QUICK NOTE: Before, this was the original Chapter One I had in mind. I just wanted to share it with you to perhaps quench some curiosities and confusion though it doesn't line in with the timeline in this story. So, it's an AU to this story, "Her Remorse" from the new version, this book.

I'll try my best to answer any questions you may have ^-^

[3rd P.O.V]

There stood a girl of average height standing atop a very tall, grassy hill which overlooked the whole of Magnolia. Her long, golden blonde hair fluttered from out of her black hood in the breeze as she gazed out at the infamous guild named Fairy Tail. A guild of light and yet, they cause so much destruction, destroying towns and cities as if it were as easy as stomping on the ground. Her brown eyes narrowed, a scowl forming on her face.

"Hime-Sama, I can sense Leo-Sama's key. It is indeed there, Hime-Sama, and it seems that he is still alive. Will we be punishing him...?" Virgo, the celestial spirit of the key named the Maiden, asked innocently. She pointed out towards the very guild that the girl was looking at and the said girl's eyes turned towards Virgo and nodded. "Hai, Hime-Sama."

The two girls walked down the grassy hill, striding towards the Fairy Tail guild hall. The people of Magnolia hurried out of the way of the two girls' sensing immense power from the one with the black cloak covering her from head to toe. Virgo looked towards her mistress, who held no expression much like her, but turned away once they arrived at their destination.

"Hime-Sama, would you do the honours?" Virgo bowed, making the cloaked girl sigh with a slight chuckle but proceed, nonetheless. "Are we punishing Leo-Sama or are we recruiting him, Hime-Sama?" She asked in an eager tone of voice, a few tools glinting from behind her figure which the girl standing next to her saw, sweat dropping at the sight.

"Ah, Virgo-San, we will simply be asking for the true story of what happened. I do not believe that the Leader of the Zodiac Spirits would ever commit such a crime. There must be some sort of misunderstanding and as I am sure you remember, Virgo-San, Aries-San came back from her job with Karen-San all beaten up and bruised. If Leo-San has indeed committed such a murder, then you are free to punish him as you wish but if he hasn't, then we will simply recruit him with or without a key." The cloaked girl explained as her hands reached for the doorknob.

"Ohayo, guild members of Fairy Tail, I would like to ask where Leo-Sama is." Virgo asked loudly once the girl with a black cloak had opened the door. The said guild members looked up from their activities and looked to one another questioningly. The said Leo, more commonly known as Loke, gasped, his face turning pale once he saw the two standing at the doorway. "Ah, ohayo, Leo-Sama. Please do not hide your identity from Hime-Sama."

"Yes, please do not. Let's talk outside, Leo-San for we have a lot to talk about." The girl with the cloak spoke again, brown eyes glinting with a tint of red to which Loke saw and gulped, silently crying inwardly. He stood up shakily and started to make his way towards the two girls', comical tears pouring down his cheeks.

"OI! Who are you and why are you taking away a guild member?!" A boy with pink hair yelled as he lit his fist on fire, dashing towards the two girls', who looked at one another before turning back to the boy with fire. He was drawing closer; however, they were not fazed but merely stared him down.

"Gomen, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Lucy Heartfilia and I have come for the male named Leo for we have quite a lot to discuss, now if you don't mind getting out of my way, then I would be very happy and not punch you in your gut." Lucy said, her lips forming a thin line. But alas, the fire boy kept running, sealing his destiny of pain along the way.

Lucy sighed, waiting for him to get closer before driving her clenched fist straight into his gut which caused him to fly straight into the guild's request board right at the opposite end of the guild doors. Everyone gasped, their eyes widening at such a sight where the boy lay on the ground, coughing, and in immense pain too.

"Now, Leo-San, please follow us." Lucy beckoned Loke who sighed but followed the two girls', the guild watching. Once they were outside, Lucy spoke again, "I haven't come to punish you but to merely ask you for what has really happened with your so-called crime. Did you really do what you were sentenced to do?" Lucy questioned as they walked until they were in a secluded alleyway, Lucy leaning against the wall.

After a lot of explaining and hesitation, Lucy finally understood the reason of his banishment. She patted him on the back, sighing in relief that he really hadn't killed his owner or master known as Karen. Loke frowned, knowing that she would punish him either way since he thought it was still technically his fault. Lucy smacked his head.

"Ittai! What was that- Oh, is this my punishment...?" He asked in surprise.

