Concerning Living Magic:
Living Magic is, in many ways, a very vague description. There are a great number of different spells and enchantments that can create and modify life, but nevertheless the art itself is considered one of the darkest forms of the Black Arts.
It is often underestimated just how dangerous Living Magic truly is. Magic that is alive, with sentient thought and willpower, cannot be controlled. While other Magic fades with time, Living Magic simply grows stronger. Living Magic can mutate and expand, turning against its creator and devouring them. Four hundred years ago, the Black Wizard Zeref created many 'Demons' using his particular power. It is a sign of the potency of Living Magic that many of those Demons still wreak havoc in the world today. Only the most foolish, insane or evil Mages dare to dabble with such power…
***
"Stay calm… !" Kageyama muttered in a panicked whisper, staring at the monstrosity unfolding in front of this. "I can fix this!"
The rest of the guild was deathly quiet as they watched in terror. The building of the Dark Guild Eisenwald was shadowy and gloomy, a looming structure of grey stone in a forest of dead trees. The Dark Mages could only stare as they watched their strongest member, Erigor, thrash madly as he clutched the demon flute, Lullaby.
The sounds were terrifying. Kageyama could feel the Magic flowing from the flute, and it was dark, powerful and sickening. Erigor looked like he was dying, screaming in agony all the while he clutched Lullaby tightly. No one dared to approach, even while the shadows flowed from Kageyama as he desperately tried to restrain the Demon.
"I can fix this… !" Kageyama gasped, using his Shadow Magic to hold Erigor in place as the tendrils of shadows tried to pry the flute from his fingers. "I can fix this!"
His heart was pounding. Lullaby was an old, twisted wooden flute nearly 50 centimetres in length, with a three eyed skull on the end. Somehow, the skull looked like it was grinning. All three eyes were glowing with an ominous purple glow. Erigor thrashed on the ground madly, the flute still trapped into the palm of his right hand.
Slowly, Kageyama was beginning to realise that Erigor wasn't holding onto Lullaby anymore; the flute was holding onto him .
Erigor looked like he was having trouble breathing. The so-called 'Death God' was left writhing onto the floor in pain as the Magic from Lullaby invaded his system. He was tall, lean-built and muscular, bare-chested and covered in tattoos, but his muscles were bulging as his body trembled in pain. His long silver hair was a mess across the ground. His dark eyes, elongated face and sharp features, normally so smug, were twisted and contorted with pain.
This isn't supposed to happen, Kageyama thought desperately. Kageyama had Dispelled the demon flute and Erigor was planning on using it against the legal Guilds. It was never meant to happen like this…
Around him, the rest of Eisenwald stared in silence, no one barely even breathed. The sounds of the screams echoed around the old, decrepit building. Erigor looked like he was dying. They were all glancing towards Kageyama to do something. The dark haired Shadow Mage could only gulp with panic.
Perhaps Lullaby is broken? He thought desperately. The flute was supposed to kill anyone but the user when it was played, but Erigor had only touched it. It was an old artefact from the Books of Zeref, so perhaps the Curse had been damaged over time. It had been Kageyama's job to dispel the wards so that Lullaby could be used again, but he was sure he had done his job correctly…
Then, slowly, Kageyama realised that Erigor's right arm was gradually changing colour and texture, as his skin transformed into bark and his muscles turned into tangled wood. The dread fell over Kageyama suddenly as he realised the shadow binds and stumbled backwards.
No… Kageyama thought in horror. Lullaby is working just fine. I did my job too well…
This is the power of Living Magic. Normal spells would decay over time, but Living Magic could grow. This Magic was alive; it could feed, it could grow, it could think, and it could adapt.
And anything that could adapt, could evolve.
All of those wards had been keeping Lullaby restrained, Kageyama thought slowly, backing away towards the door. I took too many of them away. And now it's free…
They had been fools to think of Lullaby as just an object that they could use. The flute was a Demon of Zeref. Erigor wasn't screaming anymore, but the wind was howling furiously through the building, shaking the doors and windows. Tables were upturned while paintings were thrown off the walls. The Dark Mages of Eisenwald could only duck for cover, while Erigor continued to transform.
