Gray watched the night sky, his hope fading for every star that got dimmer.
Three months ago, something had started to happen to the stars. Theyâd lost their radiance, a brightness everyone had taken for granted until itâd started fading. A lot of the minor constellations had disappeared overnight. It wasnât a change that had been noticed by many. Really, the world had gone on, unaware of what was transpiring around them.
Sure, the crops were lower and the night darker, but what country didnât have a hard season now and then?
Princess Hisui E. Fiore had been the first to succumb in their country. Later, they would find out other less powerful Celestial Mages from other countries had died as soon as the change happened, but Fiore mourned their princess and talked about her mysterious sickness. There had been no explanation, no preparation. One day, she had collapsed in the throne room and never woke up.
He had expected disbelief from Lucy. Heâd even expected denial, and surprised mourning. Instead, heâd gotten the mourning, but not the disbelief and surprise. Sheâd known what was going to happen, and so had Yukino if the rumors were to be believed that Sting had destroyed his Guild Hall in a fit of rage the morning the news broke.
It turned out the three Celestial Mages had known something was wrong with the stars. They were directly connected to the Celestial Spirit World after all. He hadnât noticed that Lucy had been down, and silent. He should have. She was the love of his life. He should have realized she had been declining to go on any missions that would require her to fight. He couldnât even remember the last time he had seen Loke come out of his gate. Plue, who had been a regular fixture in the guild, had disappeared altogether. His key was no longer on her key ring. He still remembered the day that had to have been the day heâd disappeared. Lucy had locked herself in her apartment, admitting no one entrance.
Lucy had gotten the guild together once news of Hisuiâs death had hit them. Sheâd explained how something, no one could figure out what, had infected the Celestial Spirit Word. The Spirits were disappearing, their constellations fading from the sky. As they disappeared, their key did as well, never to be seen again. The Celestial Spirit King had confirmed that he could no longer feel those that had vanished, and those left were getting weaker as the days passed.
Gray had learned something that day, the whole guild had. Celestial Mages had the power they had, because they were connected to the stars. It had been a well kept secret, the inherited trait that ran through their blood. No one needed to ask the obvious. If the starâs were disappearing, then anything connected to them would vanish as well. Hisuiâs death was no longer a mystery.
Theyâd learned about lesser Celestial Mages dying as soon as the Celestial Spirit World had been infected. Hisui, while not exceptionally powerful at summoning, had been powerful in her ability to create Celestial Weapons. Lucy and Yukino were both gold key holders, they had power. They had lasted longer, because of that power.
Well, Gray couldnât say that anymore. Yukino had been in a coma for two weeks now, her golf keys dull. Lucy was sure they would disappear any day now, and when they did, she was sure they would lose Yukino. Lucy herself was not faring much better. Theyâd moved her to the Guildâs infirmary, where she could be with her family. She could join them for a couple hours before getting tired, but that was about it. That was all the Guild had with her a day, a couple hours.
Sheâd lost Aries, Taurus, Sagittarius, Gemini, and Scorpio. With each key that had vanished, Lucy got weaker. She still had Loke, Aquarius, Virgo, Capricorn, and Cancer, but it was all a matter of time. Only Lokeâs and Aquariusâ keys had any shine left to them at all. Master estimated the way things were going, Lucy had months.
He only had a couple months left with her.
Every time Gray thought about it, he wanted to hit something. It wasnât fair. Lucy was the brightest person heâd ever met. She, of all people, with her kindness and compassion, deserved a happy life.
Heâd planned to have that happy life with her.
Now, he had to watch as she grew weaker. He had to watch her be strong for their already mourning guild members. He had to watch her accept her fate, even if he wanted to keep looking for a way to save her. His heart wanted to believe there was a way, there was always a way, but even the Celestial Spirit King was losing his power. He would be the last to fade. How long that would take? No one knew, because he had no physical key. Lucy had told him that as far as the rest of the word would know, once Lokeâs constellation vanished, that was the end. No stars would ever light up the sky again. Celestial Mages would be extinct. Her magic would be lost entirely.
Gray turned from the window, observing Lucy as she slept. She could no longer sleep without being propped up. Lying flat now caused her breathing problems. More often than not, Gray would let her sleep on him. It brought comfort to them both. Even in the darkest of times, holding Lucy in his arms always drove away the bad.
Suddenly, Lucy woke and sat up, touching a hand to her key ring. Sighing, she closed her eyes. âYukinoâs gone, and so are her keys.â
Libra and Pisces. Ophiuchus had been lost when Yukino had first gone into a coma.
They were silent when Mira walked in, tears in her eyes. âLucyâŠYukinoâŠâ
âI already know,â Lucy spoke quietly. âLoke just told me.â
âHowâs Sting,â Gray asked.
âHeâs locked himself in the infirmary. Rogueâs keeping everyone away.â
Gray said nothing as Lucy looked down at her hands, and Mira at him. He knew that even though his family was grieving, they were worried about him. He didnât try to tell them he was fine. He wasnât. Lucy was dying, and a big part of him was dying with her. He could feel it.
After making sure Lucy didnât need anything, Mira left. Lucy opened her arms, and Gray wasted no time in pulling her to him. He breathed in the strawberry scent that still clung to her, even now. Not for the first time, Gray was glad he wasnât a Dragon Slayer. Natsu couldnât come near her without breaking out in tears. She just smelled too much like death for him.
âHave they found anything new?â Grayâs question was one he asked every day.
Lucy knew they were the remaining Zodiac and the Celestial Spirit King, the only Celestial Spirits left. Her answer was the same. âThereâs nothing left to find.â
He tried to hold back the tears, they always made her feel guilty, but he couldnât. With Yukino gone, Lucy was the last Celestial Mage. She was next.
His tears hit her shoulder. Lucy held him tighter. âIâm sorry.â
Gray shook his head, his voice rough. âDonât. None of this is your fault.â
âStill,â Lucy insisted. âYouâre suffering. When was the last time you went on a mission?â
Grayâs voice tightened. âIâm not going on any missions. None of that matterâs right now.â
Lucyâs voice was small. âI hate seeing you like this.â
Gray smiled a little, pulling back so she could see it. âI guess weâre on the same thought train. I donât like seeing you like this either.â
Lucy brought up a hand to cup his cheek. âItâll get better you know. Once Iâm gone. The grief wonât last forever.â
The acceptance in her voice killed him. He shook his head. âNo, Lucy, it wonât. Iâll mourn you for the rest of my life. Youâre my happily ever after.â
The truth of his words opened the flood that Lucy had held at bay. âYou were my happily ever after, too.â
