July 10th x777
Shirotsume Town
7:30 PM
Per Lucy's request, Capricorn relocated Sting to a hotel room for the remainder of the quest for Virgo's key. Albeit the dragonslayer was rather difficult to subdue once they arrived at the hotel, the spirit managed fairly well. After all, Sting's wounds limited the amount of resistance he could up against Capricorn's grip. The spirit settled down at the coffee table once Sting was tucked into one of the hotel beds.
"This is bullshit! When I said fight Virgo and that bastard, I DIDN'T MEAN FIGHT THEM ALONE!" Sting screamed as he threw a pillow against the wall. Capricorn so simply sighed before returning the pillow to the bed. The White Dragonslayer shot a sharp glare at the spirit before accepting the item. "Why the hell are you still here? You're just wasting Lucy's magic and taking up space."
"I understand your anger, but there is no reason for you to lash out on those who are around you." The spirit glanced in his direction before returning to the poem in front of him. "I, for one, am here on my own accord. I am maintaining my gate. Until my service is required, I will continue to watch over you."
"Why?! Why aren't you worried?! Virgo wrecked us in the forest, and you're okay with Lucy fighting that monster and Everlue alone?"
"Having faith often means doing what others see as crazy," Capricorn recited to a confused Sting. "Lucy Heartfilia is no longer a damsel in distress, but someone who is growing into an independent woman. Will she stumble and fall? I expect that much, but I know Miss Lucy will always get back on her feet."
Sting scoffed at the spirit. Yeah, Lucy has some new tricks, but her skills weren't good enough just yet."You have a lot of faith in a girl who has yet to win a fight today,"
"And you have no trust in her," The spirit sighed before closing his poetry book. Capricorn slowly made his way over to Sting's bed with a pair of the magic cuff in his hand. In one swift motion, he cuffed Sting's wrist. "However, I believe witnessing Miss Lucy in action will change that. Come now."
"Disobeying your master, huh? Where are we going now?" Sting raised an eyebrow.
"Everlue's mansion."
July 10th x777
Everlue's Mansion
8:00 PM
For an affluent politician, Everlue's mansion had the same formulaic layout as when Lucy first broke in. She figured he would remodel at least once or twice, but this only made her job easier. Did Lucy feel guilt for breaking into an unsuspecting house? Of course, this is illegal, and she could very well be sent to jail if her plan fails. And, the whole plan hinges on Everlue not call her bluff.
'No, I can handle this. I don't need anyone holding my hand!' Lucy thought to herself before entering his study. The bookcases gonna the wall were filled to the brim books and novels found across Fiore. The room had a single desk and chair sitting in the center. Those cherished memories of Lucy's first mission with Natsu and Happy came flooding into Lucy's mind. The satisfying rush went through her when she revealed the truth behind Zekua Melon's final masterpiece DayBreak.
She began to comb through the shelves in hopes of finding the infamous novel. If she remembers correctly, Zeuka was commissioned by the Duke of Everlue to write of a heroic tale about Everlue as the main character. When he rightfully declined the offer, the politician used the Melon's family and their citizenship as leverage against Zekua and forced him to write in prison until the novel was complete. Logically speaking, Lucy figured the novel was finished long before the year x777, so the Duke must have added it to his collection by now. Everlue was unaware of the true meaning for DayBreak, so there's no reason to keep it hidden. By adding it to his public collection, he can grab about having the final commissioned piece by the one and only Kemu Zalson before his untimely death. Among Zeuka's other masterpieces, Lucy found the key to her success untouched by the dust of time. 'That's weird. There's no dust on the book's spine. Does that mean Everlue is regularly reading this piece?'
"It doesn't matter in the end." Lucy signed as she exited the study with the book in her hand.
"And what exactly do you think you're doing? Sneaking around and trespassing and what this- burglary?!" The Duke of Everlue smirked as he leaned against the door frame. Everlue was still the same short, plump man with skinny arms and legs Lucy met years ago. He wore a formal black suit, with his jacket fastened with a large gold button and adorned with a decorative red flower attached to the upper right pocket. Beneath his jacket is a white collared shirt, a blue necktie, and dark blue boots. The only noticeable difference was the amount of hair he had. Everlue's hair naturally came down a little bit passed his ears. "Ugly girls must have it hard these days if you're resorting to breaking into my house of all places."
"Ah the Duke, the man I wanted to see. I have an offer for you." She smiled and resisted the urge to smack Everlue with her backhand.
"Let me get this straight. You break into my home, sneak pass my head maid, and raid my study for my commissioned book, and you expect me to listen to anything that comes out of your dirty mouth?" The plump man rolled his eyes.
