This is a dark version of Fairy Tail, with more Lucy-centre. Plus, this story is purely only for Loke/Leo and Lucy pairing.

Meaning, there will be dark violence, gore, languages, traumatic, blood, tortures, and abuses. Also, the characters will be different. Not too OOC, but different personalities which would make senses, for you readers to understand once you read this story. Promise.

Warning: unbeta. English is my second language. ASL is my first. I'm Deaf. *peace*

I don't own Fairy Tail!

Location: Kingdom of Fiore

Cities/Towns: Lupinus Town

Five Years & Half Later…

A young sixteen years old with blonde hair that grown to her mid-back length, curious yet excitement brown eyes, fair skin, and she wears blue tank-top, blue skirt, leather dark brown left thigh holster-bag, brown boots, and brown hat. Her name is Lucy Heartfilia as she stepped out of the train with luggage. Her eyes scanned her surrounding in awed by the buildings and streets that are filled with townspeople and an old castle in the distant. There is all kind of different types of flowers blooming in the garden surrounding the town. It was one of a nice town for sightseeing.

Lucy dragged her luggage down the path while glanced around with interested and curious. When her eyes landed on the Inn, she quickly went inside the building and greeted the Innkeeper. "Hello, I would like to book one room, please." Lucy asked with a friendly smile.

"Of course." The Innkeeper replied as she took out a logbook and a pen. She writes it down. "How long are you staying for?"

Lucy hummed with contemplative as she placed her index finger on her chin. "…I'll probably stay for three days and two nights." She answered.

"Understood, the cost is the total amount would be 3,000 Jewels." Lucy slightly grimaces at the cost. 'Yikes… not too bad but that's a little bit much just for two nights and three days! Especially, this is only for one room.' She mused and nodded her head as she paid for the room. "Your room is on the second floor, number twelve. Thank you for choosing Lupi Inn and I hope you enjoy your stay." The Innkeeper said with a professional smile as she handed the key to Lucy.

Lucy gently grabbed the key with a smile. "Thank you." She went upstairs, to the second floor and found the room where she'll be staying. She unlocked the door, walked in and shut it behind her quietly. The room was very simple yet nice. A bed with soft blue blankets along with blue and white pillows, nightstand with magic clock, a white sofa in the middle of the room with dark brown coffee table, dark brown dresser pushed against the wall next to the window with white curtains, and another door that lead to the bathroom.

The young girl walked to the bed, set her luggage next to it and she plopped on the bed. "I can't believe… I did it." She mumbled with shocked, amazed, and excited. She actually managed to run away from her home. And now she gets to taste real freedom. A wide smile appeared on her face, this means she gets to do whatever she wants with her own time, her own decision, and her own happiness.

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Touch the Light

[Freedom Arc]

Chapter One

"Lucy Heartfilia"

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Lucy decided to take a stroll as she observed her surroundings. It's one of the nice, peaceful towns she has visited so far. When she found a delicious-looking bakery, she went in and brought a few mini cupcakes in a carry cute box. Lucy left the bakery as she decided to eat her cupcakes once she is in the meadow. She hummed softly while walking down the path, stopped a few times to observe the displays through the windows and/or overlook the objects on the vendors.

Finally, she arrived the perfect, beautiful meadow filled with bloomed flowers and there are a few benches around. Lucy went to one of the empty benches near the tree, she sat down as she placed a box next to her. Her brown eyes examined the beauty that nature brings. A few minutes later, she grabbed a mini cupcake, peel the cup holder and took a bite. She hummed with a yummy treat in her mouth.

After the blonde-haired girl finished the mini cupcakes. She cleaned off the frosted from her lips then leaned back against the bench with satisfied. Her eyes stared at the sunsetting sky, it was breathtaking, especially with flowers around her and castle in the distant.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" Lucy snapped out of it. She turned her attention to an elder man who looked at her with concern. "Are you new here? A tourist, perhaps?"

Lucy blinked. "Uh, n-no. I'm a mage." She said with a smile.

"I see. I suggest that you should head inside of Inn or a place to stay the night. It's dangerous out to be alone." The elder man said while he glanced at the sunset. "It's not safe."

