The rest of the two weeks flew by as Lucy enjoyed as much time with her guild mates at possible. Everyone had come to accept her decision and realize it was her turn to go on a great adventure. By the time Lucy had gotten everything planned out and her house set up to be left for whatever time she was gone, it was just about to hit October. The fall had come quick to Magolia, and Lucy knew she had to move before the snow landed.
The last night there every single person was at the guild, giving her advice on traveling, places to avoid or stop by, any helpful tips or trades they themselves had come across. Lucy didn't stay very last but it was well past dark when she turned back looking into the guild with the doors open for the last time with a warm but watery smile. Waving as they all cheered her and smiled back.
On her walk home she felt the pull on her magic as her ever so loyal lion appeared by her side.
"Good evening Lucy, you look wonderful." He greeted with a soft kiss to the back of her hand and his usual attempted seducing smile.
"Good evening Loke. Thank you, but may I ask why you're accompanying me?"
"It would be so ungentalmany like to leave a beautiful woman such as yourself to walk home all alone this late into the evening." Was his usual response.
Rolling her eyes Lucy crossed her arms in order to pull a little more heat in to avoid the chill.
"Okay great, now why are you really here Loke?" She asks.
"Okay princess, I wanted to make sure you're still feeling up for this mission. You don't have to leave for however long you know, you could always make each location a separate mission."
"I understand Loke, however given some of the situations I will have to put myself into I'd rather not have any sort of tie back to the guild." She responds.
Loke nods, understanding her logic.
"Very well princess, since we have just arrived home I will leave you to your evening. Feel free to call upon me tomorrow on your travels if you get lonely." Loke says as he slowly disappears into a trail of golden dust.
Making her way inside Lucy closes her front door and leans upon it taking a deep breath. She know this is important and with all the details she could pull on certain dark guild that could be very dangerous and she does not want to start issues with them and in accordance Fairl Tail if she does not have to. So the space is needed.
While Lucy goes about admiring her home and packing up the last few belongings up above her in the sky some of her spirits circle around the viewing pool taking amongst themselves.
"Who do you think she will wish to initiate the Star dress with first?" A calm voice asks.
"Why me of course!" One exclaims. "We obviously have the closest bond and will be the easiest link!"
"Due to my calculations I believe it shall be Virgo." A level voice states. "They often do a lot of stuff together that you yourself have not experienced with Lucy-Sama."
"I hope we get to do the bonding with her." S meek voice says.
"Of course you'll get the chance!" One side exclaims while the other confirms "Miss Lucy would want to achieve the bonds with us all!"
"Tsk.." A chill voice says. "It doesn't matter who the brat bonds with first, all that matters is she masters each of your power better than she did mine."
All members nod in agreement going back to watching their beloved master get ready for bed.
Lucy rose with the sun this morning, taking one last relaxing bath is her lovely jetted tub before getting herself ready for the day. Her bags were packe with the esencials and appeared to already been taken by Virgo except her satchel for the long train ride. Making sure the water was turned off, garbage had been taken out and no parishablw foods were left in the house Lucy called out Cancer before she walked out of the door.
"Good morning baby." He greets.
"Good morning Cancer." She responds with a smile. "Today I have an interesting request from you." She says hesitantly.
"What can I do for you.?" Ha asks snapping his clippers.
"Well I was wondering... if you could possibly lengthen my hair just a bit and color it more of a silvery blonde. On top of that would you know of any way to change my eye color?"
"Hair is easy baby, eyes I might have something you can use from home. One moment."
It only took a minute or so for Cancer to reappear.
Sitting down on the stool in front of her vanity Lucy faces Cancer first.
"Tilt your head back baby, these are special contacts from the spirit world that sometime us sprints use to try and get an advantage in battle. They increase eye sight in the dark and appear as a molten gold color, will these work?"
"Oh how exciting I sure hope so! Will Stach Face be okay with me using these though?"
"I'm not sure baby..." Cancer tails off.
Struggling her shoulders Lucy leans back and allows for Cancer to put her contacts in. Blinking in the new sensations Lucy closes her eyes and turns towards the mirror.
"Okay Cancer go ahead on my hair, I'm going to keep my eyes closed until you're done for the whole effect"
A snip here and there, and done in just a few seconds. Opening her eyes Lucy regards herself closely in the mirror, yes still similar looks in facial structure of course but the golden eyes make her lashes seem darker and longer and the hair makes her complexion less pink and more alabaster. All in all she does look like a new person.
"Wow Cancer.." She breathes. "What do you think?"
"Still as beautiful as ever baby."
Standing up Lucy takes a good look at herself, narrowing her eyes on the high cut of her top. New adventure, new Lucy. Thanks and dismissing Cancer Lucy rummages through her dresser really quick to replace the plain grey long sleeve with a diamond cutout 3/4 black top with gold accents around the cleavage cutout. Turning back to the mirror Lucy takes in the tattoo know showing across her collarbones, tracing it with ghost like touches she swore she could feel Aquarius herumpf in the spirit world.