"Because I know the real truth behind the novel DayBreak!"
"What are you going on about? Zeuka and I had a fair and legally binding agreement when I asked him to write this novel." Everlue exclaimed. "Besides, I read that book a thousand times over. It's not his best work, in my humble opinion, but Daybreak is his final work of literature. So, there's some value to it."
Lucy smirked as she tapped the edge of the book on her chin. "Really? I don't Zeuka would say it was fair when you threatened to have his entire family's citizenship revoked!"
"Wh-What? There's no proof of that ever happening!"
"It's all right here in black and white," She showed off the cover of the book once again. "There's also proof of you throwing him in an underground cell to write in solitude as punishment when he first rejected your offer. For three years, you had him separated from his family while writing this novel! Now-"
"That may very well be the case. However, you won't live to tell the tale!" Everlue spun Virgo's key in the tip of his ring finger before grabbing it. "Open! Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!"
In a flash of light, the gorilla maiden appeared at Everlue's side. She had a light blush sketched across her face. "What does my master need from me?"
"Virgo! Get rid of this nuisance! Quick!" He snapped. "And whatever you do, don't damage that book!"
"As you wish, Master Everlue." Virgo's eyes flash blood red as I gripped the book tightly against my chest.
"You're not the only one who can call for help!" I whipped out two keys. "Open! Gate of the Crab! Cancer! And Star Dress: Aquarius Form!"
"What kind of hairstyle do you want, Ebi?" Cancer snipped the air twice as Lucy transformed into her adaptation of Aquarius.
"Please read the situation, Cancer," She let out a disappointed sigh before making the first move. "Take out the plump man! I'll handle Virgo!"
"A Celestial Wizard, huh? I think I'll add your keys to my collection!" Everlue proclaimed as he used his Diver magic to dodge Cancer's strike. "Go, Virgo!"
The Maiden spirit nodded once before speeding toward Lucy. Virgo threw a left hook at her, to which forced Lucy to jump down the stairs to avoid. The black-haired girl gritted her teeth as she narrowly dodges another one of Virgo's onslaughts. The dents in the walls struck fear into Lucy's heart. One wrong move or an accidental trip could be Lucy's downfall. From the corner of her eyes, Lucy could see Everlue narrowly dodging Cancer's scissors with his Diver magic. Cancer was relentless with quick and nimble maneuvers.
Lucy snapped her Fleuve d'étoiles whip against the ground, causing a rippling effect to the foundation of the mansion. Virgo buckled at the sudden loss of balance and stumbled down to her knees. The spirit shot a dirty glare at Lucy before digging a tunnel underground. Virgo circled the girl, creating a trench in the process. With nowhere to run, the Celestial Wizard used her whip to reach the chandelier hanging above her. However, her Fleuve d'étoiles liquidized the chain holding the decoration together.
Lucy managed to avoid most of the shattering glass, but when Virgo erupted from the ground, the glass was scattered across the lobby. The jet black-haired girl commanded the earth to circle her opponent. Lucy flinched, hesitating for a moment as the memories flooded her mind once again. The fond memories of battling alongside Virgo and the silly banter forced her to consider what she is about to do. 'No, this isn't Virgo you know. This is Everlue's Virgo. If you win this fight, you can form even more good memories with Virgo. All it takes is two attacks.' Hardening her resolve, Lucy encased Virgo in a makeshift tomb once the ground solidified. "I'm sorry, Virgo, but this is for the best! Cancer, lead Everlue over to me!"
Encasing herself in a water barrier, Lucy sank down on her knees. She concentrated her magic into one point while keeping her eyes closed. Taking a sharp breath and extending her arms outward, Lucy began to recite an ancient spell.
Survey the Heavens, Open the Heavens...
All the stars, far and wide...
Show me thy appearance...
With such shine.
Oh, Tetrabiblos...
I am the ruler of the stars...
Aspect becomes complete...
Open thy malevolent gate.
Oh, 88 Star of best the heaven...
Shine!
Second Origin Release! Urano Metria!
Magic danced around the Celestial Wizard as the 88 constellations beckoned to her side. Spheres of different sizes appeared as they surrounded Lucy. The room was lit with light pastel colors. Upon reciting the final lines, the power of stars barraged Virgo as the spirit screamed out in agonizing pain. Cancer caught Everlue off-guard and threw him into the direction of Lucy's attack. The attack left Virgo incapacitated and retreating to the Celestial World while Everlue barely mustered the strength to sit upward.
