Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.

Ok I'm so sorry for the delay! I mean, a year! Sheesh, I can't believe I've been so lazy…

IMPORTANT NOTE:

When I began writing this, Fairy Tail was on Chapter 311ish, still in the Grand Magic Games Arc, about halfway through, and by now lots of things are AU. So, for this story, disregard anything after Tenrou Island, even facts that they said for details during the series.

Ninth:

I Do

Year 7 Day 0

Out in the quiet sea, a lone girl stood atop the surface. It was midday, but the sky was blood red and the clouds were dark grey, almost black. The blue ocean now had a slight red hue to it, as if stained from the sky. Some would say that the world was ending, but the girl knew better – this was the norm now.

"I wonder if they can do it…" She muttered, eyes gazing down into the depths of the bloody ocean. She turned her head to look back over her shoulder and gazed seemingly into nothing, before turning back. "Now an 'if' won't do. They must do it."

Closing her eyes, she bit her thumb and let a single drop of blood drip into the water before disappearing in a flash. The water rippled from where the blood dropped into it, becoming stronger ripples to the point violent waves were coming off the area. Then, the water opened up to allow what could only be described as a large bubble to break the surface, containing a giant tree.

In the distance, a single boat sailed towards the island.

"That's Tenrou Island, huh?" A male voice said. "Exactly where she said."

"Still doubting her trustfulness?" A soft feminine voice replied to him.

"Yeah." He sighed. "But we need all the help we can get."

Year 0 Day 54

Sting slowly opened his eyes, his vision foggy. In fact, his entire mind felt foggy, like someone had put it into a blender. Wearily he moved his hand to his face, to rub his eyes, but stopped when nothing happed. Frowning, he looked to his right arm, to see that it was missing. Then it all came rushing back – Rouge and Minerva's betrail, his arm…

"You're awake." A woman's voice stated. Turning his head, he saw an older woman, with pink hair tied in a bun from two large crescent moon pins, with a stern face and tense body. She wore a crimson cloak which had a collar that was oddly similar to dragon horns.

"You took your time." She continued. "You've been asleep for two weeks."

Sting groaned and sat up, feeling oddly off balanced due to his missing arm. Taking his first real glance to his shoulder, he saw that the stump was wrapped heavily in bandages that continued around his chest.

"What about Yukino?" Sting asked, suddenly remembering the girl's condition.

"That girl you came with?" Sting nodded. "She's still asleep. When she wakes up, both of you can clear off."

"Thank you…"

"Porlyusica."

Year 0 Day 61

Juvia couldn't look away. She, Mirajane and Minerva were sitting staring at Rogue and Kita kissed, groped and all together did things that were unacceptable in public. And they couldn't stop watching.

"Real BL…" Mirajane whispered, her voice amazed. "When Lucy told me I didn't believe it."

"I know." Minerva whispered back. The new addition managed to fit right in with the two girls, being another secret Yaoi fanatic herself, but she did get on better with Lucy. The pair just… clicked.

"Juvia wishes Juvia had a camera." Juvia giggled into her hand.

Currently, the five of them were sitting at a round dark wood table which had twelve matching chairs set out evenly around it. On the far wall there was a large stained-glass window whish showed the Fiore peninsula, highly detailed with locations of various cities and major landmarks, which reflected onto the table in a 3D representation of the actual land. On the opposite wall there was a large ornate door, identical to every other one found in the mansion, which were open to allow the occupants to see out into the maze of corridors which had various maids and butlers passing by. On the two last walls, one had a large portrait of the fourteen of them (Zeref, Lucy, Mirajane, Happy, Juvia, Gajeel, Pantherlily, Wendy, Carla, Ultear, Meredy, Kita, Rogue and Minerva) while the other wall had fourteen single portraits (one of each of them) with a large bottom frame.

Actually, now that she thought about it, she couldn't remember waiting for any portraits in the last three weeks, and the old ones that she had seen when she arrived with Sabertooth for the mission now had herself, Rogue and Kita in them.

Strange.

