Chapter Six

Sting, Rogue and their partners returned within a few hours and the girls and I were excited to share the progress we made. We started excitedly explaining to the twin slayers all we learned, talking over each other in our haste. Minerva grabbed Sting's hand and led him over to the coffee table. He jerked his arm back out of her reach, an odd look on his face.

"Break it down for me, Princess, I don't need the whole scientific process." That was weird he was being kind of rude to her which didn't make sense from what I knew of their relationship, which was admittedly not much. Minerva just stood there, she looked as stunned as I was at his tone.

"Uh, basically Aquarius' key is on the top of a mountain in the Bargo region of Guiltina, she's waiting for me to come find it and make a new contract, otherwise a shadow monster thing is gonna use it in the potion and end the world. Oh, and we only have two months before whoever it is gets there first. Simple enough for you?" I said the last in the sweetest voice I could. I was teasing him, I realized, trying to break him of his foul mood.

"Sounds good," he turned towards me. "When do we leave?"

"Uhhh…Lucy," Rogue interjected. "I'm gonna need a bit more. How did you figure this out?" Sting just picked up their shopping bags, took them to the dining room and started sorting through them.

"Well, Yukino was right, we have to cross the Blast Sea, following the North Star. The poem said "the ground of frost" so we know it's gotta be in a cold place, snow on the ground. Bargo is still experiencing a heavy winter right now, according to the Official Almanac of Guiltina it's the only region that experiences heavy snow fall this time of year, plus according to the star chart included Polaris sits directly overhead. The poem mentioned the key was 'on high'. Normally I'd think 'on high' would be like a higher authority, but since the key is an object it would make more sense if it was just being kept in a high up place. The perfect view of Polaris, where it would sit directly on top of you, is from a mountain in Bargo called Mount Opasnyy." I spit it all out as fast as I could. I trusted Rogue to keep up and it's not like Sting was interested so I couldn't care less if he understood anything I said. All he wanted was the fight, the background story meant nothing to him.

"And the timeli—" Rogue cut off his own question with a smack to his forehead. "Of course, 'bimestrial soon passes." I nodded, thrilled he figured it out.

"It literally means 'two months.'" He looked just as happy to have figured it out. "But, what about the shadow monster?"

"Ok," I admitted. "We're not sure about that part. It says the darkness seeks the key and it's evil, it's not very specific so I'm going with shadow monster…no offense."

"None taken," he laughed.

"The good news is there's a train that leaves from here to a port city in Iceberg almost daily," Minerva explained. "But there isn't a boat scheduled to leave for Guiltina for another 8 days. It'll take another week to cross the Blast Sea and we have no idea how long it'll take to get from Reino to Bargo. Lucy's got a lot of helpful books here but only a few deal with Guiltina and none of those speak to the type of transportation available." Both dragon slayers let out a groan when she finished. I'm sure they were already dreading the thought of spending so long on a train and then a boat. But hey, they wanted to come, they'd have to tough it out. The thought of it made me giggle. Sting glanced at me, giving me a stink eye.

"So pack up then, let's go." He said turning his back and resuming digging through the bags.

"We're not leaving yet," said Minerva. Sting froze, I could see the tension building up in his back. His stupid crop top was so tight I could see every muscle in his back.

"Excuse me, Minerva?" He said quietly, almost dangerously.

"The train ride will only take most of one day. Why sit in an inn doing nothing in Iceberg of all places for seven days when we can stay here and prepare what we need? There's a lot less scarcity in Crocus than there is in Iceberg." Minerva didn't talk down to Sting per se, but her voice definitely had an edge to it. Clearly there was some unresolved tension between the two. I wondered what was up with that?

"Don't give me an order, Minerva. I think we've established the hierarchy here already." He kept putting such a weird emphasis on her name. Something definitely happened between them that I couldn't even guess at. Rogue, Yukino and Lector looked uncomfortable. Even sweet little Frosch was looking anxious.

"I'm sorry," she said through gritted teeth. "I simply meant it would be a waste of money when Lucy has already graciously offered us a place to stay for the next few days. We can gather whatever else we might need and spend only one night in Iceberg before the ship departs. It'll be more comfortable and save us jewels." We all waited for his reply. He glanced over his shoulder at Minerva, then me. He just nodded and went back to the supplies.

