Stellar Mischief
[NaLu Fanfiction]
By: JeRein_14

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Chapter 22

Lucy's POV

  "Only Lucy and Minerva are left to fight for first place! Meanwhile, Lucy's spirits appeared to have left and gone home. Probably to save up her magic and physical strength." True to the commentator's words, i had asked Virgo and Aries to go back to reserve my magic. I know almost nothing about my opponent. Her magic, limits, weakness, not even her personality. I need to be careful, at least for 5 minutes.

  "Who's going to win? Will it be Sabertooth or Fairy Tail?!" The sound of the timer starting reached my ear as i went to defensive stance. I decided to give her the first attack advantage, to see what she can do.

  "With my magic, I could easily blast you outside in a blink of an eye. Unfortunately, that would spoil the fun." I flinched, seeing her raise her right hand. From where i float, i can feel intense level of magic power from that mere movement. Nervous, i tried to decipher and read her attack before it could happen. But she seems unpredictable.

  "Try to withstand this, Fairy Scum!" Her hand lit up, giving me a confident smirk. Just what is she planning? I had no clear idea. Suddenly, i felt heat. Glancing back, i saw the small area behind me produce an almost blinding light. I tried to swim away, somehow knowing that it's dangerous. Unfortunately, i was still enveloped by the same light. Heat. For some odd reason, it felt hot which i find hard to believe seeing that i'm inside a water sphere. How did she do it? Just what is her magic?

  'I need to summon a spirit. Fast!' As i glanced down to my waist, i froze. My belt! It's missing!

  "Looking for these?" I gaped openly at the set of keys Minerva was holding up for everyone to see. From my guild's corner and stand, i heard them gasp in alarm. They were scared for me. Glaring at the Sabertooth Mage, i tried to regain my composure. No. I can't let her see that i'm panicking. I need to come up with a new strategy to win this. Losing to some arrogant mage that belongs to a presumptuous guild who thinks they're above everyone else is something i'm not going to allow.

  "Give them back." I pronounced each word with venom and pent up rage, gazing bravely at her emotionless eyes without an ounce of fear in my system. I would never give her the satisfaction of seeing me scared or afraid.

  "Oh, did i make the little princess mad?" She chuckled darkly, not even surprised or shocked by my sudden change of demeanor.

  "You better give this princess her keys back before she decides to stab your eye with her 7 inch heels." My remark was laced with heavy sarcasm, earning myself some snickers and laughs from the audience. I smirked in victory, seeing the frustration in her once expressionless features. Sorry, Saber Lady. I'm a writer. Fighting with words and remarks is my thing.

  "I'm warning you, Blonde Bimbo. Try messing with me and your precious keys gets it." She warned, glaring dangerously at me. I halted, staring at my glowing keys that was firmly in her grasp. Should i risk it?

  "Don't you dare." Glowering angrily, i gave her the nastiest glare i could master. Enough to rival Erza's. She stopped for a moment, contemplating her next movements. It made me wonder what she was thinking. What is she planning with my keys? Take them? She can't even use them! Sell them? I don't think she needs money with the condition her guild is at. Destroy—oh, no.. I stared at her in bewilderment as she unhook one of my keys. A golden Zodiac Key. From this distance, i can still make out a glimpse of Loke's symbol.

  "I did warned you, Celestial Mage. I've always wondered what would happen if you destroy a Celestial Key. Say, Heartfilia? Will the spirit die? Or will it be trapped in it's own Realm forever?" She raised the golden key, smirking darkly at me. I can hear gasps from all around the Arena, a heavy tension surrounded the atmosphere as everyone awaited the outcome. It infuriated me when she referred to my spirits as objects.

  "Y-You're not exactly serious—"

  "Of course, I am. Now. I want an apology for your disrespectful behaviour."

  "Disrespectful?! You don't even deserve my respect in the first place—"

  "A weakling like yourself shouldn't dare insult someone of my level. Apologize and maybe—just maybe—i'll spare your beloved keys." Clenching my jaw, i tried to control my anger and rage. If i let loose now, i might unleash my hidden strength. I can't crack now.. After years of hiding..

  "I-I'm.."

  "That's right.. Disgrace and dishonor yourself further! As a weak and pathetic holder type mage like yourself, that seems to be the only thing you can do aside from summoning weak spirits to fight for you. Such a poor excuse of a mage, you are!" The key in her hand glowed red, probably trying to burn Minerva, out of defensive instinct. But the cruel Sabertooth Member didn't budge nor flinch. I gave out a shaky sigh to control my temper, wondering what my next move should be.

