Apparently this is that fic where Lucy, Leo and Yukino are sibs from the land of celestial magic. I have taken liberties with everything. Enjoy.

.

.

.

Lucy swept down the hall furiously, her heart hammering with suppressed anxiety, drumming up a frenzied beat against her ribcage. It was too soon. There was no time. She wasn't ready to deal with this yet. The shadowed portraits of her numerous ancestors looked down their noses at her with cold, lifeless disdain as she passed underneath them.

If you were a true heir, there would be no problem, would there?

The accusations ran through her mind with a vengeance, until she really began to believe they were the result of old ghosts berating her, and not a fabrication of her own mind. She deserved it regardless. It had been her failure that ruined things. But she would do all in her power to make it right.

So even if perhaps it was happening too soon; she had no choice but to make it work regardless. Her greatest advantage now lay in a swift response.

Celestia was losing yet another ruler to the all-consuming, invariably fatal, bloodline illness known only for killing those of great magical strength. This time it would rock Lucy's world yet again. She clenched the fists holding her excessive skirts off the ground tighter, increasing her speed. Beside her, Virgo followed; her normally impeccable appearance was just as agitated as that of her mistress. She was worried too, and the thought comforted Lucy, especially considering the absence of her older sister.

Goddamn but I wish the two of you were home already.

Jude Heartphilia should have lived at least long enough for Capricorn to return to the capital and resume his duties as appointed regent. But the progress of his illness had abruptly accelerated with unanticipated velocity a mere three days after Lucy sent the missive; not long enough for it to the make the journey across Celestia and into Fiore. Plue was fast and efficient; he wasn't a miracle worker.

Lucy let out an unrestrained growl of frustration, refusing to cringe at the undignified echo that followed. Virgo glanced at her sideways with noticeably personal concern. Lucy ignored it. This was no time for sensitivity any more than it was time for her companions to be worrying about her state of mind.

She huffed, eyes distracted constantly by light flickering off metallic furnishings and flashing through the massive windows lining the passage to her left. The storm raged heavily outside, as it had done for the duration of the week. Thunder boomed every other minute, and lighting flashed brightly in tandem, illuminating the otherwise unlit halls of the Heartphilia Castle left wing. Of course no one had thought to prepare for the unexpected failure of the King to pull through this night in particular; Lucy had made certain that particular details of his aliment be kept from the Queen. Thank god she had been warned of impending bad events; as a wielder of stellar spirit magic she was well aware that celestial omens were far more accurate than they were often given credit for in the lands outside of Celestia.

Lucy came to a decided stop before the large double doors behind which had slept the rulers of the Heartphilia line for centuries. It was a grand thing, but unfortunately Lucy could not appreciate the beauty of history tonight, tainted as it was by the thought that it was about to made yet again, and not in a good way. Lucy sighed and collected herself, one hand against her chest daintily. She did not waste time while waiting for her cheeks to drain of colour once more.

"Virgo," she said calmly. "I have called others to meet me here tonight. I would ask that you remain outside and assure that only those bearing my seal enter." She cast a glance at her most faithful of servants. Virgo gazed back measuredly, her constant, if at times irritatingly, calm demeanour was reassuring.

Virgo nodded seriously, "It will be done, princess."

Lucy smiled weakly at her and took a few more deep breaths. It was earlier than expected, true, but she must be ready for this. There was no other way it could be done until Leo was returned to the castle. She gathered her skirts and pushed the doors open firmly, hurrying into the chambers.

Her first thought was a sickening pull in the gut; she may have been too late had she hesitated for just a few more minutes. The large, silken bed in the centre of the room was surrounded by various healers as expected, but also there Lucy caught sight of the black hood and robe of a priest. She strode over, putting on the regal look that had been drummed into her since birth. This was not a time for weakness or uncertainty.

"Princess!"

"Lady Lucy!"

"We had just sent someone for you, your highness . . ."

Lucy observed them with narrowed eyes, hushing any further speech and deliberately making her gaze impersonal. She strode over to the bed, taking in her father's ailing body impartially. The withered body within her sight sickened her to the very core (such a loud man, so strong and vital), but it did not surprise her. Pale, wizened and thin to the point of being skin and bones, there was nothing of the strong, cold ruler she knew in that bed, and there had not been for a long time. His mind had left him months ago, and now it seemed his body had simply decided to deteriorate in order to catch up.

