Freed stared up at the ceiling in his new — or, he supposed, old — room. He could hardly believe it was real. His family was still around but, at the same time, he had no idea how to feel about it because he couldn't remember anything. He only knew what he had been told. His parents had been thorough the last few days in trying to cover everything he couldn't remember for himself but something still worried him. Who was going to succeed Toma when he finally abdicated? Freed knew it should be him as the eldest. The trouble was, he knew nothing of politics and had absolutely no desire to lead. Hisui would be a much better monarch. Yet Freed, in his heart, was troubled because he had no idea whether or not he would be renounce his claim to the throne if he had never suffered what he had in the first place. There was a void in his memory, and it was the first thirteen years of his life. How would he have felt then, he wondered.
"Freddie...I...Freed?" Heather delicately stepped into the room. She and Toma had let him keep the name he had chosen for himself but he knew she was struggling. "I… Hisui and Laxus just arrived from Magnolia a little while ago."
Freed turned around in surprise. "Can I see them?"
Heather nodded. "Your father has been trying to explain everything but, to be perfectly honest…"
"Mother," Freed said as he stood up. It still didn't feel quite right to him. "I —"
Feeling guilty, he cut himself and merely followed her. He couldn't quite bring himself to voice his own thoughts. Everything really had changed in the blink of an eye. Freed both loved and hated it. He had always wondered where he had come from and if there were someone out there missing him. There was closure in knowing the truth, now, but Freed hated the way he had been dragged into a life he was supposed to remember but just couldn't. The memories of the first thirteen years of his life were gone and nothing could be done to bring them back. He was always going to have this terrible hole in his thoughts. He was never going to know who he used to be. He was never going to be able to make peace with the person he could have been or was supposed to be. In some ways, finding his family only made him feel halfway dead, if that were possible.
"Freed!" Toma joyfully motioned for his son to come join him, Hisui, and Laxus the second he stepped into the drawing room with his mother. "Have seat, my boy."
Aware that everyone was looking at him, Freed sat down rather uncomfortably and stared at his hands in his lap.
"There's something important here to address," Arcadios said, standing by the doors to the drawing room. Freed jumped. He hadn't noticed him when he had walked in. "The matter of whom will ascend the throne. Princess Hisui is close to being of age to, however, given the circumstances —"
"I don't want the throne," Freed blurted out. He couldn't stop himself. His emotions were beating him senseless as things were. "I don't...Hisui should still be the heir. I refuse to take it."
All five of them stared at him in disbelief, including Laxus.
"Mother, father," Freed still could not meet their gazes. "Hisui. I don't remember any of you. I don't remember a damn thing about life in this place and I never will. I'm not suited for power, anyways. I proved that a few years back."
Toma sighed. "You're making a rather important decision unusually quick."
"And that's how I want it," Freed shook his head. "I always wanted to know who I was...but I don't want to lead."
Heather glanced to her husband. "Let him."
Toma hesitated. "Isn't it too soon?"
"Isn't it his choice?" Hisui quietly countered.
Freed hated his sister's words. He was solid in his conviction, but he hated the truth of what she said. He could be ruthless. He could take the throne away from her. Would she have hated him if they had been rivals for the throne since childhood? The future of the kingdom, in many ways, rested on this. He didn't want the responsibility. He didn't want the temptation of power. He wanted his life back. He wanted himself back.
"It is," Toma finally agreed. "Yes, my dear Hisui, you are correct. This is your brother's choice."
"Then I renounce my claim to the throne," Freed stood up and looked at Hisui and Laxus before shaking his head. "You'll be a better leader than me, Hisui. And, with Laxus by your side, it will go right."
She eyed him strangely. "I just wish I knew why you're doing this or, even, what happened to you in the first place."
"Some things I'll never now," Freed told her, smiling when he saw how lovingly Laxus was holding her. "And I've had to let them go."
Little did they know, the future was always going to be hanging in the balance and it all seemed to come back to one thing: the dark magic they royal family kept hidden all this time.
Not in recent years had there been such an eye catching event in the kingdom of Fiore. Everyone in the kingdom was abuzz with the news of the lost prince being found but they were even more transfixed by the wedding of the princess and Laxus Dreyar. While the actual ceremony was restricted to the immediate family and closest friends of the couple, people were crowding outside of the cathedral in Crocus, hoping to catch a glimpse of Hisui and Laxus or even of some or the other members of the royal family. There were members of Fairy Tail, members of the Magic Council, and several socialites in attendance although one attendee kept his face covered with only his eyes able to be seen. Jellal sat between Erza and Wendy, disguised as Mystogan with only them and Thunder Legion knowing who he was. There was certainly nervous energy in the air, but it seemed all but forgotten when the king appeared at the back of the cathedral with his daughter. Laxus couldn't help but smile when he saw her and she beamed just as much with a faint blush in her cheeks.
