Chapter Text
Year X763
The sea spray flung briny droplets against the man clinging tightly to the stone cliff-face that was turned treacherously slick by algae and moss that accumulated on its surface. His knuckles were bone-white from his grip, fingers numb from his ascension thus far. Arms trembling from a mixture of exertion and the cold that came with the frigid oceanic waters soaking through one’s clothing. Still, he climbed on with his jaw clenched in determination as his fingers found purchase on another handhold, and he continued to slowly pull himself up. His only companionship was the sounds of the Cloud Sea churning below him, his own breathing that trembled as he climbed, and the soft, bell-like chiming noises emitting from a keyring on his belt.
“We’re… almost there,” The man spoke through panting breaths “Just a… bit more-!” His words were cut off with a cry of pain when one hand lost its precarious grip on its handhold— slipping and slicing his palm open on a jagged part of the cliff-face. He swore loudly over the sound of crashing waves, momentarily curling his injured hand in a fist before forcing himself to place it on a new handhold to steady himself.
The moment he had cut himself, the chiming had risen to a shrill, alarm-like ringing. Had he a free hand, he would have brushed it against his keys to soothe them, but since it was impossible, he had to resort to other methods. After several moments of projected calm thoughts and soothing words muttered, the ringing settled down to a concerned humming. “Alright…” The end of his climb was in sight, the black stone of the cliff ending abruptly into sky, and with it he found a new vigorous fire of hope light in his limbs, spurring him on.
At the top of the stone wall yawned the void-like jaws of an entrance to a cave. The man took a moment of repose, catching his breath as he looked into the darkness awaiting him. His uninjured hand found the keyring, fingers finding the ax-head shape on one key’s tip. He removed it from its companions— two Silver Gate Keys, revealing the one in his grasp to be an intricately designed Golden Gate Key. It glowed now, shining with a soft golden light to illuminate the man’s weary face, its shape reflecting in his tired brown eyes as he held it aloft like a torch in front of him. His free hand felt the cave wall, using it and the pull of magic coming from within the cave itself to guide him into the darkness.
He quickly found his progress halted by a stone wall marking the end of the cavern, yet the beacon of magic energy he was chasing pulsed almost tauntingly from behind it. The man exhaled a sigh and took a step back. “Of course it wouldn’t be so easy,” he commented with resignation, pointing his Golden Key towards the wall before intoning: “Open, Gate of the Golden Bull: Taurus !”
A two-toned bell chime answered his summons— the key’s golden hue flaring bright as a summoning circle flashed into existence. The earth around him began to quake moments before the goliath form of Taurus erupted from below. Bovine in appearance, the Celestial Spirit towered over his wielder— even the battle ax strapped to his back dwarfed the man in size.
“Yooou called, Marcus?” Taurus asked, hunched over in order for his head to not scrape against the cave ceiling.
The man, Marcus, nodded, “I need you to knock this wall down- or at least a hole in it for me to climb through.” He explained, watching the Spirit approach the wall and place one massive hand flat against it, “Can you feel it too? The power? The pull?” His words were reverent, filled with awe at the sensation of powerful old magic in the air.
The Golden Bull answered quietly, his tail tip curling as he spoke “I do. How could I possibly not?” His hand dropped from the wall slowly, as if reluctant to relinquish the sensation of magic pulsing like a heartbeat under his palm.
“This is the place. There’s no doubt about it.” Marcus agreed. It had been a long seven years full of dead ends, chasing ghosts, and questioning himself. Now, beyond this wall, lay a discovery lost to time.
He shared a nod with Taurus, who took a step back and drew his ax. “You may want to mooove back.” The bovine warned, waiting for his holder to obey before winding back and slamming his weapon against the stone wall with a lowing bellow. The impact resounded throughout the cave, deep cracks erupting through the stone. It only took a powerful kick from the Celestial Spirit to send the damaged wall crumbling away to form an entrance large enough for the man to easily walk through.
As the dust cleared, a passage was revealed. It was significantly narrow— to the extent that the Golden Bull eyed it with discomfort, but lit by small, luminescent crystals that jutted from the walls. With an acknowledging nod to his Spirit’s predicament, Marcus let the Zodiac vanish in a shower of golden light as he entered the tunnel.
