chapter 7 was definitely the most fun to write!

here's a little about Pavo; a silver gate spirit who appears in this chappie. I had great fun making her up:

Pavo the peacock is a real constellation - I looked it up.

she has long flat-cut black hair and blue-green eyes. she wears a blue and green kimono and peacock wings & tail. she never speaks, though she is capable of speaking. she's a bit like Aquarius with the "this is so stupid" about everything, but she does what her master wants, nevertheless.

now, the show must go on! plz r&r!

Chapter 8

Karen

I sit at the bar in the Guild Hall, something I seem to be doing a lot lately. My eyes keep drifting towards the bulletin board in the center of the hall. One of Hibiki's buddies – Eve Tearm – is pulling an ad off the front side.

I sigh. Leo's been at the ruins for three months now. Honestly, his strength amazes me. One week in the Human World is thought to be fatal for a Celestial Spirit, but three months? And he's shown no sign of backing down.

I'm in debt already. I owe 70,000J for my rent, and Sorcerer's Weekly hasn't done an interview with me in over six months so I get no money from them. The local café refused to hire me – as if I'd want to work there anyway, and Bob is wanting money to pay for all the alcohol I've been consuming recently.

I need a job.

But Leo won't budge.

Neither will I. I've thought about sucking it up and just promising not to pick on Aries for a while, but that won't solve the issue for good. No, I need to show Leo that he can't stop me. I know I'm strong enough to open two Gates at once. I just have to try.

Walking over, I stand in front of the bulletin board. It feels good to take a job again. Looking around to make sure no one's watching, I close my eyes and jab my finger at the board – something I've done ever since I was a little girl and my grandfather asked me to choose his jobs for him. I tear off the paper I've chosen and take a closer look.

HELP WANTED

Job: Have you seen this woman? Demanding goods from our storekeepers. Powerful mage. Must be stopped; town is losing much-needed money.

Pay: 100,000J

Location: Town of Wallford

Please help!

There's a blurry picture of a woman with short white hair and slanted eyes at the bottom. I shrug. A battle sounds good – I'm in the mood.

I quickly pack a suitcase and leave the Guild, only telling Bob where I'm going because he stops me on the way out.

"Karen? Where are you going?" the fat old clown asks in confusion.

"I'm taking a job. Now get lost."

"But what about Leo?"

"How do you know about Leo?" I ask, narrowing my eyes.

"I know lots of things, Karen. I know everything that goes on in the Blue Pegasus Guild." Bob answers quietly.

"I can handle two Gates at once."

"May I ask which job you're taking?"

I thrust the paper at him. He reads over it quickly and his eyes widen when he sees the fuzzy picture at the bottom.

"You can't do this, Karen! This woman – she's a member of a Dark Guild, an extremely powerful wizard. I don't even know how this ad got to the bulletin board. It's too dangerous for anyone in our Guild. Except maybe The Trimens.

"I said I can handle it!" I snap, snatching the ad back. "I'm the most powerful wizard in this Guild – not those jokers!" I'm out of the Guild Hall before Bob can call after me, seething as I head for the train station.

….

I snarl as I tramp through the woods, shaking a wandering vine that tries to snare my boot. When the shopkeeper in Wallford told me directions, he didn't say that reaching this woman would include a mile-long hike through the forest.

By the time I finally emerge into a clearing, I'm sweating and no longer in a good mood. Where is this lady anyway? I want to get this over with.

"If you're out there, come out and fight me already. I'm not in the mood to play hide and seek!" I tell the trees. I don't actually expect her to appear, but she does.

"Well, well. It seems we have a challenger."

Her voice is slippery, like a snake winding its way around my feet. A slender, petite woman, she wears a revealing V-cut dress, black leggings, and two feathery, wing-like adornments on her back. Her flat-cut hair is short and comes down to her jawline, and her indigo eyes match her voice perfectly. This is the kind of woman who can make you feel like a dirty maggot, no matter if you were a queen or an actual maggot. I scowl, hating her already.

"Blue Pegasus." She states, noticing my hat and my stamp. "It's been a long time since I battled someone of a proper Guild. You did come for the job, didn't you?"

