Summary: "Bingo! One Point for the Celestial Princess!" Ace smirked, taking joy in the horror and shock on her face, "You're a special kind Miss Heartfillia. Why else would the keys choose you? Why have you seen the King? My keys are crying out for you too… But you can't have them! They're mine!"

Authors note: Geez, this took a while. I'm sorry. But we're officially at about the halfway mark of the story! I didn't like the newest sibling as much as I thought I would, I think because he's a bridge to the next major part of the story where everything picks up. Something big gets unveiled too!

Also, the meaning behind this chapter's title is: Time, Devourer of all Things

Disclaimer: I in no way own Fairy Tail! I do however own my own characters.

Arc: Sloth

Chapter 16: Tempus Edux Rerum

She wasn't sure she could take anymore shocks, after a week of suffocation, attacks and stress, but as she stared at the black keys in her hand, a finger absently trailing over the blue veins scattered along the shafts, her mind went into overdrive. A dark power radiated from them, near silent whispers calling and begging, asking her to summon forth the spirits attached to the keys. And her curiosity was nearly great enough that she almost gave in to the urge.

"Loke… why are you giving these to me?" Lucy whispered, refusing to take her eyes from her new spirits.

"Well… they're banned from our realm by the King. It's a very long story, one that Crux would be better at explaining to you than I would. But you've earned them." Loke shuffled no his feet, eyes straying to the dark keys in his master's hand.

"Earned them how?" Lucy wanted to put the keys down, to allow the darkness to leave her, but something told her that wasn't the right thing to do.

"You beat the Infernos siblings that held them. So, you've got claim to them." Loke turned his back to her, "But please, do not call them unless you absolutely have to."

"Loke. You aren't making any sense. Why did you even give them to her if they're dangerous!" Laxus growled low in his throat, reaching for the dark keys in his worry only to be zapped by dark lightning. Lucy jumped on her seat, feeling the metal warm in her palm while the blonde dragon slayer leap away, holding his hand aloft, the skin an angry red.

"The keys are protective, and they recognise Lucy as their Master. But…" Loke sighed, "I think it's something you should ask Crux. He has the whole story and I need to speak with the King. I'll see you soon."

And just like that, Loke vanished in a cloud of smoke, his displeasure at having given Lucy the keys still heavy in the air.

"Well… That was unexpected…" Lucy stood from her seat, trying to find an empty space in Laxus' apartment to call on her most knowledgeable spirit, "Gate of the Southern Cross, I open thee! Crux!"

Another cloud, this time of silver, appeared before her and the ever-tired Crux spoke, "Hello Miss Lucy. How can I help you today?"

Taking her seat again, Lucy held out her hand, showing the four dark keys in her possession, "Leo said you could tell me the story behind these keys… But he seemed really worried. Can you help us out?"

Crux stared at the keys in his Masters hand, eyes hard, "Of course I can Miss Lucy. However, it is not a happy tale. One I wish to never speak of again."

Laxus had to bite his tongue when he saw Lucy flinch, anger bubbling just under the surface. To have her trusted spirits burden her with something he considered dangerous was unsettling.

"Long ago, when we spirit were first… created… eons before anyone was able to harness our powers, we lived in harmony. We were able to traverse between the spirit realm and Earthland freely, interacting with humans. Those powerful enough were worshipped and those were the Zodiac spirits. But there were those that were jealous of the honour the twelve… or at the time, the thirteen, received. You see, these jealous spirits were of equal power to the zodiac spirits. We labelled them The Black Zodiac." Crux paused, his eyes drooping as he spoke, "A vicious war broke out between the Black Zodiac spirits and the Golden Zodiac spirits and their followers. There were many loses, and only through the work of various high priests and priestesses along side the spirits you hold with you today, did we win."

Lucy had to suppress a shudder as she listened, the keys in her hand going cold. Laxus wrapped an arm around her shoulder, his own worries rising.

"I will need to look into the history some more, as it was lost during the creation of the barrier between our realm and yours. What I can say is that I beg you not to use the keys unless you absolutely must. They are vile keys that use their wielders for their own gain. Nothing good will come of using them." Crux spoke no more, worry making the wrinkles on his face deepen.

