A/N: How are you doing guys! Trying to get faster at the updates! I might be moving soon so please be patient with me; life is kind of in an unstable place for me right now. Let me know what you think, I like this chapter so much more than the last one, I apologize for that….
Chapter 15
Lucy did NOT like the pirate's cove. The other guilds there seemed annoying and boastful. Saber tooth was full of men that reminded her of the illegal activities going on in Magnolia. Blue Pegasus had man-child creepers trying to prey on the young ladies. The whole situation mixed in with Fairy Tail and the other guilds made it feel cramped. But it wasn't like the cove its self was unpleasant. From the entrance of the bonfires outside, you go through a waterfall and on the other side waited a small land ring with a large crescent shaped beach. Natsu said that it was really the opening of an ancient volcano that had long since gone inactive. Although he said it was perfectly safe to inhabit now, Lucy still had her reservations about making a small town inside a dormant volcano. On the outside of the volcanic spout was a huge mountain range, keeping it well hidden and safe from invaders. Lucy could see how tactically, this would be the safest place to be during a war… except for the fact it was in a former boiling, lava spewing death machine…
Since she had arrived Lucy had been waiting for her moment to speak with Laxus, but he hadn't seemed to have a spare moment where she could confront him just yet. It was frustrating, but it wasn't like she was able to talk about it to the other members of the guild if she didn't want to raise suspicion to herself.
Natsu and the other Captains of the various guilds there were constantly in meetings that convened all day. They were all essentially waiting for the guilds masters to arrive so that they could make any decisions that they needed to formal. The Captains kept saying that the masters should all arrive within the next couple days. It was all very strenuous, seeing as they never told anybody just what the meetings were about. That didn't bother Lucy as much as cornering Laxus did.
Lucy sat on the beach looking down at the water caressing the beach in slow, calculated strokes. Loke sat next to her holding his shoes and her sandals in his lap. They had spent the last couple hours talking about her grievances and her plans to run off.
Loke didn't necessarily agree but he was duty bound to support the princess in all her decisions. All he could do was protect her to the best of his abilities. He looked over at his master with a face that could only be described as forlorn. Loke let out a small sigh and patted Lucy on the back.
First Gray now this… will Lucy ever catch a break?
Truthfully Loke pitied his master. He'd spent his days with her days watching from afar. The abuse from her father, the merciless training from Silver, the plotting of father and son he swore to never tell her because he knew it would break her heart. Loke knew and protected her from all these things, which made it hard to watch her rely on others, especially Natsu.
Tch! Natsu, you bastard.
Loke clenched his fist in the soft sand.
Lucy never really learned to rely on Loke like he's always hoped she would, probably because her father kept her keys locked away from her. Her father was afraid that once she started to learn magic she'd try to run away...
I guess her father was right about that…
But that never stopped Loke from crossing over using his own magic to watch over her. Of all the masters that Loke had served, Lucy was the most kind and yet saddest of them all.
In years past the women of her mother's line were treated like priestesses, and were legendarily beautiful. Loke had served her family for generations, but Layla was different. She had effortless power, beauty and strength. He was drawn to her in a way that he was not drawn to his other masters. Eventually he realized that he'd fallen in Love with Layla, and that he'd become dangerously close to being in a relationship that was taboo amongst celestial spirits. He loved Layla, but he also knew that a relationship like the one he desired could never come to pass. So he forced himself to keep his feelings to himself. Their life spans alone were enough to be the reason that they couldn't be together, but there was his curse to think about as well.
All celestial spirits are essentially cursed beings.
After all, immortality comes at a price.
Loke let out a heavy sigh looking out at the ocean.
Somehow the ocean always makes me wistful, and brings up memories of the past…
Loke was there when the kings' men showed up at her families' shrine and abducted her mother at the young age of fourteen to be his child bride.
Loke tried to stop her from going but even he was no match for the entire Royal Army. Layla stopped him from fighting and surrendered herself to the king in order to protect her family and her spirits. He decision always weighed heavily on his heart, knowing that he could do nothing to save her.
But Layla blossomed wherever she was planted. Those were the years that he became aware of his feelings for the Queen, when she was already out of his reach. Layla was easily likeable and caused those around her to feel at ease. She was a breath of fresh air in the otherwise stagnate palace. Even though she knew the king merely used her and would never love her, she didn't let it crush her spirit. It was as though she were unbreakable. But those happy days didn't last long. Eventually, the strain of using her magic and loneliness took its toll on Layla. It was just before she became pregnant with Lucy that Layla revealed to Loke that she had always loved him back, but she would never allow herself to speak of it because she knew she was dying. She explained to him that her body was one that could not support the strain magic took on the body, yet she continued to practice it for her families sake and for the sake of the king. It was less than a year after Lucy was born that Layla passed away in her sleep.
