Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Fairy Tail characters that honor belongs to Hiro Mashima!
I do own the Original Characters (Ocs) that appear in this story and the plot~
Chapter 38: Little Fox
Lucy's life had always been filled with unexpected appearances.
The first of these unexpected appearances was meeting Natsu the Salamander in the port town of Hargeon. Followed by that meeting was the reappearance of her father in her life, and then the whole thing with her childhood doll Michelle. Though most of these unexpected appearances belonged to a certain group of friends she had acquired along the years. She was thinking about her spirit friends. Her spirits had developed a habit of popping up without giving her a warning ahead of time, but it seemed her spirits only came out during a specific situation mostly.
They had the habit of appearing when her life was close to being cut off permanently.
Usually it was Loke who appeared when she needed help. The lion would always know when she needed a little extra protection from danger. He was the one with freest reign out of all her spirits it seemed. He did what he wanted, like the time when he temporarily voided their contract to be Gray's partner for the S-class exam, but he was always there when it counted. The other spirit the made it a point to visit her on a semi daily-basis was Virgo. She would sometimes pop in and offer her services ranging from cleaning to beating the daylights out of any pervert or anything she deemed a danger to her.
So it did not come as a big shock to her when a sparkle of golden lights manifested in her line of vision as her throat was about to be silt. There was a small part of her that believed it to be an illusion played by her adrenaline filled mind, since she could normally, on a few occasions, feel when one of her spirits was passing into the human realm, but at her level of exhaustion she could not tell who it was. Then she heard a voice and the next thing she knew she was released. As she fell Gajeel took the chance to strike out at the remaining enemy.
Lucy did her best to regain some recognition of her surroundings as a storm of white flower petals fell around her and Gajeel. She mentioned the similarities of them to the ones that they saw in the forest months ago to her partner. That was when that voice spoke again catching her attention. She turned her eyes to the direction of where the voice originated and she found herself staring at a small figure standing a little ways to the side near the tree line. At first she believed it to be a survivor from the town of Sida. Perhaps, they had managed to escape the chaos. She was already opening her mouth to ask the girl how she got out, but the girl quickly derailed the thought that she was a Sida citizen.
"I am Shizuka. I represent the constellation of the fox." The little girl stated politely bowing respectfully in front of the blonde. "It is an honor to finally meet you, Lucy-dono."
Yeah, this most definitely was not a citizen of Sida.
The ex-heiress felt a prickle go up her spine and she knew the Iron Dragon Slayer was staring at her. She caught his gaze. His red eyes were brimming with silent questions of what was happening and who was the other person here. The blonde only offered a quick smile as she mouthed everything was okay. He nodded in acceptance and she in turn brought her gaze back to the Celestial spirit before her. The blond was shocked that her new key had finally showed up. Though her manner of making her first appearance reminded her the first time Loke had appeared opening his own gate to save her. It was just less extravagant and there was less flirting.
She found her shock over the unexpected appearance to be fleeting when she realized just how young this spirit looked.
Most of the spirits she had met were either in an animal or human form, but they all shared the appearance of looking like an adult or least looking older than her. Gemini being the exception, though the twin spirit was childlike there was still an air of adultness to them. And now there was this spirit. The spirit of the fox constellation looked like a child younger than her sweet sister Wendy. No, that was a lie she was a kid, but spoke like an adult. She could help but freak out about how so very tiny she was. She probably only reached a little above Lucy's own knees, but her mind quickly labeled her initial reaction to be irrelevant and she switched to curious mode.
"You're the fox key?" She asked tentatively, her brown eyes watching the other carefully. Lucy could barely feel any magical signature coming off of her.
"Yes, I am. My name is Shizuka." The spirit replied back simply. Her ice blue eyes stared straight back at her, but Lucy could see no emotions flickering in them at all. Her eyes were blank and empty. "I am here to be of service to you, Lucy-dono."
"But I did not call you out. I don't even have a contract with you yet. Not that I am not grateful to you for helping out." Lucy replied calmly as she smiled. "I just don't understand why you why you came out all of a sudden. I tried calling you out many times before, but you never answered my calls."
The fox spirit broke away from her gaze. She lowered her head so her eyes were hidden from Lucy's vision. She was looking at the ground and the action reminded the young Celestial Spirit Mage of a submissive animal. Was she trying to show submissiveness to her? After a few seconds of the spirit avoiding eye contact, she finally lifted her head back up. Maybe she is shy?
"I sensed that Lucy-dono was in danger. So I came out of my own free will to provide my assistance in the situation." Shizuka replied politely her voice remaining steady and unchanging. Her eyes had refocused on Lucy, but her body language still read submissiveness. "I apologize for not responding to your previous calls, but I was inconvenienced by some restrictions that were set after my freedom from my frozen prison. You may reprimand me as you see fit, Lucy-dono."
Restrictions, what is she talking about?
"Reprimand you? Restrictions?" The ex-heiress shook her head. She knew she probably had a horrified expression on her face. "I am not going to punish you for helping me. I won't discipline you for anything. I am not that kind of Celestial Mage and I never will be."
I won't go down to Karen's and Angel's level or treatment of spirits. It's just wrong.
"I am sorry to have suggested punishment. It has made you uncomfortable. I apologize. It has been a long time since I last had a master." She bowed again. "You are truly kind, Lucy-dono."
"Thank you for helping us." The blonde smiled warmly at the tiny girl, but her face changed into one of seriousness after a few seconds. "Now, how about you tell me about these restrictions—"
"Bunny Girl, this is not the time." Gajeel interrupted the conversation before it could begin. Lucy turned to see her Dragon Slayer had stood up from the ground. He had, at some point when she was not paying attention, picked up the unconscious Lily off the ground as well. The Iron Dragon Slayer was cradling the Exceed in his arms. He was slightly leaning awkwardly as he stood, but was trying to hide that fact by putting on a tough look on his face. "We need to get back to the guild quickly."
"Shit, I'm sorry." She apologized quickly for her lack of concentration. She was too wrapped up in the appearance of the spirit that she forgot about the dire situation they were when in. She shook her head trying to refocus her mind. Get it together, Lucy! "We need to get this situation handled."
The last of the Heartfilia looked over to the town once more. She watched the darkness in the mist swirl around like snakes slithering in the grass. Her thoughts wandered back to what Fear had revealed to team Iron Star. He was planning a murdering spree to achieve some form of paradise. That was his intent and excuse to commit such horrible things to those that unluckily crossed his path. Lucy knew they were going to face a battle of some sort, but her mind kept flashing her other questions. Like why was he so malevolent? What had caused this boy to become like this?
Lucy had always had this belief that a person was not born evil. People, at least she hoped it to be true, were not born with the instinct to do harm to others purposefully. She believed that drive to harm others was nurtured in the environment a person was in and what they experienced. That was what made a child grow into the person they would be in the future. People were molded with certain tendencies, morals and behaviors as they grew.
So what had happened to Fear?
She really could not ever try to imagine the life someone had to live to live to become like that little boy—if he was even a little boy. What she did know was there were many lives at stake if he was not stopped. The blonde was so lost in her thoughts that she did not noticed that Shizuka was staring past her at the dome of mist as well. Lucy's attention was diverted back to her when the little girl spoke again in a soft whisper.
