Just want to say thanks for the reviews and thanks to Desna for her help. Enjoy the chapter everyone!
Lucy pov:
I woke up to the sound of someone pounding on the door. With a groan I moved to get up but Kaleb's arms tightened around me, smiling I pushed at his arms "Kaleb someone is at the door I have to go get it, it could be important." With a groan he rolled over and fell back asleep. I got briefly distracted by how adorable he looked asleep; I was having trouble adjusting to the fact this man was my sons father...and once we signed some paperwork...we would be promised to each other, a vow that we were going to try and work into a lifelong relationship…. I almost didn't hear the door being pounded on again. I quickly dawned my robe and ran downstairs. Throwing open the door I saw it was Sting, Yukino, Minerva and Rogue along with Frosch and Lector. They all looked like they had been beaten badly. There was blood dripping from many cuts and bruises that were showing on any visible skin. "Oh my Mavis are you all ok?! What the hell happened to you all?" I asked as I ushered them in to my house and into the living room.
Kaleb I need you to get down here and call Cristoff and Master Laxus make sure Galas is ok please! I called out in my head then showed him what I was seeing through my head so he could move faster.
I ran into my kitchen and got some water and bandages that would stop the bleeding for now but then I remembered I have Nix. With a run back to the living room, "Nix!" with a ball of fire out stepped Nix who immediately got to work healing them. Not even seconds later I heard the sound of Master Laxus lightning teleport, running towards the door I saw the rest of the Pradesh family and Laxus along with Mira, Erza, Gray and Freed.
Not questioning why the others were here I let them in. "Princess I have healed the more serious wounds and have stopped the bleeding now that the Dragon healer is here I shall take my leave Virgo and Loke will be here shortly; The King will want to know what is happening." With a nod from me he left. While Cristoff was healing all four mages and the Exceeds Laxus and Kaleb were questioning Sting who had a haunted look in his eyes.
"Sting what the hell happened man?" Laxus asked while trying to get him to snap out of his funk. When there was no response to his answer he turned to look at Kaleb to see if he could read his mind or at least explain to us all what happened to them. It was Yukino who spoke up, "Sabertooth was attacked 8 hours ago, we barely escaped with our lives, we are all that is left of the guild everyone else has been either killed or taken into custody."
"Custody what do you mean by that? Are you saying the magic council attacked you all?!" yelled out Gray
Everyone's voices started rising and asking questions, I couldn't hear myself think let alone breath then suddenly it all went silent. Looking up I saw Kaleb's eyes were glowing white as was everyone else's eyes except myself, the Pradesh family, Galas, and the Sabertooth members. "I will release you all but you will wait for them to explain and stop yelling you are hurting my son's head and overwhelming his mother as well as those on the couch."
When Kaleb was certain everyone agreed he let them go since his eyes were no longer white. "Yukino please tell me what happened from the beginning." Questioned Laxus.
"I only know what happened when I was awoken to the sound of a blast rocking the building before I was buried under rubble. It was Sting, Minerva and Rogue that pulled me out they would know more. When we got outside we saw the guards from the Castle of Crocus attacking us. I saw them kill those that refused to stop fighting back. My sister Sorrano tried to break away and come to me when she was stabbed through the chest right in front of me. The last thing she said was to run before she died. So we did, while we ran the guards followed us and attacked us until we were forced to fight back. It was actually Captain Lahar and Mest that saved us or we would have gone down with the guild. They told us that the new Queen Hisui killed the King when he refused to hand over the crown because he could see darkness in her. Queen Hisui has issued an order that any and all mages in Fiore are to be hunted down, killed or captured."
"Mest and Lahar got us hidden till we could move and told us several Guilds had already been taken out with only one or two member's surviving everyone in Mermaid Heel except Kagura is dead. No one from Quarto Cerberus survived. No one has heard anything from Blue Pegasus but it is likely they are all gone as well. I know the Jura, Lyon, Sherry and Chelia with a few others are alive they are headed to Bosco right now. Lahar said a lot of mages were headed there or to Minstrel. He also said that any mages that were captured have all been killed and their magic was drained into Lacrimas. When we got into the city we saw that palace Guards were here too, so I rushed everyone ever here to make sure you were ok and I am so happy you are Lucy."
