To everyone who called Erik a manwhore, ya'll are the real MVPS. Enjoy the chapter. - Mslead


CHAPTER 3

On the Prod

Full of piss and vinegar, looking for trouble, spoiling for a fight.


Lucy sighed a little as she shifted in her seat and tried to get a little more comfortable. It was a nice carriage, fitted with all the latest comforts thanks to her father, but sitting for long periods of time made even the plushest cushion start to feel like a wooden board.

It didn't help either that she was starting to get uncomfortable with how parts of her dress kept pressing into her every time she moved. She knew it was her own fault, but given the choice between awkward clothing and shifting around a little because of her butt going numb, she was going to shift every time. She just couldn't help it.

It made her wish that she didn't have to suffer quite so much for the sake of fashion, and part of her grumble a little about why she had to put up with this at all.

There was nothing she could do about it now though.

Even if she'd thought about dressing the way some of her guildmates did, which of course she hadn't, her father expected a certain level of sophistication when she visited him. And that meant the whole rig out. Corset, petticoat, overcoat, bustle, dress... the works.

That didn't stop a small, rebellious, part of her from wondering how comfortable something else might be though.

She pushed the thought out of her mind as fast as it came up to glance warily out the window. Despite the accoutrements of wealth she was no delicate, innocent, snowflake. She knew very well this stretch of the trip was the most dangerous due to the outlaw bandits that roamed the area. She would be fortunate if she made it through with nothing happening.

Nothing should happen either. Her father had been careful to make certain as few people knew her actual route as possible. A bit overprotective perhaps, but she still appreciated the gesture. Regardless of her chosen career, a controversial one if ever there was one, she still the Heartfilia heiress, and the odds of someone trying to kidnap her were fairly high if they weren't careful.

Deciding it might be better to have a bit of company, just in case, she pulled out a key and slashed it through the air, "Open! Gate of the Lion! Loke!"

She smiled a bit at the golden glow that formed across from her and a little more at the spirit that appeared sitting down as calmly as if he'd been there the whole time.

"You called princess?" He purred, a knowing look flashing in his eyes.

"We're getting into outlaw territory." She explained, "I thought it would be better to have two sets of eyes here instead of one. I hope you don't mind?"

Loke smirked, "Of course not Lucy. I'm more than happy to spend time in your company."

Lucy rolled her eyes a little at his flirtatious tone. Typical Loke. Though that didn't stop her from letting her eyes roam over his form critically. He'd been badly injured on her last job, and though she'd sensed he was fine now it made her feel better to see that for herself.

Loke seemed to understand what she was doing, but thankfully said nothing about her critical gaze. Honestly, she thought he was probably enjoying it.

After all, Loke was definitely a fan of beautiful women.

More importantly though, Loke was a dear friend of hers, and she would certainly enjoy his company on the trip back. Aside from the coach driver, she was by herself. It was a little lonely, and she was always happy to have a friend with her despite the strain of having a golden key spirit could have on her magic.

She was strong enough to keep Loke here comfortably without any issues for quite a while though, so she wasn't too concerned. Especially if trouble did show up.

Luckily for Lucy, it seemed as if the fates had decided to smile on her for at least a portion of the trip. The sun was well into the horizon and Magnolia was just on the horizon when they were forced to stop.

There were thick canyons all around them they had to pass through to even get to Magnolia, and that was where they had to travel through. It was tricky to maneuver with a horse much less a coach. A single wrong move could cause a wheel to snap. And at the loud cracking noise that echoed through the canyon, Lucy knew with a sinking feeling that was precisely what must have happened.

"Oh that can't be good." She muttered with a grimace as the driver settled the nervous horses before more damage could be done.

"I'll take a look at the damage miss." He called down to her, "Please remain in the carriage for now."

Lucy frowned slightly at that order, but didn't contradict the man. No doubt he was used to women who would be more in the way than anything in a situation like this, and she couldn't say for sure she would be able to help anyway. There was a chance Virgo might be able to help rig something if the wheel really was in bad shape, but she didn't know that for sure.

