Lucy's POV
Dressed in a beautiful gown of my choice with a cotton shawl, I sit in the room where I saw the piano the first day I came to this mansion and play the piano version of 'A Thousand Years' (by The Piano Guys) as my mind goes over the events that occurred 3 days ago...
Flashback;
I woke up 6 days after I had come here and I have to admit, I was shocked and lucky that the others stayed behind to help me through with getting to know the interior of the mansion. Even though I do only have a day for a tour and demonstration of how things work around here before the others board the ship back to Galico. Amara and Allen already boarded Galico to continue with their work while Boa, Amphias, Midnight, Kiki, Cobra, Ravenna and Dorian are sticking around until 7 in the afternoon.
I sit at the round table for 24 with my breakfast and start to eat at an even controlled pace so I don't get unnecessarily sick.
"So," Cobra starts as he looks my way, "I know we've already settled the you becoming a citizen of Galico and Ladyship of this Lighthouse but I have to ask. Why did you touch the Lacryma when you didn't even know what it was?"
I swallow my somethingth bite and set down my fork before answering, "I touched the Lacryma because it is a new path for me and the First Child sacrificed to the Infinity Clock that had the lesser damage."
"Huh?" Amphias bluntly asks as he pulls an questionable questioning face as the others just look at me with some shock and intense looks.
"Out of the 'path's' that the First Child and I came up with for if it was ever revealed that I am the holder of the Infinity Clock and Real Nightmare, that my 'world' will be crumbling and growing. So when Amphias brought us here the First Child quickly said, 'Touch it, it is a new path that is welcome to us both. The 'worlds' won't crumble as much as they will expand.' So I touched the Lacryma." I explained.
"And what if you're old guild finds you here working with us?" Cobra asked.
"What?" Dorian starts. "I highly doubt that they are going to come looking around these areas for her. I mean-" Amphias silences him with a simple hand gesture.
"If my guild mates find me, then it is their choice to either accept this outcome or they can just walk away and forget about me. It is my choice as much as it is my life and right now, this is my choice. To stay here and keep the Lighthouse functioning." I answered.
"So you've been keeping the power of Real Nightmare in you this whole time? Ever since you've gotten out of the Infinity Clock?" Kiki asked.
"Yes. And I'm still keeping it in." I said before picking up my fork and continuing with my meal.
The rest of the meal is silent until I'm in the kitchen soaking my plate in the sink. That's when Amphias comes sliding past the doorway on fuzzy pink, green and purple polka-dot socks saying, "follow me" in a funny, high-pitched odd voice and it's back to following the hyperactive, child-like man who along with the others who show me the ropes around this place and giving me tips on how to do or use it so that I have an easier time living here.
Later That Day;
We started dinner not even 5 minutes ago and De Cotoro has already stuffed himself full with 7 plates of tuna fish casserole.
He lets out a loud and obnoxious belch before leaning back in his chair and says, "Well, we have to get going after we're done with eating."
"Aw, the play toy's going away?" I asked tauntingly as I clearly referred De Cotoro as the 'toy'.
"Very funny, but you'll soon find out that you are the 'toy'." Amphias retorts back.
"Wanna bet?" I challenge as my pupils and vision shine gold for a second. Blood red fire-like ethereal feathers ruffle around Amphias as the old blood feud's quickly arise. The two of us start to have a deadly aura fly about and between us when a hand crosses my vision and lightly covers my eyes.
"I'll take rumple feathers out of the room since he's already finished with his meal." Ravenna said before a clattering of chairs and some protests from Amphias happen before the pale hand.
The hand is removed and I see Midnight sitting back down on his chair and continues eating his meal. "Thank you." I murmured meekly before continuing on with my own plate as I pay attention to the overly loud bickering coming from the kitchen.
"What was that for 'Enna?" Amphias whines.
"You were about to get into a fight." Ravenna answers coldly.
"But she started it first!"
Did I? Did I!? ...Yup, I did! I think to myself as I take another bite of casserole.
