Hello everyone!

Here's the latest chapter!

Thank you for all those who reviewed, favorite, and followed the story!

I already put the hints here and there if you can notice it. It's subtle as possible . . . or not. I'm trying my best to explain how magic works and this is applicable in the manga as well. More accurately, this is my understanding of the manga. Ask me if you have confusion or question.

Lucy is a really talented summoner, as shown in the manga. Also it has been shown several times that she could summon multiple spirits at a time. I hope her personality matched well and not OOC.

She is very loyal and protective of spirits. And she is also very lenient with them (she would pamper them when given the chance). She loves spending time with them, so she'll try to summon more than one on this trip even though it isn't very practical (who cares about that?). When Lucy was a child, she used to summon Aquarius just to take baths with her!

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From the previous chapter:

Team Natsu had entered the celestial village. While waiting for the mayor they looked around town and watch the performance of Elemental Dancers, a group of celestial summoning mages who perform with spirits. They stopped the performance when they found Lepus, who they thought was going to be tortured, and saved him from Lupus . . . only to be told that there was a misunderstanding.

"My child's spirit here is in no particular danger. This is just a show to please the audience. You see they like suspense and action. And besides, it's not like it will die. At worst case, he will just need to go back to the celestial realm and heal"
- Quote from Rohini Haspel -
The Darkness Behind the Stars

. . * . O . * . .

Verse IV
The Hidden Truth

Lucy bowed her head in embarrassment.

The mayor was laughing when he heard the news from his son, Rohini Haspel (the man in a suit and top hat). He was telling the story of how they bumped into each other on the street while performing.

"I'm very sorry" she apologized. She was the one who went to talk with the requester this time which was usually Erza's job since this was a place of her field. The others were on the guest quarters to get ready.

At the head of the table was the mayor, Bahram. He was a short old man. His hair was already white and thinning out. His face was full of wrinkles but the lower half was covered in long bushy beard. His eyes were thin that it looks like it was closed. He was dressed in purple robes with gold linings, and was holding a wooden staff.

"Hahaha. It's fine, young lady. It was an accident caused by a misunderstanding. Besides, you are our welcome guest! To think that the great Lucy Heartfilia would finally come to this village. I've heard how you handle your spirits. Admirable! No one could become so powerful with your method of contract and fighting style" he said, brushing his beard with his hand.

"No, I think everyone will become stronger if they treat their spirits as friends and not tools. My mother taught me that. The bond of the spirit and summoner and their trust for each other is very important. I'm sorry about the way I behaved earlier. I thought you were torturing him. I've seen so many celestial mages who treat their spirit horribly that I acted so harshly." her fist clenched.

Bahram looked at her. 'It is as the reports said' he thought. 'This girl is too overprotective of spirits. She had strong keys with her but she was so surprisingly naive. She looks weak too'.

He smiled. "Oh, it's understandable. It's a good thing my son here recognized you. I guess it was quite a shock for you too".

Rohini Haspel laughed. "I recognize her when I saw her keys and spirits. We all know who were holding the zodiac keys. With our numbers diminishing, isn't it more surprising not to know her?"

"Umm. Ano, if I may speak so frankly. I still find it excessive to have Lupus chase Lepus" she told them. 'Though I guess everyone is entitled in each own opinion. For them, this was just a hard training to make their spirit stronger'. She can't really say anything to that.

Bahram looked at her. It must be her imagination, but the eyes of this man seemed very cold for an instant. However, the mayor reverted back to his old kind face. "Is that so? Well, I sure hope you understand. There are different ways of making the spirit stronger. And the stronger the spirits are, the stronger the mage."

She had expected that reply. "I understand that. But it is also true that the stronger the mage, the stronger the spirit. You know the rules of energy exchange, right?"

The energy exchange was a set-up in the contract where a mage sends his energy through an artifact (key) to force open the rift and cracks in spaces (called gates). However, that was not where it ends. The spirit that'll be summoned will use not its own energy but of the contractor's. There was a reason for this but that was another topic.

Anyway, it was set in the contract how much magic the spirit could use depends on the contractor.

