The Star Queen
Chapter Two: As Above, So Below
Lucy had spent the last week staring down at her engagement ring, a soft smile on her face. While she went on missions and spoke with her friends as she normally did, every single moment to herself was spent looking at the glittering fire opal on her finger. Her attention was always drawn back to it, like a moth to a flame.
"Luce? You paying attention?"
"Hm?"
Lucy turned around and noticed for the first time that she was sitting against Natsu in their usual booth, his left arm wrapped gently around her waist. He looked at her with a bemused expression, his onyx eyes glimmering with mirth.
"I asked if you were paying attention to what Erza just said. Or are you staring off into space again?"
"Umm, yes?"
He laughed, the rumbling sound making his chest vibrate against her back. A soft blush crossed her cheeks, her eyes softening to the color of melting caramels. A sharp pang in her chest momentarily blindsided her, the kind of pang that steals your breath and makes you clutch your chest in fear. But as quickly as it was there, it vanished once again. It left her stunned, her brain blank once again.
"Lu-Chan!"
Levy McGarden came running over, a very mortified Gajeel and Pantherlily scrambling behind her. Levy had changed over the last four years, she now sported a black tank top, skinny jeans, and silver sandal-heels. Her wavy blue hair was pulled back into ponytail to show her silver hoop earrings, she even bore mascara and lip gloss.
As she waved at Lucy, her blueish-silver Mate Mark flashed in the light.
The mark was simple, yet complex. The way a Celtic knot was, the twists and curves were gentle, like her. But the harsh points of the ends were wicked, a sure sign of Gajeel's influence. It started at the curve of her wrist and ended halfway to her elbow, it was a deep blue in the center, but slowly paled into a silver at the ends. From what Natsu had told her, she understood a bit about the complexity of one's Mark, it was a complete representation of the bond between Slayer and Mate. The blue represented Levy of course, but the silver knot work around the inner design showed the constant protection Gajeel gave her.
"Hey Levy, whats up?"
"Did you hear? Makarov is finally retiring! He's given Gildarts the title of Master!"
"Really? Good lord he's been our master for almost a decade, is Gildarts really okay with this? What about Laxus? I thought he was next in line because he's Makarov's grandson.."
Levy shook her head, and by this time the two male's behind her finally caught up to them.
"OI! You ain't supposed to be runnin' so much Shrimp! Doc's orders."
"Its fine Gajeel, he said I can't run all the time. I'm allowed to exercise in moderation."
Lucy thought that was odd, but she merely shrugged it off, knowing Levy would tell her eventually.
"Gajeel, I want to thank you for my ring. I can't imagine how long you took to create it, it must've been incredibly stressful."
"How'd you know it was me?"
Lucy giggled.
"Because of the craftsmanship. Believe it or not, but you're the only one I know who adds sharp edges to their creations, the four notched points on the knot work gave you away. That and fire opal's are incredibly rare, the only known place that they can be found in is the mining camps by Gallowstown. A good week's travel there and back. You went out on a personal mission for two weeks last month, its the only thing that makes sense really."
Gajeel grinned sheepishly, trying to ignore the toothy grin Natsu was shooting him.
Leo watched his mage through the Palace Starglass, smiling at the laughing faces of his friends. It broke his heart really, knowing what would soon happen. What would befall his beloved mage, it would devastate them all. Sighing, he let the Starglass fall out of his fingers, knowing it would rejoin its brethren in the burlesque ceiling anyway. He quietly closed the door to the Inner Chamber, the hidden room behind a wall in the throne room.
He ran his fingers over the golden throne, feeling the artwork and the soft fabric of the empty seat. The throne was a thing of beauty, it showed representation of all the Zodiac Children and the Silvrine Keys. The inner designs bore depictions of the Golden Keys and their lesser siblings, but on top of the throne in the center, lay the Vigil of The King. A crest that was carved into the throne by the first Celestial Spirit King, and finished by the Star Queen who followed after him. Together, their crest guards both the throne and its current master, while the ruler sits upon its gilded seat, they can't be touched.
Not by magic, and not by physical might.
Soon, the next Queen would sit here, and she would be entrusted with the greatest weapon known to their world. She would be told their history, and shown the portraits of her predecessors before they became the Ruler of The Stars. Shaking his head, Leo walked away from the throne and out to the courtyard, he needed to clear his head. He knew what he was required to do, he knew what he was charged with when Lucy forced the King to accept him back into the Spirit Realm.
But the knowledge of his task only made it harder to carry out.
Growling in rage, he slammed his fist down on the marble railing of the balcony, uncaring of the pain that quickly lanced through his hand. He would heal, it might take a minute or two, but he would heal nonetheless. He opened his eyes to see the scowling figure of Aquarius below him, her cerulean eyes narrowed in her usual mask of displeasure.
He groaned, time for another lecture it seems.
"Instead of causing yourself undue pain, why don't you get on with it and set the needed events into motion. We both know this will continue to get worse the longer that chair goes unoccupied, the other Keys are already growing impatient."
Oh look, another lecture.
"Its not that simple, I can't just.. Take everything she knows and loves and expect her not to care."
Aquarius sighed, making her way up to him. She knew, she understood, but her duty came before her desires.
"Leo we don't have a choice. Our world is already on the brink of war, we've gone too long without a ruler, and the Mythological Keys are beginning to question whether or not we actually have a successor picked out. Your reluctance to take her is going to be the death of us all."
"Do you really expect me to rip her away from her family? Her husband and her child?"
"Yes I do! It wouldn't be the first time, and it certainly won't be the last! You have to! She has to be ready to cross over by the next Summer Solstice, or the journey will kill her! We both know this will happen, its your job to prepare her for it!"
Leo growled and raked his fingers through his hair, then turned and stalked back toward the castle.
"DON'T WALK AWAY FROM ME LEO!"
Surprised by her tone, he stopped and turned to look at her. What he saw shocked him, she was crying. Aquarius was crying. While she still looked angry, tears dripped steadily down her cheek, her voice full of unspoken pain.
"I don't want to do this either, I might hate that little brat, but I'm not unfeeling. I care about her great deal. But I can't, I wont, jeopardize my entire existence for her happiness. If she doesn't take over her responsibilities here, we lose everything. I lose Scorpio, and you lose Aries. Again."
Leo felt like she'd just shoved an ice pick through his chest.
Not Aries, he couldn't lose her again.
"Besides, once the job is done, once she fulfills her end of the bargain, she'll be reborn. She can live her life again without our interference in the mortal world, she'll be able to see her friends and her husband again."
"That doesn't justify what we're going to force her to do.."
"No, it doesn't. But its what must be done."
He kept his head down, staring at the marble floors of the balcony.
"I'll begin the process... After her wedding. That will give her plenty of time, at least a year... "
Aquarius nodded, knowing she was pushing him enough already. She didn't want to press her luck just yet, she'd already gone below the belt to get her point across.
For now, they just had to wait, and watch.
Hey everyone!
Sorry it took so long, but im having a tad bit of trouble with my writing program. It keeps trying to corrupt my files, so I've had to write this bitch out more than once... Otherwise this would have been published about.. two weeks ago?
Anyway, as always if you have any questions PLEASE ask me.
Remember to R&R!
Much Love,
BlackRose999