A/N: Okay, so I have a really good idea coming up for this story, so I have been neglecting the others and I have been writing this one non-stop. I can't help it, until the extent of the scene I am most excited about comes, I will not be able to concentrate on anything thing else... I can not thank all of you who reviewed enough. It made me really happy, and it is the reason I am not waiting until after the weekend is over to post this!

I do not own Fairy Tail. the only thing I own is my crazy imagination that loves dramatic situations!

Chapter Eight: An Announcement

Lucy smiled as she spoke with Levy about her novel. At least there was something that the two of them could talk about. And Lucy was relieved that her friend didn't pressure her more about the book. Lucy honestly didn't know what she would end up saying if the petite blue headed girl pressed for further information.

They were deeply engrossed in the topic of the main villain when the splintering of a nearby table rushed them out of their thoughts and the girls looked to see the Titania of Fairy Tail stand up excitedly as if she had just remembered something.

"Lucy! Your birthday had passed when you were in the spirit world! I forget that I had gotten you a present!" She nearly yelled as she marched up to Lucy. And then the scarlet haired knight added "Please, hit me for forgetting such an important day! I can't believe that I had forgotten something of such gravity and importance!"

Lucy found herself sweating nervously at her friend's antics. She would never actually hit Erza, she was for too afraid to even think about doing something like that. So waving her hands in front of her she said "No, no, it's fine! I wasn't even here, you guys didn't have to do anything!"

Though, Erza would not take an answer like that. Summoning her own ex-quipping powers, Erza produced a neatly wrapped box that was about the size of her open hand and then passed it to the blond celestial mage so that she could open it. By this time Gray and Natsu had somehow appeared by their side as well. The two boys were equally as excited to see Lucy open the gift. Though one could tell that Gray was nervous because his shirt had already been discarded on the floor.

As Lucy started to carefully unwrap the present, Erza explained "We got these while on a mission and knew that you would like them, even if we really don't know what they are. I'm sure that you can tell what they are fairly easily."

Not knowing what to expect from what she had just been told, Lucy continued to open the present and was floored when resting inside the box on top of tissue paper were two keys. With gratitude flowing out of her in waves, Lucy looked up at her friends and said "Thank you. Thank you all so much." And right after she said that a tear of happiness fell from her eye. It really was almost too much. She felt completely loved and cherished. She loved her friends so much, and she knew that they felt the same way about her too.

"Come on, Luce, how about we see what spirits you got!" Natsu said as he pumped his fist in the air.

Nodding her head in agreement and muttering "Right," she got up and for the second time that day she went over to the training grounds. She was honestly surprised at the amount of magical energy she still had. This morning she had summoned three golden keys and had formed contracts with them, and yet, she felt as though her magic stores were almost completely full. She supposed that was the product of the power that the Celestial Spirit King had granted her when she had contracted Draco and Phoenix.

Looking over the two keys she was very happy with what she saw. Taking the first one out, she called out "I am the person who connects the road to the stellar spirit world. Thou shall respond to the calling and pass through the gate. Open the gate of the shield, Scutum!"

In a shower of silver, a literal shield was floating in front of Lucy. It was polished silver with a face in the center of it. The face was of a young warrior in a helmet. The workmanship on the shield was absolutely stunning, and Lucy couldn't help but find herself gaping openly at him. It was the type of shield that a solder would use, only Lucy could sense that there was more to this spirit than just being a shield.

"Hello Scutum, I am Lucy, your new friend, and I was wondering if you would like to make a contract with me?" Lucy asked with a sweet smile on her face.

The shield seemed to observe her for a moment before saying in a very formal tone "Lady Lucy, I would be honored if you would allow me to become your shield in times of need. I am available any day that you need me, and I can not only protect you from physical attacks, but there is a secondary barrier that will encase you while you are using me that will, for the most part, prevent magical attacks from inflicting damage onto you. Also, in cases of emergency, I may be able to pass through my own gate in order to protect you."