Lucy shook her head. "What I will say, I will not repeat, so listen up, Leo-San. You are not to blame for Karen-San's death. She should have realised that abusing her spirits and treating them as tools is wrong, for Celestial Spirits have feelings and are their own people. Maybe the Celestial World's rules are too old fashioned and outdated because you are certainly not to blame for Karen-San's death. It was an accident."

"I-It clearly wasn't an accident...! Because I was acting stubborn, Karen died! I killed her, and I deserve to die for my actions, like how I will die soon." Loke replied, stubborn on the fact that it was his fault.

"Leo, do NOT blame yourself. You were just trying to protect Aries-San and the other Spirits who may have to create a contract with her later. She was abusing you, and abuse is not okay. Treating Celestial Spirits like tools is like treating real life humans as tools. Don't blame yourself and keep hope in your heart. Not everything is black and white."

"Even if you think that, Lucy-San, but rules are rules-"

"Open! Gate to the Memory Dimension, Memoria." Lucy chanted, bringing forth a black key with golden swirls sneaking around the edges. They were transported to a dimension filled with lush green grass and tall mirrors the size of houses. Loke looked around, dazed yet confused. He had never heard of such a key before in all his time of living. "I think I should be showing you what friendship is and who your friends are." Lucy pointed her key at a nearby mirror and it began playing.

The mirror showed Natsu Dragneel, Erza Scarlet, Cana Alberona, Gray Fullbuster and most importantly Aries. It also replayed clips of Karen abusing Aries and how she was treated during their times of being under the contract of Karen. Loke's eyes widened at these few clips, and tears seemed to seep out of his eyes.

"They are fond of the word, 'Nakama', are they not? So, why let yourself get killed when they would be devastated. You yourself know that they would do anything to bring you back to that guild. And you know that you are the Leader of the 12, well 13 if you include the unofficial key, so you are the leader of the 13 golden zodiacs. If you were to disappear, what would happen to them? Who will lead them now? They, no we all, need you. It is clearly a fault in the Celestial system, and everyone knows that." Lucy faced him; her arms crossed.

"I-I still killed her though."

"No, you did not. How many times will I have to repeat myself until you get that the whole Karen incident was an accident! You didn't kill her because she went out on her own, despite knowing her limitations as a celestial spirit mage. Fairy Tail are your friends, your nakama, your family, are they not? You wish to protect them, do you not? You don't really want to die, do you? The King may not have the power to pardon you of your so-called crimes, but I do. And I intend on pardoning you right now.

So, heed my call of the 13 zodiacs...
Lend me your everlasting grace
Your lovable power and solace of the great stars
Oh, great morning star of the dawn,
Grant me thy power of the Empress of the Galaxies
Allow thy comrade to become undone of his crimes...
Celestial Grace!"

As Lucy chanted, a large volume of celestial light rained down upon Loke, engulfing him into the serenity of the pillar. His screams were heard as his body faded in and out of existence, the power trying to cleanse his body of the curse that resided upon him, binding him unto the World of mages and magic. All of a sudden, there was a bright flash of black light and one last scream of pain erupted from his lips, the light fading away into a trillion amount of stars that dissolved upon hitting the ground.

The key of Leo the lion, materialised before him and Loke stared in shock. His body was laying on the ground, exhausted from the cleansing of his sins and crimes that washed away as soon as the light embedded itself into his body. The hilly place ruffled as a soft breeze washed over him and Lucy. His breathing soon calmed down and he was back to his normal self from when he was still a celestial spirit.

"Rest, Leo-San. I will inform your guild of what you are and what has happened." Lucy spoke, watching him. He quickly held up his hand, wanting to say something which caused Lucy to raise an eyebrow as she stopped herself from casting a spell to release him back into the Celestial Spirit World.

"I...I want you to have my key. I want to be your celestial spirit, under your contract and to serve at your side until the day that my life ends as a celestial spirit." Loke whispered, breathless and still on the ground from what had just happened. He slowly reached up and placed his key in the palm of her hands. She smiled softly at him, a genuine smile, and he returned it, still so exhausted before bursting into a flame of golden light and disappearing into thin air.

"I promise that I will not abuse you or see you as a tool, Leo-San. I promise to never let any of you into the wrong hands." Lucy vowed, clenching her fists as she returned back to Earthland to tell the news of Loke to them all.

Upon arriving at the guild of Fairy Tail, Virgo following her, Lucy opened the doors and strode in, looking at all of them with a blank facial expression. Her gaze turned sharp as everyone turned to stare at her curiously, some in irritation while others in excitement. She then turned her gaze to an old man, who was deemed to be the Master of the guild.

