At Fairy Tail, everyone is still working hard on rebuilding the guild as they only finish a third portion of the Guild. Pounding nails, pulling ropes, cementing bricks. Everyone is doing their best in building back their beloved guild.

Our attention is now to the temporary built bar where Mira, Lisanna, Lucy, and Cana with Haruka and Haruo were at, the three adults watching over the two while Natsu is away with Kiara.

"when will Papa come home?" asked Haruka while laying her chin on the bar table, Natsu having one away with Kiara to accompany Makarov somewhere.

"if Natsu went with Master, I think it's going to be a while for them to come back" said Lisanna while cleaning a glass mug.

"it's been an hour" said Haruka before puffing her cheeks. "and I'm bored"

"you could play with Haruo at the park" said Lucy with a smile, cheering up the bored child.

"no way" said Haruo, looking bored as his twin sister. "we've played there for too long and it's no longer fun"

"seems like these two have the same boredom, huh?" said Cana, seeing how the twins act the same way.

"try saying that again!" shouted Erza's voice as everyone's attention turned towards the Scarlet knight who is standing in front of Laxus with an angry look while the blonde man himself is sitting on a table with his legs crossed and have a smug and mocking smirk to the scarlet haired mage.

"Cana" said Mira to Cana who looks at the Majin doing a single head movement towards Haruka and Haruo who were looking at the scene.

"come on you two, let's go" said Cana to Haruka and Haruo who looks at her

"where are we going?" Haruka asked to Cana

"we're going to the candy store" Cana said with a smile as Haruka and Haruo eyes turned into sparkling stars when they heard the word 'candy'

"Candy!" they screamed in joy as they started pulling Cana, the twins loved sweets at any time of any place. We now turn our attention to Erza and Laxus who smirks at the Scarlet Knight.

"like I said, all of you are weak" Laxus said with a mocking face "Natsu is strong and all of you are holding him back. "if all of you weaklings are gone, Fairy Tail will be the strongest guild in all of Fiore!" he laughed out loud as Gray and the others looked angry at him

"I didn't see you anywhere when we needed a hand!" Mira shouted angrily at Laxus.

"You wanna blame someone, blame Lucy. She's the reason the guild was attacked in the first place." Replied Laxus with a snort.

"Lucy had nothing to do with it! Her father sent them, and she had no idea what was happening!" Erza argued in

"Riiight, so HER father sent them here. All the more reason we should make her leave. Who knows, maybe he'll send another guild to attack us. This is why I dislike weak members. Because they always drag us down when we're right on top o-"

"SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH ASSHOLE!" Mira lunged at Laxus as she tried to punch him, only to have her fist caught.

"see? Weak" Laxus said as he blasted Mira away with a lightning bolt.

"Mira!" Erza exclaimed as Mira crashed into a pile of wooden logs that broke upon her crash.

"you asshole!" Mira exclaimed getting up before she transforms into her Satan Soul

Laxus smirked at them darkly as Mira dashed towards him and was intending to pummel him down but was stopped when something flew in between the two.

Everyone looks to the side as they see Natsu standing a few feet away while slowly sheathing away Chitetsu in his scabbard.

"stop this" said Natsu as he crosses his arms "the past is in the past, there's no need to make this into something big, Laxus"

"hey Natsu, you know better right?" said Laxus as he disappeared and reappeared beside Natsu before he swings his arms around Natsu's shoulders "they're holding you back, if you join the Raijinshuu you can become the strongest! what do you say? Care to join the strong side?"

Everyone looks at Natsu who sighs as he pushed Laxus' arms off his shoulders.

"I never like fame and glory, nor do I even care for them" Natsu replied to him "all that I care is my family and that's that"

Laxus looked at him for a moment before sighing while shrugging his shoulders

"fine then" Laxus said to him as he turns around to walk away "if you ever changed your mind, a spot in the Raijinshuu will always be open for you"

Laxus then disappears in a flash of lightning as everyone then looks to Natsu who stood in his place before he glanced behind to look at Makarov behind him. The old man having a solemn look while having Kiara on the top of his head.

"wise as always" Makarov said to Natsu who closed his eyes and looks away.

