With a sigh, I massaged my wrist as I sat back to review what I'd written so far on the demon named E.N.D.:
The year was X792, and it was the day of the dragon king festival . This festival had been prophesised as the day the black wizard, the black dragon and the humans were to fight to the death.
After defeating the black dragon, Acnologia, The black wizard known as Zeref released his most powerful demon, E.N.D. in order to commit a mass annihilation.
However, it seems that Zeref could not control his own demon. After E.N.D. made its first move by killing a celestial mage of the guild, 'Fairy Tail', it then continued to attack its creator, leaving Zeref dead.
However, even after his death, Zeref still committed to his promised mass annihilation of humans. His last and most powerful creation went on to destroy everything in its path, killing everyone present.
E.N.D. has since been known to travel Earthland, leaving no area undamaged in its wake. However, survivors have been able to pinpoint the few areas where the demon has not returned to. These have since been turned into safe places, and travel is limited between them.
Magnolia, Haregon and Mt. Hakobe are three well-known examples.
I'd added that last paragraph because my report just didn't seem long enough at all. Who knew there would be so little information on the events that started this whole crisis?
And they didn't really make sense either. I think even without Levy mentioning the text book wasn't accurate, I would have been sceptical.
Like why, out of all people, would the demon go for the lone celestial mage first? I mean, as useful as celestial magic could be in some cases, it really wouldn't be the sort of thing you'd fight a demon with.
I sighed and glanced at the pictures on the page. A crudely drawn representation of E.N.D. sent shivers down my spine, so I moved on to examine the next picture.
It was simple – just a bird-shaped symbol with the caption: Fairy Tail guild mark. It is believed that every guild member lost their life in the battle against E.N.D..
I stared at the picture. It seemed strangely familiar. Frowning, I dug through my memories, reaching into the darkest corners to try to remember where I'd seen that mark before.
Aquarius' key.
It was on that flag… next to the ruins where I found the key.
My brain started making connections faster than it ever had before. Those ruins must have been the Fairy Tail guild. That celestial mage that died that day – they were in that guild.
I'd found one of their keys. That had to be it.
And maybe, just maybe, that spirit would know what went down that day? After all, Levy had asked us to look at several sources…
Maybe it was about time I tried calling out Aquarius again. Perhaps this time I would have enough magic?
I'd tried everything to summon her after the day I found her key. I've tried calling out my two silver spirits for as long as possible to train my magic, but all to no avail. I've tried multiple incantations, only to fail miserably.
I'm ashamed to say that without another celestial mage to tell me what I was doing wrong, I gave up after a year or two of trying. I was too embarrassed to even tell Levy about it.
Maybe you should summon her from a water source. Isn't she the water bearer spirit?
A voice at the back of my head stunned me with its simplicity.
Almost robotically, I reached into my chest of drawers where I hid my most priceless possession. My hands automatically spun the tap, releasing water into the small sink in my room.
"Open, gate of the water bearer, Aquarius." I whispered, putting the gold key into the water.
When I saw a flash of gold and felt my magic deplete only a manageable amount, I released the tears I'd wanted to shed since I was that lonely 8 year old with nothing to my name.
This was it. I'd done it. After all these years-
"Mavis, getting summoned out of a sink is so uncomfortable! No wonder she always yelled at me."
I gawked at the spirit who had just interrupted my thoughts with her loud outburst.
She was… beautiful. I was expecting her colour scheme to be blue like water, and so I was surprised by her long blonde hair and pink mermaid tail. Her eyes had looked golden when the celestial magic was surrounding her, but by the light in my room I now saw they were chocolate brown.
"So you finally figured out how to summon me correctly, eh? Took you long enough." The spirit smiled at me, not at all sounding annoyed despite what she was saying.
"Is this your first time summoning a spirit?" she asked, raising her eyebrows when I just continued to stare at her.
Oh, right. The contract. She's a celestial spirit who I have to make a contract with. Okay. Speak, Alice. Stop opening and closing your mouth like a fish. Just tell her you want to make a contract with her.
"Who always yelled at you?" I heard myself asking.
God dammit, wrong question, Alice!
Aquarius's eyes widened in surprise.
"That's not important. How about you start off by telling me your name?" she rushed, brushing off my question effortlessly.
"Alice." I almost rejoiced when I managed to answer her question correctly. I wasn't used to making this bad of a first impression; the excitement of summoning the long lost spirit just made my brain go all dumb.
