Chapter 8

Alu and the Water Bearer

In just the blink of an eye, Alu found herself standing on a platform that seemed to be floating inside a fantasy world. For a moment, she stood where she was with a look of awe and wonder on her face. Alu had never see the Spirit World for herself before. Though she had often heard stories of it from her parents and other members of the guild who had been there in the past, she could never quite picture what the world itself was like.

It was certainly unlike anything she had ever seen. It exceeded all of her expectations in every way. It wasn't just beautiful, it was gorgeous.

All around her were planet-like orbs that seemed to levitate in a bluish-black void. There were crystals and star-shaped patterns that glowed the radiant colors of green, blue, pink, and purple.

It was certainly a dreamy kind of place.

And while Alu couldn't explain it, she felt somewhat at home in this world.

Alu gave an impressed whistle before saying, "Wow, I'm really diggin' your world, Aries. I could get used to this place."

"I'm glad you like it, Alu." Aries replied. "And I must say that Celestial Garments look really good on you."

Alu gave a confused expression when Aries said that last part and looked down at herself. She blinked in surprised when she saw that her cloths had changed from her usual ones. She was now dressed in a sleeveless black and yellow kimono that went down to the middle of her thighs. She also wore white leggings and black sandals.

"Huh, didn't expect this to happen," she said, looking over herself. "Oh well, it looks cool so whatever."

"I'm glad you like it." Aries smiled. "Now we should probably go to see the Celestial Spirit King. It's not polite to keep him waiting."

"Sure thing." Alu nodded.

However, before Alu and Aries even took so much as a step, The Celestial Spirit King himself appeared just beyond the platform the two were standing on. Alu took in a sharp breath of air when she saw him.

He was the largest Spirit that she had ever seen in her life. He was definitely larger than the Kardia Cathedral in Magnolia. He wore a set of thick armor that was decorated with star and sun patterns. His main colors consisted of stellar-white, jade-green, and sunset-yellow. His face was stoic and blank, and he had ruby red eyes.

But the thing that Alu noticed the most was his large, snowy-white mustache. It was the longest mustache she had ever seen. It went down well past his shoulders and it bristled out on the ends.

Normally, Alu would've snickered at something like that. However, since this was her first time seeing the Celestial Spirit King, she was too amazed to make any kind of joke about his facial hair.

Upon seeing the ruler of the Spirit World, Aries bowed deeply out of respect.

"Great Celestial Spirit King," she said, sounding just a little nervous, "I have done what you've ordered. This is my key holder, Alu Dragneel."

The Celestial Spirit King looked down at Alu. At she assumed he was looking down at her. Without any pupils in those red eyes of his, she couldn't quite tell.

For a while, he said nothing. He just stared at her with a blank expression. He then narrowed his eyes in what looked like suspicion.

"Young one," he said, his voice was deep and powerful. "You have some kind of connection to Lucy Heartfilla, do you not?"

"Yeah." Alu nodded. "You know her?"

"Indeed, I do," the Celestial Spirit King answered. "She's an old friend of mine."

Alu gave a big smile and said, "That's awesome. She's actually my mom. Only she's called Lucy Dragneel, now."

"Hmm," the Spirit King sounded like he was amazed. "Then your father is the Dragon Slayer of Fire. Natsu Dragneel."

"Yep," the girl said proudly, placing her hands on her hips. "The one and only."

The Celestial Spirit King fell silent for a moment and looked thoughtfully at Alu. Alu herself didn't notice this, but he had a look of deep contemplation in his eyes.

"Um," Aries spoke up softly, "I don't mean to interrupt this, but you had a question for the Celestial Spirit King, Alu."

"Oh yeah, that's right." Alu said, remembering why she came to the Celestial World in the first place. "Celestial Spirit King, I wanted to ask you if it is possible to repair broken Celestial Keys. I mean, they must've been forged sometime in the past to be begin with, right? So, is there any way that they can be re-forged if they've been damaged?"

The Celestial Spirit King looked at Alu for another long moment.

"You wish to repair a Celestial Spirit key?" he said. "Which one?"

"Aquarius's Key." Alu explained. "My mom told me about Tartaros and how she had to break Aquarius's Key to summon you. I understand why she did it, but I also know that it hurt her to do that. Is there a way I can repair that key?"

"I see," the Celestial Spirit King replied in a low voice. "You want to re-forge this key for your mother."

"Yeah," Alu nodded sharply, "that's right."

There was a small pause. In that silence, Alu swallowed hard. Why wasn't the Celestial Spirit King answering her? The lack of response made her uneasy.

Finally, the Celestial Spirit King spoke again.

"What you are requesting is a difficult task, but it's not impossible."

