*UPDATED VERSION 8/3/2018*

Akane Resort

Lucy POV

Ah, the wonderful Akane Resort! It is totally what I needed after Phantom Lord incident and my father. I think back to what we did today, while taking a relaxing bath in the resorts facilities.

We got off the train, dragging Natsu off of the train, and went to drop off our bags in our rooms. Loke had gotten us 3 rooms so naturally the boys shared one room while Erza and I got one for each of us. I had no issues, and if the boys did, they did not voice them in front of Erza. They chose not to oppose Erza due to valuing their lives.

We all changed into our bathing suits since it was still about noon. I put my new bathing suit, courtesy of my own personal designer Virgo. It consisted of strapless midnight blue top with a silver outline on the edges, and a string bikini bottom also in midnight blue with silver strings.

We all had fun in the sun, playing on the beach, the water, and just enjoying each other's company while not on a mission. Soon the sun started to set and we all headed back into the resort. Erza was already in her room, since she left a few hours before us, wanting to take a nap. So it was only me and the two lunatics I call partners. Three if you count Happy. Yeah this is a definite pain, and major hair pulling feat of keeping them in line. Happy certainly doesn't help. He really only hinders me keeping my sanity as well as brain cells. I change my earlier statement. It was just me and the three lunatics I call partners.

Then Gray remembered that there was a casino, and we planned to get cleaned up and out of our bathing suits, and meet down at the entrance of the casino. I, being the wonderful mage, teammate, and friend that I was, was nominated to tell Erza our plans. After getting myself ready.

Wow. Such an eventful yet relaxing day. I got out of the tub and dried myself off. I rubbed on my strawberry-vanilla lotion. It was my favorite scent and the lotion had a special formula that makes my skin extra smooth.

I sent a thought to Virgo through our contracts connection, and as I walked out of the bathroom, I saw Virgo with a beautiful evening gown a cocktail dress. It was white, yet not white, strapless floor length gown. With a semi-sweetheart neckline; it showed cleavage, but not to much. Despite what everyone thought, I don't really like to wear clothing that shows off my 'assets'. It's just something I started to wear to get a few prices lowered and an occasional free meal. It was also a way for me to rebel against the noble society I was raised in. I honestly hated it when males leered at me, or talked to my breasts instead of my face. It made me uncomfortable and disgusted, but it helped me get by when I was low on money. And those showy clothes were generally cheaper, so they, unfortunately, fit in my budget.

But Virgo had done it again. She made a beautiful dress that showed off my figure and curves while keeping me comfortable. But back to the dress! While it was sleeveless, it had sleeves. They we attached to my arms, about mid-bicep, with a stretchy material. It stayed where it was but was still so comfortable. To finalize the outfit, I was given white strappy heels.

(AN: Think of Lisanna's outfit before she went on her last mission on earthland where the sleeves were detached from the shirt, but still there)

"Oh Virgo! This is beautiful! What is this fabric? It's white, yet it's not," I said in awe and curiosity.

"It is white silk infused with opals to make it a shimmery material that depending on the material and opals used, can look multicolor. You should thank brother Loke, he was the one who gave me the fabric,"

"Wow… Thank you Virgo! This is so beautiful,"

"You are most welcome Princess. I have one more gift for you tonight,"

"Really? What is it?"

She gently took my wrist and put something on it. "This is the wristband that will help connect you to the spirit realm,"

I looked at my wrist to find a clear wristband with 6 buttons on them. I brushed over them, careful not to push any since I did not know what they did.

"I want to say now, this device does not connect you to the Spirit Realm. You already were connected to it. So in the event that you take it off, lose it, or you don't have it on you, you will still be able to be summoned to the Spirit Realm, just without any warning.

The first button will begin to flash white five minutes before being summoned. It will then turn to red flashing at one minute till summoning, then change back to white, but without flashing, when your spirit is in the Spirit Realm. The glowing is more for the outside world, and your partners, to know that you are in the Spirit Realm. In the event that you are unable to be summoned and need more time due to something happening in this realm, then press down on the button. It will send a signal saying to give you time. He will then summon you in one hour. If you are certain of the time that you need or you don't know but will need more than an hour, you can send a voice message by pressing down and holding the button.

The second button is pretty much the opposite of the first button. It has the same settings as before with the flashing and glowing, but it is a warning of when you are being sent back to your body. It is mostly for your teammates to know you are coming back, but is also an indicator if you are not with the King for some reason, because when you are in the spirit realm, you will be wearing whatever you have on,"

"Okay, so the first button is a warning for when I am being summoned. White flashing is a five minutes and red flashing is a one minute warning. It is a white glow when I am in the spirit realm. The second button is an indicator of when I am being sent back to Earthland with the same colors and signals except for the white glow when my spirit returns to my body," I summed up.

