It's another Fairy Tail Fairytale Monday! This is one of my favorite chapters in the first part of the story, so I hope you like it.

- K. Chandler

He had gotten tall and broad-shouldered, looking much older and more confident than when she last saw him. But there was no denying it. The man in grey was the boy she had played with back at Rosemary Orphanage.

It was Simon.

"Friend of yours?" sneered Ultear.

"Sort of…" said Erza, unsure what that had to do with anything. "Why does that matter?"

Ultear snorted, crossing her arms.

"He was the one who arrested the children…" said Jellal quietly.

"No, that can't be right. Simon would never do something so awful!" said Erza, her nails digging into her palms.

"He thought he was doing the right thing," said Jellal.

Erza shook her head again. "I just can't believe that. Simon knows better than that!"

"Weren't you the one who said that all wizards were dangerous?" asked Ultear.

"Well, yes, but…"

"What happens when these children grow up? Magical children become wizards. And wizards become dangerous, do they not?" she said sharply.

"Not here," said Jellal. "Let's go someplace where we can speak freely."

Jellal led them back towards the center of Brago, turning towards a community where the streets were better-lit, and the houses were much larger than most. There were no boarded-up windows or rickety steps here.

Erza had never seen such a thing. Why would the houses on this street be nicer than the others? Weren't they all supposed to be equal under the law? She had assumed that meant that all houses would be about the same size. Of course, she had never left Rosemary Orphanage.

Erza breathed a sigh of relief as they stepped into the warm glow of street lights and well-trafficked areas. This was very different from the prison complex they had just fled.

"What is this place?" asked Erza.

"This is where I live," said Jellal, letting them into a house that looked much like the others on the street.

"It's nice," she said, talking in the warmly lit rooms and high ceilings. This was a far cry from the shoddy prison that they had just left or even serviceable Rosemary Orphanage that she had called home.

"It's passible," he said, waving for them to sit.

Despite his words, Erza could tell this was much nicer than the dwelling of the average Citizen. Despite all the talk of equality, there must have been some luxuries only granted to those in positions of authority, like Task Force Officers. But given what she had seen tonight, she doubted Jellal and Ultear were connected to the Task Force.

Erza settled stiffly in an armchair, her coat bundled in her lap. This room was almost too nice for a nobody like her to be in.

"We did a good thing today," said Jellal, "freeing those children."

"Don't forget about Erik and Kinana," said Ultear.

"Quite so," said Jellal, nodding.

"What about the rest?" asked Ultear.

Jellal sighed. "We've talked about this. The problem doesn't lie in one prison or one arrest, Ultear," he said. "The problem lies with the system that punishes those for being born with magic. It teaches people to hide their talents. Children grow up in fear."

"Well, if the system is broken, then—" began Ultear.

"That's dangerous talk," interrupted Erza sharply. Here, in this well-lit room, on a plush armchair, it was easier to keep her head and her principles. Away from uncomfortable penitentiaries and ragged children, it all seemed less real. More like someone else's problem.

"We're very aware of what a risk this is, Erza," said Jellal. "But, I don't think we have a choice."

"You're speaking treason!" Erza snapped. She could not let these two sway her opinion. It wasn't right.

Jellal sighed, exchanging glances with Ultear. "Should I…?"

Ultear gave an impatient wave. "If you must," she sighed, lips turning down in a scowl.

"Erza, we're…" Jellal lowered his voice. "We're members of the New Council."

She sucked in a breath. "The New Council?" repeated Erza skeptically. "You expect me to believe that?"

"I know I told you to call me Jellal? Well, everyone else calls me Siegrain. That's still Ultear."

Erza's eyes widened. "That's impossible. Council Fourth Siegrain and Council Fifth Ultear?" she asked.

"I see you recognize us," said Ultear loftily.

"I recognize your names…" said Erza.

