"What are you reading?"
Ace subtly closed the large folder and met Erza's gaze evenly. "Just doing a little background research on my next job," replied Ace smoothly.
"I see, well I came to say goodbye."
"Going on another job?" Ace asked, resting her head in her hands as Erza sat down beside her.
For a moment Erza watched her friend try and catch the straw to her drink with her tongue, finally fed up Erza held the straw and Ace latched on like a little kid. Ace grinned, holding the straw between her teeth she asked, "So what's the job?"
"We're taking down a couple bandits that have been robbing a nearby town, nothing too over the top," explained Erza, "I think it's sweet that Natsu lets Lucy pick them sometimes."
"Yeah, he's a real keeper. Say, could you do me a favor?"
Erza frowned slightly, unsure of where Ace could be going with this.
"Could you make sure that nothing happens to Lucy?"
"Nothing will happen to her, she's perfectly safe with Natsu, Gray, and I."
"Thanks, Erza, good luck on your job."
Found west of Magnolia is Fort Term, where an unsavory bunch of bandits have made their hideout.
"Mooo!"
"Ugh!"
"That was great!" Lucy cheered, high-fiving the gigantic cow-man, "Just look at you go, Taurus!"
"Moo, you've got some moooves of your own, Miss Lucy," Taurus purred, smiling perversely at her.
Natsu slammed another bandit into the wall with little to no effort.
"Man, these guys don't put up much of a fight," Natsu commented, voice full of boredom.
"So who did you losers steal from?" Gray asked, digging his heel into one of their backs, "Old ladies and little kids?"
"Don't act like this is over," one groaned, "You'll be sorry just you wait."
"Yeah, Lord Devin is gonna make you pay!"
"We beat up that jerk a long time ago," Happy replied.
"I'm all finished upstairs," Erza informed them.
"Sweet! Nice work, Erza!"
Erza returned Lucy's smile, while remembering what Ace had said about her safety; though the smile quickly vanished as she spotted a quick moving bandit.
"Hey, get back here!" she shouted, grabbing onto the unfortunate bandit, "It seems you still haven't learned your lesson."
"Mooo! Teach me a lesson…"
"Okay bye!" Lucy said quickly, closing Taurus' gate before he could say any more.
"Well that was a waist… I was hoping it'd be a challenge," Erza sighed.
"Aaaaw! I wanna fight some more!" whined Natsu angrily.
"I know how you feel, but save it for the next job," Gray said, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Check out this gem I got, pretty cool don't you think?" Happy asked, holding up the large sparkly diamond.
"Aah! Stealing from thieves is still stealing!" Lucy reprimanded.
"Hey," Happy said, unphased by Lucy, "Isn't that Loki over there?"
"What's up guys?" Loki asked as Natsu and Gray reached him first.
"Beatin' bad guys and being awesome," Natsu replied.
"Same old, same old," Loki chuckled, shaking his head.
His expression suddenly changed to discomfort as Lucy and Erza caught up.
"I'm glad we ran into you, thank-"
"Sorry but I better hit the road, SO LONG!"
"What is that guys problem?!" Lucy growled.
"I dunno what you did but you really freak him out," Gray commented.
"Yeah he avoids you like the plague," Natsu added.
"It's not my fault he's CRAZY!" Lucy shot back angrily.
The group walked for a while, Lucy cheerfully sitting atop Gray's shoulders trying to catch the falling helicopter seeds from the trees above. Happy too had joined in the fun, shaking the branches above to make them fall for the cheerful pair.
"Guess we better head back home," Gray said.
"I dunno," Lucy began, climbing back to the ground, "Since we finished early why don't we have some fun?"
"Lucy…" Erza started, causing both Natsu and Gray to hold their breath in anticipation, "I think that's a fine idea."
Hosenka Village, the most popular resort in all of Magnolia. Famous for its spas this flamboyant if somewhat dodgy tourist attraction was designed by a Duke who was fascinated with the orient and its architecture.
"I don't get it, why is Loki so afraid of me?" Lucy wondered aloud.
"The moon looks beautiful," Erza commented happily, "The baths nice too."
"You're bathing in your armor?!" Lucy exclaimed in disbelief, her voice echoing.
"I'm more relaxed with it on."
"Really?" Lucy asked weakly, "Doesn't it feel kind of… weird?"
"Now that you mention it… it does," Erza agreed, "I may need to reconsider my definition of relaxation."
"Yeeaahh, I don't think taking it easy is your strong point."
Erza's armor glowed momentarily before disappearing.
"Wow, you look just as awesome without your armor!"
"Is that so?" she replied smugly, "Then perhaps I should walk around the guild hall like this."
"Huh?!"
"That was a joke…"
"Right," Lucy sighed, sinking lower into the water.
The two Fairy Tail wizards finished bathing. Drying up and wrapping themselves in fluffy robes provided to them they headed back to the room.
"Let's get this party started!" Natsu shouted excitedly, a pillow under each arm.
"Aye!"
"Ah, come on, I'm trying to sleep here," Gray groaned, glaring at Natsu, "Why don't you take your party outside?"
