Chapter Six: Going Home

As the train arrived at the station Lucy slowly woke up from her short nap. All that crying had given her a slight headache that she had tried to sleep off.

"Next stop Heartfilia Konzern, all passengers for that station please prepare to depart."

As the conductors words registered Lucy forced herself to rise and grab her travelling bag. Stretching out her muscles she had just enough time to admire the passing scenery before the train started to slow. Making her way to the exit she couldn't help but notice she was the only one disembarking. Not surprising really considering her family's estate was now abandoned. Stepping off the train she immediately started walking towards her former home. Lucy had taken a few steps when an idea popped into her head. Reaching down she brushed over her keys until she found who she was looking for. Long hours of training had given her the ability to call out a spirit without speaking the summoning incantation. It had taken her months to be able to do it without even speaking at all. Putting that into practice Lucy called out Cancer's name in her mind focusing her power into the key. When the expected ding dong sounded heralding his arrival she was already smiling.

"Afternoon ebi, what style shall it be."

She had gotten used to her spirits eccentricities and simply went with it.

"Hey Cancer, sorry about calling you out again so soon."

"No problem ebi, I'm here for all your hair care needs."

Lucy for once simply let the feel of care warm her soul. It was what she had been telling herself all day, that even if she was away from Fairy Tail she still had family with her who cared. Reaching out while she still was in the right frame of mind she hugged Cancer. The spirit was surprised but hugged her back after a few seconds. All of Lucy's spirits knew she was having a hard time with what happened during the War and especially her feeling concerning what happened to Aquarius. They had all tried to be there for her when she woke up after the battle, Virgo had even broken her stoic nature when she returned home after Lucy woke up from the healing. Leo had been nearly inconsolable when he thought Lucy had died. Cancer knew it would take time for her to fully heal inside and out and all of Lucy spirits had agreed to give her that time and be there for her in any way they could.

"Cancer thank you, I just…"

As Lucy let go she stepped back and pulled herself together. Indicating the direction she was going Lucy started walking and talking knowing she wanted to reach the mansion before it got too dark to properly see.

"Alright, I need your help I need to know everything you know about how my mother came across any of the zodiac keys especially anything about where Aquarius' key might have originally been placed. Also anything you can tell me about where my mother might have hidden away a diary or a journal that would have information about the deal that was struck with Zeref. There had to be something that would verify the whole mess with the Eclipse Gate for future generations otherwise why would they believe Zeref's word about the dragons and the dragons slayers."

Cancer was intrigued he had never thought about it that way. Searching his mind he tried to come up with anything he could remember about his time with Lady Layla. Aquarius had been her first spirit well before she became his owner he didn't think there was anything he could tell Miss Lucy about their past together. He started thinking about his time spent in the mansion and any possible hidden locations he may have seen. As the two of them walked they soon entered the border of the actual Heartfilia estate.

Walking through the vast emptiness that used to house the various staff members, Lucy couldn't help but look around with new eyes as she waited for Cancer to gather his thoughts. Numerous buildings stood empty abandoned and forgotten, places that used to hold people all working for her family; each home different but the same, bricks and mortar now vacant of life. As a child this was all ordinary, it was normal for people to live on a huge country estate but now she knew different. After years of living as a Fairy Tail wizard she had gotten used to a single bedroom apartment, it felt funny to see all this empty space. Though the estate had been forfeited to the government as far as she knew the mansion was still intact and all of the furnishing should still in place.

Lucy and Cancer had been walking for a good two hours before they saw the gates of the mansion. Cancer had told Lucy everything he could about his time with her mother, all of the inside jokes they held and any little thing he could remember. Lucy had almost cried a time or two at the memories she would never have having lost her mother so young. As Lucy slowly made her up to the main doors it felt strange for no one to be there waiting for her. Mrs Spetto and the others had long since retired and now no one called this place home, not even her. The building was cover in overgrown plants and vines. It appeared nature had started to take back what was its own. The doors to the mansion weren't even locked as Lucy could see they were stood ajar from where she had stopped to assess the damage.

"I will leave you now ebi, good luck."

Glancing over at Cancer Lucy saw him smile before he returned to the celestial plain; it gave her a small feeling of accomplishment to have a spirit out most of the day and not feel tired let alone how now most of her spirits could open their own gates at will. Sighing and shaking off the thought Lucy faced the mansions door steeling her nerves as she pushed them open and walked inside; the moment Lucy stepped across the threshold she was overcome with old feelings. Being back here brought back some bad memories for Lucy as she ventured further into her old home; all those years mistreated and all but abandoned by her father. The dust and neglect was apparent in every room she past the further into the mansion she crept. All the stillness was making her uneasy and she found herself moving more slowly as time passed. Each room she came too was filled with cobwebs and cloth covers; so many memories hidden away like she used to be.

