Platinum Keys (New Version)
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Before I begin let me start by saying first that I didnât like the original version of this story so I today just restarted it. Â
Synopsis:Â Lucy was tired of feeling weak. She goes to a symposium with Yukino where she learns of Platinum Keys. What exactly were they? Both mages aim to find out what they are and possibly obtain them. Rated T for Teen because there may be some language. This will have some NaLu but it really is mostly an adventure story. Some Chinese Mythology involved. Many characters involved! After GMG (sound interesting? Â then keep reading!)
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                   Chapter 1 â The Article
   Lucy was always a positive thinker.  No one would ever question that.  But when she compared herself to the other members of the guild she couldnât help but feel she fell a tad short in the magical department comparatively.  She especially couldnât help but feel a tad pessimistic when she compared herself to the other members of Team Natsu.  She had to visually compare her magic to theirs on nearly a day to day basis. Â
   This onslaught of mild depression is probably the reason the article she read in Sorcererâs Weekly called to her so much.  It was about Celestial Magic specifically so of course she grew interested.
                   Celestial Spirit Symposium
   Is Celestial Spirit Magic a dying holder magic?  This question has popped up several times over the past few months.  It wasnât that long ago that several churches were infiltrated and the protected Celestial Mages that resided there were found dead.  It is rumored that the reason for the deaths was to break some kind of seal on a magical item.  So now months after this seal was supposedly broken and tragedy struck those mages in question how many Celestial Spirit Mages are left in Fiore?  (Please see the notation at the bottom that mentions articles about specific Celestial Spirit Mages.)
   Itâs been rumored that the Magic Council has had several meetings to discuss the concerns about Celestial Spirit Magic possibly dying out. Unfortunately however there is no actual verifiable fact to back up these rumors.
   This reporter wonât stop at finding out the truth.  A notification was found a few days ago in the mail about a Symposium that will be held for Celestial Key Merchants and Celestial Mages. Â
   The notification wasnât very detailed but what this reporter was able to glean from it will be shared now.  The symposium will have a panel for research and discussion about the magic itself.  They will be attempting to answer the questions about the magic that many people have been worrying over for months.
   Researcher Syneviar Ixarium will be in attendance as a guest speaker.
   There was a few more paragraphs of the article but truthfully to Lucy the rest was a blur. If Syneviar Ixarium would be attendance then Lucy was determined to show up herself.  He was a famous historian who had written numerous magic history tomes.  Lucy happened to know for a fact Levy had copies of nearly every one. Â
   The unfortunate part about the trip was that she had to shell out ten thousand jewel just for the ticket to be able to attend.  That price regrettably didnât include the price of her train ticket to get to Clover Town, which was where the symposium was to be held.  Nor, did the price include the jewel she would have to shell out for room and board.  This research trip was definitely going to do a number to her money pouch. She would have to take  several jobs afterwards to make up for what she spent.  Perhaps, she should do some solo jobs so she wouldnât have to worry about the destruction that her best friend, Natsu, constantly left behind.
   Natsu had voiced that he didnât like that she was going to take a trip so far on her own.  She was quick to reassure him.  Because, luckily she wouldnât be attending the symposium alone as Yukino also felt a desire to attend. Â
   The two mages had noticed the article at roughly the same time.  In fact, the minute they each had finished the article they both tried to reach each other through their telecommunication lacrimas.  Both grew flustered when they couldnât get through due to the line being busy. Luckily, Yukino was a touch more patient then Lucy, who had thrown her lacrima on her bed in frustration.  When it went off only a couple minutes later she quickly grabbed it.  The girls had gabbed in excitement over the trip.  They both agreed it would be sensible to attend the symposium.  Their conversation lasted well into the night punctuated with shrills of excitement.  But mostly the two were discussing their planned schedules.
   So now she was waiting for Yukinoâs arrival to Fairy Tail.  Lucy invited Yukino to stay the night at her apartment and then they would catch the train early in the morning together.