She was interrupted from her thoughts by the arrival of Gajeel and Wendy with their respective Exceed, who were arguing loudly about whose dragon was better, followed swiftly by a silent Meredy and Ultear, who was softly chatting to Lucy and Happy, then finally by Zeref, who shut the doors behind him.

He took the seat at the head of the table, the window directly behind him, with Lucy on his left and Happy on her lap, next to Mirajane, Juvia, Minerva then Ultear. On his other side sat Gajeel with Pantherlily on the back of his chair, Wendy with Carla on her lap, Rogue, Kita then Meredy. The final seat, opposite Zeref and in front of the door, remained empty.

"There are fourteen of us here." Zeref began, looking each and every one of them in the eyes. "You are all here by either my own or Lucy's request. You all have strong, unique magic, such as the manipulation of time, space or the senses, the power to slay a dragon, and even the magic to manipulate your own body." He smiled slightly and sighed. "You all know me. I am Zeref, known today as The Black Mage. Over the last 400 years I have become… infamous because of the Magic Council. I can guess though, if you asked any one of them on the council, why I am wanted, they'll say 'Because he's evil.', and won't be able to give you reason. But the real reason is because I found something."

"When I was 14, I was an apprentice in the Magic Council's Library. At the time, I was fascinated by the One Magic – and magic in general – so in my spare time I researched about magical theory, mainly on the olden and Lost Magics, when I realised something. Who decides what magic becomes a Lost Magic? What designates a Lost Magic? And the answer I found… wasn't good."

"Fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of power, fear of the unusual… fear. That was when I realised that fear was dictating our actions, on what we could learn, know and practice. It was when I decided that the old rules needed to be changed, the leaders to be removed." He turned to Ultear. "Did you know that when I was young, the Ark of Time was not a lost magic, that there was a guild who only focused on that magic? It was outlawed by the Magic Council after one of the members used the Last Ages spell to prevent the death of his daughter."

Ultear nodded. Last Ages was a taboo spell, which could rewind time at the cost of the user's life. Of course the Magic Council would be afraid of something that could physically rewrite history for another's benefit.

"It was because of this I wanted power – power to overthrow and to make a new rule." Zeref said with a smile. "So, will you help?"

The funny thing about what he was saying is that it was true – well was true 400 years ago. Now? Well, he did want that, but also – power corrupts.

And he loved it.

Lucy was the first to respond, her face a mask of ice. "I am with you." She said simply. In the three weeks that everyone were present in the mansion, the pair only spoke once – and that was because both Mirajane and Gajeel had to physically force them into the same room.

"I'm with Lucy!" Happy declared, followed quickly by Mirajane, Juvia, Gajeel and Pantherlily.

"Me too." Wendy agreed, with a silent Carla on her lap, slowly nodded.

"We will, Zeref-sama." Ultear nodded for herself and Meredy.

"Can't let the girls down, can I?" Minerva smiled, showing her teeth. "I'll help."

"I will too." Rouge agreed.

"Can't let this sexy piece of ass go by himself." Kita smirked, winking at Rouge.

Zeref smiled a sinister smile before clapping his hands together and holding them there. "Well, let's get to work then." He pulled apart his hands and waved his right hand over the map on the table, like he was wiping a piece of glass, causing the image to change to that of seven islands: two the size of Fiore with a small space between them; a group of three slightly north one of the islands, one about a third of the size of the other islands, and the other two smaller again; and a pair of islands closer to Fiore then the larger two islands, both very small.

"This is the Kingdom of Caelum." He said. "It is the fifth largest country in the Grande Peninsula* and our target."

"Target?" Wendy repeated.

Zeref nodded. "The Magic Council has a tight grip on the northern countries Seven, Iceberg, Fiore and the like, but the southern and island nations hold less people who actually practice magic, and so the Magic Council are more ambassadors than anything else."

"But why is Caelum our target?" Wendy asked.

