Pantherlily
There was nothing to indicate that day that something significant was going to happen. No sign, no warning, nothing. Not even the weather decided to give a premonition that the events of this day would forever change their lives. Jellal was now six years old and today, he was spending it with his mother by helping her pick apples from the trees in the royal gardens. They didn't have to, but they enjoyed it, especially Jellal, for he absolutely adored the fruits. It came as no surprise that fall was his favorite season for this reason. Jellal only wished that he was a little bigger so that his mother didn't have to climb the tall ladder to reach the apples higher up in the tree. The least he could do was hold the ladder steady for her.
"So what are you going to do with these apples when we're done picking them, Jellal?" his mother asked as she began to descend the ladder with another basket filled with apples.
Jellal's face lit up brightly and said immediately, "I'll probably eat some of them, but I think that I'd like to make apple pie out of them. Oh, and maybe apple cider too! Will you teach me how to make them? I'm old enough now, aren't I?"
"Yes, I think you're old enough that I can teach you now," Mother said with a gentle smile at her enthusiastic son.
Jellal's expression turned pensive for a moment before he asked, "Mother, isn't one of the Exceed supposed to be coming today?"
"Yes, the Queen's Emissary," she confirmed, "His name is Pantherlily and he's quite unlike any other Exceed I've ever met."
"Do you... Do you think he'll like apples too?" Jellal asked her with a bit of uncertainty in his voice.
"You darling boy," Queen Porlyusica gushed over her son as she reached the ground and ruffled her son's blue hair affectionately, "I don't think Pantherlily would mind at all if you offered them to him. Now, would you like to go up there and pick some of the apples off the lower branches?"
"Would I ever! Thank you Mother!" Jellal exclaimed in gratitude as he hugged his mother's legs for a moment before scurrying up the ladder.
"Just be careful, dear. And be sure your cloak covers your shoulders, some of those branches can be sharp if you run into them."
"Yes, Mother," Jellal said automatically as he tightened the strings holding the light green cloak around his neck and covering his body, specifically his back.
He had just reached for the first apple when it all happened. His mother let out a strangled cry and before he could look down to see what had happened, the ladder was pushed sideways and he was falling with it. In a panic, he grabbed for the branches, but they were just beyond his reach and he could only watch in terror as the ground quickly came up to him. Jellal hit the ground on his side, his shoulder taking the brunt of the impact, but he still struck it so hard that his head was jarred into the ground as well and he was left momentarily breathless.
"M-Mother...?" he called weakly when a shadow loomed over him and roughly hauled him up into the air by his shirt collar. He couldn't breathe, but when he saw the face of the one who'd picked him up, he gasped. A pair of familiar blue eyes hidden behind rectangular glasses gazed down at him. "Lady Evergreen..."
The light brown-haired woman sighed and gazed at him with an odd expression on her face that Jellal didn't recognize, "This is almost too easy. All that effort that my little warrior daughter put into training you amounted to nothing more than this."
Before he knew it, Evergreen had flung him sideways and his head collided into the jagged edge of a huge rock and pain exploded behind his eyes causing him to cry out. When he moved his hand to the back of his head to apply pressure to the wound, he felt a sticky substance coating his hair and figured he was bleeding. He knew he needed to move, but he couldn't see properly through the pain and he was confused and scared. Why was Evergreen doing this to him? And where was his mother? Jellal tried to open his eyes, but only managed a fraction and his vision was extremely blurry. He had just caught sight of his mother's pink hair on the ground when Evergreen blocked his view and picked him up again, this time by his neck. He couldn't breathe, she was choking him! But why! Why! He tried to pry her fingers away to give him a little reprieve, but her grip was too strong! WHY! !
Evergreen smiled. A dark sinister smile as she gazed upon the struggling prince. "Revenge is a sweet thing indeed," she said darkly, "Not only will the failure to protect the Queen and Prince of Edolas completely crush my Edolas-loyalty-obsessed husband and daughter, but Edolas will be without a direct heir and the entire country will be thrown into turmoil over who will succeed the king when he passes away. Blood, death, and revolution will soak through the land and thousands will be slaughtered over their greed for the royal throne!" Evergreen ranted, her voice rising in crescendo with her excitement along with the tightening of her grip on the prince's neck, eliciting another pained gasp from the boy who resumed his fervent struggle, "And to think that it will all be your fault just for being born the king's son. I'll make sure your dying moments are filled with nothing but absolute terror, knowing what will happen to you and yet being unable to stop it. Farewell Prince of Edolas."
