A/N: Hello my wonderful followers. Thank you for your support and comments, keep them coming. They help drive me into writing more. The story is slowly coming along and hopefully I do the ending justice.

Chapter 25

Safra sat on her turquoise countertop a bundle of restless excitement. Gin and Zen were bent over a few texts going through each word breaking down the meaning and contextual significance to idle away their time until Vander brought his father by for the surprise.

The trip back to Bosco had been long and getting them all on the luxury liner had been a bit of a task since Presca and Vander were the only ones with official IDs and papers. Not only that but Safra and Gin were wanted by the Boscan Government and Zen was considered dead. It didn't help that the man looked almost exactly like his famous and recognizable father just younger, bigger and with different coloring and they wanted to keep Zen's existence a secret until at least after his father knew. It was why Vander was going to bring Arman here instead of having Zen walk into the house, too many people would know.

In the end she and her current companions had to be stuck inside the skini for the last week and Safra wanted nothing more than to feel the grass under her feet again, could only imagine the men felt the same.

Presca had taken off shortly after their arrival to go see his cousin after being away for so long but she worried it was just to get some space between him and a certain archangel mage. It was obvious the interest was only one-sided which wasn't unexpected given all that Zen had been through and she felt for her new friend, those kinds of feelings were never easy.

Sighing Safra jumped off the counter and started right into her kata letting the mindless movements distract her while they waited. She hated waiting.

"Sunflower, if you do not stop moving about I will be forced to subdue you," Gin said dryly not even looking up from the text. She spun on her heal and started the next sequence.

"How can either one of you not be going insane?" Every ounce of her frustration evident in her tone as she quickened her pace, her movements edging closer and closer to the two men.

"There are books to read, you have the viewing mirror at your disposal or you could have Ora work some of the tension from your body with a massage."

Safra rolled her eyes, "Boring! All of it." She flipped and jumped landing on the table they were at and just because she could she flipped the books shut with her feet and jumped right back off giggling like crazy.

Gin looked casually at Zen and with a slight, almost imperceptible nod they both moved swiftly. Safra squeaked at the sudden movement and instinctively phased letting Zen's initial grab go right through her while she tried to flee but that did not stop their assault.

-DTRE-

Arman followed his youngest out of the back of the house into the cool night air. He was practically giddy to see the fairies again especially since Vander's news of their engagement and all the particulars surrounding that interesting union. His boy had tried, but failed, to hide the new tattoo on his wrist and had no choice but to share the whole story with him, there was a very good reason he was a successful Ambassador.

Another child engaged and to be officially mated in 7 months, it was all so exciting. Sure he had a few kinks to work out, Safra's wanted status and Gin's warrant out for questioning, but that is why he was going to talk with the pair in her delightful ambulatory home. They would be safe in there and could create a plan to hopefully suit everyone and the law.

Humming lightly as they entered the space Arman froze. The laughing and wrestling around, even with the barest of clothing, had not stopped the man in his steps nor was it the reason his lungs refused to function. Tears burned his eyes, hand reaching out for what had to be a figment of his imagination.

Those clan tattoos, vibrant deep purple eyes dotted with gold reminiscent of his father, golden streaked dark russet hair like his deceased wife's…unmistakable. He'd imagined so many times what his dear lost boy would have looked like if he'd had a chance to grow up. He felt the dizziness hit and couldn't fight the feeling of falling as darkness took him.

Vander reached out quickly catching his father before the man could hit the ground a huge grin on his face. "Best reaction ever!" No one and nothing in his entire life had truly shaken his father; angered him, made him fearful yes but he'd always approached it shoulders squared with plans formulating in his head. Gods was he glad he'd convinced Ora to let him setup the little recording lacrima around in her territory. His siblings would pay dearly to see this.

-DTRE-

When Zen heard his brother return he looked up and met pale green eyes. They were just how he remembered and happy memories long since forgotten from his childhood came rushing back. Bedtime stories, hugs and kisses, playing in the sand, just being normal. When his father started to faint he was on his feet and across the room, face a stoic mask from years of bottling up his emotions but inside he was a ball of concern and nerves.

