Author's Note: this is where things get murky chapter wise. Sorry /
--
Lucy took a deep breath before stepping off the train. She didn't recognize the city, but it was bustling with life as people weaved to and fro. It was fairly late in the afternoon, maybe 4pm
"Hey let's go grab some grub! I'm starving!" Natsu bounced up to his feet fully recovered from his motion sickness. Erza followed along with a sleepy looking Wendy and a wary Carla.
"Oh look! That restaurant sells fish!" Happy chirped as he hovered mid air.
"I'm gettin pretty hungry too." Lucy chuckled at her energetic teammates. Grey stretched his sore muscles.
"That was a long trip- I didn't think Sabertooth would be this far away."
"Me too- I kinda wondered when-EKKKKK" a flash of white had leapt through the crowds and tackled Lucy to the ground.
"LUCY!" Sting laughed cheerily as he tightly hugged the shocked mage.
"STING?!" Flustered Lucy tried to wiggle out of his grasp. In response to this Sting hugged her tighter and nuzzled her cheek affectionately. A huge grin plastered on his face.
"I've missed you so damn much-"
"ALRIGHT enough with the hugging already!" Two hands came down onto the wizards. Natsu had to practically rip Sting off of Lucy. He snarled.
Oh great she's gonna smell like him again… and after it finally disappeared too…
Lucy dusted herself off as the rest of her group approached them.
"You came all the way to the station to meet up with Lucy?" Erza felt the need to stand in between her nakama and the Saber.
Sting was practically giddy with excitement as he kept shifting his weight side to side, peering around Erza to look at his beloved.
"Yeah! Figured you'd need a guide to the guild since you've never been." Sting reached around the red head and grabbed onto Lucy's hand. "Come on! We've got a place ready for you and everything!"
Grumbling Natsu followed closely behind.
"Why do I feel like we're being completely ignored?" Grey sighed a bit annoyed. They followed the two blondes.
"Because that's exactly what's happening." Carla frowned. "He's all over her, where are his manners?"
"Maybe it's a dragon slayer thing?" Grey muttered under his breath before jogging to catch up with his teammates.
"Happy, you're being awfully quite. Is something wrong?" Wendy looked down at the blue cat who was walking with a frown.
"They're lairs Wendy…"
"Oh not this again Tomcat!" Carla landed in front of Happy paws on hips. "Things are hard enough for Lucy without you filling her head with lies and doubts . You're gonna stress out the poor girl even more than she already is!"
"But it's not a lie!" Happy sputtered anxiously "look those Saber guys are just acting! It's all a scam!"
"Now why on Earth would they do that?" Carla turned her back on Happy. "They're the strongest guild in Fiora, why would they go through such troublesome tactics? And for what?"
"Hmm.. I dunno Carla.." Wendy kept an eye on their group as they were beginning to disappear from sight. Wendy wasn't worried though since she could follow their scent.
"Something seems wrong here andI don't think Happy would lie to us." The young wizard was jumped by the blue cat.
"AT LEST YOU BELIEVE ME WENDY!"
"But Happy why haven't you told Natsu about your concerns?" The blue haired girl studied the small cat worried. Happy looked down a bit ashamed.
"I wanted to tell Natsu and Lushie but… well things aren't too good for them right now. Natsu would want to fight them immediately but Lucy would need proof."
She stroked the cat reassuringly.
"Then let's do that first. We need proof. Let's at lest tell Ezra and Grey about what you've heard."
Carla simply huffed as the three followed their rowdy teammates.
————
"Welcome to Sabertooth!" Sting beamed as he showed off their grand guild hall. Lucy let out a gasp. The place was huge! And fancy- so much more luxurious than their own shabby guildhall. Team Natsu made a couple of comments upon seeing the high ceilings and busy guild members.
Sting was grinning and grabbed her hand leading her forward. Natsu immediately followed close on their heels.
"So what do you think?"