Lucy tilted her head. "Why is it not safe? Isn't this one of the peaceful towns?" she asked with curious and confused. The elder man sighed heavily and turned his gaze back to her.

"Unfortunately, no. There's been trouble that causes every night to be difficult."

Lucy turned her body to the elder man with even more confused. "I don't understand, what's going on? Maybe I could help." She offered in the end since she is a mage.

"…well, you did say that you're a mage. Although you look a little young, are you strong?" the elder asked with curious.

Lucy hummed as she nodded her head. She likes to believe she is strong enough, especially she has strong friends who will fight with her. The elder man noticed her determined eyes, then he sighed softly. "Since a couple of months ago, there was a strange, hollow noise during the night. It lives in the castle, and every night, a strange suspicion creature came out and wander around here. One man, volunteers to hunt down the monster. But, the next day, he was gone. It's almost as if he has vanished from the Earthland. Forever. The mayor asked been requested for help but no mages from any guild want to accept it, they just assumed it was all superstition and false." He explained, solemn.

"I see…" Lucy frowned as her brown eyes glanced over at the castle. "So, this monster will come out from that castle and wander around here?" the elder man nodded her head. "Well, then! I'll defeat this monster and bring the peace back to this town." Lucy decided to help with a grin on her face.

The elder man was surprised but then a grateful smile appeared on his face. "That would be a relief for us. However, are you sure? Since you are alone, unless you have friends with you?" he asked with concerned.

Lucy nodded her head. "Don't worry about me. I'm not alone." She glanced around in cautioned then she reached down to unbutton her leather thigh-holster-bag to showed off her metal ring with keys. The elder man's eyes widen in shocked and amazed.

His eyes dart at her with disbelieved. "I-I-I thought…" he halted as he glanced around in cautioned as well and leaned forward. "I thought your kind were supposedly hiding, you know… from the infamous Stars Slayer." He whispered so lowly.

"True that we are hiding but… I won't hide from someone who needs help." Lucy said with determined.

The elder man was amazed and awestruck by her confident and determined then he smiles warmly at her. "I see. Once you have accomplished this, please meet me here tomorrow?" Lucy nodded her head. "I wish you luck." He bowed respectfully then walked away.

'It's almost night time, and soon a monster will come out of that castle.' Lucy mused as she stood up, grabbed a bakery box and walked back to the town area. 'I need to repaper for the fight!'

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The moon shines in the sky as the town are filled with an eerie silence and empty. Standing close to the lamppost that brightens up the dark area. Lucy crossed her arms while keeping her eyes at the distance of a castle. Her heart is pounding with nervous as her palm is sweating. But she can do this since she did volunteer to help this town, plus she is not alone so she can do it.

Then suddenly, a loud wailed heard through the dark night. Lucy shudders in fear then shook her head. 'I won't run! I will never run!' she mused, attempt to push away her fear. She can do this. Her brown eyes stared intensely at the castle, she could see a large shadow coming out of the large building.

Lucy immediately darts to the building, hid behind in the shadow while carefully, quietly observed the monster. Her eyes narrowed as she patiently waits for the monster to come in the clear light by the moon. She reached for her thigh holster-bag, take out one of her keys with cautioned and warily tip-toe to the area where the monster is.

Closer that she could see the height of a monster.

Colors showing up on the monster once she got to see it. It was black and white.

The monster has horns, tail, muscles, and chains.

Her other hand reaches for her whip as she narrowed her eyes at the monster who slowly turned around.

Lucy halted in shocked when the moonlight finally exposes the monster's appearance.

It's a bull that is an extremely tall, heavily muscular covered with heavy scars, both new and old. His body is in a black and white pattern similar to that of Holstein Friesian cattle, and the upper part of it, from the waist up, seems more massive than the lower one. His head is bovine in shape, with small, elongated ears jutting outwards from the sides of his head, and a pair of horns, testifying him as a bull, sitting on top of it. He has dark eyes, and his flat nose bears a large golden ring in it, similar to those worn by real bulls. His muscular chest bears six teats: two on his pectorals and four on his upper abdominal area. The tail sprouting from his back, ending in a dark tuft, is quite small if compared to the large mass of his body.