She'd had plenty of time to reconcile the fact that her father was leaving her too, and it had not been as difficult as she'd expected; they'd ever been close. Really, there was no reason for her suddenly dry throat and burning eyes. It was just– the end of an era. Lucy allowed herself one last look at the man who had always seemed such a constant, controlling force in her life and felt nothing but sorrow for what could have been. She turned away.

"I assume he is close to end, if Father Athas is present," she stated quietly. Her eyes fixed on the priest. He gave her a kindly, sad smile and nodded.

"He has minutes at most."

Lucy sighed. There would be no heartfelt last words then. She moved aside to let the priest and chief healer pass, a slightly bitter, strained look marring her face. There was no real sadness, however. A feeling of isolation, maybe, that would mostly likely come later, when she was free of the sympathetic eyes and able to show her emotions without judgement. Her father had taught her what it meant to be a Heartphilia, if nothing else and he had taught her well. She already knew what he would say, were he still able; she could see it in her mind's eye now.

"Lucy," He would choke through gritted teeth, with vehemence she once found frightening. "Do not let that bitch ruin us. Stay strong. Stay alive. Forget about your brother and be the queen I raised you to be. The queen our country needs you to be."

Lucy intended to follow that cause as best she could, using every ounce of skill and intelligence she possessed. Or at least, mostly follow that cause, with a few minor details being rearranged. Lucy hid her smile behind a lowered head, thinking how disrespectful she was to be using her father's passing prayers to contemplate disobeying his final wishes. He would be proud of her will. She waited quietly behind the chanting man and smoggy wall of incense, the wheels of her brain turning rapidly. She fiddled with the rings on her fingers, watching candlelight reflect off the gems inlaid in them and remembering the beautiful lady with long blonde hair and lovely red dresses who used to wear them before her. Lucy had loved her mother in a way she'd never loved her father, even before he had so completely withdrawn from his children; it would not be his passing that would destroy her as her mother's had.

"Princess," Lucy looked up, her face blank with surprise. Father Athas smiled back grimly. "He is gone," He said simply. Lucy nodded slowly, shaking the numbness from her thoughts.

"Very well," she sighed. "I have decided to have myself and several of our closest family friends hold vigil for him. As his only blood relative, it is my right to claim." She looked at him firmly, her voice bold. "Let this be known when a messenger is sent to the queen."

Athas nodded gravely, more nervous than he had been previously, and letting it show. Lucy ignored his sudden discomfort. She must appear in control. Her voice was unwavering as she addressed the room.

"The vigil begins now. I would ask that you leave me and my chosen to grieve my father's passing in peace." The men shuffled from the room, offering bows, condolences and respectful titles as they went past. Lucy felt a small hint of nervous satisfaction; she had not failed or made a blunder yet. The door clanged shut behind them seconds later, and she paused.

The silence was more oppressive than she'd thought it would be, and the body of her father, covered as it was by a sheet, drew her gaze like a black hole. Lucy felt the tell-tale signs of coming anxiety overtaking adrenaline and catching up to her. Sweaty, clammy skin, a compressed feeling in her chest, memories of the night shattering into fragments, and the urge to curl up into a corner and leave the rest to someone else. She pursed her lips, taking deep shuddering breaths and fighting the emotion in her fiercely. Lucy did not have time to waste pulling herself together when she should never have fallen apart in the first place.

It didn't take long; she used an old trick of hers, one Virgo had given her. She stilled her body and closed her eyes. In her mind she took each event that had happened tonight, visualizing the scenes clearly. Then she fit them, and her scattered thoughts, back together into one big picture. That's all she had to do, keep a track of the bigger picture. And she'd be fine.

A stool had been placed beside the bed; presumably it had been used by a healer earlier that night. Lucy walked over slowly and settled down, her pale fingers brushing along the ruffles of her dress. She occupied herself with arranging it elegantly, musing in the cold silence.

Normally it would be custom for her to reflect over her father's life and honouring his memory and deeds. Lucy knew the only sort of honouring her father would have respected was her efforts to defend his legacy. The crown must go on. Instead she decided he would appreciate the effort more if she spent it considering her options. Unfortunately the king's swift death had limited them severely.

The doors creaked open at the other end of the chamber. Lucy darted a glance to the sliver of light thrown on the tiles to her left. Her fidgeting ceased. Several pairs of footsteps approached. They stopped, and the door made barely a sound as it was closed.