  'Don't you dare stop now, Lucy. Show that psycho what it means to mess with a Celestial Mage.' I heard a faint whisper in my head. Gasping, i looked around as if searching for the speaker but saw none. Minerva spared me a look of confusion and annoyance which i ignored. I was sure that it was Loke who spoke to me just now but where is she—

  'I'm speaking to you telepathically, Princess.' Err—right..

  'What do you want me to do, Loke? She has my keys and is currently threatening me that she'll destroy yours. I can't—'

  'So, you'll let her insult your kind?! Defeat her! And prove to everyone that you're not someone to look down on! Let her destroy my key or have you already forgotten what you're capable of doing?'

  'But—'

  'I believe in you, Lucy. You're a Heartfilia and the daughter of Layla! I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to repair my key. I know you can. Now, just do it!' If you say so.. I glanced back at Minerva who straightened her posture and smirked evilly at me. Sighing, i gave her a heated glare which seemed to not just shock her, but everyone else.

  "We, Celestial Mages, are not weak and pathetic! That's why, I refuse to take orders by the likes of you." I yelled, in sync with the timer as it reached the numbers 00:00. Silence. No one dared to breath as they tensely watched us with eagerness. My eyes was fixed on the girl in front of me. Her features reversed back to being expressionless and unreadable.

  "T-That's it then. The 5 m-minute limit is over. What's l-left is to know the r-ranking.." The commentator announced nervously, obviously afraid to interrupt the building tension inside the sphere.

  "You dare defy me?" She snarled angrily, glaring at me with pure hatred. I tensed when i saw her grip Loke's key so tightly that veins in her pale hand were now visible in sight. Even before i could stop her, a loud 'snap' was heard across the quiet arena. She showed no remorse at all which angered me even more. How dare she break a key and have the decency to look so delighted with herself? She's a monster.

  Clenching my jaw, i hid my raging brown eyes under my blonde bangs as i tried to restrain my anger. I clenched my fists tightly, not even wincing when i felt blood oozed freely from the small crescent cuts made by my sharp nails.

   "From what I've heard, that Lion Spirit was the leader. What would you do now that it's gone? That you can't summon it anymore? Now that would teach you that i'm—"

  "Such a big fool." I cut her off, earning gasps from the crowd and a sharp gaze from Minerva. I'm sure it confused everyone when i allowed a huge smirk appear on my lips.

  "You t-think i'm a fool?! Me? A fool? Are you stupid?!" She was in the verge of blowing up. Instead of cowering in fear, i just floated there, smirking triumphantly.

  "As a matter of fact, yes. I think you are." I gave her an innocent smile which irritated her even more.

  "I DON'T THINK YOU UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION HERE, BIMBO! I JUST BROKE YOUR STRONGEST SPIRIT'S KEY! YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SUMMON IT EVER—"

  "Who told you I can't?" She halted, frozen in her spot. I'm sure that i finally broke her out of her calm and relaxed state. She was practically shaking in anger. I smiled even more at the thought..

  "T-THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE! S-SUMMONING A SPIRIT WITHOUT I-IT'S KEY IS UNHEARD OF! Y-YOU'RE JUST DISTRACTING ME! TRYING TO CATCH ME OFF G-GUARD!" She screamed, enraged and completely fuming. She lifted her hand and light once again shone from it. I successfully maneuvered my way out of the area that was shining brightly. She continued attacking me, which i responded by dodging gracefully out of the way. It only infuriated her even more.

  "WHY DON'T YOU PROVE IT?! SUMMON THAT PET LION OF YOURS!" She growled angrily, still trying to attack me without any success.

  "Gladly." Smiling, i closed my eyes and concentrated my magic. I felt her blind-due-to-rage attacks suddenly stopped, probably due to the shock when my body glowed with gold aura.

  "What a-are you—"

  "I'm linked to the archaic bridge of the Spirit Realm. Here thy call, glorious spirit! Open thy Imperial Gates! I summon thee, Leader of the Zodiacs! Loke!" I opened my eyes, same time a golden magic circle appeared beneath me. The glowing aura surrounding me intensified as i continued on pouring my magic into the invisible space where i'm keeping his gate open. In front of me, another magic circle materialized where my faithful Lion Spirit emerged from. Gasps were heard from every corner of the arena. I'm sure no one expected that i would be able to pull it off. After my defeat on the first day, they probably thought i'm not capable of doing something powerful or surprising. Loke nodded at me in acknowledgement, i greeted him back with a smile.

  "So, you're the lady who broke my key and insulted my princess? My, my. I can't let that go unpunished."

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☆JeRein_14