Better to remain out of the way and let the man who knew what he was doing take a look at it first.

At least for now.

"Spokes are broken ma'am!" He called from outside, "But the axle ain't! Gonna see if I can patch it up enough to get us to town!"

"Very well!" She called back, "Let me know if I or my spirits can help any!"

The driver didn't answer, which had her frowning again. The man hadn't been unfriendly during the trip, open to making conversation even if he was very careful to keep his distance from her for propriety's sake, so she was surprised when he didn't respond with any kind of comment.

She glanced at Loke, who was also frowning, and her instinct that something was wrong went through the roof. She subtly tensed and curled her fingers around the celestial whip Virgo had given her with a tense nod at her spirit.

He nodded back and immediately she felt his power connect to hers and flow over her into his stardress form. Just in time too as there was an unfamiliar boot crunch just outside. She glanced at Loke again and this time her spirit had a dark scowl on his face as he moved to the center of the carriage in readiness.

The door blew open in a gust of flame, shooting Loke straight out the side of the coach from one end to the other and causing the spirit to topple out sideways.

Lucy jolted in surprise at the suddenness of the attack and struggled up to her feet in the cramped confines of the wagon.

"Pick a spirit that lights up less like a drunk in a bar ma'am," a rough voice laughed before the entire coach seemed to tip on its side and Lucy went shrieking back as it was turned over.

She groaned, hearing Loke swearing nearby. Heavy boots dropped down onto the side of the coach and a shadowed figure crouched down in the opening he blasted open.

A bandit, face obscured by a bandanna tied around his jaw, seemed to smile at her from his eyes. He squatted down on the side of the turned over carriage, head cocked at Lucy.

"Ya look a little uncomfortable down there ma'am, why don't you toss up those neat lookin' keys by your side and we can talk about gettin' you out of that nasty position, huh?" he asked, looking quite pleased with himself.

It was rapidly growing dark by the minute, and Lucy had to squint to keep an eye on the man who looked like he was unaffected by the darkness. Still, a bandit after her keys wasn't anything she could tolerate.

"I don't know sir, you look like a nice man, but my keys are awfully important to me," Lucy batted her eyelashes up at him, trying to look as meek and defenseless as possible. It seemed to work by the way the man's shoulders seem to slacken, "But if you want them..."

She lashed out with her whip, the tail of it catching the man around the throat. Heaving backwards with some difficulty, especially since she wasn't wearing her proper stardress, she dragged the surprised bandit headfirst into her coach.

"Come and get them!"

The man faceplanted head first into the ground, but she knew not to stay in close quarters with him. After all he had kicked Loke straight out of the carriage before tipping the entire thing on its side. Either he was insanely strong, or he was a mage. Perhaps even both.

She scrambled out the top of the carriage, gathering her dress up around her knees and looking around, "Loke!"

"I'm fine Lucy!" Loke grunted as he picked himself up with a growl at the re-emerging bandit, grimacing as he grabbed his shoulder.

"You are not!" Lucy snapped back, not missing the motion as she rushed to his side, "And you just recovered from another injury!"

"What are you going to do?" Loke asked over his shoulder, though he didn't take his eyes off their attacker.

Lucy frowned as Natsu stalked closer, clearly not happy about the surprise attack she'd landed on him, "Head back." She told her spirit, "I need a different stardress to deal with this jerk."

Loke's eyes widened a fraction and he glanced at her before a look of understanding crossed his face, "You got it beautiful."

He would, of course, come rushing back under his own power if need be, but there was no sense in letting the bandit know that. Instead he dissolved in a shower of gold sparkles back to the celestial realm, apparently leaving Lucy all alone.

"That wasn't the brightest move you could've made." Her attacker teased, and Lucy smirked back.

"Actually, it was the best move I could've made." She countered and slashed a different key through the air, "Open! Gate of the Golden Bull! Taurus!"

The large bull appeared where Loke had been a moment ago and Lucy grinned wickedly at her would be robber, "Taurus! Stardress!"

