Dragneel; Igneel & Layla 8, Saraphina 6, Nash 4
Redfox; Ren 8, Axel 7, Connor & Wyatt 5
Haroworth; Nolan & Lucca & Kellen & Rainer & Aura 5
Drayer; Lexie 9
Justine; Marcus 8
Alberona; Chance 7
Fullbuster; Storm 9, Ur &Ulter 5
Damian 8
Fernandez; Maia 5
Fiore; Drake 7
Ecluiff; Reese 8, Verity 6, Kato 1
A Brothers Quarrel
**** Six Years after Celestial Mage Wanted****
Yawning Lexie woke up. But rather than the comforting scent of the guild hall or her house, nor was she at her momma Mira and uncle Freed's house where she was staying while daddy was in Crocus, she found that she was somewhere new. Somewhere that smelled like sweat, dirt, and bad fish. Wrinkling her nose in disgust she blinked her eyes open, rubbing the sleep out of them as her vision adjusted to the light.
"Daddy!?" She called out in confusion as an unfamiliar scent came closer to her.
"Daddy's not here brat," an unfamiliar voice spoke as Lexie blinked up at the stranger.
He had a putrid odor coming off of him, like he hadn't had a bath in a while and his clothes were even worse; dried blood and dirt littered every inch of the fabric. He growled at her and Lexie fought the urge to growl back knowing full well her growl was better than his. But she remembered her daddy's warning. "If you ever find yourself around people you don't recognize, be very very good. Don't make them mad, but don't let them hurt you either. I'll come as fast as possible but you have to be patient," he had said a few weeks ago. Lexie pouted these people were bad guys and she knew she could maybe knock out three before she ran out of magic but there were at least ten in the room and she knew she couldn't handle that many.
"Let me see the child," a new voice called as the men parted ways revealing a man who was well dressed and smelled a lot nicer than the ones around her. "You got the wrong one!" The man growled as Lexie tilted her head in confusion.
"Why do you look like uncle Freed?" She asked as she looked over the man.
He had the same hair color and face as her uncle just with a few wrinkles around his eyes. He even dressed like him, but his eyes were wrong. They were cold and mean rather than the warm and comforting ones she was used to.
"Hey you said the child at their place and she was the one we found," the smelly guy said as Lexie watched the men argue. The smelly one was waving his hands all over the place but the man who looked like her uncle simply scoffed at the other.
"My brother had a son not a daughter; I have no idea who this child is!" The man growled pointing towards her as Lexie coughed gaining the groups attention.
"I'm Lexie Drayer," she said with a smile as the entire crew seemed to pale at the realization of what they've done.
"Shit she's a dragon slayer," one whispered.
"Crap well have to deal with the Draconic council," another cried out
"Her father's gonna kill us," a third swore.
"Nope Daddy will just want to cuddle me!" Lexie giggled "besides it's not daddy you need to be afraid of," she said firmly her voice turning serious.
"Who do we need to be afraid of?" The man who she talked to first asked.
"Mama's Mira, Lucy, Levy, Minerva, and Erza!" The girl cheered as the men paled
"But not one of them is your mother!" The man who looked like Frees hissed.
"Hey don't you talk about my mommies that way!" Lexie barked as she snarled at the man responsible for taking her.
"Where is she has to be terrified!" Laxus hissed through the lacrima as Erza glared at him.
It had been an hour since Lexie had been found missing. Freed was inconsolable as he sobbed in a corner the few word s anyone could hear were "but my runes, no one can get past my runes," and sometimes "Forgive me Laxus." Mira was pacing by the guild doors growling every so often waiting for any news. The rune knights had been called, as well as crime Sorciére and the palace; after all this was the first time the dragon protection act had been violated since the ex-magic council members. The whole of Fairy Tail was on red alert and all members who were out on jobs were waiting on standby all ready to return home the moment they were called.
A large map of Fiore hung in the hall littered with pins each representing a mage out on a job and where they were within a quarter mile. It was a new system that Freed, Levy, Cana, and Lucy had been working on for some time. After there were several kidnapping attempts on members as they were out on jobs, so they rushed this into production and as long as any guild member was out on assignment they could be tracked. But no one had thought to place the spell on the children while they were home.
