Reviews are Nice; The pairings are NOT decided yet. I get people like Vander/Lucy, I like them too, they're adorable when she's sassy and keeps up with him, but...I really don't know if they will get together or if it will be a friendship...or how far this darkness is going to go.

I don't own Fairy Tail. Mashima Does.

I don't own the Pradesh Clan. Desna does (and thank you for them).

I own the Storyline. That's it.

this will be the last "regular" update for the FF site, I apologize, but those that do want you can find it under the same name over at AO3

~)~)~)~)~)~)~

The Early Stages of the Plan included Van putting lacrama cameras in and Kaleb just barely nudging the Princess' mind so that she wouldn't sleep long or well. Vander still had work for the Steel Council, and Lucy refused to allow Kaleb to stay up alone.

The two were settled on a couch in Kaleb's Guildmaster apartment and sipping on coffee. It had been three nights and they both feeling the exhaustion from little sleep kicking in. Lucy was not going to admit it, she hadn't admitted it when she'd gotten sucked into research, but she pursed her lips as Kaleb half dozed.

The small blonde carefully put both cups of coffee on the table and tugged him to lay down, "put your head in my lap. I'll have Horologium let me know when it's been a few hours."

She knew he was tired because he didn't even bother to fight her too much, a few weak grumbles before her fingers were lightly curling through his hair and he was sleeping. She didn't have responsibilities like the other two yet…so she could get away with less sleep…and day time naps to recharge.

At Five days in, Kaleb was letting the Princess sleep deeper, but twisting her dreams into nightmares. He'd used some of what he'd gotten from Lucy's memories of her father and those months after her mother's death to twist the dreams. Publicly, Kurino looked tired, but there was the start of a hint of madness in her eyes and they knew they'd have to move soon.

Kaleb had looked the other way when he saw Vander periodically putting items into a large box that Lucy kept at the foot of her bed. He didn't exactly what to know what was in there, or where his brother was getting the items, but with the stress he felt from the Princess' mind, he could guess.

~)~)~)~)~

Kurino woke in the middle of the night, gasping as she sat up. She looked around, staring at the shadows in her room with wide eyes. Another night, another nightmare about shadows devouring her. She shuddered before she slipped out of her bed and threw open the curtains to the large window, bathing the room in moonlight. She turned, watching the room again and then running a hand down her face.

Ever since she had spent the night with Cristoff, she'd not been sleeping well for one reason or another. It was wearing thin…and taking into account that more of her personal things were coming up missing, she bet those two were behind it. Her lips curled into a sneer. She'd show them. Farron loved her; he just needed to be shown again, it was all that blonde's fault! Being Rescued by Arman, she was nothing more than a pet.

The woman snarled as she stood there, a pet that had her dear Farron forgetting her. It was fine, she'd gotten the Steel Council to know about her magic the moment the girl used her magic to enchant her beloved. A few more pieces and Farron would come into her arms, frustrated at what was going on with his family, begging her to fix it, proclaiming her love for him! She knew it!

She stalked towards her bed, ripping the covers off as she panted…and then grinned as she saw the chains there. Her hand slowly moved out, playing over the metal and she murmured, "Soon, my Farron, soon you'll be here, beneath me, being my king." Her eyes danced in the darkness, "giving us a beautiful daughter, a strong child…yes…"

"…this is where I point out she sounds like a Joyan war queen, right?" Vander's voice echoed in the link between the three people that were watching the scene.

"…lil bit," came Lucy's lilting voice, pausing at the arched eyebrows she could feel "…okay a lot bit. But we need to get her talking."

"leave that to me," Kaleb's voice rumbled across their minds.

Kurino stood there and then purred as she unlocked her nightstand, pulling out a vial of glowing yellow liquid, "And when you drink this, my Farron, you'll forget everyone but me, yes…yes you will."

"…okay, that's succubus venom. Highly illegal I might add."

"Would you shut up and record this, Van?"

"Gods, Kaleb, don't bunch up your thong. I am!"

Lucy's voice snarled in both their heads, making them recoil, "ladies, you're both fucking pretty. Kaleb, keep turning off the fucking filter from her brain to her sick and twisted mouth, or I swear to the Stars I will fucking put Taurus' axe so far up your ass that you'll be spitting cow shit! Van, if any of this is missing from the recording I'm going to put you on an X-Frame, get you so worked up you're about to cum and then leave you there, in magic suppressing cuffs so that you fucking can't shadow port out!"

