Lily closed her eyes as her mother's fingers brushed through her blonde hair. Truth be told, she didn't know what to feel when it comes to Layla. The woman was the one who would bring Natsu and the other dragon slayers to her and Lucy's time after all and then just die. That's basically all Lily knew about her own mother, aside from Layla's love for Celestial Spirits and caring attitude.
Layla was basically a mystery to Lily. She didn't know what went through her mother's head at all. She didn't even know if her mother was planning on teaching her magic too, along with Lucy. But then things would be complicated, wouldn't it? After all she and Lucy couldn't both own the Celestial Spirit keys.
"What are you thinking about Lily?" Layla gently asked noticing her daughter's frown.
"The one to inherits your keys," Lily started hesitantly before realizing she had to know. "Will it be Lucy or me?" Lily firmly asked.
If there was one thing that Lily could love without a doubt, it was Magic. Just like everyone else, she had often fantasized about how it would be like to wield Magic, but unlike everyone else she actually had the chance to live it.
"Do you want to inherit them?"
Lily could imagine herself being a Celestial Spirit Mage. She could imagine summoning Aquarius and letting her enemies suffer the wrath of her friend. She could imagine trying on a new hairstyle everyday because of Cancer. She could imagine learning hand-to-hand combat from Capricorn. She could imagine flirting with Leo and kicking ass with him. She could imagine walking around with Virgo wherever she went. She could imagine having archery contests with Sagitarius. She could imagine getting into drinking contests with Taurus. She could imagine having Gemini change into her old body just so she could see it again. She could imagine herself coming up with different ways to push Libra's buttons. She could imagine Scorpion coming to her each time he pisses Aquarius off for advice. She could imagine her and Pisces swimming together at the pool. She could imagine trying to boost Aries' self confidence.
Then, one day learning their Star Dress. Maybe even apprentice under the Spirit King one day.
"Lily?" Layla asked making Lily open her eyes.
"Answer my question first."
Layla didn't seem the least bit annoyed as she gave a sad smile. "Whichever shows the most talent in it."
'Then it's a fifty-fifty chance of me owning them.' Lily concluded to herself.
She imagined herself as a Celestial Spirit Mage again before sighing.
As much as she loved the possibility in her head, she knew that those keys? They didn't belong to her. They belong to Lucy. Whether or not she showed more talent than Lucy, she would decline the keys. Celestial Spirit Magic wasn't the only one out there after all. She could learn element-based magic, she could learn takeover magic and she could even learn another holder Magic if she wanted to.
Or if she felt like taking the whole being Lucy's twin to the next level, she could learn the caster version of Celestial Magic. Then she and Lucy could become the Celestial Twins, they'd be so badass.
She could join Blue Peagus Pegasus and later Sabertooth. No way was she going to join Fairy Tail, every shit that happened in the series was connected to Fairy Tail after all. She'll leave the drama to her dear sister and future brother in law. Hell, if Lucy really needed the help Lily would go and help, but no way was she going to put herself in the middle of all that plot.
For now she just had to worry about being Jude's perfect little heiress.
.o0o.o0o.
Lucy felt a swell of admiration as her twin sister entered the spacious piano room wearing a beautiful blue gown. She watched as Lily's posture, which their tutors never failed to compare to her own lacking one, never faltered as the heiress walked towards the piano without sparing the guests a glance.
Lucy almost giggled at the disdain hidden in her sister's cool brown eyes. Lily never failed to tell her how much she hated their father's penchant for throwing balls, whether the purpose being business or partying. This time it was a Valentine's day ball, which their father would organize each year in their mother's honor. Lucy would always gush about how romantic the whole ordeal was while Lily would wonder why their father wouldn't just settle for making a statue of Layla or a castle dedicated to Layla.
"Valentine's just a huge drag. It's stupid." Lily would always groan.
Yet despite that, whenever their parents would dance together, Lucy would see Lily gazing at their loving looks with pure and utter longing. Just as they shared their love for Magic, Lucy was sure she and Lily were both romantics at heart. Both dreaming to find someone who looks at them the way their father looks at their mother.
"Good evening," Lily's soft spoken voice brought Lucy out of her musings. "This year I shall be playing a self-composed song dedicated to every couple in this room. I'd appreciate it if everyone participated in a dance."
Lucy felt a twinge of envy at how mature Lily sounded despite only being seven. Her sister always seemed to live in a different world. Yet, Lucy found that she didn't envy the fact that everyone were placing their high expectations of the Heartfilia Estate's future on Lily. In fact she kind of felt sorry for her sister for never getting the chance to play around like she did.
'But...one day we'll get mama's keys. Lily will get Aquarius, because they're like best friends, and I'll get Cancer. Lily and I will be the best Celestial Spirit Mages in all of Fiore!' Lucy determinedly smiled.
"Then, let's begin."
Lucy almost panicked realizing she didn't have a partner. But then she remembered that Lily asked for the couples only.
What would I do without your smart mouth?
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
What's going on in that beautiful mind
I'm on your magical mystery ride
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright
Lucy hummed along to the song as she watched her parents dance. The seven year old, for all her claims at being a romantic, couldn't understand how people could seemingly love someone else more than they loved themselves. She knew it wasn't the same as putting Lily before her needs. It wasn't family love, it was different.
It was breathtaking? No, that wasn't the word for it. Was there even a word to describe the look her parents were sharing? Whatever the word could be called, she wanted someone to look at her like that one day.
My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind
Out of the corner of her eyes Lucy caught a boy her age staring at her sister with an awed look.
Lucy almost giggled, it looks like her sister has an admirer.
.o0o.o0o.