After she finished explaining Laxus Lacrima Com went off, "Master Laxus we are being attacked by the palace guards we need reinforcements, the have captured Max and Bisca. Master….. Nab, Jet, Droy, Macao, Reedus, Vijeeter and Wakaba have been killed. Oh and some badly beaten mages from Sabertooth have arrived as well as some mages from other guilds. The Trimens are also here so is the creepy guy Ichiya."
You could hear fighting in the background and shouts of magic power. Laxus told Cana to hold off until he got there and turn off the lacrima. "We need a plan fast we need to take those palace guards out then get the hell out of here. Kaleb will White Sea take Fairy Tail and all these mages in?" inquired Laxus
Kaleb nodded, "Of course you don't even need to ask. The Boscan Airship we came on is parked in a field not far from here the injured can go there, but we may not all fit on the ship." Before Laxus could say anything more I interrupted, "leave that part to me we just need to get everyone there." Grabbing Virgos and Loke's keys I called them out. When they appeared I gave quick instructions to them both for the sake of time, "Virgo pack up the house and store it in the spirit realm please. Loke tell father to start calling all the keys back to the realm that are in Fiore besides mine and Yukino's Keys." Once they both nodded I went upstairs to get dressed. When I came back downstairs I saw most of everyone was gone. Kaleb and the other members of Sabertooth were still here.
"Kaleb I'm going to the guild to help out. Take them to the ship I should be there shortly, Virgo when you are done here go by Natsu's house and grab it as well. Galas stay with your father if your dad comes to join me then stay with auntie Yuki and your uncles Sting and Rogue on the ship. Your Aunt Minerva will help protect you, so will happy and the other Exceeds." I didn't notice my sons huge grin at what I had said, but he ran to Kaleb immediately who swept him up into his arms without that I left the house and ran towards the guild Kaleb catching up to me a few minutes later.
"I just found you Damn it. I refuse to let you go into battle without me. If you fight so will I." With a smile on my face I laced my fingers through his until we arrived at the guild. It was complete chaos; I saw the ones Cana had said were killed and the ones that were captured, Max and Laki were getting their powers drained into a Lacrima. Before myself or Kaleb could more to help Max and Laki we saw their powers get drained out of them and get stabbed through their backs. Thinking quickly when I saw them move towards Bisca, I ran towards the Guardsmen approaching her and did a quick roundhouse kick that Capricorn and Loke showed me how to do. When I was sure they were knocked out I turned to Bisca to help her up. Fingering my keys I held onto Capricorn and Sagittarius, and summoned them both.
When they appeared before me I interrupting their greetings as time was of the essence, "Capricorn I know I have never ask you all to kill before but this time no holding back. Any guards men you see attacking take them out, Sagittarius do the same any one see need to be taken out as well as that damn machine." With a nod from me they both started their battles while I called out Nix to heal Bisca and anyone else from Fairy Tail or our helpers that needed healing. I looked up to see Kaleb taking out mages left and right with his powers, he fought back to back with Bickslow while Vander was cutting down guards at an alarming rate, vanishing and reappearing so fast it was impossible to keep track of him.
A Guard rushed me as I was about to send my whip out to stop another who was after Cana and just as I braced for his fist to hit me he staggered a moment, turned and attacked the guard beside him who had been about to grab me. Noticing his blanked out white eyes I shot a glance toward where Kaleb was fighting, watching him open both hands and a massive gleaming white magic circle swirled to life above the fighting a moment before every single guard on the field screamed, dropping weapons, releasing people they had captured and blood ran from mouths eyes and ears as they just...collapsed in heaps to the ground no longer moving.
"Wizard Saints are fun huh?" A smooth voice said beside me and I glanced over to see Vander, shaking the blood off two long black katana swords shaking his head.
"Showoff!" He called and Kaleb just frowned at him, stepping over some dead guards and moving quickly to my side.
"There's no need for all of this...we have to evacuate everyone we can. Bix, grab those Lacrimas, can you restore Max and Laki?" He demanded and Bickslow drew a breath, moving to quickly scoop up the Lacrimas and shrugging. "I can try...I...I don't know how these work exactly...but yeah, I can try…" he said.
