She bathed in light, feeling her body light. She breathed that light slowly, and that made her mind rest peacefully. She was in bliss, in all aspects. For a moment, she forgot about it all. She only cared about this moment of happiness. Was she too selfish to forget what was happening on Earthland, to her comrades? Maybe… but she did her best. So a little piece of her knew she deserved this rest.

But then, she opened her eyes, and the light slowly faded away. She gasped for air suddenly, as if waking from a nightmare. Where was she? She looked around, and saw herself wrapped in white sheets. The walls were full of images, as if they were telling a story. Shells, sea, ships, temples, mermaids.

Only then did she fully remember. Mermaid… her first friend, Aquarius. This… was Aquarius' room. She felt it, her scent, her disappearing scent. There was no mistake, she was in the Celestial World. Without her knowing, tears slipped from her eyes, turning into golden sparks as they were falling. She had her eyes closed, with her chin raised. She wanted to hear it again, she wanted to know of her. But it was impossible now, wasn't it…?

"Lucy!" she heard her name called, and it all seemed as if she was taken back here, from some place far away. She turned her empty eyes to the person standing in the door's way, recognizing Loke. Seeing her state, he immediately pulled her into a tight hug, knowing her pain, wishing to take it all upon himself, once more. That was the pain of losing a friend, somebody whom you trusted, somebody who sacrificed herself for you…

"Lucy, Lucy…" he whispered in her ear, and she closed her eyes once more, crying freely. Her hand gripped on his shirt and she cried.

"Aquarius! She… died!" she screamed, not able to take the shock. She buried her face into his shoulder, feeling the urge to hide in a far away place and never come back again. She felt it in her whole being, the need of atonement for what she did, for letting her very first friend to die. Once again, she let a beloved person die in front of her…

"I know…" he whispered, feeling also the pain. Aquarius was a good friend, his nakama here. But it was her choice, and her duty to protect her Master. He knew he would do the same without hesitation, if it was for Lucy. "It wasn't your fault, Lucy. Don't blame yourself." He added, knowing it best. After all, he still blamed himself for Karen's death.

"It was!" she screamed, biting her lip. "It was… my fault… if only I was stronger! If only I noticed it sooner!" she tried to find a gateway, something to allow her to fully place the blame on herself. Loke placed a hand on her head, pained. What could he do to ease her pain…?

"You did what was right. Nobody, not even Aquarius blames you for that… I, and everybody else here, would have done the same for you, for our most beloved princess… " He tried to console her, but he wasn't sure of the result. She screamed.

"Nooo! Never say that again! I am not worth that much. It was all my fault…" her hands were shaking, and she trembled from her very core. A howling of water was heard outside the rooms, and Loke looked on the window, in the middle of the column pillars, seeing the water surrounding the temple of Aquarius swirl in circled, all the way to the sky. It reacted to Lucy's emotions, making a chaotic rondo. Winds and Waves unleashed, making a protective shell around this holy place for Aquarius, now for Lucy, the mistress. The Air Sign that controls water. Nobody ever knew why Aquarius only used the waters all this time, but maybe Lucy will learn to use them both, to accept both sides of her.

A loud sound, a bell, was heard, loud. The waters fell, and Lucy's eyes widened, stopping her from crying. Loke sighed, and looked at her confused face. He could read the attraction in her eyes. It was the same for everybody.

"Come Lucy, the Spirit Kings summoned the Zodiac. You also must come." He reached out with his hand, after breaking up the hug. Confused, but attracted to the mysterious sound, she slowly placed her small hand into his. There, the pink sign of Fairy Tail was still found, remembering her of home. She hung her head, knowing she ended it all.

Once outside, she noticed the floating islands. Golden stairs were all leading to a big Palace floating high into the sky, and twelve temples surrounded it into a spiral, each of them bearing a sign of the Zodiac. She turned her eyes to the one they came out from, and saw the sigh of Aquarius, the blue waves. From the top of the castle, waterfalls were flowing, making the whole building look like a giant fountain. So many white balconies and glass windows shone, sparkled by the water, all the way until it reached the ground, where a lake was found. And as the lake came forth, the lake made another waterfall, the water falling outside the floating island, forming a serpent river into the air of this world. It was beautiful.

