Everything Changes
Recommended: Structure - Innerparty System
癡癡地想了多少夜, 我還是不瞭解是什麼能讓我們今天會分別。
Having thought about it senselessly for so many nights, I still don't understand what could have made us drift apart.
His footsteps quickened as the sound of arguing filtered through the closed doors. Laxus sighed, running a hand through his unruly hair. Those two just couldn't stop.
She had always been headstrong and proud, with a reputation for being cruel and sadistic. He had always been gentle and kind, his pacifistic approach clashing bitterly with her nature. Somehow, he had managed to break through the walls she had erected around her heart and she in turn, had come to terms with her feelings for him.
But that had been 3 years ago.
He hesitated as he reached the door, hearing the bitter words being exchanged inside. His fingers rubbed at the smooth wood, his eyebrows knitted in frustration. It had started out with small spats and minor arguments in regards to politics and warfare policies. They would have fights every now and then and then kiss and make up, or maybe take it a step further in their reconciliation. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips but it disappeared as quickly as it came. Lately, it had taken a turn for the worse. They still fought over matters concerning Edolas but most of the time, they just argued about everything.
It was no surprise to see Erza acting this way, having always been someone who never held back her fiery emotions. But to see Jellal losing his cool and snapping at her for the most trivial things was odd. No, he shook his head. No, it was disturbing. The two were complete opposites in regards to their personalities but one of the reasons their relationship was successful was because he had come to love her despite all of her flaws while she had forgiven him for his previous actions, namely abandoning Edolas for Earthland, and had come to accept his love for her. But now? Now it was all breaking apart in front of his eyes and he had no idea why.
Erza glared at him as he walked into the meeting room. Laxus surveyed the room with a quick sweep of his eye. The council members were cowering in their seats and Erza was standing up, snarling in the king's face. Jellal was also on his feet, looking positively furious, his grip on the table tightening with each word being thrown at him.
"Well?" The female asked.
The blonde winced slightly at her tone. "Just got the report. 58 fatalities. No one saw anything and no one could tell me anything. The only thing we know at the moment is that claw marks were found on all of the bodies, mostly on the chest." He sank into his seat and flipped through the papers. His eyes were grim as he spoke again. "And by claw marks, I don't mean beast-like scratches. They're more like puncture holes. 5 clean holes in the chest."
The tension between the king and his female captain deflated slightly as the news sank in. Erza sat back down, the frown never leaving her face. Jellal made an agitated noise at the back of his throat and did the same.
"So did they die from internal injuries caused by the claw marks?" Erza leaned forwards, resting her elbows on the mahogany table.
Laxus grimaced. "No, none of the marks penetrated too far into their bodies. The wounds were pretty superficial. I'm not sure what's causing all of this. They're still working on the autopsies, I think they're nearing a breakthrough with identifying the cause of death, but so far, the autopsy reports only rule out poison." He leant forwards. "I'm hesitant to say this but it seems to me that it's magic."
Gasps rang out in the room and a flurry of chatter erupted. Magic was lost to Edolas with the exception of the army as they had X-balls. For someone else to use magic would either mean that someone had managed to procure the magic pills or that magic was finally returning to Edolas, and both did not bode well for the kingdom.
"So there was no army, nothing at all?"
"No," Laxus replied tiredly. "No one saw anything. The entire town just about got wiped out. That was it."
Jellal drummed his fingers on the table, lost in thought. If someone had gotten their hands on the X-balls, then he or she was going to use magic to either destroy his kingdom or to usurp him. On the other hand, if magic was somehow flowing in Edolas once more, that would be even more complicated. It would pose the question of how magic was returning and then he would have to deal with the whole 'whether to use magic' fiasco all over again. Should he ban the use of magic in that case? Should he allow magic usage once more considering it no longer came from Earthland through the Anima? And of course, he would also have to respond to the sudden chaos and panic if such a scenario occurred.
Erza's voice jolted him from his thoughts. "We should send a small team to scout the area. We need more information on the enemy."
"I think we should send some troops to secure the area and engage the enemy if necessary," Jellal countered.
"No." Erza shot him a look of disdain. "We don't know what we're dealing with and from the looks of the report, the enemy is dangerous. You can't send in the troops there blindly without first ascertaining the situation."
