Like A Phoenix

by Desna

Gajeel has been taken down by Bradman, the Alvarez Empire has invaded Fiore, Irenes spell Universe One has torn their world apart and shuffled it so they barely recognize it. The chance of Gajeels survival spurs Lucy and her friends to take a chance, and Lucy has to sacrifice a good mans freedom and her own morals in exchange for that.

13. Chapter 13 The wings of change

A/N...Reminder, this is an AU story, the manga and anime inspired it but I used them as a base to write this not a guide. I hope you all enjoy, this chapter took some time to write and thank you for your input, Ics, you're right, and thank you, lets see if I can change that…..DESNA

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They hadn't been wrong. When Cobra and the others had rushed for the crash site they found they hadn't been wrong to do it, and they hadn't been alone, thank the Gods, because if they had they might have all died.

The Alvarez soldiers weren't the issue, not at all, Invel, Neinhart and God Serena on the other hand proved to be beyond what any of them had expected.

Cobra skidded to stop managing to keep his feet and darting to the side, eyes narrowing on the opponent of his worst nightmares.

"Pathetic...I really should have just let the guards amuse themselves until you died." Came a sneering comment from the man hovering a short distance away. Brain/Zero who he KNEW wasn't the real one yet damn if he wasn't convincing, riding Cubellios who instead of breathing toxins now seemed to breath out vapors that turned his own poisons on him. Not far away Bickslow was battling some creepy skinny tall guy he referred to as "Seith Durgess" all of the visions turned far too real generated by the laughing slender man with pale Lavender hair and ornamental green armor.

He kept trying to help Bickslow, desperate to keep him safe, but this Brain and Cubellios combo knew him as well as the real ones had and were beating the shit out of him, keeping him barely able to maintain a defense let alone fight them effectively.

Invel was giving Natsu, Gray and Cristoff a hell of a time in spite of Gray particular abilities that lent him to being the best at fighting the Spriggan with Natsu and Cristoff in support roles. Everyone else was focused on God Serena. Vander had joined Cobra and Bickslow not long after the fighting began because he'd seen Durgess appear and apparently knew that man held some nasty significance to Bickslow like Brain/Cubellios attacking him did to Cobra.

"Now now, no reason to butt in on the pretty Seith mages fun...let me give you your own…" Neinhart called laughing lightly and adjusting his cravat before waving his hand toward Vander who whirled while deflecting a blow from the creepy flying beast skeletons Durgess controlled and threw a dagger at the demon that buried itself in the man's thigh making him cry out in surprise.

"I...how...oh I'm going to make yours a little stronger…" He hissed, holding both hands up and before him, in a shower of light...appeared a vision of Larcade. Even Neinhart was shocked, stepping back. "Lar...but you're not...oh my...you've fought my brother...oh how delicious!" Neinhart was suddenly laughing again as the smiling vision of Larcade started toward the wide eyed Shadowquip.

"So this is the opponent you fear most! How delightful my brother left such a fine impression!" Neinhart laughed. Vander narrowed his eyes, fuck that shit…he wasn't AFRAID of Larcade…Larcade was just the first opponent he'd met who used his favorite passtime as a fucking weapon and he found that disturbing…he was NOT afraid, and was about to just bypass everything and seeing if, in spite of Bickslows insistence it wouldn't, killing Neinhart wouldn't end his creations. As if putting his brother against "The Father of modern day Seith magic" who had been instrumental in capturing Bickslow as a child, killing his birth parents and imprisoning him in a dark cell for so long it had taken nearly a year for his body to recover and for light not to hurt his eyes, as if that wasn't bad enough, the fucker had Cobra fighting what had been his best friend and his nightmarish guildmaster from the Oracion Seis and now, had Larcade Dragneel stalking toward him.

He steeled himself, watching Neinhart frowning and wiping his brow,

uh huh you fucker, enjoy that Havati venom laced dagger I just put in your fucking leg….he thought maliciously a second before a wave of familiar bone wrenching pleasure ripped through his body and made him stagger. The FUCK?! How can a Historia hit like the real thing?! Kaleb! FIX this shit! He mentally shouted at his brother.

Lucy wasn't far away nor much better off, fighting through tears as her own mother and a spirit named Aquarius attacked her. No wonder the fucking Strauss family had been so shaken by their fight with this Spriggan…

Zen hadn't yet managed to break from the fight with Serena, being the only one the former Wizard Saint couldn't quite figure out how to take down because Serena couldn't figure out how Zen's magic worked or what countered it and was pissed off nothing he threw at the Archangel could get through his wings which were currently shielding a battered group of mages from fairy tail including Elfman, Freed, Macao, Cana, Romeo and Evergreen. Laxus was charging up at Zen's side, the Archangel trying not to get distracted by the other fights, if he let Serena see Lucy mattered to him he didn't doubt she'd be fighting more than that Historia.

It was hugely difficult for him, he had been raised to fight, to kill, and had grown up with only a limited appreciation for the value of life, he could kill and lose little sleep over it and he had always known that was wrong somehow. He'd known from a young age everything being done to him, around him, was just…wrong, evil, he knew now that his early childhood with his mother and father had started to build that, and that his magic, as an Archangel Mage, had created within him a hard line he had approached but never crossed…the one that would take him from a warrior of light…who fought for good, justice, truth…into a Fallen.

Archangel mages had not disappeared completely from Earthland…no…and on a couple of occasions during his life in Pergrand, he had "felt" the presence of the flip side of his magic set…a Fallen Archangel mage. Just like Lucifer had fallen from the grace of heaven and the Kingdom Plane…so too could an Archangel Mage Fall, they could make that choice, to break through the limits their magic put upon them, turn their back on the commitments and responsibilities of that power…and go dark…become a Fallen. There were Fallen on Earthland…the children of the original Triad…not all of them had died during the Holy Wars…some had lived, Fallen dark twisted evil versions of what they had been born to be, turned away from the grace of Kingdom Plane to what they were now..servants of evil…of Lucifer and the hordes of Hell.

That…had been before him a few times as he'd grown up…he'd felt it there…that line within him…if he crossed it, the horrors he could have visited on those who had enslaved him would have been epic, the limits on his magic would have gone away and he could have used the blackest beings of Hell…the blackest magics to get his revenge, to get his freedom…but at a steep price. His soul would no longer be of the stars, no longer be blessed by the grace of the heavens and the God Set who was his patron…he would be then committed to Hell, to his magics coming from there instead of through the black velvet of the space between stars, the dominion of Set.

The rage though…the anger…the ferocity and near animalistic ability to brutally, coldly kill an opponent through any means needed, that was still part of him, tempered by the light of the heavens…and now…tempered by Lucy. Once he was bound to her through his own choice…he'd felt her like an oasis within him…she was so forgiving, so compassionate…so incredibly soft and open to love…the opposite of him in such stark contrast…she had, when the bond had set in place…brought a balance into him he'd never felt before. The mating had simply forced him in line with her feelings…but this…this was deeper…when rage boiled up in him it…had to get through her to take hold in him…and it just…couldn't. She calmed that…tempered it with her deeply seated need to be fair, to be kind…his ferocity, his take no shit gladiator…was instilling into Lucy at the same time, it was unlikely going forward her team would walk over her anymore…as she fought the Historia…instead of being devastated by her own mother calling her a disappointment…she got angry…the drive to fight back against such a lie caused her strength to rise, her magic to bubble…and her fingers to grip her whip and use it without reservation…and that came from Zen. Just like him standing…defending the mages he was…because they needed him more than his own need to help Lucy.

That didn't mean he was entirely happy about the situation, they had spent so much time talking now, he knew a lot about her…and how much her mother had meant to her, how much that mermaid spirit had meant and he wanted to go…to help her…fight alongside her…but she was holding her own and he had to give that to her, just trust she'd be able to handle her fight because…these mages…hadn't been holding their own when he'd gotten to them.

"When Gajeel and I hit him, you go take down that piece of shit fucking with Lucy…" Laxus growled beside him. He gave the Lightning Slayer a grateful look and snapped his wing over to deflect another barrage from Serena.

"Oh fuck...really? You know...I don't know what sort of mage you actually are but you're starting to annoy me...I really need to save myself for the death dragon but if you're going to demand my attention like this I may just give it to you…" The Ex-saint called.

"No...no I think you should be devoting your attention to me." All of them turned to see Kaleb, looking more than just a little disheveled, white leather clothes ripped, blood here and there, dust, soot staining the usually pristine looking man walking with Farron, Hestor and several other mages toward them.

"You're late!" Vander called out in a semi-strangled voice, fully engaged in battle with his Larcade Historia.

Kaleb smirked, "Sorry, part of a building collapsed on us...took a bit to get here." He responded and the pulse of his magic getting pulled to bear even made Zen grimace as Kaleb's eyes flared and his hands opened at his sides. Serena let out a grunt as he was hit by Kaleb's magic, white flame flaring around him and his eyes suddenly unable to work.

"Go, all of you, leave this fight to Kaleb!" They heard Farron call, his sound magic ensuring everyone heard him.

Vander fell to his knees watching the Larcade seed fade and vanish before him, looking wide eyed toward Nienhart, he saw the man staring blank faced at Kaleb and smirked faintly, seeing all of the historia seeds vanish and watching copies of a tall large man with long dark blue hair, shirtless in loose black pants form, pale blue tattoos in deeply tanned skin, more than one copy of him appeared too around the still light engulfed Serena, all of them smiling fanged vicious grins.

