HELLO THERE AUDIENCE!

I'm baaaaaaack! SO! Just a quick thing I wanted to say right before we get into the next chapter... I'M SO SORRY I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR SO LONG! This virus craze has been keeping me especially busy as of late (I work in healthcare, and I also go to college...) so I haven't been nearly as busy as I would like to be, in regards to my stories :'( But have no fear! Things seem to be slowing down *KNOCKONWOOD* so hopefully I'll be able to get back into a regular schedule.

I hope you all enjoy this next chapter. It's much different from the original story, but with that in mind, I do believe you'll love how it turned out ;) Onward!

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Chapter 2

Brown eyes opened to the sound of the bell tower chiming, announcing that a figure of importance had entered palace grounds. Lucy exhaled deeply and lifted her head from her desk, rubbing at her temples as she examined the contents laying about her makeshift pillow.

'I did it again… I really must stop falling asleep here. As a matter of fact, I can't recall a recent memory in which I actually retired in my quarters.'

Lucy shuffled some papers about and briefly examined them with little interest.

'Hm. Foreign affairs, business with the courtiers… seems they've been complaining again. About the king, no doubt. Ainslee will have to discuss this with him, so why is this here? Let's see… Recent treasury update I must take to the chamberlain- such an unpleasant man. Why couldn't they have just sent it straight to him? Because, Lucy, you're the only one who seems capable of dealing with him it would seem.'

The princess growled and tossed the documents back on to her desk and sighed, leaning forward and holding her head as she did so.

Seconds passed before she noticed that the chiming of the bell wasn't in a hurry to stop. Which meant that figure of high importance was either a member of the royal family, or a prominent figurehead within the castle staff.

'I haven't received a letter from distant family, so it could only mean-'

There was a series of abrupt knocks at Lucy's study door, so she quickly composed herself; she smoothed down her golden hair and her immaculate pink gown, and uttered a "come in" to the person behind the light oak.

"Excuse me, Princess," a handmaiden by the name of Lettie said, poking her pale blonde head in excitedly, "the Captain of the Guard has returned from his leave of absence! I was told to inform you right away by Steward Ainslee."

Lucy felt her eyes widen before she lunged for her calendar and examined the dates hurriedly.

'Has it already been…?'

Indeed, it would seem it had.

"I'll be down shortly Lettie! Please, tell Ainslee of my intentions, and have Ana, Veronica, and Alice come help me change out of this monstrosity of a gown," the princess said, rising from her seated position quickly and making for the exit of her study.

"Where am I to meet Ainslee and the captain?" Lucy asked as she passed Lettie and proceeded down the hall toward her dressing quarters, Lettie following a respectful distance behind.

"Steward Ainslee requests parlor six, but the captain said he would prefer the merchant grounds. The decision would fall to you milady."

Lucy glanced over her shoulder at the other young woman and smiled, "Which merchant ground: Amaranth, Begonia or Cardinal?"

Lettie smiled back and replied, "Begonia, Princess. I shall inform them both right away, and request that your ladies-in-waiting report to provide you aid."

"Very good Lettie, thank you."

With that, the young servant was off to do as she was told and left Lucy to enter her dressing chambers to ponder over the greatly anticipated return of the Captain of the Guard.

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"Now entering the premises, Princess Lucy Heartfilia!"

Said young woman walked down the stone pathway leading to Merchant Grounds B with all the elegance and dignity of those with royal blood. The dress she wore could be considered formal, but with the amount of movement it allowed Lucy's legs to kick, seamstresses would never call it such. The princess knew she would earn a disapproving look from her steward, but he would never outright voice his opinions on the matter. Perhaps a lecture on royal etiquette and propriety would be in the works for her later…

Lucy smiled, shook her head, and straightened her shoulders even more as she made her way toward Ainslee and the peculiar Captain of the Guard. The captain's unusually colored hair was hard to miss, as was his shining royal armor. The trees were swaying due to the breezy morning wind, and because of this, shafts of sunlight managed to burst down and dust the duo that stood beneath their protective branches. Lucy could go blind with how often the light caught the polished silver of the armor.

"Good morning gentleman," Lucy greeted as she walked up to the pair. She nodded her head at them and they both gracefully bowed, "Ainslee. Captain… it's very good to see you again."

The captain glanced up from his bowed position and offered her his signature smile: his white teeth flashed and his hazel eyes sparkled with mischief and a hint of something else.