"Princess."

It was Virgo's voice, mellow and measured. "We have arrived." Lucy inclined her head in acknowledgement and stood. She reflexively straightened her skirt as she did so; an anxious habit developed in childhood. She scanned her audience warily.

Scorpio and Aquarius, knights of the crown, Virgo, her lady's maid, Aries, the Marchioness of Ram, Cancer, the steward and Sagittarius, captain of the citadel guard. They arrayed themselves in a semi-circled designed for the presence of all the most trusted of the crown. Her gaze lingered sadly on the spaces that remained empty. Capricorn, Plue, Gemi and Mini were either absent in the line of duty or on her command. Libra and Pisces had long since vanished; Yukino had taken them when she'd left the capital. An interesting choice now Lucy thought about it, because it would have made more sense to take Aquarius or Scorpio, considering the circumstances under which she was travelling.

Her gaze was met with varying degrees of concern, sorrow, apprehension and cold control. Virgo in particular gave her the smallest of smiles. Lucy returned the gesture with a nod, taking a deep breath.

"I have called all those I can without arousing suspicion and who have my trust to meet me in the King's chambers tonight," She started slowly, choosing each word with care. "Under the assumption that everyone here holds Celestia's best interests above all other considerations." There was no dissent. Lucy continued.

"My father has passed, as you all know, earlier than we anticipated. I have sent Plue to Capricorn, and I have sent Gemini to Yukino with two messages. They have not as of yet reached them, and I haven't heard anything from either regarding the location of my brother in over two months. Though I assure you, both Yukino and I have been attempting to persuade Leo himself to tell us." The figures arrayed round her watched with steady eyes.

"I'm afraid our situation at present is somewhat strained. The queen will by now know of my father's death, and will no doubt be acting upon the news. Our advantage at the moment lies in the fact that we expected this and have had marginally more time to prepare," Lucy spoke without a breath, meeting the gaze of each person in the room individually. "I must ask; are you all as dedicated to our cause as you were when we met two months ago?" There was a pause in which Lucy's heart reflexively started pounding and sweat gathered in the centre of her palms.

"You have my word, Princess. Now and always," murmured Virgo demurely. Like a wave crashing over the sand, the vow broke the other nobles of Celestia from their silence.

"You have my word also, Milady," Said Sagittarius formally.

"And mine," whispered Aries softly, so much so that Lucy had to strain to hear her.

"For the kingdom only."

"I'm with my girl. Lady Lucy, we both got your back."

"My loyalty is always yours, Princess," replied Cancer last, his black eyes twinkling behind his dark glasses.

Lucy gazed at the country's more loyal servants, members of an undefined council with their own gifts, and felt some of the pressure in her chest release. She was not alone in this. There were others to step in where she would fail.

"Right then," she said clearly, eyes bright. "We should address the truth of the situation we currently face. My father is dead, the appointed regent and my brother, the heir to the throne, are both currently missing and unable to resume their duties, the queen is no doubt aware of this by now and planning to take advantage of the situation," Lucy began to pace quietly, finger twisting and a thoughtful frown marring her face. "Obviously she cannot claim the crown in full because she lacks the qualifications. The best she can manage would be to claim regent, which, as things stand, would ruin the kingdom regardless. It falls down to us then, to find someone to safeguard the throne until my brother can take it. I myself have a strong claim to the throne at present because of my lineage, but I think we can all agree that I could not hold that claim for long. The court and the queen would contest the decision, the court because of my youth and past delicate health, and the queen for her own gain.

Ideally, we should have had my brother already located prior to this point but I am aware that is impossible. Failing that, we should at least have Capricorn here to replace both him and me in the meanwhile, but that chance is also lost. Our situation seems bleak, I admit, but I have a plan of my own to counter-act this problem. Before I relay it, I would hear any opinions or observations you have to add."

Cancer straightened his glasses, in what Lucy recognised as his thoughtful pose, "What makes you think you couldn't hold the crown, Princess?" Lucy frowned and opened her mouth to state her previous arguments. He cut her off. "I understand there will be obstacles, but the same could be said of every successor to any throne. In particular, I believe your brother would face far more opposition if we were to bring him back. I assure you his desertion has not gone unnoticed."