"Yes, so the third button is to be used only in emergencies. It really shouldn't be used but it is just a precaution for anything that could happen. It allows you to send yourself to the spirit realm without the king summoning you. It can only be used once every month though, so know when you should and shouldn't use it. The fourth is to notify you when you are being forcefully sent back to Earthland. It will start to flash red,"

"So the third it to send myself to the spirit realm and can only be used once a month. The fourth is to notify me when I am being forcefully sent back," I summed.

"Correct, now the fifth button, when pushed, will send a signal that you are able to be summoned. It can also be used as a request to be summoned at anytime of day. The sixth and final button is linked to all of your contracted spirits. It sends a distress signal to us and at least one of us will come to your aid,"

"Okay so the fifth is to send a request to be summoned signal and the sixth is to send a distress signal. Okay I think I have it down,"

"Good. Before I leave, I was told to tell you that tonight is the start of your training,"

"Okay. Thanks for the notice, help, and the dress Virgo!"

"You are welcome Princess," and she left with the customary shower of stars.

Well, I just need to cut the night shorter than originally planned. Now it's time to tell Erza we are going down to the casino. I walk down the hall and knock on her door. After a few seconds, the door opened to Erza in her usual day armor. I wish she wouldn't wear armor as a daily fashion choice. She is so pretty.

"Hey Erza! I was heading down to meet the boys at the casino, want to join me? I don't think I could contain them and we all know that we don't need more debt to the guild caused by those two,"

"Oh, that is very true. That also explains why you are dressed so nicely. Where did you get that dress? It is gorgeous!"

"My spirit Virgo is a designer and so she has been making my wardrobe for the past week. I know! She makes such wonderful dresses that just are perfect,"

"Wow, that is so nice. And as to answer your question I think I will join. I haven't done something like that for a while and would like to have some fun. And we really cannot let those two destroy the resort. Master would not be happy to get another bill," she said before requipping into a purple cocktail dress that showed off her curves.

"So pretty Erza! So ready to stop a disaster and have some fun?" I asked while looping my friends arm through mine and pulling her down to the casino, to a disaster-in-waiting that for once, wasn't caused by Gray and Natsu.


Casino

Natsu POV

I wonder what is taking the girls so long? I really wanted to see Lucy and play a few games with her! Well, I'm bored so I am going to play a few games.

"Hey strippper! Ima going to head off the play some games over here if you need me!" I said before heading off to play games with Happy.

"Bye Flametard! Don't destroy anything! I'll be at the bar!" I heard Gray respond.

Gray POV

I was walking over to the bar when I felt a tap on my shoulder and heard "Hello Gray-sama!"

Where have I heard that voice before? I turned around to find a girl with long blue hair smiling at me.

"Oh hey… Juvia right?"

"Yes! Juvia is so happy to see you!"

"Yeah. Hey do you want to sit and have a drink with me? My treat,"

"Really Gray-sama? Juvia accepts!"

We sat down and talked about anything and everything about our lives right now. I asked what she was going to do now that Phantom Lord was disbanded. I learned that she desperately wanted to join Fairy Tail. I told her not to get her hopes up, but also to go for it. We are a very forgiving bunch. I was rewarded with a stunning smile that made my heart rate jump. That was before everything went downhill.

Erza POV

I, Erza Scarlet, was having fun. Surprisingly, and thankfully, the boys were on opposite sides of the casino so I didn't need to do damage control or babysit them. Lucy and I were currently at one of the many gambling tables, and I am having a great streak of luck. I put down my hand and win yet another round.

"Wow Erza! You are doing great! Are you sure you haven't done this before?"

"Nope. First time. What about you Lucy? Have you ever played one of these games?"

"Yeah right. In between my lessons of business and cultures? My dad would have killed me,"

"Well, for the girl on a stroke of luck tonight, let's play another round but something a little different," I hear from the dealers spot. His voice struck a chord of familiarity but I didn't know why. I looked at the cards in front of me and saw five cards that spelled one word. DEATH. I looked up quickly while charging my magic if I needed it an instant. But in that instant, it fell due to the shock I felt of who I stared at.

"Hey sister. Long time no see,"

"Shô?!" I asked with a shocked voice.

Lucy POV

"Yes sister," the dealer apparently named 'Shô' said.

