[Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Fairy Tail world, which is trademarked by Hiro Mashima.]

I really didn't like the last chapter, so I spent the last two days revising it. I'm much, much happier with it. My amendment of the last chapter had me inspired, so this chapter arrives much sooner than anticipated. I think having a second story on which to focus is working. I'm off to work on the next chapter of The Darkness Within. Quick response to the reviewer as a thank you after the chapter. .M.

"It looked as if it had once been a large house of entertainment; but the roof had fallen in, in many places, and the stairs were steep, rugged, and broken. There was a huge fire-place in the room into which they walked, and the chimney was blackened with smoke; but no warm blaze lighted it up now. The white feathery dust of burnt wood was still strewed over the hearth, but the stove was cold, and all was dark and gloomy."

- Charles Dickens [The Pickwick Papers] -

.03. The Knight

Lucy sat quietly in the center of a large clearing lined with floating lacrimas that glowed with soft yellow hues. She had changed out of her yellow summer dress, opting instead for tight black leggings and a pink sports bra that barely contained her chest. Her hair was tightly braided, with the tail rolled into a tight bun at the base of her neck. Seated on her shins, her legs tucked under her, her eyes remained closed as a breeze moved through the clearing. It picked up the tips of the stray strands of her hair as her magic swirled around her to mix with nature's breeze. At the edge of the clearing, Capricorn stood ever watchful over his celestial mage. The corner of his black suit jacket moved on the breeze, and the soft glow of the full moon reflected off the corner of his black sunglasses.

Opaque spheres materialized around her. They hovered in the air, unmoving and unwavering, as they grew in size and in number. There was a hitch in her breath, her mouth dropping slightly to allow an inhalation through the parting of her lips. The spheres began a slow circle around her, dirt kicking up into the air to create a small dust devil to form around her. Lucy opened her eyes, never once allowing her focus to waver as her eyes watched a thin layer of a dust wall began to form. Slowly, she stood in the center of the swirling vortex of her creation and felt her magic pulsate with her heart. The spheres gained speed, spinning rapidly around her until only her ears could hear the soft whirl as they orbited around her as if she were the sun. She took a step, sending a small ripple in her magic to move the spheres with her. She remained in the eye of the miniature tornado of her making. Carefully, she moved in fluid motions, her legs kicking out and into stances as her arms sliced through the air in solid punches.

Her body moved steadily, her fists cutting through the air in precise movements as she avoided wasting her magic and physical energies. Her feet dragged soft lines along the earth with each movement, creating little indented paths along the dry soil. The spheres spun wildly around her, dust swirling around her to the point that her figure was a mere shadow to the outside observer. Eventually, the dust began to settle around her as the spheres slowed their orbit. They shrunk in size and in number. Once they disappeared, Lucy stood strong and steady, her skin glistening with the sweat of magical and physical exertion. She took a deep breath as she tried to slow the beating of her racing heart.

"That was excellent," Capricorn praised in an even and serious tone. "You are doing well with your training." He moved from the edge of the clearing, taking long strides until he reached her.

Lucy flashed a brilliant smile as she wiped a mixture of sweat and dust from her brow. She took the cold bottle of water he offered her. "Thanks, Capricorn. What's next?" she asked before taking a satisfying swig.

"You shall be sparring Loke tonight."

She nodded as she continued to drink. Her free hand moved towards the ever-present brown leather pouch on her hip. With a flick of her slender fingers, she released the snap. She removed the bottle from her lips as a sad smile appeared briefly in her eyes as her fingertips brushed over the cold metal of her key. The jagged edge was smoothed after her constant strokes. Lucy moved quickly past the broken key, pushing her sad thoughts to another corner of her mind. There would be time to linger on such feelings later.

Her fingers made quick work of filtering through the keys, the soft metal clanging as metal met metal, before settling on the one of her choosing. Her mere touch had the lion spirit appearing in a glow of celestial energy. The corner of Lucy's lips curled up into a smirk despite the sigh she released. "I didn't even get a chance to call you out, Loke."

Standing tall with pride, the orange haired spirit adjusted his tinted sunglasses before taking her hand into both of his. He gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, drawing loving circles over the softness of her skin. "My dearest love," he greeted smoothly as he peered over the top of his glasses to meet her eyes, "the very touch of your soft fingers is enough to call me forth to your beck and call." He bowed deeply and kissed the back of his fingers.