When God Serena finally could see he was confronted by a figure he knew only too well…

"Acnalogia…." He breathed then smirked and the fight started but not like he wanted it to, he wasn't ready for the death magic Acnalogia, formed from his own thoughts, his own fears, used on him, and certainly wasn't ready for the three copies of the dragon in human form to suddenly turn into the massive black dragon himself, all of them attacking him, leaving him frantically trying to dodge breath attacks, claws and tails.

It was seconds, nobody had even collected themselves yet and an anguished scream made everyone turn toward the guild hall just as Gray sent a huge attack right through a white haired slender mage and the mage crumpled, dead, to the ground as Gray stood, panting, bleeding heavily above him.

Cristoff and Zen both rushed forward, Zen as fast as he was barely keeping pace with Lucy, all three of them reaching the ice make mage at roughly the same time, Cristoff lunging forward and catching him as he fell over, blood pouring from a huge wound in his center.

"Gray!" Lucy could barely get out, dark eyes lifted to hers "Juvia…" Gray breathed, looking past her and Lucy jerked her head around, seeing a crumpled form in a pool of blood with long blue hair stained red.

"NO!" Lucy gasped. Cristoff exchanged looks with Zen, nodding toward Gray and the Archangel grabbed Lucy "Hold Gray!" He commanded firmly pushing her to her knees and easing the man down into her grasp as Cristoff ran to the still form laying a few yards away.

"Juvia!" Lucy glanced up at the pained cry, seeing Gajeel running from where he had been standing by Levy transfixed by the fight beginning between God Serena, and, though Serena didn't know it...Kaleb who was in control of Neinhart and was taking his historia to the next level by bending what Serena was perceiving. Neinart couldn't create Historia at the magnitude Kaleb wanted, so he changed the way Serena saw and experienced them.

Cristoff was already on his knees at Juvia's side, hands glowing brilliant silver and Lucy's eyes came back to Gray "She's in good hands Gray, wh...where's Natsu?!" She demanded.

"Nother Spriggan...he...he ran...after them…" Gray said, looking in wonder up at Zen who was bent over him, eyes glowing gold, his golden magic starting to cover Gray, flooding the gaping wound...the bleeding had already stopped and Lucy ran her fingers through Gray's sweaty hair, brushing it from his eyes and kissing his forehead "Yeah, probably already blown up some nearby town…" She joked lamely and Gray's lips quirked.

"They...ran into the guild Luce...I didn't see...was busy with the ice asshole." Gray said. He shifted a little and Lucy felt hope surge up in her, his skin was getting color back, the wound was gone, on the surface at least, Zen was still focused, golden magic still flowing from his hands.

Nearby the others watched in amazement as Serena was running around, leaping jumping throwing random attacks at...nothing, the three men Neinhart had created hadn't really moved, and Neinhart stood staring in that direction on his knees beside Kaleb whose eyes glowed brilliantly, the magic radiating off of him keeping everyone else at bay.

"The fuck is going on?" Came a deep worried voice and Elfman and Laxus both jerked around, Laxus all but beamed "Gildarts…" He breathed.

"Yeah...took me for fucking ever to find Magnolia...who the fuck are these people, what the hell is going on Laxus?" The crash mage demanded. Laxus drew a breath, not even sure where to begin.

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Serena narrowed his eyes, his attacks weren't causing damage, they seemed to fly at the dragons then just...dissipate, and fuck he damn well KNEW there were NOT three Acnalogias.

Glaring, he willed his eyes away from the looming massive creatures seeking his death and finally, finally could feel massive magic energy, not from the dragons, but from a tall powerfully built man with long platinum blonde hair and glowing lavender eyes. Two sources...he felt him, and he was the one using magic most, but there was another heavy magic user somewhere behind him, hazed..his vision seemed to haze out beyond that man with the glowing eyes, this time, he directed a massive flame attack to fan out and engulf the big blonde.

Kaleb hissed, throwing his arms up and blinding white light arced in front of him, nobody able to see what happened in that moment…except for the Silver haired mage who was the closest to Kaleb. Hestor's hands slamming into the back of Kaleb's shoulders and that blinding white light…took the shape of white wings wings for a few moments before Hestor was staggering back and Kaleb was squarely getting himself between Hestor and Serena. Everyone else either hit the ground or scattered to dodge what wasn't deflected including Laxus, Elfman and Gildarts.

The crash mage's eyes ran over Kaleb and went back to Laxus "White Seas Guildmaster, the fifth wizard saint of Bosco." Laxus told him and Serena, senses stretched trying to break through the haze that seemed to hold the world beyond the man with the glowing eyes heard him.

"Bosco? HAH! We fucking OWN Bosco, I killed her saints myself while they either grovelled at the feet of my lovely Princess Kurino or when they defied her. The fifth...he was killed when we wiped the city and the guilds headquarters off the fucking map, I was there." He sneered.

Kaleb stilled "You did that?!" He demanded.

"Explosion magic, my sixth dragon I believe, I have 8, the spell that destroyed the City of White Sea is pretty fucking draining, I've only used it a couple of times over the years and never on a whole city before...it was remarkable how well it worked, glorious...I really am amazing." Serena commented with a smirk.

"We destroyed anything in Bosco that resisted us and own the rest as well as I own your Princess, she's quite the twisted little whore you know that? Loves being tied up, I fucked her unconscious right before we left to come here, you know, to relax the way Boscans do...always works best for me if it's with a nice tight hot little Boscan, I hear from Larcade that you, Kaleb Pradesh, have a little brother who would qualify...since my usual Boscan whore isn't around, maybe I'll look him up when we're done here...or...maybe I'll wipe the fucking floor with you and just fuck you…" He growled and his following attack was slapped aside, exploded into tiny fragments in fact, a man in a dark tattered cloak coming forward.

"No, you know what? I think you need to talk to me...and we'll just see who gets fucked worse huh?" Gildarts grinned, giving Kaleb a quick glance and freeing the Mindbender to turn his attention to coordinating all of their confused and dazed people.

The Wizard Saint wasn't done yet though, he owed a gift to this creature who had caused so much pain and death in his country.

Kaleb narrowed his eyes, pushing his nightmare spell deep into Serena, or trying to, that was when he felt it...eyes widening he turned to the man kneeling beside him, Neinhart was staring raptly up at him and Kaleb had firm control over the weaker minded mage partly because Neinhart just wasn't on his level, but also in part to the poison running through his body making the man sweat while he gazed up at Kaleb.

"He's an older Historia…" He whispered as Gildarts and Serena went at each other. Kaleb stared at Hestor, who looked between Neinhart and Serena "Seriously? He's a fucking…spell?!"

Kaleb nodded "Yes…" Kaleb's eyes got hard and Nienhart groaned, his skin getting an unhealthy pallor as Kaleb tore into his head.

"The real God Serena died…Acnalogia tore him in half a while ago…this…this is a spell Neinhart made with the help of the other Spriggan!" Kaleb hissed. This Historia wasn't like the others…because of the power it had to wield for the Spriggan it relied on Neinhart to keep refreshing it…

Curling his lip, Kaleb equipped his sword and in one swing, Neinharts head left his shoulders.

Serena screamed, barely getting it fully out before he shattered when all of his magic fled his recreated body and Gildarts spell hit him full force.

"Into the Guild Hall! The Black wizard is in there! Be careful...he's not alone!" Kaleb called furiously just as a massive fire attack blew out a chunk of the ceiling and magic swelled to a point even Kaleb and Gildarts staggered.

Gray had struggled to his feet and started toward the guild hall, Zen helping Lucy up and turning toward Cristoff who was still bent over Juvia, a worried Gajeel holding Levy watching intently and Lucy felt the mass of magic power hit her and even Zen, though he held them both up for a few moments and his wings came out and wrapped protectively around them, went to his knees.

There was no gauging time then as the magic enveloped them all. Lucy was vaguely aware Zen was still holding her, that somehow he got to his feet and carried her to where she could hear Kaleb, Gildarts and Laxus, she felt as much as heard Laxus begin casting Fairy Law, Kaleb closing his hands on Laxus shoulders as Presca joined them, gripping Gildarts hand and putting his other hand to Laxus' back Kaleb and Presca channeled magic into Laxus as the spell grew.

Nearby…Hestor was exchanging a pleading look with Presca…Vanders partner and the guilds one and only Energy Mage. Hestor could see what Laxus was trying to do…Fairy Law was a light based spell that utilized no less than the power of Kingdom Plane. How…why…he didn't know, but through the two key sets he held…he felt it, saw it…he'd probably have to research through mountains of dusty books to find out the relation of this spell, it's real origins…but it was clear what it was doing…drawing on the combined magical power of the members of Fairy Tail, through the guilds accepted leader…to create a retribution spell on a massive scale…the trouble was, the members of Fairy Tail were already battered, tired…the amount of magic this needed…could send ¾ of the guild into magic depletion sickness or death…Hestor looked at Presca, his thoughts hard on Kaleb who's eyes also went from Laxus to the Energy mage before he too nodded and Prescas lips pressed into a line at the closed his steel colored eyes, blood starting to run from his nose as he stretched himself, channeling the magic power from Gildarts, Zen, Gajeel, Elfman, everyone he could reach, into Laxus, and more than that…balancing the energy flow so Laxus could use it.

Lucy could feel Natsu, intermittently heard him shouting though she couldn't make out the words as the spell grew more and more immense, far beyond what Laxus himself could manage, beyond what his grandfather could, time seemed to slow until finally, the spell went off. Lucy's eyes on the night sky as she lay in Zen's arms, unable to hardly breathe, she had taken a tremendous beating in the fight with her Historia, the stress, worry, grief, weeks upon weeks of all of it and rarely getting rest adding up against her along with seeing her mothers face contorted in hatred, Aquarius attacking her ruthlessly while both hurled painful insults at her. Even knowing they weren't real hadn't helped, what they had said had hurt as much as what they had done physically to her.

