A/N I know I know, OMG. All I can say is Kidney Stones are zero fun and anti-conducive to creativity. I really struggled with this one so I hope everyone enjoys...DESNA
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
(Time skip over 5 years later)
"Mrs. Pradesh! So good to see you again! Dr. Noir is waiting for you, please come with me." The strange man had always been friendly and easy to work with, and he struck up a pleasant conversation with Lucy, asking about the children, Cristoff, and if she'd been back to Cellesta since her trip a few years ago.
"I haven't had the time or opportunity I'm afraid, I really want to though, we're hoping to go this spring, the Dean wants to evaluate all of our children to possibly extend the same offer he made to Layla a few years back." She replied smiling as she walked with Renauld from the Hotel lobby.
She was coming to bind at least two of the 12 Kingdom keys. Research help from Cellesta had uncovered they were their own branch of Zodiac, twelve animals related to the elements of time and life. Loke had reported the Spirit King himself was taking an interest in this now, the 12 animals had vanished from the celestial realms, they were not stars unto themselves they were the Sheng Xiao, based on a 12 year cycle and were calculated by the lunar calendar.
"It has to be linked to your bond with your mate Lucy, you two mating created a union of star and moon, you possess, through your mate, the ability to unify and use both the stars and the heavenly bodies." The Dean had told her.
"The spirits are related to the four seasons and represent elements. Spring spirits are wood, their western Zodiac companions would be Aquarius, Pisces and Aries, they are the Tiger, Rabbit and Dragon.
Summer is fire, Taurus, Gemini and Cancer pair to the Snake, Horse and Goat.
Autumn is metal, Leo Virgo and Libra join the Rooster, Dog and Monkey then Winter is water, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Capricorn work with the Pig Rat and Ox. All together the two Zodiacs combine life and time to the elements and all of creation. No mage in thousands of years has held any of these keys Lucy…be careful." He had told her.
So though the professor had been relentlessly trying to convince her to activate more keys, she had been steadily refusing, Only 4 were needed and for her own safety, and under the advice of Loke, Crux, the Dean of the Academe Cellestine and Cristoff, she was stubbornly sticking to doing two herself. Yukino was coming from Sabertooth to bind another two and after long talks, including Yukino about squeeling her and her mate Stings ears out at the opportunity, Lucy arranging a three way conversation over the Lacrima with the Dean, Yukino was as resolved as Lucy to only do two of the keys.
The professor arguing having two more could assure if the 4 chosen weren't strong enough they would have back ups fell on deaf ears. 4 was all that was called for, they would do no more. If this failed, the Professor would be forced to shut down his work at the site, allow the Council and Royal archeological group to seal it and set it up as a nice museum.
Lucy didn't see that as a failure, the site had yielded a great deal of information on the Asmarlin empire in its final years, artifacts and even tablets containing information that could unlock two different dead languages according to Freed and Levy.
The Professor didn't agree, he wanted to open that vault, and he'd even hinted they should try for the gate itself because it could unlock wonders beyond imagination. Lucy had recoiled at the suggestion and the Professor had laughed, waving a hand "I'm kidding of course, I have a dreamers mind Lucy, I always imagine the possibilities and dream about pursuing them."
Cristoff had frowned shaking his head when she had disconnected the line.
"Two Lucy, you're only activating two, not a single other key, he can claim he's just dreaming but I heard something else in his tone, I won't risk my wife, my mate on some rich conceited mans dreams." He'd growled.
Cristoff, Laxus and Cobra, all three had started feeling uncomfortable around Dr. Noir the last time they had gone to visit the site as the team that had recovered the keys. Laxus wouldn't go to this "Opening" because Erza had just given birth to twin boys a few months earlier and he refused to have his mate and young babies around the Vault.
Lucy had now been in Oshibana for almost a week preparing to bind the keys, waiting for Yukino and her mate Sting to arrive, Cristoff back at home with the children until Xally could get there to help Bickslow watch them while he came up to be with her.
Cristoff had been fighting their children going too, he didn't want any of their family near that vault anymore.
Lucy had gotten very pregnant during their stay in Cellesta, and their triplet boys, Dehn, Jude and Stephan, were 5 now, a true Dragon Slayer mate, Lucy had waited two years after that to inform Cristoff she wasn't done, wanted more, and their twin sons, Blake and Criston, from that decision were now 3. So Lucy was the proud mother of 6 dragons, every child born with dragon slayer magic, two of them Celestials one Lunar, they also had a water and two light.
The Magic council had declared them fourth generation slayers, not taught or implanted with the magic but instead born to it.
Dr. Grinoir had been pushing to have Layla there, insisting she could benefit so much, it was a historic event she should be present for and she'd come to be because her parents had met and fallen in love on the mission to recover the keys. "She's practically a product of this whole wonderful adventure!" The professor had declared.
Layla wanted to go too, she'd been hearing about the Vault her whole 6 years of life, had even visited it twice and wanted to be there with her parents. Lucy had left it up to Cristoff, she wouldn't let Noir talk her into activating more keys, and trusted that Yukino would be equally resolved, so she felt this was all safe, and their daughter would enjoy it, and learn, and be a part of a historical event.
She walked with Renauld to a cafe, the Professor had at first wanted her to stay at his home but she'd refused, wanting better privacy and real distance from the dig site so she was in a familiar hotel.
She'd chosen the very same one where she had met Cristoff, and was smiling as she stepped onto the balcony of the room and looked out over the pool when she had arrived. The first time she had felt his hands she'd been by the table she could see a group of young women sitting at chatting as they enjoyed the spring sun.
Grinning she had pulled out her lacrima, a few moments later Cristoffs eyes were on hers. And she was turning the lacrima out over the pool. "Guess where I am?" She chuckled
"Same hotel huh? It's a nice place, their large suites have hot tubs on the balconies." He observed and Lucy narrowed her eyes "and you know that because…."
Cristoffs eyes glinted "You know damn well how I know that, you were already hot for me at the pool that day and I didn't know you were my mate yet so when those women invited me…well…we'll upgrade our room, Xally should be here in a few days, and I'll be on my way to you." He told her with a smile and Lucy grinned.