The passage was winding, twisting and turning on a gradual downwards slope. The air, rather than damp and musty, was alive with ethernano so thick it was nearly overwhelming- speaking to its source’s tremendous power. At the path’s end opened up a cavernous space that seemed improbable. The ceiling and walls glimmered and shone in thousands of crystalline constellations, all their light refracting onto a large central crystal that appeared to have sprouted from the ground itself.
“It’s real…” The man whispered in awe, approaching the crystal slowly, eyes wide in an attempt to drink in each facet of it. At the center of the crystal protruded the handle of a key in an upside down u-shape of a horseshoe. In the middle, upon closer inspection, Marcus could see the glimmering dots of a constellation’s stars within the clear blue material so similar to the crystal that contained its blade.
When his hand closed around the key’s handle, he found himself half-expecting a jolt, or a sudden surge of power to erupt from the object- and was almost disappointed when no such thing happened. Nothing continued to happen even as the Gate Key was broken free of its imprisonment. It was only when he held it in front of himself and uttered the sacred summons that marked the contracting of a new Spirit did something happen.
“I am linked to the path of Spirits! O’ Spirit, hear my call and pass through the gate!”
Power surged up from within the man, magic flowing through his body and into the Gate Key. It flared with light in response, as if lit from within. An equine shriek answered him as a blue summoning circle the same color as the Gate Key appeared at the tip. Two front hooves burst from the circle, followed by a head and the rest of the Celestial Spirit— who took the appearance of a bay mare.
Marcus looked into the Spirit’s eyes— two black voids that seemed to be lit from within by the twinkling of millions of constellations, and containing more wisdom that he could ever hope to have. She wasn’t very tall, especially compared to him, her withers coming up to just below his shoulders. It allowed Equuleus, the Little Horse, to look him directly in the eye and him to look back. For a long moment that seemed to last a lifetime they simply stared into each others eyes, studying the other.
Equuleus was the one to move first, her neck slowly lowering and her head reaching forward towards his chest. She didn’t speak, but instead quietly nickered- like a greeting. He let the Spirit continue stretching towards him, and she stopped once her nose lightly brushed against his still-drenched cloak.
“Hello to you too, Equuleus,” Marcus murmured, once more expecting some strange phenomenon to occur, only to be disappointed when it didn’t.
She drew her head back with a snort, ears flicking back as if surprised or offended. The man worried he had done something wrong— until Equuleus tossed her head and turned her neck to look towards her back. To the Celestial Wizard’s amazement, he watched a saddle materialize onto the mare’s back, and his eyes widened in surprise when she nickered again, head turning towards him again with an expectant air to her.
“You… want me to ride on your back?” He found himself at a loss for words, only furthered when the Celestial Spirit responded with an eager whinny. “I don’t know about that… We’re kinda below the ocean right now— OW!” His attempt at voicing his concerns was sharply rebutted by Equuleus’ teeth snapping at his stomach. Marcus doubled over in surprise and momentary pain, looking up at the Spirit. “What was that for?!” He exclaimed, arms folding over the wounded area. The Celestial mare dragged a hoof through the dirt impatiently, before lowering herself to a lying position and grabbing the edge of his cloak insistently with her teeth again, tugging Marcus towards her side.
At least Taurus seemed amused, judging by the emotions his Key was sending Marcus’ way.
“Alright, alright, I’ll get on!” The man relented, dreading another nip as he climbed into the saddle. She stood up with a shake of her mane. The stirrups were too long— until they shortened of their own accord to the perfect length for Equuleus’ rider. “What are you going to do about that tunnel?” He asked as the Celestial mare began walking unprompted.
The answer, it turned out, was to force Marcus to either duck or bang his head on the roof of the tunnel. She didn’t slow or halt as they re-entered the main cave, making a straight path for its mouth.
Her rider pulled hard on the reins, begging her to “Wait! Ho! Stop!” as she drew closer still to the edge of the cave. Only when the mare was mere steps from the cliff-edge did she halt, tossing her head high in the air with a snort, ears pinned back. The Spirit’s neck twisted to the side, head turning to regard him with a single dark eye.
