"'This was supposed to be a simple job'. She says." Horologium, Lucy's celestial clock spirit announced. He happily trudged up the snowy hill, with Lucy tucked away inside himself.
"It will be, once we reach that clearing up ahead." Gray pointed down about a mile in front of them to a strange area that was devoid of snow. While the entire landscape around them was covered in slush and ice, this small, circular area stood apart. Green grass covered the clearing, and Gray could barely make out small flowers dotting it as well.
The job listing had claimed that strange weather patterns had been affecting the area, negatively impacting a nearby town. One day, they would experience horrific blizzards. The next day, the snow would all have melted away to be replaced by temperatures well into the 100s (Fahrenheit). The odd patterns had annihilated the town's crops, making it near impossible for the townsfolk to have enough food. Through surveillance, the town's mayor and a few of the braver townspeople had determined it was due to a wizard living within the clearing. However, they lacked the magical abilities to combat the wizard.
A lead regarding the whereabouts of the dragons had caused Natsu and Wendy to be gone for the last several days. With Lucy in desperate need of rent money, she had convinced Gray and Juvia to take the job with her. A group of three Fairy Tail wizards had been requested by the town. One wizard should be no problem for the trio.
Lucy had hoped they would happen upon the area during one of the warmer phases. To her dismay, however, they were within one of the worst blizzards the town had experienced yet. Donning a red tank top and jean miniskirt, she crossed her arms, attempting to stay warm within Horologium.
"Isn't this weather the best?" Gray teased. He wore only a black pair of pants. It was clear that the ice make wizard was in his element.
Juvia's teeth chattered as she responded. "Y-yes. Su-such l-l-lovely weath-th-ther." Lucy simply glowered at Gray in response.
Several minutes passed as they finally came upon their strange destination. Horologium disappeared, landing Lucy on her bottom, unexpectedly. "Argh…! Can't he give me more of a warning?! At least he made it here… It's a lot warmer." She sighed happily, enjoying the change in temperature.
"Where do you think this wizard is?" Gray wondered aloud. He turned his head from side to side, examining the area.
Lucy and Juvia did the same. Suddenly, Lucy noticed a shimmer in the center of the circle. She approached it slowly, wondering what could be glittering so beautifully in the midst of the grass. She gasped as she recognized the familiar shape of the glittering object. It was a celestial key. This key was unlike any she had seen before. Instead of the silver of the lesser spirits, or the gold of the zodiac spirits, this key seemed to be made of glass. The symbol adorning the front was a black bolt of lightning. Grabbing the key, she ran back toward Juvia and Gray, who were lost in their own search efforts.
"Gray! Juvia! Look at this!" She held up the key. The sunlight shining down on the clearing played off of the cut of the glass, creating the same shimmer that had attracted Lucy.
"Is that a celestial key?" Gray asked. "What's it doing here, though?"
"I don't know…." Lucy stared at the beautiful key, intrigued.
A burst of wind suddenly rushed forth from the key, knocking it out of Lucy's hand. It fell a few feet away. The wind grew in intensity, nearly knocking the trio off of their feet.
"What's happening?!" Juvia called out.
"Is it the key?!" Yelled Lucy.
The vicious winds converged around the key, wrapping up into the sky to form a vortex. Lucy's heart pounded as the tornado moved toward them. The intensity became unbearable. Juvia was knocked back several feet, hitting her head against a tree and falling unconscious.
"Juvia!" Lucy was still barely holding her footing. Just as she felt her body losing its resolve, Gray stepped behind her and wrapped her in his arms, steadying her. His warmth in the cold wind surprised her skin. Suddenly, the tornado disappeared, leaving a man in its place. The man was large and muscular, with long, white hair, and a long, white beard. His body was transparent in a way, almost as though he was made of mist. Gray and Lucy eyed him with apprehension.
"I am Jupiter, God of storm. You have disturbed my key." His voice was low and foreboding.
Lucy scrambled behind Gray. "Sorry, your storminess. We were just looking for a wizard who has been messing with the weather around here."
The spirit chuckled. "There is no wizard. I have been altering the weather of this place."
"But… why?" Gray asked.
"A short time ago, several of the Gods were locked away in the celestial world, prisoners to keys that were scattered across the world. I once controlled the weather for all of Earth land. I am not meant to be imprisoned and controlled. However, my power has been restrained significantly since being trapped in this key. I can only break myself out once every few days for a short amount of time. I use my abilities when this happens… The world must know I still exist." Jupiter solemnly looked away. He wasn't sure why he was telling these strangers about his key. Something about the two, especially the girl, comforted him.
"Come to think of it… We really haven't seen any changes in the weather over the last month, have we, Gray?"
Gray thought for a moment and realized Lucy was right. The weather had been that of a gentle, spring day for over a month now. No one expect for this small area had experienced any significant changes in the weather. Minor temperature fluctuations, but there were no storms; rain, snow, wind, had all been lost.
"Sir Jupiter… Do you know what other Gods were locked away in celestial keys?" Lucy asked.
Jupiter silently shook his head. "It has happened slowly. Gods were taken one at a time from our world in the heavens. Slowly, they disappeared, while those of us left could not understand what was happening. It wasn't until it happened to me as well that I realized those who had gone before me must have been trapped in keys as well. There are many Gods, all controlling different aspects of your world. If they are all captured, your world will lose everything. Love, war, luck, reproduction. Your world will be left with nothing."
Lucy scowled at Gray. "Why can't we ever get an easy job?"