AN: Please read and review!
Disclaimer: If we owned Fairy Tail … there would probably be a lot more angst and a lot less screaming about comrades.
Under the Flames
A Fairy Tail Fanfiction by Kitty & Foxy
Chapter Fourteen: Leo the Lion Spirit
The train whistle blew as it came to a halt at the station. He heard the doors slide open and the clamoring of people as they departed. His stomach churned in all kinds of knots as he was hoisted up onto someone's back – he wasn't sure who, as his brain felt too numb to register anything – the rhythm of the train still messing with his balance and his thinking capacity. Movements with a type of "rhythm" that were not his own often agitated the fluids in his body, and it would upset the balance he required to function. I hate transportation.
"I think you beat him a little too badly, Erza." Gray mumbled as he was forced to lug Natsu back to presumably Lucy's, recalling the struggle they had boarding the train the second time. He put up a better fight against going on it, then Erza … he shuddered, remembering how she had knocked him out this time. I'm surprised he's put up with us this much – heck, he doubted most other guild members would. He didn't get to continue that thought, though, for he felt a long strip of slimy drool drip down his bare shoulder. His face twisted with disgust as he growled at the sick mage on his back. "Oy, don't you dare get sick on me, pink boy!"
I remember him being a little seasick before, but I didn't realize it was this bad … Lucy frowned sheepishly, looking back at her sickly pale friend. She could see his illness even with his hood drawn up. She felt terrible that the others had dragged him onto the train in the first place. She tried to protest on the way back, knowing that Natsu wasn't feeling well, but Erza already knocked him senseless when he became paralyzed with fear at sight of the mechanical beast. The train ride back took the entire night, and while she and Erza and Gray all got in some rest, poor Natsu would either be unconscious or severely sick. Erza hadn't enjoyed Natsu's defiance in riding the train, either. She needs to work on her patience …but Lucy hoped that she wouldn't be the one charged with teaching the redhead that.
They reached her apartment soon enough, Gray – now down to his boxers – carrying Natsu in and dropping him on the bed. Lucy could now see that he was shivering, not from the temperature, but because his body had the shakes and was probably still trying to match the motion of the train.
"He's really sick again." Happy hopped down onto the bed, his wings temporarily vanishing as he began to paw at Natsu.
"I'm sorry Natsu, I didn't know you got this sick on rides …" Lucy apologized to him, even though he currently seemed to be 'sleeping,' if not unconscious once more. She began setting up the trash can near the bed in case he woke up with the need to hurl (she hoped that wouldn't be the case).
Gray scratched his head after wiping the drool off his shoulder with a towel, turning to Erza. "Ugh … so what should we do about him now?"
"I don't think he'll be able to move today," Happy noted.
Erza crossed her arms in contemplation, wondering what they should do. Loki's warning shouldn't be taken lightly. Salamander has been attempting to prove he means no harm by complying with our wishes, but that could also be an enemy tactic. Regardless, it's true that he probably won't be capable of anything for the rest of the day. She nodded to herself, looking back up at the others. "We can return to the guild. However, I think we ought to report this to the Master."
"W-what?" Lucy stuttered, turning back to the others with mild surprise. "Please, you guys, don't report him to the Master yet!" She protested, even though they were confused as to why she'd be against it. "I – I'd rather find out why Loki's so against him before bringing Natsu forward, so please give me a chance to ask him about it."
"How are you going to ask him? That guy runs away from you on sight." Gray muttered.
"I promise I'll talk to the Master once I find out, and even if I don't, I'll go and explain Natsu. I know more about him, after all." Lucy spoke outwardly, mustering up her determination.
Erza didn't like the idea of keeping a secret from the Master, but she knew Lucy wouldn't lie. So she gave a little smile and nod. "Alright then, Lucy. But you'll have to find out soon."
"Mmm!" The blonde nodded, happy that they would remain quiet for a little while. I mean, look at how they reacted to him being in my home … even though I love the guild, I don't want them going after him like that! But then the corner of her mouth twitched. Now I'll have to find some way to get Loki to stay around me long enough to find out … that would be harder than it looked.
"I'm gonna stay here with Natsu!" Happy chirped, placing his chin against Natsu's chest.
"Let us know if he gives you any trouble Happy," Gray waved, being the first to turn and walk from the apartment. The others followed, while Lucy hollered after him: "Find your clothes while you're out there!"
*
"Welcome back, you three!" Mirajane waved to Lucy, Erza, and Gray as they approached the bar area.
Erza glanced around at the guild, whistling. "Wow, you've all put up so much of it already!" Much of the timber had already been pieced together and the beginnings of a brick wall around the perimeter could be seen.
