughout her body. She couldn't take it anymore. Too many emotions raged through her body consuming her heart mind and soul. Lucy threw her head back and let out a scream that faded into a sob. Tears began to stream endlessly down her face, the saltiness burning as they ran over her cuts. Sobs racked her body as she lowered her head back down. She gazed at her once bright guild mark on her right hand. Now it was marred with a deep gash, but she didn't care. For now that was not at the forefront of her mind. She once again clutched the key. She raised it so that her fist and the key now laid on her chest directly on her heart. With her other hand she lightly touched the new inky black marking sprawled across the front of her shoulders and her collarbone.
The Mage then let out a shaky breath and rose. She walked into her room and pull out a clear thin but durable plastic string. She looped the string thought her beloved broken key and tied it around her neck. She adjusted it so that the key was hidden in between her breasts.
By the time Lucy had made her way into the bathroom her tears had halted and her emotions had somewhat calmed down. She stripped and entered the shower. The scalding jets of water hitting her tired body helped her relax. Although it did sting when the water hit one of her cuts directly, the pain and water helped keep her mind off the current loss. When Lucy finished she stepped out and dried herself with a white fluffy towel. She then wrapped it around herself and gazed into the mirror. For the first time she was able to study the black markings on her chest. Her eyes widened in surprise and then softened in sorrow when she realized what the mark represented. It was the same marking located on the broken golden key now nestled in between her breasts.
Aquarius.
Painful memories came rushing back. The battle to defeat E.N.D. Her summoning Aquarius. Aquarius demanding that Lucy do the unthinkable to summon the Spirt King. To do something that completely went against her upbringing and her morals as a Celestial Wizard. She used Aquarius as a tool. She complied with her spirits demands and sacrifice her key to summon the Spirit King. In return Aquarius asked the Spirit King to grant Lucy her powers. Then the tattoo appeared along with her new found water magic and Aquarius's key shattered.
She had condemned her friend to a life in the spirit world. Without her key she would never be able to summon her dear friend. Aquarius would never enter the human world again.
Wetness trailing down Lucy's face snapped her back to reality. She once again gazed at herself in the mirror. Her gaze suddenly hardened. She angrily wiped her tears away and slammed her hands down on the counter. Glaring at the counter, she lifted her hand to touch Aquarius's key and she whispered, "I wear this key so I will never forget her as my friend." Lucy then moved her hand to trace her mark and speaking with confidence she said "I bear this mark in remembrance off her selfless sacrifice." She then slammed her hand on the counter and snapped her head up. Her eyes met her intense gaze in the mirror. Water began to swirl around Lucy's hands and feet. Her eyes changed into an ocean blue and flickered back and forth between different shades. Her mark glowed a blue green as she shouted "I will use this power just as she did, to protect those I care about or die trying." The magic that swirled around Lucy's hands gain pressure with the intensity of her words. To the point where her palms created small creators on the counter.
Noticing the destruction of her counter, Lucy released it and dissipated her magic. She got dressed and crawled into bed. She then fell into a dreamless sleep.
Unbeknownst to the Celestial Mage, her passionate proclamation had been heard among the spirit world. Upon hearing her moving words all the spirits began to cry. Tears silently fell down their faces. The twelve zodiac and the mysterious thirteenth zodiac where all in the presence of the Spirit King at the time, speaking about the recent events, when they heard Lucy's moving words. At the end of her speech the zodiac as well as the king where all in tears. Aquarius was on the floor sobbing. She never knew that her master had cared to that extreme about her and she treated her like crap, but it was her own twisted way of showing her unconditional love for her master. "Lucy, "the mermaid spirit murmured, "I love you too."