The white magic wheel she had seen twice before, once above the Shadow Lord guild, once over Magnolia this time it covered the whole night sky as far as she could see.

She wanted to press into Zen, hold him, she felt like the magic draining from her might take her very life from her, and somehow, because it was Fairy Law...she was ok with that, she just wanted to tell Zen..she loved him, wanted to hold him, kiss him, if she was going to die she wanted to do it feeling him but she couldn't even move her eyes away from the massive magic circle above them.

When it went off she felt sure she would die, worried that Zen might, but the man stood firm, his arms tightening on her, pulling her against him more and she finally managed to move, reaching her hand up to his face, so that glowing golden eyes were on hers and a moment later, warm soft lips were pressed to hers too, the feeling coming with a magical warmth that flowed from him into her. Those long black wings curved, and when her hand fell from his face it curled around one of those dark wings and It took her a few moments to realize it was his magic, he was pushing it into her so she wouldn't lose consciousness, mixing with the wonderful feeling of his healing magic flowing over her trying to repair some of the damage she had taken.

Not far away, Hestor slid his hands over Kaleb's shoulders, hissing a bit, Kaleb's magic levels were…immense, and he was in direct contact with Laxus who was at Kaleb's level and both mages were pushing a massive spell…even being near them was painful…but he moved,

"It won't be enough…" The celestial mage grit out as the spell had grown and grown Hestor could see what was happening, the spell was flickering, the mages of Fairy Tail, even with the mages of White Sea adding to what they were doing…they were all tired, had been fighting for weeks, there wasn't enough magic energy to achieve this…the spell would fail, and when it did…it would hurt every single mage linked into it including him…including his friends and he couldn't let that happen. The emergence of the magic he knew was there…would bring in…the power of two blessings from Gods. Mehturt's blessing would flood Kaleb, Ra's blessing would flood Farron…the resulting tidal waves of magic as the Blessings of Gods crashed through to open those magics…would tip the balance, the flood of a God's Blessing would rejuvenate the mages and provide magic energy on a massive scale,and the spell Laxus was unleashing would have the power it needed…

Pressing against Kaleb's back, an arm sliding around the man's waist he breathed in as platinum hair brushed his face, smiling faintly as blood dripped from his nose and he ignored the strain on himself, pushing his magic into Kaleb…knowing as he did what would happen…smiling faintly as white wings erupted from Kaleb's shoulders, ripping his armor clear of his upper body and Hestor chuckled when it didn't disrupt the man's focus…Kaleb was nothing if not dedicated…he rested his cheek between the white wings, leaning on the solid wall of muscle that was Kaleb Pradesh…as the dormant magic came, it almost exploded through Kaleb, bringing forth more than the man's considerable magic reserves, fueled by the blessings of the Goddess Mehturt to make the magic permeate Kalebs body as it came to bear the man's emergence into the new magic created a power surge and Prescas eyes flared, the man making a low pained sound as he made sure not a drop of that energy wasn't put to use.

"Now…now I'll listen to you…" Hestor mumbled against Kaleb's back.

Lucy gaped a moment, watching white wings unfold from Kaleb…watching them slide back and Hestor curl in between them. Not far away…Gabriel moved, gripping Farron as fiery golden wings erupted from him and he staggered to his knees…lacking Kaleb's power…and Hestor holding onto him as the massive output of magic, the massive spell drawing on them all…as it seemingly ripped open the dormant magic in both him and Kaleb, Fairy Law taking the massive output of magic created by a dormant magic awakening and incorporating it into the spell as it grew, all of it flowing through Laxus, making the big mage tremble all over under the massive amount of power he was putting together…with a little help from Hestor and his spirits…

That was when she felt it...Natsu...heard Erza suddenly wailing and her strength came enough to push at Zen enough he set her on her feet, exchanging looks with Kaleb and Farron, both of whom were bent over a little, drained heavily, Kaleb turning to clutch Hestor to his chest to keep him from going to the ground.

Light pulsed inside the guild and as they came into the guild hall, everyone froze.

Mavis was holding Zaref... clutching him to her, on the floor there were books, some destroyed, some damaged….not far from Zaref was one Lucy recognized...Mard Geer had held it...back in Tartaros...so long ago it felt like.

"Come then my love…" Mavis said softly and everyone, even Kaleb was forced to shield their eyes from the flare of light...when it faded the pair were gone and by where Zaref had been...Happy was wailing, cradling the book.

Lucy staggered to the little blue exceed, as terrible as the cat could be, he was devoted to Natsu, and she saw no trace of the Fire Slayer anywhere, Gray lay a short ways away, passed out on the floor, Erza too not far away, sobbing, Wendy passed out near her.

Freed came up to the broken door, he and several other battered mages standing staring.

"Happy...what...what happened?" Lucy whispered, slowly dropping to her knees beside the exceed.

"Natsu...he was E.N.D. this is his book...it's...erased Lucy….he...he sacrificed himself to stop Zaref...and when Zaref went down...the book….all the words in it flew out…" The exceed wailed.

As Lucy knelt by Happy, taking the book from him, the others stood, tears flowing down their faces in shocked silence. Realization of what had happened while they had fought outside reaching them all.

Vander narrowed his eyes, scanning over the books, he was far from uneducated despite how he acted, working for the Steel council he'd had to learn to read more than 40 languages so when he searched for documents needed...he was able to be certain he had the right ones… while Lucy ran her hands over the book Happy let her take from him, he moved over and lifted another, tucking it into his storage before returning to stand by Kaleb and Farron who were both shivering a bit…newly emerged magic making their whole bodies a little unstable as they adjusted to the newly active magical pathways…Farron adjusting to the opening of a massive third origin.

Lucy looked around, felt Natsu..

"What…what if we wrote the book back…without the demon part…leave the black magic out?" she asked softly, searching for Freed and Levy in the groups of mages at the doors. She knew nothing about this sort of thing, she was a Celestial Summoner, she opened gateways between planes of existence…she didn't work with runes or scripts and she certainly had no experience or knowledge about demonic books.

"Really dangerous...touching anything created with black demonic magic." Zen said, moving to stand by where Lucy sat on the ground…the woman too exhausted, too spent to really stand…her emotional turmoil didn't help that either.

"I need Freed…Levy…I'm no script mage…not a Rune mage…I can't fix this…" she whimpered brokenly, looking up at him and Zen reached out, cupping her cheek "You can't be everything…can't fill every gap…" He said quietly, not needing to look for Levy or Freed…they were right there then, coming alongside Lucy. Freed reached down, taking the book from her, looking over it…he and Levy had both had time to look at one of these demonic books, not much…but some…during the fight with Tartarus.

"Zen isn't wrong…even if we only write the good…which would not re-create our Natsu…because our Natsu did have his faults…interacting with this book in any way will leave us open to the black magic that created it…to try and take us." It was a warning…Freed had no intention of backing away…there was no fear in his voice…just…informing the others.
"I am willing to take that risk. We would need you though Lucy…and…Kaleb, Kaleb can link our memories…you Lucy who knew him best with Levy and I…and together the three of us could potentially remake this book without the demonic edge…"

"I'll take that risk." Lucy said firmly

"I'll take the risk too." Levy said just as firmly. Lucy looked at Kaleb…who stood, still shaking some from the eruption of his dormant magic…how the power from that emergence had been taken out of him…used to power up Fairy Law through Laxus. Hestor who leaned into Kalebs side drew a breath.

"They'll need to be protected…the demonic energies involved are black…black magic…Zen…protect Lucy…Kaleb, Protect Levy…Farron, Freed." Hestor said, voice a little tired…helping the Archangels emerge had taken a lot out of him. Kaleb looked at him, smiling tiredly himself "I thought you would listen to US." He said softly.

"Fuck. You…move your ass, there isn't a lot of time." Hestor snapped but there was no heat in it and the look he gave Kaleb was very fond. "I…we're going to have to…bond. Just a bond. Zen…you to Lucy, me to Kaleb…Farron, to Freed, Levy will need some help…Gajeel's dragon magic should defend her, she's mated and…also…Gajeel you may feel her pull magic out of you through this." Hestor warned, watching Zen's eyes widen a bit before looking at Kaleb…trying not to let his own hope…excitement…show. Bonding to Kaleb…Gods help him…the man would feel what he felt…know him so so much more intimately…there would be no more hiding his feelings or what Kaleb really was to him anymore if they did this.

"Bond…" Zen looked almost panicked. "Just a bond…no spirits involved…but Zen…Lucy is low on magic after the fighting…she needs magic or this could kill her, and…you have to decide right now…if you're going to trust her. This is a free will gift of your service and bond to her." Hestor said firmly.

Zen pressed his lips together and Lucy held the book to her chest, searching Zen's face "It's ok…you don't have to…this is my risk, Natsu is my friend and I'm willing to make this sacrifice, take this risk for him…you don't have to." she said quietly, it had sunk in…that the world didn't have to stop for her friends…that it didn't end with them...if risks were to be taken…it was up to her to do it and she shouldn't expect others to help with that unless they volunteered…it was something she'd always believed in, but she knew…in practice? She had forced things onto others, good people as well as bad…for the sake of her friends.

