With only 2 Chapters left in Alpha Keys, I had some time this weekend to work on the next chapter for WLS! I know you've all been waiting patiently to see what's going to happen next, so without further ado . . .
Juvia was going around helping whatever woman called out asking for assistance. She was delivering food and clothing to those who were asking as well as holding women who were relieved to be free once more, to consoling women as they cried for everything they had lost. Most of them just wanted reassurance that they were able to go home once everything was figured out. The rainwoman offered kind smiles and spoke in a soft voice so as not to spook the ladies any more than they already were. She had asked Laxus how Lucy and Wendy were doing and he told her that Wendy would be out for a while but Lucy was just grabbing food before she came out to help as well.
"You've got some drool their bro," Vander smirked at the lunar slayer, resting his arms behind his head. "Heard she water locked Zen when she thought Lucy had been jumped while coming here via her spirit. Damn thing expanded to accommodate his wings and he couldn't do anything about it. I'm excited to be testing her for ranking when she joins the guild."
"You're doing her testing?" Cristoff was shocked. He figured that Xally would go up against the water mage, test her limits in the setting.
"She asked Kaleb about joining with Lucy and Cobra already, shocked the hell out of Kaleb to hear Lucy wanted to join," laughed the youngest Pradesh male. "Called me over about doing her assessment and I'm just tickled pink too. Emzadi gets to handle Cobra's and you'll never guess who he picked for our dear Stellina." Cristoff pointedly looked at his brother with an eyebrow raised. "Kaleb's going to do it himself. Been itching to test her since her little display in the guild's training room with him that day she beat your ass in a race there."
"Stellina is full of surprises. How much longer before Laxus caves?"
"Three days. Once we are home, healed, and slept he won't be able to stop himself from claiming her fine ass."
"Bossman will take at least another week, and that'll be after we defeat the guys that attacked Van and Xally. He won't take her before he's able to bash some heads in." 'Bash heads. Bash heads.' "Besides Van, I think the real question here is how long it'll take Cris to make a move on our dear sweet water mage. Lucy and Ever will monopolize her time for at least a day. Hell, throw in an additional day when Emzadi and Xally are able to get a hold of her."
"Don't forget our father dearest Bix. Cris will be sporting blue balls for a while."
"Fuck off you two. Juvia is cute and I look forward to getting to know my new guildmate is all." Bickslow just cackled as he saw Cristoff's pale yellow soul reaching towards her soft blue one, which was staying away as if hesitant to touch his. He could see the hurt that she had suffered, wasn't quite ready to get back out into the world. However, there was no denying that they were soulmates. Cristoff would just have to bid his time her, help her where he could and keep it in his pants.
"Hey guys," Lucy waved as she walked over to the three of them. "How's everyone doing?"
"Dad and Farron just about have everyone accounted for, Cosplayer. He figures we'll be able to head back to Bosco within the hour."
"Where will the women be staying?" Lucy's worried glance looked over the fifty women knowing they wouldn't fit in the guild or the Pradesh estate.
"King Altiene is renting out a hotel for the women where they will be able to talk to a therapist and call family. Once they have been cleared by the doctors White Sea will be accompanying them home, as well as acting as security for the hotel. Kaleb got the mission from the King this morning," Cristoff explained to ease his kin.
"Lucy!" A bluenette ran over to her, giving her a once-over before pulling her into a quick hug. "Juvia is so happy to see that Lucy is feeling better. Juvia wanted to tell Lucy that Master Kaleb will accept her into White Sea with her friends and that Vander will be testing Juvia's abilities tomorrow afternoon. Juvia is hoping you will be there to support Juvia."
"I wouldn't be anywhere else Juvia," Lucy smiled at the woman before linking her arms with the water mage. "I need to introduce you to Emzadi. One of the Pradesh siblings and the kick-ass solar dragon slayer." The two women left the men to their own devices as they made their way over to where Emzadi was heating water from a stream so women could wash and change into clothes that Virgo had brought. "Zadi! I would like to introduce you to a dear friend of mine, Juvia. Juvia, this is Emzadi."
"Juvia is pleased to meet you," she smiled warmly at the tall, tanned, blonde woman. Emzadi leaned in a pressed a brief kiss to Juvia's lips in greeting, giggling when her cheeks turned rosy. Juvia had been in Bosco long enough to know some traditions but this one still embarrassed her to some degree. Emzadi looked up to see Cristoff's eyes flash white briefly, plots forming in her head that she couldn't wait to tell Xally about.