Lucy also looked up from her bed beside Gray with tired eyes.
"It's a sleepover! You know what that means right?! You gotta bust out your 'Pillow-Fu' or you too scared?"
"Of you? Yeah right," Gray scoffed.
"My arsenal is equipt with only the most powerful pillows," Erza said as she entered the room.
"Most powerful?" Lucy asked.
"Whatever, Erza you're going down!" Natsu exclaimed, throwing the pillows right for her.
"Grow up you guys," Gray muttered as Erza dodged the thrown pillows.
Though she easily dodged the pillows Gray and Lucy had not been so lucky, having jumped before Lucy and taking the thrown pillows to protect her.
"You're in for it now!" he shouted, pealing a pillow from his face.
"Alright, I guess I'll join in too!" Lucy laughed, only to have to dodge the three pillows thrown straight for her, "You know what, I think I'll pass. Don't really feel like dying tonight."
Lucy continued down the small path, taking in the beautiful senory. Beside her wobbled Plue.
"Sometimes I think those guys aren't even human," Lucy said to her spirit companion, "Oh, but Happy doesn't count, he's a cat. And you're a dog, right Plue?"
"Actually I'm a human just like you!"
"Yeah?" Her eyes widened in sudden realization, "Aah! Human? I never even knew you could talk!"
"Aye!"
"Aye?" Lucy questioned suspiciously.
"Heh heh, I come from a faraway land in search of the sacred stones."
"Very funny, now stop fooling around and get your blue butt over here Happy," Lucy demanded, hands on her hips.
"Darn… I was really hoping I could keep it up for at least a week or two. You know, since your so dumb and all," Happy commented, peeking out from around the bush.
"Wow, glad you think so highly of me," Lucy grumbled.
"What are you doing out here anyway?" Happy asked curiously.
"Going for a little walk, I'm waiting for the pillow fight apocalypse to be over," Lucy informed him.
"Woh, ho, ho! What up girl?"
"That outfit looks great on you, are you a tourist?"
"We're here on vacation from Ocevana, yo. Let's have a funky good time, yo!"
"You guys can't be for real?!" Lucy muttered, "Sorry but I'm hanging out with my friends tonight."
"Ah now don't play me like that, yo."
"I better go," Lucy said, backing away from the two strange men.
"By friends you mean that cat and uh…"
"Yo, I gotta admit your friends are pretty funky. They can tag along with us, yo."
"There's no need to be shy," he said, both grabbing onto an arm.
"You're pushy, huh," Lucy inferred, "Come on Happy do something."
"Meow?"
"What do you mean 'meow'?" Lucy exclaimed.
"She thinks her kitty can talk, how cute!"
"You got it all wrong!" Lucy defended.
"Come party with us!"
"It's about to get funky, yo!"
"Look I already told you I'm busy so knock it off!" Lucy growled, trying to puller her arms free.
'What's going on?' Lucy thought, 'I can't move!'
"Don't worry baby, we're gonna have a great time!"
"Yo, it's gonna be a funky party, yo!"
'These guys are wizards?!' she thought, completely trembling, 'Oh no!'
Without another moment passing one guy was slammed to the ground, freeing Lucy.
"Woh, that is wacky yo!"
Holding Lucy protectively he kicked the remaining man to the ground, knocking him unconscious as well.
"Loki?" she could barily whisper.
"You're not hurt are you?"
He then jumped behind a light pole, the 'cool guy' act completely gone.
"I'm really sorry," he called over to her.
"For what?!"
"These two are renegade wizards. They've been targeting female tourists they catch walking alone," Loki informed her, "I was after their bounty, so you actually helped me out. Anyway, I better turn them in before they decide to wake up. I'll see you later."
"Hold on a sec!"
"Yeah?" he asked, looking over his shoulder.
"Thanks for rescuing me from those guys."
"No problem. It's nothing really, but it was an honor all the same."
"Heeyy," Lucy began timidly, "How about you and I go out together?"
"Uh oh! Things are about to get steamy!" Happy purred, hearts in his eyes.
"I didn't mean it like that…"
The world renowned restaurant, Super Express. A popular spot in Hosenka offering its patrons a culinary adventure. While its silent Chef's forehead is certainly captivating, its wide selections of exquisite dishes are the true draw for locals and tourists alike.
"You know, you don't have to sit so far away!"
The Chef glanced up at the four empty seats between Loki and Lucy.
"Uh, right, sorry," Loki said nervously, moving over to sit beside her, causing the Chef to nod in approval.
"I've been meaning to ask you this for a while," Lucy began slowly, "Is it true you have a bad history with Celestial Wizards?"
"Mm."
Somewhat frustrated, Lucy sipped from her glass.
"If you don't wanna talk about it then I can respect that, but I don't think it's fair for you to judge me just because I am one."
"Yeah, you're right about that, sorry. Honestly, I wasn't trying to hurt your feelings," Lucy watched as his expression instantly changed when he turned on his charm, "I'm no good for you, so just forget about me."
"Uh, why're you giving me some lame break-up line?"
"That came out funny didn't it?" he said softly, "I didn't mean it that way."
"But you were serious, weren't you?"
