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. Apparently I have also adopted "Good Hestor".

I also own All Things "Bellum" in this Story. it's my original creation, including the characters within the country.

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Farron stood at the window, watching what was going on. He saw the man start to get up and Liljana just stood there, her features soft, pleading as she watched him pull a dagger out.

The woman held up a hand as her cousins and siblings started to ready to strike the man down, "why do you hate me so?"

"You have to ask?! You stole The Princess Rozalija from us! Why would we not want you dead, you monster!" There were a few answering murmurs in the crowd and Farron's brow furrowed. He understood that sometimes, people of power were feared...and when beloved Rulers passed on, often, the people became bitter, "You are the reason that our Princes cannot agree who will be Crowned King and King Apparent!"

The woman kept her head high, the single hand held up, "Do you think that I asked for this?" her voice was pleading as she stared at the man that was obviously ready to attack her. At his nod, Farron's eyes went wide as it seemed the gentle manner around the woman just sloughed away, fire whipping her hair around her as her robes burned, revealing armor beneath them. Her voice carried, loud in the air with power as her eyes slowly started to glow, going from almost dead embers to glowing like a raging wildfire, "you want to see the Monster that Guards the Throne?" her lips curled as she started forward, the man freezing before he lunged forward.

Her hand shot out, slamming into his chest before fire streamed from her fingers. Her head went back as she let out a scream that was full of anger and resentment. The flames curled around her and then her hand went out as she dove forward, straddling the man and snarling as she got into his face, "I'll show you the monster that you fear." her voice was a hiss, but it carried heavy in the air, "The Monster that Guards the Throne." she leaned forward, flames licking in her mouth before kissing the man and pulling up. A link of fire curled from his mouth, then his eyes blackened before fire came out of the sockets and his mouth, floating into the air.

Farron would feel fear, but for all the aggression he could see, the magic he could feel? It was Holy Fire, it wouldn't have done anything half this bad if the man hadn't meant to truly harm her. Fire swirled in streams around the redhead and the now burning man before she rocked to her feet and let out a scream, the sound echoing before the fire shot into the air.

The people all looked between the slender woman wearing armor that looked like it was burnt, cracked rock with red pulsing between the cracks. Her head was held high as she slowly looked around. It was easy to feel the bitterness in her soul, especially as all the people around took steps back, save for her cousins and siblings. Their eyes were filled with Pain, their souls crying out at not being able to protect her and, if the vivid soul deep memories of many younger versions of the woman doing this time and time again were true...not being able to stop this from happening yet again.

Now Farron understood why people feared her, why she was so sad. The People called her A Monster; she was the guardian of the throne and they blamed her, vehemently, for her mother's death, all because she was blessed by a God and bestowed with a power she didn't want. The blue eyes watched as Dimnos stepped forward, taking his cloak off his shoulders and gently laying it across Liljana's shoulders, almost as if it could be a shield against what happened. He gently kissed her temple, murmuring something before pulling back and cupping her cheek.

The love was there, while many of their countrymen and women would fear her, they cherished her, loved her and wanted to protect her from having to do something like this again and again. The ambassador stood there, watching as the woman slowly walked towards the gates to the palace, head held high, features locked into a blank mask, even as her eyes shone with unshed tears. This, he resolved, was the reason that the two Princes had to come to an agreement, for this woman so that she could be free of the bonds that had shackled her to the throne since her birth.

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"No, I'm telling you," Lucy said, stretching and then sighing as her back popped. The blonde let out a groan before she spoke again, "I'm not looking forward to this trip."

Emzadi snorted over the com, "you'll have plenty of backup, don't worry so much."

"Where are you, anyway?" Lucy huffed as she leaned over the com, staring at Emzadi.

Emzadi grinned, "Enca."

Lucy slowly arched an eyebrow, "...En…" she scowled, "Emi!" at the 'sorry. Not sorry' look the slayer gave her she threw up her hands, "you and Gaj better bring back souvenirs. I mean it! ...I want some of those hot peppers.." her eyes danced with glee.

Emzadi snorted, "you're going to slip them into someone's food, aren't you?"

"...noooooooooooooooooooo"

The two woman laughed, Emzadi snorting, "look, we'll be back next month. I just wanted a bit of a trip before these two weren't going to let me travel any more by making me bloat up."

"Fine, fine…" she chuckled softly as she sat down, "I'll talk to you then...and then I'll talk with the little ones...and really, a second set already, making Dad happy."

Emzadi's smiled warmed. That one word from lucy was something they'd been waiting for so long to hear from her and it flowed like a balm over the dragon slayer, "yeah, I know."

Lucy grinned cheekily, "Doesn't help you pop 'em out in six months, hmm?" the woman let out a cackle before she ended the call and ran away as she heard the com go off again, most likely Emzadi attempting to get her back for the crack.

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Everything screamed 'set up' to the group of Boscans and Lucy as they got in late and yet there was an entourage waiting to escort them to the palace. She knew the mages that were in the games would settle well and be ready, but that didn't mean she enjoyed the fact that, yet again, they were taken to the Palace. With Arman there, they would have stayed in the consulate, theoretically, but Hisui seemed overjoyed to have the Ambassador visiting, on the surface. There was a bitterness that Arman picked up on in her soul that worried him to no end.