Jellal found himself thrown away again, but he didn't crash into anything this time and he was coughing, still trying to get his breathing back. The pain in his head still hurt like crazy, so he couldn't open his eyes, but he already knew that he had been in the air too long. He should have hit the ground by now. Reluctantly, fearing what he might see, he opened his eyes as much as he could... and saw nothing but sky below. Absolutely terrified, he looked back behind him and saw just what he feared. The Royal City was falling far behind him, but how! The palace gardens were nowhere near the edge of the City and Evergreen wasn't that strong! She had to have teleported him to the edge with some kind of magic, but that didn't matter now! He was too scared to scream. He was going to die! There was no-one who could save him and his head was still pounding heavily. It hurt to keep his eyes open and he was losing his senses. He couldn't hold on for much longer. Maybe death would claim him before he woke up again. Then maybe it wouldn't be as scary to die.
()()()()()()
The largest Exceed of Extalia, Pantherlily, could finally being to distinguish the individual buildings of the Royal City of the humans when he sensed a temporal shift and could just barely make out the appearance of... something falling away from the island city. The wind was blowing towards him and he caught a whiff of the scent of blood, human blood... Without a second's hesitation, Pantherlily folded his wings in and dropped into a steep dive towards the falling something, following it with his eyes, but also the blood scent. When he was close enough, he spread his wings to slow his speed and glided the rest of the way to the, what he could now see was a tiny human, and caught it gently in his black-furred arms. With an upbeat of his powerful wings, Pantherlily soared back upwards and landed on the edge of the closest floating island. Once safely-landed, Pantherlily released his hold on the child and gently lowered him down to the ground to take a better look at him.
He was extremely young, he could tell, not much bigger than most full-grown Exceed. The boy's face was contorted with pain though he didn't seem to be conscious and he had a peculiar red tattoo or birthmark splayed across the entire right side of his face. His fur- no, humans called it 'hair'- color was also a little strange by human standards. Bright blue with exception to the red that stained a great portion of the back of his head. A quick sniff confirmed that that was where the injury was located and was the source of the blood and Pantherlily picked up the boy again, cradling him gently in his arms so as not to aggravate the injury further. He took a quick glance at the Royal City as he passed it on his way back to Extalia and gave a silent apology to the royal family and his queen. He knew very well that it was bad form to be late for important meetings, but this couldn't wait. The child's blood, his life, was still seeping out of his head and onto his own muscular forearm. It didn't matter that the boy was a human and not an Exceed like himself. He was still just an injured child and whether Exceed or human, all life was precious. He could not let a single one be wasted. It simply wasn't in his nature to do so. The humans might be more lenient with him as he was saving one of their own, but his own kind... He could only pray that Queen Shagotte and the Council of Elders would understand.
Upon arriving at his home in Extalia, Pantherlily set the young one on a soft rug in his living room with a spare towel against the back of his head to stem the blood flow a little while he prepared some warm water. Once finished, he brought the water basin and a clean cloth to the boy and propped him up with his leg so that he could see the head wound. Dipping the cloth into the basin and ringing it out, he dabbed at the boy's hair around where his hair was reddest to see better and examined the wound. It was a nasty-looking thing, but it didn't seem to be too deep. That was fortunate, but he had still lost a lot of blood, his skin was quite pale. Pantherlily continued to dab at the wound with the warm water until he'd cleaned away all the dry blood and done his best to clean it out of the boy's hair as well, a feat not so easily accomplished.
Once satisfied that he'd done the best he could, the big black cat withdrew a small vial from within the folds of his robes and poured a small pinch of the powered substance onto the wound before adding three drops of water as well. The powder dissolved within the water and Pantherlily began to wrap a gauze bandage tightly around the young one's head, careful not to catch his ears. The powder he'd just placed upon the boy's wound wasn't magic, but it worked like it. It was grounded from the leaves of the keno bushes that grew abundantly near swampy waters. It wasn't all that powerful; the only thing it did was promote skin growth and it took anywhere from ten minutes to an hour depending on the severity of the skin damage. However, having it on hand was quite helpful in a pinch for shallow wounds in preventing them from getting infected because they also contained special antibodies to help fight off possible invaders while the body started to quickly assemble the necessary platelets to patch the skin. The skin should heal just fine, but Pantherlily was still worried about the boy's blood loss and hoped that it hadn't been too much.