Alu heart thumped with hope when she heard that. Did that mean there was a way?

"But to understand how to re-forge Celestial Keys," the Spirit King continued, "there is something I must tell you. Long ago, the Celestial World and Earth Land were not always connected the way they are now. They were simply parallel worlds. But one day, a Spirit from this world somehow found their way into Earth Land and befriended a human. That human became the first Celestial Wizard. And it was they who forged the Celestial Keys."

Alu was listening very intently now.

"Those keys were all created in the same place: The Valley of Gates."

"The Valley of Gates?" Alu repeated, mesmerized.

"Yes." the Celestial King nodded. "It is a place that only Celestial Wizards can enter. While I sense a second Magic Power within you, your Celestial Magic should allow you to enter it. It is a three-day journey eastward from the city of Magnolia. If you wish to repair the Celestial Key, then you will need to travel the Valley of Gates with the Spirit that is connected to the broken key. For it was the combine power of a Celestial Wizard and Spirit that created a key in the beginning. If you want to repair Aquarius's Key, then she will need to accompany you on this quest."

Alu narrowed her eyes in a pensive manner. At the same time, there was an apprehensive tint in her expression.

Beside her, Aries began to fidget nervously, showing that she already had a bad feeling about this. She had seen how angry Alu got when she thought that Aquarius had lied to her mother about her key being reborn. Aries also remembered that Alu threatened to knock Aquarius flat if she so much as looked at her. Of course, Alu had calmed down since that moment, but the Golden Ram Spirit could still see a hint of resentment in her eyes.

Finally, Alu closed her eyes and nodded before looking back up at the Celestial Spirit King.

"Okay," she said with conviction. "If that's the only way, then I'll do it."

"Very well, then," the Spirit King said. "But first, I must consult with Aquarius to see if she is willing to agree to the same plan."

"Oh dear," Aries shuddered softly. "Alu, promise me you won't…"

"I won't, Aries." Alu interrupted, knowing what Aries was going to ask her. "At least not yet."

The Celestial Spirit King then turned his head upwards.

"Aquarius the Water Bearer!" he commanded strongly. "I beckon you here at once! Come forth with haste!"

Almost immediately, there was a swirl of water droplets and light, a tall mermaid Spirit appeared beside Alu, making the girl step back in surprise.

She had a blue fish tail decorated with scales, something that looked like a mini skirt held together by a gold belt around her waist, and she wore a blue and white bikini top. Her eyes were piercing azure. Her hair was sea-blue, and it went all the way down to her waist. She had a pair of golden arm bracelets, on each of her upper and lower arms. Around her head was a gold and silver circlet with a purple gem dangling in the middle, and she had aquamarine earrings.

Under her right arm, she carried a round, silver urn.

Alu didn't need to be told who this was. She already deduced that it was Aquarius the Water Bearer.

"You summoned me, Great Celestial King?" the water asked in a rather firm voice, bowing in respect to her ruler. "Is there something wrong?"

"Old friend," the Spirit King said in response, "this human girl has come to me with the request of repairing your Celestial Key."

Aquarius looked up in surprise at the King before turning to see the girl in question. The moment she met Alu's dark green eyes, her expression changed for a brief moment to shock. It was quick, but Alu managed to catch it before the Water Spirit gave a suspicious glare.

"No, you couldn't be," she muttered to herself.

"Uh," Alu hesitated, "excuse me? You're Aquarius, right?"

Aquarius glanced at Alu for a moment before turning away in disgust.

"Maybe," she said hotly, "who wants to know?"

Alu was slightly taken aback by Aquarius's sudden mood change. At the same time, she became insulted. She planted her feet firmly on the ground as she narrowed her eyes and put her fists on her hips.

"Me, of course," she replied firmly. "You were once contracted to my mom."

Aquarius turned her head and looked at Alu with a ambiguous expression.

"Who's your mother?" she asked, sounding like she was doubtful.

"Lucy." Alu answered. "Lucy Heartfillia."

At the sound of that name, Aquarius's eyebrows lifted for second. She then gave an annoyed look.

"You're that blonde bimbo's daughter?!" she said harshly.

"She's not a bimbo!" Alu snapped back.

Aquarius narrowed her eyes before giving sarcastic face.

"Well, I'm shocked she ever managed to have a child," she said, sounding dissmissive. "She must've really been desperate to get a boyfriend."

Alu gave a highly offended look. She then scowled so deeply that it looked like she was trying to split the skin on her face apart.

Aquarius might not have said it, but the girl knew what she meant by what she said.

"WHY YOU…!" she shouted angrily, preventing herself from cursing at the last second. "YOU TAKE THAT BACK! SHE'S MARRIED TO MY DAD, NATSU DRAGNEEL, F-Y-I! AND I WAS BORN LONG AFTER THEY WERE MARRIED!"

