Chapter Six
Lucy was the first to wake up in the morning and decided to let Romeo to sleep and just lied there waiting for him to wake up. While waiting she was figuring out what she they were going to do today, after a few minutes she decided that they will spar with Phoenix so they can learn more about how each other fight better. After waiting ten minutes Romeo woke up "Morning Lucy." Romeo said. "Morning Romeo, how do you feel like sparring with Phoenix today?" Lucy asked. "Sounds like a good idea, I'm curious on how she fights." Romeo answered and both got up and got ready for the day.
Both of them of them went to the clearing by the lake and did a quick warm up. Once they were ready Lucy grab Phoenix's key "Open, Gate of the Immortal Bird: Phoenix" and Phoenix appeared. "Good morning Lucy, Romeo, how can I help you today?" she asked. "Are you fine sparring with us for today, so we can learn how you fight and you learn how we fight, and our team work will be much better because of it." Lucy explain. "Sounds like a good idea, do you have any questions about my Phoenix Magic before we start?" Phoenix asked. "Yes, can you explain the basics of it?" Romeo asked. "Yes I can. Well like I said yesterday it is somewhat like Dragon Slayer Magic, an example is one of my spells is called 'Screech of the Phoenix' it's like the 'Roar of the Fire Dragon'. Also I have spells that control and change the form of my fire, it doesn't change my form, so to explain it better I focus the fire off my body to a point then change it's shape to anything I want. That really is the basics of it." Phoenix finished. Lucy and Romeo were quiet taking in all the information then nodded.
All three of them were ready for battle and Lucy threw a rock into the air and when it landed they began. Lucy and Romeo drew their bows and fired off arrows at Phoenix who dodge them easily by flying. Phoenix knew better then let the arrows hit her since she could sense they put some magical energy into them that surrounded them with a glow that would make the arrows hit her. "Burning Gust" Phoenix shouted moving her wings making a gust of fire and send it at Lucy and Romeo. Lucy step forward "Star Barrier" and a barrier surround them out of silver light and protected them from the fire. The second Lucy put down the barrier "Flaming Missiles" Romeo shouted and fire flew at Phoenix who dodge it, put the fire change direction and follow Phoenix, she kept dodging it, but then notice she flew into a trap and it was to late to get out of it. Lucy jump up with her sword ready and Phoenix was surrounded by the fire and couldn't escape. Lucy focus her magical energy into her sword and it began to glow and she slash at Phoenix hitting her in the wing. Phoenix flew toward the ground trying to recover, she needed one more second, but Romeo charge then jump at her with his sword glowing red and attack Phoenix hitting her in the back.
Phoenix landed on the ground, she was impress at their team work, but now it was her turn to attack. Lucy and Romeo were about ten feet away letting her recover quickly, Phoenix took this chance and fired her screech at them catching them both in it with and send them flying back. Phoenix took this chance to fly into the air and started attacking them without giving them a break to recover, but Lucy and Romeo found a split second opening, "Star Blast" "Fire Blast" both of them shouted combining into a one and hit Phoenix and continue attacking. The three of them were like this for a few hours without tiring. Phoenix then decided to show them one of her most powerful attacking and flew high into the air "Burning Soul" and her fire change color to a light blue and the heat given off by the fire increase greatly. Lucy and Romeo watch ready to defend themselves from this attack, and saw Phoenix drive straight to the ground and last second pulled up and flew right at them. Lucy and Romeo dodge her but the heat given off burn them slightly every time she went at them. Phoenix decided to increase her speed and shot fire from the back of her wings to increase her speed greatly. Lucy and Romeo were barely able to dodge and the fire would hit them everynow and then, also the burns they got were starting to slow them down. After another minute Lucy and Romeo figure out an opening to attack and got ready. When Phoenix was charging at them again they pointed their hands at her and shouted "Shooting Stars" "Fireball Barrage" and beams of light and fireballs went flying at Phoenix, since of her speed boost she couldn't move out of the way in time since she fly right into it.
When the smoke clear Phoenix was on the ground, but got up and they decided to stop for today and rest up, Phoenix went back to the Spirit World and Lucy and Romeo went back home. "Well that was fun!" Lucy said. "Yea Phoenix is really strong." Romeo replied. "Well lets get clean up and head to bed." Lucy said and Romeo nodded and both grab some stuff and went to take a bath, after they both head to bed, even tho it's still early after sparring for hours with Phoenix they were dead tired.