Hot embarrassment heated the Celestial Wizard’s ears at the almost chiding shriek aimed at him. That embarrassment abruptly shifted to panic when the reins in his hands and the bridle on her head vanished in the gold flash of requip magic.
“Hang on— w-what are you doing?” Apprehension sunk in Marcus’ stomach like a stone, both hands quickly grabbing onto the horn of the saddle with white-knuckled trepidation. Equuleus nickered under him, the vibrations buzzing up his legs wrapped around her sides.
Taurus chimed curiously, but his Keyholder was unable to answer as the equine Spirit suddenly lurched forward— eliciting a scream of fear from him. The Celestial Wizard screwed his eyes shut, dreading the sensation of freefall that would happen any second. The Golden Bull was more urgent now, his own anxieties expressed in the shrill ringing his Key emitted.
It was a playful-sounding nicker that brought awareness that there was no freefall. Equuleus’ body was shifting and rocking in a canter as though all four hooves were on solid ground. Marcus could feel it, the sensation of her movements under him. He heard the sound of hooves striking stone— but that couldn’t be possible if she had gone over the cliff’s edge.
Another nicker prompted the man to peek, heart in his throat, at his surroundings. The first thing he saw was the churning white waves of the Cloud Sea, and yelped in terror with his eyes squeezing tight again. Yet the steady gait of Equuleus overrode the fear with the question of why it felt like they were still traveling on land. Against his better judgment, he peeked again, this time looking down at the same black cliff-face he had climbed up. A flash of hoof and the black foreleg of the bay mare left him speechless at the realization that they was cantering down the side of the cliff completely vertically.
His speech returned in a feeble warning, voice constrained by dread as the crashing waves grew closer with each second. Rather than heed him, it seemed, the Celestial mare sped up. Her neck lowered with a loud shriek that seemed to reverberate up her rider’s spine. Equuleus showed no sign of slowing as she galloped towards the Cloud Sea.
Marcus shut his eyes again, bracing for the inevitable, when he felt Equuleus’ muscles coil like a spring before releasing in a powerful leap. Water did not consume them. Rather, the mare continued to gallop as if nothing had happened.
When he opened his eyes for a third time, his mouth gaped in amazement as the Little Horse ran on top of the waves as if they were solid ground. Rather than hoof on stone, the sounds were of them striking water, like walking through a puddle.
The man let out a breathless laugh, slumping in the saddle in his relief. Equuleus shrieked her elation, and after a moment, he echoed it with his own jubilant yell as they galloped across the waters.
It was only when the horizon revealed land that Marcus’ joy faded as realized he had forgotten something while caught in the giddiness of riding on the Cloud Sea.
“I left the boat docked at the island!”
Equuleus’ answering shriek sounded an awful lot like laughter.
The bustling streets of Hargeon flowed with foot traffic. Among them danced a blonde teen wearing a graphic tee, ducking and weaving around people with a peculiar grace to her movements. Around her neck she wore a golden chain, the fact that there were three golden keys on the end of it was hidden by the shirt’s neckline. The keys hummed amidst the ambient noise of the street, communicating in a language only the teen could hear.
“We’re right by the sea! It’s been a while since you’ve come here, Layla. Much less brought me with you.” Huffed one key in faux derision.
“I know, I know,” Layla smiled, “I’m sorry that I can’t just move out and live right on the shore of the sea for you, Aquarius.” She teased aloud, and a light jolt of magic against her skin from the Key served as the equivalent of a friendly cuff over the head by the Water Bearer for her snark. “Ouch,” She feigned injury, a hand coming up to clutch at her keys through her shirt.
“Brat,” Aquarius hummed fondly, and the teen could feel her Spirit’s emotions coil around her; warm and protective.
It was when a similar magical signature brushed against the Celestial Spirit Wizard that the Zodiac Spirit’s presence turned into a surging hurricane— surrounding her holder’s mind and lashing out at the intruder.
The other two Spirits roused at the Water Bearer’s spike in emotion— inquisitive and alert, but not immediately joining her.
“Easy, easy!” Layla startled at Aquarius’ violent reaction, attempting to soothe the tempestuous Spirit- who growled and snapped at the retreating magical presence “We’re okay.”