He had put it off long enough, there was no getting around it. He had not arrived at the Royal City and checked in with the Council of Elders back here to let them know he had arrived, so they were already aware that he had not reached his intended destination. He would explain things as they were, there was no getting around it. Gently lifting the boy into his arms once again, he carried him with him to the palace where the Council of Elders resided. He was Pantherlily, the Queen's Emissary and thus, one of the select few who knew the truth of the Exceeds' power. Nobody stopped him as he passed through the corridors, but many uneasy eyes stared at his retreating back after he passed and the whispers increased, but he ignored them. Their opinions didn't matter to him. They never had. He entered the throne room and his presence drew the attention of the Elders.
"Lily, what are you doing back here?" one of them, a short periwinkle blue cat, demanded angrily.
"You're supposed to be meeting with the human king on behalf of her Majesty, Queen Shagotte!" said another.
"My deepest apologies, my good men," Pantherlily said as he approached closer still. He wasn't within polite speaking distance yet. "But upon arriving at the Royal City, I came upon this child in need of my aide," he said upon arriving at a respectable distance and knelt down on one knee, bowing before the queen and the elders.
They finally noticed the child in his arms and there were several collective gasps of fear among them. "Lily!" a different one exclaimed as though he had been personally offended, "Why did you save a human!"
"Because the child was seriously wounded..." Pantherlily responded simply, a grave note in his voice.
"Fool!" one of the taller ones with the staff shouted, "Bringing that... thing [Pantherlily was sorely tempted to knock his lights out right then and there for saying such a thing] to Extalia is a grave offense!"
"However, I must help the injured, even if they be human," Pantherlily explained with calm reasoning.
He understood why the law existed better than most of the other Exceed. It was simply a matter of national security. If the humans found out that they had no true power at all, they wouldn't hesitate to wipe them out and crush them under the heel of oppression, especially in retaliation for the fear and oppression that they had been placed under. But this human was only a child and an injured one at that. He was certainly in no position to be a threat even if he had wanted to, and even less so in Pantherlily's presence.
"You didn't forget the rules, right Lily?" the first one who had spoken to him (since he'd entered the room) demanded.
"You are now made one of the Fallen and hereby banished from Extalia!"
Pantherlily's head shot up in shock and disbelief, "What? ! For this? ? ?"
He couldn't believe this! Was one act of kindness really so wrong! His eyes sought the queen's, but she looked down, looking ashamed. He would get no help from her and he couldn't say he was surprised. She was just here for show, the Council of Elders were the ones who held the true power, but it still sickened him. She agreed with his sentiments, he could see, but refused to speak out. At least he had the conviction and the heart to follow through with his beliefs and knowing that somehow made it easier for him to stand up and walk away, the sting of betrayal less painful than it had been in the initial blow. He was halfway out of the palace when he felt the boy's body move in his arms and looked down to see green eyes peering up at him through tired, half-closed lids.
"Oh, you're awake. Are you alright? Do you still hurt?" Pantherlily asked, mindful to keep his voice low for the boy's sake.
He shook his head once. "No, I'm okay. Did you help me?" he asked.
Pantherlily nodded, "Yes, I'm Pantherlily, but you may call me just Lily."
The child's eyes widened a little, "Pantherlily! But you...!" he suddenly looked timid and mumbled so quietly, Pantherlily would have missed it were he not an Exceed with excellent hearing, "Father won't be happy."
'Father'? This boy didn't mean Faust, did he? Did that mean he had unknowingly saved the Prince of Edolas? "Nonsense, I'm sure your father will be more relieved that your safe then that I was late for the meeting."
The boy gave a noncommittal hum as though he didn't really believe him. "I... I heard a bit of that conversation earlier... about you being exiled... Do the Exceed really hate humans that much?" he asked in all his childish innocence.