"It's great to meet you as well Juvia. You must come shopping with us tomorrow afternoon, after your induction and assessment of course. We'll make a Boscan out of the two of you yet." Emzadi winked at the two blushing mages. Teasing three dragon slayers was going to be so much fun and she knew that Vander would be a willing participant in her schemes. Xally and Bickslow may take a little more convincing.
"Juvia would like to shop with all of you."
"Perfect! Between you and I, you're wearing way too many clothes for the warm weather of the Boscan summer. We'll find you some clothes that'll have everyone asking to share pleasure with you." Lucy rolled her eyes forgetting how brash Emzadi could be with her words, the female version of Vander. Juvia was taking it in stride which made Lucy incredibly happy.
"Juvia has shared pleasure with a couple of men and a woman since she started this mission." Emzadi grinned as he watched Cristoff spit out the water he was drinking while a cackling Vander smacked him on the back. "It was alright."
"Didn't find someone with the right connection I take it?"
"Juvia supposes so. Juvia just feels like she's broken after . . . after what happened." Lucy pulled the water mage into a side hug, shooting Emzadi a look that clearly stated they'd talk about it later.
"Don't worry Juvia. There are plenty of people in White Sea for you to choose from and you never know when the right one will cross your path. Maybe we can even get Lucy to share pleasure with some of our guild's fine men, or women." Emzadi was throwing a party in her head when she felt the static in the air increase. "If all else fails Vander is very very good at ensuring his partners are well cared for." The was a spark followed by an exploding tree branch several yards in the forest.
"No need to worry ladies," Kaleb stepped up to calm the women before shooting a scathing look at his sister. "Just some of our mages going over any traps that might be in the area. On that note we are all ready for you to board the airship, so you can start making your way aboard. Thank you."
"Come on Juvia. Emzadi," Lucy brightly smiled at the woman. "Let's these women get comfortable before we go check on Wendy and Carla." The three women started assisting some of the weaker women up the ramp as Laxus joined the guys from the forest.
"You touch her Vander and there won't be anything left for your father to bury you." Laxus left the warning hanging in the air as he went about cleaning up camp followed by Cristoff and Bickslow.
"Well, this should be fun!" Vander internally cackled as he rubbed his hands together.
Wendy slept the entire trip back and all through the night, waking up with the light of the sunrise. She looked around her surroundings, not recognizing anything that would state where she was currently at. Carla still slept peacefully on a smaller bed not far from her, so at least they weren't in trouble. Throwing the covers off she got up on wobbly legs and made her way to the shower. After almost two solid months in her own personal hellhole, she desperately needed to get clean. She had never been kidnapped before now, but she didn't like it one bit. Thankfully she was a virgin so the men didn't rape her as they had with women who weren't. She had stood up to the men on several occasions and had been punished for her disobedience. Joya had wanted her, according to Bora, but she still didn't understand why.
She stepped out of the shower to find clothes laid out for her on the edge of the sink. An emerald green tank top with white shorts complete with a bra and two sets of underwear, either a white thong or a bikini bottoms. Wendy chewed her lip as she grabbed the thong and slipped it on followed by the rest of her clothes. She pulled her long blue locks up in a messy bun on top of her head leaving a couple of longer pieces to frame her face. She looked herself over in the full-length mirror gasping at what she was seeing. The white shorts made her legs look long and hugged her ass just right while the green tank top showed the barest amount of her mid-drift, but it was her boobs that she was shocked to see. She had blossomed after the guild disbanded but after being captured she stuck to wearing looser tops so guys could look at her. She could see her cleavage showing, pushed up so that men could clearly see that she had something going on upstairs but not enough to worry about a possible nip slip. Shaking her head she left the bathroom to see a familiar face sitting on her bed.
"Lucy!"
"Morning Wendy. Hope you don't mind but I had Virgo bring you some clothes and asked her to wake me up when you woke. I didn't want you to feel abandoned," Lucy explained as she opened her arms for the young mage to fly into. Wendy began to cry into the older mages shoulder so Lucy just pulled her close and rocked her. "Shhh. I've got you now Wendy, nothing in the world will separate us ever again. I promise!" Lucy felt her nod her head and started to hum a childhood tune.
"Is Carla ok? She's been sleeping a lot and I'm not used to that."
"Cristoff, the lunar dragon slayer, put her into a healing sleep. She'll wake up when she's ready too." Wendy sighed in relief as the tears stopped, still refusing to leave her spot in Lucy's lap. The sixteen-year-old knew it was immature but she needed to reassurance right now. "Mr. Elan is making breakfast for everyone this morning if you're feeling up to meeting them all. I'll show you around the estate and the White Sea guild once we are done. Cobra, Juvia, I have decided to join the guild so you are free to do so as well. Then we are going to watch Juvia's assessment against Vander for ranking purposes. Afterward Emzadi, Xally, Ever, and I are taking Juvia shopping. Would you like to come?" Wendy nodded her head yes, unsure of how steady her voice would be. "Would it be alright if we lay down where it'd be a little more comfortable?"