"anger is a power and a disease, if one succumbs to much of it, one will die" Natsu said in a poem before seeing his kids coming back with Cana as they were licking lollipops "I don't want to see conflict in the future, Gramps"

"not when my kids are around" Natsu started walking towards his kids as they had bags which were filled with sweets

Makarov looks to him as he had a solemn look on him

"maybe it's time for me to retire after all" Makarov thought in his mind before hearing Haruka and Haruo calling him. He smiled as he went to them


The guild got back to work on rebuilding the guild as everything was back to normal

"I'd be against someone becoming the Master who thinks that way about his allies." Lucy sighed while dropping her chin to her hands.

"yeah, everyone would be in some trouble if Laxus became the Guild Master" Lisanna said while cleaning some mugs

"if only Natsu had accepted becoming the Guild Master years ago, this wouldn't have to happen in the first place" Mira said a bit annoyed

"EHHHH?! Really?!" Lucy asked, shocked. She looked at the Fire Dragon Slayer who was playing around with his kids..

"Yeah,. But when Master asked him if he wanted to, he said he would when the time is right" Lisanna said as she saw how Haruka and Haruo got up to Natsu's shoulder as he grins to them

"but it would be better if he just stays as he is" Erza said with a smile

"That jerk! When I get my hands on him" Mirajane hissed in anger as she remembered Laxus' mocking face.

"Enough Mira. You will just tire yourself out dealing with him." Natsu told her as he and his kids walk towards them.

"He's right. Anyway, what do you think? Want to go on a job?" Erza asked them with a smile "I have a sense that we've been together ever since the Eisenwald incident."

"Now, you got a 'sense' like that?" Wakaba asked from his seat.

"We all thought it was pretty obvious...Wait! She never stopped to think about it herself?" Macao followed.

"That's Erza for you." Cana chuckled.

"Let's form a Team now. With the four of us. Or eight, if you count Kiara, Haruka and Haruo." She announced with a smile

"Yaaay!" Haruka and Haruo cheered in happiness

"only when it is a safe mission" Natsu said in a stern voice as their mood instantly dropped

Lucy and Gray laughed a bit to the twins before they all started chatting some more

"Looks like Fairy Tail's strongest Team is official now," Cana said as she nursed her drink.

"Good for them," Macao smirked.

"And wait, Lucy's the strongest?" Wakaba asked in confusion.

"Hey!"

"What about you, Cana? Wanna join us?" Gray said to her

"No. I like being here with my drink" Cana said

"Let's hurry and do a job. We'll take down the gang of thieves at up north of Onibus' location" Erza said as she pulls out a request job and showed it to them

Lucy and Gray nodded with a smile but for Natsu he looks at the request for a moment with Haruka and Haruo praying that they could come with.

"fine then, this seems safe" Natsu said as he nodded to the request

"Yaaay!" Haruka and Haruo cheered in happiness

"Kyuiii!" Kiara appeared as she settled down on Haruka's head. They all then got on Ash who Natsu called out with a whistle


after a few hours of travel, the group arrived at a Dark Guild

Natsu dodge a sword slash as he sends a kick to the dark mage's stomach and made him fly to the wall.

They were all in a dark guild's hall as Natsu and the others had just finished cleaning the whole guild of their members

"that's that" Natsu said as he saw how everyone finished on their part

"yay! I took one down!" Haruo shouted out while holding his wooden sword in his hand

"me too" Haruka shouted out with a big smile

"good job you two" Natsu said to them as he patted their head with a proud smile

Lucy and Gray sweat drop as they saw how Natsu would fire a fireball at the thugs, Haruka and Haruo tried to beat up and how Kiara would growls at a thug who tried to hurt the twins.

"should we tell them?" Lucy whispered to Gray

"let them have their moment" Gray replied

"That took less time than I thought," Erza commented with a smile as they made their way out of the ruined Guildhall.

"They were weaklings..." Gray shrugged his shoulders as everyone walks out of the dark guild

"Lucy-neechan, look at this pretty gem I found!" squealed Haruka as she showed the blonde a Diamond, which freaked out the Celestial Spirit Wizard.

"Hey! You can't just go taking that!" Lucy takes the diamond and scolded the little girl a bit

"Huh? Isn't that Loke-niichan over there?" Haruo voice out, pointing at the orange-haired man in the distance.

"Oh?" Loke looked quite surprised to see the Team in that place.

"Hi! Loke-niichan" Haruka and Haruo greeted him while hugging his legs

"hello you two" Loke greeted them back with a smile

"What a coincidence," Gray commented with a grin.

"You had a job around here?" Erza asked him, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. You too?" Loke responded before he violently flinched as he caught the sight of Lucy, "Lucy?!"

