Once there was a peaceful kingdom run by a good queen and kind king. The people lived happily. Everyone had the right to education and the king and queen made sure no one went hungry. They provided food and shelter to every single person living in their kingdom. It was a prosperous and beautiful kingdom indeed. And its name was Fiore.

Fiore was often envied by the neighboring kingdoms. They were jealous of the happiness roaming around the country. They despised it. They despised the way people adored the king and the queen. The way king and queen wasted their money on useless things such as feeding the poor people when they could've used it to secure business trades. Ah yes, that was a problem too. Fiore didn't trade with the other kingdoms.

You see, in the olden days, kingdoms were supposed to trade with each other. This was a way of showing respect. The more kingdoms you traded to, the more power you gained. Trading kingdoms meant that two or more of them were friends. And friends help each other out on hard times. Like during a war.

Fiore had a large army - possibly the largest in the western hemisphere! Which was why the other kingdoms craved to trade with it. It was also why they never dared to raise a finger against Fiore. They knew they were incapable of winning the war even if they did start one. This only angered them more.

Fiore was also self-sufficient which meant that they produced everything they ever needed inside the kingdom itself. A reason why they never traded. Another reason for the other kingdoms to be more angry - if that was possible.

'Their happiness will be short-lived!' They whispered, 'Nothing peaceful lasts for long!'

They were wrong - peaceful kingdoms were the best kingdoms. There were no riots, no rebellions, no problems.

They were wrong until they were right.

Years have passed since the death of the kingdom's prestigious king and queen. Now, the person on the throne is Queen Mavis Vermillion and her beloved husband King Zeref Dragneel. They rule as their ancestors had. They rules wisely and followed in their ancestors' footsteps. They provided food and shelter for the poor and elderly. They provided medicine for the sick and injured.

"Long live the King and the Queen!" The populace chanted while the other kingdoms clenched their fists and looked on with jealousy.

Queen Mavis and King Zeref were happy. They lived extravagant lives and were loved by everyone. There was something missing in their lives. A lingering sadness that everyone failed to see. But, since I - the author - know, I shall tell you.

They were sad because Mavis was unable to give birth.

They had wished they could have a family of their own. A boy or a girl they would raise to be a prince or princess. A child they would teach, pamper and love. A child who would love them.

But, alas, it wasn't possible.

Soon, the truth was out. Somehow, the people had found out that the queen couldn't give birth. Only god knows how gossip spread so fast.

The populace cried for their queen. They felt her pain and wished and prayed for a miracle to happen. They wished for a child to be born to their kind-hearted queen.

Meanwhile, the other kingdoms rejoiced.

"Oh, you poor, poor thing!" One queen wept. Inside, she was leaping with joy.

"I shall pray for you..." another said, smiling as soon as Mavis' back was turned.

Our Queen, Mavis, only smiled and sent them back with fruits and delicacies from Fiore. She had seen the happiness in their eyes. They had tried hard to cover it but no one can truly hide themselves from their eyes. She wouldn't cry, or let others know it bothered her. She was a Queen and she would always be a Queen.

No matter what others thought.

The kingdom needed an heir. Mavis knew that. The question was: who? Who would she name as the next Queen or King? So far, it was her bloodline that had ruled. Surely, that could change but she had to be sure she found the right person. Otherwise, all the prosperity in their kingdom would be ruined.

"How about we adopt?" Zeref had suggested once. Adoption was an idea. She would adopt a child from the orphanage. But, the child had to be young. Young enough to listen and believe in everything Mavis says. Young enough to not let greed, jealousy, or arrogance take over their new roles as princes or princesses.

And so, they set off to the nearest orphanage.

"Boy or a girl?" Zeref asked while they were traveling, "Boy or a girl?"

"Boy," Mavis answered. She had always loved boys and wanted one of her own. Well, that wasn't possible now, so why not adopt one?

"Good afternoon, your majesty." The woman bowed and led the two of them into the playground where many kids were running around.

"These many?" Mavis gasped, "These many are orphans?"

"Yes, your majesty," the woman answered solemnly, "some came here when they were a few days old!"

Mavis sighed and looked around, hoping to find a boy to her liking. Zeref tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hmm?"

"That boy," Zeref pointed to a blue-haired boy, aged three or four, sitting on a stone reading a book about animals, "I like him."

"Really?" Mavis turned and pointed to a long, black-haired boy, also aged three or four, who was sitting alone on the far end of the playground, "I prefer someone like him."

Zeref narrowed his eyes at the young boy. Then proceeded to tell her why he wasn't a good choice but the blue-haired one was. Mavis then decided to give Zeref a piece of her mind and told him why the black-haired boy was better than the blue-haired one.

They started quarreling.

"U-Umm,"

Both, Mavis and Zeref turned to look at the woman who had spoken. "I... You can adopt more than one...?"

And so, they did. They adopted both kids. The blue-haired boy's name was Jellal Fernandez and the other one's name was Gajeel Redfox. Mavis and Zeref decided to not change the last name of the children because that was what defined who they were.

As the couple stepped out, there was a wailing to be heard.

"Oh my," Mavis gasped at the baskets lying in front of her, right outside the door. "Who left these babies here?"

"This is normal, your majesty." The woman stepped forward and picked up both baskets. In one, there was a pink-haired baby sleeping, slightly drooling. He had a white, scaly scarf around his neck and a little note with the name 'Natsu' on it. The other basket contained a raven-haired boy who was wailing very loudly. His hand clutched a necklace, a silver one with a cross. He too had a note but his said 'Gray Fullbuster' instead.

"They look adorable," Mavis said.

The woman laughed, slowly rocking Gray back and forth. "All babies are adorable, your majesty."

"Can I take one of them?"

"Of course!"

Mavis and Zeref looked at each other. Then they turned back to the woman.

"We'll take Gray/Natsu." Mavis and Zeref said respectively.

They began to quarrel again.

"U-Uh, you can take both of them?" The woman suggested.

And, so they did.

And that's how Fiore had four heirs to the throne.

But, as I said, not all peaceful kingdoms remain that way.