"Lucy!"
Lucy was shaken out of her stupor when her name was called, "I'm down here!" She called back, eyes still not leaving the diamond key.
There was a small explosion at the entrance and in stepped Erza who paused at the sight before her. "What is this place?" she asked slowly approaching Lucy and the key, looking around almost as awestruck as Lucy was.
"I don't know but look at this." Lucy hesitantly reached out to grab the key and showed it to Erza. "Have you ever heard of something like this being here?"
"No Master or the First never mentioned this, the key or the cavern," Erza responded leaning down to get a closer look. "Lucy, I thought the only keys in existence were silver or gold, so what is this?"
"Honestly I'm not sure I'll call Loke out tonight to ask him he at least should have some idea." She said looking away to grab her hey chain.
"Ah I see," Erza said patting Lucy on the shoulder "Lets head to the recovery camp then and fill the others in after all I just caught you." She smirked.
"No! Damn it I got so distracted I completely forgot we were in the middle of a challenge, Natsu will never let me live this down!" She cried out rather comically. Taking a deep breath she looked back to Erza, "Oh well let's go see if anyone else got caught." She started walking back out of the cave.
"Indeed. Oh by the way Lucy…"
"Yes?" Lucy asked looking back at Erza, "EEP!"
Erza had re-quipped into her Heaven Wheel armor and currently had her swords aimed directly at Lucy, giving off a terrifying dark aura her eyes shining with a slightly evil glint; "If you ever jump off a cliff like that again, I will make you pay. DO NOT EVER worry me like again," she stated suddenly pulling Lucy into a hug, "Understood?"
"Yes Ma'am." Lucy said hugging her back lightly a slight blush tainting her cheeks she couldn't believe she worried the Titania of Fairy Tail that badly, "I'm sorry Erza."
"It's ok Lucy" She responded re-quipping back to her normal clothes. "Now let's go."
~ 2 hours later ~
Gray and Wendy were considered the winners of this round. Wendy ended up being spotted by Gildarts; using her sky magic she was able to increase her own movement speed and avoid him until she eventually exhausted her magic and she gave in, Gildarts carried her back to the recovery camp. Gray won simply because Mira and Laxus couldn't touch him. When Mira had spotted him he had frozen the ground and was skating across it well ahead of her until lightning narrowly missed him. He trapped himself in an ice done, once Mira and Laxus finally broke through, the smoke cloud was just enough to let Gray escape; this kept repeating until Master came to inform Gray that he was the last one standing.
Once back at the camp Gray immediately found Natsu, "In your face Pyro I kicked your dragon wannabe ass!"
"What was that Ice Prick?!" Natsu yelled fists aflame and ready to fight.
"You heard me fire freak." Gray smirked Ice Make at the ready.
"You almost sound proud that your best moment was all about you running and hiding." Natsu stepped up to Gray pushing their foreheads together.
"At least I had a best moment! The only thing you've done is get sick and beat!" Gray yelled pushing right back.
"Graaayyyy!"
"Naatsuuu!"
"BOYS!" Erza and Mira yelled their magical pressure increasing Mira glaring daggers and Erza pointing actual swords.
"Enough! We have more important things to deal with then your petty rivalry right now." Erza said approaching the two suddenly shaking boys and smacking them both on the head.
"Erza's right." Mira added before turning to Gray; "And Gray?"
"Y-Yes Ma'am?" Gray asked more than just a little scared especially after that smack from Erza.
"Here you dropped this." Mira smiled handing Gray his discarded shirt.
"AH! When did that happen?!"
"Alright everyone, calm down." Master spoke up from a stack of creates he was standing on, "After this challenge the last two standing were Wendy and Gray." The guild roared and applauded, some cheers could be heard for Gray but mostly they were for Wendy no one was sure how well the youngest would fare during the S-Class trials for her to actually win a challenge and against Gildarts no less, it filled them all with immense pride for the young dragon slayer. Once the guild had resettled Master continued, "Like our winners from the first one these two will also be given an advantage in this next and final challenge. I will explain it all before it begins tomorrow afternoon. But, I will say this much the two winners of this last challenge will be the ones to become S-Class the rest will just have to try and get back next year. Understood?"
"AYE SIR!"
"Good! Now let the contestants rest, tomorrow will be a long and tiring day." Master concluded dismissing the rest of the guild all of which opted to set up their own camps along the beach so as not to crowd everyone in one small area.
Back at the main camp things were getting interesting to say the least…
"What do you mean it's not a spirit Loke?" Natsu asked completely confused, "Does that mean it doesn't do anything?"
Everyone: S-Class mages, contestants, and Mater were all waiting anxiously for Loke's answer.
"No! Quite the contrary actually." Loke said rather excitedly eyes gleaming with something but Lucy wasn't quite sure what. "Lucy what you have here is a lost key, very few of these exist and can almost never be found. The only reason you found this one I believe was because of the spirit king. He has them all but can place them in this world when he thinks he's found a worthy holder. This key was meant to be found by you Lucy this is the lost magic he told you about!" Loke ran to Lucy lifted her in the air and spun her in a circle. "My dear I've never been as proud of any one as I am of you!"
"Wait, wait Loke." Gray interrupted "Does this mean Lucy has to find all of these other 'lost keys' or something?"
Loke start shaking his head "No, although I believe if anyone would be worthy of them all it would be Lucy, but no one no matter how kind or noble, should have that much power. Plus, like I said they aren't spirits so that's not really how their contracts work."
"Loke," Lucy was finally able to get a word out "what exactly do you mean by they aren't spirits and what makes their contracts so different?"
"Why not summon her and see for yourself?" He Grinned.
"Ok," Lucy was nervous what did it mean? Why her? Who is this … thing? What is she even if not a spirit? Only one way to find out I guess... "Wait, Loke? How do I summon her?"
"Do you remember what lead you to the key?" He asked looking at her.
"Yes it was a song; music of some kind." She stated looking away and down at the key. "Really beautiful music…" she trailed off.
"Good that's all you need, think about that song and hold that key over your heart like your about to unlock it."
"Ok." She placed the key like Loke had told her to and lost herself in the memory of the sound. In only a few short moments the key started to glow and two golden streams began to stem from it one going into Lucy's chest gently wrapping around her heart and the other going forward slowly shaping and taking a new form.
As the being started to take her shape the song was now able to be heard by all, and lyrics started to form, "See me now, a ray of light in the moon dance… See me now I cannot leave this place… Hear me now a strain of song in the forest…"
As that last line was heard the key disappeared and there was now a beautiful young woman with light red hair and green eyes connected to Lucy by the golden streams.
"I promise to protect you." Was the only phrase spoken by this mysterious being before the streams dissipated and the girl passed out.
Author's note: YES! Now the OC has arrived! What is she? Why did the spirit king choose Lucy? Also who is going to become S-Class? I promise the story is far from over not quite sure how I'm going to end it but it's pretty safe to say some of you may be left with slightly broken hearts (sorry)
Also! Sorry for not posting like promised I ended up pulling an Aquarius and got distracted by my boyfriend.
The song is The Willow Maid there are a few versions but the one I was listening to for this scene was by Erutan
Lastly! Shout outs to:
willowmoon88
dogsrcool5
huzi21000
Tiernank
Chelsannful
Thank all of you for your support