Every child in Fiore knew the face of Citizen Byro, the Council Chair. His portrait was displayed prominently in every school, every hospital, every business in Fiore. As for the other Council Members, they were less well known, but Erza had seen pictures.

She had, indeed, remembered a young councilwoman with dark hair, that matched Ultear's description. Council Fifth Ultear was one of only two women on the New Council. She was known for being both exacting and scrupulous, despite being the youngest member.

Council Fourth Siegrain had always been a people's politician. He was young and energetic, well-loved, and respected by all. He was also very good looking. Millianna had gone as far as to call him dreamy when they had looked at pictures in their History and Government class.

And Jellal certainly fit that bill, but there was something different about him. The most recognizable thing about the Council Fourth was the mark of the free State of Fiore that decorated the right side of his face, something that Jellal didn't have.

"I thought Citizen Siegrain had a…" she tapped at her right eye.

"What? You mean this?" Jellal rubbed at his cheek. The bottom half of the red marking that symbolized the New Council started to emerge under his fingers.

"You are him…" said Erza, unable to hide her awe.

Jellal wiped his fingers on a handkerchief, leaving a flesh-colored residue on the cloth. "I thought it was a good idea when I was a teenager. What better way to show support for a cause than to wear it on your face? But now I tend to hide it when I'm not on business," said Jellal. "I prefer being less conspicuous."

"But why are you doing this? Don't you know what that means? The people elected you to serve their interests. And here you want to oppress them with magic?!"

"Lies and propaganda," said Ultear, shaking her head. "Magic never oppressed anyone."

"Magic is used by the elite to control the general masses," argued Erza. Everyone knew that.

"Is that what they're teaching these days?" asked Jellal.

"It's the truth, isn't it?" asked Erza.

"Whose truth? The truth is in the eye of the beholder," said Jellal. "Everyone twists the facts to fit their narrative. What you've got is just one version of it."

"And what's your truth?" asked Erza, a heavy knot forming in her belly. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.

"Everyone has some magic potential," explained Ultear. "While not everyone has the same aptitude, it's certainly not limited to the privileged few. The only thing required is the desire to learn. It is hard work, and not everyone had the time or the devotion for it."

"You want to know what I think?" asked Erza. "I think you're insane. People like you need to be arrested by the Task Force."

"Is that really what your heart's telling you?" asked Jellal, his voice low. "Can you really look the other way when these people are suffering like this? It breaks my heart," he told her. "I can't stay quiet anymore. Can you?"

For a moment, Erza didn't respond, swallowing hard. But finally, she shook her head. "How do I make this right?" she whispered.

Jellal and Ultear exchanged glances.

"What have you heard about the Purging?" asked Ultear.

"Twelve years ago, a brave band of Citizens raided the Guild Masters' Conference when it was being held here in Brago," recited Erza. "They waited until they had the cover of night and attacked."

"With the most powerful wizards in Fiore gathered together, it was a bloodbath," said Jellal darkly.

"One that changed the power dynamics in Fiore in an instant," added Ultear.

"Not just the power dynamics," said Jellal. "The entire culture. Magic went from being an ordinary part of everyday life to a taboo, something that people were being persecuted for. People just like Erik and those children. It was senseless."

"That's… awful," whispered Erza.

"There were a few survivors who escaped," said Ultear. "At least, that's the rumor."

"But it's just a rumor," said Erza. "How do you know it's true?"

"If it wasn't, there wouldn't be a Resistance at all," said Jellal.

Ultear nodded. "One of the survivors of that night was one of Fiore's strongest guild masters. Up until his death, he and two of his sons traveled across Fiore, gathering wizards together and providing a safe-haven for them."

"What does that have to do with me?" asked Erza.

"I'm getting there," said Ultear. "Lately, the word on the street is that there might be another survivor: the guild master's daughter, Eira. Her two brothers are trying to find her."

