The Strongest Princess
Chapter 10
An Empty Throne
"Do something!" Mira screamed. Laxus now lay in Porylusica's ward, his mouth foaming, his eyes rolled back into his head. Porylusica scowled briefly at the outburst, but focussed on the more pressing task at hand. Wendy scurried over, summoning her magic to diagnose Laxus. Her eyes widened in shock.
"What is it, child!? We have no time!" Porylusica barked.
"I-it's a powerful neurotoxin. It's necrotizing the tissue of his brain. I-I'm sorry, but it's too powerful and fast acting. I can't stop it." Wendy was almost crying as she spoke. Mira shook her head vigorously, tears streaming. Porylusica scowled again.
"Shut up. We're not done yet."
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"What's going on!?" Levy cried, racing into the antechamber where Erza and Kagura already waited. Erza had been sent out of the ward while Porylusica waited, and it was she who had sent word to her siblings. Alongside them were the Thunder Legion, waiting with tense poses. Minerva quietly joined them, not saying anything. Mira fled the ward and sat down, head in her hands.
"Mira, what has happened?" Erza asked gently.
"Porylusica says… there's nothing that can stop the poison!" Mira sobbed, her words hard to understand while she cried. "How!? Why?! Why did this happen?"
"I don't know, but we should investigate, sister," Minerva stated, looking at Kagura directly. Kagura nodded, surprised by Minerva's intent. They quietly left to go study the crime scene. Between their scrutiny, nothing could escape their gaze. Bixlow wrapped an arm around Fried's shoulders as he wept. As she left, that did not escape Minerva's gaze at all.
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"Mavis fucking Vermillion," Gajeel swore under his breath, leaning against the stone wall. "I can't believe it. Laxus… damn, he might have some issues, but he's strong. Insanely strong. It's hard to imagine it."
"No one's strong against poisons," Juvia replied sadly. It wasn't quite true, in fact Mira herself was immune to poison thanks to her demonic constitution, but the idea was in the right place.
"I don't want to go out like that. It's miserable. I wanna die in battle, like a real man."
"Is that really a better way?" Juvia asked him. He grunted and shrugged, unwilling to think on the deeper implications. Men died fighting gloriously, right? In truth, he'd never thought that his life was worth more than that, never had shelter, warm food… he shook his head, frustrated. He'd hated Levy. When had that stopped? Juvia seemed to notice his frustration and smiled.
"It's impossible not to like Mistress, am I right?" She asked happily. Gajeel grunted and shook his head in a non-committal gesture. "I mean, I'm no man, but what could one ask for in a woman beyond good looks, cuteness, intelligence, generosity, riches..."
"Shut up, Rain Woman, shut up. Even if everything you say is true, I'm her employee, not her boyfriend. On top of that, I'm a petty thief and she's a princess."
"Oh! It's just like Aladdin and the Arabian Nights!" Gajeel looked up at her as if she were mad, completely uncomprehending. "It's a book about how a pauper gets a princess to love him. Maybe if Gajeel-kun got closer to Mistress, he'd be more well-read!"
"Damn you! Do you have any idea how many books I've listened to her read!? It's all pointless drivel. The real world is hard enough without people wasting their time, heads tucked into fictional worlds. And damn you again; what pointless stuff have you got me chattering on about!?"
"Juvia thinks that Gajeel-kun started this conversation…"
"That's not true! All of you damn women keep going on about how Shrimp's special and how she's precious and how I should be looking after her! It just goes on and on!" He snapped, flushing angrily. "I'll protect her for my own damn reasons!"
Juvia smiled triumphantly, and Gajeel looked aghast as he realised what he had said. He folded his arms and looked away petulantly.
"Anyway, since you're up here singing her praises, you might want to hear what she's up to right now."
===][===
"You're letting me go?" Totomaru asked, standing slowly, clearly still in pain despite the treatments he'd been receiving. Levy stood at the jail door with Jet. She'd elected not to bring Gajeel for this meeting, feeling that it would show weakness to bring his comrade to vouch for her. She decided not to mention Laxus to him for the moment. The topic of the king's demise was not something to be blabbered out. Still, Levy had never been very good at hiding her emotions, so she had to say something.
"I'm sorry that I can't be more formal right now, but we're having a family emergency. I'm rather upset and stressed, but I'm not going to just sit on my laurels and wait for the outcome. I'm going to further my work and you, Totomaru, are my next job. Gajeel tells me that you are rather smart."