"You should evacuate this area as soon as possible. This black mist gives off a disturbing aura that may affect your mental health negatively. I do not like it." She glanced over to the mist shrouding the town briefly again, before she looked back towards Team Iron Star. "I will answer all you other questions when necessary or when time allows it."
"Okay." Lucy nodded as she headed to Gajeel's side. She placed a reassuring arm on her man. She could tell much like hers, his anxiety level was high and his heart too was heavy with guilt about what happened to the town. She was feeling the same way. "Damn it, I wish it did not end this way."
"Is there anything you would like me to do? Anything—"The spirit paused in her sentence as her eyes zoned in directly to the space between her and Lucy. "It looks like he found out sooner than I anticipated."
Before Lucy could ask the spirit what she was speaking about another set of balls of light appeared. This time she knew who it was. She felt the familiar magical signature belonging to a certain lion of hers. The figure of the leader of the Zodiacs materialized with his back facing her. Even though she could not see his face, Lucy knew that her friend was in a good mood at all. The Leo's entire body oozed out fury and in a split second he launched himself at the other spirit.
"What the hell do you think you're doing out here without the proper clearance, Lapsis Stella?" Loke screamed his voice dancing with anger. His fangs were bared as the fist of his right hand clenched into the kimono of the other spirit. He easily lifted her up off the ground. "You are not allowed to be out here until the after the final decision has been made!"
"I am quite aware of my restrictions and of where I stand in the Celestial realm Leo-sama, but I disregarded it." Her voice held no edge of anger; it was just as calm when she spoke to Lucy. She didn't even glare at the lion. Heck, her face had not changed expression. She just hung limply in his grasp. "Lucy-dono was in danger and her life was close to ending. I sensed it and so I decided to come out to help her."
"Help Lucy?" The Leo quickly glanced around. His eyes, which were visible because he was not wearing his usual blue tinted glass, traveled over to a tired looking Team Iron Star to the dome of mist and back to the other spirit. Once he returned his gaze back to her his eyes narrowed into silts a hard glare on his face. "Why is it where ever you are something terrible always happens? Tell me, has your key developed a streak of bad luck?"
"You speak nonsense. Surely, the esteem leader of the Zodiac does not believe a mere Lapsis Stella has the extra ability of naturally causing disasters with the aid of bad luck?" The fox quipped back. "The only thing my key is guilty is having frostbite and covered in a sin that I will carry for the rest of my existence. Please stop making useless and pointless accusations Leo-sama."
"You—"
"Loke what are you doing? Put her down!" Lucy screamed at the lion her voice filled with disappointment. She had enough of seeing what was happening in front her. "You can't treat someone like this!"
Loke said nothing, but he released the spirit he was holding up, allowing her to fall to the ground unceremoniously. Lucy glared at the lion for his rough treatment of the other spirit, but he did not seem too phased by her glare. She was going to leave Gajeel's side in order to move towards the fox to help her up, but the tiny spirit shook her head. The blonde was upset, but she respected the spirit's wishes. She was frustrated to say the least.
Loke ignored her aggravated expression.
"So do you mind explaining to me what is going on here? Why does Gajeel look like he's about to keel over? And what's with the strange smell all over you guys?" Loke turned away glancing from the Iron Dragon Slayer to Lucy. "It looks like you guys have been through one hell of a night…er day."
Gajeel growled and Lucy understood why.
"Later Loke, I'll tell you later." Lucy was surprise she was able to keep her voice neutral considering she wanted to scold the lion for his behavior. She refocused back on Gajeel and she carefully took Lily from his arms. She cradled him and unconsciously motion for the Dragon Slayer to lean his weight on her. She shot him a sweet smile, before she spoke to Loke again. "We need to get out of here and go somewhere safe. It's a priority that we get back to the guild as well. Master needs to know about what happened here."
Loke nodded silently understanding the situation he had popped into. "I'll accompany you, since both of you look worse for wear." He glanced down at the fox still on the ground. "Besides, I can't leave the Lapis Stella unattended."
"I have already told you to stop making useless and pointless accusations, Leo-sama." She stood up ignoring some tiny scrapes on her hands. Her face was impassive as the lion growled venomously at her. She moved to stand beside him. "Then again lions, especially male lions, are always so quick to temper."
"And no doubt one can't trust a fox, since they are always so inclined to deceive and lie to others." Loke replied in a biting tone.
"Both of you stop this insult war! This not the time for you two to be at each other's throats like that!" Lucy interrupted. She felt her short fuse of patience running thin. She was sore from all the fighting she had been through. She was worried about Lily and Gajeel. She was pissed that this happened to the town and she was scared about what was to come. She did not have time for this whole banter thing. "That means Loke stop egging her on and Shizuka stop responding to him."
The two spirits nodded apologetically as they both whispered a quick sorry. Lucy didn't respond as she began to move forward away from the town. She signaled for the two spirits to follow her and Gajeel. The blonde did not need to look back to know that she was being trailed by the two spirits and she could feel the tension in the air coming from the two.
She released a sigh knowing the walk and search for a train station and quite possibly the train ride as well was going to be a long one.
They were on the train heading back to Magnolia when Loke had come to a decision.
Bad luck, Loke was positive his master Lucy Heartfilia was plagued with it. He believed that she was so plagued with it that she had become a magnet for any form of trouble, especially after the details she had just told him. The Leo was starting to consider asking around in the Celestial realm if there was some sort of herb or item that could ward such things off. Yes, perhaps he should invest some time in investigated such options. It could save his master from any future trouble or lessen the amount of trouble she got.
"So let me get this straight and correct me if I have missed any details," Loke cleared his throat, "you two ran into the same little boy you met in that forest in the town of Sida. He basically told you his plans of committing some sort of mass genocide. He was going to kill you, but he decided not to kill you because he wants you to play his game of who am I? And you have to find the answer, as in who he was, before everyone dies?"
"Sounds like you have all the details down." Gajeel said his head leaning on Lucy's shoulder. The Leo could see Gajeel's red eyes were shrouded with tiredness and he was trying hard to keep his eyes opened. "At least all the important details."
"Don't forget the creepy mist and the mist spewing zombie like people." Lucy added as she softly petted Lily's head. He was still unconscious in her lap. The lion smiled at the sleeping feline. He believed the poor Exceed deserved some well earn rest. "But otherwise you have everything right Loke."
"I am amaze at the amount of trouble you two have stumbled into." The orange haired spirit shook his head. His voice laced with shock. "At least none of you were seriously injured, besides the magical exhaustion that is."
"Tch, if it weren't for whatever that little fox did we could have died when we were ambushed." Gajeel added his eyes moved over to the other spirit. The orange haired man could hear the gratefulness in the other man's voice when he spoke to the other spirit, but he still felt nothing but contempt for the fox.
"I was only doing what I have promised to do, Dragon Slayer-sama." Loke heard the other spirit beside him respond. It was a typical response that could be heard from any other spirit. It was an unspoken law and important promise a spirit vowed to up hold once they have found their key in the hands of a new master: to protect their master under any means necessary until death do they part.
