"I can't believe her!" Lucy shouted. Nashi and the others left for the celestial world and the rest of the guild took noticed of this. Lucy was not happy. "I can't believe Nashi and the others would take Loke and head off to the spirit world to fight."

"Try and calm down, Lucy." Wendy said.

"I'm sure there is a good reason for them all going off like that." Carla said.

"I thought Nashi got her brains from my side of the family, not Natsu's." Lucy said. Nashi and the others left some time ago, but Lucy was getting fed up with waiting. She doesn't seem to care how long they've been in the celestial world anymore. "That's it. I think I've waited around long enough. I'm getting her back here right now." She reached out for Loke's key.

"You're bringing her back already?" Gray said. "They may have left hours ago, but you know times moves differently in that world than here."

"Is that really true? I've never been to the celestial world before." Laxus asked Yukino.

"Yes. One day in the celestial world is equivalent to three months in this world." Yukino said. "Lucy, I understand your concern. I feel the same about my son with his friends, but they probably haven't been there for very long."

"That's why I'm getting them back. It's to make sure nothing really does happen to her." Lucy said. "Enough waiting around. Loke, get your butt out here!" Lucy was able to open the gate and Loke came back.

"Hey, Lucy. Is there something wrong?" Loke asked.

"Yeah, something's wrong! Why did you take my daughter and her friends to the celestial world?!" Lucy said.

"Nashi insisted. I could tell there was no changing her mind." Loke said. "The king himself didn't want their help, but Nashi wouldn't back down."

"Yeah. That's my girl." Natsu said as he was quite proud of his daughter for standing up like that.

"So what's happening to them now? Are they all okay?" Yukino asked.

"To be honest, I'm not sure." Loke said. That didn't help Lucy settle down. "Those fake copies of the zodiacs and myself were able to open gateways to pocket dimensions. They each went through one. Nashi and the others each went after one. So I'm not entirely sure what's going on with them."

"Knowing out kids, they're kicking butt." Natsu said.

"Yeah. Probably." Gray said.

"Well, I don't care." Lucy said. "Take me to the spirit world now. I'm going in and getting my daughter."

"Isn't bringing you to the spirit world a violation of a contract unless the spirit agrees to it?" Loke said. He got Lucy on that one, but she's desperate to make sure Nashi is safe. "How about we step outside and talk for a minute?" Loke guided Lucy away from the others and left them to talk. What they weren't aware of at the time was that Loke's counterpart, Leo, was back in the human world and was after Lucy. Loke took Lucy outback so the two of them could talk about this whole thing.

"Loke, I get that I can't enter the spirit world without permission, but I have to go and get Nashi." Lucy said. "She's never been there before. She probably doesn't know what she's getting into."

"Lucy, I get you're concerned about her and the others. It's only natural being a parent." Loke said. "However, Nashi went for your sake."

"My sake?" Lucy questioned.

"Be honest, Lucy. Could you actually bring yourself to fight those eclipse spirits?" Loke said. "They're technically celestial spirits as well like me or any of the others." Lucy didn't really answer that and Loke could see his answer when she didn't. "I thought so. That's why Nashi went on ahead. She knew you would never bring yourself to actually fight them and you're who they're after. At least you or some other celestial wizard."

"Maybe, but I can't just sit around and do nothing." Lucy said.

"I get it, but Nashi's not a little girl anymore. She's become quite a woman." Loke said.

"Don't say that when it's coming from you!" Lucy said.

"My point is that she can take care of herself." Loke said. "Besides, all your spirits promised to help her when she needs it. All of us are ready to jump in if she needs it." Lucy understood all that. People keep telling her to stop worrying so much about Nashi, but she just can't help it. "It will be okay. I promise." Loke could see she wanted to be left alone and head back in the guild to do that.

"Nashi…" Lucy said. Lucy knows Nashi can take care of herself, but she doesn't know how to stop herself from worrying. She didn't have time to think about it as she felt a hand placed over her mouth and someone grabbed her. Lucy looked behind her and saw Leo.

"Hello. We meet again." Leo said. Lucy tried to get out of his grasp, but he was too strong. Loke could sense something was wrong with Lucy and ran back out and saw what was happening.

"Lucy!" Loke called as Leo turned to face him. "Let her go!"

"You might be my weaker half, but I don't really want to fight you since you're a fellow spirit." Leo said. "However, if you choose to side with the humans, I won't show any mercy."

"I'm not looking for any!" Loke said as he had some light form around his fists and tried to attack, but Leo unleashed his dark power and blasted Loke back.

"Your powers of Regulus pale in comparison to mine." Leo said. "It's time I take my leave." Leo was surrounded by light and vanished with Lucy going with him.

"Loke!" Natsu called as he and the others came running out. "What happened?"

"Damn it. That copycat of mine got Lucy." Loke said.

"I thought you said Nashi was dealing with him." Erza said.

"I thought so too. I'm going to back and get her. Then, we'll go after him." Loke said and closed his gate. This all happened while Nashi and the others were off fighting. Now it could be too late.

Lucy

With Lucy now in the enemy's hands, he was free to do whatever it was he needed her for. Leo may be the last spirit standing, but he won't give up. Leo took Lucy up to the mountains with the night sky out.

"What are you doing? Let go of me." Lucy said.

"Don't worry. Freedom will be at hand soon enough." Leo said. He grabbed a hold of Lucy's keys and tossed them away. "You won't be needing those anymore."

"Just what are you trying to do?" Lucy said. "I get you're trying to obtain freedom, but at what price. Last time this happened, your freedom would have only lasted for twelve days. After that, you would have died."