"No Laylabear huh?" She asked and he narrowed his eyes "No, I'm not even happy you and I will be there, I still don't like this love." He said firmly and Lucy sighed.
"I know you don't but there could be really significant things in the vault, it's not a risk with only 4 keys activated and Yukino isn't doing more than two, just like me no matter what Noir says or offers." Lucy said.
"Honey, even Loke and your other spirits agree this is risky, the Kingdom Keys haven't been active in centuries, you have to think there's a reason for that beyond just the fact nobody ever looked for them." He pressed and Lucy knew he was right, knew it, but she still shrugged and smiled at him.
"It's worth the risk Cristoff." She insisted, and she had him there, and they both knew that.
"Not to me…you're my everything, and we have 6 little heathens to raise into respectable people." He added, there was a crashing noise and she heard Natsu yell "It's fine! Didn't touch the Piano I swear!" he sighed. "I have to go love, be there in a few days, I would so love it if you were naked when I got there."
Lucy grinned and winked at him "Promise to take me to dinner and you might get lucky." She said and he smirked at her "You're the one who'll get lucky…"He purred and she bit her lip, feeling her body heat at the sound.
All the years, all the babies and sleepless nights with them and all Cristoff had to do was smile and lock those midnight eyes on her and she was just a melting panty drenched mess.
"Just get that sexy Dragon ass up here and we'll see who the lucky one is." She returned and shut the com off, turning back to draw a deep breath of the warm spring air in.
She was happy, deeply content with her life. She had a large family now, a mate who never backed down, no matter how few hours he slept, or how much a day was a struggle, she could still count on one hand the number of times he'd gotten irritable about it.
His natural calm and easygoing nature had been passed along to 2 of their 6 children too, Layla and Criston were both serene natured individuals, the rest? Especially Drake and Stephan, were just like their mother, fiery and willful, stubborn and bursting with brilliance.
Bickslow was probably the worlds greatest uncle, when he came over the children just flocked to him, especially Stephan just about worshipped his uncle. The Seith had grown more and more confident around the children too, and would even babysit solo, declaring it a double s class babysitting job running Lucy and Cristoffs house for a day while they would take a nearby job or just get errands run.
They had sold the 4 bedroom house and moved 3 doors down when the two story 6 bedroom had come up for sale. It wasn't Lucys writers dream house but it fit their family better and only Blake and Criston had to share a room.
Cristoff had sat down with her and talked over selling their smaller home, and they had invited Levy and Gajeel and their two sons over when they had made the choice, Cristoff pushing the keys to the house into Gajeels hand. The couple had been hunting but hadn't found anything Levy could settle on and had been dealing with their two bedroom apartment for far too long.
Lucy knew it was because Levy adored the house she and Cristoff had, maybe more than Lucy did, and while the couple made good money, and had been saving, houses on Fairy Brook were always costly and rarely came up for sale.
Since each one was so unique, there wasn't another one like Lucys either, she knew if they put it on the market it would go fast and after a vigorous bidding war. She didn't want that, neither did Cristoff, they wanted their friends to have the house, so the day after they had moved into the two story, after Gajeel and Levy had helped them clean the smaller house, Cristoff had pushed the keys into Gajeels hand.
Levy and Gajeel had both stilled and gaped at them.
"We'll sell it to you for what we paid for it, I know you've got plenty saved for a down payment, Laxus set it up so we'll finance it for you, you'll pay us through the guilds account so no interest and the payments will come out of your rewards for jobs as a percentage you guys wont have trouble with. Means we know the house goes to someone we really want as neighbors, and if Natsu wanders into the yard and sleeps in the hammock he wont end up in jail." Lucy had said brightly. Levy had almost knocked her over hugging her and Gajeel had been speechless, shaking Cristoffs hand and looking dazed.
So Lucy had her best female friend living just a few doors down, still got to spend time in what she still thought was the most gorgeous house on the street, and Gajeel took wicked delight in flipping Natsu out of the hammock on the mornings he'd wake up and find him in it.
At least until Cristoff got the back deck fixed up in their new yard, the sun room off the kitchen let out onto that deck and he set the new hammock up inside it. In all honesty, the spacious sun room off the back of their house was almost as big as Natsus whole house and much nicer, with a wetbar Lucy kept stocked with snacks and drinks, a small refrigerator that usually had fish in it for Happy, once it was all fixed up Natsu practically lived there.
It was the favorite playroom for the kids though, so he only got to sleep in if he snuck into the house and claimed the sofa in the den, Cristoff threatening his life if he ever scratched the baby grand Arman had given them that also lived in that room.
So things had settled, she was even working, taking jobs, she and Cristoff taking turns going out with team Natsu or the Raijinshuu, Lucy sticking with the less dangerous ones that kept her near home because she had a tendency to miss her babies and Husband more than she wanted to admit when she was away from them.
After sitting with Renauld for a while, enjoying a light lunch and assessing some of the keys she had left to walk some stores, picking up some toys and a few other little gifts for her children. They loved it when she brought things home from her jobs for them and she tried to whenever it was reasonable.
She went to look over the keys daily, wondering if any might in some way reach out to her like all of her keys had before she had contracted to the spirits gated to them but there was no magic, they were just dead conduits right now and none, no matter how she looked at them, gave her any clue as to what spirit might be attached to them.
The pressure from the Professor to activate more was constant, he was determined they should try to push farther than just that outer vault but Lucy held firm and he remained frustrated but friendly, even when she got snappy with him, demanding he stop asking her because her answer was never going to change.
She had gone up early, in spite of Cristoffs misgivings because she'd hoped to get some perspective from the leys themselves, some clues, and wanted time to look them over carefully and go through the professor's research notes.
All the reading, even after Freed arrived and was going over them with her, coming up with brilliant suggestions they would look into but nothing, nothing provided real answers, it was all speculation until the keys were activated.
Finally Xally arrived and Cristoff called her telling her he was getting on the train, it would work out well because Yukino had arrived earlier that day and Sting was on his way in to meet them from completing a job that had him away.
