Summary: Warmth blossomed over Lucy's hand and a faint echo of metal bouncing across marble reached her ears. She didn't feel the panic she expected when she saw the blade disappear into Ava's stomach, but she knew the guilt wouldn't come either.

Authors note: Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to part two of the newest arc! This is a lead up to the next chapter where the real action happens and Lucy really takes up the mantle everyone has put her on! Keep reading, because the plots about to get thicker, questions will get their answers and things will finally start coming together!

Disclaimer: I in no way own Fairy Tail! I do however own my own characters. Or the origin of the Black Zodiac though the names and descriptions used in this story are of my creation and interpretation.

Arc: Greed

Chapter 18: Macabre Invitation Part 1

Laxus paced the floor, eyes never straying from the ginger haired spirit that sat at his master's side. It had been a number of days since Lucy had summoned Propheta, the Black Zodiac of Cancer and she was still recovering her magic from the incident, as well as tending to her arm the whole while. He had refused to show up of his own free will so the pair had waited until she had regained enough of her magic to handled opening his gate.

"You'd better start talking Loke." The growl was deeper than Lucy had ever heard it, and the blonde Dragon Slayer only moved closer to her bed when the Spirit hesitated, "It isn't up for debate Leo. We need answers, you can give them to us."

Lucy remained silent, her eyes downcast, fingers tightening in her blanket. Since her encounter with Propheta, she had been quiet, smiling only a handful of times and sleeping whenever she wasn't needed. She didn't have the strength to fight anyone, let alone her most loyal spirit.

"I don't know what you want me to say Laxus. I really don't." Loke brushed a hand through his hair, glancing between both blonde before sighing, "I know the Black Zodiac… Propheta, said Cancer was the one that took her arm… but I can't validate the fact, or disprove it either. I…" His brows furrowed, "I really don't remember."

Rather than responding with rage, Laxus just cast the spirit an incredulous look before taking a seat beside Lucy on the bed, his arm going around her shoulders in a show of comfort, "You were the one that told us about them. You were the one that had Cruz tell us about the war. So-"

"I don't know!" Loke stood, his hands fisted at his side, "The story Cruz told you is there because he recorded it. He wasn't allowed to tell us anything and all the Zodiac spirits, the Golden Zodiac spirits only remember snippets of it. But we know… we thought we knew what happened…"

"So you accused them without cause Loke?" Lucy spoke, her voice grave and quiet, a deadly whisper emphasised only by her withering glare, "You said they wanted a price? And yet Propheta did everything she could to hold back. She was just a little girl that was tortured! For what?" Her words were punctuated with a savage cough, her injured arm curling up to her chest.

"Princess…" Loke knelt at her bedside, his earlier frustration lost as he gazed up at her pained expression, "We need to see the King. He can fix this." He jumped upright, his magic already gathering around him.

"What-" Laxus didn't get a chance to continue as the Spirit disappeared, only to be replaced by Virgo.

"I am here to give you clothing to ease your visit to the Spirit World Princess, Master Laxus." Virgo unfurled the bundle in her arms, the flowing white and yellow fabric fluttering silently to the ground, "If you could please dress in these Master Laxus, I will assist the Princess."

It was only with a grunt and one final look at Lucy that the blonde man left the room, clothes in hand. But the Spirit was hesitant to approach her Master, her hands even shaking ever so slightly.

"Virgo… are you alright?" Lucy shifted to the edge of the bed, cradling her arm to her so it didn't tangle in the sheets. Her mouth pulled in a grimace as she stood, her legs unfamiliar with the movement, waiting for Virgo to help her dress out of her nightgown.

"I… Princess…" The only sign of her distress was the single tear that slipped down her cheek and Lucy felt her heart tug, unable to do anything as Virgo started dressing her. White slipped over her like water, the halter tied with a yellow ribbon and buttoned down the back with equally bright stars holding the fabric closed from neck to waist. It billowed around her, fading from white to a deep burnished yellow. A colour pattern she recognised the compliment Laxus. Her hair was braided, tied off with a glittering band of stars. Despite the loose fit of the clothing it still complimented her figure whenever she moved, hugging her curves like an intimate embrace.

"Wow…" No longer was there an angry huff in his voice and Lucy spun, a faint blush colouring her sickly skin, "Lucy… You look amazing." He stepped towards her, hand lifted reverently to brush a stray lock of hair out of her eyes.