"I don't know what you're talking about, but the time length isn't an issue." Leo said. "When I'm done, all spirits will have their freedom forever."

"Forever? How?" Lucy asked.

"I'll show you." Leo said as he held out a crystal in his hand. He dropped it on the ground and it started to glow. Suddenly, giant crystals started sprouting around them and grew like a giant tree. Lucy and Leo were taken near the top and Lucy couldn't believe what happened.

"What is this?" Lucy said.

"This is a special crystal that can only be found in the celestial world." Leo said. "Here in your world, it sprouts like a tree underneath the night sky. It is required for the spell."

"What spell?" Lucy said.

"This spell will bring freedom to all us celestial spirits." Leo said. "All that is left….is to sacrifice a celestial wizard." A sacrifice?! Lucy could see now that's what they were after her and Yukino for. Leo tossed her against a crystal and she was starting to sink inside. "This spell requires a celestial wizard to be sacrificed with the use of this crystal in your world. Once it's done, my kind will at last be free from you humans. Pity you won't be around for that."

"No, please. Don't do this." Lucy said.

"Why? So we can continue be in enslavement and suffering of you humans?" Leo said.

"It isn't like that." Lucy said. "I never once treated my spirits anything less than an equal to me."

"I don't want to hear excuses. We've waited a long time for a day like this to come and I won't be waiting around anymore. The spell shall be cast. The spell known as Libertatem Caelo." Leo said as it seemed like there was no changing his mind. Meanwhile, Loke was able to get Nashi and they appeared in Earthland again.

"We're here." Loke said. Nashi looked around and saw the massive crystal.

"What is that?" Nashi said.

"Nothing good. Lucy must be up there." Loke said.

"Better hurry." Nashi said as she ran to the crystal and was moving as fast as she could to save her. Lucy tried to get herself free from the crystal, but she could feel her energy being drained away.

"Please don't do this." Lucy pleaded, but Leo refused to listen. His hatred for humans and his desire for freedom continues to drive him. He reached for the sky and was ready to start the spell.

"Darkness we beseech thee." Leo said. "I offer this celestial wizard in exchange for everlasting freedom. Let our light last for all of eternity for this wizard's life."

"Please don't! Just listen!" Lucy said as she kept trying to reason with him, but he won't. However, he stopped the spell as he sensed something was wrong.

"I got you." He turned around and saw Nashi was able to pull Lucy out of the crystal. "Mom isn't going anywhere. I won't let you take her." Leo should have known more humans would have interfered, but he didn't think she come back so soon.

"Nashi…" Lucy said as she was surprised she got to her so fast.

"Sheesh, Mom. I get you don't want to fight, but you've got to do something to defend yourself." Nashi said. "Who knows what Dad might do if you're not around."

"Nashi, please get out of here." Lucy said. "Don't fight him. Leave him to me."

"What are you talking about?" Nashi said.

"Please just do what I said." Lucy said, but more in a pleading tone instead of a demanding tone. Nashi could see what Lucy wanted to do, but she knew there was only one thing herself could do. She was able to have Lucy stand. "What are you doing?"

"Sorry, Mom. Just don't ground me." Nashi said and actually drove her fist into Lucy's gut and knocked the wind right out of her. Even Leo was surprised by that as she gently placed Lucy on the ground.

"You humans are more savage than I thought. Why would you strike your own mother?" Leo asked.

"I had to." Nashi said. "I don't want her to see what's about to happen. Mom loves celestial spirits. She doesn't want any harm to come to them, but this has to be done. She's always been there for me. Now it's my turn to be there for her. So when she wakes up, this nightmare of hers will be over." She ignited her flames and was ready to face him. "If you want her, you'll have to get through me."

"Is that a challenge? Foolish girl. You don't stand a chance against me." Leo said. Nashi wasn't backing down and was the first to attack. She moved fast and slammed her fist against his face. She tossed in a couple more hits against him. Leo tried striking her, but she was able to duck down.

"Fire Dragon Talon!" She swung her leg up and slammed it against Leo. "Fire Dragon Roar!" Nashi breathed out her fire and blasted Leo with an explosion going off. Nashi thought she did some damage, but she saw her flames turn dark and was absorbed by Leo.

"Is that the best you can do?" Leo said as he didn't seem hurt at all. "I created those pocket dimensions to keep you and your friends out of my way, but if this is really all you got, I guess I really had nothing to worry about."

"I'll show you!" Nashi said as she went to keep fighting.

"You'll pay for disrupting my plans." Leo said. Nashi tried to hit him, but Leo jumped over her. He kept moving from one place to the next.

"He's fast, but I can't let him beat me." Nashi said as she tried to go at him again, but she missed again with him appearing behind her.

"Be glad you made it this far because it's over for you." Leo said. He had dark flames form around his hands and he beat Nashi around with it. Leo jumped up and formed dark flames together. "Pitch Black Punishment!" Leo unleashed a powerful blast of this magic and Nashi had trouble standing against it with the crystal damaged. She was knocked down from the attack and Leo thought it was the end. "You humans could never match my power, but perhaps that was too much. The crystal can't take too much damage before the spell can be obtained." He turned over to Lucy and believed the time has come.

"So that's it." Leo was a little surprised as he saw her get back up. "So this crystal is really important to your plans. Wonder what would happen if it shattered. This just isn't your day." Nashi smashed her fist against the crystal and caused more of it to break.

"What are you doing?!" Leo said.

"Don't you know that there's always a little damage to property when it comes to fighting a Fairy Tail wizard?" Nashi said with Leo getting irritated. "Now I'm really getting fired up."

"You won't get in my way!" Leo shouted. He believes he's fighting for the sake of all spirits and he won't be stopped.