"Oh, Hello..." The blonde girl was caught off guard when the Orange-haired abruptly turned around and dashed off, "Sorry! I'm in the middle of a job!"

Lucy stood there with a gloomy aura around her, "What is with him?!"

"What did you do to him?" Gray asked her, raising an eyebrow.

Juvia, who was behind a rock cried anime tears, "Gray-sama is talking to Love Rival! Juvia's heart is in pieces!"

"Lucy-neechan, you're mean" Haruo told her while pointing at her,

"He is avoiding you!" Haruka added in

"I didn't do anything!" Lucy retorted to them

"Now then, shall we go back?" Erza asked as they stood on a cliff, looking down the ruined Guildhall they just destroyed.

"Hey,hey! can we go to the onsen nearby!" said Haruka while tugging on Natsu's hand with her right hand while pointing to a nearby onsen town with her left hand. "can we go?!"

"that's a nice idea!" said Lucy, liking the idea of going to a hotspring "since we actually finished a job early for once, why don't we head to a Spa and take it easy?"

"I am craving some good old R&R these days" said Gray while stretching his arms up but with his clothes gone.

"Gray-niichan is naked again" said Haruo while Natsu covered Haruka's eyes

"very well" said Erza before glancing at Natsu who nodded.


at a Hotspring Inn

"uwaaaah~" Lucy let out a content sigh, as she let the hot spring's warm water washed over her tired body. She leaned her head against the stones behind her and closed her eyes. As she enjoyed the relaxing water, her mind drifted to Loke. "what's with Loke, anyway? He's been acting so strange lately."

"it's so warm" Haruka said as she drifts into the hot spring water with Kiara floating beside her.

"Nice moon." Lucy cracked an eye open and glanced at Erza who stood up from the water, "And a nice bath, as well." she finished, stunning Lucy as she saw her in her Armor.

"In your Armor and all?!" Lucy shouted with bulging eyes.

"I feel more at ease like this," Erza responded

"But, doesn't it feel kind of gross?" the busty blonde wondered. She couldn't imagine how someone can take a bath with their Armor on

"….Honestly, yes it does." Erza finally decided after a slight pause, "Coming to a spa such as this really does merit complete relaxation, I agree." she finished with a stern expression on her face, causing Lucy to sweat drop.

"Yet your words are as stiff as ever..." Lucy spoke nervously before gasping as Erza requiped out off her clothes, "Wow! You're even amazing when you're naked, Erza!"

"Am I? Then how about I try going around the Guild naked?" Erza suggested with a smile, she wanted a reaction from the blonde and she got it.

"EHHHH?!"

"I'm joking..." Erza quickly said as she saw Lucy freaking out too much.


Natsu let out a content sigh as he was drinking a sake cup while relaxing

"it feels so good!" Gray said as he relaxed.

"Blub... Blub….blub…." said Haruo whose voice is muffled by the water.

Natsu looks at his cup of sake as a memory appeared in Natsu' mind that showed the time when he and Ikaruga visited a hot spring together. He smiled a bit before finishing his sake

"time to get out" Gray said as he got out of the water

"your towel" Natsu voiced out as Gray looks down as he saw his towel was gone

"what!?" screamed Gray as he looks around the water for his towel


"pillow fight!" Haruka announced as she held a pillow.

"yay!" Haruo responded as he had a pillow with him as well.

"What's all the racket? I'm sleepy!" Gray grumbled as he lifted his head from the pillow.

"All the pillows of merit in the room are already under my control!" Erza announced as she made her presence known. Under her arms, many pillows were being held. Lucy beside her sweat dropped at the Knight's words. "O-Of merit?"

Natsu is sitting at the front porch with Kiara who was curled up as he had a solemn look while staring at the fireflies flying around in the night. Inside everyone started throwing pillows at each other while being extra careful when throwing them at Haruka and Haruo

"the night really is peaceful" Natsu whispered before taking out his flute

He then started playing his flute a bit as the sound inside stopped ringing out as he took a peek and saw how Haruka and Haruo were falling asleep when they heard the lullaby

Natsu then saw how Lucy made a shush sign with her fingers as Erza and Gray nodded and took the kids to the other room to let them sleep. Natsu smiled as he continued playing his flute


a few minutes later, Natsu and Lucy are taking a stroll in the night as they just wonder around.