Aquarius looked at Alu for a moment with a kind of hidden surprise. She quickly concealed it with an annoyed frown.

"So your dad's the pink-haired pyromaniac, huh?" she said dryly. "I guess I should've known; you look so much like him that it really gives it away. And I can see you also inherited his boisterous attitude as well. Guess I should've expected that from any kid of his."

Alu's scowl deepened and she growled with fury.

This Spirit had the nerve to say those things about her parents! Alu was not going to let her get away with that!

The girl's hand flared up with Dragon Slayer Fire and she moved in to attack Aquarius. However, before she took another step, Aries ran up from behind and grabbed Alu by the waist and shoulder and held her back. Alu struggled furiously to get free.

"LET ME AT HER!" she screamed with rage. "I'LL KNOCK HER FLAT!"

"Alu, please get a hold of yourself!" Aries pleaded, straining to keep Alu from slipping out of her grasp. "This isn't the time to fight! Don't forget you have to get back to your world before your parents realize your gone!"

Alu stopped struggling and the pale fire around her fist disappeared instantly. She let out a frustrated grunt and relaxed her limbs. Aries felt the tension leave Alu's body and she slowly let her go. However, the scowl on Alu's face didn't fade. She glowered at Aquarius.

"Just so you know, I'm not going to forget that!" she warned, jabbing a finger at the Water Spirit.

"Whatever." Aquarius scoffed, turning her head away. "You don't scare me at all."

What Alu didn't see was that after she had said that, Aquarius gave a small grin like she was pleased with something.

"Aquarius," the Celestial Spirit King interrupted, reminding everyone he was still there, "if you wish to have your key repaired, then you will have to accompany this young Celestial Wizard to the Valley of Gates. But I leave this choice to you. Do you want to have your key re-forged?"

Alu's narrowed her eyes with disdain at Aquarius. For a split second, she was sure that Aquarius would refuse the offer. Well, that was find by Alu. As far as she was concerned, this Spirit was just flat-out arrogant and selfish. And now that she saw her in person, Alu couldn't believe that her mother would ever want this Spirit back. Lucy would be better off without her.

However, Alu was in for a surprise.

"Yes." Aquarius answered immediately, looking back up at the King. "I would like to have my key repaired. And if this is the only way, then I will do it."

At the sound of that, Alu's eyes widened a bit. She quickly reverted her face back to a scowl right afterwards though.

"Very well, then," the Celestial Spirit King nodded. "Now that you both have consented to go on this mission, we will begin preparations. Human girl, you must retrieve the remains of Aquarius's Key as soon as you get back to your world."

Alu frowned, but she didn't argue. Nor did she made any notion to refuse.

"Yes, sir," she said stiffly.

"Aquarius," the King continued, "before you go, I must speak with you. In the meantime, you, human girl, must return to your world. Once you are there, begin to set out on your journey at once."

Alu nodded in understanding.

Then in less time then it took for her heart to beat, Alu disappeared in flash of light.

She immediately found herself back in her room. She blinked a few times as her eyes tried to adjust to the sudden darkness. Once they had, she turned the lamp on her desk on. She looked down at herself and realized that she was back in her regular cloths. Probably because she was out of the Celestial World now, so she had no need for those fancy garments.

Alu then looked over at the clock. Even though she knew that it was still nighttime, she wanted to know just how much time had passed since she went to the Spirit World.

"Three thirty?" she whispered to herself. "So I was gone for about…five hours? Oh wait, I remember. Time flows differently in that world than here. Oh well, at least I still have time before my parents wake up."

Alu sighed heavily.

"Of course, had I known what Aquarius was like before," she mumbled miserably, "I probably would've thought twice about this. Man, what have I gotten myself into this time?"

The girl closed her eyes and pinched her eyebrows together with her thumb and index finger. Was this really worth it? She was already starting to loathe Aquarius with a fiery passion before she even met her. And that meeting just raised her ire for the Spirit even higher. Those things that she said about Alu's parents just about sent the young wizard over the edge. If Aries hadn't been there, Alu would've strangled Aquarius.

Alu also had a depressing feeling that she and Aquarius would be at each other's throats for the whole journey. It was clear to Alu that Aquarius probably hated her as much as she hated Lucy.

Still…

"I did make a promise." Alu said, opening her eyes a bit. "And I never break a promise. So whether I like or not, I'm going to follow through on this. I don't care if it kills me or drives me to insanity. I WILL keep that promise."

With that resolve, Alu reached for her backpack.

There was no turning back now. She had to go through with this. And she was going to, no matter what.