"Princess Lucy, it's a pleasure to see you again too. I was just relaying to Ainslee here how enlightening my-… my trip had been."

Lucy frowned and forced herself not to cross her arms in mild irritation, "Don't do that."

Ainslee inhaled a quick sharp breath, but the captain coolly tilted his head to the side with feigned ignorance.

"I'm afraid I don't understand, Princess-"

"Don't pretend your 'leave' was something as simple as a short vacation from the castle. This was a form of punishment, issued by the king," Lucy's voice was dangerously low, and she could feel that her eyes had narrowed.

The captain sighed and shifted uncomfortably, "Princess-"

"You were gone for almost a year, Loke! For merely being my friend. Do you understand how completely barbaric-"

"Princess Lucy," Loke interrupted quietly, taking a quick glance around before taking a step closer to her. His voice had taken on a sharp curve, as if though he was about to scold a child… and he was the only person within castle walls, apart from the king, who could ever get away with talking to her like that. Although it made Lucy bristle, she understood that he was only trying to protect her by reigning in her anger.

To speak of the king in such a disrespectful way that she had… the princess or not, she could easily land herself into the prisons if the wrong person had overheard her.

'If I were a prince, I can guarantee that wouldn't happen,' she thought bitterly.

"Princess Lucy," Loke repeated in a calmer voice, interrupting the dark turn her thoughts had taken her, "what is done is done. Officially, I took a leave of absence from the castle to patrol Celosia Sea… nothing but a few pirates, I find I must add."

Pushing her anger and frustration aside for just a moment, Lucy allowed her curious nature to take over, "Pirates?"

Loke grinned again and offered Lucy his elbow. She took it gladly and allowed herself to be steered by her trustworthy knight down a winding path that awarded an excellent view of Forsythia Forest, located just behind the castle. Ainslee, the ever faithful, followed closely behind and remained silent.

"During my travels – please don't get that look on your face – my men and I came across a most peculiar wreck. Whoever had caused it… well, they were thorough. The ship was in pieces; completely blown apart from what appeared to be the inside out, due to the patterning of the scorch marks. We deduced that it must have been a merchant ship, transporting barrels of blackpowder. Blackpowder is the only kind of explosive I can think of that can cause that kind of damage."

"Unless the ship that attacked it was a brig or frigate," Ainslee commented, fingering his trim beard in thought as he continued walking alongside Loke and his princess.

"The ship that had been blown apart would have been set upon by forty cannons at least, what with the extensive damage that had been done externally. A brig cannot hold that many cannons, unless it had been highly modified by an incredibly skilled shipwright. I deduce that it must have been a frigate then, as a skilled shipwright is said to be worth their weight in gold."

Ainslee nodded, "And you said pirates had done this, correct? It's unheard of: the brutes wielding such destructive force, especially in these waters."

"My thoughts exactly," Loke said with a scrunched brow, "Pirates that sail within these waters aren't exactly known to be swimming in Jewel. Not only that, I would have also heard of such a ship by now and dispatched our navy to handle the situation."

"Maybe they've simply tried being careful? To avoid second glances from our navy. Or perhaps they are not native to Celosian waters," Lucy offered, leaning her head forward to get a good look at both Ainslee and Loke. Both men glanced her way in surprise.

Loke's brow smoothed before he nodded his head, "That could very well be, Princess. I can't rule out those possibilities. Whatever happened to that ship, we know one thing for certain: it was, without a doubt, attacked by pirates. We're unsure if there were any survivors. Upon closer inspection of the wreckage, we didn't come across anyone, but that does not mean that no one sailing aboard didn't live to see another morning. I have already informed my men to investigate it further and report any new findings immediately."

"I can't imagine pirates being smart enough to effectively dodge our captain's keen eye, but perhaps he has become rather lazy in his duties as of late," Lucy mused playfully, tapping her jaw in false thought.

Loke snorted good-naturedly and shot his princess an impish glare, "That, Princess, is highly unlikely. I see everything. Including that rather scandalous affair between the royal tailor and his assistant. Have you heard? For shame."

"They're married, you rabble-rouser!" Lucy said back with a slap to the captain's arm.

The trio laughed and continued to get back in touch with one another. Loke was as mirthful, engaging and easygoing as ever, speaking animatedly with Ainslee as the older man questioned him about various things. Lucy simply listened quietly, glad to have finally had her friend back… her only friend, now, really. Ainslee was more of a father figure than a friend, but he also had a duty to serve the king before his princess, and therefore would oftentimes be forced to do things he'd much rather not do. Their relationship was… complex to say the least. Lucy knew it wasn't his fault, that he was only carrying out his orders from the king, so she never held it against him. After all, she loved the steward with all her heart.