Cristoff had made it clear to Renauld and Noir that Lucy wasn't activating a single key until he was there with her and surprisingly the Doctor, as impatient as he was, had readily aggreed to that condition.
She was due to meet the others for dinner, it had been a strange few days, several times she'd felt like she was being watched, twice she was certain she was being followed, at one point, walking back from the professors home late because she'd been arguing with the Professor again.
She'd noticed a man walking ahead of her, the road from the Professors house to town wasn't long, maybe ½ mile but it got dark and he'd disappeared around a bend, cut off from view by some trees and when she'd reached those trees he hadn't been there, she could have sword she'd heard something, faint sounds like voices off in the trees but she'd had this horrible feeling of foreboding, called out Virgo and had the maid walk with her back to the hotel after the spirit looked around and found nothing.
She was relieved the end of it all was in sight.
She met Dr. Noir and Renauld with Yukino in the Hotels restaurant for dinner.
"So Lucy when will your husband be arriving? Is he bringing Layla? I would really love to see her, I bet she's grown tremendously the last couple of years!" the professor grinned as they sat down.
"Cristoff will be in tonight and no, Layla is staying with her aunt, she hasn't gotten to spend time with Xally in ages and with her Uncle also coming over to camp out with them, and well, there's no prying her away from all of that!" Lucy smiled, keeping her tone light and happy.
She had no intention of even hinting that Cristoff didn't want her there either.
Lucy wasn't foolish. She was on edge, she'd been around Dragon Slayers long enough that she knew when they got uneasy about something, there was usually a damn good reason. So she was on her guard. The Professors sunny chatter didn't mask his glances around the room as if he were looking, waiting for something and she summoned Plue. Yukino delighted, the Professor intrigued, she happily told them all about the sweet little spirit and his wonderful relationship with her mate.
He was out though because Plue could test foods and drinks, the little dog spirit had a great nose and could let Lucy know if there was anything suspicious about things, dipping his paw into drinks ignoring her mild reprimands because they had already talked about this.
When a second glass of wine came Plue shaking stilled for a moment and their eyes met and Lucy focused on her water. Noting the Professor frowning "Don't you care for the wine my dear?" He asked.
Lucy smiled "Of course! Just since I had the twins I limit myself to 1 glass at dinner, I have trouble sleeping if I drink more." She smiled, continuing with her meal, sharing bites with Plue who kept making Yukino laugh and accidentally knocked her wine glass off the table dancing around.
"Oh! Oh dear, we'll get you another!" Dr. Noir said anxiously and Yukino laughed, waving a hand airily "No no, I'm like Lucy, just one or I have trouble sleeping, you know it's been like that since Sting and I had the triplets, gotta be something about motherhood!" She laughed. She'd picked up on what Lucy had, something wasn't quite right, and the professor looked too antsy.
Renauld even frowned "Are you allright sir? You seem…nervous…you really should get more sleep." His loyal aid said in a worried tone.
"Nervous!? Me?! Heavens no! Perhaps I am a little tired, been up so late going over research and trying to track down more celestial mages, your brand of magic is very rare ladies, the school in Bosco also was not even slightly accommodating. With me offering keys you would have thought…" He grumbled.
"But Professor, you only need a total of 4 activated to open the outer vault right? Why contact more?" Lucy asked with wide eyes full of innocent confusion, or at least the best display of it she could manage.
"Oh back ups my dear! I always have contingency plans! Just in case you two have trouble activating keys." He said.
Lucy smiled, nodding in acceptance and frowning at Plue when he snatched the first bite of her strawberry cheesecake. He made delighted little noises and her frown melted into a smile while she took a bite herself.
"He certainly is a hungry thing!" The professor declared.
Lucy grinned "Oh all the time! He loves sweets and wine more than anything too, such a little scamp, the kids adore him and he and Cristoff…we;; I told you how close they are!" She chuckled.
"Sting is in endless quarrels with Pisces, and my little weasel spirit? Oh Gods, endlessly stealing his keys to the guild hall and hiding them around the house!"
They all laughed but the professor looked unhappy. "Would you ladies care for some coffee? Tea perhaps before retiring?" He offered.
"Oh no, I'd be up all night for sure, I've had dragon babies kicking my bladder too long. I'm wonderful it was a delicious meal. I'm just going to relax until Cristoff gets here which should be soon. We're to meet with you tomorrow to bind the keys right?" She asked.
The Professor cleared his throat.
"No, no I think we should do it tonight, immediately in fact so you ladies both have time to adjust fully to the magic before we open the outer vault." He said. Renauld even frowned.
"Tonight? But sir, we have the keys locked away and secured already for the night…" He protested but silenced at the professors look.
"There's no adjustment needed Professor, that's not how Celestial Magic works." Lucy said firmly, Yukino nodding beside her.
"But you need to make your contracts, really I'm just trying to simplify things." He assured them.
Lucy smiled warmly "Oh you've done just fine Professor! There will be plenty of time for that tomorrow! With the upside I can better keep the spirits out to witness the vault opening." She said brightly.
Yukino nodded eagerly and the professor frowned, almost glaring at the table for a moment before he suddenly smiled and met their blank faced stares.
"Well then! I'll just trust you ladies then, you're the experts in Celestial magic after all, I've only put a few hundred million into the research that indicates it's best for the key bearer to rest after activating a key because it will drain their magic a lot." He said rather unkindly and Lucy swallowed her instant anger.
"Well, I suppose that might be the case, but I'll still need to wait for my husband." She said firmly and the Professor eyed her doubtfully "Why?" He demanded.
"Because I can tap his magic energy and he has a great deal more than I do. Yukino and I are both mated to Dragon Slayers Dr. Noir, our bond to them makes us different than average Celestial mages, we both MUST await our mates before we activate a key." And with that she stood, her brown eyes stern and holding the professors, eyes narrowed.