"Smart? Um, not really, my Lady," Totomaru replied bashfully. "I'm just a street dog, running for his meals."
"Gajeel told me that before you joined the phantom institute, your parents were teachers. Is that true?"
"Um, yes my Lady. My father was a professor and my mother a teacher. However, after I got in a few… scuffles with the law… they disowned me and I turned to a fully-fledged life of crime." Levy cocked her head, studying the man silently. His words were few but spoke of a lot more. Parents like that sounded like the upper class sort, pushing a lot of pressure on their son to perform. Frustrated, he'd lashed out and become a rebel. She imagined that it all just sort of spiralled from there.
"Totomaru, you are facing prison time. I am here to offer you an alternative. Come and work for me as Chancellor of Education."
Totomaru would have spat in her face if he'd been drinking, he was so shocked. "Um… excuse me, my Lady, but isn't such a role normally suited to an older man with great experience and education?"
"Such as your father? Why not talk with him when you have troubles? It'll be a good support network for you. I'm sure he'll be so proud to hear about how well you are doing."
"My Lady, I don't understand…"
Levy sighed and checked that they were alone. "Okay, let me lay all of my cards on the table. I'm in over my head. I need help spreading the workload around. But, I can see that you've met my sister recently." Totomaru looked down at the splint that secured his healing arm. "She is ruthless, demands power and would crush me like a bug if she could. I need to make sure that the person I hire isn't a pawn placed by her, nor a person she can manipulate."
"My Lady…"
"Jeez, can you please drop the 'My Lady' stuff? I'm not in the mood for it."
"Um… what I wanted to say is, I hate… oh shit, she's royalty… I mean, I am not fond of Princess Dreyar, but I am much weaker than her. If she comes to me, I cannot stop her."
"I understand that. Tots… may I call you that? Tots, Minerva is one of the strongest people in the kingdom. Very few could stand against her. I don't hold that against you. I'll assign you some guards; even a princess cannot act violently in the open."
"This is a lot to take in," Totomaru groaned.
"I understand. Please think on what I've said. I'll visit you again soon."
===][===
"From what I can gather, we have two suspects. Mirajane Strauss and Fried Justine."
Kagura turned to regard Minerva coldly. They were in Kagura's office. She sat behind her desk, scribbling notes while Minerva lounged nearby. "You are speaking of our brother's wife-to-be and his closest confidante. You'd better have some damn good speculation to back up those words, sister."
"It's pretty clear, is it not? The poison, from Mira's own testimony took affect the moment that Laxus drank his wine. We can surmise that it was the wine that was poisoned and not something he imbibed earlier. Once my toxicologists get back to me, we'll know for sure, but let us work on the assumption. The man who bought the bottle was Fried. He alone had the chance to tamper with the bottle. Mira, having just become heir apparent, decides to rule the throne alone. One clear opportunity, one clear motive."
"The motive makes no sense. They aren't married yet. Mira has no legal claim to the throne. And she drunk the wine too."
"Yes, but she knew that her magic would protect her from it, did she not? Not only that, but as head of the household, she might have ordered Fried to get the wine, knowing it to be a fine product. I'm suggesting that the pair might be in cahoots."
"According to Mr Justine, Laxus ordered him to get the wine."
"Of course, he would say that," Minerva scoffed. "Truly sister, I believed you wise enough to not trust the words of a murder suspect! In fact, I have another hypothesis to suggest. I have not acted upon it, but I have received snippets here and there that Fried Justine might be a sexual deviant."
Kagura didn't reply instantly. "A what?"
"A homosexual, my naïve sister. I am suggesting that Fried had fallen in love with our brother, and planned to take him and his love-rival Mira down at once in a fit of jealous rage. However, he hadn't counted on Mira's immunity to poison, meaning that it backfired on him."
"That's an awful lot of speculation without evidence to back it up," Kagura noted reasonably.
"Sister! The most important things is opportunity. Only Fried and Mira were near that bottle."
Kagura shrugged. "Maybe it was poisoned before Fried purchased it. We should begin questioning the staff at Alberona's."
"Cana is the daughter of Gildartz Clive, as loyal a man to the throne that there has ever been. Do you really think that is likely?"
"As likely as Mira or Fried!" Kagura burst out angrily. "You want to talk about loyalty, then those two stand at the top of the list! Mira has been Head of the Household since she was a teenager, and Laxus' lover for many years. Fried has served Laxus as a friend from childhood before becoming his guard! Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty!"