This was the reason why multi-summoning was for professional summoners. Summoning a spirit will not only use lots of magic upon opening of the gate but also drain you constantly for maintaining them into this world. Summoning two or three will be like splitting yourself into two. This was not counting the magic they'll use if they use their abilities. If you ran out of magic, they'll return back to their realms.

Bahram stroked his beard. "Are you reprimanding us, child?"

"I didn't mean that! I was only planning if I could spend some time here and spread the teachings taught to me. It was a new concept of celestial summoning" she told them.

"Actually, that was the old concept that was long forgotten. But for the modern summoners, I guess it is new. I know very well how summoning works, child" he corrected her.

He smiled. "But I see where you're coming from. You just don't want the teachings of your parents be lost, right? Anyway, we are getting off topic."

That was the cue to hear their request. Lucy nodded.

"About the request, can you tell us the details?"

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They had quickly defeated the gang of thieves. Lucy had no idea how the soldiers in this village had a hard time with them. Could it be that they gotten so strong? No, she can't get careless.

"Well, I guess that's all about them" Natsu said, stepping on one of the thugs head. "Uhh no. Please spare us. . ."

"It went faster than I expected" said Erza.

The most important thing was they did keep on their word. The damage was kept on the minimum.

"Hmm. With this, we have lots of time to explore!" Lucy cheered. "Most of all, there will be little deduction on the reward!"

Her team smiled at her happiness.

She summoned her spirits, Leo and Aries.

"Hehe! Good news! We're finally at the Celestial Village!"

Aries eyes widened and looked at Leo for explanation. He rubbed his head. "Yeah, that was what I was going to tell you." He told her.

Lucy noticed their silenced. "Are? Why are you so silent? Isn't this great?"

Aries smiled at her and nodded. "Uhn! I'm so excited. I want to try and see the clothing facility around here. I heard the threads were as smooth as spider's silk!"

Even though Aries sounds very cheerful, Lucy can't help but ponder on their initial reaction. Something felt off.

Leo broke into a big grin. Taking Aries's lead, he put an arm around Lucy's shoulders. "Yeah! Let's go on a date!"

She removed his arm. "Well, I have to summon the others; I guess it's two at a time". For normal summoners, summoning two spirits (especially zodiacs) will be a feat only for emergency situations such as when you are in battle or near death. However for Lucy, even though it'll be a bit hard, it should be fine. Besides, she wasn't in battle. So the drain on her body won't be too bad.

She'll just have to concentrate really hard so that her power won't be drained too much. She wanted her friends to have fun as much as possible.

Leo's eyes widened at that. "No. You don't have to. You'll need to save your energy. Anyway, I'll go back first and tell the others. Aries, I'm counting on you. I'll be right back. You don't have to summon me Lucy."

With that, he went back to the celestial realm.

Leo, who was the spirit of the gate of the Lion and also known as Loke of Fairy Tail, was a very unique spirit. He could use and utilize his own spirit energy from the celestial realm and use it for battle. He could also stay in Earth for a long period of time with no problems. Perhaps it was because he was once rejected by his own realm, having his gate barred from him for a very long time. This had given him a lot of time to adapt to earth's own spirit flow.

Celestial spirits can't stay on this planet for a long period of time not only because it would drain their summoner, but because their own flow of magic clashes with the earth's nature flow. Since the celestial spirits were practically a materialized form of spirit power and have no real physical bodies, this causes a great disturbance in their soul which, in turn, causes them real pain.

Lucy can't imagine what kind of pain that was. It might be similar to having your every cell shaken and clash with one another. It might be something like shock or electrocution. Was it the same as being crushed by a huge pressure that was dragging you down? Or maybe, being unable to breath like when you dive underwater since the air here was not the usual air where they could get an unlimited supply of magic. Or was it all of that mixed together, forming a great way of torture to the spirits? The process of staying in the human world for too long was hideous.