"You got it Miss Luuucy!" Taurus mooed as the dress formed over her, "And may I say you're looking extra beautiful today! How's about giving me a smooooch?"

Natsu's eyes narrowed at the way both those spirits had been acting. It wasn't unusual for humans to take advantage of the spirits they were gifted with. Which was why they had no problem stealing them from undeserving humans, but the ones this woman had summoned so far seemed genuinely invested in helping her.

Not that they gave hints otherwise anyway but he was getting a distinctly different vibe off this lady.

Not that it mattered. He needed her keys, and he wasn't leaving without them. Once all the light was gone, the rest of his nest would descend down and overwhelm this mage by sheer numbers if they had to.

"Taurus, huh?" Natsu asked, getting his first good look at the spirit. His father had told them all sorts of stories about the spirits he was friends with.

"Funny, pops never mentioned how weird lookin' these guys could be," Natsu said.

Smiling at the woman, now dressed in cow print, Natsu drew his fists to either side of him, "Pretty brave for high class, aren't ya ma'am?"

"Well you're pretty stupid even for a bandit," Lucy shot back at him, snapping her whip between her hands and crouching down, ready for him.

She wasn't expecting the bark of laughter which came from him, muffled by the bandanna around his mouth.

"Now that's just plain rude," he spread his hands by his side. Lucy noticed he completely ignored the mean looking pistols by his side, instead his fingers curling into fists.

And then she watched with horror and amazement as his very fists rose into flames.

His magic was unhindered, unchanneled. It was rare active magic, even moreso than the odd mixture that some of her guildmates used. This was raw magic that channeled through his body. It was the kind that her spirits used.

She had never seen magic like that before.

And suddenly she realized who she was facing. He was infamous for his destruction. Him, among the seven of his band. Salamander of the Slayers. A bandit that targeted the rich.

"Careful Miss Lucy." Taurus rumbled, his eyes narrowed and unusually focused, "This is one of Draco's children."

"Draco?" Lucy asked, wondering what other bad news there could possibly be on top of this guy being Salamander and part of a seven man gang.

"Draco the Dragon." Taurus explained, "The leader of the Eastern Zodiac."

"Eastern Zodiac?" Lucy asked, her eyes widening a such a concept, and Taurus nodded.

"Draco's like Leo. He can open gates on his own to travel to the human realm." He tracked Natsu's movements warily, "He's been known to fall in love with human women from time to time. I didn't know he had any living children though."

Lucy's mind raced at the implications. That spirits could have half celestial children with humans. That certainly explained a lot about her opponent and his magic. Of course, it raised more questions than answers, and now was most definitely not the time to be asking them.

"Alright." She replied, "Suggestions beyond attack from a distance?"

Taurus didn't get the chance to answer as Natsu chose that moment to rush an attack. He'd been shocked at the information Taurus had so casually shared with his holder. He'd never heard of any spirit doing that. Of course, that shock was nothing compared to her asking for advice on dealing with him, and he didn't want to risk Taurus knowing something that would help her out.

However, despite his intention, Lucy wasn't phased by his sudden attack at all. Instead she leapt lightly into the air and cracked her whip down sharply, "Earth wave!"

Natsu gaped a bit at how the earth seemed to move, his arm throwing up to shield his body from the spray of rocks that her attack had caused.

"Not bad, although it's a shock to see a lady getting down in the dirt," Natsu bounced instead towards Taurus. He dug a heel into the hard earth and kicked his leg up an arch of burning fire exploding from him.

Taurus let out a loud moo of protest, even as Natsu grabbed him by one of his straps, "Sorry pal. Roughin' up spirits ain't my style, but you're in the way!"

He used another jet of fire to flip him over, taking Taurus with him and narrowly avoiding another lash with Lucy's whip.

"Leave him alone!" She snarled over at Natsu, who whistled over how near his miss had been.

"Mighty feisty aint cha?" He laughed, body twisting around to spring away from Taurus and his axe once he recovered.

"You know this all goes away if ya just hand over those keys," Natsu shot back at Lucy, "Quit being so stubborn, you can always pick up a new brand of magic!"

