*Comes to the party three months late with starbucks* UM. so. I. May have. Sort of. Not done what I said...

BUT LOOK HERE'S THE FINAL CHAPTER NOW YAAAAY!

I've basically had this thing PLANNED this entire time, since the last chapter was done, I just. Didn't. Have the energy. To write it?

But yeah I finally got this down NOW GO CRY EVERYONE!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tale but if I DID I'D TREAT LUCY AND LOKE WITH A BIT MORE FUCKING RESPECT!

also yay obligatory cune finally finished a chapter fic cheer yaaaaaaay

Loke stared dubiously at the mug in his hand, the milky white substance inside giving off a rather…odd fragrance. A mix of fruity and sharp, with the taint of fermentation and an added scent of spice underlying it all.

Cana was smirking at him, her dark eyes just daring him to chicken out. Not that he would, of course, and it wasn't like the substance could hurt him anyway, but he was having some trouble believing certain points about said beverages' origins.

"So…" He reiterated for the third time, still unable to wrap his head around it. "You're saying this came from a cactus?"

"Damn straight." She replied, going to take another sip from her own beverage. "Not sure about the name, but it's got a pretty sweet kick to it. 'll knock those pants right off your ass pretty boy!"

He didn't doubt that, just from the scent alone it seemed much stronger than the drinks he'd tried before. It was expensive too, and Mirajane had given them both a look when Cana had ordered for them. "I'm sure it will." He drawled, arching a brow at her and holding the mug in his hand. "And you said it's got…what else?"

"Hallucinatory properties." She answered smoothly, still with that devil may care smirk of hers. "Drink too much and you'll start seeing shadows, it's kinda sweet, though not really good for bad days. S'why I didn't suggest it sooner." She then winked at him, and he gave her a small grin. He'd been having some pretty shitty days lately, more and more often the pain flared up, and today was one of the few where he'd woken up without the need to drown himself in the river, hence why Cana suggested the new beverage.

They had very odd bonding rituals, them two.

He snorted, giving the drink another suspicious sniff. "And this is legal?" He asked, still not believing it. It sounded like something one would buy on the black market, and while his understanding of human laws was still sketchy at best he knew enough to understand that a drink like this was probably dangerous to ingest…

"Damn right it is, now drink up! I splurged for you you ungrateful ass!" Cana laughed before going to drain the rest of her mug, her whole body tensing up from the burn, and just from that reaction alone Loke knew he was in for…an experience.

He took in a deep breath, then, thanking the stars for his being an immortal being with an anatomy that was far sturdier than the average humans he tipped his head back and took a generous mouthful of the liquid.

It burned like fire, even stronger than whiskey, and with a weird almost disorienting aftershock. He slammed the mug back onto the table, the wood clacking in the room as he swallowed, his eyes wide as he tried to center himself again.

Holy fuck, how could she even drink this stuff?

He ignored Cana's laughter and Mira's exasperated sigh, and tried hard to get his hair to behave like hair again and not a main. Thank stars he'd chosen to cut it, so whenever it bristled it wasn't that noticeable.

Eventually when he felt he could talk without coughing he turned back to the still laughing card mage and glared at her. "You're going to die before you turn thirty." He accused, pushing the mug away. Sure, it wasn't hurting him but it wasn't exactly a comfortable feeling. He had enough trouble as it was keeping himself together on this plane, a hallucinatory drink that gave him the sense of not being there was unnerving.

She kept snickering for a few moments more, waving away his comment dismissively before letting go of her own mug and patting him consolingly on the thigh. "Oh don't be sour just cuz you can't keep up with my title." She drawled, still smirking at him. "You'll manage the big boy drinks one day! You just need to get past that posh constitution they gave ya in your last guild!"

He scowled at her. "I'm not even kidding Cana." He swore, and he wasn't. Sometimes the woman worried him, even if they were both far too alike. Cana was a train wreck, and ready and willing to crash and burn with a smirk on her face…Loke was no different. It was why they got along.

Not that Loke could really help his incoming wreck, Cana at least had the choice. Though nothing he could say or do would change her mind…

He was about to open his mouth again to keep scolding her (not that he stopped her when she drained the rest of his mug…she had paid for it after all) when suddenly a third party approached their spot at the bar.

"What're you two nerds up to?" Bickslow asked, customary smirk on his face, his dolls following him.