"Fairy Tail, the one who you know as Loke, is actually the Celestial Spirit named Leo, the Leader of the 13 Golden Zodiac Spirits. He is the Leo, the Lion. While he may not be a Human, he will still be a member of your guild so I hope you will still cherish your bonds of friendship with him, and he may not visit as much but will still be your comrade known as Loke. Makarov, good to see you again." Lucy acknowledged the old man with a nod.

"EHHH?!" Many people began whispering, wondering how Lucy knew the Master and how Loke could turn out to be a Celestial Spirit. To some, it made sense since he always seemed to be running away from Celestial Mages and the fact that his magic was quite unique. But to most, it was baffling and most confusing.

"Good to see you too, Lucy-San. I trust that you have been well?" Makarov answered, a small smile playing on his lips as he looked towards her much to the surprise of the guild of Fairy Tail. Lucy nodded, knowing that Makarov was also well judging by his state. Just as Lucy turned around to leave, he called to her, "Why not join Fairy Tail, Lucy-San...?" He asked, hopeful.

"Hah... You know of the reason, Makarov. My destiny has already been chosen, and the path that suits me, is one of loneliness... Although your offer sounds refreshing and comforting, I will have to decline once again. I apologise, now if you don't mind, I must be on my way." Lucy turned around, an expression of forlorn and loneliness still etched deep into the pits of her eyes, but a voice called out to her, inviting and warm.

"Even though your destiny has already been chosen, isn't it better to choose your own destiny for yourself?"

She stopped dead in her tracks, her mind and movements frozen. Her feet turned her around so that she could see who the owner of the voice was, only to see a lock of raven hair. It was a man, and he was stripped of his clothes which lay beside him on the ground. She could see his defined muscles and his Fairy Tail mark. But it was his words which drew her attention towards him.

"I suppose that you could be right, Stripper-San. However, this destiny lies on my shoulders simply because if I did not accept my fate, this whole World could disappear, meaning all the innocent lives on this planet would all die. And it would all be because I did not wish to accept such a horrid and lonely fate. Wouldn't that be selfish on my part...?"

"Even if all those lives were at risk, many would prefer it if you held happiness instead of the burden and remorse that I, no we, see in your eyes. Burdens are meant to be shared, and didn't you know? Bonds of friendship and making new comrades strengthen you. It can make you stronger than you've ever felt when you were alone." Gray Fullbuster replied, his eyes solely looking into hers. "And, by the way, my name is Gray Fullbuster, not 'Stripper-San'."

"Hai, I agree with Gray. Any friend and comrade of Loke, is a friend and comrade of mine and Fairy Tail's." Erza Scarlet agreed.

"You're right, Gray-Chan, Erza-Chan." Mirajane Strauss agreed as well, turning her attention to the lonely girl. "You look lost, lonely and most of all, stressed. Fairy Tail is a guild where we're a family. We protect one another, look after one another and tell others about the problems that we have. Everyone listens to one another here, whether it's a small problem or a large problem, we'll all stick together, even if we are against the entire kingdom."

"It warms my heart to know that Leo-San met such a nice and caring guild, much like when I first arrived here myself. However, it is said in the stars that our destinies are intertwined, mingled as one and we will meet again, but now is not the right time. Everything that is written in the stars will always come true, so let's meet again, Fairy Tail." With a one-handed salute towards the members, she left and without another glance back. The guild was left in silence, star-struck until a certain voice spoke, shattering the stunned silence that had once been held in the guild.

"Ara~ Ara~ Gray-Chan... This is the first time that I've seen you say such inspiring words towards anyone, especially a girl~?" Mirajane smirked, her shipper senses alert as she looked towards Gray, who was beginning to flush a bright pink which covered the entirety of his nose and cheeks. "Is it love at first sight, perhaps? But nonetheless, you'd make a cute couple~"

"I-I'm not in love with her!"

"But your stuttering and blushing face says otherwise~?"

"ARGH! I-I'm going on a job!" Gray rushed towards the Job Request Board and took down the first Request that he could get his hands on and left, shoving his hands deep in the pockets of his pants that he had put on. The rest of the guild just looked on, amused with what was happening though Master Makarov was worried. For his friend but also what life would bring to her.

Lucy-San, I wish you the best...

With that, Lucy's new adventure began...

How was it?

To Be Continued...

Next Chapter: Chapter Two