Dear Reader,

I'm sorry for not updating soon, but junior year is being a bitch, so I have to spend more time studying then writing my heart out. I will try to update every two weeks, every week and a half at the earliest. Sorry if I am causing some impatience, but this is the way that things have to be till school breaks.

Love you all,

GDream


Dear Mom,

Time went by and soon I had gained three golden gate keys, giving me half of the number available. I had just saved a member of Fairy Tail, named Loke, from disappearing forever. It turned out that he was Leo, the lion and leader of the celestial spirits. He had been banished from the spirit world for supposedly killing his master, Karen Lilica. He saved his fellow spirit Aries from being beaten by Karen and stayed in the human world to get rid of her magic energy so she would be forced to face the fact that she was cruel to her spirits. However, Karen went on a mission anyway and tried to summon two spirits at one time. It didn't work and she died. The Spirit King blamed Loke and he was banished from the spirit world. Luckily, I was able to convince the Spirit King (I call him 'stash face) to accept Loke back into the spirit world as long as Loke promised to protect his new friend. (me!) As Loke disappeared into the spirit world and his key appeared in my hand, I knew that we would be good partners.

You would not BELIEVE how surprised I was when he showed up the next day. I mean, come ON dude! You almost freakin disappeared! He tried to drag me off so that way we could discuss our "future together". What is there to discuss? I gently reminded him that he should be in the spirit world resting before coming back to the guild. He smiled at me for a second and looked like he was about to leave. Moments later I saw the light bulb go off in his head. Then he handed me and my team tickets to stay at a resort. On the beach! As we left, I saw Erza smile one of her rare but true smiles and I began to feel happy that she could be herself around us once again.


~Time Skip 3 Years~

Lucy's POV

I woke up in my room to hear the sound of two gentle snores. I looked to my right and left, only to find both Acnologia and Ryan sleeping soundly next to me. I suddenly think back to the times that I slept in between Gray and Natsu. The both of them snored like drunken sailors. Natsu and Gray. It's been three years since I've last seen them. I wonder what they're up to these days.

A somewhat louder snore from Ryan brought me back to the present. I felt his head cuddle up in my shoulder as he tried to escape the light that was streaming into my bedroom. The slightly golden skin of his stuck out like a sore thumb against my pale peaches and cream. His scarlet blood red hair was a fuzzy frizzly mess from sleep. I chuckled as he groaned slightly before burying his head into the crook of my neck. Ryan was so not a morning person. Better yet, he was not a waking up person, if he can sleep forever, he'll do it.

"Ryan, honey, wake up." I called out to him as I ran my hand through his hair. He groaned again, buried his head even deeper and mumbled something like 'don't wanna.'

"Ryan, I gotta pee. Move your ass." I said more sharply. He groaned again before he started to roll. He rolled off the bed, not before grabbing a pillow on his way down, and landed with a soft thud. I slid out of bed after Ryan, careful not to step on him. Before I made my dash to the bathroom, I looked down at him.

"Are you okay?" I asked with a tilt of my head as I sweatdropped.

"I'm good." He replied muffly through his pillow as he gave me the thumbs up sign. I sighed with a shake of my head before heading to the bathroom. After I peed, I brushed my teeth and hair, washed my face and emerged from the bathroom to head to the closet. I saw Acnologia sitting on the side of the bed, stretching.

"Good mornin'." I called out to him.

"Good morning Lucy. Where's Ryan?" Acnologia asked yawning. I pointed to the other side of the bed and a snore supported my claim. Acnologia laid back down on his stomach horizontally and watched Ryan sleep. Acnologia flashed me a mischievous grin as a eerie light blue ball of light appeared in his hand. I groaned as I knew what he was gonna do. He dropped the sphere and the two of us watched as it landed on Ryan's pillow. After a second, it rolled onto the floor where it let out a loud *pop*. A burst of blue light flashed in Ryan's eyes and he let out a scream. The light faded and Ryan popped up his head to see Acnologia resting his head in his hands and kicking his legs in the air.

"WHAT. THE. HELL?" Ryan screamed at Acnologia.

"And a good morning to you too sweetness." Acnologia bopped him on the nose with his left index finger. I sweatdropped as several tick marks appeared at the side of Ryan's head. I walked into the closet to change as Ryan went off into a rant.

"Open gate of the maiden: Virgo!" I chanted and there was a dong sound followed by a small poof. That's right, since my training with Visala, I can summon my celestial spirits without my keys. I know that I can use all sorts of Dragon Slaying Magic, but to be honest, I still prefer my Celestial Magic. To me, using dragon slaying magic is only convenient when someone attacks me, then I can eat their element. Back to main point though, I can summon my spirits without my keys, but I decided to keep the keys so that no one else can form a contract with them. Selfish I know, but I still wouldn't feel comfortable with someone else forming a contract with my spirits, even if I'm comfortable forming contracts with theirs.