The kings' sake… that Royal piece of filth!
Loke had personally labeled the king as his mortal enemy. The king who stole Layla as a child bride and the woman he loved; he who showed no remorse or sorrow when it came to his wife's death.
The king never did go to her funeral, his excuse being that he was 'too busy.' Layla had entered his palace alone, and she died alone. Her funeral was only attended by a few servants who loved her and by her celestial spirits.
After she died, the king did away with everything that the Queen owned, wiped her names form any and all records and left the public with unanswered questions.
It was as if she never existed.
At the end of her life Layla had nothing tangible to leave proving she had lived, except for Lucy.
Loke hated himself for not saving Layla back when he had the chance, and seeing the toll her magic was causing her body. He allowed himself to fall in love, and it distracted him from what was really happening, he only caused tragedy for Layla and for himself. It was at Laylas' grave that he swore to always protect Lucy as if she were his own child. This was the only repentance he could give Layla for failing her so miserably.
He looked back at Lucy, determined not to let another one of her family sacrifice their happiness for the good of others.
"Lucy, whatever you do- understand that I've always got your back."
He said clenching his fist. He was determined for Laylas' sake, but he also learned the hard way about getting to close to humans. He wasn't going to make another mistake like that again. He was determined to remain a protecting observer. But there was something so like Layla in her that had his determination shake to its core.
Lucy smiled sadly and pulled her knees to her chest.
"Yeah, you've always been there Loke. I guess I never really realized it until now but, you and the rest of the celestial spirits are my only real friends."
Loke laughed out right.
"That's preposterous princess. You've done well and make some very good friends. Except for that Natsu… you should stay away from him altogether. I think he's got some not so admirable intentions…"
Loke finished looking away as if he said something embarrassing.
Lucy raised an eyebrow and turned her head to glance at her spirit companion.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Loke pouted and crossed his arms, watching twilight descend into evening as the sun started to set.
"It means, I don't trust him. He's obviously hiding something from you."
Lucy nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I know. He told me. So what?"
Loke looked back at Lucy in a stupor from the impact of what she just said.
"'So what?' You should be furious! Aren't you upset?"
Lucy shrugged her shoulders and rested her head onto her knees.
"I'm hiding just as much from him…" she mumbled thoughtfully.
"Friends don't do that right? Friends tell each other what's bothering them right? ... Maybe we really aren't friends after all, and we've just been pretending this whole time."
Lucy buried her face into her knees as the realization flooded her heart. She felt water stinging the corner of her eyes and felt it drip down her sandy cheeks.
Loke patted her back, words failing him at the moment. His mood was somewhere between concerned and vexed. Loke loved Lucy from the bottom of his heart, and would die for her if he could. But the state she was in made him furious and his fury was targeted towards Natsu.
Natsu… you bastard, not Lucy, not MY LUCY!
He cursed him clenching his teeth.
Loke sat there comforting Lucy, remembering his uncountable years of life that he'd lived up until now.
I'm seriously starting to wonder if this was all worth it…
Immortality… just what is it really?
Loke looked down to behold his master sleeping against his shoulder; she'd finally tired herself out. Loke bent down and kissed her gently on her temple as he wiped a tear from her face that had the audacity to linger on her face.
I won't let him have you Lucy.
Natsu was walking back to his tent to sleep, when a cold breeze caught him off guard causing him to sneeze.
Geeze, hope I'm not getting a cold.
He thought wiping his nose with a handkerchief he kept in his back pocket.
Damn these long meetings…
Natsu wasn't one for sitting around discussing what needed to be done. So meetings were particularly hard for him to sit through. Mostly he just screamed profanities until they dismissed him from attending for the day.
"You'd think they'd just excuse me altogether by now…"
He said out loud to himself as he shuffled disgruntled along the shore leading to his tent, when a pair of silhouettes caught his eye. Natsu raised and eyebrow. Dinner was in session right now, everybody should be at the mess hall… but as the pirate Captain drew closer, it was obvious that the smaller of the two figures was Lucy, and the larger one was Loke.
Loke, what's he doing here?
It was getting dark, but Natsus' dragon eyes could not be deceived. He could see just fine in the dark. Natsu stopped for a moment just to watch what was happening. He didn't really trust Loke after he barged in on him while he was naked, but he also knew that he wouldn't hurt Lucy. If for no other reason, than the contract he had to have signed to become her celestial spirit. Natsu ducked behind a large boulder and crouched down.
