Happy New Year, my lovely readers! Thanks for sticking around so long - as many of you have expressed, the Nalu will be back soon. I've got a few more chapters to wrap up a few arcs with my other favorite Fairy Tail ships and brotps, but once that's done... :-D
Hope you enjoy this chapter!
"What do you mean, he is indisposed?"
The rebel man growled at the messenger, grabbing the pale lad by the scruff of his shirt. The boy gulped, stammering out an almost indiscernible reply.
"H-he a-and… T-the king said…"
"Calm down, lad." A stern feminine voice interjected. "If the Prince is unavailable, then take us to King Silver."
The boy squeaked when his gaze fell on Irene. The scarlet-haired woman sighed, rolling her eyes as the boy fell to a heap on the ground, shivering in pure fright.
"T-t-the s-scarlet d-despair…"
"Aye. That she is. Despairingly lovely, is she not?"
The boy gawked, springing to his feet instantly and sinking into a low bow.
A handsome older man strode out of the palace gates, his clean cut goatee accenting his roguish smirk.
"Irene. It has been too long…"
Irene sighed, rolling her eyes again.
"Silver. You haven't changed."
The man barked out a laugh, his gaze straying to the eclectic group behind her. His keen eyes halted the moment they rested on Erza, a soft gasp escaping his lips.
"Is this…?"
"We have come here today to request a favor of your son. This is Erza. She wishes to engage him in a mock battle, to better display her abilities to my Alvarez brethren. Would you allow it?"
Silver did not respond immediately, his gaze fixed on Erza as he thoughtfully stroked his neat goatee. At last he smirked, his eyes finally shifting back to lock on Irene.
"Of course. There is one complication, however."
Irene glared at the man, urging him to continue. Silver ignored her potent gaze, instead turning on his heel with a mischievous chuckle. He breezed past his palace guard, leading the mismatched group of rebels to a set of large, imposing doors. From within the chamber the sounds of a strenuous battle could be heard, accompanied by outrageous roars and numerous curses.
Irene's frown deepened into a scowl.
"What's going on Silver?"
The King ignored her once again, turning instead to face Erza.
"From your otherworldly beauty, so rare yet familiar, I can hazard a guess of your estimable heritage and the true reason you wish to challenge my son." Silver's mirthful tone sobered, his keen gray eyes turning solemn. "That is why I wish to offer you an even better challenge than the one you seek."
The King gestured to the doors of the chamber behind him.
"Beyond those doors in yonder chamber, my son fights one of his closest friends and deadliest foes. Whenever they engage in these battles, my court and I are hard-pressed to contain their heated skirmishes, let alone stop them!" Silver's gaze grew scrutinizing.
"This is my challenge to thee, Erza. Enter that chamber, and attempt to halt the battle between my son and his foe… E.N.D."
The rebels and their companions let out a collective gasp of horror.
"NO!" Jellal hissed, his eyes blazing with fury. "Of all the cowardly acts - she could be killed! There is no way I could stand by and let her do your dirty work for you…" A gentle hand on his shoulder forced him to pause his tirade. Jellal slowly glanced over his shoulder, dreading the look he knew he would receive. Erza's eyes shone with determination, resolve, and a hint of excitement. She offered him a soft, reassuring smile before turning her attention back to the smirking King of Icegard.
"I accept."
Silver grinned, his eyes shifting between her and Jellal.
"Are you sure, young beauty? Your lover here may very well assassinate me if anything were to happen to you…"
"He will be in the room with me." Erza interrupted firmly. "In case I am unable to complete my challenge, then he will take my place…" Erza shot Jellal a questioning glance to which the bluenette responded with an exasperated sigh and a nod, all the while trying hard to smother his fond smile.
Silver watched the exchange with interest.
"Very well. I accept that condition - it really makes no difference to me who stops those destructive fools before anymore of my lovely palace is destroyed."
Still grumbling under his breath, the King of Icegard threw open the doors to the chamber, ushering in the volunteering pair as the rest of the spectators cautiously observed the inside of the large chamber from the safety of the doorway. It was a spacious hall - or had once been one, it now being covered entirely in purple tinged ice on one end, and moulded into a misshapen mass on the other, small fires still dotting the landscape.
In the center of the makeshift battlefield, the two combatants still grappled, their snarls and curses ringing through the destroyed chamber.
There, at the center, battled a dragon and a man.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The assembled rebels, Ultear, Meredy and a few curious members of Silver's court watched the unfolding battle with interest, cringing away from the doorway when a piece of icy or flaming debris flew past.
