Hey guys! I'm back with another chapter. I hope you enjoy!

To reiterate: It is set in an alternate Edolas, where magic never existed so it doesn't follow whatever happened in the manga/anime.

Warning: There will be cursing. Just putting it out there.

Italics = Thoughts

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Chapter 1: Reunion

"Is he…" Before Erza could finish her sentence, she noticed a clean slash on his throat that stated he is clearly dead. There were also several wounds on his chest and abdomen. "Great…just wonderful." She rubbed the back of her head with her good hand and surveyed her aching head. Intact and in order, she supposed her head is just ringing from the amount of blood she had lost. Reaching for the leather holster at the back of her belt, she removed her trusty retractable polearm that was especially made for her and used it as an impromptu walking stick. Holding onto to the ebon body of her weapon, she balanced herself and slowly limped her way out of there before she was blamed for this. She drew the bladed tip of the polearm back into the little hole at the top of the weapon to prevent any more injury to herself.

Blood dripped from her wounds. Feeling lightheaded, she leaned against the bricked wall and assessed her situation. What happened before this? She just couldn't recall. This alleyway was familiar but how did she get here? Reaching inside her tattered shirt, she took out a necklace that rested around her neck and placed her lips on it.

Trying to regain her bearings once more, she stood up straight but as soon as her composure returned, a blood-curdling scream deafened the redhead's ears.

"Guards! There has been a murder. Murderer!" The passerby wasted no time in calling the city watch. Although things have changed in recent years, thanks to a certain prince's efforts, she was pretty sure a person loitering around a dead body would be still considered suspicious. Although she had nothing to do with it, to an onlooker's eyes, the truth is thrown out the window and assumptions will run rampant.

"Aren't I bloody special? The cavalry is coming to see me." She hurried her pace but certainly enough the authorities arrived right when she didn't need them. He stared at the body and then at the back of the woman hurriedly fleeing the scene. "You! Stop! You are under arrest." The guard seized her injured arm. Not wanting any part of this, she swung her pole at his knee, bringing him down on the ground.

"Sorry, mate. I've done nothing wrong but I don't think you'd believe me." She wobbled her way out of there but not before two more policemen catching up to her. "Horsefeathers!" Continuing to the local road might not be such a good idea but without any other options she went with the only one available. People seemed slightly disturbed by her bloodied appearance so they stayed clear of her, which she liked.

"Halt! You are under arrest."

Bracing herself for a run was going to be an ordeal but she had no choice once again. Her leg protested but she dismissed the pain. Just a bit more and she would be out of their trail.

"Stop!" The guard locked her in place with his larger and not to mention stronger self and restrained her arms. On instinct, she slammed the back of her head on his and the guardsman recoiled in pain. Lifting her weapon up, she bashed him on the head with the blunt end of her weapon and knocked him unconscious. Two more came after her, this time wielding swords and they swung at her. As skilled as they are, she could read their moves easily and dodged effortlessly, even in her battered condition. She disarmed and leveled them when she saw an opening.

She could hear her ragged breathing. Running was taking a toll on her body so she slowed down her pace. How long has she been running? Has she finally reached her limit? No! Fuck no! Erza steeled herself for another run but a young man wearing a long white coat barred her way.

"Wow you're pretty amazing for a civilian. Too bad though." The man with a strange arrow like eyebrows spoke up. He placed his hands in his pocket.

Another voice appeared behind. She clicked her tongue and sighed in displeasure. Nowhere to run. "Hmmm…news spreads quickly to the castle. You are a prime suspect in the good Chancellor's death so his majesty wants a word with you." The deep voice of the other soldier was icy cold. Why did she have an inkling of a feeling that the word the king wants with her is her head on a platter?

The man behind her lunged first and she clumsily avoided his swing but he managed to clip her on the second try. Diagonally striking his blade at her, she blocked and managed to puncture his silver armor. Surprise became apparent on his face when he realized that there was a hidden blade at the tip of her weapon and a mischievous visited his lips. He could feel the slick feeling of blood leaking out of the perforation.

Out of breath because of her injuries, she still found herself enjoying their little clash. It's not everyday you fight someone with some kind of skill. Destroying him at her full capacity was a no brainer but right now, she was struggling. Every inch of her body screamed "give up, please" but that wild, pulsing fire in her hollered, "fight…fight!"