What are they doing out here? Whatever it is, it looks kind of… romantic…
For some reason the thought irked Natsu to his very core. He pushed his feelings aside to allow him to continue observing without unleashing a menacing aura.
Lucy appeared to be sleeping…
Why isn't he taking her home if she's tired?
As he finished his thought, he witnessed Lokes' silhouette bend down and kiss Lucy.
WHAT THE DAMN HELL?
He shouted in his mind. Natsu held on tightly to the boulder, causing there to be two hand shaped dents in the boulders side. He did this in order to prevent himself from running out there to sock him in the jaw as hard as he could muster.
If Natsu wasn't emanating a menacing aura before, he certainly was now. Natsu felt angry dragon fire swirl in his belly, begging to be unleashed. Small flames unable to be contained inside his body anymore erupted like sparks between his clenched teeth.
Natsu wasn't very good at controlling his temper when it escalated beyond a certain point. He closed his eyes in an attempt to think of something else, all which stopped when a thought came across his mind, immediately sedating his fury.
What if she likes him?
The possibility was there; after all he'd known her for a long time. It was strange though, Lucy never did talk about her celestial sprits… or at least not to him.
I guess I just don't know enough to judge at the moment. However it's clear he likes her…
Natsu played with his thoughts for a moment, causing himself to became ashamed of his reaction.
I have no right to meddle in her personal life… so to speak. But I thought that she was still getting over Gray. And I thought… that maybe we…
The taste in Natsus' mouth suddenly became bitter, as he forced himself to walk away.
I'll just take the long way home.
He thought; face full of contempt. Natsu grabbed his sailors cap from his back pocket, and pulled it on over his head. Trying to shield his eyes from any who passed him, because he knew his face must have looked terrifying.
Why am I letting this get under my skin?
Natsu shoved his hands in his back pockets and hunched his shoulders in displeasure.
Damn it! I don't even care!
His thoughts continued to fester as he shuffled his way back to his tent.
Finally!
Tomorrow night was the night.
Lucy would be leaving the pirates cove, and Fairy Tail.
Lucy was currently in her tent packing with Loke keeping watch outside.
A few days ago the masters had all arrived, bringing everyone else in the guilds with them… including Gray.
Having Gray back in Lucy's everyday life was causing her emotions and decisions to waver. Consequently she'd been avoiding Gray. She wasn't sure if Gray and Juvia got married in the time that they had been gone, and she didn't want to know. Seeing him still hurt and seeing him with Juvia hurt even more. She hated feeling this way. She cared about both of them and genuinely wanted them to be happy, but it was hard to put on a face. Lucy avoided most of the guild and spent most of her time training on the beach with Loke. The only person she'd talked to was Levy, and it was obvious to Lucy that Levy could sense she was hiding something. But Levy was kind enough not to ask her about it, she also never mentioned Gray, Juvia or the Captain.
The masters being back did have one advantage to Lucy; it meant that captains had more free time. Lucy had taken advantage of the time allotment and managed to corner Laxus and ask for his help. It was a long and strenuous process.
He's really hard to deal with.
But at least he was willing to hear her out and at the end of everything; he'd agreed to help her.
"We'll need some assistance getting out of here and I can't take my crew, I'd be too suspicious. But I think I know a couple of guys who'd be willing to help. Just let me take care of it."
Lucy had been mulling over what Laxus had said to her for a while, wondering who he'd get to help her out. It was safe to assume that they wouldn't be members of Fairy Tail… All she really hoped was that it wasn't that stupid group of guys from the Blue Pegasus guild. Those guys gave her the creeps.
Lucy was in her tent gathering things in earnest for her journey. Laxus said not to worry about food or shelter, and that he'd figure something out, but he said to make sure that she had the barest of necessities. Lucy had packed a spare change of clothes she'd taken from Natsu and a couple pairs of underwear.
Lucy looked over and glared at the pile of sexy panties that Levy had given her.
I still don't understand you Levy; you should have realized that I'd never get to use these… Well that's not entirely true, I guess I could bring them for when I get married in the next couple weeks…
Lucy suddenly stopped.
The realization of going back home hadn't fully hit her with its full meaning… until now.
She'd be married to the Emperor before the month was over.
She would have to be married to this man, effectively destroying any future where she could fall in love with someone new. Not only that but she'd never be allowed to have her own freedom again.
