A/N I've had some readers saying Lucy should know this or that and I wanted to point something out. I know in Fanfics Lucy is often presented as studious and diligent in her research etc but, in the Manga and the animated series, that is not how Lucy is. She is often caught off guard and unprepared by things she would or should have known had she put some study into her magic, into the keys out in the world etc etc. She leans heavily on Crux to do research for her instead of doing it herself. In the series/manga, Lucy is not on par with Levy or Freed in her book sense. I am not presenting her as the fanfiction version here that studies and all, this is the series Lucy, who only looked into things when a problem was already in front of her. Remember, she wrote a book about her travels, she didn't do research or studies to write it, she just wrote about her experiences. That said? Lets look at what else was happening the same day as the last chapter…
DESNA
(Earlier and during events that same morning)
Larcade came to slowly, growling absently when his magic wouldn't come to his call.
"I'm not sure I want him fully awake…" Someone said.
"Well if you dont you better do something because he's coming to." Was snapped back and Larcade's chin was tipped up, his eyes hazy, not wanting to focus, he saw glowing silver eyes then heard "Sleep Larcade." and plummeted back to the abyss.
Cristoff turned and narrowed his eyes on Farron "Don't wait until he's waking up to make choices like that, you've been in the consulate work too long while the rest of us have been doing mage work. You don't play with greater demons." He chided gently. Farron shrugged, looking at Kaleb.
"Isn't it easier for you to pull memories when they're surfacing occasionally?" He asked and Kaleb looked at Cristoff.
"He's right" He admitted. His mindbending magic worked best on recently passed out subjects for what they were planning, and in truth, he'd only done this on one demon before and it hadn't been a powerhouse like what they had bound to the chair before them.
Keeping this demon wasn't feasible, and he meant to kill it or give it to the council to prove White Sea really was trying to help the Fioran efforts, so far, Laxus and the Fairy Tail name was the only thing keeping the Rune Knights from marching his mages into prison because they were Boscan. They had Sting and Rogue now, and Sabertooths name, though Sabertooth seemed to have been reduced to just the twin dragons and a missing woman that might be dead named Minerva. All of its other members were...dead.
The guild still had enough of a reputation when Sting stood in a Rune Knights face he backed down but Kaleb was seriously considering Laxus' offer to officially make White Sea part of Fairy Tail, if it got harder to keep his people free they would be wearing Fairy Tail guild seals. He was just reluctant, very reluctant, to let a guild that had thrived for more than 500 years, perish like its city had.
Bickslow sat in a chair near Larcade, idly twirling the man's silver cross weapon, they all looked up when Vander came in.
"So Zen will not be joining us." He said smiling.
"Why not? I said Lucy was welcome to come." Farron asked, watching Vander, of the brothers, Farron was having the hardest time accepting Zen's new situation. He'd felt the Archangels loss more than anyone short of their father, and seeing what had happened had felt like seeing Zen in chains again. It had made every part of him seethe with anger and triggered every protective bone in his body. He loved his brothers, all of them, it would have angered him regardless of who it happened to, but that it happened to Zen, after he had spent far too many years of his life a slave and thought dead, had fought so hard to get back to normal. Gods Zen had needed to sleep in the same room with him, their father or Cristoff for months before his nightmares were under control and his magic didn't go haywire anymore.
He knew Lucy wasn't a villain, knew it, it was obvious, and he saw her pained looks, those big brown eyes were expressive and he didn't doubt the sincerity of her remorse but it didn't change the fact she had taken his brother against his will. It was tragic to him, because he felt like…if it weren't for that forced mating, the couple might have come together on their own.
Zen, he knew, was trying to make the best of it, taking it in and being positive about it. That was Zen's nature, he always found the positives in everything, ways to fix things and make them better. He knew Zen wasn't just being positive when he pointed out he'd wanted Lucy, felt attracted to her before any of it had happened, but Farron also knew Zen had a powerful attraction toward Celestial magic users, it was something they had learned about him once he'd joined White Sea and started working with other mages.
Under different circumstance, like Zen choosing to do this, he would have been all over supporting it, the first to be happy for his younger brother, to call their father and tell him and share wicked plans to discourage birth control so father got his grandbabies and Farron got nieces and nephews to spoil.
He stilled a little, wondering if Zen and Lucy had been doing that...their mating hadn't exactly been extensively planned...had it? Had Lucy known? Hoped? Taken something before they mated? Gods, given the state of his relationship with his brother he couldn't even ask him right now without sounding like a meddling ass...and he'd kind of be that too.
Vander sat down beside Bickslow, exchanging a look with his older brother before grinning at their elder brothers.
"He is busy "Bonding" with his new mate, as in he was balls deep in the pretty thing when I looked in on him, I don't think he'll be interested in the proceedings." Vander drawled and Bickslow snickered, high fiving his younger brother.
Farron sighed "Fine, we don't need him here, I just thought he'd want to be...um...whose this?" He looked up as a Maroon haired man came in.
"Cobra, I asked him, he's got soul listening abilities, not that a demon has a regular soul, but he's been helpful when I've done extractions before." Bickslow said, smiling at Cobra as the Poison Slayer came over to stand by him.
Farron nodded "Fine, thank you for coming Cobra, I'll keep the room silenced and if the demon starts up any incantations I'll shut him down." He said. Farron, while he had worked as an Ambassador for Bosco for years, was still an S-class rated mage who used sound magic, it made him very effective when handling demons that, when cut off from their own magic, often would use incantations to notify others or even perform a minor summoning or curse.
All things they couldn't afford to allow in an Inn in the middle of a city already reeling from all that was happening.
"Yep, I'll open his eyes when you're ready Bix." Kaleb said, moving behind Larcade. Cristoff stood beside Bickslow, ready to drive the demon into a deeper sleep if it was needed. Laxus finally came into the room "Ok, sorry, ready...I just got some news that isn't great but we'll handle that after." He said hurriedly taking the seat Bickslow vacated.
A few moments as they all settled and Larcade's orange eyes opened when Kalebs eyes glowed. Bickslows eyes lit green and Larcade tensed but Kaleb, baring his teeth a little as he adjusted his control over the demons mind kept him from coming to.
Minutes ticked by, Bickslow delving into the demon, when he gasped and slammed his eyes shut he was breathing hard, sweat soaking through the black shirt he was wearing.
"Holy shit this bastard is one of Zaref's fucking demons…" He breathed and Kaleb narrowed his eyes, the glow from them brightening.
Bickslow looked to his older brother anxiously "He needs to be careful…" He breathed, truly worried after he'd about been chased from the beings soul by the darkest power he'd ever felt.
Farron jumped when he felt the lacrima in his pocket vibrate. Putting a silent pocket around himself so he didn't distract Kaleb he answered it, Freed appearing, looking like he was pulling on clothes. "Jacob Lessio, the stealth mage, he's here, I had runes tracking him, he's closing in FAST." He snapped and Farron looked up, feeling something as he said "Vander, Presca, if they aren't there you need them!"
Just then Vander bolted to his feet, shadows swirling around him, long swords appearing in his hands and he lunged at seemingly nothing but out of nothing a tall man in a black blazer and pants jumped to the side and all hell broke loose as a woman wearing next to nothing appeared with him and both attacked them.
Kaleb broke his connection, recognizing Brandish from when he and Zen had saved Lucy and Cana, the man fit the description of the one who had been hunting Lucy. Her mass controlling magic had been annoying but she held nightmares that had frozen her pretty well before so he went after her first, leaving the stealth mage to Vander and the others. Brandish whirled, spotting the tall blonde as soon as she emerged and recoiling. She did not want to fight him and knew it. Sending spells at random at the sweaty tired looking mage and the other tall blonde who was sending a bolt of electricity at Jacob she drew in her magic to throw all she had at the tall blonde with the lavender eyes.