Erigor barely looked human anymore. His right arm had transformed into demonic wood, while the flute fused with his flesh. His whole body was morphing as Living Magic invaded his body like a parasite. His eyes started to glow purple.
Kageyama's courage failed him. He turned and ran for the door, but then a wall of wind took him off his feet. In an instant, the entire building was surrounded by a furious tornado, trapping Eisenwald inside the building. Inside with a Demon…
Erigor wasn't screaming anymore; it was a throatier, more terrifying sound, like laughter. Kageyama felt his whole body tremble as the sweat poured down on him. "You've got to fight this, boss," Kageyama begged. "Lullaby it's… it's Taking Over your body!"
The sound of laughter just intensified. Erigor didn't even look the same anymore. His limbs twisted into mangled branches of wood, while his hair transformed pitch black. His face was slowly transforming into wood. Two long horns began to grow from his forehead, curving backwards, while his body grew larger. His mouth twisted into an inhuman, maniacal grin. A large hole appeared in his stomach.
His right arm was a mess of mangled wood, while his hand transformed into an arcing blade, like a scythe. There were holes running across the back of his wrist and arm, like a flute. Slowly, Erigor started to stand up.
The Dark Mages were all terrified. They were used to grizzly assassinations and murders, but nothing like this. Hesitantly, Karacka stepped forward towards Erigor. The short, fat man was sweating madly, his thick lips trembling. "Umm… Boss?" He muttered weakly, wiping his green hair down nervously. "Are you alright?"
Erigor's inhuman grin widened even further. A purple eye appeared on his forehead. He was still wearing his tattered robes and sandals, but he was so tall his horns pressed up against the tall ceiling.
"Never better!" Erigor said cheerfully, flexing his wooden limbs. "But I am hungry!"
Karacka blinked uncertainly. Around him, the members of Eisenwald were littered around the floor, in a terrified huddle. Kageyama hid behind a bookshelf, trembling madly. "…Well then…" Karacka said in terror. "…We'll get you something to eat…"
"Don't bother," Erigor said with a glimmer in his three eyes. "I'll eat your souls! "
In an instant, the Death God took a deep breath. Kageyama reacted quickly and used his shadows to form a protective bubble around his head, blocking off all sound. The rest of Eisenwald weren't so lucky.
The sound ripped straight through them as Erigor screamed. It was a sound vaguely similar to nail on a chalkboard, yet magnified a thousand times. Dozens of bodies collapsed to the ground as the Curse Magic echoed around the air.
Even inside his protective bubble, Kageyama could feel the sound leeching his Magic, cutting straight into his soul. The members of Eisenwald were limp and motionless, even while Erigor continued to inhale. Kageyama glimpsed silvery, translucent shapes leaving their bodies, only to be sucked straight up into Erigor's mouth.
He's eating their souls, Kageyama realised in horror, feeling his own Magic starting to drain away. He's draining their Magic and sucking out their souls…
Erigor just kept on inhaling. The air was going in his throat and out through the holes on his right arm as he played the terrible melody. He just kept on huffing inwards, even as he devoured the souls of his former comrades. His mouth was twisted into a grin.
It wasn't the normal way that Lullaby killed. Instead, the Demon was combining Erigor's Wind Magic with its own Curse, magnifying the sound with wind as the air sucked away all the Magic from the room. It didn't need anyone to play it; it was playing the melody itself.
After what felt like a lifetime, Erigor stopped. Kageyama collapsed to the ground, but he barely had any Magic left. I'm the only one left, Kageyama realised, staring at the limp, soulless bodies of his friends, their faces twisted in horror. With loud footsteps, Erigor approached him slowly.
The fear was paralysing. "…Please… Please…" Kageyama begged, scuttling backwards on the floor until he hit the wall. "Erigor… you've got to fight it! The Demon is possessing you! You've got to fight it!"
Erigor smirked, his wooden fist twisting into an evil smile. "Fight it?" Erigor muttered in a voice that was disturbingly familiar. "Now why would I want to do that?"