"Nonsense she is a Drayer!" Erza said confidently, before Lucy took the lacrima out of her hand.
"Laxus calm down I know you want to storm off but you're in Crocus, it would take you at least three hours to get back here so wait until we have her location and then start coming here for all we know she's closer to you," Lucy spoke as Cana's voice filled the guildhall.
"Got it she's just west of Hargeon," the card mage said as Laxus growled.
"I'm on my way!" He hissed as the lacrima went dead.
"It will take him five hours to get there," Levy pointed out as she looked between the small group of women surrounding her watching as each drew the same conclusion.
"But it will take us two," Minerva smiled sadistically as the four mother's left quickly.
"And then there's Auntie Cana... She doesn't like me calling her momma," Lexie said as the men continued trying to figure out what to do.
"This could still work, she's the guild Master's daughter and I know how much my brother loves that damned Laxus," the well-dressed man growled annoyed at the child who was currently talking about her family.
"Mr. Freed's brother can I go home now?" Lexie asked impatiently.
"You can go home as soon as my brother marries the princess of Sin!" He hissed as the doors to the building were kicked open.
"You dare take our daughter!" the women shouted each ready for a fight.
Mira in her Koyka soul, Lucy in her Taurus star dress, Levy with her light pen ready runes already shimmering behind her, Minerva with her hands glowing and Erza in her heaven's wheel armor.
"MOMMA!" Lexie giggled in delighted as the men all paled.
The battle was heavily one sided as the women of Fairy Tail proved why stealing any of their babies was a big mistake. It took maybe ten minutes until each man was tied up with the magic suppressing runes on them.
"There's my brave little girl," Erza smiled as Lexie tackle hugged the requip mage.
But soon she marched right over to the smelly one who had talked to her first and kicked him in the shins as she sent a jolt of lightning through his body. The man convulsed on the ground crying in pain until she stopped. "Meany, and you smell you need a bath!" She hissed as Levy was bent down near one.
"Hey I think I know who the ring leader is," she said as she stepped aside revealing the well dress man.
"Christopher Justine," Mira hissed.
"Who's that?" Lucy asked as she changed back into her normal clothes and Minerva called Jellal and the rune knights.
"He's Freed's older brother," Mira said as she glared at the man who was keeping her from marriage.
"He said that I couldn't go hope until uncle Freed mated with the princess of Sin," Lexie said as she walked up to Lucy.
"Oh really?" Lucy growled as the man flinched in fear.
"Yeah and he also was mad at them cause he said they got the wrong one I think they were after Marcus," she said as Mira transformed again.
"You were going to take my son!" Mira growled as Lexie reached for a lacrima in Levy's bag.
"Daddy!" She called out as Laxus appeared in the crystal.
"Bug!" Laxus gasped as he began heaving.
"I'm safe see," she said turning the crystal to show him the tied up bad guys. "My momma's came to get me!" She yelled happily as Laxus sighed in relief.
"Wait is that Freed's brother?" He asked as he watched Mira grab the man's shirt and he promptly passed out.
"Yeah he said I couldn't come home until Uncle Freed mated with the princess of Sin," Lexie said as turned the lacrima back to face her.
"Bug, can you hand the lacrima to Minerva," Laxus spoke as Lexie did as she was asked.
"Momma Minerva daddy wants to talk to ya," she said as she handed the lacrima to her.
"Tell the knights to bring them all to Crocus, the council will deal with them and make sure the Marquee is there," Laxus ordered as Minerva nodded in agreement. Spying the guild mark on the men she recognized it from a dark guild, Quick Death, they had been on Crime Sorcerer's radar for some time and it looks like they all were here.
"Why?" Minerva asked as she heard the rune knights begin to arrive.
"Cause the Emperor of Seven is in Crocus right now," Laxus grinned maniacally as the lacrima cut off.
"On the matter of these dark mages they will be handed over to the Draconic High Council and will be punished as they see fit," Hisui said as Jellal nodded his head in agreement as they sat in the Palace's court room.
Hisui and Rouge sat in the center of the crescent. The Draconic High council on the left side with Jellal, Dorenbolt who was now head of the rune knights, a member of the magic council and the Emperor of Sin on the right.
"Bring in the Marquee," Hisui spoke as the doors opened in in walked the man cuffed by both his hands and feet with two knights on each side.
