Disclaimer: I own nothing except for any original ideas and characters.

Into the Abyss

Chapter Twenty-one

The Lion

...

Celeste's late-night training sessions with the First had been difficult at first; learning from the Fairy Tactician herself was an enlightening experience for the teenaged witch. Beneath her petite exterior, Mavis was light on her feet, her command for magic despite not having a body of her own was astounding, and she packed a heavy punch. Not only did the First have Celeste complete control exercises, but basic combative ones too; Mavis' reasonings were that Celeste needed to know how to properly fight if magic was not an option.

After working muscles, she did not even know she had often resulted in Celeste staggering back into her dorm room in the early hours of the morning. It was only thanks to the First's illusion charms that Celeste was able to move about the castle undetected.

Despite all the training, it was not until mid-November that Mavis finally decided that Celeste was ready to harness her old magic once more and summon her celestial spirits. It had been a long day as Thursday's usually were, but Celeste was excited at the prospect of regaining a part of herself she thought was forever lost.

Upon arriving at the empty toad choir classroom on the fourth floor – their usual training ground – and spotted the First gliding about the room and in the midst of enchanting the room to disguise the foreign magic the two of them were able to use. The words were alien to Celeste, the only mage she had known able to preform enchantments was Wendy, the young dragon slayer was talented in support enchantments. Celeste wondered if perhaps her old teammates like herself and Natsu were beginning to access their old magic too.

"Not too tired?" Mavis asked with a teasing lilt.

Celeste shook her head, she stepped out of her slippers opting to go barefoot like she did for their previous sessions and quickly plucked her keys from around her belt.

"I'm ready, Shodai" Celeste answered eagerly. Satisfied with the response, Mavis glided down to the ground and skipped towards Celeste.

"Now remember what I told you, Celeste" Mavis said, her eyes were stern, and lips pressed into a thin line. Celeste nodded; her eyes were filled with determination.

"Focus my magic, envision the spirit in the physical world" Celeste recited. Mavis smiles softly.

"Perfect, now how about we start with spirit with whom you share the strongest bond, ne?" Mavis suggested.

Taken aback, Celeste blinked "But, Shodai, are you sure that I am ready. Why not start with one of the silver keys?" Celeste asked.

"Magic is stemmed from our emotions" Mavis explained, "Are you familiar with the 'One Magic?"

Celeste nodded, her mama, Layla often had told her stories of the 'One Magic', it was the original source and very essence of all magic on Earthland. The stories boasted that the One Magic itself was born from love and it was the first mages ability to feel deep love that gave them the ability to harness magic. It was then through their practice of harnessing the One Magic, that the first mages discovered that other emotions could influence magic too.

Happiness, sadness…even hate…

"The essence of magic…it's love" Celeste murmured. Mavis nodded, an almost wistful smile on her face as her ageless eyes stared ahead almost as if in a trance. The look on the First's face was one of love- Celeste had seen it before as a child when her parents shared loving glances.

"I may not be a Celestial Mage, but even I know that the love you have for your spirits makes both your own and their magic powerful" Mavis said, "So choose wisely, Celeste for the spirit you share the strongest bond of love with will be the first you will summon to this world"

Celeste nodded slowly; it was a lot to take in for the blonde. She could never choose between her spirits for she loved them all equally, each one of her friends she shared a different story and with each story came new bonds. Closing her eyes, Celest focused on the memories she shared with her spirits; their battles, their smiles and finally she came to a decision.

The key felt heavy in her fingertips, silently she hoped her other spirits would not resent her for her decision.

As her eyes snapped open, Celeste outstretched her hand "Open, Gate of the Lion! Leo!"

Both Celeste and Mavis staggered backwards as the room was bathed in a bright light, the witch was forced to close her eyes at its intensity.

"You're doing it, Celeste!" Mavis cried out with excitement. Celeste beamed in response, but the summoning was waning as her magic was starting to drain. Flooding the key with more of her magic, Celeste gasped as celestial bell chimed before light dimmed down altogether. Left in its wake was a tall young man, his hair was styled in wild orange spikes, two of them standing up like cat ears. As he stared down at his hands in disbelief, Celeste could feel tears stinging her eyes and blurring her vision.

"Loke…" Her voice was almost inaudible but the spirit whirled round. Behind his dark sunglasses, Celeste could see his jade green eyes widening before he snapped the shades from his face.

"Lucy…my…" Loke trailed off as he ran a hand down a face as if trying to come to terms with the new situation.

"I know I look a little different" Celeste murmured before releasing a weak chuckle. Loke smiled softly in response, before his peeled back into a grin.

"You look amazing!" Loke bellowed. Celeste shrieked as instantly the spirit was at her side and he promptly took her right hand in his own and proceeded to twirl her around. "My, my, if its possible, you have only gotten cuter, master" Loke purred. Celeste giggled whilst swatting at his hands.

"You stupid pervert lion!" Celeste sobbed. Her response shocked the spirit and momentarily he relaxed his grip on her, allowing the young witch to fling her arms around his neck. Loke slowly and gently lowered his young master back to the ground, he stepped back allowing himself to truly get a look at her. Despite her no longer sharing the same appearance as what he was used to, there was still something just so Lucy hidden behind those mercury eyes.