"What's so important about her?" asked Erza. "I mean, I imagine that if I had a brother or a sister, I'd want to find them too," she said wistfully. "But that's nothing to start rumors over."

"It's bigger than just that. If the rumors are to be believed, Eira's supposed to lead the Resistance to rise up against the New Council and bring it to its knees," explained Jellal, waving in her direction.

Erza shook her head, still not understanding.

"Erza," said Jellal seriously. "Have you ever considered that you might have a family somewhere?"

"I might…" Erza narrowed her eyes. "You want me to pretend to be this Eira girl?" she exploded, shaking her head.

"Who says you're pretending?" asked Ultear. "She's from Brago. You were found right outside the city, in Rosemary. You're about the same age as she would have been."

"Your name is Erza. That's not too different from Eira," said Jellal.

"I can't lead a rebellion! She's the daughter of a famous guild master," said Erza. "I don't know any magic."

"You've got the potential. Who says you can't learn?"

"Learn?" asked Erza, her brows drawing severely. "What do you mean learn? Everyone knows that magic is something that the elite of the old regime horded to keep their power. If anyone could learn it, how much of a threat could they be?" she asked.

"I told you earlier, everyone's born with some magic potential. The question is how much and whether they choose to cultivate it," said Ultear. "You, my dear, have plenty of it. I knew it the moment I saw you."

"Having that much magic is something of a rarity. It's this that convinces me that you could be Eira," said Jellal.

Could she? What if she was?

"But I'm not, though," said Erza, saying it out loud to convince herself.

"But you could be," said Jellal.

No! She wasn't doing this.

"Do you even realize how illegal this is? Helping the Resistance and planning a coup… that's treason!" snapped Erza, her voice wavering.

"And releasing dangerous criminals from a state prison isn't?" challenged Ultear.

Erza recoiled as if she had been slapped. She had done that, hadn't she?

She didn't know what was right anymore. Everything she'd been taught… What if it was all a lie? What was the truth? And was she somehow connected to this truth?

"I don't know what to believe anymore…" mumbled Erza, shaking her head.

"I know it's confusing. But you can believe in me," said Jellal softly, putting his hand on hers. "Is that okay?"

Erza nodded. She had only met him a few hours ago, but there was a strength and certainty in his grip that made Erza want to trust him.

"But what if I'm not Eira?" asked Erza suddenly.

"But what if you are?" asked Jellal. "What if you're the only one who could make this country right again? You could be the answers to their prayers, the salvation of all of Fiore. You could be Eira."

Was that possible? Was this what she was meant to do?

"Besides," continued Ultear, ever-practical. "Even if you're not, it's no harm done. We'll go to Magnolia, and the guild master's sons should be able to tell right away if you're not their sister."

Jellal squeezed her fingers gently. "Haven't you wanted to be somewhere you could make a difference?" he asked, his eyes serious. "Haven't you ever wondered where you belong? What if this is it?"

That was something that she thought about every day. She had always wondered about her purpose, about what she was meant to do in this life. But more than that, her mind was filled with possibilities of where she was meant to be.

What if this was her home? Her family? She didn't dare hope.

"Okay," said Erza. "Let's go to Magnolia."

And we're finally off to Paris! I mean, Magnolia. It took us a lot longer to get to this point than the film Anastasia did, but Erza had more to work through. Movie Anastasia was pretty much like 'It's a free trip to Paris, so why not?' but I wanted Erza to have to make a choice and think about what she really believes in. She's changed her mind twice since she left Rosemary this morning (first to rebel against expectations and be a Task Force Officer, then to potentially join the rebellion against the Task Force and the state). Moreso than her movie counterpart, this puts Erza in a position of reliance on Jellal (and Ultear, to some extent), as he's sort of her steward into this world that's the opposite of what she thought she knew.

Next time, in Journey to the Past: Jellal didn't hesitate. "Scarlet. Like your hair," he explained with a half-smile. "So I'll never forget."

Stop back next Monday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.