Author's Note: Heyyy! :-) As always, a shout out to all those awesome people who favorited and followed. As for you amazing reviewers…
EchizenRyoma - Yes. They will. Eventually :-P
SistershoOk - Hmm… well, you're going to find out if you were right ;-) Hope you enjoy this chapter!
valerioux - Nice guess! But I went a different route with this one - you'll see soon enough.
FireShifter - Yeah, I left the part about them escaping the castle a little vague - would've been waaayyy too long if I included the whole attack or even a flashback to what actually happened. But I wrote a little bit of that part too - essentially Erza and Lucy use the castle's 'secret passageways' to escape undetected after killing their assailant. And since the night guard changed just the previous day, no one really found the body until the right person *ahem* came along to dispose of it. So yeah - no one in the palace noticed this attack. Weird and not really realistic, I know, but bear with me! I'm really exercising my creative license! :-D
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The smell of burning flesh mingled with the dry wind, carrying the scent across the dilapidated shacks into the valley beyond. A crackling, ferocious bonfire of rotting bodies roared at the center of what was once a peaceful and quaint village, now reduced to a smoldering pile of ashes. A handful of grim-faced and uneasy soldiers moved about the remains of the once proud village, rummaging for scraps of food and other supplies, throwing hasty and fearful glances at the two hooded figures at the edge of the ruins from time to time. The hooded and masked figures stood stock still, their whispered conversation the only proof that they were not, in fact, statues.
"That was annoyingly easy." The voice of a young man floated out from under the hood of the taller, lean and tautly-muscled figure. "It took us a quarter of an hour to decimate the entire population of this village. Not very surprising, considering most of them were farmers and craftsmen. This was hardly the rebel base it was touted to be."
"Hush, my friend. Be satisfied. You destroyed the hometown of one of the rebel's most cherished leaders. Not to mention one of their major food suppliers." A softer, feminine voice drifted out from underneath the hood of the second cloaked figure.
The man snorted. "The King must think very little of us if this is the only sort of mission he sends us on. It is infuriating. Especially when I know I could quite easily take on the leader of the rebels - Irene - herself."
"I cannot decide if your words are the product of overconfidence or a morbid wish to die an early death." The young woman chuckled.
"My display here, and all the other places our cowardly King has sent us, have not been enough to convince you?" The boy's amusement was evident in his light and teasing tone.
The hooded maiden shifted her head from side to side, as if checking for eavesdroppers. When her hooded head turned back to the boy, her tone was serious. "Let us not insult our King, even in jest."
"I do not owe him my allegiance. If anything, I long to prove that he is the traitor and monster we all suspect him to be. And the records the rebels have stolen and keep on their main base are the only way for me to know the truth. Of course, if I could just access my accursed memories perhaps that would not be the only way for me to know the truth..."
The young woman's voice lowered a decibel more.
"I understand your frustration. The spell placed on your memories is a potently strong one, if one as skilled as I in the art of manipulating time is still unable to do anything to break it for you. And you are right - perhaps you do not owe your loyalty to our King - but at least do not forget then to whom your allegiance is owed. You are a product of the Oracian Sies - a hybrid man-demon - are you not? And it is my understanding that they do not wish to send you on such… ahhh… challenging missions at this point in time."
"When you openly admit you cannot help unlock my damn memories, why don't you at least look into that accursed crystal ball of yours and tell me when those fools will be confident enough to challenge me?"
A sigh issued from beneath the young maiden's hood, a brief silence settling in between the two.
"Besides," The young man began again abruptly, "What you stated is not quite true. I do not owe my allegiance to them either, they and their missions are simply a convenient means to an end. Do not confuse me with yourself. Your talent at magic and manipulating the weak minds around us may be similar to mine, but unlike me, you are doggedly faithful to your mentor - Hades, am I right? That human black mage who has promised to help you find the secret of primordial magic. All for the noble and gruesome task of bringing your mother back to life…"
"Nay," The maiden hissed, venom in her voice, "I have abandoned that foolish dream. I live only for revenge now. To kill the boy responsible for her death. The child she loved far more than her own daughter!"
The young man at her side remained silent, unused to her emotional outburst. The young maiden took a few moments to collect herself before speaking once more.