She had been close to others in the castle, but that was before Loke had been… "temporarily reassigned" for nearly a year. It would have been longer no doubt, but he was the Captain of the Guard; he had duties he needed to fulfill at the castle, meetings he was required to attend, and other general business that required his physical presence. It had accumulated, and the king had been forced to recall his order and bring Loke home.

'Finally.'

Lucy adored her friends from before Loke's reassignment, truly, but she was terrified of what her father might do to them if he ever found out about their bonds with the princess. Sadly, they weren't considered essential and therefore could be easily replaced by others who were eagerly awaiting, undoubtedly. In the world of royalty and servants, servants always pulled the short end of the stick. If a person serving the royal family – or anyone bearing a title for that matter – had been subject to… an aggressive dismissal of service, they would hold that negative mark over their heads forever. No one would want to hire them again, for fear of what might happen in terms of retaliation from those that had fired them in the first place. They would lose everything: their homes – if they even had one – the meager savings they may have built up, perhaps even their families… They would be forced to live on the streets as beggars. A miserable life indeed.

Due to the fear of the unknown and her own father's unpredictable mood swings, Lucy opted to distance herself from her friends, and even went as far as being cruel, just to make a point. She couldn't afford to let them know the truth about her actions, lest they talk and ignore her attempts to drive them away. They were such good people… all of them.

'The last thing I want is to have the suffering of those I care about on my conscience.'

"How have the girls been faring these days, Princess?" Loke asked suddenly, once again tugging her back to the conversation at hand.

"Ah… which girls are you referring to Captain?" Lucy asked, putting up a farce. She knew very well whom Loke was inquiring about. Still, it was enjoyable to see the ordinarily collected captain lose his calm.

"I do wonder if she ended up getting herself engaged while I was away… she had better not. I have found myself wholly and deeply love-struck, and I fear that if I discover she has fallen in love with another man, I'll be doomed to spend the remainder of my days in abstract misery. The forces of sorrow and grief will wither me away and I will soon perish from heartache. I will-"

"Alice is still unwed, and as far as I am aware, she has not found herself fancying anyone in particular," Lucy interrupted smoothly. She discreetly rolled her eyes after the captain pulled himself away from the tree he had been clutching onto in a theatrical fashion. Although it was a rather melodramatic spiel and humorous display, his words had the potential to be quite romantic and poetic… had he been serious.

"Ser Loke, you are the Captain of the Guard. Please do act like it," Ainslee scolded the younger man in farce severity.

"It's love, Ainslee! People always do reckless and crazy things when they're in love. Do remember that, good man. The same goes for you, Princess. If you ever find yourself face to face with a man who is willing to fight an entire army for you, I recommend that you keep him around."

The princess rolled her eyes once again before she rushed on ahead of the group in playful abandon, ignoring Ainslee's protests.

"Why dear captain, that is why I have you! You will always fight an army for my sake; I needn't have anyone else!"

"As how it shall always be," he called back with a genuine smile on his face.

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"Ah, Captain, it's great to see you!"

"Captain Loke!"

"Ser Loke, it's wonderful to see you again!"

"Captain!"

"Captain!"

"Ser Loke, you're crushing me…"

The trio had recently returned to the castle from their morning stroll alongside the forest, and had been greeted by what seemed like half of the castle staff, including several of Loke's own men. As soon as the spiky-haired captain had caught sight of Lucy's ladies-in-waiting, he sprinted toward the three girls and gave them each a massive hug.

It would seem that he was currently trying to squeeze the life out of the princess's third lady-in-waiting: Alice.

"Release her, or else I'll have your head on a pike you fiend!" Ana growled while tugging on Alice's arm. Ana – or Anahita – had long and dark-colored hair, dark eyes and rosy skin… and a spitfire temper. She was Lucy's first lady-in-waiting and acted as a sort of leader for them all… therefore she was fiercely protective of her flock. With Loke's constant antics involving Alice and Veronica – especially Alice – Ana always had her hands full with the hopeless romantic of a man.

It made Lucy smile.