"Besides," I said, trying to cut the tension, but I didn't think I had a strong enough knife. "I need to wrap a few things up at the office before I go." That seemed to settle it for everyone, well maybe Sting's agreement did. We all went on with various tasks after a moment, Yukino, Minerva and I went back to the books and the guys went back to their bags. I had a feeling this was gonna be a looonng quest.

I had just drifted off to sleep for the, I don't know, 10th time, when I heard Lucy's voice from the bedroom. She was trying her best to be quiet but my dragon hearing had no trouble making out what she was doing.

"Yukino…Yukino," she said softly. She got a grumble in reply.

"Did you wanna come training with me?"

"Go…away…" was her answer. I smiled to myself, Yukino was definitely not a work out before the crack of dawn type. I was surprised Blondie was. I heard her give up with a frustrated sigh and start rummaging around in her dresser. The partition slid open a few moments later.

"Hey," I said and she jumped about three feet in the air, hand on the whip hanging from her belt. I stifled a laugh, didn't wanna wake up the whole apartment.

"Sorry," I whispered. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't," she said a little too quickly.

"Sure," I smirked at her. I liked smirking at her.

"Did you need something? I was just about to head out…."

"Actually, I was wondering if I could go with you? Training, right?"

She seemed surprised I knew where she was heading. She probably didn't realize I'd heard her, not that it would've been hard to figure out. I let my eyes trail slowly over her body. She was wearing a sports bra and some tight little biker shorts. Her usual hairstyle was traded in for a high ponytail and her whip and her keys hung from a leather belt. She looked good.

"Uhhh…I guess so." She didn't sound too sure and normally I wouldn't push it. Well, not with her. But I couldn't sleep, I kept replaying that little spat I had with Minerva over and over in my head. I needed to burn off some frustration and there was really only one acceptable way for me to do that right now.

"Great!" I got up and opened the door for her. "After you." She mumbled a quick thanks and led me out into the courtyard.

"So…uh…what did you wanna do?" She asked.

I gave her a playful little smirk and lifted one eyebrow. I wasn't gonna try anything with her, but that didn't mean I couldn't mess with her. "Show's all yours, Blondie. I don't mind following if you're leading." I watched her cheeks turn slightly pink, not a full blush, more of a light dusting but I was still satisfied with her response.

"Normally I'd summon, Loke. We'd go for a run to our training area and do some hand to hand." I never expected her to be doing some hand to hand combat with her spirit, she never seemed like the type to fight up close and personal. Again, I was impressed.

"Well, you can summon your little kitty cat if you want, but I wouldn't mind going a few rounds with you myself." One of the keys on her hip glowed brightly for a second. She slapped her hand over it and said "Shush." Her spirits were weird.

"Sure, I guess that's alright."

"Lead the way then, I'll just admire the view." I bowed and held my arm out, gesturing her through the gate, I looked up in time to catch her eye roll but the smile playing on her lips said she wasn't entirely fed up with me.

I kept my word and ran behind her for a few minutes. I really was enjoying the view, but eventually I sped up to catch up to her and run side by side.

"So, where's this training area?" I asked.

"Not too far, about 3 miles." She wasn't even huffing for breath. "But it's less an actual training area and more an abandoned park."

"Ah no worries, anywhere can be a training area if you use it right." I wanted to keep chatting with her. I wasn't sure why but I was really enjoying flirting with her. I wasn't trying to get in her pants or anything, I had a feeling even with Fairy Tail being disbanded Team Natsu would track me down to kick my ass if I so much as touched her. But to be honest, I was intrigued by her. And I loved the way she responded to me. Whether it was a blush or an eye roll at my flirty comments or the anger in her face, like when I called her key stupid. Gods, what an idiot I was. I felt really bad for how I acted yesterday. I didn't realize it at the time but she looked genuinely offended when I said that, which, duh. Her spirits were like her family, I might as well have called her favorite aunt stupid.

"Heya, Blondie?"

"Yea?"

"I'm sorry," I said. "About yesterday." She looked a question at me. "I shouldn't have called the mermaid's key stupid. It's not and I was out of line."

