Lucy's mind ached to write. The universe had given her daily reminders that she hadn't in, technically, over seven years. To her, it was only about a month, which was enough to make her head spin. She had so many thoughts and ideas to add to her novel, but those pages were probably burned away with the rest of Magnolia.

She sat on her bed, legs folded, while she buzzed with ideas. Whatever story she had before was gone forever. She wouldn't get it back. Maybe she could rework it, or try to hit on the same beats as before, but Lucy understood that those tiny changes would snowball into changing the entire ending of the book.

Most days, thinking about writing was all that kept her from going bananas. In the morning she'd finally been allowed out, but she was on an invisible leash. She could peruse the courtyard just outside the tower and that was all. Nobody was around for her to visit, save for some stoic, silent guards that resembled more the automaton Quartum Army than any real person.

She strolled the place for about an hour, getting to see some ancient statues and stonework from the kingdom when it was allied, or at war with, dragons. Lucy wasn't too clear on Fiore history in that regard, and the Dragon Civil War wasn't really something people talked about. Her heart ached at the thought that maybe Natsu or the other Dragon Slayers knew, and she wasn't going to ask Axel about it.

He wouldn't be too interested in it. He was interested in her just agreeing with whatever he said, going along with what he wanted. If she showed resistance, he'd decided he wasn't above striking her.

Lucy, in bed, absently rubbed a bruise on her shoulder. He hadn't hit her directly there, but she'd violently slammed into the threshold of her room when he did lay his hand on her again. He always apologized afterward and promised he'd make it up to her. Then, he wouldn't return for hours, hopefully getting his jollies off with some other woman besides Lucy.

She jumped as the door to the house opened. She balled her fists, and let out a breath.

Axel eased the door to her room open. Sunlight was pouring over her, but shadows bathed over him. He smiled at her.

"We're going to have a special guest at dinner tonight, Lucy," Axel said. "I've just completed the arrangements. Don't worry, I won't keep you up here, and we won't be going to anywhere with the Twilight Division. There's a little spot deeper in the city I think you'll enjoy, it has a wonderful view of the castle at night."

"What'll I wear?"

Axel's smile widened. "You'll look lovely in whatever, my dear. We'll head out in a few hours, I have to finish my parol. But I needed to come tell you so that you can start getting ready."

Lucy nodded, and Axel hesitated as if waiting for her to thank him or kiss him or hit him back or whatever. He slowly eased the door shut. The lock clicked on the other side. Lucy pursed her lips and bowed her head into her lap.

She'd figured out how to unlock the door a long time ago, but the problem was that there was nowhere to go within the house. She couldn't get her keys, though she so yearned to. She'd tried to summon her spirits without making contact with the key, but it was a level of magic she hadn't trained for yet, and she doubted Axel was going to let her read up on becoming a more powerful Celestial Spirit Wizard until she started truly proving herself an asset to the Empire.

Lucy opened the door to her walk-in closet filled with clothes that'd make a younger version of her drool. And yet all she could think, as she sifted through each dress, was of her different friends.

Specifically, which friend it was that was with her in Crocus?

Certainly, nobody that'd been at the Games, nor Laxus, the Thunder Tribe, or Makarov. If it was any member of the Thunder Tribe, they wouldn't be alone, so it wasn't going to be a member of Fairy Tail. If it were Laxus, the same deal, and Makarov would likely be killed instead of captured.

So, that left Mira, Lisanna, Levy, Romeo, Max, Laki, Cana, Gildarts—yeah right—or maybe that Flare woman? Porlyusica, if she was alive?

Any one of them would be of incredible help in getting the hell out of the capital, as they, paired with Lucy's magic, could probably find a way out. Did they not know where she was, or was the Empire keeping Lucy from her friends? Axel wasn't being particularly silent about this new relationship he was attempting to spark, after all.

She pulled a dress off the rack. Most of them were nice, yet had similar styles and colors due to a necessity for being of Imperial standard.

Would Lucy be in one of these dresses when she escaped? Or when Axel finally snapped and truly came after her?

She shook it off, stepped out of the room to strip into more comfortable clothes, and started her workout. She felt her bruises flare, her muscles aching, but she pushed through, using that sense of pain, undue and fueled by impotence, as her power.


Hisui sat with her arms folded in the foyer, one leg crossed over the other, while she stared sullenly at a report handed to her about the business at Cedar Airfield. It'd been completely eradicated, and Torafuzar temporarily dealt with, but there were no signs of survivors, nor of anyone even escaping. Certainly, Mirajane, Levy, and Lisanna hadn't all died.

Unless it was true that Mard Geer made an appearance.