"Perhaps you are right." Minerva's agreement made Kagura stall. She hadn't expected that. "But we must place those two under watch for now, just in case."
"Agreed," Kagura said dismally. She couldn't fault the logic. Motive was meaningless without opportunity. In the back of her head, she wondered if this was a ploy of Jose, or even Laxus' dispossessed father, Ivan, but without opportunity, what did they matter? They had a weapon at the crime scene. They needed to trace back the owners of that weapon. "Where does Cana source her ingredients from?"
"Several places. I've already sent men to the Heartphilia Estate to check their books. I think that'll cover the main thrust of it. You see? I was already thinking ahead to the source. I am not so naïve, sister."
"I would lay many faults at your feet, sister, but naivety is not one of them." At that point there was a knock at the door and Minerva's retainer, Sting, entered.
"Please excuse the intrusion my Ladies, but Princess Scarlett has summoned you both to the throne room as a matter of great urgency."
===][===
Damn it all to hell, but the infernal beast was fast. It moved in straight lines like a bullet, only turning briefly to dash in another line. The dragon's head was shaped almost like a crescent moon, two curving blades jutting from its brow and chin.
It had begun to harry the fleeing Extalians, the ragged column of tired refugees now heading for Magnolia. Charla tried to stop Panther Lily from going to fight the beast, injured and exhausted as he was, but his tireless sense of duty would not allow him to do any less.
However, help came in an unusual form.
"Now! Down, Cubelios!" A winged serpent dived out of the path of the monstrous beast. Erik, otherwise known as Cobra of the Oricion Seis guided his steed with his prescience granted by his listening magic. His face contorted with rage. "You giant bastard! Fangs of the Poison Dragon!"
A dark stream of magic sprang forward like a venomous serpent. Cobra was rewarded by a few of the dragon's scales being torn away, but no greater damage than that. The enormous bladed head swung around and Cobra was the target of another one of its dashes.
A heavy weight barrelled into the dragon's head and it staggered to the side slightly, missing Cobra and Cubelios by a hair's breadth. Cobra could see that it was one of the Extalians, an enormous warrior of a man, not that he cared too much. He hadn't been trying to save them, he'd been pursuing his own agenda.
"I don't know who you are, friend, but I don't think you're going to kill that," Lily rumbled.
"I'm a dragon slayer," Cobra spat angrily. "If I can't, no one can. And I owe this beast for what it's done."
"If it's the case that you want revenge, maybe you'd be willing to listen to another plan."
===][===
Erza stood before the throne, regarding the ancient seat of power with reverence. In the silence that enveloped the room (save Natsu and Gray's quiet observance) it really felt like something to venerate to seek after. And not so long ago, a murder attempt had happened right here.
"Please stop eyeing that chair so greedily," Minerva sniped as she and Kagura entered the room, flanked by their guardians, Sting, Rogue, Bacchus and Rocker. "You are not the only one with it in their sights."
"That is why I have called you here. Still, we should wait for Levy before beginning, lest I repeat myself."
"That runt has nothing useful to add," Minerva replied, waving away the words. "I imagine the reason that you called us here was to discuss the royal line now that our brother has passed away."
"He's not dead." Minerva's eyes widened as Levy entered with Gajeel and Jet. What had the runt just said to her? Not dead? How was that possible!? Levy caught the bewildered glance. "The poison was a fast acting neurotoxin that could not be cured. However, Porylusica in her wisdom ordered Wendy to use her magic to shut down Laxus' higher brain functions, realising that the neurotoxin required activity to work. Our brother is now in a coma, until a time such as he can be cured."
"But that…"
"Our brother is functionally dead," Erza stated severely. "No one has the ability to cure the poison at the moment. Perhaps those two can figure it out, but if not… he'll never wake up." Erza let a moment pass before continuing. "That means, that our country needs a new king. Or rather, a queen."
"And that's you, is it!?" Minerva shouted angrily. "You really think that YOU deserve to be queen!?"
"Someone has to do it, and I'm a good choice. I am strong, and I have good leadership skills from being the general to our nation's army for so long."
"Our strength is equal!" Minerva spat in a rage. "And we all lead our organisations! No, the tie-breaker here is that you're injured! You wear your armour to hide your bandages, but you aren't well, you cannot be queen!"