Last time he'd made her see horrific things that had distracted her so much the other big mage had rammed a sword right through her chest and she'd nearly died, had Jacob not arrived and transported her in suspended state to Larcade, she would have. Larcades light magic had healed her, but the last thing she wanted was to cross that mages path again, no, Neinart, Serena, Irene, the Emperor himself were who could manage such a mage, she simply wasn't equipped for it.
Honestly, neither was Jacob, but they hadn't known what they would face coming in here, they only knew Larcade had managed to send out a pulse of magic that was his distress, emerging finding him unconscious with that big blonde standing over him was beyond unsettling. If the emperor found out there would be terrible consequences to this.
She didn't even see the twin dragons that she had so enjoyed playing with when they had them as captives. The shadow mage she had particularly enjoyed with Larcades help and Rogue hadn't forgotten, attacking her from behind when she faced Kaleb.
The fight was chaos, Jacob recognized fast that his stealth, his transport, none of it worked with the shadow mage coming at him with long nasty swords and completely unaffected by any of his usual skills, so he grabbed Brandish's wrist and Larcade's shoulder and ripped them both into a dimensional jump but not before a long blade tore through his back and emerged through the front of his shoulder. He blinked down at the blade wreathed in golden fire, the light magic infusing it burning him, but he still pushed his magic, if it killed him, he would get himself, Brandish and Larcade out of this nest of Fioran and Boscan mages anyway.
"No! Farron!" Vander lunged forward and ripped his brother back when Farron pressed in to grab Jacob and try to ram his sword further into the man. He barely got him clear as Jacobs spell went off and snapped Brandish, Larcade and the badly wounded Stealth mage out of their dimension.
They fell backwards, Vander getting the wind knocked out of him by his taller heavier brother landing on him.
"Van! What the hell?!" Farron hissed, jumping to his feet and turning blazing blue eyes on his younger brother.
"He was doing a dimensional jump! If you got pulled through with them you could land right in the fucking Emperors LAP!" The shadow mage shouted back.
Farron blinked, looking around quickly, aside from overturned furniture and a lot of pissed off faces, everyone looked ok, reaching out a hand he gave Vander a sheepish smile "Sorry...thank you…" He said and Vander nodded, taking his hand and letting Farron pull him to his feet.
Kaleb hissed, turning and gripping the chair Larcade had been in. "Fuck…I needed a few more minutes…" he sighed and looked at his siblings.
"We have people to look after...Cris? You got Bix ok?" Kaleb asked, noting Cristoff working to mend the damage Brandish had done to their brother. Laxus had deflected her attack, but Bickslow hadn't.
Cristoff waved a hand "I've got him.." He said. Bickslow grimaced as Cristoff worked restoring the muscle across his side that Brandish had shrunk, leaving him twisted downward on that side painfully. As Cristoff restored it all to normal he was able to breathe again and gave his brother a grateful look.
"Did you learn anything?" Farron asked Kaleb and the blonde sighed "Just confirmed some things we already knew...though...Vander has a new love interest." He said cryptically, eying Vander who frowned at him for a moment then rolled his eyes.
"Great, the demon wants more huh?" He snorted and Kaleb chuckled
"You've always sort of been a victim of your own talents, little brother. Larcade wants you for himself, I'd lay money he'll come after you if given the chance. Upon Fiore's defeat he planned to ask his emperor for you." Kaleb said smiling. Vander waved his hand in dismissal.
"As if Fiore is going down and no thank you, I don't care to be a demon's whore...I'll admit, he was good, and if not trying to kill me...might actually be serious fun in bed but using pleasure as a weapon? That's fucked up shit...like...against the will of the universe and stuff." Vander said firmly, helping Laxus right the furniture before turning and heading out "I'm gonna get Presca, see if we can't track the fuckers and don't get your panties twisted MASTER Kaleb, I promise we won't move in or anything, pure scouting."
"As long as Presca is with you to keep you from dropping your pants for demons I'm good." The guildmaster quipped, smirking at his little brother's scowl.
"Bixy, feel better, Kaleb? Fuck off." Vander said and left the room, Kaleb still smirking, he didn't often get one up on Vander, but this demon thing he planned to use for years.
It had been a week. A broken promise had broken both the greatest failure Lucy had ever had, and…probably her greatest hope for a special and beautiful future with someone she honestly felt so much for…this connection…it had been there before the mating, it had, and she just ached now. Larcade had escaped their hold. It was possible Farron had killed Jacob Lassio but they didn't know. It had taken Zen two days to wake up and Lucy hadn't seen him yet. She wanted to, she wanted to see him, apologize if she could even figure out how to apologize for…twice...betraying him and in doing that. Herself. She stood at the window of her room looking outside, watching as Zen was standing on the balcony of the room he was sharing with Hestor, looking out over the street, unaware she was peeking from behind a curtain watching him with a wistful expression as he sipped a bottle of beer and talked with his brother Cristoff who was sitting on the chair on the balcony near him. Both men looked so relaxed, Zen wasn't smiling…but Cris was…so whatever they were talking about wasn't unhappy.
She had found a strange new friend though. In Hestor Kedanza. Their first meeting had come the morning Zen woke up. He'd come to her room to tell her. She had been trying to find the willpower to eat when the knock on her door had made her cringe. She didn't want more sheepish attempts by Laxus or anyone else to cheer her up. She wanted a little more privacy while she figured out what had happened within herself to let the things happen that had happened. She was mourning…because there had been something so special, a connection with Zen she'd felt from the moment she'd met him, woken up in those strong arms and she just…mourned that she had messed it up so damned much. Deep inside her she felt…if she lost him forever…she would never be able to love anyone, and it made no sense to her, she was so lost, confused…and that wasn't where she wanted to be mentally when she dealt with all her friends trying to be helpful.
She nodded to Virgo who opened the door and almost dropped her coffee cup when instead of a guildmate, a slender man with silver hair and steel blue eyes was looking at her. She knew who he was, she'd seen him the last few days a couple of times leaving and returning to the had told her his name, and that he was White Seas senior Celestial Summoner. He had been outside for a bit with Bickslow and Kaleb hanging the White Sea guild symbol on the front of the Honeybone…the guild had purchased the inn, the owner offering it to them, hopeful that they could sell it and move to a better defended place well away from the closing in armies of Alvarez, and Kaleb had paid the man and his family well…White Sea had also purchased the Blue Moon, and Fairy Tails guild seal now hung over the front of where she was living. It gave people somewhere to come to seek help finding their family members, hoping for information or…in many cases…teleport mages to get them to high flying airships unable to land that would transport them away from the war torn country of Fiore.
Lucy knew a little about Hestor. Loke had informed her he was titled like her, she was the Starbringer and could equip the abilities of her spirits, a title brought by her holding all of the keys of the Golden Zodiac. Hestor was two things. He held The Hall of Two Truths, a set of keys that brought forth a hall of justice to bring those who had defied the will of the Makers of existence to stand to ultimate justice.
He also held the keyset that Zen's mother had once held. The 7 Ivory Keys of Enoch. Each to an Archangel of the Heavenly host…the set making him The Keeper of Angels. It was a set she knew "Angel" or Sorano had been hunting her whole life, never having found a single one of them…her search driving her a little…crazy…since she had seen that set as her ticket clear of Brain. The Keeper not only held seven Angel keys…they were linked to Archangel mages somehow according to Loke…and Hestor had come because of what had happened to Zen…he'd felt when Lucy had taken the man. She'd been warned.
