Chapter 18:
The moon has risen some hours ago though only a thin wisp of it was visible signaling new moon was only a few days away. Forest of Magnolia was as usually quiet for the late hours, only crickets finding fun in braking it. Crickets and one particular blonde who ran as fast as she could through the uneven terrain, still stumbling every few steps as her legs caught in low branches and roots that decided staying under ground was too good for them.
''LOKE?!'' Lucy called again, panic evident in her voice as she stumbled yet again, this time losing her balance and getting a mouthful of dried leaves and dirt. She spat and quickly scrambled to her feet. ''LOKE?! Where are you?!'' her only reply was the scattering crickets and an owl that hooted at her loud presence.
The orange-haired teen didn't look good when she last saw him. He didn't look good at all and the worry was threatening to burst her chest as her heart beat frantically. The news Crux dumped on her was nowhere near making all this easier. Lucy knew of Karen Lilica of Blue Pegasus – the woman was famous for being an accomplished Celestial Steller mage and just as infamous for her treatment over them through the woman was dead for a few years now. What relationship Loke had with her made Lucy thing some rather ridiculous thoughts that in any other situation would truly be ridiculous but now made a terrifying sense. The fact orange-haired teen cut all his ties in Magnolia along with quitting Fairy tail was another matter to worry.
She was not the only one to worry, of course, and it was proven by the distant voices of other members of team Erza and several other members of Fairy Tail who searched for the missing ex-member.
Lucy huffed in annoyance as she pushed forward, she had a pretty good idea where Loke was and as she stumbled out into the clearing confirming her suspicions.
''Loke?'' she called tentatively to the teen kneeling before lone tombstone and she was not surprised to see him jump but she still felt a pang of guilt at startling him.
Loke whipped around and looked at her with wide-eyes, his face was even paler then Lucy remembered and the black bags under his eyes were disturbingly large. He looked like he didn't sleep for two weeks straight.
''L-Lucy?'' Loke choked out. ''Why are you...? You can't be here!'' He stood up abruptly but stumbled, almost falling. Lucy rushed to aid her friend, studying him on his feet.
''You alright?'' Lucy asked and mentally kicked herself. He was obviously not alright.
''Y...yes'' Loke replied reluctantly as he eyed the blonde teen beside him. ''Why are you here?''
''Well I was worried about you, of course'' Lucy huffed. ''Baka, leaving like that and making us all sick with worry''
Loke blushed as he sat back down with a pant. ''Sorry''
''Loke...'' Lucy spoke again, this time saying the name as if testing it on her tongue and Loke immediately stiffened. ''That's not your real name, is it?''
Loke just stayed quiet, staring at her in silent shock.
''Leo the Lion suits you better after all'' Lucy said as she sat beside him. ''Why aren't you in the spirit world?''
The lengthy explanation she received made her stomach roll in disgust at the dead mage whose tombstone she could reach by just extending her hand and burning anger at the Spirit king for its stupidity.
''That wasn't your fault!'' She finally said when Loke fell silent. Loke – Leo – she reminded herself was silent as he stared at her in silence once again. ''You don't understand-'' he finally tried reasoning with her but Lucy would hear none of that. ''No! You're the one who doesn't understand!''
''None of it was your fault. Karen is at fault! Karen and Celestial Spirit King!''
Leo gave her a look like she just stated the sky wasn't blue. ''His majesty...''
''Is an old prick!'' Lucy concluded. Leo gawked at her almost making her uncomfortable from what she said. Almost.
Leo gasped suddenly, any trace of shock at his companion vanishing as he took hold of his head and his back arched, pain blinding him momentarily as he cried out making Lucy jump to her feet in alarm, panic only growing when she noticed a disturbing fact that Leo's legs were getting see-through.
''What's happening to you?'' Lucy asked worriedly.
''I- I was banished from the Celestial world after Karen died'' Leo gasped in pain, clutching his head. ''I've been in this world for three years''
Lucy's eyes grew wide. ''Three years?! I- I thought that was impossible for you! For any celestial spirit''
Loke gave a weak chuckle. ''For most, it is but I am.. or rather was the leader of the Zodiac. I'm a tad bit more powerful than them''
Lucy swallowed not quite entertained by Leo's weak attempt at humor. What could she do? She didn't even have his key – she couldn't just... Or maybe she could? Lucy swallowed again, trying to push the bile that rose in her throat down before she grasped Loke's hand.
''W-what are you doing... Lucy?'' Leo asked the blonde who gave him a weak smile. ''Well I thought that would be rather obvious. I'm saving you of course''
Loke shook his head. ''You can't, Lucy there is no-''
The spirit fell silent when he felt Lucy's magic rising and the blonde spoke. ''Gate of the Lion, I close thee!''
''Lucy, you can't-''
''Gate of the Lion, I close thee!'' she ignored Loke's pleas to stop and simply spoke louder.