“I don’t recognize that magic.” Observed one of her other Spirits, his mental presence steadfast and grounding compared to Aquarius’.
The blonde hummed thoughtfully, reaching out with her own senses. The magic of her own three stars burned bright, pulsing in response to their holder’s magic brushing against them. Further out, she could feel the sensation of other mages in the town, their magic foreign to her. Some perked up curiously under her, most simply ignored her. Her Spirits were anchors, keeping her from drifting too far in the vast sea of Ethernano, steady prescences as she continued to reach out.
Aha! Layla felt the same signature as before. It perked up at her touch, curious and excited as it reached out in return. Aquarius roared a threat, and the other’s magic pulsed in a battle-ready response. The Water Bearer didn’t balk, rather she grew more belligerent at her challenge being answered.
Stand down! The blonde told the Zodiac, who snorted before coiling around her mind protectively again.
The magic signature reached out again, and the teen met it. Hesitant at first, inquisitive and cautious as they made contact. It took a few moments for her to recognize what exactly she was interacting with: another Celestial Spirit Wizard. Layla could feel the pulse of their Spirits thrumming like a heartbeat in tandem with their Keyholder’s magic. Her own Spirits soon recognized it as well, joining her in circling the other Wizard’s signature. They were strong, with a deep magic reservoir speaking for their abilities.
Eventually the two retreated from one another. The entire interaction had only lasted several seconds— which was why Layla was surprised by a man’s voice calling out to her mere moments later.
“Excuse me, miss?” The inquiry was followed by a brush of Celestial Spirit magic against her own.
The blonde turned around to face a middle-aged man. He was on the shorter side, with shaggy black hair and brown eyes. Despite his height, he held himself up with a clear confidence. When Layla cast out her senses, her magic met his Keys, who each responded with an acknowledging pulse.
The man nodded wordlessly, clearly having felt the interaction.
“Would you like to take a walk with me?” Aquarius roused warningly, and the teen firmly pushed the Water Bearer’s presence back.
“I’d love to,” she agreed.
[]-[]-[]
“Aquarius,” Hummed a towering figure with a goat’s head “It is rude to storm off.” He said.
The mermaid scoffed, rolling her eyes. “So?” She challenged with a swish of her fish-like tail.
The other didn’t respond, simply standing and facing Aquarius— who scowled and crossed her arms before grumbling,
“You’re a pain in my ass.”
Capricorn huffed a noise of mild amusement, “The same could be said about you.” He responded.
“Shut up. You know I hate that cow.” Her words were punctuated with another lash of her tail.
“I am aware that you don’t get along.” The Sea Goat agreed. “However,” Aquarius groaned in annoyance, “That’s not an excuse to be so hostile towards Taurus.” The mermaid huffed.
“You saw who he was with.” She growled, fingers curling tighter around her crossed upper arms “You know what they’re for.”
Capricorn’s tail flicked through the air in thought, “I do,” He agreed after a moment “But this will not be Layla’s war.” He said assuredly.
Aquarius’ lip curled “We’re running out of time.” She growled in frustration.
The Sea Goat didn’t respond for a long time. He let out a long, pensive exhale, mouth set in a straight line.
“Then we would do well to make the most of it.” Capricorn said solemnly.
[]-[]-[]
Layla’s eyes went wide at the key Marcus held in his hand.
“I’ve never seen something like this before.” She murmured, hesitantly reaching a hand out. The key was placed into her palm, and she could feel the buzzing of immense magical power from within the Gate Key. “You said there’s… more of them?”
On the other side of the booth in a cafe, Marcus nodded. “There’s believed to be seven; they were sealed away many centuries ago by a Celestial Wizard who hoped they would prevent the end of days by doing so.” He said.
Layla frowned. “The end of days?” She questioned.
“It was said that the seven Crystal Spirits exist to fight a great evil that will come upon our world one day. The Wizard believed that if the keys were not united, the evil they are meant to combat will never come.” Marcus sighed before continuing, “I don’t know what this great evil is yet, but I’m trying to find out.”
The teen felt the warm metal of her Gate Keys against her chest, and reached for the Spirit who always had an answer.
Capricorn?
“Lady Layla,” The Sea Goat answered “How may I be of service?”
What do you know about Crystal Celestial Spirits?
