Summary: Her mother gave her a scroll signed in blood and bound with magic. Both a blessing and a curse. Years flew by and she soon became something that monsters, even demons, feared. Lucy Heartfilia – Keeper of the Stars.

Keeper of the Stars

Part One: Childhood

Chapter Two

Lucy had just turned six-years-old when she successfully summoned two celestial spirits at the same time.

They had sat in her mother's cosy study, practicing for weeks and weeks trying to summon more than one spirit at once.

Layla could feel her daughters magical core had grown quite a bit from when she had first started training her daughter in celestial magic.

Lucy could feel the magic tingle throughout her body and into her arms, down into the keys she had grasped in her two small hands.

"Mama, I-…"

Layla rushed to her daughter's side as she coughed a little and swayed on her feet as Cancer and Taurus disappeared back in to the celestial world "-did it."

The older blonde woman plucked the two keys from the tight grip her daughter had on them, placed the two keys on to a leather chord and placing the makeshift necklace around her daughter's neck.

Layla felt her heart twinge in guilt as she felt her daughters erratic heart beat as she placed two fingers on the young child's pulse. "Baby, I'm so sorry, I know this is hurting you but trust me sweetheart, it gets easier and easier each time. I promise."

She gently wiped the sweat off of the young blonde's forehead and lightly brushed her blonde hair back.

Lucy stirred awake at the feel of her mother's fingers running through her hair "I know Mama, I'm sorry I'm not strong enough…"

Lucy started to feel tears gather in her eyes but she bit her lip, choked back a sob and forced the moisture in her eyes not to fall. "I promise I'll get better at this Mama, I promise!"

She clenched her teeth together and balled her fists up as she recalled her failure of being unable to successfully hold two celestial spirit gates open "I'll make you proud Mama!"

Layla cupped her daughters face and kissed the furrow between her daughter's brows, lightly tilting her little head up to face hers as she knelt down and placed her forehead against her daughter's.

"Mama is already so proud of you, my little star. I love you so, so very much." Lucy looked, with love and awe, into the eyes of her mothers, the light brown turning to an amber colour as the flames roaring from the fireplace reflected in her eyes.

Layla stared back into the eyes, that were an exact replica of her own eyes, of her daughter. She felt her breath hitch as she saw the amount of adoration and love her beautiful baby held for her.

Layla suddenly became aware of the presence of her husband watching them from behind the glass window of her study door, as she hugged her daughter tightly before standing up and leading her over to her large armchair.

She sat down in the seat and pulled her daughter up on to her lap and began tell her tales about dragons and their hatchlings.

Lucy, still drowsy from her summoning attempts, laid her head on her mother's chest and listened as her mother told her tales of fire breathing dragons with just as fierce children.

She made sure to tuck her keys into her shirt and out of sight for she was aware of her father's presence as well and she knew how much her Papa hated magic.

Jude stood in the hallway a little while longer as he absorbed the image of his wife and child, trying to burn the loving image into his mind, before he turned and walked down the hallway and back to his office.

C.C.