"Let us go then. You can come and explore this all later." Loke gave her a look full of hope, seeing the fascination in her eyes. She was drawn to this place, feeling as if she could call it home. Maybe it was because it was the temple of Aquarius, which she became…

They stepped on the golden stairs, and as her feet reached the first step, she noticed that it was made of light. It shone brightly, guiding them all the way to their destination. She laughed, feeling the breeze blow in her hair as Loke ran with her, racing like little children to the top. Why did she laugh, when her heart was in such pain? Even she wasn't able to answer that question, and that made her guilty.

"Welcome, Leo, Aquarius." A woman with chains on her wrists smiled, bowing to them as they stepped through the frond gates.

"Yo, Andromeda. Good work." Loke waved to her, and continued his way with Lucy inside the castle. Their steps echoed in the maze like halls, painted with constellations. She looked at each of them, noticing their sparkling stars. They were true stars, and that meant… they were the constellations from Earthland, mirrored here, at their place of birth.

"Just go that way and enter the gate with your sign on. You'll do fine, trust me." Loke said, placing his hands on her shoulders in an attempt to encourage her. She nodded her head, hesitantly. But seeing Loke enter his own gate, she turned to her own. It was a golden gate, with the two waves drawn on its surface. Shells adorned it and she felt attracted to it, as if it said 'You belong here. Don't be afraid.' She breathed deeply and touched it. At her simple touch, it opened, and shining light came from the crack. She pushed on it even more, and finally stepped into that light, becoming one with it.

When she opened her eyes, she could see smiles addressed to her. Twelve balconies were arranged in a big circles, making a very big space in the middle. She could see everybody, at their respective gate, respecting the order of the Sun. To her right, Capricorn. To her left, Pisces. She looked up and she saw darkness. It was the darkness of the night, and the only light came from their gates, from their place of standing. They, the Zodiac, were the ones illuminating this dark world. She felt something warm in her heart at this thought.

And then, more light came, this time from the middle. In front of them, the Spirit King materialized, looking at them from his gigantic throne. His eyes fell on Lucy, and she gulped at his stare. But his lips curled into a saddened smile.

"Welcome, old friend, the eleventh sign of the Golden Zodiac, Water Bearer, Aquarius." He announced her with her new title, and she hung her head into shame.

"I'm not worthy of that name…" she murmured, but her voice was send forward by an echo, and it reached everybody.

"You are more worthy than you think. She gave it to you, with such pride. I trust my friend's decision, and commend her for her deed."

"But I KILLED her!" Lucy screamed, and in her eyes despair could be seen. The Spirit King closed his eyes.

"That is not true, my lady." Capricorn said, and her eyes fell on him, seeing him bow to her. "Any of us would be more than honored to die protecting our Masters. It is the duty of a celestial spirit." He said, and she gasped.

"And that is also your duty from now on, neo-Aquarius." Libra said, and Lucy turned her eyes to her, seeing her with a serious expression. "Should there be people summoning us from now on, you also must fulfill your role that was given to you."

"But even so, there are no more celestial mages aside Yukino." Pisces added, in their fish form.

"That girl is the only one who can use us now then." Sagittarius said, sighing.

"Are we fated to end here then?" Virgo asked, unsure what to think.

"Let's not lose hope, my friends. The miracle of having all 12 gates still did not happen. And until that day, we are to be summoned into the human world, no matter when shall that be." The Spirit King said, and once more looked to Lucy. "Aquarius, you came to us in an unusual way. You were a contractor, yet you know so less of our laws…"

"All contracts that you held upon are now nullified." Gemini announced.

"And all you have left is Aquarius power, in all its form." Scorpio said, smiling towards her.

"Yet Urano Metria still belongs to you, so you may use it. Whenever a golden gate opens before you, you shall drop anything you're doing and cross over. The contracts you make are up to you. You must protect your Master from any harm, the best you can. Advise him and may the gods help you find a Master as you were to us." The Spirit King gave his blessing and smiled. She could feel happiness, knowing that no one here blamed her for anything. But still… she blamed herself. That was her own fault…

"Then, today's meeting is adjourned. Let us each return to our places." Leo announced, as the leader of the Zodiac. Everybody turned to their gates and stepped back into that warm light. When Lucy opened her eyes again, she saw the Temple, her new home, stand in front of her. Sighing, she stepped ahead, but a golden gate, filling her eyes with light, opened in front of her, making a lovely sound of bells. Once more, she was fascinated, and without realizing, she opened it without touching it. The gate invited her inside, and she stepped in that world, no longer feeling pain from the air. That was… her first summon…