"Your guild hall is very pretty," Jellal stared up at the ornate details of the Fairy Tail guild hall. I will never understand why he'd want to come here, but who was I to judge? Although, Jellal was right. We really did have one of the nicest guild halls in the area. And the record for the most times a guild hall has ever been rebuilt. I think the only thing that's still original is the foundation. With every rebuild, it gets a little stronger than its previous structure. I'd say that sums up the Fairy Tail guild rather eloquently.
"Thank you," I gladly accepted the compliment. Then, I remembered this is, in fact, the Fairy Tail guild hall. I still had a job to do, "Hold on. I'm going to have to ask you to keep your hood up and stay out here for a moment."
"Why?" he wondered. So naïve, the sheltered prince.
"You've never heard anything about my guild's reputation, have you?" I giggled a bit.
"Only what you've told me," Jellal put his hood up, "And if we're being honest, I thought you were mostly joking."
"Oh, no," I shook my head, "You won't find a rowdier bunch of wizards than what may lie on the other side of this door. This may be a leisurely trip to my guild hall, but please. For the sake of your own personal safety, wait here until I tell you it's ok."
"I will," he leaned up against the guild hall while I scoped things out inside. So far, so quiet. However, this was still the guild hall. Something could pop off at any minute all because someone looked at someone else funny.
"Welcome home, Erza," Mira's sweet, smiling face greeted me from behind the bar, "Would you like your mail and your messages?"
"Not right now, thank you," I turned her down, "I'm not going to be home long. Who's all here?"
"Not too many," she reported, "Shadow Gear got in late last night, so they're taking things easy today. Reedus has a few commissions going on. He's working in here. And Gajeel's off brooding in the rafters, but I gave him a bowl of washers, so that should keep his hunger crankiness away for a while."
I continued my survey of the guild hall. Levy was buried in a six hundred page novel, so she'll be quiet for at least a couple hours. Not that she ever really gave me problems. Jet and Droy are playing cards, so they won't give me problems either. Once Reedus gets into a painting, he takes a while to get out of it. That left Gajeel. I thought I saw a shadow over Levy. I'm sure something's bound to happen between the two of them one day. Only one major wild card left. The strongest team Fairy Tail had to offer, "What about Natsu and Lucy?"
"They grabbed a job this morning," Mira told me, "They should be back before the dinner bell rings."
And because I like to keep my bases covered. When they're separated, they're not bad. But get them together, and it gets messy, "And Gray? Where's he at these days?"
"He went with Natsu and Lucy," she went on, taking a clean glass from the shelf behind her.
"So, there aren't any troublemakers lurking around the guild," I heaved a heavy sigh of relief, "Good."
"Why do you ask?" I headed for the front door and cracked it open.
"Jellal…" I called out to him, "Perimeter secured, sir."
"Erza…" Jellal giggled to himself, "What did I tell you? It's just us. You don't have to be formal with me."
"I know," I smiled, "But it's safe. You can come in."
"Ok," he followed me back to the bar and took the empty barstool next to me, "The outside matches the inside, I see."
"It does," I nodded, turning his attention toward the guild's lovable receptionist, "Jellal, this is Mirajane. She's the one who runs the guild hall while Master Makarov is away."
"It's nice to meet you, Jellal," Mira smiled sweetly in the way only she could.
"It's lovely to meet you, too, Mirajane," Jellal turned to goo, taking her hand, "I'm a really big fan of yours."
"Really?" Mira chirped.
"Really?" I gave him a look. Jellal didn't seem like the type to drool over centerfolds, but then again, it's Mira. I couldn't blame him.
"I have every issue of Sorcerer's Weekly she's ever been in," he swooned, "What other explanation would I have for that aside from devoted fandom?"
If he's not careful, his eyes may turn into hearts very quickly. But Mira has dealt with this before. And it's likely not the last time she'll deal with it either, "Well, I'm flattered, Jellal. Welcome to Fairy Tail. So, Erza, what brings you by?"
"It doesn't hurt to check in once in a while," I shrugged, gladly taking the iced tea she had made for me, "Besides, Jellal said he had never seen a guild hall before, so I thought why not taking him to the best one there is?"
"I don't know, Erza," Gajeel called down from the rafters, "Phantom Lord wasn't too bad either."
"And when Phantom Lord's guild hall has been through what Fairy Tail's guild hall has been through," I defended, "Then, we can make comparisons."
"What's Phantom Lord?" Jellal asked.
"The guild in Oak Town," I explained, "It's where we got Gajeel from. Along with another member of our guild. But that's here nor there. What matters is that we're here now."
"Welcome to your first guild hall, Jellal," Mira sang, "Gajeel, play nicely please."
"Yeah, yeah," Gajeel brushed her off, going back to watching Levy while she read.
"So, Erza," Mira brought it back, letting Gajeel brood some more, "Didn't you say Master Makarov was putting you on a special assignment?"
"He did," I nodded.
"What was it?" she wondered, "If you don't mind me asking."
