Dragneel; Igneel & Layla 4, Sarapina (9 month along)
Redfox; Ren 4, Axel 1
Drayer; Lexie 5
Justine; Marcus 2
Alberona; Chance 1
Fullbuster; Storm 4
Damian 2
Ecluiff; Reese 2
A New Purpose
****Nine months after the end of Celestial Mage Wanted****
"Thank you for coming so quickly," the princess said as she met the two Fairy Tail mages in the front corridors of the palace.
"No problem what's the emergency?" Laxus asked as he and Minerva walked into the hall.
Two days ago the royal palace had sent word asking that the master of Fairy Tail or his next in line to please come to Crocus to discuss urgent business. With Makarov's health on the decline due to stress, Laxus and his now part time secretary had come in his place.
"Follow me I'll explain on the way," Hisui spoke turning to lead them were they needed to go. "What do you know about the magical refugees?" The princess asked as she turned to look at the two fairies continuing forward.
"They are mages who have crossed many borders into Fiore for safety from enslavement and or death," Laxus spoke as Minerva nodded.
"Yet an alarming number of them are children recently," Minerva continued remembering several of the announcements she had read while still at Sabertooth.
"Yes, as you know Fiore and Alvarez are the only safe havens for mages on the continent. Giving them the chance of an eraser and freer life. As long as they join a guild, or the rune knights by the age of eighteen they will be given citizenship," the princess stated as she continued forward leading them down the maze like corridors.
"We know that, but why are we here," Laxus asked as he heard several shouts of what sounded like children playing nearby. Looking out a nearby window he spotted a large number of them all racing through the gardens of the palace.
"As you have said most of the ones to arrive here in recent years have been children. Abandoned just barely on our side of the borders with notes attached to their bodies if they are too young to speak. It was once the duty of the magic council to raise the children in orphanages. Providing food, shelter, and education until they reached maturity, but with the issues we have been having with the council it comes as no surprise that they have failed them," Hisui spoke gravely as she stopped in front of a large open area overlooking a dining room.
"What do you mean failed them?" Minerva asked as she looked over the railing watching as children were seen by several doctor's even Sherria and Wendy were among the children each healer tending to a child. So that's where she went, Minerva thought remembering that three days ago Wendy had burst into the guild shouting that she would be gone for a few weeks but back before Lucy was to give birth then she disappeared just as suddenly as she had come.
"A few weeks ago a boy came to palace, no more than fifteen, asking to see the king," Hisui began as she looked over the railing while she continued. "Father was away but Ryos and I saw him. The story he told us seemed impossible but when we inspected the closest orphanage not far from the palace..." she stopped suddenly staring off into space.
"Hisui?" Laxus asked as he looked over at the princess.
"The money that had been sent to the children homes had been stolen by the caretakers. The children were starving, most were sick, none of them had seen a teacher in months, and the building was nearly falling down," the green haired mate spoke quickly before taking several breaths and then continuing. "I thought for sure that it was only that one but after sending off staff to every single one we found they all were in varying stages of disuse and the children left to their own devices. After speaking with many of the older children myself I found that the ones who showed the most magical promise... They were sold to dark guilds," Hisui finally croaked out gripping the railing tightly.
"No wonder the number of dark mages have increased," Minerva said as she remembered the last meeting between Fairy Tail and Crime SorciƩre.
Jellal had been worried about the number of dark mages that had shockingly increased in the last few years. Dark guilds were becoming more and more frequent and their numbers growing. He had asked that they keep an eye on the situation, fearing that many of the leaders were bewitching good mages and forcing them to do their bidding.
"Yes... So I have closed down every single one of those orphanages and had the children moved here," Hisui spoke as she pushed herself away from the railing.
"How many?" Laxus asked looking over the children trying and failing to count them.
"Around three hundred and fifty. But several of the older girls are pregnant as well," the princess spoke watching a Wendy checked up on the expectant mothers.
"What do you want us to do?" Laxus asked as he watched the princess carefully.
"Come with me," she motioned as she lead them down the corridor and pushed open the large doors at the end of the hall. The spacious room was filled with cribs toys and children, very young children. "This is the nursery, all the children under the age of three are here," Hisui said as a few of the servants assigned to this room bowed as she entered.