"Vander, Get Max and Laki to the ship, Cristoff, tend to Cana and everyone, move to the ship, we don't have much time, re-enforcements are on the way." Kaleb called. Laxus nodded "I can start teleporting the ones that can't run…" He said and Kaleb turned to me. I was staring around at all the dead guards…
All of them...at least 60 people and Kaleb had taken them all out with one spell...it hit me that my son...our son...held the same magic...and the depth of the importance of him learning to control it hit me harder than it ever had.
"You…" My voice caught and he pressed his lips together frowning faintly.
"We don't have time...I know you don't like it and yes, maybe a few could have safely been spared...but many of these men are mercenaries in military uniforms, they would have killed everyone here…" He said. I nodded; I knew he was right, I wouldn't have ordered my spirits not to hold back if I didn't understand how dire the situation was.
We turned and, Kaleb flanking me, we ran. There was nothing left to do, no protecting the guild hall, no trying to save our homes, Hisui had taken those choices from us. In a way it didn't surprise me, I knew Hisui, had felt her magic. It was ludicrous she had chosen to do this; rumors had been floating around since the end of the war that the elite were thinking of purging the mages from Fiore.
The theory was somehow we were attracting all the problems, that we were all somehow tainted and drawing these dark powers that kept attacking Fiore, so there would be a purge to "cleanse" the kingdom on the magical taint that was bringing so much fighting and discord to the kingdom.
Hisui's father of course had not agreed with her, and had been trying to fight back the idea since the end of the war, but it seemed Hisui had finally gone all the way dark, killing her own father…
The Boscan Airship was a midsized gunship designed to carry diplomats on missions, it bore the Boscan seals across its hull that it was an official government ship of Bosco.
That boded well for them since Hisui wouldn't dare allow her troops to attack Boscan ships and citizens, a war with Bosco was one Fiore would never win, Minstrel, Stella, Iceburg...all would come quickly to Boscos aid and Fiore would go down fast. No, they would be safe aboard this ship if they could all fit.
"Gemini!" I called out after rubbing their key. One they passed through their gate I interrupted them before they could greet me, time was still of the essence. "Gemini, I know I had said you could only copy Brandish that one time but I need you both to do it again. I need you to either start shrinking people or make the ship bigger." With a nod to me they shrank half the people with us and made the ship bigger using Brandish's power. Just as they were finishing Laxus arrived along with Cristoff and to my surprise Mest.
They had arrived with the rest of the guild and a few mages from other guilds. Mest had brought the other survivors they had found as well as the former team Crime Sorciere. "Mest where is Lahar wasn't he with you?" I asked while looking around expecting him to pop up. "No he got taken out for betraying the crown. They got everyone but me from the magic council killed everyone that was a mage and the prisoners. We went back to the council building because Lahar said the magic council hid something from everyone and we only found out about it today." He shifted his cloak to pull out a device, "in this device are four dragon eggs and two dragons. They were captured 10 years ago and have been held in a requip space within the device." With that bomb dropped you could see the device moving as if trying to force open. The dragon slayers all snarled that the magic council had done this to what could be the last dragons alive. The sound of a bell ringing could be heard, when the dust cleared, there stood Altais one of Draco's sons and my recent Spirit given to me by Draco himself.
He was a medium sized Dragon still much smaller than Draco's size. "Princess Lucy, Father has requested you take hold of the box and not let it open until you are in Bosco. He will meet you there as that is where his key resides. If you open or allow this box to open you risk your very lives." With a nod to Altais, "how do I keep it from opening?"
"You need to keep it on your lap while in a meditative state. You cannot be moved, disturbed or stopped. The box will still under the purity of your magic." He responded before he disappeared into a smaller sized dragon. He flew towards the box grabbed it from Mest hands and placed it into mine. "I shall stay to watch over you using my own power and speak to my brother if you do not mind." With a nod from me he flew towards Cristoff and settled on his shoulders and everyone boarded the ship. Kaleb stepped up then and got me settled into his room. He stood a moment, looking into my eyes before pulling me into a mind blowing kiss that left me weak kneed.