Loki met her gaze for a moment before looking back to his drink.
"I can see it, in your eyes."
"No I, uhm, was just thinking about something that happened a while back."
"Can you tell me?" she questioned softly.
He said nothing and they sat in silence for a while, watching the condensation slowly run down the sides of Lucy's glass.
"Well… whatever… I figured it couldn't hurt to ask," she said with a sigh, rising to her feet, "Thanks again for saving me back there. I finally see why you're so popular with the ladies. This was nice, things were starting to get a little akward so if felt good to just sit down and talk to you. Anyway, I better get going."
Without even turning around Loki grabbed Lucy's wrist, preventing her from going any futher.
"Wait."
Lucy's eyes widened in surprise as he pulled her into a tight embrace, but what seemed to surprise her most of all was how she didn't want to let go.
"Lucy?"
"W-what is it?"
"The truth is… I don't have long to live."
Shock and more surprisingly fear coursed through her entire being as her heart bean to squeeze.
"You what?" she barely got out.
Loki watched as the tears slowly rolled down her rosy cheeks.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
His lies held no lies, even as he began laughing.
"I sure fooled you, it makes for a pretty good pick-up line, doesn't it? Pulls at the heart strings every time. You should of seen your face, HA! Classic."
She slapped him, knocking his glasses to the floor and leaving a considerably large mark on his cheek.
"You jerk, geez I totally believed you! Plue, Happy, we're leaving!"
Lucy grabbed both animals by their tails and stormed out of the restaurant, he watched as she frantically wiped her cheeks to remove any remnants of tear stains on her cheeks. Her piercing brown eyes tattooed to his memory forever.
'What am I doing?' Loki thought, picking up his shades, 'This is ridiculous. I can't let my feelings get the best of me and I can't drag Lucy into this. It's too late for me.'
"What's with the two of them?" Elfman questioned, looking Natsu and Gray up and down, "And what's with the bandages?"
"Evidently they both were hurt during a pillow fight after their last job," Mirajane said, making her brother grimace.
"If they're that banged up then those pillows must've been full of bricks," muttered Elfman, shaking his head as he headed towards the request board.
"It was just a pillow fight, what were you getting so worked up about?!" Gray growled.
"Cause I give everything one-hundred percent!" Natsu shot back.
"Oh, like when you one-hundred percent lost!" Gray shouted.
"I was awesome, you're the one who lost!"
"Lucy, I won the pillow fight right?!" they shouted in unison.
Slowly she turned around, a dark aura permeating around her.
"Put a sock in it," she hissed, glaring at the two.
"We're sorry, we'll be quiet now," they said together, sweat running down their faces.
"Wow, I thought Erza was the only one who could keep those too in check," Mirajane said in awe.
"She's a real man," agreed Elfman.
Happy walked over to her as Gray and Natsu walked away with their shoulders hunched, sulking.
"What's wrong, you seem like you're in a bad mood," Happy asked innocently.
"Deal with it, I'm always like this," she answered rather rudely.
"You still mad at me about that Plue Thing?"
"You've got to be kidding me! You think I'm petty enough to get hung up on some prank?" she sighed and rested her head on her arms, "Look, I'm sorry, I just have a lot on my mind right now…"
"Hey! You can always talk to me!" Happy smiled, patting her head.
"I'll pass… thanks anyway though."
Happy frowned and sat down beside Lucy, gently patting her arm reassuringly. She gave him a small smile before the guild doors crashed open.
"I've been looking all over for Loki, where is he?!" cried one of four girls.
"I can't believe he ran out on me," the second girl said.
"What're you doing here, huh?" said the third girl.
"I could ask you the same thing," said the forth girl.
"Loki come back!" cried the second girl.
Mirajane looked between the four somewhat hysterical girls without any ideas of what to tell them.
"What's going on over there?" Lucy asked, raising her head.
"They're a bunch of girls from around town, from the looks of things they all think they're Loki's girlfriend," Happy said, also watching.
"Last night he said he wanted to break up with me," the first girl said.
"Me too!"
"Why doesn't he want me anymore? Why?!" they demanded.
"Well… uh…" Mirajane began, stumbling for words.
"Is he getting married to some other girl?!"
"Uh no," Mirajane answered.
"Who is she? Is it someone from the guild?!"
"Lucy! Save me!" Mirajane exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air in defeat.
All four girls circled around Lucy, towering over her and Happy, glaring menacingly.
"So is this the girl?"
"She dresses like a tramp."
"She thinks she's cute."
"Don't tell me Loki's gonna marry her."
"Aaah! Why'd you have to go and drag me into this mess, Mira?!" Lucy shouted as the four girls chased her off.
This is Magnolia's one and only public bath house. In addition to relieving fatigue, it also restores the magic energy of all who bath there.
"Bath houses are manly!" Elfman said as he exited the man's side of the bath house.
"I like my bath at home but this place takes the cake. Nothing beats soaking in a big tub," Lucy said cheerfully.
Soft footsteps caught her attention and she turned around to find herself face to face with the one and only.
"Loki?"
"Here, try this. It really hits the spot after a bath."
