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.

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

"I don't like this," Kaleb leveled a look at Hestor as he watched the mage get dressed in formal attire.

Hestor gave a faint sigh, "I don't either...but it is my best chance to get close enough to use the Brothers and Sisters." he looked at Kaleb and then walked to where the man was sitting on the windowsill. "Do you trust me?"

Kaleb gave the other man a cross look, "Of course I trust you. It's her I don't trust…" his voice trailed off and he sighed, "I can't...find her mind. I've seen her and quite a few of her inner circle of staff, but it's like their minds are unreachable…"

Hestor shook his head, "we know she's planning something. Something to do with Celestial Mages, Kaleb." he kept his voice soft, "this is something I can do."

"I can go w-"

Hestor lightly kissed the other man, "You can't. It was an invitation for me. Alone. On the premise of meeting up with Lucy, your father and brothers because I normally travel with Lucy here."

Kaleb looked at the other man softly and brought a hand up, knuckles gently tracing the other man's cheek, "that doesn't make me any more suspicious, Hestor."

Hestor leaned into the knuckles, murmuring, "I know."

"Come back safe," Kaleb spoke softly, "there was this Midish place that came highly recommended...and I know you like Midish food."

Hestor chuckled and nodded, "I will." he paused, "it's a date, to celebrate the win of the games."

Date. That was a word that Kaleb hadn't been expecting Hestor to use. They'd mended the bridge slowly over the last few months and he was glad for it. They weren't quite where he wished they were, but it was enough that he knew it would work out, with enough time. There was still a bit of wariness from the other, but he knew it was going away, each day that he spoke to the other man. "Mm, shall we call it seven for pick up?"

"That's a good time to get there...let's leave around six?" Hestor carefully pulled away to finish getting ready.

"Six. I'll see you at six," Kaleb grinned slightly as he watched the other pull on his boots, his tongue darting out just a bit.

~)~))~)~)~

Hestor walked along with his escort, pursing his lips as they continued to move higher and higher in the castle. He'd tried reaching out to kaleb, only to find...nothing there. He'd promised to keep in touch until he'd met up with Lucy, Vander, Zen and Arman and the last thing he'd told the mindbender was that he arrived. The games wouldn't start until midday, so him arriving mid morning was best, he could meet up with them and then go to the games.

He frowned as they walked through a door and he saw the massive door, eyes narrowing as he saw runes, magical circles and...chains. "Oh, hell no."

The celestial mage went to turn, only to let out a yell as lightning wracked his body, seizing it and making his vision go dark. He shuddered and his eyes rolled back, his last thought wondering if Kaleb would be pissed about missing the date.

~)~)~)~)~)~

Arman looked at Kaleb as they settled to watch the large Lacrama screens for the last event, "you're giddy and worried."

Kaleb ducked his head and looked at his father, "yes."

Arman just waited, watching Kaleb with an arched eyebrow. The Mindbender let out a huff of a breath, "I assumed that Hestor met up with you four...but I felt your mental presence before his..disappeared, by a large margin."

The Ambassador nodded, "yes, I left early, to check on things at the consulate, what has you bothered then?"

Kaleb pursed his lips, "I still can't feel them."

"Hisui said they were going to watch in one of her sitting rooms, privately, last night, she claimed she wasn't feeling well, but wanted to share it with Lucy," Arman spoke softly and in an even tone.

"Something else happened," Kaleb said, looking out of the corner of his eye at his father.

"We'll talk about it when we get back home," Arman's tone was firm. He wasn't about to talk about it out loud.

"Dad…"

Arman continued to watch the screens as the day's event was explained and crossed his arms a bit, mind going over the strategy that would have to be used. "...Jude was there...and there were some accusations and facts that your mother and I were not aware of."

"Like?" Kaleb shot Arman a look out of the corner of his eye.

"Layla got pregnant with Lucy shortly after...your mother and I helped her with a stress issue."