Kageyama's eyes bulged as he realised his mistake. He recognised that stance, that smug grin, those cold eyes. Lullaby wasn't possessing Erigor's body, instead they must have… well, it was like they had merged…
The brute strength and evil desire of a Demon combined with the skill and murderous intent of an infamous assassin. Raw power and expert Magic. An evil being with Erigor's own personal vendetta. Erigor longed to kill and Lullaby longed to eat. Erigor would be a gracious host and Lullaby a grateful passenger. A mutually beneficial possession.
Oh, they would get along perfectly, Kageyama realised in utter dread.
"Don't you see?" Erigor laughed, his demonic body trembling in glee. "This power is a gift! Lullaby is so much more than I could have ever hoped. This is the power that can deliver punishment against the legal Guilds that banished us to the darkness! With this power, I can deliver justice against those that oppose us!"
Kagayama's eyes bulged in fear. The pure insanity in Erigor's eyes had never been so obvious. The wind howled around him, screaming in his ears. He glanced towards the fallen members of Eisenwald.
"But… But…" Kageyama stammered pleadingly. "…You murdered our comrades! Where is the justice in that?!"
Erigor just smirked. "Murder?" He said coldly. "Why, I would never murder them…"
Around them, gradually, the bodies of the former members of Eisenwald started to twitch. Kageyama finally lost control of his bowels as he saw his former friends rise off the ground, with a cold, dead gaze in their eyes. The horror of the situation fell over him like a cold sweat as he saw the skin of the Dark Mages transform into wood.
His friends had been left soulless, empty husks, powered only by Lullaby's melody.
Demonspawn.
"Welcome to the new Eisenwald," Erigor murmured quietly, before raising the scythe on his right arm and chopping downwards. Kageyama slumped to the floor as the wooden blade cut into his chest. His eyes bulged as he saw the blood gush out of the wound, even as his skin started to turn to bark.
The world is doomed, Kagayama thought in dread. And it's all my fault…
That was the last thought he would ever have.
***
It was past noon by the time Lucy and Natsu returned to Magnolia. The pair strolled casually into town, holding hands, while Happy rested tiredly over Natsu's shoulders. The cat was still knocked out after eating at least his own body weight in fish. For most of the journey, they were quiet, but it was comfortable, easy type of silence as they enjoyed the walk.
The vivid memories from last night still kept them quiet. Even the fire alarm and being chased out of the hotel did little to stop the phantom sensations that tingled across their bodies. During the journey, Natsu walked closely against Lucy, her scent almost addictive, and they both had to bite their lips to stop them from jumping the other and falling down into a sweaty mess of heaving bodies…
Natsu shivered with the thought. It was a wonder they managed to get back to Magnolia Town at all.
It was only as they approached the Fairy Tail guild building that Lucy shifted uncomfortably. "Hey, Natsu…" She said awkwardly. "Is it ok if we keep what happened between us quiet for now?"
He frowned. "What do you mean? Burning down the hotel, or… that…"
"Yeah, that," Lucy nodded. "It might be best if we don't tell anyone for the time being."
"Oh," he said confusedly. "Do you regret it?"
"Of course not!" Lucy retorted, flushing slightly.
"Then why shouldn't we tell anyone?" He asked with a frown.
Lucy pushed her long hair backwards. "Well…" She murmured quietly. "I'm still new here, and it just seems… well, I don't really want to make a fuss about it. Let's sort this out between ourselves first, ok?"
She stared at him pleadingly. Natsu paused. "I really don't like lying to my friends," he said uncomfortably.
"It's not lying!" Lucy protested. "We just don't have to tell them everything."
He hesitated unhappily for a moment, but then he stared into Lucy's wide eyes and sighed. "Alright," Natsu relented. "We won't tell anyone we slept together."
She beamed. "Thank you!" Lucy said happily, pressing her lips up against his cheek for a soft kiss. Her hair brushed into his face.
Even after last night (and most of this morning), the skin contact still caused him to jump. Her scent overpowered his nostrils. Natsu didn't know how it happened, but suddenly he was pressing up against her, his lips pushing against hers hungrily. Lucy giggled, leaning backwards slightly while his hands wrapped around her waist, while their tongues danced between them.
