Chapter Twelve: "The Origins of Magnolia."
Natsu returned to the city, feeling nauseous and his stomach was in agony. He may have convinced Sawarr not to send for a carriage tomorrow, but the guards persisted and almost pushing him into the carriage to send him back home. "Why? Why stomach? Why must you hate me? Bleh!" Natsu was saying throughout the ride. When he got there, the guards had to help him get out and on his feet. Straight afterwards, they hopped on the carriage and drove off leaving poor Natsu leaning on a building wall to recover. He was begging his stomach to keep everything down. He had to make his way to the blacksmith's, so he can let sir Igneel know he's fine. When he finally arrived at the Blacksmith's, he was stunned to find nothing moving. "Sir Igneel? Hello?" Natsu called out his voice amplified a bit, he walked around the room, and even checked in the shed… but no, sir Igneel was nowhere to be in sight. Where was he? He exited Igneel's Fire Lair, and started walking down the streets keeping out an eye for his fatherly figure.
Lucy having some free time on her hands decided to see her history professor. He held vast amount of knowledge on Magnolia's history, and Lucy had some questions. There was a book in the Royal Library that held descriptive information, called; The Origins of Magnolia, but for some reason the librarians couldn't locate it… either someone took it out and didn't put it back, or someone misplaced it, or someone was reading it… anyway, it didn't matter since the professor she was going to see held the answers. She reached a door with a sign, The Historical Study Room, and knocked. She waited, and in a few moments she heard heavy footsteps coming to the door. "Ah, Lady Heartfilia, what do I owe this pleasant surprise?" A tall and hefty man opened the door. He had a white beard, and had his white hair combed down. He was well dressed, and wore a monocle.
"Mr. Capricorn, do you have time to answer some questions?"
"Of course, anything for you, my Lady." He stepped aside to let Lucy enter.
"Thank you." She entered into his study room, it was a simple yet organized rectangular room. He kept his study room tidy, so it was easy to find references when he needed them. There was a desk facing the window, and then winged out were bookcases filled with scrolls and books. In the middle of the room were two armchairs, and that's where Mr. Capricorn and Lucy sat down.
"Would you like some tea?" Mr. Capricorn offered as he poured himself one.
"No thank you." Lucy politely declined.
"So, what is your question?"
"Mr. Capricorn, I was hoping you could tell me about the heritage of Magnolia, and how it came to be?"
"Ah, a marvelous question." He stirred his tea, "The previous Lady Heartfilia also held the same curiosity. We often had long discussions on the heritage of Magnolia." Lucy smiled in hearing how she and her mother were alike that didn't involve their striking appearance, "Have you had the chance to read The Origins of Magnolia?" Mr. Capricorn asked.
"I did once, when I was bored. I don't remember much, but I'm positive it explained a connection between Magnolia with Ashton." Lucy said in an unsure voice.
"You're correct, Lady Heartfilia, but it was more than a mere connection." Then Mr. Capricorn went into story mode, and told Lucy what he knew.
Meanwhile at Fairy Tail, the gang was discussing about the recent events; Cana with her beer, Loke, Gray, Levy with a book, Mirajane keeping close tabs while she served, two older gentlemen, a young man with brunette hair, and a young Lady with light violet hair and wearing spectacles were all sitting nearby one another. "I say it's a good thing the Prince showed up when he did, especially after the fire incident. He seems more active than our king." Cana remarked before drinking her beer.
"Is that the booze talking?" One of the older gentleman asked, he had a pipe in his mouth, and he was called Wakaba.
"Probably, but didn't he and his men save three lives… which happens to be our friends?" Cana pointed out, "Also I heard he's asked his Country to supply food for us, and he offered to help rebuild the barn." Some of the members talked quietly amoungst to each other, "Even Erza fainted." "No, way!" "I guess she's human after all." "There's no way that's possible she fainted..." Could be heard.
"Who told you that?" The other older gentleman asked, named Macao.
"The Prince, he made an announcement that he'll do whatever it takes to bring justice for us, and he'll make sure we don't starve… something along those lines." Cana then took a huge gulp, some of the members silently agreed.
"Oh yeah, he came to the plaza after the incident and made the announcement, I was walking by from doing some errands." Mirajane said agreeing with Cana, "What did he mean by bringing justice?" Mirajane asked with some concern in her voice.
"He probably thinks he'll catch the criminal or something. I wouldn't worry, he's on our turf, and he would have to follow our legislation. Besides Freed would get the case cracked before the Prince could do anything." Gray commented.
"Don't forget Freed is having troubles with this one." Loke bluntly pointed out, "I saw his squad, the three of them literally scratching their heads in confusion, then coming up with some ridiculous hypothesizes; Evergreen thinks a firefly started the fire, Bixslow thinks a spark from a nearby fire started it… even though there's been no indication a fire was made close to the site, and Freed hasn't come up with anything, yet."