Both males mentally squeaked because it was obvious that the blonde was tired. They'd been at this for a week, not to say they weren't tired themselves, they were and simply handled the exhaustion a bit better at times like these. However they had to work Kurino's mental barriers down enough to get to this point.

All Three blinked as the woman threw her head back and cackled, "do you hear me, my Farron?! You're mine! I'll make sure of it! No matter what! You'll be in my bed by the end of the week!"

"…uh…" was the mental reaction of all three. That wasn't something they had expected, not in the least bit.

"…sleep depravation?"

"Van…just uh…"

"yeah.."

"we…I think…we…we're done?"

They watched from their hiding place as guards rushed in, eyes going from the woman to the vial in her hand. There were a few moments of silence before the woman turned and started towards a door close to her.

"get her!"

"just waiting for her to come through," Kaleb's grin could almost be heard and Kurino let out a scream as she ran into the large body.

Their eyes met and the woman swallowed before screeching, "what are you doing in my chambers?!"

Kaleb held the woman by the arms and slowly walked her backwards, eyes glowing, "I think 'protecting my family' is the correct answer." His lips curled into a grin as she started to scream, the guards not moving as his eyes glowed.

Vander purred from her side, making her struggle a bit more, "you've got to watch out for the boogeyman, sweetheart…"

Lucy stepped onto her other side, smirking, "he brings friends."

~)~)~)~

The Crown Princess' Trial was done publicly and it had been one of those things that both Arman and Farron had started when they listened to what happened to both Cris and Kaleb, though it looked like Lucy wanted to punch Kaleb when he spoke about what had happened to him.

Kurino had tried to stay dignified during her sentencing, but Lucy wasn't going to have any of that. The blonde would see the other woman in pieces…and lashing out. Their eyes met as she sat next to Farron and the blonde moved to tug the man's braid lightly, making him bend down.

Farron arched an eyebrow as Lucy ducked in fairly close and murmured, "I'm going to make her burn."

He didn't get to ask what she meant before she was kissing him and the Princess screamed in rage, "Get away from him! He's mine! Mine do you hear me!?"

"That is ENOUGH!" King Altiene said forcefully, even as guards restrained his daughter. The man had heard enough that day to feel sick over what his daughter had done and now he knew that the two that often played 'pranks' on her were trying to get him to see it from such a long time ago…he'd simply been blinded by loving his daughter and hoping they weren't right. As a member of the Royal Family, Kurino would first go into the crystal at the citadel; The Immaculate light would look for regret for anything she did.

Given what the King heard, and how his daughter was reacting, he doubted in the least bit she had any regret…or would make it through the immersion.

~)~)~)~)~)~

Cris had let out a sigh as he heard about Kurino, the woman was stripped of her power, and being tried for essentially treason, because one didn't get Succubus Venom easily. He looked out at the night beach, leaning against the door frame and just staring out.

He could see her, dancing along the shore, laughing as the magic infused her and he was happy for her, happy for all of them, but sad at the same time. That night they'd found him, his dragon was rattling in its mental cage against his soul at what Kurino had done to him and when Lucy had soothed him, it had purred 'kin'. Not what he wanted, but…he'd take it. She was one of the gentlest, yet up there in the deadliest souls he knew. He half wondered why the dragon hadn't spoken regarding her before, but they'd both been busy and rarely had time to truly spend together since they were young, so he'd call it poetic in a way.

He snorted as she looked towards him and waved, he raised his own hand, waving back and then watching as she spun in the sand like some sort of sprite in the moonlight. To him, until he found his mate, she was still the most beautiful person in his world. She was the stars to his moon and…stars were just suns that were far away and without sunlight...there was no moonlight. His lips quirked into a nostalgic smile before he stepped out of his room and took off down the beach.

The bulky slayer didn't giver her any chance as he swept her up in his arms and spun her, listening to her laughter as he called his magic and let it curl in a mist around them. He spent the evening dancing with his Little Star, letting her joy and relief at being able to make sure their brother was fine, that he would be fine, that they'd all be fine.

His breath caught as her eyes glowed golden and he blinked as her hands touched his face. She leaned in, gently kissing him and murmuring against his lips, "mio fratello delle stelle, tu sei la mia forza interiore. sempre."

Cristoff smiled and nodded, "e tu sei mio. sempre."