"Captain, I would ask that you release poor Alice at once. It would seem that she is struggling to breathe," Veronica chimed in calmly. Veronica was an unusual woman. She was the kind of person that could and would remain calm in any given situation, no matter what it was, Lucy was sure of. Any woman standing next to Ana seemed ordinary in terms of looks, but Veronica had her own sort of beauty. She had pale skin, intense blue eyes and dark hair, and she was probably the most powerful woman in all of Fiore, in terms of physical strength. It was almost… frightening.

"S-Ser Loke, I'm-… I'm happy to see you… It has been too long since last we seen each other," Alice managed to squeak out. Alice was by far the kindest woman Lucy had ever had the pleasure of meeting. She was a soft-spoken woman who oftentimes needed either a good push or an Ana to be her voice when it came to telling people "no". And by the Gods she was certainly a beautiful woman, just like Lucy's first lady-in-waiting. She had long wavy golden hair, kind golden brown eyes, and creamy skin.

It was no wonder Loke was obsessed with her.

"Captain Loke, release Alice at once and refrain from acting like a child. It's quite unbecoming of you," Lucy said without dropping her smile.

By the command of his princess, the captain finally released the poor girl, but not before winking at her playfully and earning a mix between a snort and growl from Ana.

"I've missed you girls. It has been much too long. I can't promise I won't take another leave of absence, but I can promise that I will write next time."

His words made Lucy's heart ache. Several of the servants and guards knew the true reason Loke had been away. For him to publicly declare that he would intentionally put himself at risk again, simply for the sake of his relationship with Lucy… it touched the princess's heart.

"We must have a feast to celebrate your return!" Lettie insisted. She was one of several girls who deeply "admired" the attractive captain. He was indeed attractive, Lucy would admit. She could see how Loke's delicate face and his poetic and charismatic nature could woo a woman without much effort.

'Just not this woman,' the blonde thought with a small laugh to herself.

"That's a splendid idea Miss Lettie," Ainslee agreed, surprising nearly everyone. He was usually so uptight about events such as these, especially considering the fact that the king greatly disapproved of such celebrations.

Lucy turned the man in exaggerated shock, "Are you feeling ill at all, dear steward? Perhaps I should send for the physician?"

Loke laughed and clasped a hand on the steward's shoulder when the older man cleared his throat and began to fiddle with his neck tie in embarrassment.

"I never knew you cared so much, Ainslee. I do believe this means we must hug and share our mutual caring through drink and merriment!"

"N-Now wait just a minute, Captain. I simply meant-"

"Oh, do go on Ainslee," Lucy chimed in softly, her words meant solely for him and Loke. The affectionate smile on her face was only growing bigger as the conversation wore on. "Your princess commands it. Have no fear: I shall make certain that the king does not hear of this plot of revelry and indulgence, you have my word."

"Oh no you don't," Loke warned, nearly grasping his princess by the arm before he remembered that they had an audience. "You're not going anywhere," the captain continued in a hushed voice, "You must celebrate with us, Princess! Please, I don't believe I have the energy to handle this lot on my own."

Lucy laughed and shook her head, "Now that is a first, I must say. Our dear captain is running low on stamina? Had I not heard it with my own ears, I never would have believed you'd say such a thing."

Loke paused for a moment and simply stared at his princess, the smile on his face fading slightly. Suddenly, Lucy was overcome by a strange sensation, unlike anything she had ever felt before…

But the feeling left her as instantaneously as it had come, like a snap of one's fingers.

Loke was smiling again and merely offered his princess an apologetic shrug, "I have had a long journey, Princess. It would seem you have had a rough go of things lately as well… Please, at least have a drink with us. I know… I know you don't wish for the king to find out about all of us," he added in a murmur, "but you know as well as I do that if you remain so tightly wound, you will eventually snap. You must decompress and this is the perfect opportunity to do that. So, take advantage."

In a louder voice, he exclaimed, "Please, join us Princess!"

To which nearly everyone else chimed in:

"Join us, please!"

"Princess Lucy!"

"Please join us Princess!"

The blonde's smile stealthily returned, and before she knew it, Lucy was grinning from ear to ear in a very unladylike manner.

How could she possibly say no to the pleading of her most cherished?

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This had been a complete and utter mistake. And something that she desperately needed. Lucy watched on fondly as half of the servants in Mercurius – and several soldiers and knights – laughed, drank, ate and made merry. The celebration was being held in the servant's common area and thankfully it was large enough to fit everyone who decided to partake… and those who hadn't come willingly. The room itself was wide and shadowed. On the west wall resided a large wood-burning fireplace that was currently lit, which provided a tavern-like atmosphere and plenty of warmth. Large oil sconces hung from the various wooden pillars that dotted the room, which provided enough lighting. An opening of space had also been made for the band that played, while people sat at strategically angled rectangular wooden tables.