Zen looked at her then and both of them were lost in the others eyes, seeking…answers. Lucy praying for understanding and acceptance, Zen praying for honesty and real resolve in the woman. She meant it…he felt it…and he nodded, tearing his eyes from Lucy.

"Ok…I'll bond with her." He said and Lucy ignored how her eyes stung, didn't even notice the tears moving down her cheeks. He agreed…he was forgiving her…trusting her…and she needed him so much…she had to save Natsu…

Freed was nodding "It should work…Lucy's Celestial magic is light based,,,heavenly based…and with the Archangel Mages providing support and protection from encroaching black and demonic magic that…will certainly be triggered once we start this…we should in theory be able to do this…" Of them all…Freed had a working understanding of Demonic magics…for obvious reasons…he harbored demonic magic among his own and had been using it for years.

Levy nodded in agreement "It should…" she looked at Gajeel smiling at him and cupping his cheek…seeing fear in his dark eyes was so strange…but she also felt the fierce love and need for her there…knew she wasn't just risking herself…
Gajeel turned his head kissing her wrist. "Fuck…of course I'm in shrimp…I may think Natsu is a fucking moron…but he's kin…Nakama…worth the risk." he said.

"The dragon magic will protect you from the demonic…better than the Archangel Magic could…you don't need help from any of the Archangels…Dragons and Demons? Really really hate each other….the dragon magic will fight back black demonic magic." Cristoff said, Gajeel was nodding.
"Yeah…figured it would…I've never been able to pull a punch if anything touched by the demonic was in front of me...dragon rises up and goes batshit crazy to destroy it."

Freed looked at Farron who was watching him intently, golden fire was still licking through some of the bright feathers of the man's brand new wings…and the tremors in his body were still going as he adjusted to the new magic…but baby blue eyes locked on teal, a blush actually tinting Freed's cheeks at the intensity of the look. Without looking from Freed's eyes Farron smiled faintly.
"I'm willing." he said and Freed bit his lower lip at the wave of excitement that rolled through him at that statement.

Hestor was looking at Kaleb, the guildmaster narrowing his eyes, already reeling from new magic, the white wings heavy on his shoulders were beyond a shock…and Hestor had known…KNOWN this magic was inside of him and hadn't even hinted at it. He'd find out why…but for him…looking into those hopeful blue eyes…there weren't any questions.

"Of course…Hes…yes." He said firmly, moving to the man, cupping his cheek and smiling into those well known steel blue eyes. "I trust you with my life…no question."

Hestor drew a breath…he knew what all was coming when things settled…he was going to be in for a lot of questions…Kaleb was doggedly focused when he wanted to know things…and Hestor had hidden things from him. It was for his own good…knowing about the dormant magic wouldn't have helped him…would have done nothing but make the man eager to take it on…and the time for that hadn't come and Hestor knew now why the Archangel spirits he held had told him again and again that Kaleb and Farron had to wait…because that magics emergence had brought a massive amount of pure Kingdom Plane level Celestial magic roaring into play…and the Fairy Law spell had needed every drop of it…

He glanced at the door…seeing the gunmetal gray eyes of Presca on him…the man holding a cloth to his face that was bloody…the Energy mage enabled the transfer of magic energy between mages…if not for Presca…all they had achieved so far…probably wouldn't have worked…the man was quiet…unnoticed…but Hestor knew, was sure Kaleb did too…and Vander who was the man's partner and had been for years…otherwise…just how Laxus was able to use all of that magic…including magic energy from mages not in Fairy Tail…well nobody knew, probably wouldn't think to ask either…it had worked. Now…now he needed the man again to help what they were about to do…it was no wonder at all Energy mages were so amazingly rare…Presca was damned disciplined and good at not overdoing to the point of hurting himself…usually…he'd hurt himself today though…and Cristoff was standing close…having just healed the mans pathways so he could move…

Kaleb watched the silent exchange happen, his own eyes softening with gratitude on his brothers closest friend…*Once more…then you need to rest a few days.* he said into Prescas head and the Energy Mage smirked.
"Bullshit…we won't have that long with this war still going…but I'll be alright Kaleb..Cris is right here…"

Hestor drew a breath when Kalebs eyes came back to him and nodded toward his spirit without taking his eyes from Kalebs.

"Repeat…I, Kaleb Pradesh, offer you Hestor Kedanza, my magic, my service, my loyalty, promised to you before the heavens and by the laws of the stars." Raziel said nearby.

Kaleb rested his forehead against Hestor's, whispering the words, his wings glowing as the promise was made, the offer put into Hestor's hands.

"I…Hestor Kedanza, accept your service, Morning Star, and promise my loyalty and magic to you as well, and that I will protect you, your freedoms and will." Hestor responded and waved pointedly toward Zen and Lucy as he felt the rush of magic, felt Kaleb open up to him and sucked in a breath at the…ocean…of magic suddenly at his fingertips…and…at feeling himself open to Kaleb…no more hiding…no more secrets…

Zen drew a breath, eyes on Lucy's he repeated the vow…smiling faintly as Lucy repeated her part and added "I promise too…I will always protect your freedom, your right to choose for yourself…and I will listen to you and hear you."

He felt her…felt her with him again, it was different, not as big a bond as before but…at no point did he feel his control slip as it locked into place, her magic curling along his like a gentle embrace instead of chains. It was easy now…not like it had been during the cast of Fairy Law…now their magic flowed easily between them if he reached. It was like coming home…unlike anything he'd ever felt before that moment…within him…the rage he always carried…was somewhat tempered for the first time since his early childhood.

Farron was smiling at Freed, who blushed furiously through the whole thing, the bottom line though…Levy could draw on Gajeel, Kaleb making sure darkness didn't invade her or Gajeel with Hestor's help…Freed could not manage alone, especially not with the demonic magic he already hosted…so…a bond with Farron was needed. The rune mage sitting not even breathing for a moment as that bond settled into place between he and Farron.

"Ok people…happy love time over, move it!" Hestor snapped, refusing to meet Kalebs eyes because the man was too fucking observant and way too nosey and Hestor felt Kalebs shock when the Celestial mages feelings were suddenly…there…Kaleb could feel them and no matter what he might have done…Hestor had no way at all to hide the plain fact…his heart warmed when he looked at the Guildmaster…he loved him, he'd loved him since they were children…Kaleb was his "One" and … there was no hiding them now and Kalebs lopsided smile was a dead giveaway Hestor refused to take time for even as he felt Kalebs love for him as clear as day and it made his heart do flips in his chest…he had no time for.

"No time….right?" He demanded of Freed who tore his eyes off Farron to suck in a breath and recover his focus "No…no time…we have to start work now…in a matter of minutes we won't be able to rewrite that book anymore…" Freed agreed, and Zen huffed, moving into place.

Kaleb moved, as did Farron, as tired as they all were, there was no time to rest. Once Freed and Levy were on either side of Lucy, the Archangel mages settled with them.

"Give your magic to me…" Lucy breathed softly and Zen only hesitated a moment. How many times over the last battle had he felt terrified he was going to lose her? When he'd felt the spell drawing hard on her he'd not hesitated to push his own strength into her to prevent it from taking her down. Several other mages had passed out during the casting of Fairy Law because of the strain...but he'd not allowed Lucy to be one of them. It hadn't been easy at all, but now…with the bond in place…it was like reaching out to touch her hand.

It boiled down to his deepest feelings, his magic wouldn't give itself over even to her, even now, he had a choice, he could deny her, unlike before when they had been mated…he had to give himself over and something deeper made him do it, his arms encircled her and she leaned back into him as she, Freed and Levy started writing...Lucy carefully followed Freed and Levy's guidance, again…she was no script mage, no Rune mage…she couldn't do this alone, it was her close knowledge of Natsu they used along with Freed and Levy's skills and Lucy managed, she did, and this mattered so much to her and Zen knew it, and she needed him and he'd give her….anything in those following minutes.

The magic flowed, words forming in the book, Lucy's eyes held open, unseeing, hazed over as the magic flowed, Levy and Freed both becoming sightless as well…Gajeel wrapping around his mate even as her hands moved, forming scripts to weave with Freeds, the trio connected through Kaleb who stood behind them all, Hestor in his arms…his eyes glowing almost white with the amount of power he was starting to have to channel as soon as the book became active, the white wings he had glowing, the words in an ancient script and runes slowly filling each page as the three mages worked together to fill the book. Kaleb stayed behind them, the white wings spread, arching a bit, almost touching those of Zen and Farron, all three Archangels like the people they were helping, sightless as they worked to protect them from the demonic darkness that constantly tried to rise, was reaching into all three of the mages working on the book in a dark heated onslaught that ebbed and flowed.

Farron finally moved right up against Freed, the mans blonde hair falling a bit over Freeds shoulder and the rune mage eventually leaning back against Farron, instinctually embracing the golden light that was the man holding him, to keep his own demonic magic from taking in the darkness, turning truly black and consuming the rune mage, he reveled in the golden fire that warmed and caressed through him, protecting all of him, careful of the darkness that was part of him…gentle with that even as dark as it got…that respect and care for a part of him Freed wasn't all that proud of amazed the rune mage even as he focused on what he was doing.

Zen's wings were licking with black flames but golden magic flowed, the darkness continued trying to creep into the three mages working on the book, seeping in with the things they had to do, moving through them, and the Archangel magic fought it, burning as it ran into them, clashing with the demonic. Zen's black flames of evening, Farron golden fire of the Mid-Day and Kalebs white light of Morning…fighting back what tried to get through, Gajeel was sweating, growling, his eyes too having lost all focus as his draconic magic viciously protected Levy and him from the black magic trying to take them.