"Yes, princess?" Virgo asked me with a cock of her head.

"Can you pack all of my things? Today's the day that I'm finally returning to earthland. I want to take everything with me." Virgo let out a nod before disappearing in a ray of light, my stuff disappearing with her. As I opened my closet door, I was meet by a single outfit. I didn't even remember to ask her to leave one out. I guess she knows me well enough to assume.

"Right, you're leaving today. I almost forgot." Ryan said as he appeared behind me.

"Yeah, today's the day." I looked up at him as my hands clutched my travel clothing. I was doing everything possible not to burst into tears. During the three years that I had been in the dragon realm, Ryan had practically become my best friend and partner in crime. He had become my new Natsu.

"Today's the day." Ryan repeated my words subconsciously as his eyes misted over with sadness.

"Lucy. I'm going to go get everything ready for our departure." Acnologia interrupted us. Of course Acnologia was coming too. He had taken it upon himself to not only be my bodyguard and companion but also my babysitter. Honestly sometimes he just takes things a little too far. I guess I suspected that he would join me when I went back to earthland and all, because he is supposed to be my bodyguard and all. But that doesn't mean I have to be looked after like fine china! And don't even get me started when he was teaching me Eclipse Dragon Slaying. If I got so much as got a scratch when we were training, practise was cancelled for the rest of the day.

"I'm going to miss you Luce." Ryan said as he pulled me into a bone crushing hug. I hugged him back immediately, almost instinctively.

"Awe look at the two of you all lovey-dovey. I like your taste in women, son. But then again, of course you got that from me." Anshu, the sun dragon, spoke from the open door way, smirking. The both of us blushed slightly as we parted, making sure to step away from each other. Aparently Anshu found that amusing because he started laughing, his shoulder length red hair covering his eyes as he doubled over. Of all of the dragons, he was probably in my top five as far as favorites go. He always treated me like a kid and not some queen in training. Also, he reminded me of my dad in some way, back when my dad was a tolerable and nice person.

"Oh I didn't mean to interrupt, take all the time you need. In fact, son, I was actually coming over to see if you wanted to travel to Earthland with Lucy and Acnologia." As soon as Anshu finished speaking, Ryan's eyes light up.

"Really Dad?"

"Well yeah, I thought it was about damn time you left to nest. Everyone else's kid left seventeen years ago. Now I love you son, but it's time to move out. To be honest, I'm kind of getting sick of you." Anshu laughed again only to be hushed by an "oof" as Ryan hug the life out of him.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Ryan cried out as he let go of his father.

"You better go and get packed." I interrupted his happy moment.

"Right, gotta go." Ryan sprinted out of the room, taking down his father in his wake.

"Honestly, where does that boy get all of his energy? I sometimes wonder who he takes after." Anshu rubbed the back of his head.

"I have no idea, but I'd be lying if I said he didn't remind me of someone." I answered him sweatdropping. Anshu laughed again before getting up and shaking my hand.

"Well Lucy, it's been a good three years. Just make sure that son of mine stays out of trouble. God only knows what he'll do once he gets out there." Anshu gave me a rather amused smirk before I saw a light bulb go off in his head, "Oh, right, Visala asked me to give these to you." Anshu put his hand in his pocket and pulled out several limiters. I cradled them in my hands before looking at him curiously, "Don't ask me how she knows, but she said something about each limiter concealing each one of your Dragon Slaying Abilities."

"I see, tell her I said thanks for the hooped earrings. As soon as I pierce my ears ten more times." I muttered the last part under my breath. Unfortunately, Anshu heard every word with his dragon hearing and laughed a big belly laugh.

"I trust you want the last part to stay between the two of us?" He asked humorously.

"Yes. Now get out! I have to change." I pushed Anshu out the door and slammed it in his face. I heard his laughter echo throughout the halls as he walked away. I looked down at my hand and looked at the limiters one more time. Sighing, I placed everything on the bed, limiters and all, trying to accomplish everything one step at a time. I took out my heart earring and set them on the bed, switching them out for the star earrings that Visala gave me. They were just like my heart earrings only with little stars instead. Next I slide the gold bracelet onto my arm. I could already feel myself weaken slightly with the loss of some of my magic. It was weird, I could tell which of my magics was being suppressed, it was my celestial, earth, metal, poison, lightning and gem dragon slaying magics. I put on the blue gemmed steel ring (water,ice) on my left middle finger and the red gemmed steel ring (fire and sun) on my right index finger. After I put on the gold chained necklace (eclipse and shadow) and the ear cuff (demon and ghost), I was stuck with the fact that that I had two more earrings to put in and I didn't have two additional piercings. Guess I would have to make them. I slide my blue ring off and using some ice magic, I created a sharp pick. Standing in front of a mirror, I slowly slid the pick into my ear, lopped an earring in my new hole (Time and Space), and used sky magic to heal it. Doing the same thing again (Sky and White), I ran into the dilemma that my sky magic was sealed and I couldn't heal my last hole. Acnologia was gonna F. R. E. A. K!