He could feel the breath moving between them, and he could feel every beat of her heart, every tremor of her body, every tingle and every sensation. Natsu opened his eyes just to see the sultry look in hers, and suddenly he was planning on how long it would take him to get back to his house, rip her clothes and…
There was a click from behind him as the door to the guild opened. Lucy reacted first, pushing him away so quickly that she toppled to the ground. Natsu could only stare dumbly while Gray exited the building, casting a curious look over the pair.
"Flame brain," Gray muttered absentmindedly, walking around shamelessly in nothing but his boxers. Lucy's face was blushed, but she stared at Natsu apologetically as she recomposed herself and headed into the guild.
Natsu had never hated Gray more than he had at that moment.
Still, once he was inside Fairy Tail the familiar atmosphere overtook him. Mirajane was serving drinks at a nearby table, but she grinned brightly and rushed over to hug Lucy while the Mages roared to greet them.
"Hey!" Mirajane said warmly. "How did your first mission go?"
Lucy beamed happily. "Really well."
Natsu was just starting a fight with Elfman as Makarov hobbled into the building, and took his normal seat on top of the bar. He glanced towards Natsu and Lucy curiously.
"Oi!" The Guild Master called. "Natsu! Lucy! A word!"
Natsu paused, right in the middle of punching Elfman. "What's up, Gramps?"
Lucy walked towards him cautiously. Makarov frowned slightly at Natsu's disrespect but didn't say anything. He glanced between Natsu and Lucy with confusion. "I've just got a complaint from Shirotsume," he said finally. "Nice work exposing that Duke, but did you two really burn down a hotel?"
Lucy paled. Natsu blinked, glancing towards her uncertainly. She gulped. "Um… yes," she said finally in a panicked murmur. "… But, well, I mean… it wasn't really that big of a hotel anyways. More like a bed and breakfast than anything. And it's not like the whole building burnt down…"
Makarov just frowned. "I'm used to Natsu burning down stuff," he said with an exasperated glance towards the Fire Dragon Slayer. "I'm just wondering why. Not even he demolishes every building he stays at. What happened?"
Natsu blinked again. Makarov was expected a reply, but he just looked towards Lucy to answer. A bead of sweat dripped down her forehead. "Umm…" She muttered, racking her brain for an excuse. "Bandit attack!" She said finally. "There was a bandit attack! We fought them off, the hotel burnt down!"
"A bandit attack?" Makarov frowned. "How strange; I haven't received any reports of bandit activity in the area…"
Lucy squirmed slightly. "Well, I doubt anyone noticed," she murmured. "It was only a small battle…"
Natsu bristled, staring at her in objection. "Hey!" He protested. "It was not small!"
Her face reddened. Makarov just stared between them in growing confusion. "I really don't think the size of the battle matters right now," Lucy growled through gritted teeth, causing him to wince as she stamped on his foot.
He scoffed. "You thought the size was important last night…" Natsu muttered moodily, not quite under his breath. "You kept on saying so…"
Lucy felt a vein throb on her forehead, but she just grinned brightly at Makarov, willing him to believe the lie desperately. "So…" The old man said sceptically. "There was a bandit attack of indeterminate size on a hotel, then?"
She nodded, not meeting his eyes. "That's right."
"Were the bandits after a place to stay the night, by any chance?" He said sarcastically.
Lucy clutched the flimsy lie like a lifeline. "I'm not really sure what they were after," she said simply. "I mean, it was over so fast—"
"Oi!" Natsu protested. "It was not over 'fast', it was at least—"
Her elbow collided with his stomach with enough force to knock him onto the ground. Lucy didn't even look around, she just kept on smiling at Makarov with forced brightness. After a couple of seconds while Natsu pulled himself off the floor, the Guild Master sighed.
"Alright," the old man relented. Lucy felt her heart skip. "I'll talk to the mayor, explain what happened. I'll also have to contact the militia, and warn them about the bandits in the area."
Lucy nodded eagerly, half dragging Natsu away before he could make it any more difficult for her. "That sounds like a good idea," she said enthusiastically, moving away from the bar.