"Shove it up your ass bickslow." Cana replied nonchalantly, swallowing the last of the thick drink and slamming the mug down with a content sigh. Loke rolled his eyes and turned to the puppet master. "Can we help you?" He asked.

"I just thought I'd see what you two lushes were doing." He responded, snickering as he peered into one of the empty mugs, the scent was still there and caused him to wrinkle his nose and shrink back, making Loke smirk.

"Destroying our bodies, obviously." He snarked, amusement in his voice.

Cana raised her fist up in a sign of victory, huge grin on her face. "Who needs a working liver?" She chimed, before laughing and turning to order another beer from the resigned Mira. Poor girl was getting used to working behind the counter for Makarov, who was getting on in years and needed more time to rest…and to deal with guild business.

Bickslow chuckled in response before moving to take his own seat, his dolls closing in to rest stacked atop one another to his left. Loke tried not to look at them as he went to order his own beer. "Hey," the puppet master began. "You see the guy that came in here a bit ago?"

"You mean the tall one?" Cana mused, nursing a mug twice the size of Loke's own. "Broad shoulders, dark hair, a smirk that could slay?" She drawled, head lawling to arch an unimpressed brow in the Soul Master's direction. Loke wasn't surprised, plenty in the guild had that smirk, and pulled it off better as well (himself being one of them).

Bickslow just grinned that same inane grin, undeterred by her look. "He's been with the Master for some time. Wonder why he's there?" He gave a casual shrug. "Work or Job, word is, he's a rare kind of wizard, at least so I've heard."

Cana scoffed and took a quick swig before slamming her mug on the table with a resounding clack. "So what? We've got fucking Salamander, who cares if his magic's rare? S'not like we're lacking in special cases ourselves." Her voice came out more bitter than, perhaps, she'd intended it to. And it was no wonder, what with her being ordinary as one could get, as well as for more…personal reasons. She had every right to feel resentful.

Loke, who was one of those 'special cases', made a conscious effort not to cringe.

"You might care." Bickslow countered, then nodded over across the room towards the hall that led to Makarov's office. "See for yourself."

At that Loke, curious, glanced up, and indeed made the same assement of the man that Cana did. Handsome enough, maybe a little scrawnier than he could have been, but then again Fairy Tail was a bit oversaturated with fighting types, especially for a wizard's guild.

He was about to roll his eyes and turn away, dismissing the man as anything important, when a flash caught his attention and he could literally feel the mental hackles raise along his back.

A Keyring, with three, no, four keys on it. All Silver.

He let out a soft curse.

"Ah shit." Cana echoed him, though her words were a bit louder than his. "That's a Celestial Wizard ain't it?" She then sighed and turned back to grin apologetically at him, who was still frozen in place with both fear and…perhaps…a bit of nostalgic longing. "You and your damn phobia." The card mage sighed.

Mirajane, who couldn't help but overhear, frowned as she gave Loke a brief scrutinizing look. "You have a phobia of Celestial Wizards?" She asked.

"Damn straight, apparently there was a girl, of all things, and now this guy can't stand the sight of any of 'em at all." Cana responded, jerking a thumb to the still frozen Loke. "Thought I can't give out any details, that's his to tell, not mine." She sighed, before draining her booze and gesturing for another.

Bickslow gave a loud barking laugh to his other side, clapping him hard on the back (though hardly hard enough to hurt. Bickslow wasn't that strong). "Hah! Why am I not surprised?" He teased.

Thankfully the slap jerked him out of his stupor and quickly Loke worked on draining his mead and gathering up his things. Mirajane took the mug wordlessly, though she was frowning at him in concern. Time to go before answering any uncomfortable questions.

"Cana, while I'd love nothing better than to spend more time with you-"He began, before the card mage casually waved him off, nursing her newest mug.

"Ah, don't worry about it. Just don't hurt yourself on the way out, alright?" She offered, giving him a reassuring smile that held less mockery than her previous words would imply.

He swallowed, so, so grateful he'd managed to find friends who actually chose to respect his rather odd issues. Even while not knowing why they still had his back… "You are a gem…" He complimented, before quickly rushing out towards the exit. Best to head home and call up one of his beauties and try to forget the guild for a day, at least while that man was still there…

Only he wasn't fast enough.

He and the aforementioned man managed to run right into one another, and Loke, in his haste to leave, hadn't even noticed he'd been making a beeline for him the entire time. He nearly fell over, (while the other mage did) and he hurried an apology automatically, reaching out to pick the poor sap up before he realized what he'd done.

