-5 years later-
Inhale. Exhale.
A puff of air clouded briefly before Lucy Heartfilia burst through, dispersing it into the cold winter breeze. Her feet pounded along the gravel path as she ran, arms pumping in rhythm with each step.
It was early morning at the guildhall, and the sunlight shining behind the mountain peaks casted the valley in a soft golden glow, creating a serene scene. One that would be disturbed within a few hours once the residents of the dark guild began to wake. It was why Lucy preferred to rise before the sun, when the Stars were beginning to say their goodbye in the sky. She'd wave, a sign of respect for the twinkling lights, and begin her run around the grounds, enjoying the fresh air as it whipped against her cheeks.
Behind her a floating eye lacrima followed, its wings beating loudly as it trailed along. Ever watchful, the dreadful thing, but it was a new development after her third and final attempt at escaping the Black Keys guild. Her master declared her a flight risk and must be watched at all times. However that was two years ago, and now Lucy found the thing to be an inconvenience at most. A constant presence she could only get reprieve from in the confines of her room.
After two more laps around the grounds, Lucy finally slowed to a stop, hands resting on her hips as her head tilted back, soaking in more of the sun's glow. Sweat glistened along her skin, and blonde bangs clung to her forehead. The girl hummed, enjoying the contrast of the warm morning sun and cool winter air. Contentment washed over her.
That feeling didn't last long, however, when a throat cleared nearby.
"Miss Heartfilia." Her shoulders sagged, and Lucy turned to look at the newcomer. Studying her with beady black eyes and a downturned mouth was one of her master's Demons, Mard Geer. Lucy repressed a shiver.
"Hello," she greeted coldly. "To what do I owe this intrusion?"
Black eyes flashed, and Mard Geer smirked. "Your father requests your presence." Lucy jolted at the word 'father', and looked to see the floating eye a safe distance away. She knew the eye only watched, but still, paranoia ran through her at Mard Geer's word of choice.
It was forbidden to refer to the master that way.
"Do I have time to bathe or does he need me at once?"
Mard Geer simply raised a brow and dissipated into a plume of black smoke, his silence answer enough. With a sigh, Lucy brushed her bangs from her sticky forehead and turned, bowing low to the lacrima eye. It blinked in response, and followed Lucy as she made her way back into what was once the Heartfilia Manor.
Lucy stood in front of her guildmaster as he sat behind the desk, quietly assessing her. The only sounds in the large office was that of his fingertips drumming along the top of the desk, and the fluttering wings of the watchful eye.
They had been here for the last five minutes, Jude Heartfilia's eyes piercing her own as if he was reading her thoughts. The celestial mage ached to sit, muscles sore from her earlier run, but Lucy knew she couldn't. Master demanded full attention of those who bore the Black Keys guildmark when he spoke to them, as it was a sign of respect.
"You've been doing well, Lucy." The girl blinked, caught off-guard by the unexpected praise.
"Uh, thank you, Master." The drumming stopped.
"It's been two years since you've left the grounds."
"I'm aware, Master." His jaw clenched, and Lucy mentally cursed herself as he placed his key ring on the desk before lacing his fingers together; the black keys an unsaid threat. "Yes," she amended, swallowing thickly. "Yes, it's been a while."
Jude narrowed his eyes, tongue clicking against his teeth.
"Have you learned your lesson?"
Lucy fought against wiping her sweaty palms against her pants, only hesitating slightly in her response, "Kyoka was very… thorough in her punishment, Master. It will never happen again. I am a member of Black Keys, and always will be."
"A proud member."
"Yes. A proud member of Black Keys."
Jude hummed, satisfied with her answer, and leaned back in his chair. "Good." He pressed a button on his desk, and the eye that was Lucy's constant companion fluttered forward. Its wings curled in on itself, and the lacrima dropped into his awaiting palm; where he placed it on its stand on top the desk. "I have a job for you."
Lucy flinched slightly, a motion that Jude thankfully didn't witness. The jobs he sent her on in the past were annihilation missions. He knew how much she hated taking the lives of others, which was why he gave them to her. As if to say, "You will always do as I say, whether you want to or not. You do not get a choice in the kind of life you want to live."
