Earthland-2, Magic Council - Fiore Branch, X784: Erza

"You stand accused," Chairman Seam intoned, "of the partial destruction of Oshibana Station, and the complete destruction of the Ryusika Gorge bridge and the meeting hall in Clover." Siegrain was smiling in his nonchalant way, while his fellow Councilor (and partner in slime) Daphne munched on some sort of meat-on-a-stick. "According to eyewitness accounts–"

Rumble.

The entire Magic Council went silent. For less than a second, the earth shook. The amphibian clerks looked at each other, necks bulging as they swallowed. "Ahem. According to–"

Rumble. Rumble. Rumble.

Erza's eyes went wide. Oh, no. She already pictured Natsu in her mind, stomping towards the building, several well-meaning teammates trailing him. The shaking continued, but as it got closer, the tremors became more regular, spaced out by regular beats. Footsteps. Titania braced herself, but the expected implosion never happened.

Instead, the doors swung open, and Natsu did in fact arrive. Jellal had him tucked under one arm, the Dragon Slayer thrashing and roaring. Erza blinked, then gaped at Natsu's red wig and "armor" made from a barrel and two steins. The boy had attached a buckler to one vambrace, and a rubber duck to the other. "Let me go, Jellal! I'm not gonna let them get away with this!"

"Hush, Natsu," Jellal replied, voice even, motions fluid and calm. Yet with each step he took, the land shuddered beneath him. Natsu wailed in even greater outrage. Jellal ignored him, waiting until he reached the dock to drop the fire mage. "Councilors," he said, bowing even as Natsu leaped to his feet, "does Miss Scarlet have an advocate?"

A collective moan arose from the Magic Council. "Young Master Fernandes," Org began.

Jellal straightened. "No, then," he replied, cutting off the Deputy Chairman without batting an eye. "With the defendant's permission, then, I will take the role."

"Forget them, you jerks! I'm Erza!" Natsu declared, exhaling a jet of flame for emphasis.

The entire council gaped. Erza planted her face in her palm. Jellal sighed and pointed two fingers downward. A telekinetic wave planted Natsu face-first into the floor. "I apologize for Salamander's unexpected involvement in this matter. Rest assured I will personally repair all damages before we leave."

"Jellal, this isn't necessary," Erza whispered.

Jellal smiled at her. Why must my legs weaken when he does that? Erza despaired. "Natsu's presence suggests otherwise," he pointed out. Muffled protests echoed from the tile floor. His smile vanished when he returned his gaze, cool and reserved, to the councillors. "May I have a copy of the charges?"

"Hey, Erza, do you want Jellal to be your advocate? Yeah?" Daphne called down, grinning. Siegrain hid his expression behind a hand held to his forehead. Michello hissed at the cowgirl. She winked at him, leaning back and starting in on another stick sausage.

Erza swallowed, looking down at her manacles. "Yes," she conceded, wanting to sink into the floor and disappear. Trying to turn him down would probably makes things worse. He never does that earth-shaking thing on purpose. One of the clerks handed Jellal a small stack of papers. Levitating a pair of Gale-Force Reading Glasses to his face, he scanned the charges within seconds. His only response to Natsu's continued thrashing and stifled protests was to plant a foot on the plush bird strapped to the back of the barrel. Natsu's wail was especially outraged. The masonry nearest the Dragon Slayer's face began to liquefy.

"Of the twelve charges, eleven are patently absurd," he said, looking up and removing the glasses. "Fairy Tail was legally hired to oppose Eisenwald by the appropriate local authorities. All damages were within accepted parameters given the magic used by the Dark Guild and the presence of an A-Class demon from the Books of Zeref. The charge regarding the Ryusika Gorge bridge is particularly egregious, given that all the damage to it was done by Wind Magic."

Org leaned forward. "And the twelfth charge?" he prodded.

Jellal's sigh made Erza's stomach tighten to a pinpoint. "Erza, did you really punch guards that didn't respond to you within three seconds?"

Erza dropped her head, praying her hair would conceal her mortification. Gods, what Jellal must think of me right now, she despaired. "S-sorry," she mumbled.

"Patent assault, Master Fernandes," Michello snapped. Erza could hear the triumph in his voice. "Perhaps you should have left this to us."