"I'm sorry I got you hurt back then, Natsu" Lucy said as she walks beside him

"it is nothing" Natsu said as he looks to her "you are a Fairy Tail mage and that makes you family to us, we never let those guys take you away"

Lucy smiled as she nodded. They then walk for a furthermore as Lucy then saw Loke ahead as he was dragging two guys who look beaten up.

"Eh? Loke?" said Lucy

"What are you doing here?" Natsu asked him as they got to him

"Ah! Natsu, Lucy!" he said as dropped the two and moved behind a tree, hiding behind it, "I'm sorry."

"For what?!" Lucy shouted at him.

"Loke, who are those two?" Natsu asked him while looking at the beaten up two.

"Those two are my request's targets" he replied and reached down and grabbed both unconscious men by their collars. "Well, I guess I'll go turn these two in."

"Wait!" Lucy called out, as she grabbed the back of Loke's jacket. "Hey...if you don't mind, could we talk for a bit?"

Loke looks at Lucy surprised before glance towards Natsu who nodded.

"Come on Loke..." Lucy said as she tugged on the man's sleeve, "There's a little bar up ahead."


at a small bar somewhere.

"H-Hey..." Lucy muttered, glancing at Loke who has seated several seats away from her, "You don't have to sit so far away." she told him as she sweat dropped.

"S-Sorry." Loke almost whispered, as he nervously chuckled.

Natsu who was sitting at another table watches them as he sips his tea before he received a plate of sushi by the owner.

"I've been meaning to ask this for a while now." Lucy said, swirling around the drink in her hands, "What did Celestial Wizard do to you?" Lucy waited for a response, but after almost a minute she never got one as Loke just looked down, "It's fine if you don't want to tell me...But you know, I am who I am..."

"Yeah...I know that." Loke said as he stared down into his drink, "I'm really sorry...if I've been bothering you, I apologize...You should just forget about me."

"What's up with you?" Lucy asked, quirking an eyebrow at the sad looking man, "It sounds like you're breaking up with your girlfriend, or something." Seeing that Loke wasn't going to say anymore, Lucy sighed and stood up from her seat,

"Well whatever. I was just curious...You know, you really are a nice guy!" A small smile spread across Lucy's face as she gazed at Loke. "Besides, no matter what you say, we're still friends...Well, I'll just-" Lucy was shocked when Loke reached out and grabbed her hand, "Loke?"

"Please wait." Loke said before he pulled Lucy in for a tight hug, "Lucy..."

"What's wrong Loke?" Lucy asked, shocked when she felt Loke begin to tremble slightly.

"I don't have long to live..." Loke said, as he released Lucy from the hug and locked eyes with her.

"Loke..." Lucy breathed out, her eyes widening considerably, "What's going on?" Loke simply stood silently for a few moments, before he lowered his head. Lucy was stunned when the orange-haired man suddenly burst out laughing, "W-What?!"

"AHAHAHAHA!" Loke laughed, as he winked at Lucy, "You totally fell for it! That's a little trick I use when I'm chasing after girls." Lucy began to grit her teeth to hold in her immense anger,

"It gets me some great sympathy points. So what do you thin-" The sound of a harsh slap filled the empty bar. Loke nervously smiled, feeling the stinging handprint on his cheek.

"I..." Lucy said, beginning to shake in anger. "I hate those types of jokes! You're a bastard!" Then with a huff Lucy stormed out of the bar.

Natsu sighs as he finished his tea and gave the chef his money, he then stood up and walked up to Loke.

"how much time do you have left?" Natsu asked to Loke who was sitting at his seat

"not long" Loke replied to him as Natsu frowned a bit before sighing

"is it a sin to care for your friends? Is it a sin to protect them?" Natsu asked Loke before walking out of the bar

Loke just sat there, thinking about what Natsu said

"it's too late….." Loke muttered out as he looks down to his hands


a day later We see Lucy at the bar with a frown on her.

"What's up Lucy?" Mira asked, as she looks at her, "You seem like you're upset, or something."

"Oh? I'm totally normal," replied Lucy.

"Hey! What wrong with you?!" Cana suddenly appeared beside Lucy and wrapped an arm around her shoulder,

"Oh, and those are as big as ever!" she spoke with a grin as she squeezed Lucy's breasts.

Lucy was about to scream but stopped as she saw a crowd of girls coming in.

"Hey, is Loke here?" "Where is Loke?" "Loke's so cruel!" "Who are you people?" "That's what I should ask you!"