With another smile Lucy said "Thank you Scutum. I will be sure to call you out when I need you." And with that the shield seemed to bow before once again disappearing from Earthland in another show of sparkles.

Taking out the other key, Lucy examined it before looking around nervously.

"What is it Lucy?" Erza asked from where she was standing. She was highly impressed with the shield spirit. It was like nothing else she had encountered in her weaponry search, and she was almost envious that Lucy could use it due to being a spirit mage and she could not. But it really didn't matter that much. After all, Erza knew that she had armor that would probably work the same way on a whole.

"This is a key for the constellation of the swordfish, I'm not sure if I need water for it to work or not. I mean, I don't need it for Pisces, but I do for Aquarius. I suppose I will just have to try, right?" Lucy asked with a nervous smile on her face.

"Of course, and we will be right here in case anything happens." Erza nodded with a fond smile on her face.

Once again nodding and stepping into her summoning stance, Lucy called out "I am the person who connects the road to the stellar spirit world. Thou shall respond to the calling and pass through the gate. Open the gate of the swordfish, Dorado!"

What came forth was not what Lucy was expecting at all. She had thought that it would perhaps be a literal swordfish, or the like. But what actually came through was a sword. It was made of metal that was tinged blue, and the sides of the blade had tooth like barbs that were meant for causing high amounts of damage. Proving that it was the right constellation, there was a dark blue swordfish symbol etched into the flat of the blade right after the hilt of the sword ended. It was thin enough to be considered a rapier if not for the barbs on the side of it.

"Master," the sword started in a deep voice. There was a heavy accent to his voice that seemed very foreign.

"Oh, Dorado, please don't call me master. I really don't like it when you spirits do that. I am your friend, not your master. Would you like to make a contract with me?" Lucy asked the sword that was floating before her.

"Yes, Lucy, I would. I should tell you that you may summon me whenever. I am the sword of the stars and can be used in whatever way that you see fit, and whenever you need me, feel free to call me out. And if you are able, Scutum and I make a very good pair in a fight." The sword said.

Nodding her head once again, Lucy finally reached out and gripped the hilt of the sword. When she did she could feel the warmth that was in it. Even if she was not nearly as good at handling swords as Erza was, she could feel that Dorado would be able to guide her and through training he could teach her how to properly wield him. It was a very interesting feeling she decided as she released him back into the spirit world.

Turing around, Lucy tackled all three of her team mates in a hug. She was so happy for the new additions on her key ring. Thinking about it, it was getting rather cramped. Lucy wondered if she needed to get a new one soon.

"Hey, you four, Master has an announcement!" The deep voice of Laxus called over the training grounds.

"Well, it's best not to keep him waiting, wouldn't you say?" Lucy asked with a big smile as she got off the ground and started to skip back into the guild. She was just so happy at the moment that she didn't even care what was going to happen. It would be worth it, whatever it was. As long as she was with her family, she thought that she could handle anything.

Once everyone was in the guild, Makarov jumped onto the banister on the second floor and yelled "Listen up brats! Next month is the Grand Magic Games! I want the same teams as last year; however, since Mystogan cannot make it this year, the second team will be Laxus, Mira, Gajeel, Juvia, and Cana. Go train, and be back in exactly two weeks. No exceptions! Oh, and just in case, I want Elfman and Levy to also be training just in case one of you are injured too badly!"

The guild was all up and buzzing in excitement at the announcement. They had won the previous year, and that just made the topic of training even more important to the mages of Fairy Tail. This year was sure to be even better now that Sabertooth was on speaking terms with them and Raven Tail had been once again recognized as a dark guild.

"How about we go and train by the beach like we tried to do last time?" Erza suggested to her team and Wendy.

"I'm all fired up!" Natsu announced as he punched his lit fist into his other hand to show just how true that statement was.

"Hey, flame brain, I bet I will beat you in training!" Gray boasted as he smirked. Just thinking about beating Natsu was enough to put him in a good mood.

"As if, stripper," Natsu scoffed.