"You have quite the eye, you know," Lucy whispered from behind Caitlin. "Evergreen and Mira have been telling just about everyone how you came across that dress for Princess Hisui."
The butterfly-adorned wizard smiled, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Have they? Well, we can't have that."
Everyone fell silent upon the music swelling and the procession beginning. Toma held the rings tightly in his hands, but he held his daughter's arm even tighter. He could hardly believe this day had finally come and, while he admitted that he had never expected her to fall in love with a wizard from Fairy Tail, he was more than happy for her. Hisui could hardly believe it herself. Even with the pain of the last few weeks, she was nothing short of ecstatic to be finally marrying Laxus. Her fingers tingled every time she thought about it. She was about to become Hisui Elizabeth Fiore Dreyar, and she wanted it more than she wanted the palace, the throne, or anything else. She caught Caity's eye just before she reached Laxus, resisting the urge to laugh at the reassuring, coy wink her best friend was giving her. They had only know each other a little longer than she had known Laxus, but the air wizard kept her steady with just enough levity.
"Love you, pumpkin," Toma whispered, embracing his daughter briefly before handing the priest the rings. He quickly joined his wife, son, and their closest guards in the front row.
Laxus felt his heart beating so fast that he couldn't really hear any of the words being spoken. The only thing he could really feel were her hands so delicately intertwined with his own. He wanted to hold her, he wanted to kiss her, but he held back. He had always thought he would get married in a less dramatic fashion (like a certain Wizard Saint and a certain member of the Thunder Legion had) but he wouldn't trade this for anything. Hisui had changed him so much, and he loved her for it. Because of her, he thought he had finally been able to escape his father's shadow and his grandfather's legacy. Because of her, he felt he knew who he truly was. He couldn't wait to have a life and a family with her. They were intertwined in the most fundamental levels, now, and he finally believed that he deserved this. Hisui was about to be his wife and he still couldn't believe that he was going to be her king when she ascended the throne.
Hisui squeezed Laxus' hands almost unnoticeably, and a faint bit of electricity pulsed through her fingers. She smiled, her bright green eyes meeting his orange ones. Her mind was still reeling from the night before when she and Laxus had been pulled aside by the mysterious mage a second time but she was doing her best to set it aside. Even if what they had said was true, they had a year before it would come to pass. She wanted to believe it was nonsense. She wanted to believe the future of the kingdom wasn't at stake. For now, they could hold on to what they knew. Hisui felt a small thrill run through her spine. After this, they would be together for the rest of their lives. She couldn't wait to see what was to come for them. She hadn't seen it coming, but Laxus had given her a new life and a brand new start. She loved him desperately for it. Evergreen had been right. Hisui knew without a shred of doubt that she and Laxus were bonded and nothing could break something as strong as their golden cord.
"Hisui Elizabeth Fiore," The priest began, handing her the first ring. "Do you take Laxus Schulyer Dreyar as your husband now in the earth and one day in the heavens?"
Hisui cupped her hand under Laxus' and slipped the ring onto his finger with a smile. "I do," The princess said, her fingers tingling again.
"Laxus Schuyler Dreyar," The priest said, turning to him and handing him the other ring. "Do you take Hisui Elizabeth Fiore as your wife now in the earth and one day in the heavens?"
"I do," Laxus held her hand so gently while he delicately pushed the emerald ring onto her finger. She wrapped her hands tightly in his.
"If anyone knows of a reason not to bind this couple in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."
No one so much as even touched their hair in the moment. The only exception was the queen, who was patting her eyes dry again and squeezing her husband's hand.
"With your vows made before your family, friends, and Almighty God, I pronounce Hisui Elizabeth Fiore and Laxus Schyuler Dreyar to be husband and wife," The priest smiled and closed his book. "You may kiss."
Laxus pulled Hisui in close and softly caressed her lips with his own. Slowly, he pulled away and began to walk with her, an arm around her waist, out of the cathedral with their friends and family processing behind them. They had finally done it. They were about to return to Mercurius with everyone for the reception and neither of them had ever felt so good. Just before Arcadios helped them into their car, Hisui caught Laxus by surprise and kissed him on the steps of the cathedral, not even minding the heavy summer heat or everyone watching.
"I love you," She whispered.
Laxus grinned and kissed her back. "I love you too, princess."