"I don't care who started it first, you need to keep this ancient feud under wraps. Am I understood?" Amphias starts to grumble some incoherent words of protest. "Am I clear!?"
"Yes, ma'am." Amphias pouts as he settles atop the countertop.
"To think that I'd only get half a meal because of your childish antiques!" Ravenna said as she starts walking back into the dinning room.
"Well I didn't get to finish my meal to~!" Amphias retorts.
"You've already had seven plates!" Ravenna shouts in his ear.
"Oh yeah!" Amphias said merrily. "Wait, then why do you get to go back in and I don't?!"
"Because you two interrupted my meal!" Ravenna growled as what I can only sense to be something similar to an Erza 3 coming into play. With a huff, Ravenna sits down and begins to eat her food again with the rest of us.
After a few more moments of silence, Boa asks, "Who here thinks we should ban Amphias from approaching this Lighthouse?"
"Aw, no more play toy?" I asked with pouting eyes as I looked to Boa who goes into a fit of chuckles from my behavior.
"-Well at least not alone without supervision." Kiki adds. I give her a bright smile in appreciation.
"Haha!" De Cotoro shouts triumphantly as he sticks his arm above the small western flap doors with his index finger raised high in triumph. In a matter of milliseconds, I fling my spoon at him, it lightly grazes Amphias' hand before embedding itself deep into the kitchen tile wall. A light, girly, squealing gasp erupts from his corner as Midnight snatches my wrists and Cobra snags the knife and fork out of my clenched hands.
"Sorry Cotoro, she flung that silverware too fast." Midnight called over the flap doors before taking his seat again. A humorous whimper escapes through the door as Cobra scolds and interrogatively asks me if I can behave with my silverware now which I grumpily-childishly replied yes to.
As Dinner Was Being Finished;
"Alright now, under recent development, I've just got to ask, did you merge with the Celestial Spirit World at any point in your life?" Dorian asked.
"Well...there was that one time when I was saving Loki from disappearing after he lived on Earth Land for three years a little after Karen's death." A knowing expression go across Midnight and Cobra's face's as they realize who I'm talking about. "I was trying to force his gate open, luckily the Celestial Spirit King was watching and changed that rule for his old friend." I answered.
"That explains why the old blood feud is boiling in you...-I gotta remind myself to visit more often with Amp so I can have some good comical laughs." Boa muses loudly to himself.
"And with her whips and gate connections on wrists, it wouldn't matter if Amp has his Phoenix Rider magic, Lucy would be on par with him!" Dorian adds.
"Should I bring popcorn, candy, or a Lacryma camera next time I visit?" Kiki asked to the group with a mischievous grin.
"Candy/Camera/Popcorn/Lacryma/All three." Came the unified, overlapping answers of the table, minus Amphias' and mine. The whole table soon becomes a bickering argument that doesn't end up in a big brawl fight like Fairy Tail's do, but it does bring a warm sense over one's self.
As The Party Is Leaving At 7 O'clock;
"See ya later, kid." Cobra said as he ruffles my hair and starts to strolls out the doors towards the make-shift dock that Galico somehow made.
Kid?! Well-that does make sense since he's 32 and I'm 23...wait-I'm biologically 30-so-
"OI! YOU'RE ONLY TWO BIOLOGICAL YEARS OLDER THAN ME!" I called after him with a raised fist. The only response I get is a loud laugh to indicate that he undoubtedly heard me as he leans against the rock wall just beside the doors, waiting for the others to get out of the mansion and start towards the docks.
A chuckling Midnight walks around me before holding out his hand for me to shake, which I gladly do. "Stay well, Heartfilia." Midnight says with an almost knowing smirk on his face.
I could feel a small flush of blush overcome my face as I smile brightly up to him and say, "You too, Midnight."
"So Lucy, I was reading up on Real Nightmare, the Galico Boarder Lighthouses and some ancient super magic tricks and you can direct the power of Real Nightmare over to a specific target or group of people." Dorian said.
"Don't remind me." Came Midnight's and Cobra's unison replies followed by my own comment of; "Oh I forgot I can do that." The two before-mentioned chuckle in amusement at this comment before exiting the door and heading down towards the platform.