They danced beneath the stars, in an intricate dance that came from years of lessons and simply knowing one another well. Lucy didn't see their audience as she laughed and twirled, letting the mist curl around her body, but Cris smelled them. He wanted to arch an eyebrow, or even look over, but he didn't want Lucy to know.

~)~))~

"So….when are you registering again?" Kaleb said as they sat down for Christmas dinner, looking at the spunky little blonde that had been vibrating all day.

Lucy looked up from where she was putting some turkey on her plate before the boys got to it and grinned, "Soon. I'm waiting on one little-" She let out a yelp as Crux popped out between her and Hestor. The family might not like the other mage, but he was Lucy's friend, so he was there.

"Miss Lucy!" The Spirit said as jovially as he could, "I've found the information you asked for, would you like to hear it now?"

Lucy's grin seemed to widen and she nodded, "yup, Grampa Crux."

Hestor shook his head, getting a bit of food while the others stared at the spirit, wondering what Lucy was doing. He'd long since figured if she wanted anyone to know until she got to the end of what she was doing, she'd say something…and until then you needed to go about your daily life.

"There is one recorded Archangel living, Miss Lucy," The spirit looked at her, then smiled, "and it's the one you think it is."

"where is he?" Lucy stood, hands on the spirit's shoulder as she seemed to vibrate more.

The Spirit looked uncomfortable, "…Peregrande."

"why would an archangel be in Peregrande?" Vander looked confused as to why Lucy was asking for that information.

Both Lucy and the Spirit looked at Vander, eyes dancing, "Grandpa Crux…would you please tell everyone assembled here the name of the last born Archangel."

The Spirit nodded, "Zen Pradesh."

That got shocked sounds from all around the table and Lucy looked at Arman with a soft look, "…he's alive."

The Ambassador looked choked up as he sat there, wondering if they would have known where he was if the girl hadn't come into their lives. His children stayed far away from Peregrande and he wanted to see it burn for what they did to his wife and son…doubly so now, knowing that they'd lied all those years ago, "…where…in Peregrande…"

Lucy shook her head, "We don't know yet, I've got a few Spirits and Pyxis looking into it." She blinked as she was hugged and then tugged into a kiss that curled her toes. Her hands went into the hair and she purred into the kiss.

Then she was quickly tugged away and hugged by each of the others, smiling when she ended up being hugged with Arman's head buried in her hair. She hadn't expected this, but it was something she wanted to know. She'd started by asking about the boy, knowing his mother was a celestial mage like herself, the results ended up in a chase of information that took eight months to lead to this moment.

"we'll…get him back, I promise…as soon as we figure out where he is," Lucy spoke softly. She smiled and looked up as she pulled away, wiping away tears and nodding before she used her head to motion to the table, "…I think I gave a good family present."

Arman let out a watery chuckle, "you did, Lucy, you did."

"Right, food time. I'm starving…and Mister Elan's cooking is always the best!" She settled back down and then smacked Hestor's hand, "That's my cranberry sauce, don't you dare touch it."

"I don't see your name on it," The other celestial mage challenged, holding the spoon that was in the dish.

Lucy sat there for a moment, then picked up the bowl and licked the top, "that work?"

There was laughter when the other mage looked at her for a moment and then just put a large helping on his plate, "no."

~)~))~)~

Lucy huffed as she leaned over a map, tapping a pen on it and letting out an annoyed rumble. She pursed her lips and looked at the current information she'd gotten from her spirits and then started marking places off. She paused in thought as she thought back to that night of the Meteor shower, brow furrowing as she looked at the city map.

The small blonde sighed as she circled a few places on the map and nodded as she sat back into a chair slowly. She mused over the map as she tapped her finger on the table and debated. She sighed and stood, rubbing her temples and then turned letting out a squeak as she ran into a solid wall; a solid warm wall.

"careful there," the tone was amused and Hestor arched an eyebrow as he looked down at the blonde, "food time for you."

Lucy let out a whine and sighed before nodding, "Fine…."

"Kaleb…I think I…narrowed it down."

"We'll send people to check it out."

"Alright…map is in my work room."

"this could take months…"

"it takes what it takes…"

~)~)~)~)~

Lucy sat quietly, looking out the window a few evenings later and then she sighed before she got out of her chair. She padded out of her apartment and then quietly moved down into the guild itself. She took a moment to just look around before shaking her head slightly. She knew she couldn't put this off any longer and it made her sad.

