I just wanted to thank everyone who as read, favourited, followed and reviewed my story, it means so much to me. The godparents will not be a prominent feature in the story, but they will be the key to Lucy getting stronger. And no, not by more charms, but you'll just have to wait and see.
"Okay Loke, what gives? Why did you want us to come outside?" Natsu demanded, glaring at the Lion Spirit.
Gray leant on the side of the building, one foot propped behind him and his arms crossed. Loke smirked and pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose, before straightening his tie. "Come on Loke, what do you want to talk about?" Gray said, looking up from under his bangs.
"So, Lucy won't be happy but Gray, I'd like to ask a favour of you," Loke said, smirking at his friend.
Gray just raised a brow, waiting for Loke to carry on. "Lucy is strong, much stronger than she believes, but she can only get so strong here. She wants to get new keys, which implies travelling." Loke said, meeting Gray's eyes.
"You want her to travel with me, don't you?" Gray said simply, staring at Loke impassively.
"Precisely. My princess is strong and she will get stronger, however if beautiful travels alone, she will be limited to her ability to summon us. If she gets exhausted after training or over extends herself in battle, she will be alone and we won't be able to help her." Loke said, smiling at Gray. "The thing is though, we can't let her know that I asked you, otherwise… well she has a temper as fierce as her beauty."
"You can't just leave, Lucy won't want to," Natsu yelled, gritting his teeth.
"At the moment she won't want to, but she will eventually realise she has to leave. By that stage it'll be too late." Loke sighed, a kernel of guilt flourishing in his chest. "What do you say Gray, want some company on your journey?"
Gray just looked at the ground, his mind working a mile a minute. He understood what Loke was asking, however the reason he wanted to leave was so he could get stronger by himself. If he wanted company, he would have just stayed at the guild. He was planning on going to the colder areas, something he knew Lucy despised. He didn't really want to deal with her whining about the cold. It got old very quickly. Though, seeing the earnest expression on his best friend's face, Gray had to reconsider. She wanted the same thing he wanted; to get stronger. She had a way of making the hardest missions feel easier, and it didn't hurt that she was easy on the eyes. Sighing, Gray looked at Loke, his decision made.
"She is welcome to come, and since she will be unhappy you asked, misunderstanding it as you thinking she's weak, I'll ask her to join me myself. That way no one has to deal with an irate Lucy and her trigger happy feet." Gray said, smirking at his friend.
"Thank you my friend. She will argue and be difficult but it is the best choice for her, Crux, her Southern Cross Spirit, agreed." Loke said, smiling at his friend.
"Um, excuse me? You can't take Lucy. She's my partner, not yours, you stupid Ice Cube and Lightbulb!" Natsu yelled, fists balled at his side.
"Well then, why don't you go too?" Loke said casually, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.
"No way, dragon breath is not invited," Gray snapped, glaring at his friends.
"Like I want to leave Fairy tail and hang out with you, Ice Princess." Natsu growled, glaring at the Ice Mage.
"It's up to you both, you are more than welcome to join us Natsu," Loke said, leaning against the wall.
"Hold on Mane Head, it's my journey, not yours. You are lucky I'm even taking Lucy along, so don't go inviting others without my permission!" Gray yelled, an icy aura surrounding him.
"Why don't you shut up, Gray-" Natsu started.
"Why don't you all shut up and tell me what on earth is going on!" Lucy screamed, leaning over her windowsill with a pissed off expression on her face.
"Oh hey beautiful, did we wake you?" Loke said, smirking up at his master.
"Don't you hey beautiful me, you perverted lion! All of you come up here and tell me what in the name of Celestial Spirit King is going on!" Lucy growled, slamming her window shut.
The boys all looked at each other, before sighing and walking back up the stairs. Each of the boys looked at each other, beads of sweat on their forehead. Sure, they knew they could easily take Lucy into a fight, but the girl was scary. The only women scarier were Mirajane and Erza. Her Lucy Kick was nothing to sneeze at, and you'd have to be stupid to purposefully aggravate her. Seeing the door open already, the boys gulped and trailed in, their moves cautious and their guards up.
Lucy sat on her bed, her arms crossed and her eyebrows furrowed. "Oh hey there Luce, nice day isn't it?" Natsu said, scratching the back of his head.
"Don't you Luce me! Tell me what you are talking about and tell me now!" Lucy hissed, glaring at her partner.
"This is all yours man," Natsu said, smirking at Loke and stepping back to lean against the wall.
"Thanks buddy," Loke grumbled, before putting on his most charming smile. "Please don't be upset with me Princess, I was just looking out for you." Loke said, stalling for time and trying to butter her up.