"No... it's not that we hate them. We fear them," Pantherlily corrected and chose not to elaborate. He was thankful the boy decided not to prod further.
They arrived at his house and Pantherlily set the boy down upon the couch as he began to pack on the bare necessities in a large sac. The task wasn't too difficult to accomplish for he had always lived thrifty, but it still had to be done. He returned to the living room when he was finished and the boy stood up on his own as soon as he saw him.
"It's okay. My head doesn't hurt as much anymore. I can walk on my own," he said with a reassuring smile at the concerned look on Pantherlily's face.
Pantherlily merely nodded and they left the capital, Pantherlily taking small measured strides to accommodate the child's short legs and lesser endurance. They were quite a ways out in the windy desert just outside the capital when Pantherlily slowed and looked back over his shoulder at the capital. For all he knew, this would be the last time he ever saw his homeland. Unless things changed, he would never be able to return here. He heard small crunching footsteps come closer to him and he looked down to see the child staring up at him, worry etched into his young features.
"What is it?" he asked, then knelt down before him and placed a paw on his bandaged head. "Don't worry. It wasn't your fault I was banished," he reassured him, "The first thing I must do is escort you back home. How is that little head of yours doing?" he added as he rubbed his paw over the bandages, checking their tightness.
"Definitely better, thank you," the boy said with an adorable smile, "And thank you for saving me, Lily."
"It's only what anyone... should have done were they in my position," Pantherlily said with a half-grimace. It's what anyone should have done, but his banishment was proof enough that if it had been any other Exceed, this boy would have died. "I've used a lot of Aera magic recently, so it would probably be best to walk to the edge of the island before I use it again, just in case."
In other words, more walking. The boy nodded once as Pantherlily stood up and they started moving forward again. "Sure, okay, but what's Aera?" he asked.
"It's what the Exceed call their magic. It's what gives them the ability to fly," Pantherlily explained.
"Huh? You mean you guys don't need lacrimas to perform magic?" the boy asked, his curiosity piqued.
"No. The Exceed are one of the very few creatures in this land that are born with magic inside of them."
"Wow... So you guys must have unlimited magic use, huh?"
"For the most part. It's still a form of energy and it does run out if we're not careful, but it can replenish itself given enough time," Pantherlily answered.
"Magic that comes from within you... That seems really cool. I wish that I had been born an Exceed," the child said excitedly and Pantherlily smiled grimly.
"Don't let your folks here you say that. They might not take too kindly to it."
He wished he hadn't said anything for the boy's happiness instantly dampened and he looked sad, "Yeah, you're right. Mother probably wouldn't mind, but Father definitely would. Probably Erza too..."
"'Erza'?" Pantherlily asked with a puzzled look on his face.
"Yeah, she's my best friend!" the boy said excitedly, a peculiar glint in his green eyes as he turned around to face the giant Exceed and started walking backwards, "She's the daughter of the Knightwalker clan and she's really scary in the training area because she's so strong, but she's really nice and she has pretty scarlet-red hair..."
Pantherlily had long-since stopped listening to the words flowing out of the kid's mouth as he continued blathering about his friend Erza. Instead, he was listening to his body language and watching his face for a moment before smiling knowingly to himself. If he didn't know better, then he'd think that the boy had a crush on this little friend of his and he patted him gently on the head. The one-sided conversation lasted them all the way to the edge of the floating island and Pantherlily lifted the kid off his feet and into his arms once more.
"Don't be afraid," he warned, "I'm going to drop off this island, but we're not going to fall, okay?"
The blue-haired boy nodded, but he still hid his face in Pantherlily's chest so as not to see the not-fall. Pantherlily couldn't blame him. He had been falling off one of these islands not too long ago before he'd been rescued. It would definitely take some time to get over that if he ever did heal from the near catastrophe.
Once he'd reached a comfortable flying speed, he felt the boy loosen up and decided it was best to ask his question now rather than later when they reached the Royal City, "Pardon me young one, but you're the son of King Faust and Queen Porlyusica, aren't you?"
"Y-Yes," the boy replied hesitantly, "I'm Jellal."
"Well, my prince, you'll be back home shortly. The wind is in our favor."
