-Chapter 35-

"Wait, you're not coming back to Pelerno with us?" Cristoff asked confusion marring his brow.

"No child. My place is here. With Pergrande's king and the majority of their governing body dead someone must look after the people and the lands." Nurem explained calmly laying contentedly in a field outside what was left of Rommell sun glinting of her scales like precious gems.

"Isn't that why Dad and Draco are meeting with what's left of Pergrande's state officials? To work out who's taking control and what they have to change before Bosco lends any aid?" He couldn't understand this. After years of being forcibly separated from each other Cristoff had just assumed his mother would be coming back to Bosco with him now that she was no longer in hiding.

"Tell me Cristoff, what would you have me do in Pelerno once there? Ignore my other hatchlings who have spent far longer without their mother? Your father's land isn't large enough to support 6 dragons my son, I would not be able to bring them with me."

"I've just missed you so much." Cristoff pressed against his mother's snout emotions running high.

"Don't forgot you have your own hatchlings on the way. Your mate and they are sure to keep you very busy besides, once I've established my rule again I'm only a moonshift away."

"Wait rule again?"

"Pergrande was once mine, a great nation, and had that good for nothing pest of a so called dragon not been dead set on dragon annihilation because some of our people were gluttonous selfish beasts I would not have had to abandon my lands and my horde. You wouldn't deny me my horde would you son?" The dangerous glint in her silver eyes let Cristoff know she wasn't completely teasing. "Besides the day is come for man and dragon to rule all of Earthland together. We will set the world's expectations here as dragons once again roam freely."

"Will you come and visit after Lucy gives birth?"

"That should be obvious. Now go to your mate. Your siblings lessons are about to start and they are headed this way."

As Cristoff looked up in the sky off in the distance sure enough he saw 5 little dragons flying their way. Hugging his mother's large snort once more her turned to go hunt down his mate.

-DTRE-

"Kaleb!" Freed cried pushing back as hard as he could loving the way his lover's firm body caged his in, the feel of his strong hand firmly stroking his member as he was taken from behind. He was glory personified.

That's it Freed, give me all you got. Kaleb grunted feeling Freed's body constrict below him mind overwhelmed in the pleasure of release and he finally let himself go with a few last shuttering thrusts.

"You're so perfect," Kaleb sighed into Freed's hair, his body taxed. Slumping to the side he pulled lover with him unwilling to let any space come between them right now.

"Hardly." Freed said but unable to prevent a smile from forming he was so deliriously happy.

"You're perfect to me." Kaleb let his hands wander over to the smooth planes of Freed's heated skin.

The rune mage sighed in complete contentment knowing there was no arguing with the man. Instead he let his lips brush the powerful arms surrounding him placing light kisses wherever he could reach.

"Promise with me?"

Freed tensed, unsure if he just heard what he did. Surely he'd fallen asleep and was dreaming. There was no way this was real life. Slowly he turned in Kaleb's arms meeting the soft gaze of pale lavender eyes. His lungs stopped working but not his mind.

Me? Are you sure? He mentally braced himself for an answer.

Kaleb chuckled lightly smoothing the long green bangs back so his view wasn't obstructed. "Yes you, Freed. We've known each other for how long?"

Three years, 2 months, 12 days and 3 hours. Freed didn't even have to do the math, he'd been keeping track since the moment the met.

"13 minutes and 24, 25, 26 seconds exactly." Kaleb could see the shock consume those cerulean depths and continued. "From the moment I met you I'd wanted you but-"

"I was completely wrapped up in Laxus." Freed exhaled, his lungs finally cooperating.

"You were. As time passed and I got to know the man behind the beauty I grew to admire your intelligence, your passion and conviction but I'd already resigned myself to never having a chance with you. You are a loyal man Freed, in ways that no one would ask you to be." He paused letting his mind drift to where it all changed.