"Oh! Flavored milk? Thank you!"
"Thought I might have one with you, if you don't mind."
Lucy grinned, making Loki blush more than he already was. Playfully she hit his arm as he sipped from his bottle and it almost sounded as if he purred.
"Just so you know, I had a rough day today thanks to you and your stupid fan club."
"Let's put that behind us," he said quickly, "Here's to your beautiful eyes, cheers."
The clinked their bottles together and Lucy felt his hand gently brush against hers, sending a jolt through her entire body.
"Good stuff," she laughed.
"No kiddin," he agreed.
Quickly she looked away from his gaze and up to the stars, trying to slow her racing heart.
"Uh, the sky sure is pretty, huh?"
"Yeah," he said quietly, also looking to the sky.
"Look a shooting star!" she gasped enthusiastically, "This probably sounds silly, but I always wondered where those falling stars end up."
"I kind of feel sorry for them," Loki said sadly, "Just think, once they fall from the sky they can never return to heaven. Doesn't that seem sad?"
Lucy starred at him and for a moment she saw the spirit of a lion deep inside him.
"Is that another one of your sappy pick-up lines? I can't believe you almost fooled me twice," she lied.
"Heh, saw right through me."
She was silent, starring at the bottle in her hand.
"I know I can be a real pain, but I'm glad we got to talk one last time, goodbye Lucy.
Lucy watched him walk away, his eyes fixed on the ground. In hear heart, all she could feel was sadness.
"Open Gate of the Southern Cross! Crux!"
"Wow, so this weird float-y guys a spirit, huh?" Happy asked, sitting beside Lucy on her bed.
"That's right; I like to call him Grandpa Crux."
"Heh, heh," the spirit said.
"I need you to look up something for me please. Could you use your power to find out which Celestial Wizards Loki's met in the past?"
"Heh, heh… *snore*!"
"I don't think he heard you, Lucy!" Happy exclaimed, upset that the spirit just fell asleep.
"Nah, he heard me, he's just doing a search."
"Then how come he's snoring like that?!"
"Grandpa Crux is an expert on Celestial Wizardry. He could tell you anything you want to know about the different gates that connect the spirit world to the human world. He could even tell you about particular spirits and which wizards have summoned them in the past."
"YAHOO!"
Startled, Happy jumped behind Lucy, holding her arm as he shook.
"So did you find any information?"
"Indeed, but regrettably I cannot provide any extensive details as personal privacy laws to apply to the Celestial Spirit World. However, I can tell you that Loki was once connected to a Celestial Wizard named Karen Lilica," he informed her.
"Karen Lilica?"
"You know her?" Happy asked curiously, "Who is she?"
"She was super famous a few years back. I actually had the issue from when she was profiled in Sorcerer Weekly, but she died on the job. They say her Master told her not to take it."
"So she was a guild wizard just like us," Happy added.
"Mhm, she was a member of Blue Pegasus, if I remember correctly."
"Heh, heh."
"Grandpa Crux, what was the relationship between Karin and Loki?"
"Sorry, but I'm afraid I've said all I can on the matter," Grandpa Crux said.
"Ah come on!" Lucy pushed.
"Hey, it looks like he decided to go ahead and search for you," Happy smiled happily.
"No he's asleep this time…"
"HUH?!"
"So Karen and Loki…"
Frowning, Lucy thought about what Loki had joked about the other night, how he didn't have long to live. Even though he'd played it off like a joke but Lucy refused to believe he was going to die.
"Hold on…"
She thought about earlier as they had gazed upon the stars together. How Loki thought stars from heaven was sad because they cannot return to the sky where they belong. They can't return to where they belong, on top of everything else, seeing that spirit of a lion inside of him.
"Fallen star… he can't be?"
"Uuh, is something wrong?" Happy asked, confused by Lucy's concerned expression.
Before anything else could happen her door burst open and a shirtless Gray stood in the doorway.
"I got bad news, Lucy! It's Loki! He quit Fairy Tail and then ran away!"
"Did he say why?" she asked, jumping to her feet.
"No, we don't have a clue! Everyone's out looking for him now, he's been acting weird lately but nobody expected this!"
"Maybe I'm right."
Without another word Lucy bolted from her home barefoot.
"Hey where you goin? Lucy!" Gray shouted after her, "Do you know something we don't?"
The waterfall rumbled quietly all around the narrow peninsula which jetted out above the large seemingly bottomless lake. Here Loki stood starring at the words engraved on her grave.
"There you are."
"Lucy…" his voice trailed off.
"The whole guilds looking for you… that's Karin's grave isn't it. She was a great Celestial Wizard and she had a contract with you, right?"
He said nothing, but continued watching the blonde before himself.
"The spirit Loki… wait that's not really your name," she said softly, "Your name is Leo, Leo the Lion."
"Well I won't deny it," he said with a small smile, "How did you find out?"