The princess giggled from her leaned position atop the balcony railing as she watched a slightly intoxicated Loke swing his arm around Ser Marcus Speer; the older man looked highly uncomfortable with the gesture, but allowed it nonetheless with a small, albeit forced, smile.

Rirts, Kud and Brilfech – masters of the musical arts in Lucy's opinion – played upbeat tunes while other servants danced and clapped along. Juliet and Alice sang, capturing their audience with their spellbinding harmonies. Lareng and Michelle, assistants to the head chef, made rounds to each individual, making sure that their bellies were full and their mugs never empty. Lexicos, a decorated knight and a dear friend of Loke, flirted with a scullery maid by the name of Grace. She would usually turn down his advances, but it would seem that tonight she was making an exception.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Princess?"

Lucy turned her head to glance at the person speaking to her: it was Barlow, the head chef. He was a tall and rotund man with a long curving moustache, bald head, and a friendly round face. His kind brown eyes glinted with mischief as he held out a delicious-smelling pastry as an offering to his princess.

Lucy took it gladly and thanked him softly, "Indeed I am, Barlow. I'm… quite glad to see everyone enjoying themselves. I… I've missed this, truly."

Barlow and his staff had been dear friends of Lucy's before Loke had been sent away, and the first ones she had distanced herself from. Oftentimes, after her mother had-… She would oftentimes find herself in the kitchens, seeking the warmth and comradery the kitchen staff would offer her. Michelle would sneak Lucy pastries when Lareng was otherwise preoccupied, and Barlow would laugh until his face turned a bright cherry red when Lareng demanded to know where his freshly baked goods had "run off to". It was made even more hilarious when his accent managed to make itself apparent.

Michelle and Lareng had been quite the miffed pair when Lucy suddenly stopped appearing in the kitchens to spend time with them. Lucy had practically grown up with Michelle. The other girl was only a few years older than the princess she served. They had been… exceptionally close. Lareng wasn't quite the same age as Barlow, but he was older than Lucy and Michelle. He and Barlow both had served the king and queen back in the day, creating extraordinary dishes of culinary marvel that left both royals greedy for more. Lucy's mother would often tell her stories…

"We have missed you too, Princess," Barlow said softly, daring to rest a beefy hand on his princess's shoulder as a means of comfort. "Especially that Michelle. She and Lareng would make double the amount of cookie crumble in hopes that the scent might tempt you inside the kitchens."

Both Lucy and Barlow laughed, but it didn't take long for the humor to fade into a deeply rooted sadness.

Michelle knew that Lucy was a connoisseur of all things sweet, and in the past she would oftentimes intentionally bake something sweet as a way to silently call Lucy down to play – or chat as they grew older. Their relationship was of course forbidden by the king, or any kind of relationship between servant and royal, so that had been the only way for the girls to communicate.

It made Lucy's heart ache even more when she had remembered ignoring those delicious smells. She could only imagine how Michelle must have felt. Then, one day the sweet smells ceased to exist.

The princess had been crushed, but she had no one to blame for her feelings but herself.

"I… I am truly sorry that I haven't visited, Barlow. I have been… greatly busy as of late."

"So it would seem, milady. I received an order from Master Ainslee saying that we must prepare ourselves for your upcoming Debutante Ball. How exciting that is!"

Lucy forced herself to chuckle and nod. She knew he meant well, but in all actuality… she was dreading the day. The servants had little to no idea how an event meant for a joyous celebration could be turned into something as twisted as a dark political scheme.

Well… that was how Lucy viewed it anyway.

"Um… Mr. Barlow, it looks like we're out of the Sweet Dumond wine… and Ser Loke is asking for it."

Both Barlow and Lucy glanced up in surprise as Michelle had approached unnoticed. She looked unsure of herself, and by the wringing of her hands, Lucy could tell that she was nervous.

'She doesn't want to be near me,' the blonde thought with a heavy heart.

"Ah, not to worry Miss Mish! I will fetch some for our fearless captain right away," Barlow said with a clap of his hands. With that, he left a tense Lucy with an equally tense Michelle, but not before offering a short nod to his princess in a means of encouragement.

She had no idea what to do. Should she simply ignore her oldest and most cherished friend? Or should she attempt to make things right between them?