"Marquee Justine you are charged with kidnapping a citizen of Fiore who is granted safety under the dragon protection act, how do you plead?" Hisui asked as the Marquee glared at the Knights who had drug him into the room.
"Not guilty, those idiots I hired took the wrong child, it was a mistake" Christopher hissed as he turned his attention to the people sitting in front of him.
"That may be but even still you hired dark mages to kidnap a child, regardless of said mistakes," Jellal pointed out.
"Mistakes?! they took my kid!" Laxus shouted slamming his hands on the table.
"Yes we are aware but he is not a Fiorian citizen shouldn't we hand him back to his own government for punishment?" The magic council representative asked as Laxus growled turning his glare on to the council member lighting sparking off of him.
"Laxus!" Gajeel growled as he slammed the lighting dragon slayer's head on the table.
"Your majesty the dragon protection act is absolute. Citizen or not he should be handed over to the council for punishment, we may set a dangerous president if we let this slide as well," Natsu spoke up clearly as Gajeel tried to calm down the raging dragon slayer.
"Not to mention Seven has just signed the dragon protection act yesterday," Ryos pointed out as the Marquee quickly turned to look over at the Emperor.
"You're Majesty?" He asked in confusion.
"I know your stance on it but I agree with Fiore on this. Those of Draconic heritage need to be protected," the Emperor said as he looked down at his citizen. Fiore and Seven seemed to disagree on much, but the Emperor couldn't deny the facts. Especially when he had been monitoring the situation for some time, and had failed to find a plausible solution.
"Do we know the reason behind this incident, I've know the Marquee for years he wouldn't do anything this drastic without reason," the visiting royal asked as a cough drew is attention.
"Your Majesty," Freed spoke as he walked into the room.
"We recognize Freed Justine of the guild Fairy Tail," Hisui spoke nodding her head as Freed took the floor.
"It was my fault, they were going to take Marcus and hold him ransomed until I married the princess of Sin, but I don't understand why," the rune mage spoke doing everything he could to not even look at his brother.
"Your brother has made several poor investment choices recently which has made him bankrupt, besides since I have been able to produce an heir he is no longer next in line for the throne," The Emperor spoke as a hissed drew everyone's attention.
"This is all your fault! Had you not left when you had we would be reigning right now!" Christopher shouted as several rune knights held him back to keep him from attacking his brother.
"Emperor Cross what do you think should happen?" Hisui spoke ignoring the outburst.
"Marquee Justine, from this point on you and your wife and children are stripped of your titles and land which shall be given to your brother. You will be handed over to the draconic high council for sentencing. And if you somehow survive then you shall be banished from Seven for the rest of your life," the Emperor spoke firmly as Christopher paled.
"Sir you can't do this, my brother can't inherit the title he is a guild mage, the law won't allow it!" Christopher shouted as Freed steeped out of the way of the knights who were attempting to keep him still.
"Laws can be changed Christopher. And I believe it is time for a new era to begin in Seven. We have spent too long dismissing those who could potentially help our country and I am tired of it," the Emperor spoke firmly as he saw the draconic high council whisper amongst themselves.
"You're just doing this because your daughter was born with magic!" Christopher growled as he struggled against the hold the knights had on him.
"While it is true that my daughter has magic, this change has been something I have been working towards for some time, long before I took the throne. My father was too stuck in his ways and now that I am Emperor I will make changes that he should have," the Emperor spoke as the council returned to their seats.
"Mr. Justine after careful consideration you have been sentenced to the gauntlet," Wendy spoke firmly as Laxus sneered happily at the man.
"The what?" Christopher asked as he whipped his head back over to the dragon slayers.
"The gauntlet is a punishment from the Dragconic high council. A person sentenced to it will have to withstand a single attack from every Slayer and their children. If they survive they are free to go," Jellal spoke as he began gathering up his paper work. Erza and Maia were expecting him home tonight and he wanted to be there before his daughter was tucked into bed.
"I'll be killed!" Christopher cried out in panic as the knights began to take him away.
"A kulk deserves nothing less," Laxus growled as the doors closed.
"When will his sentence be carried out?" Emperor Cross asked as he looked over to the council.