"I see one more striking similarity between us - the one that drew me to you. We are both driven by a desire for revenge. You, to punish those who have stolen your memories and most of your humanity, and I, to kill he who heartlessly led my mother to her death."
"Only mine seems vague and large enough to warrant these bloody battles and frustrating bureaucratic games. I wish to destroy the Oracian Seis, and perhaps the King himself, once I find out the truth of what has been done to me… and what exactly I have lost. You merely wish to kill a boy. Surely you are already a powerful enough witch to do just that?"
The young maiden's hands clenched as her voice dropped to a menacing growl. "Oh, how I wish I could. But he is a royal, and the only heir to his kingdom's throne. The security around him is ridiculous - and I am already regarded with suspicion for having once tried unsuccessfully to rid the world of him. Additionally…" She continued grudgingly, "He is a formidable fighter on his own, as well as a talented ice mage. At my current level there is only a 50% chance I could defeat him in battle, and I dare not take that risk. I am not as reckless and suicidal as you, Jellal."
The young man chuckled, "I'll let you believe that, Ultear. Tell me, what is this wonder-boy's name?"
"Prince Gray of Icegard."
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Lucy sighed, her gaze lingering on the door that had been shut, locked and secured with an anti-eavesdropping spell just moments before. She steeled herself, preparing for the barrage of questions she would undoubtedly be pelted with.
Her dragon and exceed best friends had just been forcibly removed from the infirmary - after having spent a good twenty minutes arguing with the Master about the unfairness of his decision, and just how much they needed to be by Lucy's side. Lucy's curt reminder to him that she was capable of taking care of herself and that she wished them both to leave as well just added fuel to their already fiery protests. Stop pushing us away! They had roared in response. They had continued to fume and fret until they were finally carried out, still wriggling and squirming in indignation, by an exasperated Gildarts - followed by a quiet yet equally concerned Wendy who left the group with the following solemn words.
Erza, Lucy. Remember - when you should need us, we will be ready.
Lucy let her gaze drift across the room, taking in its occupants. Cana had settled down on the edge of Erza's bed, her doting father standing by her side and fussing over her, promptly earning a scowl from the annoyed girl witch. Porlyuscia had taken the seat on the opposite side of Erza's bed, as Makarov had taken the seat on the side that Lucy was perched on, her hand clutching that of her friend's and for once not complaining about Erza's unusually strong grip.
The gentle, probing eyes of her grandfather bore into her, his gaze occasionally flickering between her and Erza.
"Now that we are finally alone, I must ask the both of you - what happened?"
Lucy took a deep stuttering breath, glancing at Porlyuscia before she spoke.
"It would be quickest to answer the questions Lady Porlyuscia asked just some time before. First off, the reason I did not call the guards… I could not call them for I did not know them - just the day prior, without my knowledge, all the guards of the midnight shift had been changed. Secondly… the reason Erza followed me was because she knew the man who had summoned me at so odd an hour and she did not trust him. It was her accurate suspicions that prompted her to investigate what had befallen me, and therefore come to my rescue. Now. For the third and last question… T-the man who attacked me was…"
Lucy faltered, unable to continue. She glanced at her grandfather as tears filled her eyes. Erza squeezed her hand, facing Sir Makarov and speaking on Lucy's behalf.
"The man who attacked Lucy was Sir Ivan. She fought him off courageously until I could arrive to assist her. Combined, we were able to overpower him. In fact, we would have defeated and rendered him unconscious had he not offered a truce at the last moment. He claimed that he had not wished to assassinate Lucy at all, and that it had been his son's suggestion… but I could not believe him. I know his son, Sir Laxus. Although Sir Laxus can be surly and rude, he is an honorable soldier. He could not have masterminded such a stealthy attack on Lucy. I suspected it was a trick. Lucy however… wished to believe him, I suppose. She knows her cousin Sir Laxus better than I, after all, and yet she gave her uncle the benefit of a doubt." Erza sighed, leaning back against the headrest of her bed and wearily closing her eyes, "I warned Lucy to keep her distance as I approached Sir Ivan to question him further. That was when he attacked again. Taken off guard, I foolishly used my magic to try to subdue him. To counter my attack he whipped out a knife embedded with dark magic and stabbed me. He would have surely killed me, had not Lucy reacted in time. She grabbed his discarded knife and stabbed him, multiple times. She… she did not mean to kill him, but she was forced too. He was far too dangerous…"
"Makarov's own son?! Tried to kill two little girls… How could he?! What could possibly have possessed him…" Porlyuscia's voice faltered as she choked on the sob she refused to let out, struggling to keep her composure as she gazed with sympathy and sorrow at one of her oldest and dearest friends.