"Hello Alice, I'm Aquarius, the water bearer. I'm available any time you need me, and as you've probably guessed, my power is water control. I would be very happy to make a contract with you, even if your attention span appears to be minimal." She emitted a formal aura of friendliness up until when she smirked whilst saying that last part.
"Hey! It's not my fault you surprised me by being the only spirit who's fussy and needs special conditions to be summoned." I retorted.
"Whaaat? A minute ago you were staring at me like I was some sort of princess, and now you're having a go at me?" she asked incredulously, adopting a comically surprised expression.
And with that, I just laughed. I felt like I was talking to someone my age. I felt like I was talking to a friend.
Wiping away my tears, I smiled at her.
"I'd love to make a contract with you, Aquarius. You have no idea how much this means to me-"
"It means a lot to me, too. I'm glad to have you as my master." She interrupted me from my overly emotional gushing, thankfully.
Her wording, however, made me cringe.
"Lyra just calls me Alice, so you can call me that too. I'm not too sure about the whole master-spirit relationship." I shrugged.
The way she beamed at me, you'd think I just saved her first-born from a burning building.
"Friends, then." She said, holding her hand out for me to shake.
And with that, our contract was sealed. I now had a contract with one of the strongest members of the zodiac…
"So if that's all, I'll take my leave now-"
"wait! I wanted to ask you a few questions for a paper I'm writing!" I called out, relieved when she didn't disappear off into the spirit world.
"Oh good! I happen to be excellent with grammar." She announced confidently.
"It's more to do with history, actually." I told her, noticing her smile drop slightly. Nevertheless, I decided to ask the questions. "Can you tell me what happened when E.N.D. was released 50 years ago?"
Confusion took over her face.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."
"But you were there 50 years ago, right? It says here that E.N.D. killed your old master-" I stopped talking abruptly upon realising what I'd just said. I held my breath. Why the hell did I just blurt that out? She was bound to be scarred by that day if her master had been killed.
Cursing my lack of tact, I slowly turned to read the celestial spirit's expression.
I frowned when the confusion that was there before hadn't disappeared or been replaced.
"Aquarius?" I asked delicately, drawing her attention away from my text book. She hadn't been close enough to it to read the small text; she would've only seen the pictures.
"I guess I won't be much help with History stuff." She confessed, giving me an embarrassed smile.
Did she not remember the death of her old master?
"Why? Celestial spirits are immortal, you must have-"
"I'm technically a new spirit." She interrupted me. "I can't tell you the details because of the spirit king's law against it, but basically, you're the first human I've ever had a contract with. Other than that, I know next to nothing of human affairs."
I gawked at her, opening my mouth to ask a question when she spoke yet again, "Don't bother asking, you won't get any answers." Her sudden sternness made me snap my mouth closed.
"So you have no information for my paper at all?" I asked, trying not to sound too disappointed.
She sighed, pausing to think before turning her attention back to my text book.
"I know what that guild was like 50 years ago. Fairy Tail, I mean." A fond smile reached her lips, and she motioned for me to bring her the book.
I frowned as I conceded with her request. Wouldn't that mean she'd been contracted to the celestial mage at the time? This was way too confusing!
"Ahh yes. Fairy Tail guild mark." She quoted the caption aloud, stroking the picture. "It is believed that every guild member lost their-"
Her breath hitched as she failed to finish the sentence.
She dropped the book, making me jump when it fell to the floor with a loud thud.
"Aquarius, what's wrong? Didn't you know?" I questioned her frantically when tears started pouring out of her wide, grief-stricken eyes.
Suddenly, it was as if gravity had no effect on the water in my room. The water in the glass next to my bed rose into the air, as well as the water in the sink. I could hear a sizzling sound as the water dispersed itself, entering plug holes and creating sparks of electricity.
I needed to send Aquarius back. Whatever she'd read, she shouldn't have read it. She was losing control.
My heart ached for her as I glanced once more at her tragically misery-ridden expression.
"Close, gate of Aquarius." I whispered.
The water in my room fell back down as she disappeared.
Never before in my life have I been so confused.
A/N: So do you guys have a good idea of the mystery behind the impossible key?
I'm really glad that people have responded well to this so far, the reviews I got were great motivation to keep this going
hmbn: as much as I would love to write a story with a happy ending where they went back in time to save everyone, that isn't the direction I'm taking with this. There's no time travel, sorry!
Avian Royalty: yep, spot on! thank you so much
Love'sAlwaysRight: haha, I'm glad you think so, thank you!
-usnoozulose