"No thanks- reminds me too much of those City council jerks." Natsu scowled at a guild member who was clearly looking down on him. Sting's eyebrow twitched but his grin was still plastered on his face as he looked at Lucy.
"It's uh… we'll…" Lucy looked around again. It was very professional and clean. Like a business company rather than a guildhall. No one was brawling, it didn't even seem loud to her. And everyone she passed by looked like powerful mages.
"Luxurious!" Lucy's smile was polite. An uncomfortable feeling was stirring in The pit of her stomach. Oddly enough it reminded her of her father and the Love and Lucky Guild. A pain of sadness pricked her heart but Sting didn't seem to notice as he took in his guildhall himself.
"Isn't it? That's because only the best of the best are allowed to sign up here. Every single one of our mages are eligible to be classified as S class!" Sting's chest puffed up proudly. Lucy's jaw dropped open.
"No way! Really?!l" sting began to lead her through the guild again, rambling on about the guild and how it became Fiorie's strongest guildhall.
But Lucy was lost in her own thoughts. This place was so different from Fairtail. She didn't belong here… Lucy bit her lip. Lucy had been mulling over everything she wanted to say to Sting, and how she didn't like the idea of leaving her guild. She barely noticed that Sting had left her side and was now talking to another guild member.
Natsu watched Lucy carefully before he nudged her gently in the arm. She looked up at him a bit dazed.
"Everything alright?" He murmured to her. Lucy felt her face flush with shame. She didn't want Natsu worrying about her. She can handle this issue herself!
"Yep! All good here! I'm just really tired from the train ride is all." She stretched and faked a yawn to get the point across. Natsu frowned at her clearly not buying it.
"There you are." A familiar voice sounded grounded in the quite guildhall. Lucy looked up and saw Rouge walk towards his teammate. Sting waved off the guild member he was talking to.
"Hey Rouge! Look who's here!" Sting beamed a stupid grin plastered on his face. Rouge looked unsettled by his smile, almost disgusted. Natsu could sympathize.
"Yes, hello Mrs Heartfilia… Dragneel…'' Rouge barely looked at Natsu who could sense he had been insulted in some way or other.
"The room's all set up for Lucy… have you spoken to her about that yet?" Rouge's expressionless face changed slightly when his eyes narrowed. Sting nervously laughed when Lucy gave him a puzzled look.
"I was about to but there never seems to be a good moment!" Sting's grin was forced as he glanced at a scowling Natsu through the corner of his eyes. Rouge immediately understood.
"In that case, pardon me." Rouge walked passed the group, snagging Natsu's arm along the way.
"Hey! What's the big idea! Let me go!" Lucy could hear her last and only soluce disappearing through a pair of double doors.
"Kidnapped…?" Lucy whimpered.
"Finally I thought he'd never leave!" Sting laughed looking pleased with himself.
"Yeah well… he might find a way to sneak back in. As per usual…" Lucy grimaced as she remembered the numerous times Natsu had been able to suddenly appear out of thin air by her side.
Honestly she wished he was still here. Now alone with Sting she felt uneasy. Were they nervous butterflies? Or was it the guildhall that was making her feel uneasy?
Lucy felt herself being lifted up into the air by a pair of strong arms. Her train of thoughts was thrown into disarray.
"Woah! Wha-?!"
"Upsidaisy!" Sting beamed at her, ears pink and a wide toothy grin on his face. The deep blue eyes seemed to fill her vision. "I'll show you to your room!"
"Hold on! Just wait a min-WAHH!" He was practically sprinting toward the dorm halls as Lucy's cries echoed down the hallways. She unconsciously held tightly to his neck much to the light dragon slayer's delight. Sting chuckled to himself. The blondie was surprisingly cute and fun to tease. If anything her expressions just made him want to tease her more.
—-
Team Natsu was thrown out of the guild. Natsu hit the ground with his face while Wendy stumbled ungracefully.