"Hey, Mira, are there any missions we can take that'll be a day or two's time?" Gray asked, shoving his hands into his pockets (surprisingly, his clothes were on again!). He too had rent to pay … living at Fairy Hills wasn't cheap.
"Mmm, we do!" Mirajane nodded, happily picking up the request book and flipping through the pages. Fairy Tail always kept a copy of all the requests in a book, so in case a flyer went missing they would still have a record of the mission. "Let's see … you could help put on a play over in Omnibus?"
"A play?" Lucy started, her eyes growing wide. A play was similar to writing! She turned to the others, but the looks on their faces clearly said: boring. "… I guess not."
"Then, how about taking out a group of troublemakers a little bit south of here?" Mirajane suggested, walking her fingers down the page. "They've been stealing money from the banks and coercing people into contracts."
"We'll take that," Erza nodded, not even giving her teammates a chance to answer or react.
"Great!" Mirajane clapped her hands together, and went over to the board, tearing down the flyer it corresponded to and handing it over to the knight, who began to read over the information. Seems simple enough. We can do this in a day.
"… She didn't even ask us …" Lucy whimpered, but she followed her companions out of the guild once more. She was content enough that they hadn't brought up Natsu to Mirajane or anyone else … but that means I'm going to have to find and talk to Loki. She mentally grumbled. She'd better find some rope to lasso him before he could run away.
*
Even though the mission looked substantially harder than the more "simple" missions, such as collecting herbs, or evicting people, etc., they completed their mission within a matter of hours. By 2 PM, they'd taken out the group of thugs, most of them lying semi-conscious on the ground as Gray began to collect the stolen cash so it could be returned to the rightful owners.
"You think you'll get away with doing this to us?" One of the members spat, but he was sharply kicked in the head by Erza. They left the "den," as the thugs had called it, returning the money to the banks and in turn receiving their reward. They headed back towards Magnolia, glad that the mission had been simple and minimal.
"That took less time than I thought," Erza smiled, stretching her arms as her armor clanked together.
"Huh?" Gray turned his head, hearing someone else walking down the path they were on. His eyes widened. "Isn't that Loki over there?" Without much more thought, Gray turned and started walking back down the path, a big grin plastered on his face. Although he had companions on his team, he rarely had a male companion – and even a guy needs a break from female pheromones once in a while. "What a coincidence!" He called with a wave, Loki stopping and waiting for them to approach – even though he could Lucy there as well. "You had a job near here too?"
"Yeah, you too?" Loki asked rather casually, tensing a little as the blonde approached. However, when she got too close, he couldn't help but twitch backwards. He had a feeling he would be reprimanded for barging in on her … well … "L-Lucy!"
"This is perfect!" Lucy grinned, relieved she could get it over with now while she found him. She could thank him for finding her keys, and ask him about Natsu. "I wanted to thank you for –"
"Sorry, I'm in the middle of a job!" Loki threw his hands up, waving them frantically in a "back off!" gesture. And with that, he took off in a frenzy, leaving a trail of dust in his wake.
Lucy's fingers twitched at his reaction, the others momentarily silent behind her. "What is with him?"
"What did you do to him?" Gray couldn't help but wonder why Loki reacted this way around her, too, but he was wondering if Lucy had tortured him or something. "He's totally avoiding you."
"I didn't do anything!" She defended, but she could tell her companions were beginning to think otherwise. Why do you react this way, Loki?
*
Loki leaned up against a tree, trying to catch his breath. His heart was pounding furiously in his chest, but not due to physical exhaustion. It was from another exhaustion. He slumped down onto the round, looking at the forest around him. Why can't I stay near Lucy …? She truly doesn't mean any harm … he knew that, but Celestial Mages frightened him. Every time he saw the blonde, he would hear her footsteps, a painful reminder of what he knew was coming to him.
YOU SHOULD TELL HER ABOUT YOURSELF.
His teeth began to grind against each other as he remembered those voiceless words, from the one he knew to be his enemy. Why would he care? He thought bitterly. He has to have some plan up his sleeve … he knows that in telling Lucy, I might only hurt her even more. But the Dragon Slayer's words only continued to haunt him.
YOU WILL BE BETTER OFF IN HER HANDS THAN YOU ARE AS OF NOW.
He wouldn't know that. He knows I won't be … that there's no way for me to return. And now he knows it. I know he's realized that I'm no longer allowed back, even if he himself doesn't know the reason. Loki attempted to calm his fury by picking a flower up from the forest's floor, snapping its stem so he could observe its beauty. One of Earthland's treasures, something even he could appreciate. But then the petals began to shrivel, and it withered away to a dark matter at his touch. His life energy had sapped away its own, and he let it crumble off to his side as he watched his own hand in misery, knowing it would soon phase once more. He could feel the gaze of his haunting drilling holes into the depths of his soul. No matter what, the past would consume him.