"Oh, Lily, do you like apples?" At the puzzled expression on the Exceed's face, Jellal explained, "I was wondering if you liked apples because I was picking some with Mother before-" the prince's eyes suddenly widened in terror and he completely froze over, "Mother! Lily, hurry! Mother might be injured! Evergreen attacked us! Hurry!"
Not needing any further prompting, Pantherlily murmured a quick 'hold tight' before tucking his wings against his body for the second time that day and he dropped like a rock straight down to the Royal City. The city itself didn't appear to be all that different, but there was something distinctly wrong with the capital's atmosphere. He could now pick up the faint sounds of swords clashing and explosions and the even fainter scents of human blood and fire. The Royal City had turned into a war zone and he currently held the kingdom's future, injured but still alive, in his arms. This was no place for a prince. Pantherlily was no stranger to war, but he had no idea who was fighting or why, and he carried the kingdom's future. He couldn't just recklessly charge into battle without knowing what was going on. He would have to leave the boy somewhere in order to get information, but he didn't know any humans on a personal level to trust. In the end, he wrapped the boy up in the white cloth he had worn as a toga and flew down into the fray. He didn't stop until he saw a well-known weapon, even to Pantherlily, Nine Commandments.
General Knightwalker had just defeated his last (current) opponent standing when Pantherlily landed and called his name, "General Knightwalker, I have just arrived. What's happening?"
A death-glare crossed the general's face. "The Raijinshu clan have committed high treason against Edolas," he ground out, "The prince is missing and the queen-"
He stopped when Pantherlily placed a paw on his shoulder and leaned forward, whispering something in his ear. Laxus's eyes widened and he stared at the white-wrapped bundle with suppressed relief.
"That's good... We have never been so blessed among the Exceed. May the Great Kings smile upon you," he said quietly, "Head to the prince's room. If I'm right, my daughter and her friend, Ultear, should be in that general area by now. They'll protect him with their lives and then you can join us."
Pantherlily nodded once and took off towards the royal chambers just as another wave of the Raijinshu rebels appeared and Laxus willed the Nine Commandments to Silfarion's form, exponentially increasing his speed and cutting the number of attackers in half.
"Lord Laxus really meant that," the prince said quietly and explained when he had Pantherlily's full attention, "The Great Kings were said to be so powerful and wise, they were considered gods. Lord Laxus claims not to believe in the story, but deep down, I think he really does. He gave you a very noble compliment."
"Indeed he did, but stay silent for a little longer, Prince. Don't want to give your position away to the enemy. They think they've already killed you."
The prince nodded in acknowledgment and kept silent for the entire flight until they landed just outside the door to his room. Pantherlily set the boy down on his feet and removed the white wrap from around his small form so that he could walk without tripping. He had just opened the door when there was a loud shout from one end of the corridor and he whirled around to face the source on instinct, thinking one of the Raijinshu had seen the prince and was coming to finish what had been attempted.
He could just make out the form of a little girl with flaming red hair streaking towards them when the prince shouted, "Erza!"
The name barely registered in Pantherlily's mind when the girl, Erza, yelled coherent words this time, "You idiot prince!" and launched herself at the royal son, spear first.
He had no time to react to the sudden (and very quick!) attack when the prince side-stepped her slightly and grabbed the weapon's hilt, using her own forward momentum to thrust the tip into the no-longer unblemished floor. He used it as a brace to push himself feet first into air with an agility Pantherlily never suspected and kicked the girl in the stomach, sending her flying while the prince landed in a full-body crouch, the spear now in his hands as he watched her intensely. The prince was more capable than he'd believed!
Erza glared and he came back to his senses (having finally realized why her name was familiar. The prince had said it earlier). "Hey, don't you realize that you could have killed the prince? !"
"If he had died that easily, then he wouldn't have been fit to be the future king at all!" she yelled and charged again, whipping two daggers out from the inside of her boots.
Jellal's eyes narrowed slightly and just when it seemed like she was going to strike him, he turned the spear sixty degrees and successfully blocked both of her daggers. "That's not fair, Erza. You're also insulting yourself by saying that I can't dodge and counter such an obvious attack."