"Ojou-sama, Lucy-chan, good morning!"
Lily clicked her tongue in annoyance as Lucy cheerfully greeted the Heartfilia Estate's staff.
"For the last time, I'm not your boss yet, so simply call me Lily." Lily ordered as Lucy giggled.
"B-but Ojou-sama! We couldn't disrespect you like that!"
Lily groaned at the unison answer. "Please, kill me now."
"Ojou-sama, death isn't the answer!" The staff cried.
"I didn't mean it literally!" Lily yelled back at the dense workers before shooting Lucy an annoyed glare. "What are you smiling about brat?" What could she say? Aquarius was a big influence on her.
"Nothing~! Let's go, Ace of the Heartfilia!" Lucy chirped before running away.
Lily chased after her twin. "Get back here Blondie!"
"You're blonde too!"
"SHUT UP!"
The staff smiled as Lily chased a giggling Lucy. They truly loved the twins and would continue purposely annoying their Lily in order for the girl to have that childlike expression she wore whenever she corrected their behavior.
.o0o.o0o.
"Lillllllyyyyyy."
"Go to sleep Lucy." Lily groaned shutting her eyes tighter.
"Liiiiiiiiilllyyyyy."
"I swear I'll kick you out."
"..."
"Finally."
"L-i-l-y."
"What?!" Lily snapped opening her eyes to give Lucy an annoyed look.
"I love you."
Lily cringed. She wasn't good with the whole proclaiming affections thing. "Feeling's mutual. Sorta. What do you want?" Because really, Lucy wouldn't be giving her the puppy eyes otherwise.
"A story."
"No. Go to sleep."
"Aww, please?"
"Piss off."
"Please?"
"Do you see the moon outside? It means it's night. Which means sleep. Which means me getting my beauty sleep."
"But you nap a lot!"
"And you talk a lot, but you don't see me complaining."
"Just one story?"
In response Lily kicked Lucy out of her bed.
Lucy landed with a thud. "Well then, I'll tell a story!"
Despite her eyes being closed, Lily could feel Lucy puffing out her cheeks in annoyance. It was a tic Lucy had. Just like her future brother in law's trademark I'm all fired up!
"Be my guest." Lily casually said as she snuggled into her pillow.
"Ahem. Once upon a time, there was a boy, around our age, who I assume heard the rumors of how cold the older of the twin princesses was, but despite that he fell in love with the cold princess. For despite her cold exterior, the cold princess was a big soft teddy-"
Lily cut Lucy off with a pillow to the face. "First of all, ever heard of subtle? I literally cringed at how amateurish the story sounded and you had to push it by being so cliche. Second of all, I am not cold, I just have an overwhelming aura. Third of all, I am not a soft teddy bear." Lily then took a deep breath before leveling a smiling Lucy with a flat look.
"Who the hell is this boy?" Her interest was officially peaked. She didn't care if she was mentally older or not, she would give romance a shot.
"I don't know."
With that, Lily snuggled into another pillow.
"B-but!" Lily almost groaned when she felt Lucy get into bed again. "You should have seen the way he looked at you Lili."
"Like a school boy I presume?"
"He looked at you like you're a princess!"
Lily didn't bother saying anything else.
.o0o.o0o.
"This is so tedious." Lily found herself complaining again as she tried looking around for a book she hasn't read or one which piques her interest. She could hear Lucy laughing with Layla outside.
"You're just as your mother described."
Lily jumped in surprise before turning to face Capricorn. "Hello..." Her voice was filled with awe. After all, this was the Capricorn, the one who could give Leo and even Aquarius a run for their money. Leo being the strongest of the Zodiac? To hell with that, Lily would forever uphold the belief that Capricorn was the strongest.
"I take it you know of me." His voice was amused.
"O-of course!" Lily flushed once she realized she had raised her voice. Quietly coughing, she sent Capricorn a small smile. "I am honored to meet you." She said extending her hand. "Though you probably know my name already, manners say I must officially introduce myself anyways. My name is Lily Heartfilia."
Lily almost squealed when Capricorn took her hand and knelt. "The honor is mine Ojou-chan." And he kissed her hand.
"My, I feel quite light-headed..."
Her vision became clouded in dark spots.
Before she knew it, she had fainted. But, the last thing she remembered was Capricorn catching her before she fell.
The next thing she knew she was hearing voices.
"Could you repeat that, please?"
"She fainted Layla-sama."
"That's odd. Lily's never done that before..."
Lily snapped her eyes open and tried to sit up, only to realize she was still in Capricorn's arms. "U-uh, I..." She stuttered as Capricorn placed her down gently. "I-I, uh, that is to say..." Her cheeks burned as she felt her mother's amused look. "I am sorry."
"Do not concern yourself over that Ojou-chan, I must have overwhelmed you."
Lily nodded in agreement, regaining a little bit of her cool exterior. "Then I expect you to repay me."
"With Layla-sama's permission, of course." Capricorn agreed.
Lily glanced at her mother who still seemed amused. "Granted."
"What do you wish for Ojou-chan?"
Lily made a show of humming in thought, but she already knew what she wanted. "I wish for you to train me in the ways of hand-to-hand combat."
"I would be honored."
"Then we shall start tomorrow morning."
"Of course."
"You may leave so that you may rest, with my mother's permission of course."
Layla nodded at Capricorn. Once the Celestial Spirit was gone she looked at her daughter who was staring at the space Capricorn was in before he left with a dreamy look. "My, do you fancy him?" Layla couldn't help but ask in amusement.
She didn't expect her daughter to shrug and say: "He's hot as hell."
.o0o.o0o.