IT'S HARD TO HIDE THAT YOU'RE DYING.
He was running out of energy … he was running out of time.
*
"Hey, hey, since we actually finished a job early, why don't we head to a spa and take it easy?" Lucy suggested, cracking her knuckles as she smiled, turning to the others. She figured the longer she could keep them out here, the more time she could have to try and locate Loki … and, the longer she kept them away from her apartment, the more time Natsu could have to recover before he'd be harassed once more. But she turned and saw a look of horror on Gray's face, and Erza's contemplative stare. She eeped, taken aback. Erza, please don't reprimand me!
"… That's a good idea," Erza finally spoke, nodding. Gray's face relaxed as he thought: you got away with it this time, Lucy.
So they stopped near the neighboring town of Hosenka, intending to stay until the early evening. Lucy knew she wouldn't be able to convince them to stay overnight, as Natsu was still in her home … but this gives him time to recuperate, us time to relax, and me time to find Loki! She resolved. Well, there was no guarantee that Loki would be nearby here, but she could still search. Hosenka was a spa town, aimed at luring tourists to its wonderful baths in an oriental-themed style.
They took their time relaxing in the baths, although after a while Gray found somewhere to doze off, little realizing his stalker behind some rocks was watching him sleep. Lucy decided she would take a walk around the area as the sun began to set, summoning Plue to walk with her. Plue wasn't just adorable, but he helped her practice using her magic at a continuous steady rate. Being a non fighting spirit, Plue gave her ample opportunity to utilize her magical skills and improve her spirit world connections during peaceful times.
"Hey girl, man!" A man's voice called out to Lucy, and she turned her head to spy two men approaching her. "That yukata looks great on you! Tourist?" "We came here from Oshibana, man! Let's have a funky time, man!"
These two creeps are hitting on me … Lucy shuddered, backing off a little. One of them looked like a thug, and the other's head kept nervously twitching. "S-sorry, but I'm with someone," she pointed to Plue, looking for any excuse to ditch them.
"Oh? Not even a little while, man?" "But you're with a …" they stared at Plue for a while. "… whatever that thing is." "Well, it's okay to take that funky little fella with us, man!" "Let's go!"
The men approached her, one clasping his hand on her shoulder, the other daintily taking up her hand. Lucy sweat dropped, once more recognizing this as the "curse of being cute." They're quite pushy, too. "Hey, you guys, that's about …!" she tried to move away from them, but she found her body wouldn't let her. Fear began to swell up in her heart. What's this? I can't move my body! No matter how much her mind told her legs to move, they wouldn't!
"Let's go together!" "We'll have one funky night, man!" The two of them leered at her.
They're mages? This is bad! She started trying to think up ways to foil their plans, but she quickly found she didn't need to. A figure darted in, and one of the thugs was knocked to the ground, the other watching stunned. Lucy's eyes followed the new figure as it swung a kick towards the other thug's head, breaking the spell on her so she could stumble backwards as well. The two thugs lay beaten on the ground, and Lucy finally got a good look at her rescuer.
"Are you hurt?" The familiar orange-haired boy asked, turning to look at Lucy as she tried to figure out what was going on.
"L-Loki!" She stuttered, but before she could say anything more, Loki jumped behind the fence, establishing a barrier between the two of them. "I'm sorry," he replied shyly.
"For what?" She mumbled bitterly, but moved off so he would come back out from his hiding spot.
"These two have been targeting lone female travelers," Loki explained, nervously approaching. He knew he'd have to pick up the two thugs and drag them to the nearest station, and that required coming back out from behind the fence. "They're criminal mages. I was in the middle of capturing them. I-I have to deliver these guys, so if you'll excuse me –" he began, scratching at his head and attempting to come up with an excuse to leave, but Lucy quickly intervened.
"Wait!" she called. "Thank you for saving me," she smiled warmly, hoping that by being kind he wouldn't see her as a threat anymore. "And for finding my keys."
"No, don't mention it." Loki smiled, turning his head back around. Even his fear of Lucy could be outweighed by an instantaneous flood of male ego, the "charmer" ego.
"S-so, why don't we go out for a bit?" Loki's jaw dropped at the suggested, his head turning back to Lucy, his eyes as wide as saucers behind his sunglasses. Lucy quickly realized what she said, flushing a little and nervously shouting "That's not what I meant!"
*
They dropped the criminal mages off at the station, Loki receiving his reward and nervously walking a fair enough distance away from Lucy as they headed over to a restaurant called the "Super Express." It is said to be one of the top two most popular spots in Hosenka.
