Sweet Starry Shadows

Key

Sweet Starry Shadows

Chapter 34: Key

Lucy entered the treehouse with hesitation evident on her face. The outside appearance looking old where Chaverine claimed that it was much younger than what it seemed to be, she walked in to find herself looking at a house within an interior that was similar to Rosette's.

Books scattered around the place with shelves covered with them, the entire place was as spacious as it could get with a dragon residing in it. Everything was practically made of wood, with stairs spiralling upwards around the home where it connected to the second floor which was filled with more books. On the ceiling was a strange drawing which - "Oh... That magic circle," Sakura said, making the blonde look down towards the crimson that was sliding a book back into its original place on the bookshelf. The girl sadly smiling, she looked up to the ceiling and held onto a lonely look which made the four look at her in confusion. "That's the magic circle to bring me back to the Dragon Realm. It's rarely open, so I'm not too sure on how the others are doing back over there," she explained, looking back over to them.

"Anyways, why won't you all take a seat? Ace and Yuuto should be out buying some food for us all," she said before leading them to one side of the large room where a couch set was seen in the corner.

Allowing them to sit, she forced herself to smile.

Lucy catching onto it quickly, she looked over to Sakura with a confused frown. "Is something the matter?" she asked, watching the crimson look at her with widened eyes. Watching her look down to her hands uncomfortably, she tipped her head to the side and waited for a reply. "It's been a long time since I had friends over. The last time I had them over... My mother was the one who'd usually prepare the food," Sakura replied.

"... Don't dwell too much on the past Sakura. I'm sure that your mother wouldn't like to see you in this mental state," Lucy whispered, making the crimson look up to her with a faint smile. Smiling back, she looked at the two Dragon Slayers before over to Sakura again. "So, why exactly are we at your house again?" she asked.

Sakura widening her eyes, she chuckled. "I forgot about that. Well then, since they're all out there waiting for us to get out my haven, I suggest you all should sleepover here for the time being. I don't want you all to be under threat knowing that your nearby but not close to me," Sakura answered.

Sitting down on the floor, she crossed her arms over her chest with a frown. "I have a feeling that something big is going to happen soon so after dinner, you all should get some proper rest. Chaverine, I'll need you to help me grow another floor here... I'll create rooms for them before I help you return back to our world."

The dragon nodded her head just as Sakura’s spirits appeared before them with bags of Chinese food. "We didn't know exactly what you all wanted but this will work," Yuuto said, holding up his share of the bags. 

Ace placing the bags on the large wooden table, Sakura stood up where the others followed in pursuit. Their stomachs rumbling from starvation due to their hectic day today in which they couldn't find time to eat, they seated themselves around the table just as Yuuto placed the rest on top. 

The boys taking out the cutlery and plates, they handed everyone their share before they all dined quietly as they enjoyed each other's presence. The female blonde glancing around to only land her eyes on Sakura, she began to notice how pale Sakura was as she forced herself to laugh at something that Sting had mistakenly done in front of her.

Her eyes scanning on the crimson's face, she then watched her eyes dilate. "S-Sakura?" she whispered.

Suddenly Sakura dropped her plate and fell onto her knees as she gave out a painful roar which resounded through the old wisteria tree. Her chest heaving, trying to catch and steady her breathing, she covered her heart in pain before closing her eyes shut to prevent herself from seeing the reactions around her. "Don't tell me that they..." she couldn't finish her sentence as she whimpered, ignoring the stabbing pain on her knees from the shattered porcelain.

"Are you alright?" Chaverine asked as she used her magic to sweep away the porcelain from them all. Quickly getting onto her knees where Lucy hastily followed, she was only to be held back by Rogue who shook his head. "We don't know what happened so it's best to allow Chaverine to see," he reasoned where Lucy slowly nodded her head as she kept her eyes on Sakura that was snarling in anger.

"What's wrong?" Chaverine asked again, placing a hand on Sakura's shoulder where she shuddered to the oozing power radiating from the girl that was in pain, but yet in pure anger. Slowly pulling her hand away, she widened her eyes and so did everyone else.

In front of them knelt Sakura, but where her heart was... There was a glowing, semi-transparent key hovering, yet slightly shaking. The girl snapping her eyes open, she eyed the key in front of her in pure hatred. Slowly pulling her eyes up to look at the others, she watched as they all took a step back. "Good decision... Because I'm infuriated at the fact that someone has decided to try to summon my key," she stated, knowing all too well that they had moved back on instinct since her eyes were in slits.

"What do you mean key?" Lucy asked as Sakura steadied her breathing. "Elemental dragons and the strongest dragons that wield one of the main four elements are very... Special if I had to word it out. It is on the occasion that an elemental dragon. like myself, would enter this world, and being a powerful dragon of either fire, water, earth and air is like a brutal war to maintain its title every day... We, the five dragons have many names -" she replied.

"Such as the Royal Dragons or Alpha Dragons," Sting interrupted, making the crimson glare at him before nodding her head. "As Sting said, our names mainly revolve around any titles regarding leadership and knowledge. We're all gifted with one thing that other dragons don't have unless they are gifted with something that we, the Alpha Dragons, need to protect our race, and that is a key that allows people to summon us..."

They all widened their eyes as Yuuto placed his plate down with a scowl. "You never told us about this Alpha!" he boomed where she sighed and shook her head. "Your reactions are the reason why I refuse to tell you about this... cursed gift of ours," she replied, looking down to the slowly spinning key which continued to shake.

"These keys were what the royals used to use to call for our aid and guidance. I shouldn't have this, but since my mother passed away, the key has been passed down to me from the bloodline," Sakura whispered before she grunted in pain. "Someone has found the chant to call for me and they're trying to -" 

"We should stop them! It could be Zeref!" Lucy cried out.

Sakura shook her head. "Don't you worry, this isn't the first time that has happened. That day when I cut off the call with Sting and Rogue... He was trying to control me then. I'll be fine once I rest and don’t worry, my chant isn't easy, even to someone whose been living much longer than I have," she said where Lucy frowned and balled her fists.

The blonde not wanting to make Sakura even more stressed out, she nodded her head. "Alright, but please don't overexert yourself..." Watching Sakura give her a reassuring smile, she watched the girl look at Chaverine. "I guess I'll have to delay sending you back home. Please make yourselves comfortable, I can sense them nearby and I don't want you all in danger," Sakura said before Ace scooped her up took her away with Yuuto following.

Lucy now not knowing what to do, she felt a hand on her shoulder where she looked up to see Rogue. "Come on, we should clean this all up," he said where she sadly nodded.

Picking up the plates and following him where she was surprised to see that there was more than meets the eye in Sakura's home, she cleaned and washed the dishes beside him in the kitchen while Sting explored the place to find some blankets and pillows for them to all use. While she did that though, she glanced over to Rogue and admired the side of his face while he concentrated on drying them and placing them neatly on the rack. For some reason, she knew that he would be the one to be there for her during all of the bad times that are bound to come.