After a few more suspenseful seconds, Lucy heard her friend release a short sigh before turning on her heel to walk away.

"M-Michelle!" the princess called frantically.

'What?! No, Lucy, what are you doing? By the Gods… well it's too late now… what are you thinking…?'

The darker-haired blonde turned slowly and faced her estranged friend.

"Princess, is there something I can assist you with?" she asked flatly. Lucy flinched, but otherwise held her head high and wracked her brain for ideas.

"U-Um… thank you. F-For… For being here in celebration of Loke's return. I know it must mean a lot to him."

There. Simple, good conversation starter.

"I'm an apprentice to the cook, so of course I would attend. Everyone must have full bellies after all."

"Right… Right, of course."

Awkward silence. Princess Lucy Heartfilia didn't have awkward conversations, she had engaging ones. Michelle looked as if though she was about to excuse herself, but in her panic to make her friend stay willingly, Lucy caved.

Taking a deep breath, the princess sighed through her nose in a manner to calm herself.

"Michelle… that was not what I meant to say. While I am glad that you're here, truthfully I'm nervous to speak with you since we haven't actually engaged in conversation for… an extended period of time. What I really want to say is-… I want you to know that I miss you. I miss the way you would laugh when I put noodles on my face while we sat on the counters waiting for water to boil. I miss the way you made me laugh while you made faces behind Barlow's back whenever he chastised you about something. I miss the trouble we would get in to. I miss the way Lareng would chase you around the kitchens when he finally realized that it was you who was sabotaging his pies…"

The tears started to sting the back of her eyes then, but Lucy refused to cry. She hadn't cried in years.

"I miss our friendship. I'm so… sorry I haven't been there. Social Class aside, you are my friends and I am truly sorry that I made you feel as if though I abandoned you. Barlow has told me… He has told me about your feelings in regards to my disappearance. I just… I just want you to know that my distancing is not due to my title. I can't tell you the exact reason why, but… please, just know that I think about you every day… and I still consider you my best friend."

Michelle was staring at Lucy completely blank faced. It appeared as if though she hadn't heard a single word Lucy had said. Her large blue eyes blinked several times before she turned her gaze away and focused on the crowd below them. She remained that way, quietly observing, while Lucy tried to think of something else to say.

But she was coming up short of words. She had always spoken from the heart, and she had emulated every feeling she had had into that speech. She knew Michelle felt deeply wounded, but Lucy had no idea it had been to this extent. Was their friendship truly over?

"Misha!" Lareng suddely called down from below them. He looked at Lucy, smiled and deeply bowed, and then locked eyes with Michelle once again and frowned. "Come 'ere would you?! What're ya doin', dazin' about, ya silly girl? I need yer help yanno! Come, come, I 'aven't all day!"

"I-I'll be right there," Michelle called. She finally turned back to Lucy, opened her mouth as if though to say something, before apparently thinking better of it and offered a polite curtsey instead.

"Excuse me, Princess. I must return to my duties," she said quietly, before turning on her heel and briskly walking away.

"Hello Miss Michelle," Lucy heard Loke greet the girl as she brushed past him on the wooden stairs leading up to the balcony. "Thank you for the wine!"

The princess heard a muted reply before she rested her head in her hands. Her mask had already begun to crumble, but thankfully the warm comforting hand of her faithful knight and friend kept it from shattering to pieces entirely.

"Perhaps some fresh air would do milady some good," Loke suggested quietly.

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The cool night air was indeed just what Lucy needed to straighten and steel her spine. The massive braziers that dotted the castle wall provided enough warmth to allow a prolonged stay underneath the starry sky.

"They're shining brightly tonight," Loke commented, offering his princess the coat of his court uniform. She took it gladly and wrapped it around her shoulders before resuming her admiration of the night sky.

"Indeed, they are. Perhaps the Zodiacs are in high spirits tonight," Lucy said with a slight smile.

Her mother used to tell her stories about the twelve heavenly bodies that filled the sky. Tonight, it seemed Leo burned the brightest.

"It would seem so," Loke said with a laugh. "Leo seems to be in especially high spirits, though Cancer seems to be trying to outshine him."

The princess glanced at her knight curiously, "I had no idea you had an interest in the twelve zodiacs, Loke."

He chuckled again and shrugged, "I don't mean to brag milady, but my knowledge in their regard is actually quite vast. I… would often gaze upon them and share and compare stories with our beloved queen."

