Normally, I would put this longer note at the end but I'm not.

As I was working on this, trying to figure out everyone's ages was driving me up the wall, so I turned to my trusty dry-erase boards. Since there's no real set time duration in Fairy Tail I kinda went with a fuck it approach. In order:

Farron- 28

Laxus, Kaleb, Zen- 26

Bickslow, Evergreen, Freed- 25

Cristoff- 24

Gajeel, Emzadi, Sting, Rogue, Vander (slightly younger than Emi)- 23

Lucy, Levy, Yukino - 22

Xally- 21

Meredy- 20

Wendy- 18

-.-.-

I don't own anything and I attributed the quote. I would like to also add my love and appreciation.

"Lady Lucy," Princess Hisui said before they could leave. There were still others in the ballroom but Farron had said they should leave before they managed to enrage anyone else.

"Go. I'll see you back at the Embassy," Lucy said.

"Are you sure?" Farron asked, glancing between his friend and the princess.

"Yes."

Lucy followed Hisui into a sitting room off from the ballroom. The Heartfilia Mansion had a similar room where her father would finalize business transactions during parties without needing to go all the way to his office.

The room was simpler than her father's. His had been designed as a show of wealth and influence. This room was in Mercurius Castle and therefore didn't need to pretend. The portraits on the walls were of royalty in moments of leisure or landscapes. The colors were muted blues and grays.

Hisui sat first, knowing that Lucy's manners were still drilled into her despite the raucous at the party and of her guild. The servants that had been serving food all night had been reporting what conversations they heard. While many acknowledged that some had immediately held in that infuriating language of the business gentry, they'd reported any gossip. After her initial talking down of Lady Tremaine, the whispers had spread.

Lucy Heartfilia running away to become a working mage had been quite the scandal. The events of the night showed that she was still a Heartfilia though. And Hisui wasn't sure how she felt about having someone like her in Bosco.

"Wine?" Hisui asked as she poured herself a glass.

"Yes, please."

The two women leaned back in their respective chairs to watch the other. As Lucy had said, her feelings toward Hisui were complicated. It was her father where most of Lucy's ire was directed. Through Grandpa Crux, she knew that the Eclipse Gate went one way. She knew that Natsu and the other four dragon slayers were from four hundred years ago. She knew, well guessed, that her mother had to have opened the gate on this side. Hisui was a fool for not researching the Gate properly but her father was the greater fool for not destroying it when it had served its purpose.

"Princess, is there something in particular that you wished to speak about?" Lucy asked.

"Ah. Of course. Will you be attending the Games?"

"Those are in a couple of weeks, right?"

"Yes."

"No, I don't believe so. I'm in the middle of a project in Bosco."

"Hm… With Fairy Tail's disbandment, most of the major guilds didn't bother coming either. It's a good opportunity for second tier guilds to be seen but-"

"This isn't what you wanted to talk about. And I've had a long enough day as it is."

"I know that you don't think that I'm responsible enough to handle the throne, but I'm learning. I changed the relationship with the ERA so that we're all being provided with the same information. I know that they're infiltrating the dark guild, Avatar. However, I think we've become too complacent over the last few years in our reliance of Fairy Tail."

"You're probably right. I'm White Sea mage now."

"But I think that you'd be well-suited to lead a new Fairy Tail."

Nothing could have stopped the instinctive snort that came out. "Not my monkeys. Not my circus." Lucy drank the last of her wine. "The guild left. I haven't heard from most of them in nearly a year." She stood. "I'm sorry, your highness. But whatever savior you were expecting to find, I don't think it'll be coming from Fairy Tail. Luckily, there's still another half-dozen amazing guilds.

"At your leave, your highness," Lucy said, dropping into a curtsy.

"You may go first."

"Thank you. Happy birthday and good night."

.~*~.

Breakfast the following day was filled with Lucy filling Farron in on her meeting with the princess. That was followed by him asking questions about the gentry ahead of the meetings he'd have for the rest of the morning. The two would hopefully leave around two in the afternoon. Lucy made plans with Sabertooth and Levy and Gajeel.

Lucy was surprised to find Sting first when she'd arrived at the guild. While many of the members didn't know her well, they knew her familiarity with Yukino and by default, Sting and Rogue. She launched herself onto his back and clung there despite him cursing at the fact that she'd made him spill his coffee.

"Overly familiar as always," Minerva said with a sneer.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I must've forgotten to turn off my bitch shields," Lucy said with a roll of her eyes as she slid off Sting.

"That's not surprising since there's more air than substance in your head."

Lucy hissed. At first, Minerva scoffed until she saw Sting stiffen. He'd half-risen from his stool, his eyes narrowed and teeth bared.