Lucy turned her head to see a group of girls gathered at the other end of the bar. All of the girls bombarded Lisanna with questions, all of them pertaining to Loke's whereabouts. The girls all looked upset, as if something terrible had just happened to them.

"Huh, what's going on over there?" Lucy asked, quirking a blonde eyebrow.

"I recognize some of them." Cana said as she scratched her chin, "I've seen a couple of those girls with Loke before. I guess they're all claiming to be his girlfriend or something."

"He tried to break up with me all of a sudden last night!" one of the girls complained

"I hate to say it, but me too!" another one followed.

"Me too!"

"Why would he do something like that?!"

"I-I don't know," Lisanna replied nervously, waving her arms as she was panicking in calming them down.

"Did he finally find 'the one'!?"

"No," Lisanna said as she lifted her arms up.

"Who is it!? Is she in this guild?!"

"I...uh...um..." Lisanna began to sputter as she tried to think of some reasons,

"Mira-nee! Help me!" Instantly all of the girls questioning Lisanna whipped around to face Mirajane -who just showed up- an angry look in all of their eyes. Mirajane raised a brow as the girls began to stalk towards her.

"Who's that?" "She's kinda cute..." "And she's got huge breasts!" "Is she Loke's new girl?"

Mira then roared at the girls as she kicked them out of the guild

"Mira-neechan is strong!" Haruka and Haruo exclaimed

Mira huffed as she holds her hand to her waist "and stay out!" Mira shouted


"Public baths...are Manly!" Elfman said as exited the public bath.

"Using the public bath once in a while sure is nice!" Lucy said as she exited from the women's side, "Nothing beats soaking in a huge bath!" she was snapped out of her musings when Loke appeared before her, "Loke!"

"Here." he said to her and handed her a bottle of milk, "It's perfect after you get out of the bath."

"It's flavored milk!" Lucy was excited.

"I wanted to drink it together with you." Loke winked at her.

"Mou! You know I had it pretty rough yesterday because of you." Lucy pouted cutely, causing him to smile nervously.

"Now, now...Cheers! To your beautiful eyes!" they clicked the bottles and drank it.

"Delicious!" Lucy smiled brightly.

"Isn't it?"

"Oh! The stars sure are pretty." Lucy exclaimed as she looked up at the beautiful night sky.

"Yeah."

"Oh, a shooting star!" Lucy shouted as she saw a shooting star fall, "I wonder what happens to shooting stars after they fall?"

Her words caused Loke to become sad, "Hey, Lucy..." he called to which she looked at him in confusion, "Do you understand the sorrow of a star that cannot return to the heavens?"

Lucy's eyes widened, "That's another line to pick up girls, isn't it?" she accused looking away, "Do you think you can trick me again?"

Loke just chuckled, "You got me."

"Sheesh...Everything out of your mouth is to get girls..."

"I'm glad I was able to talk with you casually like this." Loke said with satisfaction in his tone,

"see you." he spoke and walked away, leaving Lucy to look at his retreating figure with a suspicious look.

Natsu who came out of the public bath with Haruo saw Loke walking away

"is it time?" Natsu looks to Loke before feeling his pants getting tugged as he looks down to see Haruo wanting some milk to drink


"So that's everything that's happened Crux-Jiji." Lucy explained as the elderly cross-shaped celestial spirit floated in front of her bed, "I...definitely overreacted when I slapped Loke...but the more I think about it, the more I feel like he wasn't joking." The celestial spirit merely hummed in response.

"That quite the accusation, Lucy," Natsu said, crossing his arms over his chest as he sat on the bed beside Lucy.

"Can you please investigate any celestial spirit mages Loke has been with in the past?" Lucy asked the celestial spirit. Crux nodded his head and appeared to immediately fall asleep.

"Uh, Lucy-neechan..." Haruo said while looking at the sleeping celestial spirit "he fell asleep."

"No, he's simply searching for information," Lucy said as she leaned back on her bed.

"Are you sure?" Haruka asked while looking at the spirit "he's snoring"

"Crux-Jiji is an expert on celestial spirit magic." Lucy explained "He knows everything that's going on in both the human and celestial spirit world. He even knows which spirits are summoned by which mages."

"Haaaa!" Crux exclaimed causing Haruka and Haruo jumped up as they got behind Natsu

"Oh, you found something Crux-Jiji?" Lucy asked

"Hmmm..." Crux grumbled, readjusting himself in the air, "In the spirit world, one's personal activities are still private, so I can't be too precise. But I found out that the celestial spirit mage Mr. Loke was in contact with is...Ms. Karen Lilica."