Lucy frowned again, "My reign would be too conflicted and unsure, and for a kingdom in grieving, things could end disastrously. Remember we are planning for an eventual wartime situation. I would not inspire confidence as a wartime leader, even if I were to defer to the advice of more experienced leaders. My brother is the true heir, regardless of what he has done. My long term intention has always been to bring him home and have him rule. You are all aware of this."

"Yes," sighed Aquarius, with a hint of customary scorn, "But he will be as useless now as he was as a child. You are more intelligent, dedicated, and capable of taking your father's place. And failing that, our next choice should be Yukino. She was legitimised, and shares your blood. We could find people to fill in where she is lacking."

Lucy huffed irately, "Yukino is currently looking for our brother, just as Capricorn is. We both agreed between us that neither of us would make suitable candidates in the long run; a female ruler who is unmarried will be seen as a sign of weakness to both our enemies and our friends, regardless of whether it is actually so, and we cannot appoint a viable permanent successor to the throne to stand in as regent, otherwise I would do so myself until my brother is returned to us."

She could sense the disagreement in the room from all but Virgo and Aries, Virgo out of loyalty, and Aries because the marchioness was more accepting of the realities of being a Heartfilia Princess. Perhaps Lucy needed to remind the others of that reality.

Her voice softened. "There is also the matter of Urano Metria," she continued gently. The atmosphere of the room seemed to stiffen. Lucy caught Virgo's look of pursed dismay from the corner of her eyes and sighed.

"You all know that any other reasons withstanding, I cannot take the throne. The 88 stars must shine upon our new monarch, and for that to happen the monarch cannot be me." She urged. "Whether you agree or not, this is no different than it has been for centuries of our line." She finished and there was an extended silence throughout the room.

"Lady Lucy speaks true" proclaimed Scorpio grandly, suddenly, his chest thrust forward.

Lucy fought a hysterical and highly inappropriate urge to giggle at his grandstanding; the surge of amusement was mostly a result of being startled more than anything else.

"But there is little we can offer in the way of advice until you give us your plan," Cancer reminded her calmly.

Lucy smiled gratefully at him, and then Aries and Virgo when they murmured their assent. She smoothed her skirts again. "I have decided to ask another one of our most trusted to step in as regent in Capricorn's place. He is a little unorthodox I'll admit, but he has enough standing to justify the appointment, and he will have my support and knowledge for his hopefully short time on the throne. Also he has strength of character and is capable to defend himself if anything slips past us. Of course I will tell the court that he is only stepping in for Yukino until she has finished her 'mission' and can return to claim the crown. They will never accept Leo without proof that he has returned, therefore Yukino must remain absent from Celestia until she has my brother in hand."

"What excuse do we have for taking the power from the queen?" Asked Aries softly, her gentle face concerned. "She is logically the most appropriate choice, and though you have the right, without the support of the court we cannot simply push her aside and chose someone else."

Lucy sighed thoughtfully. "I was thinking we could simply address the issue of a citizenship. She may have lived in our country for eight years, but as a woman originally from somewhere else, that place being a country that currently threatens our own, we could claim both her right to be regent and her priorities to be compromised. We'll play on the fears of the court, and do so subtly, so that they assume the reasoning is their own. I'll be relying primarily on you, Marchioness, to spread that doubt." Aries clasped her hands and murmured a quiet "Of course" under her breath. Lucy smiled equally quiet thanks.

"If you feel that is not enough, we may also point out the necessity that the regent, or ruler, have either a male counterpart or be male themselves."

She looked levelly at Aries, waiting to see if she could find some flaw in the reasoning. Aries considered for a moment, and then inclined her head gracefully. "I see no discrepancies in your argument my lady." Lucy smiled at her gratefully.

"Who will you be appointing then?" Inquired Scorpio curiously, his voice slightly wary. Aquarius snorted derisively, Sagittarius sighed resignedly and Cancer let out a somewhat reluctant chuckle. Even Aries let out a muffled giggle behind delicate hands. Lucy's lips twitched into a displeased pout when she caught Virgo smirking from behind her hair. Scorpio glanced at his companions reactions and apparently worked it out as swiftly as they had. There was only one person she could be talking about.

"The Duke of Bull," he said blankly. Silence reigned among the circle, until Lucy, with sweat beading at the base of her neck and an uncomfortable flush spreading up her neck, spoke. This reaction was about what she had expected.

"Sir Taurus," she admitted sheepishly.

.

.

.

. . . yeah I dunno. Don't ask.