"I'm not handing over my keys!" Lucy snarled, furious at even the suggestion, "These spirits are my friends! They're part of my family! I'd sooner die than let you get your filthy hands on them!"

Natsu stared at her in shock as Taurus smirked smugly at her words, clearly ready to fight with everything he had for the mistress that cared for them so much.

"You would... what?" He asked, unable to believe his ears.

"You heard me jerk!" Lucy snapped, "You and your gang aren't going to touch my keys!"

Natsu gaped at her, only barely able to move as she launched another attack at him. Her words didn't make sense. Why did she care so much about them? He'd never heard of a celestial wizard that gave a damn about their spirits before. What the hell made her so different?

He didn't know, but ultimately it didn't matter. They needed those keys to find their father, and that was all there was to it. No matter what her attachment to them was she could still always learn new magic. They couldn't get a new father.

He firmly ignored the small part of him that wriggled a little in guilt. It wasn't like he was breaking up her nest or anything. Not that she would even know what a nest was.

Except, that small part reminded him, that was exactly what it sounded like her keys were to her.

Natsu growled lowly, at both her and his stupid, unwelcome, inner voice. He didn't have time for this! It was nearly full dark, and he hadn't so much as scratched her yet, let alone overwhelmed her. He leapt into the air, fire trailing in a blaze around him, "Fire dragon wing attack!"

Natsu flung himself at Taurus, knowing he was better off at least eliminating a target so they wouldn't flank him. He tore through the spirit, his eyes slanting angrily over at Lucy when Taurus exploded in a shower of sparks and a moo of apology.

"Taurus!" Lucy shouted at him, jumping back a bit when Natsu was on her, turning his full attention back to her.

"Not enough time to summon another spirit, is there?" He smirked at her. She may have had a lot of strength thanks to her stardress, but something told him by the way she relied on her whip, close combat didn't suit her well beyond the basics of punching and kicking. Which was a shame, because it suited him just fine.

Sure enough, Lucy tried to get some distance between them, but he made sure to stay glued to her wherever she went. And every time she reached for her keys to summon a new spirit, he sent another jet of fire at her.

He could outlast her, but that wasn't even the real issue here. She kept dodging him, even if her endurance was starting to wane. But the sun was gone now, leaving them in pitch darkness.

Where was the rest of his nest?

Frustrated at their lack of appearance, and unable to shake the feeling something was wrong, Natsu sped up his attacks.

He'd just have to take the celestial wizard's keys on his own then.

Just as he was starting to get really annoyed with the game of cat and mouse they were playing, one of his claws managed to swipe a neat path of fire underneath the rocks Lucy was standing on.

She fell down in a heap, her balance off as he descended on her.

"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" He roared out. His fist came down where Lucy's head was, smashing into boulder with ease. At the last second, Lucy rolled away, lashing out with her heel to slam a boot right into his midsection.

Natsu grunted in surprise, and not a little pain, as he discovered that whatever else Heartfilia may or may not have going for her she had one hell of a mean kick. It wasn't enough to send him flying, not from that angle, but it was more than enough to make him pause long enough for her to get some space between them at last.

He growled as he watched her scramble to her feet, panting heavily from their chase, and lunged for her before she could get further than an arm's length away from him. However, no sooner had he reached out to snag her wrist than a bright light shone briefly behind him. Glancing back to see if maybe it was his dumbass brother after all he couldn't help yelping in alarm at the glimpse of Loke glaring at him before his vision was filled with a glowing fist.

He grunted in pain at the impact and felt himself go flying into the wall of the canyon. The double impact wasn't quite enough to knock him out, but his ears were definitely ringing and he could only watch groggily as Lucy and the spirit that had somehow reappeared ran over to him.

"I brought some rope from Virgo." Loke said as he knelt, "Grab a board for us to tie him up and give me a hand."

"Right." Lucy replied, more than a little confused over the request, but happy to comply if it meant ending the fight. She trotted over to the coach, where the driver had been hiding while the two mages battled it out.

"Are you alright?" She asked in concern, and he nodded.