"Karen Lilica!" Lucy exclaimed, as her eyes widened.

"Karen Lilica?" Natsu asked on who that was

"She was a very famous celestial spirit mage," Lucy explained as she grabbed a bunch of copies of the Weekly Sorcerer that were on her nightstand. She found a particular issue and showed the cover to Natsu, "And she's a beautiful woman who's been on the cover of Weekly Sorcerer magazine several times."

"but I heard she died on a mission a few years ago." Lucy said in a slightly saddened tone,

"If I remember right, she was a member of Blue Pegasus." her words caused Natsu's face to become a bit blue when he remembered Bob. The blonde celestial spirit mage then turned back to Crux, "So, what does she have to do with Loke?"

"Hmm, that is all I can say." Crux said, causing a frown to spread across Lucy's face. After a few moments, it appeared as if Crux fell asleep again.

"he's researching again!" Haruo said while looking at the sleeping spirit.

"No, he's actually sleeping this time." Lucy corrected, causing Haruo to face fault,

"Karen and Loke..." Lucy closed her eyes as she went into deep thought. After a few moments, Lucy's eyes shot open as a sudden thought occurred to her.

"you figured something out?" Natsu asked Lucy

She nodded but then the door to her room suddenly burst open.

Lucy was surprised when she saw Gray ran into the room.

"Lucy! Natsu! We got big trouble!" Gray yelled as he came to a skidding stop in the middle of the room, "Loke left Fairy Tail!"

"What?!" Lucy exclaimed, leaping off the bed. Natsu just stood there calmly, "Why would he do something like that!?" Lucy asked, as she quickly threw on her boots.

"I don't know!" Gray replied, pointing out a nearby window, "But everyone is out looking for him right now!" Gray clenched his teeth and tightly balled his fists, "That guy has been acting strange for a while now."

"Could it be...?" Lucy muttered to herself, as she finished lacing up her boots, "It's just as I thought!" Before Gray had a chance to question the blonde, she bolted out of the apartment.

"Oi Lucy!" Gray exclaimed, running up to the door, but Lucy was already out of sight, "What's the big idea!? Where are you going?!"

"Let Lucy do her thing while we look for Loke." Natsu said as he and his kids start walking to the door


Loke had a solemn look on his face, as he stared at an aging grave in front of him. Loke ran his hand over the inscription on the tombstone, "Here lies Karen Lilica." Loke let out a long sigh, as he ran his thumb over Karen's name.

"Loke." Loke immediately bolted upright when he heard a feminine voice behind him. He turned his head to see Lucy smiling at him, "Everyone is worried sick, and looking all over for you."

"Lucy, what are you doing here?" Loke asked, turning to face the blonde celestial spirit mage.

"This is Karen's grave, isn't it?" Lucy asked, which caused Loke's eyes to widen, "Celestial spirit mage Karen Lilica, was your owner...Celestial spirit Loke." she softly spoke as she locked eyes with him, "No. Your real name is, Leo the Lion."

"Heh, you're something else you know." Loke said, a sad smile spreading across his face, "I should've known you'd figure out my secret."

"I'm a celestial spirit mage who's made a lot of contracts with spirits." Lucy explained, clasping her hands behind her back, "It took me a while, but I finally sensed the 'real' you. But...I really should have noticed sooner. Just so much has been happening lately that I never really paid much attention. Normally, when the summoner who holds your key dies, your contract is broken. You're then forced back to the celestial spirit world until your next summoner appears. Karen died, yet you're still here. There must be a reason why you can't return to the celestial spirit world."

"Just as humans can't survive in the celestial spirit world, spirits can't survive long in the human world. Your life force will continue to drain away until you die."

"It's been three years already..." Loke said, which caused Lucy to gasp.

"Three years!? I'm stunned you made it past one!" Lucy exclaimed in a shocked tone.

"You're right..." Loke said as he rubbed the back of his head, "I've reached the end of my line. I'm running out of strength."

"I can help you!" Lucy exclaimed, taking a step towards Loke, "Tell me why you can't return to the celestial spirit world, and I'll try to open the gate for you!"

"I don't need your help." Loke calmly said as he shook his head.

"What are you talking about?! If we don't act soon, you'll die!" Lucy yelled, taking another step towards Loke, "Please, let me help you!"