Knowing this, her apprehension was understandable…and so was Loke suddenly appearing behind her chair uncalled…she still had said very little to him since she'd lost Zen. She still loved Loke, he was her spirit and friend, but what he'd helped Cassiopeia do…she wasn't ready to forgive him yet.
"Good morning, I've brought coffee." Hestor said, eying the carafe of coffee on her table warily, his nose wrinkling. "Because we have Jina at the branch across the street now and she has brought with her proper coffee making equipment, beans and knowledge and makes the finest coffee available…probably in this country." He said. Walking to the table and setting the carafe he held down.
Lucy looked at him warily. "What….do you want?" she asked, not seeing any reason at all to bother with pleasantries. She knew Hestor was Zen's closest friend, Bickslow had told her he was, that Hestor had taught Zen to read and write when he'd gotten free of Pergrand…had stood right in Zen's face many times to calm the big man down when he'd flown into rages as he'd learned to control his almost beastial urges from a lifetime as a slave.
"To talk. Zen woke this morning, a few hours ago with a lot of questions and I answered all I could, got him settled, and his brothers are making sure he eats, bathes and gets his ass into the gym because that's where he…lets off negative energy…" He smiled faintly, sitting down without waiting to be invited.
Lucy swallowed hard, setting her cup down. "How is he?"
"Confused, angry…disappointed. I'm sure you'd expect that." Hestor replied as a tall elegant looking male spirit appeared, with silvery white wings and flowing white hair. "Raziel, he is the Angel of Knowledge." Hestor introduced and looked at Loke then Virgo "I recognize Leo the Lion and Virgo. A Pleasure." he smiled faintly. Lucy nodded, still sitting waiting for him to explain why he was there.
Hestor drew a breath as Raziel set a mug down for him…that had a unicorn on it holding up double middle fingers. Hestor poured fragrant coffee into it and found honey on Lucy's table he started stirring in. "I wanted to clarify some things for you, before you speak with Zen. I won't lie to you, all I wanted to do was to walk over here and slap you silly…you're the only Celestial Summoner in existence…who hasn't had to go through trials for her keys, did you know that? Your Golden Zodiac…they've killed hundreds upon hundreds of summoners over the centuries who have taken their trials for their keys. I, personally have scars, physically and emotionally that even Cristoff and Kaleb can not heal from the trials I have gone through, starting at age 6, for every key I hold that isn't a simple silver. You? You get a Golden Zodiac, smile, wiggle your tits and poof, you have a contract…it is forbidden at the Academe Celestine…where most summoners go to gain educations in their magic, to speak ill of Summoners in the field…but…there are many who think poorly of you because Sei Roo has favored you so much and without…from what any can tell…any good reason other than your body and pretty face, he's made it so you can contract any damn thing and claim a Title of the Six Points of humanity without a single key trial under your belt." Hestor said, sitting back and sipping his coffee, watching her over his cup.
Lucy narrowed her eyes "I have suffered getting some of my keys. I have also completed some key trials."
"Have you?" Hestor raised a brow in surprise, he'd never heard of Lucy completing trials, only that she just…picked up keys and the spirits made contracts with her without any trials, any tests to assure she was strong enough to hold all she did. He'd also heard she was kidnapped often, that her friends pushed her around and summoners who had encountered her considered her completely uneducated in her magic and that she was so busy running after her friends on wild jobs she was hardly ever noted as settling down and doing real research like other Celestial Summoners she'd gone through a key trial though, he knew it wasn't for a Zodiac, even the Academe noted she hadn't trialed for that set and was studying that as it was such a drastic change from how the mage/spirit relationship worked. "But you haven't gone through an actual trial of the spirit's design to hold a Golden Zodiac, a test of mettle, character…every spirit designs to assure their holder will match up to them, be able to power them." Hestor waved a hand though, shaking his head dismissing all of it.
"I'm not here to argue over whether or not you deserve the keys you hold though. You hold them, that's a fact. You are the Starbringer, one of the Six Points of Humanity. The six points hold seat at the council of creation. That council, also is seated by the Gods themselves, the Fates…and is presided over by the Makers themselves. The council meets to determine the futures of worlds…galaxies…species. To decide where magic will thrive and where it will not be present at all, to assure that those souls who pass through the Gates of Anubis, go where they should as they leave mortal lives and move on to their next life or eternal rewards or damnation. We do not know why…it is something I and many others are researching, but the Six points of humanity were hunted down and killed during the Holy Wars. We don't know who did it…but…we do know the Archangels and Void Angels of the time were used as pawns…sacrifices…while it was done. Not just to stop the demonic invasions, but to stop Eartland from having that seat on the council that could decide to end humanity." Hestor explained.
Lucy's eyes had widened while he talked, her wariness gone, exhaustion gone…interest rising she didn't even notice Raziel taking her coffee mug and dumping it in the bathroom sink, returning and refilling it from Hestor's carafe. Loke did, and warily picked the cup up and sipped from it, blinking at how good it was then setting it back down where Virgo stirred in cream and sugar.
"And…you're titled." She prompted, encouraging him to go on as she accepted her mug from Virgo.
"I am, and…twice. I am the Starblade, set protector of the Six Points , a title I gained through completing the Hall keyset. The last Starblade was my ancestor, Eiko Takida, who was murdered during the Holy Wars through unknown methods…his mate, the first Morning Star Archangel…taken from him. Unlike him…I also hold the Enoch set, making me the Keeper of Angels and…" Hestor pursed his lips "Affording me far more reaching abilities…as I will have protection myself through the Archangel mages and the Angels of the 7, so I…unlike my ancestor…will fight with the 7 at my side and…Zen."
Lucy looked at him blinking. "So the first points were killed off…but…their starblade didn't have the resources you do."
Hestor nodded "That's correct, and…the points are happening again." He narrowed his eyes "And I am a suspicious bitch about it all…how I have more resources…came into the sets I have just as Zen was emerging into enough power Pergrand wasn't able to hide him well anymore." he met Lucys eyes, gauging how well she was listening and smiling faintly at her keen eyes on his, eager for more information, she wasn't as out of tune with her magic as some said she was…
" I completed my title shortly before you completed yours. Before us…the Starseer completed his. Xavier Magnusen, who was the advisor of the King of Seven, the King who was murdered by his wife Kressa…the Black Queen. The Starseer was considered a treasure of Seven…and Kressa couldn't kill him, he was her son's tutor until Nuryev turned 16, then she refused to let Xavier anywhere near Nuryev and…" Hestor frowned "She sold Xavier to the King of Pergrand as a slave, he is still there, kept in the royal Harem of the King, WITH…the Starwalker, a Snow Leopard shifter once named Giermo Lusing. Both of those points are in Pergrand…held by King Karadin and…I've every belief the King wants to own…all six points."
"The Starbringer, Starseer, Starblade and Starwalker…there are two more…" Lucy said and Hestor nodded.
"The Starbinder, I have not found them yet, the Starbinder can bind any living being of magic…into a key, turn them into a keybound spirit, be it mortal, immortal…you name it. The key set for them hasn't been seen since the first years of the Holy Wars, the Academe Celestine has been trying to find those keys for centuries." Hestor said
"And then the Starlight, who can purge curses and drive darkness back. Their set is like the Hall of two truths…bloodbound to a certain bloodline. The last titled Summoner to hold them was Julien Vilatte of Enca, who was the first mate of the first Evening Star…Kayliss." Hestor said, frowning some and pulling a tin out of requip with Stellan writing on it. He opened it and the rich aroma of honey came from it. He pulled out one of the biscuits, taking a bite before another sip of his coffee.