Lucy looked up at the sky with a smile. It was a clear night, and she could see the stars even though the lights in the town were on. "The sky sure is pretty, isn't it?" She chuckled, then spied a shooting star. "I wonder what happens to shooting stars after they fall?"
Loki felt his heart tug, and he bowed his head as he spoke. "Hey, Lucy … do you understand the sorrow of a star that cannot return to the heavens?"
Lucy glanced to him, confused, but then shrugged it off when he recognized it as something he often used on other girls. "Is that some kind of pick up line?"
He frowned even deeper, but then forced a chuckle. "You got me."
They reached the restaurant fairly quickly. It was of course crowded and the two had to wait a few minutes for a table to open up. Lucy allowed Plue to slip back into the spirit world, and she smiled as she sat down at the table, but then realized Loki had pulled his chair out – way out – to avoid being close to her. Her eye twitched a little. "Umm … you don't have to sit that far away from me …"
"A-ah, sorry …" Loki chuckled nervously, deciding he should just get this over with as soon as he could. He didn't want to be here … not with Lucy … she reminded him too much of her …
They ordered drinks, and Lucy sighed, her eyes relaxing as Loki remained tense. "I've been wanting to ask you this for a while, but what did this Celestial Mage do to you?" He remained quiet, and she puffed her cheeks in a moment of annoyance. If he was going to behave this way toward her, she'd like to know why. Chances were he had a good explanation – perhaps a former girlfriend of his summoned a spirit that landed him in the hospital for weeks or something – but she'd rather now than not know. But everyone has secrets they want to keep to themselves, too. She took a swig of her drink, continuing to talk. "If you don't want to tell, I don't mind … but I'm not that person, you know."
"Yeah … I know." Loki responded softly, not looking directly at Lucy as he spoke. He knew this celestial mage didn't mean harm, he knew that, but his fears … and circumstances … "I'm sorry … really. I apologize if I've hurt you." He lifted his eyes up to him, the aura around him changing to a romantic tone. "You should just forget about me."
Lucy shuddered, glaring at him. "What's wit htaht clichéd breakup line?"
Loki readjusted his sunglasses. "That's not what I meant …" but the aura had yet to vanish, but it did when she continued to see through his act. "Breakup, huh?" Just as I am now.
"Huh?" Lucy noticed the few words he added, even though it was hard to hear over the noise of the crowds around them. "What about breaking up?"
"No, no, I remembered something from long ago." Loki chuckled, wanting to shift the topic.
Silence continued to persist between the two, and Lucy had to admit, it was growing frustrating. She wanted to get to know him better … even if he appeared to be a flirtatious playboy with a fear of Celestial Mages … but he didn't seem to be that bad underneath. "Fine, never mind," Lucy sighed in defeat, knowing that his secrets would likely remain secrets. "I just wanted to ask … oh, yeah, uhh …" she started, nervous about asking this question. "Could you please tell me … why are you afraid of Natsu?"
"Natsu?" Loki asked, not recognizing the name.
"You know … my friend that … well, you attacked him in the guild, and apparently attacked you back …" she spoke softly, being careful not to hint that she knew where he was. She didn't want to have a battle in her own apartment if she could avoid it. "Natsu was kind when I first met him, and he saved my life twice … I want to believe you when you say he can't be trusted, but …" she trailed off, certain she had gotten the point across.
It seems she had. Loki had once again tensed up, his lips tightening in a very faint scowl. He knew the Dragon Slayer by other names, and it was likely he had a number of aliases if he'd been able to elude them for so long. But … I can't tell you that either, not without telling you about me …
"We …" he began slowly, choosing his words very, very carefully. "We had a disagreement in the past."
"A-ah …" That wasn't much of an answer, but at least it was something. Probably more than she'd ever get out from him. Maybe what Cana said was right … they somehow had a fight in the past and just need to fight it out again before they can move on.
Another awkward silence. It was beginning to become unbearable. Lucy wanted Loki to open up to her, but maybe he just needed more time. She offered a smile, standing up in preparation to leave. Gray and Erza probably want to head back soon, she realized, speaking to Loki again. "Erza and Gray are waiting, b-but thanks for saving me. I understand a bit now why you're so popular," she grinned, even though Loki still seemed lost in a world of thoughts. "As for me, I thought, we really are friends after all." She placed her hand above her heart, glad that even though this had been extraordinarily uncomfortable, she'd gotten to know him a little bit better.
"Well, I better get goi—" she started to walk away, but Loki reached out, grabbing her wrist and standing up as well.