"I'll take care of our son; nobody will disturb you though Cristoff may come in to assure you're holding up ok, the flight to Bosco will take about 18 hours." He said softly and I nodded, looking up at him with watery eyes. Everything was happening so fast, and so much was all falling in around me, suddenly, Kaleb had become like a shelter from the storm, for both me and Galas.
"Thank you…" I whispered. He didn't have to do all of this, he could have walked right out of my life without a word and I never would have known or even suspected who he was to me and Galas, but he'd been honest, straight forward with her...gentle...and dear Gods had he ever made her happy all night.
"We're both having to adjust pretty damn fast; I'm here for you...don't forget that." He said quietly before turning and leaving me in the quiet cabin to start my meditation.
Kaleb's Pov:
As soon as the door was closed I rested my forehead against it a moment, I knew maybe I wasn't supposed to, but I pushed in with Lucy's focusing mind and helped her settle, helped her still her thoughts, pushed the worries back farther than she could, her ability to keep herself together was important and I didn't want her struggling.
"Master Kaleb?" Drawing a breath I pushed back from the door and before I turned had myself composed so Thane met calm eyes that would ease his worries.
"Get a roster of who all we've taken in Thane, magic types included, prepare them all as if they're new applicants to White Sea and get their papers in order. Bosco should accept them as refugees but if not? Then we'll induct them into White Sea and they can become Boscan citizens through the Mage protection laws." I said. There was no time to talk it over with all of them, if Hisui was doing a purge of magic users then she might ask for extradition of escaped Fioran mages, if I didn't get these people protected before this ship docked in Pelerno he could very well be carrying them to capture and I wouldn't risk it.
Thane smiled faintly, reassured by my confident commanding tone and calm expression. The man was unwavering in his loyalty to me and completely indispensable, especially at times like these. "Yes Master Kaleb, I'll handle it immediately, Master...your...son.." He smiled at me and I returned it, nodding to confirm he was right and the man grinned "yes. Your son is with the mages from Sabertooth; I can start with them and show you to him." He offered and I nodded gratefully, eager to get Galas back at my side.
Confusing times like these with people emotions running high, their thoughts were in turmoil and Galas would need my guidance to deal with it, I could feel him, and had already been consciously blocking things out for him but, as much to my delight as my frustration, my little boy was pushing at the barriers I set flexing his magic and testing me.
I hadn't missed Lucy's slip and neither had Galas, she'd told him to stay with his "Father" and looked at me, Galas' little heart had just flown over the moon at that and I had been protecting him from the chaotic terrified thoughts of the people around us so he could hold on to that joy, Gods knew I shared it. My boy...I had a son...and the woman who was his mother completely captivated me on every level, from the base desires to my attraction to what was a nimble brilliant mind beneath that golden hair.
If I had looked, sat down and written out what my perfect woman would be like...Lucy would have checked off almost everything on the list. She was warm, kind, and I couldn't be more grateful of her resilience and open hearted nature, I hadn't meant to get her into bed quite so fast, was willing to work for her, but something between us clicked so well, to say we had chemistry would have been an understatement; we had outright ignited once alone.
I'd meant every word I'd said too, I'd been a marriage minded man for several years now, was hopeful I'd find a good woman one day, as a Guildmaster it was expected I would marry and I had grown up with a hearty respect for love, romance, and how a solid relationship could strengthen the people in it. All of us had grown up wanting the sort of love we knew our father had for our departed mother.
I wanted Lucy, was beyond elated she'd accepted my offer, and I'd do everything I needed to in order to prove to her she'd made the right choice, I could be a good Father to our son, and more than just a good lover to her. I would help these people, and I would protect her and our son, provide them with everything they needed, and give all I was to make sure they were both happy.
As soon as the door to the mess hall opened Galas' bright eyes locked on me and he jumped off Yukino's lap and ran to me, I bent and scooped him up, unable to keep a grin off my face as he hugged me for all he was worth.
You're really my Daddy? His voice in my mind was so sweet, so young and light and perfect. His speech issues that Lucy had thought about were all related to thoughts intruding on him when he tried to speak. With good barriers up, his speech smoothed out, and when he used his magic to talk...he sounded like an angel.