“Not very much, my Lady. They have not been seen for some centuries.” He said.
Do you know what great evil they were sent to fight?
The Zodiac was silent for several moments, before telling her “No, my Lady. I do not.”
Thank you, Capricorn.
“You are welcome, Lady Layla.”
[]-[]-[]
“You lied…” Aquarius’ brows rose in surprise. “I didn’t think you had it in you.” She smirked, tail tip curled in amusement.
Capricorn sighed deeply, head bowed momentarily. When the Sea Goat lifted his gaze again to meet Aquarius’, she could see the same steadfastness that marked the Zodiac committing to a choice.
“This is not her war to fight.” He said, hands curling into resolute fists.
[]-[]-[]
Marcus gathered his cloak up, clasping it in the front with a key-shaped brooch. Layla set down the appropriate amount of Jewel for their meal, before giving the man a smile.
“It was a pleasure to meet you, Marcus.” She told him.
“The pleasure is mine, miss Layla.” He responded.
The teen accompanied him to the edge of the town, where he paused and drew the Crystal Key.
“Open, Gate of the Little Horse: Equuleus !” Marcus intoned. A summoning circle appeared, and from it burst a bay mare.
Layla looked starry-eyed at the mare, who nickered a greeting to the blonde as Marcus swung up into the saddle.
“Good luck!” She smiled.
Marcus returned the smile “May our paths cross again someday, Layla Heartfillia.” With a tap of his heels, Equuleus sprung into motion, and Layla watched as he vanished down the road.
Year X766 (Three Years Later)
Capricorn stood by what he had told Aquarius.
Achnologia was not Layla’s battle to fight.
…Yet the same couldn’t be said for their Wizard’s unborn child.
It had been a moment of joy, finding out Layla was pregnant. Some part of the Sea Goat felt it was too early- she was still so young; barely grown, and already preparing for motherhood. Aquarius and Cancer had agreed with him, but together they planned to help Layla raise her child.
However, it wasn’t meant to be.
The pregnancy wore on their Wizard— not just physically, but magically. As the months passed, they felt how Layla weakened, saw how her smile grew dim and subdued. They did all they could for her to keep her happy and comfortable.
Throughout that time, Aquarius had attempted to stay optimistic. Capricorn knew that the Water Bearer shared a close bond with Layla, and for her the idea of losing her Wizard was a fate worse than dying herself. She would push herself to her limit, staying for days on end by her friend’s side until she risked fading, and only returning to the Celestial Spirit World for just long enough to stave off the effects. Every time she did though, a much longer time had passed for Layla— minutes for the Zodiac were days to their holder.
Cancer and he would often join her in standing vigil, talking with their Wizard for as long as time would permit.
Capricorn knew it wouldn’t remain that way forever, but cherished each breath Layla still took.
Mortality and time were strange concepts to a timeless being. A day for them was three months for their Holder. Years passed in seemingly a blink of an eye, decades flying by in days. With Layla, it was all too soon when they had to part ways.
Just not in the way he had imagined it.
They were all given up. Layla tearfully embraced each of them before relinquishing their contracts.
He had seen only one thing to do at the time. So he had knelt before his Lady and promised his allegiance forever to her children. She had grown tearful at his solemn declaration, rushing to embrace him.
Capricorn knew he had a reputation for stoicism, but on the day he said goodbye to Layla, only she, Cancer and Aquarius had seen him openly cry.
They had cried too. Aquarius had openly begged Layla not to do this, not to give them away to new owners. Their Wizard instead made a promise to them. A promise that she would bring them all together again to meet her child. That this was temporary, and one day they would be a family again.
She kept that promise, and months later Capricorn was summoned in front of his Lady once more. In her arms, wrapped in a pink blanket, was a newborn baby.
“Come meet Lucy…” She had invited them with a serene smile.
When he had held Lucy Heartfillia in his arms, he felt just how fragile she was, how weak and delicate. In his heart, he reaffirmed his oath to protect this child.
“When she comes of age, you will all be her’s.” Layla had said.
“I look forward to the day, my Lady.” The Sea Goat had responded with a smile.
Year X772 (Six Years Later)
“Mama, wha’s dis?” A tiny blonde girl asked, holding up a picture frame for her mother.
