"WHAT THE HELL?!" Laxus screamed at the top of his lungs, the dragon inside raging with barely contained power. Glaring at Mira and Bickslow with a fierceness neither of the two had ever seen in the dragon slayer. "How could you! She's the one who left! She's the one who turned her back on us!"
Mira took a large step back, feeling the magic radiating off the slayer. Bickslow moving in front of the take over mage in preparation of a possible attack. He could feel Mira shaking slightly behind him, fear radiating off her.
"Lax, man. She didn't turn her back on us, she left to protect us because she was the only one who could complete that mission. She left because she loved us, she didn't want to go, she didn't want to be apart from you. If you had been there at the train station that day you would know that, you would have seen her tears and heard her sobs. You're the one who turned their back on her."
Laxus roared in frustration, pacing back and forth weighing his options. Muttering to himself, trying to convince himself that he wasn't the one in the wrong.
Fighting the dragon inside him, 'You know they are right… You have quieted me to long little one…"
"No! She LEFT me!"
"She didn't leave by choice, she left to keep you safe. You know she left to protect her you — her mate."
"You're wrong, Lucy is my mate! Lucy is!"
"Little one, you know Lucy will never bring you the happiness the Celestial Dragon Slayer would."
"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!"
"I'm sorry little one, but this time I will not be quieted. Your friends are right, you need to come to terms with your actions."
Mira and Bickslow exchanged looks, questioning what was going on in the dragon slayer's head as they watched him pace back and forth muttering. Mira grabbed Bickslow's hand in hope for some grounding, fear of what action Laxus was going to take it possibly being towards them. Pausing his pace, Laxus stood in front of his two longest and best friends in defeat.
"I messed up… didn't I? I don't know what to do, I really don't know what to do." Tears rolling down the slayer's face as he searches for his friends' eyes for answer.
Mira being the first to move towards the slayer, wrapping her arms around his waist in hopes of consoling him. Sobs wracking his large body, head resting on the shoulder of take over mage.
"How could I have been so stupid, I love them both so much."
"Lax, you need to go home and talk to Lucy. You ran out of the guild hall right after you proposed to her, she's going to want answers." Mira said in a quiet voice, knowing Laxus if given the choice would run for the hills rather than face a furious Lucy. Signing in defeat he nods against her shoulder, "You're right. I have a lot to discuss with Luce. I also have a lot to discuss with Sky… I have to apologize to her — to both of them." Bickslow put his hand on his friend's shoulder in comfort.
"It'll work out man, just give Sky some space right now. Figure out things with Lucy first, you need to decide the course of action you want to take."
Guild House -
A crack and thump sounded in his office, looking up from the stack of paperwork in front of him. Master Makarov stood staring over the edge of his desk peering at the slumped form. Hiccups and sobs wracking the slumped figure — recognition flared in Makarov as he stared at Skylar's prone form. Rounding the corner of the wooden desk he kneeled before her, peering under her cascade of hair to look at her face, once bright wild eyes now stared back dull, lifeless and red from crying.
"Jiji…" a soft mutter came from Skylar as she threw herself in the arms of the older man. Sobbing into his chest, large hands began to pet down her now matted hair in hopes of comforting the heart broken girl.
"Oh my dear, what has grandson done to you?"
"It hurts, my dragon she is in so much pain."
Sighing, Markarov put two and two together — "You saw his proposal… We all told him it was un-smart to start a relationship with Lucy, I warned him that his dragon would not accept her — you two are mates and have known since such a young age."
Knocking sound throughout the office before the door opened revealing who Skylar recognized as the girl Laxus proposed to. Eyes locked, a deep amber to a midnight blue. The guild master sensing the trepidation in the young dragon slayer he stood to break the hold each girl had on one another. Both girls focused their attention on the master as he stood, signing he took in both girls, the celestial key holder and the celestial dragon slayer — his grandson had put both girls in a bad spot.
"Lucy, come in. We three clearly need to have a much needed conversation regarding Laxus."
Pausing, Lucy returned her eyes to the young woman slumped on the floor. Stepping towards her, Lucy bent down reaching out her hand to introduce herself.
"Hi, I don't really know what's going on right now… but I'm Lucy." Looking back to Markarov, Skylar stared at him in question. Nodding towards Lucy's hand, Skylar placed her hand in the key holders. Hoisting up the petite dragon slayer, "I — I'm Skylar."
Sitting behind his desk once again he motioned for the girls to sit, both girls following orders as they kept sneaking glances at one another.
"Jiji… I don't know if I can do this."
"Jiji?!" Shock resonated through Lucy as she stared in shock at the almost white haired girl. Eyes wide with confusion Lucy stared at the two in hopes to discover answers. Markarov nodded in response, "Yes Lucy, this is Skylar. She is a celestial dragon slayer, the very one who grew up with Laxus, Mira and Bickslow."
Relaxing, Lucy leaned back in the chair. The sound of her sigh filled the room, turning towards the woman she now knows is 'The Skylar' she smiled, "It's great to finally meet you! Everyone has told me so many great stories of the adventures you all went on as kids!"