'Like starlight'…the lion spirit thought with a wry grin, 'how fitting'

"I am honored you chose to summon me first" Loke said with a smile, "If you wanted my company so badly then I would have gladly left the celestial realm to spend time with you…"

Celeste scowled., but still could not hide the smile on her face.

…..

The low purr of Mrs. Norris echoed down the hallway as the cat prowled down in her late-night patrol. Her crimson eyes narrowed as low hiss caught her attention and quickly, Mrs. Norris was stood with her back arched and tail stood o end. The tension slowly left her body as an orange cat padded out from the shadows; the tomcat mewled once- a light thing- before slinking away. Annoyed at being surprised, Mrs. Norris scurried back after her master.

As the cat and the Hogwarts caretaker disappeared up the moving staircase on their patrol, two pairs of identical blue eyes peered out from behind the Gryffindor tapestry.

"That was a close one" George breathed out. They were alone in the hallway, but he feared that someone was still close by. Beside him, Fred nodded.

"Almost didn't spot her, guess the map doesn't show animals" Fred muttered.

As if on cue, an orange cat prowled towards the boys, its tail leisurely flicking upwards and side-to-side as it it weaved between their legs. The cat was an affectionate thing and though neither one of the twins actually owned one themselves, they had been around enough to know that cats only showed affection to those they trusted. George was the first to crouch down and stroke the cat behind its ears, the cat bent its neck into his touch and even released a high-pitched meowl.

"Who do you suppose he belongs to?" George asked, his hands now weaving between the cats short strands of fur.

"How'd you know it's a 'he'?" Fred frowned. George gestured to the collar around the cat's neck with the name 'Loke' engraved into the gold plating attached there. Seemingly having enough attention, the cat- Loke - padded away from George and over towards Fred, where he proceeded to comfortably sit. Fred opened the map once more and after an uttering of 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good' the Marauders Map came to life once more. Glancing down, the boys spotted the footsteps of Argus Filch stalking down the second-floor corridor, Dumbledore pacing back and forth in his office as per usual and-

"Celeste?" George asked with a frown, "What's she doing out this late?" He allowed Fred to peer over his shoulder and gain a closer look at the map and his twin's brows furrowed at the sight of the map. Even the cat seemed interested and meowed loudly before George gave him a placating stroke between his ears to quiet him down.

"Usually she just paces round her common room" Fred muttered. He could sense George grinning at him like an idiot, but he chose not to comment.

"You seem awfully interested in what princess Malfoy does at night, want to share something, Freddie?"

Fred scowled, "Oi!" Fred snapped, a light tinge of red colouring his cheeks to the tip of his ears, which only had George smirking "I'm just concerned that's all"

George nodded slowly, but his smirk was still evident as Fred continued to ramble.

"She's been up late, coming to class all tired- and did you see those bruises"

"Do you think it has something to do with that burn she got couple of weeks back?" George surmised.

"Maybe" Fred muttered. He had already started walking towards the direction Celeste was, for his curiosity had already gotten the better of him. He did not have to turn around to know that George was behind him with their new companion, Loke in tow.

….

The map never lied. It had a way of showing everyone and everything in the castle – even ghosts showed up, only their footsteps appeared faded signifying their dead state. The boys had allowed their curiosity to get the better of them and ended up following Celeste, the blonde had been stationary in the choir classroom for some time. Only she was not alone.

"Any idea who this Vermillion is?" George asked with furrowed brows.

"Some kind of room-mate?" Fred suggested, but even he had to admit that the name was not familiar, but whoever she was, she was friendly enough with Celeste to go on late-night strolls with.

They arrived outside of the choir classroom…or at least that was what the map dictated. George had it out between the two of them, his blue eyes darting from the neat scrawl depicting 'Fred Weasley and George Weasley' and to the door where Celeste and Vermillion were currently residing. All parties were stood perfectly still , even the ones behind the door.

Only there was no door...at least not one standing before the twins.

Now definitely confused, Fred lifted his palms and planted them firmly against the bricked wall. Unlike the rest of the castle, it did not feel coarse like sandpaper, instead cold to the touch and smooth with the occasional bump like wood. Slowly, he allowed his palms to drift further as he inspected the wall before he came to a conclusion

"Someone's put some sort of charm on the door" Fred muttered. George frowned silently but came to stand beside Fred, he too placed his palms upon the wall with a perplexed expression on his face.

"Maybe we should…"

Before George could finish, Fred forced his weight against the 'wall' and instantly it wavered and flickered out of existence causing Fred to stumble through the now open doorway and to the ground.

George chuckled at the sight though it slowly reduced to a gasp at the sight of Celeste stood in the middle of the classroom next to an older orange-haired teenager he did not recognize.

A/N:

Thank you to all the reviews answering the question who Celeste would summon first. In the end I decided that summoning Leo would be the most fitting since at the Tenrou arc, Lucy was not as close with Aquarius and did not know her true feelings towards her until much later in the Tartarus arc.

Question Time:

So, the twins have seen Loke (the spirit), will they be friends or foes?