"Of course. I understand Crux. Thank you so much." And with that, Lucy sent him home, staring once more at the dark keys, "It's weird though. None of them were Celestial Mages… I wonder why they had keys…"

Laxus left her to ponder over the newest mystery regarding the Infernos siblings and pulled his communication lacrima from his pocket, stepping into his room for some privacy. He allowed a small spark of his magic to jump to the comm and waited for someone to answer. It wasn't long before the person he wanted appeared.

"Laxus? What's the matter? You never call." Master Bob looked flustered, his cheeks red and sweat beaded on his brow. But the blonde man could only raise a brow in response.

"I feel like I should be asking you if you're ok?" An odd sound echoed through the comm, "Is everything fine at the Guild?"

"Of course everything is just fine! Why would you thi-"Master Bob froze and Laxus waited, a cold chill racing down his spine when he realised the older man wasn't even blinking.

"Master Bob? Hey!" He didn't realise how loud he'd been until Lucy ran into the room, her face pale.

"Laxus. What happened?" Though she saw the reason for his distress when she caught sight of Master Bob in the lacrima, "Oh no. Not again."

"We need to go. Now!" Laxus raced from the room, scooping the blonde woman into his arms moments before his magic took hold, transporting them to the guild in seconds. Lucy thanked him as he lowered her to the ground, allowing her a moment to grab her key ring and place her newest spirits on it before facing the door, noticing the way it sat ajar. No noise could be heard coming from inside, an eerie silence replacing it that chilled them both to the bone.

"You ready Laxus? Your guild mates are in there." Lucy glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, noticing the way he flinched at her words but he covered it with a glare, as though he could see through the solid wood barring the way.

"Yeah. Let's go." With a great stride Laxus placed his hands on the doors and threw them open, the crack of wood on stone echoing loudly through the guild hall. Everyone sat where they had been when they were frozen, but Laxus let himself relax slightly when he noticed that their chests were moving ever so slightly.

"My my. The prodigal son appears. Whatever shall I do?" The voice sounded from above them and the pair looked up in time to dodge, narrowly avoiding the dark haired man that had leapt at them. Lucy had a key in her hand the moment she corrected herself and lightning danced around Laxus, both of them ready for anything, "Dear-y me. How do you all have so much energy? It's so exhausting."

Their attacker patted out his jacket, the white and black material shifting in the light. The way he lazily looked over them, as though he were bored, bothered Laxus a great deal and his resounding growl proving his unease, his lightning sparkling brighter in response.

"Who are you?" Lucy was firm, two gold keys held in her hand as she waited. Laxus slowly skirted their attacker, never taking his eyes off the man, even as he placed himself in front of the blonde woman.

"You know, from everything I've heard about you, you're dumber than I thought you'd be." Laxus growled, rage boiling to the surface as he felt Lucy freeze behind him, her very breath vanishing from his back, "I am Acedia Infernos. The fourth Infernos sibling. In saying that, I'd like my younger siblings back."

Her eyebrows shot together, lips pulled in a frown as she felt a pulse from the keyring on her hip, "Your siblings? Your siblings are gone Acedia."

He only barked a laugh at her, his eyes narrowing, "You're so dense. I'm sure the golden spirits told you about the black zodiac. We are the children of sin! I mean, I would have thought it easy once they told you. I mean really? Who has a name like mine anymore? Or my siblings. Luxuria? Vana, really?" Ace laughed, back arching with the force of the sound, "Vanagloria! Who would honestly name their child that anymore?"

The blonde man stood rigid, glued to his spot as he tried to process what was going on. The only think he could be sure of was that a something bad was about to happen, and with the rest of the guild frozen around them he wasn't happy with their odds of getting out of the confrontation unscathed.

But while he waited, Lucy gasped, her head bumping into Laxus' back, recalling what Crux had said to her, 'They are vile keys that use their wielders for their own gain.' She couldn't move, a sharp clarity striking her.

"Ancient Fiorian... It makes sense now. Luxuria, whose power only worked on men. Lust personified through the Serpent, through Cancer... Vanagloria, Envy, Vessel of the Basilisk and the Leviathan. Ira, Wrath. The Maelstrom. The forbidden keys allowed them to become living embodiment of Sin." Everything clicked into place in her mind, every little clue and sign that she had missed. The keys pulsed once more against her hip, the darkness stinging and burning.

