Fairy Tail: An Aqaurius Quest

Research Research Research

I wake up to him barely kissing the crown of my head as to not wake me up. He's already got half of everything packed and he's dressed.

My heart races as I think about last night. I feel different but also the same. I never knew I was capable of loving another person this much. But it's nice. I've never trusted anyone the way I trust him. Not even my own parents. I know that because when my dad called Phantom Lord to abduct me, I just had this undeniable faith in him. I knew he would catch me. And he did. And he has ever since. Always there to catch me when I fall. Even when this time I'm falling, it's much different, he has still caught me.

Ever since that day he's never let me down. Except for when he left for a year, but be promised he wouldn't do it again.

The sleeping bag smells like him, and it brings me right back to why it smells like him.

I can feel the blood rush to my cheeks and I pull the fabric over my head so he doesn't see. When I do this, fabric rustles against the sleeping bag and I notice for the first time, I'm fully dressed.

"What the hell?" I ask sitting straight up abruptly and looking at him accusingly as he munches on some fish.

"I brought you some clothes from the Celestial Spirit Realm, when I got here you were completely naked. You shouldn't sleep so close to a fire Princess," Virgo says.

I scramble to my feet, and my cheeks are completely flushed, did she see us together?

"Do you want to punish me Princess? I was scared you would get too cold in there all by yourself since the fire has died down," she explains.

Relief floods my veins and I compose myself instantly, "What is with you and being punished? Anyways. I'm trying to find Aqaurius' key and I don't know where to start. Has anyone ever broken your key?"

Natsu has plopped down on the ground next to me while we intently listen to Virgo.

"No, my key was a gift from the Celestial Spirit King to Anna. But I heard a story once. Capricorn fell in love with his wizard, and she was about to die so he begged her to break his key. She did. I don't know where it was but he's the only one I heard of who's key was broken besides Aquarius and Leo. Don't worry Princess, you don't have to close my gate. I'm here on my own magic power. I wish to reunite you with Aquarius. She cares for you so deeply."

"Open, Gate of the Sea Goat! Capricorn!"

"At your service my lady," he says bowing.

"Can you tell me about your key breaking?"

"I'm not supposed to discuss previous contract holder's but I will tell you this. It was the only way her life was going to be saved. I'm sure you understand why she did it," he answers.

"Did she ever find your key after it came back into the world?"

"After many years, yes. She did. Then she passed it down to her daughter, Layla."

"My Grandma? And you?!"

"This was before she met your grandfather. It's my fault really. I shouldn't have gotten so attached. I can't help it though."

"Where did she find it?"

"The first time, she traded a piece of her land for it. After she broke it though, she found it hanging as an ornament off of a Shepard's staff in Bellum by pure accident."

"Why was it there? I heard that after your Keys break, they can sometimes be found in places of personal significance."

"It was found there the second time because it was the first time an enemy injured me to the point where I had to be pushed back into the Celestial Realm with out fufilling my duty to my wizard.

For you to find Aquarius' key you would have to have perfect recall of her entire history. I doubt even she does have it herself. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help Ms. Lucy, " he says sadly.

My chest deflates and Natsu drapes his arm over my shoulder, "don't worry Lucy, Aquarius cared about you more than anyone. Her key will find its way back to you in no time!"

I hope he's right, and my gut tells me that he is. But it still doesn't change the size of the hole that lurks in my chest since the last time we said goodbye.

We decide to change course and head to Sabertooth instead of Lamia Scale to see if Lector and Frosh have teamed up with Fairy Tail's Exceed squad.

"You giving up Lucy?" Natsu asks me on our walk.

"No! I'm just going to reevaluate my mission before I waste our time blindly looking for it. There's got to be some way to narrow its location."

"Maybe, I wonder how Sting and Rogue are doing. You think Happy is up there?"

"I don't know. If I were a part of there team I would head straight to Sabertooth first, because at least they know for a fact that there are two Earthland Exceeds there for sure."

"Not unless they're on a quest," he answers.

"True. We'll just have to wait and see I guess," I answer.

Eventually I get tired of walking and summon Horologium to store me on our journey.

"Why can't you just walk like a normal person Lucy?" Horologium's voice echos Natsu's question.

"Why can't you ride in a carriage like a normal person?" I counter back, "you're the one who said 'No more trains' after Hargeon!"

"Hey that's no fair! I can't help that trains make me all queasy!"

"Yeah? Well I can't help that my legs are tired from all this walking!"