Task 5: helping friend (Part 2)

"Name?"

"Pantherlily"

"Occupation?"

"Fairy Tail mage"

"Purpose of the visit?"

"Personal business"

"Her Majesty is busy!"

"You serious?"

It was unbelievable. 4 hours! 5 tours of formal answer/questions, 5 different rooms and still no access to Shagotte. Was it always so difficult? Or this 'warm hospitable' welcome was reserved specially for him?

Lily thoughtfully viewed livery-clad fat tabby exceed, who blocked the entrance. Being in his smaller form, they were about same height, but butler had a distinctly haughty look that was getting on Lily's nerves. After finishing scrabbling his answers butler straightened or rather attempted to do so and put on a supercilious face.

Pantherlily felt an urge to correct his facial expression a little, but pushed it away. He wanted to regain Shagotte's trust, to restore his position in her eyes, if he needs to endure these ridiculous bureaucracy precautions for that, he'll do it. So he decided to sit and wait patiently. And he did it for another half hour till butler announced with barely suppressed evil smile:

"Visitor's hours soon will be over."

Lily clenched his teeth. It may be Gajeel's influence, but urge to punch this brazenly smiling face became almost unbearable. He tried to be polite and reasonable one more time.

"My business won't take a lot of Queen's time and it is really important. Please, tell Shagotte, that I am here."

Butler's eyebrow arched artistically and he asked in unpleasantly sweet tone:

"Who?"

"Shagotte, Queen of Exalia!"

Lily's patience was running thin. Yes, he was a former outcast, banished from his native land for almost 20 years, but after the war with Faust the reason of his exile was officially declared unfair and canceled. So why this fat striped exceed, who looks like a sack tucked into too narrow mantle treated him (HIM!) like that, huh? Great, his inner voice started sounding in typically Gajeel way. Apparently Slayer's harsh manners influenced him more than he thought.

"Her Majesty," the courtier began solemnly "Due to her strictly limited quantity of time, can't pay attention to all minor matters. Her Majesty…" And as if Lily was deaf or didn't catch the hint for the first time he repeated with pressure "Her Majesty grants an audience only to respected and respectable exceeds. And you…"

Butler made long meaningful pause scornfully looking at little black cat from head to toe.

"Oh yeah?" Former Commander had enough. He transformed in a flash and huge black muscled form was hanging over the suddenly cringed butler.

"Do I look enough respected and respectable now?"

"Zdd.. tt…gr…"

"I'll take it as a yes. Now, please, tell Shagotte, the Queen of Exalia, that Pantherlily is here and humbly requests an audience with her."

Butler, bouncing and uttering thin noises, disappeared behind the door. Lily had reached for his sword. He doubted he'll see Queen next time when the door will open, most likely there will be bunch of royal guards.

Such turn of events upset him, but really what else could he do? Come back home 'empty-handed', spending half the day waiting, was out of the question, he didn't want to disappoint Gajeel. And this butler attitude was outrageous. Swallow such insolence? No fuckin... 'really? REALLY?' way!

He heard footsteps and took a fighting stance. Door opened and slightly flushed face of Shagotte appeared before his surprised eyes.

"Lily!" She looked and sounded glad to see him, then she noticed the sword.

"Something happened here?"

Black Exceed quickly hid his weapon and was about to answer, when door swung open again and at least dozen of guards with raised spears burst into the room. They saw Queen, froze for the second than rushed to circle her, at the same time shouting orders to Pantherlily do not come closer. He didn't move a finger, waiting amusedly for further developments.

Shagotte, astonished and confused, had looked at guards, then at Lily and frowned.

"What is going on here?" She demanded imperiously.

"Your Majesty," familiar butler emerged behind the soldiers "your Palace was attacked by this dangerous individual. This ruffian at first attempted to mislead your subjects by taking small trivial form, but then he revealed his true intentions. Don't worry, we'll not allow him to harm Your Majesty! He'll be thrown in jail! Arrest him!"