Lucy laughed at the two of them. Of course they would turn training into some sort of competition. That was just like the two of them. Not that Lucy would have them any other way. "That sound great, I can go off and train with my spirits. They want to teach me new spells and what not. Maybe you can also teach me how to use a sword some time, Erza?"

Ignoring the two fighting boys, Erza turned to her blond teammate and said "I think that would be a great idea Lucy. That way you can improve on what you have to while these two work on what they need and it is always good for experienced sword fighters to go over the basics every once in a while. It helps to keep us in good form."

And thus, training had begun. With Wendy and Levy, the six, eight if one counted the exceeds, made their way to the train the next morning in order to find a beach that Fairy Tail had yet to be band form. That was no easy task for the knight and the celestial spirit mage. But they someone how managed when Levy found a privet beach for rent that would suit their purposes perfectly.

Almost instantaneously, the boys took off in a race to see who could run the fastest and the longest. Laughing, Lucy looked up to the three other girls and said "I'm gunna go over there in the shade and call out my spirits, you guys do whatever you have to do."

"Alright, when we are done for the day, we will all congregate and say what we have improved on and what we still need work on." Erza announced as she ex-quipped into her Heaven's Wheel Armor and began to summon swords. She wanted to increase her endurance for summoning her weapons and holding them at the ready.

Wendy and Levy started to confer with each other, each not completely sure what to do. The two smallest members of the team agreed to train with each other to attempt and raise their magic and to think more strategically.

Lucy had settled into her stance and had called out Leo and Capricorn. After telling them the situation and how long she had to learn the new techniques Capricorn came up with a schedule for her to follow, as well as a strict dietary policy. Lucy was nervous over what that last part was about, but she didn't question it. For the time being she would put her complete trust in training with the goat spirit. After all, he had probably done this before.

In the mornings she was going to work with Leo on learning melee and other fighting techniques along with learning to use Stella Accessurum to put the power that she was lacking into her moves. Then right before lunch she was going to mediate for an hour with Capricorn, and then finally, after lunch she was going to learn the other spell, Stellam, as well as learn to partially summon a spirit. Of course, before she was allowed to go to bed, she was also required to do another hour of meditating.

Looking over the schedule, Lucy almost wished that it was flipped. She didn't know if she had the energy in the mornings to deal with sparing with the flirtatious lion. But, once again, she yielded to her spirits. They were the ones training her after all.

Just as Loke began his lesson, a deafening crack forced her attention away from the leader of the zodiac and to her other partners. It looked as if Natsu and Gray had ran right into Erza as she was in a state of deep concentration and in retaliation, she sent all of the swords that she had out raining down at the two. They were now learning the importance of dodging.

Loke nearly fell over in his laughter at the comical expressions that both Gray and Natsu sported. Lucy sighed and shook her head. Levy looked extremely pale as Wendy seemed to want to go over and help them, but she did not want to get caught in the torrent of swords and other weapons that were still plummeting towards the two boys.

"This is going to be a really long two weeks, isn't it?" Lucy whined as she tried not to sob out her frustrations about the dragon slayer and the ice make mage. They both really did need this lesson, but if they got too much brain damage from it, neither would really learn from it.

"Oh yeah, and by the end of it, you will be ten times stronger!" Loke declared as he nudged his key holder a little. This was the Fairy Tail that he had grown up with, he knew that through all of this craziness, the entire group would pull closer together and come out more powerful. The lion knew that Lucy knew this too. It had always happened that way. It was what made this guild such a special place. There was no changing it either.

A/N: I would like to say right now that I am not using the GMG just because I can. Well, I partially am, but the reason I am doing it here is because the evil will once again be there at the games, and this is a good way to show that she is learning and improving her magic. And it builds suspense in a way. I also want to try and write battle scenes, I really don't do a ton, so this will be good practice. And i have something big planned for the GMG's...me and my evil mind have cooked up quite the plot. Muahahahaha!

Oh, there will be an adorable Nalu moment next chapter, I promise! And please review and let me know how I am doing. I really do love it when you guys review.