"Wait," he spoke, his voice dripping in sorrow. I want to tell you … god damn it, I want to tell you … she moved back a step as he walked forward, wrapping his arms around her in a warm, tight embrace, surprising her immensely. Such close contact, even after he went through all the trouble of avoiding her? Plus, guys rarely did this with her. She began to fluster. "Lucy … I don't have long to live."
H-huh? Her eyes widened in shock, her body beginning to tremble. W-what does he mean by -? Her heart froze. No way … you mean …? "W-what do you mean?"
Loki could feel his own heart pounding. Tell her … you should tell her … his heart begged. You don't want to die alone without someone knowing … but then an even deeper thought struck him. YOU SHOULD TELL HER ABOUT YOURSELF. YOU WILL BE BETTER OFF IN HER HANDS THAN YOU ARE AS OF NOW.
It reverberated in his mind, and he felt the poison of ill will run in his veins. He knew what I am, and he's my enemy … I can't take his suggestions. He must somehow know that if I tell her, things will go badly … even though his heart ached, and now might be his only chance to tell her, he began to laugh at himself for even considering taking the Dragon Slayer's advice. What am I doing? I can't take his advice! His body began to rock as he chuckled, even though he would be wrecking the moment. He backed off, his chuckles becoming reality, seeing Lucy's face twist at his reaction.
I'm sorry, Lucy. "Got you!" He chuckled, trying to twist his emotions around, winking at her from behind his sunglasses. "This is a trick to pick up girls! You make them all sad for you. So I bet you're pretty surprised –"
He wasn't stunned when she slapped him; he wasn't surprised when she made a scene in the crowded restaurant. He deserved it, seeing her face become embedded with fury at his selfishness. His sunglasses clattered to the floor as she shouted at him, crying a little herself. "I hate jokes like that!" She snapped, and stormed out of the restaurant, leaving him standing there, lost in his thoughts.
What am I doing? I can't be swept away by feelings. I can't get her involved in something I have no right to be a part of anymore. I'm sorry … I'm so, so sorry … he too left the restaurant after paying, intent on heading home to speak to the Master.
*
She silently walked back with Gray and Erza, not saying much as she headed towards her apartment, feeling down about Loki. Why did he do that? Now that I think about it, I think he was faking something … but still, why did he have to be such a jerk about it?
Crestfallen, she entered her apartment, spying Happy sleeping on top of Natsu – who was still in her bed. She worriedly approached them, shaking the cat awake.
"Lucy!" Happy mumbled sleepily, rubbing his eyes with his paws. "How'd the mission go?"
"Okay, I guess." She faintly smiled, but it quickly turned back into a frown. "Has he moved at all?"
"He got up twice, the first time to use the bathroom, the second time to try to find food, but he collapsed on that trip." Happy explained, his tail twitching back and forth. "He's better now, though, he stopped shaking."
That's good, I guess. She sighed in relief, sitting on the edge of the bed and glancing at Natsu's face, remembering Loki's words. "We had a disagreement in the past." Must've been a big disagreement … but at least now I have some insight into it, even if it's not that big. She sighed, looking back at the floor. Loki, what happened to you?
But then an idea hit her. Ah, if a Celestial Mage is responsible for his misery, then maybe I could ask Crux! She nodded as a crafty smile crept across her face. She turned to Happy. "Happy, keep watching Natsu – Erza and Gray said they'd stop by later. I'm going out for a bit!"
"Aye!"
Lucy left the apartment building, walking over towards the ledge of the canal and sitting down, letting her feet rest in the cool water. Sighing, she sorted through her keys, looking for Crux. The streets were empty, and she didn't want to disturb Natsu, so she figured she would inquire outdoors. "Gate of the Southern Cross, I open thee!" She flicked the key, watching a magical circle sprout from it's tip. "Crux!"
A cross-shaped figure with arms, legs, and an elderly face emerged over the water, grunting as he nodded to Lucy. She smiled at the spirit. Crux … or rather, Curmudgeon. She stifled a giggle. "It's kind of sudden, but I have a request," she asked the spirit, splashing her legs in the water a little. "Can you use your power to look into the Celestial Mage that Loki was within the past, Curmudgeon?"
"Homa," the cross grunted. A few minutes passed by. Even though it appeared as if he were sleeping, he was in fact searching in the depths of his mind for information. She patiently waited, knowing that the spirit was a specialist in Celestial Studies; he knew everything about the gates that connect the two worlds, and of the Celestial Mages that could call out spirits in the past. With this information, she hoped she could find what she needed to know about Loki. He awoke after a while. "I cannot be too detailed as personal information is protected even in the spirit world. However, the Celestial Mage connected to Loki is Karen Lilica."
Karen Lilica? The super famous mage that was often shown in Sorcerer? But she died a few years ago on a job, right? Blue Pegasus, if I recall … "S-so, what was the relationship between Loki and Karen?"
