A/N: I own nothing. Thank you for being so patient with me, dear readers! I have just moved into my university dorms and that means an awful lot of changes. Here's a chapter for you :) Also, what do you think of another Laxus x Lucy story? Or perhaps, Rogue x Lucy? Let me know!

21. Supernovae

Rogue had a knack for perceiving things – it was something he had picked up from Rufus, who keenly remembered everything. They had spoken often. About the relativity of things and how everything seemed to fade: how ancient magic was forgotten, how there was no way to stop things from happening. That's why he noticed it.

Something about Lucy was aloft. Perhaps it was the heaviness of all the events affecting her so horridly. Yet as he glanced at her, he knew it ought to be something else. The way she seemed to freeze mid-step, her gaze adrift somewhere in the darkness. They had walked for days. Lucy had told him she had informed her guild mates, told the white-haired demon of her mission. However, he kept getting the feeling she had lied. It almost made him regret he had asked her to come.

Almost. He still admired the golden glitter of her hair shimmering under the moonlight. He still enjoyed her gentle, yet shatteringly short laughs. The way she seemed to only have eyes for her companion. And even though it was a lie – and a huge one at that – he was more than willing to believe in it.

"Um, uh, I think we should turn from here." Lucy brought her eyes up from the map she had been studying for the past few moments. She pointed her illuminator – a fancy widget to give light in dark times – towards a path that was surrounded with wide bushes. She shone the light on the map again and then forwarded it to his face, blinding him. Rogue turned away with his eyes hurting and groaned upon which Lucy giggled childishly. He stepped over the rustling leaves closer to her.

"Let me check," he said, leaning over her right hand. A musky scent hit her nose and she held her breath in surprise. His fingers brushed hers, when he pointed towards the point they presumed themselves to be. "If we're here, then... Yeah, we have to turn there." Lucy shone the light back on the dark path.

"Are you sure?" she questioned, biting her lip. "It doesn't look like anyone has used it for a long time."

"Probably because they haven't," Rogue shrugged. He heaved his backpack on his shoulder and started walking. "It's remote enough. But it's the shortest way. Are you coming?"

"Yeah, of course!" She shone light towards a spot behind them, confirming no one was trailing them, before following. "How far do we have to go?"

"You have the map." The man gave a sharp laugh. "No, seriously.. I don't think it's too far. We're pretty close. Don't you feel it?"

"I do," she smiled. The air was shimmering with the magic. She could almost reach her hand out into it, touch it. Consume it and let it unravel what was hidden. She was tempted. It called out to her, but so far, she had managed to ignore its whispers.

They continued their road until dark blue tents came into view. It was a mesmerizing sight and Lucy understood immediately, why Rogue had suggested they make their last part of the trip during night. Everything was abuzz – the artists dressed in silver were showing off their tricks to the darkness of the night. Although there were no human spectators besides the two, they were giving their all to please the invisible crowds.

"Hello there!" A cheerful voice greeted them. In front of them stood a little blond-haired boy about the age of Wendy, juggling with bottles seemingly made of glass and filled with shiny white mist. "Who are you?"

"You do remember me, don't you, Shirou?" Rogue stepped nearer, earning the child's attention. He nodded. "This is Lucy. She's going to help me this time round."

"How's Yukino-chan, Rogue-nii?" Shirou wondered, turning to lead them into the circle of entertainment.

"She's slowly getting better," he told the boy, who nodded. There was a swiftness in the way he moved that made Lucy wonder about Shirou's real age. In his walk was a slightly womanly grace, but looking at him, there was no doubt of his manliness. She wondered if he had been taught by a woman. However, she was too polite to ask.

Shirou caught the bottles one by one and placed them into a box by a tent. He saw Lucy eyeing those and explained: "Inside them is stardust. That's why we can only use them during the night. You're a celestial wizard, right? Don't worry. No stars were harmed in process." He grinned and for some reason, it reminded her of Natsu.

"How are they made?" She wondered, squatting to get a better look. It really did look like stardust.

"Captured, not made," Shirou said, squatting to be at her eye level. "They are the remains of an expanding supernova. They say, if you look into it, you will see..."

"Shirou," said Rogue sharply. His eyes held a warning tone for him not to continue. Shirou nodded and stood up. Lucy followed the lead, still looking at the bottles of stardust. The young boy leaned closer to her and when he was close enough for not to be overheard, he whispered quietly: "The truth." He stepped away, grinning widely.

"Come on then," he laughed, changing the topic. "The mistress is waiting." He led them to a tent darker in color than the others and raised the cloth, letting them in. Rogue went in first, but Lucy was not far behind. As the raiment fell closed, Lucy swallowed the scream threatening to escape.

The mistress was dressed in red velvet. Her hair was tied in a loose bun and if the candle light wasn't shining on her, Lucy would probably taken for a beautiful woman. She grabbed Rogue's hand for comfort.

The woman in front of them was nothing more than an ancient skeleton with fleshless skull for a head and dark holes for eyes. It was wrapped in spider webs and Lucy knew this sight would haunt her for the rest of her life. It seemed and felt awfully like the Mistress was looking straight at her.