Dinner was when things got awkward. There sitting at the table was Jude. Hisui smiled faintly "Ah, sorry, this is another guest we're hosting."

"Arman," Jude looked at the Ambassador with a firm set to his features and then his eyes slowly trailed to the other two men and Lucy, "Lucy."

Arman carefully sat one seat over from the man and watched as Zen and Vander flanked Lucy as they settled into seats. "Jude. it's been awhile."

"It has," The man looked at Lucy, "how are you?"

Lucy debated as she carefully cut her meat up. She put a pleasant, if tense smile on her lips, "I'm Fine. Promised."

"Oh?" Jude kept the conversation polite as he ate, watching his daughter calmly.

Lucy nodded, "To Vander and Zen."

Hisui blinked "to two men?"

Lucy looked to the Princess and nodded, "yes, we're very happy, and Dad has been a great boon to helping us through everything."

Jude's lip curled a bit, "One generation couldn't get into a three way marriage, so the next was tapped to do so?"

Lucy frowned a bit as she sat there, eyes narrowing slightly, "what?"

"Couldn't get layla to stay with you two in your bed, so you made your sons do the same with Lucy, Arman? Turned my daughter, a proper lady into a slut for your sons?" Jude kept his voice even, but there was a bitter, accusatory bite to the words that he spoke.

Vander just stared for a moment, had the man really said that. He could feel Lucy's blood go cold with both hurt and fury, "well, what does that say about you, huh? Can't perform."

Arman took a breath, he hadn't truly wanted this to ever be aired. It was the past and that was where he wanted to keep it. The Fact that Vander had started in, meant this was not going to end well in the least bit, "Vander." his voice was only semi-warning. "Jude, that was not what we were trying to do."

"Oh, I know all about how you and Ganier drew Layla into a pleasured night, Arman. Rather suspicious that after years of trying...we were suddenly able to conceive after her trip to visit the two of you."

Vander snorted softly as he sat back, red eyes narrowing as he put a hand on Lucy's leg, feeling her mind whirling with emotions and attempting to figure everything out, "does that mean you shoot blanks?"

Jude's eyes snapped to Vander, narrowing a bit, but Zen spoke, "if you are attempting to make us uncomfortable, you are sorely lacking." the archangel looked at Jude for a long moment, features slightly darkening.

"You could be sleeping with your sister. Half sister."

Zen slowly arched an eyebrow, "and I would love her no less. We were not raised together, if she is, it has been unknown until now."

It was feeling Lucy's soul twist at the words that were filling the air that had Arman's temper shortening, "That's enough, Jude. hardly a conversation for a reunion after a decade."

Vander sat back, looking towards Zen and motioning to get his attention, he half whispered, "guy's got some issues."

Zen arched an eyebrow as he shrugged slowly taking a bite of his food. The man wasn't lying, this was what he perceived as the truth from all those years ago, "quite a few."

Both men withdrew from the conversation as Lucy hissed their names, realizing that they were probably adding uncut lacrama to the start of a fire. Lucy realized that things were going to blow up, but she wasn't sure who was going to give first...and she really didn't want it to be either of her mates. This, she realized, was also an old fight between Jude and Arman, something that while she wanted to truly step in and defend, she had to let it play out, as much as she hated that.

"Or maybe the best time," Jude narrowed his eyes, "afterall, after Ganier's Death, Layla visited you until she was born, most likely in your bed."

It was an old fury that bubbled up in Arman, one that he kept as far down as he could. Layla had been inconsolable about their lack of being able to have a child, the woman very much wanting one, and had visited. He loved Ganier too much to deny his wife the want to help her best friend relax with pleasure, "if you are insinuating something, Jude, I suggest you do not."

Jude snorted, "I never did approve of you two being godparents, not after she told me about that."

"Father," Lucy's tone was sharp, "stop. Dad has been-"

"You may as well call him Dad," Jude's eyes narrowed, "you're remarkably strong willed like he is. Perhaps that is what made your mother fall like a slut into his bed time and time ag-"

That was the last straw for Arman. No one even saw it coming as the Ambassador stood and grabbed Jude, hoisting him up just before the punch was thrown and he let go at the moment of impact. "It was not like that." the words were cold and deadly, "and you know it."

The man slammed into the ground and before Hisui could think to say something, Lucy was standing, "don't you dare call your guards." The pain from her childhood was rearing up and she felt a burn in her chest, working through the confusion of what was revealed to make sure that nothing bad happened, "He started this, he verbally provoked…" Her eyes were sharp as she looked at Hisui, "and what was said was slander."

Jude pushed himself up, "Hardly slander if it's true."

Lucy pushed her chair back, "we're retiring to our rooms. Thank you, Princess , for the meal." Before Vander could open his mouth, she had his ear pinched and he had no choice but to follow after her, letting out a whine.

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Lucy was trying to wrap her head around what Jude had said and paced. Zen and Vander were at a loss and Arman was sitting and waiting for her to figure out what she wanted to say. The blonde's mind, feelings and soul were in disarray as she tried to process everything in the best way she could. Vander looked at Zen before darting his eyes to Lucy. The archangel arched an eyebrow, non-verbally asking what his brother wanted him to do about it.