He froze.

"It's alright." The celestial mage murmured, giving an amiable grin and taking Loke's hand. He seemed pleasant enough, but just the touch and proximity to his magic was enough to make the spirit's stomach roil, like nothing else on Earthland did. He bit his lip, but said nothing, hardly noticing the mage's weight as he hauled him up, or the fact that the room was suddenly about ten times brighter than normal, hurting his eyes and making him squint.

"You…ah…dropped something." The mage suggested, gesturing towards Loke's face. He blinked, before noticing the sudden brightness and going to hunt for his shades. God, the mortal realm was bright as hell. He frowned, wanting to get away as fast as possible, before he noticed them a few inches to the right. "Ah-" He began, leaning down to snag them, while a gleam from the man's hand caught his attention.

He glanced over, fingers grazing the metal of his shades, before his eyes widened despite the painful brightness…that ring…that symbol…

On the mage's hand was a black ring with a mother of pearl gem, and sketched into the gem with a black inlay was…

"Ophiuchus…" He murmured, shocked and surprised. He hadn't seen a ring like that in eons, and Ophiuchus…

He didn't even know she had a ring like that.

The mage raised his dark brows as Loke stood up, before peering at him curiously. "Yes…you recognize the symbol? Are you a celestial magician too?" He asked.

Loke quickly stood up and waved him off. "A-ah! N-no I just…I've hung out with a few of them before…hah…" He laughed nervously, not liking the look in the mages eye. He seemed a little too curious…maybe he shouldn't have said anything.

"I-I've never seen a ring for it before though…." He began, just to throw the man off the scent. Did he actually know what he held? Was he aware? Celestial mages had majoritavely forgotten by now so…

The man laughed, holding his hand up to his eyes and glancing fondly at said ring. "Oh, this? It's been a family heirloom for ages. Honestly, I keep it around because all of the celestial mages in our family wear it." He shrugged, though his gaze still pierced him. "Celestial wizardry is…a bit of a tradition in my family honestly."

"…Right…" Loke murmured, smiling and nodding and inching towards the door. Of all the things to show up… "Well, I'm sorry again for running into you buuuut, kinda gotta jet. Later!" And with that, Leo the Lion fled.

Only if he'd looked back he'd have notice the mage watching him, a slight tilt to his gaze, and a gleam in his eye…

Loke strode down Magnolia's beautiful river, his thoughts a million years in the past, over the centuries that had been spent since those rings, thirteen in total, had vanished from this world.

He'd honestly thought that they were all gone…they should have all been gone. The old, old families, where Celestial Magic ran purest, should have been diluted and mixed up by now. There was no point to keeping up the older ways anymore, and certainly he and the spirits had long ago chosen to no longer bring it up. There was just no point, and too much pain…

The legacy of the Starchildren.

Loke frowned as he recalled it, the reason behind the contracts, behind everything, and one of the biggest secrets his kind kept from their masters.

Those for whom the keys came most easily to, those whose magic was strongest and for whom the gates opened easiest, who had a natural talent for the magic…who had the blood of celestial spirits running through their veins…

Their children, or the descendants of them.

Loke frowned, certain as anything that the mage had been a Starchild, and one from one of the last of the old families. Those who remembered where they came from, and especially which spirit their bloodline derived. Many spirits of course had starchildren, but those of the Zodiac tended to be…a bit stronger. And as such happened to have a strong following from their descendants, at least until the need to keep inbreeding from killing them off became a thing. Then the blood became diluted, less celestial mages walked in their footprints, and the rings, and memories, became lost.

Or at least that's how it should have been.

He scowled, of course, Orichphiuchus would break that trend. She had a bad habit of breaking and bending the rules to suit her…kind of like him, in a way.

He sighed, but tried hard to push it from his mind. That sort of thing had nothing to do with him anymore, he was just Loke, nothing more than a dying star trying to be human before his existence faded away into-

"Puuun!"

He blinked, glancing down at the Nikola like he'd never expected it to pop up like it had. The little dog-thing grinned up at him, shivering in its way, and raised a paw to wave.

He waved back, mildly wondering if it recognized him. He never could read their minds, the Nikola.

Wait…why was a Nikola here?