Funny, that he could say the contract between a spirit and their master was similar to marriage vows. Spirits vowed to remain loyal and protect their one master just like a significant other would promise to do when they were at the altar. In a sense, Lucy had "married" her spirits. The lion glanced over to his blonde friend and Gajeel. He wondered what their reactions would be if he ever explained the comparison to them. Lucy would probably lose her ability to speak and her face would turn red. Gajeel would more than likely, as the saying goes, explode like a bomb.
He'll just keep his mouth shut about that.
"I am grateful for that." Loke stated after he cleared his marriage comparison thoughts away out of his mind. He had to admit he was glad Lucy was saved, even if it was with the help of the Lapis Stella. It still did not change his mind that the small child next to him was a criminal, a star who had fallen out of grace. "I am glad you all survived because of the help but, it still stands that she came out here without the proper clearance."
That fact bothered him immensely. Loke was pretty certain that escape from their detainment facilities in the Celestial realm was difficult. They had rarely had any spirit escape and yet this happened under his watch no less. That bothered to him to no end along with the fact that his pride had been damage. It had been damaged because of the fox slipping away unnoticed by him. He did not take note of her absence until he felt her magical energy being used. How had she managed that?
"Anyways," Lucy cleared her throat, "what I want to know is what happened to those people back there? Why were they acting so funny?"
"I think they were mentally attacked." Gajeel replied his face scrunching up in slight discomfort as the train rolled on. His face was turning green. "They were staring into nothing and they kept getting back up like they felt no pain. Like I said, I think they fell for that brat's illusions."
"But how could one illusion attack all those people? That requires a lot of magical energy!" The blonde said her face drawn in confusion. "And even if there was enough magical energy, I still find it impossible for one illusion to attack an entire town."
"I don't know Bunny Girl, but we already knew what that brat is capable of. I don't doubt he has some way to spread his little tricks."
"And what the hell was that mist?" She added shivering. Loke figured her shivering was a result of her remembering how the mist felt. "When we first met him there was some mist in the forest as well, but it was nothing like the one surrounding the town now."
"I am more concern with his ability to use his illusions to break people's mentalities." The Iron Dragon Slayer held back a small groan as the train turned. The lion felt a little sorry for him. It must be tough having a weakness to motion sickness. "How long does it take for people to get trap in one? And is it possible for it to be broken?"
"I don't know much about illusions so I can't help you there." Loke sighed looking at the two mages in front of him. They looked desperate for some sort of answer and his want of helping them out won over him. He could not believe he was going to do this, but it was to help Lucy. He would do anything to help Lucy. "I do know someone whose expertise is in illusions."
"You do!" Lucy's brown eyes went from a dull shade to a sparkling brown at the news. "Then you can get this person to help us, right Loke?"
"I don't to go far or have to ask for that matter. I'm quite certain they would say yes. " He replied. The lion turned to his seating partner, who had remained tight lipped since they had went on the train. She was staring into space. Her eyes reflected nothing as he spoke to her. "No one knows illusions more than a fox. Like I said they rely on deception."
The Lapsis Stella ignored him. Loke expected that response. The fox did nothing but ignore him when she was in his custody in the spirit world as well. She only spoke when she was spoken to or when she felt like throwing back an insult his way. Otherwise, she remained with her lips sealed staring off into nothing much like she was doing now. She was so lifeless. She was vastly different from how Loke remembered her to be before her imprisonment. Though, it was not like he cared about this Lapsis Stella's feelings. He did not care. He just wanted to make sure this spirit would not hurt Lucy. Ah, he was allowing his thoughts to wander. He could think about these things later.
"Really? So does that mean Shizuka's magical ability is in illusions?" Lucy turned her eyes to the fox. "Is that true?"
For a moment the Loke believed the fox would be too far gone in her staring that she would not respond back to Lucy. Or there was the chance that she would ignore the question entirely. She sat still not giving any indication that she had heard the question. Then she blinked once, then twice before she turned to look at the blonde woman.
"Yes, my specialty is illusions." She whispered with a small nod. "I am able to create illusions on any victim of my choosing. My illusions cannot cause physical harm to anyone. I can still cause the victim to feel like there is pain. I am also able to break illusions on others."
Loke watch the fox as she closed her eyes. He saw the space around them turn into a meadow in an instant. He looked around seeing Lucy and Gajeel's faces filled with surprise. Even he was slightly fooled by how realistic it looked. The illusion only lasted for a few seconds before they were back in the train.
"It comes quite in handy to trick others, but like any other form of magic I do have my limitations. The longer the illusion is the more concentration is needed to help maintain it. I also would have to use more magical energy. This also applies to dispelling illusions. If my concentration is interrupted then the illusion can be disturbed and either fade or flicker. If that happens this would alert my target of the deception. I also have to be able to see who I am targeting." She explained as she reached into her kimono to pull out a white orchid petal. "I usually use this to pour my magic in it to create or dispel illusions. You two have already experience it in the forest where my prison was."
"See foxes are experts in deception." Loke restated his lips stretching in a small grin. By the sound of the disdain in his voice he made sure that everyone knew it was not a compliment he had made.
"Loke." Lucy's sweet voice was firm and filled with warning.
He bit his tongue and holding in another insult and instead decided to say something useful. "And I think it should also be mentioned that you lack in the close combat skills. She is not an offensive fighter at all."
"Then how the fuck do you defend yourself when you're illusions don't work?" Gajeel asked his red eyes on the tiny spirit.
"There was someone else with me, a spirit who handled the offensive part." Her eyes were down-casted, but she said no more about that. She had the look on her face that she did not want to divulge any more on the other spirit. Loke had a feeling he knew just who she was talking about if his memory served him right. "I can say for sure this person Fear has some experience in illusions and as Dragon Slayer-sama said he is using these illusions to break the targets mentality."
"It's a good plan of attack. If you break the mental strength of a person then you can easily control them to do anything." Loke added. He had seen his share of mental warfare during his lifetimes. He had once been force by one of his master's to commit such an act. It was something he was not proud of. "Some people are really good at it."
"Yes, some are, but I do have to say the illusions you two have experienced and what is going on in the town is a strange case."
"Strange?" The Celestial Mage asked. "What do you mean?"
"I may have not experience these illusions first hand, but I can tell they are powerful enough to leave magical residue. I rather don't like the maliciousness behind it. It makes me feel ill."
"Wait, are you saying we have been mark somehow?" The Dragon Slayer did not look too happy about that information.
"It's just leftover residue, probably there to cause nightmares, but do not fret about it. It is almost all gone from both of your persons."
That was something reassuring for all them to hear.
"So is there anything else you can tell us Shizuka? Like how he is able to affect so many people?"
"I have never seen an illusion used at this big of a scale before, not even I would have an easy time doing such a thing. How this is being done I cannot figure out."The Leo noticed her small face scrunch up in confusion for a moment. "As I mentioned there are limitations. The more people there are the harder it is for all of those people to fall under the illusion. Yet from what your story, I can only gather Fear is doing this with ease."