"Hey! What's the big idea?!" Grey yelled at the gloomy looking dragon slayer.
"Why are you kicking us out?" Erza was on her feet, taking a hostile stance.
"Only Sabertooth guild members are allowed inside the Guildhall." Rough stated.
"Guild members my ass! What about Lucy, she ain't a Sabertooth!" Natsu was on his feet in a flash looking ready to punch the guy in the face.
"Lucy is Sting's mate. She'll be a Sabertooth member soon. We won't hesitate to use force if you dare step inside again after being warned." He turned around and walked through the doors with a slam.
"Why that little- I'm gonna beat his ass!" Natsu kicked the door hard.
"Hey hold on- where's Happy and Carla?" Wendy scanned around for the small exceeds.
"Did they get separated when we were kicked out?" Grey brushed the dirt off of his pants. Shirt already missing. Natsu looked around alarmed. He sniffed the air but the scent led into the guildhall.
"Their scent goes into the guildhall- I don't think they came back out." He stated, crossing his arms. Great. First Lucy and now Happy's missing. He started to imagine the Sabertooth guild hall being reduced to nothing but ash.
"I wouldn't be that surprised if Happy wondered off, but Carla is usually more dependent than this. Could they have gone off somewhere?" Erza frowned.
———
"Now where is it- where- ah here it is!" Sting almost kicked the door off its hinges as he waltzed into a nice bedroom.
"Tada! Your new room!" Lucy felt soft carpet underneath her feet as Sting sat her down. She looked around the large room. A beautiful vanity desk sat against one wall, a large queen size bed with a canopy, couches and tables. Her new bedroom was bigger than her whole apartment!
Lucy felt an uneasy feeling settling into the pit of her stomach again. The room was gorgeous but… it reminded her eerily of her old bedroom at the Heartfilla Mansion. Feeling queasy she fiddled with her key rings.
"Well…?" Sting popped into her view with bright hopeful eyes. "What do you think?"
Lucy could only looked at Sting with helpless eyes. She struggled to simply say.
"It's… beautiful…?" She looked down at her feet awkwardly.
"Great! And you're free to decorate it whichever way you want it! And if you ring this then room service will-!" Sting began chattering away excitedly about the room and how their future time together will be like.
"when we register you as a guild member everyone will soon remember Lucy Heartfilia!" Sting laughed, he looked practically giddy like a little kid who won a prize. Lucy clenched her fists and stared at her feet. She couldn't look at him.
"I'm sorry but- I don't think I can be with you." Lucy cut off his excited rambling. "That's why I came here to Sabertooth. I didn't plan on staying." Lucy felt awful about this. But Sting looked like a reasonable guy. They could talk this out, maybe even come up with a compromise?
"…why?" Sting's voice sounded pained. Lucy winced but forced herself to continue.
"I can't be a Sabertooth member. I love Fairtail- it's my home. It's where all my friends are, they're my family. Not to mention. It's been 7 years since we've been back to the guildhall." Lucy closed her eyes tightly. "I'm not ready to leave it just yet. For me- Fairtail is my life. So you see I just can't live with you at Sabertooth."
After a long moment of silence Sting finally spoke.
"Even if I could go crazy and end up losing my mind again? you know I can't live without you."
"I don't believe that!" Lucy kept her eyes tightly closed. Honestly she didn't want to be reminded of the shambles Mongolia was in. Her body trembled at the memory of Sting growling like a wild animal. None of that was normal but that doesn't mean she should tolerate it.
"You're clearly a strong wizard so I'm sure we could work through this! We could take baby steps! Ya know- get you use to being separated and all…"
Lucy opened her eyes, still staring down at the fluffy carpet floor. She was being forced to come here by the magic council against her will. Sting was simply an innocent victim in this mess. He didn't ask to be her mate or have such possessive dragon traits. So Lucy will do whatever she can to help Sting live a normal life. However that didn't mean she'd leave Fairtail for him.
