DISCLAIMER: I do not own Fairy Tail.


"What are you thinking, giving me to that little brat?" Aquarius screeched indignantly. The whole Heartfilia Manor seemed the shake with her fury. "I'd rather take commands from a cat!"

"Hush, Aquarius. Lucy is asleep," Layla scolded with a disapproving cluck.

"Do I look like I care? Lucy's still a kid — she can barely summon me without passing out! I refuse to have such a weak owner."

"You cannot deny that she has potential," Layla argued. "Give her a few years, and she'll be as strong as — if not stronger than — me. Besides, Lucy will only become your owner if she chooses to become a Mage."

"The kid idolizes you, Layla. Why wouldn't she become a Mage?" Layla shrugged, and Aquarius let out a ragged breath. "And just what will you be doing? Why are Cancer, Capricorn and I suddenly being given away?" she demanded, switching topics when she realized the previous one was a lost cause.

Layla gave the Water Bearer a sad smile. "In three days, it will be the seventh of July, X777," she said, toying with the key in her hands. "You know what will happen."

"And you intend to stop It? Are you mental?" Aquarius exclaimed. "I've lived for eons; I've seen It before. Sure, you're strong, but even you're not enough to stop It!"

"I found a spell when I was in the town library two weeks ago."

"So what? I just told you, nothing can stop... Oh no." The Spirit paled in realization. "Layla, that spell... The price for casting it..."

"I know what the price is," the noblewoman said grimly. "But I don't intend to let It wreak havoc on the world."

"At least take us with you! We'll use some of our magic, too. We can help you with this. Please, you don't have to die, Lay—"

Layla cut Aquarius off, something that would have sent her spiraling into the neighboring galaxy had the situation been less serious. "Protect Lucy for me, alright?" She smiled again, and Aquarius saw Layla's lip quiver before her Gate was forced shut.

"...Damnit, Layla," Aquarius hissed from the other side of the Gate. She punched the golden gate, and gnashed her teeth together. "Why are you always so fucking reckless?"

XxX

Water? What's Lucy doing in water? Whatever, if she needs me, she'll call.

...

Why hasn't she called yet?

...

Wait, is my Gate's light... dimming?

...

It is! Damnit!

There was a bright light as Aquarius opened her Gate and materialized in the moral world. "Lucy" She stopped short when she realized she was underwater. She searched the water around her frantically, and saw a mop of sinking blond hair below her. Aquarius swore before turning and launching herself downwards, tail propelling her furiously through the water, hoping, praying that she would get there in time —

Aquarius grabbed the girl's slim waist and shot to the surface of the water. She scouted for land, working way harder than she should've to keep both her and Lucy afloat. Spotting the shore of the lake, Aquarius made her way to it. She doubled her speed when she realized Lucy wasn't breathing, and immediately drew the water out of Lucy's lungs upon reaching dry land. The blond's eyes snapped open, then squeezed shut as she trembled and went into a coughing fit.

"Aqua...rius," Lucy managed in between coughs. "How...?"

"I opened the Gate myself," Aquarius said curtly. "Leo's not the only strong one here. But that's irrelevant. What's relevant is —"

"My bag!" Lucy exclaimed, frantically twisting and smacking Aquarius in the face with her hair. She sighed in relief when she patted the brown satchel at her waist, then cringed upon realizing that she had just interrupted Aquarius. "Ahem. Um. Go on?"

A vein throbbed on the Spirit's forehead, and a typhoon swallowed her owner. "As I was saying," Aquarius said as the typhoon disappeared and Lucy gasped for breath, "Why the hell were you in the bottom on a lake?"

"It's a funny story, really," Lucy began with a nervous laugh. Aquarius gave her an icy glare, and Lucy shrunk back. "Well, we we as in Team Natsu were on an escort mission. We had to bring an heiress to her family's summer home, but we got attacked by some bandits on the way. Our client was cornered on a cliff, and I kinda barreled through the bandits. i saved her from falling, but I ended up falling myself and I couldn't swim because I had six solid gold necklaces in my satchel and pleasedon'tkillmeIdidn'tmeantofalloffI'msorry."

Lucy yelped as Aquarius smacked the back of her head. "Don't ever do that again," Aquarius hissed.

"Y-Yes ma'am!" Lucy squeaked. The Water Bearer absently drew the water off Lucy's body, then sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"You're just like your mother," Aquarius muttered to herself. "Always so damn reckless."

Lucy cocked her head to one side. "What?"

"Nothing," Aquarius snapped. "Don't call on me for the next three weeks. I'm going on a vacation with my boyfriend." After a moment, she repeated it again for emphasis. "Boyfriend. Something you'll never have. Boyfriend."

"Will you just leave already?" Lucy grumbled in annoyance.

"What was that?"

"Nothing! Have a nice vacation!"

"Hmph." Aquarius shimmered as she crossed the Gate, and swore heard a very faint "Thank you." from the voice of a very familiar, very dead, noblewoman, just before she vanished completely.


This is the first of ten (maybe more, depending on my muse and if Lucy ends up with Libra and Pisces or not) installments in Star Light, Star Bright. I hope I don't screw this series over too horribly.

Anyways, regarding updates. Update schedules don't exist for me. Chapters come when my brain is actually functional and my muse isn't being a prissy little bitch. Which is about one per-cent of the time when I'm able to write/jot down ideas. Most of the time ideas come as I'm trying to sleep. My muse is an ass.

Thanks for reading!