Disclaimer - Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima & all things Pradesh belong to DESNA

A/N - I really am going somewhere with this, so bear with me :) Please read and review!

"Lucas, you have to concentrate. There's no need to be upset. I have faith that you can do this. It just takes practice. Trust me Capricorn didn't think I'd ever learn to meditate properly."

The brown haired youth sighed as he opened his eyes and looked over at Lucy. Meditating was far more difficult than he thought it would be. She told him that it was important though so he would keep trying for her sake. He had never known warmth and kindness until her and he felt blessed to stay in her presence. She had taken him under her wing two weeks ago, forcefully. He fought her tooth and nail for the first four days, but she never gave up and never got angry with him. He never knew any family, but he assumed she was like an older sister and he loved her dearly. He wasn't quite as fond of her spirits, especially not the orange haired cat. He liked the pink haired maid though, she was funny. So far he had only met the cat, maid, goat and some weird cross with gross nose bubbles. She said she had a lot more and would introduce them all eventually.

"I know Lucy. I will try harder." He told the waiting Celestial mage and she gifted him with a brilliant smile that made him feel like he was in a giant hug. He still didn't understand how she was immune to his magic but the cross and goat said it was because she was sort of an empath, whatever that meant. He didn't understand but at this point he didn't care. He was just glad she wasn't susceptible to it. That's why he could be with her.

"I think that is enough for one day Miss Lucy," Capricorn announced seeing that the boy was distracted.

"Thank you Capricorn. Can you ask Aries if she would be okay with coming tonight to meet Lucas? I think they would get along." Capricorn agreed and informed them Virgo would let her know when she came later. Virgo had been a tremendous help with Lucas, even though she was stern he responded to her so well. If it hadn't been for her Lucy doubted Lucas would have ever taken a bath. She had been so happy to see him clean, Virgo made him some new clothes as well. He was a good looking boy, light brown wavy shoulder length hair and those piercing aqua eyes. She thought he was probably about 10, he didn't know his age or his birthday. She had promptly declared the day she found him his new birthday, not that he understood what the fuss was about. He would certainly find out next year she told herself.

Her heart broke thinking about his life so far. He was raised, if you could even call it that, by the two thieves that were stealing the artifacts. Somehow they had found bracelets that kept them from being affected by Lucas's emotional outbursts. So they forced him to participate and cause the mass distractions. They kept him secreted away otherwise and treated him worse than a dog. He was kept alive and just healthy enough for their purposes. They had traveled a lot and had been doing this for years, but growing more and more confident they started going after bigger and bigger targets. Finally they had drawn the attention of the Magic Counsel. Lucas didn't even know what country he was from.

She was about to try to convince the boy to wash up while she got started when she saw Vander walk into the clearing. "Vander! Why in the stars are you here?"

Lucas narrowed his gaze at the newcomer. He looked dangerous. He glanced sideways at Lucy and she seemed surprised but not scared and she knew his name. He looked back at the intruder and felt his heart race. He did not like him and did not want him near his Lucy.

Vander stared right back at the boy glaring daggers at him. He felt his adrenaline rush and a desperate need to keep Lucy all to himself washed over him. Thankfully, he had grown up with two Sound mages, a Seith and a Mindbender, he had learned how to control his mind and body. Later on working as a Blood Hunter just refined that training. Forcing his heart to slow, he growled at the boy. "Stop whatever it is that you are doing. I am no threat to you."

Lucy jumped up to run over but without looking at her, Vander put up a hand to halt her and grit his teeth. "Look kid, I'm not going to hurt you so stop."

"He can't," he heard Lucy call out behind him. "Lucas, put on the bracelet please." Vander felt anger, disappointment and despair wash through him. "Just for a little, I promise. Just until we get this situation sorted out okay? You know I won't make you keep it on." It changed to reluctant acceptance as he watched the boy take out a bracelet and slip it on over his hand with a deep sigh. Suddenly he felt the emotional overload halt and he felt able to breathe normally again. Vander turned to greet the blonde who rushed past him to give the boy a huge hug. "I'm sorry I really am. I don't like this any more than you do, but we have to use it sometimes so no one gets hurt while we train right? Once you have control you won't ever have to use suppression ever again." She told him. Finally she turned to look at him. "Not that it isn't nice to see you, this isn't exactly a normal travel route. So why are you out here Van?"

"To make sure you were okay?" Even he didn't think it sounded convincing as he looked at her hugging a child. "They didn't tell me he was just a boy."

Lucy cocked a brow at that. "And what difference does that make? You don't think I'm capable of helping another mage unless they are a child? Or you don't think I'm capable of protecting myself even though I can hold open multiple gates?"

"Not at all, I just wanted to make sure. No one gave me very good information."

"I still don't see how that is relevant to my ability to handle this situation." She just looked at him, waiting for a decent reason. "If the situation were reversed should I be concerned about your welfare?"

"No."

"So I am not capable like you are? Is that what you are saying?"

"No, it's just…" he ran a hand down his face and sighed. No one but his father could usually back him into a corner verbally. He made a mental note to never introduce the two. "I'm sorry."