"According to this statement," Jellal replied, holding up the sheaf, "the guards do not intend to press charges, given the team's efforts in preventing loss of life. There's also the extenuating circumstance of considerable ethernano use for the magic vehicle. All things considered, a fine should be more than sufficient to cover the infraction, if the Council is going to insist on ignoring the statements of the supposed victims."

Michello looked like he'd swallowed a lemon, lips constricting and neck bulging. "Th-the guards were clearly intimidated by Fairy Tail's reputation!" Daphne snorted, subsiding when Siegrain's eyes met hers. "And extenuating circumstances, faugh! Powerful wizards should be above such things!"

"So you wish to deny mitigating factors," Jellal asked, eyebrow raised, "while claiming one of your own?" Org slapped his forehead. Michello made several noises that sounded like efforts to raise an objection, each softer than the last. At last, he went silent, baring his teeth and glaring at the Starburst. "Would someone kindly remove Erza's manacles now?" Jellal voice was soft even as he glared at the councilors. Before I disintegrate them, he raged, thoughts loud enough for Erza to hear, among other things.

She glanced from Jellal to the Council in a near-panic, but they didn't react. Jellal, if you can hear me, you're mind-leaking, she thought as clearly as she could.

Eep! Jellal managed to keep his expression neutral while the councilors conferred, but she felt his chagrin. Sorry, Erza. I just...don't like seeing restraints on you. Or any of the survivors, he added, both sets of thoughts skirting around Tower memories before leaping away from them entirely.

"In light of your advocate's defense," Belno said, causing Erza to straighten and look up with renewed hope, "a fine of 100,000 Jewels should suffice, if Fairy Tail is willing to perform a certain portion of the repairs."

"Thank you, councilors," Jellal and Erza said in unison, bowing. The manacles fell off Erza's wrists, floating to one of the guards. Jellal glanced down at the still-struggling Natsu. "If you stop melting the floor," Jellal added, smiling, "I'll remove my foot."

After one last half-hearted thrash, the infamous Salamander went limp. "Lmme opp," he grunted. Jellal lifted his foot, and Natsu leaped to his feet, instantly in the star mage's face. "Ai-yah!" he cried. "What's wrong with y–" Erza turned her fiercest glare on the rose-haired boy, and he subsided. "aye," he gasped.

Jellal took in a long breath, then began working Earth Magic to repair the cosmetic damage as they carted the Dragon Slayer out with them. I mustn't skewer him, Erza thought, glaring at her teammate. "Natsu Dragneel," she rumbled, and Natsu swallowed audibly, "it's bad enough that you came here with this – this spectacularly stupid plan in mind, and worse that you put such nonsense on and dare to call it armor, but if you make things any harder for Jellal than you already have, I will tie you to the Magnolia Ferry figurehead for a week."

"aye sir," he whimpered, smile wavering.

"He meant well," Jellal interceded.

"He usually does," Erza sighed, unable to prevent a smile from forming. "Still, it made me happy, that you both came to help." Jellal glanced away suddenly. Another thought caused Erza's smile to vanish. "I am...grateful for your assistance, Jellal. I just hope this doesn't worsen your relationship with Siegrain."

"He usually means well, too," Jellal whispered, looking down. "Natsu does less damage."

"You take that back," Natsu grumbled.

Jellal chuckled. "Different kind of damage, Natsu. You only destroy buildings." Natsu stared at Jellal briefly, blinking, then shrugged and started peeling off his supposed disguise.

Siegrain's Thought Projection appeared in front of them. "Fairy Tail would have been better off leaving her here, Jellal," the councillor explained, looking as though he were leaning on one of the columns. "I convinced those old farts that a symbolic arrest would suffice. Your precious Scarlet would have gotten off with time served, and the geezers would have felt like they still had some control."

"What do you mean, 'felt like?'" Jellal asked, eyes narrowing.

Natsu jumped forward. "And since when is cowboy girl a geezer?!" he demanded.

"Just say 'cowgirl,' Natsu," Jellal sighed. Erza's palm met her face yet again.

"Daphne excepted, of course," Siegrain replied, smiling. "She and Master Yajima are the only other members of the Council with both backbones and brains. And Yajima's getting too old for this." He waved his hand at the building entire.

"That's a bold thing to say, right here in the Council center," Erza pointed out, fingers twitching. Zen, I want a sword right now, she thought.