His eyes flashed dangerously but he struggled to keep his voice even. "We need to secure the area to protect the neighbouring towns."
"And possibly have the entire 2nd Magic War Division wiped out by unknown forces?" Erza raised an eyebrow.
The king narrowed his eyes. "I'm merely trying to prevent any more unnecessary deaths. Or would you prefer to leave the civilians there to fend for themselves?"
Her hands balled into fists. "I am trying to prevent unnecessary deaths, Your Majesty," she hissed, dropping his title mockingly. "Division 1 and 3 are fighting the rebels on the Western front and Division 4 is engaged with the capital's security measures. We cannot risk sending another squad to Bakarat without assessing the situation!"
He slammed a hand onto the table. He knew that he was being goaded and he knew that it was better to stay calm but he was sick and tired of fighting with her every day. "I cannot stand by and do nothing when there is a serious threat to the civilians there!" She glared at him, her face contorted in fury but he did not back down. "It is my duty to protect the people of Edolas!"
She got to her feet quickly, knocking her chair backwards with a clatter. "And if our troops are wiped out there, then Edolas will fall! It is also my duty to protect Edolas!" She shouted. "Don't you ever question my duty to Edolas."
"I'm not questioning your duty to…"
"We've actually just received word that Division 1 and 3 have managed to contain the situation. Division 1 will remain at the borders for a bit longer but Division 3 is already on their way back to the capital." One of the Councilmen interrupted rudely.
Jellal waved a hand carelessly in his direction, eyes never leaving her. "There, now we can send another squad!"
"You can't send out another squad! The Division 3 troops are exhausted! You can't rely on them to protect the capital or to act as reinforcements if whoever you send out to Bakarat is eliminated thanks to your utter stupidity!"
"Know your place, Captain," he snarled. "I will not tolerate any more disrespect from you."
Erza looked murderous. "I'm merely speaking the truth."
Laxus buried his face in his hands. He didn't even know why he was surprised anymore. He ran a hand through his tousled hair and opened his mouth to interject. "What if we sent a few elite soldiers to scout the area? Just a small group. If anything should happen, they should be able to hold their own and to protect the civilians until backup arrives."
Erza glanced at him, her mind working furiously. That was a decent suggestion, one that would act as a compromise between her and Jellal. "Che, I guess that sounds alright."
"Fine," Jellal conceded. "Laxus, gather up a team of your best soldiers and go scout the area. Try not to engage the enemy if possible. Gathering information and ensuring the civilians' safety take priority."
Laxus shot Jellal a warning look but it was too late.
"Why are you sending soldiers from Division 5 to deal with this matter? Division 2 is in charge of foreign affairs! This should be my mission!" Erza exploded.
Jellal took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose as he sat back down. "This is exactly why. You're too emotionally charged and I can't afford any mistakes."
That was the final straw for Erza. Arguing over foreign policies was acceptable. But to question her professionalism and capabilities? She took a menacing step towards him. She had worked hard to get to where she was, earning everything from rank to reputation and she took fierce pride in being the best fighter in Edolas. So for him dismiss her like some ordinary soldier was insulting.
"I am the best soldier Edolas has ever seen. I don't make mistakes." She was shaking with barely controlled fury.
"I'm not sure if it's a good idea for me to go," Laxus started slowly. "Knightwalker's division is in charge of foreign affairs after all. My division's primary responsibility is to ensure your safety, Your Majesty."
"Just go Laxus," Jellal waved a hand dismissively. "If anything should happen, then Division 2 will act as your backup."
Erza looked to argue with him but Jellal raised a hand. "Go, Laxus. Now."
Laxus hesitated.
Erza snarled angrily and strode out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Laxus stared at the blue haired man. Jellal was shaking, head bowed.
"I'll prepare the squad and head out tonight, Your Majesty," Laxus said quietly.
Jellal did not reply, instead turning to look out of the window, eyes hidden by his blue locks.
Sitting patiently at the meeting room table, Laxus waited for all of the Council members to leave the room before speaking once more.
"Jellal, please," he paused for a moment, searching for the right words. "Please try to…understand."
Seeing the lack of response from his king, Laxus sighed and made his way towards the doors. He had moved past the doors when the quiet whisper echoed around the room.