It was painful – Lucy would never deny that – as instead of closing the gates she started merging her life force with Loke's. But she wouldn't stop now. She couldn't stop now. For crying out loud, she was so close!
''Stop it!'' Loke tried to pull his hand away from hers but in his weakened state, the girl wouldn't budge. ''You'll die with me if you keep this up!''
''Like I care'' Lucy muttered as she continued to chant. It felt like her blood was on fire but she prayed to whichever god listened that she was close. She knew she was close!
The night sky suddenly flashed bright, blinding them both momentarily and for a moment Lucy wondered whatever she died. That would be quite anticlimactic. But she couldn't be dead. Loke was still in her hands – though she couldn't quite see him due to the sudden light but she could make out his outline and feel him there.
''Who dares to disobey the king?'' the booming voice made her back go stiff as she sat straighter and squinted at the figure that appeared in the light before it finally died down, leaving her blinking rapidly before she was finally able to face the newcomer. She would've gaped at the Celestial king if she wasn't so terrified.
''Unjust king has no rule over me!'' she replied with a glare, hiding her fear rather well if she could say so herself.
''A dram little thing with wast mouth'' The King spoke with a frown. Lucy only glared further. She had every right to call her tiny, though, because the King could easily match master Makarov's titan form and then some. ''Cease thy foolish actions, human''
''And let you kill my friend? Murderer!'' Lucy yelled at the King who seemed surprised by her words. Surprised but mostly angry.
''Thou dare clepe me a killer?'' he boomed. ''I hast every right to banish the Lion. He hath broken the sacred bond, did violate the sacred rule! He is to die''
Lucy huffed. ''A sacred bond is shared when the mage and spirit have their hearts in it, the bond of celestial spirits has no meaning if the mage has no heart to give! Karen died because she had no bond! Not because Loke broke it!''
Loke stared at the blonde mage in wonder, her words making his heart lighter. The King also fell quiet, interested in the small human before him and her bold words.
''Thou bethink thou wot of our rules and bonds, thou wee dram thing?''
''If you allow me to speak my king'' Lucy's head whipped to her right as Virgo bowed to the king who, along with the two other before him stared at the Zodiac who appeared without anyone calling her. ''Princess is a wise human, her words and her heart are in place''
Lucy blinked at her spirit, touched beyond words. The King also stared at Virgo in silence.
''Wise? Haply. But I wilt not let the Lion back to our realm - he is to die'' King replied.
Lucy scowled and squeezed her eyes, heart beating furiously against her chest in her anger. ''Why can't you just listen?!'' she yelled at the King, her magic rising. ''Listen for god's forsaken moment, you big oaf! He has done nothing wrong!''
Loke gasped as Lucy's hands started glowing in golden light that spread over her whole body. Not even the King could surpass the gasp as one by one, Lucy's spirits started appearing behind her.
''Impossible'' the King gasped as the spirits of his own realm stared down at him all bonded to the girl's magic.
''Thy bond with the spirits is strong – stronger than any I've seen'' the King spoke quietly as the girl gasped for breath, the spirits behind her disappearing but the air reminded thick with her magic.
''Thou've did manage to impress me. Something not many hast done'' the King admitted and gazed at Loke who looked back at the King almost pleadingly. ''Thou art worthy of the keys thou carryeth. And of the key thou wilt carryeth''
Lucy looked at the King in surprise, hope rising in her eyes. ''Are you saying...?''
The King nodded as he extended his hands, a golden key that looked tiny in his giant hand appearing in golden light. For impressing me I present thou with this opportunity - keepeth the key of the Lion and he wilt liveth or discard 't and he wilt die. What doth thou declare?''
Lucy jumped to her feet and extended her hands. ''I will be honored to keep it''
''Valorous choice'' the King spoke and the key fell in Lucy's hands before the King disappearing in another explosion of light that once again left the two blinded.
Lucy smiled as she looked at the key of the Leo the Lion in her hands before she turned to look at Loke who was gaping at her like a fish out of the water, mouth opening and closing.
''What?''
Explaining the next morning what happened was something Lucy had quite a bit of trouble doing – especially because she herself wasn't quite sure how she'd done it.
''Well it's important that Loke's alright now'' Erza concluded as she stabbed her fork in the strawberry cake in front of her. The café they sat in wasn't overly crowded considering the time for breakfast was over and the time for lunch was not yet here. It was somewhat weird, sitting in café after most of her meals were eaten in guild ever since she joined Fairy Tail, Lucy mused, but it was hardly surprising considering the guild hall was still in ruins.
''I can't wrap my head around it, though'' Gray said, a tuna sandwich in his hands. ''Loke – the lady's man Loke – a celestial spirit''
''It's hard to swallow'' Happy agreed, munching on a fish.
Lucy smiled as she reached into her pockets. ''The point is...'' she pulled out a stack of tickets of some sort. ''He doesn't have use of these tickets anymore so he gave them to me!''
''Tickets for what?'' Wendy asked in interest, sipping on her hot chocolate.