"Ding, ding, ding! One Point for the Celestial Princess!" Ace smirked, taking joy in the horror and shock on their faces, "You're a special kind Miss Heartfillia. Why else did the keys choose you? Why have you been one of the select few to see the Spirit King? My keys are crying out for you..." Ace disappeared suddenly from his and Lucy screamed when a hand suddenly twisted in her hair. She was yanked away from Laxus so quickly that her world spun and before she knew it, she was dangling over the edge of the upper balcony, warm breath tickling her neck, "But you can't have them. They're mine!" Lucy cried as he shook her, a small trail of blood dripping from her scalp as she tried to pry his hand out of her hair.

"Lucy! Damn it!" Laxus struggled, his magic crackling under his skin, "Let her go!" Time magic clamped around him, holding him to his spot.

Ace just sneered at him, eyes shining with mischief, "Let her go? He leant over, looking between Lucy and the ground beneath them, "Let's see... Do I let you go Miss Heartifllia? I think I will."

And just like that, he let her go. Lucy screamed as she felt his fingers slip through her hair, and Laxus could only curse, his stomach churning as he couldn't even look away. Images flickered through his head, of Lucy on the ground, red splattered everywhere and her body broken beyond repair. But it was then that she stopped mid-air, the breath literally frozen in her lung, hand closed on her keys.

"I can show you every possible way this situation can end, " Ace sat down on one of the tables, reclining as he stared Laxus in the eyes, "I could make you watch her die, over and over again. Tick, tock, goes the clock, Dragon boy."

Time suddenly moved again and Laxus couldn't do anything but dive forward as the spell released them.

"Wool bomb!" Bright pink wool cocooned him, muffling Lucy's screams.

"Regulus Impact!"

Ace's scream was barely heard as the Dragon Slayer battled against the wool, about the fry the material when Aries popped up in front of him, manipulating her magic to create an opening for him.

"I-I'm sorry Mister Laxus. M-Miss Lucy is just here." Aries quickly moved out of the way as the remaining barrier between the pair was removed and he dove the second he saw her prone figure on the ground. He pulled her into his lap, fingers hovering just over her face, the sight of her blood making him see red.

He growled, standing amongst the pink wool. He gently settled Lucy against Aries, the spirit cradling her master while Loke did his best to keep Ace busy, but time was literally not on their side and his magic was barely held back in his rage.

"You piece of shit!" Laxus took to the air, lighting crackling around him, "Lightning Dragons Roar!"

"Do you real-" Ace was cut short as the attack struck, tearing through the man and through the back of the guild. Only once he was satisfied that he wouldn't stand again, did Laxus draw back his power, leaving him panting. His rage had fuelled him, a burn so strong her felt the slight burns around his mouth from the force of his attack. And just like that, time shifted, as though everyone rest themselves.

"Laxus!"

"Are you alright Laxus?"

"Man! What happened?"

The lighting slayer only growled, sending a glare over his shoulder to his team before he prowled back to the injured Celestial Mage. He gently lifted her into his arms, cradling her against him.

"Laxus..." The whisper drew his attention and he looked up towards Loke, with a cowering Aries standing behind him. Wordlessly, Loke placed two black keys in Lucy's lap, making sure they were secure before he moved away, eyes full of concern.

"Thank you." Despite how gruff his voice was, they knew he was sincere, "If it wasn't for the both of you..."

He left the sentence there, the images still too fresh in his mind but Loke just nodded grimly, "I know that we said she shouldn't use the keys. But there's too much we don't know… I think the Serpent should be able to help her. She'll know which key it is."

Laxus just nodded, staring at the blonde resting in his arms, her brows creased in pain. Despite her being alive and well, there was still too much blood on her, as though she had truly lived and died minutes before. Just thinking about it made his magic hum, only this time there was no one to direct his rage at.

The First Sin

So I know this took ages, and I'm sorry if it seemed rushed or confusing but the next chapter lays it all out for you. I'll explain it all I promise! Now, the Black Zodiac is a thing in reality, so I can't take credit for it. But how they are used is my twist and I'm proud of it! Anyway, the Black Zodiac is a twin, a parallel if you will to Western Zodiacs. As you can image, it's quite twisted, as Babylonians were in their thinking and it worked perfectly. So everything for this story is falling into place.

A major thank you to the following people for reviewing the last chapter and I hope you enjoyed this one!

Desna
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