"Sorry Lucy," Wendy whispered as the two women adjusted their positions. Lucy started to draw circles on the young woman's are noticing that she had drifted back to sleep. Lucy looked at the bedside clock noticing it was only six thirty, which meant they had time to catch a couple more hours of sleep. She brushed Horologium's asking him to wake them up no later than eight thirty. Lucy closed her eyes as she drifted into a light sleep where she could still hear the birds chirping and was aware that Wendy was still tucked against her. Logically she knew that they were safe in the Pradesh estate but she couldn't find it within herself to fall into a deep sleep. She let her mind wander over the events since she had been rescued, meeting the Pradesh's, saving Vander, kinship bonds, everything. Life was starting to turn around.
Horologium's key vibrated as Lucy touched it, sending her thanks through the link. She shook Wendy awake, smiling as the cute slayer blinked several times before smiling back at the blonde. They straightened their clothes, slipping on sandals that Virgo left them, and began to walk towards the kitchen. Wendy grabbed Lucy's hand as they got closer to the kitchen where a bunch of yelling was happening. Lucy just giggled. "You'll find that the Pradesh family is every bit as rambunctious as Fairy Tail was. It's the first time I have felt at home since the guild was disbanded. They are all notorious flirts and troublemakers, so don't pay any mind to them. especially Vander."
"Ouch Stellina," Vander said from his place on the chandelier.
"Do I even want to know?" Lucy asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Vander may have snuck some of Bickslow's food and the babies may have responded by flying him up and hanging him there," Xally said with a smile on her lips. Lucy just laughed and shook her head, never a dull moment.
"You feeling alright Wendy?" a large man with platinum blonde hair asked her. Wendy proceeded to hide slightly behind Lucy when she was addressed.
"Wendy I would like you to meet Master Kaleb. He will be inducting us into White Sea and with the help of his mages we were able to rescue you." Laxus growled when he saw Wendy hug Lucy, her head nuzzling close to her breast. Lucy was his mate and Wendy was his kin but his dragon was stating that she shouldn't be so close his mate. She wasn't a hatchling. Laxus was trying to reason with his dragon but the damn thing was still growling. Another growl was heard in the room that grabbed his attention. Wendy knew what that growl meant. A warning stating that she was too close to his mate but Wendy didn't see a mating mark, even so, she wasn't a threat to him. Lucy was her kin, her sister is so many ways. She had pulled away from Lucy to growl back at Laxus, eyes flashing pink at his threat. Wendy wasn't about to back down from Laxus.
"Damn," Vander said from his place above the table. "Lil blue has got some fangs." The two slayers immediately stopped, realizing they were causing a scene, also not liking the way Lucy was now glaring at him. "Sorry," Laxus mumbled towards Wendy. Lucy stopped glaring at Laxus enough to introduce everyone to Wendy.
"Fanciulla del cielo, welcome to our home. I hope that you enjoy your stay for as long as you are here." Wendy looked at the older man and smiled brightly at him, feeling the warmth he radiated. "Vander get yourself down and join us, please." The pouting shadowquip mage took to the shadows before sitting next to Cristoff and Xally.
"Thank you, Mr. Pradesh, but what does that phrase you said mean?" Wendy blushed slightly when she asked the question.
"Girl of the sky. Nothing less for the sister of our dear Stellina." Arman replied as Lucy whispered that stellina meant little star and that they all referred to her in some kind of a star reference. "Now everyone please dig in before the food goes cold."
Lucy was showing Juvia and Wendy around the guild, having already shown them the beauty of the Pradesh estate. They were joined by Evergreen and the four fairy mages made their way through the large guild. Evergreen was explaining how missions worked, accommodations, training, and anything else that came to mind. They stopped for a brief lunch before they headed towards Master Kaleb's office to be inducted into the guild. Evergreen was explaining to the three girls that Boscan tradition dictates that a chaste kiss seals the deal once the paperwork and guildmark had been placed on the mages, you could choose the forehead or lips. Evergreen waited in the background for the girls, wanting to make sure they sat together for Juvia ranking spar.
"Good afternoon ladies, Cobra," Kaleb's voice washed over them as the four mages entered. "I understand that I have three of you wishing to join. Wendy, is this your intention as well?"
"Yes please Master Kaleb."