"Don't forget I'm a Celestial Wizard too and I have contracts with a lot of spirits. It wasn't too hard to dig up the truth but still, you should've come to talk to me about this. Normally whenever the owner of the Gate Key dies the contract between spirit and wizard is terminated. The spirit is then forced back into their world until the key falls into new hands and a contract is made," Lucy said matter-of-factly, "Your contract with Karin should've ended on the day she died. I don't understand why you're still here, I've never heard of that before. I mean that's not the way it's supposed to work right? I know your kind can't survive in the human world for long. Just like humans can't survive in your world. It'll slowly zap away your life till finally there's nothing left."
"That's right," he said with a sigh," It's been three years now."
"Three years?! I didn't even know one was possible!"
"Pretty amazing, huh? But I don't have the strength to keep it up."
"Hold on!" Lucy said, clearly shocked, "There's got to be some way I can save you! Why can't I just open a gate for you? Tell me why you can't go back to the Spirit World!"
"You don't need to save me."
"What do you mean, if you don't get some help soon you're as good as dead!" she exclaimed, choking on the last word.
"Look there's no way I can go back," Loki said firmly, turning away from Lucy.
"But why?"
"I broke a fundamental law that applies to both wizard and spirit, and as a result I was banished from the Celestial World for all eternity."
"Loki… just what did you do?"
He turned back and faced Lucy completely, her brown eyes boring into his with a mixture of emotions.
"I can't deny my crime so I have no choice but to face the punishment. I'm a traitor to my own kind. I was contracted to Karin, but she died because I killed her."
"I… I can't believe it. You had a contract and you killed her?"
"Mhm, and spirits who kill their wizards are forever banished from the Celestial World. So I'm just gonna disappear, right here, in front of her grave."
"Loki…"
Nothing but the sound of the waterfall filled their silence. Lucy could see the lion spirit within him, their eyes filled with so much pain and sadness.
"It was about three years ago…"
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"I'm sorry boys, I have an appointment at the salon this afternoon, why don't you come back and see me tomorrow?" Karin teased, flipping her hair.
"Karin my dear, you've got quite the following don't you?" laughed Master Bob.
"Gaah, I don't have time for this," Karin groaned, "Open, Gate of the Golden Ram! Aries!"
In a puff of pink smoke appeared a female spirit with pink hair, brown eyes, and a pair of twisted horns on her head.
"Umm, I'm sorry ma'am did you summon me?" she shyly asked.
The men who were moments ago flaunting over Karin quickly switched and turned their attention to Aries.
"Look I gotta run so will you entertain these gentlemen for me?"
"No not that again!" Aries pleaded, watching her Master walk away.
"We just wanna get to know you better."
"Come on, we'll show you a good time."
"I'm sorry but I'm a Celestial Spirit," Aries said nervously, "I'm not cut out for this kind of thing."
"You're not refusing to follow orders are you?" boomed Karin.
"No! Of course not, ma'am!" Aries squeaked, shrinking away from the Celestial Wizard.
With that the group of men pulled Aries away and Karin went over to the bar, her heals clicking loudly.
"Unbelievable, I mean who does that little hussy think she is, talking back to me like that!" Karin spat angrily.
She sat there sipping from her wine glass, fuming because of Aries.
"I know you're frustrated but you shouldn't be so cruel to your Celestial Spirits, my dear."
"What?! Well as far as I'm concerned she's my property, so I can treat her any way I please."
Master Bob sighed and walked right through the bar.
"It seems like your especially hard on poor Aries. I've heard about all those awful things you've done to her. Like using her as a shield whenever you're fighting against another wizard."
"Yeah and so what? It's not like she's human or anything, right?" Karin said in her snobby tone, "Celestial Spirits are nothing but tools."
"KARIN!" shouted an angrily Master Bob, "They're living beings just like you and if you continue to treat them so deplorably they're bound to rebel against you."
"How dare you go behind my back and tattle to Master Bob!"
"I don't know what you mean!" Aries cried, rubbing her bleeding cheek, "I never even said a word to him, honestly ma'am!"
Karin glared down at her frightened spirit, furious with her and with Master Bob for scolding her.
"You went and made the Master angry with me, which means now I'm angry with you!"
"I never told him, it's the truth ma'am! I swear I didn't!" Aries whimpered, visibly shaking.
"You're still feigning innocents?!" Karin hissed, pulling out what looked like a leash from her bag, the chains rattling quietly.
"What're those for?" Aries asked nervously.
"I'm gonna use them to lock you up for seven days. Right here, in the human world," Karin explained coldly, a dark aura growing around her.
"For seven days? But your magic won't hold out that long. Please don't do this!"
"I'm a lot stronger that you even know, Missy. I'm gonna be just fine, but you on the other hand…"
Whimpering quietly Aries scooted away from Karin, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I've always wondered what a week in the human world would do to a Celestial Sprit. Heh, I can't wait to find out."
"Please don't do this ma'am," Aries begged.
Karin groaned in annoyance as Aries disappeared in a puff of pink smoke.
"It won't work Aries, you can't run away. I'll summon you right back!"
Golden light filled the room and a strong hand grabbed onto Karin's wrist.
"She didn't run away," he said firmly, "I switched places with her."
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"I tried my best to stop her, but I couldn't do much cause Aries and I were still contracted to her," Loki explained, continuing on with his story.