Makarov nodded absentmindedly and returned to reading through a pile of letters. Lucy sighed in relief, walking into the centre of the room.
Suddenly, the Guild Master shouted towards her again. "Also!" Makarov called loudly, so that the whole building could hear him. "The next time you two have sex, try not to burn the building down!"
The whole room froze. In an instant, Lucy was standing with Natsu in the centre of crowd staring at them while Makarov's words echoed through the building.
Makarov was already returning to his paperwork, but Natsu caught the mischievous grin flash across his face. "…Little brats…" He muttered under his breath with a chuckle.
There was a moment's silence, and then suddenly the Mages started to clap and cheer loudly for Natsu and Lucy. The whole hall instantly erupted in celebration. Lucy felt her cheeks turn bright red, while Natsu just grinned.
"See?" He said cheerfully. "They're supportive!"
She could have died from embarrassment. Lucy groaned and collapsed to the ground, while Natsu was overtaken by a crowd of men high-fiving him.
The loudest voice in the crowd was that of Elfman's, who was roaring at the type of his lungs. "Congratulations, Natsu!" He bellowed. "Now you're a real man!"
Lucy dropped into a pile on the floor, only for a gentle hand to pull her upwards. Cana was instantly by her side, looking sympathetic, despite a teasing glimmer in her eyes. "Come on," Cana said softly. "Just ignore them."
She sighed, while around her a crowd of girls formed slowly. Natsu was being carried on top of a crowd of cheering men towards the bar. Lucy's shoulders slumped.
"Do they have to be so immature about it?" She muttered weakly.
"They're men. It's what they do," Cana explained with a grin, wrapping her arms around Lucy reassuringly. "Just let them be men."
Levy was instantly jumping towards her, the petite, blue-haired girl bouncing happily. "Oh, Lucy, congratulations!" She said excitedly, hugging the Celestial Dragon Slayer tightly.
Despite herself, Lucy couldn't help but grin. Cana smirked, the buxom brunette was still holding a glass of wine. "Tell me something," Cana asked cheekily. "What's his stamina like? I've always been curious…"
Lucy blushed. "I'm not…" She stammered, blushing even more. "It's just…"
Cana patted her on the hand softly. "Got it, I'll put a couple of drinks into you and then you'll tell us all about it," She said cheerfully, walking towards the bar. "Mira, let's serve some booze, this is a reason to party!"
"Everything is a reason to drink with you…" Levy muttered under her breath.
The girls stopped as they saw Mirajane. The white-haired Mage had her eyes closed tightly, her body trembling as she wept into her hands. She was sobbing quietly. Lucy blinked.
"Mira…?" Lucy asked gently, approaching the barmaid. "Are you alright…?"
She didn't reply. Lucy's mouth dropped open. "Mira… do you have feelings for Natsu?"
Mirajane paused, looking upwards. "What, no!" she said dismissively, her eyes still watering. "But I was going to be the one to set you two together!"
"Huh?" Lucy said confusedly.
"I had this whole plan as well!" Mirajane sobbed. "I'd send you both out on this mission to a romantic island, hunting flowers, and then you'd just 'bump' into each other and it'd be true love! I was going to play matchmaker! How you could you just hook up like that without telling me!"
"Oh, Mira!" Lucy said sympathetically, hugging her tightly. "That's so sweet, but… well, I'm sure there'll be plenty of other people for you to match up!"
Mira stifled, still crying into Lucy's shoulder. "Like who?"
Lucy floundered helplessly. "Umm… well…" She muttered, glancing around the crowd. "Well, I'm sure you could match Cana up with someone!"
She just started to cry harder. "Oh, like that would ever happen!" Mirajane wailed. "It's hopeless!"
Cana bristled and then stomped off moodily to get the drinks. Instead of mugs, Cana returned with two large kegs over her shoulders; one for her and one for everyone else. That was when the party really began.
Natsu laughed loudly as the booze was served. Elfman was next to him, roaring him in, while Loke was scowling slightly, muttering under his breath about Natsu not appreciating beautiful girls enough. Natsu took the mug cheerfully; gulping the cool liquid down happily. He usually didn't care much for alcohol, but he could burn through it so quickly that he rarely got drunk.