''A five-star hotel'' Lucy said with a grin that only widened at the starry-eyed look she received from the mages around her. ''At a beach''
Lucy held out five tickets for her friends to see before she turned to Happy and Carla ''And I've already asked the hotel and they allowed you two without any additional cost as long as you don't eat at the hotel''
Happy and Carla brightened before Carla pointed out ''You have one ticket extra''
Lucy nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face. ''I know... I'm not sure who should I ask... Oh, wait! I do know!''
The other five stayed silent, urging her to continue. ''Well Natsu of course!''
Wendy smiled brightly while other four blanched. ''Natsu?'' Gray choked out. ''Are you feeling okay? You maybe used too much magic last night? Wanna go see Porlyusica?''
Lucy glared at him with a huff. ''My head is screwed on just fine. I would be worried about yours though''
Gray rolled his eyes but continued. ''But seriously, why?''
''Why not?'' Lucy shrugged. ''He's a... friend. And he did help out a great deal during the fight with Phantom Lord''
''Speaking of that, have you guys seen him since then?'' Erza spoke up as she turned to Wendy. ''I haven't seen him whole morning''
Wendy's mood grew somber at that as she explained with a sigh. ''He took Mira and me to the edge of the forest this morning and left – said he had something to do but that he'll find us later. He's been quiet whole morning – more so than usual so I'm a little worried''
''He's just a moody bastard. I don't see why are you so worried about him all the time'' Gray shrugged.
''Who taught you manners must lack them themselves or are rather pore teachers. It is not nice to talk behind someone's back''
Gray would've yelped if he wasn't too afraid to do so as Natsu took the empty a seat beside him, cup of coffee in his hands and looking at the ice-mage from the corner of his eyes. The table fell silent for a moment, all of the mages not sure what to say because of his sudden arrival.
''If you're too uncomfortable to talk with me here I'll leave'' Natsu raised one eyebrow while the table stayed silent.
''Have you finished whatever you were doing?'' Wendy decided to ask as she looked at her brother who sat across from her, giving her a clear look. Natsu turned his attention to her and gave a small, lopsided smile.
Natsu had little doubt his sister could smell the blood of a forest vulcan he killed – stress therapy not used for the first time – but since no one around the table gave him an odd look he deduced he cleaned his face well.
''Finished quite quickly actually'' Natsu responded, the small smile barely visible disappearing.
Wendy smiled at him and gave Lucy a meaningful glance the blonde quickly understood. ''So Natsu...'' Lucy smiled nervously as Natsu's black eyes turned to look at her. ''...I've been meaning to ask you...''
The dragon prince raised his eyebrow at the girl who swallowed. ''..You see I have these tickets.. and I wanted to ask... I mean if you're okay with it... You know you don't have to – anyway – would you?''
''What?'' Natsu asked as he tapped his fingers on the cup still clasped in one hand.
Lucy blushed, realizing her sentence made little to no sense. ''Would you like to go with us – ''she gestured to the mages and cats gathered around the table. ''- to the hotel on the beach?''
Natsu stayed silent, silently surprised at the offer but it was only visible in the way his drumming fingers froze before he started drumming on the cup again making the blonde mage nervous.
''And the others are okay with that?'' Natsu finally asked, his eyes moving over the people around the desk.
Gray opened his mouth, a sarcastic comment on his lips that he swallowed quickly as Erza's boot almost cracked his shin. The scarlet-haired mage didn't seem to move to those watching her as she calmly took another bite of her cake. ''Of course'' she told the slayer. ''As long as you want to come you are welcome to''
Natsu nodded after a moment before he turned to Lucy. ''Out of curiosity I must ask – why me?''
Lucy looked at her green tea nervously ''Well you did save me from Phantom Lord and-''
''If you think you owe me, you don't. I was doing my duty to the guild'' Natsu replied, back straight and fingers still drumming.
Lucy frowned. ''That's not the reason, you didn't let me finish. You saved me from Phantom Lord and I would like to believe we're friends so we should get to know each other better''
Natsu settled to staring at her once again, making her increasingly uncomfortable. ''Well...'' the dragon slayer spoke when Lucy was about to ask. ''I don't have anything better to do.. considering the guild hall and all that...''
Natsu spared a glance at Wendy who nodded vigorously. ''I will go''
Lucy beamed at him as she slammed the ticket in front of him ''That's great!''
''Yes!'' Wendy cheered, pumping her fist up.
''Hooray'' Gray's sarcastic reply was answered by another kick from Erza who smiled pleasantly, popping another bite of strawberry cheesecake in her mouth. ''It will be nice to spend some time away from the guild and get some quality time together'' Erza said, ignoring the glare Gray sent her way as he rubbed his shin.
''I guess'' Natsu's monotone voice was not surprising but his lips twitched into something that might resemble a smile.
End of chapter 18.
Rewritten
Next chapter: Tower of Heaven arc.
Please review and thanks for reading :)