Jellal stared open-mouthed at the spectacle before him. He grit his teeth to assuage his temper. There was no way any being could stop a battle between these two monsters and live to tell the tale! That blasted King had tricked them. Jellal turned to his beloved, intent on convincing her to return to safety with him, when he was shocked to observe the expression on her face. She looked joyful. And yet…
Were those… tears?!
Before he could comprehend what was happening, she whisked her hand out of his, running full tilt towards the raging battle. Jellal let out a cry of angst, lurching forward to stop her before letting out another cry of shock. His feet had been shackled to the ground. Erza had used her manacle sneak attack on him. As he struggled against his bonds, he watched his lover perform the most impressive requip he had ever seen.
Half her form was shielded by her slinky and form fitting flame empress armor, complete with a fiery shield. The other half was adorned with her ice queen attire, finished off by the magical ice sword she wielded so deftly. In the blink of an eye, she was between the battling beings, her weapons raised at their respective intendants.
The ice sword barely slowed the dragon prince's flaming fist. The sword shattered on contact as his fist continued towards its goal.
The flaming shield also shattered on impact with Absolute Zero's iced over fist, his own blow passing through to head towards his opponent.
A bright flash of light engulfed the three at the center. Erza had requipped again - into her favorite, most trustworthy armor.
A pair of red harem pants hung low on her shapely waist, a thin, white, cloth belt just above it holding two scabbards containing sleek katanas. A thick, white muslin cloth was wrapped around her buxom torso, revealing her impressive abs and slender yet muscular arms.
The combatants did not notice the woman. Instead, the dragon and the man gazed at their hands in shock. A plain, firm, feminine grip had halted both their raised fists. The hold was strong, steady, and yet surprisingly gentle…
"Natsu… Gray…"
Their gazes snapped up to the woman's face. Their eyes widened comically as they finally took in her features and scarlet tresses.
"Erza?!"
They fell back instantly.
"What are doing way out here?!"
"Yeah! Not that we're not happy to see you and all…"
Erza's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she smiled at the pair. With a soft sigh, she placed a hand gently on each man's shoulder…
And promptly shoved them together forcefully, bashing their heads against each other.
"SEVEN YEARS." She bellowed at the whimpering males. "I SEE YOU AGAIN AFTER SEVEN. WHOLE. YEARS, AND YOU ARE STILL QUARRELING LIKE HATCHLINGS?!"
"We're sorry!"
"It was all this icy popsicle's fault!"
"What the… You lying flame bastard, you started this fight!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did…"
A second bang resonated in the room as Erza once again smashed their heads together, sighing in exasperation as she did so. She promptly dropped their limp bodies on the ground as she propped her hands upon her hips, glaring down at their prone forms.
"You two had better stop these senseless, destructive fights - understood?"
Two garbled groans of consent arose from the immobile males.
"And clean up this chamber. I expect it to be returned to the way it was before. Well… reasonably close to its original form, at the least."
With those final words, Erza turned her back on the shivering pair, making her way towards the audience at the doorway. She paused on route to release her lover from her binding spell with a sheepish smile.
"Shall we leave?"
Jellal just gaped, unable to form a more coherent response than a jerky nod.
With an innocent smile, Erza slipped her hand into his, gently tugging him past their shell-shocked audience and towards the stupefied King of Icegard.
"Have I completed your challenge satisfactorily, oh King?"
King Silver blinked. And then promptly erupted into a roar of loud laughter.
"Whatcha laughing about, old man? H-hey! Erza?"
The scarlet-haired maiden smiled radiantly at the blue-furred, white-winged exceed hovering over the King's head.
"Yes, tis I. It's wonderful to see you again, Happy…"
"ERZA!"
The blue creature flew straight into Erza's bountiful bosom, shamelessly burrowing himself in her chest as he bombarded her with questions.
"How did you get here? Why are you here? Did you bring fish? Has anyone else come with you…"
Erza returned his embrace with her signature bone-crushing hug, effectively ending his monologue of queries.
"I am well, little one."
"And perhaps we can listen to this lovely maiden's story together over dinner? From all that I have seen so far, it promises to be an exciting tale." Silver interposed, reigning in his amused chuckles.