His massive body is mostly left bare: he's shown wearing a dark indumenta, similar to a pair of swim briefs, covering his groin, held up by a red, studded belt, with a circular, thin, golden metal buckle, with a pair of curved protrusions jutting outwards from it in its upper part. He also wears simple dark boots with lighter upper edges, consisting of three lines circling his legs, and has a red belt circling his neck, to which a golden cowbell is attached. His forearms are wrapped in bandages, and he wears brown fingerless gloves. Crossing his chest diagonally and passing over his right shoulder is a large, plain dark belt closed by a simple buckle.

His dark eyes are filled with agony, sadness, burden, and regret. It shows so clearly to Lucy as she knew who this "monster" is. 'No… it's not a monster… this is…' she overlooks at this creature once again with awed this time. "…Taurus." She has heard about this spirit before. 'One of the Zodiac Spirits! To think I'll meet one of them…'

Taurus flinched slightly by the name that came out of Lucy's mouth. He stared at her warily, with large suspicion and cautioned. The sound of metal clattered snapped Lucy's attention and she somehow missed the chains. Taurus has his ankles chained, the length has been him enough room to walk but not run, and his wrists are also chained but the length it long enough for a fist fight. Lucy frowned deeply when she observed it. "What…happened to you?" she whispered softly as she took a step forward but paused when the Bull's eyes widen in fear.

'Fear? Is he… scare of me? But why?' Lucy doesn't understand this. Then Taurus's jerked his head at the wood with concentration. Then he snapped at her with concerned yet nervous. "…leave… I don't want to hurt you, Miss." He pleaded the young girl.

"What?" Lucy furrowed her eyebrows at this. This is wrong, something is happening that she has a feeling she won't like this. At all. Lucy heard the snapped from branches coming from the woods while Taurus grimaced and frowned deeply.

"You have to leave. I can't…. I cannot hurt you… please. Run." The Bull begged and quickly turned his attention back to the woods. Lucy couldn't help but heed the Bull Spirit's warning and hide behind the bushes. There's no way she leaves the spirit alone, something terrible is going on and she is going to investigate it.

A figure of a man steps out of the dark woods. He has brown hair that slicked back, sharp green eyes, fair skin, and he wears expensive suit along with with red cape attached, black dress shoes, and red cane. The man narrowed at the Bull Spirit. "Why are you standing here? Shouldn't you find any preys." He stared at the spirit with disgusted eyes.

Taurus lowered his head at the man. "Soooorry Master."

'Master?!' Lucy blinked in shocked at the disrespectful to Bull Spirit.

Master scoffed. "Go find them, bring it here. Fail and you will receive the lash." He demanded his Bull spirit.

"Yes, Master." The Bull bowed that clearly showed the back of multiplies of lashes. Lucy's heart squeezes in horror and sickened. 'How can he do that to him?!' The Master whipped the Bull Spirit with his cane. "Hurry up, I don't have enough patience for your useless delay!"

Taurus flinched slightly as he nodded his head. He turned around, stalked off through the path that leads to the village. The Master crossed his arms with cruel and wickedness in his eyes. Meanwhile, Lucy nearly temped herself to attack this piece of a garbage man who dares to harm the spirits. Her brown eyes landed on a golden key that is attached around the man's neck. 'If I take that… then I can save Taurus from abuse.' She mused with thoughtful.

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Nearly, the night is almost over, and Taurus return to his Master while Lucy has been hiding behind the bushes. She ignores the pain in her muscles that she has been bending down for hours. Lucy leaned forward as she watches the man's anger released at Bull Spirit.

"What the hell is wrong with you, you moron?! You couldn't find a single prey?!" he snapped as he raised his cane. Taurus lowered his head while apologizing his master. "You made me waste hours, for weeks and not one human?!" the man glared at the Bull. "It seems that lash doesn't work for your brain. It seems I have to step up my punishment… I think it times for you to meet fire." He smirked with evil hunger. "Closed the Bull Gate." Master turned around, walked to the path that leads to the castle before Taurus vanished, back to the spirit world.

Lucy watched it in horror. "No… if this continue, Taurus will die." She immediately followed the terrible man, with strong determined that she will save the Bull Spirit without fail.

