AN: Chapter 4
Hi everyone! No I have not abandoned this story and nor will I ever! My life has been stupid busy and I will admit that I've been concentrating on my other stories more than this one. I'm very sorry about that and I'm going to try to post up a new chapter monthly but I can't make any promises since my other works are farther along than this one and I would like to see them finished. I greatly appreciate all of your patience while I am away from this story. I also have to find my notes for this one because I moved in march and cannot find what I had planned and since it has been so long since I last looked at it… the struggle was real writing this short chapter because I think I had more planned out… but at least this is something! I do apologize for the short chapter but I really wanted to update it for you guys. I deeply appreciate your reviews and all of you who read this and support it! thank you all so much!
xXAmissisMeo.14Xx: haha I've had plenty of those kind of reactions before, but mostly they happen at work on breaks XD everyone in the room stares at me and are like omg you ok?! And I'm just like ignore me! Just fangirling is all! XD thank you so so so much for loving this story so far! It really means a lot to me to hear that! :) yes! I kinda wanted to stay close to the main story line but also throw in a twist to the chapters I'm writing. This one is probably close to the show as well, but the next however many planned will all be my own. Don't know how unpredictable or predictable they will be because I have to somehow find my notes I wrote a long time ago so might have to rethink what I wanted to do from here on out ^^;; anywhos! Thank you so much again for reviewing! I hope you enjoy this chapter as well!
Questionable: you are most welcome! I hope this chapter is to your liking as well (not too sure about it since I kinda wrote it blindly . ) and it's awesome to hear that the LoLu and king scene was one of your fav parts too! :D * fangirl squeal*
Guest 1: thank you so much for reading and reviewing!
Angelis-of-night: thank you so much! :D
Haruka Shinonono: Very sorry it took so long, but here it is! Thanks for reviewing!
Lucy's brown eyes rounded as she stared back up at the overwhelming celestial spirit king. She couldn't believe that he had come down from the heavens, and for what? Why did he come down here? Lucy could feel her own heart beating in anticipation, fear, and awe. He stopped time all around them and made the air stale. She found herself inching closer behind the lion spirit after he had unknowingly let go of her arm as he shook in his place, his olive-green eyes glue to the king staring back at them. "I… I can't believe it! the celestial king?!"
Loke swallowed his fear and stood up straight, his fists clenching tightly as his expression changed to one of anger once again. "What is the meaning of this? Why have you come here?! You've never set foot into the human world before, so why now?!" The lion spirit shouted.
The king's voice was deep and loud, but it was also soft as he spoke to the spirit and human. "Old friend… do you not realize your recent actions as of late?"
Loke stepped forward. "I have done nothing wrong!"
The king narrowed his eyes as one arm came unfolded from the other, pointing a large finger at the spirit. "All celestial spirits must obey celestial law, no matter who their master is. I have come here because you have failed to answer your new masters call. I have been watching you and have been very disappointed with what I have seen. As leader of the stars, I expect you to show the righteous example of being one's celestial spirit. Your recent actions have gravely disappointed me. We all follow a fundamental celestial law… and if it is every broken in any way… one must pay the price." The hand pointed at Loke spread the rest of its fingers as a shock wave left his hand. Loke gasped and gripped his chest as he felt his life force suddenly being sucked out of him. "Leo, spirit of the lion, I hereby banish you for breaking our fundamental law. You no longer will be able to stay here on earth or return to the heavens."
"W-what is this?!" Loke said as he dropped to one knee. He could feel all his magic leaving his body.
Lucy watched in horror as the spirit in front of her started to fade in and out. All she could think about was the times they shared when she was just a little girl, how long she had been searching for him, and how she didn't want to lose him now. She leapt forward and wrapped her arms around the disappearing spirit. "No! Please don't!"
Loke weakly glanced her way. "You idiot… get off of me! Do you want to be… destroyed too?!"
Lucy could feel her own magic starting to be depleted as she held onto the spirit tightly. Her brown eyes filled with tears as she spoke through the growing pain she was feeling. "I don't want to lose you! Not after all of this time! I can't!"
"Idiot! Why do you… even care about me?! You're probably no different from… the rest of these humans on earth! You all think so little of us spirits… so why put yourself through this torture now?!" Loke groaned as his body faded in and out.
The blonde-haired girl held the spirit tighter. "You're living beings, not tools or servants, you have free will and feel emotion! I've only wanted to become close friends with you all, to help fight with you in battles! I've never once thought little of my spirits! You're family to me! And family always helps each other in any situation!" Her brown eyes were overflowing with tears as she stared into olive-green. "I'd do anything for you! I've missed you so much and have been searching for you for years!" Lucy shut her eyes tightly as she shouted. "I won't let you leave me now! I don't care who this guy is, he's not taking you from me! You mean too much to me! Not only as a spirit, but as a friend!"
Loke grabbed Lucy's arm. "Shut up! do you want him to kill you too?! Quit saying such things!"
Lucy shook her head, her brown eyes glaring at the spirit. "I don't care if he hears me!" She turned her head up to the king. "Do you hear me?! You shouldn't be doing this to him! You need to rethink your judgement because you are wrong for banishing Loke!"
The celestial kings magic wavered for a second, shocked by Lucy's words. "Hm?"
"You think just because he refused to come to my side when I called a couple of times, you can just banish him?! do you even know what he's been through before he came to me?!" She continued to shout up at the enormous spirit.
Loke continued to look at the girl defending him. "Lucy…"
The blonde-haired girl shut her eyes tightly. "I may not know exactly what happened to him with his previous master, but from the pained sound in his voice, I can just tell he was mistreated! He had every right to act this way! To be hesitant to come to me! You can't just abuse an animal and expect it to come to you when you call!" Brown eyes shot back open. "You shouldn't punish him this harshly! Your judgement is wrong!"
