"Natsu. Gray. Come here."
The two boys jumped up as if they were on fire and rushed to the side of the scarlet-haired, svelte and stoic maiden.
"Natsu, you will polish this pile of armor."
"Aye, Erza."
"Gray, you will do the same to this pile of weapons."
"Aye, Erza."
"And no magic."
"Whaaaat? No way…"
"Hey, that's going too far!..."
"Are those complaints I hear? Do we need another sparring session?"
"NO!"
"Then?"
"AYE, ERZA!"
"Good. You may begin."
Lucy, Levy, and Wendy watched the bizarre scene unfolding before them, mouths agape and a dumbfounded expression on each of their faces.
"I never thought I'd see the day when brother would be so… controlled." Wendy whispered to the others, her voice filled with awe, "Not even mother has been able to receive that level of respect from him!"
"I'm just thrilled to see her torture souls that are not me." Lucy said, a sadistic smile upon her face, "And pardon me, Wendy, but your brother deserves it. I warned him that he would rue the day he hung that silly 'pinch me' sign upon my back. And now my revenge is complete!" She cackled a little maniacally, the vibrations rousing Happy who had been dozing in her lap.
"You're crazier than usual today, Lucy." The little cat said conversationally.
Lucy snorted, giving the little feline's ear an affectionate tweak as he yelped and rubbed it.
"Aye, and Gray bein' the strippin pervert that he is deserves a little arse whoopin as well. In my humble opinion at least." Cana gave the rest of the girls a lecherous wink from the spot on the grass where she had sprawled out suggestively. "Course, dunno if I'd call gettin handsy with that red-haired beaut punishment if ya know what I mean…"
All three girls blushed crimson and leaned slightly away from Cana, refusing to look each other in the eye. It was Carla, sitting up straight in Wendy's lap and glaring imperiously at the young witch, who broke the awkward silence.
"Don't you dare expose Wendy to your vulgar thoughts! And being an old friend of Gray's, it is quite indecent of you to mock him so!"
Very soon after their first meeting, Lucy, Gray, Natsu, and Erza had met up with the remaining magical inhabitants of the enchanted wood. It was a pleasant surprise to all to find that Gray and Cana were already well acquainted - the latter having spent a few years in the Northern Kingdom with her father, and having met the moody ice mage before his mother had passed. She had not known the traumatic events that had occurred to him after their parting, and she offered her own brand of comfort with bawdy jokes and reminiscences of his happier past.
Cana did not respond, merely bursting out into peals of laughter that attracted the attention of the boy of the moment himself.
"Whatcha cackling about, yer ol witch?" Gray addressed Cana in the lazy dialect of the north, a smirk forming on his handsome face.
Before Cana could respond, she was interrupted by three high-pitched squeals of embarrassment.
"G-Gray, your clothes!..." Lucy managed to stammer out, her hands clamped over her eyes (and only slightly peeking through them - the boy was remarkably fit for his age, after all)
Gray glanced down to see himself adorned in nothing but his loincloth. He groaned in frustration and chucked the heavy sword he had been polishing at Natsu's head.
"Oye, flaming retard! Lend me your clothes!"
"Like shit I will, ya snow bastard! It's your own fuckin fault you lost them in the first place!"
"Gray, how DARE you expose yourself so indecently before ladies! And Natsu, how many times must I insist you watch your LANGUAGE! And are you two starting a FIGHT?!"
The boys squeaked, embracing each other and facing the scarlet monster, sweat pouring down their faces.
"Wha-whatever do you mean Erza?..."
"Yeah, we're the best of friends!..."
"Hmmm. Very well."
Phew
"Your punishment shall only be for your individual shortcomings then."
"AHHHH! RUN FOR IT, FROSTED TIPS!"
"GET OUTTA MY WAY, FIRE BALLS!"
Erza requipped into a magnificent and deadly looking set of armor, as she quickly cornered the fleeing males. The girls averted their eyes from the painful retribution as it commenced.