"Well, since you are both citizen of Galico and Fiore, you can target our enemies and attack them and their people with the powers of Real Nightmare. So, here's what I want you to experiment with tonight. Here are some small flags with enemy organizations and countries mark's on them, before you go to sleep; I want you to draw these marks on a paper. The ancient power will do its magic and target those regions and groups, making them easier to overcome and defeat." Dorian said.
I give him a small nod of understanding to which he smiles and winks a friendly wink at me before touching my shoulder and walking out the doors to the dock behind Ravenna with Amphias in tow since his ear is practically caught in Ravenna's nails. Kiki jumps onto my back before craning her neck over into my view and says, "See you later Lucy-Lu! Don't get into too many parties without me!" As she runs off leaving me with the scrunched up smiling face in question on what she means by 'parties'.
Boa walks past me and looks over his shoulder, "Kiki's definition of parties is fighting. If you want to avoid fighting, try not to step out of the boarders, the enemy spies are in the forest area surrounding this place. If you do want to fight, you know where to find them." Boa explains before giving me a back-handed wave and heading down to the docks.
I wave at them from behind before crossing my arms under my chest and watching them absentmindedly retreat farther into the coastal ship of Galico that's awaiting them to board. Aw, I forgot to speak to Midnight about that kiss... I pout absentmindedly in my mind before snapping out of my stupor and smacking my cheeks lightly upon feeling my blush rise to a full on blush.
Back To Present Time;
Feeling heat rise to my cheeks I place my slightly cool hands on them in an attempt to cool them down as I try a vain attempt to hide and avoid the thoughts of Midnight and that kiss. The First Child, who's been floating behind me for a while now, snaps her head to window in sudden, surprised alarm, but her rigidness that she would have if it was true danger lessens but the worried aura that we interconnected-ly share, stays the same. I look out the window and see a short stature of a person stumbling on the rocky coastal terrain before falling to their knees.
With haste, I fly out of the piano room, as Virgo pops in and starts the fire in the fireplace, and burst out of the mansion doors. I stride towards the now fallen figure in my ballerina flats but rightfully ignore the discomfort of walking on rock that's gone through erosion. As I approach the fallen person, I can distinguish that it's a short structured person wearing some slightly worse for wear clothing and has short cut chestnut brown hair. My pace slows before I come to a halt beside the collapsed boy, who's face is half revealed.
"Giles."
After that name leaves my mouth, I immediately take off the shawl that I'm wearing and wrap it around him as I carefully pick him up and carry him inside.
"Miss Lucy," Capricorn starts as I pass by him and a majority of my other gold key spirits to get to the couch in the piano room, "We apologize for not being able to come to aid when you were fighting that phoenix."
"It's alright Capricorn, besides I'm staying here for a while. Virgo, can you hand me a basin of water with a cloth?" I asked the Spirit.
"Of course Princess." Virgo said before swiftly exiting the room.
"Yes, we got the explanation from the First Child as to what you're doing on this slice of Galico's boarder." Loki said dryly from his position of leaning against the wall, inspecting the painting.
"So, you're connected to her too?" I asked in slight bewilderment and awe, as I turn towards the group of my Celestial friends.
"We're all connected to that child, brat!" Aquarius said from the opposite couch where she's leaning against Scorpio.
"We are!" Scorpio proclaims with a raised fist to the air.
"Wh-what they're talking about is that as we're connected to you by contract, and as the Infinity Clock and Real Nightmare is connected to you by essence, the two factors are connected together and so can respond to one another. I'm sorry!" Aries stammers a bit before bowing her head as she stands near Loki.
"You don't have to apologize Aries, thank you for the explanation." I said with a smile which causes Aries to blush a cute blush. I notice Loki as he leans out to see more of her small cute blush with a genuine smile. "So, do you guys have anything to say about me saying here and being a citizen of Galico and Fiore? As well as the lighthouse keeper." I add.
"We have no objections here, Moshi-Moshi!" Sagittarius answers with a his usual salute.