"Whatever," she said, slinking off.

"Why do you put up with her?"

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. I like knowing where she is." His posture relaxed some, but he was still studying Lucy suspiciously.

"You're a queen, aren't you?" a new voice asked.

"Hi, Rogue. Not quite yet, but eventually," Lucy said, turning to look at the shadow dragon slayer that had stepped out of a shadow behind her. "You know, it's a shame you two are mated. I know someone you'd probably have fun with."

"If they don't mind an audience, I don't mind," Sting said.

"Are you a voyeur?" Lucy asked teasingly.

"Usually Rogue is, but sometimes."

Relationships are weird, Lucy mused at Rogue's nonchalance at how handsy his mate was being with her. Erik nearly poisoned a woman that got too handsy with Bickslow at the guild a week earlier. Bickslow had told Lucy about Emzadi nearly doing that when a woman propositioned Laxus and since then, Laxus had only accepted pleasure when the other slayer wasn't around. That would change since she knew Emzadi wasn't inclined to wait for Laxus any longer.

So far, she'd not had the chance to see Meredy and Cristoff together. Since he was in charge of the Pelerno branch, they'd mostly been staying there. However, she'd helped him set up the perfect retreat for the full moon and their mating. As well as lingerie shopping with Meredy and Evergreen. Meredy was positively giddy at the prospect and had spent the entire time gushing much to Lucy's amusement and Evergreen's annoyance. The fact that Meredy had also interrogated Lucy about the things that Cristoff liked during sex made her feel better about their frankly strange dynamics.

"Lucy?" Frosch said.

"Sorry," she said, picking up the Exceed and cuddling her. "I was spacing."

"What were you thinking about?" Rogue asked.

"Dragon slayers and the dynamics between them and their mates," she answered frankly. "I was thinking about how- unterritorial you two are."

"We've been mates for over five years. Plenty of time to be comfortable exploring." Sting tugged her between his legs and nuzzled her neck. "You interested in seeing us in action."

"I think that would be encroaching on Yukino's territory."

"Doubt it," Rogue said with a chuckle but watching the two blondes with interest.

"Where is she?"

"Shopping. Should be here-" he glanced past them- "now."

Lucy extracted herself from Sting and started for the door before skidding to a stop when she saw Yukino holding hands with Rufus.

"I'm Lucy Heartfilia," she said, holding out her hand to Rufus.

"I remember."

"Of course, you do." Lucy's smile widened into a familiar, predatory grin. Rufus flinched back since this was new information. "She's kin. You break her heart-"

"Lucy," Yukino interrupted. "The Twins already did this spiel."

"Well, fine," she said with a pout. "Come on. You've been holding out on me," Lucy said, dragging Yukino to a table with a pointed glare that had any of the men attempting to follow.

Lucy caught Yukino up with everything concerning their shared magic. Yukino, who'd heard the stories concerning the Ptolemaic Royals, had never thought to look for them. Lucy promised her friend, that if Yukino ever decided to visit for an extended amount of time, they'd spend it in Cellis.

"Does that mean you're not coming back?" Yukino asked.

"I don't know. I mean, I'm sure Farron will probably talk me into coming with him for any functions here but… I have people there that I can't leave."

"Your mate?"

"…Maybe. It's just- the dynamics of the dragon slayer stuff ended up being more complicated than I thought. I have a knight in Bosco. Laxus, Erik, Emi…"

"The Twins, Gajeel, Wendy, Natsu."

"There may come a time that they'll all need to be in one place. Or two. But right now… I'm not a queen yet. Not until I have a mate."

"You'll have our support," Rogue said.

"Yeah," Frosch agreed.

"I don't know why you're the queen," Lector said. "Sting's the best."

"Because only a woman can be," Sting said.

"Oh."

"You're awfully nosy," Lucy said.

"Tell me about it," Yukino said. "Sting took one sniff then goes tearing after Rufus."

"You were ours first," Sting said defensively.

"But I was never going to be a part of that."

"You could be our broodmother. I still want you to be our broodmother," Sting said.

"That's still not love and marriage."

"There's always been love," Rogue said, knowing his mate was the most articulate. "You just hadn't joined yet when we were mated."

The three of them continued bickering back and forth. Lucy listened in, realizing that this was an old argument. Her senses as queen, and a woman, told her that it was too late for Yukino. She was too invested in them. More than a little in love with both of them.

Lucy glanced at her shoulder. In the light, she could better see the changes to her dragon. The scales were becoming more distinctive, the blue slowly becoming more faceted. Its head turned at her scrutiny and she swore it was amused with their fighting.

"I should get going. I'm meeting Levy and Gajeel for lunch. And I've still got to stop by Sorcerer's Weekly."