She straightened her back and folded the report into her shambled cloak. Laxus stood across the foyer from her, mostly standing there to brood while the Thunder Tribe continued to help with repairs in the other room. Makarov was meditating next to his grandson.

Wizards and refugees alike were milling about the room peacefully, either engaging in quiet games of cards or chips or just enjoying small snacks and conversation. The overall vibe was surprisingly peaceful for being one of the final holdouts of Imperial resistance. Hisui envied their sense of calm.

She wiped a bead of sweat from her face, then picked up and swirled her glass of water, not bothering to sip it. It helped simply to have something to occupy her hands at times, to try and relieve the stress of her mind.

Mest materialized next to her. That usually didn't help matters.

"How are you, my friend?" Hisui asked before Mest could speak.

"Tired," Mest said. "But, what else is new?"

"I imagine you're about to tell me."

Mest nodded, eyeing Laxus, who caught the gaze and raised an eyebrow.

"I've been hearing this for a few days all over the place but wanted to hear it straight from a direct source, a trusted one, before bringing it to your attention," Mest said.

Hisui tensed. News like this, which had to take days of vetting, didn't come with the sweetest taste. She braced for the worst.

"A member of Fairy Tail is courting one of the Imperial Dragon Slayers," Mest said. "Something happened at the Grand Magic Games and since then, they've been together."

Hisui blinked, trying to process each word, as conversation ceased around them, all attention shifting straight to Mest.

Whispers rippled until they reached Makarov.

"What did you say?"

Mest sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Probably should have said this privately."

"Makarov!" a refugee shouted. "Really? Someone with Fairy Tail is shacking up with an Imperial?"

"Of course they are, Fairy Tail was as easy to break as the rest of the guilds," another said.

Makarov leaped to his feet, meditation clearly over. Hisui got up as more roars and shouts lashed out at Makarov.

However, they were all broken up by Laxus, who cut through the frustration with a barking laugh. He rubbed the back of his head to calm down.

"This is rich," Laxus said. "Can't believe those idiots would pull a play like this."

"Indeed," Hisui said. "It's…incredibly risky."

"No, princess, it's stupid," Laxus said.

"Someone wanna explain?" Mest asked.

"Whoever it is wanted to get into capital, no doubt, and thought the best way was to butter up an Imperial," Laxus said. "Had to guess? It's Lucy or Erza."

"Or Levy or Mirajane," Hisui said. "It may not have been a willing courtship."

But, Hisui thought, that didn't mean it was entirely out of their hands.

"Look, princess," Laxus said. "You wanted someone on the inside? We got that figured out already."

"Now the question is how to use that to our advantage," Makarov muttered.

Hisui nodded and folded her arms. Planting someone in the capital was stressful, sure, and almost impossible, but the truly impossible was maintaining any level of communication without the Empire finding out about it.

Plus, Fairy Tail was…impulsive. They could blow the lid on a subtle operation, especially if the person in the capital was Erza. So, Hisui had to rule that out. That woman seemed too prideful to just be swept up by a Dragon Slayer, even if it was part of a game.

From what she'd seen, Levy and Mirajane were wise women, and Lucy was well-spoken by their peers.

She snapped up, looking to Mest.

Their plan. Their original plan.

"Our courier is still heading into the city today, yes?" Hisui asked.

"Yes," Mest said. "He's quite a ways out, still, but I'd say he has a few hours."

"Get word to him immediately, I don't care how you do it," Hisui said. "Tell him to find Lucy Heartfilia. Do you understand me? Heartfilia is our key."

Mest chewed his cheek. "Hisui, we—"

"Have no other choice," Hisui said. "This is the big break we've been looking for, Mest. If we can establish this, regularly as the courier has been able to pull off? Come on!"

Mest tsk'd, but nodded and vanished.

Laxus sneered at Hisui.

"Finally ready to take a stab at the big bad Empire, princess?"

"Not a stab," Hisui said. "This isn't an Empire that'll fall by cutting off its head. We'll have to kill it with a thousand cuts."

But they finally had a scalpel in hand. It was all just a matter of finding the best points to strike and having the courage to follow through with it all.


The night was warmer than Lucy anticipated, yet the top floor of the restaurant had a fine breeze to it. Axel, though a General in the Twilight Empire military, did not have quite the sway he did in Clover Town, and could not reserve the full space for the trio. He had a whole room sequestered for them, though, away from other fine-dining moguls and nobles.

She and Axel sat in fancy silence for some time, he rummaging his fingers over a glass of wine while he spoke to an assistant about the finishing touches of renovations to be done to Domus Flau for the finale of the Grand Magic Games. Axel would be pulled from his patrol duties—as all Dragon Slayers were being recalled—to bear witness to the event, in honor of tradition. Lucy, as his …girlfriend?…was going to tag along.