"We'll follow you where ever you may go, ebi." Cancer adds.
"So long as you don't drop our keys, you brat!" Aquarius growled at me.
"Babe." Scorpio pouts in slight disapproval.
"Sorry honey." Aquarius pouts uncharacteristically to her boyfriend.
Scorpio smiles a broad smile before leaning down to his girlfriend on his lap and giving her an Eskimo kiss.
"Eww!" Gemini cries in unison.
"Do that-" Mini starts.
"-in your own rooms lovebirds!" Gem finishes before the two race away to hide behind Capricorn from Aquarius' glare and snarl. Capricorn just shakes his head in disapproval.
"Miss Lucy, call on us if you need any assistance or help." Capricorn says before going back to the Celestial Spirit world with Gemini hitching a ride. Cancer and Sagittarius follow behind.
"Mooo, your dress presents your beautiful body beautifully!" Taurus says before going back to the Celestial World.
I hold back a jolt as Virgo appears right in front of me with a basin of water and a damp cloth. "Here are your requested items, punishment Princess?" Virgo asked.
I sweat drop before answering, "No punishment Virgo, you did the request perfectly." Taking the damp cloth, I soak it in the water before ringing it out, folding it up and placing it on Giles' head. Turning back to my spirit I give a thought before saying, "Could all of you, except Loki, go back to the Celestial Spirit World? I don't want you to exhaust yourselves by staying out here."
Without a second longer, the Celestial Spirits, with the exception Loki, head back to the Celestial Spirit World. I turn back to Loki's direction only to flinch back as Loki is just a foot away from me and also on his knees. "So what did you wish to talk to me alone about, Princess?" Loki asked with a flirtatious wink and a charming smile.
With a coy smile I ask; "So, how's the progress with you and Aries going?" Loki flinches a bit as a light dusting of blush goes across his cheeks while his eyes advert to Giles, who's still passed out.
"There's progress, Princess." Loki answered with a click of his tongue.
"But not enough, eh?" I asked with a raising of the eyebrows.
"Well, you have to understand, if Aries and I get together, Aquarius will demand and drag us to go on double dates with her and Scorpio. And I seriously don't want to be stuck in the same booth as them when they're flirting and doing other things." Loki whined.
"Ha! You can just sneak away with Aries and get your own cute flirting going on without the two's presence interrupting you." I suggested as my smile widens.
"Oh, and what about you?" Loki asked as he looks back into my eyes with a mischievous glint in his own.
"What about me?" I asked as suspicion arises and my from immediately turns into a frown.
"Did you talk to Midnight about that kiss yet?" Loki asked with a raised eyebrow.
My eyes go saucer's wide as my face immediately goes scarlet with blush. Raising my enclosed fist I shout, "BAKA!" and slammed it down onto his head.
"Ow~!" Loki whined as he rubbed his sore spot.
"Be glad I didn't Lucy Kick you!" I growled in warning with my hands on my hips.
"Lu-cy?" Giles small voice ripples through the air.
The two of us snap our heads to Giles, who's trying to see the room that he's currently in. "Hey Giles, your at the Galico Lighthouse off of Fiore's boarders." I said softly as I took the cloth and start to use the cleaner side to wipe the smudge off his face.
"So, your connected to an super magic like the other Lighthouse keepers?" Giles asked as he rubbed some sleep from his eyes.
"Yup, Amphias De Cotoro brought me here. Do you need anything?" I asked as I placed the cloth back into the basin.
His eyes snap to the open doorway leading into the main hall before he says, "Can you take me out into the main hallway?"
"Certainly." I answered but before I could make a move to get up and carry him out there, Loki snatched Giles off the couch and places him on his back before following me out the door into the central hallway.
"You can let me down now Mister." Giles said to Loki.
"His name is Loki, he's one of my contracted keys." I shared to Giles as Loki lets him slide off his back.
"What key are you then?" Giles asked Loki.
"I'm Leo, the Lion, Leader of the Zodiac, and one of the Golden keys." Loki said pridefully.