"Stop this instant!"

Queen pushed through soldiers and took Lily's hand so fast that no one had time to react. She turned to Lily then, who still stood motionlessly, partly due to the bewilderment, partly because of warm feeling which was slowly spread from his hand. "Please, accept my apologies. Many of my people still didn't know you. I'll take precaution to correct it right now."

She faced soldiers still holding Lily's hand.

"This is Pantherlily. I owed him my life. He helped all our race during the war in Edolas, we had a chance to survive and live peacefully here because of him and his friends. He is granted free access to the Palace anytime he wants to come. I expect everyone treat him with a highest respect."

Good thing that Lily was covered in pitch black fur, otherwise he would be bright red. But he took a delight seeing horrified expression at the butler's face and didn't deny himself a pleasure to give him his widest toothy grin. He can swear that the tabby cat has turned a little green.

Without another word Shagotte led him into inner chambers. Butler stayed to recover amidst petrified guards.

The rest of the day was so unexpectedly pleasant for Lily that he didn't bring topic which drove him here till late evening. They shared dinner, then walked in the garden, chatting about past, sharing hopes and plans. Pantherlily was more than flattered, that Shagotte sent away several courtiers, who tried to approach her with some kind of national importance stuff.

But his own or rather Gajeel's little business should not be forgotten either.

"Your Majesty…"

"I was once a Shagotte for you, and I prefer it stay this way. Please, leave these formalities, Lily."

Just a polite gesture from old acquaintance, but his heart skipped a bit. Maybe not everything, which they once shared, was left in the past?

"Shagotte, I have a favor to ask, it's about my partner, Gajeel. He would be grateful if you will allow to add one more name to the list of Ball's guest. He isn't used to big gatherings and will be more comfortable to have a familiar human around."

Shagotte smiled and clarified "Oh, I see. Let me guess, a female one?"

Lily smiled too. "Yes. She is from our Guild. Nice, well-read and good mannered kind of girl. I put my share in this favor too, because Gajeel… he is a good guy, but he was raised by a Dragon and his education missed some essential parts, especially in politeness and etiquette departments. And communication with Levy, that's girl's name, has a positive effect on him."

Queen smiled again.

"I will be glad to meet another member of Fairy Tale. Was she in Edolas too?"

"Yes, she was, but she didn't participate in the battle, she was captured in lacrima."

"Your partner can bring her. There is no time to prepare invitation card, but guards will be notified. And I think it will be fair if two other humans bring someone with them too. How do you think it is a good idea?"

"I think it's great, Your… Shagotte! Natsu probably will invite Lucy, she is Celestial Mage and fought at our side in Edolas too. Considering Natsu's character this company will not be superfluous."

Queen looked slightly puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Well," Lily remembered Fire Slayers's last pants off act and silently prayed he won't toss something like that at a Ball. "Natsu is a very spontaneous and energetic guy. He gets exited quickly, Lucy is much more reasonable, she balances him well. They are really good team."

"I'll look forward to meet them too, Lily, please, give my invitation to them." Shagotte paused and looked at him with smile in her eyes "I think I have a favor to ask you too."

"Favor…? I'll gladly do everything I can!"

"Will you dance with me at the Ball? It was so long since I danced with you."

When small black cat returned home it was already dark. He was in great mood, both for Gajeel's sake and his own, filled with emotions and expectations, he didn't feel for a long time. So when he flew through open widow intending to give Gajeel good news, he was taken aback by his friend dark sulky face and empty eyes.

"What happened?" Exceed asked immediately, he never saw Iron Slayer in such state.

"She didn't come." Gajeel uttered tonelessly, but dropped corners of his mouth and hands, clutching coach with white knuckles told Lily how hurt he was.

"Where she did not come?"

It was no need to ask "who".

With same emotionless voice Gajeel answered: "We were supposed to meet in park at noon. I waited till dark, she didn't showed up. She didn't come, Lily!"