"I've spent years gathering this information, Lucy. And Zen coming out of captivity? Having been taken as he was and held in Pergrand where Karadin holds two of the Six Points of Humanity? I don't believe it was a coincidence he got Zen, or that the last Keeper of Angels was Zen's mother…murdered while in Pergrand with Zen's father, Arman, was on a diplomatic mission of peace there. No…Karadin is doing something…planning something…and he is in alliance with Princess Kurino and Emperor Spriggan. The blockade runners Kurino used were Pergrandian slave ships that had been converted for what she did when she destroyed the Knights…the Citadel itself still stands…because that filthy bitch couldn't destroy the divine crystal that guards it…and part of White Sea City remains…protected by the Guardian of White Sea…though Kaleb stays away to protect those that hide there until order can be restored." Hestor sat then, letting Lucy, who was wide eyed…her lips parted, process everything he had said.
"Why….why are you telling me this?" She whispered.
"Because, you are the Starbringer, and as one of the points it is as much your duty as mine to see the Six points restored and bring humanity back to the Council of Creation." Hestor replied. His expression was simply…unreadable at that point, but Lucy wasn't trying…too occupied processing everything. He eyed her hard.
"I have to rely on you and the other points…we will be who fights for humanity, all of humanity on this world, even Sei Roo holds only one seat at the Council, Humanity was given Six by the Makers as our species is so influential in the distribution of power among the Gods, the Heavens and even the Hells, that our seats were taken from us…the points killed at the start of the Holy Wars? Very suspicious…and here we are…an Archangel walks the Earth again, and the points are returning…what are we facing? What have the fates laid out? Most of all…who did the horrible things at the beginning of the Holy Wars? Are they still a threat?"
Hestor steepled his fingers, meeting Lucys eyes and letting her process that for a bit before he continued.
"One more thing…The Archangel Mages are a key part in it all, their magic allows Celestial based mages to expand their abilities, to become stronger…strong enough to stand against greater demons. You remember Mard Geer?" Hestor tilted his head, taking in Lucy's wince. Of course she did…Mard Geer had nearly destroyed magic itself…had been why she had lost Aquarius..
"Had you been as you are now…with your third origin open? You would have had the power, the stamina, to have defeated those you stood against instead of having to break a key." Hestor said simply and Lucy sucked in a breath…he wasn't wrong…she felt it…she had hugely more magic at her fingertips than she had then, her third origin was bigger than her first two combined…
"How do you know…." She demanded realizing nobody…nobody should know what she had done.
"I am the Starblade…protector of the Six, and…" He nodded toward Raziel
"Raziel is the angel of knowledge." He made a sour face looking at the placid looking spirit.
"Make no mistake…he's no easier to get things out of than any other spirit..cryptic on the best of days…but if I research enough, learn enough…he will fill in blanks if I ask the right things of him…and I've asked…so many questions." he chuckled shaking his head and finishing a biscuit before taking another.
Lucy looked at Raziel then Hestor who rolled his eyes. "I didn't ask about you because of Zen…your phenomenally bullshit laden choices there notwithstanding, I asked because you were the Starbringer, and I needed to know some about you so I knew how much work I would be facing in trying to keep you safe. Make no mistake here…even with the power you now hold, I doubt you have the skill to really fight as well as you may need to, I'll have to fix that, help you with that. Pergrand won't touch you…you're a woman…and therefore…as far as Pregrand is concerned…a walking talking piece of shit not worthy of dirtying a shoe…they have mastered procreation using their labs and only bring in women to harvest their eggs, then they feed them to their berserkers to keep them well blooded." He said simply "They would take you, torture you, keep you on the brink of death, harvest your eggs then force your contracts to a male summoner as soon as they could find one and kill you. I have seen women certain they would be able to walk the streets there, certain they held worth because of their magic or power or money…I assure you…if Princess Kurino ever set foot off her ship in Pergrand, she would face a worse fate, Karadin is using her, using Kressa, and both of those morons believe because they are royalty, King Karadin will treat them differently than he and his countrymen have treated women for hundreds of years now…forever and ever women endlessly think they will be somehow special enough Pergrand won't treat them like any other…never…in the history of that nation…has any woman ever held value once her eggs were harvested. They don't even produce female children anymore, their labs assure all children grown are male. Pergrand just uses the slave trade to get eggs."
Lucy's mouth fell open again…she knew Pergrand didn't think of women as…even worth as much as a dog…but she hadn't known they did…any of that.
Hestor sighed at her stunned look "You need to learn some of the world, Lucy Heartfilia…so you stop walking into all the messes you land in." He looked with hard eyes at Loke "And you need to learn how to stop letting so many people walk all over you, manipulate you and use you."
Loke sneered taking a step toward Hestor "Don't you talk to her…" he started but a vicious looking black glaive…that Lucy instantly recognized was suddenly at Loke's throat in front, a broadsword wreathed in divine fire at the back of his neck…the claymore held by a tall dark clad male spirit, the sword by Raziel. Loke's eyes were wide "...like…that…"
"I really don't think you have any position right now to say shit…Leo the Lion. According to Zen." Hestor said nodding toward the tall man who stood, amethyst eyes hard and cold locked on Loke…ignoring Lucy who stood with her heart just about twisting into a knot within her seeing him again "you were instrumental in what Lucy did…and…according to him, and to Bickslow…what Lucy did to Zen, she regretted and wouldn't have done had you and Cassiopeia not pushed her." Hestor's eyes narrowed and he stood facing the spirit.
"Unlike Lucy…I will not let you run over me…and I'm not going to let any of you run over her anymore. So you can take your best intentions that did in fact see her into Hell and shove them up your ass…you and Cassiopeia will be listening more and demanding less of your keyholder…she will be educated…and you WILL respect her enough to let her make un-manipulated choices going forward." Hestor hissed in Loke's face.
"Or you will face The Hall." Those whispered words made Loke blanch and Lucy blinked a few times, unsure why her Lion wasn't doing more…but grateful at the same time he wasn't.
"Please…" she began and Hestor looked sharply at her pointing a finger right to the end of her nose.
"Do not ASK…do not beg or plead…if spirits have created an uncomfortable situation for you…you stand up and DEMAND what you need of them. You have a moral compass Lucy…USE IT." Hestor snapped
"Close…Gate of the Lion." Lucy snapped and Loke vanished, Zen stepped back, giving Hestor a small nod. Raziel sheathed his sword and remained where he was.
"You should have done that…before." Hestor said quietly, smoothing his vest and tugging at the cuffs of the beautiful blue silk jacket he wore. He returned to his seat.
Lucy winced…knowing he didn't mean just then.
"I should have…but I…was almost drunk…I couldn't stop." She looked at Zen, all the regret…the desperate need for forgiveness, hope…all of it so plain on her face and in her eyes even Hestor drew a breath and touched Zens arm, reassuring the man who was teetering on leaving, Zens feelings were in chaos, he just hadn't grown up with any form of experience in handling relationships…he'd spent his life fighting, killing so he could survive, so he could wrest small bits of control over his life and body away from the people who kept him as a slave. He just didn't know what to do with his pain, his hurt...didn't know how it had ever gotten into him so deep and didn't know how to even look at Lucy without almost going to his knees with how…badly she'd hurt him and at the same time…how much he still wanted her, still wanted to be with her at her side in spite of it all and now…now he couldn't blame the mating for that, it really was just him.
"Yes…the compulsion of the Archangel magic…it draws mages of Celestial base like bees to honey because the Archangel Mages are power fountains for us." Hestor sighed, shaking his head, silver bangs falling over his vivid eyes. He was a handsome man, elegant, if not for the somewhat haughty air about him she'd have said he reminded her a lot of Freed, but Freed's arrogance had been tempered a lot by his experiences…Hestor though…clearly held on to his.