Back at the castle Igneel was talking to some of his friends seeing if he can get anymore information about the Gate Keys disappearance, he understood the balance between the worlds and if whoever was taking all the keys did something stupid with them, it could end both of their worlds. So far he hasn't found anything out beside a few gate keys he was going to give to Natsu to give to Lucy, the ones he found were the last two golden keys and he may have found the Legendary 13th but is not sure yet, and he found the key for Pegasus the wing horse and Lupus the wolf. But like Lucy said they were not easy to find even for him and he had a lot of resources. They should all be here before the three of them go on a mission, all he had to do was convince Natsu to give them to Lucy as a present, but he thinks he will let Grandine do that.
The next day Natsu work up early which he blame Lucy and Romeo for, he likes to sleep in late. He look over to his side and found Happy still sleeping and Natsu decided to wake him up so they could get something to eat. "Happy look all the fish in the castle are escaping." Natsu said and Happy bolted up shouting "WHAT? Capture all the fish now!" Natsu just laugh at his friend and once Happy realize what Natsu did he pouted about being lied to. "Cheer up Happy, all the fish are safe in the castle waiting for you, lets not keep them waiting." Natsu said and Happy brighten up "Aye" and flew out of the room with Natsu following. Once the enter the dining room they notice Gray and Erza were there, "When did you two get back?" Erza and Gray went on a mission for the week that Natsu was gone to kill time. "Late last night, but we woke up early hungry and came here, so did you win the bet?" Gray asked, which made Natsu pout. "No I lost." Natsu said and Gray and Erza burst out laughing "You couldn't last a week on your own? That sad Natsu." Erza said. "Well Erza you couldn't last a week without your cake!" Natsu said which made Erza stop laughing "There was no cake, now I understand how you didn't last a week!" Erza said which made everyone sweetdrop. "So Natsu, do you like Lucy?" Gray asked. "She alright I guess, but is a pain. I do like her tho we are friends I think." Natsu answered "Not that kind of like Flame Brain, I mean do you like her as in have a crush on her." Natsu pause thinking did he like her like that, then answer "Not really!", but Erza, Gray, and even Happy knew that wasn't the full truth, they all knew that Lucy made a impression on him like no one else before, but thought that because he was so dense he hasn't fully realize it yet.
Back at the forest Lucy and Romeo just finishing a sparring match when suddenly they heard "Good Morning Lucy, Romeo!" they turned around and saw who it was "Morning Wendy!" They said at the same time. Wendy run up to them and handed Lucy and box, which Lucy was confused about. "When I ran through town to come visit you two, someone name Levy stop me and ask if I was going to visit you and ask if I could give you that." Wendy explain and both Lucy and Romeo knew exactly what was in it. Lucy open the box and saw four silver keys, and grab the key for the dog and look at it to see which one it was exactly since they are several different dog ones, then she saw it was for the hunting dogs and smiled. "Wendy do you want to see me make a contract with my new spirits?" Lucy asked. "Yes of course!" Wendy said excited. Lucy and Romeo went to the clearing and stood next to each other while Wendy stood back a bit. "I call upon thy in the world of the Celestial World, I call upon you to pass through the gate. Open Gate of the Hunting Dogs, Canes Venatici" Lucy said and a with a bright light two dogs appear looking at Lucy happy. Lucy and Romeo petted them and the dogs bark happily and lick their hands making them laugh. "Do you two want to make a contact?" Lucy asked and the dogs bark, Lucy took that as a yes. "First my name is Lucy and this is my brother Romeo, we treat our spirits are friends and family, now what days are you available?" Lucy asked, she went through all the days and learn that they are free everyday and then they disappeared.
Lucy grab another key "I call upon thy in the world of the Celestial World, I call upon you to pass through the gate. Open Gate of the fox: Vulpecula" and a young girl appeared with fox ears and a tail. "You must be my new master." Vulpecula said. "Yes my name is Lucy and this is my brother Romeo, we are going to be good friends." Lucy said. "The famous brother and sister, nice finally meet you. Let me tell you about myself, I use Seductive Magic so I can make people fall in love with me and do anything I want them to. Also I can pick pocket as well, but as my master you tell me who I can and cannot do that too. For combat I'm fast and use mainly claws, but I can also use daggers." Vulpecula said. "Well for who you cannot use your magic on and steal from is me, my brother and this girl Wendy." Lucy said pointing to Wendy at the end. "Now for the contract." "No need I'm free whenever for you two." Vulpecula said and left.