"Oh." The blonde immediately looked dejected about the lack of information.
"I can only assume he either has acquired a vast amount of magical energy or is using something to spread it."
"So basically we still don't have a shitty idea of how that brat is doing this." Gajeel replied bluntly. His face was set in a scowl as he looked at his feet on the floor. "Great, we still at square one."
"I am sorry for not being of any use to you, but I can tell you long term illusions can be dispelled. Though, that would mean you have to figure out what is causing the mass illusions first."
That was a good thing to know.
"Well, guess we'll have to hit the books when we get back to the guild." Lucy sighed, her fingers curling behind Panterlily's ear. Mavis, she looked so worn out. Her head kept on drooping downwards like she trying hard to stay conscious. "At least we have some information to go on."
"I request having an image of Salamander on my book. So I can hit him." Gajeel grinned causing the occupants to laugh a bit, except for the fox who had no idea what he spoke about.
"Gajeel!" His leg was playfully nudged by Lucy's own knee.
"What? I still don't like the fact that he is sniffing around my woman, even if he did confess."
"What? Natsu actually confessed to you Lucy?" Loke felt the seriousness of the previous conversation leaving his system as soon as Gajeel words registered in his mind. This was news, some unexpected news. There was no way Natsu, a person who was dense as a brick, Dragneel confessed his feelings. He could not fathom that happening, but the blush on Lucy's face was enough to tell him that it was true. "No way, he did!"
"He did a couple of days ago." The young Celestial Mage nodded, her eyes not looking directly at his out of embarrassment. "When he came back from his thinking trip we had a talk and a lot of things were let out into the opened."
Oh. My. God.
"Details, Lucy! Details!" The Leo found his normally calm gentlemen composure switching to his gossip mode. Yes, he was a giant gossip, especially when it came to his good friends. Could you blame him? He always was caught up in what was happening in his blonde friend's life. He even made a point to do some sneaking around just to make sure she was healthy and happy. "What did he say? Did he kiss you? If he kissed you without your permission I can so visit him and teach him a lesson for defiling your lovely virtuous lips!"
"Pssh, her lovely virtuous lips were already defiled by me before that flame idiot pulled his head out of his own ass." Gajeel whispered a smug expression on his face. "And she enjoyed the defiling very much."
"Gajeel don't kiss and tell!" The ex-heiress elbowed him with a glare set on her face.
Wait, Gajeel and Lucy had kissed? That was another piece of information he did not know. Yeah, he really needed to catch up with Lucy. He had been out of the loop a really long time apparently. Not like he had much of a choice for his lack of presence in Lucy's life recently. He discreetly glanced at the other spirit. Most of it was the fox spirit's fault. If the ex-heiress had not decided to give this Lapsis Stella another chance and had broken her out from her frozen prison then things would be different. Then Loke wouldn't have been forced to have less time in Lucy's life.
Okay, maybe some of it was his fault as well.
If he had kept his mouth shut longer about the fox's release then he would not be in the situation he was in. Once the spirit had been released he had gone straight to the Celestial Spirit King telling him the news. The king had acted quickly and once the lavender-white female had appeared in the Celestial Realm she was apprehended. Since then she had been under strict surveillance by Loke himself and that was why he had no time anymore. So he was stuck on guarding duty because of it, until the court hearing was held and the king's final decision was made. This was the reason why he had been neglecting his spirit duty and sending Virgo in his place.
Loke had no other choice.
He told himself that he was still performing his duty as one of Lucy's spirit because he was essentially doing this for her. Even with that reminder the Leo did feel bad for not answering her calls for his help. He steeled himself to stay put because he had to keep an eye on the Lapsis Stella so she would not cause any harm. It just never crossed Loke's mind that guarding duty would be so boring. This thought made him recall his previous thoughts of the fox next to him. Normally, his scheduled involve a twenty four hour watch of her and him sitting on a chair staring at her. The Lapis Stella usually paid no attention to him or to anything else. She just sat silently in her looking out of the single window in her cell. She never complained or made any trouble.
She was well behaved prisoner.
And the fact that she did not caused ant trouble bored him. He had spent many hours just watching her and he observed something about her. He noticed there was the lack of brightness in her eyes and how impassive her face always was. Her expression rarely changed and her voice always stayed monotone. Lifeless that was the best word to describe her. Overall, he could confidently say she was one hundred percent different from her old self before everything happened. She was changed, utterly changed by the crime she had committed. A small part of him felt pity for her, just a small part of him. The rest of him disliked her greatly and that was why he could not hold his tongue around her.
Since he lack to the ability to hold his tongue he ended up either indiscreetly or straight forwardly insulted her. There were times when she said nothing and would just look at him for a bit. Then there were the times when she did respond back to him making his efforts well worth it. Loke admired her insults because they were well thought, but he would never openly admit it. It seemed her time spent frozen had not affected her way with words. That least brought some fun to his guard duty. Which brought him back to his earlier question of how she gave him the slip? He would have to grill it out of her later when Lucy was not around to see it.
Ah, this was definitely one tiring situation.
Sometimes balancing out his duty as the leader of the Zodiac and being Lucy's friend was challenging.
"And so what if Natsu confessed? It's not like I kissed him or anything, Gajeel." Lucy's slightly annoyed voice filled Loke's ears. Hearing her voice made his thoughts focused on what was happening now, especially with this kind of information. "He is my friend Gajeel. Sure, like you said he fucked up, but I forgave him. I'm still friends with him and you have to accept that."
"Tch, you can be too kind hearted, Bunny Girl." The Iron Dragon Slayer frowned, but replaced it with his version of a smile. It was so weird for Loke to this man smiling like that and saying things so honestly. "But I love that about you."
"Oh?" The Celestial Mage tilted her head staring at the Dragon Slayer she called her partner. "What's wrong with being nice?"
"Nothing, unless you let that niceness cloud your judgments Bunny Girl." The red eye man stated frankly looking at her. "Some people will take advantage of the trait of yours."
"I have to agree with Gajeel on that one." The orange haired man nodded in agreement. "Your kindness is a wonderful trait to have, but it can also be bad."
"I guess you two have a point, but this was never about my character traits." Lucy narrowed her eyes for bit before she released a giggle. "Here I always thought you loved me for my cuteness, Iron Hedgehog Head."
"That too."
"I would have to say sexy is a much more accurate description of you." The leader of the Zodiac grinned enjoying the small growl Gajeel released. Perhaps the Dragon Slayer did not like other's stating such complements about Lucy. Well, Loke liked giving such complements, especially when it pushed people's buttons sometimes. That aside he liked how protective Gajeel was over Lucy. He saw that as a good sign. "I mean you are cute, but you're more sexy than cute."
"Good point lion." Gajeel replied.
"Men." The ex-heiress shook her head.
Loke could only laugh as Lucy pouted.
Shizuka felt happy.
She had not felt this feeling in a very long time. She did not even think that she was capable of feeling any emotions after that incident. She had dulled herself to feel nothing so she would not have to feel such indescribable pain anymore. She had not once felt anything for a long time. It felt so foreign and odd to be feeling something after all these centuries. It was rather pleasant moment for her.