"The reason I can't return is quite simply really." Loke said, as he lowered his head, "I broke the sacred bond between summoner and spirit...and I've been exiled forever."

"Exiled...forever?" Lucy breathed out, her brown eyes widening considerably.

"This is my own sin." Loke said, as he raised his head and locked eyes with Lucy, "I'll die without any complaints. I'm a traitorous spirit. I killed my own summoner, Karen."

"You killed Karen...You killed your summoner?" Lucy repeated, her voice full of disbelief, "That can't be right..."

"A spirit that kills his summoner cannot return to the celestial spirit world." Loke explained as he gazed at the grave behind him, "I will disappear right here."

"But...you can't," Lucy whispered, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

"It happened three years ago." Loke said as he hung his head, "Karen belonged to the guild Blue Pegasus. She always used to mistreat and abuse her spirits. Using us for menial tasks, and treating us as if we were tools." Loke suddenly tightly clenched his fists,

He then started telling his story to her when Loke suddenly began to wobble, before he collapsed onto the ground.

"Loke!" Lucy yelled, running up to the orange-haired man and helping him sit upright.

"I'm almost...out of time." Loke breathed out, as he clutched his head in pain.

"Don't say that!" Lucy exclaimed, grabbing onto Loke's shoulders, "Wait! Please just hold on!"

"B-Because of me...Karen couldn't summon any of her other spirits." Loke said, as he placed his face on his hand, "A-And in her state, she went on a mission and lost her life...I killed her, or was at least the cause of her death." Loke removed the hand from his face as it began to disappear, "Ever since that day, I've been unable to return to the celestial spirit world. This may be the end for me, but even so, I'm happy to have met such an amazing celestial spirit mage." Loke turned to Lucy and gave her a weak smile, "Thank you, Lucy."

"Hold on!" Lucy yelled, tightly gripping Loke's shoulders, "We're friends! I'll help you for sure! I'm not gonna let you give up just yet!"

"Give my regards to everyone in guild," Loke said as he ignored Lucy.

"If you go back to the celestial spirit world you can regain your life force!" Lucy exclaimed, beginning to sweat nervously, "I promise I'll send you back there!"

"It can't be done..." Loke said weakly, as more of his body began to fade away.

"Please! Don't you think it's strange!? After what you told me, there's no way anyone would think you killed Karen! It wasn't your fault! it was an accident!" Lucy screamed, pulling Loke in for a tight hug, "Open! Gate of the Lion! Return Loke to the celestial spirit world! Open! Please!"

"Lucy..." Loke said, as he gently pushed the blonde away, "It's fine...so please just stop..."

"It's not fine!" Lucy screamed, gripping Loke's arms, "How can I just sit back and let one of my friend disappear right in front of me!? What would Natsu and the others think of me if I didn't even try?! I'd never be able to live with myself!" Loke's eyes widened when the amount of magical power Lucy was using spiked dramatically.

"Lucy! You can't use so much power at once!" Loke yelled, as his eyes filled with worry.

"Have you been listening to me?! I said I'd save you for sure!" Lucy exclaimed, her entire body beginning to glow brightly with magical energy, "I'll just force your gate open, and send you back to the spirit world!"

"It won't open Lucy!" Loke shouted as he tried to push the blonde away, but she wouldn't let go of him, "Celestial spirits who disobey their summoners cannot return to the celestial spirit world!" Loke began to panic as Lucy's body began to glow even brighter, "You have to stop! You're starting to merge with the spirit energy! If you keep this up! you'll disappear with me!" Tears began to flow from Loke's eyes, "Please don't add to my sins!"

"What sins!?" Lucy yelled, her magical energy spiking once again, "If that's the rule in the celestial spirit world then I'll change it!" Both Loke and Lucy gasped when a new incredible source of spiritual energy formed behind them. A giant vortex began to form in front of the waterfall in front of them, "What's happening?!"

"You...you've gotta be kidding me..." Loke breathed out, as his eyes widened, "No way..." Before Lucy and Loke appeared a massive and imposing figure, adorned in brilliant armor.

The Celestial Spirit King appeared in front of them as he had his arms crossed

"The Celestial Spirit King?! Wh-What...are you doing here?!"

"Did you say k-king?" Lucy asked, glancing at the stunned spirit beside her, "You mean the most powerful celestial spirit of all?!"

"My old friend, we who pledge oaths to humans..." The Celestial Spirit King's voice boomed, as he addressed Loke, "We who bear keys, we are forbidden from killing our summoners. Though not directly, you did indirectly cause your summoners death, Leo. It is forbidden for you to return to the celestial spirit world."