"So since you've insulted my intelligence and ability to make well educated judgement calls about my own magic I'll thank you for this dinner and go wait for my husband. I will contact Renauld when he's here and I can come and complete my designated job of activating TWO of the Kingdom Keys and being present to assist the opening of the vault in the presence of only TWO other keys. I'm telling you now professor, if there is another celestial mage waiting here and I sense other keys, I won't be staying, I will not endanger myself or my husband and risk leaving my children without parents for this." She said coldly.
Yukino stood with her "I'll go with you Lucy, I feel exactly as you do!" She said, giving the professor a disappointed frown. Both women left and Lucy worried her lower lip at the professors red face as she did wondering if she'd stirred up more than she wanted to think about.
Once in Lucys room Yukino called Sting to see where he was and Lucy called Cristoff, gratified when just moment after he appreared and greeted her with a smile she heard "We will be arriving in Oshibana in 10 minutes, passengers disembarking please gather your belongings and prepare to leave the train."
Cristoff grinned "That answer your question? What's up? You look…unhappy." Cristoff said warily and Lucy frowned. "I'll tell you when you get here, Yukino is like me, we're both going to wait for you guys to get here, so hurry…please." She said and gasped when there was a bright flash on the balcony and a rapping on the glass door.
Pulling it open she jumped into Cristoffs arms eagerly.
"Ok, so, plenty close enough for that and I am damn glad the bond we've got let me hone in on you right and I didn't appear on someone elses balcony." He chuckled, stepping into the room carrying both Lucy and his bag.
"Cristoff! Oh, you know I'm relieved, Sting! Cristoff just got here." She said into the com
"Good, I'll be there in another 40 minutes according to the conductor, stay there with Lucy and Cristoff I am NOT kidding, I told you that guy gave me a bad feeling." The Light slayer said in a growl, then, louder "Cristoff watch my girl ok?!"
"Well, she's with Lucy so she's probably fine anyway, but I'm not leaving them and why are we all more worried?" He asked. Yukino signed off with Sting as Lucy sat down with Cristoff on the couch.
"Professor Noir tried to drug us at dinner, there was something in the wine he had brought for us toward the end of dinner. Plue caught it because I had him out, I…I was just getting a vibe from the professor that made me uneasy so I summoned Plue just like you and Plue had worked out before, so he could try everything before I did and make sure everything was safe." Lucy said unhappily.
Cristoff frowned "Summon him would you?" He asked and Lucy called Plue out, the little spirit made a happy noise and ran wobbled his way to Cristoff who dropped down to a knee and gathered the little spirit into his arms "Hey buddy, so tell me what you tasted and smelled in that wine ok?" He urged and Plue started chattering away at him, a serious look on the little spirits face.
Plue wasn't a combat spirit, most of the time he was simply a sweet little companion that the children loved to fight over these days, but Cristoff had worked out that Plue could smell and taste when foods were "off" and had been working on the skill with Plue for a while so he could help Lucy with making sure things were safe when she wasn't sure and also aid in some basic tracking when speed was not of the essence.
All of it thrilled the little dog spirit, who loved the idea of being more useful to his mistress. Cristoffs eyes narrowed as Plue finished and he went to his bag and pulled out a chocolate pop and gave it to the spirit, setting him down on the foot of the bed.
"Zinc and citrus flavor with an earthy aftertaste, smelled of flowers, he thinks more than three varieties. You get all that?" He asked, then frowned slightly looking toward the curtains and Lucy frowned realizing he wasn't talking to her.
The shadows shimmered and Yukino and Lucy both gasped as Vander emerged from them.
"Mindlace, only mixture that does citrus and zinc that would be carried well in something acidic like wine, it's a minor mind control poison, would make them sleepy, compliant and open to suggestions." Vander said smiling at Lucy.
"Hi sis."
"Va…Vander?! What are you…you…were you here the whole time?!" She demanded.
Vander smirked "Followed you from the house to the train station, watched you read your book, fall asleep and drool on your shoulder on the train, I did not follow you to the bathroom when you took your baths…" He added hastily at Cristoffs raised brow. "But yes, I've been with you the whole time, had the room next to yours and have not left your side except when you went to sleep at night. Big brother wanted you safe and Dad agreed, so did Zen so I was sent out here to guard you, one of my many talents." He grinned, taking a seat on the bed.
Lucys glare turned on her husband who met it without so much as a flinch.
"I told you I don't like this, told you I have a bad feeling, all of the other slayers agree, the Dean at Cellestine, my father, everyone that the Professor pushing like he is, acting like he's been over the last year in particular, it's all bad Lucy, I won't wait until something bad happens to you to prove me right, I'd rather take precautions and be proven wrong and I'll apologize if I am, but me and our family, our children, need you safe." Cristoff said firmly.
Her anger fell, the Lucy before becoming Cristoffs mate, before giving birth to 6 gorgeous children might have flown off the handle about some childish hurt over him not trusting her to protect herself, but she wasn't that conceited and insecure anymore. She didn't feel like she needed to prove anything, Cristoff had faith in her, loved her, and was only making sure she was kept safe, he had every reason to worry.
She looked at Vander "I've been followed haven't I?" She asked. Vander nodded/
"Twice. The first guy was just a pervert who I left with no reason to pursue women anymore…if he survived the blood loss and reached help. The second? From a guild called Nuance, dark, the guild was hired to kidnap you, take you to meet a carriage. I took care of the seriously pitiful excuse for a shadow mage they sent to get you, met the carriage and the guy in it is talking to Bickslow and Freed right now….probably won't remember his name by the time Bix is done with him." Vander smirked darkly.
Lucy blinked "But Bix is with the kids…" She said looking at Cristoff who shook his head.
"No, Bickslow came up right after Van caught the kidnapper, Xally, Emzadi and Mira are with the kids honey, so is Elfman and Lisanna, I'm not taking any chances that while we're here, if something is being orchestrated involving kidnapping you, they might stoop to trying to use our children as leverage. If anyone goes to our home and near our children, they'll find them being protected by two angry aunts and the Strauss family, probably Natsu too, he seems…interested…in Xally." Cristoff shook his head, torn on what he'd seen and now suspected.