Over a month he'd spent with his youngest brother hearing about the siblings he'd never met mentally preparing to meet them, most for the first time. He'd known they'd all existed for years, the guards down in the pits trying to make him doubt his family's love for him by passing along snippets of information, but he knew almost nothing substantial. Still, none of that had prepared him for the sheer amount of emotions that welled up in him when he finally saw his father again. Meeting Vander had been one thing, nothing too overwhelming as he slowly got to know the man that was his youngest brother, but with his father…there had already been a connection there and the renewing of it was like nothing he'd ever experienced.

He followed Vander to the sleeping pit and watched as he laid out their father comfortably. Zen sat near his prone form quietly, the others in the room completely forgotten as he tentatively reached his hand towards his father almost afraid to touch him.

His hand was warm, more callused than he remembered – he'd been so young then – but so familiar and Zen fought hard to hold back his tears now clutching the hand between his own. He was finally home.

-DTRE-

Arman swooped into his home hours later a brilliant smile on his face even though his eyes were red and puffy. When he'd woken up with Zen still there he'd practically tackled his dear boy and sobbed for a good why running his hands over his matured face, kissing his forehead and all around making a complete spectacle of himself. It wasn't until he registered the stiffness and tension that he was able to calm down. They then settled on the sofa drinking the wine pressed into their hands and just talked about the little things losing all track of time.

Of course he had to lay into his youngest about not telling him sooner. Had he known they could have been flown home in a manner of days instead of having to trek across the continent with only one grass runner between them.

Now though he had things to do like call each of his children to tell them the great news, call the office and take some family leave time, speak with Altiene and get started on the paperwork necessary to bring his boy back to life officially. He wouldn't submit anything yet, not until they were confident Pergrande would not be hearing about it and come after him; they needed to continue thinking Zen was dead.

-DTRE-

A light knock brought his attention to his home study door.

"Enter," he answered as he looked back down and finished signing his name.

"Arman?"

He looked up quickly, he'd know that voice anywhere and a small part of him dreaded this confrontation but she was still a very good friend.

"Minda, you don't look at all well. Can I get you anything?" he asked politely. Truly she looked like someone had died, dark circles around puffy red eyes, her usually glowing skin pale and wane. It was not a comforting thought.

"No...thank you." The airforce general straightened her posture and took a seat. It was time to come clean, about everything. Taking a steadying breath she continued, "A little over a year ago I received some intelligence of a rumor that I decided to keep to myself until I could confirm it was indeed reliable. To do so I had to ingratiate myself with Kurino and do things I am not proud of. No one got hurt… until Vander." Closing her own, she still couldn't bear to meet his eyes when she said it, a single tear leaked out running down her cheek.

Arman inhaled sharply, after last night and this morning he had a feeling what this was about and it was obvious she didn't know the whole truth. He tried to speak but she cut him off.

"Please dear friend, I need to get this all out." At his resigned nod she continued, "Kurino, through her friendship to Seven's Queen Kressa, was informed that Zen had not in fact died all those years ago but was sold to their labs and then later to the gladiator pits when he was old enough to fight. They planned to use this knowledge to get King Altiene to declare war on Pergrande when Seven was ready to make their own attack. I tried so hard to get Zen's location so I could get him out of there as soon as possible but Kressa guarded that information viciously. It wasn't until last night Nuryev, since his mother had passed, was able to find and pass that information along only," she took another breathe, "we were too late." Keeping her eyes down she passed over the crystal drive with Zen's final moments immortalized in high definition. "It is enough proof to those who wish it to finally declare war on Pergrande with our allies support. I thought it safer in your hands."

Arman looked at his life-long friend and took the drive. He knew exactly what was on it and warmth spread in his chest. Everything she'd done was to find and save his boy and really, there was no way she could have known Kurino would have completely lost her mind and gone too far with Vander. Most of all, he was just glad Minda was still the woman he trusted with his life and the woman he almost married once.