"Ah… did you now…?" Lucy asked quietly. She had returned her gaze to the stars, the ache of her mother's loss hitting her as if though she had only just passed.

"Yes. She… was a brilliant woman, your mother, the queen. While her familiarity of the Celestial Spirits was great, there was still much she had to learn. And I was very much inclined to help her know information she may have lacked."

"Celestial Spirits?"

"Yes, Princess." Loke edged forward beside Lucy and leaned his elbows atop the castle wall as he stared at the sky almost… longingly. The look in his darkened hazel eyes was most peculiar and Lucy could only guess at what the man was thinking.

"It is said that centuries ago, the zodiacs were once actual human beings, living on the mortal plane. Gods among people, each possessing abilities far greater than what the average human mind can comprehend. Rational human mind, I should add," Loke said with another chuckle. Mystified, Lucy stepped closer to her knight and allowed herself to be swallowing up in his story.

"Aries, the ram; Taurus, the bull; The twins, Gemini; Cancer, the crab; Leo, the lion; Virgo, the maiden; Libra of the heavenly scales; Scorpio, the scorpion; Sagittarius, the archer; Capricorn, the goat; Aquarius, the water bearer; and Pisces, the paired fish. Each of them possessed their own unique power that set them apart from one another."

"What do you mean? What kind of power?"

Loke shot a grin at his princess before replying, "Magic."

She snorted and shook her head, rolling her eyes playfully and resuming her observations of the sky.

"Magic. Of course. Do try to be a bit more creative, Loke."

"I'm offended you don't believe me, Princess! As humans, they were all chosen by a divine being known as the Celestial Spirit King, who bestowed upon them a very special type of magic. Before this, however, they were to vow to protect Earth Land from the great evil that had invaded it, including the evil in their own hearts. Only then were they gifted their powers."

"A contract, then?"

"Exactly, Princess. After they were gifted their powers, the Celestial Spirit King allowed them to create the twelve heavenly bodies you see above you, each to their own preference. He, in turn, also made a vow, stating that when their time serving the mortal plane was up, their spirits would ascend to the heavens to rest in eternal peace within the Celestial Spirit Realm, with their homes inside of the very constellations they created.

"'Celestial Spirits'," the princess echoed the captain's previous words with a smile. "I see. What happened to them?"

Loke frowned and his gaze hardened as he continued staring up at the sky.

"Something that they certainly did not expect."

"What do you mean?"

"The Twelve were led by Leo the Lion, the bravest, fiercest and most powerful of the Zodiacs, with pride being his only weakness. This pride proved to be… well. A downfall of sorts for the Twelve. You see, there was another being who had been gifted the power of the Celestials, a being that had originally been a part of the Twelve. His name was Ophiuchus, the serpent… otherwise known as the thirteenth zodiac."

The princess inhaled a sharp breath and leaned forward in curiosity, "A thirteenth zodiac? Mother never spoke of such a heavenly body."

Loke nodded and continued.

"Leo and Ophiuchus were… very close. Like brothers, even. He is rarely spoken of, due to his terrible treachery. Ophiuchus's power rivaled that of Leo: where Leo wielded the power of light, Ophiuchus wielded the power of darkness. Leo thought he could curb The Serpent's evil ambition, but his pride and kinship with Ophiuchus ultimately clouded his judgement. Leo thought his light would be enough to keep his dearest friend's heart free of darkness… but it was not. He could not see how far Ophiuchus's lust for power truly extended. He desired ultimate control of the stars, and to do this, he would have to steal the power of the Celestial Spirit King for himself. So, in this blind ambition of his, he convinced thousands of innocents to sacrifice their spirits in the name of summoning the Spirit King and robbing him of his awesome power.

"When The Serpent finally managed to summon the King, a great battle ensued. In the end, Leo and Ophiuchus were forced to fight, no matter how much pain it caused the other. Leo desired Ophiuchus to convert back to the light, while Ophiuchus desired Leo to convert to the darkness. It was a long and brutal battle: more innocent people than the population of two Fiore's combined ended up being caught in the crossfire. Leo managed to take back the power of the King and return it to him, but he was left weakened after his battle with Ophiuchus. At this point, the King himself was forced to step into the battle and use his great magic to put an end to The Serpent once and for all… but at a terrible price.

