Chapter 2
A/N: As promised, I wrote a new chapter for this story since I had free time. Happy reading!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN FAIRY TAIL- IT BELONGS TO HIRO MASHIMA!
"Honestly Natsu, what is with you and transportation?"
The fire-knight sulked as he listened to Titania's tirade about his weakness.
"I'm never riding that thing ever again..."
Happy, Natsu's partner, sighed. "You say that every time..."
"Natsu, you better get rid of that queasy look on your face before we reach the palace." Lucy dug her nails into her arms in attempt to stop herself from panicking about her boyfriend's behavior.
"Lucy-san is right. We're almost there!" Wendy pointed at the elaborate building located at the center of the kingdom. Just outside of the castle, there was a wall of forts along with watch towers for every few meters; supposedly for protection from unwanted guests.
Gray sneered. "Don't worry Wendy, they won't have trouble catching Natsu in his so-called sorry state."
"What was that, ice-princess?"
"You heard me, flame brain!"
"Shut. Up." Erza threw them a menacing look, enough to make them bend to their knees and beg for mercy. "This isn't the time to be fighting. We're about to meet a very important client!"
"Y-yes, ma'am..." They chorused.
...
"Fairy Tail?" The guard gulped as she and her 'troops' approached.
"That's us."
The guard glanced from Erza and her team to a document in his hand to and fro. He nodded his head and gestured to three other guards. They immediately walked over and accompanied them through the castle garden.
"Who do they think we are? Thieves?" Gray scowled at the guards, who were watching their every move.
"Gray-san, stop it, or else they'll get the wrong idea about us." Wendy shivered as the ice-knight persistently glared at the guards.
"Cease that at once." Erza glared at Gray, causing him to cower in fear.
"Alright, alright." Gray looked away to escape from Erza's wrath.
As short as their conversation was, the same was with their walk in the garden. The guard led Erza and her party up a staircase and closer to the castle's entrance. Two pillars with dragons at the tops of each. Golden-like vines embroidered the pillars and embellished the castle walls.
"So pretty!" Wendy clasped her hands together and stared at the castle's exterior in awe. Carla nodded her head in agreement.
"Wait here," the guard motioned to his companions before leaving.
The remaining guards stood behind Erza's group and watched them like hawks.
"You've got to admire them for their behavior." Lucy muttered.
Just then, the guard returned to the knights' location. Behind him was a tall man dressed in brown robes and hat with a black emblem which seemed like a spear piercing through a sickle-shaped silhouette. Five other guards with more elaborate uniforms followed closely behind him; supposedly a higher rank than the soldiers who let them into the palace.
"Greetings," King Faust gestured to the knights, who acknowledged him with a bow. Natsu forgot to kneel down like he was suppose to, but Lucy fortunately pulled him down in time. King Faust beckoned to Erza's party, signaling that they should follow him.
...
"Tea?"
"Thank you, miss."
King Faust watched Erza and her team as they sipped their tea; well, Happy left his untouched while Natsu gulped his within a second. The king cocked an eyebrow in Natsu's direction and gave him a cold, icy stare.
"Aren't there more of you?" At last, King Faust broke the silence.
"Yes," Erza took another sip of her tea. "They should meet up with us on the day for which you requested. They had a minor business to take care of, you see-"
Faust let out a heavy sigh. "That doesn't matter. They should've been here today!" He slammed his fist onto the meeting table; he meant business.
"Faust, don't make such a fool out of yourself."
Erza's gaze switched over where the voice was coming from. A blue-haired man with a stern expression stood at the doorway, and began to take broad strides towards the king. Erza couldn't help but notice a strange, red tattoo that covered the right half of his face.
"Ah, Prince Fernandes." Faust crossed his arms. "I suppose you don't know the meaning of staying put."
"And you don't know how to treat our guests with hospitality," He replied coldly. "Instead of ranting about the lack of troops they have at the moment, why don't you tell them about why they were summoned?"