And be forced to watch as two of her best friends fought each other, completely unable to get away with them once their fight was over. Nor help them should something go wrong like last time.

The assistant stood and scrambled away as appetizers drifted in, and the doors opened, a servant showing a gentleman in a nice suit into the room.

"Ah, finally," Axel said and stood. Lucy rose with him, training her eyes on the new arrival, who stopped dead in his tracks as Lucy's own heart skipped a beat.

"Dad?" she gasped.

"L—Lucy…"

Jude Heartfilia, the esteemed businessman who once seemed on top of the world, with enough money to hire a guild as prominent as Phantom Lord to execute a simple job, stood dumbfounded at the sight of his daughter. Axel approached, offering to take the man's hat and coat to bring to a nearby servant.

"I thought it would be nice to have a reunion, I figured you both hadn't seen each other in quite some time," Axel said. "Jude, I knew you had business here, so, what better way to come into the city?"

"You died, Lucy," Jude muttered.

Lucy shook her head. Tears sprinkled down her face, brought loose from her eyes. She didn't bother wiping them away. She took a single step toward her father before he crossed the way to her and wrapped her in his large arms.

"Dad…"

"I'm so happy you're alive," Jude said. "In my wildest dreams, I never thought I would see you again."

Lucy stepped back. He looked incredible. The last time they'd seen one another, he was little more than a street urchin, prowling around and hoping for work in a Merchant's guild. It wasn't surprising to her that he was associated with the Empire, but that Axel, of all people, was familiar with him.

"Come," Axel said, snapping Lucy back to reality with his disgusting voice. "I imagine there is much to catch up on, and we can hash it all out over dinner."

Jude nodded, passing one last smile to Lucy, before guiding her back to the table. Lucy didn't sit next to Axel but took the seat closest to her father. Axel didn't seem bothered. Jude squeezed Lucy's hand as they sat.

"You are looking rather well, Jude," Axel said. "I'm glad your recovery has gone well."

"Recovery?" Lucy asked.

Jude nodded solemnly. "I'd been sick for quite some time, Lucy. I didn't think it too serious at first, and then I had a fall I was only just able to recover from. If not for the intervention of the Empire, I—"

"For all you've done for us, we had to repay you," Axel said. He gestured at Jude. "The merchant guild Jude runs has been a critical piece of our border control with Stella. Jude here oversees the import and export of gems between the two countries."

"So you run that merchant guild?"

"Yes. We merged with four other smaller guilds in Fiore some time back, when the triumvirate between countries was solidified. I saw the potential for chaos at the borders, particularly with a country like Stella with its particular imports, and volunteered our guild to relocate to the east. Things have gone well ever since."

"Because of that," Axel said as the food began to descend upon them, "everyone makes it their business to get to know Jude, as well as other potent merchants. Not that this one will ever offer discounts, but he's a critical component to Imperial operations."

"My business doesn't often bring me to Crocus, as I'm usually a bit tied up with other matters, but when I can I enjoy getting my hands dirty on the road," Jude said.

"And we enjoy having you," Axel said.

Jude started to cut into his food. Lucy followed her father's example. He towered over her as he used to, but, compared to her youth, he was constantly looking at her, as if checking to see if she were doing things properly. Probably looking at her bruises, getting a grasp for what was going on. But she didn't let that show in her expression.

"How did you two meet?" Jude asked. "Sorry to be blunt, but, a father is always going to be curious about what's going on with his daughter."

"We met at the Grand Magic Games," Axel said. "I couldn't take my eyes off of Lucy from the moment I saw her and knew I had to know what there was to her. Honestly, learning she was a member of one of the missing Fairies has hardly impacted my infatuation with her. She's full of life and passion, and she's such an incredible Celestial Spirit Wizard."

"Just like her mother," Jude said.

"Every day with her is a blessing," Axel said and dug further into his food. "I wouldn't trade her for the world."

"I can see that," Jude said. Lucy was only too aware of her shoulder bruise.

"Right, Lucy?" Axel asked.

Lucy tightened her grip around her silverware. "Yes. Being here is something I couldn't have imagined."

"And you're happy?" Jude asked, at last, a bit of that somberness she knew from the last time they'd spoken peeking out.

Lucy let her hand slide onto the glass of wine but didn't take a sip. The reflection in the glass showed her half in the clear glass, while the other drowned in red.

"Yes," Lucy said. "I am."

Jude nodded. "It's all I can hope for, then."

After a moment, he cleared his throat and asked Lucy to explain the manner of Fairy Tail's disappearance. Lucy told him to the best of her ability. She wasn't entirely sure how it was that Fairy Tail was able to return in the first place, only that Master Makarov had mentioned it had something to do with First Master Mavis, even though she was gone without a trace.

