An: The lovely Author Densa is letting me play with one of her amazing OCs if you haven't I would highly recomend you looking her up and her Amazing Predeshverse
"Almost forty years ago today that the dragons disappeared from our world, a time of great sadness for many of those who are gathered here. But fast forward twenty years and we have the rebirth of the dragons in our world from Lexie one year, and Igneel, Layla, and Ren the next. You four have always represented the hope that our world can and will be saved. And with the closing of the Grand Magic games. Not only do we celebrate the victories and friendships that span generations. But we also celebrate the birth of our greatest hope. Happy birthday to you all," Tomma spoke as he raised his glass to the four adults all standing before him.
Cheer and birthday wishes were passed around. And while they all had to spend the actually birthday here in the palace. They all knew that their guild had a true Fairy Tail celebration planned for when they returned to the guild.
The royal palace was decorated beautifully as nobility from around the world mingled with guild mages and regular citizens. The annual celebration ball was now a tradition that followed every grand magic games as it was a time for alliances to be strengthened and good will between all the countries of Ishgar to form. A loud knocking rung throughout the room as the crier announced the newest guest.
"Her Imperial Highness, Princess Kurino Cross of Seven!" the man called out as the doors opened revealing the princess.
She was dress in traditional robes for the kingdom of Seven, blush colored fabric adorned with gold and red embroidery which was tailored close to the top of her body, sleeveless and with a mandarin collar, the sheer fabric that appeared at her waisted and fell to the floor, moved behind her billowing in the air showing her long toned legs covered in matching pants and kitten heeled shoes. Her long black hair was halfway piled on her head and kept in place by gold and jeweled pins. Which caused Kyra to rolled her eyes and grab ahold of Igneel's collar, knowing it would be nearly impossible for him to resist trying to plunder a few of the hair pieces right off the princess's body. A skill he somehow usually got away with using.
Walking through the crowd she stopped at the Justine family as every member bowed to her as she turned to look at them her green eyes looking around the room.
"Lord and Lady Justine, I must congratulate you on your guilds victories in the games, it was well earned," she said firmly.
"Thank you, your majesty, all of us in Fairy Tail work very hard every year," Mira said as she looked up at the princess.
The takeover mage had seen the young woman grow as she and her family were expected to spend at least a month surrounding the princess's birthday at court in Seven. And true to his word the emperor was changing the laws of the country and with the help of Freed had finally established its first magic guild several years ago.
"Yes, well we are hoping that in a few years we would be able to have Ralcalu's nest compete in the games as well," She said with a proud smile. The guild had been a pet project of hers for the last few years. Kurino had been pushing them hard to train and felt like they were almost ready, she wanted to give Fairy Tail a run for their money.
"We welcome all guilds not just one's form Fiore to attend," Tomma spoke as he and his daughter walked up to the group.
"I thank you, your majesty," the princess said with a bow.
"What's a Ralcalu?" Reese asked as he pushed his way towards the group finally getting through and nearly swallowing his tongue at the girl standing before him.
"This!" Marcus said as he quickly handing his glass to his mother before he transformed in to the beast in question.
It was a large bird standing nearly five feet tall. Tan and grey feathers made up it's top coat but as Marcus spread his wings which held a span nearly twice as long as he was tall: bright red, blush and gold filled the room from the underside of the wings and his chest. Long tail feathers that were easily three feet in length were golden with red tips. Large talons nearly two feet long sat on the floor. Leaning forward the bird that was once Marcus let out a loud cry that sent a shiver down the spines of all the guest except for the dragon slayers. And as he cried out a crown of ruby feathers stood up onto his head.
"A Ralcalu is the national symbol for Seven. It's a bird of prey that was said at one time to hunt Dragon and their eggs but now lives off a diet of wyverns and their eggs. It will take up to five adults to take a single one down, so they live and hunt in flocks. But these talons are made to pierce armored flesh," The Princess said as she smiled watching as Marcus turned back into a human.
"The first time we were at court the palace had one that was about to die due to old age. But the king let me have the soul," Marcus said proudly as he remembered the draw he had to possess the soul of the dying bird, which gave him his first full bodied takeover.
"Yes, the palace keeps a flock for protection and national pride," Kurino said as looked around the room. "Now if you will excuse me I have a matter with which to discuss with one of your princes," She said as she walked away as Reese reached out for her but was stopped by his uncle.
"Now now, no touching," Rouge chided as he held back Reese.
"but mate!" Reese nearly whimpered as he was being pushed back into another room so he could cool down.
"Oh no," Sting sighed as he slapped his palm against his forehead before helping to restrain his son. Knowing full well that Reese would most likely never let the princess go the moment she was in his arms.
"I'll go call her father and tell him the good news," Tomma said gleefully as he walked towards a privet room, as the Fairy Tail members shared a laugh at Reese's predicament.
"Prince Redfox," Kurino said as she approached the second oldest of the Redfoxes, unaware of the drama unfolding behind her.
"Highness," Axel said his gruff voice steady as he bowed to her, over the years he had been meticulously trained in court etiquette.
