~Chapter 1 ~

A New Page

The hot sun beat down on Erza's exposed skin. She laughed in a viscous manner as she lifted a huge piece of rubble. Pissed didn't even describe the way she felt. Her idiot king had put them to work moments after Faust had disappeared over the horizon. Erza felt her energy drain like a battery accompanied by her dignity as she slaved away in the sun. She'd rather die than be humiliated with grunt work. She didn't understand Jellal's motive in the slightest. She wouldn't accept him as the legitimate king while Faust was alive. He was foolish to think he could stroll right in and take the throne. He likely had little experience with fighting, government, war, or even court. He was probably less capable than Hughes to be the king.

Erza continued on her little self-rant and strained her muscles to their fullest extent. She let out a long sigh, causing an echo to sound out all around her. She had chosen to work in an area where no one else was already toiling away. She'd never be subject to public humiliation if she had anything to say about it. The worst part of the clean up would likely be the beginning. Rubble had to be cleared before Jellal could call for carpenters and architects in to discuss rebuilding and modifying the damaged buildings. She let out a grunt as she heaved another colossal wedge of concrete above her waist and threw it in the rubble cart. She had a hell of a day yet to go.

Steam obscured her vision and the air was thick and hot as Erza sighed in content. The warm water of the bath made her skin tingle. Erza absolutely adored scalding hot baths. The dust on her skin slowly was dissolved by the slightly wavering water. Sinking down the back, she wet her hair which was painfully short. She enjoyed the weight of her sodden hair which was closer to the previous weight of her long tresses. She had acted rashly in chopping off her scarlet pride. That Scarlet... she thought, recalling their battle. A sigh attempted to escape her lips but she prevented it, she couldn't bear another. She enjoyed bubbly suds, searing warmth, and undisturbed silence until the heat had faded from the water and puckered her toes.

She flopped down on her bed with her "purple cotton button down top with pants" pajamas on and a towel wrapped over her head. She closed her eyes and met oblivion.

Erza slept soundly in her bed undisturbed for several hours. It was barely considered morning when a knock came from the door. She didn't even stir. An irritated pounding came again, this time much louder. This caused her to roll over and moan but she was in sleep mode. After a string of curses were barely audible from the other side of the door, it was swung open. Erza didn't believe in locking her door knowing no idiot would dare mess with The Great Fairy Hunter. She had left a blue-haired-tattooed-idiot out of the loop for they were an endangered species. This was a fatal mistake for her undisturbed beauty sleep.

Had Jellal actually looked at her he may have reconsidered his harsh wake-up call, but he remained oblivious as he tore through the room past her heading for the drapes. He tore them open revealing an eerie glow from a full moon's light.

"Up! Up! UP!" He yelled without guilt.

"Raugheroarehh!" Erza replied into the pillow she used to prevent the new light from penetrating her closed eyelids. Her room no longer pitch black, she began to rouse. This prompted a sarcastic huff from the blue haired intruder.

After standing waiting for the roused warrior to come to some of her senses, Jellal's actions were rewarded with the desired result. Erza sprang from bed with a death glare, bed head, and four buttons on her shirt undone providing a exposing view of her chest. He blushed crimson as he fell backwards to the floor with a thump. After a moment he concealed his shocked, flustered emotions with a poker face and proceeded the task of carrying out his true order of business behind the suicidal bear poking which he had commenced.

Jellal stared up at Erza and waited as the adrenaline driven instinct of a warrior faded from both her eyes and her system.

"My deepest apologies for awakening you Captain," he began trying to sound formal, in his opinion failing miserably, and disband the murderous glint in the scarlet haired warrior's eyes. "But- I am in need of your assistance." he replied after she had calmed down enough to not make him want to curl up and cry.

After a moment of thought the warrior's senses returned completely to that of a civil human. Jellal cringed at the thought of attempting such a feat again.

"What business brings you to my room before the sun?" she questioned with an irritable yawn.

"One of the guards hired to watch the royal wing of the castle has contracted the flu-" he began before being rudely interrupted.

"And what, my dear King does this have to do with me? Surely one guard short shouldn't be a problem until dawn?" she interjected quite rudely, the time docking her already inadequate patience for this sort of matters.

"Well," he began attempting not to be sharp, the stress of his new role in life taking a toll on his once peaceful demeanor. "They were all out drinking last night to celebrate our supposed victory over "Lord Dragneel"." he explained prompting a questioning look from the Knight. After a moment of silence he continued.

"They've been dropping like flies since the first one called in sick." he sighed. Dark circles were visible around his eyes and he looked strained. This was only after one day of Kingship. Mavis knows how he was going to endure his new role in society. He'd be lying if he said he didn't miss Earthland already.

"Don't tell me you've been monitoring them! That's the job of the staff." she growled, his face gave away that her accusation was correct.

"The staff are sleeping. A few sick men is nothing. If I'm to lead an entire country, I should be able to care for my own guard." he replied tiredly.

"Go to bed Sire and I'll handle it." she growled annoyed with his caring behavior. He was too tired to read further into the situation and just surrendered.

He flopped down on his bed exhausted. He closed his eyes and hoped that it wasn't too troubling for his Captain to watch the men and stand guard. He wasn't sure how the whole country would react to the King's disowned son banishing him and taking the throne.

Author Note:

Well, Hello. I FINALLY posted it. Its been done for... 3 weeks. I haven't finished chapter two yet though. I was going to wait, but chapter 2 is loooooooong. For those who've read the GMG climax: Gloria, I share your disappointment. I was really expecting more from Hiro Mashima and he let me down with that cheap, weak, easy-way-out ending. He'd better get his act together with this arc ;P I felt that the world could use some more MystWalker so I'll probably update King of the Night too. I think that one is on my phone. I have to go back to school tomorrow. We had Friday off and had a snow-day on Wednesday.

~ Puppy out