Siegrain sighed. ...that was so much like Jellal, Erza thought, wishing she didn't see the similarity. "The Magic Council throws fits about the growing power of Ishgar's individual guilds, then leaves most of the work to you. Fairy Tail, Lamia Scale, Phoenix Grave, Sabertooth, even Blue Pegasus...any one of your guilds does more work stabilizing Ishgar in a month than all the Rune Knights manage in a year." He glanced away. "Worst of all is Phantom Lord. Daphne and Master Yajima are convinced they're one sin away from the darkness, and I believe them."

"And the Council's not doing a thing about them!" Natsu roared. "Figures."

"Phantom Lord is the single largest guild in Ishgar," Siegrain retorted, glaring at the shorter mage, "even counting the merchants and hunters. If the Rune Knights are forced to go to war with them and their Wizard Saint leader, it could wreck half of Fiore."

"Then let us fight them!" Natsu flailed his arms, punching the air with literally burning fury.

"That," Siegrain drawled, "would wreck all of Fiore."

Jellal's eyes narrowed even more. "And my successful defense of Erza ruined their illusion."

Siegrain's smile returned, but this time it looked genuine, and sad, to Erza. "You're a Fairy Tail wizard, Jellal. You had to destroy something sooner or later. It's hard to blame you for eradicating delusions."

"Of course not. You'd rather blame Erza." Jellal crossed his arms, blue ether-mist rising around him. "Tell me, my dear brother, whose idea was it to arrest her?"

"Should I have convinced them to arrest Natsu, and started a war between the Council and Fairy Tail?" Natsu snarled a jet of flame. "Gray, whose only crime was trying to rein in the madness? Poor Lucy, who couldn't have known the chaos in store for her? Maybe the talking cat," Siegrain quipped. Jellal's arms dropped, hands forming fists. The councillor's smile vanished. "Jellal, I'm sorry, I really am, but Chairman Seam is desperate to hold on to power. Daphne and I are only on the Council because of the casualties from recent scandals. Most of the others still remember Hogg, the fall guy from – 776."

"I remember what happened," Jellal almost snarled. "It was only six years of my life."

Erza rushed to interpose herself. "Enough," she insisted, looking from Jellal to Siegrain. "I am saddened by what has come between the two of you–"

"It's between us right now," Siegrain snapped. Jellal's fists crackled with Cosmic Magic. Natsu's burned with crimson flames.

"–but this incident is over," Erza shot back, grimacing. "I have no doubt you can still turn this incident to the Council's favor. Seal the records of Jellal's defense. Make note of the fine. You've never lacked for political skill, Siegrain. Use it."

The pause left Erza's heart pounding, but she forced herself to appear calm and stern. "That's not a bad idea, actually," Siegrain admitted. "There are any number of reasons we would seal the trial minutes. Lullaby is a valid one all by itself." He shrugged. "I'll make it work, if you do the same."

"Mm," Erza agreed, nodding. "Let's go, Natsu, Jellal." She strode past Siegrain, her nakama following.

"Wait," Siegrain called just as they reached the door. They stopped. "Jellal...how's Lucy?"

Jellal's smile was sad and lost. "She's doing well," he replied, not quite turning back, "but you really need to stop using that 'Heavenly Body' joke, Sieg."

Siegrain winced. "That bad, huh?"

"Lucy enjoyed your date, but she didn't want to come between you and your mirror," Jellal quipped. Siegrain groaned, holding his head in one hand. "I know you're better than that. I hope you do, too."

Were you talking about Lucy, or something else? Erza wondered, but Siegrain vanished before they could learn anything more. Slowly, they walked out of the chambers and into the sunlight. "Jellal?" Natsu asked as the doors closed behind them. "What was six years of your life?"

Jellal and Erza shared a look. It's July 9th. X784. Well, he was going to find out sooner or later. The warrior mage shrugged. "We promised, Jellal," she pointed out. Jellal's eyes widened, then he took a long breath and looked away. Natsu looked at her expectantly. "Gray knows. We promised him that he could tell you when you'd been in the guild for seven years."

The Dragon Slayer's eyes widened, fires flickering in the back of his throat. "Ice stripper's been holding out on me?" he demanded.

Erza punched her palm. "I promised him something else if he told you early," she added.

Natsu's fire went out, literally and figuratively. "Oh," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess it's okay, then." They walked towards the train station, Natsu's head drooping more they closer they got.

"Wait," Erza gasped, and they stopped again. "That womanizer dated our Lucy?" Titania was so surprised that she almost missed Jellal's sigh.