Makarov had seemingly turned to stone, his entire figure stock still and his lips pressed into a thin line. Only his eyes betrayed the inner turmoil he suffered, the fiery rage and immense grief clearly visible in them. A few tense moments passed in the silent room, as each occupant gazed with growing concern between Makarov and Lucy.
Lucy finally broke the odious silence, unable to bear the suspense as her own guilt ate at her. "I-I am sorry, Grandpapa. I never meant to kill him - but when he attacked Erza, I could see no other way. Had he lived, he would not have stopped until he killed me. And he would have either killed Erza or exposed her as a mage to the courts, which would have meant a fate worse than death for her. I-I could not… I'm so sorry…"
A gentle hand on her head halted her as Makarov gazed into her eyes, his own filled with love and brimming with unshed tears.
"Nay, my child. It is I who must be sorry. Ivan was always a calculating, selfish creature - and he has always longed for more power. He has long wanted to get closer to the throne, and this coup was his way of accomplishing it. He chose to assassinate you on the day you turned three and ten for a specific reason - you would die before becoming a full member of the courts, and therefore, before laying claim to your royal birthright. By killing you on this day I believe he hoped Laxus would automatically become the next in line for the throne of Pergrande. I understand now… so many things he said and did back then didn't make sense at the time. They do now. It was all because he had this plan in mind." Makarov straightened in his chair, his gaze turning stern as he stared at the wall at the far end of the room. "I should've read the signs. It was all there. I could have prevented this catastrophe had I just been more attentive… it is I who am at fault here. Can you ever forgive me, Lucy?" His gaze returned to his beloved granddaughter, tears flowing freely as his voice broke and a sob escaped him. Lucy bent forward, wrapping her arms around her diminutive grandfather and burying her face into his shoulder to stifle her own sobs. The rest of the room watched in silent compassion, as the royal family indulged in their moment of shared grief.
After many minutes, Gildarts walked forward to lay a comforting hand on Makarov's shoulder. The action pulled a sigh from the older mage as he gently disentangled himself from his granddaughter's embrace, shooting her a weary but kind smile before turning to his old friend.
"Yes, Gildarts?"
"What are our next steps? Do you think Laxus was really a part of this, or not? Should I meet him to find out?"
Makarov ran a hand over his haggard face. "My gut tells me he is not, but that could also be the fanciful wishes of a tired old man. It would be wisest to make sure. Besides, if he was not a part of the coup he would not know of Ivan's demise - he will need to be informed. You would be the best person to ascertain the extent of his innocence and inform him of what has happened here based upon that. Please go to him, and send a dove back to me with a report as soon as you are able."
Gildarts nodded, pivoting on his heel and swiftly exiting the room after an affectionate wink at his daughter. Makarov turned to Erza next.
"My dear, although I am grateful to you for saving Lucy, I am not happy about the danger you put yourself in. You are my ward as well, and I do not wish you to remain in the castle if it puts you at such risk. I think it would be wise to do as Lucy previously suggested and hide you from the courts of Pergrande."
"No!" Erza exclaimed, sitting up with a jerk and glaring at Makarov, "I refuse to leave Lucy's side! She is in far more danger than I in that accursed place, why should she return but not I?"
Makarov sighed. "Because she is the Princess of Pergrande. It would be near impossible to hide her, and Jude would raise hell trying to find her - she is his ticket to keeping control of the throne, after all," Makarov ground his teeth, his last few words spat out with distaste, "You, on the other hand, are just one of the many knights in Lucy's guard. With a little clever maneuvering we could sneak you out and hide you long enough for the courts to lose interest in you. You would then be free to do as you wish…"
"No."
"Erza, please don't be stubborn…"
"I don't want to leave Lucy's side!" Erza snapped, "I cannot abandon a friend!"
"Even when that friend herself asks you to leave?" Lucy interjected softly.
