Forever's Not Enough

A/N: Yo! We finally reached the 11th chapter! I found a loophole, and the loophole was full of new ideas for FNE! Thanks for your unending support and your patience. I'm really sorry for the super duper ultra mega late update. And I know the filler wasn't good, I'm sorry, I wasn't really that inspired! But fear not, I have updated!

This chapter explains the Key of Time (hence, the title of the chapter). From here on, it would get all twisty, so be ready. If you have any questions regarding the Key of Time and a Time Dimension, feel free to PM me so I could explain it better than I did here. I know this chapter is really short, but forgive me, I have limited time writing this.

Chapter Eleven - The Key of Time

"W-what?" Lucy stammered, she was clearly speechless. She didn't know what to say, or what to do. Her eyes were glued to the floor. As for Sting, he covered his mouth tight, blushing more than Lucy did. What the heck did he just say?

Future Rogue cleared his throat. "Erm, listen. I don't want to ruin your precious moment. Lucy Heartfilia, hand over the Key of Time and your real friend, Rogue, would be saved from the Time Dimension. I know you're completely unaware of the vast secrets that your life holds, so I'm giving you 22 hours from now. I will be somewhere around Fiore, lingering around the beauty of darkness. If you fail to hand me the key, I would see to it that Rogue would be dead before the Time Dimension swallows him alive" he warned before disappearing into the air in a form of smoke.

Sting grabbed Lucy's arms gently and faced her . She was about to say something but Sting interrupted her. "Listen Lucy," Sting finally said her name,"Now's not the time to explain what I have just said. We have to find out more about that key thing, or else, Rogue will die! Now please, tell me, do you know something about the Key of Time?" he asked boldly, but avoiding Lucy's brilliant eyes.

Lucy blushed, it's not everyday a hot, sexy, man grabs your arms and draws his face closer to yours. Her eyes widened as she thought of those words that could describe Sting. She was supposed to think about the problem right now. Lucy cleared the thoughts out of her head and began to think. Although she didn't know anything about the Key of Time nor the Time Dimension, but she knew someone who could. "I really don't know anything about the Key of Time or the Time Dimension. But I think I know someone who could know a lot of information about it!" Lucy said, hope obvious in her words. Sting's eyes gleamed. He knew Lucy wouldn't disappoint him...much.

"Open thee, Gate of the Southern Cross, Crux!" Lucy hollered.

A giant metal cross with golden patterns appeared. "Yes Lucy? How can I help you?" he asked, his voice sounding old and sleepy.

"Yes! Crux, do you know something about the Key of Time? Or the Time Dimension of any sort?" Lucy asked. The large cross scratched its chin and suddenly fell asleep, earning shocked looks from both Lector and Sting. Why the hell did he fell asleep?! Before Sting could even ask about it, Crux suddenly burst awake. That was a new record, Crux would often be out for a few minutes or so.

Crux coughed. "There are some information I could not tell you, but I have more that I can" he said slowly, "The Key of Time, a hidden Celestial Spirit Key, can have access to summon the Time Spirit, Chronos. He could manipulate time any way he wants, however, the Time Dimension is one of his hated creations. It's a place, where it could trap a person. Its walls are made of pure time magic. The Time Dimension could take you back to your birth, or take you to your death. A Time Dimension's walls can be changed according to any purposes. If a Time Dimension swallows the person inside it, then time would either kill it or make him an infant"

Lucy, Sting and Lector gasped. "However, there's more," Crux added, "People wanted to use a Time Dimension, but in order to do so, they should have the Key of Time so Chronos could give them access to it. Unfortunately, Chronos hated the selfishness of humans so he changed everything with time. The Time Dimension could now be easily made by a human. And its powers are stronger than Chronos' own skills. So basically, the Time Dimension is like Chronos himself, but it's not. Chronos despised humans, so he hid his key. However, man-made Time Dimensions can only rebirth people or kill them. Only Chronos can change how a man-made Time Dimension works. But his key was not yet found to this day causing many people find their man-made Time Dimensions...inconvenient"

"So now Future Rogue used a man-made Time Dimension to trap the real Rogue and make us hand over the Key of Time. But first, we have to know what his plan is. We can't just hand it over" Sting said.

"How about the key's location?" Lector asked.

"I'm sorry but I don't know its whereabouts" Crux said. Lucy thanked him and he disappeared back to the Spirit World. What now? Lucy thought worriedly. Some of the information they just have learned were not even that helpful to their mission.

Sting saw the worried look on Lucy's face and hugged her, regardless of the awkwardness. "Don't worry blondie, I'm sure we'll find it," he said encouragingly; releasing her from the hug, "We have to hurry though. We only have until tomorrow to look for it. Any ideas?" he asked.

Lucy blushed, she didn't know what to say because of what Sting did. "Future Rogue said that my life holds a lot of secrets. Usually, the secrets I find out about myself are connected to the past. So I just have to think of the past and remember..." she replied smartly, then a name popped into her mind. Bran. Bran Zaden. Her childhood friend and crush. "I know! I remember!" Lucy beamed.

Sting's face brightened. "Bran Zaden must have it. Mother said that one day when both of us would separate ways, Bran would give me something...something mysterious yet useful. She entrusted it to him. We must find Bran, I think he has the key!"

"Well, Lucy, I do have it" someone said from behind them.

With Future Rogue...

"They fell right into our trap, Sir. But what about the Present Rogue?" Future Rogue asked the man in front of him, wearing a pure black cloak that covered him whole. His eyes gleamed in the darkness as Future Rogue reports the details of their plan.

The man grinned evilly, his fangs showing. "We'll use him as bait. I'm sure Fairy Tail won't let our plans happen. They would always get in our way. Save that Rogue for later. He'll be very...useful. For now, keep an eye on...Bran Zaden."

Future Rogue nodded and bowed. "As you wish, sir"

I know, I know. There isn't much romance. But I'll get to that part later. Specially with Bran Zaden. He'll be important.

Thanks for reading guys!