"I just…don't know what I'm even feeling." Lucy said in a small voice, watching Zen who looked…ragged, as confused and out of sorts as she felt though Zen manifested that all into…anger, rage…and she saw the muscle straining his shirt, his pants…his fist so tight on the handgrip of the glaive the knuckles were near white. The man was…tense.
"Let me explain to you what I explained to Zen this morning." Hestor said, settling better in the chair and taking another biscuit from the tin before he pat Zen's hip then pressed his hand against the man's side, there was something that exchanged then, and she saw some of the tension leave the big man, watched him heave a sigh and move, dropping into a chair as the black glaive vanished into requip.
"Won't hurt me to hear it again…I'm trying to wrap my head around it all." Zen said in a tired voice, not looking at either of the Celestial mages, he shook his head when Hestor offered him a biscuit. And Hestor hummed and looked at Lucy.
"What your spirits orchestrated was a forced binding and mating, the two go hand in hand, you force a bond, the Archangel doesn't give it of their choice and free will, then anything you do from that point also is forced. From the start, there could be nothing positive between you two as soon as Zen was forced. In all honesty? There is more information in journals and texts of the era of the first Triad about the forced matings than on the ones they chose themselves. But in every case…spirits were present, entire hosts, every spirit a summoner held, pulled out using the magic of the Archangel mage instead of their keyholder to weaken that mage and overwhelm them, then, the flood of celestial magic brought by that, drowned out their free will, robbed them of it completely, and forced a mating into place that was not based in love or trust or anything positive…pure absolute…slavery. That is all that can come of a forced mating. No way around it, had your mating with Zen stood as it was, there would never have come a day where he had a choice in anything, he would be subject to your whims, your wants, your needs no matter how small or how lightly you felt them…he would serve, or he would suffer." Hestor said and Lucy set the cup down again, hands suddenly shaking, eyes closing to stop tears. She had cried herself out the last couple of days over this.
"I…so it was enslavement…it wasn't going to get better even though that wasn't what I wanted…I wanted to be close to Zen and I wanted him to be able to be himself…but…it couldn't be that." she whispered and Hestor shook his head.
"No, never. It never would have, Zen just would have, over time, adjusted to it and learned to hide it well so it didn't upset you…because believe me, he felt it when you were upset, guilty, everything, he felt it, and his magic punished him for every unhappy feeling you experienced. Tortured him…assaulted his every thought, his every breath until you were feeling better. That is what those forced matings create." Hestor said firmly.
Lucy put a hand to her mouth, horrified, looking at Zen sadly. She had to pull her spirits out…talk to them…confront Loke on this…because everything had been done so badly.
"Why would my own…spirits…do that?" She rasped and Hestor narrowed his eyes.
"Power. The amount of power an Archangel mage gives a summoner is…tremendous. You hadn't tapped it yet, hadn't tried it…had not been in a situation where you could but believe me…I am the Keeper, I can call Zen to my side as you just saw a few moments ago, I can on about one tenth the scale of a real mate, call his strength to me as well, there's a reason they ended up hunted like they were during the Holy Wars." Hestor sighed, "Spirits want their holders to be strong, the stronger we are, the stronger they are. Spirits are limited by the strength and power of their keyholders. You've seen it, felt it. You are unique in that you are the Starbringer, you bring some part of the strength of those spirits to bare, but even your strength is limited by your magical capacity and personal strength…imagine being able to do what you do but with his strength added to yours." Hestor said nodding toward Zen and Lucy's eyes widened, she'd watched Zen fight…seen some of what he was capable of…adding that to her own strength…
Lucy nodded and sat back, taking it all in. She and Zen never would have worked it out…there was no amount of talking, no amount of effort that would have changed how things worked between them because of the way they had come together…no matter what she'd done…he was doomed from the moment she'd made that choice…to be her slave. She looked at Hestor for a long moment.
"I…am sorry I broke my promise to him…but I'm grateful the mating was broken because of it." she said quietly.
Hestors lips twitched, and a hint of respect came into his cold eyes. "Then…I am willing to let you two talk, I'll go out on the balcony…take in the…" Hestor made a face at the light snow falling outside "Completely shitty weather for a bit." He had stood and gone out, leaving Lucy sitting across from Zen, looking at the man and chewing her lip.
"I…" She didn't know how to say it…how did she say she still needed him? That she wanted to have him in her life, wanted a real chance with him because she was…half in love with him and didn't want to lose him, even though she had no right to ask for anything.
"I don't want to give up…" Zen said quietly and Lucy's heart about soared, she was almost afraid to breathe.
"Me neither. I…I can't ever hope to understand what I put you through…and I have no right to ask anything of you…I promise you Zen, I won't ever take away your choices again." She managed and he looked at her, the intensity of him just…reached so deep into her, he was so…fierce, so strong and at the same time, though he'd grown up with a complete lack of it…he was understanding, kind. She knew his touch…his warmth…and she knew she needed it, needed him.
"Call Leo…" Zen said firmly and Lucy nodded, drawing a breath and sliding her fingers around the key at her side. Loke was immediately there.
"Princess…I'm sorry, I had no idea you'd made promises to the Archangel…" He began.
"Zen, my name is Zen…I'm not a thing, I'm a person and you…you and Cassiopeia…manipulated Lucy in an effort to make me her slave." Zen snapped, cutting Loke off.
Leo looked at the man, blinking, caught off guard and clearly unsure how to respond, especially when Lucy moved away from Leo and stood beside Zen where the big man was sitting, making it clear…she was on Zens side in this because she was.
"Explain to me…why you made this sound so beautiful…and you did Loke…you and Cassiopeia made this sound perfect…that it was meant to be, that Zen and I were just made for each other and we would save Gajeel and live happily ever after because…that's pretty much what I got when this started…you kept assuring me it would be fine…that Zen just didn't understand…as if somehow what we'd done had been messed up and just needed to be fixed…but it wasn't fixing it you and Cassiopeia were doing was it? You were making it worse…you were trying to just…make him mindless." Lucy said, meeting Loke's eyes. She couldn't call Cassiopeia…Cassiopeia had terminated their contract…her key had vanished from Lucy's ring…so the only one she could confront…was her "Loyal Lion"
Loke looked down "I…it's happened before…I was once kept by one of your ancestors Princess…Marie…Marie Heartfilia, centuries ago. We…all of the Zodiacs…we want to become a bloodline set, like the Hall of two Truths, the 6 Black Fates…or generational…like Draco, so that we don't get scattered…so that not just any random mage can collect us and trial and win us…your line…you're good women on the whole, you really do try to do the right things, friendship matters to you and that's been true in your line for centuries…Sei Roo favors the line because of your beauty…we wanted to stay with it because…we've never been abused in the hands of a Heartfilia. Marie…Marie fought and…took…the first Morning Star, she…she killed his mate and claimed him…and we were so strong…we saved thousands of lives, laid waste to demons, whole legions of them, she gave birth to beautiful children that the church took to raise and Jacamar was good to her, protected her, served her and us…until she was betrayed, I…I didn't see it…I couldn't come through the gate and the pools couldn't show us what was happening but Cassiopeia said she was betrayed and Jacamar taken from her…and we were just…adrift…for centuries Princess, until you…" Leo said in quiet desperation.
"Aries…she's been so wronged so many times…abused beyond anything I could describe, so has Virgo…even Aquarius suffered…all of us…we just want you strong…strong enough to hold on, and ageless Princess…you shared his lifespan and Archangel mages do not age! We could be at your side for centuries…we could see your children and grandchildren grow…we could become a legacy set tied to your blood and never know that…homelessness…that we have known too many times."
Lucy was chewing her lip, tears in her eyes at the pain in Leo's voice.