"Then on New Year's when I heard myself in your thoughts that way I realized that maybe, just maybe, I actually had a chance." Kaleb held Freed closer placing a gentle kiss on his temple. "Now that I have you I don't plan on letting go."

Tears burned the back of Freed's eyes. How long had he denied himself for nothing? Well no longer. Taking in a shaky breath he nodded. "Yes. Yes Kaleb I'll Promise with you."

Kaleb smiled brightly sealing his lips over his Promised's lips eagerly, hungrily. Finally after all these years he's found someone to love.

-DTRE-

Lucy sat quietly in the room idly listening to Arman, Laxus, Draco, Nuryev – she didn't quite understand why Seven's new king was even here – and some general of Pergrande's military whose name she didn't catch with a couple of his men to negotiate Pergrande's surrender, the proposed new queen – something she'd have to tell Cristoff about as soon as possible - , and various stipulations required to be implemented immediately so aid in rebuilding Rommell would be provided. It was a lot of things she cared about but not in the way that she'd wanted to be present for but unfortunately there were still people out there loyal to their fallen king and it seemed like everyone in her life was under the impression she would be their main target.

So, instead of Lucy going out into the city helping the surviving citizens in any way she could, she was stuck here listening to political negotiations bored out of her mind and would be until Cristoff came back from spending time with Nurem.

It had taken all of the dragon slayers banded together for her to agree to stay by Draco and only after Virgo had opened her own gate offering to help in her stead.

Lucy fiddled with her keys on her belt still out from requip storage when she'd freed all of Draco and Nurem's hatchlings from their contracts and made new ones with Draco's stars so the young dragons could stay in Earthland with their mother. After being locked away from them for so long Lucy was having a hard time letting go of the warm bit of metal.

"Miss Lucy I've made you your nutritional smoothie and I expect you to finish it. It really has been too long since your last." Lucy looked to her side and there standing in all his immaculately dressed glory was Capricorn, her staple green drink set on a silver tray just for her. Rolling her eyes at his formality and concern Lucy took the proffered drink. Even her spirits were hovering now that they could.

"Thank you very much Capricorn. I was getting a little hungry," she said smiling brightly gripping her keys again.

And she wouldn't have it any other way.

Sipping her drink Lucy turned her attention back to the meeting after Capricorn closed his own gate she found Draco staring at her intently nostrils quivering with everyone else in the room looking back and forth between them.

"Ummm, can I help you?" she said not sure what else to say. Did I miss something?

"How long have you been drinking that?" Draco's deep voice rumbled, pure onyx eyes glancing down to it then right back to her eyes.

"I think…" Lucy quickly did the math. It was right before she got Adro's key so that was, "a little over a year. It's supposed to help me with magic regeneration and help me get stronger; Capricorn's secret recipe." She rambled on more nervous now that the stare had bloomed into a full on glare from the celestial dragon.

"Have you been experiencing any draconic behavior?" he questioned steadily.

"Yeah but only since meeting Cristoff for the first time," she tried to defend herself not sure what she was defending herself against.

Draco growled, magic flaring, lashing out as he stood.

Lucy snarled, her drink hitting the floor forgotten, eyes a matching black, scales like before dusting her skin at the obvious challenge before her.

"I am a Queen you will submit!" she flexed her platinum scale covered claws.

"I am your Sire I will do no such thing," Draco said calmly letting his magic pulse stronger easily dwarfing the little blond before him.

She growled low, lip curling back in a silent snarl at being outmatched. Two bright flashes at her side had a satisfied smirk darkening her features.

"I will submit to no male but one and you are not him." She chuckled as her stance shifted ready to fight.

Cristoff blinked, momentarily disorientated by his change in surroundings but as Lucy's voice registered in his mind he quickly looked around.

Zen felt the threat in the air before his feet even touched the ground, the suddenly close proximity he felt to Lucy had his swords drawn and ready for a fight to defend his sister. They'd all been worried about someone coming after her so he pushed aside the question in how he got here for later.