"I've spoken to the other legal guilds and they are sending representatives here to talk to the children about joining their guilds, if any of the children don't want to I have made arrangements for them to stay here, then once a year we will see if they change their minds," Hisui said as she bent down picking up a little girl who had crawled to her.
"You want us to do the same?" Laxus asked in confusion, Hisui shook her head before she spoke.
"No, I was hoping you would take all the younger ones," The princess said turning to look at the two fairies.
"Why?" Minerva asked in confusion as she looked over the nursery a little boy tentatively walked up to her.
"Hold tchou," he muttered lifting his hands up expectantly. Bending down she gently picked up the boy nearly melting as he tucked his head under her chin before falling sleep.
"Your guild is the only one whose members have families and yet both mages continue to work. Not only that but all of your children are around the same age as these. You would receive a siphoned to help provide for them and we can search for families to take in these children but..." Hisui explained her words traveling of unable to finish the sentence.
"Many people dislike the safe haven laws," Minerva spoke finishing off the thought.
It was a sore point with her father; the man had despised those laws and was always very vocal about his displeasure. He even made it a rule that no foreigners were allowed to join Sabertooth, the only exception being when a prince of Bosco had come to them asking for asylum.
"Yes and I fear we won't find families to taken in the children, and I can't divert any more staff members to care for them," Hisui said anxiously.
"How many?" Laxus asked looking over the room, most of the children looked like the majority of them were a little over a year old. Which means they would fit into the right age group for the kids we already have, the dragon slayer thought.
"Thirty," Hisui said handing the child over to one of the servants for her lunch another taking the boy from Minerva.
"Can we have a moment?" Minerva asked, the princess nodding her head in understanding as she stepped out. "Master, I want to do it," she said looking over at the children as they were feed.
"What?" the blond man looked down at her in confusion watching Minerva begin her plans.
"I've been looking for something to do with my life, I am done with being a wizard as you well know. I take care of the kids while their parents are away and Makarov and I have been making plans to start a school for the children when they get older," she said out loud continuing to figure out the details knowing Hisui would want the information before she released the children in to her custody.
"Where will they live?" Laxus asked as he tried to figure out how this could work.
"We can use the old fairy hills building, I'm the only one living there now that Laki has finally moved in to her own apartment. The renovations we would need to make would only take a few weeks if the guild would help and in the mean time we can keep them in the infirmity and the guild nursery till it's done," she shrugged already planning on calling on the dragon slayers and Laki to help. If we can keep them from fighting then all the work can be done in about ten days, she calculated.
"Minerva," Laxus grunted as she finally turned to look at him again.
"Laxus if we go home without these children and the guild finds out they will hate you," she pointed out as she began a staring contest with the dragon slayer.
"Fine I'll be right back," Laxus said as he disappeared into a bolt of lightning.
"Everybody shut it!" he bellowed as the guild clamored around him all of them beginning to make plans to take in these children.
"My boy do you think we should take in these poor children?" Makarov asked from his chair.
"They've got nowhere else to go Jiji but my concern is that we don't have the man power to take on thirty children under the age of four," Laxus said as Lucy groaned.
"I've got your man power," the heavily pregnant mage growled as she shifted in her seat again trying to get comfortable. "As you know , you all finished sorting out the rest of the members of Dragons keep and I have twenty new members who are now waiting for assignments," Lucy spoke as she felt her mate massage the tense muscles in her back as she leaned against him.
"Can you trust them?" Makarov asked turning towards Lucy.
"Not yet, but I can move people around and I have about fifteen that I trust completely. If we modify Fairy hills and give them each a room of their own we can have ten workers here at a time and then they'll work a month shift before we change them out and rotate them back to the mansion if they want to," the blonde woman said as looked towards Mira, "Can I get some of that Dragons blood smoothie you made yesterday?" she asked as the bar maid nodded.
"What about wages? We won't be able to pay them very well if at all," Laxus asked as he tried to figure what they would be able to afford.