Behind him, there was a giggle from the other side of the hall. Lucy was sitting at the opposite bar, laughing with Cana, Levy and Mirajane. They were all drinking. Occasionally, one of the girls wound glance towards him. Somehow, Natsu really didn't like the way they were laughing.
Next to him, Macao seemed to read his mind as he patted Natsu on the back sympathetically. "They're girls, man," Macao said simply. "They tell each other everything."
Natsu stared at him dumbly. Macao sighed, and repeated slowly. "They tell each other every little thing," he explained. "Every. Little . Thing."
Macao chuckled at his expression as he walked away. Natsu had to stop himself from shifting along to eavesdrop on what the girls were saying. Suddenly, telling everyone about their relationship didn't seem like such a good idea.
***
The mood was infectious, and Lucy could help but drink a little more than she should, feeling the warm buzz as she became a little bit tipsy. Cana pressed her for details, and somehow managed to turn her embarrassed chortles and gasps into every innuendo possible. Even Levy, sweet, innocent Levy, proved to have a surprisingly dirty mind that came from reading too many 'romantic' novels.
Still, it was a brilliant evening, particularly considering it was still bright outside. Nobody really managed to get drunk, mostly because Cana drank most of the ale before anyone else had a chance.
After a half an hour, Loke strolled up towards Lucy. Whenever he saw a group of girls together, the orange haired Mage just couldn't resist.
"Ah, Lucy…" Loke sighed melodramatically, pushing slowly towards her. "My heartaches for you, being burdened with such a brute of lover…"
Lucy blinked, but she was in a good enough mood that she didn't reactively punch him. Around her, the girls started to laugh. Loke gently took Lucy's hand, adjusting his green coat as he stared at her deeply through azure-tinted sunglasses.
"You are so beautiful," he whispered gently. "Even looking through the shades of my sunglasses, you're still so beautiful. If I looked at you with my naked eyes, they'd probably shatter into pieces…"
Loke sighed deeply, placing his hand on his chest. "Much like my heart shatters every time I stare into your eyes…"
Lucy was just about to respond, when her nose crinkled as a strange scent hit her nostrils. Lucy frowned. Next to her, Levy rested her head in her hands as she looked at Loke. "I'm surprised you're interested in Lucy," the petite Mage commented. "Considering your thing about Celestial Mages."
At once, Loke flinched away from her. "Wait, you're a Celestial Mage ?!" He demanded.
She just scratched her head, but Mirajane answered for her. "Haven't you heard?" She commented. "Lucy is the Celestial Dragon Slayer."
The dread hit Loke so hard he nearly toppled backwards. His glasses fell of his face and instantly Lucy got a glimpse at his eyes. Realisation clicked. Loke squealed in shock.
"…You're… you're…" Loke gasped breathlessly, before turning to run out of the building in panic. The rest of the guild looked at him in surprise.
Lucy just nodded. "Oh…" She said quietly, placing her glass on the bar.
"I've never seen him react like that," Mirajane noted, rubbing her chin. "Normally he reacts pretty badly to Celestial Mages, but that was worse than normal."
The Celestial Dragon Slayer just nodded distractedly. "I've got to go," Lucy muttered, before quickly walking out of the building after Loke.
She corner Loke about two streets from guild building. He was trying to hide in an alley, but Lucy had his scent and there was no way he could hide from her. She always had been particularly good at tracking down Spirits. Loke looked terrified as she approached slowly.
"Please don't… !" He pleaded, holding his hand out in front of him. The magic ring glinted in the sun. Lucy wasn't scared. "Please don't eat me!"
She giggled as she held up her hands. Most Spirits knew Celestica's reputation, so it wasn't uncommon that a lot of them were terrified of her too. She was capable of eating him off course, but there were just easier meals.
"I'm not going to eat you!" Lucy reassured gently. "I just want to talk, Leo."
The Celestial Spirit Leo the Lion didn't lower his ring. The magic ring had a Lacrima crystal embedded in the centre, and didn't actually rely on Spirit Magic. It was a weapon that could probably hurt Lucy directly, even if the Spirit using it could not.