"With the month, this punishment is done publicly. So we have to set up the Domas Flau for it," Hisui spoke as she too readied to leave.
"Your majesty," Freed spoke as he addressed the Emperor.
"Yes Marquee?" the visiting royal asked as he turned to look at the new noble.
"I am here to make a request for a marriage," the rune mage spoke as the room stilled.
"I would ask if your required a match to be made, but I must assume that you have the bride in mind?" The Emperor spoke.
"Yes, she is the mother of my son. The only one I want, and she deserves not only marriage but every allowance that tradition dictates," Freed spoke as he held his breath.
Marriage for the nobles of Seven were elaborate affairs. Most taking several weeks to complete, and thought Freed would rather do a simple ceremony with the guild. It was difficult for nobles to marry someone they choose, marriage was used to keep the blood lines strong and the palace made matches based on wealth, status, and blood. Personal choices were usually disregarded, let alone to be allowed to choose a person from another country with no title or incentives. He knew that not only with his new status that it would be expected but that Mira would want it.
"Do I know of her?" the Emperor asked.
"You might, her name is Mirajane Strauss. She is a takeover mage who specializes in demon souls, known as the demon. Thought she was also a pinup model for sorcerer's weekly," Freed spoke as the emperor nodded his head.
"Do you by any chance have a picture of your family?" he asked as he heard a chuckle form the draconic high council.
"Yes of course I do!" Freed said enthusiastically. Pulling out his wallet he plucked a large number of papers that seemed to make the wallet sag in relief that it didn't have to hold so much anymore. "Let's see, this is the first picture of Marcus we got from an ultra sound," Freed began as he placed the photo on the table in front of the king. "this is when Mira went in to labor, this is right after he was born. This is the first time Laxus held him. This is when he refused to sleep, this is his first rattle," Freed spoke as picture after picture appeared on the desk.
"How about something more recent?" the emperor asked biting back laughter as he heard the dragon council snickering in the background.
"Yes certainly," Freed said happily as he shuffled through the pictures, cursing Bixlow for putting them out of order. "Ah here it is I took this a few weeks ago," the rune mage spoke as he place the picture on the table.
Mira and Marcus smiled up at the camera the little boy in his mother's arms as they both laughed. Now at the age of eight Marcus was learning magic quickly absorbing everything he could. His white hair and blue eyes matching his mother's smile.
"He has much of his mother," the king commented as he looked into the smiling faces.
"Yes he does," Freed smiled as he looked down at a picture he had taken of his first steps.
"Does he have magic?" the Emperor asked as he continued to look at the photo.
"Yes, he is a takeover mage. But he still unsure of what his specialty is," Freed said as he held out another picture taken of Marcus who's arm was covered in feathers a frustrated look on his face.
"Far be it from me to break up such a happy family, you have the courts blessing," the Emperor said as Freed bowed.
"Thank you sir," the rune mage said as he smiled.
"Is this where you grew up?" Marcus asked as the second car pulled up to the estate. It was a large house not much larger than the Hartfilia mansion was with the surrounding thirty acres belonging to the estate as well.
"Yes, this is where I lived up until I was about sixteen," Freed said as he looked over smiling at Mira who was in the passenger seat.
"Was that when uncle Laxus asked you to join the thunder legion?" Marcus asked as he bounced excitedly in his seat.
"Something like that," Freed said with a tight smile.
He hadn't planned on staying with Fairy Tail long. On a trip to his boarding school in Minstrel his contingent had been bombarded by bandits and Laxus and Bixlow had just happened to be passing by on their way home from a job. The two captured the bandits and Laxus had saved his life. According to Seven law, Freed owed Laxus a debt and until he repaid it the rune mage had to serve him. The lighting Slayer had found it odd and embarrassing at first but soon Freed had found the freedom and acceptance he had always wanted. Once his debt had been paid the rune mage almost returned to the family. But once again Laxus had saved him, and he and Makarov had moved heaven and Earth to allow him to stay. Pulling up to the house he sat in the car thinking about his past until he heard Mira's voice filled with concern.
"What's going on here?" The takeover mage asked.
Freed stepped out of the car as he saw what Mira was taking about. Several large trunks sat on the lawn and we're being loaded onto a waiting truck.
"Marquee it is an honor to serve you, I am Matilda, the head of the house," the elder woman said as she bowed.