Trying to smother a sob back down her throat Skylar could only manage to nod, her hair hiding her face. Lucy continued to try and make conversation with the dragon slayer, Master could see Skylar sinking in to herself as the mage kept trying to engage Skylar in a friendly conversation.
"Lucy, now is not the time. Skylar just returned from her mission, she is tired and came home to a rather large shock." Master Makarov spoke, "Skylar my dear. How should I begin this conversation?"
Little did the room know, but Skylar's dragon was raging a war of rejection. The pain and anguish of being wronged by her mate was becoming too much for either Skylar or her dragon. Skylar's eyes rolled back in her head as her body made the tumble to the floor. Hair fanned out around her face, her breath coming in shallow, her skin pale and clammy. Both Lucy and Makarov rushed to the slayer's side, "WENDY!" Shouted Lucy as she rushed out of the room in search of the wind slayer.
Treehouse -
Mira's com went off, snatching it out of her pocket she answered it.
"Hello?"
A frantic Wendy and Makarov popped up on the screen, "You need to get the guild hall now! It's Skylar!"
"Mira dear, please hurry. This is urgent."
Mira stared at the com in udder horror, her eyes seeking out Laxus and Bickslow. "Laxus you need to get us to the guild NOW!"
Wrapping his arms around his two friends, zapping them through the skies to the guild house. A crack sounds through the guild hall as three bodies rushed towards the head office. Yanking the door open, the three guild members were met with a sight they had always wished they would never see…
Wendy her small hands pressing down on Skylar's chest in repeated motions before attempting to breathe air into the slayers lungs the sequence repeating. Lucy pale as a ghost cowering again the office wall and Makarov hovering over the two slayers on the floor, "Sky wake up. Dear girl, you need to wake up and breathe!" Standing up, he turns to the key holder, "Lucy you need to call the Celestial King to this realm right now!"
"I - I CAN'T! I'm not strong enough!"
"DO IT NOW!" Everyone in the room stared at the Master in shock, none of them had heard him raise his voice since they were children. Mira breaking the trance she was in rushed towards Lucy and snatched her keys, "LUCY YOU NEED TO CALL HIM!" Frantic with worry Mira fumbled with the keys searching for the one key she knew would call their friend and once guild mate.
Popping into the world Leo raced towards the unconscious slayer snatching her off the floor he laid her on the messy desk. "Princess! Skylar!" Wiping the sweat drenched hair from Skylar's face he pushed his magic into her trying to knock her out of her coma. "Aquarius! I NEED YOUR HELP! BRING THE KING!"
A static filled the air before a loud crack sounded. The Celestial King stood in front of Leo, Aquarius by his side, a look of questioning on his face as he glared at the lion before taking in the scene before him. His own daughter laying on the desk of the Fairy Tale Guild Master seemingly dying.
"What happened.." The deep voice of the King resonated off the walls of the office. His eyes searching the room to see his favored Celestial Key Holder in panic, her guild mates frantic until they met those of Laxus, "someone get this idiot out of my sight… Take him to the infirmary.. He is going to need it once I am done fixing his mess." Static laced the room as fear radiated off the Lighting Slayer as Bickslow pulled him out of the office.
"Sir, what is happening?!" Lucy finally spoke up, her voice shaky and confused. Her amber eyes flitting between the King and Skylar.
"Let me break their mating bond and I will explain…" the King bent over his daughter pressing his large hand to Skylar's forehead. "I'm sorry my love, I can no longer let him break your dragon. Forgive me"
The entirety of Skylar's body began to glow as the King began to remove her mating bond with the Lightning Dragon Slayer. A pained cry sounded from the other side of the guild house as the King began his work on weaving the bond. Disentangling the two dragons took all his concentration, ensuring both slayer's minds remained in tact afterwards. Aquarius clutching Leo's arm, watching in horror as she watched her friend's face contort in pain — glancing to the key holder she hissed, "I told you not to get involved with him… We ALL told you not to." Lucy shrunk in on herself, noticing this Mira grabbed the key holder and held her. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I don't know what's going on."
Makarov made his way towards his desk sensing that the procedure was coming to an end. He waiting till the King was finished before starting conversation, "How is she?"
"She'll sleep long enough to let her dragon heal, that fool did more damage in such a small time than thought possible. His ignorance is no excuse for what he has done. She is free to choose her mate now, if she takes him back it will be entirely her decision. Since he has seemingly chosen his regardless of the true bond the dragon had chosen for him, his dragon will remain restless. There is nothing I can do about that."
Nodding, Master slumped in his chair pulling open the bottom drawer of his desk to retrieve two glasses and a bottle of Fiore's finest brandy. Filling the two glasses with hearty pours he passed one to the King as Leo carried Skylar to the infirmary to be observed in her coma state. Throwing back the dark amber liquid Makarov stared at the ceiling, pondering what the right course of action would be.
"I can take her to the Celestial realm, she could be happy there."