"Oh Minda," he moved to pull the weeping woman into his arms. "Zen's not dead - ah listen to me. He's here, now sit down, I'll call for some tea and tell you all about it."

-DTRE-

Farron froze right outside his father's door. Mr. Elan had called him early this morning worried since his father hadn't had breakfast yet and his bed hadn't been slept in. He'd not been too worried but decided to check on him before going into the office… Hearing his brother was alive and here…that was pretty much the last thing her would have ever heard.

Focusing his magic, Farron spread out his senses listening for where exactly his brother might be but also listening to the story his father was telling. If Vander was the one who brought Zen back…

Farron turned and ran right back out of the house and inwardly cheered seeing the sunflowers glinting in the early morning sun. Not slowing his pace he threw open the flap and didn't stop until he was face to face with his brother they all thought to be dead.

He was tall, easily as tall as Bickslow but had heavier muscled like Kaleb or Cristoff just not so large. Scars littered his deeply tanned skin but the black eagles over his chest, stomach and hip were identical to his own.

His eye met the familiar dark purple before he felt warm arms surround him as he wept like a little child. His own trembling arms wrapped around his brother feeling the warmth through his clothes. Gods he had his little brother back after all these years.

-DTRE-

The next few weeks all the Pradesh siblings converged on Pelerno welcoming home their brother, laughing at their father's reaction and a few disgruntled threats of revenge for not being included in the rescue mission.

It had all been a bit much at first for Zen, still was if he was being honest, so at times he snuck away to somewhere quiet to clear his mind with the language primer books his father had bought for him. Only that and the Sudepah lessons, thankfully without any men, he'd started taking were able to ease the stress and awkward feelings of not belonging away. Everyone was so considerate and excepting but they'd all had years together and he just felt separate. He knew only time would heal the breech the Pergrandian bastard who kidnapped him that day had caused.

There was only one thing left that still really bothered Zen. He had this undeniable need to give his mother's keys to Crisoff's mate Lucy. The small blonde celestial mage hadn't even looked like she wanted them when she saw them strapped to his wrist when they'd first met, just smiled warmly at them and him and asked if he wanted her help in learning how to call them.

He wanted to, for the longest time he tried to call them every single day, but presently it just didn't feel right. They never really belonged to him but he was still reluctant to give them up; outside of the ruby earring in his ear, they were the last things he had of hers.

Looking down at the keys strapped to his wrist he finally slipped the enchanted bracelet off. It was only because of the bracelet he'd gotten to keep her keys and earring in the first place. When he realized that no one could take the charmed accessory off his wrist he tucked the earing in it too for safe keeping.

Zen moved from his room in search for the cheerful blonde and found her reading a book quietly in his father's library alone. He couldn't have asked for a better circumstance than this to finally get this done. He knew enough of his family that they would make a huge deal out of it and he really didn't want the extra attention right now, this was hard enough.

Sitting on the low table in front of Lucy Zen waited until she turned a page before clearing his throat and held out his hand, his mother's 2 silver keys in his palm. She looked up confused at first then a smile split her lips.

"You're finally ready to let me teach you to summon them?" The question was so innocent and it only confirmed to Zen that she was the only person he could let have them.

"I feel my mother would have wanted them to have you as Master Lucy. I do not remember much of my mother but I remember the love she had for her spirits. It's the same love I see in you when you interact with yours."

"Oh Zen!" Lucy's hands clasped his hand head shaking. "You already have that love for them. I couldn't stand to see you give them up."

The archangel mage let a small smile show, gradually letting his emotions show more and more each day, as he saw the tears start to well in her deep chocolate eyes.

"They deserve to have a real celestial spirit mage Lucy. I'm only just learning about my magic and it will be years probably until I could begin to learn another magic. I could never let them stay useless like that."