"I did." I reply, "And I really need that hundred thousand so let's make it quick."

"And so we shall." The woman agrees. "You can come out, dearie, let us see what information we can gather about our opponent."

It takes me a moment to realize that she's not speaking to me. Or is she?

I step out of the trees, which can't be because I'm standing right here. But someone who looks just like me does, right down to the third piercing in my left ear.

"A Celestial Mage." The other Karen says, "She is Karen Lilica of Blue Pegasus."

"A Celestial Mage?" the woman grins. "What keys does she have?"

"Aries the Ram, Cancer the Giant Crab, Leo the Lion, and Pavo the Peacock. But…the Gate of the Lion…it's open."

A look of confusion passes across my – I mean the other Karen's face. The woman laughs.

"You're going to battle me with one Gate already opened? Now, now. Let's be fair. Close dear Leo's Gate. No sneaky play, if you please."

"How did you know what keys I have?" I say, to avoid admitting that I can't close Leo's Gate.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I've been quite impolite haven't I? Allow me to introduce myself. I am Angel Matsuno, a member of the Oracion Seis. But I suppose a novice like yourself wouldn't know who that is." She waves her hand dismissively, then puts her arm around other Karen.

"And this is dear Gemini – yes, I'm a Celestial Wizard, too. Now then, let's begin, shall we? I don't believe you've closed Leo's Gate but no matter. If you want to attempt multiple summon, that's your problem. Playtime's over, my friends. Close, Gate of the Twins, Gemini."

"Open, Gate of the Giant Crab, Cancer!" I shout, pulling out Cancer's key. I feel the slightest twinge of nervousness as I open Cancer's Gate as I've never tried a Multiple Summon before, but he appears between me and Angel, scissors snapping.

I feel the drain on my magic energy, though. For a moment I'm overwhelmed by lightheadedness, but only for a moment.

"Ooh. I'm impressed." Angel coos, "You managed two Gates. But I'm afraid you won't get very far with Cancer. Open, Gate of the Scorpion, Scorpio!"

"Ehhh! Howzit goin' bro?!" Cancer grins.

"Long time no see, Big Shell!" Scorpio replies. My jaw drops.

"What the hell is this?!" I yell as Cancer and Scorpio perform some sort of slap-clap handshake.

"Too many people," Angel smirks, "Don't take the time to study the relationships of the Celestial Spirits. Cancer and Scorpio are best friends – they grew up together since they were created around the same time. They'd never fight each other."

"Cancer!" I snarl, "Pull yourself together! We're here on a job!"

"Sorry, babe." Cancer turns to look at me, "I can't fight my homie."

"Then at least go back and save me some energy." I growl. The two dissolve in light back to the Celestial World. I sigh. Cancer's out, I can't get at Leo, and Aries might still be recovering – I don't know how long it takes to convalesce in the Spirit World. That leaves one option.

"Open, Gate of the Peacock, Pavo!"

Again, opening Pavo's Gate drains my energy. I don't know if I can do that again.

Pavo is a pretty woman clad in – what do you expect – peacock attire. She's not really that powerful, but she's the best chance I have right now.

"Open, Gate of the Chisel, Caelum!" Angel responds, spinning a Silver key in her hand. "A Silver and a Silver. Let's see who's stronger."

"Take her out, Pavo." I scowl as Angel grips Caelum by the handle in laser form. Pavo says nothing – she never speaks – but flies forward, black hair flowing behind her, and brings her hand around, flaming with blue magic.

But Angel is faster, blasting Pavo right through the middle with Caelum's laser. Pavo's eyes open wide and she emits a little gasping noise as a giant hole opens in her torso, then dissolves into light.

"Well, well. I think that means you have one Key left." Angel smiles, "I don't know why you're not using Leo, but let's see what Aries is made of."

Crap. She's right. Aries is my only hope now. But a Gold Key can trump a Silver Key, can't it?

"Open, Gate of the Ram, Aries!"

This time it happens almost like in slow motion. A magic circle appears at the end of Aries's Key, slowly growing bigger and bigger as my energy reserves grow smaller and smaller. Once it reaches a peak diameter, the magic circle sits there for a few moments, then winks out of existence. No Aries.