Lucy laughed despite the dusting of pink that graced her cheeks. "You really are a ham, you know that?"

"I take offense! Hams are pigs," Loke wrinkled his nose as he straightened just enough out of his bowed position. "I am a fierce and magnificent lion, my love," he paused and breathily whispered as he leaned forward until their noses were a mere centimeters apart. He continued to draw invisible circles over the back of her hand as he pulled her closer towards him. "Would you like to see just how magnificent and fierce?" He smiled as she laughed, the pink of her cheeks moving to colour the entirety of her face. He watched as a flash of regret moved through her expressions, hidden deep under the airy lift of her laughter, as he stared deep into his eyes. It was the briefest of shared moments, one of sadness yet appreciation. It chipped at the sliver of the crack in his healing heart. The sound of Capricorn clearing his throat had Loke straightening and adjusting his tie. Loke released a soft embarrassed cough as he turned to face the manly goat. "So Capricorn, what's on the agenda tonight?"

"You and I will be sparring with Ms. Lucy, and she will attempt to use your powers against us."

Loke lit his hands as he turned his head to flash Lucy his signature smile. "Sounds like a good time. You ready to dance, my love?"

Lucy let a foot slide back as she lifted her hands in front of her face in loose yet steady fists. "Always."

. . .

He leaned against the thick trunk of the oak tree as he sat on the thickest branch, hidden by the lush foliage. Natsu had returned into the city after dinner in search of Lucy. He followed the trail of her scent from the fountain square to what he had thought would be a lodge. He was floored by the size of her house, and he only managed to wonder briefly why the celestial mage had relocated to Crocus before he was forced to follow her. He remained in the shadows above her as she moved through the city with ease and he continued to follow her as she disappeared into the forest that outlined the city. Natsu tossed the handful of spiced dried fruit into his mouth and chewed quietly, as his eyes remained locked on Lucy's moving body. Near the beginning of her battle, she had dodged and ducked swiftly as she jumped back to create a sizeable distance between herself and her aggressors.

He watched as she had grabbed hold of Loke's key to press it to her chest as she screamed out, "Star dress! Leo form!" Instantly she was bathed in white light. He was blinded in that instance as her body was engulfed by the light of her magic. When his sight returned, Natsu had found himself gaping at the blonde. Gone was the tight training outfit, and in its place, a tight black sweetheart neckline gown wrapped around her torso. Unattached flowing sleeves were wrapped around her biceps and a choker wrapped around her slender neck. The gown billowed out from her tiny waist with golden sash draped over the curve of her hips. The frilled hem danced on the wind, and the deep and thick slit ran up her leg until it hit her hip. The gap showcased the curve of her toned long legs as she maneuvered on black heels. Her hair was pulled into a high and thick chignon, with long fringes of her hair framing her face.

Natsu gulped down the dryness that turned his tongue into sandpaper at the sight of her. Her skin glowed with the power of her magic, and she carried a fiery expression on her face. The whole outfit was entirely impractical for a battle – so typical Lucy – but the thought was immediately squashed as he watched Lucy's movements turn furious with deadly precision. He stilled the excitement that bubbled at the prospect of a fight to test her new powers. She was clearly stronger, and sparring with his partner would be fun!

"I really do love having my name on your magnificent and bountiful breasts, my shining starry princess."

"Loke, I swear that if you don't take this seriously, I'm going to kick you back into the celestial realm with your own damn powers!" Lucy huffed as she fell into a crouch, one leg kicked out straight to the side while her other was bent close to her chest. She watched as Capricorn's leg sailed over the top of her head before she tucked into a ball and rolled to the side. She jumped to her feet and immediately turned to block Capricorn's and Loke's combined kicks with her forearms.

Intently, the dragon slayer watched his celestial mage moved easily between her two assailants. He snickered as she planted a heeled kick to the lion spirit's gut, and he didn't care to explore why watching the lion spirit grunt in misery gave him a spark of satisfaction. Natsu decided the pervy celestial spirit deserved more than a kick in the stomach. Who touches their "master" that way? Was he always that touchy-feely and flirty?

The frills of her gown danced on air with each spin, wrapping and unwrapping her legs with ease and grace. Her limbs moved elegantly with each kick and punch, as if she was in the middle of a dance and not a fight.