Lucy then grab the key for Loke brother then grab Loke's key "Open, Gate of the lion: Leo" and Loke appeared. "What can I help you with Lucy?" Loke asked. "Well I'm about to make a contract with your brother and had a question. Do I still say 'Gate of the lion'?" Lucy asked. "Yes you will still say that since we are both spirits of the lion you would said Leo Minor at the end." Loke and answer and Lucy nodded. "I call upon thy in the world of the Celestial World, I call upon you to pass through the gate. Open Gate of the lion: Leo Minor" and then a boy that look younger then Loke appeared, he looked like Loke, but was dress with a simple yellow shirt and jeans. "Hello, you must be my new Master. My name is Leone, but you can call me Leo, I see my brother here as well, so he must have a contract with you as well." Leo said. Lucy and Romeo were shocked he was nothing like his playboy brother, he was nice and didn't flirt with Lucy ever chance he got. It took Lucy and Romeo a year to make Loke stop fliriting with Lucy all the time. "Yes I have a contract with your brother. My name is Lucy and this is my brother Romeo, I hope we become great friends!" Lucy said. "Yes my brother told me about you two, it been years since me and my brother been together." Leo said. "Yea it's going to be fun, Lucy when you summon me or him summon us both we work great together." Loke said. "Sure, so what days are you available?" Lucy asked. "I'm free whenever you need me." Leo said. "It seems that all the spirits are always available these days can you tell me why?" Lucy asked. "Well for silver keys it is because we can have multiple master, except for the really strong ones like the three you have, Phoenix, Hydra, and Draco. I have two keys, but my other key has not been used in years and they are very few Celestial Mages these days." Leo explain. "Plus you two treat us like family, so we will gladly help you both when you need it." Leo added. Lucy and Romeo nodded and both Loke and Leo went back to the spirit world.
Lucy grab Hydra key "I call upon thy in the world of the Celestial World, I call upon you to pass through the gate. Open Gate of the Water Serpent: Hydra" with a bright light and Hydra appeared. Hydra had three heads, "You must be my new Master!" Hydra said in a man voice. "Yes my name is Lucy and this is my brother Romeo, lets be friends." Lucy said. "It nice to meet both of you at last, well don't worry with my contract I'm free whenever you need me and I can come through my own gate if need to, I also use Water Magic." Both Lucy and Romeo nodded and Hydra went back. Lucy grab the last one "I call upon thy in the world of the Celestial World, I call upon you to pass through the gate. Open Gate of the Dragon: Draco" and a huge dragon appeared with white scales. Wendy ran up to get a better look at the dragon. "Hell you must be my new master." Draco said. "Yes my name is Lucy and this is my brother Romeo, we are going to be good friends." Lucy said. "Nice to meet you both, with the contract I'm free whenever and I can force open my own gate, also I'm a elemental dragon so I can use all the elements." All three jaws drop making Draco laugh. "Well I should go back now." Draco said then left.
Lucy, Romeo, and Wendy decided to go swimming, after a few hours Wendy had to go back and left, Lucy and Romeo decided to call it a day and head to bed. Wendy got back to the castle and went to dinner. "Hello everyone!" Wendy said. "Hello Wendy how was your day?" Grandine ask. "Good I got to see Lucy make four new contract with spirits and then we went swimming." Wendy said. "It's good she got those keys that her friend track down." Igneel said. "So Igneel I heard you found some keys as well." Grandine said. "Yes I did, Natsu I want you to give them to Lucy as a present before you leave on your mission together." Igneel said. "Why can't you give them to her?" Natsu asked. "It's so you get on good terms with them before the mission, do you really want to be on their bad side." Igneel said and Natsu shutter at the thought at what they would do. "Fine I'll give her the stupid keys." Natsu said. "Ok, just don't let her hear you say that." Wendy said knowing that if they heard Natsu call them stupid keys she will kill him. After dinner they all went to bed. Grandine was smirking thinking of what to do once they get back and still haven't made any progress with their relationship.