"As you can see, Cana has a point," Levy said sagely, picking up the conversation that had been interrupted. "And I've been told that Gray has the reputation of being a bit of a fight mongerer in Icegard. A lot like Natsu in Alagesia, as you've told me, Lucy. Perhaps Erza's lessons will sate both of their eagerness for the fight."
Lucy's gaze snapped to Levy, a speculative gleam in her eye. Who could possibly be passing on tidbits of information of the north to her? Perhaps a certain grumpy ore dragon...? Determined to confirm her suspicions, Lucy glanced at the book in Levy's hands, planning her strategy. The petite fairy had been diligently pouring over the old tome for the past few weeks - perhaps she was doing a favor for the sulky metal hulk?
"Why Levy, is that a book on learning Exceedese? Is there a particular reason for your sudden interest in such a rare language?"
Lucy internally cackled, as she watched the blush rise on Levy's cheeks. "W-why no! You know how I adore rare tongues, and meeting Happy and Carla has inspired me to give this beautiful dialect a try. Isn't that right you two?"
Carla nodded, a rare look of approval upon her face. Happy however smirked, his face lit up with the same mischievous amusement that Lucy was trying to hide from her fairy friend.
"I can't help but feel that your words are just an excuse," the shrewd cat purred, exchanging a sly glance with Lucy, "Although we admire your dedication, Carla and I have noticed just how much of a hurry you seem to be in to master our tongue… Perhaps a certain someone has asked you for a favor? That requires the knowledge of exceedese? Particularly our romantic, pretty poetry…?"
"Yes," Carla interjected thoughtfully, oblivious to Happy and Lucy's scheming, "I found it a bit odd as well. Our language is not one of the easiest tongues after all. And why are you so interested in mastering our 'laws of exceeds'? It is quite daunting, even for a skilled linguist such as yourself."
Levy's cheeks reddened further, and she shot an accusatory glance at the snickering Happy and Lucy. Her expression sobered as she took a moment to deliberate, after which she turned resolutely to Carla, "I received a letter from Gajeel not too long ago." An excited 'Ah ha!' issued from the now openly cackling Lucy and Happy, which Levy pointedly ignored.
"In it, he explained how he had come across an exceed in mortal danger. He wrote so passionately about wanting to save this poor soul that I had not the heart to tell him I did not know exceedese." Levy sighed, her gaze dropping to the ground and an air of gloom settling about her. "But I'm ashamed to say I don't think I will be able to help the exceed as Gajeel hopes. The judgment is almost ironclad…"
"Judgment? What judgment?" Happy demanded, all traces of mirth gone.
Levy clapped a hand on her mouth, her eyes growing wide with fear.
Happy sat up straight in Lucy's lap, his brow furrowed in concentration and an unusually stern expression upon his face.
"I think I can guess what Gajeel has asked of you in his letter. You've been scouring our laws, but you've been paying particular attention to 'the law of the cursed'. Only one exceed in recent past has broken that law, and therefore has been placed in mortal danger by a 'judgment'. Levy, please tell us... Is the exceed you are trying to save called Pantherlily?"
Levy stared at Happy, unable to reconcile the affable, lazy, mischievous cat creature of just a few moments ago, with the stern, solemn exceed who now addressed her. She nodded mutely.
"Were you not supposed to talk to us about it, Levy?" Carla queried, her eyes wide with worry.
Levy dropped her hand and gave them both an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry, Carla and Happy. Gajeel feared you may prove as stubborn and unhelpful as the rest of the exceeds, and left it to my discretion to tell you. I thought it would be best not to tell you either, at least until I better understood the law and what his crime truly was." Levy frowned. "As an outsider, I do not wish to give an opinion on your law for I know that I may be misjudging it by not comprehending the history behind its passing and other important factors, but this law just seems quite… err…"
"Unfair? Downright preachy and wrong?" Happy exclaimed, with uncharacteristic fury. "Because it is. It was a law made eons ago, for very different reasons, and that is now archaic. However, our 'wise' council elders decided to uphold it, simply out of fear!"
"My mother fought long and hard with them to change their mind." Carla interjected in a whisper as Wendy clutched her closer, comforting her, "But to no avail. She has been devastated ever since."