He and his siblings all had a separate tutor that the palace employed to train them, the Fernadezes, Justines and Dragneels on proper behavior. As each family were royalty in some way and in spite of Igneel chasing off every single one they all managed to learn what they need to.
"I have a proposition for you and your elder brother," she said calmly as they walked away from the crowd.
"What is it," the iron mage asked as they reached the end of the balcony looking out over the royal gardens.
"As you know, my people have been in a war with Iceburg for some time now," Kurino said as Axel nodded his head.
"Yes, and I have heard plenty of your brilliant leadership on the battle field," Axel sighed as he turned his attention to the visiting royal.
"I thank you, and while we are currently in a cease fire agreement while we negotiate with them they are asking for something that is impossible to give them," Kurino said as she looked out at the city. It had been some time since she had been in a land that wasn't in the middle of a war. And had forgotten how beautiful it could look.
Magical barriers and runes littered the cities of her home each leaving obstructed views of the sky and surrounding land through them. Even with sending several rune mages to Fairy Tail to train under both Freed and Levy had still left parts of the capitol destroyed from the initial attack as her father refused to pay for the rebuilding of noble's homes, especially when each had at least a second house out in the country, while the people were hungry and others died on the battle field. A sentiment that caused many in the court to defect to Iceburg.
"And what is that?" Axel asked breaking her out of her memories.
"Me," Kurino growled disgusted as she looked back at the man next to her. "They want me to marry their third prince and combine both out countries into one," she hissed.
Iceburg still clung to the old ways of doing things. Nobility was fawned over. Mages were the enemy. And the common man was only worth how much he could work. While Seven was forging a new way ahead. Following in Fiore and Alverez's footsteps in equality and government. But while the masses were all for their new representation and freedoms, the nobles had done what they could to end the monarchy. Even going so far as to hire assassins to end both the Princess and her father.
The plan ultimately failed when Raculu's nest caught wind of it after taking out a dark guild and ended up storming the palace and literally standing in front of both Kurino and her father as two mages raced into the throne room shooting out the poison meant for them. Five had died protecting them and Kurino and her father had mourned their sacrifice and promised to bring the nobles responsible to justice.
"If you are asking for Fiore's help I am not the one to do so. We are working on preparing for the return of Acnologia I doubt we have the resources to fight on two fronts," Axel said firmly as he looked back into the party spotting is mother and father looking for a place to be alone, and Axel was hoping they'd find it he had a bet going that he would be getting a new sibling before next February and he was running out of time before his jewel went to Lexie.
"No what I am asking for is a marriage, if I marry you or your elder brother I can avoid the marriage with Iceburg and with the royal family connected with not only the slayers but the royal family of Fiore. Iceburg would have no choice but to stand down," the princess said passionately as she looked at the man before her.
The war had begun four years ago. Iceburg had sent off a marriage contract between the third son and Kurino but and her father had refused stating that the laws of Seven would not allow it. The Princess's marriage was to be with someone who could strengthen the blood line and the royal family of Iceburg were their fourth cousins, but Iceburg was insulted by the refusal and had waged war trying to force the issue.
"Princess, while I understand your position, I am afraid that we cannot help you," Axel spoke shaking his head as he stood up straighter.
"Why not? You are Princes, shouldn't your marriages help the country. Seven is already a good ally but a marriage between our two households would make it stronger," Kurino pointed out nearly shouting. She was a passionate woman when it came to her country and she would do anything to uphold the laws and protect her people.
"While my brothers and I may not be slayers we are still dragons, we have mates just like the slayers," Axel said as that seemed to make Kurino back down.
Many people had no idea just how far the dragon blood ran within the bodies of the children of the slayers. Wendy had purposely been holding back some information simply because it could easily be misinterpreted. It was hard enough dealing with reporters who were merely fascinated by the slayers and their children, but everyone of draconic heritage feared the day if people learned too much and turned on them.
Zeref had seen it happen the last time during the dragon wars, entire families were slaughtered simply because a child was a dragon slayer even if no one else in the family was. So, the spirit preached caution every time Wendy made a break through. And every member of Fairy Tail had been sworn to secrecy.
"Oh, well have you both found yours?" she asked, Kurino had been taught a lot about slayer and dragons in general. Her father figured that with the next in line for Fiore's throne was a dragon it would be best if his own daughter knew plenty about them and their customs and the lessons about mates had been drilled into to her relentlessly.
"Yes, my brother's is Saraphina. And even if I hadn't found mine you're not the sort of person that could make me happy," Axel said as he bite back the urge to point out that once his brother married Saraphina, Alverez would likely be Fiore's greatest ally since the Dragneels were still considered royalty there. Once a year the family would go to celebrate the founding festival and the one year he had accompanied them there… let's just say they partied harder than Fairy Tail. Even still the bylaws of the new government had assigned the Dragneels as Monarch still, and Saraphina had been crowned as the heir and she would take up the mantle full time once she and Ren were ready to start a family.
"Why?" the princess asked insulted before looking at his smirk before it dawned on her. "Oh…. You… your," she stuttered.