She turned her head. For a swift moment, she lost some feeling in her body and everything went black. She gasped. Her limbs suddenly went limp. Dammit…the other... Not sensing the other soldier approaching her, she keeled over when he placed a precise hit behind her neck. "Nighty night."

"Hmmm…I had that, Hughes."

"Yeah you were totally amazing Sugar Boy, but you know how the old man is."

Execution was probably the course of action the king would take.

"Father! Is it true? Chancellor Santier was murdered?" Jellal, the prince of Edolas, followed his father out to a balcony overlooking the courtyard that was once known as the execution grounds for criminals who were beyond reform. The courtyard was barely used nowadays but today it opens its fields to the public. A large crowd circled around the wooden podium. In the middle was a slab of wood encased with dried blood from the previous executions of the past. It was where the prisoner laid their head and anticipated death's embrace. A small bucket was there to catch the head from rolling down to the spectators. A tall, muscled man awaited nearby wielding a massive axe. For privacy reason, he wore a hooded mask that covered his entire face. Only his orange eyes remained out in the open.

"It is true, my son. Our Captains detained this cretin." The prince followed his father's gaze and into the crowd growing below. Two armed soldiers hauled the lithe body of the supposed murderer and Jellal surveyed the prisoner carefully. There was a sack over their head and their shape was slender like a woman's. One detail caught his attention. No one could have noticed it but he did. It glistened ever so briefly when light clashed against it.

His necklace. The jewel his mother had given him.

It couldn't be…two years…I haven't seen her in two years.

There was no mistake about it. He ran down to the courtyard to stop the execution. "Jellal?" The king of Edolas, Faust, wondered about his son's peculiar behavior. "He must be going through some phase."

Erza's eyes began to open and were greeted by darkness and the stench of dried blood. She squirmed with what little power she could muster but the steely grip the men had on her was something she could not fight off. This is just bloody wonderful. I am going to die for a blasted crime I didn't commit. The soldiers guided her through a short flight of stairs and then made her drop to her knees so they could position her head on the wooden slab.

Furious voices resonated in her ears as she listened at the crowd's obvious hatred for her, a person they hardly knew. Finally, the sack was removed from her head and her eyes squinted from the bright rays of the sun.

"As part of the last rite, the offender is allowed a few words before they move on to the afterlife, where they will atone for their sins for all eternity." She rolled her eyes at the priest. Bad luck for them because she already reserved a seat in hell, where roasting meat will be encouraged and red will always be in fashion. Atoning for her sins was not part of her checklist. ""You can piss on yourself old man. I am bloody innocent." The podium nearly shook at the sheer amount of force needed to dislodge the axe from the wooden floor. The executioner grunted as he heaved his weapon up for one quick slice.

She needed to say them, her final words.

"FUCK!"

That word will always be her favorite. Too bad fancy pants isn—

"Stop! Your prince orders you to cease all actions." The myriad of onlookers turned their heads to the voice. They parted to make way for the prince. "Enough. She will not be harmed." The axeman abruptly dropped his weapon. The prince climbed up the stairs and glance at the woman, whose head was down and motionless. Passing out from the shock was understandable.

Jellal examined his father from where the old King stood and prepared himself from any protest but he found none. His father's face was devoid of any emotion as he gracefully stood up and withdrew back into the castle.

Father…

"My prince, are you certain? This woman destroyed a life of a dear friend of this nation." The Edolas prince placed a hand on the priest's shoulder. "I can vouch for this woman. I will talk to my father about it. All I know is that she did not commit the crime she is accused of. When she said she didn't do it, she didn't do it." He could hear a small chuckled from her. "You came in the nick of time, fancy pants."

Jellal smiled and helped Erza up to her feet and removed the restraints that hindered her arms. Scanning her body, he noticed a few noticeable wounds that will need treatment immediately. Feeling her knees giving in, she leaned forward against his hard, toned frame and groaned in pain. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her slim waist and stabilized her footing.

"We meet again, Erza."

"That we did, Jerry." She mumbled against his shirt. He blinked.

"It's actually Jellal." Hearing her mumble out things incoherently was amusing and he would like to listen to more but she needed a doctor.

Then, they would need to catch up and solve this murder.

I welcome all comments and reviews. I look forward to seeing what you, the readers, think of the story.

Have a nice day guys!