Chapter 13
A/N: Sorry for taking so long ^^" I was preoccupied with school work as well as other stuff~
But I promise, unless I specifically state I'm giving up on this story, I will update sooner or later!
The forest was silent as Erza tread through the abandoned trail, its unwelcoming branches letting through very little sunlight. It wasn't a well-known path, and not popular even amongst those who knew of it. There simply was no need for such a rough path when there were the large roads.
However, as the forest stood between the border between Ice and Heaven, it was a very convenient path for fugitives and refugees, or in Erza's case, a convenient way to hide from her King's detection as she neared the capital city.
She wondered why she would want to hide when she's returning to him anyhow, but she passed it off as wanting to have the upper hand in their reunion. She would not even consider that she was just procrastinating in her own little way.
But worries like how her king would react completely escaped from her mind as she walked out of the closed off branches and into view of the city.
It was red and blazing, engulfed in fire more fierce than Erza had ever seen. Erza ran, her fatigue from her walk completely evaporated as she approached the city. The outskirts were all fine, she noted, and the closer towards the city square she went, the harder her instincts screamed at her.
Her heart skipped a beat as she reached the center; her suspicions were proved correct. It was only property of the Crown that suffered damage, and the arsonists were the people; the citizens, themselves.
The fiery wind was strong against the fire, blowing the blaze closer and closer to the castle by the minute. But Erza is faster than the fastest horse as she races to the castle. She doesn't take notice of the riots, nor the traitorous soldiers that has laid down their weapons; she simply sprints. Pushing those that are in her way aside, she arrives in the courtyard of the palace to encounter fleeing servants.
A too familiar face grins as Erza enters the front gates to the main palace halls - a face that just didn't belong to the picture of royal sophistication and grace, but yet seemed to fit right in to a picture of a burning palace.
Erza is speechless as realisation of why her pink-haired friend is here dawns on her.
"Natsu… why?" Erza's voice was quiet and fearful.
"For freedom, of course, our freedom!" Natsu's grin was enough evidence that he doesn't get it; doesn't understand that she came here for her own free will. She knows she could work that to her advantage, and if her mind wasn't so flustered, she could easily devise a plan, but at present, she can only sprint pass him, knowing anything else she say might unknowingly reveal her own feelings for Jellal.
She is sort of half panicking when she encounters the head maid of the castle, and she can't help but smile for the cheerful cat-girl, who looks excitedly happy.
"Milliana," Erza beamed a greeting, her shaking fear hidden behind her masked brown eyes.
"Erza!" Milliana's expression is as much surprised as she is happy. "I didn't think you would come back! And to think now of all times!"
Erza smiled wryly, "Yes, about that… what's happening here? It's chaotic!"
"The time has finally come, Erza, for us to be free once more. There's a rebellion going on in the city, and we're going to overthrow the king!" Milliana's purr made Erza's heart twist a little; because after all her hard work, was it all for nothing? In the end, don't the people still hate Jellal? And didn't all she accomplish was do his dirty work? And now, when the people will finally reach their freedom, she'll be fighting against them.
Erza nods, masking her troubled thoughts behind the expression she had perfected after years being in Jellal's court. "Milliana, I have to go back to get my stuff before I leave the castle, why don't you go on out."
Milliana nods, "See you later, Erza!"
Erza was about to keep running deeper in the castle, without much of a plan, when she stopped in her steps. "Wait, Milliana!" She called back to her friend; "please, you know this castle's layouts well, right? Could you tell me something?"
Jellal's mouth was drawn in a firm, grim line as he looked out the window, his fingers pressing the cold glass with tensed emotions. The fire burned with fiery intensity, his reputation and comfort stripped down like his royal property outside.
He watches as his guards attempt to bar his gates; as lowly wizards attack, grinning with confidence. He knows the gate won't last; not when his guards are barely trying.
He doesn't have the motivation to turn around when the door opens behind him; he couldn't care less about the maids' reports on which part of the palace has been over taken this time.
"Your majesty," It irked Jellal to hear mocking obedience in the new comer's tone, and it was probably to Jellal's disadvantage that he had not talked with Lucy Heartfilia enough to recognise her voice.
He doesn't so much dodge as miss Lucy's first punch, and when he does look into her blues eyes, he can't find a single streak of mercy or compassion.
Before Jellal has even worked out what is happening, Lucy has already pulled out golden keys, "Gate of the water bearer, Aquarius!"
The silence of the deserted hallway was broken by the crash of the wooden door as water forces the hinges from its position. Jellal was first to tumble out, his blue hair draped over his bright surprised eyes.
Lucy quickly followed, her eyes glowing with hatred as she waved another round of her golden keys, "Horologium!"
Jellal is quick to get up, before he can be captured by the clock constellation spirit.
"Lucy Heartfilia, you're a committing treason," He states without much conviction; as he starts to understand how the rebellion seems to understand his palace's weaknesses so well.
"Gate of the Golden Bull, Taurus!" was all Jellal received as a reply.
Jellal is about to defend when a flash of red appears before him, and his eyes widen with surprise and hope.
"E-Erza?" He dared himself to whisper, as he watched his knight pin the young maid to the ground with her swords stabbing through Lucy's clothing.
Erza turns back to look into brown eyes, "… Your majesty." There is hesitancy in her eyes.
"Erza Scarlet, you… came back for me?" Jellal's voice is barely audible, and his wide eyes daring to hope.
"Perhaps now's not the time to talk about this; we've got to go," Erza smiles, before she grabs Jellal's arms and drags him down the hallway.
The halls passed by without notice to Jellal as he stared at Erza's soft, firm hands gripping onto his own. There was familiarity in them, yet he couldn't place what exactly his feeling was.