Erza nodded in agreement, finally releasing a thoroughly strangled Happy, as she and her still dazed companions followed the king towards the dining hall.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So… you were a knight in the Pergrande Royal Guard, and your friend introduced you to my son and the Dragon Prince, both of whom concealed their true heritage from you - hence you did not recognize them by their titles. Your benefactor made you a member of that group of life-saving rapscallions, 'Fairy Tail', and you have been helping protect all magical and non-magical denizens of the enchanted wood bordering your land in a secret group called the 'Protectors'." Silver summarized with a smile, a little awestruck with the young scarlet-haired woman.
"Yes." She smiled back.
As King Silver chuckled, Erza gazed around, taking in the cozy clique of beings at the table. The dinner party was progressing with flair. Ultear was catching up with her old friend Gray, engaging him in a friendly battle of wits from her seat across the table. Meredy had surprisingly hit it off with Natsu - the two pinkettes' mutual love of mischief seemed to be paving the way to a fast and merry friendship. Jellal was a quiet spectator, his attention far more focused on his beloved and the fascinated King of Icegard - who was regarding his love with a little too much interest for his liking. Happy sat on the table, happily munching on a fish as he occasionally offered a point in Meredy and Natsu's conversation. The rebels had excused themselves from the dinner party, citing the fact that they had many important arrangements to make back at camp to welcome their newest leaders. Irene had reluctantly left with them, but only after encasing her cherished child in a tight hug and extracting a promise from her that she would send word if she needed anything, and return to camp as soon as possible. Erza had never felt more blessed to have such loving family and friends.
King Silver cleared his throat pointedly, drawing Erza out of her brief reverie. "Then I am quite decided. Lady Erza, daughter of her excellency Irene Belserion, will you be my bride?"
A sudden jet of wine doused Ultear, as Gray hacked and retched in agony after inadvertently baptizing her. His dragon friend leisurely thumped his back with much more force than necessary, cackling all the while. Meredy snickered as she offered Ultear a towel, the raven-haired witch ignoring the offer in favor of fixing her royal friend with a death glare. Erza blinked in confusion.
Jellal's reaction took them all by surprise.
Shooting up from his chair, an ominous aura of dark magic began to engulf Jellal as he pointed a threatening finger at the older man.
"She will never be a pawn in your game. She is MINE."
He spat out the words, his harsh and venomous tone brooking no argument. In the very next instant, he leaned down to pull Erza into a passionate kiss. They broke apart seconds later, Jellal with a look of triumph and challenge, whilst Erza…
"... Is Erza actually blushing?" The intended whisper came out far too loud to be considered as such. "W-wow… How the heck does she manage to look intimidating while blushing?! We should probably build a monument or something for Jellal, he sure is one brave man…"
"Shhh, you flaming pea brain, she'll hear you!"
Erza turned to the not-so-quiet whisperers to level a stern look in their direction.
"AACK! SHE HEARD YOU!"
"HEY! YOU WERE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION TOO, YA KNOW!"
"Sorry, it's every being for himself."
"Cowardly frozen traitor!"
"Yea. But at least I'm gonna live…"
"Erza! He made me say stuff! Honest! You know I don't have the brains to…"
"Don't listen to a word he says, Erza, you know what a lying little scaredy-dragon he can be…"
"ENOUGH!"
Erza's bellowed warning prompted the two males to shrink into their chairs, bleating out meek apologies in the process.
King Silver let out a sigh of longing. He addressed Jellal with a twinkle in his eye.
"Seriously, young man, can you blame an old fool for trying? She's beautiful, just and strong. And she handles my brat and the dreaded E.N.D as if they were errant children! She'd make a glorious queen…"
This time Gray interrupted him with a yelp and a glare.
"That doesn't mean you can propose marriage to her, you old pervert!" He exclaimed. "I love Erza like a sister, but to imagine her as my step-mother is simply…"
"Horrifying? Mortifying? Downright embarrassing?" Natsu snickered, earning a swat on the back of his head. Before yet another scuffle broke out, Erza intervened.
"I wouldn't have to treat you two like 'errant children' if the pair of you would just act your age." She sighed. "Honestly, I feel like your referee more often than not."
"Aye!" Chirped Happy, "You were always the best at stopping them from fighting! Not that the others didn't try, but it always went hilariously wrong with them, especially Lucy…"
The exceed paused abruptly, his affectionate and warm words tapering off as he snuck a furtive glance at his dragon friend. Natsu had stiffened the moment that name had fallen from his familiar's lips, and he now sat stock still - his brows furrowed in thought as he unconsciously clenched and unclenched his hands under the table. Gray took in his friend's reaction with a hint of concern before he abruptly addressed Erza.