"You will submit to me," Nurem's voice boomed through the chamber.

Lucy looked toward the new challenge and almost immediately cowed. There standing in the doorway was a tall regal woman skin as pale as the moon, hair as dark as the night and eyes a brilliant blinding silver. Even overwhelmed by draconic instincts Lucy recognized another Queen, a queen she knew she could not match and would not risk her young in trying.

Dropping to her needs Lucy bared her throat to this unknown female.

"Somebody want to tell me what is going on?" Zen was the first to recover from any shock he felt taking a moment to sheath his swords now that the feeling of danger passed.

"Draco you should have known better than to try and adopt an adult human female," Nurem chided five children looking about 6-7 followed close on her heals as she stormed across the large meeting room. She was not at all happy at the little power show her mate had made interrupting their hatchlings lessons. She'd actually been concerned some new enemy had shown up and hurried to his side as quickly as possible only to see him trying to dominate a female slayer using his own magic.

"First, I didn't. Second-" he added quickly before Nurem could cut him off, "Cristoff calm your mate," he ordered more than a little frustrated the waif of a human was once again snarling at him. She'd submit to his mate but not him; it was ridiculous!

Cristoff quickly pulled Lucy up off the floor and into his arms without question, growls thrumming in his chest soothingly. While not officially adopted by Draco he was the mate of his mother and not someone he'd want to test. The same could not be said for Lucy.

"Second," he cleared his voice, "She has to submit to me before I am able to teach her how to use my magic and tame the beast inside less it overwhelm her and she is lost like Arcnologia was."

Nurem pressed her palm to her forehead. "True," she conceded. Earthland had only just recovered from what Arcnologia wrought and she wouldn't wish that insanity to befall her son's mate. "This is not going to be easy. Her dragon soul is of an age she will not will not accept you as her superior without a fight yet she is pregnant and I will not have my grandchildren risked." An irritated grumble tore through her chest.

"How could this happened if not by you?" she questioned seating herself at the head of the table after she'd settled her little ones behind her.

Lucy, finally calmed, buried her face in her mate's chest blushing brightly in her embarrassment. "Did I really challenge Draco to a fight?" she squeaked quietly but not enough so said dragon didn't hear.

"You did," he grumped at the situation taking a seat next to his mate. "I need you to summon Capricorn. He has some explaining to do."

Lucy did as she was asked quickly taking an extreme amount of comfort she had Cristoff on one side and Zen on her other when she joined everyone around the table.

"Miss Lucy is there something else you require?" The goat spirit bowed deferentially.

"Oh no Capricorn don't even try to play innocent. You know why you're here." Draco was well beyond playing games.

"We did not know she would form a dragon soul." Capricorn kept it simple. At Draco's glare the goat spirit reluctantly started from the beginning. There was a reason the dragon was not assigned any single key to be called you needed all five. Like the Spirit King he was too powerful for just any mage to summon and that was not a power he would willingly fight against.

"About 2 years ago Miss Lucy was starting to complain about chest pains. As her spirits we knew her magical development was approaching the limit the Spirit King has placed on all Celestial Spirit Mages but were forbidden to tell her since at the time no one knew that an archangel was still alive…" he looked meaningfully at Zen then continued.

"She is a wonderful Master. Just as beautiful and kind as her mother was and because of that many of her spirits have vowed to be hers for the duration of her life. As such we could not bear to sit idly by until the day came when the pain became too much she would have to give up her magic all together so Virgo and I came up with a plan. If we introduced another kind of magic to her, still celestial in nature but without the imposed limiter, her body might acclimate to it and relieve her pain."

"So you gave her some of my magic in those drinks," he nodded in understanding. Rumors of the Starbringer were rampant in Spirit World and his own children spoke fondly of the woman. If he'd been in a similar circumstance he knew he would have likely tried to do something similar. "How?"