I am really your Daddy Galasfriel. I replied and he kissed my cheek.
You love Mommy? Asuka's Mommy and Daddy love each other, where have you been? Where are we going? The rapid questions were evidence of his fast and agile mind...and his age, I hugged him to me as Thane started doing his work, and thanked Yukino for watching him.
She smiled up at me "You...you're his Dad? You and...Lucy?" She asked and I smiled, it was far too complicated to explain right then.
"Yes, I'm his father, and yes, Lucy and I are together." I replied, letting Thane interrupt us to gather information from Yukino and her friends and taking his interruption as the opportunity I needed to retreat.
"I've been in Bosco, Galas, I didn't know about you or your Mommy, but...I know now, and I'm here to stay with you and your Mom. We are going to Bosco, and I'll show you the Grass Sea…." I put images, memories I had of the Grass Sea into his mind and his little mouth fell open, eyes going wide. "I'll teach you how to ride a horse and a grass runner and how to use your magic and swing a sword, you and your Mom, if she agrees to it, will live with me, I have a very big home right by the Ocean and the Grass Sea." I told him.
"Where are we going now?" He asked, taking my cue and speaking verbally.
"To your Gumpa and Uncle Farron, I need to talk with them." I replied. He nodded as I carried him up the narrow stairs to the command deck, emerging into the control room. My father's whole being lit up at seeing Galas and he grinned.
"My darling Grandson! Come here my beautiful boy!" He called and held his arms out as I set Galas down so he could run and jump into my father's arms. I watched my Dad cuddle the boy, closing his eyes in happiness as he hugged the child; it had been a while since I'd seen him this happy.
Farron put a hand on my shoulder and I exchanged a look with him. Of all my brothers, Farron and I probably worked together the most, we were a close knit family, but Farron and I shared a lot of the same interests and both of us gravitated toward protecting our family, rising to challenges and taking on responsibility without hesitation. He knew what I handled and respected it, I knew what he handled and respected it.
"He's a beautiful little boy." He said quietly and my throat tightened, I was still a little emotionally, shocked...by the discovery I had a son, add in the current situation with Hisui and I was reeling, but I'd never show it.
"He's incredible." I managed and Farron's hand tightened on my shoulder.
"Dad and I already have Bosco extending amnesty to mage refugees from Fiore, so everyone aboard will be mostly safe with a couple of exceptions we need to address before we dock." He said then, shifting into the comfortable work mode and I nodded, gratefully shifting with him. I didn't want to break down right now. The woman I planned to spend the rest of my life with if I had my way was holed up in my cabin trying to keep what was essentially a weapon from going off, I had discovered I was a Father recently and Fiore had been taken over by a crazed dark queen bent on eliminating wizards.
"Cobra, who has a rather extensive criminal history, now he's been pardoned, but Hisui has reversed all of that, so him and his fellows from Crime Sorciere are all wanted and amnesty cannot be extended to them unless they are in a Boscan guild." Farron said eying me and I smiled faintly, rolling my eyes at him, he already knew I was prepared to induct every mage on the ship.
"And…" He handed over a sheet of paper and I struggled to keep my face passive so my perceptive son didn't see my horrified reaction.
Hisui had a bounty on Lucy, wanted her dead and her celestial keys brought to Crocus, had named her a criminal and traitor to the crown.
"She can't touch her if she's a citizen. By marriage." Farron said quietly. I blinked at him, guild protection wouldn't keep Lucy safe if she was named a traitor, and Hisui knew it. I fixed my brother with a hard look.
"As her promised do I have the authority?" I asked, I really didn't know, I knew Promised held hefty legal rights, but wasn't sure it was enough. Lucy and I had barely signed the papers when we'd gotten aboard the ship before she had to be ushered to the cabin.
"You do." My father replied, standing with Galas on his hip.
"As her promised you can sign a marriage contract for her, we can make it all complete and official after she is free to sign herself but it will still be binding as an engagement and being married to you will protect her." He said.
Farron handed me the papers before I could ask for them and I laid them on a control panel and started signing, hoping Lucy wouldn't be too upset by this, there really was no way around it, Hisui had created an impossible situation and this was the only answer. To avoid extradition back to Fiore, Lucy and I would have to get married.