Kaleb turned his head a bit to get a better look at his father's profile and then quickly went back to looking at the screens, "...that makes some feelings..possibly very awkward."

"You have no clue, but we'll talk about it when we get back. Lucy wants Xally and Cris to run tests."

Kaleb gave a small nod as he leaned against the railing, narrowing his eyes. He knew Laxus and Rowan had at least a few plans in place and the two had learned to work near seamlessly. He was slightly shocked when he found out that the man knew of an iron laden plant...and that made things very nasty if Laxus funneled his lightning through it.

As The last day started, Kaleb focused on reaching out, trying to figure out why he couldn't reach anyone in the castle..

~)~)~)~)~)~

Lucy looked at Vander and Zen, scowling, "look, you two can get to me in no time flat. I need your eyes out there."

Vander scowled, "I don't like this. Just saying that now."

This had been her last hour, arguing with Vander and Zen about her wanting them to go and check in with Kaleb. "You don't have to like it." her voice was pleading, "But i'm trusting you two. I can't leave, Hisui will get suspicious and we all know it." she took a breath, "but I know you two can...and I know you can make it back if i'm in danger."

Zen crossed his arms on his chest, letting out a low sound. This argument had gone in circles. He was torn because he didn't want to leave her alone, but at the same time, they could get back and forth quickly, "...what if one of us stays?"

"She hasn't let her guard down unless she's been alone with me this year," Lucy looked at them.

"One of us stays or neither of us go," Vander gave Lucy a hard look, his tone sharp. He wasn't backing down. He didn't trust what was going on, he'd woken up feeling like something was crawling under his skin.

Lucy bit her lip hard and then sighed, "...fine." she didn't like it, but she knew arguing about it any longer would be just frustrating, "but that means…"

Zen snorted, "That means Van stays. He can hide in your shadow without her knowing he's there." he gave Lucy a firm look, "you staying safe is what matters most to us."

The blonde looked between the two of them and then nodded before slumping her shoulders, "I know...I know." she gave a half hearted smile to the two.

"Plus...Jude is here...we're not taking chances," Vander grumbled as he drug her between the two of them and buried his face in her hair, "this week not counting...he was trying to kill you the last time you two were together."

Lucy let out a low hum, giving into the warmth of being between them. "Yes, dears."

Vander arched an eyebrow, "was that patronizing?"

"I think it was," Zen's lips quirked into a smirk, "you know what that means?"

"Penalty game?"

"Penalty game."

Lucy let out a screech as she tried to yank herself away from them as they started tickling her, "NO!" she dissolved into laughter, eventually giving up on trying to get away and attack back at them.

~)~)~)~)~

Zen sighed as he was 'dropped off' by Vander, nodding to the man before he slid away into the shadows to stay with Lucy. He took a breath and smiled as he stood next to Kaleb, "anything good happen yet?"

Kaleb shook his head, "no, not really." "only you and Vander coming into the connection...him only briefly. What's going on?"

"Vander's staying with Lucy...she wanted eyes outside, got one of those strange feelings that she's prone to." Zen frowned as he looked at the screen, "Hestor's not participating?"

"Ah, no, apparently the Princess wants to talk with him and Lucy while watching the last day off the ga…." Kaleb trailed off and he looked at Zen from the corner of his eye. The suspicion was there, it was easy to see.

"...well fuck."

"We should go now…"

"They've locked down the city, Kaleb. No one is allowed to be in the streets but the mages."

"...fuck."

Zen didn't need to look over to see or feel the panic raising in Kaleb. He'd seen the two mages mend the bridges that had been broken and listening to Lucy coo about how adorable it was, he had to admit he was proud of his brother for getting over his pride and actually working on things. "Vander is with her. Possibly them."

~)~)~)~)~)~

Vander slid through the shadows around Mercurius and pursed his lips at at few of the devices he found. He couldn't disable all of them but a few small, microscopic shadows ready to burst on command were injected carefully. He wasn't sure where the whispered thought came from, but if he could take the odd devices out at once, he would be happy.