With a bright smile on her face Lucy grabs up her bag and her black fur lined cloak by the door before quietly exiting and locking up her home behind her.
She makes her way to the train station with time to spare before the first train arrives headed towards Hargeon where it all started.
As she waits ticked purchased Lucy hums a little tune as she plays with her magic, wishing for a palm sized ball before dispersing it over and over. Her speed has improved greatly on her summonings, however she is still restricted on items and size. She can make as large as a six inch dagger yet cannot form a whip. But in a month of training Lucy keeps telling herself it's great progress. Her grace and agility quickly came back to her, making arobatics easy to catch on to. She had always been a fairly fast runner, especially due to all the times she had to on a mission. That and her ability to dodge attacks from practice added to her move set from dancing makes a formidable pair. It was her stamina they were working on now. Her defense is still quite weak, even with the strength in her legs Lucy struggles to catch onto the teachings of Capricorn.
The whistle of the arriving train breaks Lucy from her musing. Standing up she grabs her things and quickly boards selecting a quiet seat in the back of the compartment.
Half way through her journey to Hargeon Loke decided to pop up.
"Afternoon Princess." He says with his usually flair.
Not taking her eyes from her book Levy had loaned her she greets back.
"Hello again Loke."
Feeling his pout Lucy marks her page and closes her book before giving him her undivided attention.
"On that note, I would like you to spread word to my other spirits while on this journey unless in private I would prefer you all to call me Altair. Or of course continue with the nicknames but I do not want to be referred to as Lucy, for a large part of this mission depends on secrecy."
A soft smile makes its way across Lokes face.
"I will do so princess, if I see Aquila I will be sure to tell him how our wonderful summoner decided to go by the name of his brightest star. I should be offended." He suddenly exclaims. "You did not choose to go by the name of my brightest star!"
Lucy deadpans.
"No Loke I do not want to go by Regulus. You can't get more manly than that name."
"Offended and praised in the same sentence princess! Whatever shall I do!"
"You could always I don't know, go home." Lucy responds easily before opening her book back up.
Taking his sign Loke dismisses himself.
The rest of the train ride goes fast as Lucy looses herself in the land of fiction.
It was mid afternoon by the time Lucy makes it to Hargeon, a little sad that there wasn't time to reminisce her previous adventures is the welcoming town. She hurries in her way down to the harbor, easily spotting BoBo waiting for her on a lone dock.
Warm greetings are exchanged as she makes herselfcomfortable in the small boat.
"I'm so glad to see you again Lucy! Although I almost didn't recognize you at first! May I ask about the sudden change?"
Since they were far enough away from port Lucy decided to open up.
"To be honest BoBo, I will be going undercover in order to gain information on specific celestial keys so I must leave behind the old Lucy to throw anyone off of mine and Fairy Tails trail."
Nodding he seems to accept the answer.
"Well no worries Miss Lucy, you will be safe and surrounded by just our people on the Island. Even after the save from your guild are people have found it best to keep our island a sanctum for our people. Demons are not just accepted everywhere you know." He throws back with a cackle.
By the time the boat reaches land the sun is finally creating on the other side of the sky.
Quickly the pair tie up the boat and make their way up to the Chiefs hut.
"Ahhh welcome once again Miss Lucy! We have wanted to reach out to you recently about a found key in our temple but you know how harvest season is."
"That I do Chief, thanks again for your hospitality and holding the key for me. Who knows what kind of hands it could have fallen into other wise."
Nodding in agreement the Chief opens the curtain to lead them inside. Compared to the outside the inside of the hut was quite luxurious with brightly colored tapestries upon the walls and plush pillows and seats on the ground.
"Make yourself at home, we have much to discus on your visit here, some one will bring in some food and wine in a little for now tell me of your adventures and what you wish to get from this trip." Chief Moka easily says as he settles into a big blue pillow.
Lucy claims a gold one for herself. Telling the Chief of the recent stories and crazies of Fairy Tail along with her own adventure she is just starting. He listens with a grandfather like patience, giving little notes of advice here or there on the things she wishes to do. It was well into the evening that they finished talking. Chief Mako agrees to introduce her to the villagers as Altair and let them know she was a friend of the island looking for somewhere to safely practice her magic. He did advise Lucy that in her time here she would be treated the same as any other villager and expected to carry her weight in chores. Something Lucy readily agreed to. Shown to her own personal and much smaller hut, Lucy easily falls asleep to the sound of nature on the plush bed of pillows provided.
Alrighty then, this chapter was a little unplanned. I know I wanted to send Lucy to the island but I had not decided if I wanted to skim her time here or expand it, and it seems to be the latter. I find this a good place and opportunity for her to learn her Star dress while tucked away somewhere safe while she continues to gain info and plan her "attack" on the unsuspecting dark guilds. Let me know what your think of feel. Much love. Write on!