I hope those rumors about the Alvarez Emperor are exaggerated… they usually are right?
Worry and anxiety suddenly started to fill her stomach, as she remembered the stories passed around by thoughtless servants back at the palace.
Lucy shook her head and forced the thoughts from her mind. She couldn't handle another panic attack.
A noise from behind her distracted her from the emotions she was wrestling with. She turned to see Lokes face peeking through the curtain at the head of her tent.
"Oh, sorry Loke, I was distracted if you tried to call me I didn't hear anything until just now… what's up?"
"Uh, Natsu's here to talk to you… do you want me to let him in or show him out?"
"OH! No, it's fine! Just give me a second!"
Lucy frantically hid her bag and threw a blanket over the things she didn't want seen.
Especially that bag of panties!
She thought making sure it was well hidden.
"Come on in!" she shouted towards the door.
Natsu awkwardly appeared through the curtain and stepped inside, not breaking eye-contact with Loke until He'd left the two of them alone.
After Loke had left Natsu turned his attention to Lucy, his gaze firm and unyielding.
The way he was looking at her was rather unnerving, and made her feel uneasy.
"So uh, what's up?" she asked taking a seat on the floor.
Natsu sat down, following suit.
"It's just I haven't seen you in a while, and I heard you were spending a lot of time with Loke lately. I guess I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
Natsu awkwardly scratched the back of his head, looking away, and waiting for Lucy to respond.
"Uh, yeah. I guess I have been spending most of my time with Loke now that I think about it. I guess I've just been avoiding as much contact with Gray as possible."
Natsu looked up brow furrowed and confused.
"Oh, … Gray… so you…you're still not over him?"
Lucy frowned back, slight anger in her tone.
"Should I be? And if I'm not, what of it?"
Natsus look of alarm to her response was nothing short of shocking to Lucy.
Natsu looked down to hide his darkening face. He grumbled something under his breath and slowly stood up.
"I seem to have misunderstood something… I'm sorry to have bothered you."
Lucy grabbed hold of his arm before he could make his exit.
"Wait, Natsu!"
Natsu stopped and turned to face Lucy.
"What is it?"
He asked just as confused as before.
"It's just that… I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me up until now. What you and the guild have done for me is insurmountable to what I could ever do to repay you. I know that the stars brought me here…. and just… well… thanks… is what I'm trying to get at here."
Natsu smiled gently and ruffled her hair.
"What are friends for? Right?"
Lucy looked down at her feet and bit her lip.
"Yeah… friends."
The Captain nodded and left through the curtain. Lucy realized that this was probably the last time she'd ever see Natsu again, so she drew back the curtain ever so gently and watched his figure disappear into the distance.
"You'll always be my friend Natsu… please don't forget me."
Lucy felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked up to see Loke smiling sadly at her.
"You can still stay if you really wanted Lucy."
Lucy stared of silently into the ocean, etching the memory into her mind. She wasn't sure if she'd ever see the ocean like this again… or at all. She wasn't sure what Alvarez was like, but after her running away from her family, she was sure that the Emperor would keep her locked up the rest of her life.
"I'm sorry Loke; I really can't turn back now… not to mention that I wouldn't even if I could."
Loke sighed and slumped his shoulders.
"Lucy, I know that I'm supposed to help you in your efforts of the decisions you make. However, I have been a spirit for a very long time and all I can see in your future is tragedy if you head down this road."
Lucy remained silent for a minute before replying.
"I'm aware of that Loke, yet it is still my decision to make."
Loke clenched his fists and his breath became more ragged.
"I promised your mother I'd protect you from this exact fate…"
Lucy put Lokes hands in her own and looked up at him.
"I'm truly sorry that I'm putting you all in this situation… but please remain my strength until the bitter end?"
Loke bit down hard on his tongue and forced back tears. He could feel blood fill his mouth and made himself swallow it down.
"Yes, of course I will princess… I will follow you until the last breath draws from your chest."
Lucy nodded.
"Thank you Loke, I promise to depend on you more from here on out."
Loke dropped his hands and looked up at Lucy.
"Well then you should be getting yourself to bed here young miss."
Lucy laughed slightly as she went back inside her tent and finished her packing.
"I'll protect you princess… what would immortality be without you in it?"
He said touching the outside of the tent gently like he was casting a spell over her. Loke slowly removed his hand and looked up at the now dark sky.
"You'll help me protect her… right guys?"
As if in response to his question a shooting star flew across the night sky.
Loke smiled to himself.
"Alright then, let's take down the Emperor."