Natsu was immature, careless, reckless, but also had a huge heart, passion, loyalty and as much as he'd been around, well, the Lunar Slayer had to admit he liked him now. He seemed over Lucy, the kids loved him, and while Cristoff found having him around the house was a lot like having a large overpowered five year old around, the Fire Slayer had decidedly grown on him.
Xally though was warm, compassionate, thoughtful, a kind and talented healer and strong water mage. She preferred reading and playing the piano to partying, but she had a heart as big as the Grass Sea and was immensely well educated, holding a doctorate in medicine, she was a real, true, doctor as well as a magical healer. A pediatrician, and had been very much looking forward to spending time with her younger brothers large brood, Xally loved children.
Had she not been so busy with school and all of the work required to become a doctor, and she'd faced a hard road in those studies, she'd probably long since have been married. But she'd been determined. The regular non-magical people in her classes hadn't been kind to her at times, even her teachers had been harder on her than the other students.
Why would a magical healer need a degree in medicine? Why become a doctor? She did everything the hard way too, never "cheated" and used her magic all through school, but once she had finished her classes and started her residency, she'd laced her magic into her educated skills and become invaluable fast. She was now done with all of that, ready to start her own practice, but was taking time off before she did to travel a bit, spend time with her family, hence her being with the kids now.
So, when Natsu had about tripped and fallen on his face crossing the room to shake her hand when she'd arrived, and Cristoff had heard both mages hearts race about out of their chests when they had clasped each others hands, he had an idea something monumental had happened but he had no time for it.
Vander had been reporting to him all of Lucys activities and that she'd been followed twice, both times his brother had dealt with the issues swiftly and as harshly as one would expect from the shadowquip. Vander wasn't empathic or a mind reader etc, but he knew when people were lying, and he told Cristoff the Professor was just about oozing lies, the man was anxious, planning something, trying to do something, but Cristoff hadn't been willing to pull Vander off of watching Lucy to send him to investigate further.
Lucy drew a breath, her babies…the idea of anyone trying to do anything at all to them made her blood boil. "That fucking…Vander, Cristoff is with us now, can you go to the professors home and see if you can learn anything about what he's up to?" She asked but in a tone that was really an order.
Vander stood, walking to her and leaning to kiss her forehead "Was planning to sis. Now that big brothers here, he can watch over you ladies and I can go get my sneaky on." With a smile he stepped to the still open balcony and vanished.
Lucy pulled out her com lacrima and called Freed, her action drawing a frown from Cristoff that was quickly replaced by a smile when Freed appeared on the screen.
"Lucy!... Um,…. hello! I was just…" He looked uncomfortably out of the view of the lacrima and Lucy sighed.
"I already know Freed and it's fine, what have you found out?" She demanded, Cristoff coming to stand behind her, seeing him Freed visibly relaxed and nodded.
"Yes well, Bickslow just finished the last round with him a few minutes ago…" Freed said and Bickslow appeared, taking the com from Freed but talking to Freed first.
"Naw don't bother with the cuffs, just get him out to the Rune Knights, he won't wake up for a few hours and he won't remember us, Van or being captured at all, he thinks he lost track of Lucy got drunk and has been fucking some chick he's had on the side for the last two days trying to figure out what to tell his guild master. The other one thinks he got mugged and left in a ditch so drop him off too just drop him a few times in the dirt on the way." He told the Rune mage with a smirk at Freeds protest he cackled "Come on Freed, easiest answer, fuck if you don't want to I'll mess him up a bit and take him in myself, just take the dark mage then."
Attention back on the Lacrima he grinned at Lucy "Hey cosplayer, ok, so the dark mage shit stain was just a lacky, Nuance is a problem though, should tell the boss about it, we need to take them down before they grow much more, anyhow, this guy was told by his guild master to snatch you, yeah he planned to do some shit before he handed you over though so I uh…haven't been nice to him…he won't be able to have a sexually related thought without pissing himself for a while, I went beyond just assuring premature jazzing," he snorted
"fucking hate rapists…should have Vander cut his dick and balls off like the other guy…anyway, dude from the carriage is a security associate of the Professor, he was to take you to another house the professor outright bought and has some room set up in the basement of the place, it's close to the digsite, closer than the house he's been living in and where he's been keeping a lot of the research materials. He was going to take Lucy there, and Yukino, and they were planning to drug them. Guys scared, Professor hasn't told him his plans for the girls and he doesn't like the whole thing at all, hired on to provide security, not to do shady shit, but the moneys too good and he's got a sick aunt he's been helping. Guys not all bad, but getting fucked up a little and having this go bad like it really fucking did when Vander found him should convince him he doesn't care about the money anymore." Bickslow said smiling darkly.
Lucy felt Cristoffs hands on her waist pull her back into him and a protective arm go around her, felt his rising anger as Bickslow went on and knew he would now want he nowhere near the professor, the keys, any of it.
"Thanks Bix, handle shit then come up to Lucys room ok? We're just waiting on Sting and Vans gone looking for more info." He said and Bickslow nodded "You got it, be up there soon, I just need to make sure mr. security guy is convinced he doesn't want to play around with this shit anymore." He said, rubbing his hands together before the com went dark.
"I can hardly believe this…Lucy, I'm so glad you had Plue there tonight…what if they had been successful drugging us?" Yukino said wide eyed at the table. She'd been listening to everything in shocked silence.
"Well, I did, and…" She turned in Cristoffs hold enough to look up at him, finding his midnight eyes warm on her "…my mate is a very protective man with resources…" she smiled.
"Thank the Gods for that." Yukino chuckled and Lucy tipped her chin up to get a soft chaste kiss before Cristoff let her go, turning to pick up Plue who had finished off his chocolate pop and was looking for something else.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Vander could move swiftly, easily as fast or faster than the best SE car out there when he was in the shadows at night with vast expanses of travel area. It took him a few short minutes to reach and breach the Professors home and find the man himself after sweeping through a few rooms.
The wards, protections and alarms were childs play for him, he'd broken into Palaces and taken down Kings, Professor Noir certainly couldn't compete.