Dark marks tried to take hold in skin, demonic magic tried to consume them and Zen's arms tightened around Lucy, his eyes squeezed shut, nose buried in her hair as he focused on nothing but her protection, keeping her from draining herself completely with his own dwindling stores of magic, relying on the vast regeneration he was capable of because of all of those years spent in magic canceling and draining devices and torturously ripped open origins.

He gave it all, all he had, and fought the demonic magic trying to take hold in her, it took so much more than anything he'd ever done before, took more than his magic, more than his strength, drew on the deepest parts of him because they were tapping the deepest parts of themselves, throwing all they were into this to once again...save a friend.

Lucy was vaguely aware of it too. Zen was with her in doing it, and this time of his own free will, though he knew next to nothing of Natsu, the fact the man had Lucy's loyalty, her love and friendship, was enough for him to fight with her because, no matter what his mind thought, no matter what logic or rational anything did, he….loved her, with every fiber of his being and he let her use all he was, keeping control of only what he had to in order to protect them both from the demonic magic that wanted to be there again, wanted to fill the book and take the mages too.

Vanders dark red eyes moved between the group with the book and his hand slid to Prescas shoulder…watching his friends eyes flicker and gleam as he channeled magic energy, made sure that what the mages before them were trying to give to each other didn't hit in damaging amounts, didn't damage…that it flowed at a rate it could be used and only he…with his magic, could see that, not just the magic being offered, but how much those needing it could take in…and he kept it balanced, even..not feeling Vanders hand…not feeling Cristoffs when the healer started gently healing Prescas already burned and damaged pathways from earlier…soothing…keeping them healing and from cracking or collapsing from the heavy use.

Vander could see the dark…black magic was a visible living thing to him, like shades of the voids it moved like a sickened oil, as visible as the people before them to the Shadowquip and he watched it trying to find a hold, trying to find an opening..proud watching his family and friends assuring that there were none…

How much time it took none of them could have said, but those around them watched anxiously, everyone hovering, recognizing what they were doing, seeing the marks come and fade, come and fade in their friends skin, up necks and across faces, Zen remained on his knees behind Lucy holding her through it all and finally the book closed and Lucy, closing her eyes, held it to her chest and leaned hard back into Zen, reveling in the feel of him because he was what grounded her, reminded her she was alive, that the voices, the evil, the demonic claws that had ripped at her being through it all didn't have her, it was Zen's arms that were around her, she was still Lucy Heartfilia, Celestial Mage, in love with Zen Pradesh, and a mage of Fairy Tail.

Levy sagged back, Gajeel quick to tighten his arms around her, an almost whine escaping him as he nuzzled her hair and kissed her temple.

Farron caught Freed as he leaned back, blushing a bit as the Ambassador's arms closed around him securely and held him in tight against the man's body, that golden magic washing over all three, assuring nothing of the demonic was there that shouldn't be. Farron's fight with it all had been two fold…because of the magic Freed held…he'd had to take care…separate Freed from the rest and it hadn't been easy. The brand new bond had helped him, his sound magic base had also helped tremendously, but in the end, he was still shaking a bit as he held the smaller man because there had been times the darkness in Freed had outright reached for the demonic blackness trying to consume him and Farron had been forced to give all he had in him to fight that back, to protect the soft beautiful light that was the real Freed Justine, a light that Farron could see and feel clearly…and that was safe now, exhausted and blushing in his arms.

Their friends, family, closed in around them then, Laxus running a hand over the book, searching their faces for traces of what they had seen and gratefully seeing only his friends smiling weakly back at him as Lucy climbed fully into Zen's lap and Hestor came, crouching down before Kaleb, cupping his face in his hands smiling at him.
"Not bad for your first time using that magic…guildmaster." the silver haired mage chuckled.

Kaleb looked at him, still a little breathless and shaken by the fight, more so than he had been fighting God Serena. "Fuck. You." he said, with no venom in the words…he was too damned happy…they had done serious…heavy damage…he could hear elation from all around that Alvarez forces had been hit and hit very hard by Fairy Law, they had protected the guild, hadn't taken heavy losses this time though it had been damned close…and…HHestor Kedanza was open to him, he FELT the man through their new bond…and knew now, without a doubt…where he stood and he'd never been happier…

Hestor laughed softly then, moving to wrap his arms around Kaleb, not caring what anyone thought or said. Like Kaleb…he knew they had accomplished so much…and…he felt now just what he meant to him…knew exactly the depth of it all…and that he'd been wrong…so wrong in thinking Kaleb might be mildly interested in him…how Kaleb truly felt staggered him and made him…very happy.

Both Lucy and Zen drew deep breaths, blinking and looking around them to ground themselves again, then looking at each other, Zen tipping forward to press his forehead to Lucy's before pulling her in to tuck her head beneath his chin and hold her tighter. Happy stared at the book.

"Did...did it work?" He asked in a shaking whimper.

"I think it did little buddy…" Came a familiar voice and Happy whirled, Natsu standing by the bar a couple dozen feet away, leaning heavily on it, looking battered and exhausted...but...alive...and like their Natsu...grin and all.

There was a flash of blue and Natsu's tenuous hold on standing upright was taken from him by a furball to the middle shortly followed by a wailing Erza.

Lucy watched, tiredly leaning on Zen, then beamed as she saw Cristoff enter the guild, supporting a wobbly but very much alive Juvia, who was, much to the water womans delight, ripped off her feet by a teary eyed Gray, pinned to a support column and kissed. Juvias hands waved wildly in the air as Gray's lips slanted over hers, his body pressing her into the column, then they slowed, sagged...and finally she wrapped her arms around the mans neck and started kissing him back.

Cristoff gave the couple a tired smirk and moved past them, when he came up short a moment later Lucy followed his wide eyed look and smile, her own eyes flying wide at finding Cobra in a similar position to Juvia except it was Bickslow pinning the Poison slayer to a table.

"Wow…" She whispered, turning happy tired eyes back up to Zen's, finding his warm on hers. "Thank you…" She whispered, she had felt it all, that he had fought with her, supported her, been right there with her through it all and knew, without that, without him...it wouldn't have gone so well for her...the Demonic part of it all...it would have destroyed her without Zen.

"It's not over...there's going to be more fighting...we have to get Bosco back...wipe out whatever is left of Alvarez...Lucy…" He tightened his arms around her, kissed her softly, pulling back only a little, lips hovering by hers "Whatever happens, whatever comes...I'll be with you…" He whispered and she tipped her chin up to kiss him, elated by the words.

"You don't have a shirt on…" She observed, trailing a finger along his collarbone. He smirked at her.

"Because you're wearing it….looks good on you too, so does my cloak…" He observed tugging at the collar of the soft black button down that was like a dress on her, reaching almost to her knees.

"I need a bath." She said quietly and he chuckled, hugging her to him again. "Yeah? We both do and you know what? The tub in our bathroom is big enough for both of us…" His hands had slid down low on her hips and she grinned at him.

"I'll keep you from falling asleep in the tub if you keep me from doing it…" She offered and he kissed her again smiling against her lips.

"Deal."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-00-0

It turned out the Alvarez forces across Fiore had been reduced by over 80% by Fairy Law, their berserkers, the dark mages...destroyed by the spell. Princess Hisui was named Queen but her coronation was put on hold.

Though Fiore itself was quickly moving toward securing it's sovereignty again, Alvarez wasn't giving up, they had allies, and they had massive forces they were quickly redirecting, bringing from other ventures, no the war was not over, there were forces still in Seven, and Pergrand was no small ally to the Alvarez empire, neither was Joya.

As much as rebuilding, getting their lives back appealed to everyone, White Sea was preparing to return to Bosco, to take up the fight against what was left of Princess Kurinos forces and to search for their missing King, and they all knew this war wasn't done.

Seven, and its young Prince, used it all…

Kressa came unhinged when she learned that the Emperor was missing. She needed Spriggan, he helped her control Karadin and Pergrand and without him…that fucking asshole was going to try and strong arm her…believing himself superior because he was male, her son could only fuck so much cooperation out of the damn man and she couldn't risk Nuryev being around karadin too much. Karadin wanted to marry her son…and she wasn't stupid, if that happened she was as good as dead and Seven would become the property of Pergrand, Karadin would without a doubt slap a collar on Nuryev and keep him in his fucking harem…Gods…she'd done nothing but use the boy since he had shown just how brilliant he was and just how useful his magic really could be.

"Well…if he wants to fight with me over who controls MY country I'll just fucking KILL him and take Pergrand, put a Queen on their throne and show those misogynistic dicks what a woman can do!" She raged as she paced in the throne room.

Nuryev sat silent watching her, already bleeding…she'd hit him hard with the cup she'd been holding, split his lip…cracked a tooth. Not that he cared, he was so far beyond reacting to his mothers rages and insane actions it didn't register for him to react to it anymore. He listened, heard what was happening…nearby, sitting in a tree outside was "Mansk".

The black owl shifter was a hidden resource Nuryev had brought to bear only a few times since he had successfully saved the man from dying with the magic his mother had put into him. Mansk was a perception mage, and more than that…Kressa had melded him into an Encan Shade Owl. The owls were extremely dangerous, did take humans as prey…ruining their minds and rendering them unable to fight being…eaten alive. Kressa had wanted a deadly assassin she could send after enemies…and she'd gotten it…but she didn't know she had. No, Mansk had died in the lab, 11 times as the scientists had tried to make his meld of magical beast to mage take. Nuryev had saved him…bled away the black magic of the Shade Owl and strengthened the mage side until Mansk had stabilized.