"Yes ma'am. Thank you ma'am."

Lucy smiled briefly, "Alright, I need a board or something to strap that guy to..." She mused as she looked around and grabbed what had once been the coach door, "Can you still get that wheel fixed?"

"Enough to get us there, yes ma'am." The man replied and scurried over to the coach to get to work while Lucy carried the door over to Loke.

"Here you go." She said as she dropped it next to Salamander, "Why do we need it?"

Loke smirked, "I know the old dragon that's his father." He replied, "His children tend to inherit the traits of the stars that make up his constellation." He glanced at her while he worked, "They're the essence of the most powerful dragons to ever live."

He looked back at Natsu and smirked, "Luckily for us, that includes their biggest weakness."

Lucy watched as the driver struggled to tip the coach back onto its side. She was just hoping Salamander hadn't done any additional damage to it in his initial attack.

"Weakness?" she asked, flashing her eyes back to Loke, and where he had shifted the dazed bandit onto the door.

"Just watch," Loke smirked at Lucy, beginning to drag the door a few inches.

And in that span of time, Salamander's weak struggles all but stopped. Lucy watched his chest stutter, breath heaving in his lungs and then seizing.

It was as if all the air had rushed from his lungs at once, his muscles growing lax as Loke dragged Salamander on top of the board.

Loke stopped just long enough to tie Salamander securely to the board before he continued again. He reached down and yanked the handkerchief from the man's mouth, exposing his face to Lucy.

"You're going to want to hang onto that," Loke passed it to her, just as Salamander's entire chest heaved and he vomited the contents of his stomach.

"Ew!" Lucy shrieked, picking up her feet to dance away from the puddle left by the groaning bandit, "What's wrong with him?"

Loke smirked, "Motion sickness. The Slayer's one weakness."

He nudged Natsu with the toe of his boot, "It may be a little rough heading back to Magnolia with this guy's interruption, but you're going to have a nice bounty to collect on when you turn him in."

Lucy smirked back at her spirit, "At least there's that." She agreed, "Though I'd really like to know what he wanted my keys for. It's not like he can use them." She paused, "Can he?"

Loke hummed slightly in thought, "Not the way you do no." He replied slowly as they headed back to the carriage to help, "But it's possible that if they were to gather enough keys together in one place they might have enough power to form a temporary gate to the celestial realm."

Lucy blinked, "But what could they possibly want in the celestial realm?"

Loke shrugged, a small frown tugging at his lips, "That's a good question." He admitted, "Draco's been very quiet for a while, but that's not unusual for him. Dragons are somewhat reclusive outside of their chosen friends and family. I'll try to ask around when I head back."

Lucy nodded, not missing the subtext that Loke intended to stay until they got back to Fairy Tail. She honestly appreciated the gesture. After keeping him out on her own power for so long, and fighting, her magic power was running on low.

Thankfully, once they got the carriage turned back over they were able to get underway fairly quickly. And not a moment too soon by Lucy's reckoning. She had no idea if Salamander's brothers and sister were nearby, but she had no desire to linger and find out. It felt like something of a miracle they hadn't attacked before now. So they loaded the pitifully groaning bandit up and headed out as fast as they could.

She couldn't quite shake the feeling as they did that there was much more going on than met the eye. Unfortunately, it wasn't likely Salamander would share, so it was a mystery she would probably have to let go.


Alright everyone! Here is your sneak peak for the next chapter as a gift for knocking on that review limit! Thanks again to everyone who left us a review! I can't begin to tell you guys how much a motivation you all are! See ya next Sunday!


"Humans aren't worthy to command the stars. Those keys don't belong to you," he growled cutting.

Lucy's eyes narrowed a little, "I don't command anyone." She snapped back, "The contracts I hold were created freely. I didn't force them on my spirits. They're my friends and they made that choice themselves. They had the right to refuse then, and if they wanted it I would release their contracts."

There was a flare of light from her keys at her words, and Lucy automatically curled her hand around them protectively, "I know you don't." She murmured to them, "I'm just trying to explain..."