"It's Loke now, not Leo," Loke scowled. "Just leave me alone. I want nothing to do with the Spirit World."
Lucy nodded. "I can tell; you've got so little Spirit Magic left I'm not surprised I couldn't smell you," she noted. "You smell almost human. How long have you been in this world?"
Gradually, Loke seemed to calm down, though he was far from at ease. Lucy kept her distance cautiously. "Three years," he said after a pause, a flicker in his eyes.
"Three years…" Lucy gasped in amazement. Being trapped from the Spirit World for even a day was torture for a Spirit; they would suffocate like fish out of water. "Three years! How are you still alive?!"
Loke's hands clenched into fists. "It gets easier," he muttered under his breath.
"Wow," Lucy muttered in amazement. "I didn't expect to find you here. Where's your Key?"
He shrugged. "Gone, lost, stolen. It doesn't matter," Loke said, his voice thick with bitterness. "The Gate is broken. I'm barred from the Spirit World."
"You broke the rules," Lucy realised. It wasn't a question. There were so many rules that bound contracted Spirits. "Which one?"
Loke scowled. "Does it matter? I'm exiled for good. The Celestial Spirit King would never allow me back in."
"Huh. You really mustn't have much time left," Lucy said softly. "It's pretty impressive you've lasted so long, but you really must be dying now."
He didn't respond. Lucy just smiled softly, before slowly holding out her hand. Her palm started to glow as ball of Spirit Magic hovered over her hand. The air glimmered. Loke looked shocked.
"Here, take it," she offered with a shrug. "Free Spirit Magic. It's not much for me, but with the way you're rationing it, you should be able to get an extra week out of the boost."
Loke stared at her suspiciously, before slowly extending his hand. As his finger touched the ball of the Spirit Magic, he gasped as he felt the energy flow up his arm. He'd been living on slivers of Spirit Magic for years, the power felt like his first breath of fresh air after drowning for so long. He nearly sagged to the ground with relief.
Lucy grinned. "When you want to open up to me, I'll be waiting," she said simply, turning to walk away. She paused slightly. "Also, you know that it's possible for you to get back to the Spirit World?"
The Celestial Spirit stared at her in shock. "I can't…" He gasped weakly, feeling the buzz of energy flow through him. "I broke the laws…"
She just shrugged. "Those are the Celestial King's laws, not mine," she said dismissively. "All of my Spirits are exempt from any of those laws. If you became my Celestial Spirit, then you'd be able to return to Spirit World safely."
There was a quiet, stunned silence. Loke stared at her with shock. "But…" He said in dull voice. "The only way that could happen is if you had my key, and that's gone…"
"True," she conceded. The Celestial Spirit King could summon keys and reward them at will, but she couldn't. Besides, there was no way that the Spirit King would ever help her. Lucy thought about it for a while, but there was really only one option.
"Well then," she said finally. "I guess I'm just going to have to make you a new Gate Key."
***
It was getting late by the time Erza returned to guild building. It wasn't quite sunset, but getting close. She frowned slightly as she entered the doors, listening to the ruckus within. A few of the wiser Mages tried to hide their mugs under the desk and act orderly, but most were too distracted to notice her approach.
Erza scowled as walked through the Guild Hall, down the rows of tables. In front of her, Elfman staggered out in front of her path, holding a mug of beer up to the crowd. He didn't notice Erza approach.
"Come!" Elfman roared loudly, spilling liquid from his mug. "Only the manliest men can hold their beer! I will be the last man stand-"
He was cut off by an armoured fist being rammed into his stomach. Erza barely gave him a second glance as he groaned and crashed to the ground. The mood turned silent.
"If you're going to drink," she said a schoolteacher strict voice. "Then sit in your seats and drink quietly."
One by one, the Mages slowly returned to their seats. Erza cast a glance around the room. "Wakaba, mop up this mess," she ordered, walking slowly towards the bar. "Vijeeter, stop spilling drinks everywhere."