"It seems the light guilds have been busy lately disposing of those who serve us under the Alliance." Rage flashed in his eyes, and the celestial mage watched as her master leaned over to open a drawer, pulling out a roll of parchment. Jude took a steadying breath, "However, a few hours south of Hargeon is a small village. To the east there is a forest and within is a new up and coming guild by the name Devil's Breath. They've asked to join the Alliance under our guild." Jude proudly stated as Lucy stepped forward to take the documents extended towards her. He yanked the papers back as her fingers made contact, and Lucy met his gaze questioningly.
"Do you know why it is so important for us to have such minor guilds at our disposal?" Lucy frowned at the question, watching as Jude stood from the desk and moved towards the wall where a list was posted. Names of various guilds were listed under the Black Keys, and the other two guilds that led the Alliance had their own category as well. Lucy watched as a name disappeared from beneath Grimoire Heart's, and Jude exhaled sharply as he turned back to her, gesturing at the paper wildly with the contract still in his grasp.
"Do you see? Do you see how the other side attacks us, Lucy? How easy it is for them to wipe us out? As if we're nothing to them. This - this is why we need lower ranking guilds to service us - to support us. The guilds that follow us, that follow Grimoire Heart and Oracion Seis, pledge their loyalty to the leaders of the Balam Alliance. They assist in helping keep the Magic Council and light guild's off our backs while we search for Zeref's lab. Do you know why it's so important we find it?"
Lucy wet her suddenly dry lips, admittingly a little terrified of her master's outburst.
"No," Jude muttered, shaking his head. "No, of course you don't." He stalked forward and slammed the rolled up contract into her awaiting palm. Lucy flinched at the harsh action, but continued in her silence as Jude made his way to the large window within the room, peering down at the various members using the grounds to train with one another.
It was in moments like this, with the sun lighting up his features and erasing the anger lines from his face, that Lucy could see the old Jude Heartfilia. The man who once read her bedtime stories alongside his wife; who once ran a successful business and not a notorious dark guild. The man who was once a father and not just a master.
"Grimoire Heart and Oracion Seis will be here in a week's time for an Alliance meeting."
His words pulled Lucy from her thoughts, "Hades has some… interesting news." Jude chuckled to himself while Lucy held back a shudder at the mention of the older man. "Be back by then, or I will send out a hunting party, and you'll never see the outside world again." He inclined his head towards the set of black keys that rested atop the desk and Lucy straightened as fear instantly coursed through her. Her hands clenched the papers she held, though she was careful not to crinkle them.
"Of course, Sir." Deciding he was done, Jude waved her off. She fought the urge to rush towards the door, instead trying to make her posture as relaxed as she could.
Her hand touched the doorknob.
"Lucy," She turned back to him. "I'm trusting you here. Do not make me regret it. Is that understood?"
"Of course, Master." She said honestly. Lucy had no desire to be locked in her room for eternity. She'd go, get the contract signed, and be back swiftly. A click of the tongue was her dismissal and Lucy all but flung herself from her master's office.
She emerged from the bathroom after a nice hot bath, the need to wash the dirt and sweat from her body before she traveled had been overwhelming. Toweling her hair dry as she glanced out the window, Lucy mumbled a curse under her breath when she noticed the sun had passed its peak. Her bath had run longer than she planned. By the time she would be packed and ready it'd be well into the evening. If she wanted to get to Devil's Breath and back in time for the Alliance meeting, she'd need to leave within the hour.
"Virgo!" She called as she moved towards her dresser, pulling shirts from a drawer.
A cloud of gold glittered and a figure emerged, bowing playfully.
"Hello, gorgeous."
Lucy placed the shirts on top of her mattress and turned with a frown. "I believe I called for Virgo, Leo."
The lion Spirit held a hand to his heart, taking on an expression that reminded Lucy of a wounded animal. "It hurts that you don't enjoy my company, my dear." The blonde rolled her eyes at his antics.
"Virgo has my bag and I need to pack it."
The Spirit's playful demeanor fell, and he pressed his lips in a tight line as he summoned her belongings, handing over the pack when it materialized.
"Is your master finally allowing you to leave home?"