The young woman's brow furrowed and Zen swore he could see the cogs turning as she thought, about what he had no idea.

"What if I only hold their contracts in trust for you?" Seeing his confusion at her language Lucy continued. "When I was little my mother gave her keys to several friends she trusted to care for them but each contract had an exception that if I ever took up celestial spirit magic her spirits would then come to me. So, I can make a contract with your spirits similar to that. I will take care of them until you learn how to and if I die before you they will go directly back to you."

That foreign feeling swelled up in his chest again, unshed tears burning his amethyst eyes, like when he'd reunited with his Father and older brother and he knew it had to be love. It had been so long since he'd felt it but now it happened more and more every day around more of his siblings. In his need to relieve the feeling less he explode he scooped up his brother's mate in his arms, her feet dangling off the ground. It was something he remembered his father doing to him as a child and even though the positions were reversed now it still felt just as good to be part of the awkward hug.

"I would like that," he murmured into her shoulder as her thin arms wrapped around his neck, fingers playing with his hair.

"Hmmm and here I thought I'd only have to keep my eyes on Kaleb and Vander. Zen are you trying to woo my mate from me too?" Cristoff's baritone voice caught the attention of the hugging pair instinctively turning their gazes to his amused eyes.

Lucy giggled. "Trying to woo? I'm afraid my dear sweet dragon that the angel has come and already swept me off my feet!" she exclaimed dramatically letting her feet swing just a little.

"Oh really? What have you to say for yourself brother?" Cristoff already started prowling toward his impish mate.

"That to the victor goes the spoils." Zen grinned before adjusting his grip a little better on Lucy and ran right out the door a chuckling blonde over his shoulder and a brother hot on his heels.

-DTRE-

Arman sat in the Steel Council's spacious chambers listening quietly as two of the more vocal people in the room yelled at each other as to what should be done to Safra for her "attack on the palace"; one adamant that she be put to death right along with Kurino, the other wanting her forced into the Steel Council's service indefinitely. It was…disappointing to the peace loving ambassador.

No one here had yet to discuss her "crimes" at all, which was what he was here for, and moved right into discussions of sentencing with things they actually had no power to do. Fighting the urge to roll his eyes or smack everyone here upside their heads he stood from his seat with every ounce of professional bearing he had as he set a file in front of each member of the council, the King and the chosen representatives of the Holy Order before setting up a lacrima-vision so everyone could see. He cleared his throat and waited for everyone to quiet and give him their attention.

"Thank you all for your full attention. Before you continue trying to figure out a fitting judgement for this situation I would like to draw your attention to the dossier I have compiled on the person in question." Arman met everyone's eyes before continuing, "As you will note this matter is far more…complicated than previously assumed. Safra is not a citizen of Bosco nor any country we have current dealings with so our actions need to be those done with the highest amount of care so as not to alienate a potentially powerful ally. On top of which she is also the sole child of the leader of her people."

"Why the hell would we care about any of this?" one of the newest members of the black council spoke out.

"We care because if that is true this is no longer a case of treason but a potential act of war from an unknown sector," King Altiene said as he leafed through the document.

"Which brings me to me second point," Arman said before anyone else could speak and turned on the recording; he had never been more grateful that his spy of a son had a tendency to over prepare to cover his ass and his family's. "What you are about to see is the actual event in question taken as a precaution of my son."

The image and sound of Vander's hidden lacrima recorder he'd planted in Kurino's room right after he entered was high quality so everyone in the room could watch the event as it played out from Kurino's flaunting, taunting and her actual violence. It was very hard for Arman to watch and he felt for his old friend Altiene too. The video proved a lot more than what anyone in the room had been prepared to believe of the once Crown Princess despite what they'd heard happened. Her cruelty not withstanding but also her flagrant abuse of their laws in order to rape and enslave a free citizen done happily and without hesitation.

When Safra entered and only pushed the princess away from his beaten son and took no further action against anyone in the room but to hold them at bay Arman paused the video.