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Castle

Underground Cell

Luckily, Lucy has managed to sneak inside the castle which she finds that it is disturbingly easy. 'Then again, Lupinus Town is supposedly peaceful.' She mused. When she reached the underground of the castle, Lucy carefully examined the dungeons.

It was dark, gloomy, and cold. Each of the cells has corpses and skeletons. The smell was so awful, the blood, metal, coppers, vomits, urines, and foul that she couldn't identify. Lucy covered her nose while she walked down the dark path, passing the cells, attempted to ignore the demolished bodies surrounding her. Then, suddenly the smell of cooking flesh nearby that Lucy nearly gag. She turned to the direction where the terrible smell comes from.

The blonde-haired girl quickly darts toward to the door. When she was close, she could feel the blazing heat coming from the room through the closed door. Lucy clenched her fists, she knew, somehow, she knew that burning flesh is coming from the Bull Spirit. She took a step backward, raised her leg and shouted. "LUCY KICK!" she slammed the door opened that caught her attention. 'Good.'

Lucy stormed in but halted with large disbelieved and shocked eyes. In the middle of the room, on the platform where Taurus trapped in with anti-magic straps. He was moaning in pain, sweating with agony, as the half of his upper torso is covered with tar and burnt. The flesh is melting right off his fur. Tears appeared in Lucy's eyes when she saw how much, terribly agony this Bull Spirit in. She gritted her teeth in anger and turned her attention to the man as she ignores the other man who is holding fire poker. "You… you are disgusting bastards! How can you treat Taurus this?!"

Master narrowed his eyes at Lucy. "Who are you? How dare you come to my castle without my permission!"

"Fuck permission! How dare you hurt him!" Lucy's tears run down as she took out her whip. "He doesn't deserve it!"

Master took out his cane as he snorted. "That's none of your business little girl. He's my spirit, I can do whatever I want."

"He has feelings! All spirits are not tools! They are real beings who have heart and feelings! They have their own thoughts, likes, dislikes, everything like us! We are their equal!" she snapped.

The master chuckled humorlessly at her. "Spirits have feeling? Now that, that is funny."

Lucy glared at the man hatefully. She glanced at the hooded man, she snapped her whip at him, caused the hood man jerked back as he dropped the fire poker. Lucy immediately stand in front of Taurus, protectively.

Taurus shook his blurry eyes as he watches the blonde-hair lady, defending him. "Mooo… Miss…" he recognized her and his master noticed it.

"I see… it seems that you did found prey but never capture them." Master glared at Bull spirit which causes Lucy shook in furious. She grabbed her golden key and shove in the air. Gasped heard when they saw her key.

"I summon the Giant Crab, Cancer!"

Cancer appeared through the golden lights. Cancer's hair is black and braided in red cornrows that end in a shape that resembles crab's pincers, he has thick lips and he wears a blue striped shirt and dark trousers with two aquamarine stripes each side, also wearing boots in his feet. In his pants, there's a ring chain in the right pocket and a hairdresser tools' bag in the left side of his belt. He wears a golden necklace and carries two scissors. Plus, wears sunglasses with green lens. He also has six crab legs that appear from his back. "What can I do for you, Lucy? -ebi?" Cancer asked with politely.

"Get him. I'll release Taurus from the anti-magic straps." Lucy said, Cancer glanced over at his owner and surprised to see Taurus trapped against the platform. His body twitched when he noticed his long-time old friend is covered in scars and terrible wounds. He turned back to the man who is more likely Taurus' owner.

"Understood. -ebi." Cancer held up his scissors with a blank face. "Enchanted Speed." He whispered then straight to the man who is scared to face him.

Lucy used her famous kicked at the hooded man to knocked him out and quickly snapped the straps off from Taurus. When all the straps are off, Taurus fell forward slowly, and Lucy yelped in surprised. She doesn't have enough strength to hold him, however, luckily Cancer caught the Bull spirit. "Please, take him out of the room." Lucy asked her spirit.

She watched Cancer carried Taurus carefully out of the boiling hot room. Lucy turned her attention back to the unconsciousness master and feeling smug when she saw his hair was cut off to bald and left a quite few cuts. She decided to ignore it, 'He deserves it.' She walked to him, leaned down to take the golden key from his neck. "You don't deserve to be called Celestial Spirit Mage, you bastard." She spat.