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"Why you – how did you open your own gate?!" Karin growled, pulling her wrist free.
"I'm a Celestial Spirit built for battle. I'm patient and strong; your abuse doesn't affect me like it does my fellow spirits. I'm warning you, if you lay a hand on Aries again, you'll be sorry."
"Who do you think you are, threatening me like that?" Karin spat out, despite her shaking from nervousness.
"There's something that I've been meaning to say to you for a while now. I demand that you release me and Aries from our contracts."
"What?! You demand, me!"
"Your behavior and the way you've treated us is deplorable. In fact, many spirits in our world are afraid of their keys falling into your hands."
"Shut up!" Karin defended angrily, "That's not true!"
"You're a disgrace to other Celestial Wizards."
"Go back! Close, Gate of the Lion!" Karin shouted, moving his key before him.
Nothing happened, he continued to glare her down and stand his ground. Karin tried again and again to close his gate and send him back. To her distaste, Leo remained there before herself.
"Why can't I force the gate to close?" she panted.
"You heard me, I demand you terminate our contracts and I'm not leaving until that happens. You won't be able to summon another spirit while I'm here, you're far too weak and I refuse to be at your beacon call," Leo continued as Karin's cold eyes filled with shock, "Which means it'll be hard for you to find work."
Karin gritted her teeth, trying to find a way to send him back before she grinned slyly.
"There's one thing that you didn't think about Leo, even I have limits to my magical power. I'll run out of magic energy in a bout ten days and then you'll be forced back into the Celestial World whether you like it or not."
"No," Leo said sternly, "If your magic runs out it won't affect me in any way because I used my own magic to get here. And I'm prepared to stay however long it takes. I'll be waiting in the ruins west of town, if you change your mind, you'll know where to find me."
The door slammed loudly as Leo left Karin's home. She was beyond furious with him and began throwing items around the room in frustration.
"How dare he!"
"Give it up Leo, you're not going to be able to hold out for much longer you know!"
"I'm the Lion, Leader of the Zodiac," he countered, "I'm stronger than the other spirits and I can do things they can't. Like I said before, I'm not going anywhere, until you void both our contracts."
"Oh give me a break! You really think I'd be stupid enough to give up two Zodiac Keys? I can't take the high paying jobs if I don't have you two under contract!"
Leo sighed and bowed his head in frustration.
"I know a beautiful blonde wizard who would be more than happy to take us off your hands," Leo admitted, watching her from the corner of his eye.
Karin snorted and crossed her arms.
"I refuse."
"Then get out and don't come back till you're ready to release us."
"Leo," growled Karin, storming off.
"Please, don't do this to me," Karin begged, almost to the point of whining, "It's been a month and I haven't been able to work. I have to make money in order to survive! If you stop this I promise I'll never mistreat Aries again."
"You promise," Leo hissed, her words sickening him, "You're lying to me. If you truly felt remorse you would go ahead and free us from our contracts."
Karin's sincere expression twisted into a scowl and she charged Leo as he sat on the steps.
"Why won't you just die already, huh?!" she asked while kicking him repeatedly, "Once you're gone I can summon Aries. I'll force her to work like a dog just to spite you!"
She continued beating Leo, abusing him as she would Aries, but never once did he return a single blow.
"I won't let you get away with this, Leo."
"It's not so bad now," he said while standing outside of the ruins, "Living in the human world. Unfortunately there's nothing I can do to stop my life force from draining, but at least it's not as painful anymore."
He watched as the grass swayed back and forth in the afternoon's gentle breeze.
"It's been three months," he said with a smirk, "I suppose it's about time I forgive Karin. If she's still abusive to Aries I can always threaten to leave again."
"Ugh, NO!" Leo shouted, punching the large stone statue, "She can't!"
"I warned her not to work until this was resolved," Master Bob said solemnly, "But she took a job request anyway. She hasn't made any money in the last three months so she must've been desperate."
"But why would she take a job, she knew she couldn't summon another spirit. Not while I'm still here!"
"A Celestial Wizard can summon more than one spirit at a time but the process requires the wizard to expend massive amounts of magic energy. I guess Karin thought she could handle it," inquired Master Bob, eyes tearing up, "But in the end it seems the poor dearie simply wasn't strong enough to pull it off."
"I just…" Leo fell to his knees, "I wanted her to realize she was wrong about us. Celestial Spirits are more than just magic tools."
Tears freely fell from his eyes, the reality of everything sinking into realization.
"We're living beings, we have free will, we can feel emotion and her cruelty hurt us! But I – I never wanted her to die! Karin… KARIN!"
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"It was my fault and I've lived with the guilt ever since. When someone dies they're gone forever, I wish I could bring her back, it's just not possible. The only way I could make things right is if I were to die too."
Then it was like his entire being pulsated, causing him to fall to the ground.
"Oh no, Loki!"
Lucy hurried by his side and dropped to her knees, clueless of what to do.
"I guess this is it, it's my time."
"What do you mean 'your time'?"
"For me to disappear, forever."
"You can't just give up!" Lucy yelled, her hands squeezing into fists.
"Karin, ever since that day I've been banned from the Celestial World."