"Enslaving me…wasn't the answer." Zen said, breaking the spell.
Leo looked at him "I…didn't know it would be as bad as it was…Cassiopeia kept assuring me, all of us…that you would relax, come around, and once you did, you and Lucy would be able to fall in love and be happy, she…she said you were just being stubborn because you didn't like how it had all started…if we could get you past that…things would work."
Zen narrowed his eyes "So she lied to you."
Leo blinked, then looked down "Yes…I suppose she did…manipulate me and the others but we had no reason to doubt her, when she was held before…by Marie…we all worked together for the strength and happiness of our holder and it really was…beautiful. Jacamar…it was bad for the first while, he did mourn his mate…but the laws of the duels are finite, an Archangel Mage…they had to be mated, had to reproduce…were born to be all that they're meant to be…if another mage wins the duel, they get that mating, they get the Agelessness, the third origin opened, the strength and power and protection of the Archangel Mage and in those days…it was painfully needed because of the war." Leo said "Jacamar did come around, after a while he was kind…affectionate with Marie and she loved him…she loved him so much…it was beautiful."
"And one sided…you know I had no choice? If Lucy felt sad…it caused me physical pain…I had to go to her…I HAD to comfort her, to make her feel better or the pain…the compulsion…got worse and worse…Jacamar didn't come around…Jacamar wore down and couldn't take the pain anymore." Zen said in a hard voice and Loke shook his head
"No…you didn't see them…after a few months…he did care for her, it was genuine." Loke protested.
"There was no Keeper during that time…they had been murdered before the Wars truly got bad…before the Archangel Mages were in the fields being written about…but there is one now…and I'm telling you because I KNOW, what you did, what Cassiopeia did…was pure enslavement, over time Zens mind would loose control…his will would be forced back so far…he might appear to care, appear to love…but it would only be him responding to the compulsions…the drives created by a magic built on enslavement…the dark ritual that forced the mating and make no mistake…Leo the Lion…the ritual used? I've read about it…it is DARK magic, there is nothing of love involved." Hestor said as he brushed snow from his hair and shoulders.
Loke pressed his lips together, looking…ragged…miserable. "No…we…none of us would want that."
"Then never even consider being involved in such a thing ever again." Hestor said going to stand by Lucy and Zen.
"We…didn't know, we had no reason to doubt Cassiopeia." Leo said, shaking his head. "I'm so sorry Lucy…I am…please don't hold it against her…she really does love you." Leo said to Zen and Lucy blushed, making a strangled sound as Hestor raised a brow and Zen let out a sigh.
"I'm not giving up…I wanted to know why and now I do, Cassiopeia seems involved in a lot…" Zen said, exchanging a look with Hestor who was narrow eyed and already on his com sending a demand to Romino, the Archive mage he knew was closest and…who was more resourceful than Andros was…about getting more information on Cassiopeia's history…
Zen had stayed for a little while after, they had talked more with Leo, making it very clear he wouldn't do anything to interfere with she and Zens relationship going forward. That had made Lucys heart warm.
"We're going to work on our relationship and you're going to let us do that without interference…because I've had all I want of spirits pushing me into Lucys arms…I'll be there on my own terms…understand?" Zen had growled and Leo had nodded while Lucy had blushed.
That had been Lucy's first meeting with Hestor, the second…had come later that same day when Loke had come hoping to apologize again for his actions and offering Lucy something he hoped would make up for a little bit. A new map of Ishgar assembled by the spirits. That had gotten her to not close his gate the moment he'd appeared. Instead, she grinned at him "Ok...Loke...before I shoo you out, let me see the map." She said, determined to go over the map before she had to give it over to Laxus.
She called Hestor to tell him, knowing he would tell Kaleb and the others, and hoping to get a good dialogue going with the man. He was well educated in her magic, he knew her keys, he knew key trials, the Academe Celestine…and more than that, he was Zen's friend and might help her get through trying to make amends to the man, trying to make whatever they could…happen.
Hestor had come over quickly, "Kaleb and the officers of White Sea will all need to see this…" he told her as he came in and Lucy nodded.
"I know, and I've already told Laxus, but I wanted you to have a look, some of the language is old Celestial…" she pointed out as Virgo was spreading out sandwiches and finger food on the table.
Turning Hestor grabbed himself something and took a spot by her side, eyes scanning over the map, a frown on his face. Bosco hadn't changed much, but it now had Enca along its North Eastern border instead of Iceberg. The Grass sea was still exactly as it had been, shape and size the same and Pelerno was still at its Westernmost shore, there was no city of White Sea listed and he felt pain tighten his chest. Irene's spell hadn't done that...Bosco's own Princess had...
"There, there's Canas village, Gods all the way up by Rosegarden...at least it's on the map...not like Acalypha…" She sighed and Hestor eyed her "Its…where I'm from, where I grew up…my parents were buried there." Lucy sighed and Hestor nodded, patting her twice on the back in a "there there" sort of way but offering nothing more.
They had barely finished changing the words on the map from Celestial to common and Hestor was contemplating drinking something far heavier than iced tea when there was a knock on the door and Loke went to open it. Laxus stood there, looking with concern at Lucy. "Wanna bring the map downstairs? Have a lot of folks anxious to see it and White Sea has a replicant mage ready to make copies for us." He said.
He'd stood outside the door listening carefully, unsure if there might be more raised voices…Hestor hadn't gone easy on Lucy, but, all things considered, he'd been fair.
He was grateful to see the man looking calm munching a sandwich and standing beside Lucy.
Lucy gathered up the map, grabbed another sandwich and with Hestor not far behind her, led the way downstairs, grinning when she saw Levy and Gajeel had emerged and were sitting where several tables had been pulled together.
It was odd looking around the Tavern, seeing the mixture of three battered guilds, her own, White Sea and the twin Dragons of Sabertooth, looking good she noted in the clothes she and Zen had picked up for them.
Everyone looked like they were getting along though, Mira was chatting with Farron, Freed was sitting by Kaleb and by the looks he kept giving the tall blonde he might have found a second crush other than Laxus. Cristoff was talking with Cobra and Lisanna was standing chatting with a purple haired mage from White Sea who must have been the replicant because he'd been placed at the head of the table. All eyes came up though when Laxus cleared his throat and Lucy moved past him to spread the map out on the table.
"Fuck…" Someone breathed a few minutes later.
Farron ran a hand over his face, pale blue eyes scanning over the map before turning upward, thoughts racing. Of everyone in the room, with his background in international politics and diplomacy, he knew the implications of everything he saw.
"We need to get a copy to Father immediately…" He said quietly and Kaleb nodded to the purple haired mage whose eyes lit up, hand opening over the map and the single map turned into a stack of more than a hundred.
"Get copies to the Rune Knights, the palace...to each and every mage in our circle. Lerice, can you get this into archive?" Kaleb asked and a slender woman with short cropped dark pink hair bowed "Of course Master Kaleb, right away." She replied, taking a copy of the map.
The mages moved into action quickly, everyone taking a copy of the map, some moving off to sit by themselves, Cana being one of them. Lucy was about to go to her when a large hand touched her shoulder and she looked up into Gajeel's crimson gaze.
"I need to talk to you and Zen, shrimp and I both." He said firmly and Lucy nodded, dread settling in her stomach as she noted Levy's eyes were anywhere but on her. Hestor hummed
"I'll go get Zen." he said and turned on his heel heading up the stairs.
It was a few minutes before Hestor returned, Zen beside him.
They moved off to their own corner of the tavern, Zen following when Hestor took his hand. He'd wondered when he might see Gajeel again, but considering the man was a Dragon Slayer in the process of taking a mate, he'd doubted it would be so soon.