"But…I love you? So much so I'd destroy a city looking for you." There was an increasing edge to Sting's voice, mingled with confusion. it sounded like he was gritting his teeth.
"If you really loved me you'd let me stay with Fairtail! Maybe I'm being selfish, I know it'll be difficult for you. And I won't ask you to leave your guild for mine- but if this relationship is going to work at all can we please work on this?" Lucy was worried that if she saw the sad look on Sting's face her bravery would falter and she'd be swayed into agreeing with him.
Sting didn't say anything for the longest time, so much so Lucy was startled to hear the calm and indifferent tone in his voice.
"I see… so that's how it is huh?"
Lucy looked up at Sting only to meet his cold blue eyes. Anger- no, fury seemed to swim in those eyes. Lucy trembled- his entire aura had changed! She felt herself feeling small and fragile compared to Sting. His mere presence made her feel heavy and her knees trembled with fear. Where was that happy go lucky guy she just saw a second ago?
This guy's really powerful- Lucy couldn't look away from his cold stare. His face twisted with disgust.
"Looks like… we'll have to do this the hard way." He let out a groan and scratched his head irritated. "Geez what a pain- I didn't want to resort to that."
He calmly reached up and took off his earring, only to dangle it in front of Lucy. She froze the second it started swinging.
"You will not be going back to Fairtail. you will stay here." He waved the white gem back and forth in front of her eyes. Lucy felt her knees give away by some unknown force. She couldn't look away from the erring. The white gem shimmered with light.
What's he doing? Lucy was alarmed but a feeling of coziness quickly replaced it. The air felt soft and warm, her eye lids felt heavy. Clouded thoughts overwritten her fear.
The erring swung back and forth in a steady rhythm and Lucy felt herself watch it.
Back and forth. Back….forth.
"You hate Fairytail. You will love me." Sting grinned as he saw the spell working. Lucy looked dazed. Her eyes unfocused. The gem reflected in those dark brown eyes of hers "You'll do whatever I say. Even if it means death."
——-
Rouge went to knock on the door to Lucy's new bedroom, but hesitated. He didn't hear anything but soft breathing coming from the room and was secretly relieved. Knowing Sting was tasked to keep an eye on Lucy, Rouge wasn't too eager to waltz in on another one of their cuddle sessions.
Seeing Sting act like a little boy with a puppy dog crush really creeped him out.
When he opened the door the light of an evening sun settled into the room. Rouge was surprised to see Lucy sleeping peacefully on the queen size bed alone. Sting was sitting next to the window, resting his elbows on his knees. He was lost in thought.
"Sting." Rouge walked over to the bed and tested Lucy's pulse. He could feel the blood pumping underneath his fingertips and was relieved. "What happened?"
Sting looked irritated.
"Had to go with plan B." He muttered.
"Already?" Rouge looked at Sting with disappointment and Sting shot him a dirty look.
"She was against living here. Figured I'd do it before things got complicated." He waved off Rouge, already annoyed. "How long till she wakes up?"
"Could be an hour or a couple of days." Rouge spotted the Celestial mage's keys on the bed side next to her.
He picked up Leo the Lion's key and held it up to the light. It shined gold in the red and Orange light. Missing from Earthland for 7 years without a trace and now the rest of the Zodiac keys were here right in front of him.
"Did you get rid of the other fairies?" Sting asked uninterested
Rouge carefully put the key back in its proper place and inspected the rest of the keys in the Celestial mages possession.
"While I did kick them out, I have no doubt they're still snooping around the area like a bunch of stray dogs."
Rouge noted that the keys were in excellent condition. Did she polish them everyday perhaps? If that's the case it might have been better for Sting to hypnotize her. It doesn't look as though she'd give these keys away willingly.
"What about that smell you recognized?" Sting stretched and stood up from his sulking.
"Exceeds, two of them." Rouge stared at the keys, arms crossed.