The shifter, like almost all of the shifters of Seven…was fiercely loyal to his prince. Hid, stayed out of the way…only three times in the last several years stepping in to help Nuryev out of truly horrific circumstances his mother had created. Nuryev had insisted the man stay at a distance, his Aunt was sensitive to shadow magics…she was a light mage…and Mansk had always triggered her. If Kressa learned the man was alive…Gods only knew what she'd do with him and to Nuryev for hiding him.

The time for hiding though…it was gone…this change in things…the Emperor's likely fall, his mothers panic…he had to move now, take advantage of her scattered state, his aunt's panic and fear…they weren't shrewd, weren't smart…the only guards close were all loyal to him...his hand signal sent a small weasel hiding in the shadows racing right through the wall and out of sight and Mansk flew from the tree he was in nearby, coming through an upper window and landing in the rafters of the throne room, silent as the death he was so comfortable handing out, his presence had Nuryev's aunt trembling within moments, rubbing her arms, feeling anxiety rising as Kressas anger grew in irrational waves…neither woman having any idea their holds on reality were being warped.

Nuryev looked up when Cida came in, ears down, looking very "small" as she approached, Kressa whirling glaring at her.

"Did you sort her out?" She snapped and Nuryev wiped blood from his lip with the back of his hand.

"Yes mother…she's stable again. It wasn't her fault she was displaced, she returned as soon as she could, the collar worked, I've upgraded it and stabilized her." He replied carefully.

Kressa grabbed Cida's chin, glaring into the peridot eyes that turned down, not meeting hers. Kressa's nose twitched, finally noticing the shifter was holding a tray of warm pastries.

"What's this?" she demanded.

"Where she comes from these are a favorite dessert Mother…beignets. She made some for you…" Nuryev supplied.

"As an apology." Cida added quietly "Fer takin so long ta find ma way home."

Kressa glared, looking Cida over. She was stunning…her metal magic had made her one of their top sharpshooters and her slender body and youthful appearance had also made her outstanding bait many times now. A bargaining chip Kressa had used more than once and one of very few female shifters that had survived the process and reached adulthood.

"Fine…it's fine. I'm going to need Dixon, so…send the wolves to collect him…I lent him to the ship builder to get a better deal on some more frigates. I want Cida and Dixon to get into Pergrand and kill Karadin…I'm done playing around with that bastard." Kressa said hotly.

"Yes mother…you haven't eaten today…try one?" Nuryev offered and Kressa narrowed her eyes on her son…he almost never was kind to her and then only if he was after something.

"You first." She snapped. Nuryev smiled faintly, taking one of the beignets and taking a bite, humming "Delicious…"

Kressa narrowed her eyes and grabbed his chin, yanking him to her, she licked the blood from his split lip and seized the Beignet at his mouth from him, letting go smiling, licking the powdered sugar from her own lips.

"Your blood and sweets…I've always liked that…" she smirked, she'd been born to a wealthy and powerful family…but positioning herself, getting into the bed of the young King of Seven had taken her a lot of work…she had a real taste for the royal blood of Seven…Dragon blood, blessed by the foundation dragons of Earthland thousands of years ago…she had truly enjoyed Nuryev's father, handsome and regal as he was…but far far too honest, and too easy on his people and lacking ambition for conquest…things she lusted for…she had honestly cried when she'd killed him…taking his throne in the name of their son…it wasn't fully legal…the duel they had fought…and the King had been so jacked up on drugs and poisons by then it was a miracle he'd been able to even stand, let alone actually fight her…but he had…displaying that Dragon blooded ferocity…he'd even left a scar down her left side…one she'd not been allowed to have healed away, in Seven such scars were marks of honor and if she had gotten rid of it, the wretched people of this country would have actually thought less of her.

Not that they didn't hate her plenty within a few short years after she took the throne. Only the Apollo church had stood at her side and supported her as she'd warped the people of Seven, started the slave trade up that had been banned, built the massive labs and brought in scientists from her homeland in the north. Scientists to build the armies she had dreamed of…and Seven had risen, become truly, deeply feared not just across Ishgar, but all through Earthland and she had become known as "The Black Queen" for her viciousness as a ruler.

She'd seen Xavier, the man who had counseled her husband, had a hand in raising him, assume that role with her own son and for a time that had been fine, it meant she didn't have to look after the child. She hadn't expected Nuryev to be a prodigy, a true and serious genius, mastering biotechnology by age 12, correcting her scientific teams…even improving on their work, stabilizing specimens that had failed…growing taller and more handsome by the day..and…looking a lot, more and more…like Xavier.

She'd finally taken time to watch the man, the Starseer, a precious treasure of Seven, loved by the people…and…he didn't look a day over 30 and she knew…knew…he had been the aid and advisor of her husband's father, had taught his mother to speak Sevenese when she had come to Seven to marry the king. She'd approached Xavier…tried to seduce the man, having him in her bed and in her direct control would be useful…but he'd refused her, several times until finally…she'd threatened him.

"You're mine…or I'll sell you, like I've sold others…Pergrands nobility would pay well, they love Celestial mages, their King would also like a handsome thing like you in his collection." She'd hissed at him when he had…again…refused her advances.

"I have no interest in your bed, your majesty, I am a simple servant, tutor to your son and guide to the crown of Seven." Xavier had replied, stepping back when she'd gotten closer and she'd glared at him. Swinging…she'd had her ring modified, twisted inward with a touch to the ruby and a needle emerged, inside the ring enough venom to make a man…very very agreeable. She'd used it plenty…but somehow, Xavier knew to step to the side…to twist just so…and she'd fallen.

"You WILL obey me…one way or another!" She'd hissed and lunged again, but this time…her hand had hit…her son. Nuryev, 14 then, had dove in to protect Xavier, and she had stabbed him with that needle…meant for a man Xavier's size.

"NO!" Xavier had moved, wrenching Nuryev away from Kressa as she had screamed for help…if Nuryev died, the people would rise against her…they only tolerated her because of him…her hold on the throne only existed through her son and she knew it. Help had come though…the powerful healers Nuryev had insisted on creating…able to save his life…and not a week later…Xavier disappeared. Kressa was done with fighting him for control over her son…done with his refusals to be the servant she wanted him to be. He'd been sold to Pergrand.

Cida Gouselle had a similar sort of background with Kressa, the female shifter had come in as a child and had grown quickly, she'd had an almost sibling like relationship to the Encan Dire Panther Kressa had paid a small fortune to have captured, forced to employ Pergrandian hunters to get him and she'd wanted a female from his litter but…as often happened with the Dire race, there were few females…and Kittars mother had died and taken 12 hunters down with her trying to protect her children. Still, she'd gotten an Encan Dire shifter, pureblooded, true Dire and from the Encan sanctuary where there were portals to other planes of existence rumored to exist…where even rare game hunters almost never dared go…there were things in the sanctuary…deadly things.

So landing that panther had been a big thing for Kressa and her military program. She'd enjoyed watching him grow, handsome, exotic, and an incredibly rare, natural born Displacer mage. Teleport mages weren't common, so they were highly valued, and they could only move a small amount, a few people and whatever they were wearing or holding as long as it wasn't very big or complex, machinery…no, they couldn't move complex machinery, things had to be simple, clothes, basic weapons, humans or smaller. She'd had one who could teleport himself and his horse short distances but usually it just had to stay simple, because the amount of magic it took to move things through ether…was immense.

Displacers though…they were different. Born with larger magic reserves and high refill rates their magic didn't work like a teleport did…they "displaced" things and it could be anything. One displacer mage had cost Pergrand an entire legion of troops once, she'd watched it happen from her airship as they had been trying to claim some northern lands on Pergrands border. The woman had been a Dire shifter…Kressa had watched the black fox race to the front line…shift into a woman…and…Pergrands entire line started breaking, clusters of men and artillery vanishing until…there was nothing…a few random body parts left scattered about horrifying the leaders of the effort enough they had called off the assault and retreated.

Displacer magic ran only in the Dire species…and as secretive and elusive as the Dire shifters were…finding one had been more than she'd hoped for. As he'd grown, Kittar had shown the magic was strong in him…by the time he'd become an adult…growing up alongside her own son…Kit could move up to 50 men, their horses and artillery up to 500 miles in a single cast. He was quick, the panther form he had was larger than a horse, weighed in near 3000lbs, and he was smart in combat, used his magic well…just keeping him under control was an issue, and Cida…had never helped that.

Cida herself was an accomplishment, a rare type of tiger coming to be her other side, using both Rickters, the massive golden lion shifter Kressa owned, and Kittars DNA to create Cidas shift in her. Like most females though, she'd been unstable, feral, beastial, worse than a berserker, lethal, claw beds made to produce a toxin that prevented healing and attacked the neurologic system.

Cidas first act coming out of stasis had been to rip the throats out of the scientists working on her, the whole team…dead in seconds…it had taken two days to regain control of the lab…to find a traq that worked long enough to get Cida into chains…and she'd been all of maybe 6 years old at the time. Nuryev had been there when next Cida went on a rampage, thinking fast he'd gone and gotten Kittar, letting the young shifter go into the lab…where Cida had curled around him sobbing…then the issue had been…Kittar displacing guards into walls…halfway…so they died hanging there with a wall suddenly cutting them in half…glaring at Kressa…and she'd known…had she not been on the other side of a magic canceling wall…she'd have been dead, either by Kittar…or by Cida. Nuryev had managed to calm both…get both back in hand…the boy showing a compassion and empathy for the shifters that had alarmed Kressa even though she'd used it, he made shifters work…stabilize…made them able to think, able to function…Kressa hated that how he handled them…worked, and she had to allow it…even as she watched those shifters…lethal super soldiers by design…grow more and more loyal to her son…watched their hate and rage fill their eyes when she would punish any of them, punish Nuryev instead of them…and finally she'd turned to using that too.