"Plue!" A little girl with dirty brown hair and doe eyes ran up and promptly picked the Nikola up, before giving him a sheepish glance. "I'm sorry mister!" She began, shrinking away from him. "Plue was supposed to stay with me but he ran off. I'll be out of your way now." And she ducked her head and turned, and he suddenly realized that she was Nikola's master, and she was barely ten, if that, and if that were the case and judging from the state of her tattered dress-

"W-wait!" He began, a part of him wondering what he was doing, the rest of him marveling at his luck of the day. Two. Two in one day! Two! What were the odds?

He also wondered where the heck a child as cute as her ended up homeless…not that it was too uncommon in this age…

He laid a gentle hand on the little girl's shoulder, kneeling down to her level to give her a gentle smile. Everything, every fiber of his being screamed that he had to protect her, but even if it wasn't he still would have done what he did…no one who hung around Fairy Tail could ever turn form such a helpless child in need and not do anything. Even if she wasn't who she was…

"Where are you going starchild?" He asked, using the term affectionately, names were funny things anyway and he had a feeling she wouldn't give him one if he asked. She looked skittish as it was. "Maybe I can help you get there." And give her a good meal while he was at it.

She gazed up at him, wide eyed, before shifting to bury her face back into the Nikola's fur. "Um." She began, her voice tiny and weak. "I'm just looking for a place to stay for the night. I-I'm a wizard, and just came to this town, so…"

Loke frowned, not sure about how much he believed. Oh, the wizard part was true enough, based off of the Nikola, but her traveling to Magnolia on foot was a little far-fetched…but he didn't press. Poor thing. Whatever her reasons for doing what she did, he figured the least he could do was to help her get through the night. "I know of a good place." He offered, reaching out a hand for her to take, a second to a celestial wizard… "It's cheap, and they have good food too. Trust me."

She hesitated for a moment, in a way a child that young should never have to, before she slowly took his hand. Loke sent out a tiny bit of his own magic, a soothing aura someone in her position could respond to, and she instantly started to relax. He smirked, taking on his playboy persona that he was slowly starting to like more and more every day.

"Alright little starchild." He crooned. "Let's head out then, shall we?"

She giggled and nodded, and Plue crooned happily, glad at least that his master was with someone safe, even more glad that he'd run into the exiled Leo while searching for a place for his master to sleep, or at least for some help.

Loke stared at the job board with wide eyes behind his shades, the world turning slowly, sound muffled, as shock overcame him.

A single paper stood amidst several, glaring at him. Mocking him. Though, the rational part of his mind supplied, he shouldn't have been surprised. He promptly told that part of himself to shove it, it wasn't like he expected such a thing-it had only been three years after all!

"Loke…you okay?" Gray called after him, frowning next to Cana, the two of them having lunch at one of the wooden tables.

Loke took in a deep breath, summoning all his patience, before reaching up to tear the paper from the board (startling some of the other mages, including that one guy…what was his name? He never took a job…) before going right up to the bar and slamming it in front of Master Makarov's wizened face.

"This job is impossible." He declared, daring Makarov to challenge him, causing several in the guild to glance at him in shock, including his friends. They'd probably expected him to take it, but no. There was literally no way…

The requirements were simple, really. A scavenger hunt, no time limit. Several thousands of Jewels as a reward.

All that was requested was the Leo Celestial Key…

"Hey c'mon! Just cuz you don't think you can do it Loke…" Someone protested, to which he turned to silence them with a look. He didn't know who it was, he didn't care. He wasn't about to send his Nakama out on an impossible mission for his non-existent Key.

"Loke is correct." Makarov's rasping voice carried out, quieting down anymore protestors, and Loke sighed internally, only to turn back in confusion. Makarov gave him a knowing look, his old eyes peering at him with understanding and…perhaps a bit of an apology. "The young man that requested that job seemed suspicious, so I allowed it, even though it is an impossible quest."

"What makes it impossible?" Gray asked, moving up to the bar himself, mug in one hand and peering at Loke in concern. He tried hard not to flinch, or to look too guilty. A part of him wanted to let him and Cana know the truth but…

But…all those promises…and Cana had her own issues already, to let them know they'd miss someone else…

He couldn't do it. He couldn't hurt them again. It wasn't like anyone could change anything about it.

