A/N: I do not own Fairy Tail.

Sorry for the late update, people! I went camping last weekend so no internet access at all. Actually no cellphone coverage either XD But it was fun so whatever :) I went wall-climbing (didn't finish...) and airsoft (shooting cans) and paintball (in two teams). I even left a shoe behind during the obstacle race! Anyway, I learned that wall-climbing is actually very taxing on the arms and to secure footwear very well when hopping from tire to tire :) Okay, rant over. On with the story!

To clear up confusion about Edolas and Earthland, the story is set in Edolas but all characters except Mystogan and Erza K. and those whose Earthland selves weren't featured in the manga (like Sugarboy, etc.) are the Earthland ones. I just had them live in Edolas. Story-wise, this does not in any way tie in with the events during the Edolas arc.

"There are only two things you must keep in mind as part of the princess's personal guard," Sir Ichiya Wanderlei, head of said guard, explained as they walked briskly towards the princess's chambers. He hurried to keep up, unaccustomed to the heavy chain mail he was required to wear.

"First, since you have come highly recommended," the stout knight huffed. "Your post is beside the princess. Meaning you will not let her out of your sight. Except, of course, when she is bathing or otherwise in need of a lady's privacy. In that case, you are to place yourself in the immediate vicinity of the princess. This is a very important job, understand?"

He nodded with what he hoped was an eager expression. He really didn't need to be reminded of all these; he knew enough to know that it was imperative the princess was kept safe, seeing as she was next in line for the Edolas throne. He followed Sir Wanderlei up a flight of stairs, still cursing at the weight of his armor. It really was very inefficient, all this chain mail. How was he to move freely in case an attempt was made on the princess's life?

"Lastly," Sir Wanderlei puffed, clearly winded by their climb up. Valiantly, he kept going until he reached the top where he paused to catch his breath. "You are to address the princess as 'Your Highness' or 'Princess' only."

Without giving him a chance to respond, Sir Wanderlei rapped three times on an ornately carved mahogany door. They had arrived at the princess's chambers, he realized with a start. Looking around, he noted how isolated the princess's rooms were. The only people other than he and Sir Wanderlei were the two guards stationed at the door. That was odd; he thought there would be more soldiers stationed here.

The door opened and Sir Wanderlei slipped inside without so much as a glance back. He made to follow when the two guards sneered at him. He ignored them, already knowing what would come next.

"First they let women into the army and now children?" one of them snickered, shaking his head. "Go home, little boy. The King's army is no place for youngsters like you."

He bit back a retort. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction. As he turned to close the door behind him and left the two guards chuckling among themselves, he swore to find a way to prove them wrong, that he was more worthy of being here than they ever would be.

"Princess, I hope today finds you well?" Sir Wanderlei bowed in respect, his pointed gaze ordering him to do the same. Obediently, he kept his eyes on the ground, his posture respectful and submissive. He hadn't had a chance to see the princess yet but he had heard rumors that she was rarely seen in public. She probably thought she was too good for the company of mere commoners.

"Y-yes, I am q-quite well," a soft voice stammered. His eyebrows shot up in surprise. He had braced himself for a haughty, demanding, spoiled little princess and this meek, unsure voice threw him. He snuck a glance at his soon-to-be ward. And promptly forgot to breathe.

She was as beautiful as freshly fallen snow, with striking liquid eyes that blinked lazily at him. He had never seen such a sleekly magnificent form. Petite, elegant, his fingers ached to scratch behind her ears and bury themselves in her soft, white fur. The princess's cat was truly a marvel to behold.

"This is Eve Thylm." Sir Wanderlei's voice jerked him out of his daze. "He will be part of Your Highness's retinue."

His eyes snapped up to meet the princess's, belatedly scolding himself for this breach in etiquette. To compensate, he smiled winningly, hoping the princess wouldn't be too affronted by his behavior. He was rewarded with a furious blush.

The princess herself was the complete opposite of her majestic cat. From what he could see, she was painfully shy and completely unassuming. Her downward glancing eyes were at odds with the extravagant attire she wore and the lavishness of her room.

"Well then, if I may take my leave, Your Highness," Sir Wanderlei asked. Eve could see him twitching from the effort of holding his bowed position and silently applauded him for not letting his voice betray his discomfort. But then, he shouldn't have had to do that if the princess had told him to be at ease. That the princess had forgotten to do so made him wonder if the princess was actually a bit absent-minded.

"O-Oh!" The princess, most likely having realized what she had forgotten to do, looked even more flustered. "Yes, you may, S-Sir Wanderlei."

Sir Wanderlei rose and exited the room, quietly shutting the door behind him. A hand clamped down on his shoulder firmly. With a jolt, he looked up and saw a man towering over him. Eve knew it was rude to stare but the man had such tanned skin. It was uncommon in Magnolia and now that he thought about it, there wasn't nearly enough sun during the Magnolian summer to maintain such a dark complexion.

"Eve Thylm? I'm Ren Akatsuki. And before you ask, yes, I'm not from the capital. I'm from the Bedouin clans in the deserts up north."

Eve nodded. That explained his dark skin and unusual name. He smiled, feeling that he and this Ren could become good friends. Sure, his brisk introduction wasn't quite as welcoming as he had hoped but Eve hadn't sensed any hostility from him so far. Perhaps he won't even mind teaching him the finer points of horseback riding. The Bedouins were famous for raising the best horses and being the most skilled riders in the whole of Edolas. He decided to ask later. Best make small talk first to build rapport. Or so he had been taught.