"Nice to make your acquaintance." Giles said with a bright smile and a quick salute.
"Well this kid has nice manners." Aquarius comments from her position above the vase of flowers and indoor fountain. With her hands thumping on her urn, she floats down to be between Loki and I. "So what did you need out in this hall, kid?" Aquarius asked as she gives him a mild glare.
"I can contact Galico's main ship from out here, Miss Fish-Lady." Giles said with a raised eyebrow in a way to challenge the Water Bearer Spirit.
"'Miss Fish-Lady.'" Loki chuckles only to find himself imprinted into the wall like a wall flower by Aquarius who bashed him with her urn to quell her tiding anger.
"Go ahead and contact Galico Giles, I bet your family and friends are worried about you." I said reassuringly to Giles.
He nods his head in response before walking out onto the marble carved fountain of Poseidon that is connected to some carved decor marble of ships, the sun and moon, islands and people that are around the fountain like a halo. A lime-green light emits from his hands as he touches a space of air nearly 5 inches away from the rim of the water. The light twists down and touches the water before instantly engulfing the whole fountain, carving and all into a bright lime-green light. The carving of Poseidon blinks its eyes to reveal blood red pupils before it speaks in an unknown tongue.
*Sonta Galico*
As soon as those last words leave the marble carvings mouth, the light does a bright flash before retracting into the form of Galico's mark that hangs in the air before the now closed eyes of Poseidon, which itself has a fading red glow behind the carved marble.
Giles turns on his heals and places his hands behind his back before saying, "The statue was saying that Galico has been informed of my arrival and a ship of Galico will be here in 15 hours."
"Hmm..." I hummed. I've been up for about 8 hours already, I'll stay up longer to keep Giles company for as long as I can. I think to myself before asking, "You hungry Giles?"
"Mm-hmm!" Giles said with a bright smile.
"Come on, I'll make you something to eat." I chuckled before turning on my own heals and heading towards the kitchen.
After the meal;
"Want to play some board games after you take a bath?" I asked.
"Yup! Can we play monopoly?" Giles asked before he rounded the corner to head towards the bathroom.
"Only after you finish your bath." I bargained with a smile as I start to wash his dishes. "Don't even think of skipping the body soap!" I called after him as he pads towards the bathroom.
"Yes, yes." Giles said with a hint of exasperation.
Sometime Later By The Fireplace;
"Can you summon out one of your spirits to play with us?" Giles asked curiously as we both settle down on some couch cushion.
"Sure." I said as I took a key that I knew well from my pouch that's on my belt, since I changed into my pajama's, and chanted; "Open Gate of the Canis Minor. Nikora!"
"Puun!" Plue calls out as he makes an entrance.
"A puppy-?" Giles asked as confusion racks his mind and sight.
"Almost, most people say that he's a snowman, but he's a dog." I explained.
"So why'd you summon him?" Giles asked as he was given a sucker from Plue.
"One time when I was exhausted from a job with my team, I had Plue come out and keep Natsu, Gray and Happy occupied with some board games so that they wouldn't peek at Erza, Juvia, Wendy, Carla, and I in the spa. When I came back, all three of them were depressed as they explained how Plue kicked their fluffy rumpus' at all the board games. So since you brought up monopoly I let my curious as to what he can do overcome me." I said as I dealed Plue's part. "Shall we begin?"
"Yup!" "Pun Puun!"
Somewhere In The Middle Of The Game;
With an exasperated sigh Giles falls back onto the pillow behind him as he had once again fallen on a part of the board that was under Plue's control. I giggle a loud giggle before taking another sip of apple cider that I cooked up on the stove before the game started.
"I don't see what your giggling about since you are in the same situation too." Giles grumbled with attitude.
I laughed and shake my head before looking at my piece that's in jail for the 5th time since the game started because in all reality on this game we both were getting our asses kicked by Plue.
At The End Of The Game;
"Well, good game." I said as I intersect my arms to shake both Giles and Plue's hands.
Giles glares at Plue with a sour face before answering, "Sure."
"Pun Puun Pun."
"What did he say?"