Makarov shook his head, turning his gaze to the Ice-Make mage. "That key has been missing for some time, and from what we know, due to the circumstances behind it's disappearance…it is not likely that anyone is able to get it now." Loke pursed his lips, his hazel eyes darkening. He didn't even know if Karin kept the key on her on that last mission, though whoever had offered her had likely been in for a shock when the Leo key suddenly vanished from her grasp…

He fought not to smirk, finding a bit of sardonic satisfaction in the thought. No, best to focus on the present, he could wallow in the past later.

"That's why it's impossible. The key just doesn't exist anymore." He stated, his tone flat, cold. It wasn't one he used often, not as the playboy give no fucks Loke, and while he could feel the concerned looks of his friends he chose to ignore them. They knew him well enough not to press when he got like this.

Makarov nodded, turning back to Loke, once again giving him that look of understanding. "Indeed, however, as I said, there seemed to be something 'off' about that young man. And there have been several rumors of murders against Wizards in the area. So."

Loke tensed, almost as if he could read the old Master's mind.

"Loke." He began, he could feel his hair standing on end. "You're the one best suited for this job. If you could, would you please take it, and see what this young wizard is really up to?" His heart froze in his chest, his throat locked up, he wanted to say no, but…

"Hey, you want Loke to work with a Celestial Wizard? That's not fair!" Cana called out from behind him, interrupting before he could reply, her voice fierce and protective. Oh Cana…

"Why's it so important that he be the one to do it anyway?" She continued, getting even more heated, the scrape of wood sounding as she stood up.

"Seriously Master, why him?" Gray responded after her, his voice lower, calmer, full of more concern and…confusion. Loke knew he wanted to ask, they both did, but he couldn't.

"This is something that concerns neither one of you." Makarov answered, voice firm, his eyes never leaving Leo's. He knew, just like Loke knew, his words were the truth. The spirit took in a deep breath.

"But-!"

"Enough." Loke interrupted, his hands clenching against the wood, crinkling the paper still in his hand. "I'll do it."

He stunned his friends to shock, and maybe he owed them an explanation (he did, he really did) But he couldn't stand to be around them, or anyone, for much longer. Makarov nodded, gave him the usual spiel before a job, marked him down, and Loke turned to head back out.

Cana stopped him for a moment, hand on his arm, concern in her doe eyes. "Loke…what gives? What's the big deal with this one?"

He swallowed, once again wanting so, so much to tell her. To tell both of them. But he just… "Sorry Cana. Can't say." He murmured, voice holding his usual sardonic tone, slight grin on his face that did nothing to reassure her. "I'll be fine though. Don't worry about me." He then pulled away, and she let him, still concerned but knowing better than to chase after him.

Leo was a coward…

Loke stood along the outskirts of Magnolia, the lights of the city visible through the trees, his eyes peering down at the half crumpled paper of the job he'd taken. The sketch of his key mocked him, as if wanting to taunt him with what he never could have.

What the ever loving stars was he supposed to do now? He knew exactly where the Leo key was, and it sure as hell wasn't useful to any mage. And as for luring the job owner out into doing something illegal so he could take him in…He had no clue where to start.

Maybe if he found a way to call his key back he could-

"Puuuun!" A cry of a Nikola caught Loke's attention and interrupted his thoughts. He glanced up, quickly looking around for…there! Out of the bushes Plue darted, followed quickly by his little starchild, her face a white mask of terror.

"Hey!" He called out, summoning them both to veer in his direction. Loke kneeled down, worry clenching his chest. "Hey, hey, it's alright. Come on. What's wrong?" He asked, hands grasping her shoulders.

Starchild shook her head, panic in her every feature. "Someone-they're after us! He want's Plue!" She stammered, tears falling from her eyes, her whole body shivering like a leaf.

Like pursed his lips, quickly picking Plue up before taking her hand and turning away. "Then we have to get him off your scent." He stated, every instinct inside him screaming. That so called mage killer was after her, just like Makarov had warned. This was both good and bad, but her safety came first.

They didn't get far however, only about ten paces, before a large serpentine creature crashed through the underbrush and cut them off.

Loke let out a soft curse, his every hackle raising, his fangs itching in his mouth, his eyes focusing.

It was Draco…

The Dragon turned to face them, long, very long serpentine body black with stardust sprinkling his scales, his eyes two pinpoints of light, his forked tongue snaking out periodically as he tested the air between them. He didn't have wings, didn't need them, his body hovering several inches above the ground.

He stared Leo down, instantly recognizing him and not caring. He was on a job, and while the few Silver Keys that could fight were nothing to the Golden Zodiac, and even less to Leo himself…

Leo wasn't exactly as powerful as he usually was.