"What?" Sting's voice sounded startled. Rouge could hear his heart speed up with hope.
"It's not who you think. Fairtail Exceeds. A blue male cat and a white female cat." Rouge sighed. He didn't like the idea of scaring the poor cats but he needed to capture them to ensure they didn't ruin anything.
"The blue one's name is Happy, he knows about our secret. He was the one I smelled near your room."
In truth Rouge was surprised to find them walking inside the guildhall of their own free will. Maybe they weren't too bright.
"So what are you going to do with them?" Sting stood by Rouges side as he thought.
"I spoke to them for a few minutes and it sounds like the other Fairies don't know anything. Maybe Happy was too scared to say anything… either way now that they're missing "Team Natsu" will be looking for them. Not to mention they're already on edge with Miss Heartfilia staying here." Rouge scowled.
"This is moving a lot faster than originally planned…we should move quickly. Contact Yukino and have her meet us here. When Lucy wakes up we'll be ready to proceed with breaking the contracts first."
——-
"We can't fight Sabertooth head on." Erza hissed at a riled up Natsu. "We're on thin ice as it is with the Magic Council."
Team Natsu was huddled behind some bushes near the back entrance of the guild. The sun had finally set and the night sky seemed to be in their favor. Natsu growled annoyed, bouncing his leg with impatience.
"You think Happy heard right? Maybe this is just some big misunderstanding." Grey suggested to Wendy who looked troubled.
"I'm positive…." Wendy's confidence wavered.
"These are some serious allegations, Wendy. And we will take them as such." Erza crossed her arms and closed her eyes trying to think. "Ill admit I havent trusted those two dragon slayers for a while now. But seeing how Sting treats Lucy… I have no doubt he cares for her so I don't believe she's in any danger." The red haired mage frowned.
Natsu rolled his eyes and looked away muttering under his breath.
"But if Happy's right, why would they go this far? And why Lucy?" Grey challenged. Ezra was a skilled fighter but he had no doubt in his mind her people skills could use some work. Those twin dragons or whatever gave off a weird feeling, one that Grey was wary of the moment he saw them. What bothered him most was all the "maybes" and "what ifs" they were throwing around. Nothing was concrete right now and they were jumping into assumptions blind.
"All I know is that Sting lied, trashed Mongolia and now three of our Friends are missing." Natsu gritted his teeth, dark eyes flashing with anger. "I'm gonna give him a beating he won't forget." He crackled his knuckles, heat seeping from him.
Wendy winced at his eagerness.
"Lucy's not missing Natsu- she's most likely with Sting."
"That's even worse!" Natsu snapped.
"We should split up into teams of two. A dragon slayer per group so we can sniff Happy and Carla out. And while we're in there we'll look around for some incriminating evidence." Erza opened her eyes and a gleam of firencess shone in them.
"Natsu you're with me, Wendy and Grey you'll go together. Try not to get caught and if you do don't engage in a battle. Meet back here in an hour."
—————
Lucy remembered her time in the Fairtail guild.The day she got her fairytail tattoo marked the first of many lonely days to come. It seemed she just never clicked with her dream guild.
While everyone was more or less friendly in the guild, it felt like there was a wall separating herself from them. And no matter how hard she tried she couldn't climb over it. In the end Lucy would crawl back to her apartment alone having failed to connect with anyone other than a superficial "hello!". Almost everyone in the guild had known each other for years. There was history, and moments she'd never experience with them.
It seemed Fairy Tail didn't care about her.
This became true when Fairtail turned their back on her when her father sent a dark guild after her.
Lucy swore she'd never return to the guild after their betrayal. But Leo insisted she at least have some sort of job. No one would look at her when she was taken away kicking and screaming. And no one seemed even the lest but sorry when she returned.