The generals in particular…obeyed…if she threatened Nuryev. Chaining Anran to a wall and forcing him to watch her rape her son had won her weeks of the great black wolf obeying orders…taking a whole region of Iceburg and slaughtering freedom fighters wholesale at her command.

When Cida and Kit had failed a mission…and Cida had returned without Kittar, reporting him dead…handing in his bloody mangled collar…Kressa had tortured Nuryev, with Cida chained and forced to watch…because punishing Cida had never earned Kressa much…but torturing those around Cida…had.

Cida hated her, she knew she did…but Nuryev eating the treat first…she'd watched Cida for a reaction…nothing, the treats were safe, Cida would have stopped Nuryev if they weren't.

"Made some with orange chocolate in them," Cida mumbled, "ya adore those orange chocolates from Minstrel…an I wanted ta make somethin extra special, fer bein gone so long…"

Kressa smirked at the shifter, enjoying the flavor, the citrusy bite of it was good. "I approve…" she said, popping another in her mouth as she paced again.

"I knew the objective…getting whatever he had to have from that damned guild was a stupid plan…Spriggan was an idiot…have we heard from…" she paused, rubbing her chest a bit as sweat broke out on her skin. She frowned, she was overly upset and did need to calm down.

"From Kurino?" she finished. Her sister was by Nuryev now, hand trailing over the man's back.

"No, but I've sent word to her. She went into Fiore to recover that man she wants. Can't blame her…I've seen pictures of him, he's worth the effort." Novina replied.

Cida's lips were moving…silently, tongue darting out as she counted in Encan while looking at the tray she was carrying, almost like she was counting the beignets over and over again.

"Yes well…I may go lay…down…" Kressa's eyes widened then as she looked from Cida to Nuryev "You….GUARD!" She cried and Nuryev's smile had Novina hissing

"What have you done?!" She demanded and Nuryev looked up as a large draconian male shifter came into the chamber.

"My Queen?" He said mildly, eyes moving from Kressa to Novina then to Nuryev, who smiled at him…the guard blinking at that.

"He didn't do nothin…I did," Cida looked up, her lips slowly curling into a smile that…screamed 'death', "...havati venom is…one of nature's bounties."

Kressa blanched, whether from the confession or the venom…it didn't matter…there was no antidote, alchemists had worked for hundreds of years trying to find a counter to Havati venom…there was none…the draconian wyrms were lethal, as lethal as they were rare…

Kressa let out a scream, blood starting to run from her nose, her mouth, her ears and even her eyes.

"DO something! KILL that woman!" Novina snarled, holding her sister as Kressa panted and choked on her own blood.

"I do not serve you…I serve the crown of Seven…HIS crown." The draconian guard smirked, then nodded toward Nuryev who smiled, approaching and backhanding Novina, sending the woman flying.

He crouched by Kressa as she wheezed, looking up at him with terror and agony in her eyes and he smiled.

"Would that I could have visited a worse death upon you…one that lasted all the years you've tortured me and my people…but this will do…you…dying and knowing that one of my people killed you…that the very treat you stole from my mouth…killed you. I'm immune you see…I've been taking low doses of Havati venom for about 2 years now…trying to weaken the effects of the fucking succubus venom you pumped into me every fucking day…tatstes like oranges…" He smiled coldly at her, watching as she struggled, gasping…as the venom liquified her internal organs…until it finally dissolved enough of them she stopped breathing, twitching, convulsing on the floor until she went still.

"Spread the word…that I am taking Seven back, and taking my throne, the Black Queen is dead…and kill every single one of her guards…every single person loyal to her…I want their blood to feed Seven's soil…to make it dark and rich…" Nuryev growled and the draconian bowed "My King…I will release the wolves…and the Pride…and see it done." the big shifter said, smiling at Cida before he turned.

Nuryev stood, pulling a sword from requip and starting toward Novina.

"Now…let's start staining things with the blood of enemies…this is a large throne room…Kressa's will not be enough…" he said coldly, closing on Novina as she shook her head and tried to scramble, to run from him.

Cida smiled at the draconian…and then glanced towards the woman…static filling the air around her and then a large white wyrm curling out of her body…sliding to cut off the woman's retreat…even as the Encan stood there, still holding the tray and looking relatively harmless.

"You…you won't…" Novina tried but Nuryev's sword arced, and she watched the hand she held up fall away from her wrist to the floor…her blood coming forth.

"I am the rightful King of Seven…you and that bitch who gave birth to me…killed my father and have tormented my people for far too long…you are going to die…by my hand…here…now…let your blood bathe my new throne." Nuryev growled, cutting away the other hand she tried to throw toward him, ignoring her pleas…he finally, tired of her voice…removed her head from her shoulders before he turned.

A massive man with black hair and deadly yellow eyes stood, coming alongside Cida, blood already splattered across his face and chest…bloody swords in his hands. He grinned, blood dripping from long fangs.

"I came…as soon as I heard…my King." He said.

"Anran…" Nuryev smiled at the big shifter "You know what needs to be done…we start with the palace…and then…purge the filth from Seven street by street until this nation is ours again."

A huge blonde male came into the chamber…like Anran already well bloodied, screams could be heard coming from the door behind him. "Including the Pergrandian occupation? The…reserves…your mother allowed here?"

"Don't call her that…she wasn't my mother…she just gave birth to me. The Black Queen is dead. Seven will belong to the Sevenese again…get rid of the Pergrandian filth." Nuryev said in a hard voice

Cida slowly smiled, "I'll go out to one of the barracks…that they're in…they've gotten used ta me bringing..beignets…"

Nuryev smiled at her, moving to the woman and bending to kiss her temple "My friends…we have a country to reclaim…kill our enemies." he said and Rickter…the big blonde…grinned "Yes My King."

Cida smiled warmly, "we will…with blood in various ways." she kissed his cheek and let out a whistle…the havati looking at her and she let out a gasp, still unused to the wyrm returning to her body and there was a bit of static discharge, her face screwing up a bit before she turned "right…they're kinda dumb…and hopefully they ain't gotten word yet." she turned, still carrying the laden tray, "i'mma go offer 'em their fresh sweets." her eyes danced with impishness as she looked over her shoulder at Anran, "Pride got the queen. Cats rule." she snickered briefly as she slid out the doors.

Anrans ears pinned as Rickter grinned at him and kissed Cida's hair as she passed him looking smug.

"Damn it…never hear the end of that…" The big wolf shifter growled.

"Nope…you never will!" Rickter confirmed, the Lion shifter hurrying out after Cida to return to the fighting.

"My King…shall we?" Anran said after glaring after the cats a moment. Nuryev smiled, accepting his armor being strapped onto him, Thain smiling as he did so.

"Let's go…" Nuryev grinned, walking with the wolf General from the throne room, letting the blood of the fallen women slowly spread on the floor uninhibited. This was the Dragon Kingdom…they took their victories in blood and took pride in that, none who walked in the throne room would ever doubt how he had gotten his crown.

Vander and Presca, left the morning following the big battle in Fiore.

"We can see where the safest entry points will be, Zen can open gates now right? Pelerno and the surrounding areas and all of the Grass Sea were unaffected by the spell so he'll be able to pinpoint familiar locations to open gateways to." Vander reasoned and nobody could argue with him, it made sense to wait until they knew where they could safely enter their country before they headed in.

Farron was called to Crocus by Hisui herself, the Boscan embassy was up and running again there and she wanted a Boscan Ambassador in place to monitor Bosco and keep Fiore well informed, knowing that of everyone she could have called, Farron, because of his direct involvement in the fighting and connections to those who would be taking down the corrupted Princess, would be her best asset so that when Bosco came back under normal rule, the two countries could restore their alliances.

Farron left immediately too, he had a long trip ahead of him to get back to Crocus, it wasn't like they could send him there the same way they had come to Magnolia and the trains would all be months before they were restored. Taking 4 White Sea mages and Freed, who eagerly volunteered, the rune mage ready to work with the new bond he had with the emergent Archangel mage, Farron was gone the day after Vander and Presca left.

Cobra sat in the kitchen, turning his beer bottle idly lost in thought. It had been nearly a week since the big battle. Zeref was dead, somewhere, out there, Acnalogia was on the move, close...all of the dragon slayers could feel it. It was odd, Cristoff, who had been with his dragon longer than any of them seemed the most affected, he could feel the black Dragon, and as a full moon approached, they were all concerned Cristoff's ramped up Dragon magic might prove to be a draw for the self proclaimed King of Dragons.

Emzadi was due to arrive from Minstrel, their father Settled with Xally at his side and General Minda of the King Loyalist Boscan Airfleet with the flagship of the Boscan Defense fleet hovering over Capressa so she could see Arman, the General had been in love with their father since most of them were children, none of them knew what kept their father from the woman's arms, they had almost started seeing each other, Arman finally asking Minda to dinner with him one night, that had been when Bickslow was found and Arman had been called to act quickly that night, negotiations with the Seith guilds had been difficult, and Kaleb had found Bickslow in the dank dark cells beneath the Guild's main hall starved and so close to death Arman had been forced to leave the negotiations and call in special favors to save him, had adopted the boy before the following dawn to save him and protect him from a government bent on hunting the Seiths down after what that guild had done.