It was sad. She knew that mean that she can't always stay together with everyone because of that. It means that everyone would be in pain if they do so. But at the same time she was happy. The fact that spirits still remained here meant that they love humans so much that they would be willing to take risks. They were all good and loving people. They were your loyal friends who would stay by your side no matter what. That's why she loved them so much. She can't understand how some people could mistreat them.

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"You mean Lucy is in the Elysian Village!?" Aquarius was surprised. Her long blue hair flowed at her back. She clutched her vase threateningly as if she's going to wash away the poor guy who had to deliver the news.

"Aqua, calm down. We all knew that this was going to happen sooner or later" Scorpio put a hand on her shoulders. He looked calm but you could see his red scorpion tail rise up threateningly.

"We all knew this was going to happen. The village was made in commemoration for us. And she loves us so much she can't help but want to visit this place she read on the ancient books." Capricorn told them with his solemn and straight expression. His eyes were hidden in black square-rimmed sunglasses.

"We should have told Lucy from the very start!"

"Yeah! Instead of going in circles trying to stop her" said Gemi and Mini respectively. The blue little spirits were sitting on Taurus's shoulders. The bull made an angry snort on his nose.

The spirits had long been trying to stop Lucy from coming to the village. Every time she tried to bring up the subject, they would divert her attention. Even Aquarius helped, making a huge amount of destruction when she tried to earn money for the trip.

"And what? Have her charge at the village - ebi? We all know that she would be greatly disappointed once she saw the so-called Celestial Village - ebi" Cancer told them, holding his pair of scissors.

Virgo nodded. They all just wanted the princess to be happy and have no worries. She had cared for the spirits so much that they don't want to see the look on her face when she found out what sort of place the Elysian village was. It was something that can't be helped though.

"Why do we know moo-thing about this?" Taurus demanded. Being her celestial spirits, they should have known that before going to that village.

Leo put his hands on his pockets. "Apparently, she wanted to surprise us."

"Well, we're certainly surprised." Aquarius told him sarcastically.

"What should we do once she found out?" Sagittarius, who was staying quiet, finally spoke. He was wearing the horse costume. "I am being summoned now."

Loke sighed. "Then just have fun. Whether she found out or not is up to fate. So let's just enjoy this moment while it lasts".

Sagittarius nodded. A blue portal opened at his back and he entered it. Lyra frowned. "I don't like this. It feels like we're keeping a secret from her. . ."

Grandpa Crux, the silver cross, sat cross-legged on mid air. He stroked his cross-shaped beard. "We're just prolonging the inevitable, Lyra".

Virgo watched them with those stoic blue eyes. Aquarius turned to Leo. "This is a trap, isn't it?"

Leo rubbed his head. "Most likely."

"Then we should warn her now."

"If we do that, the more she'll rush in."

"But –"

"We have more important pressing matters here" Horologium butted in. Being a master of time and spaces he had felt it.

"I sensed a magic in her realm that was not from their world".

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A girl had arrived in the gates of Elysian village. She was wearing her usual white tank top and blue mini skirt. Her short light blue hair was ornamented with a blue rose. Behind her was her two lads with blond spiky hair and black messy hair accompanied by two exceeds.

"Welcome to Elysian village!" the guard had greeted them. "As per the customs, we want to check your purpose of your visit and if you are accompanied by a celestial wizard."

"I am Yukino Aguria, a celestial mage from Sabertooth. I am with the twin dragon slayers, Sting Eucliffe and Rouge Cheney. We were here for a mission requested to us."

The man smiled. He was around their age. He has a bit long black hair as dark as night. His bangs were a bit too long that it almost hid his left eye. A long scar was visible from his left eyebrow down to his left cheek.

He looked at them with his keen blue eyes and smiled gently. "Yukino Aguria, owner of the two remaining zodiacs and the thirteenth. It's nice to meet you. You may call me Shishio-san. Come this way . . ."

"You need to keep a keen eye to see through the truth."

The mission is a trap!? Why would they do that? What is the truth that the spirits trying to keep hidden from Lucy? Where was the infiltrator? Who exactly is the girl in the hood? How will team Natsu deal with the danger ahead?

Find out in the next chapter! . . . Maybe?

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