From there, Lucy lied about their time in the Empire, and Axel wasn't about to object. The truth that Lucy and the others entered the Grand Magic Games as a means of gauging their new, Second Origin-based strength against the Empire wasn't the best opener, and the narrative that they joined the Games just as a means of gauging their strength for the sake of the Empire was the story that Axel had been going around telling.

So, that was the lie Lucy wove, one her father, clearly, didn't buy based on his expression, but based on his words, he accepted it. Still, he was happy that Lucy was there, at all to talk to him and share that experience.

"It's a horror beyond all comprehension, certainly," Jude muttered. He grabbed her hand. "I'm simply happy you've woken up from one nightmare."

And into another, he probably wanted to add and wisely did not.

Catching up just on where they'd been got them through that course of meal and well into the next course where Axel took over the conversation to temporarily speak about some business with Jude, though it was clear Jude had other mogul-types he had to talk to for that. Axel was trying to show off was all.

They flew through dessert and Lucy dabbed her face with some strawberry juice when Jude once more rested a hand on Lucy's shoulder.

"I'm happy for you, my little girl," Jude said. "For both of you. I know relationships at this level, when you're of such importance, can be difficult, but I hope things work out for the two of you."

Lucy's heart ached as she was forced to mutter an agreement with Jude while Axel boisterously agreed. Jude stood, almost beckoning Lucy to her feet as well.

"If you'd excuse me, Axel, I would like to speak with Lucy alone for a moment," Jude said. "There's a bit of a family matter I've been avoiding, something private."

Axel shrugged. "As you wish. We need to be off soon, so keep it brief, Jude."

Her father nodded and whisked Lucy to the balcony where they could oversee the palace in all of its glorious, glittering splendor, as well as the massive towers shooting up in its defense. The stars danced about the night around Mercurius. Lucy held the railing tight.

Jude leaned against it. "You want to say it's so beautiful, don't you? That you've never seen something as splendid in all your life? Maybe you haven't. You've been gone a while, Lucy, but I think the days of your life before were far more beautiful than this."

"Dad…"

"You must be strong, Lucy," Jude said. "As I recall, Fairy Tail injected a bit of stubbornness in you. Don't lose it, you'll need it to survive in this city. Axel is far from the worst of the bunch."

Lucy flattened her expression and nodded.

"And there is something we need you to do."

He said that bit quieter, and it almost drew Lucy's attention, but her father gestured out to the city, keeping her from looking directly at him. From stopping someone from reading his lips.

"I'm here on behalf of a mutual friend, the Jade Star."

Jade?

Jade!

Hisui!

"Something has happened to the Emperor and he has not been seen by even his closest counsel in a year. We must discover what. Keep all information to yourself unless you are speaking directly to me, do you understand? You cannot trust anyone else."

"How can I be sure I can trust you?"

"I'll always be sure to call you Layla by mistake when we first see each other. If I haven't, do not speak to me about anything sensitive."

Lucy nodded. "I have to admit, Dad, it's weird to be working with you like this. Or, honestly, at all."

"If there's anyone we can trust in this matter, it's you. And I'm so proud you've risen so far in Hisui's graces so soon."

He smiled at Lucy, who beamed back at him. Together, they returned to a rather impatient Axel. Lucy and Jude shared one last embrace before he left to go join another dinner in the restaurant while Lucy and Axel returned home, Lucy being sure to thank Axel for getting to reunite with his father while they made their way home.

She felt a pit growing in her stomach as she realized what she had to do in order to keep Axel appeased, that she may be able to see her father regularly during his visits to Crocus.

They arrived back in the house, Axel shedding his coat. Lucy steeled herself, just ignoring all of the flags springing in her head. She thought of Hisui, of Fiore, and of the future for all of the people suffering beneath the heel of the Empire.

"Seriously, Axel," she said and grabbed his hand. "Thank you."

And she kissed him. He stood shocked, at first, before he melted into it and wrapped one hand around her waist while the other clamped her neck. He shoved his tongue inside her mouth, wriggling it around. Lucy exhaled, trying to expel whatever demonic force led her to this decision. Finally, she was able to break off of him.

Bile brewed at the bottom of her throat as Axel leerily smiled at her.

"Goodnight," she muttered and hurried to her room while she sensed his eyes still prying onto her as she moved.

Lucy slammed the door, rushed to the bathroom, and snatched a bar of soap off the dish tray. For several minutes, she ran it over her tongue. For several minutes more, she brushed her teeth, all to try and wipe him out of her mouth.

Even if, she knew, this would not be the last time she had to kiss that man.