"Loke, why don't you take my advice and train to be a ranger?" Cana commented slamming down her cup, "Freed may have a reputation, but I know that he asked you for some insight from time to time."
"I'm not interested." Loke said shrugging it off, "Besides I already have a good paying job."
"Waste of talent…" Cana mumbled.
"They didn't say anything about Salamander?" The young woman asked with the light violet hair, named Laxi. Loke shook his head in response.
"I can't see that pompous fire magician intentionally lighting the barn on fire… perhaps as an accident." Cana commented with a little hiccup. All of a sudden, a pink hair individual barged into the discussion, making them jump.
"Has anyone seen sir Igneel?" Natsu asked in a loud voice, "I can't find him."
"Hi, Natsu glad to see you're well." Mirajane smiled, "I'll get you some refreshments."
"Oi fire breath, before giving us an early grave due to a heart attack, are you sure he's missing?" Gray said in a sarcastic tone.
"Well he's not at the blacksmith's, nor anywhere else in the city." Natsu replied.
"He could be mining some metals." The young brunette man, named Max suggested.
"Nah, the barrels are full." Natsu shook his head, Mirajane then handed him a Hot n' Spicy Apple Cider, and bowl of beef stew. "I know you're worried, but Igneel wouldn't want you to act without thinking." Mirajane said in a caring manner, and with those words and his empty stomach convinced Natsu to sit down and eat.
"I wouldn't worry on Igneel, he's a fully grown man." Macao said trying to lighten the situation.
"Did you check his house?" Loke asked knowing Natsu often overthinks the most obvious or simple answer.
"No, I've just been searching the city. I wanted to make sure he wasn't here before checking home." Natsu replied.
"Well ash brain, check there before barging in here like a lunatic!" Gray retorted.
"Sir Igneel isn't a man to take breaks, and it would be unusual to find him at home at this time, ice princess." Natsu retorted back glaring. Gray and Natsu were about to do their usual fight, when a voice spoke up.
"Did you know that Magnolia used to be part of Ashton many centuries ago?" Levy remarked out of the blue as she flipped a page to the book she was reading. Her statement caught everyone's attention and they all looked her clearly expressing they didn't know. "After seeing the third Prince from Ashton, I remember reading something in the library; The Origins of Magnolia, fascinating book. It explains the founders, and origin of Magnolia." She closed her book, and looked at her audience, "Mirajane, may I please have another drink?" Levy asked, knowing she would be talking for awhile.
"Sure, I'll be back in a jiffy." Mirajane quickly moved to get the drink and came back before she missed any information. When she placed down the cup, and sat down Levy proceeded. "Magnolia back then was only a landmark where the average and poor population lived in Ashton. In other words, it was mostly landscapes with a small humble village. Ashton, has always been a rich and powerful Country, mind you their ways were quite oppressive."
"What do you mean?" Natsu asked.
"Citizens, such as us were treated very poorly... even to the point it was downright cruel. We would be considered vermin's and pests in the eyes of the elites and royals. Despite how rich the Country was, it wasn't equally distributed. The higher classes refused to help the people in the village even though they worked hard to feed their Country. An excellent example of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer." Levy explained, she then gave a little shudder, "No, they weren't even treated as humans."
"So how did the village separated from Ashton?" Mirajane asked.
"There have been a few attempts to fight back, unfortunately it didn't work, and the average population almost got wiped out. The king was unmerciful, and so the people lost hope and the will to go against the king. It's rather depressing." Levy paused before continuing, "However, 400 years ago, someone formed a rebellion group. They strategized and planned cautiously for their independence. Instead of using the forced tactic such as starting a war or an uproar like the failed previous attempts, they went into stealth mode, basically camouflaging themselves and conversing with the nobility. And do you know who led the rebellion?" Levy took a sip of her drink, unsurprised of the non response. "Anna Heartfilia, a founder of Magnolia."
"You mean?" Loke asked, grasping a connection.
"Lucy is a direct descendant." Levy nodded, "Magnolia, I'm afraid has forgotten their ancestor history and the prominence of the Heartfilia clan. She played a main role in building Magnolia." She took another sip before explaining, "Anna Heartfilia, also known as the Celestial Warrior was an intelligent and resourceful woman. She also was described to be very fair and beautiful that even the nobility noticed her." Some of the men raised their eyebrows, "So, she used her beauty to her advantage, she went undercover and pretended she was a noblewoman from another Country."
"So... she was like a spy?" Natsu asked.