He carefully pulled starchild behind him, setting down Plue right after, his eyes never leaving the Dragon's. "Starchild…" He murmured. "I want you to run."

"Okay." She answered, voice small and wavering, Plue cooing in concern before the two of them headed off to Loke's left.

He and Draco stared each other down, neither one willing to budge an inch. Normally Leo could take him in a matter of minutes, however with his depleted energy and his current status of 'dying' he wasn't exactly up to a spar.

It only took a moment, an eternity in a second, before the strike.

Like a snake, Draco was swift, his mouth opened, revealing several needle sharp fangs, a rainbow colored glow lighting up before a beam of energy shot out of his maw.

Loke dodged to the right, his fist glowing with the faded version of Regulous, but he didn't account for his surroundings, an amateur mistake.

Draco's blast hit a tree, and it fell in his favor with a resounding crack and pinned Loke down to the ground. Leo gave out a cry of pain, the light in his fist dissipating, and he could have cursed with how stupid he was.

He cracked open an eye, his shades having fallen somewhere, and he gaped in horror as he saw starchild was still there. Draco had used his serpentine form to surround her and Plue, and she clutched the little Nikola to her chest as she backed away from his needle filled mouth.

"Run! Get away!" Loke called out, voice breaking, even as he knew it was useless. She was trapped, and whoever was pulling Draco's strings was both relentless and ambitious to the point of cruelty. The Dragon opened his mouth, the sizzle of his breath cracking through the air.

One shot, and it was over.

She fell to the ground, Plue crying out in rage and pain as he was pinned under her, Draco hissing as he uncurled around the body.

Loke gaped in horror, after years spent with these fragile creatures, time around Fairy Tale and its penchant for taking in orphans, after years looking after his Master's own kin, after having a few child masters himself…

He grit his teeth, fangs grown full, hair bristling into a main, his eyes cat slit. Leo growled, before his body erupted into a brilliant glow, his magic energy spiking with his rage.

"Lion Brilliance!" He called out, before the tree splintered and cracked, fracturing and releasing him. He could almost feel his old self again, his power in the wake of his justified anger. He stood, facing Draco, who's glowing eyes widened as he met with the Leader of the Zodiac once more.

"Regulous Impact!" He called out, summoning his lion's head through his Light Magic glyph. The attack struck the Silver Key, taking the spirit out in a single blow.

He felt euphoric, all of the anger and rage giving him a feeling of power he hadn't felt in years.

For about five seconds.

The world faded out for a moment, his vision blurring, his extremities covered in static before he managed to get a hold of himself again. Loke staggered, hand moving to hold his head, eyes squeezed tight as he regained his stability.

No…not yet. He wasn't dying yet.

"…Mr. Loke?" A weak, broken voice coughed out, causing the spirit to let out a pained noise of anguish before he staggered over to where his Starchild lay. He knelt in the grass next to her, hands moving to gently turn her over onto her back, cradling her upper body in his lap. He ignored the blood, ignored the rasping, wet sound of her breathing, ignored the tears falling from his hazel eyes…

"Yeah? What is it little princess?" He asked, trying to keep his voice from breaking and failing. Of all the selfish, horrible things…

"Is…the monster gone?" She asked. Plue shivered next to her, his face looking just as mournful, his gaze never leaving her expression.

Loke nodded, giving her a sad grin, a gentleman to the end. "Yeah. He's gone. It's alright now."

Her face was relieved for a moment, before crumpling once more, tears falling down her own eyes. "I wanna go home…"

He took in a deep breath, once again wondering what could have placed such a young child into her position. She hadn't told him, and he hadn't asked. Now he'd never know. "It'll be alright." He reassured, his smile growing, even as the tears fell faster. "Do you know where little Starchildren like you go?" He asked. Plue glanced up at him, expression understanding. Now was good, now was perfect, and it wasn't like he ever followed the rules to begin with.

She shook her head, eyes wide and shining, ready and willing to believe anything he told her.

It was a good thing this was the truth.

His smile grew a little sincerer, eyes crinkling. "It's a wonderful, beautiful place. Full of magic energy, where all the Celestial Spirits gather. They're bathed in Starlight, with Clothes and Jewels and all sorts of things that outshine anything on Earthland. Everyone lives in a beautiful house, and no one gets tired, or sick or hungry or cold…It's paradise." His chest hurt, his voice broke, but she just gazed at him with wonder in her expression, and it was so, so worth relieving his grief over what he'd lost…just to give her that last glimmer of hope.