"Oh," she blushed."Thanks, Sting."

"No problem, Blondie."

"You're blond too," she grumbled. I just smiled.

We made it up this big ass hill and to the park pretty quickly. Blondie sure could run. I'd even put on a little extra spurt of speed at the end just to see what she would do and she easily matched my pace. Cue me being impressed, again. She led me over to a grassy area, past an old swing set with only two out of five still hanging up with both chains, and started stretching. I just put my hands behind my head and admired the view again, she looked pretty limber.

"You know," she said, her face down by her feet, hands linked behind her calves. "Stretching before a fight is pretty important, keeps you limber."

"Oh don't you worry your pretty little head Blondie. I'll be gentle if you ask nice." I could almost hear the blood rushing to her cheeks. She looked cute all red like that.

"Whatever," she brushed me off. "How do you wanna start this?"

I didn't hesitate, in a flash I was moving towards her aiming a punch straight at her face. I was going to stop it before it connected, I didn't wanna hurt her, but she slapped my fist aside with her left hand and all in one motion her right connected with my stomach. I wasn't expecting it so I didn't have time to tighten my muscles to soften the blow and she hit me a lot harder than you would think. That just made me smirk again. I was definitely not expecting that. Lucy stepped back, weight resting on her heels, ready to pounce at a moment's notice. I feinted a punch but instead let my arm move past her, dropping my shoulder, in an attempt to throw her over me. But she saw it coming and instead did a little back handspring out of my reach. My momentum carried me forward and I slid along the wet grass. I straightened up and faced her. I know she saw the surprise on my face.

"The Lion that's been training me," she emphasized, "really likes that move too."

"Fair enough," I said, smiling again. This time when I rushed forward she was there to meet me. We exchanged a quick series of blows, neither of us connecting and jumped back again, both of us breathing hard. I wasn't really winded from the fight. Blondie seemed pretty tough, for sure, but she wasn't really a challenge, but I was enjoying her scent as it filled my senses. We made another pass at each other, this time I had a well timed elbow jab to her stomach and she had an even better timed punch right to my nose. Ow, that hurt.

"Are you ok with using magic?" She asked.

"You can use magic if you want." I left the rest unsaid, that there was no fucking way I was gonna shoot her with my light. This was our first time sparring and I didn't wanna actually hurt her. I'd fight her spirit with magic, but I wouldn't aim at her. I think she got my meaning because her face scrunched up and she let out an annoyed humph. Whatever, I'd rather hurt her pride than her body.

We squared off again but before I could make a move she rested a hand on her keys and said "Star Dress! Leo Form!" Her whole body was engulfed in a blinding pure white light. When it was over Lucy stood there looking completely different. Her high ponytail was replaced with a simple updo, a giant red flower decorating her hair. She was wearing this sexy black dress, her shoulders were bare, long black sleeves covered her arms and the tight top ended in a flowing skirt with a slit on one side all the way up to her hip. She had a golden yellow sash around her waist and low black heels on her feet. My favorite part though was probably the ruffled choker around her throat, or maybe the black tattoo on her right breast, in the shape of an upside down u with a circle on one side. In short, she looked fucking hot. I mean this was the kind of dress you don't wear on a first date, not if you wanna make it to the restaurant anyway.

My pervy thoughts must have been written all over my face because now she was smirking at me. And I was here for it. Easy, Stinger, the lady is off limits. Before I could stop ogling her she lifted her right hand in front of her, palm out, arm parallel with the ground and wrapped her left hand around her right elbow. I was definitely not prepared for her to shout "Regulus blast!" and hit me in the fucking face with a blast of intense white light. If I had been, I probably would've just swallowed it. Lucy smirked again as I picked myself up off the ground.

"Damn," I said. "You leveled up huh?"

"I told you, I've been training with a lion." A key at her waist glowed again and she smiled down at it. "He approves of my moves."

"Join the club." That made her actually smile at me.

"You can use magic if you want." She singsonged my words back at me. It was my turn to smile.

"Alright then, I can let loose a little." I let my power fill my right hand and saw Lucy do the same, we sprang towards each other at the same time. Game on.