"Alright. Here is the paperwork you will need to sign out," Kaleb began to explain. "White Sea has its own main account with our mages subaccounts branching out from there. The guild will be paid and based on the job you have taken the system will automatically pay you for your portion. It will also take what is owed to the guild for housing and meals at the end of every month, with the first three months being free as you learn how things work at White Sea. Once you are ranked I will input you into the system and you will be able to begin work immediately. Our mission system chooses mages based on their magic type, ranking, and mission details. I imagine you will all be busy with jobs due to the uniqueness of your magics." The four mages read over everything before signing and handing the papers back to the mindbender mage. "Cobra, poison dragon slayer, where would you like your stamp?"
"On the inside of my right bicep." Cobra took off his jacket and undershirt as Kaleb placed the stamp on his skin. "You're drooling a bit there fairy queen." Evergreen sputtered some, blushing and hiding behind her fan. Kaleb placed his kiss to Cobra's forehead, "Welcome to White Sea Cobra. You're ranking will be tomorrow morning against Emzadi. Juvia, water mage, where would you like your guildmark?"
"Juvia would like it above her right breast, please." Kaleb gently placed the stamp on her body before briefly kissing her on the lips. "Welcome to the guild. You're ranking is against Vander this afternoon Lucy, celestial mage, where would you like your mark?"
"The outside of my right thigh, Master Kaleb." The white guildmark sparkled against her skin as he moved in to press his lips against Lucy's for a moment. "Welcome to White Sea. Tomorrow afternoon you will be facing me for ranking. And lastly Wendy, sky dragon slayer, where would you like your guild stamp?"
"I'd like it on the outside of my right ankle, please Master Kaleb." Kaleb grabbed her ankle, causing Wendy to shiver slightly at the light touch. He placed the stamp on his desk before bending down to kiss her lips, lingering longer than he should have. He smiled at the light blush on her cheeks from the innocent act.
"In two days time, you will be facing against Cristoff for your ranking Wendy. Welcome, all of you to White Sea! Tonight we will be throwing a party in your honor and I look forward to seeing you all there. Lucy stay for a moment please, and I will see the rest of you within the hour."
"What can I help you with Master Kaleb?" Lucy inquired once the others had left the room.
"You can drop formalities when we are in private or at father's house. I wanted to let you know that once we have ranked all of you we will be making our move on those that hurt Vander. The men you captured, along with the lacrima, were invaluable to us. You are going to be a key component in my plan so I need to know that you are all in."
"Of course! I will help in any way I can."
"Thank you. The selected team will know the details once Wendy is ranked. Shall we head down to the training grounds?" Lucy smiled as he held the door open for her, meeting up with Laxus and Bickslow on the walk there. Lucy was nervous for Juvia but also excited that she was starting this journey off with such a close friend of hers. She knew that both mages were talented, one being able to use shadows however he deemed and the other had incredible control over water. This would be a tough match to watch but Lucy was already sitting on the edge of her seat.
"Relax blondie," Laxus said as he sat down to her right and Wendy on her left. The arena slowly filled with mages who were interested in the battle. "I refused to give Vander any intel on the Juvia, so to my knowledge he just thinks her water magic is comparable to Xally's. Her biggest issue will be the hand-to-hand part that the brothers are all famous for. Should be interesting, to say the least."
Kaleb stood in the grandstand with Cristoff and Thane before announcing the rules, "Neither mage with cause mortal harm to the other. The winner will be declared by either an omission of defeat or the first one to lose consciousness. Good luck to both parties." Vander stood on the one side in his normal black and red leather outfit that he conjured from the shadows. Juvia was standing on the other side dressed in leather as well, her outfit a dark blue corset top and black skin-tight pants. It had the crowd whistling and cat-calling, which mage it was directed at was anyone's guess.
"Are you just going to stand there all day bluebell?" Vander asked while double spinning his shadow made knives in each hand but Juvia didn't budge. "Have it your way then." Vander launched both his knives directly at the water mage's center, watching as she waited until the last possible moment to spin away sending a slice of water his way. Vander easily avoided the attack while forming more weapons, this time shuriken were his weapon of choice. Easy to make and had more deadly accuracy with their smaller size. Juvia's hand was covered in water as she summoned her water whip to knock the stars off to the side. "You're fairly quick bluebell, I'll give you that." He smirked as he dived into the shadows, something that Evergreen had told her about while Lucy was talking with the Master. Juvia ran to the center of the training grounds, filling the floor with water as she made her way there while dodging more ninja stars. The water reached mid-calf as she was looking for the next sign of Vander.
Vander emerged from the waters with a smirk. "You filled the grounds with water creating delicious shadows for me to pop up and out of whenever. There are shadow's almost anywhere, including the lurking depths of the sea." Juvia started launching several water slicer attacks on the mage who was either dodging them or slinking off into the shadows.