Lucy felt as invisible at Fairy Tail as she did in the Heartfilia mansion. That was until she met…
Lucy slowly opened her eyes. They felt heavy for some reason. She saw a dark room, and could see a night sky from the bedroom window. What an odd dream…. It felt wrong somehow. Like something was missing. Immediately she sat up.
"STING!" She shouted alarmed.
What?!" Sting sat up immediately from the chair he was sleeping in alert.
Lucy froze at the sight of him. Her chest felt pain as it throbbed excitedly. That's right, the love of her life! Sting was the only person in the world she could rely on. He was her best friend, they did everything together.
Lucy's head was pounding something awful and she nearly stumbled as she stepped out of bed Her pulse quickened as she made a quick dash forward confusing the light dragon slayer.
"STING!" She wrapped her arms around Sting's neck as she toppled the chair over with them.
"ACK! Hold on a minute!" Sting felt his breath get knocked out of him as Lucy happily snuggled against his neck.
"I didn't see you for a second there so it startled me!" Lucy giggled as Sting strained to sit up.
"We'll- I'm here now so. Urgh-get off of me and let me sit up!" Sting snapped.
Lucy immediately let him go and sat back on her heels as he sat up rubbing his strangled throat.
He eyed Lucy suspiciously. Did the spell really work? Lucy sat there smiling at him with a loving gaze. The light of the stars shined behind her, and her hair looked almost as silver as the moon. Sting frowned as she excitedly sat in front of him. Her eyes looked crystal clear, no sign of being hypnotized whatsoever.
"How are you feeling?" He asked cautiously. Her eyes didn't give anything away.
"I'm feeling fine now that you're here!" Lucy grinned blushing. She fiddled with her fingers clearly wanting to hug him again but was holding herself back.
"Do you remember what we talked about before… you took a nap?" Sting narrowed his eyes at her and focused his attention on her body's reactions.
Her heart was beating faster than usual, and her pulse was quicker too. Adrenaline perhaps? She blushed at his critical eye.
"Not really… I remember you showing me around the guild hall and you even carried me to my new room in your arms!" Lucy let out a small squeal of delight at the memory, Sting winced at the high pitch noise. "I'm so excited to start living here Stingy-Wingy!" Lucy hummed happily at the thought of being close to Sting.
"What the hell kind of nickname is that?!" Sting felt unnerved by the blond's sudden transformation. The smile on her face looked genuine but at the same time it looked wrong. Like it wasn't her smiling, almost as though she were a different person entirely. It made him feel queasy…Sting let out a sigh.
He needed to test her.
"Ok say… what do you think of your old guild Fairtail? Do you want to go back there? Maybe meet up with your old guildmates?" Sting asked cautiously. Lucy frowned at him, her bright expression was now replaced with dimmed disgust.
"You know I don't want to go back to that place." Lucy muttered bitterly. "Besides, no one would notice if I dropped out of the guild or not."
She crossed her arms, it looked like she was hugging herself.
Sting blinked surprised. This was new information, it must be the spell talking. It was known for rewriting memories of its victims to get them to behave the way the caster wanted them to.
"I wanna stay here… with you. Because you're my best friend Sting." Lucy looked into Sting's eyes seriously. Sting didn't say anything as he stared at her, a firm frown on his handsome face.
Lucy bit her lip as the silence stretched on between them. She really wanted to reach out and touch Sting but was worried it'd only make him mad.
Sting let out a sigh before he stood up.
"Prove it." His expression was unreadable and cold.
"Huh?" Lucy looked at him confused. He reached out to her and helped her stand up.
"Prove to me you don't want to go back to Fairy Tail." Sting repeated leaning into her face. Lucy's face turned red as he loomed over her.
"I-I will!" Lucy's heart thudded in her chest. She felt worried that he didn't believe her. It was unusual. "What do you want me to do?"
Her eyes looked determined.
"Cancel your contract with all of your magical keys." Sting walked over to the bed stand and picked up Lucy's celestial keys. He held them out to her, eyes even and unwavering. If Lucy denied to, then it'd prove she wasn't under the gem's spell. If she did, well two birds one stone as they say.
