Sorry for the long wait. Thank you to all you wonderful readers for being so patient.

This is dedicated to you ;)

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. Hiro Mashima, master of cliffhangers does.

Chapter 3. The first celestial knight

xXx

"Again!" A sharp voice commanded.

A soft female grunt could be heard before it was muted by the sounds of fighting.

"So what do you think Big Brother?"

"Virgo, I was joking when I asked you to call me that."

"Understood Leo. And you haven't answered my question about the Princess."

"Honestly, I can't believe it's only been a few days since we left Fairy Tail. Lucy has grown so fast."

"I am glad to see our efforts to train her have done well." Virgo stated tonelessly but a tinge of pride for her princess seeped into her voice.

"True that," Loke replied, propping up his glasses.

"Currently, she has trained with myself, Gemini and now with Capricorn. Her physical and magical capabilities have risen exponentially."

"E…Expo…nentially…?"

"She has grown strong." Virgo said plainly.

"I…I see," Loke stammered, hoping to keep some of his pride as the Leader of the Zodiacs intact, "Well…I better go inform the Celestial King on Lucy's progress. Bye."

With a quick ramble, swift goodbye and awkward wave to the maid spirit, Loke returned back to the celestial realm in a glimmer of sparkles. Virgo smiled slightly at his departure looking at the spot he had been in before her attention was diverted by her name being called.

"Virgooooooooooooooo! Save meeeeeeeeeee!"

Virgo tensed in preparation to save her princess only to relax when she saw her master's predicament. Or rather, heard her master's predicament. As if on cue, a loud grumble could be heard from a familiar blonde's stomach.

"I'm dying! Save me, Virgo!" Lucy pleaded, lying on her back, drenched in sweat from her recent training.

Virgo looked to Lucy's current sparring partner, Capricorn.

"Lucy-sama has trained enough for now. I will go back and return later." Capricorn said, and a shiver ran through Lucy at the ominous sounding 'for now'.

"Princess. What would you like to eat?"

"Why don't you cook something you like to eat Virgo?" Lucy asked kindly, eager to know more about her friend that she had grown closer to over the past days.

"I like food that you like, Princess."

"Well, I like food that you like that I like." Lucy shot back, determined to win this verbal fight.

"Well to be specific as to what food I like…" Virgo paused, adding to the suspense.

Lucy leaned forward towards Virgo in anticipation.

"I like food that you like."

Sighing as she sensed she was fighting a losing battle, Lucy smiled in defeat, "How about a pasta dish?"

"A good choice, Princess."

xXx

At the celestial realm

"Welcome back Leo. How was your visit?"

"…fine, my King." Loke said but his cat ears twitched from the embarrassment from earlier.

"That is good to hear. More importantly, how goes the progress of my old friend?"

"Virgo says she improves at a rapid rate."

"Then perhaps my old friend is becoming worthy of that position." The Celestial King murmured softly, stroking his long beard thoughtfully.

"Position?"

"Leo…what I am about to tell you must not be discussed with anyone else…for now…"

Loke nodded uncertainly.

"Recently I have felt areas of the celestial world becoming…corrupted of sorts."

"Corrupted?! In what way?"

"It is strange. The areas are merging with Earthland."

"Merging?! Is that even possible?"

"The only possible cause of this is the use of what should've been lost magical artefacts."

"Why would someone do this?"

"I fear the Yami alliance has returned again, Leo. The merging of the two realms will cause unimaginable chaos, with natural disasters only signifying the beginning."

"How can we stop it?"

"I do have a plan, worry not. I would like you to guide my old friend and assist her in becoming our second celestial knight."

"What? How?" Loke said incredulously as an image of a past master suddenly flickered into his mind.

"Simply because there was no one worthy or powerful enough."

"She's not ready for such a position! Lucy is too young. Too inexperienced. She could die if she chooses to go on your quest!"

"That is why she has you, is it not?"

Loke remained silent, his desire to save his home and Earthland warring with his desire to protect Lucy.

"My old friend is special, you and I both know that. She has bonded with almost all of the twelve zodiacs. She has found a home in a strong guild. She has friends from both the celestial realm and Earthland. And I hope that you will guide my old friend to be a strong protector of both."

Loke sighed, rubbing his eyes from beneath his glasses before letting out a small grin.

"Lucy already is. She doesn't need my help. She's always been worthy of being the celestial knight."

The celestial king smiled. "Nevertheless, I would like you to ask my old friend and if she does agree, then to guide and protect her."

Loke inclined his head and then returned back to Earthland using his own magic power.

xXx

Loke took a deep breath, his head clouded with past memories as he returned to Earthland. Rubbing his forehead, he turned his gaze towards Lucy who huddled by a campfire, a vacant expression dominating her usually bright eyes.

"Hey." Loke said softly, sitting next to Lucy on the log.

"Hey." Lucy replied cheerfully,

"You know it's alright to be sad once in a while. You can even cry on my shoulder- an opportunity I don't even offer the women I date." Loke wiggled his eyes suggestively.