Capricorn shifted nervously. "Virgo got her hands on some of your scales. I then grounded them into a fine powder."

"That's why those smelt dangerous," Cristoff exclaimed.

"Indeed they would. Dragon scales are also rumored to extend a mortal's existence to that of a dragon but I'm sure that had nothing to do with your decision." Draco smirked knowingly. Capricorn had as good as acknowledged being tied to the woman himself until her death and considering at the time she wasn't mated to a slayer that meant maybe 60 solid years; that was so little to a celestial spirit. He had no doubt they were trying to kill two birds with one stone but their enthusiasm blinded their reason.

"Your idea was sound but using my scales while I was in the Spirit World was where the mistake was made. Did you not consider what feeding a part of my celestial spiritual body to her might mean? You essentially gave her small bits of my soul until there was enough there she became a dragon slayer. A dragon slayer without a clue of what she was or any help to acclimate."

"Not until just now. Any signs that that might be the case prior we either did not see or could be easily explained by her use of one of your keys."

"So, I ate Draco?" Lucy was pale and very much green around the gills at the thought. Did Mira know everything that was in the shake? Did Erik? No, even they wouldn't have let me drink that had they known.

"Think of it like you would the milk from your mother when you were a baby. It came from him but was not him," Capricorn tried to placate but only succeeded to make it sound worse.

"I ate a spirit. I ate a dragon and a spirit. I think I'm going to be sick-" Lucy's hand covered her mouth as she dry heaved.

Cristoff channeled some of his magic letting its natural affects sooth her and quiet her stomach. "Think of it like this. My magic is flowing into you right now nourishing you and our little ones so they can grow big and strong. Nothing gross about that is there?"

Lucy looked at Cristoff unconvinced but still let his magic settle her. There was a distinct difference in him flooding her with magic and eating dragon scales from a celestial spirit.

Nurem sat back and listened as small conversations started breaking out all around her. Most were talking about the how and why, even the Pergrandians present seemed intrigued by their little drama, but no one was talking about what next. It was nice to know what happened but that didn't change the fact that her son's mate needed to learn some essentials from Draco and before she gave birth. She shuddered to think what the stress on her body might cause to happen if she wasn't in control.

"Lucy, you and Cristoff will stay here with me and I will oversee your lessons with my mate. Your dragon recognizes my dominance so when she escapes your reason to fight Draco I can reign her in and Cristoff can settle her. Once you've control and accepted Draco as your sire there should be no further complications," she declared with a look of such confidence and surety no one dared to question her.

"I think she will make an excellent ruler," the Purgrandian aid whispered to his general. Her power and authority was unmistakable and even though she was female he had no doubt their men would fall in line.

"I agree," the general whispered back not seeing the satisfied smirks directed their way by either of the dragons sitting in human form. "Gentlemen, and lady," he added. "Shall we get back to the reason why we are all here?"

Lucy zoned out once the meeting started up again trying to cope with everything she'd just learned. I am a dragon slayer. The concept was just as foreign to her as she imagined it had been for Erza only Erza had found out she was actually born from a slayer turned dragon. Completely ignoring the how it happened – she couldn't think about that – Lucy wondered how Erza had coped with such a life altering fact.

"I'm going to go talk with Erza," Lucy whispered as she quietly got up to leave the room not realizing both Zen and Cristoff followed her out.

"What are you going to do?" Cristoff asked his brother. Zen was still trying to acclimate to his new life of freedom and the lunar slayer knew Lucy was as much a grounding force for him as their father was, more so in a way because Lucy had no expectations of him when they met.

"I haven't decided yet. The need to be near Lucy and protect her is still strong but I cannot live my life attached to her apron strings. A lot will depend on how it was I suddenly became by her side earlier. If I know that is possible in the future no matter the distance I think I would like to go study in Minstrel, maybe travel and see more of Earthland."

"That sounds like a good plan. You've spent too much of your life hidden away or stuck in one place."