"Please turn to page 23. Since the accused is not a citizen of our country I believe her home laws and customs should be taken into consideration of her actions like we do for all persons from other countries and even Grass Sea clan members. Since these will not be known to anyone in this room I took the liberty to compile a few during my research of her people. They, like dragon slayers, have a type of magic they are born with that give them mates which they have full rights by their laws to protect at any cost. It is not uncommon for them to kill threats to their mates even before they can be claimed as is the case here. As you have seen for yourselves this woman did nothing but try to protect her mate and herself." A few gasps were heard around the room. Almost a decade ago new laws in Bosco had to be written with concern to the ancient magic of dragon slaying returning to the land and affecting their citizens. Those in the room that held their same position back then knew just how volatile the situation had been from all sides without laws set in place.

"Protection like hell," the same man from before shouted out. He'd gotten his position on the Steel Council mostly because of Kurino's influence and with her utterly disgraced because of this one person he had lost too much of his own power and influence. The chances were if he couldn't do some very fast maneuvering to realign himself he'd no longer have his current position. "The princess still can't walk or access her magic. What part of that is about protection?"

"I'm glad you brought that up Julien because that is shown in the next part of the recording." Arman let the recording play again until the dark creature was completely separated from Kurino's crumpled and discolored form.

"As you can see the exorcism of a hellspawn from Kurino is what left her in her current condition not any willful abuse to her person."

"There was a hellspawn in the Princess?" a man in vibrant white armor spoke for the first time that meeting.

"As you see General Tennison. Would you please inform those not familiar with the creatures what would have happened if Kurino had died with it in her." Arman internally smirked. He couldn't have set it up any better and everyone was playing right into his plans.

"I'm more interested in how one got into the Princess, our records say the must be invited in by the host." The man's eyes cut to the King before looking at the screen again making a mental note to add that to interrogator's list of needed information to acquire. "After Kurino's death the beast would have taken her body over giving it not only access to all her power and its own but also her working knowledge of our country, its military and airforce included. It would also have been almost impossible to kill. I shudder to think the damage it would have done before we managed to contain it."

"So you see, the woman in question not only had mercy on the person abusing her mate but even when he did not survive his injuries," Arman had to ball his fist to restrain the emotion at remembering that so he could continue, "she did our entire nation a great service risking her very life to do so." He let the rest of the recording play out showing all the blood flowing from her eyes, ears, nose and mouth right before she collapsed. "When she was healed she also willingly turned herself in. This is not a woman that deserves punishment for imagined crimes."

Arman moved back to his seat to almost deafening silence.

Slowly conversations once again broke out most in the favor of dropping all charges against Safra but there were still a few among them that were not quite satisfied. King Altiene raised his palm and all conversation stopped.

"Legal or not in her country, the accused was still in Bosco where there is no law protecting her initial action against the then Crown Princess. That being said, her further actions proves they were not done maliciously or that she had any ill will for our country. This is why I propose the accused, Safra Calo, work with the Maidens and Priests of Immaculate light for one calendar year. She will teach them and the Holy Knights how it was she controlled them to prevent others and herself from being able to do so in the future as recompense. Those in accordance raise your hand to be counted." Altiene counted all but 2 hands raised and let the first smile, albeit a small one, grace his face since the incident. "We have a majority. Safra Calo will be expected to present herself to General Tennison in two weeks' time where he well present her to the head priest and priestess to start carrying out her sentence."

Personally, going into this meeting he'd planned on acquitting her of all charges but that was before he'd seen everything that she had done in the recording with calm collected eyes. He knew what Arman had already planned to present and couldn't in good conscience punish the woman for her actions against his daughter but when he saw how easily she'd stopped all those Holy Knights with just a raise of her hand and the way his personal guard reacted to seeing such a vulnerability the their subordinates he had to find some way to make things right with the Holy Order.

