So many ideas and so little time to write...

Tell me what you think about my present ideas.

And now without further ado, on with the story.


Arriving at the train station Lucy sees that she has three hours before her train leaves to Scilla. Seeing that she has so much time, Lucy decides to go in the forest near the station to open the presents from her father and maybe speak with Loke and Capricorn about her training.

Finding a nice spot Lucy settles down and summons Virgo for the presents. After giving Lucy the presents Virgo goes back to the Spirit World and hopes that whatever is in these presents they can cheer her up a bit.

"Open Gate of the Lion and Goat, Loke and Capricorn!", Lucy chants.

"Lucy my love! Did you miss me? Your prince is back!" Hello Miss Lucy, what can I do for you?" "Hello you two. I was hoping that we can start on making a plan for my training? I just wanted to have this done before I start unpacking the presents but if this is not a good moment we can do it at another time."

Her Spirits settle down next to her on the ground to signal that they have time.

"Lucy-sama, please tell me what exactly you want. Meaning do you want training like you did before the Grand Magic Games or something different?", Capricorn ask. "Well.. Hmm.. I didn't really thought about that until now. But I think I don't want the same hard training schedule I had before the GMG's. My plan for this journey was to travel around in Fiore, make new friend and find more Keys in my way. And I thought that it would be a good idea to train along the way. I know that I'm not weak but I know that I'm not as strong as some of the strongest members of my guild. So I would like to expand my magic containers so that I can keep your Gates longer open and maybe even more then at this moment. In addition I want to increase my physical strength, maybe Loke can teach me some of his combat moves", Lucy answers him.

"I would love to help you train your combat skills, Princess! And with the physical strength I can help you as well. I can make a plan with Capricorn for your training sessions", Loke suggest.

"And I can help you with your Magic, Lucy-sama. I know that you don't have much time the next days since you are taking four missions but I suggest that you meditate every morning and evening when you don't have a mission on that day. That way you can start to expand your magic containers. Furthermore I would suggest to start with some exercises to build up your strength and to go jog, this too just on these days you don't have to do your mission. As soon as Leo and I will be back in the Spirit World we will start to make an explicit plan for you. And I will speak with Virgo about your food. Healthy food is very important to help you improve", Capricorn added.

"Thank you very much Capricorn. And as long as I can cook my own food on some days that is okay with me. I just love to cook and don't want to stop it complete", a slight smile appears on her face. "That is okay, Lucy-sama, if that is all I will take my leave.", after Lucys nod he bows and disappears.

"Do you want me to leave too, Lucy?", Loke asks as he stands up. "No you can stay if you want. I wanted to ask you if you would stay with me when I open the presents? I think I don't want to be alone right now", Lucy ask a little sheepishly.

"If that is what you want, I will stay." "Thank you Loke!"

With that said Loke sit back down right next to Lucy. Meanwhile Lucy takes the first present and noticed for the first time that every present had a note attached.

"Well this looks like a book, I wonder what kind of book would my father give me as a present..." "Lets find out Princess!", Loke beamed excited like a kid on Christmas. "You do know that this are my presents not yours? But yes, lets start."

Dear Lucy,

I wish you all the best to your birthday!

I know that I never really supported your magic but now I now that this is what you love. That is something you have in common with your mother, she loved her magic and especially her Spirits. I found this book between her things, I believe she wanted to give this to you when you are older. This book will help you learn more about your magic. I really hope that it's not to late for this book and you already know everything that is written in here.

Your Father,

Jude Heartfilia

"Wow Lucy, I didn't know that there was still a copy of this book! We all thought that it was long gone. When I remember correctly you will find facts about all the Spirits and their skills in this book. But that's not all, there should be some spells for Celestial Mages inside too. This will be a perfect help for your training, when you can perform the spells inside you should be able to fight with out us Spirits out." While Loke rambles Lucy just sits there and stares down at the book in her hands.

After a few minutes Lucy squeals and starts to look through the book like crazy with sparkling eyes. This reaction makes Loke beam, happy that his Princess reacts like she would have done before Tartaros.

"Princess... Lucy... Lucy!" "Oh Loke.. What do you want?" "Well... do you want to look through this book now and open the other presents later or you could read the book on the train and open these other presents now?" "How much time do we have before the train departs?" "I would say we should go to the station in two hours or to be safe a bit earlier"

The only answer Loke gets is a sigh. Lucy sets the book down beside her and grabs the next present, a small box.

Dear Lucy,

I wish you all the best to your eighteens birthday!