Zen for the first time since returning home put his arm around his brother's shoulder. He knew Cristoff was big into physical signs of affection and he really wanted to show his appreciation for his open support.

"Does no one realize that Cristoff has essentially mated his step-sister?" Vander asked no one under his breath plans of relentless teasing already forming in his mind as he got ready to leave as well. His father had "asked" him to keep an extra eye on Lucy until Cris came back and he'd been cursing his existence until a minute ago; that scene more than made up for the hour waste of his time.

Says the guy getting ready to mate and marry my sister, Kaleb interjected.

I don't mind. We've always been an awfully close family. Vander cycled through various partners he's shared with each of his siblings at the same time in his mind. Good times.

Kaleb snorted then left his brother to do what he would. It was all rather entertaining.

-DTRE-

"Things are going well," Thaine said as they started clearing the room the meeting finally concluded for the day.

"They are indeed. I was surprised King Altiene offered the use of one of his fleet to see us home." Nuryev accepted the file Thaine had compiled for him on the berserkers in his care flipping through each of their requests for when they landed on Seven's soil.

It seemed most of the men no matter if they decided to keep all of their memories or not or returned to their original bodies or not wanted to join Seven's military, each one of them stating a need for a purpose.

"I'm not. You've been systematically undermining two of the greatest threats to Bosco for some time now. He would have to be completely obtuse to refuse your parley for peace."

"You forget it was also because of information I provided that led to his eldest's execution."

"Princess Kurino made her own choices Sire."

"She did but King Altiene is a dedicated father and loved his daughter."

Nuryev closed the file as they turned the corner just in time to brace himself as a blonde blur barreled into him.

"You're Highness!" Thaine exclaimed rushing to his side.

"I'm fine Thaine she doesn't weight much though she hits like a train," Nuryev grunted adjusting a little so her knee was no longer close to his groin.

He felt the growl in his chest before he heard it then bright orange blazing eyes locked onto him, sharp canines peaked out of full red painted lips.

"Mine," her sultry voice said before she latched onto his throat.

"Oh come on! Every fucking time!" Bickslow exclaimed. "Why do I always have to witness every fucking slayer on Earthland find their mate," he grumbled as he started digging in his pocket for his com. He and Em had just been sweeping the area when she shot off like that. Since he was a damn good brother he followed her and apparently made it just in time. His father would kill him if he didn't report this right away.

"Mate as in a dragon slayer's mate?" Thaine watched his king and the blonde wrestle around on the ground guardedly. Ever since they were children he'd been by Nuryev's side so he knew just about as much about dragon slayers as Nuryev did after a lifetime of fascination with the mages and their magic. It seemed almost fitting he was destined to be claimed by one himself and by one that is a daughter of a Boscan Ambassador? It almost seemed too good to be true so he needed to hear it confirmed.

"Yep, his soul's already trying to wrap around my sister's as we speak," Bickslow answered eyes flaring green just to be sure Emzadi wasn't mistaken. She'd already lost two men due to matings gone wrong, he did not want to see a third.

"Sire I suggest you take your mate to the quarters you stayed in while we were here. That part of the structure survived the bombings and it would give you more privacy than your tent."

"I'm a bit busy-" he groaned as the powerful blonde slammed him to the ground. He absolutely hated being forced on his back, years of being drugged and sexually tortured had created a powerful aversion. Nuryev bent his back so when the woman pounced on him again he added the give in his movement to her momentum and it was enough to flip around on top of her.

"Is there a reason you're not using your magic?" he questioned calmly a notepad out as he jotted out a list of things he was going to have to rearrange while his king was bonding with his mate.

"Because I'm a fucking idiot with the sexiest woman alive wanting to wrestle me to the ground," he bit out before bringing his magic to bear at the reminder.