She couldn't help but wander towards her father's office the source of so many harsh encounters. Pausing at the doors her hand on the doorknob, she was about to enter when she stopped and realised she didn't need to; that office that father was the past, her father was the man who changed and who believed in her and sent her a birthday present ever year for the seven years she was missing. It had taken almost two years before she had felt ready to open those presents; it was lucky for her Virgo had started storing her more precious personal items in the spirit world whenever a catastrophe hit Magnolia. Her hand wandered down to two new keys on her key ring: Scutum and Reticulum. Her father had made sure that she would never be alone; he had given her new family members who would take care of her even when he couldn't. Smiling she couldn't help but remember the notes her father wrote: a shield to protect her when he couldn't be by her side and an eyepiece to help her stay on the true path something that she had helped him to achieve all those years ago.

Lucy turned and walked up the stairs to the second floor and finally made her way to a place that actually held some happy memories, her mother's room. Though she hadn't stepped foot in the room in years Lucy knew her way without even trying. Lucy didn't even see the dirt and debris that littered the corridors as she made her way further into the interior of the estate. Once she reached the right door she quickly moved inside and let herself have a few moments of remembrance before she had to get to work: playing with her mother and the spirits, reading bedtime stories, and finally saying goodbye for the last time. That last memory was almost too painful for her to bear but Lucy knew it was probably the most important; if her mother was going to leave clues for Lucy it was probably her last moments together that would hold them. Right around now Aquarius would have been so helpful. She was her mother's closest spirit and knew her best. Realising she wasn't getting anywhere as the memories were just too vague and too long forgotten, Lucy finally called out for some help.

"I call upon thy in the world of the celestial spirits I beckon you to my side at once pass through the gate, open gate of the southern cross Crux."

With the expect ding and light Crux appeared asleep as usual while Lucy took her first good long look around the room. Like the rest of the mansion it was disused and in need of care. The once beautiful room was covered in dust and cobwebs: the bed, the dresser, even the carpets. Cloth covers hid any damage to the underlying furnishing and made finding what Lucy was looking for all that bit harder.

"What can I do for you Miss Lucy?"

Focusing back on Crux Lucy quickly gathered her thoughts and went ahead with the plan.

"Crux I need you to try and think of anywhere in here that could possibly hide something. I'm looking for a diary or a journal, something that my mother would have needed to keep safe and make sure it survived no matter what."

Crux took a look around the room then closed his eyes and nodded off. Knowing he was searching rather than sleeping Lucy figured she might as well help and set to work herself investigating the room. Tearing off the dustsheets Lucy started with the desk in the far corner and started pulling out the different draws. It only took her moments to realise there was nothing there. They were all empty; whatever had been of her mother's must have been moved or stored. Trying not to lose hope she quickly moved on to the next possible hiding place. Unfortunately everything proved to be just as empty as the desk: there was nothing in the dresser, in the wardrobe, nor in or underneath the bed. Lucy couldn't help herself; she collapsed onto the dusty bed in despair. This was her best shot of finding a clue to Aquarius' whereabouts. Without it she would be searching blind all over the world with no way to know where to start. Sobs she had been holding in started to work their way up her throat. Trying to hold them in Lucy curled up on the bed.

"Miss Lucy I've found something."

Wiping away the tears and looking up Lucy saw that Crux was indicating the fireplace. With barely concealed eagerness Lucy sprung up and ran to search the hearth. In her eagerness for answers she tripped on the carpet and fell almost cracking her head on the stone fireplace surround. Dusting off and getting up, this time Lucy was more careful as she reached out and started examining the mantle. She hadn't noticed before in her search of the room but there were images all around the fireside edging, depictions of the twelve zodiacs constellations. It wasn't really surprising she hadn't seen them until now as they were so faded and set-in they simply looked like regular wear-and-tear.

"My records indicate that the etchings may hold the key to what you seek."

Taking Crux's advice to heart Lucy moved her hands over each of the illustrations looking for anything out of place. It took her a few seconds before what she was seeing registered. Looking closely at the depictions she realised that they were wrong, all of the constellations were incorrect. Running her hands over the nearest one Pisces the twin fishes, Lucy's mind finally grasped the problem; each constellation had an added detail. Knowing this was what she was looking for Lucy quickly made her way around the border depressing the extra star each time. Finishing with Leo's constellation coincidentally enough Lucy pressed down on the last additional star and heard a loud click. She then watched as half the fireplace frame slid away from the wall showing a secret compartment. Lucy didn't waste any time reaching in brushing away the cobwebs and grime to pull out what she had prayed would still be there, an old securely bound dusty book.

"The Heartfilia Journal: a detailed account of the deal with Lord Zeref and comprehensive notes from the celestial mages in the Heartfilia family bloodline with the history of their spirit keys and contract stipulations."

Looking over at Crux as he spoke, Lucy couldn't help but sigh out in relief. She had always assumed something like this had to exist ever since she heard about the Heartfilia legacy. Lucy herself kept detailed notes on all of her spirits and contracts so she knew that the other spirit mages in her family would have done the same. Not only was this memoir an important part of her family's history but it could also help her in her quest for Aquarius' key. Finally she was one step closer to getting her family back and she didn't care how long that journey would take.

"Aquarius don't give up on me, I'm coming."