Answering Giles question I say, "Plue says that since he won, you have to sit down and listen to me while I share some stories of my time with Team Natsu in Fairy Tail."
"Well I was going to ask if you could tell me that anyways." Giles said with a shrug before making some pillow seats on the floor from the pillows that we stripped and tore from the couches in the room.
"Alright, alright." I said as I checked the clock. 4:18. In the morning. About 7 more hours to go before Giles ride home gets here. "Let me get some blankets. Do you want anything besides blankets?"
"Some water and a snack." Came Giles reply as I walked into the kitchen with Plue.
I lean down for Plue to grab on my hand and lift him up so he's on the counter with me. I saunter over to the fridge and take out some grapes, watermelon, oranges, banana's and strawberries before going over to the cutting board that Plue helpfully set out with a knife and some bowls. "Thank you Plue." I said.
"Puun Puun!" Plue replied with a smiling salute before going back into the Celestial Spirit World.
After the snacks are all cut up, I fill up a glass with water and head back into the piano room to set down the tray on the coffee table before jogging over to the linen closet to take out two fluffy soft blankets.
"Alright-y now, one for you." I said as I passed a blanket over to him, "And one for me." I flopped down with a small grunt before situating myself in my blanket and my snacks. "Where to start." I pondered.
"The beginning!"
A mischievous smirk grows as I said, "Well now, it started in Hargeon-"
Sometime Later;
I open my eyes to find myself back in my room with flipping blinding bright sunlight pouring through the window illuminating the room to the point where it looks like 12 freaking suns are lined up one after another and are barreling towards Earth Land...not that that would happen obviously!
I sit up and put my legs over the side of the bed before yawning and stretching my arms, causing my back to pop slightly. Better now than latter. I reminded myself. With some smacking of the lips I cock my head to the side as I think, Now how the hell did I get back into my room? Last time I checked, it was about 6 in the morning when the two of us fell asleep one after the other. Now it's 3 in the afternoon. Looking down on the end table beside the dresser, I notice that my keys are atop a piece of paper.
Walking over to the table, I lift up the note and have my keys slide off it before I wearily start to read it;
Lucy;
So, we got here two hours ahead of schedule and Giles is safely back on Galico. Did you know that you left the door unlocked, your supposed to lock it before you go to sleep, it could become a bad habit if you do it too often.
Anyways, Kiki is disappointed that you weren't awake and 'Going All Celestial' (Kiki's words not mine) on me, but she's impressed with your spirits who caught and rodeo tied the spies surrounding Galico's forests. A pink-haired lady, dressed as a maid, and a goat-man popped out of nowhere when we found the 74 spies and said that they defeated them when Giles was just a mile away from the boarder.
Anyways, ships calling us, but I've got to say;
Midnight's the one who carried you to your bed and he kissed you on the cheek before brushing your hair out of your face. Do you two have a relationship that I don't know about?
See you again!
-Amphias De Cotoro *phoenix picture drawn simply yet elegantly by the signature*
xxoo (smooches)
Crumpling up the letter as aura's of gold illuminate around my vision I growl; "The next time I see that bird I'm gonna pluck his feathers and open up a quill shop!"
AMMiss: RUN AMPHIAS RUN!
Amphias: *crashes out of window, transforming into half phoenix half man*
Lucy: FIRE!
Amphias: SQUAK! *dodges a Celestial beam before cawing like a bird and fleeing from Lucy*
Lucy: GET BACK HERE YOU DAMNED BIRD!
Amara: *leans on AMMiss* Snap pea? *holds out a bag of refrigerated snap peas*
AMMiss: Yes please. *takes one out of the bag*
Amara and AMMiss: *loudly crunching on snap peas while watching the Celestial and Phoenix comedy show fly and fight around the valley beneath the two peanut gallery viewers*
Dorian: *pops out of a portal, looks side to side before whispering* Thank for being patient for this update. More will come soon but not soon enough. Happy Reading! *dodges a flying blood red fireball*
Author's Note; there's a link to what Lucy's dress looks like on my author page.