It worked instantaneously with as much skin to skin contact that he had and Emzadi froze face becoming vacant giving Seven's king a moment to focus and calm his nerves. This woman below him was his greatest blonde fantasy - tall and confident like the woman he only knew as Sun but curvy and exuded power like the Lunar Slayer's petite mate Lucy. Difference was this woman sent fire through his veins.

"Emzadi, Solar Dragon Slayer, I, King Nuryev Allaidian, declare my intentions to make you the queen of my heart in front of your family and the only person I consider mine," he recited the necessary wording so his relationship would be fully recognized when they returned to Seven adding his own little twist since none of his family still lived. "Do you accept my attentions?"

Emzadi's eyes lost the glazed look long before he'd spoken and by the end she had a single tear running down her cheek. Somehow this handsome man above her had managed to quite the dragon in her and only the dragon. She had no memories of life without the influence of the dragon lacrima in her body and she found a gentleness she didn't knew existed.

"I, Emzadi Luzaella Pradesh of the Draculi Clan, accept your attentions as my own in front of your family and mine," she stated quietly her usual larger than life personality subdued.

Nuryev leaned down and sighed as her warm full lips teased his mouth slowly melting into the kiss but keeping the raging dragon in her soul locked down.

"As Lady Emzadi's witness I'm going to need to you sign this statement as testament that the rights were fulfilled," Thaine said holding out an official looking form to Bickslow who'd just hung up his call to his father.

Bickslow scanned the document initialing various parts like a checklist as he went down before signing his name and dating it.

"Do you just carry around Sevenese engagement forms with you all the time," he asked curiously. Something about him seemed oddly familiar.

"A good aid does what they're told when they're told. A great aid anticipates and does what they're told before they are even asked. I am a great king's aid," he replied plainly a smile tugging at his lips.

That's when it clicked for the seith mage. Kaleb's assistant was just like this man always ready with what was needed and half the time had things done before his brother could ask.

"I'll have to introduce you to a friend of mine. His name's Thane. Peas in a pod the pair of you."

"How bizarre my name in Thaine as well…" he mused.

"Weird." Bickslow fought the shudder running down his spine and left to go find his own mate,

-DTRE-

Arman sat in his cabin onboard The Horizon lacrima clutched in his hand a dreamy expression on his face. Never in a million years did he think his little Emi would mate Seven's King. A year ago he would have been concerned for his daughter. It was no secret Nuryev's mother Kressa was an evil woman who had her son invent many atrocious things through the years.

Fortunately he knew the man a little better now, had Vander's word he was V, their contact that helped funnel most of the information they had used against Pergrande and his own mother before she was killed. Cristoff and Lucy even said he was instrumental in their escape before Bosco's forces had even arrived. Nuryev also managed to get Pregrande's berserkers free from their control collars and used them to help in the invasion.

The decorated ambassador was a huge proponent to the phrase "Actions speak louder than words" and Nuryev's actions proved him to be an intelligent, patient and upstanding man that Arman would not be ashamed to call family.

He sighed. It was a bitter-sweet moment, realizing that almost all his children where either mated, engaged or in a holding pattern until family drama settled enough so they could be; Farron had been prepared to accept Queen Hisui's marriage offer for months now. The only one left was Zen but he knew better than to even suggest his little angel settle down any time soon. If anyone deserved a chance to play and see the world free from responsibility for a little while it would be him.

Maybe I should suggest to Vander that he take Zen with the three of them if they do decide to go traveling after this; with how antsy I see both Safra and Gin getting I think it's likely. That way he's not alone and is sure to have a lot of adventures.

Smiling Arman turned on his tablet to do his favorite thing ever. Shopping for grandbabies.

-End of Story-

So, what did you all think? I think I summed up everything nicely with this one but if you still have questions let me know. I have a few epilogue scenes planned so maybe I can include those answers in them if they aren't already.

Thank you all for Following, Favoriting and Reviewing this story. It was my first and took almost a year to complete. Turned out just how I planned for it to which is not a guarantee when I finally sit down to write.

Much Love, Blas