King Faust rammed his staff into the ground and stood to face the prince. Several maids and servants in the room started to back out of the door the prince came through.
"You," the kind jabbed the prince's shoulder with the tip of his staff, causing him to wince in pain. "You have no right to dish out orders to me. Know your place."
Erza stood up; she couldn't allow an innocent man to be manipulated like this.
"Oi, Erza! Stop it-" Gray attempted to reach out to stop her, only to be restrained by Lucy.
Before the king was able to strike the prince again, Erza caught his staff. The on looking servants gasped as she did so.
"She... defied the king..." One of the maids quivered in fear and fell to the floor with a thud.
King Faust's hand trembled with rage. "How dare you..."
"Sir," Erza glared at King Faust, enraged. "We didn't come here to watch you torment your prince."
"King Faust," Natsu was next to stand up, fists balled up at his sides. "I don't care if you're a king or not, but that doesn't give you the right to do as you please."
"H-hey, Natsu..." Lucy trembled with fear. "This is the king you're talking about..."
"Natsu-san, please sit down!" Wendy tugged on Natsu's sleeve in hopes of pulling him back down on his chair, but he didn't budge.
"Enough."
All eyes moved to the prince, who was dusting off his shoulder from the king's attack. "We aren't here to fight."
Erza let go of the king's staff and marched back to her seat. Natsu was still standing and glared at King Faust as he resumed back to his seat, not taking any notice of the knight's behavior. The prince took a seat, skipping a chair next to his father. Nobody could blame him; after what the king did, there was no way someone would quickly forgive an unjust action like that.
"I summoned you here because there will be a ball a few weeks from now. We need all the security we can get. I have already informed other knight conglomerates about this matter..."
"Excuse me, King Faust?" Lucy's voice trembled.
"What is so important that you have to interrupt me?" King Faust barked; Lucy stiffened.
Natsu scowled and put his arm in front of Lucy to block his cold gaze from reaching her. "Don't listen to him, Lucy. You have the right to speak."
Feeling a sense of security, Lucy continued. "If you contacted other knights about the situation we're in, why are we the only one's here today?"
King Faust coughed. "Well, since your conglomerate is infamous for wrecking havoc," he eyed the knights. "I decided to warn you about the circumstances that lie ahead in a unique way."
Lucy turned red from embarrassment. "I suppose you're right..."
Natsu scoffed. "As if."
The king ignored Natsu's rude retort returned to his speech. "Any damage inflicted on this palace, and I will make sure that you will pay."
Erza's eyes narrowed. "And if we don't?"
"Then you will be rewarded," King Faust smirked. "That is, if you don't break anything."
"Understood."
"You'd best be going now; I can't stand the smell of your cherry blossom-haired friend-"
"Excuse me?!"
Lucy, Wendy and Happy held him back as Gray laughed at the king's remark.
"Well," Erza stood from her chair once more and led the knights to the exit. "If that's all you have to say, then let's leave it at that."
The knights took their leave with servants ushering them out of the room, so there would be no more problems would arise between them and the king.
...
"Wait!" A voice called out to them as the knights before they stepped out of the castle grounds. There they saw Prince Fernandes chasing after them.
"What now?" Gray groaned. "I've had enough of this silly drama today-"
"I'm sorry about how my father was acting earlier," he said panting. "He's a royal pain at times."
"I can't disagree with you about that."
"Natsu!"
The prince laughed and turned to Lucy. "It's quite alright, Miss."
His eyes cast to the side to the red-haired knight. She stared back at him in silence, not knowing what to do or say. Had she ever been this nervous around a man before?
He bent down on one knee and took her hand in his. "Thank you; for what you did." He landed a quick peck on her hand and stood.
Erza couldn't help but to feel a quick rush of electricity run throughout her body. "No problem..."
The prince smiled. "I look forward to seeing you all in a few weeks time," He turned on his heel and walked back into the castle walls, leaving the knights to ponder over their new mission.
A/N: I hope you liked it. :) Thank you to those who have already reviewed. Reviews are always welcome :D