"Well, I would deserve it," she growled as she slightly lessened the pressure she was putting on her right hand which caught Jellal off-guard and she slipped her arm under the stick, catching her spear in the crook of her elbow and throwing all of her weight against Jellal's right side. It worked. Jellal was forced to let go of the weapon and he tumbled sideways. The spear was hers again. "I would deserve it if after all my work, you were still killed! Damn you!"
She tossed the daggers away and threw herself forward to attack him again just as a spear clattered to the ground beside him. Jellal didn't question it as he picked up the weapon and met her attack head on.
"Damn you!" she yelled again, "How dare you do that? ! We couldn't find you anywhere and we were suddenly under attack from within!" she continued to scream as she viciously attacked him and he silently parried each of her blows, "The Raijinshu told us you were dead and how dare you hide from me? ? How dare you go missing and make me think they were telling the truth? ! ! I've trained you for years! You're not allowed to get killed so easily! You're not ever allowed to disappear! !" The last jab was too strong and pushed him off-balance and she rushed forward with every intention of stabbing him in the shoulder, head injury present or not, "If you disappear, then Edolas has no future! ! !"
Erza thrust the spear forward, but Jellal wasn't there. He had used his shift in weight to fall backwards onto his back and she shot over him. He kicked upward right into her rear-guard arm and she was forced to drop the spear yet again, still falling forward. There was no time to think, only to act. Later, Jellal wouldn't really be certain how he managed to pull it off so quickly. The prince grabbed her falling spear and threw himself sideways over her, falling on top of her and pinning her down when she hit the ground and he held the spear horizontally, the shaft just under her chin so that she had to look him in the eyes. They were both panting heavily.
"That's not true, Erza," Jellal said seriously between his heavy breathing. "Edolas does not revolve around one man or one woman. It will continue on without us. It will survive. We'll all survive, no matter what happens. Our future is what we make it out to be. So don't give up on our future yet, Erza," Jellal added with a smile, "There's still so much that we haven't done, so you mustn't give up, okay?"
Erza stared wordlessly up at him, her mouth agape when she turned her hazel eyes away and she murmured his name, "Jellal... You can't die. I want to see an Edolas like that eventually. And you can't get killed either... I won't let you," she turned her head back to him and her eyes were hard as they bore into his, "Because I'm the only one who's allowed to kill you."
Jellal looked puzzled for a moment and then nodded gravely, "I understand. If I betray Edolas, then I won't deserve to live. As the most loyal of the clans, it's only fitting that-"
"-NO! That's not why!" Erza interrupted forcefully and Jellal stopped, "I'm the only one who has the right to kill you. You must live for Edolas. And if only I have the right to kill you... then you can't be killed prematurely before you've accomplished your ambitions."
"Erza, does me being alive... really mean that much to you?" Jellal asked his red-haired friend in wonder as he finally removed the spear from below her neck and tossed it aside, mentally-prepared just in case she decided to attack him again, but her body didn't tense up to fight him. She was done.
"Of course it does!" she all but shouted, "When I heard you'd been killed, I-" she paused momentarily, afraid she had been about to say too much, "I felt like the world had just ended. I was... I was scared," she finally admitted, "I was scared that you were really gone and that there would be no way I could ever find you. So don't leave. Don't leave me like that again!" she screamed and Jellal witnessed something that he'd never thought he'd live to see, Erza's tears. And for some reason, seeing those tears hurt him more than his head had when he'd been dealt that blow.
"I'm sorry," Jellal whispered ashamedly as he helped Erza sit up and held her hands, "I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he repeated as he hugged her. He would do whatever he had to to keep Erza from crying. Erza wasn't ever supposed to cry. "Who's going to cry for you if I go, anyway?"
He had meant it as a jest, but it somehow didn't come out that way. However, it was just enough that Erza wrapped her arms around him and returned his hug. He didn't even care that she used his shoulder to wipe away the rest of her tears.
"She liiiiiiikes him," a girl's voice trilled quietly next to Pantherlily and the big cat jumped out of his skin when he saw a girl with long dark-brown hair standing next to him and gazing at the two children sitting on the floor with a smug, secretive expression on her face. How had she snuck up on him? ! The girl turned to him innocently and said, "My name is Ultear. The young Miss. Knightwalker told me to be lookout while she dealt with Prince Jellal, but..." she sweatdropped and pointed at the spear that Jellal had temporarily-borrowed and then discarded, "I'm kinda useless without a weapon."