"The Haroworth clan is self-sustaining, what they can't make or grow they buy with the money they earn from their exports. Apparently Hart Kuzon, loves the textiles they produce and makes his top line out of them exclusively, Erza is wearing one right now," the celestial mage grunted as the requip mage looked down at her simply shift dress. The pattern was bright and colorful, full of life, honestly it was the reason she bought it.
"Your family made this?" Erza asked in wonder.
"Just the fabric I have every designer from around the world calling about specialty patterns, I haven't had a full nap in ages," Lucy pouted as she felt an especially hard kick. "Alright little miss I am giving you your marching orders, you have a week to leave or Wendy will cut you out," she hissed down at the week late life with in her.
"Alright, so we have the man power, so what about schooling when they are older? I don't think Magnolia would be able to handle that many children at once, and I know Hisui will want these children to have an education" Freed asked Marcus in his lap as a book in front of them both.
"Perhaps we could be of some assistance," Zeref spoke from the rafters Mavis right next to him.
"How's that?" Laxus inquired as the two spirits floated down to the ground.
"Well Mavis, Makarov, Minerva, and I have all been discussing the future education of the children," the elder Dragneel spoke as Mavis nodded her head and continued.
"Most children of mages are rowdy and hard to control due to the focus on the magic running through them and as such have problems in most school systems that run on the idea of strict structure in schools," Mavis began as she looked over at Makarov. "In the past basic education was just reading and basic math, adding and subtracting, all things that could be taught very quickly while magic was focused on more. But today that's not the case," the first master finished.
"We had been discussing the structure of a school for the children of the guild, one that would give them the education they need but also a more understanding environment for their need to practice their magic. There would be no cost to the members of the guild, and we could have many of my children come and teach a lesson or two if it was in their expertise," Makarov smiled as he looked towards his grandson. "I am sure that with two guild masters and one of the brightest magic prodigies of all time we can manage perfectly well," he said as he took a long drink of his beer.
"Well then I better go get them, but while I am gone. Freed I need you and Laki to begin working on the redesign of Fairy hills. Once that is done grab everyone you can and get to work. Make plans for fifty kids, bunk no more than three to a room, plus personal rooms for each worker and a large nursery for the infants and a large play room as well, with a kitchen on site. Mira put together a cook book of Fairy Tail favorites for the children, Lucy call who you need to and get your workers here by the end of the week. I am going back to Crocus," Laxus ordered as everyone scrambled to do their assigned tasked all expect Lucy who contently sat where she was enjoying her drink as her husband ran to find a lacrima she could call the family with.
"Okay so it looks like everything is in order," Hisui said as she looked over the paper work another time.
It had been three days since Laxus had returned with the news that Fairy Tail would take on the children. In that time he and Minerva had been spending as much time with them as possible, while trying to coordinate everything back at the guild. The construction on Fairy Hills had stared two days ago and was right on schedule, it was aiming to be done two days after they had returned with the children. Lucy's family had arrived the day before and were currently unpacking the boxes of donations that had arrived at the guild for the children.
"We will send someone to inspect Fairy Hills and your operation in a month. If all goes well then we will only do yearly visits," the princess smiled as she watched the children be prepped for travel.
"Who is going to be the inspector?" Minerva asked as she counted the files for the children again.
"Rufus Lore has volunteered to do it, so I am going to appoint him as Minister of the Safe Haven Laws. A position we should have had from the start," Hisui spoke as she handed the last of the copies to Laxus along with this month's stipend.
"Is that all?" Laxus asked looking up at the princess.
"Yes, I have assigned a few staff members to assist you on your journey as well as having two train cars to yourself and the children," the green haired mate smiled as she stood followed by the two fairies.
"Thank you your majesty," Minerva said with a bow.
"No thank you," Rouge spoke as he stepped beside Hisui, "She has been going crazy over the last month and now that we have found places for almost all of the children she can finally relax," the shadow dragon said as he tucked his mate under his chin holding her close.
"We need to go, if we aren't back in Magnolia tonight I think Jiji will beat my ass," Laxus laughed as they left the office meeting the children at the doors of the palace ready and waiting to begin their new life.
