As always - Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima and everything Pradesh belongs to Desna.
A/N - I don't normally address reviews in my notes, I much prefer to PM the person directly. But I can't do that if the review is entered as a guest. So... Haru - These are all things I've thought about and you will probably get some if not most answers in this chapter. I love that your reviews are directly related to the content, so please don't stop :) To everyone, I know these last few chapters are a bit of a deviation from the initial story line, but I felt I needed to get them alone(ish) for an extended period. Initially this story was pretty much a one-shot just testing the waters before delving into the world of fanfiction. So bear with me as I adjust this into a longer piece with more plot. (Don't worry, Mira will be very happy by the end of this.) And since I'm on this train already - I'd like to give a quick shoutout to Animechick47 who has been a consistent motivator for me throughout both stories. Oh and two chapters in one week? Don't get used to it LoL.
Dinner was ready shortly after Virgo returned with a clean boy. After asking if anything else was needed and a punishment, the maid disappeared while they ate. Lucy was a gifted cook, and Vander was ecstatic about her choices. She made a pan seared chicken with a cherry wine glaze that he would definitely be asking Mr. Elan to recreate. He was a fan of the roasted brussel sprouts with bacon and baked sweet potato as well and was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that she made all of this with a campfire. When asked Lucy just blushed and said there was definitely some trial with lots of errors the first week until she got used to cooking this way.
While they ate, Vander pinged Kaleb mentally. Hey big bro, I'm gonna be in Fiore for a while. Turns out one of their mages found a kid that needs help big time. He proceeded to explain Lucas's magic and struggles.
You need to bring him to White Sea when you get him stable, Kaleb responded. However, you are one of the best to get him to that point. There is nothing imperative that requires your skills here at this time. Presca asked about you, and you know Dad is asking about your whereabouts. I will let them know what you are up to. There was a pause. I know you Van and you don't generally offer up your services for charity work. The mage that found this boy, who is it and please tell me they are not royalty or attached…
Vander almost laughed out loud. His brother knew him well. He had already planned on taking the kid to White Sea once he could be in public without danger. His brother would be best to help refine his skills. He was sure Lucy wouldn't let the kid out of her sight, so he would just have to talk her into going as well. She is not royalty, although I hear she's friends with Princess Hisui. She is also not attached and a member of Bixy's guild. And I haven't had sex with her. I'm what you would call behaving myself. It's just this kid… I know what it is like to grow up with a strong magic that can just destroy everyone around you. If I didn't have Dad and you guys…
Kaleb could feel the ache in his voice and remembered what Vander had gone through as a small child. The nightmares alone were awful and took years to get past. He also didn't skip over the fact that Vander claimed to be behaving. He would contact Bickslow next. I understand. Keep me updated periodically and let me know if you need assistance. Send your coordinates so I can send someone if I need to.
Vander sent his location and watched as Lucy worked on convincing Lucas to eat the vegetables. "Hey kid, you will regret not eating everything you can when you start working with me in the morning. Your choice though, nothing like regrets to learn a lesson." Lucas sighed and made a face as he put some brussel sprouts in his mouth and chewed slowly. Vander laughed. He answered Lucy's unasked question when she looked at him askance. "I always find it amusing that kids chew slower when it's food they don't like. It actually makes it worse instead of chewing and swallowing faster."
Lucy looked perplexed. "I didn't know that. I had to eat everything the same regardless of how I felt about it." She looked down at Lucas's plate and decided he probably suffered enough based upon the look on his face as he tried to swallow. She brushed her hand along her keys and called out Aries and Plue.
Vander watched in interest as her spirits appeared and she introduced them to Lucas. "I thought you had to say an incantation to summon celestial spirits."
She turned to him to reply. "I used to until I mastered the stardresses. Now I just have to touch their key and send my request mentally. Capricorn says this isn't normal for a Celestial mage, but since I'm the first in hundreds of years to master the stardresses they don't have a lot of historical records to go on."
"What exactly are the stardresses? I know a little of Celestial mages from a guildmate at White Sea but I've never heard of that before."
She smirked at him and asked sweetly, "I can show you. Care to spar?"
He couldn't resist nodding. He watched as she glowed and was then wearing a tight black gown with gold trimming, her hair up in a bun, and one leg showing almost all the way up to her hip. He grinned. "I'd love to Princess."
He watched as she took a defensive stance, her face serious. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed her lion and maid spirits appear as if just to watch. How on Earthland was she managing so many gates and a stardress? "Mia stellina, other than looking quite delicious what do you get from this dress?"
She smirked but didn't answer, instead launching at him with her fist glowing, he barely moved out of the way in time. He grinned and grabbed her around the waist as she slipped past him and pulled her tightly to his chest. He didn't want to actually fight her, just restrain her. She shouted "Lucy Regulus Kick!" and a glowing foot came up vertically to slam into his face over her shoulder. Mentally he was thrilled at her flexibility.
He let go and she turned and immediately put him on the defensive as she swung another glowing fist at him. He started to take this spar seriously, dropped into the shadows to disappear behind her to get her into a firm hold. He wouldn't allow her flexible legs to get the better of him this time. She glowed and her dress changed to a maid's outfit and he felt the earth give way below him. He jumped through the shadows to appear above ground again to watch as her outfit changed again to a cow print bikini top and pants with only one leg as a whip curled around his body. He allowed her to capture him and bring him in close as he admired how little the bikini top covered. She dragged him towards here and he just grinned at the sight. Oh, he was definitely a fan of these dresses. He was trying to decide how to have her model them all for him to choose his favorite. Right now the cowgirl look was the one. He finally understood why his brother referred to her as Cosplayer.
Feeling smug and satisfied as her spirits cheered her on from the side, she pulled the Shadowquip mage to her. It took a moment for her to notice the grin on his face as she realized she was practically pulling him in between her breasts. She immediately dropped the dress and turned, blushing furiously. "Um… well. That was a few of them." Distracting herself with her spirits she ran off to see Lucas who was chatting with Aries with Plue on his lap.
Loke looked at the grinning mage and knew exactly how he felt. "The black dress is mine and I'm happy to see her kick your ass wearing it." Quietly he told Virgo to leave so he could chat with this mage while his key holder was occupied. "I'm the leader of the Zodiac and she is our Princess. We haven't officially met, names Loke." He held his hand out and Vander grasped it in a strong shake. The lion could tell this man was after more than just a casual friendship with his Princess. "I need you to understand that she is important to more than just us, she is important to the entire Celestial realm. I can see how you look at her. You will not hurt her in any way, do you understand me?"
"I wouldn't intentionally harm her." Vander's offense showed in his voice.
"Intentional or not, you will bring the wrath of the realm upon you if you do. Virgo and I can open our own gates and the King himself is invested into her future." Vander nodded in understanding and Loke released his hand and shimmered out of existence from Earthland.
Vander turned to look at Lucy excitedly talking to Aries, Lucas and Plue and tried to determine his end game. Pissing off the Celestial realm would potentially cause issues with his older brother who was getting guidance from the Celestial Dragon Draco after his rescue from slavery. Not to mention the lecture he would have to endure from Kaleb since White Sea had a Celestial mage. He knew his initial interest was because of her uniqueness and beauty. After that it had turned into a game since she consistently shot him down. Now? It didn't seem quite as much of a game now, but he couldn't describe it either. All he could say was that he wasn't ready to call it quits.