"Ah, so it was you who threw it to the prince."
Ultear nodded once, "Yes, sir. Didn't want him getting even more injured than he already is. Were you the one who saved him?"
"Yes. Whether it was luck or fate, if I hadn't been there when I was, your prince would have fallen to his death and the human kingdom of Edolas would be without an heir," Pantherlily answered.
Ultear opened her mouth to say something else, but was interrupted by a roar of frustration and a thump. Erza had pushed Jellal down to the ground and looked positively furious. "Damn it, Jellal! Tell me who it was that attacked you and your mother right now! Answer me! !"
Jellal's eyes nervously shifted over to where Pantherlily and Ultear were standing and he shuddered slightly. "No, I can't."
"You will tell me, or I'll break your arm," Erza growled, "And don't think I won't do it!"
Jellal gritted his teeth, but he didn't look scared, more concerned. "Erza, you won't like it-" he began, but she cut him off.
"I already don't like this!" she yelled as she gripped his shirt collar and shook him, "The Raijinshu attacked you and your mother! This is high treason against the Kingdom of Edolas and I won't stand for it! I don't care if they are a part of my family, they're not anymore! Traitors to Edolas must be punished without mercy! They are the lowest of human scum and they are no longer blood kin of mine, so I'll repeat my question. Who. attacked. you!"
He didn't want to say it, but he had no choice. Erza wouldn't stop until she'd gotten what she wanted out of him. "Evergreen," he mumbled softly, hoping with all his heart that she hadn't heard him.
She had.
"Ever..." she breathed, her hazel eyes wide with horror, "My own..." but her eyes hardened and took on a look of death, "No, she is not my mother. She's a traitor to Edolas just like the rest of her clan and she will be punished for her crimes. I won't allow her to get away with this even if she is the one who birthed me. Ultear! Guard the prince! Don't let him leave your sights!" Erza bellowed at the older girl as she tossed her back the spear.
Ultear fumbled with it, but did manage to keep it from dropping back down to the floor. "Y-Yes, ma'am! But where are you going? ! !" she shouted suddenly as her friend took off in a sprint down the corridor as she clutched the spear against her chest.
"I'm going to help my father bring down the Raijinshu and find Evergreen!" the redhead hollered back just before she sped out of earshot.
"Will you two be alright here by yourselves?" Pantherlily asked the two children, "I had promised General Knightwalker that I would return to help with the fighting once I brought the prince here, but that was before his daughter decided to join him."
Jellal opened his mouth, but Ultear beat him to it. "We'll be fine!" she said with a reassuring smile, "We honestly didn't see anyone the entire way here and nobody is going to look for the prince in his own chambers even if they do realize that he's not dead. We couldn't have asked for a better hiding place really."
"Very well, then. I'll be off," Pantherlily said as he spread his wings wide and was about to take off when a small hand grabbed the leg of his pants. He looked down and saw the prince gazing up at him worriedly.
"Lily, will you please protect Erza?" he asked plaintively.
She was a Knightwalker and the daughter of General Laxus. Pantherlily didn't really think she'd need his protection, but he would keep an eye on her just the same. The concern the prince felt for the girl was quite endearing and he gingerly patted the boy's now mostly-healed head. "Don't worry, Prince. I'll look out for her so long as you promise not to leave your chambers or Ultear's line of sight until someone trustworthy comes back for you."
Jellal gave a relieved smile and nodded instantly, "Yes, Lily. I promise."
"Good. Ultear, don't let your guard down for even an instant. The chances are indeed low, but they still exist. You protect this kingdom's future. Now both of you go in and hide."
Ultear saluted him in response as she opened the door with the other hand and ushered the prince inside. With the door closed behind the two children, Pantherlily took off down the same corridor as the scarlet-haired young girl, keeping his eyes peeled for any signs of either rebels or a flash of bright red hair.
Wow, this chapter... actually turned out to be longer than I'd expected... I didn't realize that just writing down all that I wanted to happen in this chapter would take so many words (pages) and I was planning on making this little section two chapters straight from the beginning. And yet another familiar character is introduced to the story. Ah, Pantherlily, I love you. You're so awesome. :)