Arman was on a diplomatic mission to Stella, so she would be doing this alone. She could have asked any of the Pradesh Family to come, but they were all quite busy, one way or another and she let a small smile quirk her lips before she walked towards the door of the guildhall. She gave some waves and smiles, keeping her mental barriers up as she went. She didn't need Kaleb to get nosey. She had paperwork filled out already, the Knights seemed like a good choice and she wasn't sure if she'd caught any eyes…and she wouldn't doubt that Kurino hadn't done anything.

Waiting in line was the worst, she found. She had patience, but it just didn't seem to move and take forever. She wanted to get this done and slink back without them knowing. When she finally got the front and then taken for an interview, she looked at the man that was across from her. This…wasn't who she was supposed to talk to. It should be the Pradesh Family's Uncle, not this strange, greasy man that just sent shivers down her throat. Alright, so he probably wasn't as greasy as her mind thought and she was being paranoid.

She knew she would have six months of training and that worried the crap out of her. This man didn't give off a good vibe in the least bit. Her smile was tense and she wished she could summon Gemini out, but it would be…suspicious. "we have some special tests we'd like to give you, Miss Heartfilia."

"of course," she kept her features neutral, though her eyes were accusing. Hestor wasn't given any special tests and he was the same as she was. There had to be a reason she'd been singled out.

~))~)~)~

Presca's lips were drawn in a thin line as he and Vander were both called in. The Shadowquip had been deadlier than normal on their assignments the last few months, ever since Lucy had slipped away from all of them to register for the military. The fact that no contact was gotten…the family and extended family knew what had happened. The family had been calling in favors to do recon in Peregrande and he hadn't taken long to figure out the why: The events at Christmas.

They stood and waited as Grandace looked over a file, no matter how impatient and how much they wanted away from the man, the two had to stay calm as they stood and waited. He gave his partner a sharp look out of the corner of his eye as the other started a small shift that would turn into a nervous tick, for once thankful the man stopped before it got bad.

"I'd like you two to meet one of our newest hunters," the man's lips curled into a dark smile.

The door to the side of the room opened and both men stared, various shades of horror in their eyes. There was the blonde that had been missing for months, putting the rescue back a bit as they tried to also hunt the woman down. Her eyes weren't dead, but there was a burning hate in them that just simmered beneath their lids. She glanced towards Grandace for a moment and then to the two, giving a nod of her head.

It didn't take long for anything to click into place as to how they were holding her there. The Pradesh Family, her few close friends and lovers, her not so close friends; they didn't even have to take them. Vander knew how her magic worked, promises meant more than anything to her and her magic.

"You three may leave now."

Lucy slowly walked out of the room, steps measured as she walked down the hallway and held out some delicate chains, "Store those in the void for me, Van."

"this is why you shouldn't have gone alone," Presca said firmly as they walked. This was supposed to be a bubbly woman that had too much going on in her head and perpetually got sucked into things that made her loose sleep…not this.

Lucy rolled her eyes and mumbled, "hindsight is twenty twenty. Get off my ass."

"someone's snippy," Vander arched an eyebrow and nudged her gently.

Amber eyes snapped to Vander for a moment then back ahead of them, speaking calmly, "I wanted to be in the knights. Hestor wasn't taken for this..there's a reason."

Vander put his hands behind his head as they walked, "well, other than leverage?"

"no one should have known about my magic or the keys I had unless…they were told," Lucy's voice was almost a deadly hiss, "and the only one that has seen some of the spirits they asked me to summon was one former crown princess."

Vander's eyes narrowed a bit, letting out a low growl, "even dead she's making shit hard."

"she always did look constipated," Lucy said without thinking and the two males chuckled. A small smile tugged at her lips, "…okay…that wasn't meant to be a joke…"

Vander snorted in humor and nudged her gently, "but it was a good one, right Presca."

"A little cruder than what I would expect from her, but it was humorous," The Energy mage looked down at the blonde and arched an eyebrow.

Lucy snorted through her nose, "…fucking giants. The whole lot of you."

~)~))~)~)~~

The blonde woman could almost feel the anger that radiated off Kaleb as they stepped into the guildhall. She truly didn't want to hear this lecture; in fact, she didn't want to so much that she was walking to the bar adamantly ignoring the Guildmaster that was leaning against the railing upstairs.

