"Hey, Erza, isn't that Jellal?"

"What?"

The mage looked up, startled and suddenly very panicked. Looking madly around the train compartments immediately in their area, Erza whipped her gaze back to her blonde partner.

"Where?"

"Just over there."

She looked in the direction Lucy was pointing, and drew in a sudden breath. As her partner had noted, a blue haired mage with an intricate red tattoo around his right eye was in deep conversation with two other women. Erza hurriedly turned back to her own table.

"It is him." She muttered.

"Um, is everything alright?"

A flush of pink rose to her cheeks as she contemplated the possible ways to answer that question, but before she could, she heard a quick gasp from the seat she had just been observing. Straining to hear she held a breath.

"Is that who I think it is?"

"Well, considering the shade of red her hair is, I doubt there is any other person it could be."

At this point Erza was blushing madly, and Lucy stared helplessly.

"This can't be good." She whispered.

"Erza."

Jellal deliberately called to her loud enough to hear but soft enough not to distract anyone else. Erza froze, forcing her face to remain calm and passive. She cautiously turned, and looked curiously at Jellal.

"What?"

"Ca-can I have a word with you?"

"Sure." She cursed under her breath, but stood anyways.

"Thank you."

She slid into the seat next to him, not knowing what to expect. Waiting while he took a deep breath, she carefully requipped into everyday clothes.

"I didn't expect to see you on this train."

"Neither did I, truthfully."

"I'm going to apologize in advance, Erza."

"Why?" Now she was worried.

"Red, like roses." He breathed.

"Jellal, what is this all about?"

"Erza, maybe I should kill myself." He whispered, meeting her gaze.

"What?"

"All this trouble, it's my fault. If I disappear, then everything would be perfect for you."

"No, it wouldn't!" She exclaimed.

"Yes, I thought you would say that." He smiled sadly.

"Jellal, you idiot. If you want to make me happy and atone for your sins, then live on and make the world better! Didn't you and the other two form a guild for that purpose?"

"E-erza..."

"I mean it, Jellal." Her voice dropped. "There are people that would hate to see you gone, and there are people who value your life. You should too."

"Um-"

"No rash actions. Do I have your word?"

Jellal looked at her, and saw a fierce determination to keep him alive. Red like roses, blue like water. The colors clashed in front of his eyes, and he nodded.

"You have my word."

"Jellal..."

She relaxed, letting out the breath she had been subconsciously holding. Her head fell onto his shoulder, surprising him. A moment passed before he thought to put an arm around her shoulder and squeeze it in a comforting gesture.

"Erza, I-"

The train suddenly jolted, then stopped. A second later, the door burst open and three men in black bodysuits jumped in.

"We are the... JIGGLE BUTT GANG!"

She stared, heart sinking, as the three bandits rounded up the passengers into a corner.

"Hey! You slow-pokes! Get in the corner." One of them screeched.

"Who are you calling slow?" Erza fumed.

Her hand slammed on the table as she requipped into her Lightning Empress armor. The staff crackled, and as she stepped towards the leader of the Gang, the man found himself smirking.

"Sparks can't hurt me! Sparks are just half-"

Before he could finish, she had swung at him, knocking him out and effecively swiping the other two out of the way. The passengers, terrified of this girl, cowereed in the corner, staring wide-eyed at her. Erza calmed down, and requippd back into normal clothes.

"Sorry. I lost a bit of control."

Turning back around, she saw Jellal smirking, and raised an eyebrow. He chuckled once or twice, and leaned back in his seat.

"You know how to impress me."

"Flattery." She muttered.

"Requip magic. Volatile personality. Is this the legendary Titania I have heard tales of?"

"Who are you?"

"Well, I'm just a rogue mage who has been wandering these parts. I use Requip also, just the male armor forms."

"That doesn't answwer my question. Who are you?"

"Kieral Evaniss."

"Affiliation."

"None at the moment."

"At the moment?" Erza glared.

"I've been invited to three guilds, one being Fairy Tail, and it is quite tempting. Although I have to say, some of your guildmates are less than mature these days."

"Yes, that is true."

Erza cursed quietly, and blew a stray hair from her face.

"What is your business here?"

"I came to tell you somethingr."

She raised an eyebrow, but let him whisper something in his ear. Her eyes slowly widened, and she slowly sucked in a long breath.

"I will see about that." She muttered darkly.

"Secrets, secrets."

Erza glanced pointedly at Jellal, telling him to keep his mouth shut, then turned to Kieral.

"Thank you. Would you like to join Fairy Tail?"

"Why not."

"Welcome to the guild." She smiled.

"Thank you. I had better go tell Makarov, then."

He lightly jumped out of the train car, requipping into Black Wing Armor and flying off. She watched him, shaking her head slightly.

"That boy..."

Jellal stood, taking her hand. A shiver involuntarily ran down her back, causing Jellal to smile a bit, but he stepped up to the civilians.

"Where were you all headed?"

Many muttered replies came in response, and Erza swore under her breath. The people, it seems didn't want help from any mages.

"We don't need help." Someone confirmed her thoughts.

"Fine. Let's go, Jellal."

She pulled him off the train and requipped into Flight Armor, hovering over the ground. Jellal looked up, and smiled at the cat ears.

"Erza."

"Yes?"

"I- I hope you are happy."

She paused mid-flight.

"I am."

"Good. I'll make it stay that way. I promise."

"Hurry up, Jellal." She called back to him.

Setting a course for Magnolia, she flew, stopping briefly along the way to eat cake. All in all, an uneventful trip until she spotted the Fairy Tail guild hall. There, a crowd was gathered in front of the doors, waving their arms.

"What...?"

She touched down, requipped and approached, pushing through the crowd in time to see Kieral being beat with a club.

"What is the meaning of this?" She snapped.

"He's a filthy lying piece of trash."

"Explain."

"He tried to get into Fairy Tail, but too bad we all saw through it. This is the criminal we've been hearing about on the news."

"Actually, if you all heard the latest broadcast, the criminal was safely locked up in prison, and has a guard on duty at all times. Just like all other criminals."

"How do you know?" Someone challenged.

"Because I have relations."

She helped Kieral up, then sent him inside.

"Leave. Every one of you."