"Oh! Why… Then your mother has to be…"
"Yes, my mother is the Queen. Queen Shagotte."
"So that makes you the Princess of the exceeds?" Lucy questioned, her eyes wide.
"It does," Carla offered Lucy a wane smile, "But that title does not mean much. Exceeds have long forgone a traditional autocracy for a more democratic approach. Most decisions are made by our council that consists of exceeds chosen by the people. My mother's position and therefore my own are merely rubber stamps."
Lucy seemed to slump in place. "How… fortunate… for you." she whispered a little caustically. Cana shot her a curious look, the only one who seemed to have noticed her bitter tone. Levy, Wendy and Happy were still mulling over the beautiful white exceed's words.
"A… democracy. That's amazing." Levy breathed, the promise of new knowledge bringing a sparkle to her eyes.
"Carla," Wendy began hesitantly, "Is there any advice you could offer Levy? Perhaps you could help her find a way to save Pantherlily?"
Carla hesitated, her big beautiful eyes growing even rounder and larger with fear. It was Happy who spoke after a few moments.
"There is no loophole to be found in the judgment, I am sure. But there still might be a way to save him."
"No… Happy…"
"No, Carla! Listen to me!" Happy whirled around, leaping out of Lucy's lap to strut confidently towards the snowy white exceed. "We've spoken of this before as a far-fetched possibility, but now that he has actually met and befriended Gajeel I have no doubt that this would work!"
"But Happy…" Carla gasped, her voice softer in her distress, "He can't perform the spell to become a dragon's companion without an Exceed's seal and his would surely have been confiscated before his exile. How can we find one for him?! And in time for the next fortnight's full moon no less… And there is still no guarantee that the spell would even work…"
"The spell will work Carla. I can feel it. The same way I felt Natsu was destined to be my dragon companion the moment I met him, and the same way I knew how special you…" Happy coughed, a light blush coating his whiskered cheeks, "err… I believe in trusting my gut, and everything about this situation gives me confidence. The odds of Pantherlily coming across Gajeel were one in a million, yet it happened. The odds of Gajeel asking Levy for help were again, one in a million, and yet it happened! And through Levy, for us, the very exceeds who truly believe in his innocence being asked for help - these are not just coincidences. These are signs. And as for an Exceed's seal… I intend to lend him mine."
Carla lunged forward, encasing Happy in a trembling hug, a terror-filled whimper escaping her. "I… I can't let you Happy! You know what would happen if the council found out! You would be sentenced to death for treason! And it doesn't matter what I or my mother say, we could not save you! Please, please don't…"
Happy gently disentangled her cute short arms from around his neck, leaning back to give her a brilliant grin that reminded Lucy strikingly of his dragon friend.
"It'll be okay Carla! Trust me! I want to help, and this is the only way that will work! Well… At least I hope it will."
Carla leaned back as well, the tears brimming in her eyes halting at the sight of his brilliant smile. A rare look of affection and adoration shone on the normally haughty white exceed's visage, a look that had a love-struck Happy stumbling back, a stunned look upon his face. Carla sighed, shaking her head as she climbed back onto Wendy's lap, curling up into a comfortable ball for a nap.
"Very well Happy. Do as you wish, you foolish tomcat. But don't you dare let anything ever happen to yourself! My life would be most… err… boring, without you and your antics to keep me occupied."
"Of course, Carla! I'll always be there for you!"
"Hmph. Silly tomcat."
Lucy reached forward a bit to gather Happy to her in a gentle hug. "That was very brave and noble of you Happy." She whispered to the exceed. "And I agree with Carla. Please be careful, whatever you are planning to do. It is not just Carla and Natsu who would lament if anything were to happen to you." Happy snuggled up against the human, content purring noises issuing from deep within his throat.
"Don't worry, Lucy. Even Natsu said this plan was awesome!"
"For some reason, that gives me even less confidence than before."
"HEY NATSU! LUCY'S BEING MEAN AGAIN!"
"Am not, you over-dramatic feline! Natsu's terrible planning skills and er… general lack of interest in the mind and thought department is well-known and accepted! Even by him! How am I mean by pointing that out?"