"I'm glad Happy brought her up. We've been dancing around the point this entire evening - we've discussed all our other mutual friends at length, but we've still avoided her… Why? How fares Lucy? What is she up to? Why has she been the most secretive and elusive out of all our friends? Even Juvia refuses to answer a straight question about her, although she gives me all manner of news about the south apart from that…"
Gray was interrupted by Erza's sharp glare.
"Do not hassle Juvia for more information than she offers." Erza spat out, her eyes blazing with fury. "You have no idea of Juvia's true circumstances…"
Gray gasped, his hands clenching the tablecloth as he shot up from his seat.
"Why?! Is she in danger? She hasn't been writing to me for the past month or so, it was starting to worry me... Dammit, Erza, if anything were to happen to Juvia, I'd…"
"You would do what, Gray?" Erza queried softly, her earlier ire receding.
Gray grit his teeth, fighting down the blush that arose unbidden to his cheeks.
"Erza? Is Lucy okay?"
Happy's soft voice caused an immediate silence to fall over the entire dinner party. All turned to listen to the exchange with curiosity.
"Who is this Lucy you all seem so attached too?" Ultear questioned the group of old friends.
"She's a noble woman in the courts of Pergrande." Gray offered promptly.
"Really? Why haven't we met or heard of her then, Erza?" Meredy turned to the scarlet haired warrior with a frown.
"Perhaps we have." Ultear interjected tapping her chin, her brow furrowed in thought. "Lucy is quite a popular name in the courts after all, especially since it is the name of…"
Erza lunged over Jellal to clamp a hand over Ultear's mouth, throwing a panicked look at her other two companions in the process, which Jellal immediately caught onto.
"It matters not." He deflected smoothly, although curiosity raged in his eyes as well. "Did not the noble exceed ask you a question, my love?"
Erza smiled gratefully at her beloved, releasing Ultear and resuming her seat. The remaining occupants of the table stared at her, mystified by her strange actions. The blue-furred exceed, however, ignored the tableau as he simply looked at Erza with wide-eyed expectancy - his longing to know about his dear friend trumping his usual mischievousness.
"She is fine, Happy." Erza replied gently. "Well, she is physically fine at any rate. I do not know her emotional state - for it has been quite some time since I've been able to converse so frankly with her - years in fact…"
"Is it because she became busy after her marriage?" Gray queried gruffly. Beside him, Natsu winced, still staring at his plate.
Erza raised a brow. "Hmmm… I suppose Juvia was not given permission to tell you the truth of that situation."
"Given permission?!"
"I suppose I could tell you now…" Erza continued, ignoring Gray's confounded expression. "Lucy's engagement has been broken. She is currently unattached."
"Thank the dragon gods!"
Natsu's voice was steeped in relief as he finally lifted his gaze from its home on the tablecloth.
"I was so worried that she would go through with it. I'm... I'm so glad she didn't…"
Erza regarded him curiously.
"The rumors amongst our friends must have been true then - did she stop corresponding with you? I thought she would have told you this news herself…"
Natsu in turn raised a brow. "What do you mean 'rumors amongst friends'? Didn't she tell you that she wasn't talking to me? That… I wasn't writing to her? You were right there with her - surely you know why she hates me…"
Erza blushed in shame, before his words caused her to pause in confusion.
"Hates you?" Erza frowned, her tone incredulous. "She could never hate you, Natsu. Why would you feel that way?"
"Natsu asked something of her in the last letter we ever sent her." Happy interjected softly, his eyes watery and his voice trembling. "She never replied. We thought it was because she was mad at us for what we asked of her."
"What did you ask of her?"
Happy glanced at his dragon companion, taking his stoic silence and rigid, aloof expression as permission to continue.
"We asked her to come away with us. Natsu told her how much he needed her… but he may have made it sound like she was a lucky charm that he needed to win the war. I told him he had to word it better, but he wouldn't listen to me…"
"I doubt she would have been unhappy to receive a message like that." Erza interrupted him gently, offering the pair a fond smile. "However Natsu might have worded it. She knows him, after all. And as far as I can tell, she does not look upset or angry whenever you or Natsu are mentioned… Only sorrowful… And a little guilty too, strangely enough."
"Then if she isn't upset with flame brain here, what's with all the cloak and dagger aura surrounding her?! And why does Juvia need her permission to tell me about her?"