He was glad Cristoff had called Zen and their father about this. Zen had decided if the Vault was possibly going to be opened it presented a threat to more than just Fiore, and as Fiores neighbor, Bosco had cause to get involved so he'd used that as reason to send Vander.
He didn't mind, Zen had long since settled into the palace, his life as a Prince, husband, and father and Vander was enjoying the break from what had become somewhat dull duties running Zen and Kurinos security. He'd gotten good people in place, and while he still enjoyed following them when they went on diplomatic missions, and that was always engaging and he enjoyed it, during the long spans they spent at home in Pelerno that had become longer and more common since their son was born, the royal couple just weren't…exciting.
No pissed off ruler of another country after them and all that. He'd talked to Zen about taking leaves while Zen and Kurino were at home and Zen had agreed, then this whole bit of intrigue had popped up and Vander had fallen on it like a ravenous beast.
He was free of the Steel Council, no longer a Blood Hunter, officially reinstated as a knight too, and just working such a clean and wholesome life these days he wanted to about throw himself off a bridge. He had to watch his behavior in Pelerno because of his position, but out in the field? He could get as naughty as he wanted but, well…with the baby, his brother and sister-in-law weren't travelling as much.
It had frustrated the King off to no end, he'd even tried having Kurino in for monthly doctors exams and suggested AI to the couple as time passed and no baby came.
He and Kurino had fought it out a few times and Zen had caught hell from his father in-law when the man finally figured out it was Zen, because Kurino wasn't ready and didn't want to have a baby yet, who was keeping it from happening with the little healers magic trick Cristoff had taught him to use.
The king had spies that Vander regularly had been shooing from the royal chambers trying to make sure Zen and Kurino were actually having sex (They were, the two were no less insatiable than they ever had been).
Zen had stood up to the King though, hadn't backed down an inch and in the end the king had been forced to accept Kurino wasn't giving him grandchildren until she was ready.
Since the kings son had married the second prince of Minstrel King Altiene wasn't going to be getting grandchildren through that union until he could convince the man to get a surrogate, which he hadn't managed to do yet, and he couldn't fault his youngest daughter, whose husband unfortunately turned out to be unable to give her children, they were going to adopt.
So the King had turned all of his hopes on Kurino and Zen and finally, last year, Kurino had told Zen she was ready. It was funny to Vander that almost exactly 9 months later Prince Arman was born.
The king was so happy he'd overlooked the fact the baby was named after Arman instead of himself and suddenly the Ambassadors were pushed into more work because he ordered the Princess to stay home and would only send Zen out when there was no other choice.
So life for Vander had become…boring as fucking hell.
He slid up into the shadows along a picture on the wall, watching Professor Noir pace back and forth while ranting at Renauld.
"…doesn't damn well matter anymore! I don't care if they consent or not! I want them taken to the house by the site Renauld, get them there! I have men waiting to intercept the carriage and handle their damn husbands…"
"SIR! I will not be part of harming people! I…I can't believe you're asking this of me! Mrs. Pradesh has children sir!" Renauld protested and Dr. Noir rounded on him.
"I bloody well know that! I'm pissed as hell she didn't bring Layla! That child can tap her fathers magic energy! She could probably activate all 12 keys by herself with that brutes power! I've got people sent to fetch her, I don't care what fun she's having with her damn favorite uncle, aunt or whatever, she should have been here! This is history! I am making HISTORY! I'll be famous for all time! Once I reach the Altar I can pull the key from it and use that beautiful little child of theirs to summon armies, open a gateway to the Gods themselves! To Olympus! You would think the possibilities would be appreciated by those damn bitches but NO! They're cowards! You don't make history, become immortal, by being careful!" Noir raged.
Renauld looked just sick, staring at his employer in disbelief, his mouth hanging open.
"Sir…I…I won't help you…it's wrong…you can't force a little child…" He stammered. Noir spun and slapped the man so hard he fell out of his chair.
"COWARD! You're no better than those two mages! I won't hurt the brat! I'm just using her magic since her damned mother and the her mothers friend wont see reason! If I can't get Lucy and Yukino to activate all of the keys then Lucy is damn right I want a back up plan, that fucking school in Bosco wouldn't even give me the names of Celestial wizards I might contact! They could run that school for the next 50 years on what I offered them…idiots…COWARDS!" He raged on.
Vander drew slow breaths, keeping his temper in check as he let the lacrima camera record all of it from the shadows. He needed to find out just a little more, then he needed to call Xally and tell her Cristoffs concerns hadn't been wrong.
"S…sir…please, nobody will care what you discover if you use these methods…you're a good man with a great reputation…" Renauld tried and Noir laughed at him.
"They'll care Renauld, when I bring the treasures of Olympus to Earthland, artifacts from the greatest sites of legend among the heavens! That altar is the gateway to discoveries beyond imagination! They'll care alright! My methods wont matter, you'll see, a few mages are a small price in the face of such wonders Renauld! All of Earthland will very much care! I'll make sure I raise Layla well, and I'll see her siblings are well cared for if her parents don't survive this, there is another Celestial dragon slayer in the bunch too, a little boy, he's only three right now but Layla will do fine on her fathers power until she's old enough to use her own, I have it figured out…" He said.
"Her fathers…sir…I don't understand…" Renauld was sitting up, wiping blood from his now split lip.
"Cristoff, the Lunar Dragon Slayer. I have plans for him, if Lucy won't cooperate I can use him like a battery for Layla, my spies provided ample proof the child can tap his power and as a healing adult Dragon Slayer, he has immense stores of magic energy, healers have more than any other type of Mage Renauld, and even Lucy can't tap into her husband like their daughter can. With him providing the magic energy, Layla can surpass what even her mother can do…but I'm a fair man…I won't make Layla do anything if Lucy co-operates and can get the white haired bitch to do the same, I'd rather have two seasoned adult mages do this, less chance of problems." He said, sounding more rational yet less sane at the same time.
"Sir…" Renauld was shaking his head and Noir glared at him.
"You can continue to work for me Renauld, join me in this and you'll no doubt become as immortally famous as I will be by association with all I plan, but if you won't help…I will assume you mean to hinder me…" Vander saw the shadow mage enter, clumsy, messy, shadows being disturbed and edges moving when the idiot passed through them, he shifted himself to a position a lackluster mage like that wouldn't risk touching on the ceiling and waited, still filming everything.