This is something I found between your mothers things. It had a little note with an eighteen on it, so I believe she wanted this as a present for your birthday when you turn eighteen. I really don't now what this is, it looks like a Gate Key but it's no silver or Gold Key. It looks like diamond but I never heard of this kind of Key. I hope you find out what this Key is and use it.

Your Father,

Jude Heartfilia

Lucy rips the present open, eager to see this new Key. When she finally has the Key in her handy she stars mesmerized at it. Her father was right, it looks like a Key made of diamond. But there is not just diamond, there a small stars and these stars move through the Key. It looks truly beautiful, so beautiful that she can't stop looking at it. Loke is just as astounded as her, he knows this Key and again he didn't know that her mother had one from this set.

"You mother was truly an astounding mage. Do you know what this Key is? As far as I know nobody was able to call one of these Spirits in a very long time!", Loke interrupts Lucy's staring. "No, I never heard of a Diamond Key before. What Spirit does is call? Do you think I'm able to call the Spirit?" , before Lucy can ask more questions Loke stops her. "Yes of course I know what Key this is. Your father is right, this is a Key made of diamond. The Diamond Keys or Fairy Keys as some ca..." "Fairy?! Did you just say Fairy Key? Does that mean this Spirit is a Fairy? Are there more?", Lucy practically sits on Loke's lab, since after every question she moves closer to him.

For a moment Loke just stares with wide eyes at her, then shakes his head to wake up from his stupor.

"Oh my Love, I knew, you want me just as badly as I want you! Lets elope and never come back, just you and me", Loke smirks at her. Just now Lucy realize their position, blushes madly and scrambles back. This of course leaves Loke laughing on the floor.

"Stop laughing at me!", she pouts and turns away. "Sorry Princess but your face...", and Loke laughs again. Lucy puffs her checks an cross her arms.

After a few minutes she huffs and grabs the new present.

Dear Lucy,

I wish you all the best to your birthday!

I found this on my travels. Since it looked like the Key from your mother I thought you could use it. Sadly I still don't know what exactly these Keys are but I believe you can figure this out.

Your father,

Jude Heartfilia

And again Lucy stares mesmerized at the Key. This time instead of small stars there are flashes of lightning.

"Loke! Stop laughing and look! My father found another Diamond Key! This time there is lightning! Well I think this at least answers one of my questions, there are more. But how much? Loke, come on tell me! I want to know!" And again the endless questions starts..

"Okay, okay. I will tell you! First things first, yes I said Fairy Keys. Meaning with these Keys you can call upon Fairies. As far as I know there are eight Diamond Keys. You probably already guessed that the Key from your mother is the Key for the Star-Fairy. His name is name is Astro. The other Key is for the Thunder- or Lightning-Fairy, his name is Taryn. As I already said has it been a very long time since a Celestial Mage was able to call upon these Spirits. So long that they have been forgotten. I'm sorry to say but I believe that even with how strong you are, it will be hard to call these Spirits. It would be best to wait a bit and train before you try it, because even if you are able to call the Spirit it will be very draining and you couldn't hold the Gate open for very long.", Loke answers even though he wished he had ha different answer for her.

He sees how her face falls but just as quickly she smiles again. "Well than I have a even better reason to expand my magic containers!"

Loke look with a bit of awe at his princess, she just has this gift to always see the positiv things. He is happy that Lucy somewhat has brighten up again.

"Right now I can't chance that.. so on with the other presents!"

Dear Lucy,

I wish you all the best to your birthday!

Even though I know that you have your whip and your Spirits I thought that this could help you in case your opponent is directly in front of you. The salesman told me that this dagger is especially for Celestial Mages. He himself sadly didn't know how to use it but I'm sure your Spirits can help you with that.

Your father,

Jude Heartfilia

"Loke do you know how to use this in combination with my magic? Is it similar to my whip?", Lucy asked as she looks at the beautiful dagger. The dagger is dark blue but has between blade and hilt and at the end of the hilt a golden star. In the middle of each star is a dark blue Lacrima.

"I don't really know much about weapons but we could ask the Spirits king.. Oh I almost forgot! The reason I came to your apartment earlier... The Spirit king wants to see you. But don't worry, I already told him that you are doing four jobs and your trip to Tenrou after they are finished. He told me that we can bring you to the Spirit World when you are done with the missions." "How could you... Oh, I know why you forget to tell me sooner. Then we need to wait or maybe we find out on our own. Do you know what he want from me?" "No, he told me that it would be a surprise." "Ohh, I wanted to know", Lucy pouts.

Seeing that she can't chance this Lucy grabs the next present.

Dear Lucy,

I wish you all the best to your birthday!

When I saw these in a shop I just had to think about you. They match you perfect. I don't know if they have any magic but I just needed to bye them for you. Hopefully they are to your liking.