"It is a little mean Lucy dear," Levy interjected solemnly, a sly smile threatening the edge of her lips and a spark of revenge in her eyes. "Of course, I suppose you have the right to make such critical remarks since you are the one who helps him with his dragon-school coursework…"
Lucy squeaked, clapping a hand over her friend's mouth an instant too late. Cana sat up from her spot in the grass, a glimmer of evil mirth in her eyes just as Wendy turned to Lucy, wide-eyed and mouth agape.
"Are you truly helping brother with all his coursework? But it's all in the language of dragons - draconic! How are you helping him?!"
"She… oof… has been learning draconic… ow… with my help… ouch, not so hard Lucy!... for the past few months!"
"Ohhhh…" Wendy's eyes sparkled with awe, "Then was it you who composed that lovely poem about the stars for brother's English assignment? Our governess was most impressed, she even insisted we send it to one of our kingdom's leading publications! Father and mother were a little suspicious though…"
"Soooo… Yer learnin a brand new language to help yer idiot of a dragon lovah, eh?" Cana chortled, falling back down on the grass, gasping for breath.
"EEEEEK! He is most certainly NOT my… err… umm…"
"Lovah? Sweetums? Snuggle-buddy?"
"What's a 'snuggle-buddy'?" Natsu interrupted, his eyes wide as he plopped down onto a patch of grass next to Lucy.
Lucy gave an even louder shriek that had both the dragons in the glade wincing and clamping their hands over their ears. Natsu shot Lucy a glare.
"What are you shrieking about, Luce?!"
"I… I… don't listen to a word she says, Natsu!"
"Oh," Happy interjected, snickering evilly, "Lucy's just shy, cause Cana was talking about how you and Lucy are…"
Lucy clamped a hand on Happy's mouth with a murderous glare at the little creature still curled comfortably in her lap. "Don't you dare say another word you atrocious cat! Else I will turn you into a furless monstrosity before the day is done!"
"I'm surprised Lucy, he is a harmless cat. Whyever would you threaten him?" Erza questioned solemnly as she joined the group with Gray, both settling down on the grass beside Cana. Happy pried Lucy's hand off his mouth, and with a wounded look at her, snuggled more comfortably into her lap to join Carla in a cat-nap.
"Erza!" Lucy exclaimed, thrilled for the diversion, "Is your sparring session with Gray and Natsu over then?"
"Why yes! I won." Erza said, her chest puffing out a little bit with pride. "And these two have learned their lesson. Haven't you, boys?"
"AYE, ERZA!" the two hapless boys chorused, Natsu shrinking his form a little to hide behind Lucy while Gray did the same behind Cana.
Erza nodded curtly at both, before turning to the girls of the clearing, her eyes sparkling with interest. "Well, whilst I was occupied, what were you girls discussing?"
Levy and Lucy paled and turned red in quick succession, but before either of them could desperately steer the conversation to a safer route, Cana piped up with a wicked smile upon her face, "Why, we wera jus discussin lovahs and the like. Lucy and Levy here are quite… ah… advanced youngins in the arts of romance…"
To the surprise of the all the glade's occupants, Erza turned a beet red to rival both Lucy and Levy's mortified blushes.
"Is...Is th-that so-so? Ah… umm… perhaps… perhaps I should return to the castle, my duties have most certainly piled up in my absence, err… Milady Lucy? I'm sure you'd give me your permission to precede you, please send a dove if you would like me to return to the glade to escort you back! Farewell then!"
And with a speed only possible by her, Erza leaped up and sprinted out of the clearing, leaving a speechless gathering of friends in her wake.
"What just happened?" Lucy blinked a few times to make sure she really had witnessed what she thought she had just witnessed.
"I believe… we've discovered another of Erza's few weaknesses. So it's this, armor, and strawberry cake..." Levy said, her mouth agape.
Wendy, who had been steadily growing redder as the older children's conversation had progressed, suddenly squeaked as an idea struck her.
"Oh, could it mean she has someone on her mind whom she fears we will tease her about?"