"I am trying…"
He slowly trudged back to his chambers, fatigue washing over him in waves, threatening to overwhelm him.
The arguments, the fights, they had all been dragging on for so long, and he was tired. He was just so tired. But he couldn't afford to feel this way, not with a rebellion breaking out on the borders and with an unidentified threat bearing down upon his kingdom. He couldn't afford to feel this way because his marriage was falling apart in front of his eyes, crumbling into nothing but dust, and he had no idea why.
His desolate footsteps echoed along the hallway. Was it because he didn't love her anymore? His eyebrows furrowed. To say that he no longer loved her seemed a little too…extreme but he had to admit, the feelings between them had dulled. Everyday, they would wake up, run through the kingdom's business and go to bed. There was no spark. He saw her as his wife but no longer did he want to pull her close to him, kiss her softly on the cheek and whisper things in her ear. He didn't feel anything anymore. Maybe he was just…bored.
Bored. It was such an ugly word. It made it seem like he had been toying with her all these years. It made it seem like he was just tossing her aside now because he was bored. In a way, he felt disgusted with himself. He was not a bad man. He was not one to toy with another's feelings. Honour and compassion were qualities he cherished deeply but no matter how hard he tried, and he had tried vehemently, he just didn't, couldn't feel anything. But what did he want? What did he feel?
Jellal shook his head wearily, a hand pinching the bridge of his nose. He didn't know and he didn't want to know. It was easier to just carry on without thinking about anything.
He slipped into the room as quietly as he could. He didn't feel like talking to Erza tonight. But then again, he hadn't felt like talking to her in private for a very long time.
She was sitting on the edge of her bed, body covered with a thin layer of sweat, her hair plastered to her forehead. It was obvious that she had been letting off some steam in the training grounds. He watched her fiddle with her leg gauntlets for a moment. She was as beautiful as the day he had met her, with her crimson hair and ample breasts, but that was all there was to it. There was no sudden urge on his part to hold her close, no passionate feelings welling up inside his chest. He felt nothing for her and he hated himself for it.
"Jellal."
Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he looked at her dumbly. "Hm?"
She threw him a look of disdain and he felt the anger rising in him again. Dropping the gauntlets onto the floor, she advanced towards him and he steeled himself instinctively.
"You have to stop being so sentimental when it comes to making decisions. Stop thinking with your heart and use your head for once," she spat out.
"Believe it or not, I'm trying to do what's best for Edolas. Just because you disagree with my decisions doesn't mean that I'm a brainless moron," he snapped back.
"You could have fooled me," Erza scoffed. "You don't look at the bigger picture. You're just concerned with what's in front of you and you're going to lead this country to ruins very soon."
An inexplicable sense of anger coursed through him and he fought to keep from lashing out. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. Calm down, he needed to calm down.
"Do not. Underestimate me." He snarled, "I am an S-class mage and the King of Edolas. I know what I'm doing."
"Clearly you don't." She took a step forwards. They were so close together that he could feel her warm breath again his face. "If Faust were still here, none of this would be happening. He would have handled it well. Sent out a squad to assess the situation and then dealt with the enemy."
"Well I'm not my father!" His eyes narrowed into slits. She knew damn well he was nothing like his father and to constantly compare him with the man irked him to no end.
"And the difference couldn't be more obvious. Edolas has never seen better times than under his rule. Then you come along and suck out all of the magic and now, Edolas is just going to hell."
He let out a short bark of laughter. "I merely took back what Edolas unjustly gained. And the rest of it was of no fault of my own; the famine, the natural disasters, the current threat."
"It is your fault! You're the king, you should be able to make the correct decisions and deal with everything!" Erza burst out furiously. "Faust was a genius, that's how he made Edolas into the most powerful force in the world." She shook her head in despair. "He was a much better ruler than you."
His temper peaked once more at the mention of his father. "And I am a better man than he is! He desired power more than anything else but I value peace." He opened his arms, palms facing up. "We can no longer go around invading other people's kingdoms just for our own selfish gains."
"You can call it selfish but it was for the greater good! We did what we had to do."
"You're just hiding behind your delusional sense of patriotism where everything has to revolve around Edolas, trying to convince yourself that everything you do is for Edolas but in the end, you're all just fueled by greed and by your god-like egos!" Jellal retorted.