"Well," I looked over at Jellal, who still had yet to put his hood down, "I was put on guard duty for the prince. The king and queen figured a wizard would be a better choice than a knight."
"And then," Mira pointed out, "There's you. Practically the best of both worlds, if you ask me."
"You think so?" Jellal looked me over, "I've never seen her fight."
"From someone who used to spar with Erza on a regular basis," Mira giggled, "I wouldn't dare make her angry now. For anyone brave enough to be on the receiving end of her wrath, I pray for them."
"Really?" he perked up, "So, that's why she won't fight me."
"Among other reasons," I stood my ground. There was no way I was ever going to fight Jellal. Moral ambiguity aside.
"It was nice of the king and queen to give you a day off, though," Mira applauded, "You've only been gone a week."
"I…" I glanced over at Jellal, who gave me a slight approving nod, "I never said I had a day off."
"Then," she figured, "Shouldn't you be getting back to the prince?"
"I also never said I left the prince's side," I treaded lightly.
"Then…" Mira looked over at Jellal, who still kept most of his face hidden. He put one lone finger up to his lips, making sure his message got across, "Alright. Not a soul."
"Thank you, Miss Mirajane," Jellal smiled, "Your discretion is greatly appreciated."
"We should be going," I insisted, "There's more to Magnolia than just the guild hall, if you'd like to see more."
"I'd love to see more," he followed me, taking Mira's hand, "It truly was a pleasure meeting you."
"Likewise…" Mira kept her voice down, "Your Highness."
"Shh…" Jellal hushed her, "Please. I'd rather that didn't get out. The only one here that knows what the prince looks like is Master Makarov. And that was on a fluke."
"I'm sorry," she winced, "Please forgive me."
All was forgiven and forgotten as Jellal and I left the guild hall. That could've been a whole lot worse. Lucy's influence on Natsu has done wonders for my stress levels. Although, the quiet between Jellal and me wasn't exactly helping. Was it wrong of me to bring him to the guild hall? Or to out him like that to Mira? I didn't think that would've been a problem. It is part of who he is. Perhaps he's just being quiet. There's nothing wrong with that.
"You know," Jellal finally spoke, "I never liked the title. Since the day I arrived at the palace, the title never sat well with me."
"Why's that?" I asked.
"It's not mine," he confessed, "I'm not born of royal blood. I was merely the adoptive charity case of the king and queen. I know they love me like their own, but at the end of the day, I'm still not their own. It just…I don't know. It doesn't feel right. I would've loved to be a wizard instead. You said you were in a tough spot when you were young, too. I could've taken your path. But alas, here I am."
"Or," I tried to offer him some comfort. If not that, then perspective, "I could've taken your path. I didn't even get the choice. When I was younger, I was given to Master Makarov. The thought of practicing magic never even crossed my mind until I met him. Maybe instead of the king and queen taking you, they could've taken me."
"That would mean we'd be in the same place," Jellal pointed out, "I don't remember very much from those days, but any time I try to think back on it…It only causes me pain."
"I understand completely," I took his hand, feeling bold…and the heartache of a friend, "Even when I remember something from back then…It only hurts me. But it's because of that I ended up where I am now. So many times, I could've rolled over, but I had someone there who wouldn't let me do that. And I couldn't be more grateful to one human being. It's how he saved me. And now…I couldn't even tell you where he is."
"I'm sorry to hear that," he squeezed my hand back, wincing a bit.
"Jellal?" I worried, noticing his balance had given out, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Jellal assured, digging into his pocket. He pulled out a white bottle and poured a couple orange tablets out of it, swallowing them in one gulp, "Or I will be anyway. Headache. And it hit hard. But I'll be fine once those kick in."
"Medication?" I assumed.
"Yes," he nodded, "It stops the headaches from turning into migraines. Most of the time. Even these can occasionally fail me."
"Would you like to go back to the palace?" I offered, not wanting to make him more miserable. If he needs the rest, then I'll understand.
"No," Jellal shook his head, "I want to know what else Magnolia has to offer. How am I going to find that out if I'm laying in my bed? There's a big world out there, Erza, and I want to see as much as I can. I don't want to be confined anymore. And what better way to see this town than through eyes like yours? Someone who probably knows Magnolia inside and out better than most locals. You did live here before you moved to the palace, didn't you?"
"I did," I confirmed, "But are you sure you want to do this?"
"Once my medicine kicks in," he demanded, "I'm ordering you to show me around Magnolia. Every single nook and cranny."
"And I thought you said you didn't like your title," I teased him a bit.
"Just because I don't like my title," Jellal smirked, "doesn't mean I won't use it when I have to. In this case, it looks like someone's making me have to show my hand. And the biggest trump card in it."
"Since you asked so nicely," I knelt at his feet, "Yes, Your Highness. It'd be my honor to show you around."
"Erza," he pulled me up as quick as he could, "Don't do that. People are staring. We wouldn't want them to talk."
"I'm sorry," I chuckled to myself, "I couldn't help myself. Are you ready?"
"I'm ready," Jellal nodded. Looks like his medicine works quickly, "Whenever you are, Erza, show me the way."