The celestial king's eyes widened as he listened to the girl's words. They were strong and truthful, something he could not ignore. He closed his eyes and started to lower his hand to his side, causing his spell to stop. Both Lucy and Loke fell back onto their rears as they breathed in deeply, the lion spirit clutched onto his chest still as he could feel his magical energy was very low. Lucy looked to the spirit next to her and immediately moved back to his side, wrapping one arm around his back to cup his shoulder with a hand while the other gripped his closer shoulder. "Hey! You ok?" She asked with concern for the spirit.
"Old friend…" The king started as the two below him looked up his way. "It seems you have suffered in the past… but it also looks like you now have your rightful master." His eyes opened slowly. "I have been moved by such kindness from your new companion that I would like to give you a second chance… but with a condition." The celestial king paused for a moment before continuing. "I will not banish you so long as you follow these two conditions… first, I would like for you to live along side this girl as a human yourself until you have proven yourself worthy of receiving your powers back. I want you to learn from her and better yourself. Stay by her side and help her. Secondly, once your powers have returned to you, you must go to her whenever you are summoned and aid her in anyway she needs. Once your powers are returned to you, only then will you have access to the celestial world again. For now, you will but cut off from our sacred grounds. Do all of this, and I shall pardon your actions, and return your status as the rightful leader of the zodiac. Do you hereby swear to me to uphold your end of this bargain?"
Loke lowered his head and thought about what he must do. 'If I say no… my life as I know it will end… but if I agree to all of that…' Olive-green eyes shifted over to Lucy who was still looking up to the king. 'Then that means I'll be force to live as she does until I can prove to the king I am worthy of my powers again… she talks a big game about kindness and caring for her spirits… but… how can I believe all that she says? Thanks to Karen… I have such little faith in celestial wizards and their words.' The lion spirit looked down at his own body as it shook slightly from magical depletion. 'I… I don't want to die… I just want to be free…' He clenched a fist as his thoughts continued. 'If these are my only options… then I have no choice…'
"What say you, Leo?" The king said.
"I… agree to the conditions." The spirit responded. The girl beside him smiled and hugged him tightly. The king smiled as he looked at them both.
"Give it time, old friend. I have a feeling your ideals will change… as soon as you see the goodness in this young girls' heart… I have no doubt you shall succeed in restoring your powers." He held up a thumbs up as he smiled widely.
Lucy stood up slowly and stepped forward, her hand coming up to her chest as she spoke. "I'm sorry for yelling at you… I just couldn't let you do that to him."
The king folded his arm back to his chest. "I've never had someone talk back to me like that before, and to tell me that my decision was wrong…" Lucy shut her eyes and prepared for a stern lecture, only to hear the king burst out in laughter. The blonde-haired girl opened her eyes and stared back at the celestial spirit in the sky, confusion over her face as to why he thought it was funny. "You humans are always such a wonder and mystery. It warms my heart to see a new friend defending my old one. Please take care of him while he is in your care. I am trusting you to bring back the old lion spirit we all once knew. It may be hard and may take time… but I have faith that you will be the one to bring him back."
Lucy's confused expression turned into a smile and determination as she clenched her fist tightly. "Don't worry! You can count on me! I want the old Loke back just as much!"
The king once again smiled wide and gave her the thumbs up before a swirling cloud formed around his feet, quickly making its way up his body. "I am looking forward to seeing you both again, but in better circumstances. Good luck!" The giant celestial spirit began to disappear back into the heavens from whence he came, allowing time to return to normal all around the girl and spirit left on earth.
Lucy lowered her hand to her side as she turned on her heels, eyeing the man still sitting on the ground. He had moved his legs up so he could rest his arms on his knees as he hung his head slightly. The wizard smiled as she pushed back a strand of hair behind her ear, making her way to the now humanized spirit. She bent down to get on his level as she spoke to him. "Are you able to stand? Do you need any help?"
Olive-green eyes shifted up some to look at Lucy. She had such a warm smile across her lips. Her brown eyes looking at him with so much care and love. 'She was willing to sacrifice herself for me… I should feel better about having her as my new master but… why don't I feel grateful? I still can only feel anger and distaste for her kind…' Loke chuckled at his thoughts. 'Her kind? My kind as well, now… I'm just like them… only she still has magic power… I'm a useless human who harbors resentment… but if this is the price I must pay to get my powers back… then I have to just deal with it all I guess.' The orange haired man slowly began to rise. He felt warm hands move to the back of his arm and side, helping him stand. "I'm fine…" He said softly.
"You don't have to lie to me. I know you had a lot of magic taken from you before he stripped you of your powers. I feel weak myself but because I'm human… I don't think his spell affected me as much." Lucy smiled softly. "You can lean on me while we head back to my apartment." She said as she wrapped an arm around her own shoulders, her hand moving to his wrist and the other around his waist.
'I don't want her help…' Loke thought as they both took a step on the bricked path heading back to Lucy's living space. 'But it looks like I have to other choice. I have no other options but to actually put forth an effort into this.' The orange haired man glanced out of the corner of his eye at Lucy as she walked alongside him, carrying him confidently. 'Part of me wants to believe she is different from the rest… am I so far gone for that to happen? I guess… only time will tell.'
AN: once again, super sorry for the short chapter! I really hope it all makes sense because I quickly read over it ^^;; Please continue to be patient with me since I am working on 3 other stories at once, not just this one! Thank you all again for reading and reviewing! You all are amazing!