"Idiot! Don't try to butter me up and just tell me what is going on!" Lucy screamed, anger tattooed on her face and soaking her voice.
Just as Loke was about to say something, Gray interrupted. "I wanted to ask you something, Lucy. Will you join me on my training mission?" Gray said, making Lucy's temper simmer down and her mouth become slack.
"You want me to join you, but why?" Lucy asked, her head slightly tilted to the side as she tried to figure out what to say.
"I thought it would be fun, we could learn from each other and grow our strengths, as a team." gray said, smiling at his friend.
"You are not taking Lucy, you stupid Freezer Burn! If she is going, I'm going too." Natsu snapped, flames sheathing his body.
Loke just stayed silent, smirking at his master, his expression softened when he saw Lucy sitting on her bed, her eyes hidden behind her hair and tears trailing down her face. "Lucy?"
"Did you ask Gray to bring me, Loke?" Lucy asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Did you not think i could do it on my own?" she asked, her voice wobbling.
"Lucy, it's not that I didn't think you could do it, in fact i know you would be able to do it with or without me." Loke said softly, walking over to Lucy and kneeling in front of her, clasping her hands in his. "You'll only get stronger on the journey, much more than you would staying here. Besides, you thrive off human company so this way you won't be alone." Loke added, looking up at her beseechingly.
"I'm never alone, I have you and the rest of my spirits," Lucy instigated, meeting Loke's eyes.
"I know princess and we adore you, but what if we can't get to you in time? I'd never forgive myself if…" his breath shook, as tears pooled in his vivid eyes. "I don't want another Karen situation. If I thought disappointing her was hard, disappointing you would tear me apart. Please Lucy, my princess, if you won't go for yourself, please go for me." Years were streaming down Lole's face in small rivers, his face unguarded.
"Oh Loke," Lucy whispered, pulling him into her arms. "Okay, if you think it's best and if Gray is serious, I'll go. Just please stop crying" Lucy's voice broke on the word crying, and she buried her face in Loke's mane.
"Thank you, Lucy. I promise it's not that I think you are weak, you are the strongest being I've ever met." Loke said smiling at her before standing up and brushing off his pants.
"As long as you don't think I am weak and protect me from Juvia's rage when she hears I'm going with Gray," Lucy said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Of course my darling, you saw what I did earlier, as your handsome knight I will always protect you." He said, winking at her. "I had better go. We have a Zodiac meeting soon. Farewell for now my beautiful princess," Loke said, kissing her hand before disappearing in a shower oh golden sparkles.
"Show off!" Natsu yelled, his face in Lucy's fridge as he and Happy raided it.
"You are more than welcome to join Lucy, even if it means Flame Brain comes too," Gray said, sending her a lopsided grin.
"Thanks Gray, I guess we had better talk to the Master about me joining you, oh and check if Natsu and Happy really want to come." Lucy said, smiling at Gray.
"I'm right here! Of course I'm coming with you both, right happy?" Natsu said, turning to his blue friend.
"Aye sir!"
"Well, that settles that," Lucy said, giggling. "But wait, what about my apartment! It was so hard finding one," Lucy wailed, her head in her hands as her amusement faded away.
"Cheer up Luce, we can pay off your rent before we go and it'll be here!" Natsu cheered, with Happy chiming in with a "Aye, sir!"
"Where will she get that money, ash for brains?" Gray snarled, rolling his eyes.
"It's okay, I can always do missions while we are away to pay for it," Lucy said, looking up to check it was okay with Gray, who nodded.
"Okay, perfect! All sorted. Let's go to the guild, I'm all fired up!" Natsu called, running to Lucy's window and jumping out of it with Happy.
Lucy and Gray sighed and looked at each other hopelessly. "Come on, let's go before he destroys something," Gray said, making Lucy moan and follow him out, shutting and locking the door behind her.
Natsu and Happy were already well ahead of them by the time they left, so the two didn't hurry. Lucy in particular wasn't in a rush, after all she already had one encounter with a certain water witch today, and drowning wasn't on her list of things to do today. Gray turned back and saw her slow pace, deciding not to say anything. They'd have plenty of time to spend together once the journey started, so why rush now?
All three of them were pondering what their journey would have in store for them; each lost in their own thoughts. When Gray and Lucy finally caught up to Natsu he was standing outside the guild, looking up at it with a strange expression on his face.
"Ready?" He asked, turning to his friends.
"Ready," Lucy said, just as Gray nodded.
Taking a deep breath the three, not including Happy walked in, knowing it would be the last time for a few months they would step into their Guild, their home, for a while.
Short chapter, I know, next time the good stuff starts! I hope you enjoyed it. A little bit of Loke/Lucy but it'll be a bit until the real romance starts. Stay tuned for next time and stay safe!
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