"Sorry, but that is all I can say." And after that, he fell asleep once more.
That was helpful, her eye twitched, but decided she needed to sort this out for herself. Karen and Loki … but then Loki's previous words began to haunt her. "I don't have long to live …" "Do you understand the sorrow of a star that cannot return to the heavens?"
He can't mean … a dreadful thought entered her mind, and it lingered. Loki … is he …?
She didn't get to finish or confirm her thoughts, for Gray came tearing down the street. "Luuucy!" He hollered, and Lucy looked up at him, confused as Crux vanished back to the spirit realm.
"What is it?" Lucy asked, twitching when she saw that Gray was in nothing but his boxers.
"We have a problem!" He pulled her up from the side and back up onto her feet. "Loki came to the guild and told the Master he was leaving for good! We can't find him! Everyone's out looking for him!"
"W-what?" She stuttered, slipping her shoes back on and running after Gray to help in the search. He told the Master he was leaving? "I don't have long to live …" N-no … it couldn't be …
Lucy turned on her heels, recalling a bit of information from the Sorcerer magazines that she believed might give her an answer. I have to go look there …! I have to see! It would take her an hour, maybe two to get there … but she felt it was where she needed to go.
*
A beautiful monument in stone, embellished in gold trim, framed a stunningly beautiful waterfall behind it; it stood on an eroding ledge looking out onto the waterfall, framing its beauty. Few would guess from a distance that it marked the grave of a beautiful woman, until they approached it, reading the name "Karen Lilica," and seeing the symbol of Blue Pegasus above. A bell hung from its tip, though it was carved from stone, never meant to move or ring for as long as it would stand.
Loki silently watched the waterfall through its hoop, feeling trapped, hearing the footsteps behind him even though the roar of the waterfall blocked all other sounds. But, even after what felt like an eternity of waiting, staring at the stone, he heard another voice behind him.
"Loki!"
He turned, surprised to see Lucy advancing towards him. "Lucy?"
"Everyone's out looking for you …" she responded softly, truly concerned for him as he stood there in silence. When he did not answer, she continued. "… that's Karen's grave, isn't it?"
He froze, his heart skipping a beat. How …?
"The Celestial Mage Karen … your owner. Spirit Loki, rather … your real name must be the Lion, Leo."
A sadness shone from his eyes, and even though the shades of the sunglasses, she could see it. She waited for his answer, knowing he couldn't run anymore. At first, he wondered if someone had told her … but then she would've mentioned it first, wouldn't she? She must've figured it out on her own … Crux, I believe. He smiled, nodding a little. "… You did well to realize I was actually a spirit."
"Well, I am a Celetial Mage with contracts with many spirits." She frowned in worry. "I finally figured the truth about you … what your words meant. But I should've noticed it sooner, right? When a mage dies, the spirit's contract is broken … but somehow, you're still here. For some reason, you can't return to the spirit world, can you? Just as humans can't live in the spirit world, spirits can't live forever in the human world. Your spirit life-energy's been slowly draining from you, and you're going to meet your end."
Loki listened patiently, knowing she spoke the truth. "Yes. It's already been three years."
"T-three years? I could barely fathom one!" Lucy gaped.
"Well, I'm at my limit …" Loki admitted weakly. "I don't have any strength left at all."
"I might be able to save you somehow!" Lucy spoke sharply, not wanting to see him give up hope, as she could see him doing so now. "Tell me why you can't return! I'll open the gate for you!"
"I don't need to be saved."
"What are you saying? At this rate, you're really going to die!" She bit her bottom lip.
"The reason I can't go back is simple." He turned back to face the grave, not wanting to see her face as she heard the truth. "I broke a fundamental rule between owner and spirit. And because of it, I have been banished from the spirit world for all eternity." He turned back towards her. "It's my crime. I shall accept even death. As a spirit, I am a traitor … for with my own hands, I killed my owner, Karen."
Her eyes grew wide with thoughtless shock, only able to echo back his words. "You killed Karen … your owner?"
He nodded, knowing he shouldn't be afraid of what he'd done. He did it for a reason, and he would die because of it. "Spirits who kill their masters cannot return to the Spirit World. I have been fading, and now I'll disappear for good in front of her grave."
He knew she would want a longer answer than that, so be delved on his memories, recalling the events the best he could. "It started three years ago. Both Aries and I were contracted to Karen Lilica … Karen began to abuse us, using us for tasks we weren't meant to do. She became especially hard on Aries, so I demanded that she release us from our contracts. I told her I would stay in the human world as long as needed until she released us, and that she wouldn't be able to summon any other spirits while I was out. I knew she didn't have enough power to summon more than one spirit at a time, so she wouldn't be able to get work. That was my plan." He frowned.
