DEDICATED TO LITTLEPRINCESSNANA BECAUSE SHE'S MY WIFE.
Drowning Star
Lucy POV
(Flashback)
"You may be strong enough to summon the Spirit King."
"I don't have his key..."
"It's a substitution sacrifice..."
"I can't sacrifice any of you!"
"Lucy, break my key..."
"I can't do that!"
"DO IT! SAVE YOUR FRIENDS!"
"I don't want to lose a friend for a friend!"
"I'm not going to die! I don't even really like you."
"But... I like you.
"Pfft, you were nothing like Layla... No grace, still just a boyfriend-less klutz."
She had tears in her eyes...
"I-I CALL UPON THE STARS! O-OPEN GATE OF THE CELESTIAL SPIRIT KING!"
The first key I'd ever touched, shattered like glass.
"Goodbye... Lucy."
I fell to the ground as the last of the celestial water power left my body. Stache-Face had set all my friends free, and I was fully drained of magic. I felt my body protest but I rolled over and looked down, her tattoo that had appeared on my chest faded away, fizzling off me like smoke. I watched the ink disappear, so suddenly; just like her.
She was mean.
She called me a brat and bitch when I acted "uppity"
She bragged about her boyfriend and mocked my lack of one.
She was always taking me out along with my enemies.
but, she was my ace in the hole
She was my strongest and most stubborn friend.
She... she was my first summoned spirit.
I felt my tears well up and spill over my face as I looked up at the sky, it was day; but I knew the stars were up there. Were they disgusted with me? That I had taken one of their owns gate and crushed it? That never again one of their sisters was confined to the heavens only?
Had I failed?
I clenched my teeth and felt the shuddering sob before it left my lips. I felt the chocking sensation come up my throat; I was gasping, coughing, and wheezing. I rolled over onto all fours and hacked as the tears kept flowing, my nose running and the ground in front of me fading into dark gray as I cried. I felt my hand sting and looked down; under my hand was a glint of gold. I rubbed my eyes to see it.
And immediately regretted it.
It was her key, those two sharp waves embedded in a broken key. The jagged edge where it had broken dug into my palm as I gripped it. I sat back and watched the light shine over my broken friend. I bit my lip and ignored the metalic taste in my mouth as the chocking feeling came back up.
"A... Aqua... AQUARIUS!" I screamed, holding her key out. "O-open... please." I knew it wouldn't work. I had done this, it was her choice... but I had done this.
~After E.N.D.~
Lucy POV
It's been 2 days... It seems so much longer... I need something to keep me occupied. I tried not to sleep, my subconscious was a movie reel of what happened with E.N.D., always stopping at the scene where Aquarius' key broke in my hand. I looked at my hand and sighed, the scratch on my palm was healing. But I didn't feel better. I didn't look better even though the dragons had saved us, we were all worse for wear.
I looked in my mirror and put some make up on my under eyes to hide the bags. I got dressed in my usual top and some shorts and grabbed my keys and whip. I reached for Aquarius' key and flinched a little but picked it up. I put it in my pocket instead and walked out the door. I headed to the guild ruins and saw Wendy was there with Charlie, Master and Warren. Warren looked a little shocked at master but nodded and ran off. Master waved and walked further into the guild rubble. Wendy was talking with Charle and saw me.
"Lucy! It's good to see you!"
I smiled my "Lucy" smile and laughed, "Yeah my house was a wreck. How're you Wendy?"
"I'm fine! Charle and I stayed with Mira and her siblings." She smiled
"The 'manly' one is almost as boisterous as the Flame boy." Charle muttered
"Charle! He's not feeling well, you know that!" Wendy scolded, she looked at me and her smile fell, "He's feeling a little guilty for what happened to the guild."
"It's not his fault, he was controlled." I said, I looked at our guild and empathized with him. I felt the same way when my Papa had broken the guild with Phantom Lord. I saw Wendy nod while brushing her short hair back. "Do you miss your long hair?"
Wendy seemed surprised at the change of subject but she nodded a little sheepishly. "I liked it when Grandeeny and I floated around; she said my hair was pretty... I miss her."
I nodded, Grandeeny was basically Wendy's mom and she had lost her, I pulled out Cancer's key, "I understand. Open, Gate of the Crab Palace, Cancer!"
I heard the tell-tale ding dong of the celestial door and he came out snapping his scissors and bowed a bit. I sighed in relief, happy that I was able to open the door and hear his voice. "What's up Ebi?" He asked, acting normally.
"Hi Cancer, could you help Wendy's hair be long again? Like with Flare?" I ask
"No problem Ebi." He snapped his scissors and combed the growth shampoo through Wendy's blue locks, then cut a little to make it the way it was. "All done Ebi."
"Wow, it's all grown again! Thank you Cancer!" He nodded as Wendy turned to me
"As I thought, you look better like this Wendy!" I smiled, happy to finally see a smile. The last one I'd truly seen was a teary and sad one.
"-ucy...Lucy?" Wendy asked as I snapped back to reality
"Sorry, what'd you say?"
"Will you let yours grow out some too Lucy?"
I fake thinking about it. "Huh, I don't know." I knew I wouldn't, I would look like Mama; and I didn't deserve that. I saw Cancer frown a bit and I looked at him. "Sorry I don't think so." I looked down and my hand unconsciously brushed the key in my pocket.
"Call me whenever... Lucy." Cancer said before leaving in a flash of gold sparkles I felt myself want to cry again. Cancer last called me Lucy when I lost Mama.
"Lucy are you okay? You uhm, smell tired and sad?" I looked at our healer looking worried
"You're a young lady, take care of yourself." Charle added
"Yeah, I've just been. Tired? I guess, it's been pretty hectic lately."
"I suppose, but you look so much more worn out." Wendy fretted, with Charle nodding.
"I haven't been sleeping well. I think I'll ask Polyusica for some medicine. Her potions have helped before." I said, she really did help so I suppose that was a good idea.
"Okay, be careful Lucy. Do you want me to come with you?"
"Nah, I'm fine!" I smiled again, "I'm only a little sleepy!" I waved and started to walk away, refusing to walk on the ledge or call out Plue. I just wanted something to distract me. I looked out and saw the water sparkling brightly, and then a cloud covered the sun making it dark... I sighed. I went to the bridge and sat on the rail for a bit. I hadn't lied, but I felt guilty hiding it from Wendy. I hadn't truly slept since before E.N.D. only an hour or two before the nightmare-memory made me cry all night. I looked down and saw my reflection and scoffed. I swung my legs back and forth. I heard laughter, I looked to my left where the park was and saw the fountain I made Aquarius pretend to be a sculpture, children were running around laughing while the mermaid they'd built in the fountain started to pour water out of her hands. I felt my throat constrict and started to wheeze. Before I knew it my grip loosened and I started to lean forward, about to land in the river.
"LUCY!" I felt the pull of a celestial door open and a hand had pulled me back I landed on someone and turned, I met the eyes of Loke, looking frantic and scared.
"Lo-ke..." I stuttered, I don't know why I thought it was her. His voice was gruff and male. Hers was sharp but beautiful, even if it was cold.
"What were you thinking?! Were you trying to kill yourself?!" He cried, not caring about the people staring at us.
"N-no, I was s-sitting and thinking and then I-" He started to tear up
"The river here is deep, you could've drowned!" Loke shouted before hugging me, "Be careful! Please, we all need you Princess. I need you..." I lifted my arms and wrapped them around his neck. I felt tears come to my eyes again.
"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry." I whispered knowing he was right about one thing. I knew the feeling I was going through...
I was drowning.