Zeref waved his hand and the map on the table moved, zooming out to show the entire Grande Peninsula. "As you can see there are fifteen countries. The northern countries Pergrande Kingdom, Iceberg, Stella, Seven, Bosco, Fiore, Veronica and Bellum all have a large population of mages. The countries Joya, Deserto, Sin and Enca all have a smaller population of mages, but they still have lots of communication and trade with mages –and hence the Magic Council. Minstrel, Midi and Caelum however are three countries with little to no magical influence." He moved his hand again, causing the map to zoom in in the three mentioned countries. "Currently Minstrel is under military rule right now, and are occupying Midi. Without backing, nothing can be done."

Here he tapped the island nation of Caelum, causing two faces to appear, one over either of the two large islands. "And right now, Caelum is in a civil war. Three months ago, the last king died and left no heir, causing the population to spit into two." First he pointed to a woman, with her hair in elegant plats, jewels decorating her expensive dress, and an open fan covering her mouth, standing on the eastern isle. "These are the Monarchists. They believe that Caelum should stay in monarchy, through the closest relative, a king who abdicated in X628. This is led by Tomi Royal, the one expected to take power." He then pointed to the other man, who was dressed in a workman's clothes and carried a hammer – a blacksmith. "This is Kuro Smith, leader of Anti-Tomis – not very original, I know – who believe since their ancestor abdicated, they have no claim to the throne, and so the country should abolish the monarchy."

There was silence for a moment before Mirajane spoke up. "Does this mean we're going to help one of the sides? Because even with our power, we won't be able to take half a country with the fourteen of us."

Here Zeref smiled. "We won't. We will not actually need to fight whatsoever."

Carla cocked her head to the side. "How?"

"If someone appears of royal blood, which have a true claim to the throne, they will accept them."

Lucy gave him a withering look. "And where would we find someone like that?"

He looked at her and smiled, a falsely sweet smile. "Your mother grandmother on your mother's side was a princess who ran away."

Silence met that statement, everyone present staring at Lucy with new eyes. Most knew she was a former heiress, but to be descendent from royalty? That was a whole new game.

However, Lucy snorted. "What? Grandma Lana, a princess? Please, she was daughter of a potato farmer!"

Zeref waved his hand dismissively. "That doesn't really matter. If the two sides of the civil war believe it, it'll work."

She deadpanned. "This is one of the most idiotic thing's I've ever heard, and I worked with Natsu for crying out loud."

"Why do you think they are here?" He said, gesturing to the others. "Manipulation of time, space, of the senses, ability to transform their own body, the ability to slay dragons, creatures that could beat down gods. Do you really think it'll be that hard to fool a DNA test?"

"Well, not impossible…" She conceded. "But you need to explain how to do it."

"I will." He agreed, before stopping his next sentence, like he had just remembered something. "Ah, another thing: when they accept you they may try and force a political marriage."

Lucy blinked "Excuse me?"

"Yeah a marriage, to 'strengthen the bloodline' or some other bull. Anyway, to stop that we're getting married."

Everyone else present could practically hear the sound of glass shattering.

"What?"

Year 0 Day 64

"I can't say I've ever done this before." Minerva announced, which was extremely unusual for her.

"Min, sweetie, if you had done this before, it would've been weird." Mirajane replied in her Satan Soul form, keeping an eye on the entrance. "But seriously, can you hurry up?"

"Hey, I've never used my Territory magic like this before." She muttered, weaving her arms like they were snakes. They were almost shoulder-deep into the strange blue-green vortex of her magic. It was like nothing she's ever done before, using the magic in partnership with the Arc of Time to physically bring something from the past into the present – in this case, the body of the old king.

"And this is new, even for me." Ultear admitted. She was staring intently at the vortex, her left eye glowing red in three sections around the iris. Like Minerva, she was sweating and looked exhausted.

"Got it!" She suddenly announced, before pulling her arms out the vortex slowly, accompanied by the body of a very old man. It took her a minute to pull him completely out, and when she did both she and Ultear collapsed from exhaustion.

Mirajane smiled pleasantly before teleporting the three of them – and one body – away.