After about an hour of sparring, during which I won every round, I asked to take a break. She just shrugged and released whatever magic she was holding to keep her Leo form returning to her regular workout clothes. She still looked good. My hands felt awkward, I didn't know what to do with them now that the session was over so I just shoved them in my pockets. The swing set caught my eye and I tilted my head at it. She shrugged again and walked over with me. I let her choose which one she wanted before I sat down. We sat in silence for a few minutes, swaying a little, and I was surprised at how comfortable it was. The silence, not the swing.

It was surprisingly easy to be around her. Not having to do anything or say anything, which was a good thing because all I wanted to do was ask her about Natsu and where the hell he fucked off too and I felt like the topic might be off limits.

"Thanks, Sting."

"No problem, I needed to release a little energy."

"I meant for taking it easy on me and letting me get a few punches in." I looked over at her, surprised.

"Listen Blondie, I did take it easy. It's not really the kinda situation where I should white dragon roar at you or launch into dragon force." She nodded, eyes on the ground and a sad look on her face.

"But I absolutely did not let you get a few punches in." She met my eyes, probably checking to see if I was fucking with her.

"You didn't?"

"Absolutely not," I said. "You'd think I'd risk this beautiful face just to spare your feelings?" I scoffed and rolled my eyes, making her laugh. I liked her laugh.

We drifted into silence again, this time it was a little less comfortable. She obviously had a lot on her mind. I was worried she'd want to head back soon but I kind of liked having her all to myself. I didn't want to face the others yet, especially not Minerva. I wracked my brain for a topic and settled on her new display of power.

"So, uh, Star Dress, huh? How's that work? Looks kinda like a requip."

"It's similar, but not quite the same. My spirits give them to me and when I'm wearing one I can use their abilities myself, with my own magic power. I'm not quite as good at the spells as they are, obviously, but it doesn't take a lot of stamina to hold and it definitely increases my ability to attack."

"Ttsk, yeah, obviously," I said, rubbing my jaw, remembering a certain painful Regulus Lucy kick to the face. That got her laughing again. We spent some time chatting about her new abilities, she told me about her different star dresses and what they could do, I told her a little more of how my magic works.

"You eat…white?" She was struggling a little trying to get the concept.

"Yea, anything white I can eat and use that to replenish my magic energy. Pretty much everything has ethernano in it and white is the kind I need."

"Wow, you can find something white basically anywhere. You'll never go hungry!" I laughed at her enthusiasm. She was so…genuine.

"Yea, I was actually thinking about what that first white light ball attack you did might taste like but you didn't try it again."

"Really?" I nodded. "Well…I figured I'd only get away with a sneak attack like that once. But maybe I'll let you try it sometime." She gave me a huge grin and I felt my own smile stretching to match it. Gods she was pretty. I felt like I could see everything she was thinking just by staring into her eyes. And I liked the way the light reflected and refracted in her chocolate orbs. She started blushing again. Oh no, maybe she could see what I was thinking too! I broke off eye contact and leaned back in the swing.

What the hell was I doing? This was Lucy! Natsu's…girlfriend? Partner? Whatever. She was important enough to him to be completely off limits. No way would it ever be alright to screw around with her, she meant too much to him. Not enough to stay. No, no. That was none of my business. The fire dragon had basically staked claim and I wasn't about to screw up all the good will I'd built with him and the rest of the fairies for a one night stand. Even though I was sure it'd be incredible. Besides, we had a long trip ahead of us and I shouldn't do anything to make it awkward. The sun was high in the sky now and I leaned back further letting its light fully hit my face.

"We should head back now. I've gotta check in at the office soon."

Damn. I still didn't want to go back, but I knew she was right. It wouldn't be long before the rest of them woke up and I didn't want to have to talk about where we were or what we were doing. Besides, spending time with her like this was confusing the hell out of me.

"Alright then….race you there?" And I took off in a flash, not even waiting for a response.

A/N I know 100 year quest has them also traveling to Guiltina and they visit many different cities in order to complete that quest. The regions in this fic are the same as are some of the cities, however some details are changing and obviously the quest our group is on is not the same. For the purposes of this story 100 year quest does not exist.