The fox spirit sat on the train seat as she watched the sleeping duo across from her with interest. She was very intrigued to learn everything about her new master Lucy Heartfilia. Ever since the young Celestial Mage had acquired her key the spirit's thoughts had been focused on her. She had felt the pull of her new master's magic beckoning her to appear in the human realm, but Shizuka was not allow to venture out of the Celestial realm yet. She had to wait until after the Spirit King held a trial for the final verdict. Playing the waiting game was no problem for her. After all she had many centuries to develop a good sense of patience. She could wait.
Though she had to admit it really did pain her to ignore the call of her new master.
Still she could do nothing. So she was stuck in her cell forced to ignore her new master calls. She had spent most of her days thinking about her present time and avoided any memories of her time in her ice prison or any memories before that as well. Shizuka felt there was no reason for her to even dwell in the past. She could do nothing to change it. It was after all unchangeable. The fox spirit often found herself lost in her thoughts, which was a nice pastime to have. She had spent many calm times inside her cell in the Celestial realm, unless her guard rudely spoke to her. She would have never guessed that the leader of the Zodiacs could be so damn rude. Seriously, sometimes she believed he had no manners at all or his aggressiveness towards her made him forget them. Though a part of her could understand his aggressiveness towards her and she expected other spirits to react like that too. Still even she has her limits and it seemed her limitless patience disappeared around Loke. She grew tired of his constant insults and eventually she snapped back at him.
That reaction she got from the lion was worth it.
She found some glee in the gaping mouth shocked expression on the orange haired man's face after she had quipped back her insult at him. It took the lion a couple of minutes to get over the initial shock. After he was over it he managed to compose his face quickly and responded back to her with only a glare on his face. He made a 'tch' sound before he took his normal seat across her cell. Since then it had become some sort of routine greeting between her and the leader of the Zodiac. The orange haired man would walk in, spew his dislike of her in the form of words, either she retaliated words back or she just plain ignored him, and he would then sit down staring her down like he expected her to do something wrong. Yeah, that had become their routine.
There were a few times when he would not show up in the room, but she knew he was there in the building. Most of the times when he was not present she would sit there doing nothing. The guards never bothered her much and led to her being inside her mind more often. It was during one of those times that she realized that Loke was her only visitor, the only one that spoke to her and the only one who acknowledge she still existed. Sometimes she did not understand how her mind worked or why she had ever bothered to miss his company. She told herself she cared because it provided her with some sense of normalcy.
Or she had become a masochist and did not realize it.
Yeah, she did not dare to entertain such a thought.
The only form of comfort she could provide herself was repeatedly telling herself that she had been given a second chance by Lucy Heartfilia. Her new master, though she could only feel her magical presence, provided her with a sense of belonging and of being wanted again. It had been centuries since she felt this way. Shizuka would often find herself unconsciously feeling out her new master's magical signature just to make sure it was real. And to be certain that she was in no danger. Perhaps it had been a good thing she had developed that habit. If she had not then she may have never known that Lucy's life was in danger of being taken out.
It came as quite a shock when the lively energy of her new master suddenly plummeted to almost nonexistent. She figured she had imagined it. Maybe she had been too long inside her mind? Yes, it had to be her imagination, except her state did not improve. Lucy-dono's energy was dwindling drastically at a steady pace and her feelings where in a chaotic mess of fear. The fox knew something bad had happened and was going to happen. Her face did not change expression as her worry grew and her mind instantly began to formulate a plan of escape. She waited for an opportunity to act. So when the leader of the Zodiac looked away to talk to another spirit, who was reporting to him, she casted her illusion on both of them.
But damn she was rusty.
It was a little difficult for her because she had not done this in such a long time and the fact she did not have any magical energy to use again if she failed. She had to be precise and careful, especially since she was casting two different illusions at the same time. Somehow she had managed to make it work. Awhile the orange haired lion believed he was still talking to the other spirit Shizuka was manipulating the other one. She used him to get herself out of the cell and left him in there in her stead. Honestly, she could believe she got out so easily, but she knew she had a limited time to accomplish what she needed to do. Once she opened her gate it would not take the lion long to learn of her trick. The consequences for actions were going to be big, but she did not care much. A little more trouble would not hurt her. She would take the punishment and when she saw her master safe nothing else mattered to her.
This was good enough for her.
The fox just wished they met during a calmer situation.
"You're spacing out again." The voice of the orange haired lion filled her ears and brought her thoughts to a halt.
"Oh, you can tell?"
"Despite your facial expression remaining blank most of the time I can tell when you are paying attention." He replied simply with a shrug of his shoulders. "I am quite observant, you know."
"Hmm, I never knew you paid that much attention to a Lapis Stella like me, Leo-sama."
"I take my guarding duty serious, except you got of your cell this time around."
"Hmm," She bobbed her head.
"Since we don't have much an audience at the moment why don't you tell me just how you managed to give me the slip?" The leader of the Zodiac asked his eyes boring into her. Shizuka, for a moment, saw an image of a lion staring down its prey. She was his prey in a sense; since he was suppose to watch her. "I seem to recall you were in your cell after the other spirit left."
"How do you think I got out, Leo-sama?" She replied shifting her eyes away from his gaze. She felt very uncomfortable with his intense stare aimed at her. It reminded her of someone else who use to look at her like that so long ago.
"I am positive you deceived me with an illusion."
"Perhaps you should make sure the cell you put your prisoners in is anti-magic proof next time. So you won't have another escape happen." She advised. If she could easily get out then she imagined the other criminals who could easily escape as well. "All it took was one opportunity and I was able to get out."
"I'll have to bring that up with the Celestial Spirit King next time I meet with him." He stated crossing his arms. "And this time I will make sure not to take my eyes off you, Lapsis Stella."
Lapsis Stella.
That was what he called her all the time. The Leo refused to use her name at all. She was always the Lapsis Stella to him and possibly to the others too. She was expecting her bad treatment or the negative opinions others had of her would change any time soon. This included the lack of her name being used. She had lost the right to have her identity as Shizuka, the fox constellation. She was a Lapsis Stella now and would always remain as one. Really, she should be use to not being called by her name anymore. The only time she heard her own name was when she whispered it to herself. That was something she did all the time when she was isolated in that forest and when in her cell. She did this so she would not forget her own name or lose her sanity.
"You do realize that your escape stunt, though it was to save Lucy's life, will still cause more harm to your case. It was a bad move on your part." The orange haired man added bluntly.
"I understand, but what I did was to save Lucy-dono's life. So I accept whatever added punishment I will receive." She replied. Her voice was neutral and lacking any sense of emotion. Did she even still know how to express emotions in her voice or on her face anymore? "It will be nothing compare to the pain of having your identity and name stripped or being frozen in isolation."
The lion did not respond. He just nodded. Shizuka figured their short conversation was over. She found her eyes going back to the blonde sleeping across from her. Her small body was in a second filled with an immense feeling of gratitude and respect towards her. She wanted to useful to Lucy-dono in any way. She would make sure to be helpful to the blonde Celestial Mage. After all, she owed her freedom. She owed Lucy-dono everything. She would do everything and anything in her power for her new master.