Every Boscan man, woman, or child had respect for those serving for the Order. They were his personal protection and always on the front line in battles to protect his people. Those brave few didn't deserve to have some form of perversion of the sacred light their country had been built around running through their veins and Safra could fix that and he would make sure she did. Altiene looked to the influential general and saw the first signs of relief sweep over the man.

Even though it would be her punishment it was also an opportunity. If she was successful in her task the only thing anyone would remember about her would be how she strengthened their most respected warriors earning her and her people great respect from the public eye. Safra would be well known and honored too high no one would be able to touch her then, not even someone in the Steel Council. It was an opportunity he could not waste.

-DTRE-

Kaleb stepped up to the giant lacrima just a little bit nervous at being the guinea pig for this whole thing but he understood why – his fellow knights had no reason to trust the woman who could control them so completely. It was her magic that now saturated the new lacrima in their cleansing room and many were wary of its affects. When Safra had first been shown this room she noted that there was nothing wrong with the sacred light that poured into the lacrima from above no matter the time of day but that it was the crystal itself that was corrupting the power in their veins. So, a new lacrima was made and conditioned to her specifications and now he was to be the first to undergo what she called True Light.

Taking a deep breathe he stepped into the large lacrima, a little surprised it closed on its own, where a wash of what he could only describe as a thoughtful presence settled over him. It was, different…He was used to the pain of reliving his choices and pains he inflicted on others of the previously unknown to be altered light but this calm presence was…unsettling, not painful though. He could feel as it moved through him in a way that left him feeling weak and vulnerable, completely bared before it.

Child of mine, I recognize you as worthy of this gift and place my own mark upon you so that you may be recognized, my second child. A time of great trial and darkness will soon be upon you so take care in protecting your family lest the darkness consume them and all is lost.

A warning I leave to those among your order that wish to be cleansed anew. My light shines true and will strike down those who are unworthy, whose intentions are of not to protect and serve the people of your land lawfully. Whether they live or perish be upon their own hands and actions.

The voice went silent as heat poured into his very soul, a rush he'd not felt since his first encounter with the sacred light, before the chamber opened and he stood blinking as a new understanding on how this ceremony should be conducted to prevent needless death filtered into his mind.

"Gods above Kaleb, do you ever come out of that thing without your appearance changing somehow?" Cristoff said grabbing his stunned brother by the hand to pull him out. It had only been about an hour or so since the lacrima closed so most everyone had left to wait in more comfortable rooms for the ceremony to be over with leaving Lucy and him staying to stand as first watch.

"I like it. Those golden leafy vines look just like Safra's, don't they? And oh look at the laurel with the bow and arrow behind his cross there. That's so cool. What do they mean?" Lucy rambled on as she pushed back Kaleb's opened vest following the golden leaf pattern fascinated by the addition. Before she could explore fully Cristoff clapped a hand over her mouth pulling her back into his side. Glancing up she saw the humor in his eyes going from her to his brother and back. She followed his look and finally realize what he found so funny.

Unwittingly she'd been strategically stripping the mind-bending mage that she would soon call brother of his clothing in her attempt to follow the path of the vines down his side while he stood unaware in a daze. She'd managed to undo his fly and had his tight white leather pants and underwear pushed down dangerously close to exposing he man bits.

A bright flush crawled up her cheeks as embarrassed squeak left her constricting throat as she buried herself in her mate's chest feeling the rumbles of his restrained laughter.

Kaleb internally shook his thoughts free deciding to discuss all the changes the Holy Knight's training would need to undergo later and finally took in his surroundings. A little probe into his brother's mind and he couldn't help the easy smile that graced his mouth as he fixed his clothing. Lucy was randomly more unabashed by nudity than anyone he knew save his brother Vander and his fairy mates but when those lapses ended she was always hilariously embarrassed. Though, he would have to investigate if his own vine pattern matched Safra's…God's, he pinched the bridge of his nose. He'd probably look even more like and "elven princess" as Bickslow had so eloquently put and he could just imagine the teasing that would start up again.

-End of Chapter-