Kaleb was perturbed. She'd left a letter saying she had no choice but to enroll in the military. She'd ran out of time, and he got that, but she could have taken someone with her; instead she'd dropped off the face of Earthland for six months…just like Vander had. He knew what that meant and he didn't like it. They could have protected her; she'd protected them all at times and this would have been a way to balance that scale out a bit.

"that was stupid."

Lucy smiled as she took the strawberry smoothie and then turned on her stool. She crossed her legs and looked up at him. She smiled as she drank the treat and tilted her head to the side, "I do a lot of stupid things. You've noted that a lot in the past."

Kaleb wanted to refute that, but she was right. They'd often gone round and round about some things that many found to be just idiotic for such a smart woman. He debated on how he could 'punish' her and there was only one way to do it…and he hated the thought of leaving her out, but at the same time, he was angry with her.

"you're not going on the rescue mission."

"excuse you?"

"you heard me."

She got a very flat look on her features as she looked at him, "that was not what that meant."

Vander had just sat down next to Lucy when he felt the dark Aura around the woman. He followed where she was looking and shook his head before he got his drink and retreated. He was not getting drug into that; he knew better. He'd tried to stand up to 'Scary Lucy' a few times when they were younger, all the boys had and he had a healthy respect for not pissing the small woman off.

"you're not going, you've shown irrespo-"

"you're aware that my grace period was up, Guildmaster Legolas? They would have sent Knights to pick me up."

Kaleb's brow furrowed as he looked down at her, doing math and then he realized she was right. That didn't make him any less angry for what she pulled. His lips drew into a thin line, "you're still not going."

"oh, please don't tell me you're going to be a little kid over this."

"I'm not being a child."

"fine, you're being a worried ex-lover then?"

"we're doing this?"

Lucy shrugged slightly as she sipped her drink, still staring up at him. Her pinky was tapping impatiently on the side of her glass, "what do you want me to say? I got a special allowance, it ran out. I had a choice of going…or the Knights showing up. I wanted to go into the Knights, I figured that's not the best way to get a commission…"

"You're not in the knights though, are you?"

"…no. I'm…a Blood Hunter." The two shared a look as she finished off her drink and took a deep breath before she pushed off her seat, "just...leave it Kaleb..."

"what are they holding over you?"

"everyone...but...Van and Presca. I don't behave...they'll get sent on mission after mission, with little to no rest. I'll get to see them being worn down...until something goes wrong. now...about this mission. you're not sidelining me."

~)~)~)~)~

The Family was assembled and were watching as Kaleb was still being lit into by Lucy. According to Vander and a few others, this had been going on for days, and apparently Family Dinner night she was just at the end of her patience. "you fucking asshole. I spent months on this! you can't leave me out!"

"I'm your Guildmaster, I can. Just like I sent you to magnolia."

"Look here, fucking Legolas, you are not going to fucking leave me out," She started jabbing him in the stomach, just below his diaphragm.

"You are not going," Kaleb looked down at her, features firm. He was torn between letting her go and just riling her up because he thought she looked fairly good when she was mad. She was beautiful when she was happy, but when she was mad there was something vengeful and almost sexy hidden in her eyes.

"Kaleb Suraday Pradesh," She hissed as she gave him another jab, "I am going. I did the work. I narrowed it down." She let out a growl, "you will not deny me something that I have been doing the research on for the last year! You will not leave me out of this."

There were plenty of flinches to go around, the full name treatment was bad on a good day, but with the blonde's aura dark and ready for a fight, it was bad. Kaleb looked at her for a moment, arching an eyebrow. He debated on riling her up more but gave a small nod, "Fine, but you stay with someone. it's Peregrande."

Lucy looked at him for a moment and then Honeyed Eyes rolled and she waved a dismissive hand, her tone was slightly dismissive, but there was an undertoned purr of delight at getting her way, "yeah yeah. Okay, Legolas." She licked her lip and then gave him a quick peck before she turned and bounced away, whistling happily.

Kaleb swallowed hard. He'd seen her grow up; he'd seen Cris be sad that she wasn't his mate. He, Farron and Vander were still trying to get her to fancy them in their own ways, but it seemed she'd always just lightly dance through their fingers like motes in moonlight and starlight. Frustrating woman. "that's guildmaster!"

Lucy waved a hand over her shoulder, "alright, Guildmaster Legolas."