When her head finally stopped spinning, Lucy found herself staring at the entrancing if somewhat disorienting landscape of the Spirit World. No matter how many times she went there, she just couldn't get used to it.

Seconds later she had a minor panic attack when she thought she'd been transported to the Celestial world in her pajamas. This though calmed when she saw the familiar white and blue dress she'd worn on several occasions before. That meant that Virgo had changed her while she slept… Or she hoped Virgo had changed her, but decided against asking Loke, being happier not knowing.

"Loke," she called out hesitantly and he smiled at her.

"Yes, my princess?" he asked with his best purr and Lucy couldn't help but giggle. He was an incorrigible flirt, but he was kind and good and loyal to a fault. In him, she knew, she had a friend and protector for life.

"Why exactly am I here? And in the middle of the night, no less?"

Loke took a deep breath and raked his fingers through his unruly orange hair.

"Scorpio, Taurus and Sagittarius told us what happened to you on your last mission. I couldn't summon myself to you because you'd dropped my key and when Virgo managed to get through her gate, she'd been forced back immediately only catching a glimpse of you. When Aquarius heard what was going on, she pitched a fit, as you can imagine. So the King decided to offer you a chance only a handful of Celestial mages through history have ever been given. I can't tell you anymore, but the King will see you soon and you'll know what's going on."

Lucy didn't really know what to make of any of this. On the one hand it touched her deeply that all her spirits cared for her so much and that even though she still hasn't been able to locate Aquarius' key, her oldest friend cared enough to show agitation on Lucy's behalf. On the other hand, she wasn't sure if she even wanted to know what the King's offer might be.

All she wanted was to go home and curl up beneath her comforter and stay there for days. If at all possible with Natsu wrapped around her like a scorching hot, over-protective rope. After her last misadventure, she simply didn't feel safe, anywhere if Natsu wasn't there.

"I don't want to sound ungrateful," she started hesitantly, wrapping her arms around her stomach tightly and biting her lip. "But I'm not sure about this, Loke."

The concern in his hazel eyes almost undid her, but she managed to keep the tears at bay. Crying never helped anything. Crying only made everything worse. She needed to get a grip.

Oh, if Natsu could hear her thoughts right now. He'd lose his mind. He was always telling her how strong she was, how she wasn't giving herself enough credit, how she was so much more than she thought she was. And here she was being a weakling yet again.

But seriously, Lucy wasn't stupid. Natsu meant everything he said, she knew that, but Natsu wasn't thinking rationally. She was his best friend, his partner, he loved her and of course he thought she was the best person in the world. She thought the same of him. But where Natsu was everything Lucy thought him to be, the Lucy Natsu saw was only a figment of his imagination.

Natsu was strong, Gray was strong, Erza was strong. Hell, little Wendy was strong. And Lucy… Well, she wasn't.

"I'm not strong," she murmured and Loke's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing.

"Like hell you aren't," he growled and Lucy flinched, unfamiliar with such a forceful side of him.

He closed the distance between them and took her shoulders in a firm, but not rough grip. "Listen to me Lucy. I know that whatever happened to you must have been horrible, we all felt your pain here, but were unable to help you in any way. What you lived through wasn't your fault. You fought back. You tried everything you could to help yourself. There is no shame in that. There is no weakness in that."

This time Lucy couldn't hold back her tears as her frustrations rose and something in her snapped. She tore away from Loke's grasp, flinging her arms around in agitation as angry tears streamed down her face.

"I lost!" she shouted. "I did absolutely everything to save myself and I lost! Those guys weren't even that strong, they were ridiculously weak and they still beat me! If I can't even protect myself from something like that, what the hell am I good for?!"

"Stop that!" Loke bit out and Lucy could only stare. He never raised his voice at her, ever. "Stop saying that the woman who saved me, who put her own life on the line to make sure I could live is weak! Don't ever belittle yourself like that again!"

The pain in his handsome features was so stark that Lucy felt herself choke on guilt. Her spirits, those precious friends she held so close to her heart, never thought she was weak. They fought by her side without hesitation, protected her whenever she needed it and it wasn't fair to them how she kept putting herself down. She knew that. But she also knew that she needed to get stronger. A lot stronger. She couldn't always count on Natsu and the others to come save her. She wanted to save herself.

"You're right," she whispered softly and Loke smiled. He reached out a hand and caressed her shoulder down her arm to grasp her hand. Lucy didn't protest, she just squeezed back.

"Come hear what the King has to offer you," her Lion invited and she smiled slightly, brushing away her tears with her free hand.

"Okay," she nodded and followed him to where she saw the imposing form of the Celestial Spirit King towering in the distance. Her heart beat ever faster and anticipation kept trying to choke her, but she gripped Loke's hand tighter and walked without hesitation. If whatever the King offered her would mean getting stronger, she'd do it. Natsu, her friends, her spirits, they all deserved her giving her all to become stronger.

Above all, she owed this to herself.

XXXXXXXX

After the initial shock at the Spirit King's offer, Lucy started realizing that this may just as well be her one chance to become truly strong and not rely on Natsu and the others so much.

Three spirits with powers she couldn't even imagine could mean that the next time she faced a life or death situation she may just as well make it out alive without Natsu having to risk life and limb to save her. And most importantly without her having to ever again make a sacrifice like when she fought Jakal.

This was her chance to make a change to prove once and for all to herself and everyone else that she was a worthy member of Fairy Tail, that she wasn't the weak link in their super-powered team, that she could hold her own.

Determination surging through every crevice of her being, Lucy stared the King right into the eyes as she accepted his once in a lifetime offer.

"I'll do it!"

Behind her Loke let out a mostly silent 'whoop' and she smiled to herself.

"A very brave and wise decision, my old friend," the Spirit King boomed. "And if you succeed you will find that we Celestial Spirits reward human bravery very handsomely."

Then his entire presence seemed to darken as he warned her.

"I will open the gate of one of your spirits and allow them to accompany you for the duration of this quest. You will of course be able to call upon your other spirits as needed, but one will be your constant companion during this time and will help you in any way to complete your task, so choose wisely. If and when you find the keys, your quest won't be complete until you summon all the Triad as one. You must summon all three at once to make a contract. This will be the hardest part. I wish you all the luck in the world for it."

His entire countenance changed again as he smiled. "Now tell me, who shall accompany you?"

Lucy didn't have to think twice about it and grinned as she reached behind her and clasped Loke's hand.

"I choose Leo the Lion," she answered with a strong, decisive voice and the King smiled wider.

"An excellent choice," he boomed.

Suddenly a small golden key with a heart-shaped orange gem worked into the hilt, appeared in front of her face. She slowly reached out and took it, almost dropping it as she felt the pulse of the King's power from the small piece of gold.

"This key," the King called for her attention again, "will bind you and Leo together while you're on your quest. If you get separated he'll be able to find you and come to you through the key. Never lose it."

Lucy nodded, grasping the key tightly and the King looked down upon her for a moment. "Good," he murmured before he turned and walked away.

The only thought Lucy had while she watched him walk away was - holy crap.

AN: And that wraps up this week's chapter. I hope everyone enjoyed it.Reviews are to me what fire is to Natsu.I'm just gonna leave that there.