Layla’s heart warmed. “That’s a picture, sweet Lucy.” She smiled, taking the frame. “Of your friends and you.” It was a picture of her Spirits, taken the day they all met Lucy. Held in Capricorn’s arms was the little girl herself, albeit as a baby. “You remember them, Aquarius, Cancer and Capricorn.”
Lucy perked up at the names “Da wa’er bear, cwab, an’ sea goat!” she chimed, earning a chuckle from her mother.
“Very good, sweetheart. Aquarius the Water Bearer, Cancer the Crab, and Capricorn the Sea Goat.” Layla smiled.
“W’en I gunna see them again?” Lucy asked, looking up with wide, brown eyes.
“Soon, dear Lucy.” Layla hummed, before yawning. “Soon.”
True to her word, Layla did her best to set up a playdate. Only Spetto was able to bring Cancer though. Zoldeo and Grammi were unavailable at the time.
She watched the two play in the garden. Lucy was fascinated by Cancer’s appearance, tugging on his crustacean appendages and squealing in delight when he curled them in or spread them out for her. He was always good with the girl, as was Capricorn. Aquarius wasn’t as enchanted by Lucy, but Layla had faith the Water Bearer would come around.
They’ll be good for her. She thought, watching Cancer carry her daughter piggyback and running around. Lucy’s happy cries echoed throughout the garden, and Layla could see her Spirit sharing in the little girl’s happiness.
Year X777
The last time Aquarius saw her best friend, she was dying in bed.
Gone was the fearless young Wizard she had watched grow up. In her place was a weak and tired woman, her body ravaged by magic deficiency disease. There was none of the light that had once filled her eyes, they were dull and clouded by the exhaustion that came with one’s body simply not having enough energy to keep going. It wrenched the Water Bearer’s heart to see Layla in this way, to know the blonde had used up her own magic to replace a role that she had supposed to fill.
Now, with the woman’s weak, clammy hand pressed between both of her’s, Aquarius had so much to say and not enough time to say it.
“Aquarius…” Layla smiled, the expression seemingly an effort for her “You’ve been so good to me. I cannot thank you nearly enough for all you’ve done…”
Aquarius’ chest tightened, “I couldn’t have asked for a better Wizard.” Her voice wavered with the threat of tears.
“I couldn’t have asked for… a better friend.” Tears shimmered in the woman’s brown eyes. “And I hope… I hope you’ll love Lucy for me.”
The Zodiac bowed her head, “I will.” She promised thickly. “She’ll be a great Wizard, just like you.”
A shaking, pale hand slowly reached up to cup the Water Bearer’s cheek. “I know…” Layla agreed, voice barely a whisper.
There was so much to be said. So much Aquarius wanted to tell her. Yet all in the moment, she could only think of one thing.
“I’m sorry, Layla.” She laid her hand on the back of the hand on her cheek, as if keeping the hand there would keep her friend there with her.
“There is nothing to be sorry for, dear Aquarius…” Layla closed her eyes, “I did what was needed… Now Lucy can live a happy, full life.”
“I’ll give her the life you should have had.” Aquarius promised. “She’ll see the world… she’ll make friends… I- I won’t let her be chained down.”
Layla smiled again, “Thank you, Aquarius…”
“I love you, Layla.” She murmured.
“I love you too… Aquarius.” The blonde responded.
Layla passed on shortly after Aquarius had been able to speak with her.
The moment she passed, a great hush fell over the entire Celestial Spirit World, a moment of silence out of respect for the loss of a great Wizard.
The silence was broken by a wail aimed at the stars themselves. A cry of grief and immeasurable pain came from the Water Bearer as she mourned the death of Layla.
Capricorn and Cancer joined in her grief, standing with Aquarius and allowing themselves to feel the loss.
The Sea Goat reminded them that they couldn’t grieve forever, because Lucy would need them. Aquarius and Cancer reluctantly agreed.
And then Capricorn vanished.
He was summoned by Zoldeo, and didn’t return.
At first Aquarius had told herself the Sea Goat was just serving the man. That it was just taking longer than usual. That at any moment he would return with an apology and story about what Zoldeo had been up to.
He never did.