"No, your hands," Lucy said, watching them fade in and out.
"When I killed Karin I broke a fundamental Celestial Law, now I have to pay the price. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her and what I did. I tried to stay distracted so it won't constantly be on my mind but it's like she's haunting me. I've been waiting for this, for my magic energy to finally run out and now it's about to happen right in front of Karin's grave. Then I'll be free, free from the guilt's that's burdened me," he explained, gently placing a strand of golden hair behind her ear, "Before I go I wanna thank you, you've restored my faith in Celestial Wizards."
"Wait! I can save you, you can't give up yet!" Lucy cried, squeezing his hands tightly.
"Please tell everyone back in Fairy Tail I said goodbye."
Lucy stared at him, fresh tears falling from her eyes. She felt completely useless; she wanted to so badly save Loki that it made her heart hurt.
"It's not fair!" she desperately shouted, slamming her fists onto the ground.
"Lucy…"
"I won't let you die! All you have to do is go back to the Celestial World and your life force will be restored, right? There's gotta be a way I can send you back!"
Loki smiled, gently brushing away tears as he caressed her cheek.
"I'm afraid that's impossible. I broke the law and I'm being punished," he calmly whispered.
"Even so… this isn't right! You didn't kill Karin, it was just an accident, it wasn't your fault!"
Lucy pulled him into a hug, her tears warm against his skin.
"Lucy I-"
"Open, Gate of the Lion, take Leo back to the Celestial World! Please!" she begged, "Open! Please…"
"Calm down, it won't work, it's okay."
"It's not okay!" she exclaimed, shaking him, "I can't just sit here while my friend disappears right before my eyes! I won't allow it!"
Lucy's grasp on his arms tightened as she released her magic energy. A large seal forming beneath them, bathing them in a beautiful golden light that reached the stars.
"OPEN! GATE OF THE LION!"
"Stop it!" Loki shouted, "You're gonna use up all of your magic energy like this!"
"Whatever it takes! I'm gonna save you Loki! I'll open your gate, I won't give up! I promise I'm gonna get you to the Celestial World! I PROMISE!"
"It's too dangerous!"
"OPEN! GATE OF THE LION! OPEN!"
"It's not gonna open for you, as far as they're concerned I'm responsible for Karin's death. They're not gonna let me go back!"
"Aaah!" she screamed as she released even more magical energy.
"Cut it out Lucy, you're starting to assimilate with me! If you don't stop you're gonna disappear too!" Loki protested desperately.
"I won't stop till the gate opens!" she cried, "I won't let you die! What's the point of having magic power if you can't use it to save the people you care about?!"
"Don't do this! Please don't make me live with the guilt of killing you too!"
"YOU DIDN'T KILL HER, WHOEVER DECIDED YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THEY WERE WRONG!"
The ground beneath them shook with a jolt and knocked them away from one another. Time itself ceased as the stars themselves began spinning. The waterfall moving backwards as the water rose high into the sky while an incredible magical pressure appeared.
"Who, what's going on here?" Lucy questioned.
"Impossible," Loki gasped, "It's him, the Celestial Spirit King! What in the hell is he doing here?"
"He's the King?" Lucy asked while the large man starred off towards the cliffs behind the two, "Like the ruler of the Celestial Spirit World?"
His gaze lowered to them finally, arms crossed.
"Hello my old friend, as you well know both wizards and spirits must obey Celestial Law and taking the life of a Key Holder is forbidden under any circumstances."
Loki starred up at the King, frozen in fear. Both angry and determined, Lucy steadily rose to her bare feet.
"Though not by your hands, you are still responsible for your Key Holders death, Leo the Lion. Therefore you have been banished from the Celestial World for all eternity."
"Hold on, that doesn't seem fair!" she protested angrily.
"Lucy stop!"
"Old friend, human girl, I have made my judgment and it stands. Leo has broken Celestial Law."
'No way, did he just show up because Lucy blurted out something about him being wrong?' Loki thought, 'That's crazy! Why would he care what she thinks?'
"Loki's been suffering in the human world for three long years! He didn't kill Karin," Lucy argued, clenching her fists tightly, "But he did stand up to her! Because somebody had to protect Aries, Loki was the only one who had the guts to stand up for what's right!"
"I must say, I find it heartbreaking to see my old friend in such a fragile condition," agreed the King solemnly.
"What is wrong with you?!" Lucy snapped in frustration, "An old friend is still a friend, right? Well there's one in front of you right now asking for a second chance. So open your eyes 'Stache Face!"
" 'Stache Face'?" questioned the King, clearly surprised by Lucy.
"Uh Lucy," Loki began nervously.
"Karin died because she took on a job she couldn't handle; he had nothing to do with it!" Lucy continued strongly, "You have to change your verdict because he's innocent! Please, Sir!"
"Just drop it already," Loki said, "It doesn't matter if the verdict is changed. I'm not looking for forgiveness; I wanna disappear and finally be free from this guilt!"
Lucy began glowing; her eyes shut as she concentrated all her magical energy.
"I WONT LET YOU!" she shouted as her energy was released, "You disappearing isn't going to bring Karin back to life. All it's gonna do is create more sadness!"