"She didn't want to release us. For several months, she grew frustrated with me, impatient that I would not obey her and let her keep the contracts. I knew she would go back to abusing us, but she grew desperate … she went on a mission on her own, assuming she'd be able to summon a second spirit while I was out. Unfortunately … as I found out … she didn't have enough magical power … and she died."
Lucy didn't know how to respond. She could only replay the events as she imagined them in her mind. But … Loki … if she was abusing you …
"That is the sin I committed. Human life cannot be returned once it's gone. The dead never return, for eternity. The only way to repent is for me to disappear as well." He answered, feeling his eyes grow moist as he shook, reliving the fear he knew from his memories. The fear consumed what energy he did have left, and he felt his body begin to phase. He fell to his knees, knowing that Lucy ran over to him the moment he fell. "I guess it's about time …"
"Time for what?" She sniffed, placing her hand on his shoulder even as it phased between worlds. He would become translucent as his very essence would rip away, then fall back into place, a last attempt to remain what he was.
"Time for me to disappear …" he answered sadly. "Ever since that day, I've been unable to return to the spirit world. It's the law of the Spirit World. The rules. I can't do anything about it. I was never able to forget about Karen since then … no matter what I did, I'd always feel her haunting me … my every step … I've simply been persisting until this time. And it's time I disappeared … Thank you, Lucy … for letting me meet a truly wonderful Celestial Mage in the end …"
No, it can't be the end …! Lucy's heart began to beat faster as she watched him fade in front of her. It can't be! "Wait! I'll save you! Don't give up!" She shouted with determination. She didn't want her friend to disappear in front of her. She didn't want to be helpless. She didn't want to see him die in sorrow like this!
"Please give my regards to everyone at Fairy Tail …" he whispered, his energy draining even further.
Lucy clenched her fists, her lip quivering. Her emotions began to bubble over, and she was not afraid to show them. Loki was her friend, her family – she would not see him end like this! "No!" She slammed her fist into the dirt. "I won't accept this! If you return to the Spirit World, your life-force will recover really quickly! I'll make it so you can return!"
Loki was stunned at her resolve, but even that alone wouldn't be enough. "You can't do that. The law is the law."
"But this is wrong!" She whimpered, her brow furrowing in anger and in sadness. "You didn't actually kill Karen! I-it was just an unfortunate accident!" Unable to contain herself, she threw her arms around him, troubled and disturbed by his fading body, as the more he vanished, the more she couldn't feel him. She had to do something! "Gate of the Lion, I open thee!" She shouted, trying to thrust her magic into his body. "Return Loki to the Spirit World! Please, open, please!"
"Lucy, that's enough. Please stop …" Loki's voice trembled.
"I won't stop!" She shouted at him, tears falling from her eyes. "I can't stand by when a friend of mine is vanishing right in front of me!" She began to force her magic to spill over from her soul, a golden glow erupting around her as she found the will, the love, to save her friend. "Gate of the Lion, I open thee!" She screamed to the sky, the golden glow enveloping them both.
"Don't use so much magical power all at once!" Loki protested, trying to wrestle her away. He didn't want her involved, he didn't want her to get hurt.
"I said I'm going to save you, no matter what! I can force the gate to open to the Spirit World … watch me! Gate of the Lion, I open thee!"
"Stop!" Loki roared back. "It won't open! Spirits who let their contracted owner die can't go back to the Spirit World!" He still tried to push her back, but she wouldn't budge. But then, to his horror, he could see her skin beginning to pale, her magical energy releasing far too much. "Stop it! You're starting to erode along with me!" At this rate, she'll disappear when I do!
"You won't die! I won't let you die! What's the point of magic to begin with if I can't use it to protect my friends?" She cried, shutting her eyes as she forced even more of her energy to leave her body.
"Don't make my crime any worse than it already is!" Loki cried back in a sorrow he never knew was possible. Lucy … Lucy was trying to save him, even after …
"What crime?" She snapped. "If that's the rule of the Spirit World, then I'll change it!"
Suddenly, the ground shook, and her magical energy ceased; a boom resounded throughout the sky, and to their amazement and horror, time froze. The water from the water fall began t lift upwards into the sky, and the two of them clung together as they watched in silent shock.
"W-what …?" Lucy mouthed, unable to fathom what was happening. What is this?
A brilliant light shone from the sky above them, and Loki remained flabberghasted. "No way … that's …!" A figure emerged from the light, a large, tall standing knight with a fluttering blue cape, long moustache, enveloped in a heavenly glow as a hum resounded from his presence. "The Stellar Spirit King? W … why are you here?"