"I'm going there? Where…where Plue lives?" She asked, and he nodded in response, Plue crooning his agreement.

"Yeah." He rasped, holding her a little closer, a little tighter. "Everyone's going to welcome you, I know it." They loved their Starchildren back home, all of them…

She smiled, a tiny, pained, hopeful smile that broke his heart, her small hand lifting up to rest on his cheek. "Will…I see you there too?" She asked, voice wavering.

His breath froze.

She knew.

He let out a half coughing laugh, his smile edged with pain, his eyes blurring. "I-I'm sorry starchild…" He began before his voice faded out. He didn't know how to finish that…

Her smile fell, and then it was pain for him she felt, and Leo could have stabbed himself. "Oh…then…I hope someday…you can go home too…" She managed, voice weak, before suddenly her body seized up, her whole form shuddering in pain, before it mercifully was cut short and she lay still.

Leo laid her body gently down to the ground, his face shaded by his bangs, tears still steadily falling, before he slowly stood up from the ground.

"I guess the rumors were true." Came a dry, all too familiar voice. Loke tensed. "You Fairy Tale mages always get in the middle of things." He turned, and there was the mage from earlier, the one with the ring, the other Starchild.

He honestly couldn't say that he was surprised, and Loke stared at him with an impassive expression. "She was just a child." He answered, voice low, flat. Almost emotionless.

The mage shook his head, slight smile curling his lips. "This is just the burden Celestial Mages bare, I have to admit. There are only a certain amount of Keys after all…have to cut out the competition."

Loke's fists clenched, he still felt his fangs in his mouth, his eyes still focusing on the world far too sharply. "But she was a child."

"My family has practiced this for generations." The mage answered, smile falling, an affronted huff to his voice. "It's a rite of passage amongst old Celestial Wizards. There's Honor to winning one's keys in mortal combat." He glared Loke down. "You wouldn't understand."

Loke's eyes widened, shocked at this pup's audacity…but then again, wasn't that the norm for families of his prestige? One of the many reasons the rings were taken away, the secret lost… "You…honestly believe that?" He asked, voice incredulous, before his own mouth curled up in a grin, and before he knew it he was laughing, causing the wizard to back up a step in surprise.

"You think this would be something that we'd want?"

He laughed harder.

"That'd you'd curry favor from us?"

The mage tensed.

"Honor?"

He looked uncomfortable, scared.

"Are you some kind of idiot?!"

As well he should be.

"You…you're not-" The mage began, hand moving to where his keys were, but before he could call someone up Leo pounced, his speed and melee abilities easily letting him pin the mage to a nearby tree. He glared him down, giving the man clear view of his cat slit eyes, one thick arm pinning him by his neck against the rough wooden bark.

He grasped tightly to Leo's arm, gasping for breath, eyes wide in panic. "Wh-who are you?" he asked, voice rough and breaking.

Leo took in a deep breath, rage causing his power to spike again, and his hand curled into a fist, faint glow rising around it, his eyes narrowing. "I should tear you to pieces right now for your insolence." He growled. "Only our pact with you keeps me from doing this, along with any other spirit unfortunate enough to be under your call." He paused, then his smirk returned, looking unholy, almost mad with his sharp fangs. "Then again, I suppose there are some perks to being Exiled." He mused.

The Mage's eyes widened, and finally he understood. "You're Leo." He gasped, hands tightening on Loke's arm. "But-how-?"

The spirit snorted, still grinning, never mind that he still had tears flowing from his eyes. "Little thing you don't know; Spirits have rules we follow too." His grin grew, his eyes lit up in the darkness. "Guess which one I broke?"

With that the Mage panicked, as he was supposed to. His hands clasped onto Leo's arm, his body struggling, but even with Leo dying he was still a lot stronger than most other Mortals. He stayed in place, begging. "No-! Please-No! Stop!"

Leo's hand glowed with the light of Regulous, still curled into a fist. That fist raised…

"Goodnight Starchild."

He punched.

The Mage fell down from the tree, his head sporting a harmless lump, simply unconscious. Loke shook out his hand, feeling his more animalistic side fade as he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, trying to stay conscious himself. Too much power, too much strength used up in one night. Makarov owed him for this.