Lucy blinked blankly at her keys in Stings hands. Her face still flushed with red, eyes hazy. Sting wondered if the spell was working to rewrite her memories again.
Lucy's eyes cleared as she locked eyes with Sting.
"If you ask me to… I'll do it." Lucy braced herself and took the keys from Sting. His eyes widened as he watched her open her pack.
Was she really going to do it?
Lucy picked a zodiac key at random and held it out into an open space in the room.
"OPEN GATE OF THE RAM- ARIES!"Lucy waved her arm to her right side opening the gate. A chime could be heard as a summoning circle marterlized on the carpeted floor. A bright light shone and in its place stood a nervous Aires.
"Sorry for coming so late Miss Lucy!" Aries trembled looking down at the floor. But Lucy ignored her.
"I am linked to the path to the world of Celestial Spirits, now! O spirit, Aries!" Lucy pointed the golden key towards the Zodiac Avatar who looked startled by her actions. "I hereby null our contract and close the door to your gate!" She waved her arm to her left closing the Zodic gate.
"Miss Lucy, what are you saying?!" Aries's face looked more fearful than usual as the golden light used to summon her shined brightly once again.In a flash Aries was gone.
Lucy didn't blink as she pulled out another golden key.
"OPEN GATE OF THE GIANT CRAB- CANCER!"
"Hello ebi!" Cancer looked tall in the luxourious room "looking for a haircut-"
But Lucy ignored him too.
"I am linked to the path to the world of Celestial Spirits, now! O spirit, Cancer!" Lucy pointed the golden key towards the exotic Zodiac sign. "I hereby null our contract and close the door to your gate!"
"Now hold on a minute ebi!" Cancer took a step back as the light swallowed him whole.
Lucy trembled but she kept her eyes focused ahead. This was for Sting! It's what he wanted so she had to do it! Besides, her spirits hated her anyway. If anything they'll be glad to finally get rid of her. Even though Lucy thought this, she felt her throat strangely tightening up.
Sting watched Lucy carefully as she pulled out another zodiac key. Her eyes didn't waver as she chanted the next summon. He clenched his jaw but said nothing. This had to happen. Lucy was just a means to an end, nothing more.
Still… he felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
"OPEN GATE OF THE ARCHER- SAGITTARIUS!"
The light shone once more but instead of the archer there stood Leo. his black suit cleanly pressed and a sneer etched into his face.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" His voice sounded low, like a lion's growl. Sting stood up straighter. He didn't know what Sagittarius looked like but seeing Lucy's stance falter alerted him something was wrong.
"I-I didn't summon you Leo." Lucy knitted her eyebrows together, trying to keep her voice firm and even.
"I swapped places with Sagittarius after I sensed you broke off contracts with both Aries and Cancer." He took a step forward, squinting at her. His eyes flashed with anger, betrayal, and confusion.
Why did she call him Leo instead of Loke?
"CLOSE GATE OF THE LION." Lucy quickly waved Leo's key to her left side.
Loke glared at her unamused.
"Tough luck sweetheart but I'm here on my own power." Loke locked eyes with Sting before studying Lucy's frustrated face.
"Even now you don't listen to me-" Lucy gripped Leo's key tightly as her body trembled. "Look I know you hate me Leo but I'm still in charge here. And I've decided 'I'm setting you guys free of me."
Loke looked taken aback. Where did that come from?
"So please- let me get this over with. Then you won't have to see me ever again" Her voice was laced with bitterness and hurt. Lucy's eyes looked to be on the brink of frustrated tears.
Loke let out a short laugh, eyebrows knitted in confusion. He walked towards her cautiously.
"Did you finally lose it after hanging around Natsu? What are you talking about "setting us free?" Leo was now standing in front of her and leaned in to study her face. Lucy frowned and took a step back from him.