Anything.
"Lucy is not like any other Celestial Spirit Mage I have met." She may have jumped slightly when Loke spoke again, but no attention was brought to it. She figured the male spirit had caught her staring at the blonde woman across from them."She is one of a kind."
"How so?"
"She see us spirits as her friends. She believes in fighting with us and not using us as shields. To her we are more than just spirits. We are living beings as well."
She nodded.
"Though, she can be a little too stubborn sometimes." The fox observed as the lion's usually angry face changed into an expression she had not seen on his face before. His anger seemed to have melted from his face as a smiled stretched out on his lips. It was a nice smile. A really nice smile that was memorable. And then there was the look in his hazel eyes shining with undeniable affection for Lucy Heartfilia. "And she is also too forgiving for her own good."
"Ah," Shizuka nodded. Too forgiving? Was being too forgiving a bad thing? Maybe? "As far as I can tell Lucy-dono is a good and admirable person."
"She is. As a friend and spirit of hers I am very proud and fond of her, which is why you can understand why I am so against you being free and becoming one of her spirits." He explained turning to look at her. "Your previous actions in the past are something that warrants worry about her safety."
She could tell Leo-sama loved the blonde more than anything. She could see it in his eyes, see it in his face and hear it in his words. She wondered if her other spirits shared the same sentiment and undeniable loyalty to her as well. Somehow she knew they did. And she hoped that she would get to see it in action when she met the other spirits that were contracted with her. Hopefully, she would get a chance to meet them.
"Yes, I understand. There is also the obvious dislike you harbor against me, Leo-sama." She may have been trapped in isolation for centuries, but she could still sense when someone did not like her. The lion definitely did not like her. "Your dislike of me is also understandable. It is what I expect from others as well, but I caused this misfortune on myself."
For a moment, the fox thought she saw pity flash in the lion's hazel eyes, but it was quickly covered up.
"If you knew the consequences then why did you do it?" He asked in a silent whisper. "Why destroy your life?"
Why?
That was a rather silly question to ask, especially when the answer would so obvious to a fellow spirit like herself.
"You know the answer to that question yourself, but I will reply Leo-sama." She whispered. "For my master I will do anything."
Yes, for her master she would do anything, even if in the end she was the one that got burned.
The only sounds Lucy heard were the sounds belonging to the train.
She heard the racket of the wheels going against the rails and the slight sound of murmurs outside their train compartment. She even heard the blaring noise of the train horn echoing out in the night. They were not the most pleasant noises, but it was better than waking up to nothing or to a town filled with the dead. He eyes were still bleary with sleep and her body was still aching with tiredness. She was waking up. Once her eyes fully opened she released a large yawn and looked around the compartment. She noticed that it was quiet in their compartment as she glanced around. She took note if a sleeping Gajeel on her shoulder and Lily who was still knocked out on her lap. Well, the cat looked more like he was sleeping now. She smiled softly at the pair. The two deserved a break after the long day and rough night they had been through. Oh, that's right. That had happened. Her mind flashed her images of what had occurred in Sida. She could still see all those people looking at her blankly as they attacked. She could still see what she had encountered in the warehouse and she could still feel how afraid she was.
Mavis, it was a very frightening experience.
Then there was Fear, a child who liked to play with the lives of people. She remembered meeting him in the forest of Aeterna Caelestis, but that time she had not been that scared. This time was different. She had gotten up close and personal with the boy and she had gotten a clear view into his eyes when he was inches from her face. His eyes, the emotions in his eyes were some that she had only seen a few people, bad people. Fear's eyes were shaded completely with only the dark emotions of malice and hatred. Just from his stare she was able to figure out the type of person he was. He was the type that had little respect for the lives of others and he had no visible good inside him. To him everything was a game, a game where he was willing to take as many lives as possible.
And then he had made it into a game.
She just hoped she would be able to beat the game before any more people lost their lives.
"Lucy, are you alright? You look pale." Loke's worried voice penetrated her darkening thoughts and her eyes automatically sought him out. Her friend looking was looking at her worry etched out on his face. "Maybe you should have Wendy look at you when you get to the guild?"
"I'm fine. I think I am just exhausted from all the fighting me and Gajeel did earlier." Lucy replied trying to reassure her concern friend. She really was feeling fine, just tired as hell. She had not received any major injury, besides the nail marks of Fear digging into her face. Plus few scrapes here and there. "Nothing to worry Wendy over either."
"If you say so Lucy, then I won't bother you much about." Loke nodded taking her word for it. "Maybe you should get some more sleep before we arrive home."
Sleep sounded heavenly, but she had something else on her mind that she wanted to talk about.
"Nah, I feel much better now." She smiled pleasantly. Ah, it kind of hurt to smile actually. Her eyes wandered to the spirit sitting next to the orange haired lion. The other spirit was asleep her head resting against the lion's arm. "Looks like you are playing pillow too, Loke."
"Pillow? That's something I have never been called before." He glanced down to his arm his expression remain neutral. "Yes, I guess I am."
"You don't sound too bother by it." The ex-heiress chuckled, but it faltered when she noticed something was different about the other spirit. She could not help but voice out her observation. "Is it just me or did Shizuka shrink when I was snoozing?"
"No, you're not imagining things. She shrunk in size."
"I thought she looked smaller. Why did she change size all of a sudden?"
"That can be easily explained. Technically, she should not be here in the human realm just yet. She came here without permission, thus she used her own magic to get here. She has not had the chance to recover enough magical energy yet so she is not in her original form." He explained simply as his eyes focused on the tiny spirit on his arm. "She had to morph her body into something that was easily sustainable with the small amount of magic she has left in order to be in the human realm."
"That makes sense. So she shrank because she has a limited supply of magical energy."
"She shrank in size a couple of minutes ago. Probably because she is almost out of her own magic and need a smaller body to sustain herself."
"Oh, so she really is not a child?"
"No she is not."
"Thank Mavis! I don't think I could have sent a child spirit out to battle!" Lucy breathed out relieved. That was one question she had cleared up. It had been bugging her since she had met the fox spirit. "I can't wait to see her real form."
"You may or you may not see her original form. It is still not certain whether or not she will be allowed to be your spirit that is."
"Loke?"
"I told you the moment you got her out of that forest that I was going to inform the king about it." He stated, reminding her of his words. She could recall him saying something like that when they were in the forest those months ago. "And I did just that."
"I do remember you saying something like that. "Lucy bit her lips recognition filling her eyes. She did recall how upset the lion had been at that time and how long he had been gone after that. "So what did old mustache guy say?"
"A trial will be held, but those who will decide what to do are the spirits under your contract. We will voice out our thoughts about this and the King will take everything said into consideration." He stared straight her. This was a rare time when Loke spoke Celestial Spirit politics with her not since his own incident. It was rather interesting. "After that, the final decision will be made."
"Don't I get a say in this? After all, she is my key and my friend too now." The last of the Heartfilia family asked. She would have thought they would have asked for her opinion on the situation. After all this did involve her since she was the one that made the decision to take the key. "My opinion is just as important in this situation."