"Hmm…"
Beside Lucy stood every Celestial Spirit she was contracted with.
"You did nothing wrong because it can't be a crime to protect the people you care about."
'She summoned all of those spirits at once?!' Loki thought in amazement, 'Not even Karin could do that!'
"What about all of your friends, you're just going to leave them?" Lucy asked, her spirits all stood defiantly against the King as she spoke over her shoulder to Loki, "If you were to die you'd leave me and Aries and everyone else here behind. Think about us and how miserable we would be without you!"
That light which surrounded both her and her spirits faded and she fell to the ground unmoving, her spirits no longer by her side.
"Lucy!"
Her fists clenched again as she pushed herself back up to one knee, blood trickling down from her nose.
"All of my friends who came forward just now," she ground out, "They feel the same way I do."
"Your friends?" he asked, her gaze only meeting his momentarily.
"If you're a Celestial Spirit too, you can sympathize with what Loki and Aries went through," she said, while she swayed unsteadily before Loki before he could slid his arm around her waist to keep her from falling again.
"Would you stop! You're gonna end up like Karin if you keep this up, don't risk your life to save mine!" Loki pleaded.
Lucy glared up at the King whom had been silently watching everything. He was greatly surprised by her persistence to save her friend, and even more surprised by how she refused to stop fighting for him.
"Hmm, ever you speak so highly of my old friend, has led me to think that maybe it is not the actions but the law itself that should be in question. Leo was forced to commit his crime to protect Aries, his brethren, and the human girl is willing to risk her life to save Leo."
Lucy grabbed Loki's hand tightly, her small fingers trembling uncontrollably.
"I am so moved by your bonds of loyalty I shall make an exception in this case. Leo the Lion, you are hereby granted return passage to the Celestial World."
Lucy grinned and gave the King a thumbs-up.
"You're awesome, thanks 'Stache Face."
The Celestial Spirit King grinned down at Lucy, impressed with her courage.
"You are exonerated, be grateful to the guidance of the stars!" the King said as he began returning to the Celestial World.
"I have to make it up to her, please Sir!" Loki begged.
"Very well them, if you insist on atoning for you actions in the past then I hereby order you to live your life in service of your friend, the human girl," instructed the King as tears rolled down Loki's cheeks, "You are lucky to have found such a loyal friend. I suggest you protect her with your life just as she fought to save yours."
The Celestial Spirit King disappeared and everything returned back to normal.
"You heard him," she teased, wiping her own tears away and pulling him into a tight hug.
"Hey Lucy?" he said, holding her hands in his, "I just wanted to say thank you."
Chucking quietly Lucy watched as Loki returned to the Celestial World for the first time in three years. In her hand she held the key that open the gate for Leo the Lion, along with his silver ring.
"You're a Celestial spirit?!" Natsu questioned, circling around Loki.
"No way, really?" Happy asked, just as surprised.
"Sorry I didn't tell you before," Loki said, scratching the back of his head.
"Gotta say, I'm surprised I never caught onto you," Gray admitted, crossing his arms.
"How come you're not a cow, or a horse, or a crab? You're just a dude," Natsu asked, continuing his interrogation.
"Virgo has a human form too, it's not like we're all animals," Loki defended.
"You say that, but I've seen her turn into a gorilla!"
"She's not really a gorilla," corrected Loki.
"Loki here is actually a lion spirit," Lucy said from her perch atop the stone bridge.
"Seriously?!"
"A lions like a grown-up cat right?!" Happy asked excitedly.
"Yup, you've got it," smiled Loki.
"Don't you lie to him!" Lucy chastised.
"Ohh… you're the coolest spirit ever…" Happy praised, lying over Loki's shoulder drooling.
"Shouldn't you be resting up back in the Celestial World right now?" Gray asked before looking over to Lucy, "Just like you should be in the bath house to regain your energy?"
"We're going after this," Ace said as her and Erza walked up.
"I'm doing better than I was, I just wanted to come say 'hi'," he informed them, "Well that and I couldn't wait to see Lucy again."
"He looooooves you!"
"Shut it cat, or you're gonna get hurt," Lucy hissed,
Loki slipped his arms around Lucy and easily scooped her up in his arms like a bride, making both Gray and Natsu tense slightly.
"Excuse us, we need to have a little chat about our future together."
"Relax you two," Ace muttered, "Lucy is perfectly safe with Loki."
Gray shrugged as if he was indifferent about the situation.
Natsu however had turned his hearing to high aleart, wanting to hear exactly what Loki was saying to his best friend.
"Lucy, I'm always gonna have to live with what happened in the past, but now I have the courage to start moving forward. Thanks to you I'm not just another member of Fairy Tail," Loki said as he carefully sat her down, "I'm your Celestial Spirit. Now that you're my wizard I promise to always protect you, I'll be there for you whenever you need me, your valiant knight."
"But I'm not just your wizard," Lucy beamed, hugging him tightly, "I'm your friend too!"
"Y-yeah of course, I can't wait to work with you," Loki said before kissing the top of her head, "Take care Lucy."