"Lucy are you done dressing." Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

"No, not yet." I scrambled to get ready, throwing on the v-neck black shirt, dark purple cardigan, and beige shorts. Trying to dab up the blood with my fingers, I put some pieces of blond hair trying to hide the blood on my ears. Stabbing my feet into my brown travel boots and jamming my blue ring onto my finger, I opened the door and was greeted by a concerned Acnologia. Great, if this has him concerned...

"What took you so long, Lucy? Did you stub your toe on the bedpost? Did you prick yourself on one of the earring studs? You're not bleeding are you?" I sweatdropped as Acnologia went off on a rant. It got worse when he grabbed my head and began to do an inspection. When he noticed the dry blood on my ears, well, imagine your dad discovering you lost your virginity to some undesirable and then not only are you going to run away with said undesirable, you also put a dog collar on your son when you have one, and now he's holding your son. If you can picture your dad's face, then you got Acnologia's down to a T.

"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL EARS?!" Acnologia shouted in my face when he discovered my additional piercings.

"I pierced them." I stated as I deadpanned.

"HOLY LAYLA! YOUR FACE IS RUINED!"

"Who's face is ruined?" Ryan rounded the corner with a small backpack strapped over his shoulder.

"Her face! Look at it!" Acnologia pinched my cheeks together, giving me fish lips, and shoved my face in Ryan's.

"Hey, you pierced your ears." Ryan pointed out.

"Ep. Visapa gav em uh me." I spoke through my fish lips.

"What did you say?" Ryan asked, generally confused.

"Mi sad," I struggled out of Acnologia's grip and massaged my cheeks, "Visala gave them to me. Since I don't really use my dragon slaying magic, she thought it would be a good idea to have me put limiters on instead of coming of "stronger" than I actually "am". Make sense?" Ryan nodded at my question, Acnologia on the other hand, was less than pleased. In fact, as soon as I was done speaking, Acnologia ran out of the room like a road runner, heading towards the Royal Banquet Hall, where we would say our goodbyes.

"Acky, wait up!" I shouted after him, as Ryan and I gave chase, my suitcase hitting my thighs as I ran after him. By the time that the two of us made it to the Banquet Hall, Acnologia was have a one sided screaming match with everyone there.

"And now that she lost her ability to heal herself, her ears will be scarred for life! LIFE!"

"Grandine?" I sighed as I approached the Sky Dragon. The woman nodded before using some of her magic to heal the piercing so that all that was left was some gentle holes in my ears.

"I'm so sorry about this Visala." I spoke up.

"No problem dear, he's just protective." Visala dismissed Acnologia lightly as she walked around to face me, "But before you leave, there is something that I want to give to you." With that, Visala handed me a old looking black book. Out of curiosity, I began to flip through the pages, I noticed various amounts of magic circles, people, and one of the doctor drawing of a human body.

"Your mother was the last of her kind before you. You have the power to summon spirits who aren't part of the Spirit World. They are called Epic Heroes. For three years I have taught you every lost celestial spell, and dragon slaying. But this is something that I can't teach you. It is something that you must learn for yourself. But I have no worries, I am sure that you will be successful." I nodded as tears appeared in my eyes, "I also wanted to give you these." Visala handed me a closed fist and I opened my hand to receive whatever she wanted to give me. I ended up opening both hands because of the amount I felt poured into it. When Visala moved her hand away, I could see that in my hands were seventeen beautifully designed keys.

"I talked to the Spirit King, and he allowed me to create these keys so that we can always be in touch." She explained. I nodded carefully before I was overtaken by sadness. I may have seventeen new keys, but I still missed Aquarius.

"I also asked the Spirit King if I could give you this." Visala placed a new golden key on top of all of the others. My eyes widened in recognition and I looked up at my former teacher with wonder.

"Come on Lucy, it's not that impressive. She is the Shadow Queen in the Spirit World." Anshu spoke up, earning a glare from the Spirit Queen. I took the argument about to unfold as a way to attach my new keys to my new utility. Before tucking the book into the front pouch of my suitcase. Then I cleared my throat.

"Well, I think that Ryan, Acnologia and I better get going." I said before walking over to a portal that would take me to my destination. The two males followed after me and we all waved before walking through the portal to our new life.