I sink down to my knees, Aries' key dropping out of my hand. Right now I just want to sleep. I'm tired. So tired. I fall onto my back, staring up at the blue sky through the falling leaves. It's a strange feeling that grows in my chest at this moment. Bittersweet. It takes me a moment to identify it as…remorse.

I'm sorry.

"I'm sorry."

They say that when you die your life flashes before your eyes.

My grandfather smiles down at me, showing me his Gate Keys. Closing my eyes and picking him a job as a little girl. Crying when he won't take me along. Then as a teen, learning Holder Magic with my only Key; the Gate of the Southern Cross, Crux, whom I eventually traded for Pavo. Joining Blue Pegasus, getting Cancer, losing one of my Silver Keys, the news of my grandfather's death, receiving Leo and Aries. And then the faces. Hibiki. Bob. The many beaten faces of Aries. Leo with anger smoldering in his eyes. Cancer with sadness in his.

And the last thing I see is Angel bringing Caelum in sword form down towards my chest.

Loke

The doors to the church are opened once more, this time by Bob, the Master of Karen's guild. He came to see me a few days ago to inform me that Karen had taken a job, much to my surprise. Now he walks forward and looks at me sadly.

"They found her in the woods." Is all he says.

"What do you mean 'They found her in the woods'?!"

"She's dead, Leo. She tried to open too many Gates and her strength failed her, allowing the Dark Mage to finish her off."

"No!" I exclaim, "She can't – I didn't – I never meant for this to happen!" I felt the breaking of our contract but I had hoped it was that she had decided to release us. I reach up and feel that my face is wet. Why the hell am I crying? I hate this woman. She tormented Aries daily and was rude to the rest of us. So why do I feel grief?

"I know you didn't. None of us did." Bob hesitates. Then, "You know what this means don't you?"

"Yeah." I say hoarsely. "I can't go back."

"You're a nice boy, Leo. You don't deserve this."

"Yes I do. I've killed her. I'll accept my punishment." I whisper, looking down at the floor. Bob says nothing more, just makes his way out.

The next person who comes to see me is Cancer, which catches me a little by surprise. We sit on the steps leading up to the altar for a minute in silence before Cancer speaks.

"What're you gonna do, Loke?"

"I'll stay here, in this world. Maybe get a job. I'll learn what it's like to be human in the short time I have left."

"Hey, look on the bright side, buddy. You've drawn a new picture by lasting over three months." Cancer grins at me, "Who knows. Maybe you could last forever." Then his face turns serious. "Maybe if I'd just agreed to fight Scorpio…"

"No." I say, "This is my fault. You can't be expected to fight your best friend."

We talk some more for a few minutes before Cancer stands up. "I think I'll go back to my old master now – Lucy. She broke contract with me for…reasons. But I'm sure she'll be over it now. I'll see you again sometime, buddy. Say hi to all the hot girls you meet for me, okay?"

"Okay." I reply with a small smile. Cancer shoots me a wink and two hand-guns before heading back to the Celestial World. Back home.

Nope. I correct myself, also standing, This is my home now.

I'm gonna make a new life for myself.

Two Months Later

It's on a street corner that I run into her.

"Loke? Is that you?" she asks, looking up at me with those big blue eyes.

"Aries? Why are you here?" I ask in surprise.

"I was looking for you." She whispers, "I opened my own Gate – my master doesn't know I'm here."

I doubt that. Powerful mages can sense when one of their spirit's Gates are open. "How are you? Is she treating you well?"

"Well, at least she doesn't hit me every day." Aries doesn't meet my eyes. "Look, I-I just wanted to say thank you. For everything."

She hesitates for a moment, then stands up on her tiptoes and pecks me on the corner of the mouth. I feel my face reddening and her own cheeks are pink.

"Until we meet again."

She turns and walks away.

I look up at the sky as I often do, wishing I was back in the Celestial Spirit World, where I belong. But now I have a new home. With a Guild. A new family.

Fairy Tail.

I really, really wanted to make this chapter end with Karen's death. but the last two sections were necessary so I had to put them in. next chapter is the epilogue and then we're done!

~icefire out