Your father,

Jude Heartfilia

"Your father has a really good taste! They will look beautiful on you, princess. I'm not completely sure but I think that these stones are little Lacrimas. And these are Lacrimas than they should increase your magic. Probably not much but with these it should be a bit easier to call us Spirits and you should be able to hold the Gate open for a bit longer. It's really not much but I think the magic was just a little extra and not the purpose of these earrings."

While Loke speaks Lucy exchanges her old earrings with these new ones. Quite happy with the choice her father made, magic or not.

"I guess I will find out if you are right or not. And now the last!"

Dear Lucy,

I wish you all the best to your birthday!

You are missing for six years now and I still believe that you will come back. Sadly I don't know if I will still be alive when you are back. I still have a few months maybe even a few years but I don't want you to be alone when I'm gone. I know that you have your Guild and Spirits so you are never really alone. But I know that I left you alone after your mother died and I'm very sorry for that. I'm not completely sure if this really works but it says that this will give you an partner for live. From the description it sound a little bit like your Spirits but you don't need to hold open a Gate. Once called the being will stay for ever at your side. It also says that you don't know what being you will get until you speaks the spell. It says the being will answer your call and you know what name you need to call at the end of the spell.

I call thee forth,

protector and friend,

help me in my time of need.

To never be alone again,

I beckon you to me side,

to be your friend as you are mine.

Your father,

Jude Heartfilia

At the end of the letter Lucy can't stop the few tears that escaped her eyes. She really hoped that these is no fake. Then even though she has her Spirits, they can't be always by her side. So it would be really nice to have a partner by her side that will never leave her. She always envied the Dragonslayers for their exceeds and sometimes wished she had something like that too.

So without looking to Loke Lucy takes the crystal clear Lacrima in her hands and concentrates on her magic.

"I call thee forth,
protector and friend,
help me in my time of need.
To never be alone again,
I beckon you to my side,
to be your friend as you are mine.
Cerberus."

Lucy stares in awe at the black smoke already feeling the connection to her new friend. For many this smoke would look frightening but Lucy feels the happiness from the being and can't stop the smile appear on her face. The smile never falters, even as the smoke disappears and there sits a big scary looking dog with tree heads.

Loke on the other hand steps a few steps back and can't stop the slightly fearful expression on his face. A few seconds later the three headed dog didn't move to attack and Loke slowly feels how calm and happy Lucy is. With that he steps back next to his princess and waits for the next actions.

Lucy slowly walks over to the dog with outstretched hand. She holds her hand to the dog to sniff her and after a few more seconds the head in the middle moves for to let her pet him. Having the permission to pet them Lucy rises her other hand and begins petting the other two heads. Seeing as no head pets him, the middle head moves forward to rub it gently against her stomach in affection. For both, Lucy and Cerberus, it feels like they have known each other for a very long time. There is this connection between them.

On the side Loke stares with his mouth agape at the scene before him. The scary looking dog is just so gentle with his Master that he too goes slowly to him. Locking with one head eyes he knows that he too can pet them.

So the three of them stand there cuddling and petting for a few minutes.

"Hello you must be Cerberus. My name is Lucy Heartfilia, I'm the one who called you. I really hope we can become the best of friends. This guy next to me is Loke, one of my Celestial Spirits and one of my best friends. All my Spirits are my friends and I hope you all will get along really well!", Lucy smiles brightly, for the moment completely forgotten what happend this morning.

"Hello Lucy, we too hope that we will become the best of friends. And all your friends are our friends too. As you know we are called Cerberus. We are a Hellhound that guards the entrance to the World of the dead. It has been a very long time since someone called us as their friend and we are very happy that you don't seem to be scared of us. Even though we are called Hellhound that doesn't mean that we are bad or something like that. You should know that we can turn in to a puppy form, both this form an the puppy form can transform into one with just one single head. Furthermore we have a human form, the human form needs our magic so that we can't stay forever as a human. But there is no really difference for us if we are a puppy or not, we can freely decide which form we choose and switch as often as we want. In all forms we can speak telepathically with you. We don't really have a magic ability but we are strong, fast and have enhanced senses.", the head in the middle tells Lucy.

"Wow that was quite a bit of information. Would it be okay to show me all you forms?", Lucy asked surprised.

With that Cerberus starts to show Lucy all his different forms. At his human form Lucy can't stop the blush on her checks, since he didn't have a shirt on and looks really hot with his glowing red eyes, dark brown hair and that sixpack. The last form he shows her is his puppy form with just one head. After that the three of them sits back down on the floor comfortably and just cuddle.

"Oh shit!"