The blonde-haired girl walked out of the room, shut it behind her and locked it. "Now, let's see if you can get out on your own." She grumbled. Then turned around, her eyes soften when she saw Cancer overlook at Taurus' wounds. "Will he be okay? Can… can all those scars heal?" Lucy asked Cancer with worried.

Cancer frowned and shook his head. "No, all these wounds… they are special kind. The cursed scars that spirits will never vanish. It's forever marked on his body.-ebi. Fortunately, the wounds will heal, but the scars will remain. -ebi." He explained blankly.

"Oh, poor Taurus." Lucy whispered softly as tears spilled from her eyes. She couldn't imagine what this Bull Spirit truly went through such horrible, hell tortures by his former master's abuse.

Cancer noticed Bull key in Lucy's hand. "You take him? -ebi?"

Lucy gently stroked the Zodiac key. "If he wants me to be his partner. If not, I will respect his decision."

"….why… are yooooou helping me, miss?" Taurus finally speak up as he glanced at Lucy nervously.

The Celestial Spirit Mage smiles warmly at the Bull spirit. "Spirits don't deserve to be a trap and treated as a slave. They are equal to us." Then she carefully bends down, close to the Bull spirit not enough to touch as she doesn't want to make him scared of her. "That man is no longer your master. I have your key now, and I'm going to hold on to it. I won't call you until you are healed and well enough. It would be wonderful if we can work together, as partners." She tilted her head while Taurus stared at her in disbelieve. "You can think about it, as long as you want, whenever you're ready to answer me. Take your time. No rush, alright?"

Taurus's eyes are still fear, confuse, curious, nervous, yet one small new emotion spark. Hope. "…No rush?" Lucy nod. "…take as looooong as I want?" again, she nods. "…noooo return… to… him…" she shook her head. "….free?" Lucy's smiles brightly with shining brown eyes as she nodded her head.

"Yes, you are free from him. Now, you are yourself. For now, I want you to return to your world, heal and rest. I will send my magic through your key, if I didn't gain any knowledge from your magic, then I will wait until you are ready to talk to me. When you are ready, I will summon you. Will that be acceptable to you, Taurus?"

The Bull spirit couldn't help it but, when was the last time he heard his name from someone? His eyes started teary as he nodded his head. He couldn't speak since he's too… emotional. "Good. I hope you heal well in your world."

"….thank you…" the Bull spirit whispered with soft gratitude and closed his eyes. He vanished, return to his spirit world.

Lucy turned to Cancer. "Please watch over him?" Cancer nodded his head and vanished, back to his spirit world as well. The blonde-hair girl sighed softly, she stood up and walked down the cermet path. 'Now, time to see that old man.'

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Meadow

The sun rises brightly in the morning sky. The elder man is sitting on the bench, waiting. When he spotted the blonde-hair mage. "You are safe! The monster?" he asked with concerned.

Lucy smiles at the elder man. "It's gone." She doesn't want to report the terrible mission to an innocent elder.

"Thank you… thank you so much." The elder man smiles warmly at her. "As a mayor of this town, allow me to reward you." Lucy was taken aback by this news. She has not expected that this elder man is a mayor, especially when he is dressed as one of the townspeople.

"A-ah, there's no need!" Lucy couldn't accept the reward since she hardly did much. Besides, she was satisfied with her own reward. To gain a new friend, a new partner, a new family member. Hopefully.

The elder man smiles at her. "You are a very selfless young mage, it wouldn't be right not to give you the award. Please, I insist."

Lucy slumped her shoulders. "…if you insist." She gave her a resigned smile. So, she followed the elder man to his home, to received Jewels that last her a month or two for train expense and Inn. Lucy bowed with thankful for the reward and said her farewell to the elder man. She left the mayor's house, to the Inn where she is staying.

Once she arrived at the room in the Inn, she locked the door behind her and dropped the bag of Jewels on the coffee table. 'Shower and sleep sound perfect for me.' She mused, as she carefully set her thigh-holster-bag on top of the dresser where she put her keys in.

And that how's she first meets and saves Taurus.