"Well, then I have to say this is great timing." The lion grinned widely. I was actually going to visit you later today to do just that, but now is as a good of time to ask for your opinion."
"Oh, then I dub it as good timing."
I do find it sort of unnecessary, since I already have a good idea what you are going to say."
"You know me too well." The blonde chuckled. Of course her friend would know she would defend the fox spirit. It was just who was by nature. "I'll make sure to write it down so you can deliver it to the king. I would go with you myself, but I really have to tell Master what happened. Besides, I trust you will give him my message right?"
"Yes, I will."
"Well now that is settled can I ask you something else?"
"I don't mind."
"So care to explain your hostility towards her?" Lucy voiced the question that had been plaguing her since she saw the lion treating the other spirit so badly. She was really curious about it. She watched his face for any change in expression. "I get the feeling that you have been against her since the whole forest thing."
"She poses a threat to you and I do not like threats pointed at your direction Lucy."
Well, she was not surprised by his reply. She had expected an answer along those lines from her. It was just like Loke to act like this towards any threat that could possibly do her harm. She recalled the many times he had done such things before. There were the many times he had punished some overly pushy catcallers and some gropers. And she could not forget the time he defended her family honor when some talked bad about her mother or father or her. The most recent one she could remember was after she told him about Natsu and Erza wanting to kick her out of the team. This included their treatment of her. He had been so eager to beat up them without question. She long since suspected that Loke, despite his overall human appearance, had retained some his animal instincts. He was the spirit of the lion constellation, so it was possible that Loke also acted on his beastly instincts as well, but maybe sometimes those instincts could be troublesome.
She was sure it was something similar to the Dragon Slayers.
"Loke, she saved my life." Lucy stated tentatively as she gazed at the lion. "I am pretty sure a bad person would not save someone's life."
"That does not wash away what she did before she came into your hands, Lucy." He replied his eyes holding her gaze. He face still remained impassive as he spoke to her. "She has done too much damage that one good action cannot excuse it."
"Loke…"
"I won't excuse her just because she saved your life, Lucy."
What a stubborn friend she has, but she wanted him to be nice to other spirit.
"You know Loke, if you keep holding onto grudges then your heart will become sick." The Celestial Mage of Fairy Tail responded calmly. She spared a glance at the sleeping man next to her. The fondness in her voice was undeniable even to her own ears. "If I had not forgiven Gajeel then I would have not experience what I am experiencing right now."
"He was only doing what his guild had asked him to do." Loke said quickly, yet she was able to hear a hint of hesitation in his voice. "It was not like he came with the idea himself to attack Fairy Tail and torture you."
"Oh please, Gajeel does what he wants to do. No one orders him around but himself." The blonde giggled. Heck, she could only get so far with ordering him around. "He'll probably whack you for insisting he is follower. He is an alpha after all."
"So you say."
"And besides I can say your words apply to someone else."
"Hmm."
"The same can be said about spirits. Sometimes a spirit has no choice in their decisions, right?" She whispered quietly her eyes trained on the spirit across from her. "Has it ever crossed your mind that Shizuka had no choice in whatever she did, Loke?"
Ah, that caused him to react. It was all written on his face that thought had crossed his mind. He had been a spirit for a long time and Lucy was positive he had many contractors that gave no choice. She was sure whatever crime the fox had done fell into that category. And if that was true then Shizuka should not be treated so harshly.
"As I said you don't know what she did."
"You're really stubborn, you know." She sighed.
"No comment."
"Okay, then let me put it this way." She paused, making sure she had the lion's full attention on her. Once she was certain she continued to speak. "You're like an alpha too, right?"
"I am most definitely an alpha, Lucy." The male grinned showing off his own pair of elongated fangs and she felt like she had asked an obvious question with an obvious answer. "Don't let these good looks fool you. I am the leader of the Zodiac for a reason."
"Then I can assume as alpha one of your duties is to take care of those under you, right?"
"Yes, what are you getting at Lucy?"
"Maybe you should stop being so harsh on her, Loke. As an alpha should you not help those who rely on you?" The blonde explained, using all her knowledge of what an alpha was supposed to do. "Shouldn't you be guiding her so she can correct her mistakes?"
"Some mistakes are not easy to correct." The orange haired man replied solemnly. "Sometimes being a leader requires making harsh choices."
"Loke, hear me out and take the advice I'm about to tell you into consideration." The ex-heiress was not one to give up so she decided to try a different route this time. "Remember I am telling you this as a friend."
"Fine, since you do give some good words of advice on occasion."
"I'll ignore that comment, you smarty feline."
"That's a new one." He smiled at her. "So what are you going to say to me?"
She took a moment to regain her composure, which did not take too long for her.
She took a breath and spoke again.
"It is so much easier for you to always hate someone for something they've done. The hard thing is getting past that and actually forgiving them." She whispered words to her friend that her mother had once spoken to her when she was young. She always took her mother's words seriously and used her advice in her life when the opportunity allowed it. And the blonde had her fair share of people committing horrible acts against her. Forgiving someone who had wronged her had always taken some serious thought, but she always chose to forgive. In the end, she knew brewing more hatred was a poison. "I'm pretty sure you have heard the saying hate only brings out more hate. And the only way to break the cycle is to forgive. Can you imagine life if someone never forgave?"
"Although I understand your sentiment, even you have to admit there are some things a person cannot ever forgive." Loke stated his eyes shifted back to the fox. He just stared at her for a bit then talked again. "Not everyone can forgive so easily."
"I know that, but you should at least try to talk things out with the other person. If you can't forgive them then at least you tried. Just go your separate ways and move on. Please, don't get trap in the poisonous cycle of hate, Loke. If you do I will always be there to Lucy Kick you back into reality."
"I don't want that to happen, now do I?" He laughed only to pause in thought. "On second thought, go ahead and Lucy Kick me. There is a chance I'll get a panty shot from you, Lucy!"
"Loke!" Lucy glared at him, but found his statement to be slightly funny. Gray had warned her of the same thing before. He had gotten a good look of her panties once when she Lucy Kicked him. He had made fun of her for days on end because of it. "I'll have to keep that in mind."
"So Natsu?"
"Yeah, Natsu…" The blonde repeated the Fire Dragon Slayer's name softly as her gaze returned to Gajeel. To be honest, she had not really thought of Natsu lately. Not even after he had confessed to her or after her conversation with Mira Natsu had not crossed her mind. She had been clear with him that he was just a friend. "I still can't believe he confessed to me. It was out of the blue really."
"Natsu is a little oblivious in the love department, but it sounds like he figured out he has feelings for you, Lucy." Loke said he eyes shining slightly with amusement. "It took him long enough."
"Wait, did you kno—"
"Know that Natsu had a major thing for you? Yeah, it was not like he tried to hide it." The orange haired man smirked proudly and shrugged it off a little. "That boy has been head over heels for you for quite some time not."
"Okay, now I feel like I should have noticed this issue a long time ago." She frowned slightly. "How could I have missed something like that for so long?"
"Even you are oblivious to some things, Lucy."
"I guess I am."