When she finally stopped in front of his bedroom, he looked at her questioningly, "The King's private chambers are forbidden to others unless in special circumstances."
She looked back at him, "If this isn't a special emergency," she waved her arms around, indicating the mess outside and inside the palace grounds, "then what is?"
He nodded after a second of hesitation, and unlocked the door to show the woman in. Erza didn't spare Jellal a single glance as she rummaged the room for his closet, grabbing out his many royal attires.
Jellal was quick to stop her, grabbing her arm as she was about to dig into another cupboard, "What are you doing!? I don't care what kind of circumstance this is; I'm still the King! And just… and just because awkward stuff happened last time does not spare you from my superiority!"
Erza looks back, sadness swimming in her eyes, "Last time… that's right. Do you remember what I said last time?" her question was voiced quietly, and before Jellal could open his mouth, she continued, "I said I loved you. And I still do, even if you're a terrible king and a terrible person – that's why, sometimes, a girl has to make sacrifices for the man she loves."
Jellal noticed then, for the first time, the tired bags under Erza's eyes, "What do you mean?"
Erza shook her head with a smile, before closing her eyes. Light flashed from her body and Jellal could only squint his eyes shut, all the while shielding with his arms in front of his eyes.
When he finally opened them, his gasp is an understatement to describe his shock. Standing before him is still the same scarlet haired woman, but the armour she wore and the blue skirt were folded neatly and held up before him. Instead, Erza was wearing the royal garments she had been holding earlier; garments that were identical to his own clothing.
"Your majesty, I don't believe I would be wrong to say that we are fighting a losing battle; it will only be a matter of time before our palace gates fall completely to the rebellion," Erza said quietly, but firmly. "As your knight, it is my job to protect your life, at all costs."
With a wave of her hand, she motioned for him to follow her to the back of the room. Lifting the painting on the wall revealed the engraved picture of a lever, and with a murmur of magic words, the lever materialised. With a grunt, she pulled it to activate the trapdoor, which emerged with the movement of his wardrobe.
Jellal stared at the open tunnel, then back at the redhead- but the person he saw had ridden herself of her red hair. What he saw, as the exact replica of him, as if he was staring into a mirror. "E-erza?"
"Put on these clothes of mine, milord, and escape through the tunnel. I had only learnt of this exit from Milliana, and according to her, not many will know of this secret escape path. You'll find yourself in the outskirts of the palace grounds, where you'll be able to escape. As long as you do not look like yourself, you will not be stopped for questioning; please, majesty, take my appearance and go – I'm sure you would have learnt this from your magic tutor."
"Erza, no!" Jellal cried, his mind refusing to process the plan. "Why are you doing this?! Why would you do this when all other knights whose job is to also protect me have abandoned this place?! When everyone has abandoned me?! And don't say you love me because you yourself admitted I'm a terrible person!"
Jellal frowned as he watched his replica cringe.
"Do you really not know me?"
Jellal's eyes widened before he closed his eyes, his head shaking slightly in denial. "You can't you can't you can't you can't. That girl… no, how could… you mean all this time?"
Erza smiled, "I'm glad you remember, Jellal, I'm so glad it wasn't for nothing."
Jellal could not ignore the tears in her eyes, and it finally registers in what's going to happen. He gripped Erza's arm, his own eyes threatening to water, "You're coming with me, though, aren't you?"
Erza shakes her head, "They'll never stop looking until they find the king."
"I'm not letting go, Erza Scarlet!" Jellal cries, "You've haunted my dreams for way too long, and you're saying I have to let you go already?!"
"Jellal, I… I'm sorry it has to be this way," Erza whispers hoarsely. "You have no idea how much I want to stay with you. No idea how much I miss the old days."
Jellal smiles wryly, "I can only barely recognise your face in my memories, let alone all that has happened in the past."
"I only wish I could help you remember, but I'm sure you can do it on your own, because I'm afraid I can no longer stay by your side," Erza said bitterly, "Please, let go, it's only a matter of time before the rebels make their way up here!"
"I'm not letting go, Erza, remember?" Jellal frowned, his voice shaking with desperation. "I'm not leaving without you, and I'm still more powerful than you with my dark magic; you can't force me to let go!"
Erza would kill herself later for what she was about to do, but she was desperate, and there really was no other chance for her to do this. She leaned forward, staring unflinchingly into her beloved's brown eyes before closing her own, and pressed her lips on his soft gentle ones.
It was soft, like heaven and ice cream, and she just for a moment, she willed herself to forget the evil words that had once left his mouth; forget the cruelties of the King of Evil. But she didn't forget her underlying aim, and the moment she felt Jellal's grip soften, she pulls away.
"I love you Jellal, I really do, and I only wish that kiss could last," she cries hurriedly, and pushes him through the tunnel entrance. "Live happily, for my sake as well as yours."
She pushes the wardrobe back into its original position with a grunt, and puts the painting back into place. Leaning on the wall, she slid down onto the ground, where she let her tears fly from her eyes, ignoring the faint crashing sound from the other side of the wall.
She has barely dried her eyes when familiar fire knock down the door. She looks away from her friends standing before her; choosing not to acknowledge the pink haired youth and the white haired beauty.
Time flies and she doesn't quite recall what happens next, only that she bothered to cry out, "Unhand me, you lowly peasants!" as rebels grabbed onto her. Too much was happening too fast, and the only comfort that accompanied her then, was the fact that Jellal was safe, and that Jellal will live.
To Be Continued... dun dun dun!
Am I cruel for being strangely satisfied with all this separation stuff :O Yes, the story has finally reached it's climax! Thank you all for sticking with me and following me despite my terribly slow updates. And I hope you enjoyed it~