Erza's gaze locked on Lucy's, her eyes filled with guilt and grief. "Yes, this would be the second time I have refused to listen to a friend's request to be left behind… but I still can't help feeling this way. I just don't know… Will my leaving help you somehow? Or will it lead to you being unguarded during another assassination attempt? I just want what is best for you, Lucy. You are more than just a friend to me - you are my precious little sister. And all I wish to do is protect you as best as I can. What point is there in having my freedom if I cannot be with the ones that I love? I-I leave the decision to you, Milady, tell me whether I should go or stay…"
Lucy gazed at the noble scarlet haired maiden for a long moment before turning to address her grandfather.
"Here is what I suggest we do. Erza should not be removed from the castle, but transferred to a new guard. The Earl of Westerly has been nagging the courts for a personal knight for quite some time now, and I believe she would be a perfect fit under him. He would be too intimidated by Erza's demeanor to try to control her, so she would have free reign to do as she wished, yet she would still have the protection and respect that a knight of the castle commands. And of course, she would no longer be under as much scrutiny as she has been until now, for she would be the knight of a lowly court official and therefore not as interesting to our dastardly, nosy courtiers. Erza could continue to keep watch over me from a distance, and we could still be in touch… if that is what she wished to do, of course. Would this arrangement be to your liking, Lady Erza?"
Erza smiled reassuringly at Lucy as Makarov raised a brow, clearly impressed with his granddaughter's shrewd plan.
Lucy gulped, stammering a little in nervousness. "N-Now for the more difficult part. That is, how we are to explain your sudden change of employer… err… I believe the best course of action would be to fabricate a quarrel between us, Erza. And the best subject of such a disagreement, especially given our ages, would be… ummm… f-fighting over a boy…" Lucy shot the blushing scarlet-haired mage an apologetic look before proceeding, "You will anyway have to spend the next few days in Fairy Tail recuperating. I will return to the castle within the hour, acting as angry and upset as possible. I will circulate a rumor that we both set our sights upon the same lad, but in the end he chose you. You then ran away with him for a few days of frolicking in the flower festival held in a neighboring county. In a move everyone will interpret as spiteful, I will assign you to the Earl before you return."
Lucy glanced up from her fidgeting fingers, stealing a glance at her friend. She was relieved to see Erza's soft smile, her friend's tired eyes alight with amusement.
"You are an impressive actress, Lucy. I have no doubt of your ability to convince the courts of the veracity of your pretended pettiness. But what of your Uncle's body and the change of the midnight guard? Surely some of the courtiers will question these oddities?"
"I will tackle that." Makarov interjected gruffly. "I cannot hide the truth from your father, Lucy, but I will have the midnight guard reshuffled and a suitable excuse for my son's death concocted for the courtiers of the higher and lower courts. The two of you need only focus on your own safety and this plan of Lucy's - one of your most ingenious plans to date, I may add, my dear."
Cana chuckled from her corner. "Yer an evil genius, little un. Remind me neva ta cross ya."
Porlyuscia clucked her tongue, suddenly rising from her chair.
"If you need me, you know where to find me," She barked unceremoniously as she marched towards the exit. She paused when her hand touched the door knob, jerking her head to the side to address the group over her shoulder.
"And don't any of you dare die."
She swiftly exited, slamming the hapless door behind her.
The remaining people in the room let out a collective sigh of relief.
"I have much to do as well." Makarov rose from his chair, brushing off the front of his traveling cloak. Leaning forward, he placed a soft kiss on Lucy's forehead, and squeezed Erza's hand affectionately. "Do rest for an hour or so, Lucy dear. When you feel ready, have Cana escort you back home. Oh… and I almost forgot…" Makarov reached into the pocket of his breeches, drawing out a beautiful golden necklace with a key shaped pendant dangling from it. "I wish I could have bought a jewelry case for this… but I did not have a moment to waste when I heard of what happened here. This belonged to your mother, and she gave it to me to pass down to you. The pendant is also a locket - albeit a small one, enough to hold powder or a liquid, but not big enough for a picture. Your mother once used it to store her powdered remedy for a cold, since she caught them quite often. Here." He opened the clasp, slipping the chain around her neck and securing it.
"Happy Birthday, dearest granddaughter."
With a sorrowful sigh, Makarov left the room, gently closing the door behind him.