"B-but… how?" Erza stuttered. I could tell that she was fighting an internal battle. I decided that it was best not to intervene till I needed to. This was her battle. I decided to take stock of my surroundings. I saw a group of people that were coming up behind me, and they didn't look like they were here to gamble. There was a total of 4 including the dealer Shô. There was a male with a mask, a male made of blocks?, and a girl with cat ears. I also noticed that 'Shô' put all of the people nearby that didn't run into cards.

I was going to look back at Erza and do another sweep when I noticed a flashing light. I looked down at my wristband and saw it was flashing white.

"Crap!" I said and pushed down on the currently flashing button. All eyes were turned onto me as I said that, effectively stopping the current conversation. Whoops!

"Oops! Sorry! Don't mind me, just continue your conversation," I said sheepishly, but keeping my hand on my wrist if I needed to call for help.

"Well, we should be going. Erza, we can do this the easy way or the hard way,"

"... I'll come. Just don't hurt my friends or anyone else here. Please,"

I stepped in front of Erza and said "No, she is staying here. She is part of Fairy Tail, and we don't let anyone get taken away. Believe me. I was in a similar situation recently. We are family, nakama, and we never let family be taken away from us!"

"... Lucy…" I heard Erza say behind me.

"Well, well then are you going to fight for our sister?" Shô said.

"Yes. I will. And she is not your sister, she is a part of Fairy Tail, and therefore my sister,"

"Now then, how will you without your keys?"

I looked up to see that they were currently being held by the blockhead. Crap.

I mutter, "Well this definitely should count as an emergency. Hope this works!" and I push down on the sixth button on the wristband. Seconds later three flashes of light with a shower of stars appeared. And three figures came out of them. Loke, Virgo, and Taurus.

Everyone was shocked to see celestial spirits despite their keys being held in the hands of the enemy.

"Virgo! Defense with me. Loke, get my keys! Taurus help Loke!" I say, trying to use the surprise to my advantage. And it worked, mostly. Loke was able to easily grab my keys but after that the enemy was in battle stances. Loke threw my keys back to me so they were in my possession.

Seeing that they had three strong celestial spirits against them, and would be fighting a losing battle, they grouped together, and in a bright flash, were gone. Taurus and Loke seem disappointed that they didn't get to fight. Seeing that I wasn't in anymore danger, Virgo and Taurus left but Loke stayed behind. I turned to see a shocked Erza.

"W-what? H-how?!"

Loke looked at me "you didn't tell them did you?"

Sigh, "No. But I didn't think I could,"

"What?! What is going on Lucy? What didn't you tell me!"

"I'll explain later. Let's go and make sure the boys are okay,"

Erza, still in shock and confusion just nodded her head and decided to go along with my plan. I think she also realized that answers weren't going to be given right now. We found Gray… and Juvia? Well, to be more accurate we found a ice Gray then the real Gray inside of Juvia. Don't ask. I didn't, and really do not want to know the logistics of it. They were found in the remains of one of the many bars. Great. More to debt. Master is going to be thrilled. But maybe we won't get charged…. I will have to look into it later after this crisis is resolved… We then found Natsu in the remains of a game that strangely looked like a giant gumball machine.

"Did we find everyone?" I asked.

"Wait! Where is Happy?!" Natsu asked. I then realized he wasn't with Natsu.

"I don't know. Probably with the group that attacked us. Hey Erza who were they anyway? One called you sister. Are they your family?"

"... they are from my past…"

"Care to elaborate?"

"Well - "

"Sorry to interrupt story time Erza but Lucy, it's almost been an hour since the time he tried to summon you. He is going to be calling any minute. I don't recommend cancelling for the first visit," Loke said.

"Thanks Loke. I probably wouldn't have noticed the flashing then fall and crack my head open. I'll send a message now,"

I looked down at my wristband to see it start to flash. Perfect timing. I pressed down and held the currently flashing button before saying, "I don't know how long it will be but I promise to send a signal when I am ready," and then released the button.

I looked up to see my team staring at me in confusion. Sigh. "I'll explain later. Erza please continue,"

"...right…" and Erza then went to explain her past and the Tower of Heaven. To say we were shocked is an understatement. I felt such a mix of emotions it was hard to figure out what I was feeling.

Breaking the silence, "Oh so that is why you always were alone, training to become stronger, and wearing armor all the time as a kid," Natsu said thoughtfully. I was shocked he could say something intelligent and connect the pieces together. That also must be why she wears armor everyday. It is both a physical and emotional armor.

"Yeah, I guess it is," Erza said, also shocked that Natsu of all people pieced that together.