With a shuddering breath, she slumped into the couch between Zen and Vander, putting her face in her hands and mumbling, "I knew this was going to be a fucked up meeting...but Hisui having him here...and…"

"Stardust…" Vander spoke softly, "no one knew...and her doing that...may…" he snorted, "yeah, i'm not going to finish it. Something weird is going on and we all know it. No way in hell her having him here was innocent in nature."

Lucy drew her hands down her face and looked at Arman for a long moment. Her calling him Dad had been a big thing, and with a new nephew who was currently half terrorizing Emi and Gajeel, Grandpa was used often regarding Arman. It truly had taken all this time for Lucy to realize that 'Dad' was a good word and 'father' was just a term. She swallowed, "So…" Lucy made a faint confused sound, "You...slept with Mama."

Arman nodded, "once. She and Jude had been trying for a year or so, with no luck." his voice was soft, "I did care for your mother, but it never went beyond friendship. That night was simply to help your mother in the way that we knew best to relieve stress that had been building each month that passed with no results." he kept his voice even, "I would have never done that without Ganier's urging, Lucy, and not after her death." He looked Lucy firmly in the eyes, "I promise you, it was only one time."

Lucy looked at Arman, her magic knowing he was telling her the truth without even having to acknowledge that Zen had let his own magic thread through the air. She sat there for a moment, brain whirling, "...what are...the chances that you are actually my father?"

Arman frowned and shook his head, "I can't guess. Your mother didn't contact us for a few months to tell us she was having you. We didn't think about that we were so happy for her."

Lucy looked at the man for a long moment, seeing the pain in his eyes and then took a breath. "The past is the past, it's...awkward to think of, but...we'll...figure out more of this when we get back...or get Cris or Xally to run some tests." She stood and moved to Arman, moving to hug him tightly and smiled as he returned the hug, "I love you, no matter what, you will always be my Hygge , even as you are now my Dad."

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"I'm truly sorry, Lucy," Hisui spoke as the two sat together, "I didn't know…"

Lucy took a breath and slowly let it out through her nose, "it's...no one knew." she gave a faint smile, "really. Dad, Arman, hadn't said anything about it. That's one of the things, they don't talk about things like that in the past. Mama just apparently had been frustrated, tense and went to her friends for comfort."

"I wish I would have known, Jude is...a family friend, like your mother," hisui gave the other woman a faint smile, "Father invited him to stay for the week before he left to one of the merchant guilds."

Lucy nodded, "I see...hopefully we won't come in contact any more, the palace is big, but we can always stay in the consulate."

"No," hisui shook her head, "I...this is my mistake. I've moved his rooms to the other end of the palace, there's no chance that he will make contact with you four again."

"Thank you," Lucy smiled faintly, "but I am adamant, if he does search us out, we will be moving our things to the consulate."

"I'll make sure he doesn't," Hisui smiled, "I promise." she squeezed the woman's hand gently, "I just want to enjoy the games with you and talk to you about things."

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Hisui sat in front of the eclipse gate, looking at it, she'd waited three years and the games were almost over, she'd harness this weapon tomorrow, "Well?"

"There is a male celestial mage from White Seat in the games."

The princess lips curled up slightly, "I saw, he is strong...invite him to the palace tomorrow."

"As you wish, Princess."

The woman looked at the various wards and chains settled around. She debated and then carefully nodded. Yes, the white sea mage would go in one of the innermost ones, where the magic would be drained the most, White Sea mages were strong...and he would be invaluable to opening the gate. It all went through her head as she stood there, locking the glee away.

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Kaleb snorted as he looked at Hestor and chuckled, "how do you feel?"

"vindicated," Hestor grinned as he dried his hair, "I don't think that woman, Minerva knew what hit her."

The mindbender chuckled softly, "I don't think Fiore knew what hit them when you went out in those swim trunks."

Hestor arched an eyebrow, the adrenaline from the day truly making him far too giddy and the fact that he'd won had helped him a lot. The upset that a Celestial Mage had won had made things go quiet and then the cheers that had errupted made him feel pride knowing that on a grand stage, he had shown that his type of magic was not weak. "well, I'm Boscan..."

Kaleb looked at Hestor and then his hand went out, pulling the other close by the towel around his neck and he let out a low growl, "you're mine."

"Jealous, Guildmaster, that hundreds of thousands saw me like that?" Hestor challenged, eyes dancing.

Kaleb let out another sound, "extremely, however, congratulations are in order." He tugged the man to him fully by the towel around his neck, drawing Hestor into a kiss that had both men moaning softly.

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Notes:

...I know everyone was looking forward to what happened during the games.

My muses looked at me and went "we're not doing it. here, you have Hisui at the day before. don't ask for more. we're not going to give it to you."

I'd love to put the games in, but at the same time...it's...yanno, Tenrou team is back, toss in Rowan and Hestor on the two teams, Maybe Cris. whole pradesh family is there, but...only the four got roped by Hisui, the rest are staying with Fairy Tail.