"You're not worth it." He muttered, turning away from the Mage, only to be faced by Plue, who stood shaking by his former Master's body.

"Puuuun…" He crooned sadly, and Loke noticed the tears on his face once more, his chest tightening at the sight of the broken little girl.

Plue trotted over to Leo, holding up a Silver Key for him to take. The message was clear even to him. The Nikola wanted Leo to find him another master, or at least a safe place to get a new master. He trusted Leo, even after all that…

Loke kneeled down, reaching out to gently take the key, noticing how Plue also had tears going down his eyes, mourning what was clearly a beloved mage. The Nikola tended to get attached, like the Loyal dogs they were…

"It'll be okay Plue." Loke promised, reaching out to gently clasp the Nikola on his shoulder, before moving to stand up again. His breath hitched, his chest tightened, but he tried to believe the words himself. "It's…" He took in a shuddering breath, hand lifting to cover his eyes. Get a hold of yourself. "It's gonna be okay."

But it wasn't, and the tears would stop. His breath hitched, the floodgates opened, Loke fell to his knees, his hands clawing the dirt as he ignored the pain in the wake of his grief.

He screamed.

Much later, after a funeral with far too few people attending it, Loke found himself in a magic shop a few miles to the east of Magnolia. He recalled passing by it during his sojourn to the guild itself…almost three whole years ago.

Back then he'd been a very different man. Not even a man at all really, just an exiled spirit half blinded by grief and pain and the light from a star that shone far more brightly than he was used to. Even now he could barely call himself a man…but he was closer. At least he understood what it was like to live as one of them…and understood them. Though…not always.

Certainly not always.

"Thank you very much sir! I'll be sure to take good care of it!" The shopkeeper promised, grinning at the rare find. Loke nodded, smiling before turning away, pocketing the Jewels and debating if he couldn't grab himself a distraction for the night. He'd looked for Plue's sake, but the thought of willingly seeking out another Celestial Mage turned his stomach. The closest he could get was to hope that the more unsavory Masters out there wouldn't stoop so low as to shop at a place so clearly out of the way. Or maybe his key would go unbought for a bit, giving the poor Nikola a rest…

One could only hope.

Loke was really pathetic.

"All right! I knew if I looked hard enough I'd find one!" A female voice came from behind him, clearly excited, and he automatically turned to see who it was, though he only caught the back of her as she darted towards the shop he just left.

He was distracted for a few moments, checking on her-ahem-assets, and mildly wondering if he couldn't coax her for a night. A little, 'hey I couldn't help but notice we just shopped at the same store, why don't we have lunch and talk about our mutual interests'. Maybe if he was lucky she'd shake him out of his melancholy.

Or maybe not.

Instantly Loke turned back around, quickly trotting away and cursing his luck, for hooked onto her finely curved hip, plain for the world to see, was a set of delicate keys on a keyring, an even mix of Silver and Gold.

It certainly wasn't just her ass that called him to her either. He walked faster, cursing to himself the entire way.

"Stars…" He grumbled. "Save me from your children." He ran a hand down his face. He really needed a drink.

Unfortunately for him, fate wasn't nearly so kind…

Or, perhaps it was.

But that's a story for another day.

Thank you, thank you, I am so happy to have finally finished this for all of you. To those of you hoping for some lolu, I'm sorry, but admittedly this has always been intented to be a Loke centric fic, and while I ship it hardcore, and there certainly are hints of it on the horizon, it was never really planned to be in this fic. I don't think I have it in me to play a 'what was Lucy's first few months of Magnolia like from Loke's view' either.

I do have a few other fic that I wanted to do, mostly with this unique hc in mind *eyebrow waggle* and also perhaps a bit more of Loke's relationship with several other people (because I'm a sucker for the pain).

However they might be slow in coming and also mostly oneshots. I still want to do Lolu but thanks to certain...updates...*glares at one in particular in the manga* I've kinda lost the spart. A big part of what made Lolu so great to me was the mutual respect, and if you're going to treat Loke as nothing more than a perverted jerk for no reason then it really kind of kills it. He had so much potential...

Ug. But I suppose that's what fanfics are for.

Anyway, I'm so happy to have finally finished this. I hope you enjoy it. It made me cry, even though I can not for the life of me write children oh my GOD I am so sorry.

Anyway, review for your Aunty 'Cune~

Ciao 3