"I dislike that you two talk over me. I am your equal and deserve consideration to the throne," Kagura asserted, forcing herself into the conversation.
"Sister, I love you, but your mental state is not strong enough to be ruler," Erza replied harshly. "You run off of the rails at the smallest mistake; how could you handle the stress of being queen?"
"It won't be permanent!" Kagura countered. "If Laxus recovers, he will regain the crown; this is an interim position. It's like training, in case the possibility does arise."
"Even if it's not permanent, the person who takes the role will gain experience the other two don't have," Minerva pointed out. "In the case that Laxus does permanently die, the interim queen would be the obvious candidate – assuming she had not failed abysmally in her duties. Erza, you are injured and Kagura is weak. I am the only suitable one to rule."
"You lack compassion, sister. I will not leave this country in your hands." Erza's hand strayed to the hilt of her sword. A nimbus of power played around Minerva's fingers. Kagura also reached for her blade, Archenemy. The whole room began to crackle with energy. Guards stepped back, petrified. They couldn't fight here! To hit a member of the royal family was high treason and certain execution!
Gajeel's breath caught in his throat as Levy ran right into the centre of the triangle. What the hell was the midget playing at?
"Sisters!" Levy cried, hands up in placation. "There must be a better way! Maybe a vote!"
"Shut up, you naïve runt!" Minerva snarled. "We would each vote for ourselves; what would that solve?"
Despite the words, Kagura relaxed suddenly, straightening and releasing her sword. It took a moment, but Minerva and Erza followed suit, magical power ebbing away. She spoke, her voice clear and strong. "Our sister raises a good point; we should at least raise the possibility of a vote."
"I just said-"
"I vote for Levy."
"As I thought, you would – WHAT!?" Minerva's shocked cry echoed through the now silent chamber. She looked at Kagura as if she'd just gone completely insane. So, she vocalized that thought. "Have you gone insane!? You vote for the worthless runt!?"
"The way I see it, I cannot bear you to be queen. I dislike Erza being over me either. But the simple fact of the matter is, whomever is chosen will still rely on the others for the running of the kingdom. A more passive and wise figure is best for that interim position. Unlike you two, I know that Levy will listen to my advice."
"That is true," Erza mumbled. "And if the position becomes permanent, our seniority means that we may still dispose her. Very well, I agree to nominate Levy as the next queen of the kingdom."
"Hey, wait a minute," Levy replied with a trembling voice. "You can't-"
"Of course we can't! I vote for myself! Runt, vote for me, so it ties this stupidity and we can choose our queen through more sensible means!"
"More sensible than democracy?" Levy raised a brow. In truth, she was absolutely petrified of the prospect, but the chance to stab Minerva in the back was too damn tempting. "Then I cast my vote for myself!"
"You defy me!?" Minerva said in a low, strangled voice.
"Then it is decided!" Erza declared in a loud voice. "All kneel before Queen McGarden!"
Despite himself, Gajeel couldn't help but grin as he dropped to a knee, lowering his head. The look on Shrimp's face had been absolutely priceless, as had been Minerva's horror. One by one, all knelt until only Minerva stood, glaring at Levy like she was bomb, ready to explode with sheer, primal rage. Levy held her gaze defiantly, refusing to back down. Slowly, absolute hate in her heart, Minerva knelt.
"All hail Queen McGarden," she spat quietly. "Short may she reign."
===Author's Note===
Okay, I think that was a really bad pun at the end there. See, it's like the opposite of 'long may she reign', and Levy's really short – I'll stop now.
Then Levy sat on the throne and began to laugh maniacally, claiming that it was 'time to blow shit up'. No, really.
===Reply to Reviews===
SakuraIchigoDark: Yes, one of those. Please stop pre-emptively guessing all of my plots.
Fire Girl 108: See? He's alive, but in a critical condition! I have delivered.
Ulcaasi: Tell you what, give me a list of your favourite characters in order and I promise to not kill them. Honest.
Lucy Ashley from Fairy Tail: From the guy who brought you king Redfox, I give you Queen McGarden!
TheGirlWithNoIQ: Fairy Tail is infamous for badly translated names. Gajeel. Gajiru. Gazeel. Gazille.
KgX791: I promise you, Minerva will not win this! The exact manner, you'll have to find out in time.
Dark-phoenix-loves-kai: I've been fairly consistent, with a new chapter every Friday. Except when FF blocked me *shakes fist*