"The deserts are quite far from the capital. What brings you so far from home, Sir Akatsuki?"

Silence met his question, Sir Akatsuki's expression turning unreadable. Perhaps he shouldn't have asked about such personal matters. Again, he berated himself. He had been making far too many mistakes dealing with people today. He should have picked a more impersonal topic like the weather or the price of sugar in the market. He racked his brains for a way to salvage the situation.

"He doesn't like to be addressed as Sir Akatsuki," a feminine voice said matter-of-factly. He turned towards it and saw a young woman leaning on the wall behind the princess. She wasn't looking at him though; her teasing gaze was solely directed as Sir Akatsuki.

"He prefers to be called Ren," she added. Eve looked to him for confirmation.

"Well," he coughed. "I don't mind."

"Oh, please." She shook her head at Ren patronizingly before turning to wink playfully at Eve. "He's always like this, acting like he doesn't really care even if he does."

"Anyway," she continued. "I'm Sherry Blendi, the princess's personal maid." She smiled cordially at him. He wondered of she might already have a sweetheart.

"She can get you anything you need, be it food or drink or even water from the icy summit of Mount Alden," Ren whispered to Eve conspiratorially, his face serious but with a voice colored with amusement. Sherry made an indignant noise and the conversation dwindled to just between Ren and Sherry as they traded insults good-naturedly. Eve noticed Ren's eyes dancing with barely-suppressed mirth, Sherry coyly tucking her pink hair behind her ear, the way their bodies unconsciously gravitate towards each other. Too bad. It seems she already had her sights on someone. Pursuing her would be futile and would most likely turn Ren against him. Besides, his family wouldn't approve anyway.

Pressure against his left leg drew his attention. The princess's cat had sidled up to him and was now sniffing delicately at him. He reached down to scratch behind her ears. With a hiss and a swipe of her paw at his outstretched hand, she leapt away, back to her owner's lap.

"Charle!" The princess scolded quietly but firmly. Charle meowed unapologetically and Eve could have sworn she threw him a condescending look. The princess began speaking in a voice so soft he had to move closer and strain his ears to catch her words.

"—d-doesn't l-l-like strangers ve-very much." He could tell that much, he mused, looking down at the shallow scratches on his hand. Luckily, the cat had only grazed him and it wasn't bleeding all that much.

"It's all right," he reassured her, letting his hand drop casually to his side. For the second time that day, he met the princess's eyes. She flushed prettily, her gaze abruptly dropping down to her lap. Her fingers trembled as she nervously stroked her cat's fur. He gave himself a mental slap for his foolishness. It wasn't his place to act so familiarly towards one of the royal family, especially not towards the future ruler of Edolas.

"I apologize for my impudence, Your Highness," he said gravely, finally remembering to put his lessons on etiquette in the presence of royalty to use.

"P-Please," the princess said. "W-Wendy is just fine."

"But—"

"Please?"

She looked so hopeful that he couldn't bring himself to refuse. Well, her authority superseded Sir Wanderlei's anyway. He nodded and the princess smiled so radiantly he could have sworn his heart skipped a bit. He took a moment to regain his composure, reminding himself that he preferred older, more mature women, not little, twelve-year-old princesses with pretty blue hair. It worked.

For now.

Mystogan sat alone, hood and mask in place as he silently observed the men gleefully gulping down Satan Soul's notoriously strong ale and drunkenly ogling the barmaids. The mug in his hands was still half-full. He had barely touched it, opting to take small sips and avoid getting too drunk to do his mission. His restrained movements were garnering him curious looks though.

He cast around, hoping to spot the person he had come to meet. He didn't know what he was searching for but it provided a much-needed diversion. Master had told him he only had to wait until Magnolia's clocktower struck twelve. Whoever was to give him the message would find him himself.

As if on cue, the clock tower boomed, its echoes causing the tables in the tavern to vibrate slightly. He stood up and made his way to the tavern doors, wondering where the messenger was. Halfway to the exit, a drunken young man around his age stumbled into him. Mystogan steadied himself, wincing as the drunk leaned heavily against him.

"Sho shorry," the man slurred, moving away on shaky feet. Mystogan shook his head; this was why he disliked going to taverns. Eager to get out, he pulled the door open. His eyes widened. Before him was the face that had haunted his dreams for as long as he could remember. In the split-second their eyes met, a barrage of images flooded his mind. A war-torn battlefield strewn with the bodies of countless men. Her smiling contentedly at him as he touched her swollen belly reverently. A blood-soaked sword lying forgotten on the damp earth. Them lying amidst a meadow of primroses.

"Move."

Her commanding tone broke the spell, leaving him reeling from the emotions evoked by the images. He stepped to the side to let her pass. Her scarlet hair streamed behind her as she strode into the tavern. His eyes followed her, paying no heed to the pink-haired young man trailing behind her.

Scarlet hair.

Scarlet.

"Erza…"

A/N: Mystogan and Erza K. finally meet! Their part in this chappie was very short but don't worry. Next chappies will have a lot more MystoganErza.K moments.

Off-topic but I made Transcendent and Dust and Shadow wallpapers so if anyone's interested, check out my profile :)

Review, okay?