"The King? You mean the ruler of the Spirits?" Lucy couldn't believe it … but he seemed so heavenly, and time had frozen for the both of them …
"Old friend," the elderly knight spoke, his arms crossed as he looked down upon them. "It is forbidden for we who have compacted with the humans to kill the one who possesses the key. It matters not if it was direct or indirect. Leo the Lion, you are no longer allowed to return to the Spirit World."
Lucy climbed to her feet, willing out her resolve, even if she was in the presence of the king. Who cared if she was being rude? She had to do something for her friend. "Hey, that's going too far!"
Loki couldn't believe how she was acting towards the King. "D-don't, Lucy!"
"Old friend, Human Girl," the king continued, unmoved by her declaration. "That law shall not be changed."
It couldn't be … did he show up just because Lucy blurted out that she'd change the rule? Loki's eyes shook as he stared up at the might of the King. Just for that, the King came himself?
Lucy continued to persist. "For three years, Loki's been suffering for three years!" She growled. "For his friend! For Aries! What else could he do?"
"I too am pained by my old friend's wish." The King spoke.
"What are you talking about?" She snapped. "He's not your 'old friend,' he's your friend, here and now! So listen to me, Mustache Man!"
"L-Lucy …!" Loki couldn't believe how she was behaving.
"That was an unfortunate accident. Loki didn't do anything wrong!" She continued her rant. "I won't accept anything but his complete innocence! I won't accept it!" She felt her magic swell up inside her as she defended her friend; she needed to prove it was worth it, she needed to prove Loki was worth it. Her magical power, even in the frozen time, burst out from her soul as she continued to fight against the law.
Loki bit his lip. "Stop, Lucy … I don't want anyone to forgive me … I want to repent for my sins!" He roared back at her. "I want to disappear!"
"You can't!" She howled back, tossing her head up as she summoned her energy about her. She begged her friends to come and stand with her … I need you now more than ever! Please hear me, please come! The king watched with interest. "You disappearing isn't going to bring Karen back! All it will do is create more sadness! It's not a crime! Caring about your friends is not a crime!"
Her spirits began to assemble behind her, called forth by her energy. They stood proudly behind her, as Loki watched in shock at her magical strength, and the king watched with interest. This many spirits … all at once … even Karen could never …!
Lucy turned her head back to snap at Loki, who crouched behind her. "If you disappear, then Aries, myself, and everyone else here will be filled with sadness! You won't be repenting for your sins at all that way!"
But, at this point, her energy drained from her heart … she couldn't bear it anymore. She passed out, falling to the ground. The other spirits vanished, and Loki scrambled forward barely in time to catch her. "Lucy, why did your force yourself like this …? Do you want to follow in Karen's footsteps …?" He began to cry, holding her in his arms. She wouldn't wake up for a while, for she had lost too much of her energy. Why do you fight so much for me?
"Hmm …" the king thought aloud, looking down at the two. The girl had shown a great resilience against the law. He began to ponder her and Loki's words, piecing the situation together in his mind. "If my old friend goes so far as to say that, perhaps it is the law that is in error."
"W-what?" Leo looked up in shock at the King.
"Leo, who committed the crime for his brethren, Aries, and for the human girl, who tried to save that Leo … considering the beauty of that bond, I will make an exception for this incident. Leo, I give thee warrant to return to the Spirit World. You are pardoned. Be grateful to the star's guidance."
Leo couldn't breathe … his throat constricted, too shocked, too excited, too overwhelmed by the King's words.
"If you still wish to repent for your sins," the King began as he started his way back to the Spirit World, "I order you to aid your friend and live on. I believe her to be a friend of such worth."
Loki felt the hot tears run down his face. He could be Leo once more … He didn't have to hide anymore … he was … pardoned …
Time resumed once more, and the water fell back down into the basin, resuming as if nothing had happened. A golden key chinked to the ground, returned once more so that he could cross between worlds.
Lucy, you … he stared down at the unconscious girl, still crying as he lay her gently on the ground. "You … saved me …" He could no longer hear the haunting footsteps … he felt that now, Karen was at peace … and so could he be. He wiped the tears from his face, pressing the key into her open palm as he returned to the Spirit World. I will thank you later, Lucy … I promise …
He stepped back into the Spirit Realm, happy to be back home. But he had more he needed to attend to … now that he could speak with the other spirits once more, now that his duties could resume, there was something he needed to do.
*
Natsu had heard the other worldly boom from the skies … with his hearing, he knew it all too well. He felt a faint smile cross his lips, even as he lay there, mostly recovered but still woozy in the bed. It seems he finally told her. Even if that meant he would soon be in a world of trouble, even if it meant he would soon need to leave, he couldn't help but feel glad for the dying spirit, Leo.