"Okay," Yukino said.

Lucy hugged her friends goodbye. Before leaving, she caught Rufus's eye, pantomimed slicing her throat, then gave him her usual cheeky grin.

"You must think you're a badass now," Minerva said as soon as Lucy left.

"Waiting long? You look hot."

There was something instinctively predatory about Minerva. It reminded her of Hestor at her own guild. She'd only had the misfortune of running into him at White Sea once.

"It's good to be back," Bickslow said as sat at one of the booths.

"Yup," Lucy agreed, dropping down next to him. "Move over."

"Why can't I sit next to my mate?" Erik asked.

"'Cause I wanted this side and he sat here."

Lucy squeaked when Erik physically lifted her and dropped her on the other side so that he could sit next to his mate.

"Really?"

"Yup."

Lucy settled for kicking him before returning to her tablet. She knew that Kaleb would have reached out if his program had found a match, but that didn't stop her from checking at least once an hour.

"Hi. Lucy, right?"

"Yeah," she replied before glancing up and seeing who had spoken.

Hestor was leaning against the end of the booth. Neither Bickslow or Erik had reacted since neither had a need to be annoying big brothers, unlike Laxus. They knew she'd turn him down. Since joining the guild, she'd only shared pleasure with bath attendants.

"I was wondering if you'd like to share pleasure."

The way Lucy recoiled from the question alerted Bickslow while the instinctive need to protect kin had Erik standing and Laxus nearly teleporting from the bar.

"No, thank you," she said stiffly.

"Are you-"

"I'm pretty sure she said no," Laxus said, his hand dropping onto Hestor's shoulder, light sparks hitting him.

"Right," Hestor said, his eyes glancing over her one last time.

"Are you okay?" Laxus asked.

"Yeah. He just- Something about him makes me scared. I'm pretty sure I can take him in a fight but it's just- Ugh. I'm a dragon slayer. I shouldn't be feeling this."

Uncertain of what to say, Laxus sat down and pulled her into a hug.

Everyone gets scared. It's a reminder that we're not invincible, Kaleb said.

Bix loop you in?

Yes.

"Laxus, what frightens you?" Lucy asked.

"More often than anything else, you. Especially the thought of you deciding to take over the world."

"Mm…sexy men in loin cloths." Bickslow laughed while Laxus and Erik both blanched.

Lucy ignored Minerva and kept walking. The attack hadn't been unexpected. Lucy jumped; she still couldn't go more than a foot, but it was enough to avoid the attack. Then she used a quick burst of the meteor attack to shove Minerva into the wall, her forearm pressed into her neck.

"I'm not the same girl that you fought last year so don't press your luck."

Lucy half expected Minerva to try again but she didn't.

Levy was waiting in their favorite corner booth in the back of their favorite café. It was off the main streets, so it often wasn't as busy. The owner was a good cook and amicable but didn't gush or initiate conversation.

"I have something for you," Lucy said, pulling out a thick stack of papers from her messenger bag.

"Is that a new book?"

"Yep. Tales of the Stars."

"I can't wait!" Levy gushed but reluctantly set it aside.

"Where's Gajeel?"

"He was held up."

Lucy sighed. "It's a Zeref cult, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Are you all right?"

"No, but I will be. I'm just so sick of these maniacs obsessed with a mad man who doesn't give a shit about them."

"You're going to get her back," Levy said, gripping Lucy's hands. "How's the hunt for the keys going?"

Lucy filled her in on the progress and the events of the ball. Levy told her about work, her concerns over Gajeel's involvement fighting Avatar, and plans for a wedding. The wedding plans were still largely conceptual since they wouldn't happen until after Avatar was settled and hopefully they could get ahold of everyone in the guild.

"Just because our paths have strayed-"

"Never forget those that have loved you," Lucy finished.

"It wouldn't feel right getting married without everyone there. Gajeel's the same. We're mated so beyond that, he doesn't care. I was reading something recently… Queens should know all the mates of their dragons. Including yours."

"Hm… Is that so?"

Levy gasped, stood, and leaned over the table to smack Lucy's arm. "You're a thing of evil not telling me sooner. Who is he? Or she?"

"I'm not saying."

"Why not?"

"Because he should be the first to know."

Levy's eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. "I hate that logic."

"But you know I'm right."

"Can I be the second to know?"

"I'm pretty sure every dragon slayer in the vicinity will know."

Levy made a grumbling noise in the back of her throat and settled into her booth to sulk. "I'll tell you when I can."

"You'd better."