"Marcus is my mate," Axel confirmed as he gazed as the back of his mate now anxious to walk up to him and wrap him in his arms.
The pair had dated secretly at first when Marcus was thirteen and Axel had just turned twelve but it only lasted a few weeks before in a move that had to be orchestrated by Igneel due to its sheer stupidity, it was revealed. And literally he meant revealed. He and Marcus had met behind the closed stage curtain and just a he had plucked up enough courage to pull him into a kiss the curtain opened to a full guild hall with a sign above their head announcing that they were mates.
It had taken half the guild to break up the fight that he and Igneel had gotten into and by the time he was pulled off of the obnoxious blond his mother and aunt Mira were discussing wedding and traditions for when the boys were older. And while Marcus understood that Axel didn't want the world to know simply because of how private he was, it was difficult sometimes with the number of girls and guys that would throw themselves at them as they toured. So, to show his loyalty and devotion even if it was only known by Fairy Tail Axel wore one of the Ralcalu's tail feathers in his hair whenever he was preforming.
"Well then I will hope to see you at court for you debut, as well as the wedding," Kurino smiled warmly as Axel stilled harshly before roughly grabbing her arm.
"Wait," he said as a loud explosion rocketed through the building. Armed guards raced into the palace unaware what they were interrupting as every guild mage raced forward and attacked.
Looking at the chaos Kurino gasped as she recognized the uniform. Iceburg had somehow crossed two international borders and invaded the palace of Fiore. As the bane of her existence walked into the room.
"I am just here for my future bride. If the Princess Kurino is given to me then we will leave peacefully!" the third prince of Iceburg said smugly uncaring that his soldiers were falling rapidly.
"Stop!" Kurino called out as the fighting ceased.
"Ah my dear have you seen reason? Just marry me and the fighting stops," the prince smiled sadistically as he walked down the stairs towards her.
"Even if we were allowed to marry by Seven law, why would I want to be chained to a disgusting person like you. You care nothing for your people!" Kurino shouted as she waved towards the soldiers who were either uncurious or restrained by both mages and royal guards.
"I am the son of their King, they would gladly die for me," the man said smugly as he reached the last step.
Looking at his best friend Sting nodded his head as Rouge disappeared into the shadows on a single mission. Reese had to be let loose. He could hear his sons cursing, growling and cries for blood as he overheard what was being demanded of his mate.
"You are their sovereign it is your place to protect them not use them!" Kurino growled as she wished she had brought her sword with her as the prince got closer to her. But she had left it behind, not wishing to offend Seven's only ally at the time.
"NO, I am their god, and you will be my wife!" he shouted in rage as he yanked the back of her head but a low angry growl cut him off before he could say anything more.
Looking to where the noise had come from, he found Reese standing a few feet away in dragon force, white scales covered his face neck and arms, as the sleeves of his suit and shirt had been ripped in an attempt to restrain him. Long talons came from his fingers as his blue eyes turned white.
"Get away from my mate!" Reese roared in anger as he charged forward as the prince quickly dropped Kurino, the girl falling on the floor in surprise as the prince of Iceburg tried to move out of the pissed of dragon's way.
"Guards attack him!" the coward prince shouted in fear as Reese moved his attention to the princess on the floor.
"Mate okay?" he asked gruffly as he helped her up and pulled her into his chest purring at how perfectly she fit into him.
"I…. ummm…." Kurino muttered confused as she wasn't sure what to do next. But thankfully she didn't have to anything when the prince of Iceburg decided to try and stab Reese with a sword as Myka jump in front of him turning her arm to iron as the sword didn't even leave a dent on her.
"Daddy can I kill him?" Myka cackled as her father put a hand on her shoulder.
"Not without a trial first," Gajeel grinned maliciously as the prince paled and tried to run but stopped as he soon found himself surrounded by slayers.
Within seconds he was restrained between Drake, Igneel, and Damion. While Koa hissed at him angrily from around Damion's neck the snake attempting to bite him. Venom dripping from her fangs as she struck forward thankfully biting Damion who grunted as he felt the poison sing in his veins as he kicked the back of the Iceburg prince's knees making him fall to the ground as he was shackled with enchanted runes and iron.
"You can't do this I am a prince of Iceburg!' he shouted in panic as Hisui stepped forward.
"A prince who marched his armies through my kingdom, attacked and invaded my palace, and tried to kidnap a visiting royal but also attempted to kill a protected citizen. You'll be lucky if Fiore continues to stay out of the war between you and Seven. We've had other priorities at the moment but don't make us turn you into one!' Hisui shouted as several royal guards marched forward. "Lock him in the dungeons along with all of the solders he brought, they all will be held for questioning," Hisui ordered.
Looking over she spied Reese still purring into Kurino's neck as she still looked shocked and unsure.
"Sting is there anything you can do about your son?" the monarch asked as she turned to find the white dragon slayer doing the same thing his son was doing to his own mate.
"When they get like this its best to just let them be," Yukino said as she sighed in contentment melting into her mate's touch.