"Seriously now what's going on?" He was angry yes but more importantly Loke was concerned. Breaking contracts with her spirits? That wasn't like Lucy.
"Nothing's going on- I'm canceling the contracts I've made, that's it. And as you can see I am of perfect sound mind." Lucy held her key out towards Leo once again.
"What's the matter Lucy? Why can't you close his gate?" Sting leaned in and whispered to Lucy who blushed embarrassed.
"I-I'm trying it's just that Leo's…."
"What the hell." A cold grin slipped onto Loke's face. "Lucy. Princess. Don't tell me you're dumping me for this guy? I mean what about Natsu?"
"What's a Natsu?" Lucy scrunched up her nose confused by the unfamiliar word. A name perhaps? Lucy shook her head. "Whatever, that's none of your business! I'm ending my contract with you once and for all."
————
"This way." Natsu lead Erza down brick stairs. "I think we're getting close." He clenched his fists as he forced himself down the steps. It'd be faster to jump down 20 of them at a time.
"Why'd the guild go on high alert all the sudden?!" Did Wendy and Grey get spotted? He didn't expect much from Grey but what the hell man!
"Somethings been bothering me for a while now-" Erza followed Natsu. "I can't help but keep thinking about the Clock Incident not too long ago."
Natsu glanced at her as they turned a corner. He remembered that Lucy nearly got absorbed into a clock thing.
"Lucy has 10 of the Zodiac Keys- Keys so rare that there's only one copy of each of them in the whole world."
"What's the Zodiac keys got to do with anything?!"
Erza punched him in the back of the head as they slowed to a stop into a large empty room. Natsu cried out in Pain.
"Pay attention!" Erza huffed.
Natsu scowled but was quickly distracted by the large empty room.
"Argh! The scent- it disappeared after this point." Natsu kneeled down to the stone floor. It was like the scent went straight through the floor.
"A secret passage maybe?" Erza studied the stone floor. It looked too sturdy to look like it had an opening
Natsu took a deep inhale. His eyes opened quickly, flashing green in the dimly lit room. "I smell… Lucy? Wait no-"
"What-how'd you get down here?!" A voice bounced off the stone walls in surprise. Natsu and Erza spun around to the person behind them.
It was a mage with short white hair and a blue rose on her head. She wore a long white cape. The stranger pursed her lips, clearly on edge.
"No matter- I'll deal with you before I leave." The woman swiftly took out a golden key.
"OPEN GATE OF THE SCORPION- SCORPIO!" She waved her arm out to the right and a chime could be heard. A magic circle formed on the floor in front of them and a light shone, revealing Scorpio the Zodiac Spirit.
"That's!"
"LUCY'S SPIRIT!"
Scorpio had a scowl on his face. He stood in a fighting stance his stinger aimed right at them.
"What the hell, you two timing jerk- what do you think you're playing at here?!" Natsu yelled at the spirit. "I thought you were contracted to Lucy, not this chick!"
"Lucy? Ah-" The white haired mage grimaced. "You must have been the ally's Rouge mentioned. In that case I can't let you get in the way." She took a fighting stance, eyes determined.
"SCORPIO USE SAND BLAST!"
Scorpio gritted his teeth but obeyed the white haired mage.
"Watch it!" Natsu hissed as he and Erza jumped out of the way. "That punk! I'm gonna beat his face in!"
Erza grabbed Natsu's shoulder before he engaged in battle.
"Natsu- wait if Scorpio isn't with Lucy then something must have happened to Lucy!" Erza equipped into armor.
"Go- I'll handle this mage and get Lucy's key back."
"Alright" Natsu clenched his fists tightly before turning around and punching a hole through the floor. He jumped through the opening.
Erza turned back towards her opponent. She gripped her sword tightly and held it at ready.
"I don't know who you are, but if you've done something to harm Lucy." She narrowed her eyes at the woman. "I will strike you down."