He knew all of this from sitting with Cristoff, discussing so many things, the most unsettling being his relationship with Cristoff's older brother. He knew where his dragon stood, and Cristoff, looking at him seriously over his own bottle, seemed to know too.

"You said your dragon has wanted him for years." Cristoff prodded, Cobra had gone silent, and he'd carefully blocked the man off from listening in on him, with a Wizard Saint Mindbender and a Seith mage as older brothers, it was a skill Cristoff had mastered while still a youth.

"She has...fuck...you have a female soul in you too don't you? Is she a bitch because mine is." Cobra said wryly.

Cristoff smiled "She has her moments, but no...Nurem has never been a "bitch" Lunar magic has tranquility as part of its base, it's why it's such a powerful healing magic to base off of and why my sleep spell even makes Dragons heavily drowsy regardless of their age and strength. Nurem is also a mated Queen though, a broodmother...I understand yours was not inclined to settle down and take a mate." He said.

"Yeah, she's a whore…" Cobra snorted and Cristoff pressed his lips together, he knew Cobra had a tough relationship with his dragon soul, that his inner dragon was at least as abrasive as he could be maybe more so, still, he had been raised to respect the dragon soul inside of him, it was a piece of Nurem's own soul that had blessed him with the Dragonslaying magic and he happened to love his magic. He had a hard time identifying with Cobra's less than respectful relationship with the dragon soul he carried inside of him.

Still, he had empathic abilities, and could sense the hostility, disrespect, was almost akin to affection somehow with his dragon soul, it baffled the Lunar Slayer, who still adored his dragon and missed her every day, always pleased when her soul spoke to him.

"Ok, you had questions, my brother is about to strangle me because I was pre-occupied healing the injured from the attacks and says you aren't willing to go beyond some making out with him until you get some things straight...sooo, my brothers blue balls and sexual frustration are now my problem and he'll kill me if I don't answer every question you've got...you know he's fucking crazy about you right? Has been for a long time too, I mean...I knew about it when he told me during you guys visiting after Tartaros." Cristoff said with an amused smile that had Cobra rolling his eyes.

"Yeah...he told me. I...I had no idea I could even feel shit like this for a guy ya know? I guess I always have for Bickslow but, can two males...mate? I know the sex works but…Dragon bitch says she only went for all male tatsus…" He shook his head, he fucking hated being so confused and indecisive and knew Bickslow was frustrated about his hesitation to move forward past kissing and some admittedly heated touching.

"They can, it's common, with females so rare a lot of males took male mates, the unions worked for both and it's the same with Dragonslayers. Mating between males doesn't even mean they can't have offspring, the magic works and it developed around how dragon society and culture worked, so since females were rare, and to assure strong males DNA wasn't lost because they had a male mate, once you're mated with Bickslow, and if you guys decide it's what you want, you can find a surrogate to carry a child for you, if you both have her, both cum in her, then the Dragon magic will force her genetic contribution to recede and the child she carries will be a combination of yours and Bickslows genes." Cristoff explained and Cobra's eyes became owlish.

"I...shit...I don't know about kids...I...I just want to know...what to do you know? I know there's bites, I know there's timing involved I just don't know the details…" He said in a slightly shaky voice.

Cristoff smiled faintly, nodding. "Ok, the first bite is an intention, marks your mate, pushes the first exposure of your magic into your mate so they can start adjusting and the bond starts to grow, your mark gets put into place, but it's faded, not easy to see you guys already have all you could get before actually starting mating because you've been friends for so long. Your bite can be overwritten, you and your mate are both very vulnerable during this phase. A rival slayer can steal your mate, male or female...your mate will be about drowning in dragon pheromones stirred by the bite and flood of dragon magic they take in...I'll tell you now...Bickslow is gonna smell like the best thing on fucking Earthland to other Slayers, every unmated slayer, male or female will be drawn to him...hard, their inner dragon will want to take him, claim him." Cristoff's eyes became deadly serious then, narrowing on Cobra.

"You'll have sex, your bodys have to join, doesn't matter who is in who but you have to join, when Bickslow cums, you set your bite, his magic will come into you in his blood, you'll push yours into him, the dragon magic will make him as immune to poisons and toxins as you are so don't worry about that, it might hurt too, don't freak out if he starts to feel some pain, if he does...fuck him more, sexual release takes the pain of the magic away, that's why the bite has to happen at orgasm." Cristoff explained.

"Once it's done, you're not going to want him out of your sight, your dragon will go super bitch possessive and protective, other slayers will crave your partially claimed mate, they can't take him as a mate themselves, but if they get him, he'll be unable to resist a Dragonslayer, he'll let them take him, fuck him and bite him...he won't have a choice, so it's up to you to protect him, keep him close. Once the bite seals and you start to see this faint outline of your name in Draconic start to form in his skin where you bit him, you set the next bite." He said.

Cobra took it all in, but frowned and Cristoff stopped at the obvious question forming for the other Slayer.

"If another slayer can't take him as a mate...why would they bother with him?" He asked.

Cristoff drew a slow breath "To destroy a rival...if they erase your claim, break the first bond while it's still new...you die, it would kill you. Bickslow becomes a consort to that slayer...a sex slave basically for their enjoyment and when they mate, their mate has the option to either accept and use him too or kill him." Cristoff said at Cobra's horrified expression he shrugged.

"Dragons aren't romantic, they aren't kind to their rivals...if it's any consolation...it's worse for the Female slayers...Wendy...my sister Emzadi...they have a seriously rough process." He admitted, shuddering a little.

"Second bite sets everything and you'll lose a piece of your soul, it will tear away and Bickslows will take it, replacing it with a piece of his own...it uh...hurts. According to Nurem...it hurts like fucking hell but not for long, seconds only. Once that's done, you two should stay close to each other, no overnight separation or even being out of sight distance from each other, usually a few weeks of that,the length of time varies a lot for that, you'll know because it will get easier having him out of your sight, obey the feelings, obey your inner dragon about that shit too, you'll both suffer and get weak and sick if you don't." Cristoff said.

Cobra digested it all, then smirked up at Cristoff "Once I'm mated will I smell half mated people? You know, be driven to try and steal a rivals mate?" He asked and Cristoff smiled back.

"No...you won't be driven to do that, you can chose to, take consorts and kill your rivals by doing it but I don't recommend it. As a mated male you won't be looked at as a threat. In fact, when you start mating with Bickslow, I'm betting the only male that you'll be able to tolerate around Bixy will be Zen, because his magic works similar to ours in that respect and he's mated. Lucy will be easy to be around too." Cristoff said.

"What about you?" He asked, eyeing Cristoff seriously.

"No...you won't want me around, I'm an unmated male, a slayer, and I'm bigger than you, first gen too, your dragon will consider me a threat, and I really don't want to be around...being attracted to my big brother against my will does NOT appeal to me...at ALL." He said firmly, making a face.

Cobra smirked "Adopted though." He pointed out.

"Doesn't matter, we're brothers...and by blood we're still cousins, Bix and I are from the same clan, bear the same seals and symbols from our clan." He said.

Cobra nodded, mind trying to wrap around it all. "Once we're...mates...his lifespan changes right?" He asked and Cristoff nodded. "Dragon Slayers stop aging when they mate, become ageless and their mates do as well. We can still be killed of course, but aside from some really serious mortal injury...and the older we get the more significant that injury would need to be, we get stronger as we cycle through years...and our mates do too. If you die...Bickslow dies and vice versa, so to protect you both, the magic balances you with each other, he can pull your strength, you can pull his, that's another reason that a mated Slayer and their mate become...incredibly hard to kill, if the mate is uninjured and at full strength, they can share the damage, help their mate through recovery. The bond is...immense." Cristoff said a little reverently.

He wanted his mate, wanted to find them whoever they were. Cristoff had a very affectionate nature, was a hefty romantic, he wanted to love a mate, wanted to have that, it was why he was very honest and upfront with his sex partners and as a rule avoided sleeping with anyone more than a couple of times. A rule he wasn't good at keeping honestly, he had a habit of leaving lovers pining for him. He was a positive, optimistic...loving man, he couldn't help that, it was who he was.

He was a little better at it than he had been, but he still tried hard to keep himself at a distance and failed now and then. He really loved the connection he could get with intimacy, it was hard for him, seeing his older brother become mated, if only temporarily, now Bickslow too had made the desire feel so much stronger.

"Ok...shit...wish I'd beat the fuck out of that fake Brain a little more now…" He sighed.

Cristoff could only offer an understanding smile but Cobra knew, when he'd become Bickslows friend, he'd been semi-adopted by the Pradesh family and Cristoff in particular was just...easy to talk Bickslow had told him more than once and he'd found it was true, the man kept secrets too, right now he knew, no matter how he begged or pleaded, Bickslow would never find out any of what He and Cristoff had talked through today, not from Cristoff anyway.

"Well...I need to go find Bix...I think he went to the gym, I...uh...don't know when exactly…" He admitted and Cristoff waved a hand.

"Don't worry about it, I was planning to move into Farron's room at the Hotel anyway until you two had sorted things out so whenever you get to it...I'll be out of here and keep myself at a distance until Bix gives the all clear." He said lightly, rising and heading for the stairs.

"Hey uh...Cris...thanks…" Cobra managed, tripping over it, he was still adjusting to having so many people care about him, so many friends...and soon...when he and Bickslow moved forward...he'd have real family…

"Anytime man...and Cobra?" He called stopping the Dragon Slayer as he was about to walk out the door.

"Welcome to the family man."

Cobra swallowed hard on that. "Yeah…thanks."