The mage emerged, standing beside Noir and Renaulds eyes went wide in fear.
"This is Dixon, the Guild master of a very industrious guild called Nuance that I've been funding, assembling, for the last 14 years, Nuance handles…recovering…research and artifacts I can not always get through normal channels."
That would explain why they hadn't heard much about the guild, Bickslow had gotten that name out of the mage that tried to kidnap Lucy immediately, but had never heard of it before and when he found out how large the guild was actually growing and that it was based just outside Oshibana at a house near the digsite…well, they'd known shit was getting ugly.
Vander grit his teeth, Dixon was a sloppy shadow mage, but still a guildmaster, maybe Noir had appointed him and he hadn't actually earned the spot…Vander had a hard time believing a shadow mage who was so obvious when he moved through the shadows could have become a guild master, even for a dark guild. Still, he didn't want a fight with a guildmaster, yet he couldn't let what he suspected was about to happen to Renauld, happen.
Renauld looked resolved and Vander shut off the camera and stuck it in his storage space he kept in the void, slipping swiftly to the floor under the chair Renauld was sitting on.
Gratified and smirking when Dixon clearly noticed nothing, no searching shadow edges, nothing, the man didn't even suspect.
Stupid fucking hack, no wonder people don't take shadow mages too seriously. He thought.
"I refuse to help you ruin yourself Sir! You're a great man! You don't need to use these methods!" He said firmly though the man was shaking and reeked of fear. Vander curled his lip, if the damn paper pusher pissed himself and it got on him…he might let the other mage fucking kill him after all…
Noir heaved a sigh. "A pity you feel that way Renauld, you've been such an asset to my work over the years, I'll truly miss you, you'll be difficult…though not impossible..to replace." He said and nodded to Dixon who smiled and pulled a long dagger from his thigh. Vander almost groaned in disgust, rammed a long dagger of his own up through the floor into Dixons foot then yanked a screaming Renauld into the shadows, diving through to the full icy void and shifting at high speed dragging the screaming man with him until he finally shot back up, certain he was far enough that hack back there couldn't trace where he'd gone.
Moving swiftly he drug the now silent but fortunately not pissing himself Renauld up the side of the hotel, through the still open balcony door and emerged from the shadows still hauling the man by his belt past the people in the hotel room, finally dropping the man gasping and shaking into the tub in the bathroom.
"Vander! Oh my God is that Renauld?! Why did you throw him in the…" Lucy was shrieking when Renauld threw up…loudly and pissed himself at the same time.
Vander stepped back making a face "Yeah…I thought that might happen…at least he held it till we got here…"
"What happened?!" Cristoff demanded.
Looking at the people in the room Vander smiled at the addition of Freed, Bickslow and some blonde man he'd yet to meet he was assuming was Yukinos mate.
Drawing a breath, he held his hand up "One sec."
Pulling out his com lacrima he pushed magic into it and hit one of his favorites a moment later Xally appeared.
"Just like Cris thought, you guys are gonna have company, they're after Layla." He said and heard Lucy make a horrified sound and Cristoff grunt as he caught her to him firmly.
"Oh I hope they're here soon I'm all fired up!" They heard Natsu snarl. Xally giggled, shaking her head and looking away from the screen a moment before turning back to Vander "Oh, we're ready…I hope it's a big group because we've got a hell of a lot planned for them…" Xally smiled "Tell Lucy and Cris the kids are all fine, they're at the guild with Makarov and about 30 other members of Fairy Tail, they were playing duck duck goose when I left, the teleportation lacrima Makarov borrowed works great, we got them out through the den unseen."
Vander looked up at Lucy who had her hands over her mouth looking terrified but upon hearing that relaxed considerably.
"Ok, keep us posted." Vander said and cut the Lacrima off before launching into an abridged version of all he'd seen and heard and why he'd just had to bring Renauld to the room and throw him in the tub.
"I still can hardly believe he is doing this…um…could I beg for a robe or…something?" Renauld called from the bathroom behind Vander.
Freed jumped up, hurrying to his room across the hall and returning with some clothes, he and Renauld were about the same size. Renauld accepted them meekly before closing the door so he could clean up.
"Ok, so next move would belong to the Rune Knights I think, you want to take that to them?" Cristoff asked.
Bickslow stood "I'll go with you little brother, back you up since you're not from around here and I've already warned the Knights shit might be going down." He said with a smile.
They were there in the first place because the Magic council didn't want the professor opening the vault, were not the least bit happy about it, but he'd gone legal routes getting to where he was at this point as far as anyone knew and they could do little more than stand by.
Vander and Bix left, Renauld going with them to further back up their story and Sting stood frowning darkly.
"So what? We stand here and wait?" He growled, Yukino hugged him and his anger calmed a little when her arms went around him but he was still glaring. "Asshole wants to basically enslave our mates and use you as a fucking battery Cristoff, kidnap your kid! That fucker was willing to just tear us all apart for this shit!" He snarled.
"He's…" Cristoff froze as he started to speak, Freed had set up runes and one of them had just gone off. Sharing a glance with Lucy and Sting the two Dragon Slayers moved and Lucy and Yukino both put their hands on their keys.
Cristoff saw the shadows move and smirked slightly, Sting narrowed his eyes, "Not Rogue." He said to Yukino quietly and she narrowed her eyes.
"Sloppy obvious piece of shit as shadow mages go too." Cristoff growled, Lucy felt his magic building, whenever the guy chose to try anything, it wasn't going to go well for him, not with the moon up and shining in through the balcony and Sting being a light wielding Dragon Slayer. Lucy summoned Loke who appeared at her other side, keeping her between him and Cristoff like they always did.
They had worked together for a while now, and Lucy knew the best way to keep fights smooth was to indulge her mates need to protect her and her spirits need to do the same. As with much in her life, she'd grown a lot since mating with Cristoff and becoming a mother and had learned to pick her battles, not go looking for them.