   âHey Luce, did you want to grab a job?â  Her best friend made her jump when he came up behind her.  His fangs were wrapped around a fire turkey thigh so it was a wonder she was able to understand him at all.  His garbled phrasing had come out more like, âa woos, id oo wa oo gwab uh owb.â Â
   Lucy half scowled at Natsu.  She was dually irritated with him, first for his manners and secondly she had told him already about her plans couldnât he have the decency to remember.  But this was Natsu and she quickly forgave his short comings simply because his mind definitely worked differently then most.  âNatsu, could you please remember to chew your food before talking?â
   He swallowed a bite, wiped his chin with his bare hand, then grinned widely at Lucy.  âSorry, âbout that.  So, do want to grab a job? The rest of the team is busy but I figured maybe we could go on one just the two of us.â
   Lucy grew curious on where Happy would be but shrugged it off.  She wouldnât be able to go on the job anyways so the location of the exceed hardly mattered.  âNatsu, tomorrow is the symposium I told you about.  I canât just take off on a job right now.  I just donât have that kind of time.â
   âOh, shoot, I forgot.  Wait, how long are you gonna be gone again?â
   âIt lasts through the weekend.  Iâll be back on Monday.â  She paused for a second before continuing.  âOh, and you better not make a mess of my apartment while Iâm gone.  I give up on telling you not to invade my personal space but I do ask that you clean any messes you make!â
   Natsu felt a curious thump in his chest at her thoughtfulness.  But when he went to touch his chest and listen more closely things seemed perfectly normal.  So he just shrugged it off and smirked at Lucy. He didnât bother voicing how he wouldnât make any promises if her apartment was completely thrashed when she wasnât in attendance.
   Lucy arched an eyebrow at his smirk, and was about to ask what he was plotting when the guild doors were thrust open.  She hopped off her bar stool as a bout excitement coursed through her veins.  She smiled at Yukino, and the two celestial mages hugged each other in greeting.
   Once the two were done embracing Natsu slung his arm across Lucyâs shoulders.  âYour train leaves tomorrow, right Luce?  So what are your plans for tonight?â Â
   Lucy physically pulled out of his half embrace.  She escorted Yukino back to the bar where she had left her purse.  âBoy you sure seem to be a nosy one today.  Not that it is any of your business, Natsu.  But Yukino is going to be sleeping over at my place so we can catch the train in the morning.  We donât really plan on doing much of anything other then relaxing and getting a good nightâs sleep.â
   âAw, thatâs no fun.  You should totally have a sleepover!  You should invite a bunch of us girls!â  Mirajane interrupted.  It was obvious to Lucy that the barmaid had been eavesdropping on the conversation. She didnât really mind it though seeing as she wasnât discussing some epic secret. Â
   âMira, while I am not against the idea of a sleepover in general.  Tonight just isnât the night for it.  Our train leaves at six in the morning.â
   âWow! Forget I asked.  I didnât even realize trains disembarked from the station that early in the morning.â
   âIâm surprised the two of you didnât get a train ride for tonight instead of tomorrow.â
   âNatsu, I donât have the jewel for that.  The ticket for the symposium was not cheap.â
   Natsu nearly interjected that if she didnât spend so much jewel on her collection of fancy frilly panties that she wouldnât have any issue affording her rent.  But he stopped himself before uttering the words.  He really wasnât in the mood to be Lucy kicked right now.  He actually surprised himself that he was able to think before reacting.
   âHonestly, Iâm not surprised the tickets cost so much.  I think the person putting this together worried that not many from Fiore would attend.â Yukino stated pragmatically. Â
   âDo you think itâs possible that mages from the other countries of Earthland could attend?â  Lucy asked curiously.
   âHonestly, I kind of hope so.  I mean right now I only definitely know of three Celestial Spirit Mages currently living.â  Yukino replied.