Cana's sharp gaze snapped towards Wendy, a smile slowly growing on her face. "Why… tha's astute of you little un. I'm prouda ya! I'll betcha tha's why she high-tailed it outta here… Well, tha's no matter, we'll get her to confess who she's longin for someday…"
Lucy's gaze furtively shot to Gray, a look that did not go unnoticed by the shrewd young witch.
A yawn issued from little Wendy, and she shot the rest of the group an apologetic look.
"I-I'm sorry, but I had a rather long and tiring healing training session today morning - I think it's time for me to retire."
"Yeah, it's getting late - I'll take you home, Wendy." Natsu said cheerfully. He turned to Gray. "You coming too, icicle pants? We could get in a little more battle training after supper, Erza broke your attack stance embarrassingly fast."
"Whaaat? No way, I was fine! Your defensive strikes, however, were complete crap - she would have demolished you if it weren't for me protecting your sorry flaming ass!"
"YA WANNA GO, SNOW CONE?!"
"ANYTIME, LAVA BREATH!"
"I'm leaving." Levy announced with a roll of her eyes, "Before I'm collateral damage when these two idiots inevitably demolish what's left of this clearing. I'd advise the rest of you to do the same."
Cana barked out a laugh as Lucy hopped to her feet, gently setting the sleeping Happy on the grass, intent on following her friend's practical advice. Natsu paused in his insult match with Gray to throw a worried glance at Lucy.
"You're going home now?"
Lucy paused her dress-primping to throw him a curious glance in response. "Why yes, Natsu. It is getting late isn't it?"
Natsu hesitated, abandoning Gray completely to walk over to Lucy. "Yeah, but it's even later than usual today, what with the sparring matches Gray and I had with Erza and the chores she made us do. Can you send a dove to her? Ask her to come back for you?"
Lucy raised an eyebrow, surprise coloring her tone. "Why Natsu? I've returned home alone many times before, it has only been recently that Erza has begun accompanying me…"
"I always made sure you left at a reasonable time, Luce!" Natsu glanced up at the sky, his anxiety now clearly writ upon his face, "The forest is decent during the day, but I've heard enough stories from my people to know that it's a very different place at night! It's not safe for you to be out alone this late."
Lucy frowned, glancing at the spot where Levy had disappeared into the woods just moments before. "Well, then shouldn't one of us go after Levy? She went into the woods alone too…"
"Nay, it's different with her! This is her home, she would know how to navigate these woods at night, and besides - she's got magic!"
Lucy froze, her eyes narrowing. "Ohhh… So that is the true issue, isn't it? Because I have no magic, you think I am too weak to traverse this forest on my own?"
Natsu's eyes widened, confusion replacing the anxiety on his face. "Wh-what? I didn't say that…"
"You implied it, you brute!"
"Luuucceee…"
"NO! Just… Begone impudent dragon! I can take care of myself!" With an impatient huff, Lucy whirled about, whipping her long golden braid in the stunned dragon's face and marching out of the clearing.
Natsu snapped open his wings, addressing Gray over his shoulder. "Gray, wake up Happy. He can fly you back to Alagesia with Wendy. I'll fly over to Lucy and make sure she's safe."
"Not a great idea, Natsu. She's still mad at you. I'd better go after her, she'd let me walk her home I'm sure…"
"Then you'd get stuck out here after night falls! And Father and Mother would blame me for it! Just go home with Wendy, ice princess!"
"And you'd just make her more upset when you open your stupid mouth again!"
"DO YOU WANNA GO, ICE BOX?!"
"BRING IT, FLAME BRAIN!"
"ENOUGH!" Cana roared, physically forcing the two males apart with a jerk. "Look, the best idea is lettin me go afta er. She lives just a step away from my own humble abode. I'll drop er off and be back in my own home before yer two idiots have even made it halfway back to Alagesia. Got that?!"
"You better promise you don't upset her, Cana!" Natsu turned to Cana, his gaze surprisingly fierce. Cana's eyes softened, and she gave him a gentle, genuine smile.
"Wouldn dream of it. Ain't the right time, no one could see er cute blushes in the dark anyway."