Year 0 Day 66

"Do you know anything about the Blackharts family?" Sting asked suddenly, as he was crouched outside the small forest home pulling up weeds for the woman who saved his life. His arm – or more his shoulder – was now almost completely healed thanks to his Dragon Slayer Magic, and Porlyusica decided he should pull his weight while Yukino was unconscious.

Porlyusica looked at the boy – Sting – who had surprisingly grown on her over the last week or so. He was the foster son of Weisslogia The White Dragon – probably the bane of her existence when she grew up in Edolas – yet he was good company.

"The Blackharts? No, not really. Why?"

"Hmm… it's just that I want to know what magic they used." He mused. "Could it be a front for a dark guild? But the manor was completely furnished and complete with staff… What about the names Lucillia and Zeren?"

"No. What did they look like?"

"Well the girl was a blonde chick with brown eyes and a huge r… personality, while the guy was black haired and black-eyed."

Porlysica frowned. It did sound familiar, but she couldn't place where.

"Oh, yeah, they were also very familiar with Gajeel and Juvia – I thought those two were Fairy Tail mages but apparently they weren't."

Zeref. The name came to her like a ton of bricks. He was the man known as Zeren. He was active, and from what Makarov had told her before, he was collecting. She didn't know what for, she didn't know why, but it was happening.

She could smell war on the horizon, a war so big that even she would be dragged into it.

Year 0 Day 68

"I don't care what you say but I'm not marrying that… that… that cretin!"

Mirajane sighed. Yes this was not the most ideal situations to get married, or even to begin a relationship, but Lucy really needed to suck it up. They were planning to con an entire country to accept her as Queen for goodness sake – the plan was time sensitive and guests were planning on arriving for the ceremony in less than an hour. Mirajans spared no expense on the wedding, so she had vowed to get Lucy down that aisle by any means necessary, even if it meant dragging her there.

"Lucy, sweetie, just come out the bathroom and try on the dress." She said, hovering outside the door.

"No!"

"That's it." Using her Take Over magic, she transformed her hands into the claws from her Satan Soul form before grabbing either side of the door and ripped it off its hinges. Lucy shrieked, and backed away from her.

"Now, I've tried to be kind, understanding and patient, but the ceremony is in less than three hours. You are either going to come out of this bathroom and put on your dress, or I'll make you." Mirajane said, a soft but threatening smile never leaving her face.

Minerva whistled. "Wow, you're harsh." She wiggled her eyebrows. "I like it."

"Wha- How are you all dressed?" Lucy gaped, looking at the Mirajane still holding the door, then Juvia holding her dress, then finally Minerva sitting on one of the lounge chairs. All three were dressed in identical floor-length dark blue dresses with stones on the bust, but Minerva wore hers sleeveless (showing way too much cleavage), Juvia with long gloves that passed her elbows (hiding all her skin), and Mirajane with a shawl (making her look like she was going to a late-night party, not a wedding).

"Ultear has her uses." Mirajane dismissed. "But enough about that. We need to get you ready."

Lucy gave her a weary look, but did indeed approach the dress. It was ruffled, like it was pinched at the right hip, with that side of the dress lifting slightly higher, and with a large single strap over the left shoulder.

"It looks like a blanket." Lucy said, somewhat speechless. "You do know that this looks like a ruffled blanket. It won't even cover my whole chest!"

"And that's why you're wearing this underneath it." Mirajane said, presenting a pale blue corset. "It can be your something blue!"

Lucy shivered at the look in her eyes, and began to slowly step away, but Mirajane grabbed her arm, squeezing it painfully.

"You need to get dressed, Lucy."

Zeref looked down at his suit with a frown pulling at his lips. It was the traditional black, but the blazer was worn open with the shirt – a light blue colour, not white – showing, his black tie rather loose. To him, it looked rather casual for a wedding (especially his wedding) but it was better than Gajeel who had, yet again, somehow managed to rip the entire sleeves off the suit and the first three buttons of the shirt open with no tie. Kita was slightly better, yet he had completely forgone the blazer and his tie was lopsided, with Rogue currently fixing it. Rogue, on the other hand, had somehow managed to button his blazer up, fastened his tie properly and had even found some white gloves to cover his hands.