"What's happening?" Freed asked again.
"Just taking care of the former residents," she hissed coldly as two girls no more than seven and five walked out of the house, tears down the younger's face and the elder was staring off angry. "Your brother's daughters will be sent to a boarding school that specializes in these cases. You won't have to deal with them again," Matilda spoke as Freed smiled knowing Mira's reaction.
"Deal with?! You act like being around family is such a bother. They're family!" The takeover mage screeched as to two girls stopped in their tracks to look at what was causing the commotion Mira marched forward bending down to talk to them.
"Hello I am Mira Jane Strauss I'm your Aunt!" She said happily as she watched the younger smile but her sister kept a grip on her.
"Good day Lady Strauss I hope you will enjoy living in the Justine home," she said as she tried to move around Mira but was stopped by Marcus.
"Hi I'm your cousin, my name is Marcus and I'm a takeover mage," the boy smiled as he held out a hand.
"How unfortunate for you," the elder said as she tried to move around the boy but Marcus moved in front of her again.
"Why?" the boy asked as he looked at his two cousins.
"Well mages are not good enough to hold positions of power my sister will have to learn how to hide her magic if we hope to overcome this incident," she said coldly almost glaring down at the little girl.
"I'm Marcus who are you?" The boy said to the younger one who didn't know who she should follow.
"Zally," she said as she half hid behind her sister.
"Well Zally I'm your uncle Freed what kind of magic do you use?" He asked as Zally felt her sister tug on her sleeve before shaking her head no. "It's alright I'm a mage to, I'm a rune mage," Freed smiled as Mira scooted next to him.
"And I'm a takeover mage too," Mira smiled "We're a part of a guild known as Fairy Tail maybe you have heard it?"
"Only when father was raving about our uncle's disgrace," the elder said as she felt her sister tug her hand out of her grip.
"I have heavenly body magic," Zally said happily as stepped towards the two adults.
"We know someone with the exact same kind of magic," Mira said happily as Zally stared at her in wonder her large grey eyes.
"Really, can he teach me?" Zally asked quickly.
"Zally you will not be learning anything!" the sister shouted as the girl turned to her.
"Esme why not, their mages and the new princess is a mage why is that a bad thing?!" Zally shrieked.
"Because it isn't the way things are done!" Esme shouted as Freed stood between the two girls.
"Matilda please return the girls things to their room and call the school let them know that they will not be attending," Freed said firmly.
"But sir it isn't," Matilda began before she was cut off by Mira.
"Well its time things were different, Zally we know of a very good magic school one that will let you train under our friend," Mira said as she looked down at Esme and on her little arm seeing what she had hoped not. A brand one she had seen on her own guild mate. "And Esme magic isn't a bad thing what kind do you practice?" Mira asked as she watched the little girl struggle.
Tears filled her hazel eyes as she fought back the emotion running through her.
"Esme used to make pretty flowers but that was before the mean lady came here," Zally said as Freed shook his head.
"Well we have a plant mage in our guild as well," Mira said with a smile.
"Mother would not approve," Esme spoke quietly as tears rimmed her eyes.
"Mother went away," Zally said innocently as Esme actually started crying.
"Where is their mother?" Mira asked as she looked up at the head of the house.
"Mother said that we were nothing more than worthless peckos. And now that father is gone she never wants to see us again. " Esme grunted as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Freed?" the white haired woman asked as she looked over at her fiancé.
"It's a slang for magic users. There is no direct translation but it generally means fifthly blood," the rune mage informed as Mira shook her head. Turing back to the head of the house Freed narrowed his eyes. "I am lord of this house and I gave you an order," he said sternly.
"Sir with all due respect," Matilda began before she was cut off again.
"Good sirs please return everything to the house," Mira spoke directly to the men who were loading up the truck. Bowing they began doing just that. "If you cannot follow orders you will not be need Matilda," Mira huffed as she grabbed both of her niece's hands and marched them back into the house with Marcus on her heels.
"I serve the Justine family," Matilda said with a bow.
"Then be sure to prepare the guest rooms my in laws they will be arriving in a few days," Freed said sternly as he too walked towards the house. At the end of the day he was now Marquee Justine, and he was going to change how things were done.