Cancer smiled softly as he silently praised Lucy for a job well done. The crab knew Lucy was a kind and gentle soul who would hesitate when faced with the choice to harm a spirit. When she first summoned him, Cancer expected her to command him to fight his fellow spirit, but Everlue was a nice change of pace. Plus, the crab desperately wanted to snip that comb-over off and expose Everlue's balding spot, but you can't get everything you want. Noticing his presence was no longer needed, Cancer forced his gate close and left Lucy to deal with the aftermath.
"Now, as I was saying," Lucy huffed as she threateningly held her whip. "Hand over Virgo's key. If you do, I won't tell anyone about the content of this novel or your illegal transactions with the black market and dark guilds. How does that sound?"
"Ho-How do you know so much, who tipped you off? Harakuma? Enoshima? Juno?" Everlue stammered out as he held out the Maiden's key.
"A girl gotta have her secret," Lucy winked as she took the golden key. As promised, Lucy placed Daybreak on the floor. "It's a pleasure doing business with you, Everlue."
July 10th x777
8:30 PM
Everlue's Mansion
"Wh- How the fuck did she do that?! She beat both of them at once?!" Sting exclaimed loudly. Capricorn quietly smirked as they watch the battle finish. The Goat spirit managed to sneak the two of them onto the balcony of the mansion where they had a fairly decent view of the lobby and the brawl. Aside from the incident with the chandelier, Capricorn was impressed with how Lucy handled herself in her first fight alone. "Did this seriously just happen? Say something, dammit!"
"What is there to say? Miss Lucy is capable of handling herself in a fight when left alone. She is no longer a damsel in distress." The golden spirit stated as they witness the Celestial Wizard exit the house. "With the proper training, I presume, she will become an excellent sparring partner for you. But first, isn't there something you must say to Miss Lucy."
"Er...right. Can you help me down?" He waved his cuffed wrists. "I sorta don't want to fall with my hand with this."
"Of course," Capricorn tossed the dragonslayer over his shoulder before jumping down two stories. The Goat landed a yard from his master and startling her in the process.
"Capricorn! Sting!" Lucy screamed and threw up her arms in a defensive manner due to their unexpected appearance. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in the town!"
"I understand. That was a direct order from you, however, I believed Sting deserved a chance to witness you handle yourself in a fair fight." Capricorn placed her hand over his heart. "Aside from the incident with the chandelier, I can say with complete honesty you were quite impressive. It was the right choice to give you access to our Star Dress."
"Er...Cap's right." Sting said while fidgetting with the cuffs on his wrist. "That was kinda awesome. I mean you blasted the hell out of that dude and Virgo."
The dragonslayer's eyes lit up with excitement as he bounced in place. "Oh yeah! What was that move you used? It was like the one from the Grand Magic Games, but it worked! When did you manage to get it to work!"
"Um, you mean Urano Metria? ...I mastered it a while before the game." Lucy scratched the back of her head as she dismissed her Star Dress. "It's just that someone from Raven Tail erased my magic right before I could complete the spell. Um...It's nice that you two came to support me, but why is Sting handcuffed?"
"I placed those on him because I did not want him interfering with this battle in particular. They're magic nullifying handcuff." Capricorn confessed before removing the restrains from Sting. "For now, I would highly suggest settling for the night. Today has been an adventurous day and a successful one at best. However, it has been very taxing for Lucy since you opened three gates and maintained the Star Dress form twice today."
"Yeah, Cap has a point. That's a lot of magic usage in one day...Or at least, I think. I never really understood the whole sensing magic thing." Sting shrugged as he rubbed his wrists. "Come on, let's head back to the hotel. I'll show you the way back."
"You're right...Yeah, let's get some rest." Lucy smiled as she held Virgo's key close to her chest. She carried the Maiden close to her for the entire walk to the hotel.
A/N: I have one problem with the whole Fairy tail timeline. So, Lucy was born in the year x767 and the official timeline on the Fairy Tail Wiki says that the same year Zoldo (the man who controlled Capricorn's body and became a part of a major dark guild) became one with Capricorn. Which makes no sense for two reasons. One, Layla used Capricorn's key in the year x777 to open the gate, and she was forced to substitute Aquaruis with her life force. Two, in Aquaruis flashback during the final arc, we see Zoldeo stabbing Grammi right after Layla's death which happens in the year x777. So, Zoldeo can't perform the taboo spell in the year x767 because we saw what happens when he separates from his host. Logically, it would have to land at the very least the year x778. Then again, it's either a typo or I'm overlooking something again lol.
Keys Obtained: Cancer, Aquarius, Capricorn, Crux, and Virgo
Keys Needed: Leo, Aries, Taurus, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Gemini, Libra, and Pisces