   âOh, who are they?â  SoâŠapparently his stopping to think before reacting was only a passing phase. Â
   âUm, Yukino, Princess Hisui, and I would be the three Celestial Spirit Mages.  I would also list Angel among us but she isnât exactly a Celestial Spirit Mage anymore.â  Once she thought of Angel though she momentarily had grown worried of possibly seeing the former member of the Oracion Seis, but the likelihood that she might show up seemed slim to none.
   âOh, oh yeah.â
   Yukino arched an eyebrow at Natsuâs mental lapse.  âHonestly, I have been curious to know of the possibility of other keys in existence. Wouldnât it be interesting to learn that there were keys out there that the people of Fiore werenât aware of just because they lay past our countriesâ borders?â
   âI have to say that thought never even occurred to me.  Perhaps that will be one of the things a panel member brings up at the symposium.â
   âWouldnât that grandpa spirit of yours already know if there were more keys out there?â
   âI never considered that honestly.  Letâs find out.â  Lucy took a moment to register mentally that Natsu had came up with a rather clever idea.  Then she grabbed her keys from her pouch and went through the motions of summoning Crux.  âOpen gate of the southern cross!â
   The elder spirit appeared before them seated in the air with his knees bent, and his ankles crossed one over the other.  âBefore you ask, Miss Lucy,  the spirit world has been alerted about the symposium. I, personally, have stayed in tune to this whole conversation from my side of the gate.  I do not have any such info in my database about keys that exist outside of the silver and gold keys that we are already aware of.  But I will keep you apprised of any new info I may discover.â Â
   âWow, thatâs the most I have ever hear the old geezer talk!â
   Definitely a true statement of fact but just before Natsu finished his statement the spirit had promptly fell asleep.  Lucy shrugged her shoulders indifferently and closed the gate.
   Lucy was nearly bowled over by a pint sized blur of blue.  âOh my gosh, Lu, is it true?â
   Lucy looked downward to confirm that it was indeed her female best friend, Levy, that nearly knocked her over.  âIs what true, Levy?â
   âYou are going to be meeting Syneviar Ixarium this weekend?â Levyâs hazel eyes seemed to dance with fandom.
   âOh, yeah.  I donât know why I didnât think to invite you to this symposium.  I guess I got blindsided by the fact that it was specifically about Celestial Magic.â
   âOh, no Lu donât worry about that.  I have a big job Iâm going on this weekend anyways.  But I was curious if you could do be a favor?â
   âSure, what is it?â
   Levy held out a book that looked like it was heavier then her.  âCould you get him to sign this rare first edition copy of Magical Earthland Beastiary?â
   âUm, sure Iâll try.â When Levy handed Lucy the book Lucy nearly fell over from the dispersal of weight that was transferred to her hands.  âGeez, Levy, how do you even lift this book?â
   The petite girl shrugged her shoulders.  âSome people lift weights to work out.  I lift magical history books and tomes.â
   The rest of the afternoon passed along without much incident.  Gray wasnât around so Natsu wasnât fighting him.  He did try to pick fights with some of the others but they werenât quite as easily riled up as Gray would have been. Â
   Once suppertime hit the two Celestial Spirit Mages ordered something from Mirajane and sat at a nearby table.  The two talked mildly over what they expected the weekend might bring.  They discussed what silver keys they hoped to see there and possibly obtain.  They speculated over who else might be on the panel for information.  But both soon realized that they werenât learning anything new from one another. If anything they were making themselves more anxious for it to be tomorrow already.  So the two girls decided it was time to call it a night and headed back to Lucyâs apartment on Strawberry Street to attempt to calm down, watch a movie or two, and then turn in for the night so they could wake up bright eyed and bushy-tailed the following day.
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Would you like to read more? Â The other chapters will be posted here.
I also have signed up for a wattpad account. Â So if you prefer wattpad to fanfiction.net you can also read this story here. Â https://www.wattpad.com/story/82848425-platinum-keys