The crowd parted to let her through. Erza glanced at Mirajane. "What's going on here?" She demanded. "This type of behaviour is shameful."
Mirajane chuckled, scratching her head. "Oh, we're just celebrating," she explained happily. "Did you know that Natsu and Lucy are a couple now?"
There was no visible reaction from Erza. The armour Mage stayed completely still. "Natsu and… Lucy?" She repeated quietly.
"Oh, that's right," Mirajane apologised. "You haven't met Lucy yet. She's a new recruit that arrived a while ago. She's the Celestial Dragon Slayer. She and Natsu are really cute together."
Again, Erza stayed completely still. A very keen observer might have noticed that she didn't seem to breathing. The red head only had one eye visible with her long red hair half brushed across her face.
"I see," Erza said simply.
Mirajane just smiled brightly. "Oh, that's right! You were looking for Natsu yesterday for a mission, weren't you? He's in bathroom at the moment, but I'm sure he'd love to go on the mission with you."
"It wasn't just Natsu," Erza said sharply. "Gray. I was going to take Gray and Natsu on a mission."
She had made a point of asking for Gray as well; it made sure that she wasn't focusing on just Natsu. Still, that whole mission had lost its purpose when Natsu hadn't been available.
Mirajane hushed over to serve drinks, while Erza slowly sat down at a bar stool. Her Heart Kreuz Armour clunked slightly against the table. Her hands were clenched tightly, but as the rest of the guild realised that she wasn't going to punish them, the atmosphere slowly returned.
"This… Lucy…" Erza asked after a while, as Mirajane approached. "… What's she like?"
The white haired woman shrugged. "She's nice. Blond, pretty, carefree. Really easy to be around," Mirajane replied. "She went chasing after Loke a while ago, but I'm sure you'll enjoy meeting her."
Erza smiled; or, at the very least, her mouth moved up at the corners. There wasn't any humour there. "I'm sure I will."
Around her, the celebration continued. Most days were celebrations in Fairy Tail; it was very easy for them to find something to celebrate. After a few minutes of silence, Erza approached the bar.
"I'll take a beer," she said with forced sweetness, holding out some coins towards Mirajane.
Mirajane stared at her with shock, sweating slightly. "Umm… Are you sure that you should be drinking?" Mirajane said quietly. "You remember what happened the last time you started drinking…"
Erza's smile could have been painted on. "Yes," she replied simply. She really never needed anyone to remind her what happened the last time. "Now pour me a drink."
There was a just a hint of warning in her voice. Erza remembered the time when Mirajane would have challenged her for talking so rudely, but she just smiled and handed her a mug. Still, there was just a flash of darkness in the woman's eyes.
The beer was frothy and bubbling. Erza was just about to take a sip when a hand reached out and stopped her. Erza stared in shock as Makarov's elongated arm touched her wrist.
"It's probably best if you don't," The Guild Master said quietly, still sitting cross-legged on the bar, smoking his pipe.
Erza was just about to object, but Makarov cast her an uncharacteristically serious glance. "You know that I normally let you enjoy life to the fullest. But not tonight," he said quietly, glimpsing around the hall. "I will be shutting this party down before it gets too far. I fear that tonight we will need everyone at their peak."
She frowned. "Is something going to happen?"
"Perhaps," Makarov admitted. "Or it may just be that I'm a paranoid old man. Either way, I don't want my children to be drunk if trouble does arrive. There have been… worrying occurrences."
"What?" Erza demanded, before frowning. "Speaking of which, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the Regular Meeting?"
"The Regular Meeting was cancelled. There have been too many disappearances around Oshibana Town; too many people have vanished, too many small settlements have become quiet," Makarov explained darkly. "Whole trains have simply disappeared. Many are starting to fear what is happening, and the Guild Masters don't want to leave. I do not know who, or what, is attacking civilians, nevertheless where they will strike next, but I will rest a lot easier knowing that all of my children have the presence of mind to defend themselves."
Erza's eyes widened in shock, but she nodded. Makarov's voice was low. "Don't tell anyone. Let them enjoy the moment," he ordered quietly. "But stay alert. I fear that dangerous things may be coming towards us."