"We both know she would never find true happiness and love in that realm sire. She is a free spirit, even now when her spirit seems to be broken. My grandson is a selfish bastard, not heeding any of his nakama's warnings to not enter into a relationship with the Celestial Key Holder. His unfaithfulness to his bonded mate will now leave his voice and motives in question with all the members of this guild."
"I am sorry we are in this position, but I do believe we have an audience who is wanting answers… Lucy sit down there is much to explain." The King motioned for the key holder to sit, standing he led her to sit down before motioning for Mira to sit as well.
Walking towards the young Wind Slayer the King bowed in gratitude, "Thank you for everything you have done today to ensure my daughter's safety, I am indebted to you young slayer — if you ever find yourself in a bind please call on me so I can repay my debt to you." Handing Wendy a small gold key encrusted with diamonds, he made his way back to the desk.
"Now, to begin — as you know a dragon slayer is linked to a dragon, their consciousnesses are linked. This dragon, even before a slayer is born predetermines a mate for the slayer. The two mates are destined to meet each other and begin the mating bond process, the sooner they meet the stronger the bond will be in adulthood. In this case, Lucy I'm sorry my dear but your betrothed had met his mate a long time before he met you when he was very young. Now mind you, it is rare to have two slayers find mates in one another — this is a true mate. A true mate is one that was predetermined before the disappearance of the dragons, it predates the dragons themselves. The gods determined this particular mating link…"
Leaning against the guild master's desk the King sighed and looked towards Makarov as to ask if he should continue, with a subtle nod of the master's head the King continued, "as you must be thinking, yes. Laxus and Skylar were true mates. Why Laxus never told you the truth of their bond, only he can answer to. Because of his choices to enter into a relationship with you he rejected his mated bond with Skylar and her dragon. I'm guessing for some time his own dragon began rejecting him as well because of this decision. Witnessing the event of your proposal threw Skylar into the full depths of rejection, her dragon became unstable which caused her to slip into a coma. Her dragon was furious, hurt, confused and began taking it out on her. To save her life I had to break their true mating bond, Skylar has much to accomplish in her life and we need her on the forefront of what is to come."
Pausing his explanation he took in the reaction of the Celestial Key Holder, a look between horror, sadness and shock raced over her face. Looking towards Mira, who's head was currently resting in her hands trying to contain her emotions, "Mira, what do I do? I love him…"
A choked laugh escaped Mira's throat as she leaned back in her chair, her face free of her hands now showing the room her tears. Mira stood and made her way to the door, "Lucy, I can't tell you what to do — clearly after telling you not to start anything with Laxus you won't listen to reason. You have to make this decision yourself, and you need to ask Skylar for forgiveness and answer from Laxus." Mira opened and left thought the heavy door closing it softly behind her.
Lucy sat, staring at the door in confusion and hurt, Mira was supposed to be her friend, she was supposed to help her. Why wasn't she helping now? She was just as much a part of the guild as Skylar, why weren't her friends helping her? Frustration soared through Lucy's body, "King, what should I do?"
Sighing the Celestial King looked over his shoulder towards Master Makarov, "Lucy, dear. You need to decide if you want to stay with the man you love, who has lied to you just as much as he has lied to Skylar. You need to make the decision if you want to forgive him for his indiscretions towards you two girls. If you want to be his mate and begin the bonding you can not hold any sort of resentment towards him, if you do it will tarnish your bond." The guild master spoke, trying to ease Lucy of her thoughts.
"Master Makarov is correct. While they may not have the true mating bond any longer the two slayers will remain close. Laxus was the first person in Fiore Skylar met after I brought her here so she could learn control of her dragon and slayer powers. They were inseparable from very early on in their relationship." Pausing the King pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, "we had to send her away to complete a mission that was detrimental to the safety of Fiore, we had no choice. It looks like instead of resenting Master and myself, Laxus began to resent Skylar for agreeing to take the mission…" "Lucy dear, this mission we sent Skylar on only few know the specific details because of importance, there could have been no deviation from the plan. It had to be taken out a Celestial being, one who could not only control their own powers but had the ability to summon spirits to help aid her."
Master leaned forward resting his elbows on desk, clasping his hands together. Glancing at Lucy's face to gage her reaction to the information being told to her, the Master and King continued.
"A simple S-Class mage would have died easily on this mission, it took great power and force to ensure completion —"
"Then why send her alone?!" Lucy shot from her seat furious, "She could have DIED, you potentially sent your very own daughter to her death bed!" Fists clutched, knuckles white with furry. Tears rolling down her cheeks, crying for a girl she barely knew. How horrible it must have been for Skylar to leave her Nakama, how excruciating it must have been to have left her mate, how betrayed she must have felt to have been forgotten by her family. "How could you let this guild forget her! If what you are saying is true she went on your stupid mission only to be resented and memory forgotten!"
Storming out of the office towards in the infirmary Lucy's feet pounded the floor in anger. Yanking the door to the infirmary open, heads turn, eyes follow Lucy as she made her way to the bedside of the Celestial dragon slayer. Pulling up a chair next to Mira, Lucy reached to grab Skylar's hand, sighing Lucy began to pray to the gods that Skylar would make it through. The two girls had much to talk about.