Erza shrugged. "I see no need to answer that." Erza's expression turned sly, a teasing smile hovering on her lips. "If it concerns you so much, why don't you go to Pergrande and ask Juvia and Lucy these questions yourself?
"Your enchanting friend has a point, my son." King Silver smirked at his progeny, twirling his wine glass leisurely in his hand. "And as we've already discussed, you have the perfect opportunity to visit your dear friends, and help us further our humble nation's interests at the same time…"
"As I've reiterated, I will not honor that request - we cannot trust the Princess of Pergrande."
"I do not ask you to trust her boy - merely to take this as the chance to 'gauge' her. Such a request from the ruler of most of Fiore is unprecedented and cannot be ignored. Perhaps we should ask Erza's opinion - I defer to her wisdom, for she has experience in the Pergrande courts." King Silver nodded solemnly at Erza, his expression entirely devoid of its previous mirth.
Erza nodded back hesitantly. "I would be honored. But I do not quite follow what you speak of…"
"King Silver and the ice princess here received an epistle only a few days ago regarding a potential 'truce offering' from Pergrande. Her highness, the Princess, has requested the presence of the Prince of Icegard and one of his close confidants at her court to discuss the terms of a possible truce." Natsu frowned, an uncharacteristically thoughtful expression on his face. "We've heard far too many contradictory stories of her highness to trust her. It may be a trap."
"But the Princess sent all those troops of mages to assist us in our war efforts - surely that was a show of good faith?" Silver interjected.
"Or it could have been a ruse." Gray scowled.
"But some people say she's really nice - maybe she's really trying to so something good for Icegard?" Happy timidly piped up, optimism shining in his eyes.
"It would be a little naive to believe that, Happy." Natsu responded, patting his head. "She will have to look out for her own extensive kingdom, after all. At best, we can hope for a mutually beneficial deal - at worst…"
"She could throw me into the dungeons and try to blackmail my traitorous father."
"If Pergrande managed to capture Absolute Zero I would disown you, my boy." Silver snickered.
"That's why I said try. She doesn't know what a jerk you really are." Gray retorted.
"I think you should go, Gray."
The table turned as one to regard Erza, taking in her serious mein with curiosity.
Gray sighed. "I know you are not very happy with me, especially with regards to my relationship with Juvia, but sending me to my death is a little extreme, wouldn't you agree?"
She rolled her eyes. "You've certainly grown more dramatic over the years. As your father pointed out - you are Absolute Zero, a respected and honored war hero. Even down south we have heard stories of your feats. There is very little chance that your life will be threatened - if anything, you may be avoided and feared. Your only true challenge will be the courts of Pergrande… and the Princess herself."
Gray rubbed his chin, considering his close friend's words.
"You believe I should trust her, then?"
"On the contrary. I believe you should not trust a word she says."
Both Gray and Natsu frowned, confusion etched on their faces. Even King Silver raised a surprised brow.
Erza smiled at them.
"Her majesty is skilled in the arts of verbal deception. It would be near impossible to tell when she lies... unless you are especially close to her…" The furtive glance Erza shot at Natsu went missed by most of the company at the table. "However, her majesty's true nature shines forth in her actions. So yes - I do not trust her words. But I trust her actions."
Erza focused her piercing gaze on Gray, addressing him solemnly.
"I understand your apprehensions - but I strongly feel they are unfounded... for at her core, the Princess of Pergrande has a compassionate, kind and loving heart. If you are fortunate enough to earn her friendship, you will be assured of her loyal affection for life." Erza smothered a smirk. "You are blinded by a lack of all the facts - what better way to know the entirety of the truth than to see it for yourself? Go to Pergrande. Meet the Princess… You will not regret her acquaintance, I promise you that."
Gray gazed at Erza long and hard. At last, he let out a sigh, glancing at his father. His sire had an unreadable expression on his face - one that transformed into a look of pride the moment he locked eyes with his son. Gray understood his unspoken promise - it was still Gray's choice to say Nay or Yay. And that he would always be his Father's pride and joy no matter what his decision. Gray glanced at Natsu - his surrogate brother and one of his closest friends. The dragon still seemed troubled - the manner in which he squirmed and shifted impatiently in his seat was a dead give away. But when Gray caught his eye, the look Natsu returned was one of solidarity and confidence - he believed in Gray. Whatever the choice he made, the dragon would support him 100%. Gray could no longer harbor any doubts.
"I leave for Pergrande tomorrow."