The mage started to reach for Lucys ankle but Cristoff was faster and had grown up sparring with Vander. He reached down and touched the edge of the shadow that moved just as it started to lift from the carpet and moonlight so intense it burned flared in the room, a scream filling the air.
When she could open her eyes again Lucy was watching Cristoff drag a tall lanky man out of the shadows, light dancing all over his skin as Cristoff pushed the opposite side of his healing magic into the man, searing his skin with light so he couldn't shift back into the shadows.
"Let go of that shadow or I'll cut what your holding onto it with OFF" Cristoff snarled edging his light into the mans calves, he screamed as blood started flowing but then suddenly flew out of the shadow, dangling in the air, Cristoffs hand around his throat, the other gripping his wrist and Lucy heard bones give and the man screamed again, dropping the dagger he'd been holding.
"Open your eyes." Cristoff growled and the man did, his expression a strange mix of fury and fear.
"Sleep." Cristoff hissed and the man fell limp, eyes closing and Cristoff dropped him, letting him crash painfully to the floor and kicking him a short distance from them, not wanting him anywhere near his mate.
"He must be the shadow mage Vander mentioned…" Lucy said quietly.
Things happened fast from there. Unwilling to go out and expose Lucy and Yukino to the possibility of the Nuance guild having more people ready to try for them Cristoff and Sting remained in the hotel room where Freeds runes would provide them warning of intruders until Vander and Bickslow returned.
"Rune knights are rounding everyone up, they got Noir at his house and the Nuance guild was mostly at the other house nobody knew about. Councils fucking thrilled to be able to step in too, they're seizing everything, sealing off the dig site and confiscating every single bit of research and the lot of artifacts, everything. They mean to make sure nobody has a chance to open it." Bickslow said smiling.
Lucy frowned. "But…but if they have the keys and everything else…we know how NOT well the Council protects these things, what's to prevent someone from just stealing shit and doing it anyway?!" She demanded.
Vander smirked, sharing a look with Bickslow "Well…they need all 12 keys for that…and they only have 8" He said and held his hands out, one to Lucy, one to Yukino, two keys in each hand.
"Can't hurt to activate and bind them to you, in fact…it could prevent anyone from opening that thing all the way…" Bickslow said slyly.
Lucy took the keys offered to her as Yukino took the two held out in her direction.
"They have no magic right now, not traceable because of that, and every damn thing in Noirs shit says he was having you two each activate two so you having them only makes sense, won't look funny at all and they can't say a damn thing if they're already bound to you when they come looking so…" Vander prodded.
"We should be outside…we don't know what animals they'll call." Yukino said smiling.
"Easy to arrange right Cris?" Bix nodded to his brother who smirked. A moment later they were all standing on an open hill above Oshibana.
"Fuck…" Sting staggered a step and Cristoff caught him, hand glowing faintly as he pushed an anti-motion sickness spell into the other Dragon Slayer.
Lucy drew a breath, turning and waited for Cristoff to come up behind her, once his hands were on her waist and she could feel him, mentally touch his magic, she closed her eyes.
"Now, like we discussed, just push magic into it slowly, if it starts pulling let it draw and focus on just keeping the pull manageable so it can't…suck you dry." Loke coached and Lucy nodded.
Yukino stood by, waiting, watching, they had discussed how they would do this, Lucy would be the first because Cristoff had more to give her than Sting did Yukino and he was a healer and could handle any ill effects immediately.
As expected, as magic flowed into the key there came a point where it started drawing it, warming in her hand and starting to pulse. She throttled the pull but it wasn't easy, her brow furrowed and she pressed her lips together as she managed it ad Loke vanished, not wanting to be an additional drain on her magic.
It was a large amount of magic, and Lucy was feeling heavily strained but it finally stopped, the key glowing and pulsing warmly in her hand and she held it up.
"Spirit of the Kingdoms I call upon thee, cross through the gate and answer my call!" Lucy cried out.
There was a flare of brilliant light and then, before her, stood nothing less than a dragon with a long curving body.
"I am Yeng, The spirit of Dragons, it has been long since I was called to this plain, I am here to serve you, my master." The creature bowed it's head as they all gaped at it in amazement.
"Y…Yeng, I'm Lucy, I would like to make a contract with you." She resonded and Yeng nodded.
"I am familiar with human gatemasters, I am available every day any time except Fridays, that time I keep to sleep." He told her and Lucy smiled.
After the details of his abilitites, Yeng was a green magic dragon and represented life and specifically trees. The Dragon returned through the gate and Lucy was smiling down at the green gemstone key that now bore the symbol of the dragon on it.
Yukino stepped up and after several minutes, a Tiger came through her gate, her name was Yang and once that contract was made they rested for a bit until Lucy was ready to summon the second key. This one didn't draw as much, and in a shower of light left a beautifully feathered…rooster.
"Yin" Was metallic, and offered shielding abilities. Vander and Bickslow already snickering when the spirit left got withering looks from their sister in-law.
"Sorry Cosplayer." Bickslow said, pressing his lips together.
"Yeah, didn't mean to disrespect your cock." Vander managed and the two held it together for maybe a second before falling against each other laughing themselves silly.
"I'll kick both of yours flat if you don't knock it off!" Lucy snarled, but the edges of her lips twitched, fortunately only Cristoff noticed and only because he was watching her closely struggling not to laugh himself.
Yukino, smiling in spite of herself, summoned the last and was greeted by "Xu" the dog, who brought tracking abilities.
Glaring at her still snickering brothers who were wiping tears from their eyes occasionally muttering "Lucy has a cock now." Or something similar and falling over again. Lucy turned back to Cristoff "I guess, take us back to the hotel, I'm sure the Rune Knights will be coming to find us…you can drop them in the fucking pool if you like." She added, glaring at Vander and Bickslow.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Special thanks to Sassy for being a patient ear as I fought through writing and rewriting this chapter a total of 11 times before it reached posting!
To the wonderful folks who leave me reviews you are the BEST and I appreciate all the well wishes as I've been trying to get better over the last week, it's helped more than I can say!