The conversation shifted, as it always did, to books. Lucy had been on a romance kick. She'd recently returned to some Minstrellan novels and laughed at Levy's blushing face when Lucy reminded her of a conversation that Gajeel had eavesdropped on concerning a particularly graphic sex scene in one. Gajeel had scooped Levy up and said, let's go play out that scene. Cana had teased Levy about it afterwards before asking where she could get a translated copy.

Levy was still working her way through the Boscan books. Even without her wind-reader glasses, which she never used for leisure reading, Lucy was in awe of how many books Levy had managed to buy and take home.

"Have you thought about what you're going to do about Natsu?" Levy asked as she walked with Lucy to the Sorcerer Weekly office in Crocus.

"Not really. Just, if he shows up, tell me, but don't tell him where I am."

"He'll tear Fiore apart looking for you."

"I know. Send him on wild goose chases."

"Gajeel will love that. He loves messing with him."

"And he gets to help out kin." Lucy sighed. "I'll have to deal with him eventually. Igneel was a king so I'll have to fight him for control of this forming tatsu. It's his right."

"No one wants Natsu in charge."

"Yeah, I know. Hell, I don't even know if he realizes the position we're all in."

"If you take your mate before he gets back…"

"I don't know," Lucy said, understanding what Levy was trying to say. "This is my stop," she said when they arrived at the office. Lucy hugged Levy. "I'll talk to you soon."

The office was exactly how Lucy remembered it. The desks were mostly empty, but the board of articles was full. There was another board with a list of all the guilds in Fiore written. Many had checkmarks by the name. Seeing 'Fairy Tail' crossed out made her flinch. It took her a moment to realize that everyone was interviewing the guilds to prepare for the Games.

"Lucy! This is so cool!" Jason said as he saw her.

"All alone?"

"Someone has to keep this place running. I am, unfortunately, the senior editor." He shrugged then walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a box. "Here."

"What's this?" she asked, opening it. "Fan mail?"

"We tossed most of the fan mail and sent back a generic thank you letter. These, though. These we knew you'd want."

She flipped through letters looking at the senders. Mira, Cana, Juvia, Gray, Wendy, Romeo, a bunch from Erza. There were even some from people like Warren and Nab that it hadn't occurred to her they'd worry.

"A few have called. Erza tore in here about a month after you left demanding information. My guess, they were using your modeling and articles to keep an eye on you. It's so cool."

"Jason, can I write one last article?"

"Make it a letter from the editor."

Here we are old friends. The last article. This time, I know it's my last article.

I have been on the most amazing journey. One day, one day, we'll see each other, and I'll tell you all about it. I've met amazing people and been struck dumb by sights that I never imagined. I've made new friends so don't you worry about me.

To Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, Sabertooth, and all the others that chose not to participate in the Grand Magic Games: What are you doing? It is your responsibility to remind people that Fiore is protected. Show up at the Games this year and cheer. Then, next year, fight.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." Suess

Sincerely (for one last time),

Lucy of Fairy Tail.

"Thank you," Lucy said.

"Until next time, stay cool, Lucy."

.~*~.

It wasn't until after dinner that the airship Lucy was on landed in White Sea. As he'd said he would, Kaleb had already created a program that was figuring out where Anna was pointing. She stopped in her office to find the star charts that Thane had procured for her and dropped them off in her apartment before heading up to the guildmaster mansion.

"Hi, Thane. Thank you for getting me those star charts," Lucy said when Kaleb's assistant stopped her before she could get to the elevator that went to his floor.

"No problem, Miss Lucy. However, Master Kaleb has asked not to be disturbed."

"Even by me? Why?" Lucy asked. That never happened. Occasionally, if he had an important call, he'd tell Lucy that she can't come in, but that was always his office. He'd never denied her access to his suite.

"I think especially you."

"Why?"

She studied Thane. He wasn't sharing pleasure. One, Thane would just tell her that. And two, Lucy was fairly certain only long-term lovers were entertained in the suite. Business was strictly handled in the office or the guildhall itself.

"What would you do if I just ignored you and walked past?" she asked politely after some consideration.

"You are undoubtedly combatively stronger, so it wouldn't be prudent of me to initiate a confrontation with you right now." There was a hint of approval in his tone that confirmed an earlier consideration: he wanted her to go.

While on the elevator, she studied the cleaned up versions of the star clusters with only the ones indicated by Anna's writing.

"Why di-"

Kaleb was lying on the bed naked. Bruises dotted his skin. Multiple bandages were staining red as the open wounds underneath them oozed blood. Shallow lacerations on his chest were left unbandaged and Lucy recognized them as whip cuts. From where she stood, his heart sounded dangerously slow and his breathing was shallow.

Vaguely, she heard the tablet slip from her fingers and crash to the floor. She jerked from her shock and ran to the bed.

"Kaleb!"