A small, sad smile broke out on Lucy's face. "I wonder why I just can't seem to stop thinking about everyone at Fairy Tail. All these memories keep pushing me to go back home."

"And by everyone, you mean Natsu, right?" Loke smirked.

Lucy blushed furiously and she whacked him lightly for his teasing before the mood became solemn again.

"Whenever I start looking back on these memories, I forget the reason I'm training in the first place. What should I do Loke? I didn't realise it would hurt this hard."

"First of all, I'm not even going to comment on that sexual innuendo. And the reason I believe you're training is so you can protect everyone *cough cough* Natsu, though to me your plenty strong already."

Lucy laughed aloud, the sparkle in her eyes brightening again. "Thanks Loke."

"Hey Lucy…if the celestial realm was in danger, what would you do?" Loke asked, in light of the troubling news that the celestial king had told him.

"Obviously I'd protect it. If all of you guys", Lucy began, holding up her keys, "home is in danger, isn't it my duty as your friend to protect it?"

"What if you had choose between saving Earthland and saving the celestial realm?" Loke inquired, curious.

"I'd save both. Don't doubt these muscles." Lucy said, flexing her arm to show her bicep. "But honestly, I know with everyone from Fairy Tail and you spirits we could definitely save everyone."

Loke grinned. "You know you remind me of the heroine in a legend told throughout our realm. I'll tell you it if you get into your sleeping bag. We'll have story time."

Lucy, ever the avid reader and writer, quickly hopped into her sleeping bag, resembling a worm as she wriggled closer towards Loke to hear the tale.

Loke leaned back comfortably and then began, his voice like velvet and the flickering light from the campfire giving an enchanting quality to his storytelling.

This tale I am about to tell you of is no ordinary one. It is one of a heroine who showed unwavering courage before the stars, undefeatable strength before foe and friend alike and unforgettable sacrifice for those she loved.

Do I perhaps have your attention? Now listen closely to this story that I weave, of a girl forever remembered by the stars, touted The Celestial Knight.

It is said that somewhere in Earthland, a nameless orphan was born. Forced into an upbringing where she did anything to survive, the young girl grew strong and intelligent, defeating all that stood in her path, throwing away her emotions.

One day, the girl discovered she possessed magic, the gold sparks flickering around her hands when she grasped a mysterious key. Suddenly out of nowhere, a spirit, her first spirit was summoned- Leo, the lion.

"And you are?"

"Leo the lion at your service."

"How did you come to be here?"

"Your magic summoned me, little one. You have strong magic for a child your age."

"And what dictates the strength of one's magic?"

"Your emotions. The strength of your magic depends on many a thing but most importantly, the strength of your emotions."

"…Then my magic cannot be strong. I have cast away both my emotions and bonds."

"Nevertheless you have summoned me. Let's make a contract."

"Very well. When will you be available?"

"Anytime you want…by the way what is your name, young lady?"

"I am nameless. Call me what you wish."

"Anna. How about that?"

"Anna is fine."

"So any requests for me, my little lady Anna?"

"Only one. Don't call me lady Anna. Anna will do."

"If you say so Anna, now how about you and I go see the beauty of this world; it has been a while since someone last summoned me after all…"

The girl smiled unnoticeably. Anna. My name is Anna.

With the leader of the Zodiacs by her side, Anna gained many more celestial spirits. She was kind to them and fought by their side, actions that made her a true friend.

The celestial spirits were very proud of their owner and friend, Anna. However, one evening, the spirits sadly informed Anna that they had to cancel their contracts with her to go fight and protect the celestial realm from invading forces after dark magic had begun corrupting their king.

None of the spirits that served her ever forgot her response.

"When I was young, I had no one by my side. But you guys stayed and made contracts with me and helped me grow. So if we are…as you once said…true friends, then let me fight with you. Let me protect your home."

With that, Anna demanded to know how to get to the celestial world. The spirits acquiesced to her request, witnessing her determination and gave her celestial clothes to allow her to enter and stay in the celestial world to fight. Strangely though, the garb on her lithe body gave her an unusual appearance.

"…what? Why are you all staring me like that?" Anna asked, feeling intimidated at the piercing eyes on her.

"You kinda look like a knight, Anna." Leo said honestly.

Anna smirked.

xXx

"How is the king, Leo?" Anna panted, injuries covering her body from continuous fighting in the celestial realm.

"..." Leo remained silent as he jabbed his fist into the stomach of an enemy mage.

"That bad, huh…" Anna's mind ran through the possibilities of what could happen to all her friends if the king died. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. What can I do, she thought, there must be something.

"Anna…go back to Earthland."

"…you want me to abandon all of you to your deaths!" Her voice grew steadily in anger until she was shouting at the end of her sentence.

"This is not your battle to fight! You're just a human. How could one human change this situation?!" Leo sharply demanded, pointing his arm at all the chaos and destruction before them in the battlefield of what was once a breathtaking realm.

"Maybe it wasn't my battle to begin with. But it became my battle to finish." Anna stated simply.

"…why…you…can't…change…this…" Leo was dumbfounded by the strength of her determination.