"Wow. Erza I am so sorry. I had no idea. Not to be rude but Lucy, now that storytime is over, you should really go. I'll meet you there to make sure that you get there okay without any problems before coming back to watch over you," Loke said, interrupting the highly depressing mood.

"Okay," I said and pressed the fifth button. Almost immediately, the first button started to flash white.

"Wait! Lucy, what are you doing? Where are you going?" Erza said.

"Loke will explain while I am gone,"

"I will?"

"Yes, now should I lay down and close my eyes?"

"Lay down, yes that would be a good idea. Closing your eyes, that is your decision. It won't harm nor help you. But if it makes you feel better, then go for it," and as he finished, the flashing turned red. I quickly laid down onto the cold casino floor, ignoring the shocked and confused looks I was getting from my team. As I closed my eyes, the color on my wristband changed to solid white, and I was sent to the Spirit Realm.

Natsu POV

Lucy laid there on the floor, in the middle of the deserted casino. She looks like an angel. I love the dress she is wearing. Wait. What are you thinking Dragneel. Focus. You need to save Happy. She looked peaceful, like she was asleep. But she is still here, does that mean it didn't work, whatever she was trying to do? Loke took her wrist and I saw something glowing white.

"Well, it seems to be working. I'll be back in a few minutes. Please do not try and wake her," Loke said before disappearing into a shower of stars.

Gray broke the silence "I'm confused. Lucy is still here?!"

"Erza, can you see what is on her wrist?"

Erza went over to Lucy, careful not to accidentally wake her, to investigate. She lightly grabbed Lucy's wrist, the same one that Loke did, and found a clear wristband with buttons on it. One she noticed was glowing white. She wanted to press it but Loke appeared first.

"Seriously guys? I leave for two minutes to make sure that Lucy got there safely and you almost get Lucy sent back here. Are no Fairy Tail wizards smart enough not to go pressing buttons that they don't know that will happen when pressed?"

"What is on her wrist?" Erza asked.

"A wristband that helps to connect her to the Spirit Realm,"

"Why?"

"For her training,"

"What training?"

"It will be easier if I just explain in full. Anything that is seriously bugging you before I explain what is going on?"

"Why is it glowing?" I ask.

"The first button, when glowing, signifies that she is in the Spirit Realm. Well at least her consciousness is,"

"What?" Gray asks.

"Okay, you know when Lucy was trying to save me? What I didn't tell you is that the Spirit King was summoned as well. Lucy argued with him over his judgement call with what happened with Karen. She showed impressive power and is now training to become the protector of the Spirit Realm, just like her ancestors,"

"What is she being taught?" Erza asked.

"Celestial slaying magic. She is the only one in this generation, and will be the only one, to be the Celestial Slayer. Our protector as well as our princess,"

"What? There are more slayer magic?" I asked.

"Yes. Due to Lucy's ancestry, this is in her blood. The Celestial Slayer is a legend we all are taught as spirits, but I never thought the story was true till recently, with Lucy"

"So how is Lucy training?" Erza asked.

"We have sent her spirit to the Spirit Realm, to learn. You should be happy she is doing it this way and not physically training there too,"

"Why didn't she?" Gray asked.

"To master everything, it would be 3-5 years of training but in the Spirit Realm, time runs differently. One day in the spirit realm is three months Earthland. You wouldn't have seen her for at least a decade," I froze. Not see Luce for 10 years?!

"What?!" we all said.

"Again, be happy that she said to train here, and take longer to master he powers and her birthright, and not train in the spirit realm,"

"But why must she go to the Spirit Realm?" Gray asked.

"The Spirit King must teach it to her but she can practice here in Earthland, it will just take longer," Well that does make sense, with the Spirit King having to teach her.

"Oh," Gray replied.

"So, we managed to come up with a way to send her spirit to the spirit realm, or at least a way to help her connect. We scheduled it during the night so that it wasn't interrupting anything. But don't worry, she can be woken up, but please only do that in emergencies,"

"How do we know that she is in the spirit realm, or coming back?" I asked.

"The first button will be glowing white when she is in the Spirit Realm. When it is flashing, that is a warning that she is going to be summoned. The second one will start to flash when she is being sent back,"

"So how long will she be out? We need to get Happy back," I say.

"Few hours, but I will carry her to wherever we are going," Loke replied.

"Okay, so does anyone know where the Tower of Heaven it?" Gray said, while Loke gently picking up Lucy.

"I'll follow Happy's scent. Follow me!" I say before running in the direction of his scent. We are coming to get you buddy! Hang on!

And everyone followed the pink-haired dragon slayer to the start of their next adventure.


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