At that point, Erza grabbed him by the collar, her hand fisting in the loose fabric of his robes as she dragged him down to eye level. "You don't know what you're talking about," she hissed, absolutely livid. "You know nothing. You. Know. Nothing." She shoved him backwards forcefully. "But that's to be expected, you left Edolas when you were 11 for 8 years. You probably don't know how much Edolas has suffered in the past. You were too young." Her hands trembled, knuckles white. "We were weak. We were weak and the neighbouring lands took advantage of it, plundering and invading our kingdom."
His eyes widened. "What?"
"Why do you think I worked so hard to become a captain at such a young age? Why do you think Faust wanted magic? Why do you think he wanted power?" She was almost screaming, voice trembling with emotion. "Because we needed all of those things. We needed magic because magic is power. And power means Edolas will never suffer such humiliation ever again. We did everything so that our kingdom could survive while you were off gallivanting around in Earthland, oblivious to our suffering and hard work. So you have no right to criticise us. You know nothing, you bastard.
He recoiled instinctively. If what she said was true, then she was right. He knew nothing of the pain and suffering Edolas had endured over all those years. He didn't understand what they had gone through and ruling without understanding was dangerous. Knowledge was power and he was weak. But he had no choice, this was something he was born into and something he had to embrace. And to hear those words coming from her cut into his heart because for some reason, he knew that every single one was true.
"No!" He closed his eyes, refusing to look at her. His entire being ached to lash out at her, to hurt her. "Enough!" He was breathing heavily, fighting to keep his temper in check. "Enough. You've said enough."
He didn't understand what was happening to him. He was actually contemplating hurting her physically. That simple thought would have been unthinkable a few years ago but now? Now he wasn't so sure and this change, this transformation scared him because the sane part of him, the part not corrupted by his rage, was the only thing holding him back. And the worst part was that that sane bit was growing smaller and smaller each day.
"It's times like these when I wish I had never come back. Life in Earthland was so simple," he said quietly.
She stared at him, eyes wide in shock and disbelief. "You…you coward," she breathed. "You've never regretted abandoning your duty after all this time. You're still trying to run away now!"
He looked into her eyes. "Maybe you're right," he whispered. "Maybe I'm just not cut out for any of this."
Something akin to sadistic satisfaction tugged at his heart as he saw the anger and fear enter her eyes and by the gods, he hated himself for it.
He hated himself so much.
With a muted grunt, he heaved the saddle onto the back of the horse. Giving the stallion a pat on the neck, the blond started fumbling with the straps. A chilly breeze swept through the area and he shivered at the sudden drop in temperature.
A puff of white smoke floated in the air as he exhaled sharply. Weird, he thought to himself. It was still autumn and the sun was shining brightly. It wasn't supposed to be this cold. Huffing, he shook his head, hoping fervently that the weather would turn warmer. After all, it was going to be a day's long journey. Normally it would only take a few hours on their Legions but he had opted for their horses this time. He didn't want to alert the enemy as to their impending arrival.
Laxus turned towards the northern gates. The mountains loomed in the distance, their normally emerald shades of green cloaked by a silvery curtain of mist. It was a strange phenomenon, one that he had never seen before. He squinted. Contrary to here, there was no sunlight in the north. He breathed out another puff of white smoke. He couldn't shake off the eerie sense of dread in his chest.
A cloud drifted lazily by and the land was plunged into darkness as it blocked out the sun. The captain looked up. A soft white glow peeked out from behind the edges of the cloud but they were soon swallowed up by the floating grey mass. A strong breeze swept through the area and he turned his back to it.
"Let's go!"
With a dig of his heels, he swiveled his horse around and spurred it on, racing through the forest with the wind through his cape and the thunderous noise of galloping hooves ringing in his ears.
It looked like a storm was brewing.
He just hoped that he could outrun it.
Author's note:
Both are being mean and hurtful and Jellal's just being a stupid idiot.
So no honeymoon period for those happy feelings (I assume / hope they're happy feelings) Retribution's ending left you with. Here's the 7 year time-skip Edolas fic where I pretty much destroy everything and shit all over your feelings. Yeah, it's gonna be great.