"You're one to talk. The colour suits you." Out of his standard dark dress shirt and trousers, he had dressed in a white suit jacket, buttoned with yellow stars in place of buttons, like her dress, and yellow pants, each article of clothing accentuating his muscular physic. A playful light glittered in his eyes and he placed a protective arm around her waist before turning to Virgo, waiting for the Spirit to guide them through the gate.

"Very well then." Virgo bowed before taking their hands, pulling them quickly into the Spirit Realm with her and they blinked through the light, the faint sound of bells reaching the blonde pair before they regained their sight.

"Well… no wonder you guys liked it here. Sure beats a lot of places to go sight seeing around Fiore, that's for sure." Laxus let out an appreciative whistle, eyes taking in the stars surrounding them on their platform of cloud.

"This way please." Lucy followed the familiar path, hearing the rushing water before they saw it. The great platform was occupied by spirits familiar and some new, and it was with growing distress that Lucy noticed Propheta in the centre, on her knees and head bowed.

"Propheta!" She tore away from Laxus, bare feet slamming against the ground before she skidded to a stop by her newest spirit, both arms, despite the pain, wrapping around the young spirit, "What is she doing here?"

The Spirit King watched while the other Spirits whispered, a mix of disgust, awe and shock, all of which were ignored by the Celestial mage kneeling by her newest spirit.

"Old Friend, Lucy… I have invited you and yours to this realm to discuss something that no mortal ears have heard in many millennia." The Spirit King seemed to sink, coming level with where Lucy knelt, his face filling her vision, "There are many sins that must be atoned, by all parties, and it is you, Old Friend, that will bride the great breech between spirits."

Lucy blinked up at the King, taking in the grim frown on his usually cheery face and she glanced at Propheta, "So what is she doing here? I though she was banned? That you had banned her entry to this realm."

The Spirit King sighed, leaning away from the blonde woman as though she could rip his head off with thought alone, "We are atoning for our sins. It will not be instantaneous, and we must first learn that they can be trusted. But we saw your actions when dealing with the Black Zodiac of Cancer, we saw your compassion as all encompassing, and you refused to cast judgement… Even when she nearly cut off your arm. You stuck by her and she strained against her calling to ensure you were kept whole. She has acted as a true spirit of the realm and as such, we have allowed her sanctuary, bestowing her with a house of her own, a mirror to the Golden Zodiac of Cancer."

"Your making them two sides of the same coin?" Lucy glanced at Laxus, but noticed that he wasn't looking at the King, but rather a temple in the distance, one that had a dark extension unlike those surrounding it.

"She is officially recognised as the missing half of Cancer, as such, with Cancer's permission, we have allowed that to reflect in this realm. Propheta will be cared for, and with time, her arm will regenerate, with Cancer's help." Leo stepped forward, his glasses missing and his suit wrinkled, as though he'd gotten into a scuffle prior to their arrival.

"It is up to you Lucy, to help the other Black Zodiac's prove their worth of this realm…" Capricorn stepped up to Leo's side, his eyes widening when she shot him a glare so fierce that it was almost like a physical blow.

"Why do they need to prove anything? You're all cut from the same cloth. So what happened?" Her words cut deep, drawing a sigh from the King and the world around them shifted.

The stars disappeared, replaced with a sky the colour of blood. Phantom images raced passed the two blondes, Propheta no longer with them, could only stare in horrified silence at the destruction around them. Buildings burned, people were slaughtered as two sides of battle collided. Those in white and black merged like a wave, crashing and breaking, scattering people from partners and reinforcements.

"This, Old Friend is out story. We invite you to gaze upon our history and learn the truth. The truth about the Zodiac war…"

xXx The First Sin xXx

Wanted this out sooner but work kind of got in the way, plus the holidays. So… Happy New Year everyone (Is it too late to say that now? Oh well.) Like I said, the story is going to evolve from here, picking up a faster pace, but I wanted to cover some background for the Zodiacs, and if you want, I can do a little side story once this fic is finished (also a synopsis of each Black Zodiac for the story), so let me know in the reviews what you'd like. Next chapter takes us into the thick of the war and what happened to make the Spirits turn on each other!

Big shout out to the following people for reviewing last chapter and for all your understanding of the time it takes between updates:

Sea Dragonslayer
Desna

Clover cat Klee

Guest
Mistress Katana

Helenezahl
LovelyLovelyLove
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