"Shrimp…" Gajeel prompted, arm around Levy who looked up at him and sighed, nodding looking at the table before lifting her hazel eyes resolutely to Lucy and Zen sitting across from her. She looked at Hestor frowning "Um…I don't…"
"Hestor being here isn't optional." Zen said firmly and Levy blinked, confused. First because she didn't know the man, second because he was seated pointedly between Lucy and Zen, but at Lucy's nod she drew a breath and went ahead.
"I...I wanted to say I'm sorry…" She began and Lucy opened her mouth but Hestor's hand suddenly caught and squeezed hers and she stopped, looking up at him, his eyes intent on Levy, listening and Lucy realized, if anyone deserved that apology it was Zen and she had no right to stop it, or to tell Levy it was ok…it wasn't ok…this talk had to happen, so she remained silent.
"I manipulated you Lucy. I reminded you of how much Gajeel and all of Fairy Tail had suffered and sacrificed for you, used our friendship to get you to go against your own beliefs and morals to take Zen without talking to him first. I talked you out of doing that even though you wanted to...and...it was wrong of me." She said softly, eyes full of the remorse she'd started to feel more and more after Gajeel's reaction to finding everything out. They'd had some hard conversations, a couple of shouting matches and Levy had cried a lot. They had also though cuddled, made love over and over and Gajeel had told her often he loved her, no matter what. She believed him, and she also believed that in her grief and desperation, she had made her friend do something terrible, she had been...cruel...and it wasn't fair.
"I'm sorry Zen...for pushing Lucy to do what I did, for...not giving you the chance you deserved to...say no. I pushed you two together...I'm sorry." She added, looking sheepishly at Zen now. "You...didn't deserve to be forced…" She whispered and Gajeel met the Archangels eyes then.
"You saved my life...sacrificed a lot to do it too. I can't ever repay that, but I want you to know, I'm grateful, and that Lev and I really hashed this out once I knew what happened to get you guys down there to rescue me." Crimson eyes turned to Lucy and narrowed and she cringed under them.
"Bunny, I love you like a sister, you're kin to me. I'd lay my life down for you, I've done it, I'm disappointed you let Levy manipulate you but I know how you are, and so you know Zen, your mate is loyal to a fucking fault. She'd do anything for a friend...guess she proved that in a not so great way already, but...that said? You hurt her, mistreat her? I'll forget how much I owe you and lay you out." He said and Zen sighed.
He liked Gajeel.
"Lucy and I aren't mated anymore…she already broke a promise she made to me and the punishment was…our mating was broken, removed by the Spirit King himself. So…you don't need to worry Gajeel…I won't be hurting her.." He added the last meeting the Iron Dragon slayer's crimson eyes squarely. Gajeels mouth fell open and Levy gasped, looking at Lucy, seeing her friend looking away, tears already brimming because no matter how much Lucy cried…she couldn't seem to stop when she faced what she'd done again, hope or not…she hated what had happened.
"But…Loke said your souls were compatible…I thought Zen…that you had chosen part of it…" Levy stammered.
"A forced mating doesn't allow an Archangel any choice in anything…Levy was it? So whatever flowery romantic bullshit was shoveled your way? It was nothing but bullshit…What you made Lucy do…was enslave him, remove every bit of his free will, and bind him to Lucy's every whim and desire to the point that if she wanted comfort? He would comfort her, she wanted his body? He fucked her, she needed him to say certain things certain ways? He did and he had no choices…NONE, that's how a forced binding works when the mage doing it decides to push it all the way into a mating." Hestor said when Lucy couldn't manage a word, his tone was almost like a professor at a lecture.
"That's not what Loke said…and the book went on about how after mating the couple needed to be together to really form their bond…" Levy said
"The book was written by a woman who slaughtered the mate of the first Evening Star…who used to strip him naked and fuck him in front of others to show them all how thoroughly she owned him…who held onto him for almost 14 years before another woman finally managed to kill her and take him for herself…and then that woman wrote a journal too, all about how to use Archangel feathers to set up ambushes…how to SELL the children of an Archangel mage and how to get them to fall so they could be sold into the service of the demonic hordes in exchange for power." Hestor said coldly and tilted his head "So the book? Is bullshit. I hold the keys to the 7 Archangels of Enoch…I have real books, real scrolls, I have the journal written by the first Morning Stars first born child and access to knowledge you won't find in any normal library, ERA itself couldn't touch what I can get access to on Archangels and the magics around them. What you read…what you were told, was used to manipulate you so that Lucy would enslave Zen. I'm unsure really of all the reasons why…but…when Lucy is feeling a little better and things aren't so…chaotic, perhaps I can help her figure that out."
Levy was shaking her head, horrified. "No…Loke wouldn't do something like that, I've known him longer than Lucy has, before anyone knew who he really was, no…Lucy's spirits love her…"
Hestor narrowed his eyes "Denial…has never, ever…solved anything."
Gajeel was blinking, trying to wrap his head around it all and in true Gajeel fashion…he made a decision pretty quickly.
"Sounds like it was for the best…if the mating was like that, it's best it's gone. Bunny is free to learn from this shit and make some changes so it doesn't happen again, and you Zen…you're free and can work on making sure this shit doesn't happen to you again…on that? If I can help? I want to. I noticed those bands on your arms, saw them in Hell on you…you're wearing new ones…the metal is more refined, more conductive." Gajeel observed, eyes now on where a platinum band peeked out from the jerkin Zen was wearing.
Hestor actually smiled faintly, he was proud of the bands…he'd worked damn hard at the Academe to sort out a better formula for them.
"Yeah…they work sort of like Kalebs choker does…if there's a magic feedback…a rise in Celestial magic hitting me that isn't my own? They create a magic dampening field around me to protect me." Zen said
Gajeels eyes brightened with keen interest…forgetting all about Lucy fighting tears, or Levy gaping at what Hestor had said before. As far as he was concerned…the mating was broken…shit would get better, that was done…there was really interesting metal work to look at.
"Who did the work?" He asked leaning forward and Hestor pushed Zen's arm forward, shoving up the jerkin so the band was fully visible.
"A metal mage at the Academe Celestine who specializes in enchanted works, he's studying the forge work of Celestial keys there, and is probably the foremost expert on Celestial metallurgy." Hestor said, perfectly happy to discard the former conversation and move on to more interesting things…like his own genius in designing the bands….
"It took over a year of back and forth work with the metal mage, Remy Gouselle from Enca…from a family of metal mages, amazing man." Hestor said.
Kalebs pale eyes came up from what he was working on with Farron to narrow on Hestor…who ignored him.
"I'd like to meet him, this is really good work…" Gajeel observed "Could you take one off? I'd love to handle one…won't change anything…just…out of contact with Zen I'd like to see how the metal looks." Gajeel asked looking between Hestor and Zen.
Zen nodded, glancing briefly at Lucy, frowning seeing her sitting hugging herself trying to get her composure back but he moved to his feet and Hestor, smiling now pushed him out of the way so he could stand as well. Seeing some women approaching looking worried at Lucy…he wanted out of the way of the emotional drowning that he was sure was coming and…to get to where they could chat about lighter things well away from that.
"Well ok then. You'll have to let me buy you a beer." Gajeel said firmly and Zen managed a faint smile at the Dragonslayers enthusiasm..
"Now's good for me." He said and Gajeel snorted standing, "We'll let the girls have their girl time then, I see Cana approaching and trust me, unless you want your ass grabbed and all parts of your anatomy graded? We want to go to the bar." The Dragon Slayer said and Zen made a face…Hestor looked ill at the thought.
"No…no thank you." Hestor said, pushing the other two men toward the bar.