Once the papers were all signed my Dad took them to get them filed by his assistant back in Bosco and I collected Galas and went to check on Bickslow.
He was sitting frowning, tears in his eyes still hovering over the lacrima. His thoughts were all over the place and I had to draw a breath, double up the barriers protecting my son and give the boy a reassuring hug before I cleared my throat.
Bix looked up, shaking his head.
"I just don't know how they did this...the spells aren't Seith magic they're something else and I can't work with these Lacrima, the magic that they used was dark and it...attacks me...wrecks my focus...I almost killed Max a moment ago...nearly lost his soul entirely…" He said shakily and I sighed.
"It's ok, go get some rest Bix, you can come back to it later, maybe Cobra can help you somehow." I suggested and he nodded, drawing a deep breath.
"Yeah, maybe...thanks Kaleb..." He said quietly.
"Uncle Bixo? Can you take me to get something to eat? I'm hungry and Daddy needs to go check on Mommy." Galas asked and I kissed his temple, Gods...perceptive! I was thinking it, thinking of asking Bickslow to take him to get some breakfast and he acted before I could…
Bickslow eagerly reached for my son, more than happy to distract himself with the care of a three year old for a while "I'd be happy to." He said brightly and his babies surged into activity after being "asleep" while he'd been working on trying to revive his guildmates.
Lucy was deep in meditation when I slipped into the cabin. I was greeted by the little dragon, who acknowledged me silently.
Can she talk or does she need to stay deep? I asked and the dragons eyes widened a little then settled into a narrow almost smiling look.
Deep until the device is in my father's possession. He responded and I nodded.
You can hold her, help her, soothe her worries like you did before...I saw how you helped...it was a good thing you did.
I nodded and slid to the ground behind her, gently touching her shoulders and starting a slow careful series of touches, rubbing her body in relaxing patterns as I did as I'd done before, gently slid into her mind and made her worries, her distractions, recede far into the background.
I felt her relax, knew she recognized my scent, the feel of me, my touch, and she trusted me, relaxed in my hold.
We would get through all of this; I would be right by her side no matter what happened, no matter what came, I would protect her and my son….
Lucy's Pov:
I have been meditating for years, either to build or expand my containers and I had just unlocked my 4th container a month back. I could feel I was struggling to have my worries pushed back. When I felt them start to dissipate shortly after Kaleb left, I was able to fully relax. I shifted my consciousness deeper into my meditation when I started seeing images and hearing words that made no sense until I gave them my attention.
"She can't touch her if she's a citizen. By marriage."
"As her promised you can sign a marriage contract for her, we can make it all complete and official after she is free to sign herself but it will still be binding as an engagement and being married to you will protect her."
I watched Kaleb sign a marriage certificate, marrying us both to each other. I heard what was said, I knew it was for protection for myself. I wanted to be angry about my choices being taken from me but I just couldn't be.
"Princess I know you can hear me. No need to speak but you must focus; the device is starting to shake again. Know everything will work itself out. I can feel your distress, try to push through it." Altais was right I could speak more about this with Kaleb right now I had a mission to complete. It wasn't until I felt someone massage my muscles and helping push my distress away that I knew Kaleb was back. He was supporting me once again.
I knew even if we are now married to each other, we could talk in through together. I felt my magic get brighter until it was a glowing sphere around me. I felt the device start shaking again and I just knew something was wrong. It shouldn't have started to move yet. We have only been in the air for a few hours I think it couldn't have been more than 8 hours, of that I am sure. My eyes shot open stars filling my eyes when I heard and felt the first bomb rock the ship. Someone was shooting at us and my son was not near me or his father. With just a thought Scutum activated around the whole ship and a crack appeared on the side of the device.
That's the end of this chapter. Thanks again to those that review on the last 2 chapters. I will try to have another update ASAP. I'm shooting for Saturday but it likely won't be till Tuesday or Wednesday for the next update. Thanks again to Desna for her smoothing and her help. She helped me a lot with Kaleb, if it wasn't for her this story wouldn't exist. Until next time.