"What is she doing?" Bickslow uttered as he watched Vander toy with her. "This fight will be over sooner than I thought. Granted Vander's shadowquip magic is ridiculously flexible."
"She has a plan, you just need to wait for it Bix," Lucy said with a smile on her face. "Juvia is waiting for her opening while not letting Vander get inside her head." Juvia continued to play whack-a-mole with Vander, landing a couple of decent hits before he materialized behind her grasping her hands within his own. He had her pinned to his body, both her dainty hands within one of his own.
"How about you just give up bluebell. No need to drag this out any longer," he whispered into her ear. He materialized a knife and was about to press it to her throat when she suddenly melted, becoming one with the water. Vander blinked several times, looking around his surroundings. "Well, I'll be damned. A water body to match my own shadowy one." Juvia rose from the water while creating a water dome around the training area, keeping the waters rotating as if in a cyclone. Vander went to jump out the top of the dome only to be thrown forcefully into the watery arena. The water was moving too fast for his shadows to sneak past and he couldn't brutally attack it with force or he'd more than likely lose body parts.
"Water Nebula!" Two large columns of water shot up on either side of Vander, forming a helix with him at the center of it before dropping him back into the water. Vander stood up, coughing water, having to conjure a shadow shield to stop her onslaught of water slicer attack. He threw several ninja stars, hearing her yelp of pain as a couple sliced her thighs and upper arms. Juvia slashed her water-covered hands outward, creating a torrent of water that engulfed her target leaving Vander with a large cut across his chest.
"Damn bluebell." It had been a long while since a mage he ranked had been able to land such a strong hit on her person. "I think we really need to skip the foreplay now." Vander attacked her head on, his magic was better at long distance battles or when he could just toss a person into the shades, but he needed to get right up in her business and take her out. Juvia knew she wasn't going to be able to win this match but she was going to go down fighting, showing her new guild all she had to offer. Vander was only a couple feet in front of her when she summoned a vicious whirlpool which pushed her opponent away with great force.
Vander went into the shadows of the water, using them to propel his across the bottom of the water. "Water Lock!" Juvia pulled Vander's shadow body out of the water and into the floating ball of water. "Water is Juvia's element. She can feel your presence wherever you are within it, knowing exactly when you are about to strike." Vander became solid again, glaring at the bluenette. He covered her ball of water in shadows and essentially wrung himself dry of the bubble he had been encased in.
Lucy was biting her lip while watching the battle, knowing that water was her element but not realizing just how strategic the mage was. She didn't realize it but her hand was gripping Laxus' leg for the duration of the battle, squeezing tighter when it looked like Juvia was in a jam. Laxus refused to say anything, enjoying the fact that she was using him for some kind of comfort. He was listening to everyone making bets on the two mages, all impressed by the women in the arena. He knew Juvia was strong but seeing her pull out all the stops was amazing. She'd easily make S Class rank in his opinion, if not double S and then they'd start training her to become a century mage. Kaleb had pulled Laxus aside earlier to state that Cristoff was going to start his training as a Century Mage once the issue with Hestor was figured out. They'd try to open is third origin with this training and once that was done he'd start to work his way up the ranks as well.
"Juvia!" Lucy's cry brought his focus back to the battle, as Vander was finally able to get close enough to the woman to effectively knock her out. The cyclone dome disappeared once Juvia was out, Vander holding her so that she didn't fall face first into the water. "Easy Blondie, she's alright. Used up a hell of a lot of her magic in this fight, but damn if it wasn't impressive."
"Quiet please," Kaleb's voice rang across the crowd, instantly quieting. "Juvia has been awarded double S class ranking by the three of us. Does anyone have any objections to this?" The people in the stands were quiet, no one disputing the fact. "Very well. Thank you all for watching and I am sure I will see most of you over the course of the next two days." Cristoff jumped off the grandstand and made his way to his brother and Juvia, while Xally was dealing with all of the excess water in the training grounds.
"Damn Cris," Vander said while sitting on the floor, still holding Juvia, "I wasn't expecting that. Bluebell gave me a run for my money." Cristoff healed his brother, the coolness of his magic flowing through him.
"She impressed the hell out of us. Light on her feet, quick to act, and can turn her entire body into water." He picked up the pale woman from Vander, holding her in one arm as he used the other to start to heal her cuts and bruises.
"If you can pull her out of her shell she'll make one hell of a sexual partner," Vander wiggled his eyebrows as Cristoff snapped his teeth at the man. Vander was cackling at his older brother's display of possessiveness. "Another dragon slayer bites the dust."