"Actually, in the book the writer noted her role was similar to a shinobi; she did more than just flirting, and mingling with the upper class and finding confidential information. There were a few times when she and her close companions calculated and targeted some nobility when a situation called for it. Even on casual settings she carried hidden blades and small weapons in her clothes, hair, and garments in case she needed them. Keep in mind, if her identity was revealed, she would've been tortured before being executed." The others were looking at her with big eyes, and gaping mouths, clearly flabbergasted that Magnolia a peaceful place would hold such a history. "It's a rather long story, the operation took sixteen years, but in the end Anna Heartfilia and the rebellion group succeeded. During her time being undercover, she made allies with foreign nobility and royal members who shared a mutual loathing to the Ashton's and agreed to provide aid. When the timing was right, the rebellion group and the allies formed an army ready for war. However, Anna Heartfilia convinced the king to peacefully let the village go and to give them inhabited land without needing the force."
"How?" Gray asked, convinced it sounded easier said than done.
"All the author knows was that she was a cunning woman, it's a mystery how she managed to to it. My guess is she used blackmail, she may knew information that could be Ashton's fall... but in all honesty I don't know, and we'll probably won't know either." Levy concluded, and finishing her drink, "I told you it was fascinating, well I think it's time for me to go back to the library, bye, bye." Levy said getting up and waving to her friends.
"The people wanted to name their land, Heartfilia, as a sign of respect and gratitude towards their heroine. However, Lady Anna refused to have the land named after her and instead suggested to call it after her favourite blossom, Magnolia, which was befitting for it means beauty and perseverance. And, this is the end of The Origins of Magnolia, and the story of Magnolia's first Queen." Mr. Capricorn concluded the story. Lucy was silent, Magnolia's and her history was phenomenal. Her ancestor fought for the future peace for her people in a way that risked her life. For the first time her life, she felt pride in her family name.
"If Magnolia and Ashton have such a history, why is father pushing the arranged marriage? Doesn't he know The Origins of Magnolia?" Lucy asked.
"Sir Heartfilia, as an adolescence he too was fascinated by the story, but I'm afraid after Lady Layla passed away he's fallen into an abyss." Mr. Capricorn stood up, and looked out the window, "Sir Heartfilia is convinced that the arrangement will bring good, and that a Country can change in the span of 400 years. He's right in a way, Magnolia for instance, started with a female leader, but years later when cross marriages with other cultures happen, it does influence a Country. The Country will adapt to new legislation, and norms from the new introduced culture. An example would be the law that states, before a female heir takes her position as ruler and queen of Magnolia, she must be married to a royal or nobility." Mr. Capricorn turned to look at Lucy, "Was a recent law passed in the last century." Lucy knew it, she knew something was off.
"Is there a way to break it?" Lucy asked.
"Lady Heartfilia, there's..." Mr. Capricorn however was interrupted when there was a knock on the door, "Excuse me." He walked to the door and opened it.
"Ah, sir Junelle what do I owe this visitation?" Lucy heard Mr. Capricorn say, and she almost went into a panic mode.
"Mr. Capricorn, I was wondering if you've seen Lucy, it's dinner time and I've been searching for her." She heard Sawarr say. She was pleading in her head for Mr. Capricorn to lie, and say no he hasn't seen her all day.
"Lady Heartfilia's here, and she'll be delighted to have dinner." Drat, it was too much to expect a gentleman such as Mr. Capricorn to lie, "Lady Heartfilia, it's time for dinner."
"Thank you, Mr. Capricorn for today, it was very informative and interesting."
"You're very much welcome, I would like it very much if you come again when I'm not teaching. Have a good evening." Mr. Capricorn said bowing, and he entered his study room and closed the door.
"Well, let's go." Lucy said heading to the diner room trying to keep space between her and Sawarr.
"What did you and Mr. Capricorn talk about?" Sawarr asked.
"I had a question for an essay he assigned, he was kind enough to explain it." Lucy hurriedly responded.
"What was your question about my sweets?"
"How Magnolia and Crocus became allies, the essay is to help me to comprehend how treaties and allies work, which will help me when I become queen." Lucy said, almost patting herself on the back for coming with a quick lie. Sawarr didn't ask anymore questions, but he gave a smirk.
Natsu quickly made his way home, hoping he would find sir Igneel. His head was spinning with the new information Levy presented. The point of Magnolia's existence was for the people to get away from Ashton... yet, the arranged marriage between Lucy and the Prince was to bring them together. Ugh, his head couldn't wrap around the logic of the royal lifestyle. He approached Igneel's home, and felt a pang of relief when he saw the lights on... meaning someone was there. He dismounted the horse, and ran up to the entrance. He could hear two voices, both men. Curious, he looked through the front window and saw sir Igneel sitting at the table with a serious expression on his face, talking to an elderly and short man sitting opposite to him; which Natsu recognized right away... the owner of the Fairy Tail Bar, Makarov Dreyar, or what the regulars called him, Gramps. What were they talking about? From what he can see, it looked very serious.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail it rightfully belongs to Hiro Mashima.