Cana was already sliding into the booth beside Levy shoving Gajeel out of the way, groping the man while she did it and earning a smack from Levy that had the Card mage cackling a bit as Mira and Lisanna also pushed into the booth concerned eyes on Lucy and Levy both.
The men didn't linger, and Gajeel didn't try to comfort or help Levy, he loved her…but she had to figure this out and he was going to let her, so they made their way to the bar where Cristoff and Cobra were already occupying stools talking.
Cobra was actually staring stunned at the Lunar slayer. "You're fucking serious?" He demanded. Cristoff nodded, taking a deep drink of his beer. "Would take a few minutes and probably would take a few days for you to adjust to having it back but yeah, I've done it before, I've restored lost eyes, you still have everything in you I need in order to do it." He replied.
Cobra was stunned, the idea of getting his eye back had never occurred to him. He wanted it, of course he did, tearing it out in the first place had been dumb as fuck...hurt like hell too. He'd just never met a healer that had said they could do it.
"So that look mean yes? I can do it now, just takes a few minutes, you might get dizzy, may even need to cover it some the first day or so, but doing it now would mean you could sleep through the majority of your body adjusting to having it back, I can make that happen too." Cristoff said. There was no pride, bravado or bragging in the man's voice anywhere, he was stating facts, and restoring the man to full health was something a healer like Cristoff was always interested in doing, undoing harm…making people whole again. It was why he'd become a healer, Cobra was paying close attention.
Even Cristoffs soul said he was telling him the truth, he could restore his eye…
"Yes." He responded in a rush, realizing sitting silent wasn't the way to make something he'd dreamed was possible...possible.
Cristoff turned on his stool and nodded at Zen who grabbed the tall beer Gajeel had just bought him and went around behind Cobra who gave him a dark frown.
"Just here in case you get dizzy man, happens sometimes. You may need some help staying on your stool at first." Zen said with a relaxed smile, taking a deep drink from his tankard.
Cobra nodded, turning back to Cristoff, whose midnight eyes had already started turning silver, his hands glowing as he raised them. "This won't hurt...it'll feel weird though. Just relax and hold still." He said softly and all the Poison slayer could see or smell was the Lunar Dragon Slayer, his silver faintly glowing eyes, then, as he watched, slowly, depth started happening and he felt dizzy, nauseous. Cristoff's hands closed over his eyes then and he felt warm firm hands grip his shoulder.
"Just me...you're fine man, just a little wobbly, relax, let him finish…' Came Zen's voice.
He let out a sigh, felt more magic flow through his face, felt the dull ache that had always been present in his empty socket since he'd done that to himself, fade away.
The magic ebbed and he found himself wanting to blink but Cristoffs hands were over his eyes.
"Ok, take it slow, if you feel too nauseous or something we'll put something over the eye." Cristoff said and slowly removed his hands. Cobra blinked a few times, the feeling of an eye being where one had not been for so long was weird, but, it was like the world had depth again.
He smiled faintly, unable to help himself and looked around, rapidly regaining his equilibrium. Cristoff leaned close, his own eyes that midnight blue color again, silver flecks like stars catching the light from the lamp above the bar as he looked over Cobras restored eye and smiled. "It looks good, the color of the iris is healthy, retina, cornea, all of it looks right and you seem to be stable. Try standing and turning a slow circle with your eyes open." He instructed and Cobra slid off the stool and did as bidden, feeling almost fucking giddy about this.
"Shit...I can't believe this…" He said quietly catching Zen's smile as his eyes passed over the Archangel mage during his turn.
He has his eye back! Did Cristoff do that?! Is that what he was doing just then OH MY GOD! There was no mistaking Bickslows bright enthusiastic soul and his eyeS (Thats right bitch TWO of them!) fell on her as he rushed across the room, trailed by a wide eyed Freed.
"Cobra...Oh my Gods...Oh that's incredible!" He put his hands over his mouth as he got close tears lighting his eyes and he couldn't stop his grin, he was too fucking happy and Bix was just going where he himself would never go and showing the kind of joy he himself was keeping a tight rein on.
Bix jumped at Cristoff, grabbing the big man and hugging him. "You rock Cris…fuck this is awesome!" he laughed and turned back to Cobra, leaning in way too close to peer into his indigo eyes grinning. Were it anyone else, except Cristoff apparently because he'd not been bothered by the Lunar slayer getting close either, he'd have poisoned them, just blown out a quick burst of something noxious to get them to stagger back, but with Bix he just let him grip his face and stare into his eyes.
"How does it feel?" he asked softly and he shrugged like it wasn't a huge thing even though it really was.
"Fucking nice to have depth perception back, I'll be able to actually smack you upside your head and land that shit instead of having to chase you half the time for the shit you say." He smirked.
"And that is the true service to humanity behind me doing this." Cristoff declared, chuckling when Bickslow rolled his eyes.
"It's wonderful, you still have the scar but now it's all handsome and sexy like Laxus'." he smirked at him "Before it made me sad."
His smile turned warm "Yeah? Well, I rock scars just fine so it works for me." He said firmly and Bickslow grinned, hugging him suddenly and he allowed that too because it was Bix and Bixy was kin. Their rag tag bunch of Dragons had long since started forming up into what Gajeel called a "Tatsu" or family. There was no clear leader yet, no real structure, but one thing was consistent, they all had people in the guild that they were happiest and most comfortable with. Bix…was one of those people for Cobra.
While his guild and friends were pouring over the map, Laxus went up to his room. He needed to change out of the shirt he was in, Evergreen had spilled Freed's wine on him turning to jump Elfman when he'd come up to join them. The pair had gone from kind of sort of trying not to admit they were together to a Diamond engagement ring appearing on Evergreens finger that morning.
Fortunately, while out on her first shopping trip, his darling little fellow blonde had bought him some new shirts and even a couple pair of pants, best kin ever. He was hopeful for her, he really was, it was heartbreaking right now maybe…and he hated seeing Lucy looking so unhappy, but breaking that mating…he could see where it was the best thing.
He was really hoping to pull White Sea into Fairy Tail if he could, he'd already put Fairy Tail symbols on Sting and Rogue less than an hour ago.
Changing into the deep blue button down Blondie had gotten for him he spun abruptly raising his arms ready to fight when he felt something intrude into his room.
He released a breath when he met the wide smiling eyes of the first master. "Mavis...fuck…" Laxus groaned, arms dropping to his sides.
She reached up, still smiling and flicked his ear making him yelp and recoil from her in surprise covering the stinging body part with a large hand protectively.
"MASTER Mavis, Master Laxus, or First Master works. Don't get cheeky with me. I need you and the guild in Magnolia...yesterday would have worked but I do know you were busy." She said.
Laxus blinked at her, seeing her had been something that had started happening more and more once he'd returned to the guild after his reinstatement. His gramps had said it was because he had found his love, loyalty and devotion to the guild and embraced it finally. He'd just thought he'd succumbed to some form of family insanity until Lucy and Freed had said they had both seen her too. At the Grand Magic games they all saw her quite a bit.
"But...Magnolia was...leveled by Belserions spell." He said quietly. Mavis smirked, "Nope, only part of it, and all the members were scattered everywhere but the lake, and the Guild beside it still stand along with about 12 blocks in every direction, Cardia Cathedral was destroyed...and that's sad...but the area around the guild hall survived and has been relocated, it now sits to the southeast of where it used to be pretty close to where Akane Beach was, that's over near Drigs cove now." She said brightly cocking her head, then waved a hand as if dismissing all of that "Anyway, I need the guild back at the guild hall to protect it….the black wizard is heading for it." She said.
Laxus blinked repeatedly, then his mind actually kicked in and he put the map down in front of her "Show me where on this we're going…."