Lucy nodded as she dumped the bag's contents onto the bed and began stuffing her shirts in one by one while Leo moved towards the dresser to help her pack.
"Master's sending me out past Hargeon to get a contract signed." Leo released a breath of relief. He wasn't around when she used to go on missions, but he'd heard stories from the other Spirits about the horrors his mistress was forced to do. "I need to get there and back before Master Brain and Hades arrive." She thanked Leo as he passed her a pile of pants and shorts. "It'll be cutting it close if I don't leave tonight."
Leo hesitated as Lucy shooed him from his place beside the dresser, the blonde taking it upon herself to grab her undergarments.
"Princess, I don't have a good feeling about this trip." Leo sat on the mattress, gathering up the various chapsticks and pens that had come from the bag. "Something's… off. The Stars… they've been whispering all hours of the day. They've been restless"
Lucy rolled her eyes with a faint smile as she shoved the last pieces of clothes into the bag and zipped it shut. "And what have the Stars been whispering to you today, Leo, hm?"
"I… don't know. I'm only able to catch snippets of their words." He watched Lucy shoulder her bag and move across the room to her desk where a set of twin daggers sat. She attached the sheathes to her belt alongside her Zodiac keys, one on each side of her hip. "Something about 'someone who melts the earth' and 'bleeding gold'." he repeated, throwing his hands in the air when Lucy shot him an exasperated look. "I don't know, Lucy! The Stars are all speaking at once and it's hard to discern anything else. But…," he rubbed the back of his neck, "but I think it's a warning."
Lucy sucked her tongue against her teeth as she turned to fully face the Spirit and hesitantly asked, "What kind of warning, do you think?"
Leo looked to his celestial mage with a tightness in his jaw. "I think it means we need to be cautious, Princess." He paused, already regretting his next words. "I know you're here because of your father-"
Lucy's eyes flashed. "Careful, Leo."
The lion Spirit bristled at the warning. He loved his mistress, truely, but he was tired of having the same old argument they'd been having for the past two years. It was an endless cycle; him trying to convince her to leave Black Keys, Lucy crying and saying she couldn't and sending him back to the Spirit World where he'd remain for a week until she wasn't mad at him anymore. But this time, he didn't care. The Stars had been relentless in trying to get their message across for days now. Something was coming, something big, and Leo wanted Lucy far away from this place when it did. "I know you know what they're trying to accomplish! If they find-"
"I know!" Lucy interrupted, hot tears welling up in her eyes. She hated arguing with her Spirit just as much as he did. "I know, Leo. I know what they want to do. We've eavesdropped on the Alliance meetings many times and I-" Her voice caught in her throat and Lucy shook her head. She didn't want to think about it.
Leo regarded her with pity in his gaze. "I know, I'm sorry." he whispered, moving closer to the mage. The lion Spirit moved to wipe a tear that had strayed down her cheek, but dropped his hand when Lucy recoiled at the gesture. She never did like being touched. "You can't keep living like this, Princess. You need to surround yourself with people you can trust. Preferably those you could trust with your life."
Lucy shook her head, raising a hand to wipe the tear that had escaped. She took a step back. "Are you coming with me to Devil's Breath?" She asked, changing the subject. On some level, she knew he was right, but she didn't want to talk about it now. No, right now all the celestial mage wanted was to board the train to Hargeon and get some rest before encountering the new guild. It had been a long, long day and Lucy just wanted to sleep.
Leo sighed in resignation as Lucy moved away. "Yes, Princess, I will travel with you." Wherever you may go, he added silently as he watched her attach the whip to her belt.
When she turned, he offered her a playful smile and held out a hand. Lucy rolled her eyes, a small smile on her own lips as she moved around him and led them from the room. Leo followed her out of her room, out of the Black Keys guildhall, and to the train station, sending silent prayers to the Stars that nothing would go wrong.
A/N: First, I would like to thank everyone who followed/favorited/reviewed this fic so far! This fic is my baby and I want to make sure I do it justice. I've been a fan of Fairy Tail since 2013 and have written little drabbles here and there, but this is my first big fic. I currently have 29 chapters written, and I plan on updating every Saturday if I'm able.
Again, thank you everyone, and I hope you enjoyed the first official chapter