A knock at the door interrupted their preparations. "It's time." The maid said. Zeref nodded, feeling strangely nervous, before following her out. He was led to the altar – on a small hill in the garden – and he couldn't help be impressed with Mirajane's work. The place looked professional, and he saw various powerful diplomats and influential people from all over the Grande Peninsula. There were even a few nobles from Caelum.

The ceremony began rather smoothly – if not a slight strange. When the bridal march began, first up the aisle were Juvia and Rogue, looking as if they couldn't hide anymore skin if they tried. Next were Mirajane and Kita, looking appropriate, then Minerva and Gajeel, who looked like they were trying to show as much skin as possible without it being inappropriate, making it look like the bridesmaids and groomsmen were slowly stripping.

Then came Lucy, wearing a traditional gown from Caelum. He let a soft smile grace his lips. She did look beautiful.

"If it isn't my husband." Lucy muttered, looking at Zeref. They were off in an antechamber of the ballroom, where other guests were chatting and socialising – it reminded her of all the things she hated when she was an heiress.

"Lucy…" He sighed. "Don't be like that."

"What? Don't show emotion? God, it's like I'm 13 again and my father wants me to marry Charles – but this actually happened!"

"Calm down!" He hushed. "People will hear you!"

"What? You don't want your means to an end to embarrass you, huh?"

Zeref frowned. "You think I see you as just a means to an end?" He asked softly.

"Well, what do you see me as?" Lucy asked, her voice losing all heat.

He said nothing, instead closed the gap between them and placed a soft kiss on her lips. As they didn't kiss during the ceremony, this was the first between them since the night on the beach.

"Does this answer your question?" He asked. He couldn't understand his actions right now. He was The Dark Mage Zeref, a man known for his trickery and manipulation. Yet here he wasn't lying. He didn't have to. He could remember feeling like this before, back on the beach with the insane magic… was it love? Or was it lust?

He decided to just let himself find out, consequences be dammed.

"…lovely this time of year." The woman was saying, dressed in her traditional Caelum wear, her husband dressed similar but without the corset, and showed his tanned chest. "Especially the Festival of Rain – we get people from all over the world who come just to see it!"

"Oh I know that." Lucy smiled. "My grandmother loved to tell me stories about Caelum."

"Really?" The man asked – a Senryou or a Senrei. "I must say, you do look the part."

Lucy blushed. "Well, this was similar to what my grandmother owned. When I was younger, I vowed that I would get married in something like this, like my mother did and her mother did."

"What was your grandmother's name? We may know of her family."

"Well…" She said, trailing off like she was embarrassed – rather ingenious Zeref thought. "She said she was to marry a nobleman from Iceberg, and decided to run away. She changed her name to Lana and married a potter. But I did some old letters, where a man named Dhross called her Ama Kingstone."

They heard a slight intake of breath, and Zeref hid a smirk.

The takeover of Caelum had begun.

First, I want to apologize for the lateness – a year break is unacceptable in my books. But have hope, all those faithful followers of My Dark Queen, it is not abandoned!

I can't set a time for the next update – maybe in a week, maybe a month – just whenever my muse calls to me. So, please bear with me!

Favourite and review please!

~Nom Nom :3

*This is what I've decided to call the 'known' Earthland portion of Fairy Tail. I don't know the real name (if it even has one) so I just named it from the name of the Pergrande Kingdom, the largest country and the country that connects to the mainland.

Now, in this I've made the Magic Council a large, continental entity. I don't know if this is true, but in this story it is, with Fiore the major magic central place.

The wedding? I tried not to bore with the details, but I also wanted to build foundations between characters because, to me, they all seem rather shallow right now.

As you can probably guess, Caelum traditional wear was inspired by Ancient Greek togas.

OCs (Given name, Surname):

富ロイヤル(Tomi Roiyaru)
This is literally 'Wealth Royal'.

黒スミス(Kuro Sumisu)
This is literally 'Black Smith'.

甘キングストン(Ama Kingusuton)
Ama means sweet – she was a princess of Caelum.