And then a flash of inspiration struck Anna. And with that she knew exactly how to save the celestial realm. She turned to her first spirit, Leo, with a sad smile who still seemed lost in thought.

"Leo. You've been by my side ever since I first found and summoned you by chance. I can think of no one better to entrust these to." Feeling a heavy yet familiar weight dropped into his hands, Leo looked down in horror.

"Anna..." Leo looked up quickly but it was too late, she had already disappeared, a faint apparition of her left in her wake.

"I break my contract with you Leo the Lion. Thank you for everything…my dearest friend…" The apparition said softly before vanishing in a trickle of golden sparkles, smiling a happy sad smile that broke his heart.

Leo fell to his knees, a myriad of emotions consuming his heart and soul. Shock, horror, anger, sadness. Looking around, he could see all of Anna's spirits doing the same as him.

Struggling to get up, he punched the ground, "Anna, what on Earthland are you planning?!"

xXx

Anna stood a few metres in front of the unconscious celestial king. Taking a deep breath, she clapped her eyes together and released a burst of golden light that caught the attention of everyone on the battlefield and even roused the king.

"Anna…" Leo gasped.

"Enemies…" Anna began, a slight crack in her voice betraying her fear, "Put down your weapons and withdraw at once!"

The celestial spirits looked at her in shock while the enemy forces laughed outright at her declaration.

"Leave the celestial realm!" Anna demanded, her voice growing powerful as her body began to glow brightly, her blonde tresses shining like liquid gold as they flew back at the magic power she was releasing.

Some of the enemy mages shifted anxiously, noticing the amount of power she possessed.

However, the ignorant enemy leader demanded, "And who are you to tell me, Kuro Yami, leader of the Yami alliance, to withdraw?! You're just a puny female mage!"

"I was once a puny female mage. However, right here, right now, I stand before you as The Celestial Knight! This is my final warning. Withdraw now or face this knight's wrath!"

Sensing their refusal to budge, Anna gathered all her magic power, squeezing every last drop she had into her spell.

"Then by the power granted to me by the stars, I will give you 'til the count of three to run. Not that it'll do you any good." Anna added maliciously at the end.

"One." A huge golden magic circle formed above the entire battlefield.

"Two." Some of the enemy forces began to retreat.

"…Three."

Right before Anna said the words that would change everything for her, she looked behind to her to face the celestial king and mouthed some words to him, to which he solemnly nodded.

Grinning, Anna clapped her hands and shouted, "Celestial Law: Judgement!"

Suddenly flashes of golden light began to strike the enemies, wiping them to ash as they felt their souls experiencing every ounce of pain they had caused to the celestial realm and its inhabitants. For the celestial spirits, it was a completely different case, the light felt like a protective embrace telling them it'd be okay, that they were safe and was even healing their injuries.

The spirits began cheering on the now golden battlefield and looked up to their saviour, their celestial knight, with admiring eyes. However, what they saw, made their hearts break.

A pale Anna, turning translucent before their very eyes, stood shakily on her feet. Or rather foot, as her left foot had already begun to fade in a trickle of small golden orbs that resembled tiny stars.

"ANNA!" All the celestial spirits cried in dismay.

To their absolute surprise, Anna bowed to them, as low as she could manage with one foot.

"Celestial spirits. I may have not known you for a long time but I thank you."

She looked at Leo. "Thank you for giving me my name, Anna."

She looked at all the spirits who had travelled with her. "Thank you for staying with me. Our times together truly made me feel like we were a family…a feeling I will never forget…"

Her voice choked up as sobs broke out of her chest. "Thank you…I was a nobody…but you made me a somebody…I…I…truly love you all from the bottom of my heart…"

"Goodbye." And with the warmest grin and the happiest eyes that any of the celestial spirits had ever seen in their immortal lives, she faded before their very eyes, a trickle of golden lights entering the skies above her.

"May the stars guide you, Anna, who we will forever remember as our celestial knight." The King, now healed, boomed out.

"May the stars guide you." All the spirits repeated solemnly.

The fire crackled as Loke finished his tale with Lucy silent.

"…Hey Loke, what was Anna like…?" Lucy asked sleepily as the realm of dreams beckoned to her.

Loke closed his eyes in thought, the image of his former master smiling as she freely ran through a golden field appearing in his mind.

"She was warm and free…to all enemies and mages, she was the celestial knight…but to us celestial spirits…she was just Anna…"

"…she sounds…incredible…" Lucy finally fell asleep, light snores slipping out immediately.

Looking at Lucy's sleeping form, Loke couldn't help but see Anna in her, their similarities in both personality and appearance almost too coincidental.

"Anna…what should I do…what if I lose her too…" Loke whispered softly into the night air.

xXx

"Are the preparations complete yet?" A man seated upon a throne demanded coldly.

"Only a few magical artefacts that need to be taken and then we will be done." The lady bowed.

With a wave of his hand, Kuro the Fifth dismissed her and then smiled evilly in the darkness.

"Soon."

xXx

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'Til the next chapter (hopefully not that far away)