Natsu continued to watch, mesmerized as he felt her magic sweeping through the trees as she moved. A swelling feeling of pride washed over him as he watched Lucy move, her limbs cutting through the space she occupied as she fought against two of her strongest spirits. There had been many moments when he found her amazing; this moment was no different.

Lucy screamed as she leaped high into the air to meet Loke mid-air during his attack. Her right hand formed a tight fist as she pulled it back to her ear. Loudly she called out "Regulus!" as her fist was covered in a blinding light. She snapped her arm forward and landed a solid punch to his chin as she twisted to the side to narrowly miss the punch Loke directed in her direction.

She landed gracefully, falling gently onto her knees and stood proudly as Loke collapsed with a heavy thud behind her.

Capricorn dusted the lapel of his jacket. "I think this will be good for tonight," he said, calling an end to their sparring match.

Lucy nodded as her expression changed, morphing from a determined and hardened look to her usual soft and gentle smile. She turned to look at Loke as he stood and rubbed the edge of his chin where a bruise was starting to form. "Thank you so much for tonight," she smiled as she bowed.

Loke smiled as he and Capricorn returned her bow, a knowing and sad glint in their eyes. "Why don't you have Capricorn walk you home, Lucy? I can clean up the area," he offered.

"That won't be necessary." The trio turned in time to watch Shirou step into the clearing. The man smiled as he kept his eyes on Lucy as he approached, a hand in his pocket while the other reached out to take her hand.

Natsu narrowed his eyes at the man that stepped into the clearing.

"Shirou!" she exclaimed happily as she gave him her hand. "What are you doing here?"

The white haired man smiled down at her and kissed the top of her fingers. "I didn't feel like spending the night without my girl by my side. Are you up for some hot chocolate and a good book?"

Lucy giggled. "That sounds just fantastic!"

He looked up and smiled at Capricorn and Loke. "Hello Capricorn. Hello Loke." Both celestial spirits nodded in his direction, Capricorn easy in his stance while Loke's shoulders stiffened. The lion spirit and Shirou shared a lingering stare, as if they carried their own personal little conversation. Loke frowned, but the expression disappeared as quickly as it appeared as he caught Capricorn's subtle head shake from the corner of his eyes.

Shirou turned his attention to Lucy as he placed a gentle hand on the small of her back. "Come on, Lucy. I'll walk you home," he led her away from the clearing.

She leaned into him. "Okay!" she looked behind her and smiled at her spirits, "Thank you for cleaning up tonight! Bye you two!" Lucy looked up at Shirou. "I need a bath. I smell."

"You don't need to make up a reason for a bath, you know. Everyone here knows just how addicted you are to your baths," he teased.

Loke and Capricorn watched as Lucy and Shirou disappeared from the clearing, the sounds of their light-hearted bickering disappearing into the foliage. Loke looked up at Capricorn as the imposing celestial spirit placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I understand the conflict you must feel, my friend."

His mane of orange swayed as he shook his head. "There is no conflict, Capricorn. I am her knight, and I will always remain by her side," his voice soft and filled with emotion. His eyes lingered over where Lucy had disappeared, walking away in the arms of another man. Loke straightened and brushed the dust from his suit as he rolled his head from side to side. His tone hardened. "That being said, I will handle this mess."

Capricorn nodded curtly. "Are you sure? I would not mind helping in this task, and I am sure Virgo would like to assist."

Loke shook his head. "No," he replied adamantly and with authority. "I will handle it on my own." He watched as Capricorn nodded, his eyes flickering into the treeline as a sneer pulled at the corner of his lips to break the normally stoic expression, before disappearing in a flash of light. The lion spirit took a deep breath before he turned to face a large oak tree at the edge of the clearing. Narrowing his eyes, he broke into a sprint and leaped high into the foliage of the tree. The leaves and thin branches whipped at his face as he flew towards the trunk of the tree at the source of his rage. "Come out of your hiding spot and face me!"

Natsu's eyes widened at the approaching light aimed at his face. He quickly leaped to the side and fell off his branch. He landed roughly on the ground, crouching before finally straightening to stand. Looking up, he watched as Loke leaped from the charred branch and landed gracefully in front of him. "Loke!" he greeted with a wide grin, completely unaware of the anger directed at him. He sprung up onto his toes, shifting weight between them as he readied for a friendly fight.