"Since Ophiuchus had broken his magical contract with the Celestial Spirit King, he was forced to endure its consequences. It decreed that he would be doomed to live eternal among the darkest parts of the heavens, serving anyone who may call upon him in their time of need… or not. After that, Ophiuchus was never heard from again. Eventually, the fates of the Twelve had to be decided as well. The survivors of that terrible war now feared the people they had once called heroes, and demanded that the Celestial Spirit King strip them of their powers and rank, or worse… sentence them to death.

"The Spirit King reasoned with the people and convinced them that the Twelve had no involvement in The Serpent's plans, but nonetheless agreed to the demands that they undergo a similar fate as their former comrade. They were to ascend to the heavens where they would live eternal, and keep their rank and title… but they would be forced to serve those who called upon them, no matter what the issue at hand may be, just as they had done in their human lives. Now… it is said that each of the Twelve's homes in the Celestial Spirit Realm – the constellations, you see– were linked to the mortal plane by a special gate. It allowed them to pass between either realm of existence. Each gate was locked, however, and only a special golden key known as a Gate Key would unlock it, allowing the passage of the summoned Zodiac Spirit to come forth. They say that there are other keys, but the Golden Gate Keys are the only ones that can call the powerful Zodiacs. In order to call any of these Spirits though, one must form a contract with them… a binding contract that is absolute and cannot be broken. There are the Twelve Zodiac keys of the Golden Heroes… and some say there is a thirteenth, a dark key filled with malice and hatred that opens the gate to Ophiuchus. Those that wield it are said to be cursed, and forever tainted with evil. It's only a myth, but one cannot be certain it isn't true."

Lucy felt herself blink a few times before she regained herself and noticed her surroundings once more. She had been completely engrossed in Loke's story, forgetting that she was in Mercurius… forgetting her worries and troubles… forgetting that she was a princess. She briefly recalled her mother regaling her with such a story when Lucy was a mere child, but she hadn't remembered all the details. She could feel herself smiling fondly now and her heart swelled with deep affection. Loke always knew exactly what to do or say to make her forget about anything and everything, and she admired and respected him for that. She admired his loyalty and his fierce desire to protect her, even from herself, and she respected the fact that even as a member of the royal court, Loke wasn't afraid to be himself and almost treat her as if though they were equals.

He meant so much to her, and yet she rarely let her sentiments for him be voiced aloud. That needed to be remedied.

"Loke… thank you for that story. Thank you for everything. You have always been there for me, even when I can be most unpleasant at times. I-… I am deeply grateful that I have you as a friend. You, Michelle, Ainslee, Alice, Veronica, Ana, Barlow, Lareng… everyone. I love you all so very much. I just… feel so overwhelmed…" Lucy trailed off, tears stinging her eyes once again. This time, one managed to slide down her cheek, but Loke caught it with the tip of his finger.

The princess glanced up in surprise and was met with bright hazel eyes that were filled with nothing but tenderness and understanding.

"Princess… you have nothing to thank me for. I will always be here for you, as is my duty as your knight… and your friend. I promise, I will never leave your side. I swear it."

With this declaration, Loke gently tugged Lucy toward him and enveloped her in a tight hug, ignoring her weak protest. He was warm, and the comfort he brought with his embrace made the tears Lucy had been holding back start to freely fall. It had been so long since she had been held by anyone… not since-…

No. She would not think about that in this moment. She allowed herself to succumb to her childish desire of being soothed and reassured, and returned Loke's hug just as fiercely. She clung to him tightly and ignored her sense of propriety. It was just them, two friends who held each other mutual affection.

All good things had to come to and end though.

Loke suddenly stiffened before he quickly jerked away from Lucy and turned toward the door leading inside. Lucy turned her clouded gaze toward whatever had alarmed Loke, and froze in paralyzing fear that seized her breath and robbed her of her ability to form a sentence.

There, standing in the doorway with a look of betrayal and absolute demented fury, was the King of Fiore. His pale lips trembled as he tried to speak… and when he finally managed, Lucy felt her entire body go cold.

"There will be blood for this."

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YAAAASSSSS! I loved how that chapter turned out. Believe it or not, I didn't actually spend a lot of time cranking this puppy out. I think I spent more time editing it than actually writing it lol... Anyway, as always, let me know what you guys think! Leave me a review, PM me... you guys know ;) Thank you all for being such awesome and fantastic readers. I know I've always said it, but your feedback means the world to me. Third chapter is already almost finished, but I probably won't post it for another two weeks or so. Don't hate me! xD Love you guys the most, and I shall see you all soon. Cheers Duckies!