"Oi! Hold on a second!" Lucy exclaimed, standing onto her feet, "Don't you think you're being unreasonable?!"

"Please, just give it up Lucy!" Loke pleaded as he reached out towards the blonde.

"Old friend, that's the one rule I cannot change." The Celestial Spirit king said, looking down at Lucy.

"He's been suffering and basically dying for three years!" Lucy shouted as she glared at the towering figure before her, "He did all of this for his friend! It was for Aries' sake, so he couldn't help it!"

"What you say is true, and my old friend's wish pains my heart but-"

"This isn't about old friends! This about a friend right before your eyes!" Lucy exclaimed, gesturing towards Loke

Once again Lucy's magical energy surged, and she was bathed in brilliant yellow light, "Can't you see this all just an unfortunate accident!? I'm begging you, Loke isn't at fault here! I'll never believe he is anything but innocent!"

"That's enough Lucy! I don't need forgiveness!" Loke roared, as tears continued to stream down his cheeks, "I want to atone for my sin! Disappearing into the dark abyss...never being seen again...is fine with me!"

"I won't let you do that!" Lucy screamed, the ground underneath her began to tremble because of the amount of magical energy she was releasing, "You heard what I said earlier! What would the guild think of me if I didn't try to save you?! They always give their all to protect their Friends! They risked their lives saving me when Phantom Lord attacked! So now it's my time to step up and protect my Friend!" Loke's eyes shot open when all of Lucy's celestial spirits appeared around her. The celestial spirits all stood around Lucy protectively,

"It's not a sin! Caring for your friend isn't a sin!"

"This many celestial spirits...at one time." Loke thought in shock at what he was seeing."It's incredible..." Suddenly the spirits surrounding Lucy disappeared, and she then collasped, "Lucy!"

"My friends all feel the same way too." Lucy said, digging her fingers into the ground, "As a celestial spirit yourself, you should understand Loke and Aries' feelings too!"

"You almost overdid it right there!" Loke exclaimed as he helped Lucy sit upright, "It was only for a moment, but you could have died!"

The Celestial Spirit King gazed down at the blonde, "If you would go so far for my old friend...maybe the one 'rule' is at fault here." A smile spread across Lucy's face and Loke's eyes slowly widened,

"You committed a great sin for your comrade Aries' sake, Leo. I'll try and save that Leo, old friend. For the sake of that shining and radiant bond, I shall make one exception. Leo...I'll allow you to return to the spirit world."

"You ain't so bad, Mustache man!" Lucy said with a wide grin on her face. The Celestial Spirit King gave the blonde a toothy grin of his own.

"You were falsely accused, Leo." The Celestial Spirit King said, beginning to disappear in a swirling vortex of starlight, "Thank the guidance of the stars. Even after all of this, if you still are compelled to atone for your sins then I order you to become a pillar for your friends and live on. Those are the most important friends in your life. There is much nobility in the willingness to lay down your life...to protect those that are precious to you." he spoke before slowly fading away in a light.

"Haha!" Lucy laughed weakly, as she smiled at Loke, "What did I tell you?!"

"This doesn't absolve my sins.."' Loke thought, fading away back into the celestial spirit world.

He cried while gently grasping one of Lucy's hands, he smiled to her and squeezed her hand,

"Thank you, Lucy" Loke said as he was returning to the spirit world,

"Me too," Lucy said, tightly gripping a golden key in her hand. She smiled down at the key and let out a sigh of relief knowing that everything was going to be fine.

But unknown to the two, Natsu is leaning against a tree nearby as he had a small smile before he started to walk away.


In a dark room, a young man was sitting on a throne, his legs crossed and his face on the palm of his hand, he has a strange red tattoo on his face.

His name is Jellal Fernandez

"the completion of the tower is at 98%, Jella-sama" A man with long blackish purple hair said as he appeared kneeling to him

"good" Jellal said as he stands up from his throne "soon, my dream will come true and Zeref will be resurrected"

He then looks to an opening in the room as he gazed upon the sea "anyone who dares interfere with my dream shall ceased to exist"

Jellal then turns to the man who was kneeling in front of him a few moments a go but now he was standing beside another larger figure with him

"remember to recruit him" Jellal said to them as the two figures nodded to him

Jellal then walks out of the room with a smirk.


That's a wrap!

Bye bye