Loke's eyes narrowed with contempt as he practically hissed the words through clenched teeth. "You have some nerve being here, lizard breath."

He tilted his head in confusion at the tone. "Hey! What's with the greeting, man?"

The celestial spirit's eyes twitched with irritation as anger bubbled over the brim of his crumbling self-control. "Why the hell are you here?"

Natsu grinned. "I'm back! I thought I'd find you guys here at the games. What's the deal with the guild-" Caught in the excitement of being in the presence of the celestial spirit, he didn't catch Loke's lit fist directed at his face. Natsu only felt the hard impact to the bone as his teeth clattered together from the force of the blast. He felt his back hit the dirt and he released a grunt as a rock dug deep into the side of his rib. He coughed at the dust that entered his nostrils and throat. "What the fuck, Loke?!"

Loke ripped the thin-framed glasses from his face and glowered down at the man below him. "Coward! You come slinking back like a snake in the reeds!" He took a steady step the dragon slayer, his eyes narrowing. "I know why you're back, and I won't allow it. Stay the hell away from Lucy, Natsu! After everything she's gone through, I will not let you ruin her happiness."

Natsu tasted iron in his mouth as it mixed with his saliva. He turned his head and spit the taste from his tongue before he turned to sneer at the spirit who neared. "You can't keep me away from her, Loke! I'm her partner! Who the fuck are you?"

"I'm the one who was and is still here!" the celestial lion bellowed as his feet lit alive with celestial magic. He lifted up his leg and sent it the heel down towards Natsu. Loke growled as the dragon slayer rolled away, a charred circle painted the ground where he had been. He snapped around and twist out of the way of Natsu's fist. "I was here when she needed someone! Where the hell were you?"

Natsu staggered at his words, confusion blinding him to the kick that hit him square in the gut. He grunted as he bowed over at the sheer force.

Loke pushed forward, his lit fists sending the dragon slayer back several meters. "I was the one she turned to when you left! I was the one who held her while she cried herself to sleep! I was the one who carried her home when she drunk herself to a stupor. And, I was the one who she turned to when it was all too much. I was the one who-," he stopped as his body shook and Loke forced himself to take a step back from the pink haired wizard.

Natsu stood and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "You're a fucking over-dramatic jerk."

The leader of the zodiac roared, his mane swaying at the power that he released with the force of his emotions. His body readied to pounce when a flash of light appeared next to him. The soft grasp on his forearm interrupted the rage that moved through him, and his magic eased as he stared at the pair of blue eyes that stared up at him. "Virgo?" he managed. "What- what are you doing here?"

Although the virgin maiden's emotionless face stared up at him, her eyes were soft and compassionate. "I have come as the messenger of your brothers and your sisters. We ask that our brother, our leader, return before he does something that will hurt himself and our Princess." She turned to face Natsu and her eyes hardened as she met his eyes. "The dragon slayer is not worth your energy, brother."

Loke's eyes flickered between Natsu and Virgo as he watched the dragon slayer's face twist with confusion. He sighed. "Thank you, Virgo," Loke whispered as he straightened his shoulders back and ran a shaky hand through the thickness of his mane. He stared at Natsu with muted anger. "You asked who I am? I was and will forever be her knight. I was here." The words were heavy with meaning, and he let it linger in the tense air between them. "What you should be asking yourself, Natsu, is who are you?"

Natsu's mouth dropped at the question, but found himself unable to answer. He met the duo's unbreakable and hard gaze with confusion and uncertainty. When they left in a flash of light, the words hovered over him. They moved through him to sit heavily on his soul. The loss of adrenaline had him noticing the increasing aches that riddled his body. His hand moved on its own to clutch at his aching heart, the warmth of his memories making way to questions he couldn't answer. He looked up at the night sky. During his travels, he would often look up at the stars and his thoughts would always wander to the celestial mage and their adventures. Under the bright glare of the moonlight, he could see no sign of his starry companions. Surely, it was just the chill of the night air that broke through the barrier of his warmth and chilled him to the bone.

MarSofTheGalaxies: In a manner of speaking, yes. I'm focusing more on the journey than the destination. As I mentioned in my note in the first chapter, this story fills in the missing parts before Lucy and Natsu reunite.