"So care to tell me how the Fire Dragon Slayer figured it out?" Loke was not hiding his want to hear some gossip. He had been way to long from the human world. "Do you know?"
"I do know how actually. Apparently he went on a long job with Happy so he could think about things and he did. Natsu told me that himself."
"I give him credit for taking time away to think about things. That shows that he was really taking things seriously."
"Yeah, he said it had been bothering him, along with his behavior towards me. He apologized for treating me so badly." She smiled a little as she explained what had happened between her and Natsu. "It was a bit overwhelming to have all that tossed on me at once."
"So what did you tell him?"
"I told him the truth, obviously. We spent most of the night talking with another, but it was worth it in the end. We were able to reconcile our friendship, but I did not respond to his romantic feelings like he wanted me too." Lucy whispered quietly as she tried to stop the blush that appeared on her cheeks. She turned red because she recalled the pink haired Dragon Slayer had tried to kiss her. Yeah, she was keeping that to herself. "I reject him and told him there was someone else."
"I assume this someone else is Gajeel, right?"
"Yes, Gajeel and I are together. I have a feeling that Natsu knows it too. I'm sure he figured it out, but he's not pointing it out to me. I already told Mira that I can never see Natsu in a romantic light ever. He is just Natsu to me, but Gajeel is a different story." The blonde replied with honesty laced in her voice. There was no way she would fall for Natsu, not after her had broken her trust. "Gajeel is a very important person in my life. He takes up most of my thoughts and he is becoming my world. I don't think I can live my life without him in it."
"Oh, you're in deep. I can see it in your eyes Lucy." Loke stated, his gaze fixed on her. He looked happy for her, really happy for her. "I don't I have ever seen you this happy, Lucy. I like seeing you like this."
"Loke, there is something I want to tell you. It's pretty important and I want you to be the first to know." She bit her lips nervously.
"Oh?"
She took one deep inhale of air and spoke.
"I have decided to take the next step with Gajeel pretty soon, Loke."
"Next step?" The lion had a face that told her he did not quite understand what she meant or maybe it was too much for him to process. It took him awhile until the expression of understanding appeared on his face. His eyes widen as he quickly looked between her and Gajeel in rapid succession. "Wait, you mean like marrying him? You want to marry Gajeel?"
"Yes, that's what I want. I want to marry him in human terms and in his terms."
"His terms?"
"He told me Dragon Slayer's have their version of getting married. In his terms, I would become his mate. We'll be mates for life, which is like getting married." She blushed, but she did not care that she did.
"Excuse me awhile I try to wrap my mind around this, Lucy."
"It's not that astonishing is it?"
"No, it's not. Ah, I mean it is. Umm…" The orange haired man looked like he was struggling to say something and not say the wrong thing. He relaxed himself before he talked again. "I don't want to sound all tongue tie so let me just be straight forward. This is wonderful news!"
"By the way you were struggling I thought broke your brain for a second."
"Ah, sorry about that short freak out, Lucy. I was just overwhelmed for a bit, but I am seriously happy for you." Loke smiled broadly, his elongated canines were visible in it. Yeah, that was his happy grin. "I have always wished for you to find happiness, Lucy. And if becoming Gajeel's mate will bring you that then you got my support. I am all smiles for you and him, but mostly you!"
"Thanks Loke!" The ex-heiress responded in a bubbly voice. She was glad that Loke accepted her decision. Her brown eyes focused on the sleeping face of the Dragon Slayer and smiled. She was glad that he was in such a deep slumber that he did not hear any this conversation. She did not want him to learn of her decision this way. "Now I just have to find the right time to tell him."
"I'm sure you'll know when the right time is, Lucy."
"And promise me that this will stay between us, Loke."
"My lips are seal."
With the promise that he spirit friend would not tell anyone her decision that conversation ended and a new one began. The two friends spent the rest of the train ride catching up with one another and spoke about trivial things. Lucy told Loke about all the things he had missed in her life and in turn, he told her some funny stories about what was happening in the spirit world. Most of his stories caused the ex-heiress to burst out laughing very loudly. She had not laughed like that with the lion for some time now. It felt like ages since she had last seen him. She really did missed Loke's company a lot.
Actually, she missed all her spirits and their company.
She had not seen them outside of battle for awhile. She had been too preoccupied with what she had stumbled upon in that forest to even think about taking some time off. Hmm, she really needed to spend some more time with her friends and spirits. Maybe she needed to have a friend day or something set up in the future? She would have to put that on her to do list and decided on something when the mess with Fear is dealt with. They continued to talk, until they heard the train announcer on the speaker. They were almost arriving at the station and a few minutes later Virgo showed up with a message for Loke. He was to return back to the Celestial Spirit world immediately.
The orange haired man nodded in agreement as he moved to wake up the fox. As he did that Virgo turned towards her greeting her with a smiled before she had the blonde a piece of paper and a pen. She wanted the blonde to write her message on it and give it to Loke when done. Lucy agreed and waved goodbye to Virgo when she left them. The lion was still trying to wake up Shizuka so she began to write her message to the King. She already knew what she was going to say so it did not take her long to write it out. By the time she had reach her last sentence Loke had managed to wake up the other spirit. She folded the piece of paper as the spirits readied themselves to leave.
There was no more time for frivolous conversation, just some time to say goodbye.
"I guess I'll see you later, Loke." Lucy carefully handed him the message trying not to wake up Gajeel or Lily.
"Yeah, I'll be back to tell you what the final decision is. Take care of yourself okay, Lucy?" He smiled slightly.
"I will." She smiled back at him, but she turned her gaze away from him. She looked at the fox spirit nestled in the lion's arms. "And I hope I will get to see you again, Shizuka."
"I hope so as well Lucy-dono." She looked up at her with blank eyes. "Though, I hope it will not be under such circumstances again or being carried like a little doll in Leo-sama's arms. It is rather embarrassing for me."
"Embarrassing for you?" Loke arch an eye brow at the tiny figure in his arms. He looked displeased again. "At least you don't look like a grown man carrying a doll. What will the ladies think of me?"
"Don't worry about it. Loke is use to being embarrassed by now." The ex-heiress laughed. She patted the spirit's head. "He does a fine job of that himself."
"Hey!"
"I have noticed Leo-sama is susceptible to making a fool of himself, but I don't bring attention to it much." The fox replied smoothly. "He is a lion, so he has a big ego. And his pride is easily damage by his sensitivity of it."
"Geez, that sounds like Loke. He is a silly lion sometimes."
"Hello, I am right here you know?" Loke's comment was heard, but ignored.
"I concur."
"You got to promise, once you visit again, that we'll get our contract all sorted out, okay?" Lucy held out her hand. "Spirits don't break their promises right, little fox?"
"You are correct." The tiny fox reached for her hand. "I promise the terms of our contract will be cleared out once I visit again."
"Good."
"I promise as soon as everything is over I'll come by Lucy." The taller male spirit stated. He shot her one last smiled before he began to fade away. "I'll see you soon."
"I can't wait." Lucy smiled.
And then they disappeared to the Celestial realm leaving Lucy alone with her sleeping teammates.
Updated Dec, 27,2015