When he finally returned to lucy, letting her know he was there in an age old way, he frowned that the two women were walking.

Hisui smiled softly, "If you're sure you want to see the experiment my scientists are working on…"

"I really do," Lucy smiled warmly, "I can just feel the magic starting to build...and it must be amazing if it's already building to the point I can feel it."

Hisui smiled brightly, "It is! I can't wait to show you!"

Lucy was slightly freaking out with how upbeat the woman was, how...excited she was over whatever was going on. She didnt' show it as they walked, but as the magical pressure grew, she shivered, reaching out through the bonds she had with Zen and Vander, feeling their calming presence, though Zen seemed angry, fuming.

When the large doors opened, lucy's eyes flew wide seeing the large lacrama with...mages floating in them. She took in the states of each, some off them impossible to tell with the glowing magic around them. When she saw Hestor, her mind freaked.

It was that instant Vander set the 'bombs' off, cracking the lacrama. When he finally felt Kaleb, he could feel his brother's worry and anger. "Found your boyfriend…"

Kaleb's snarl ripped through his mind and then all he could feel was agonizing fury that made him drop out of the shadows. Hisui was grinning, "Look at it...isn't it wonderful?"

"Hisui! Stop this!" Lucy looked at the other woman, "You could be killing them!"

The green haired woman looked at Lucy, "The only other way is the Zodiac keys."

Lucy felt her stomach drop as she stood there then turned as a few of the lacrama went black, pitch black, unable to see through and the massive gate started to make noises. "No! No!" Magic spun around her as her panic rose and keys materialized, or rather the spirits did, "STOP THIS! STOP THIS NOW!"

Vander could barely focus, between the fury coming from Kaleb and Lucy's panic it was all he could do to slam shadows out, breaking the last of the lacrama that were shining brightly. When they shattered into dust, he watched as the mages inside fell to the ground, unmoving.

Anger poured off Lucy as she saw this and the blonde rounded on Hisui screaming in fury as she lashed out with a fist, "YOU BITCH!"

Vander's shadows slammed the doors shut, just as he heard guards, locking it and then he was moving. He didn't know the other mages, but Hestor? Hell, this was bad. He knew CPR and mumbled, "this means nothing. Got it. I'm saving your life." He wanted so badly to help Lucy, but at the same time, he also knew that saving Hestor had to take a small priority and well...he grinned, looking up for a split second as he watched his mate go completely avenging angel on Hisui, even as the Princess pulled out a key. His eyes narrowed as a large snake curled out of nowhere.

"FUCK YOU!" Lucy let out a roar of anger as she looked at the spirit. She knew it wasn't the spirit's fault, but as her magic raged and the spirit came in between her and her 'prey' she got more and more angry, even when the Zodiac started to help her.

Vander blocked out the noises around him, keeping the doors closed, his shadows snapping to create shields in front of Lucy when needed, but that was instinct and he was working to get the man breathing on his own again.

Lucy slamming into him and away from Hestor made him let out a yell as he rolled, wrapping his arms around her to make sure she didn't take too much of the impact. He looked towards Hestor, letting out a sigh of Relief as the Mage took a breath and groaned. He could feel Zen and Kaleb on the way, knowing things would be fine.

He slowly stood, holding his arm around Lucy's waist, "it's fine, stardust, let the spirits do this." he held her, trying to keep her wriggling and kicking form still, "he's alive. He's back." he nuzzled her hair, "shh, he's okay. Everything will be fine."

Vander really wished that he hadn't said that as the door lit up as it whirred open fully. They heard Hisui's cry of triumph as it did so, but the two of them? Lucy and Vander stood there, looking as the gate opened. They slowly saw a large form start to come out. Vander couldn't help the words that came out, "Oh sh-" The rest of the cuss word unheard as a dragon's roar rang in the air.

~)~)~)~)~

Notes:

so yeah...Hisui's got a few ass whoopings coming...from various sources...and for those that asked...Here's Ophiucus.